Chapter 54: The Waiting Game
After a while of searching the forest around us I heard Hinata say sadly, "I haven't picked up a trace of anyone yet..."
"Akamaru doesn't smell anyone either." Kiba said hearing Akamaru whine seeing Kakashi stop and point to a giant tree with a hole in it, "We will rest up for a little bit."
Watching Shino's bugs leave his jacket he said, "My insects will search for us and inform me when they've found something."
Sitting beside him I took a sip of water as Akamaru came over to rest his head in my lap letting me pet him. Hinata sat beside me while Kakashi did the same realizing we were all tired from the long trek.
After a little while Kiba turned towards us saying, "Kakashi-sensei is it okay to be relaxing in a place like this?"
"We haven't found the enemy yet, it's dangerous to act recklessly. Besides without knowing anything about that crystal jutsu until Pakkun returns we must act with caution." Kakashi said as I yawned seeing him look towards me saying, "You should all take the rest while you can, I will make sure there is no trouble."
Nodding I lazily laid my head against Shino feeling him stiffen from my sudden closeness but relax a bit since he must have been too tired to fight it. I could feel Akamaru relax against my side feeling the warmth of his fur just adding to me sleepiness. My thoughts though were buzzing with Shino's father's words still in my head as I questioned whether I should stick to how I felt or listen to what I really wanted. With everything going on with Akatsuki and Naruto though I felt it was best to wait and see if we all even made it out of here alive.
It didn't take long for all of us to fall asleep, but it was unfortunately short lived feeling someone nudge me groaning as I nuzzled into Shino, "Five more minutes."
"Oi Yuna we need to get moving, you can snuggle Shino when we get home." I heard Kiba say jokingly instantly opening my eyes as I glared sleepily at him replying, "Shut up dog boy."
He made a face at me as Hinata waved her hand to defuse the situation, "We should get moving..."
With Kiba and Akamaru in the lead we began our search again watching them land on a branch saying, "We still haven't picked up any scents..."
"I used my Byakugan but can't see anything either..." Hinata replied defeated until a light screeching was heard watching a bat fly around us.
"There are some signs." Shino said beside me as I turned towards him replying, "Where?"
"I'm talking about my insects so don't get too excited." Shino said watching Kiba slump his shoulders grumbling, "Your insects… don't get me excited like that… you had tons of thousands of insects, so I wouldn't be surprised if one of them is still alive."
"But that one insect out of tens of thousands that managed to survive becomes an asset to us." Shino replied as I titled my head confused, "An asset to us?"
Turning to me he replied, "Because it has survived despite incurring the enemy's jutsu."
"Does that mean the insects are now immune to the enemy's jutsu?" Kakashi asked hearing Shino say, "My insects life span is only a few hours at most, and the immune insects can breed in a very short period of time."
"That's amazing." I said smiling while he said pessimistically, "But it's just a possibility, I'm not sure if it'll be successful."
Giving him a sideways glance, I mumbled, "So much for the compliment..."
"In any case I must find as many surviving insects as possible." Shino said as Hinata and Kiba replied, "We'll help you find them."
"There is no need." Shino replied seeing Kiba frown at him replying, "Why not?"
"Only I can search for the insects, I can't have you stepping on them while you're searching blindly." Shino replied matter-of-factually watching Kiba sigh, "Can't you refuse our help with a little more finesse?"
"I don't want to waste time being vague." Shino said stuffing his hands in his pockets while Kakashi said, "Well then you go and find the insects that survived, and we'll continue our search."
"I want Yuna to come with me." Shino said looking towards me as I titled my head hearing Kiba say, "How come?"
"She has gone bug hunting with me and should we run into the enemy I'll need someone to keep them distracted for me, she's best suited for it." Shino said staring at me making me smile as I said, "You can count on me."
"Right the rest of you let's go." Kakashi said watching them jump off while Shino and I went in a different direction.
Jumping alongside Shino we moved in silence seeing him concentrate on trying to find at least one of his bugs. The sun was beginning to peak over the horizon, and we had yet to find a single bug but we also didn't run into any enemies. Going back to where the initial crystals was we jumped down as he walked towards them picking one up.
"They've become so weak, I can't feel their response..." Shino said tossing the crystal standing up as he looked at me saying, "Perhaps it will be easier to send scouts out to help look."
Nodding he sent out three insects as we began following them around the crystal piles trying to find one that was still alive. Watching them converge over one such pile Shino picked up the crystal inspecting it before turning to me nodding. We got somewhere high as I watched him carefully begin to carve the crystal to get the bug out.
"So your insects should breed more that can be immune to the crystal?" I asked as he replied, "Yes, as long as this one is intact and has eggs their babies should be able to pass on the immunity for future ones."
"That's so cool." I said looking at it closer hearing him say with a slight tint of playfulness in his voice, "To think this would have grossed you out a few years ago."
Giving him a playful glare, I replied, "True but I'm glad you helped me learn more about them, it made not fearing them all the more easy."
He nodded as the crystal began to crack watching him split it open seeing the insect flutter slightly as he said, "Alright it's got eggs… now if I can make them hatch."
He picked up the insect gently as it crawled into his sleeve so it could enter his skin to make more making me tilt my head, maybe this part was still a little weird. Looking at the sky I could tell rain was heading our way as Shino sat on the tree trunk calmly.
"We should find cover soon, the rain is heading our way and it looks bad." I said while he replied, "It's best I don't move much while my insects are at work, I can make us a shelter here."
"What about the others?" I asked seeing him grab his pack replying, "They probably went back to where we were before but in this weather, we are open to enemy attack since my insects can't sense them so it's best we stay hidden."
Opening his pack I saw he had a sleeping bag inside tilting my head, "A sleeping bag?"
"I only have one but it's big enough so we are just going to have to make it work before the storm arrives." he said already feeling the water drops start to head our way.
Watching him stick it to the branch of the tree he gave it a few tugs to make sure it wouldn't fall before unzipping it enough for him to climb in like he was in a cocoon. He looked towards me as I made a face before sighing climbing in with him watching while he zipped it enough to conceal us but keep a look out. Blushing lightly at our bodies being pressed up together I kept my hands to my side not wanting to squirm too much afraid to make us fall.
"You are being quiet, is something on your mind?" Shino ask suddenly making me move my head slightly unable to look at him since I was against his shoulder blade saying, "Just worried is all… about Naruto and everything that's been happening with the Akatsuki."
He was quiet for a moment before saying, "Despite Naruto not remembering me I'm sure he will be fine with all of us working together to stop Akatsuki."
"I guess… just scared to lose more people… after Asuma and seeing how much it effected the ones he loved most I worry about all the people I really care about too." I said leaning into his shoulder more as he said, "Thinking about it will only make it worse, you just have to have faith in them that they can take care of themselves."
"Yea you're probably right and if not, I'll protect them." I said while he was quiet for a moment before saying, "They would all protect you too."
Smiling wide I closed my eyes happy for the answer noticing a vibration that Shino was emitting but never realized being this close to him. Then again, he could be cold which would make the layers he wore understandable.
"Shino are you vibrating?" I questioned confused as he tensed up his body saying simply, "The insects are hard at work right now, I don't really feel it anymore, sorry for the inconvenience."
Laughing I replied, "It's okay was worried you were shivering at first but it's quite warm in here… like a personal cocoon."
"That was the idea." he said simply making me roll my eyes replying, "I figured."
"We are in for a long night of rain…" Shino said staring out at the forest watching the rain start to pour hearing the thunder roar.
Yawning for some reason I was still tired, so I decided to shut my eyes for a moment letting the vibration and warmth of Shino lull me to sleep.