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•••

Author P.O.V

The next day Naruto woke with a groan and thumping feeling in his head, it felt like he had been hit with one of his mother's iron fist repeatedly as he touched the back of his head he felt a liquid coating his hand.

Outside was raining cats and dogs so it was hard to see what it was, that is until he placed his hand in front of him and the lightning flashed alongside the thunder, revealing it to be blood in his hand. He panicked and sat up in bed as he began hyperventilating, but the more he breathed the worse everything got.

He was no longer in his room, but he was on his bed floating on lake, the same lake Kiba took him too, but something wasn't right. The bed began sinking rapidly and before he knew it he was submerged under the water, he tried to swim up for air but as he looked up he saw thousands of bodies floating above him.

"Naruto..." He heard perfectly despite being under water.

Looking over to his side Naruto shrieked as his blood ran cold and the water now red as blood, next to him was a decomposing Kiba with no eyes.

"WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME!" Kiba yelled as he and Naruto began sinking further into the bottomless lake.

Naruto jerked upward in bed in shock as sweat ran down his face, realizing it was only a dream.

He touched the back of his head to make sure and although it was thumping, he was okay and everything seemed to be perfectly normal, all except that he wasn't alone in the room, which isn't abnormal, but who was in the room made it feel that way.

"Hinata?" He mumbled, as she didn't even acknowledge him being awake nor having a nightmare as she had been there the whole time.

"..."

"Hinata?!" He called louder but she continued to ignore him.

"Hina-ah!" He winched as he tried to get off the bed and a sharp pain traveled to his head, only now noticing his face was also slightly swollen.

"Lay back down." She finally replied.

"What? Why?"

"Because you're still fucked up, more so physically this time." She continued, keeping her back to him as she folded more clothes.

"What are you doing with Kiba's clothes?" He asked, his heart skipping a beat.

"You don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

"Hm, of course you wouldn't, you got lucky and fell unconscious."

"Fell unconscious? You mean from the fight?! Of course I remember it!"

"THEN STOP ACTING LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS!" She spat, gripping the clothing she held in her hand to try and calm her anger.

"I-I don't know the outcome. I wasn't awake long enough to see it."

"Well aren't you the lucky one."

"What does that mean?" Naruto stressed, not understanding what about last night has to do with her packing Kiba's clothing.

"..."

"Hinata, please I am lost here!" He begged, standing to his feet this time. "Where are the others? Where's Kiba, Neji, TenTen, Akamaru?!"

"They're gone! Why can't you fucking see the obvious?!" She argued. "Kiba was brought to the police station, Neji and TenTen were escorted off the campus and sent there too along with Akamaru, Juugo and Kankuro are at the hospital with Temari and Gaara and the others are being fucking questioned by Ms. Senju in her office and she gonna come and talk to you shortly as well..."

"Are you satisfied now?!"

"Caught up to speed?!"

"Hinata I-" He tried.

"Save it!" She ordered, pointing one finger behind her. "I don't want to hear another word from you, when you should be speaking you're quiet so unless it's something that'll undo all that has happened yesterday, I don't want to hear it! Because of you they now think that Kiba, Neji and TenTen planned to gang and beat Kankuro and Juugo and possibly kill them! All because you wanted to play around and fuck with him so much that he fell for you!"

"To think you had him fooled!"

"...To think you had us all fooled."

"..."

Silence filled the room as Hinata began silently sobbing to herself over the matter. It wasn't that she wasn't used to her friends fighting or arguing but she thought that maybe for once things were getting better for them, especially Kiba.

"We always fought..." She continued, her voice trembling the further she went. "So it was like nothing to me, you know because we're still young so we argue over simple things..."

"Not childhood vendettas..."

"Not cheating scandals that involved married people..."

"Not to an extent where Kiba had to bring up his..." She stopped herself from saying as there was already too many emotions stirring within her.

"His what?" Naruto asked, feeling bad within himself.

"W-Why did you do it Naruto?" She asked, looking back at him from over her shoulder not finding the strength within herself to look him directly in the eyes.

"I didn't mean to hurt to anyone." Naruto admitted, the only possible response he could've thought of at this time.

