Murder in Mathematics

Kiba: One quarter of a love square

The Friend-zone was not somewhere Kiba wanted to be.

But that was where he was, everyday, every time he entered Konoha Academy. It wasn't a purposeful Friend-zoning, the girl hadn't set out to make sure Kiba was her best-friend and nothing more but that was what it had turned out like. Hinata Hyuga saw no attraction in Kiba Inuzuka. And that was apparently that.

It was Thursday, the fourth day of Spring Term and the third day dealing with the death of Kankuro Sungakure. The murdered's siblings were still yet to return to school, most likely still at home finding a way to cope with their loss, and this is why Kiba sat alone in Zabuza-Sensei's Biology class. A white polished large room, which more often than not would protrude an odd smell, mostly from the mixture of chemicals in the air. Normally Gaara sat next to him. Today, he did not and Kiba felt very much alone.

The lesson was half the way through and the class were all working on their questions Zabuza had set. Kiba sat in the back row and whilst answering question to the bare minimum of his ability was also glancing up at Hinata who sat two rows ahead, to the left.

God, she really was beautiful. Kiba could have just…

"Hey, Kiba!"

Kiba jumped in his seat to see Naruto had slipped into Gaara's empty chair. The brunette looked to Zabuza to see the teacher was not paying attention, or if he was simply was not caring, and then looked to Naruto's empty seat, a now lone Sasuke finishing his work off in peace.

Kiba turned to Naruto, "Naruto, what'd you want?"

"I wanna ask you something, but whisper so Sasuke can't hear," The blonde answered.

Kiba glanced up at the Uchiha again and then looked back to Naruto, "Okay, whatever. What'd you want to ask?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes, "It's about him. Sasuke. I wanna know if you know what the hell's up with him?"

Kiba shrugged, "And how the hell would I know Naruto, he's your best friend; he barely ever even talks to me."

Naruto sighed, "He's just acting so strange. He hasn't even told me to stop copying his answers yet. Have you noticed that?"

Kiba shrugged again, "I don't exactly watch you all lesson, Naruto."

Naruto continued to whisper vent anyway, "It's really getting on my nerves. He's upsetting Sakura and you know, he's got no right to do that. Right?"

Ah yes. Naruto's famous crush on Sakura. That had been going on since they were all five year olds. Kiba understood how Naruto felt now. He must have been less upset that Sasuke was acting strange and more upset that Sakura was still only paying any attention to the Uchiha even though he was only being dismissive. But Kiba felt no sympathy for Naruto. In-fact, although Naruto was his friend, he felt that actually the guy deserved it. Hinata had pruned after him for so long now, Kiba was one to know as Hinata only ever seemed to tell him about it, and still Naruto only cared for Sakura, who in-turn would only ever view Naruto as a friend. A brother. It was a bit of a mess actually.

Naruto was still looking at Kiba, expecting an answer.

"I don't know, go do your work." Kiba replied.

Naruto nodded, eyes darting upwards, "You're right, Zabuza-Sensei's got that look in his eyes."

Kiba watched the blonde bound over to his seat and sighed. The week had really been a disaster. First he had an after-school detention till six, then he became a murder suspect, then he absolutely flunked his suspect interview (as predicted, Kiba just sat there sweating while mumbling incoherently) and now he was getting depressed over being totally and utterly friend-zoned. All he wanted to do now was go home and play on his Xbox with Akamaru on one side and a chicken and bacon sandwich the other.

A chicken and bacon sandwich was what he was to buy then at break time, eleven o'clock. Akamaru may have still been at home but he was a third of the way to satisfaction. If only he could have somehow brought in his xbox and…

"Kiba."

It was Shino who spoke. They were in the Cantina line and Kiba had apparently gotten too caught up in his thoughts as he was now stalling everybody else's movement.

"Huh? Oh right, sorry."

Kiba moved forwards, sliding his tray as he did so, proceeding to the payment area where an in-detention Idate Morino waited to take his money. Kiba laughed when he saw the boy from the year above behind the till.

