[Aria's pov | Outside the academy]

Sasuke ducked and pushed through the crowd, jogging over to us. I brightened slightly when I saw the headband tied around his head. He passed as well! I knew he would, but I'm glad I guessed right about where he'd wear his headband. It used to be that the forehead was the only place you could wear it, but after the war, things became much more lax. At least that's what Kakashi told me. I wonder if he's here today... probably not, seeing as he's going to be a sensei. I saw the papers on the table... I know I wasn't supposed to, but oh well. It's too late now. 

Sasuke's face hardened when he saw Naruto without his headband, and with tears in his eyes. "What happened?" Sasuke questioned gruffly. "He didn't make it." I said solemnly, rubbing Naruto's back smoothly. Sasuke scowled at the ground before he turned to look at Naruto. "What happened, dobe?" He questioned. Naruto flinched at the question. "I-I panicked. I'm sorry, believe it." His voice came out weak and croaky. I frowned.

"Hey, it's okay, Naruto." I soothed. He looked up at me with a frown. "No, this was my last year! I can't become a ninja after this..." He trialed off sourly, his teeth clenching. I looked down at my feet. He's right, he's failed way too many times. "Then become so strong that they can't not make you a ninja." Sasuke scoffed at him as though the answer had been obvious. Naruto looked up at Sasuke with a questioning look. "What do you mean?" The blonde questioned. "Train so hard that they can't deny that you'll be an amazing ninja, Naruto!" I grinned at him, patting his back. Sasuke may be rude to Naruto, but he really does care! I can tell.

"I don't know..." Naruto trailed off, his fists clenching in his lap. I frowned. I feel so bad for him. He trained so hard with us to become a ninja! With all the teachers neglecting him, he definitely didn't have the upper hand here. "Why don't you come with Sasuke and I to get Canterbury certified as a ninja animal! After that, we can go get some ramen, and train even more!" I clapped my hands together. Canterbury, who'd followed Sasuke out, let out an oink. I patted his head softly. "R-Really? You'll help me?" He looked between Sasuke and I with wide eyes. I smiled crookedly, nodding. Canterbury snorted to show his approval, and Sasuke gave a grunt. 

"You guys are the best!" He jumped up, capturing us both in a hug. Canterbury squealed, skipping backwards and out of the way. I laughed. "Hey, let go, idiot!" Sasuke's face betrayed him. He secretly liked the hug. "But why... why're you helping me?!" Naruto pulled away, his big blue eyes teary with joy and question. I laughed at him. "Naruto, it's no big deal. That's what friends are for." I nudged Sasuke with my elbow, and he nudged me back. I lifted up Canterbury, who gave Naruto a reassuring oink. The blonde looked at the three of us with wide eyes before he looked at his hands. "F-Friends?" He whispered. "Hn. Obviously." Sasuke scoffed. "Yeah, Naruto. Did you think we weren't friends?" I asked curiously. "I-I've never had friends before, believe it!" He looked at us with wide eyes. I felt my heart strings twang. 

"Well, now you do!" I chirped. Naruto lit up. Before he could reply, however, we were interrupted. "Ah, there you are, Naruto!" It was Mizuki. I took a slight step back, and Sasuke put a hand on my shoulder. So he's suspicious of him as well. "Ah, Mizuki-sensei!" Naruto wiped furiously at his eyes, grinning up at him. "Can I talk to him for a bit?" Mizuki turned to us. I flinched slightly, my grip on Canterbury tightening slightly. I glanced at Naruto, my eyebrows raising. "I'll catch up, guys! Don't worry!" He laughed, giving a thumbs up. "We'll be at the usual spot." Sasuke grumbled steering me away. "H-Hey, wait!" I whispered loudly to Sasuke, looking up at him with wide eyes. "Naruto can fend for himself." He grunted under his breath. I sent a worried look back at Naruto just before we turned the corner.