"So what did you mean to do? Because I don't know how you could be in a relationship with Kiba but also engaged to someone else!"

"Because I wasn't in a relationship with Kiba!"

"Obviously, but don't play stupid Naruto! You know exactly what you meant to him! He was willing to throw away the whole world a thousand times over if it meant that you'd be able to smile forever, always putting himself behind and focusing on people like you and Kankuro!"

"People who don't give a flying shit about anyone but themselves-"

"I-"

"I don't care how selfless you feel you are! The decisions you make are still your own it doesn't matter if anyone manipulated you, they didn't hold a gun to your head and make you do it!"

"..."

"Did he?"

"Did he what?"

"Did your fiancé hold a gun to your head force you to marry him?!"

"No..."

"Then it was your decision to fuck over Kiba from the start."

"Hinata!" He tried, but she wasn't having it.

"Save it! I'll just get his things and get out of your life because apparently all you do is create problems for those around you. Kaguya knows how Neji even puts up with you!"

That broke Naruto's heart a lot more than he expected. Everything that had happened already took a toll on him, but the more Hinata spoke was the more he saw some truth to her statements.

The reason that hurt him so much was because it showed him that despite the changes he's made, it made him feel like he was losing his friends all over again. It was the same situation with Shikamaru and Choji before he underwent his changes to become the new Naruto.

But did anything really change about him?

Hinata and the others were a group of people he saw as certain stereotypes but through spending time with them he realized there was a lot more to them that what they just looked like. It sparked an old flame within Naruto that made him feel like his old self, the chaotic version that he tried to hide away, it's what he's been with them the entire time.

The part of him that Shikamaru and Choji knew, the part of him that Neji and TenTen accepted regardless of how he acted and the part that Kiba opened himself so much too that he eventually fell for him.

"Shit.." Hinata sighed. "I'll be back for the rest of his things, I have to go to Ms. Senju and as well and give my statement on what happened."

"Hinata wait..." Naruto muttered, feeling weak and not deserving to speak to her.

His response went unnoticed as she only shrugged it off as him mumbling to himself once again. So she made her way to the door and that's when Naruto realized he had to think fast.

"Hinata wait!" He yelled, gaining her attention.

"..."

"I'm sorry." He struggled. "Okay, I-I am sorry! I never intentionally meant to hurt you, the others or Kiba in any way! The decisions I made were my own and... I am so fucking sick of those decisions affecting the people who consider me their friends..."

"... or something more than just that..."

"It's true my fiancé didn't force me to say yes, but I thought that things wouldn't work between Kiba and I and I didn't want to see him get hurt, but I failed!"

"We both did..."

"What do you mean you both did?" She asked, willing to hear him out as she did grow to see him as a companion.

"Kiba had his suspicions about me, but he made the decision to still try because, I don't know, maybe he saw something in me that gave him hope. He tried to keep you all out of this from the start so that you wouldn't abandon me like my other friends did. He liked that I was happy with you guys, that you made me feel comfortable, that-"

"That we made you more like the you he liked to see." Hinata finished for him, understanding Kiba's motives.

"I guess so..."

"Of course he'd do something like that..." She smiled to herself as more tears slid down her face. "No matter what, you were his top priority."

"What do you mean?"

"Ha, even if you are a bit dense."

"Huh?"

"Look Naruto, I don't know what Kiba has up his sleeve, but he's not done with you, and judging from what he said last night, I'm guessing he has more faith and trust in you than the rest of us."

"W-What did he say?"

Hinata moved back over to Kiba's bed and kneeled to his bedside draw before opening it and reaching inside for a black box in the far back. Naruto walked up behind her and watched as she tapped the box carefully as if she was pondering whether this was the right thing to do, but whether she thought so or not, Kiba had already made up his mind.

"He said to give it to Naruto."

"Give me what-" Naruto frozen upon seeing a pistol in the box. "Hinata..."

"Sooner or later they're going to inspect all of us for this, some students confessed to hearing Kiba threatening to shoot Kankuro and so they have suspicions of him being in possession of a gun whilst on campus which is highly prohibited and can get him into greater trouble than what he's already getting."

"Which is?"

