Kiba woke up to his alarm blaring. He groaned and lazily slapped the top button on the clock to make it stop. It was the second alarm to go off in the last five minutes, so he knew he needed to wake up. Laying to his right was Akumaru, who yawned lazily and rolled over, no longer facing Kiba.

"Are you up yet?" His mother's voice called from behind the door.

Kiba rolled his eyes. If one person seemed to make it their mission to get on his case, it was his mother.

"I'm up," He replied groggily.

"Bout time; let Akumaru out and get ready for work. Your breakfast will get cold if you keep lying in bed. Now hurry up!" She called before hitting the door with a loud thump.

Kiba sighed and got out of bed with Akumaru following him to the first floor and outside so he could relieve himself. After closing the door behind Akumaru, he hurried back upstairs, cleaned himself up, and returned to the first-floor dining room where his mother and sister had already started eating. It was the usual, high-protein breakfast in the Inuzuka house, consisting of several meats, eggs, rice, and fruit. He pulled out his usual seat, grabbed his utensils, and grabbed some food to put on his plate.

"So you just sit at the table, start grabbing food, and don't say good morning or anything?" His mother, Tsume Inuzuka, asked with an arched eyebrow.

Kiba frowned and put his chopsticks down. "Good morning, Mom and Hana. How are you both doing today? And thank you for putting food in Akumaru's bowl for me, Hana."

Hana, his older sister, smiled. "You're welcome, and good morning little brother!"

Tsume frowned and looked at her oldest child. "Hana, why do you keep spoiling him? Akumaru is his partner; he needs to take responsibility for taking care of him."

Hana kept her smile and grabbed her cup. "I was already feeding the others, so what's filling up one more bowl?"

Tsume rolled her eyes and went back to eating. Kiba was grateful his sister always had his back with the mother. He was also glad that Hana was a more benevolent leader of the Inazuka than their mother after she took over responsibilities for the clan. But one thing was sure: everyone knew not to take Hana's kindness for granted. If anything, her fangs and claws were just as sharp as the most formidable wolf in the clan. And being on the receiving end of her anger proved to be dangerous.

But with Hana taking on her role as the clan leader, Tsume now had and took more time to criticize and find fault with her son. Kiba often shoveled his breakfast down as fast as possible to leave for work or out of the house in general. He returned late at night, hoping Tsume was asleep to avoid her. He began the shoveling of food process when Tsume looked at him, a scowl growing on her face.

"How the hell did you get a girlfriend eating like a slob?" Tsume sniffed.

Kiba decided that was enough of being the whipping board for today, swallowed the last bit of meat he was chewing, and gulped down his tea. In truth, he had the day off from working at the police station, but he never told his mother that. Otherwise, she'd find work for him to do around the house. He began standing up and sliding his arms into the jacket he'd placed on the back of his chair over his shinobi vest.

"Alright, time for me to get going. Have a -"

"Sit your ass down!" Tsume growled. "We need to talk about something important."

Kiba's eyes widened, and he sat back down. "Okay, about what?"

Tsume jabbed her index finger in his direction. "About you and Hinata. Surprisingly, she hasn't dumped you yet. Are you considering marrying her or what?"

Kiba blushed intensely. "Mom!"

It was true he had looked at rings in the past. He put that off due to his relations with Hiashi Hyuga. The head of the Hyuga clan didn't outright hate Kiba, but he knew he didn't exactly care for him either. Hinata assured him that's how he was with most people, but Kiba felt Hiashi was especially cold toward him.

Tsume didn't seem fazed by her son's reaction and started speaking again. "Look, a clan like the Hyuga and our clan are like two different worlds regarding structure. They prefer to keep their lines primarily pure marrying within the family. We do the same if possible but don't mind marrying anyone outside the clan. If you're serious about marrying her, Hana and I need to meet with Hiashi and discuss important matters. Sooner rather than later."

"Are you serious?" Kiba asked.

"No, I'm just asking you this cause I like to hear the sound of my voice," Tsume said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Of course I'm serious!"

Hana set her drink down and decided it was time to step in. "With the war over and stability finally setting in the village, many young people want to settle down. I mean, look at your friends Naruto and Sakura. He proposed to her not too long ago."

"Ahh, yes," Tsume said, smiling and closing her eyes. "Now they make a fine couple! Think about how many good-for-nothing villagers treated that poor boy. And now look at him, a real man! Every time I see him, he commands the respect of everyone around him. Handsome, too, just like his father!"