"Hey Idate, you on detention from Gai-Sensei again?"

Idate's eyes narrowed, "He wants me so desperately to win at track in the inter-school sport competition coming up he's punishing me whenever I don't beat my previous time. It sucks."

Kiba simply laughed again as he handed over the coinage to pay for his food, before turning to survey the busy cantina. Shino and Hinata soon joined his side.

"Where shall we sit?" asked Shino as the threesome scanned the area for free seats.

Kiba went to answer but then his face went grim, suddenly ducking his head behind Shino's back. The aforementioned boy and Hinata shared a confused look.

"Kiba," Shino said, "What are you doing?"

"Hiding from Detective Orochimaru. What d'ya think?" Kiba whispered back, still awkwardly stood in his strange bent position.

Shino and Hinata both looked to the Cantina doors to see Anko and Orochimaru walking through, heading to the line and ultimately past Kiba.

"Come on," Kiba whispered, "Leave your trays let's eat outside."

"Is there a reason you're so scared of Orochimaru, Kiba?" Shino questioned as they left the Cantina and into the busy school corridor, heading now to the front of the school.

"He thinks I'm a murderer man, I just want to avoid him whenever I can is all."

"I think hiding and ducking away whenever you see him may simply make him suspect you more."

"Yeah, you're right. Fuck, you should have told me earlier, Shino!" Kiba growled.

The three emerged out of the school building and onto the sunshine veiled front school site. On the grass in the usual spot was Ino, Sakura, Suigetsu and Choji. Joining the four with food in hand, it appeared they had come just in the middle of one of Sakura's 'girl-rants' to Ino.

"I mean, Itachi's so bloody cryptic, you know? What the hell am I meant to do now? I can't just ignore Sasuke, I mean he's been ignoring me but there's probably a valid reason and if I just start being all dickish like he's being... Oh I don't know, it's just so confusing, you know?"

Ino was not listening, instead squinting against the sun towards something at the building.

"Ino," Sakura said, "Ino? Ino!"

Ino turned with an exasperated gasp, "What, Sakura?"

Sakura narrowed her eyes, "You weren't even listening. You're meant to listen, that's your job."

Suigetsu cocked his head around his girlfriend to look at the building, "What were you even looking at?"

Kiba too looked in Ino's previous line of sight but there was nothing of particular interest there, just Asuma-Sensei shepherding inside a herd of first years.

"I wasn't looking at anything, just shut up. Anyway Sakura, start again I'll listen this time."

"Please don't," Choji muttered, obviously already having sat through the first half of it.

"You shut up and talk boy stuff, Choji," Ino instructed, before beginning the ceremonial nodding and gasping every couple of seconds as Sakura talked.

"So," Shino began as the two females talked, "Everybody done their Literature essay for Kakashi-Sensei?"

"Ahhhhhhh," Kiba moaned aloud immediately, "That was for today?"

Choji laughed, "Oh no Kiba, you might get another after-school detention again!"

Kiba threw an accusing finger into Choji's face, "That's inappropriate, someone died!"

The detestation was more because Kiba didn't like the thought of getting in further trouble, rather than the more respectable reason of Kiba disliking the 'inappropriateness' of the comment.

"Get yours out," Kiba then demanded of the larger boy, "I need to copy."

"Gave it to him this morning in Home Room, sorry man."

Kiba turned to Shino and Hinata expectantly and tentatively Hinata reached into her bag and handed Kiba the four sheets of paper with her essay on.

"D-don't copy it exactly," she instructed as Kiba surveyed it.

"Ahhh, this'll take forever to write, I'll never do it in time for next lesson!"

"Oh, hey! Juugo!"

As Kiba began desperately scrounging for paper, Suigetsu had just spotted Juugo walking on the path across the road, apparently heading for the school gates.

"Where have you been, I thought you said you'd meet me outside my class?"

Juugo turned and walked across the road, looking down at Suigetsu.

"I was with Pein and Konan."