"Expulsion."

"What? Hinata they can't do that!"

"They can, he's on academic probation remember, but I guess thanks to you making him change his outlook on his future they could maybe look past it, maybe or even have his mom put in a good word for him, again."

"His mom wouldn't allow them to, right?"

"Can't say for sure, but one thing is for sure. If they find this gun then there's no denying it that him and all of us will be in a shit ton of trouble."

"Wouldn't it be best if you kept it?"

"Naruto, listen to me. We're all friends of Kiba and so they'd expect us to try and cover for him, which we are so if they find this then we're all in trouble because we've already agreed to say nothing about this gun."

"Yeah, but I'm his friend too."

"No you're not, at least not in Kiba's eyes. Regardless of that we've already decided to say nothing about you and Kiba's relationship. The story is Kankuro was jealous Kiba was still sleeping around after they broke up and just decided to take it out on you, his roommate, got it?"

"..."

"Naruto?"

"Yeah, I-I got it."

"Good, they'll still search you but with the mindset that you might've just been just a victim in all this."

"What about Neji and TenTen? They're my friends after all."

"Don't worry, as far as they'll know he's my cousin and she's his girlfriend. As far as people know they've seen me, TenTen and the other girls strolling the campus with snacks and goodies." She smiled before handing him the box and standing to her feet.

"Hinata, wait!"

"..."

"Why does he have this? The gun. Why does Kiba have something like this?"

"Doesn't he seem like the type to have one?" She asked with a small smile. "We'll talk later Naruto and I'll come back for his stuff."

Hinata left Naruto alone with his thoughts and all his mixed emotions to unpack. It was the second time this much trust had been placed in his hands by his friend and it's something that could make or break his relationship with his friends and Kiba.

Apart of him said this was wrong, it's the part that acknowledged the ring in his pocket, the other part clutched the box tightly refusing to let go.

"You can save your relationship with them and keep their lives from being ruined. Kiba did nothing wrong after all."

"Report them, this has nothing to do with you. Think of what your family and Sasuke will think when they find out you're an accomplice."

"If they find out..."

"As long as Kiba is around they'll know!"

"Hide the gun and save them!"

"Give it up and stop all this once and for all!"

•••

After waiting for what seemed like years Naruto finally made his decision on what to do and which path to take, he just hoped that they'll forgive him for his choices in the future.

Meanwhile the others had already finished being interrogated and huddled together to talk about what to do next.

"I can't believe this happening..." Shikamaru hissed as he leaned against the wall.

"Well believe it." Kauri replied. "Thanks to Sai and his outbursts, we're in this mess."

"Me? I'm sorry are we blaming this whole thing on me now?" Sai retorted.

"Pretty much, yeah."

"The fuck!"

"Shh, not right here! Keep it down before someone hears us." Sakura warned both of them as Hinata was still inside the building with Ms. Senju.

"Yeah Sai, just chill out." Ino agreed.

"Chill out? Chill out? So I'm overreacting over the fact that our friend is at risk of being thrown in jail?!" Sai asked. "I didn't realize that was something you all seemed to take so lightly!"

"Friends. Plural." Shino corrected.

"I don't care for the other two." Sai admitted, disliking Neji and TenTen as much as Naruto. "Nor anyone who that Fraud considers a friend."

"Sai just shut up! Everyone saw and heard what happened, if it wasn't for you Shikamaru wouldn't have tackled you to the ground and Naruto wouldn't have ran off and started a fight!" Kauri argued.

"So me speaking the truth that made him finally reveal that he had a fucking fiancé this whole time makes me a bad person? Oh shit then I must be horrible to have learned that and kept it from a friend for as long as I did!"

"Sai nobody said what you did was wrong, it's how you went about it that made it wrong." Sakura pointed out.

"So I should've sugar coated it then, maybe send him a little envelope and box of fucking cookies, Sakura?! We've seen this play out before and if anyone knows the extremes of it is Hinata and Shino. Naruto was just another mistake waiting to happen in Kiba's life just like Kankuro, we all saw that!"

"Just because Kiba wanted to pretend as if everything was fine just so we wouldn't turn our backs against him means nothing to me. Because just like Shikamaru said about him the first time we met, he's trouble."

