"Don't forget to finish the homework your teacher assigned over the weekend."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Alright then have a great weekend, everyone."
"Thank you, teacher! Goodbye!"
With their voices crisp and in unison, the students watched as Iruka-sensei walked out of the classroom. As soon as he was gone, the room erupted into cheerful noise.
"Hey, Irie! Don't forget to come find me!"
"You too, Aida!"
"Ino, where are you going tomorrow?"
"No idea."
...
"Hurry up, let's go!" Kiba was hastily shoving his things into his bag, clearly in a rush.
"What's the rush?" Shin, more relaxed, looked at him from the side.
"My sister's coming home today. I wanna get back as soon as possible," Kiba replied.
"She's back today?" Shin blinked, then thought for a moment. "It has been a month already."
"She promised to bring me a present!" Kiba, now packed, scooped up Akamaru in one arm and grabbed Shin by the sleeve with the other, dragging him quickly toward the door.
"Hey, slow down," Shin said helplessly. "The gift's not going anywhere."
But Kiba paid him no mind, dragging him on without pause.
"Shin, wanna come over tomorrow?" Kiba asked over his shoulder.
"Nah, I've got plans. Sorry about that."
"Shin, wanna hang out tomorrow?"
"Maybe next time. We'll go when we both have time."
Shin politely answered each classmate who greeted him along the way.
Once they left the academy grounds, Shin finally wrested his arm free from Kiba's grip.
"Seriously, running like that won't make her come back any faster."
"Ruff!" Akamaru barked in agreement.
Kiba pursed his lips and finally slowed his pace, falling into step beside Shin.
The streets of Konoha were still bustling in the afternoon sun. Shops were open and lively, and people filled the roads many dressed in the garb of shinobi, others in the strange clothes of foreign merchants here to trade.
"By the way, do you know where the Land of Rivers is?" Shin asked as they walked.
"After my sister left, I looked it up on the map at home." Kiba thought for a moment. "It's southwest of the Land of Fire. They border each other."
"So, not too far then."
"Yeah, not really."
Shin nodded and let his thoughts drift as he walked through the lively street. Kiba too seemed distracted, lost in his own head.
People came and went around them some shinobi, some civilians, and a few clearly from foreign lands, judging by their outfits.
After a while, Shin broke the silence. "How's your shuriken training going?"
"Huh?" Kiba blinked, slow to respond. "Oh, it's fine. I'm getting full marks now. Kunai too."
He answered absentmindedly, a far cry from his usual boastful self. On any other day, he'd have been showing off.
"You were already getting top marks though," Shin said.
And then, silence again.
"My sister…" Kiba hesitated, then continued softly, "This is the first time she's been away from home this long. Do you think… she's homesick?"
"It must be hard for her… If it were me, I'd be miserable."
"Ruff…" Akamaru gave a low bark, as if in agreement.
"You think so too, huh, Akamaru?"
"She's not much older than I am…"
Shin glanced sideways at him and let out a silent laugh.
"She's not out there alone, you know. She has her teammates. And a jōnin sensei. What are you so worried about?"
Kiba didn't answer right away, searching for words.
"You don't mean to tell me…" Shin said, voice laced with teasing surprise.
"What?!"
"I didn't say anything. Why're you getting all flustered?"
"I'm not flustered! Damn it!"
"Ruff!"
"Akamaru, not you too!"
…
They kept bickering like that, and soon Kiba was fuming.
Hmm? Shin's eyes caught a familiar silhouette up ahead a trio walking together. One of them looked very familiar from behind.
"Kiba," he said, stopping.
"What?" Kiba replied, still with a bit of edge in his tone.
"Look over there," Shin pointed ahead.
Kiba turned to look where Shin was pointing.
"Big sis…" he whispered, then immediately broke into a run.
Shin quickly followed.
"Big sis!"
Inuzuka Hana had just finished a mission with her team and was about to head home when she heard a familiar voice call out to her.
"What's wrong, Hana?" one of her teammates asked as he noticed her sudden reaction.