Kiba resisted the urge to groan. If there was one thing worse than his mother harping on him, it was when she praised Naruto. In her eyes, he could do no wrong. It was as if the sun rose when Naruto woke up and set when he fell asleep. Tsume was so busy praising Naruto that she didn't notice the frown growing on her son's face.

"And his bride-to-be, she's a beautiful girl! Soon to be head medic at the hospital, she's the perfect girl to stand next to Naruto! I can't wait to attend the wedding; I know she will make a beautiful bride!"

Kiba started standing up again. "Alright, I'mma head out."

Hana sighed and looked at Kiba. "Let us know, Kiba. We need to set a meeting with Hinata's father."

"Yeah, go ahead, do what you want!" He called over his shoulder and headed toward the front door. "I love you both. See you later."

Hana sighed, understanding why he was in such a hurry to leave the home. But at least he answered their question. She turned to look at her mother only to see she was preoccupied with her thoughts. As long as she wouldn't take this moment to fuss about Kiba or anything else, Hana was satisfied to finish her food in peace.

On Sakura's way to work, she traveled to the Yamanaka flower shop. She was relieved that the employees were busy with customers and that Ino was sitting at the prep counter working on an arrangement alone. Sakura smiled, skipped to the prep counter, and stopped when Ino looked up.

"Hey, Ino!" Sakura said before grinning.

Ino smiled and finished the last touches on the arrangement before removing it from the table. "Sakura! I've been meaning to come and visit you at the Hospital. I've heard that you and Naruto bought a house recently?" Ino asked, leaning forward a bit on the last bit.

"Yeah, we did! We're going to have a housewarming party soon. I'll make sure you get an invitation." She explained. "But I wanted to ask you something important."

Ino's eyes widened slightly as she gasped. She looked around the flower shop to see some curious customers looking in their direction and then back to the flowers. Ino turned to Sakura and ran a hand through her hair as she regained her computer. She cupped her hands over her mouth to keep others from reading her lips.

"Is this about the you know what?" She whispered.

Sakura raised an eyebrow but covered her mouth with her hands to answer. "The wedding? Yeah, why, what's up?"

Ino stood up, grinning from ear to ear, squealing in delight. "Come back here tonight after work! With takeout! We have so much to discuss!"

Sakura's eyes widened. "Uh, I thought we could just do some pre-talk now and-"

"No, no, no," Ino said, cutting her off, leaning close. "Look around; I'm still in peak wedding season sales. If other brides hear about me planning your wedding, they'll get jealous and want to haggle about prices or ask for wedding packages that I don't offer to just anyone." Sakura looked around, seeing the amount of attention they were receiving. "Besides, I played a considerable part in you two getting together. So it'd only make sense for me to plan the wedding. And tell Naruto to hang out with the guys or something tonight. I don't need him groaning; he's bored while we work."

Sakura nodded and said her goodbyes as a customer and an employee approached the prep station. She was relieved that Ino would agree to help with the wedding. And this was the first step in her wedding to Naruto.

'I'll have to call Naruto as soon as I reach the hospital.' She thought to herself as she continued down the road. She took out her engagement ring on the golden chain necklace she wore so that it wouldn't get dirty while treating patients. Mrs. Uzumaki. She smiled, put the necklace away, and practically skipped the rest of the way to the hospital to begin her shift.

In the Hyuga compound, Hinata and Neji were busy sparring against one another. They were in front of Neji and Tenten's home, standing face to face with one another before the wooden porch. Both had the Byakugan, the dojutsu of the Hyuga clan, activated. While being held prisoner by Toneir on the Moon, she and Neji saw the results of the main and branch houses of the Otsutski. The clan fought in a civil war that ended with only Toneir being the sole survivor on the Moon.

After being held against her will and being unable to do anything with her body, she then understood how more than half of her clan felt. The main house reaped the benefits of the sacrifices the branch house had to pay them. They were forced by birth to live and die for the good of the main house. They were branded with the cursed seal on their forehead on the third birthday of the next heir of the main house. This system caused the death of Neji's father after Hinta was kidnapped at a young and took the place of his brother Hiashi when Kumogakure demanded the life of Hiashi after killing Hinata's captor.

Seeing the results of the destruction of the main and branch houses of the Moon, Hinata feared the same could happen to her own family. Not having free will and still serving family based on birth wasn't how a clan should be. It was then that she decided that the current conditions of the Hyuga clan needed to change. And she knew that she would have to take a stand to make a change in her family.