"Just keep my fucking name out your mouth, man." Shikamaru spat. "We're tired of hearing you complain about this on and on, with no pauses."

"As if you haven't done the same." Kauri exposed.

"Tsk, so what all of sudden I expose the truth and everyone turns into a hypocrite?" Sai chuckled. "This is exactly the kind of atmosphere that I can't bring my boyfriend in."

"The same boyfriend who's brother is marrying Naruto? That atmosphere?" Ino asked.

"I've already told him about the whole thing. He said he'll talk with his brother."

"Well aren't you just doing Kaguya's work." She replied, giving him a sarcastic smile as she laid her head on Sakura.

Sai sensed that they all were acting indifferent towards him and it was clear as day as to why they would, but in his mind he did the right thing and that's all that mattered.

He believed he saved everyone from the danger of their friend group that Naruto would've affected if he hadn't exposed him.

Just then Hinata exited the building with a nervous expression on her face.

"Babe..." Shino sighed in relief before engulfing her in a hug which she reciprocated.

"How'd it go Hinata?" Sakura asked as the group huddled around her.

"According to plan, I guess... They're going to speak to Naruto and search the room for the weapon." She informed them.

"It's a good thing you hid it then." Ino smiled but stopped once Hinata didn't reply, but gave them a look of uncertainty.

"Baby, you did hide it, didn't you?" Shino asked, looking into her eyes and getting tense once he knew what her look meant.

"Kiba said that I should give it to Naruto..." She admitted.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Sai spat. "You gave it to him of all person-"

"Don't fucking talk to her like that, man!" Shino retorded, shoving him back.

"Or what!? Even when Naruto knocked her to the floor you didn't do shit about it! But now all of a sudden you have the strength for me?!"

"What the fuck did you say?" Shino dared, closing the space between him and Sai.

"Hey!" Sakura tried.

"Shino..." Hinata mumbled.

"Hey! Ino said chill out earlier didn't she?!" Rock Lee replied, pushing Sai back as he advanced towards Shino.

"Did you not hear what she said?!" Sai argued.

"We heard, did you?" Sakura asked.

"Obviously! But it looks like I'm the only one registering it. How could Kiba tell you to give anything to that guy, and why the fuck would you listen to him?!"

"Because that's what he wanted!" Hinata argued back.

"Can't you see how much trouble this guy is to us!"

"How is he any trouble to us?"

"Because he has Kiba running around his finger like a puppet, and by the looks of it so are the rest of you that can't see the problem in this! He ratted out Choji and Shikamaru when they were younger over childish shit and now you just gave something to him that can get us all in some serious shit."

"..."

Nobody replied as they themselves were uncertain of what the outcome would be, but kept thinking that it would be somewhat like Sai anticipated.

"See? None of you can even defend it. It was a fucking stupid thing to do and it'll get us in trouble and Kiba in deeper shit than he already is. I don't even get what the fucking big deal it is to always listen to Kiba's wishes and respect his decision when he doesn't even give a rat's ass about ours!"

"That decision doesn't even affect him, it affects all of us. All that prick has to do is say he knows nothing about the gun and that we gave it to him to cover up our stories. Am I right?"

"No way, Kiba wouldn't throw us under the bus like that?" Rock Lee defended.

"You just heard what Hinata said and maybe he's been sleeping with that Fraud so much that he started to rub off on him so who knows." Sai replied back, pacing back and forth at how ridiculous the whole situation was.

"Kiba isn't like that. He knows what he's doing..." Hinata tried.

"Really? Cause it doesn't seem like you're too confident in what you just said."

"..."

"Kiba is not the same like he used to be, before and after Kankuro, and now before and after Naruto. I know you love to sit back and protect him and be like a mother figure to him, but you have your own fucking reality to worry about and it wouldn't be the first he's done us wrong simply because he couldn't keep his heart and dick on the same path."

"Right, Shikamaru? You know Naruto better than me after all, what do you predict will happen?"

"I said stop calling my fucking name..." Shikamaru gritted his teeth as he turned his back to everyone.