Hana turned and saw a figure dashing toward her.
"Kiba," she breathed, just as her little brother threw himself into her arms, clutching her tightly.
"Big sis…" Kiba mumbled, burying his face against her.
Hana finally smiled, gently running her hand through his hair.
"Hana-sis," Shin walked up and gave her a polite bow. "It's been a while."
"It has, Shin," Hana greeted him with a warm smile.
Then she looked down at the boy clinging to her. "Alright now, aren't you embarrassed? People are watching."
Only then did Kiba reluctantly let go, head bowed so his face was hidden.
Seeing him like that, Hana crouched down and tousled his hair again, her voice soft.
"I missed you too, Kiba. Every single day I was away."
"…Mm," Kiba murmured.
Standing beside them, Shin smiled faintly.
He says it's about the gift, but he clearly just missed her. What a stubborn little liar.
"Is that your brother, Hana?"
Hana's teammates finally spoke up.
"Oh-" she stood up, suddenly remembering them. "Let me introduce you."
"This is Inuzuka Kiba, my little brother," she said, gesturing to Kiba.
"Nice to meet you," Kiba quickly wiped his face and bowed. Only then did Shin notice he'd been crying.
Hana noticed too. She simply reached out and gently wiped his tears.
"And this is Takamine Shin," she added. "Also like a little brother to me."
"Pleased to meet you," Shin said, bowing respectfully.
Her teammates looked at Shin for a moment longer, as if wondering why he had a different surname. But Hana didn't explain, and they didn't ask.
"These are my teammates Izumi Nozari and Ninomiya Ryojin."
"Hello!" both of them smiled at Kiba and Shin.
Shin's eyes lingered on Nozari for a moment. He carried a standard-issue short sword across his back.
Shin knew that while many shinobi used blades, most preferred shorter weapons. Longer swords katana were rare and usually reserved for samurai.
"Nozari's a skilled swordsman," Hana said, noticing where Shin was looking.
"Oh, it's nothing," Nozari said with a modest smile.
"What about me, huh? Don't I get any praise?" Ryojin asked, looking at Hana with eager eyes.
"We'll part ways here. I'm heading home," Hana said, pretending not to hear him.
"Alright, take care," Nozari replied.
Hana nodded and took Kiba's hand, turning to leave. Shin followed quietly behind.
"Huh? That's it?" Ryojin stood there dumbfounded. "I thought we were gonna grab a meal or something…"
"You seriously have no sense," Nozari sighed, palm to forehead. "Go home, Ryojin."
"I am home…" Ryojin muttered, still confused.
...
On the walk home, Kiba's earlier gloom had vanished. He chattered excitedly beside Hana, one hand still tightly holding hers.
"I've been doing great in school! Iruka-sensei even says I'm improving fast!"
"My shuriken scores are all perfect now!"
"Shin's alright too, I guess. Barely keeping up with me."
"There's this guy in class Uchiha Sasuke. So annoying. Always has that sour look on his face, but girls are all over him. No idea why."
"And there's Uzumaki Naruto total idiot. Clings to Shin all the time."
"Then there's that fat guy, Choji. All he ever does is eat. I call him 'fatty' all the time and he gets super mad, but he doesn't do anything about it. What a loser."
"Nara Shikamaru's always sleeping. Always sticking his nose in other people's business. Every time I call Choji 'fatty,' he gives me crap about it. What a pain."
"And Shino is just well…"
Kiba rattled on without stopping, as if he were trying to pour out a month's worth of thoughts and feelings all at once. Hana didn't say anything, only watching him with warm, patient eyes.
Shin walked behind them, arms folded behind his head as he looked up at the streaks of sunset in the sky. The three of them strolled leisurely toward home.
"There are so many cute girls in class," Kiba continued. "There's one called Yamanaka Ino."
"And Hyūga Hinata's really cute too but she's super quiet."
"I bet tons of girls have a crush on me. Heh…"
"Don't you think so, sis?"