Suigetsu's nose scrunched, "Them? Why were you with them? I've told you if you have any issues you can just talk to me, I'm a great listener and I'm also a great solution… person."

Juugo's face didn't move a millimetre, "Right."

"Anyway, where were you going just now? Shop?"

"No," Juugo shook his head, "I was going home. Headache."

"Again?" Suigetsu questioned, "Dude, have you been to the doctor about them yet?"

"Yes. It's nothing. See you later."

And with that Juugo jogged across the road and set course again for the school gates.

Kiba let Hinata's essay fall to his lap. He had been listening to Suigetsu and Juugo's conversation and something Juugo had said sparked his interest somewhat. Pein and Konan. Could he… talk to them about his problems? That was what they were there for. No. He didn't need some heavily Catholic Guidance Councillor Super Couple to tell him how to function. He would get on. And first order of business was to come up with a suitable excuse for Kakashi-Sensei.

"Your dog ate it?"

Kakashi looked down at Kiba, an almost bored expression on his face.

"Kiba, did you think that because the excuse is so cliché I wouldn't think you'd be brave enough to say it, thus making me think that perhaps your dog actually did eat your essay?"

Kiba, stood at the front of the class, all eyes on him, stammered for words.

"Errrr…. Well, the thing is you know I have a dog, I'm famous for having a dog, so-"

Kakashi, arms crossed, cut in, "So you thought because I knew that you had a dog the excuse is somehow made more credible?"

Kiba eyed the ceiling as he mulled over Kakashi's words, "Yes," he eventually affirmed.

Kakashi sighed, "My word. Look, this essay was set even before the Shakespeare project that you and your group failed to do. This is the deadline for your coursework you've been working on for the whole year so far."

"Yeah," Kiba nodded, "Don't worry Sensei I made copies!"

Kakashi sighed again and extended his hand to take said copy.

Kiba faltered, "Well, I don't have the copy on me now."

Kakashi opened his mouth, about to speak, but he was interrupted by the door flying open.

Lady Tsunade stood there.

Immediately her eyes narrowed at the situation before her.

"Kiba Inuzuka, what have you done this time?" She bellowed.

Kiba looked at her blankly for a few seconds before lamely attempting to lie, "Nothing?"

She sighed but then turned her attention to Kakashi.

"Kakashi, I need a few in your class. And, you actually."

Kakashi raised his eyebrows, "Now?"

"Yes, don't worry, Anko's got a free so will be watching the class in your absence."

At that moment Anko jumped through the door, grinning, arms wide.

"Hello class!"

She walked up to Kakashi's desk, patting the man on the shoulder as she did so, "I got this Kakashi, you go worry about your murder scandal thing."

Tsunade rolled her eyes at Anko's behaviour before turning to the class again, "Sasuke, Sakura, Shikamaru, Ino, Choji and you Kiba. With me. Kakashi, as I said, you need to come too."

The teenagers all stood up from their seats, chairs screeching against the floor, everybody else in the class watching. Knowing. This was about Kankuro's murder. The selected few were in some kind of trouble.

Kakashi allowed his students out of the class before following after Tsunade, who had also just exited, all to the sound of Anko asking the remaining students what lesson she was now teaching.

The students and Kakashi lined up against the nearby lockers as Tsunade turned to them all.

"You're getting Guidance Counselling," she said briefly.

There was a silence.

"Oh man, how bothersome, talking to them will be such a drag." Was Shikamaru's response.

"That maybe so, but it has to be offered," Tsunade replied, "You have to go to at least one. Pein and Konan will just talk to you about your… predicaments… it's all confidential and you only have to go once."

"Lady Tsunade," Kakashi began but Tsunade shook her head.

"You have to go Kakashi. Hiruzen's forcing my hand. We as a school can't look completely neutral to the situation. We have to at least make it out that we helped you."

Those in line stood in contemplation as Tsunade spoke again.

"I just took Naruto out of Guren's lower band literature class, he's with Pein and Konan now but he should be finished soon, so if any of you want to go now?"

Everybody remained silent; even Kakashi looked to the side as to avoid Tsunade's eyes.