Hinata met with Hiashi Hyuga and the clan's elders. She pleaded with them to allow her to be the clan's heiress again to make changes to the Hyuga clan after informing them of what occurred on the Moon. However, Hiashi and the elders initially denied her request. They used past actions of putting herself and others in danger when she attacked Pain on Naruto's behalf. And again, in the war, when she went to use herself as a shield to save Naruto.

The elders saw these actions as self-serving and not for the good of the clan. A clan leader needed to be a pillar to uphold the clan's reputation and honor on their shoulders. And thus, if she wanted to become their heir, she would have to prove herself. To defeat Hiashi in one-on-one combat by the end of the year. If she won in this trial, her honor would be restored in the family, and she would become the heir of the Hyuga. And if she lost, Hanabi would remain the heiress. The two-house system would continue with the main family treating the branch family as subservient to them. The deal was also made on the condition that Hinata wouldn't be allowed to have her relationship with Kiba if she lost. And that she would settle down with a male member of the main clan.

Faced with no other options, she ultimately accepted this deal as this was the only way she could become the heiress again. And she hadn't told Kiba, as they weren't allowed to share it with anyone outside the clan. And that guilt of not telling him of this pushed her not to give up. Hinata worked tirelessly, training between missions to grow stronger. Neji had always been the perfect sparring partner for her being a master of the gentle fist-fighting style. It is believed by all, inside and outside the clan, that Neji is strongest and even more powerful than Hiashi. He always denied this, of course, but she knew she had to come close to Neji's abilities to withstand a fight against her father. No matter how much she trained, it seemed like Neji was an impossible wall to overcome.

The sound of a cicada and their heavy breathing, waiting for the other to strike, filled the silence as they stood facing each other. This spar they were doing lasted for more than ten minutes. Neither of them relented despite the bruises and pain each of them ignored. Hinata waited patiently for Neji to strike as she knew it was better in her favor to react to his attacks rather than to strike first. But Neji had grown weary of this tactic, and she found herself questioning her next move.

With a single step, Neji disappeared in a flash, reappearing beside her. Her vision with the Byakugan allowed her to see him easily despite the quick movement. Hinata dodged two strikes from Neji, circled him, and lunged forward to strike a deciding blow to his abdomen when he knocked her footing from beneath her and hit the ground. Hinata quickly swung her right leg out to do the same to him when he jumped, avoiding the attack. Realizing this, Hinata rolled backward onto her feet and cartwheeled back, narrowly avoiding two more quick strikes from Neji's hands after he landed. She continued her momentum, flipping again until she had enough room to fight him fairly.

They exchanged hits, and the sounds of harsh slaps quickly filled the silence once more. Hinata narrowed her eyes and decided now was her time to strike. She charged forward, swinging her right hand to hit when Neji decidedly grabbed her wrist and heaved her body over her shoulder, making her land on her back. Hanabi and Kiba were watching from the porch, winced simultaneously when Hinata landed on the ground. Hinata breathed roughly when her eyes returned to normal. Neji frowned as his eyes returned to normal, and he held his hand out for her to grab. Hinata begged him not to go easy on her, to take her seriously in their training. But he had to admit he got a little carried away in this spar.

"Hinata, are you alright?" Neji asked, a bit worried.

"Yes," She said, sounding slightly disappointed as she reached for his hand and stood up with his assistance. She brushed the dirt off of her clothes and sighed. "Looks like I'm still no match for you, Neji."

Hanabi stood up then, holding her right fist high in the air. "But you've gotten much better, big sister!"

Kiba nodded. "She's right!"

Hinata smiled as she looked up at her boyfriend and little sister—two of her biggest supporters, along with her cousins Neji and Tenten. She held her left elbow with her right hand and nodded, smiling slightly.

"Thank you. I still need to work harder to defeat father. If I don't, I cannot become the clan's heir again." She said softly.

Kiba stood up, his right fist clenched. "Neji and your father are the strongest of the Hyuga. But Hinata, you have what it takes to do anything you want. I know you can do it!"

Neji nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. "He's right, you can do this. But coming at Lord Hiashi head-on in a battle will not work." They all turned to look at Neji then. "In terms of the gentle fist, Lord Hiashi is a master. He's like a blade, sharp and precise in every movement, deadly at any strike. But Hinata, you thrive in using the gentle fist in your way. Dance around his straightforward attacks, use any move to disrupt his strikes, use your ability with the twin lions to your advantage, and take him down. You must outlast him if you wish to defeat him."

Hinta nodded, taking the advice to heart. She knew Neji wouldn't steer her wrong with his advice.

