Summary: Kiba secretly likes the reader, which isnโt great because they canโt stand him and definitely do not like him back. No seriously guys thereโs definitely no way the reader likes him back thatโs absurd.
Word Count: 1.5k
The training exercise wasnโt bad. If you werenโt teamed up with Kiba it might even be enjoyable. However, you were teamed up with him, and that meant you had to deal with everything that came with being teamed up with him. Your usual strength was your stealth, the quiet steps of your feet going unheard by almost everyone, your ability to fit into places smaller than anyone would ever expect to find you, your sharp vision in the darkness. Not to mention your cat, Akemi, being able to sneak further than you could, lend you her eyes so you could see what she saw, and allow you for strong advantages during recon missions. It was easy for you to go unnoticed when you wanted to be. And you so desperately wanted to be. But you were teamed up with Kiba. His strengths included being annoying, rushing into a fight without assessing the situation, having practically no regard for the environment around him, oh, and did I mention being annoying. And his dog didnโt do much except yip at Akemi and turn into another Kiba when necessary. It certainly wasnโt necessary.
You just wanted it to be over with. To retrieve the secret scroll hidden somewhere in the forest before your teammates and their partners did. It was such a simple task. On any other occasion you could send Akemi ahead while you hid in a bush, or in a tree, or behind a rock, or literally anywhere. She would spot the scroll, maybe even grab it for you, before trotting back to your location. It was such a simple exercise. But the dog wouldnโt let her get far without a whimper, which would alert any fellow shinobi of your location. Kiba wasnโt much help either.ย
โHey. Can you make yourself useful?โ you asked quietly, praying he had some trick up his sleeve. โDo you know what the scroll smells like? Can you locate it that way? Could you do,,, literally anything at all except stand there and stare at me?โ
โAs much as I wish I could just sniff the scroll out, if I donโt already know what it smells like, Iโm not going to be able to track it. I doubt Akamaru would be able to since he doesnโt know the scent either. And Iโm sure they accounted for scent when hiding it anyways. Kurenai-Sensei is always good at using my strengths against me in training,โ he sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. โIโm sorry.โ
โThereโs really nothing to apologize for Kiba,โ you admitted softly. You felt a little bad being so harsh on him. Sure he wasnโt contributing much, but itโs not like you were either. The two of you sat there on the rock in the small clearing you had found for another moment before you spoke up again. โOkay, itโs useless to just sit here. We might not be able to find it, but we definitely wonโt if we donโt even search for it.โ
โYeah, I guess youโre right,โ he said, a ghost of a smile returning to his face. โCome on Akamaru, letโs get moving.โ The dog bounded back to him while Akemi climbed up onto your shoulder again, and the four of you walked off, deeper into the forest.ย
As you wandered you found yourself recognizing less and less of the forest around you. I mean, it was all trees so itโs not like it was difficult to get lost. But you spent your entire life in this forest, training, exploring, even just relaxing, so of course it was a bit odd when you went a while without seeing at least one landmark you recognized. But you trekked on, walking until you needed to rest. Or at least to slow down. You didnโt want to admit it but Kiba was fast. Of course you were fast too, but his speed was prolonged. Able to continue at the same quick speed for longer periods of time. You were more of a sprinter. You could go fast, extremely fast, for shorter periods of time, exhausting yourself and your lungs quickly before needing a break.ย
As you slowed down, Kiba turning to give you a look and see why you were stopping, you heard a noise. Unsure of the source and noticing Kiba opening his mouth to ask you the question on his mind, you lunge forward, covering his mouth with your hand, let out a quiet shushing sound, and pull him closer to you, his back against you, with your back against a tree.ย
โSorry, I heard something,โ you whisper as quietly as possible and you slowly release him from your grip. To your surprise he doesnโt move away immediately, instead opting to stand there in silence, hoping whatever it was that created the noise you heard would repeat the sound.ย
After a moment you were about to relax, but you heard a voice speak from a small bit away. You squish yourself closer to the tree, pulling Kiba to your side so he is as flush against the tree as possible while you listen. โHanae I know you said your tracking jutsu lead you this way, but I really donโt know where it could be,โ Hinataโs quiet voice spoke up.
โI know, I know, it feels like weโve been walking for ages and I havenโt seen a single thing I recognized in at least an hour. Iโm sorry Hinata, I really thought I had it this time. Maybe I should try using my jutsu again?โ
Your two friends walk closer to the tree youโre hidden behind, you swiftly drop to a crouch in an attempt to make yourself as small as possible before you remember that both Kiba and Akamaru arenโt as skilled as you in the art of stealth. You grab his hand and tug, and getting the message he bends down to his knees, back still pressed flush against the tree. Akamaru hops into his lap while Akemi quietly makes her way to the other side of the pair you're watching, preparing to make a distracting noise if necessary. The two of you watch silently as Hanae does her hand signs, letting the chakra flow through her body and direct her to the scroll she is looking for.ย
โI think Iโve got it!โ she exclaims, grabbing Hinataโs arm and pulling her in the direction she believed the scroll to be. As soon as they are out of hearing range you let out a sigh, allowing yourself to relax against the tree.ย
โSo we were going in the right direction,โ you mention to Kiba, who is still sitting in silence, Akamaru in his lap. โDo you think we should follow them? I mean itโs not ideal but I trust Hanaeโs tracking abilities and-โ
โNo.โ
โAre you sure?โ
โYeah, we should do this on our own. And Iโm sure theyโll be expecting to be followed, if not by us then by Shino and Haruki,โ Kiba mused. He was right, and you acknowledged as much with a hum. โAt the same time though, we really have no leads.โ
โYeahโฆโ you agreed, before an idea dawned on you. โWait a second. Kiba if Tanji or Kurenai were the ones who placed the scroll would there be any way for you or Akamaru to follow the trail they took? Obviously you donโt know the scent of the scroll, how could you, but you must be able to follow one of their scents?โ you asked hopefully.
โThat was the first thing I tried,โ he told you, โthatโs why I figured they masked any scents that might be on the scroll or any familiar scents to me or Akamaru.โ
โOkay but masking a scent familiar to you would likely still leave a scent right? Like an unfamiliar one? Something would have to smell out of place? Right?โ you offered, hoping that having it verbally acknowledged would allow for him to remember any unusual scents you may have passed.ย
He hummed in recognition of your point, pondering the past few hours of walking. โAkamaru, you didnโt smell anything out of the ordinary did you?โ The dog huffed back in response, and the look on Kibaโs face revealed that neither had noticed anything.ย
โItโs so cool that you can actually understand Akamaru,โ you said, standing up. Akemi finally returned from the other side of the small clearing that Hanae and Hinata stopped in, hopping into your arms. โThis one is so cute, and she can understand me, but I donโt think Iโll ever be able to understand her. We can really only communicate through body language,โ you sighed as your cat nuzzled your face with her own. โOh well, come on, letโs wander a bit more and hope we come across something out of place to send us in the right direction.โ As you walked away the boyโs eyes followed your back for a second, a small smile making its way onto his face, before he picked up the pace to walk next to you.
