Kiba paced his room, brushing a clawed hand through his unruly, cinnamon-colored tresses. He growled in irritation as he moved to the large window in his room, placing both hands on the sill and gazing out at the forestry that surrounded the Inuzuka compound. As he watched the autumn leaves swirling in the gentle breeze, he turned his gaze to the part of his body that refused to go down. Kiba exhaled in annoyance at the throbbing sensation and the hell-like temperature of his room.

The dog ninja was in a rut. Every year after the age of eighteen, the members of his clan would have a week out of the year where their sex drives would skyrocket. No matter how many times Kiba was intimate with someone, the feeling returned within five minutes. He was still horny, and nothing relieved the heat flooding his body. It decreased over time, but it still nagged him. Last year, that feisty blonde Ino had been the object of his lust. Kiba fucked her everywhere: in the woods, in each of their rooms, even on top of a roof once. Despite the many times they had sex, the male never reached satisfaction.

He had to find a mate to stop ruts from happening. At twenty-two years old, the Inuzuka wasn't interested in settling down, but when he thought about it, it wasn't a bad idea. Kiba already had his years of fucking any girl he wanted. He got in their pants, but he didn't want a relationship with any of them. Kiba couldn't remember the last time he had a steady girlfriend. It had to be as an early teenager. He hadn't dated in years.

"I'm heading out Akamaru," the male said looking over at his companion. The large white canine raised his ears.

"Can't stand it any longer, huh? Why don't you hump your pillow? I do that all the time and it makes me feel better."

Kiba frowned at Akamaru's words. "It better not have been my pillow!"

Kiba trudged across the wooden floors, grabbed his grey jacket, and made a beeline for the front door. He had to find something to distract him from his throbbing erection.

The chilly air gave him some relief. The wind wasn't blowing hard, but it bit at him and cooled his heated flesh. Sounds of fallen leaves crunching underneath his sandals echoed in Kiba's sharp ears, but he ignored the familiar sound, mulling over what it would be like with a mate. He would be with one female forever... did he want that? Having pups from multiple women didn't sound as appealing as it used to. Ino was just a quick fling, Hinata was like a sister to him, and kunoichi wasn't a popular job among the female population.

The male had already decided that he wanted a ninja for a wife. Kunoichi were strong. Women who could protect themselves were downright sexy. They were lean, with muscular builds, features that made his blood boil. Civilian women tried to cling to him in the past, but they seemed more attracted to the money ninjas made more than anything. He didn't want a leech or a "stay at home" wife. His mother taught him that if you wanted to eat, you'd better work, and that was a given with female shinobi.

Kiba wandered the bustling streets of Konoha. His dark orbs moved over the different vendors trying to sell their goods. The sound of children laughing as they played in between the stands reached his ears and he chuckled as one of the sale's men shook his fists at the kids. It didn't take long for him to reach the bridge and as he walked across its wide frame, Kiba looked over the almost shoulder high red railing. The water was dark blue and lapping at its shores. When it was warmer, he and Akamaru liked to dive into the almost thirteen-foot river and catch fish. He wouldn't mind doing that now to help with the residual heat that was still coursing through his veins.

Kiba snapped out of the X-rated fantasies to see a shorter woman standing in front of him. She flashed him a smile, bright emerald green eyes locking with his dark ones. The crisp wind was billowing her long coral hair off to the right and she reached up a petite hand to lock one of the stray tresses behind her left ear. His eyes roamed from her angular face and down her slim figure. Sakura Haruno was not only beautiful, but she was a strong kunoichi, one who took care of herself. She was intelligent, becoming one of the best medical ninjas in the country.

They were the same age. He could see how much she had grown since their childhood years, her appearance like that of her teacher, Lady Tsunade. Kiba believed the long pigtails suited her better than the short style she used to wear before. Why hadn't he noticed she was this gorgeous? Even now, bundled up in a red jacket, cheeks tinted pink from the chilly air, she was gorgeous.

"Kiba!"

This time with a fist to his right arm knocked him out of his thoughts. "Ow! What was that for?!"

Sakura gave him an annoyed expression. "I don't like being tuned out Kiba Inuzuka."

She's feisty too, Kiba thought as he winced and reached a hand up to rub his abused shoulder. "That's going to leave a mark."

Sakura moved his hand off his arm and held her own over the injury, hand glowing light green with chakra. "You're such a baby."

Kiba watched with interest as her small hands healed his minor wound. Wow, she was beautiful. His body warmed, and he shifted his legs to avoid attention to the tent that forming in his pants. He never thought about Sakura, but did he just want to fuck her?

"Well, headed back to work. Don't want to be late from lunch." Sakura turned on her heels and waved. "Bye Kiba!"