"Getting soft for him again, huh? Even after all that he's done?" Sai chastised him, Choji and all of them for that matter. "I know why you hit me last night, that I struck a cord in your heart over your ex best friend from your youth and you got all emotional, and I forgive you because that's what friends do."

"However, what I'm not going to forgive is you guys putting all your trust in that Fraud. Luckily, my boyfriend will be picking me up and taking me home for the break because we made plans together so I don't intend to stay here and be thrown in jail with the rest of you over someone who can't even pick a personality trait."

"If you guys are smart, you'll do the same thing. Until next time."

Sai marched off alone after saying what he needed too in order to get through to his friends, whom he cared about and wished that they would listen to him and do the same. It was already too late to take the weapon back from Naruto, but it wasn't too late for them leave while they still had the chance.

(A/N: Sai is such an asshole, but he's right and I hate him for it, but also his character is giving.)

Hinata began sobbing as the familiar feeling of pain and the split within their friend group got to her once more. This was something she wanted to avoid, it happened before and she just wanted it all to never happen again.

Shino comforted her with a hug allowing her to release her tears into him as Sakura and Ino rubbed circles in her back.

Choji also began to sob as he felt the feeling as well and that he had lost Naruto all over again, Kauri and Rock Lee comforted him as Shikamaru kept his back to them and watched Sai walking off.

The truth was he wanted to cry too, but he didn't want to waste his tears. Instead he wanted answers and he wanted them now.

"So what do we do now? Leave while we have the chance, or put our trust in Naruto and Kiba?" He asked the group as the looked amongst each other.

•••

Ms. Senju and the officers knocked at Naruto and Kiba's dorm and awaited for it to be open, almost immediately the door opened and Naruto emerged outside with a nervous expression on his face.

"Naruto, you're awake. How are you feeling?" She asked.

"I'm okay, there seems to be a problem?" He replied, looking timidly at the officers alongside her.

"I'm afraid so." She sighed. "We'll be entering your room to search a few things and also ask you some questions if you're well enough to do so."

"Of course. Questions regarding what exactly?"

"It's about your roommate, Mr. Inuzuka. We trust that you will answer honestly and allow the officers to do their jobs, right?"

"Of course, you can trust me."

•••

Time seemed to pass by so slowly in the few hours Naruto laid on his bed and just waited for anything whether it was good news or bad news. He just wanted to hear something from someone.

He was tense from what he did, afraid that it would all backfire in his face. He knew they wouldn't forgive him if they found out the truth, but he had to do it.

Just then he decided to pick up his phone and call someone, he was too scared to call Neji or his parents, so he opted to call Sasuke. However, it went straight to voicemail.

Naruto wondered if he was upset with him, he was supposed to come pick him and go home like they planned, maybe if he did then he could've avoided this whole mess in the first place, but he just wanted to make his friends and Kiba happy.

Shortly after, he received a text though.

•••

- I can't speak on the phone right now
- I can text though, what's up?

- I miss you 🥺
- I wish you were here
- I could use a hug

- Baby, what's wrong?
- Did something happen?

- It's a long story
- One that I was hoping to tell you over the car ride home
- I waited for you all day but when I didn't hear from you I decided to call
- I just want to get out of here right now...

- Baby...
- I'm so sorry to hear that, but I can't leave at this time

- Why?

- There was an emergency with a family member of mine
- So I'm currently two towns away from you right now

- Seriously?
- What happened?

- They had an accident and could really use some support right now from me
- If you'd like you can stop by my hotel and as soon as possible I'll come over to you and drop you home

- Thanks, but I just really would like to leave this town all together

- This sounds like a lot more than you just missing me babe
- Is there something else as to why you'd want to give up your studies and not go back to the school?

- New beginning? If that makes sense.

- Of course it does
- Tell you what, get everything ready and I'll call a private vehicle to come pick you up from the campus gate in the next half an hour.

- Make it fifteen minutes, most of my things are already packed

- It's a deal!
- I have to go now, but contact me when you reach your town so I know you're okay
- I love you, alright?
- I'll see you soon ❤️

- Thank you Sasuke
- I will, and I love you more than anything in the world ❤️

•••

Naruto broke down crying as he switched his phone off and buried his face in the mattress. He was really going to miss this place and honestly all the memories that he had here, but he couldn't stay here if he wanted them to have a better future.

