Hello there. First of all I am very happy that you took the time to read my fic. Means a lot considering it is my very first one. Secondly, I'd like to say that any advice, thoughts, reviews, and even compliments that you may have I would love to hear. Please review. Again, this is a Kiba x OC ship. It starts out kinda slow with the romance but I assure you, I have a good reason. So please! Enjoy.

~Kat~

"Kiba! You lazy dog, get your ass up," a shrill woman's voice barked through the screen that was the bedroom door. Kiba sighed and stretched, scratching his head.

"Ma, what the hell?" he asked, cracking his muscles. It felt good for now, but all that changed when the insane bitch that was his mother screamed from the kitchen.

"Get up! We've got work to do today. Those pups aren't going to train themselves…" She retorted and Kiba could hear a loud clank from the kitchen. No doubt she had punched something. She did that when she got too frustrated. She only had soft eyes for her ninja hounds and Hana.

He didn't care. That was her business and he didn't really need to care. He knew from a young age he was raised to be an Alpha, leading his clan when the proper time came. But now, at age 20, he couldn't help but groan at the responsibility that lay on his shoulders.

Ever since the war ended between the Allied Shinobi force and Tobi's army, it had been chaos. They had lost so many comrades. Out of the original 12 competitors from the Chunnin exams all those years ago, only nine remained. Three of their friends had been cut down right in front of them. The worse of it being that after searching and trying so hard, Naruto and Sasuke both sacrificed themselves for the world. Naruto for peace, and Sasuke… Kiba's nose wrinkled at the thought of him. He smelled of pure evil that day and not even Naruto's words could bring him from that. It was a sour smell… it left Kiba's nose sore and burning.

Naruto had faced Sasuke, head on, no restraint. If anything was going to permeate his friend's thick aura of hatred and anger it would be Naruto's blows. Hit after hit, move after move, everything memorized down to the last move. That last move shocked them all… Sakura had had enough. Between their endless struggles she had finally gotten what she wanted. We all knew it; we could all see it on her face before the war. She wanted closure, she wanted them to smile and get a long like they used to.

Sasuke was different then, he smelled different. But that final battle, the blow to end all blows left both Naruto and Sasuke speechless. They had murdered Sakura, for she had jumped in between them during what would have been their final blow. It was tragic. Naruto had dropped to his knees and Sasuke just stood there, in awe and shock for a moment. He had never seen the emotionless face of the Uchiha change so much in such a short time. True to the shinobi way, true to their way, they ended that fight by ridding the world of the team that used to be known as seven. Only Kakashi Hatake, their Sensei and mentor was left to tell their tale.

As if this all wasn't shocking enough, for the last few remaining weeks of the war, after Tsunade's sacrifice to save her fellow Kage, Naruto became the sixth, and most revered Hokage of all time. He surpassed all the others both with his sage jutsu and his Kyuubi form. It wasn't the ideal end that Konoha sought.

So now, of the rookie nine, only he, Hinata, Shino, Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji remained. Hinata of course, was struck with the greatest grief. Watching that sad look on her face was almost heart breaking. The way she held herself afterward, the way she kept a strong face in the time after the war was truly remarkable. Almost as remarkable as the news that she herself was carrying the last remaining member of the Uzumaki clan. Naruto's child, and one day future prodigy. With Hinata's strong Kekkai-Genkai and Naruto's overwhelming chakra and determination, there was nothing this child couldn't do. He was now four years old and raised lovingly in the presence of both Naruto's friends and Hinata's strong clan.

"Kiba! You lazy mutt, get your ass out of bed. Your breakfast is getting cold!" his mother echoed through his door. Kiba sighed, wiping the sleep from his eyes and stood up. He quickly jumped in the shower, washed, and was done within fifteen minutes. That gave him just enough time to eat and get ready. Wearing his typical training clothes consisting of a black leather jacket, mesh shirt, black pants, and ninja sandals he made his way to the kitchen where his mother was sitting at the table, munching down on her breakfast. It was a high protein diet here in the Inuzuka house. Fresh meats, fish, and poultry always graced our meals with many different types of vegetables and vitamins provided by the Nara clan gardens. It was their way of contributing to the whole strength of Konoha. What strength could be left in this battered and broken village was beyond him.

"Before we leave," his mother began, eating her fresh bacon hungrily. "You have to speak to the Hokage. He has a request to make of you and as future head of the Inuzuka clan, it is your job to comply.