The older lady crossed her arms, "You're going to have to go sometime people."

Kiba stepped out of line, "I'll go."

Tsunade regarded him with a nod, "Good. Well done. You know where their room is?"

Kiba nodded.

Tsunade turned to Kakashi, "I hope you don't mind Kakashi, you can go instead if you want so Kiba doesn't miss anything in class."

"No, no. I think I would prefer to teach the rest of this lesson, let Anko enjoy her free slot."

Tsunade smiled before beckoning everybody back into class. She looked at Kiba once, before departing down the corridor. Kiba began to walk the opposite way, hearing Anko leave the classroom behind him with a whistle.

Of course, the main reason he had volunteered to go was to avoid his punishment for not doing his essay, but secretly Kiba also wanted to see what talking about his feelings would be like. Juugo seemed to enjoy it.

Pein and Konan's room was a strange place. It was stationed in-between the Teacher's Corridor and the main reception. There was a dark waiting room, adorned with crimson cushioned seats running along the walls, and a door that of course led to the main office where Naruto was, talking to the two counsellors. Kiba had never been inside so wasn't sure of what to expect. He simply took a seat, looking through the glass walling to the Teacher's Corridor, where he curiously noted Tsunade arriving back at her office with Jiraiya by her side, talking jovially to each other. It seemed like they were friends or something. They definitely weren't restricted to a Head Teacher-Detective relationship.

As Kiba watched secretly, the office door flung open and Naruto stood beaming.

"Oh, hey Kiba!" He grinned.

"Hey, Naruto," Kiba greeted in return, looking over the blonde's shoulder only to see darkness.

"You here for the talk thing, right?" Naruto asked as he walked to the waiting room door, "It's great. Pein and Konan are awesome."

Kiba nodded unsurely as he stood.

"Well, good luck!" Naruto beamed before leaving.

Kiba took a long breath before heading to the door.

The office was very dark, as predicted. The blinds were closed and no light was on. Kiba found it hard to examine the room, but noted the very big desk in-front of him and the many, many inspirational and Christian posters on the walls.

"Hello," Came a deep voice from behind the voice, "And who are you?"

Kiba closed the door behind himself and sat down on the chair in-front. Pein and Konan looked down at him from their tall seats on the other side of the desk. They were two of the scariest Guidance Counsellors he had ever seen.

"Erm, I'm Kiba. I'm here to talk, I guess."

"What's on your mind?" Konan questioned in an almost melodic voice.

Kiba coughed, "Well I'm here because Lady Tsunade made me… I'm one of the, erm, Murder Suspects."

"Like Naruto," Pein stated. Kiba was having a hard time getting used to both his voice and appearance. He was dressed smartly enough, white shirt, no tie, and from what Kiba noted under the table, very posh shoes, but the piercings and the voice and those eyes. Why had he agreed to come here again?

"Yeah, like Naruto."

"I suppose, like Naruto, you don't know where to start either. I haven't seen you in here before so I assume you've never done this kind of thing."

Kiba shook his head, "Never."

Konan spoke, "Just start with whatever you feel like talking about. It doesn't have to be confessions or about your feelings. You can talk about the weather if you like."

"Your friend Naruto spoke about him being on the News a couple of nights ago," added Pein.

Kiba's throat was dry. This was really a very surreal situation for him.

"I really don't know what to say. Lady Tsunade just made me come."

"The important thing is to get you talking, Kiba," Konan said, "You have to feel comfortable with us both. Please, tell me about your day so far."

This is so fucking weird, Kiba thought to himself, before shuffling in his seat and answering.

"Well, I had Biology first period."

"And how was that?" Konan pressed.

Kiba shrugged, "Alright. Naruto came and bothered me. Lesson just sort of dragged on."

"Does Naruto often bother you?" Pein asked.

"Erm. No."

Pein looked at Kiba's face a bit harder, making the younger man struggle for a place to look.

"Are you sure he doesn't bother you?" Pein said eventually.

What, is this guy some kind of mind reader?

