The class had ended, finally.
The room was filled with the lazy air of a long and dragging lecture. Iruka-sensei's voice had carried on for what felt like hours, explaining details of shinobi history, rules of conduct, and the never-ending importance of teamwork. But most of the children were far too young, far too restless, and far too bored to pay full attention.
Several of the students had already given up halfway through the lesson. Heads drooped down, eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and the sound of faint snores could be heard echoing in different corners of the academy classroom.
Even when Iruka-sensei occasionally tapped the board or raised his voice to stress a point, the effect was temporary. One by one, little by little, the students sank back into slumber.
Among those still awake, however, was Shikamaru Nara.
For anyone who knew him, it would not be surprising. Shikamaru was often called lazy, often called someone who disliked effort, but when it came to noticing things, when it came to observing patterns, he was sharper than most adults.
He would always say, "How troublesome," whenever dragged into anything, but beneath that calm, drowsy surface, his mind worked like a well-oiled machine.
Today, though, Shikamaru's sharp eyes caught something that nagged at him.
He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms in the same casual, lazy way as always. His half-lidded eyes drifted around the classroom. Choji sat next to him, crunching on a bag of chips that never seemed to run out.
Sasuke and Naruto, as always, were glaring at each other, silently competing in their endless rivalry. Ino and Sakura were bickering about something trivial, both too stubborn to admit defeat.
Hinata sat quietly, fidgeting with her fingers, stealing the occasional shy glance toward gojo who was sleeping soundly. Everything looked normal.
And yet… something was not.
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes slightly. He had the distinct feeling that a piece of the puzzle wasn't fitting. He scanned the room again, this time with more focus.
His gaze stopped at one corner of the classroom, then drifted slowly across the rows of desks. It was a habit of his—searching without really moving his head much, letting his eyes do the work while his body stayed relaxed. His movements caught attention.
Choji, sitting beside him, blinked in confusion. "Huh? What are you looking at, Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru didn't answer immediately. His gaze continued to sweep through the class, pausing here and there, as if testing whether his instincts were correct.
The one who noticed this most keenly, however, was Shino Aburame.
Shino, who usually sat quietly in his seat without attracting much attention, caught Shikamaru's lingering gaze. His heart gave a sudden, almost uncharacteristic jolt. Was Shikamaru looking at him? Was the most perceptive person in the class finally recognizing him?
Shino's mind raced in an unusual excitement. His normally calm and detached face hid a flicker of expectation. He straightened his posture, almost mechanically. He adjusted his glasses with two fingers, making sure the light caught the frame at just the right angle. He even tugged at his collar, loosening it a little, as if to make himself appear more visible. His actions were subtle, but in Shino's mind, they were grand gestures of readiness.
Finally, he thought. Finally, Shikamaru notices me.
But Shikamaru's eyes only lingered for a moment before drifting away. He dismissed the thought entirely and went back to his quiet scanning of the classroom.
Shino froze. His expectation shattered almost instantly. His back slumped slightly, though he tried to maintain his usual calm expression. Deep inside, disappointment stabbed at him. His inner thoughts sighed, heavy and bitter.
Why? Why do I always expect recognition that never comes?
He lowered his gaze, sighed helplessly, and let himself sink into his seat. In frustration, he even lay down on the desk, closing his eyes. Sleep took over quickly, though the corners of his lips twisted into a faintly bitter expression.
Shikamaru, on the other hand, didn't even notice the storm of emotions he had accidentally stirred in Shino. He kept thinking, his sharp instincts whispering to him. Something is wrong. Something is different today.
He reviewed the classroom again. Naruto's energy was the same as ever. Sasuke's glares were just as sharp. Ino's loud voice, Sakura's stubbornness, Hinata's shy blush—it was all as expected. Even Choji's endless munching was the usual background sound.
Then Shikamaru found it. The piece that didn't fit.
Kiba.
Kiba Inuzuka, the loud, impulsive, and often hotheaded boy who was always accompanied by his loyal dog Akamaru. Normally, Kiba would be restless, talking too much, cracking jokes, or even picking light fights with Naruto just for the thrill of it. His energy was never lacking. He was usually loud enough that even Iruka-sensei had to scold him more than once each class.
But today… Kiba was silent.
Not just quiet. Silent.