"But right now, how about refreshments and a well-deserved break?" A voice called from behind all of them.

Everyone turned to see Tenten holding a large tray of multiple cups, a teapot, and a plate of cookies. Before she could take a step further, Neji was already beside her, taking the tray into his hands.

"You should be getting some rest, Tenten." He warned as he held out the tray for the others to grab drinks. "You haven't been feeling well the last couple of days."

Tenten grinned as she moved to sit next to Hanabi on the porch of their house. She didn't meet anyone's gaze but held her stomach with one of her hands. "About that, I went to the hospital to get a check-up with Sakura. And after some blood work, I found out that… Well…." She trailed off.

"Found out what?" Neji asked, concerned.

Hinata gasped before smiling. "Oh, Neji, don't you understand?"

"Understand what?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing together as he turned to Hinata and then back to Tenten.

Tenten blushed a little. "We're expecting Neji! I'm pregnant!"

Hanabi squealed in delight while Kiba, now standing beside Hinata, grinned. Neji's mouth dropped open. It was almost as if it would've hit the ground and bounced back up a few times comically, if possible. He quickly shook his head as he regained his composure. He absent-mindedly handed the tray to Kiba and walked over to Tenten. His eyes widened slightly as he knelt before her. His eyes were fixed on the hand on her stomach as he put his hand there.

"We're going to be parents?" So softly that Hanabi barely heard him.

Tenten laughed and put her hand on top of his. "Yes! You're going to be parents!"

While they gave their congratulations, the group didn't notice the presence of two people approaching them. Hiashi Hyuga and his attendant, a young man three years older than Hinata and Kiba from the branch house named Kenzo. Hiashi's face was held in a stern, stone-like expression of a scowl. His frown deepened when he saw the young adults and his younger daughter cheering instead of preparing for his battle with Hinata. As he approached them, he cleared his throat, gaining their attention. They all quickly bowed, showing their respects to the elder Hyuga.

His eyes landed on Hinata when he began to speak. "I came here after hearing that my daughter was training for our battle. Instead, I see you all cheering about tea. I thought you'd finally changed for the better, but clearly, I was wrong. Do you know what kind of predicament we're in? How the honor and prestige of our clan is in jeopardy?"

"The honor of your clan?" Kiba asked, confused.

It was common knowledge that the Hyuga, even among the four noble clans of the village, was held in the highest regard. The Uchiha, despite the massacre, still had Sasuke as the sole surviving member of the clan who could repopulate. The Aburame clan and Akimichi still thrived, with heirs ready to take the mantel and continue the tradition. But Hinata's battle determined who would be the heir.

Hiashi sighed. "I wouldn't expect an Inuzuka to know of said honor, but we Hyuga are the strongest and one of the most prominent clans in the village."

Kiba frowned, gripping the tray tighter than before as he held his tongue. Ever since he'd begun dating Hinata, her father's attitude toward him turned as harsh and indifferent to him as it was to her. Hiashi turned his gaze back to Hinata.

"After having the nerve to ask the elders and myself for an opportunity to prove yourself, you are playing around. I may declare our battle anytime, just as you can to me. And if I did, would you truly be ready to face me right now, Hinata?"

Hinata took a step forward. "I-" she started to speak, but he cut her off, his words laced with anger.

"No, you wouldn't! You claimed to have had feelings for Forth Hokage's son, even threw your life in danger for him and still let him slip through your fingers to a commoner. And now they will be married; imagine the children they will bear. Suitable to become the future Hokages of our village. And what of us? Should we settle to become like all the other clans, content in mediocrity? I think not. If you hope to become the clan leader, you better shape up! Hanabi, come; your training starts now."

"Yes, Father," Hanabi said quietly, quickly put her shoes on, and followed behind him as they headed back in the direction he'd come from. Kenzo bowed to Hinata and quickly followed behind Hiashi and Hanabi.

Everyone was silent except for the cicada in the distance. Kiba looked over at Hinata, who stared down at the ground, shoulders slumped. He quickly set the tray on the porch, walked back to her, and turned her toward him by her shoulders. He cupped her chin with his hand and moved her head upwards so that she'd look at him.

"Hey," He said softly. "You're so much stronger than you know! So what if you aren't with Naruto, you're with me! There's nothing wrong with you, Hinata. You are not a failure and will win your honor back!"

"He's right!" Tenten said, snatching a cookie from the plate. "And when you beat him, you'll show him and anyone else who doubted you Hinata!"

