Chapter 3: A Separate Peace

"Only true friendships last forever."

A few hours after the induction of Naruto, everyone in the village returns back to their daily lives. This includes florists, merchants, architects, and ninja. Amongst the rush back to work are three old friends who say their good byes.

"It was nice seeing you again, Hinata!" screams Kiba, followed by barks from Akamaru.

As Hinata walks away from Shino and Kiba, she stares at the blue and cloudless sky. Surrounded by silence, she thinks to herself, "Naruto.. I'm so proud of you. You never gave up and look where you are now. To be honest, look at we're the both of us are now..." She quickly shakes her head with embarassment for having a conversation with herself and continues to walk to the Ninja Academy.

Hinata Hyuga, now the head of the main branch of the Hyuga family, is now also the Headmistress of the Ninja Academy. She has done well in her job in teaching the students about perseverence, being a prime example herself. She guards these students with her life and constantly helps them when needed. Between being the head of the Hyuga Clan and the Academy, Hinata rarely sees anyone from her old team.

"So, I guess we'd be better on our way too. Right, Akamaru?" Kiba says.

"I guess so," Shino says in response.

"If you ever need any help, Shino, with that patrolling stuff, you can count on me and Akamaru here, and well, the rest of the ANBU to help." Kiba adds as he rides Akamaru to ANBU base.

Like many of the others, Kiba also has accomplished a title, the head of the ANBU Black Ops. The ANBU, ever since Kiba's placement, specializes in tracking and capturing targets and acting as a security squad for A-Ranked missions. Kiba still fights along side with his companion Akamaru. Since the war, the ANBU don't wear masks anymore, but they are still a very exclusive group. Due to this, Kiba rarely speaks to anyone outside of the sanction.

Shino on the other hand is now in charge of the Village Boarder Patrol. He uses his clan's jutsu to place bugs around the perimeter of the village in order to spot anything or anyone that comes within a certain range of the village. Ever since the war, not much has happened, but there was never an incident that an armed enemy came within 10 miles of the village without being spotted or defeated due to Shino's bugs. Due to the 24 hour surveillance, Shino rarely communicates with others.

Shino is the only one that remains of the three. Soon, he begins to walk back to the gates until he walks into Kurenai-sensei. This time she isn't with Asumaru for she had dropped him off at a daycare so that she could run some errands.

"Hello, Kurenai-sensei." Shino timidly speaks.

"Shino. What are you doing here? I'd expect Kiba and Hinata to be here with you, but I guess not. How are they nowadays?" Kurenai asks. "I haven't seen them, and even you, in a while."

"They were actually here a few moments ago. You just missed them, but they're good. It funny that you say that though because we rarely get to see each other as well, due to our jobs." Shino says in monotone.

"I see, well, at least you still talk to each other. You guys don't seem like the types to let your friendships go." Kurenai says with a smile.

As if just hearing the word for the first time, "Friendship..," Shino says to himself.

'Well, I need to get going to the village to get some things for Asumaru. It was nice seeing you Shino. When you see the others, tell them I say hello." Kurenai leaves with a wave.

Left alone again, Shino now beings to think about Kurenai's words, "I didn't realize that we still talk, despite all the time we spend apart. Kurenai rarely speaks with her old team, but we still do. Interesting.."

Shino now rushes off to the village gates, not knowing that all of them, walking in different directions and living separate lives, are thinking the same thing at that same moment, "I'm glad they're my friends".