AN: It's been while eh?

"So, you think there's something wrong?"

"I don't know. He seems happy enough. But his smiles seem so... strained."

"Maybe he was just having a bad day."

"But that's the way he always is whenever we go over." Uchiha Sasuke folded his hands together, setting his chin on them.

"Is he the only one you're worried about?" Hyuuga Neji, a good friend to both Naruto and Sasuke, leaned back in his chair. "After all, you watch over more than one of them right?"

Sasuke nodded. "Maybe I'm just paranoid."

"Sasuke, you're always paranoid." Neji ran a hand through his long black hair.

The other man said nothing. Once again, he was in brooding mode. Neji stood up to leave the café.

"I've got to go pick up Hinata from school. Just relax, don't worry about the kid. I'm sure things will be fine." He set some money down and went to leave. He said over his shoulder, "You're only worried because he acts the same way Naruto did back then. Ja."

Sasuke sat for a while longer. Maybe he's right. I'm only worried about Kiba because he's the same as Naruto was. He blinked slowly. As Naruto is. He bottles up everything. All his pent up emotions, then they break free at some point. Sighing, Sasuke left his money on the table and walked out.

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"What am I going to do with him, Sakura -chan? All he ever does anymore is worry about Kiba. Sure, I worry too, but he's gone into a state of brooding. I can't get him to do anything with me." Naruto babbled on, his pink haired best friend sat across from him, nodding politely with the practice and patience only a best friend had. "I told him he was too absorbed in work and all he did was 'hn' and go take a shower. I mean, I can't even get a rise out of him when I joke around."

"From what you said, Kiba seems to act like you did, Naruto. Did you ever think of that?" Haruno Sakura blew on her coffee and took a sip, setting the cup down gently. "He's hiding something if he's nervous around you two. I mean, he doesn't even answer your questions with straight answers."

"Yes, but maybe he's still adjusting." Naruto leaned back in his chair precariously.

"It doesn't take that long to adjust to anything." Sakura looked at Naruto through emerald eyes, she closed them slowly and sighed. "Things will work out, for better or for worse."

Naruto nodded. "Why don't you and Ino come over for dinner tonight? It'd be a nice change."

"Can't, Lee and I are going to a movie. We'll stop by tomorrow."

"Can't, we're going to check on the kid." They both laughed.

"Saturday then?" They stated simultaneously, laughing again.

"What's wrong Kiba-kun? You're not going to cry are you?" The snake sniggered in an evil way. "If you cry, it'll only get worse." He hissed into the boy's ear.

Choking back another sob, Kiba squeezed his eyes shut. The snake kept pinching him and prodding him in uncomfortable ways. He couldn't stand it, and worst of all, he was reacting. I... I'm getting aroused... even if I don't want to. He squeezed his eyes tighter, trying to will himself to calm down.

"That's right, Kiba-kun. It feels good, doesn't it?"

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knock knock

"Just a minute!"

Knock knock

"I'm coming!"

Pound pound

"Jesus, what part of- Oh... Hello Uzumaki-san, Uchiha-san." Hataku smiled nervously. "Come in, come in."

"Good evening, Inuzuka-san. I hope we're not interrupting anything." Naruto smiled brightly.

"No no, not at all. I was just helping Kiba with dinner, it should be done any moment." Escorting them to the living room, Hataku excused himself for a moment, walking toward Kiba's room. "Boy, go get some coffee started and throw a dinner in the microwave." He growled.

Kiba looked up from where he was laying on the floor. He unwrapped himself from the several blankets he'd made a cocoon in. Nodding, he went off to the kitchen quietly.

Making the coffee quickly, Kiba headed off to the living room. Upon seeing Naruto and Sasuke he froze for a moment before putting on a large smile and serving them. Naruto greeted him warmly and Sasuke gave him a small smile.

"Hey, Kiba, how are you doing?"

"F-fine, Uzumaki-san." Naruto shook his head. Kiba tried not to look at him.

"How are your studies?" Sasuke sipped his black coffee.

"F-fine, Uchiha-san." Kiba quickly left to his room and wrapped himself in his blanket, settling on the floor.

"Is he alright?" Naruto watched Kiba go.

"He's a bit under the weather." Hataku smiled, waving him off, coming up with more lies by the second to tell them."He's been outside alo-"

"That's not what I mean, Hataku-san." Naruto hardened his gaze on the man. "There's something wrong with him. As in, he's feeling down, not under the weather."

Sasuke nodded. "It may be that he hasn't really met anyone his age, maybe you should send him to a public school?"

"Growing boys nee-"

"Are you trying to tell me how to raise my son?" Hataku stood, looking down at them.

"We're merely try-"

"You're telling me that I don't know what's best for my son!" Hataku growled. "Are you saying that I'm a bad father?" His eyes narrowed.

"N-no. We're-"

"I don't need some young, naive, little boys with a bachelor's telling me how to raise my son!" He stormed on.

"Inuzuka Hataku!" Sasuke set down his cup heavily. "There is no need for you to go on a tangent." He stood up, leveling the hulking man with his best glare. "We're trying to help. As a first time father, you should learn to take advice when it's given to you. Now, I'm going to send Naruto to go check on Kiba. You and I, however, are going to talk about public schools." Sasuke sat back down calmly taking another sip of his coffee.

Hataku deflated and watched Naruto warily as the blonde man left.

"Kiba?" The boy jumped from his cocoon, wiping furiously at his face.

"U-uzumaki-san?" He stuttered dumbly. Kiba pulled the blankets tighter around himself.

"Are you alright?" Naruto leaned down and tried to put a hand on the boy's shoulder. Kiba flinched away.

"H-hai." He looked away. No, I'm not. It hurts, it always hurts.

"You sure? You know that you can tell me anything. I'm not going to hurt you and I don't want to see you hurt."

"I-I'm fine, Uzumaki-san. J-just feeling a little sick, i-it's n-nothing, really." Kiba managed a small smile.

Something struck Naruto as odd. "Why are you on the floor?"

Kiba's face went white. He couldn't think of an answer. He sputtered for a moment before looking down and saying in a less than convincing tone "It's more comfortable."

Naruto looked at him; something was definitely off. He stared concernedly for a moment before standing and holding a hand out to him. "Kiba, why don't you come to lunch with Sasuke and I?"

Kiba shivered slightly and shook his head, still looking at the floor.

"Come on, it'll be nice to get out won't it?" He shook his head again Naruto scowled. Fine, we'll just have to be more convincing. "Inuzuka Kiba," The boy jumped at the harsh change in tone. "Get up and get dressed, you're coming with us." Naruto felt a little bad when Kiba rushed up and got his clothes on, trembling the entire time. "We'll meet you by the door." He said in a little softer voice and walked out of the room.

TBC