Kiba's eyes never left Sakura until she entered the hospital. His mind continued to reel at the thought of her, which caused his body to heat further. He headed to the training ground to blow off steam. That was the next option... after exhausting masturbation. The Inuzuka looked down at his companion who sat and panted at him. His tail thumped the ground with happiness.

"What?" Kiba asked as they began the trip to the training grounds.

"Looks like you're considering Sakura for a mate."

Kiba snorted. He entertained the idea, but mating was permanent. Kiba didn't know if he was ready to settle down, he was still young. A mate also meant only one partner. Was it even possible for him? Kiba shook his head to rid himself of the thoughts and turned his attention back to Akamaru.

"She fits the criteria for sure, but I don't know yet."

It wouldn't hurt to get to know Sakura. He didn't have to jump right into a serious relationship and Sakura didn't seem like a girl who would allow that, anyway. Nodding to himself, he took off and began bounded through the thick trees of the Leaf, his hound right on his heels. When he arrived at the large open area, Kiba inhaled the rich scent of the pine trees and soil. He picked up another scent, smiling when he laid eyes on who it belonged to.

"Hey Kiba, what are you doing out here?"

"Just wanted to blow off a little steam," he answered as Naruto jogged up to him. "What about you?"

"Just practicing this new jutsu I learned." Naruto grinned and held a fist up. "I've almost perfected it."

It was amazing how many years passed, and Naruto maintained his energetic nature. He could control the Kyuubi now, making him almost unstoppable… and still just as dumb sometimes. Still, he would give Kiba a good fight and that should help release some of his pent-up frustrations that had tripled because of his thoughts of a certain kunoichi.

"Hey, Naruto." Kiba jumped back and dropped into a fighting position with Akamaru at his right side, ready for an attack. "Why don't you try that new jutsu out on me?"

Naruto's blue eyes brightened, and his confident smile broke across his face. "You're on!"

When the two males finished sparring, the sun dipped below the horizon and the surrounding foliage lay flattened around them. Sweat dripped from their bodies as they tried to catch their breath. Naruto clapped Kiba on the back. "Better luck next time!"

"Don't get too cocky." Kiba stomach growled. He hadn't eaten since earlier that day and after burning all that energy, he was starving.

Naruto heard the loud rumble and laughed. "Let's go get ramen. I'm hungry too!"

Anything sounded good to Kiba. It had been a while since he'd had a delicious bowl of Ichiraku ramen. That old man was an excellent cook. Every ramen shop in the Fire Nation came second to his. Akamaru's tail wagged with excitement, knowing he also would get a bowl to eat. The sun's orange hue surrounded the two males as they made their way back into town. The temperature was dropping with the sun and Kiba suppressed a shiver as the wind picked up.

While they walked, Kiba thought back to his encounter with Sakura. He was interested in knowing more about her. All he knew was that she was a proficient medic, had a fiery temper, and trained underneath Lady Tsunade during her time as Hokage. He wanted to learn things like her favorite food or her hobbies. What were her life goals? Was she a virgin? Was she over Sasuke? Even if she wasn't, Kiba would get to know her, anyway. He could shift her away from that bastard. He was just that fucking awesome.

"Naruto," Kiba said as they continued through the woods, the village within sight. "What does Sakura like to do?"

Naruto scratched his chin. "Well, she loves being a medic. Her apartment has medical scrolls everywhere. I don't really know anything else now that you mention it." Naruto's eyes lit up. "Wait, Sakura-chan likes to cook! She's not great, but one day she'll get it."

Kiba laughed at that thought. He himself was a fantastic cook if he said so himself. Maybe it was because of his keen sense of smell. He knew beforehand if the dish would delight one's palate or make them spit it out. He and Sakura could have fun in the kitchen.

"Wait, why do you want to know?"

Kiba smirked. "Because I'm going after Sakura."

"What?!" Naruto exclaimed. "You can't have her!"

"You already have Hinata, you idiot!"

The blonde stopped his rampage for a moment. "Oh yeah, you're right."

It had taken the oblivious male quite some time to realize that Hinata cared about him. Hinata worked up the courage to tell Naruto that she wanted to be with him. One day, she and Shino were sparing when Naruto and Kiba had shown up. They sparred two versus two and then the two winners would battle. Hinata ended up losing to Naruto, but afterward, she stopped him as everyone was leaving. Her nervousness set in and she ended up twiddling her fingers, looking down, and having a hard time trying to say what she wanted. Naruto grew tired of waiting.

"Spit it out Hinata!" he shouted.

His outburst frightened the Hyuuga, and she shouted back, "I want to be your girlfriend!"

She gasped as Naruto stared at her open-mouthed. The stressed ended up being too much for her and Hinata fainted. It wasn't long after that the two of them started dating. That was over a year ago. Kiba noticed that since Hinata and Naruto started seeing each other, she came out of her shell more. It was like their personalities complemented each other.