"That brat? Seriously, he's barely eighteen. If he think he can boss me around just because-."

"Kiba! You will show respect to your Hokage…" she growled, looking up at him. "Konohamaru was Uzumaki's choice, his protégé. It was between him, Kakashi, or Neji… being the grandson of the third and one of the last remaining heirs to the Sarutobi clan gives him all the qualifications needed to be our Hokage. Not to mention he's strong… stronger than you."

At this Kiba let out a "humph" before quickly finishing his meal. "Fine, I'll go see that brat- I mean the Hokage," he corrected after seeing his mothers deadly gaze. "Just don't know why it had to be him. I'm the heir to a clan, I'm strong, smart, and damn it… I don't think I ever caught up to Naruto but if that little squirt thinks he can surpass me because of who his master is… he's got another thing coming!"

With this Kiba stormed out of the mansion, his hands stuffed in his pockets the whole time. He could smell the morning air greet him. In fact, ever since the war he made it a point to remember certain smell markers of his friends. He could smell Hinata all the way from her compound. She smelled of jasmine. She was still sleeping with her son, Jiraiya, close to her. His scent was different. It wasn't jasmine but it had traces of something different in it. He couldn't smell Shino but that was normal. He was out on rounds constantly with his father and clan surveying the area around Kohoha to assure that their perimeter was kept.

Ino was sleeping soundly in her bed, the smell of honey-suckle greeting his nose. Shikamaru was awake, surprisingly. Smelled like he was playing shogi with his dad because Shikaku's scent was wafting in and out. Choji was the lucky one. Kiba could smell the delicious mouth watering food that always graced the table at the Akimichi home. Not to mention his mother was so kind and generous. Bet she'd just let me come right on over… Kiba shook his head from these thoughts. The "Hokage" needed to see him this morning. Kiba sighed taking in the scent of Lee as he jogged about the compound with his loving and ever exuberant teacher Might Gai. He shook his head but then noticed something different about this morning. TenTen and Neji's scents were close by. In fact, they were too close for comfort and the hormones they were exuding made Kiba grin sadistically. Way to go Neji…

Kiba had finally made it to the Hokage tower now. It was rebuilt, just as red and tall as ever. He grinned up at the Hokage Mountain behind it. There were the faces of the greatest shinobi on that mountain. The first hokage who's own genes and powers helped fuel the enemy's sadistic plan during the war. His brother the second, their protégé the third Hokage; to me he was still old man. Naruto's father the forth, Tsunade, the only kunoichi to grace the mountain, and finally that lopsided grin that he grew to know and eventually cherish. Naruto's head was up there, right next to Tsunade grinning out over Konoha. What a sight to wake up to, right?

Kiba sighed and walked up the stairs and into the Hokage office. "Ah! Dog boy, good good… I was hoping you'd come find me today."

Kiba just scowled at the young man behind the desk. He was taller now, taller than Kiba actually and he still had that same troublesome grin on his face. With the same teal scarf around his neck, the trademark goggles were close by. He still kept them close, hanging on his ninja pouch like good luck charms, a constant reminder of his loving master. His hair was a bit darker too and his face was scared up from the war. Even he had to get involved.

"What did you want, brat?" Kiba asked, looking out the window at the now rising sun. "I have training to do with the pups and…"

"I know! That is why your here. You see… I realize that in order to strengthen peace between each other, to form brotherhoods and realize the true peace that Naruto-sensei tried to achieve, I need to broaden my horizons. Not just to other ninja but to our neighbors, our traders, our comrades amongst the smaller and greater nations. Fire Daimyo believes this too. He's a peaceful man despite his former training."

"That's right… I forgot. He must have been appointed by anbu because there is no way he inherited the title of Daimyo from the fire nobles so easily. He's a great nin but there is no doubt that Sai isn't exactly the guy I'd choose as Daimyo."

"On the contrary! Now listen here dog face," Konohamaru grinned. "He's level headed, thinks logically, has a strong heart because of Naruto, and because of his love for his friends he finds that he can maneuver and lead people almost perfectly. Sure, he doesn't know how to express himself fully yet but that doesn't make him weak."

"So now that he is officially Daimyo, what are our chances of finding someone just as suited to the task as Anbu leader?" Kiba asked, a sour look replacing his annoyed one.