Akamaru rested in his jacket as usual, but even Akamaru seemed less energetic than normal. The two of them, usually inseparable bundles of energy, were subdued, withdrawn, almost invisible.
That was what caught Shikamaru's attention. That was the piece of the puzzle.
The break period after Iruka-sensei's long, dragging lesson had finally begun. Students pushed back chairs, some yawning, some stretching, others chatting animatedly about trivial things. Yet, in the midst of all the ordinary noise of the academy classroom, there was one heavy silence that stuck out like a sore thumb.
It was Kiba.
Shikamaru had already been observing, his sharp eyes narrowing every so often as he quietly leaned on his palm. To most it seemed like he was just being his usual lazy self, half asleep and uninterested, but in truth, his mind was whirring. He had noticed something strange, something out of the ordinary, something that could not be brushed off easily.
Beside him, Chōji munched on his ever-present snacks, occasionally giving Shikamaru a puzzled glance.
"Shikamaru," Chōji mumbled with food still in his mouth, "you're looking around like you lost something. What's wrong?"
Shikamaru didn't answer immediately. His sharp eyes had scanned across the entire classroom earlier. He had seen Naruto's loud antics as usual, Sasuke glaring coldly back at Naruto in their constant rivalry, Sakura and Ino bickering in their quiet ways while sneaking glances at Gojo, Hinata shyly fiddling with her fingers while her eyes drifted toward Gojo as well, and then… there was Shino.
When Shikamaru's gaze had lingered too long in Shino's direction, Shino's heart had leapt. He had thought, perhaps, finally, someone noticed him. Shino had even straightened his posture, adjusted his glasses in a subtle manner, and loosened his stiff collar to appear more composed, more visible. His hidden excitement glimmered through the faint sparkle behind his shades.
But in the next breath, Shikamaru's eyes moved away.
The Nara genius himself thought quietly, That was strange. Why did my eyes stay there so long? Something feels wrong… He leaned back and rubbed the back of his neck, already weighed down by the "troublesome" feeling that had lodged itself inside him.
Meanwhile, Shino sank into quiet disappointment. He had expected—hoped—that maybe Shikamaru was looking at him for a reason. Yet, once again, he was invisible. With a faint sigh that carried hidden bitterness, Shino rested his head on the desk, the expression on his face full of a silent, almost sorrowful resignation. Eventually, exhaustion took him, and he drifted into a light, bitter sleep.
Shikamaru's gaze then found the true source of disturbance. Out of all the usual antics, one thing stood out. Kiba. Normally brash, loud, energetic, full of barks and shouts—today he was quiet. Too quiet. Not a word, not a single boast, not even his usual banter with Naruto or complaint against Sasuke. Instead, Kiba sat with his head low, his energy unusually dampened.
Shikamaru frowned. That's it. That's what feels off.
The moment the class ended and the chatter grew louder with the break, Shikamaru leaned toward Chōji.
"Kiba's silent today," he said in his usual low tone.
Chōji blinked. "Huh? Silent?" He looked across the room at Kiba, and for the first time, even he noticed the unusual gloom in their friend's demeanor. "Now that you mention it… yeah, that's weird."
Naruto, who had been pretending to rummage through his things, perked up immediately. He had been eavesdropping—quite openly, in fact. His sharp ears caught Shikamaru's words, and he almost jumped from his seat.
"Oi, you're right!" Naruto exclaimed loudly, pointing a finger straight at Kiba. "Kiba's been quiet the whole day! That's super strange for him!"
His loud declaration caught the attention of nearly everyone in the class. Sasuke clicked his tongue and looked away, annoyed at Naruto's noisy nature, but even he side-eyed Kiba briefly.
Naruto, full of restless energy, quickly dragged both Gojo and Sasuke closer. "You two, come with me! Let's ask Kiba what's wrong!"
Gojo gave a soft sigh, helplessness written across his calm face. Sasuke, on the other hand, scowled.
"Why should I care?" Sasuke muttered, but Naruto ignored him completely.
Even Shikamaru, who would normally complain about things being "too troublesome," rose from his seat, Chōji following beside him. For him to get involved so directly meant he truly sensed something wasn't right.
In no time at all, a small group began to form around Kiba's desk.
Sakura and Ino, who had been whispering about Gojo as always, quickly noticed where he was heading. Almost instinctively, both moved closer, pretending it was pure curiosity, but their real reason was the same—they wanted to stay near Gojo. Their eyes betrayed the hidden affection they carried, even if their words didn't.