Soon Naruto and Kiba were flipping the white sheets back that led to Ichiraku Ramen. A warm bowl would warm them up. They shivered from the drop-in temperature along with having gotten sweaty during their spar session. The older man turned and greeted them with a wide smile.

"Hello boys, it's good to see you!"

"Great to see ya too pops," Naruto hollered back, taking a seat. "I'll take whatever special you have. I think I'll try something new!"

Teuchi turned back to the stove. "You'll love it! I'll surprise ya good."

"Works for me!"

Kiba shook his head at Naruto before saying he and Akamaru would have the same thing. It only took about five minutes and the bowls were steaming on the counter. Kiba placed a bowl on the ground and his partner panted his approval. The trio dug in and the Inuzuka's stomach came alive with the first bite, growling with hunger. Kiba always enjoyed the delicious blend of spices. The Sichuan pepper, chili flakes, and the lemon juice were the strongest scents he detected. Kiba decided he should eat instead of pondering over his food.

It didn't take long for them to finish their meal and soon they were waving goodbye to Teuchi.

"Hey Kiba, me and some of the guys are getting drinks later. Want to come?"

Kiba thought about it for a moment. Maybe some alcohol and surrounding himself with males would help take the edge off his rut. A constant erection was annoying. Sure, why not? It wasn't like he had any plans. Sad that someone his age had no plans on a Friday night. He needed to branch out more.

"Yeah, I'll go, what time?"

"You've got to be kidding me."

Sakura looked in the mirror at what her friend insisted she wear. Why did she even consider letting Ino dress her for their night out? That woman did not understand modesty. That was clear from the tiny tank top she always wore. Sakura felt her cheeks turn red with embarrassment. Why on earth would she wear something so skimpy when it was forty degrees and dropping outside? Ino had her in an outfit like the purple one she wore most days, but this one was red and tied around the back of her neck. The shirt also had high slits on the sides and mesh covered her stomach and legs. Was she picking up men or having a girl's night?

Ino puffed her blonde bangs out of her face. "Don't be a prude. It looks good on you!"

"Thanks, but I'm not trying to get frostbite," Sakura answered, reaching for her large winter jacket. "I can treat it, but I'd rather not."

"You exaggerate too much. Take that off once we get there."

Sakura grabbed her wallet and gazed at her friend in annoyance. "I'll think about it."

Soon they headed to Shinobi's Corner to meet with Hinata and Tenten. It had been a while since they last enjoyed each other's company. Everyone was so busy nowadays; it left no room for socializing. Her teeth were clacking together and eyes watering from the sharp wind as the two made their way towards the bar. Goosebumps lined her skin despite wearing a jacket. By the time they arrived, Sakura couldn't feel her hands. Why didn't she change clothes again?

The two stepped into the bright building, relishing the warmth that enveloped them. The toasty air had never felt so wonderful to Sakura and she rubbed her hands together to rid them of the numb feeling. Ino looked around and pointed out their friends, who were sitting in a booth together. Hinata and Tenten smiled at them when they sat down.

"That sure is um… a nice outfit Sakura," Tenten teased.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "This dork next to me insisted that I wear it."

"I didn't force you to do anything," Ino taunted. "You must like it or otherwise you would have changed."

"Look you-"

Tenten held up her hands as a signal for them to calm down before things got ugly. "It looks nice Sakura, no worries. It seems like you would freeze your ass off in that though."

"Oh, trust me, my ass is freezing," Sakura grumbled.

Soon the women were ordering drinks and enjoying each other's company. So much had happened since their last session almost four months ago. Ino smiled at Tenten while stirred her straw in her tea. "So how is the baby?"

Tenten blushed and rubbed her protruding stomach. "The baby is fine. Neji and I are excited to meet this little one."

"You guys sure didn't waste any time," Sakura teased. "You got married three months ago!"

Tenten smiled before leaning forward and saying, "Actually, this baby was already inside me when we got married."

That caught Sakura by surprise, but not too much. Tenten and Neji were together for years so it wasn't shocking. She wondered how the Hyuuga Clan would take to Neji marrying someone not in their clan. Tenten frowned when Sakura asked that question.

"They do not want to accept me or my baby," she said with a grimace. A confident smile broke over her features. "Neji says he will fight them until they accept it or renounce his position as a part of the Hyuuga Clan."

"That's some serious stuff," Ino said, eyebrows raised. "How do you feel about that Hinata?"

The quiet girl hooked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I think they should accept Tenten. They will have to accept Naruto too."

That made sense now that Hinata and Naruto were dating. It had taken that idiot long enough to realize how much the Byakugan user cared about him. Even when she told him that she loved him outright during her fight with Pein, he still didn't acknowledge it. That may have been due to the war with Obito and Madara. Still, a ninja's life is fleeting. Everything worked out in the end.