"This is also why you're here. Besides a special mission that I have relayed to your mother for today, I have also wanted to talk to you about another proposition." He paused, watching Kiba from behind the desk, that desk that Naruto never even got to sit behind. "You see Inuzuka-san, I've found that the tracking and intel unit seems to be the Inuzuka strong suit, don't you agree?" Kiba nodded and Konohamaru grinned. "So, as a powerful ninja, ninja hound trainer, and tracker I have asked you here to take a seat alongside myself, Neji-sempai, Kakashi-sensei, Shikaku Nara, and Hiashi Hyuuga as the council that will preside over the ninja happenings and decisions involving Konoha. Will you accept?"

Kiba's jaw dropped. This was not what he was expecting at all. "So, wait… I'm confused. Are you appointing Kakashi sempai as leader of Anbu? Or are all of us going to decide on the comings and goings of Anbu?"

"Basically…" Konohamaru replied, a smirk on his face.

"No disrespect to you, Hokage-sama," Kiba began. "But I think you're crazy. Anbu has always worked in the shadows, protecting Konoha. Even your former master knew the importance of-."

"Konoha is a shinobi village, a great shinobi village respected by even our former enemies. The Kazekage, Gaara-kun, has vowed eternal peace between our and his village; likewise with the Hidden Cloud. Their growing love for Killer Bee during the final war had finally brought peace." Konohamaru sighed, running his finger from his temple to his chin. "Some of the old bags from the Hidden Stone are still moaning and groaning but their new leader, the young and carefree Akatsuchi, is more than willing to cooperate to make this world a better place like Naruto-kun inspired in him. However, the Hidden Mist is still unstable at best. The Mizukage has regained control but old grudges don't die easy."

"So, you're saying there is no real need for secrecy anymore? That our dealings should be the decision of all of our nin?" Kiba asked skeptically, watching the young Hokage.

"No, no… I realized if there is one thing that can be learned from Danzo, from that old bat and his old ways, it's this… that there are always two sides to the shinobi world. The light and the dark; what is seen and what isn't. A shinobi cannot be a shinobi without both of these factors and so I appointed this council of jonin ninja to collectively, and strategically, decide the fate of Anbu and its doings. It will not be public; in fact it will never leave the council and between the five of you I am sure a decision can be reached."

"So, it's official? You are asking me to join your council to help better Konoha, right? This isn't some paper pushing job where I have to-?"

"There will be paperwork. Not a lot but some. I think Shikaku and the two Hyuuga's will be more than competent enough to take care of the heavy work. That's not what I need you for. I need you to be the eyes and ears of the Konoha underground. I need you smell out the trouble before it hits, to stand guard so to speak…" Kiba just nodded, watching the young Hokage stand up from his desk and offer him his hand. "Then friendship, I think, should be the right word to describe what we have here. I trust you Kiba, just like I trust those instincts and that sharp nose of yours. Our Konoha, Naruto-kun's dream, will come to life through us." Kiba just stood there, shaking the young man's hand. That day he found a whole new respect for his Hokage. He was truly Naruto's student.

After revealing the news to my mother she just grinned, punching me in the shoulder and congratulating me. "There we go! See, the strongest clan's in Konoha represented on the council. The glory days for the youth of Konoha will return!"

Kiba just grinned, shaking his head. He made his way outside now, their compound large and expansive. It housed three barns, two kennels, and a large medical facility. Hana was always there, healing the dogs, checking them, making sure they were in tip-top condition for battle. She was the genius out of the two of us, or so I was constantly reminded. I sighed, looking at the sky.

So much had changed. I used to hate that yellow haired moron, his grin, and his stubborn attitude. Now, of all times, I wish I could see him, that pink haired fire-ball of a kunoichi, and that sadistic son of a bitch Sasuke stroll down the street, smiles on their faces. I would know then that all was well, that I wasn't going insane and that maybe, just maybe, there was some happiness left to be had.

As I strolled to the barns I couldn't help but sigh as the scent of my companion and training partner Akumaru greeted me. He was the only one I told everything to, the only one that knew how I felt. I felt torn up inside over Hinata's sadness. Every day she looked at that yellow haired, blue-eyed child of hers and her tears just couldn't hide themselves from me. She cried at least twice a day. I could hear it and smell the soft salty tears on that cheek of hers.