Hinata, blushing faintly as always, trailed quietly behind, her gentle eyes concerned for Kiba but more drawn by the fact that Gojo was part of this small crowd. Her presence was soft, but her steps carried determination.
Karin, fiery and unwilling to be overshadowed, immediately walked to Gojo's side, her expression sharp. Almost at the same moment, Shizuka Uchiha also approached, her gaze naturally drawn to Gojo as well. Without even realizing it, they ended up flanking him, one on either side, a silent tension sparking between them. Their eyes narrowed slightly, neither willing to yield the position closest to him.
But at that moment, nobody else paid attention to their quiet rivalry. The air was focused solely on Kiba.
Naruto leaned in, his voice loud and direct. "Kiba! What's wrong with you today? Why are you so quiet?"
Shikamaru crossed his arms, his sharp gaze focused. He didn't say anything at first, but his eyes demanded an answer.
At the center of everyone's attention, Kiba finally raised his head. His expression was heavy, his eyes tired, his tone unusually soft.
"Today… I'm very sad."
The words came slowly, dragging as if they carried weight too heavy for him to bear.
Naruto tilted his head, confused. "Sad? Why? What happened, Kiba?"
The room fell quieter. Even those who had no part in the circle perked up their ears. They rarely saw Kiba like this—so down, so deflated.
Kiba took a slow breath, his gaze dropping to the floor as memories resurfaced.
"…Yesterday…" he began, his voice low, "after finishing at the academy, I went home. I was happy, like always, walking back with Akamaru. But when I entered my house, I saw my sister, Hana, and my mom sitting silently. Really silent. The air felt wrong immediately."
As he recalled the scene, his fists tightened slightly, his voice trembling with the weight of emotion.
"I asked them why. I asked, 'Why are you so quiet, sister, mom?' But my sister didn't answer. She just sat there with this sad face. It was my mom who finally spoke."
His eyes darkened as the memory played vividly.
"She told me… a few months ago, Hana's dog had given birth to pups. But out of all of them, only one survived. The others… they died. It hurt my sister's dog a lot. She was really sad back then. But, after some time, she slowly recovered. She seemed okay."
Kiba's voice grew heavier with each word, his head lowering further.
"Yesterday, we decided to give that surviving pup to one of our other family members. He had recently graduated, and he really wanted that pup. My mom and sister agreed, so we prepared for it. But…" His voice broke slightly. "When we went to give the pup away… it was gone. Missing. Just like that."
Gasps rose among those listening. Naruto's eyes widened, his fists tightening in shock.
Kiba continued, his tone raw. "My sister's dog… she got sick immediately. She wasn't feeling well, like she couldn't handle the loss. My sister became quiet, my mom too.
The whole house was silent. And that's… why I'm silent too. Because when our dogs aren't well… we can't be well either. In our clan, they're not just pets—they're our companions, our partners, our best friends. If they're hurting, we're hurting too."
He clenched his fists tightly, his voice shaking. "I encouraged my sister and mom to search, but… no matter how much we looked, we couldn't find anything."
The room was filled with silence. Every single student who heard him felt the weight of his words.
For once, even Naruto stayed quiet, his expression serious. Sakura and Ino exchanged worried glances. Hinata's soft eyes glistened faintly, full of compassion. Karin and Shizuka both frowned, though their gazes still flickered toward Gojo every so often, as if silently asking what he thought.
Kiba lowered his head again, finishing his explanation with a long, weary sigh.
That was when Shikamaru finally spoke. His voice was calm, steady, but carrying the sharpness of insight.
"Kiba… your clan's dogs are trained. They should've been able to track the pup's scent easily, right?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Shikamaru.
Kiba's head lifted slightly. His expression darkened further. "…It's no use," he said quietly. "We tried. But the pup's scent wasn't there. At all. It's like someone deliberately erased it. Misled us."
The moment those words were spoken, a heavy silence settled over the group. Shikamaru's brows furrowed deeply, his mind already spinning with thoughts.
So it wasn't just an accident. Someone's involved.
He grew silent, sinking back into his thoughts, his expression shadowed.
The others looked on, worried and uneasy. Naruto clenched his fists tighter, his blue eyes blazing with the spark of determination.
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End of Chapter
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