Kiba (Naruto)

Sasuke had just been discharged when Kiba reminded him to come by his house around four in the morning. Kiba was determined to study the cursed mark further, he intended to reverse-engineer it.

Hands tucked into his pockets, Sasuke moved through the village, his gaze drifting restlessly across the streets until he halted before the Uchiha Compound.

Memories surged forward, and before he could suppress it, his eyes flickered red a single tomoe spinning in each iris. He forced a slow breath, lids falling shut until the Sharingan faded back into darkness.

Shaking off the weight of the past, he turned toward home, only to pause again. His nerves still simmered beneath his skin. Training first. The forest clearing near the practice grounds would do.

Deeper into the trees, the sound of exertion reached him. Naruto was there, mid-swing, throwing a wild punch at a silver-haired man, Hatake Kakashi, the infamous Copy Ninja. The jonin stopped Naruto effortlessly, palm pressed against the blond's forehead like holding back an overeager puppy.

"You can come out now," Kakashi called, his voice casual but firm. "No point hiding."

Sasuke stepped into view.

Kakashi's visible eye widened slightly in recognition, while Naruto blinked before grinning. "Sasuke? What're you doing here?"

"Training." Sasuke's tone was flat. "Didn't expect company. I'll go."

Kakashi tilted his head. "Why leave? Join us, Uchiha."

A beat passed. Training under a jonin's supervision wasn't an opportunity to waste. Sasuke gave a curt nod and walked forward.

. . . .

Kiba sat at his desk, flipping through the pages of his Fuinjutsu notes, his fingers absently scratching his head in frustration.

'How should I even start?' He dragged a hand down his face, stopping to rub at his eyebrow as if the motion could coax an idea from his sluggish mind.

With a groan, he slumped forward, pressing his forehead against the open book.

'This cursed mark is insane. Just trying to unravel it is making my brain hurt.'

A heavy sigh escaped him as he shoved the book away, snapping it shut in defeat.

Kabuto, observing his struggle from across the room, approached with quiet steps. "Need any help?"

"No." Kiba's reply was immediate, sharp enough to cut off any further offer.

Kabuto blinked, caught off guard. It wasn't like Kiba to dismiss assistance so abruptly.

"Are you sure?" he pressed, curiosity edging into his tone.

Kiba shot him a sideways glare. "Unless you can teach me how to get laid without using chakra, then no, you can't help me. Obviously." He punctuated the statement with a dismissive wave. "Virgin."

Kabuto stiffened, the insult landing with unexpected force. His opinion of Kiba once a promising, sharp-minded student shattered in an instant.

'So he's just another hormonal brat after all.'

"Alright." Kabuto raised his hands in mock surrender, backing away with a tight smile.

Once out of earshot, he clicked his tongue in quiet disdain.

'And here I thought he had potential.'

Just to be certain, Kabuto decided to keep an eye on him perhaps that outburst had been nothing more than a deflection.

Meanwhile, Kiba exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. 'Why did I even say that?' The frustration gnawed at him, but he shoved it aside. 'Yeah, I'm pent-up, but if I don't get stronger first, I'll end up dead. No time for distractions.'

He shook his head, forcing his focus back to the cursed mark. His gaze fixed blankly on the wall, thoughts churning until the lunch bell snapped him back to reality. A fellow medic nudged his shoulder.

"Kiba, you spacing out? We've got work to do."

"Oh, right." He grabbed the book and stuffed it into his medical coat, pushing the earlier thoughts away.

The rest of his shift passed in a blur of routine tasks. By the time he stepped outside, the evening air was cool against his skin. His stomach growled as he passed Ichiraku Ramen, the rich aroma pulling him to a halt.

'Might as well eat here tonight.'

He pushed through the curtain only to freeze. Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke sat at the counter, chopsticks in hand.

'You've got to be kidding me.'

Suppressing a sigh, he slid onto the stool beside Naruto.

"Uncle Teuchi, hit me with the usual extra spicy."

Naruto and Sasuke both blinked, clearly not expecting him.

"Coming right up," Teuchi called back without missing a beat.

As Kiba waited, Naruto leaned in, voice low.

"Thanks," he murmured, genuine appreciation softening his tone.

Kiba merely offered a faint smirk in return.

Kakashi's visible eye flicked toward Kiba, assessing him with quiet curiosity. 'So this is the exiled Inuzuka I've heard about.'

Kiba caught the glance and flashed Kakashi a knowing grin, causing the jonin to stiffen slightly at being noticed so easily.

The meal passed without incident before they went their separate ways, though Sasuke found himself walking alongside Kiba after the latter adjusted his schedule to monitor the cursed mark.

"So," Kiba began, eyeing the dirt caked on Sasuke's clothes, "how'd training with Naruto and Kakashi go?"

Sasuke's steps didn't falter. "You know Kakashi?"

"Who doesn't? The Copy Ninja. Kakashi of the Sharingan."

That made Sasuke stop dead in his tracks.

Kiba kept walking, tossing his next words over his shoulder. "You ought to research people stronger than you. Helps gauge where you stand."

Sasuke caught up, his voice tighter now. "He has a Sharingan?"

"Got it from a friend," Kiba confirmed.

The implications settled heavily between them as Sasuke processed this.

"If you're thinking of asking him to train you with it," Kiba added, "just do it."

Silence stretched before Sasuke finally bit out, "How strong have you gotten?"

Kiba smirked. "Stronger than you."

Sasuke's jaw clenched. He didn't want to believe it, but something in Kiba's tone left no room for doubt.

"Then prove it," Sasuke challenged, his Uchiha pride flaring. "Spar with me."

Upon reaching Kiba's home, the two wasted no time preparing. Kiba slipped into his combat attire, the familiar weight of his gear settling comfortably against his frame. He bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, muscles coiled with restless energy.

Across from him, Sasuke's crimson Sharingan flickered to life, the tomoe spinning slowly in anticipation.

Kiba's lips curled into a feral grin as he dropped into his stance. "Try not to cry when I put you in the dirt again."

Sasuke's answering smirk carried its usual edge of arrogance. "You're the one who'll be eating those words."

— — — — —

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