"Yeah… Well. Naruto's a funny guy, he can be a bit bothersome but…"

"How does he bother you?" asked Konan.

Kiba frowned, "I don't really want to bitch about Naruto behind his back-"

"It is not bitching," Pein corrected, "You can talk about anything you want in here. We will not tell anybody anything you say."

Kiba smiled slightly, finding it amusing to hear Pein's deep and commanding voice say the word 'bitching'.

He then sighed, "I don't know. It's just…"

Konan leaned forwards, "What?"

Kiba shook his head, "It doesn't matter, forget it."

"No Kiba!" Pein suddenly bellowed, making Kiba jump in his seat, "Tell us what's on your mind."

"Okay, okay," Kiba gaped. He paused and coughed, "Naruto is…. Err," Kiba paused again and looked at Pein pleadingly, "I'm not really comfortable talking about Naruto behind-"

"Kiba!" Pein once again said in a raised voice.

"Okay!" Kiba flinched, "Okay… Naruto likes this girl, Sakura and she's going out with this guy called Sasuke, but Sasuke's acting all weird and ignoring her, so Naruto's obsessing over that all the while Hinata is totally obsessing over him but he doesn't even look at her."

"And this bothers you why?" Konan questioned.

"Well! Because…. I sorta… like… Hinata."

There was a silence. Kiba felt his face burning and it burned even more when Konan extended out her hand and onto Kiba's.

"This," She began, "Is exactly the sort of situation me and Pein are trained for."

Kiba gulped, "Couldn't we just talk about the murder instead. I think that's what Lady Tsunade had in mind."

"No!" Pein exclaimed, standing up swiftly.

The ginger-haired man reached out onto the desk and pressed a switch. Suddenly a dim light emerged in the room from the lamp he had just turned on. This light revealed to Kiba a large whiteboard to the right of the desk. Pein stood by this, a whiteboard pen magically appearing in his hand.

"This is your problem," He declared as he began scribbling on the board.

Kiba watched in bemusement as Pein scribbled away. Konan watched blandly, though Kiba noted an excited glint in her eye. These two were strange.

"Here," Pein finished as he stepped away from the board.

Kiba scanned it. It was a square and at each corner was a name. At the bottom left was his and Sasuke's names, in the next corner Hinata's, the next Naruto's and the last, Sakura's.

"What is it?"

"You are one quarter of a love square," Pein announced, almost grandly.

Kiba looked at the square of names then back to Pein.

Konan apparently felt the need to explain.

"Kiba, you love Hinata but she loves Naruto who in turn loves Sakura who actually loves Sasuke. It's a love square and we deal with problems like this all the time. We can help you."

Kiba examined the square once more, before sticking a finger up at it.

"Are you sure it's a love square?"

Pein looked at the square himself before nodding, "Yes. Four sides." He highlighted the perimeter of the shape.

Kiba scratched his head, "But there's five people involved. Seems to me more of a love pentagon."

Konan went to answer but Kiba continued with his criticisms.

"And also, the square makes it look like both me and Sasuke like Hinata when I'm pretty sure he doesn't. Well at least I hope he doesn't."

Pein and Konan shared a look.

Kiba tapped his chin, "And also, isn't it normally in situations like this that the love kind of goes round in one big circle. So it would make more sense if Sasuke liked me, then it would go round and round."

"Ah, but then it would be a love circle." Konan managed to fit in.

Kiba pouted, "I'm not sure. Maybe if-"

"Forget the square!" Pein suddenly roared, wiping the square away with his hands.

The man turned to Kiba and retook his seat by the desk.

"The point is, you have three options."

"I do?"

"Yes," Konan said, "You can either do nothing at all, do something silly like try and make Sasuke act normal again, or do the right thing and prove your love to Hinata."

Kiba sat in consideration, Pein and Konan looking down at him expectantly. Kiba eventually snapped his fingers.

"Okay, I got it."

The couple waited for Kiba's decision.

"I'll fix Sasuke! That way Naruto will stop obsessing over Sakura and stop hurting Hinata's feelings."