Better, as in one that doesn't involve him.

He gathered all his strength and composure to clean his face and calm himself as he looked into the mirror and stared at his reflection, he still didn't recognize himself, but he still felt like he was looking at someone he knew.

Not so lost anymore, but not so found either.

He got off the bed and made his way over to his suitcase, rummaging around pulling out his photo book that Kiba bought for him. Looking at he contemplated on whether to go through with his plan or not but decided it was the for the best.

Naruto exited his dorm and made his way up to Hinata's sector, a heavy feeling weighing on his chest the closer he got. He stood in front of the door and hesitated to knock, but before he could find the courage to do so, someone stopped him.

"Oi!" Shikamaru called softly, leaning on the wall beside him.

"Shikamaru..."

"Don't bother knocking, Hinata and Shino left. They all did for that matter."

"What..."

"Yeah, they all left about two hours ago while you were with Ms. Senju and the police."

"But you stayed..."

"Because I'm waiting for Temari to return, besides visiting family on such short breaks is such a drag so she's a good distraction to keep them occupied."

"Ha...you always come prepared for them don't you?" Naruto chuckled lightly.

"Ha...yeah." Shikamaru smiled before it shortly disappeared. "So what did you want with them?"

"Huh?"

"The book and Hinata?"

"Oh! I wanted to return it. No! Actually I wanted to give it to them so they could give it to Kiba..."

"Why don't you give it to him yourself?"

"I...I don't think I'll be back to do that..."

"Leaving already?"

"Yeah...I guess coming here wasn't the best idea."

"What did you tell Ms. Senju and what did the police find?" Shikamaru asked, diverting his gaze from the emotional blonde.

"They asked about my relationship with Kiba and the others..."

"And you said?"

"We weren't close, just acquaintances with all of you, excluding Neji and TenTen so that they wouldn't think that them and Kiba plotted to harm Kankuro or Juugo."

"..."

"They searched the whole room, and found dog hair which I denied having in the room. Stating it was just fur from stuffed animals which I plucked out earlier just to have an example."

"..."

"And they tired to search my suitcase and open this book, but I told them it had provocative photos of myself in them, which it does, but also photos with Kiba. Luckily they didn't go further into it after seeing me naked on the first page."

"So that's why you took it all the way here? For them to see your nudes."

"Ha no...I wanted to return it to Kiba" Naruto replied before opening the book and revealing that he had cut a square in it that hid Kiba's gun. "As well as this."

"So you didn't rat us all out?" Shikamaru asked.

"What? No I wouldn't do-" Naruto tried but remembered who he was talking too and that he's ratted him out before. "I wouldn't do that again, this wouldn't have lead to some childish punishment and I didn't want to ruin anyone else's life."

"So you choose to stay quiet and just disappear from our lives completely?"

"Wouldn't that be the best option? I can't change in a way that won't hurt those around me so what's the point in staying and hurting all of you again? It already happened with Kankuro and I think I've had enough of people comparing me to him."

"..."

"The others even left and I'm betting it has a lot to do with them not trusting me. So I'll do everyone a favor and just disappear. Even Choji after what-"

"Choji left because I told him too, he wanted to stay. They all did, but I told them that I knew you, kind of, and knew there was a chance you'd cover for us."

"You trusted me?"

"Not exactly, I just bet on you with myself. Part of me thought you'd snitch and the other part thought you wouldn't, I just wanted to see which one would be right."

"But I don't get it, I thought you hated me and that we were no longer friends..."

"I never said I hated you, but that doesn't mean we're friends either. People change Naruto, whether it's for better or worse, whether it's real or fake. They do it for a lot of reasons and your reason is because you want everyone else to be happy, except yourself despite the fact that any which way you choose, someone will always not like you because of it."

"..."

"So why does it matter being someone that not everyone will like, if you're gonna be unhappy. Just do you and trust yourself."

"You're starting to sound all mature and grown like Kiba..."

"Yet, I'm the same age as you. We all have to learn in this big spinning world. It's just such a drag that some people get lost on the way."

