"Shin, time to go."
Kiba's voice rang out from the street just outside. He stood there, holding Akamaru in his arms as he waited.
Not long after, Shin stepped out of the house.
"Can't you move a little faster?" Kiba grumbled. It was always him waiting for Shin.
"We're not going to be late. Why rush?" Shin replied. As usual, he had just finished his morning training when Kiba showed up.
"You were definitely sleeping in." Kiba sounded a little annoyed, eyes wide with mock outrage.
Shin gave him a sideways glance but didn't respond. He simply started walking toward the academy at a leisurely pace.
"Hey! You-ugh!" Kiba fumed, but there wasn't much he could do. He made a face behind Shin's back and hurried to catch up.
"Did you finish the homework?" Shin asked casually as they walked.
"Hmph!" Kiba lifted his chin with a smug look. "Chakra? Please, I've known how to use that forever."
Shin glanced at him, easily guessing why he was so cocky. Coming from a family of shinobi, Kiba had probably already mastered the basics before even entering the academy.
"You haven't learned it yet, have you? Want the great Kiba to teach you?" Kiba asked, puffing himself up with pride.
Shin's brow twitched.
"No need."
"Aw, come on, don't be shy." Kiba let out a long, dramatic sigh, then said with mock compassion, "I get it. You probably just don't know how to ask. You've been dying to learn from me, haven't you?"
"Right, Akamaru?"
"Woof!"
"After all, I hey! Shin, don't just walk off like that!"
Shin had quickened his pace, leaving Kiba behind.
Kiba rushed to catch up, slightly out of breath. "What's your deal? Suddenly walking so fast…"
Shin couldn't be bothered to answer.
And so, with Kiba buzzing around him like an annoying insect, Shin eventually arrived at the academy and stepped into the classroom.
"Morning, Kiba. Morning, Shin."
"Morning."
"Morning..."
On the way in, Shin and Kiba greeted familiar faces. Kiba was well-liked at school, and Shin got along with most of the class too. Although he rarely joined in their games, he treated others with kindness, and many students were happy to be friends with him.
After sitting down, Kiba immediately turned to chat with his nearby classmates.
"Morning, Shin," came a quiet voice beside him.
"…Shino, could you stop appearing out of nowhere?"
"I've been here the whole time. Is my presence really that unnoticeable?" said the boy in dark glasses, his voice tinged with quiet resentment.
Shin sighed.
"Hey, Shin, finally made it?" Naruto bounded over, adjusting the goggles perched on his forehead.
"We're not late," Shin replied.
"That's not the point! If you wanna be a ninja, you can't slack off!" Naruto lectured, still fiddling with his goggles.
"…Nice goggles," Shin offered.
"You've got good taste!" Naruto beamed.
"Lemme tell you, these aren't just any goggles…" Naruto plopped himself onto Shin's desk and launched into a monologue about his prized accessory.
Shin didn't interrupt him. Seeing Naruto so enthusiastic, he let him go on while only half-listening.
"Good morning, Shin-kun!" A cheerful voice greeted him.
It was Ino, the blonde girl, her face lit with a bright smile as she entered the classroom.
"Good morning, Ino." Shin raised a hand in response.
Ino's smile widened. She then turned to wave at another student.
"Good morning, Sasuke-kun!"
The dark-haired boy gave a dismissive huff and looked away.
"…Right," Ino muttered, momentarily deflated.
Before long, the school bell rang. The classroom quieted, and Iruka entered wearing his usual green vest.
"Today's a field lesson. We'll be getting familiar with kunai and shuriken."
The room instantly buzzed with excitement. Students whispered to each other, some unable to hide their anticipation. Of course, not everyone reacted the same way.
Like… Kiba?
Huh?
Shin noticed that Kiba was sitting unusually still, not talking to anyone. That was strange for someone like him.
What's with him? Shin wondered. He noticed a small, smug smirk at the corner of Kiba's mouth.
"All right, everyone gather outside. We'll head to the practice field."
Even as the group moved outside, the excitement continued. Students walked together, talking animatedly.
Kiba, however, remained uncharacteristically quiet, walking in the middle of the group without speaking to anyone.
What's up with him? Shin murmured, hanging near the back of the line and watching Kiba's back.
"Probably waiting to show off," a voice said right beside him, making him jump.
"Shino, don't sneak up on people like that," Shin said, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.
"I've been right behind you. You just didn't notice," Shino replied coolly, hands in his pockets.
"What do you mean, show off?" Shin asked.
"Kiba probably already knows how to use kunai and shuriken. He's from the Inuzuka clan, after all," Shino explained. "Most of the students here come from civilian families. They've never even handled ninja tools."
"So Kiba wants to put on a show."
He already knows how to use ninja tools? Shin thought, surprised.
"So that means… you know how to use them too?" Shin asked.
"My father taught me," Shino replied.
Only now did Shin realize why some students hadn't seemed excited earlier. They must have been from clans too.
The gap between people… it's the same no matter where you go, Shin thought to himself.
"Hey, Shin, do you know how to use ninja tools?" Naruto suddenly asked, sidling up with an awkward expression.
"No," Shin said, noticing Naruto's hopeful look.
"Really? You don't either?" Naruto looked delighted.
Shin was speechless.
Why does that make you so happy?
"Actually, kunai and shuriken are really simple," Naruto said, suddenly shifting into a senior's tone. "If it's you, you'll pick it up fast."
"So, you know how to use them?"
"…Nope."
"…Right."
So confident about it too? Shin couldn't help but chuckle at his unapologetic attitude.
Seeing Shin's smile, Naruto scratched his head and laughed as well.
"If you want to learn about ninja tools, you can ask me," Ino said, slowing her pace to join them. Sakura walked beside her.
"Thanks. Maybe I will, if there's a chance," Shin said with a smile.
"What about me? I can help too!" Naruto chimed in eagerly.
Ino's expression turned frosty. "Doesn't Shino know too? Ask him."
Shino: "…"
Shin: "…"
Sakura: "…"
Naruto: "???"
Why is Shin so popular with the girls? Naruto thought, deeply troubled.