I had never thought of Hinata as more than a friend. We were teammates, close at times, but I never considered her to be more than that girl that was always swooning over that blonde haired moron. She was more like a sister. Perhaps that's why little Jiraiya called me "Uncle Ki-Ki…" He was adorable; the grace and formal manners of his mother with the huge chakra of his father and the determination to never ever give up. He even inherited some of Naruto's grammaticism. However, instead of saying "Believe it," like his father he said something totally different, and to me personally, amusing. I could hear his little voice now, over the trees.

"Ba! But ma, it's not fair that I can't have any dango! And what about ramen? I can't miss Ichiraku! It was pop's favorite don-cha-know?" That squealing headache of a voice always brought me to attention. He sounded and looked so much like Naruto. I sighed, looking up at the sky. Life goes on; we all knew we were going to grow up, some with and some without our dear friends and teammates. I just never imagined this future. It was sometimes depressing.

Just then Akumaru came up and started licking my hand. I just grinned my toothy grin at him and looked about the sky. It was no longer pink and was turning a light blue signaling the day had finally come around.

"C'mon Akumaru, we've got training to do with ma. We got to get those pups up and at it…"

Just then Akumaru barked and started jumping and wagging his tail in joy. He had been a father now. I thought it was about time but I never knew that Akumaru could be so devout to another dog. He had found his alpha so to speak. She was a beautiful dog. All white with soft speckles of red, grays, and blondes all over her fur. In the light she looked brownish red, but at other times she looked all white. It was quite scary. She was my cousin Kisuke's dog. The entire litter consisted of five males and a female pup. Akumaru took extra care with her. She was the runt, small and quite fragile.

"Good, you're here… we can get going as soon as the pups are fed and ready," my ma said, coming around the corner with her own hound. He was fierce, frightening… just like ma. "So, while their feeding I have to talk to you about the mission from the Hokage right?" I nodded and she continued. "Alright, well there are some other things other than the mission. Before you take on your duties as part of the council, and as the Alpha of our clan, we have to do some basic things. First, we have to make sure your stable, unhindered by your own emotions. Tell me, can you do that Kiba?"

"I've always been controlled by my instincts, my emotions so to say. I'm not going to change myself and stop relying on my instincts if that's what you're asking," I said, watching her angrily.

"No, that's not what I mean," she growled. "We, as a clan, are like a pack of wolves. We rely on our Alpha; we take command from him and trust in his instincts and abilities. This is what I am asking of you. Can you take on the weight of your clan, of our pack so to speak?"

"I have been fully prepared to defend my clan with my life," Kiba said, scrunching up his nose at her. "Whenever you're ready to hand over the reigns-."

"I can't yet, or else I would," she admitted, rolling her eyes. "You don't know much about the Inuzuka traditions so I'll keep this simple for you Kiba. An alpha cannot lead without his alpha. Therefore, finding a mate that you can both appeal to and live with as the future mother of your children would be quite useful. It's time for a young man of your age to well, sew your seed so to speak."

"MA! I don't need your already overly honed nose in on my sex life," he grumbled, shaking his head at his mother. "When I find her, I'll know…"

"Well, are there at least any suitors? I mean, can you narrow down your list of conquests to one girl?" She asked, looking down at Akumaru lying comfortably next to his pups. Kiba noticed that soft gaze in her eyes and couldn't help but grin at that expression. She doesn't normally show any kindness around him, especially since he reminded her so much of his father.

"My list isn't exactly a list mom… I mean, sure there are some pretty girls in Konoha but none have really tamed me, so to speak. Look at Akumaru. He's happy as ever. If you don't think I want that then you probably don't know me that well…"

"Nonsense! I know my son. I can even wager a hefty sum that says that I could pick out your type of girl from a mile away."

"How much we talkin?" Kiba sneered, looking her over. "You don't know anything about my type of girl."

"Yeah? I'll put down one hundred thousand Ryo that says I can spot the girl before you do."

"Hilarious. Is this the second thing you wanted? To pry into my love live?" Kiba replied, his temper flaring.

"No, I came here to inform you of our mission from Hokage-sama. The first part was technically about your confidence to lead our clan, but this second part really doesn't have too much to do with that. We have been sent on a peace mission, well technically a tracking one as well but basically they are two in one."

Kiba's eyebrows rose in suspicion and she grinned, rubbing the bridge between her eyes. "So which is it?" he asked, looking down to see the pups start to move around and play with one another.