Konan narrowed her eyes, "That's very honourable of you Kiba, but don't you think the best course of action would be to just tell Hinata how you feel. It breaks the chain completely."

Kiba stood and grinned, "No, I got this. I'll find out Sasuke's problem, fix it and fix their relationship, making Sakura unattainable to Naruto!"

Pein looked blank, "Wouldn't that just mean more chance of Naruto getting together with Hinata?"

Kiba was not listening.

"Thanks guys, I didn't think talking to you would actually work!"

Konan and Pein both stood and the woman spoke, "Well, you can come back anytime Kiba. In-fact, I advise you to. We still need to discuss your issues over Kankuro's death and I would love to be updated on your progress with Hinata… and Sasuke."

"Oh I will! Thanks so much guys!"

The two watched Kiba leave, Pein going to shut the door behind him.

"He's not too bright, is he?"

"Hey buddy."

Last period. Might Gai's PE class. Outside on the field. Soccer. Sasuke was playing in goal and although Kiba was meant to be a forward he stood by his own team's goal, talking to the Uchiha.

"What do you want?" Sasuke demanded.

Kiba shrugged and looked at his nails, "Just wondering how you're doing is all."

Sasuke's cold eyes bore into Kiba, "Fine."

"Good, good. How's Sakura? I haven't spoken to her in ages."

Kiba noted Sasuke's face soften at Sakura's name, but his response was typically passive aggressive.

"Fine."

Before Kiba could talk again, Sasuke pointed forwards, "Shouldn't you be down there?"

Kiba looked down the pitch to see his team on the attack, Rock Lee on the ball attempting to run it into the opposing teams goal as Naruto called dramatically for it in a blatant offside position.

"Lee's got it covered," Kiba answered, before taking a leaning position against the post.

Sasuke sighed and fiddled with his goalkeeper gloves. Kiba watched, thinking of what to say. He had to somehow find out what Sasuke's problem was though this was no easy feat. Kiba wasn't sure Sasuke even liked him and now he was acting like he disliked his own girlfriend, so…

"So… What about this murder business? Crazy stuff right?"

Sasuke's eye twitched at this. Kiba noted his quirk curiously, before continuing, "No idea why anybody would want to murder Kankuro. I-"

"Shut up."

It was said so quietly that Kiba had nearly missed it but he stopped and turned to Sasuke. The boy turned to him, for once properly acknowledging him.

"Shut up." He said again.

Kiba was somewhat taken aback, "Err. Oh… Does it bother you or something?"

Sasuke turned to Kiba fully now, anger actually plastered across his face, "I said shut up, okay?"

Kiba, wide eyed, nodded. With a whistle he turned and made his way back into his forward position, the game and the ball flying past him and towards his own goal.

He hadn't expected that. Sasuke had actually got angry. He was normally just a quiet, somewhat rude guy, he never lost his cool. What had Kiba said to bother him so much? The brunette thought back as the ball sailed over his head and his team complained at him for putting in no effort to retrieve it. He had told Kiba to shut up the second Kankuro was mentioned. When the murder was mentioned.

Kiba paused and turned to look at Sasuke, now a figure in the distance as Kiba had wandered so far up pitch.

Could Sasuke… Was Sasuke… No, it was preposterous… but could it be true? Did Sasuke know something Kiba didn't? Something about the murder?

Odd. Very odd indeed.

Yeah, so guys I'm interested, at this point who do you think the murderer is? It hasn't been touched upon much yet, except just now with Kiba's suspicions of Sasuke, so I'm genuinely curious as to who you think out of the suspects actually did it.

Also, keep in mind, this was Kiba's chapter, so yes it was a little KibaHina. Sorry if you don't like the pairing, but there's no need to worry, even I don't know how the pairings are ending in this story! I could bow down to popular demand or I could not.

As usual, thanks for the reviews, they're very motivational! And sorry for any mistakes, I tried proof-reading this just as I finished writing so I was a bit tired. Thanks again!