Sakura was sure the Hyuuga Clan would fight Naruto and Hinata's union because she was part of the main branch. The elders feared having children with people outside the clan would erase the Byakugan from the family. They would find out with Tenten and Neji's child if the Byakugan was a dominant gene. Sakura didn't doubt it was.

The girls continued chatting until Tenten gazed at the door. A smile broke out on her face. "Look who's here."

They turned to see Neji, Naruto, Kiba, and Rock Lee coming inside. Naruto was the first to notice them and came over to stand next to Hinata. He leaned down to kiss her cheek. Hinata looked up at her partner with a smile. Neji placed a hand on Tenten's shoulder.

"That is nonalcoholic correct?"

Tenten laughed. "Nothing but tea for me."

Kiba gaze locked on Sakura. What in the hell was she wearing when it was so cold outside? His dark eyes grazed over the pale skin of her thighs and up to her toned abs. He could see the gentle curves she had despite her muscular build. Her long hair hung in a braid over her right shoulder and that red top made her eyes look brighter.

"Why don't you guys join us?" Ino asked, shooting over and patting the spot next to her.

"We would love to sit with you beautiful ladies!" Rock Lee exclaimed before plopping down next to Ino with a smile.

Kiba slid in next to Sakura and grinned at her. "You going to kick my ass again?"

She returned his smile before picking up her drink. "It depends, is there a need to?"

"I'm on my best behavior, promise." Kiba eyeballed the drink Sakura sipped on and chuckled. "You know that has like four drops of alcohol in it right?"

Sakura held the drink out at arm's length and studied it for a moment. "I didn't think so. Stiff me on the alcohol, will they?"

Kiba started flirting. "Why don't you let me buy you a drink?"

Sakura gave him a quirky smile. "Can you afford it? I'm in a drinking mood tonight."

"So, like one or two?" Kiba teased.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "You need to raise that number by a lot."

"Are you sure you can handle that many strong drinks?" Kiba asked, poking her side with his elbow. "Or do you want another weak drink?"

Sakura gave him a solid look. "I can out drink you Kiba."

Was she challenging him? Kiba's smile widened at the thought of that. Kiba was competitive and if she wanted a drinking contest, so be it. That would help with his rut too since alcohol in large amounts made it so he couldn't get it up. He could use a break. Kiba took this as a chance to ask Sakura out. All their friends quit talking to watch the two.

"So why don't we make things interesting," Kiba said while turning to face Sakura. "Let's make a bet."

Sakura's bright green orbs lit up at the thought of that. She tapped a finger on her chin in thought before snapping her fingers and giggling. "If I win, you play my pet dog for a day."

Kiba frowned. He may have characteristics of a dog, but he wasn't meant to walk on a leash and eat dog treats. Kiba had to win. He would not do something that embarrassing.

"And if I win, you let me take you out on a date."

The males gave props to Kiba for his boldness, other than Rock Lee, who was tearing up at the thought of Sakura dating someone. Ino and Tenten squealed with delight while Hinata's face lit up with a bright smile. She had no clue Kiba liked Sakura, but she was glad that he would try for her.

A shocked look filtered over Sakura's features, but it changed to a smirk. "You're on!" She turned to the closest waiter. "Bring the shots!"

The kunoichi knew she would win. On shot eight, she was just buzzed. Sakura used her impressive chakra control to filter her blood faster and slow the effects. That nifty trick helped when she wanted to drink a shit ton without the horrid consequences. She locked eyes with Kiba, who didn't seem to be very affected either by the alcohol. He gave her his fanged grin.

"Ready to give up yet?"

"Not a chance."

Sakura lost count on what number they were on. Filtering the alcohol had now lost its effect because of how much she drank. Was it 15 or 16 shots? Her vision had gone blurry, and she thought she would puke if she drank another, but she had to beat Kiba. It would be so fun having him play her pet for a day. She was looking forward to it. Kiba wasn't hanging on that well either. His face flushed red and his eyes couldn't focus on her.

"You're drunk!" she accused, pointing a shaky finger at him.

"No, you're a drunk!" Kiba shouted back, reaching for another shot. "I'll show you, pretty lady!"

A hand rested on Kiba's. They looked up to see Neji giving them a firm expression. "You are both drunk. This is over before you give yourselves alcohol poisoning."

"But Neji," Sakura whined.

"No buts."

"Then who wins?" Kiba slurred. "I win!"

Neji's frown deepened. "Neither of you win. It's a tie so you both must hold up to your end of the bet. Kiba, you'll be Sakura's dog for a day. Sakura, you will go on a date with Kiba."

"What?!" they both exclaimed.