"Our mission is to travel to the Hidden Rain to find someone and bring them back to Konoha. It's technically a peaceful mission considering we're asking on behalf of the Hokage for her help. It seems that she is one of the last few remaining Uzumaki."

At this Kiba's eyes widened. "The few remaining Uzumaki? You mean…?"

"The Hokage believe that she is technically related to Karin and Naruto, but barely. He isn't exactly sure considering he has no records on her. I'll fill you in as we go. Right now we're just taking the pups on a quick run and to do some simple stuff. It doesn't look like the mother and the female pup are going to be up for it so we'll just train for a couple hours before we leave for the rain."

Kiba wasn't happy. All throughout his training with the pups and his mother all he could do was fume. He was sent on an escort mission for someone probably as hot headed and annoying as Naruto and Karin. Not to mention it was in the hidden rain… a place where their sense of smell was almost nullified.

After training and gathering their ninja gear they took off, Kiba on Akumaru's back and his mother on Kuromaru. As they sped off into the warm sun Kiba couldn't help but feel even more frustrated by his mission. Not only had his mother reminded him of what a lonely single guy he was, he was now in charge of peacefully bringing back one of the few Uzumaki's from the hidden rain. After a few hours of traveling they reached a village. Tsume got some food for them and they sat down, Kiba waiting for the answers about their current mission.

"Alright, well, here is what I was told. The girl doesn't know who she is, more or less. I mean, she's not brain dead or something but she doesn't know she's an Uzumaki. In fact, the only thing I know about her is that she is known only by a name. I believe it is Kana."

Kiba smirked, shaking his head. "Powerful, huh? Well, she has some reputation to live up to…"

"Either way, our best bet is to approach her humbly, slowly so to speak. All we have to find her is this," Tsume said, pulling out a hair tie. She held it in her hand, allowing Akumaru and Kuromaru to smell it. "Now, she is an Uzumaki. Even if she doesn't know it she has power. We don't yet know what that power is but she has it. Hokage-sama has trusted us to find her and to persuade her to come back to the hidden leaf."

"If Konohamaru doesn't even know her powers, what is the point of bringing her back?" Kiba asked, eyeing her skeptically. "This just seems like a wild goose-chase if you ask me."

"I was about to get to that," she said, glaring at him as she finished her food. "She's fought off enemies with her ninja powers. Though she was never really part of a hidden village, or a shinobi ranking system, she is considered a danger by bounty hunters and enemies. During the war she was actually caught two times by our troops. She claims she was fighting off Zetsu in order to protect herself and her village but we knew she belonged to no village. She wasn't a problem then but now that she is one of the few Uzumaki left, it has come to the Hokage's attention that he would rather make an ally of her than an enemy."

"So, we know she has power, but we don't know what it is?" Kiba asked again, standing and stretching. He had finished his food quickly, petting Akumaru on the head.

"No, we know that the Uzumaki clan has strong chakra, intensely strong chakra. Hence that is why the former Kyuubi were Uzumaki," Tsume said, pausing and taking a drink of her beer. "Not to mention their special sealing powers and their connection to our village and its foundations. She is rumored to be excellent at focusing and concentrating her chakra. How she uses that power though, we are clueless. Usually those who have found out didn't live long to reveal it."

"Ruthless… what makes you think that she's just going to come back to the village with us? Just because it's a request from the Hokage?"

At this Tsume finished her beer, put her money down on the table, and got up, stretching her arms above her head. "No, we also have something to sweeten the pot," she said pulling out a scroll. "Inside it a formal request from the Hokage to adopt her into our village as well as set her up with a team to do missions with. Not to mention the substantial pay she will receive once she reveals what her powers are and Ibiki has his way."

"That is all if she even bothers to talk to us," Kiba huffed, walking back out into the midday sun. He stretched and then looked down at Akumaru. He was sniffing the air for the elusive kunoichi. "Give me that hair band. If we're going to track her down I need to at least know her scent."

Tsume nodded, handing Kiba the hair tie. It was simple and black but the smell emanating from it was anything but simple. It had several smells to it ranging from musty earth to blood. However, her distinct smell was something different. It was sort of earthy with a hint of fragrance, something sweet. Kiba couldn't put his finger on it but the scent was now firmly lodged in his brain.

"Alright!" he said, some spring in his step as he started off toward the Hidden Rain. Tsume followed closely behind, a grin on her face the whole time.