Kiba (Naruto)

"Hoshikage-sama, he's mocking our village," Akahoshi spat, his voice tight with suppressed fury.

Kiba let out a mocking whine, mimicking a crying infant. "Waa, waa, waa. You tried to kill me first, you bitch."

Akahoshi's fists trembled at his sides, his pride screaming at him to retaliate but the presence of the Hoshikage held him back.

The Hoshikage's gaze shifted between them, his expression unreadable. "Is what he said true?"

A heavy silence followed as the Hoshigakure shinobi exchanged uneasy glances before nodding in reluctant agreement.

The Hoshikage's voice turned stern. "Akahoshi, you are a Jonin. This behavior is beneath you."

Akahoshi's jaw clenched. "But he insulted our star! He claims it can never rival the Five Great Nations!"

The Hoshikage's eyes flicked to Kiba. "Did you say that?"

Kiba didn't back down. "I did. But the real delusion here is his arrogance. No offense, Hoshikage-sama, but can you honestly say you'd defeat the Raikage in single combat, even with the star's power?"

A brief hesitation passed over the Hoshikage's face before he admitted, "No, I cannot."

The surrounding shinobi lowered their heads, their morale crumbling at their leader's admission.

Sumaru's fists clenched at his sides, his nails biting into his palms. *'I'll make this village one of the strongest, just wait.' His glare locked onto Kiba, who caught the intensity of his stare.

When Kiba responded with a warm smile, Sumaru only saw condescension twisting the gesture into another mockery.

Akahoshi's lip curled, his mind seething. 'Pathetic old man.' He refused to yield, defiance hardening his voice. "That only proves you haven't pushed the star's power far enough!"

Kiba cut him off with a scoff. "You're a dumbass. The Raikage fought the Eight-Tails and subdued it. Maybe educate yourself before running your mouth. Do you really think your little star stands a chance against a Tailed Beast?"

Akahoshi faltered, the weight of the Hoshikage's words and Kiba's relentless mockery pressing down on him. But more than anything, the constant insults from Kiba stoked his rage.

Naruto watched the exchange in silence, baffled. 'Why is Kiba pushing them like this?' Even he couldn't understand the motive behind his teammate's provocations.

The tense atmosphere fractured as Yamato materialized between the disputing groups. His sharp eyes scanned the gathered crowd before settling on the Hoshikage.

"What's happened here, Hoshikage-sama?" The question carried equal parts concern and authority as he took in the uneasy expressions surrounding them.

The village leader waved a dismissive hand. "Nothing requiring your concern. A minor disagreement, nothing more."

Yamato's gaze flicked to Kiba, who deliberately avoided eye contact while maintaining an air of practiced innocence.

A weary exhale escaped Yamato as he offered a shallow bow. "I'll discipline my student appropriately. My apologies for the disturbance."

"Really, it's of no consequence," the Hoshikage insisted.

"This requires correction," Yamato countered firmly.

Steering Kiba away by the shoulder, Yamato left Naruto to complete their assigned duties. Only when they'd moved beyond earshot of the villagers did Yamato halt their progress. "Explain yourself."

"That Jonin attempted to kill me," Kiba stated bluntly. "Things escalated from there."

Yamato's hand rose to massage his temple as the revelation settled between them. Though Kiba's defensive actions might have been justified, protocol demanded restraint. "Your strength isn't in question, but we're guests in this village. You can't afford reckless behavior."

"I know the rules," Kiba shot back, "but the nonsense he was spouting? Even Danzo would've laughed at those delusions."

The name made Yamato's shoulder muscles tense beneath his flak jacket. "Whatever the provocation, I won't tolerate repeated incidents. Return to your quarters in town immediately." His tone brooked no argument. "That's a direct order."

With a curt nod, Kiba stalked toward the lodgings provided by their hosts.

Yamato watched him disappear between the village structures before dragging a hand down his face. "What am I going to do with this team?" The words escaped in an exhausted murmur. "At least Sasuke hasn't caused any disasters... yet."

The crater's silent watch left Naruto fidgeting with restless energy. He attempted conversation with the Hoshigakure shinobi, but their stony silence rebuffed each attempt. His shoulders slumped as he exhaled loudly through his nose.

*Why'd you have to go and make things weird, Kiba?* The thought bounced around his skull as he kicked at loose pebbles.

As the first stars pierced the fading twilight, Naruto's mood lifted. The emerging constellations painted the sky with shimmering light, drawing an unconscious smile to his face.

His gaze caught on a particularly bright red star when a faint melody drifted through the quiet.

'Wait...isn't that the same tune Kiba was humming earlier?'

Curiosity propelled him toward the source. He crept into the watchmen's building, where he found Sumaru staring at the mirrored ceiling, his voice barely above a whisper as he sang:

"Natsuhiboshi, naze akai?"

"Kieta warashi wo sagashiteru"

"Dakara kanashii yume wo miru"

The boy's fingers worried at a pendant around his neck, his expression distant. Naruto's attempt at stealth failed spectacularly when his foot caught on his own ankle, sending him crashing face-first onto the wooden floor.

"Sorry about that!" Naruto scrambled up, slapping dust from his orange jumpsuit.

Sumaru's eyes narrowed. "Do all Konoha shinobi make a habit of bothering us?"

"Hey, that was all Kiba! I'm the nice one, dattebayo!" Naruto threw his hands up in defense. "He's not usually such a jerk, honest."

"Your excuses mean nothing," Sumaru spat, chin lifting. "How would you feel if someone mocked your village?"

Naruto's fist clenched instinctively. "I'd knock their teeth in!"

"Exactly. And when I become Hoshikage, no one will dare insult us again."

"Same here!" Naruto thumped his chest with conviction.

"Same...?" Sumaru's brow furrowed as he studied the blond intruder. 'This guy might actually be an idiot. '

"I'm gonna be the greatest Hokage the world's ever seen!" Naruto declared, chest puffed out like a proud rooster.

As the declarations continued, Sasuke made his way toward the crater. His path took him through the village streets, where clusters of girls turned their heads, their gazes lingering on him with the same infatuation he had grown accustomed to in Konoha.

A quiet sigh escaped him as he ignored their stares. 'Does every place I go have to be like this?' he mused, irritation threading through his thoughts.

— — — — —

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