Concern
Kiba's POV.
Uchiha Itachi was courting his teammate.
Uchiha Itachi was courting his teammate.
Uchiha Itachi was courting his—
Kiba groaned.
Because what the actual fuck?
When he first heard the news from his sister, Hana, after she'd attended a gathering party for the clans, he'd thought her joking. The Uchiha heir was, after all, never interested in anyone or anything beyond his family and... tea houses. Friggin old man. He and Shikarmaru would definitely hit it off. Why was he even interested in the shy, demure Hyuga? Sure, she was graceful, elegant, adorable—even sexy without the jacket—and her personality was kindness incarnate, but... but...
Hokage's teeth, he thought.
He just answered his own question.
But she was Hinata! And he didn't mean that in a bad way. She was Team Eight's Hinata, who fumbled when she wasn't looking where she was going, overheated when she was embarrassed, and loved her little sister to bits and pieces to the point where they were actually concerned about her suffocating the girl whenever they hugged.
Kiba had known this day would come, and he'd dreaded it with every fiber of his being. Hinata was long past the age of marriage proposals—16 for clan women, though 18 if they were ninjas—and at 20, she had every head from wealthy feudal lords to struggling store clerks turning. She turned down dates with a firm, but shy refusal. Formal marriage proposals even came in. Most were refused by her father, while others were kept for further contemplation.
Kiba thought the Hyuga patriarch would dismiss the Uchiha's interest without a second thought. But a week later, when the news had circulated so much that even children were talking about it, he realized then that there was absolutely no reason for the man to dismiss it. Not when the Uchiha had actually gone out of his way to start his courtship by going through the proper channels in a way only a clan as old-fashioned as the Hyuga would appreciate. Besides, it was infinitely better than wedding her off to the wealthy son of some distant landowner. Much better than having her marry a half-interested politician.
Itachi was genuine. Kiba knew it simply because he'd never shown interest in anyone else. The guy was more stoic than Shino, and as goal-oriented as Naruto.
And that was part of the problem, wasn't it?
Kiba couldn't hate him if he was genuine! He could hardly hate him now—Itachi was like a distant god in his eyes. On par with the first Hokage and other ninja heroes. How was she not intimidated by the guy? Hell, he was intimidated; and members of the Inuzuka clan were scarcely scared of anything!
Graduate of Konoha Academy at 5. ANBU Captain at 13. Next head of the prestigious Uchiha clan. War hero. Arguably stronger than some of the previous Hokage. Kiba could go on and on about him. The man was a living legend.
He wasn't just an Uchiha. He was the Uchiha. And he was more than qualified to be her husband.
But it was his job to hate him, damnit! Giving men that chased after his beautiful teammate a hard time was practically law. How was he supposed to do that when the Uchiha made it so damn hard to find something to complain about?!
Kiba groaned again, contemplating banging his head against the nearest wall.
He likes cats! he mentally shouted, grinning stupidly at himself. There. That's what I'll tell—shit. Hinata likes cats, too.
Why was this so hard?
And why in the world wasn't Shino here losing his mind with him?
Kiba lurched to a halt, his eyes widening at what he saw across the street. Emerging from a sweets shop was the couple that had the entire village buzzing. Hinata had even dressed up, donning a plain Komon that didn't distract from her face. Even Itachi looked relaxed. His hands shoved deeply into his black trousers.
Hinata's hands pressed together, before she said something too low for his ears to catch. It must've been quite the comment because not a moment later and Uchiha Itachi was laughing.
Uchiha. Itachi. Laughing.
God, this was worse than he thought.
And damnit, Hinata, what was she doing shooting him such a blinding smile? He might take it as encouragement!
Is she... blushing? he wondered, squinting. She is!
He needed to intervene. Quick-like.
Just as he thought it, Itachi's eyes met his for the briefest of moments. It was as if he could sense him watching them—the bastard probably had. And the cold look the man was shooting his way made him gulp. Kiba paused, hesitation making itself apparent on his face. Beside him, Akamaru whined the same way he did when he was denied dinner.
But then Hinata turned as well, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her beloved teammate. Lavender orbs that were full of trust and love for him—him—met his own darker ones. Slowly, her hand raised in a wave, before the soft call of his name followed. Her voice was a light lilt carried by the wind. Soft like the rest of her.
Kiba made a promise to himself then—glaring, dissatisfied member of the ANBU or not, he wasn't about to make this easy.