[Time skip | Aria's pov | The Inuzuka vet clinic]

"And here youuu go!" Hana stamped the certificate, sliding it across the counter to me. I brightened considerably. "Thank you so much!" I beamed, taking it carefully and looking over it. I deadpanned at the species box. It was left blank. I guess he's not really a pig... but still. "The headbands are over here. Feel free to pick whichever you want, free of charge!" Hana smiled, her hands clasping together in front of her. My eyes widened. "R-Really?" I awed at her kindness. "Of course!" The teen laughed lightly.

"Go pick one." I urged Canterbury. He wiggled out of Sasuke's arms, darting over to the table. I laughed at his excitement as he made his tail into a spring, using it to bounce so he could see what there was to pick from. "What is he?" Sasuke mumbled. "You ask me that every time we come here, and I never have an answer." I told him. Sasuke grunted. "It's a good question." Hana acknowledged, resting her elbows on the counter and propping her head up with her hands. "Yeah, but I can't tell either." I laughed, scratching the back of my head. Hana hummed at me, gazing at Canterbury. "Well, he definitely isn't your everyday pig, that's for sure." She looked at me from the corner of her eye. I nodded in agreement.

All of us turned to the clinic's front door when the bell jingled. "Hana, Mom, I'm ho-" Kiba paused when he saw Sasuke and I standing there. His hand moved up to nervously adjust the headband tied around his forehead. "Sasuke, Aria." He gave a grin. "Ah, you passed! Good job!" I heard Hana clap her hands together behind us. "Erm, yeah. I see you guys did too." He stared at me. I stared back awkwardly. coughing into my fist. Kiba has always been a little odd around me. I think I might scare him a little. I don't really know. 

"What're you guys doing here?" He walked over, setting Akamaru down on the ground. The puppy let out a yip, rushing off towards the table of headbands to meet Canterbury. They got along pretty well. I bring Canterbury here for checkups pretty often, and recently I've been around a lot because of all the ninja-animal tests he's had to take. "So, I guess you guys came here to get Canterbury certified." Kiba looked down at me. He's about the same height as Sasuke. Possibly a little taller. It's hard to tell when they're not next to each other. "Yep! He's picking out a headband." I told the boy. We all turned to look at the bouncing pig. Kiba barked out a laugh.

"That thing is not a pig." He told me. I deadpanned, letting out a sheepish laugh. "Yeah, I kinda gathered as much." I smiled a closed eye smile, trying to be polite as possible. I jumped in surprise when Kiba's hand clapped down on my shoulder. I looked up at him with a questioning look. "I bet we'll be on the same team! Since we both have animals." Kiba said with a wide grin. I blinked at him. "Huh, that's a good point! Both our animals are good at tracking, so if we wanted at tracker..." I trailed off, biting my lip. 

"She's going to be on my team." Sasuke said gruffly. "Well, maybe I'll be on your team too, then." Kiba said hotly. I sweat dropped at the two, glaring boys. "Maybe! We'll just have to wait and find out." I laughed nervously, my eyes moving between the two. The both let out 'humphs', looking away from each other. I deadpanned some more. "Why do you wanna be on Aria's team, Kiba? Do you have a crush?" Hana teased. Kiba's head snapped to her, his eyes wide. I just blinked dumbly as the boy sputtered, his cheeks turning red. "N-No, of course I don't!" He stuttered, his eyes wide. 

I felt something on my leg, and looked down. My savior was here. "Oh, you found one!" Canterbury had found a headband a lot like my own. It was a little thinner, and shorter. It was meant to wrap around his neck, like a collar. The plague of metal, it seemed, would rest on the back of his neck. I turned it around in my hand. It was a collar, now that I looked at it better. It had a clasp and everything. "I guess he wants this one!" I held it up. "Good. Let's go." Sasuke grabbed my arm and tugged me towards the door. I stumbled slightly. "O-Oh, by Kiba, Hana! Thank you!" I called just as we exited. Canterbury let out a honk, his tail waving. Kiba simply looked away, and Hana gave a wave.

Odd.

~

1516 words not COUNTING THIS NOTE WADDUP I'M GETTING BETTER

Probs gonna have Kiba be her boyfriend for a while. Like, let's be real, you ain't gonna meet your true love when you're twelve. I mean, if you do, good job. Props to you. But realistically. 

You don't get when your future wife or husband at the age of twelve.