Kiba (Naruto)

Two years had passed.

Kiba stood at 163 centimeters, his frame compact but powerfully built. His hair, now cropped short in a style reminiscent of Guts from Berserk. The Konoha headband hung loosely around his waist like a belt.

(AN: Just imagine Kiba's face, Guts' hair (except it's brown), and the body of a 13-year-old Eugene Lionheart.)

His black, skin-tight long-sleeved shirt clung to his torso, revealing well-defined muscles uncommon for a boy his age. Baggy pants with multiple pockets completed the look, practical yet unmistakably his own.

The hospital director studied him from across the desk, fingers steepled. "Are you truly resigning?"

Kiba gave a single firm nod. "It's time. My duty as a shinobi comes first."

A pause stretched between them before the director leaned forward, hope threading his words. "If you ever retire from active duty… would you consider returning to the hospital?"

A noncommittal shrug. "Could happen."

"Good." The director slid a thick envelope across the desk. "Your final payment."

Kiba pocketed it without counting, then clasped the older man's hand in a brief, firm shake.

As he walked through the hospital's halls for the last time, nurses and orderlies called out farewells, their voices overlapping in a chorus of goodwill. Notably absent was Kabuto, no sign of him anywhere.

Stepping outside, Kiba filled his lungs with the open air, one hand buried in his pocket. A smirk tugged at his lips.

"Finally… time to join a real genin team."

Kiba made his way through the village, his footsteps steady as he approached his destination. The towering Hokage Building loomed ahead, its presence a silent reminder of the authority within.

Without hesitation, he stepped inside, where the receptionist immediately caught sight of him. She offered a polite wave before gesturing toward the staircase.

"The Hokage is expecting you," she informed him. "Please head upstairs."

Kiba acknowledged her with a nod and ascended the steps. As he neared the office, his seismic sense picked up familiar chakra signatures Hiruzen, Naruto, Sasuke, and one more that didn't quite match his expectations.

'Kakashi?' he wondered briefly before correcting himself. 'No, that's not his chakra. Then who—?'

Pushing the door open, his eyes landed on the unexpected figure standing beside the Hokage. Captain Yamato greeted him with a faint smile, as if he'd only just arrived.

'Yamato? What's he doing here?' Kiba's gaze flicked toward Naruto, and the pieces fell into place. 'Right. Oversight duty. Figures.'

A reflexive click of his tongue escaped him, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Hiruzen's lips curled into an amused smile as he observed Kiba's reaction.

'Does he expect someone else as a teammate? Or—' The Hokage's eyes followed Kiba's lingering stare toward Yamato. 'Ah. He must have anticipated a stronger presence.'

Meanwhile, Kiba's thoughts took a different turn. 'Great. How many jutsu does this guy even know? Then again, when in doubt, blame Danzo.'

He strode forward, taking his place beside Sasuke without another word.

Hiruzen cleared his throat, his warm smile returning as he addressed the group. "Now that everyone is here Naruto, Sasuke, Kiba allow me to confirm what you've likely already guessed. The three of you will be Team 7."

Naruto blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Wait, why?" He gestured between himself and the other two. "They graduated before me. Shouldn't I be with different teammates?"

"Because I've decided it," Hiruzen replied, chuckling at Naruto's predictable protest.

Naruto scowled, though his irritation wasn't directed at his teammates if anything, he trusted them more than most. Still, the inconsistency nagged at him. "But they've been genin longer. Won't I just slow them down?"

"You'll be fine," the Hokage assured him, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And this man beside me will be your jonin instructor."

Yamato stepped forward, his calm demeanor unwavering as he introduced himself. "I'm Yamato. From today onward, I'll be responsible for Team 7."

. . . .

Yamato led the way, his strides purposeful, while Naruto trailed slightly behind. Kiba and Sasuke walked side by side, their steps synchronized in quiet discipline.

Sasuke leaned closer to Kiba, his voice low. "Is our jonin-sensei strong?"

"He's legit," Kiba admitted, though his tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction. "But I'm a little disappointed."

Sasuke's brow furrowed. "Why?"

"Doubt he's got much to teach us when it comes to ninjutsu."

Yamato's eye twitched imperceptibly at the remark, but he suppressed the urge to react. The Hokage's words echoed in his mind: "Please take care of these problem children for me."

'I'll do my best,' Yamato resolved silently.

Seizing the opportunity to gauge their abilities, he called over his shoulder without slowing down. "Keep up." In an instant, he vanished in a flicker of movement.

Kiba was the first to react, his body flickering after Yamato without hesitation. Sasuke followed suit, and Naruto, after a brief delay, pushed off in pursuit.

Naruto gritted his teeth as he watched the distance between them. 'They're still ahead of me. Which means I just have to surpass them, dattebayo!' A grin tugged at his lips despite the challenge. 'What kind of training have they been doing?'

Sasuke's speed, in particular, came from the rigorous regimen Kiba had designed for him something Naruto had yet to experience.

Within minutes, Yamato halted in the center of a training ground, arms crossed as he waited. Kiba arrived first, barely winded. Sasuke appeared moments later, and Naruto skidded to a stop shortly after. None of them showed the slightest sign of exhaustion.

Yamato exhaled slowly, masking his surprise. 'Just as the Hokage said, these kids are at least chunin-level.'

The reports had been clear: Naruto, personally trained by former students of the Fourth Hokage; Sasuke, already wielding the Sharingan; and Kiba, who had defeated Sasuke in combat.

'What kind of monsters is this generation producing?'

A grim thought flickered through Yamato's mind.

Unfortunately, he hadn't witnessed the previous generation or even his own where prodigies had once been as common as autumn leaves. Most had been lost to Danzo's machinations.

Then again… when in doubt, blame Danzo.

— — — — —

Support me by,

Give me power stones

or

Pat reon.com/The_Undying_One

Currently 18+ advanced chapter