"Ha...do you think that maybe one day when I'm done being lost we can be friends again?"

"Hm, only you can tell. As for now I'm not really fond of you." Shikamaru chuckled, sharing a laugh with Naruto who began tearing up once more.

"I'm hoping to look forward to it."

Naruto and Shikamaru kept their distance as they still smiled to each other. It was like when they were younger and Naruto loved the feeling of this kind of relationship back with his friend, but he knew that right now he wouldn't be able to get it back in the mindset he's in.

"Here, can you give this to Kiba for me?" He asked, holding his hand out and offering it to Shikamaru.

"Hmm I think you're better off giving that to Kiba."

"Kiba is still in jail though."

"I don't think they can lock you up without actually having a reason too."

"Plus they couldn't keep me that long anyway." Another voice replied, earning a chuckled from Shikamaru as Naruto's eyes widened.

"Kiba..."

"Kit..." Kiba smiled.

"How...How did you get back in here?"

"I walked in haha. I still have to get my stuff you know."

"Right..." Naruto figured. "Well here, this belongs to you as well."

"You're giving me back the photo album?"

"And what's inside."

"Why?" Kiba asked, his smile fading as he looked at the book that held some of their memories together.

"Kiba, I don't think I'm coming back here and it'll be better for you, me and everyone else if we just forget I even exist."

Kiba looked at Naruto in disbelief, then to Shikamaru who shrugged lowly. He didn't understand it just as much as Kiba did, but he wasn't going to argue with him or try to convince him otherwise.

"You're joking, right?" Kiba chuckled.

However, he got no response but seeing Naruto place the book on the ground made it clear to him that he was more than serious.

"Sorry for all the trouble, but I have to catch a ride home." Naruto apologized, not facing Kiba in the slightest. "Bye Shikamaru, and goodbye Kiba."

"See you if I see you." Shikamaru replied.

They both then turned to Kiba but Naruto didn't make eye contact with him. He was afraid to see the pain in his eyes whether it be sadness or anger, he couldn't handle it. So Naruto attempted to walk past him slowly, knowing he might grab him and start arguing but to his surprise Kiba did nothing.

He just stood there and allowed Naruto to pass as Shikamaru watched on.

Naruto let out a gentle croak as it felt like he was brutally kicked in the heart and it more than an physical altercation he's ever experienced, but he couldn't go back.

"You...you said that you had to catch a ride home. Is your fiancé not coming for you?" Kiba asked.

"..."

"Answer me." Kiba continued, turning his head slightly to glance at the blonde.

"He had an emergency, but he sent a private car to take me home."

"Well, if that's the case and this will be the last time we see each other, allow me to take you home." He offered.

"That's considerate, but my parents wouldn't be too happy to see me riding home on a bike."

"That doesn't sound like a no to me."

"..."

"I don't want to hear what anyone else will feel or think when they see me with you. I want to know if you'll grant me this request. Can I please take you home Naruto?"

"..."

"You guys can take my car if you'd like. Just don't scratch it or get any...stains in it." Shikamaru teased earning a chuckle from both the boys despite Naruto trying to hide his.

"Well Kit, what do you say?"

"Fine, but only straight home and then after that we go our separate ways, okay?"

"Sure, after that we go our separate ways. I promise." Kiba replied showing Naruto his palm to solidify his words.

"So what's your plan?" Shikamaru asked as he smirked at the brunette.

"What do you mean?" Kiba asked, playing oblivious as Naruto walked away to retrieve his belongings.

"Usually when making a promise we don't tend to cross our fingers behind our backs." He pointed out.

"I just want to see what this fiancé of his is about."

"Sasuke?"

"Yeah, I just find it weird how ever since Kankuro brought him up to me everything just started going downhill."

"Well Sasuke has always been a bit off since high school."

"Something tells me that that's the side of him Naruto doesn't know about."

"Dude don't go getting yourself in trouble again."

"I won't, just want to shed some light on some things."

"You sure that's all you want? Seems like you're still digging for some lost treasure if you ask me."

"Trust me, when I'm done. They'll be no lost treasure to dig for, just him."

•••