Neji stepped forward to say something when Hanabi came running back toward them with tears streaming down her face. "Sister! Neji!" She said in between breaths. "Father is unwell. He's fallen and clutching his chest!"

Neji quickly sprinted in that direction, followed by Kiba, Hinata, and Tenten, to find Hiashi kneeling on the ground, clutching his chest and groaning in pain.

The waiting room at the hospital's Emergency center was filled with many members of the Hyuga clan. Hinata stared at the double doors holding her sister's hands, who was silently sobbing into her arm. The girls lost their mother at a young age, and despite their harsh upbringing, they weren't ready to lose their father. Hinata nervously bit her lip as the minutes grew longer. Guilt racked through her body as if she somehow caused her father's condition. She knew this was unlikely, but the thoughts plagued her mind. And if Hiashi had died here, all hopes of her becoming the heir again would die with him.

The tension was palpable as Neji continued pacing back and forth, not meeting anyone's gaze. Tenten watched her husband as he continued pacing. Her arms were folded under her chest as she watched his every step. It was so tense the reception staff behind the reception desk avoided the worried gazes of the clan members. The need to print off several more documents and trips to the water fountain were more frequent than usual.

When the doors opened, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to see Sakura standing in the doorway. She sighed in relief and undid the ponytail she styled her hair in as she walked toward them, still in her white jacket.

"He's alive and no longer in critical condition. In a few hours or when he is conscious, we can allow a few of you to see him when we move him to a private hospital room." She announced.

A feeling of relief swept the room like a wave as everyone visibly relaxed. After reassuring her sister of the good news of their father's health, Hinata stood up and walked over to Sakura. She bowed before Sakura quickly before standing up straight again.

"Thank you, Sakura! Can you tell me what happened to my father?"

Sakura was about to answer when an older man with greying hair and a cane walked over to them and cleared his throat, getting both of their attention. He was a member of the main branch of the family. An elder of the clan called Hiroshi.

"Lord Hiashi's health is not a conversation to have in public. For security reasons, we ask that the hospital and its staff only allow certain secure members to look over him until we can return him to the compound when he is well enough." The older man said.

Sakura nodded once. "Of course, we will ensure the utmost care for Lord Hiashi, just like all our patients here in the hospital."

"Excellent, you have our utmost gratitude, Miss Haruno." The man said before turning to Hinata. " It is late. We should get you and Hanabi back to the compound to rest. It has been a long and trying day, and I'm sure Lord Hiashi would be at ease knowing the both of you are safe."

Hinata thought about it for a moment. She'd like to see about her father after what happened, but given his reaction to seeing her earlier, she agreed with the Hyuga elder to leave. Nodding toward him, she turned to Sakura and smiled a little.

"Thank you again, Sakura; we'll take our leave. If anything happens, please let us know as soon as possible."

"Of course," Sakura said softly.

As Sakura turned to return to the emergency room, Hinata followed the remaining members of the clan toward the hospital exit. As she went out of the hospital with Hanabi, she turned to look at the double doors of the hospital emergency entrance and sighed. Although her father was always harsh toward her, she wanted nothing more than for him to return home in good health.

Kiba walked down one of the many roads of Konoha with his hands in his pockets. After helping get Hiashi to the Hospital, he hated to admit that his girlfriend's father's words affected him more than he'd like to admit. He knew he wasn't Naruto by any means, but for some reason, it seemed like he was always being compared to the blonde-haired ninja in an unfavorable light every time he turned around. Even his mother did it from time to time. He had only just begun sharing his struggles with that insecurity with Hinata. But she reassured him that he was who she wanted to be with.

When they started dating, he enjoyed that they'd grown even closer than when they were on missions together or as friends. She confided in him just as much as he did her. And even when he got a little hot-headed, her cool-headed outlook on life centered him. In his opinion, they were perfect together. And even if she couldn't be the heiress of her clan, he'd do everything in his power to provide for her. But there was one thing standing in the way of them being together.

Her father disapproved of their relationship from the beginning. While they were only teammates, and he'd bring Hinata home from a fainting spell after interacting with Naruto, Hiashi was only indifferent to him. But now it was as if the Hyuga leader hated every breath that breathed. And with his current standing in the relationship, he knew asking for Hinata's hand in marriage was out of the question.

"Have you heard of any news of Naruto and Sakura's wedding?" An older woman asked.

Kiba stopped walking and turned to see two women in front of a fruit stand picking out items to buy.

