"Kiba."
With a strained smile, he stepped inside his old sensei's home, flattening himself to avoid bumping into her impossibly large belly as she shut the door behind him.
"You're heading out, aren't you?"
"Yeah," he responded, nodding with a gulp and shoving his hands into his pants pockets. "Sorry, I didn't stop by with Hinata and Shino…was busy buttoning some stuff up at home before I took off. I can't stay long, once I leave, I'm catching up to them."
"I understand." She set a placating hand over his forearm, giving it a squeeze. "Thank you for coming. I was worried I wouldn't see you before you left."
"Ah, don't worry." He waved a hand in front of him, smiling faintly. "You'll see me when I get back, right?"
"Right, right." He could see how difficult it was for her to push that out. She was truly worried. "I will see you when you return. You, and Hinata, and Shino." A little whine by Kiba's feet drew a chuckle from the woman as she bent slightly, setting a hand on the giant pup's head. "And Akamaru."
"Just stay safe, here, okay Kurenai-sensei?" He caught her eyes with his as she straightened back out, the giggle dying in her throat as she frowned. "No matter what, don't try to fight."
"Don't worry," she whispered, looking over his shoulder towards her window, a small smile, "I've been personally assigned Team Ebisu to look out for me."
"Oh." Kiba chuckled, looking over his shoulder to find what she was looking at: Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon perched on the rooftops around her home. "Right. Scrappy kids…but I saw what Konohamaru did to that guy."
"Indeed." Kurenai nodded, their eyes coming back to one another. He laughed faintly as she enveloped him in an embrace, pulling him down as he awkwardly tried to avoid too much contact with her stomach. "Kiba, promise me you'll protect Hinata."
"Wh—"
"Promise me what happened with Pein will not happen out there. Keep her safe."
"Yeah…" he breathed, squeezing her a little tighter. "Yeah, of course. You know me."
"I do know you," she responded, nodding against his shoulder, "and I know you will keep her safe." He looked at her with worried eyes as she pulled back, patting at his cheek affectionately. "You four are exceptional shinobi."
"Quit talkin' like that," he mumbled, awkwardly running his fingers through his hair, "like we're already gone. We'll be back in no time, got it?"
"Yes." She smiled warmly now, apparently comforted enough.
"I should go…"
"Mm," she hummed agreement, her smile fading and he shook his head, gently patting her shoulder.
"See you soon, sensei."