"No," The other older woman said. "But I certainly hope they get a move on with setting a date already. I'd love to attend if I got the opportunity to!"

The other lady giggled. "You and me both. They look so perfect together!"

Kiba rolled his eyes, frowned, and started walking again. He didn't hate Naruto or Sakura, seeing they were his friends. He would, however, be lying if he admitted he wasn't a bit jealous of them. He wished people thought of him and Hinata together in that light. Rather than the looks he sees people giving them. Almost as if they were saying why did she settle for him.

While walking, he noticed someone familiar standing before a bookstore. It was Shino Aburame, his other teammate. He smiled and waved his hand when Shino turned to look at him.

"Yo, Shino, what's up?" Kiba asked as he stopped in front of Shino.

"Nothing, really," Shino answered in his usual even-toned voice. "I stopped to grab Mirai some books. She's interested in some bugs and plants. But I'm sure that will change soon."

Kiba's eyes widened a bit. "Oh really? I haven't visited Kurenai Sensei and Mirai in a while! Mind if I tag along with you?"

"Sure, they'd be happy to see you."

Kiba chuckled. "Yeah, it's probably a good thing I didn't bring Akumaru. Mirai would be trying to ride him like a horse again."

Both chuckled at the thought of the little girl trying to climb aboard Akumaru; despite Akumaru's silent protests, it didn't take long for them to arrive at the Sarutobi compound. They went to Kurenai's house to find Mirai playing with a butterfly flying around her while Kurenai watched from the porch. When she saw her former students approaching her, she smiled and waved.

"Shino and Kiba! What a surprise to see you both!" Kurenai said happily.

"Hello, Kurenai sensei," Shino said softly.

"Kurenai sensei long time no see!" Kiba said grinning.

Kurenai pursed her lips as she gave him a disapproving look. "Yes, it has been a long time Kiba. Did you forget about your sensei after you got a girlfriend?" Kiba blushed a little, causing Kurenai to laugh. "Don't worry, I'm only teasing you."

Kiba closed his eyes and chuckled as he moved to sit next to her. While Shino kept Mirai busy, Kurenai decided to talk with Kiba more.

"So, how are you and Hinata doing?" Kurenai asked curiously.

Kiba sighed and scratched the back of his head. "We're doing great, but her father likes to get under my skin. It's like I can't do anything right. And in extension, Hinata too."

Kurenai nodded as she remembered when she first became their sensei. Hiashi could hardly care less about Hinata and left her care to Kurenai. With her pregnancy, she couldn't be in the war with her team. She heard about what'd almost happened to Hinata and Naruto. Even now, they do their missions without her due to her retiring to care for Mirai. She was proud of the fact that Kiba took the lead for them. And he held their team together in her absence.

Kurenai put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it lightly. "Most fathers are protective over their daughters. Though Hiashi… Let's say I don't miss taking trips to the Hyuga compound. But keep doing what you're doing, Kiba. Be her peace, and be the shoulder to lean on when times are rough for her. And I know she'll be the same to you."

"I will," Kiba said softly. "But something doesn't seem quite right."

Kurenai raised an eyebrow as she continued to look at him. "About what?"

"Hiashi seemed perfectly fine, but as soon as he walked away from all of us, he fell out," Kiba explained. "Hinata told me he had no pre-existing conditions or anything like that. And He still takes an occasional mission. So he's still in good health."

"Hmm…" Kurenai hummed softly. "You know how I feel about coincidences."

Kiba chuckled. "If it doesn't seem right, look into it yourself, right?"

"You know it," Kurenai said, smiling.

"I'll look into it when I visit Hinata before heading to the police station for work tomorrow."

"Hey, that's right! You told me you, Choji, and Rock Lee joined the police force for extra cash. How's that going?"

Kiba yawned and stretched his arms above his head. "Boring, I just handle many civil disputes and writing tickets. But when missions aren't coming in like they used to, it brings the money in."

Mirai began to laugh, causing them to look in her direction. A butterfly landed on her nose, spread its wings, and flew away. She tried to grab it when Shino picked her up and put her on his shoulders. She laughed while reaching for the butterfly that continued to fly higher and higher.

Kurenai smiled. "I'll have to let Choji know about this the next time he visits. It'll make Shikamaru jealous. The other day, he brought her a deer toy, and she promptly tossed it into her toy box."

Kiba chuckled. "Yeah, I can see him sulking now! I'll have to bring a toy pup for Mirai, too! My clan needs some representation in the toy box!"

They both laughed at this and continued to watch Shino keep Mirai entertained.