Capítulo 13: A Nose for Trouble
You know how they say be careful what you wish for? Yeah, turns out that applies to three-year-old ninja prodigies too. I'd been itching for a chance to prove myself, to do something real instead of just running laps and playing ninja. Well, I got my wish. And let me tell you, reality hits different when there's a kid's life on the line.
It started like any other day in the Inuzuka compound. I was out in the yard with Akamaru, practicing our coordination (which is a fancy way of saying we were rolling around in the dirt). That's when I caught the scent of anxiety. Sharp, acrid, cutting through the usual smells of home.
I sat up, nose twitching. Akamaru whined, sensing my sudden tension.
"Kiba!" Tsume's voice rang out, urgent in a way I'd never heard before. "Inside, now!"
I scrambled to my feet, Akamaru at my heels. Inside, the living room was packed with clan members, their faces grim. The anxiety smell was overpowering now, mixed with determination and a hint of fear.
"What's going on?" I asked, trying to sound appropriately childish and confused. Inside, though, my adult mind was racing. This wasn't normal. Something big was happening.
Tsume knelt down in front of me, her eyes serious. "Listen carefully, pup. A child has gone missing in the village. The Hokage has asked our clan to help find them."
My eyes widened. A real mission? At three years old? Part of me was thrilled at the opportunity. The rest was terrified. This wasn't a training exercise. A kid's life was at stake.
"The child's name is Yuki," Tsume continued, holding out a small cloth. "This is from their blanket. We need you to memorize this scent. Can you do that?"
I nodded solemnly, taking the cloth and bringing it to my nose. I inhaled deeply, letting my enhanced senses catalog every nuance of the scent. Soap, baby powder, a hint of cinnamon... and underneath it all, the unique personal scent that belonged to Yuki alone.
"Got it," I said, handing the cloth back. "What do I do?"
Tsume's expression softened slightly, pride mixing with concern. "You and Akamaru will join the search teams. Use your nose, trust your instincts. But Kiba," her voice turned stern, "this is real. It's dangerous. You stay with an adult at all times, understand?"
I nodded again, a lump forming in my throat. This was it. A chance to make a real difference, to save a life. But also a test. How much of my ability could I show without raising suspicion?
We headed out, the clan splitting into teams. I was paired with Hana and her three ninken, Akamaru trotting beside me. The village was a hive of activity, other ninja and civilians joining the search.
As we moved through the streets, I let my senses roam. The cacophony of smells was overwhelming – food from restaurants, flowers from the Yamanaka shop, the metallic tang of weapons from a nearby forge. But underneath it all, I was searching for that one specific scent.
We'd been at it for almost an hour, my nose twitching constantly, when I caught a whiff. Faint, but unmistakable. Yuki.
"This way!" I called out, taking off down a side street before Hana could stop me. I heard her curse behind me, struggling to keep up as Akamaru and I darted through the crowd.
The scent led us into a maze of back alleys. With each turn, it grew stronger. My heart was pounding, a mix of excitement and fear. I was doing it. I was actually tracking someone down like a real ninja!
I rounded another corner and skidded to a halt. There, huddled behind a stack of crates, was a small figure with bright blonde hair.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. It wasn't Yuki.
It was Naruto.
He looked up at me, blue eyes wide and wary. He couldn't have been older than three, same as me. But the loneliness in those eyes... it hit me like a physical blow.
"H-hi," I managed, trying to sound friendly. "I'm Kiba. Are you okay?"
Naruto hesitated, then nodded. "M'fine," he mumbled. "Just... hiding."
"Hiding?" I frowned. "From what?"
As if on cue, angry voices drifted down the alley. "Where'd that little demon brat go?"
"Probably off to cause more trouble."
"Should never have let it stay in the village..."
I felt sick. This was what Naruto dealt with? At three years old? The anime hadn't done justice to the reality of his situation.
Before I could say anything else, Akamaru's bark snapped me back to the mission. Right. Yuki. I had to focus.
"I... I have to go," I said reluctantly. "But... maybe we can play sometime?"
Naruto's face lit up, hope replacing wariness. "Really? You mean it?"
I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah. I'll find you, okay?"
As I turned to go, following Yuki's scent once more, I made a silent vow. I would help Naruto. Somehow, someway, I'd change things for him.
But first, I had a lost child to find.
The scent led us to an abandoned building on the outskirts of the village. My heart was racing as we approached. What if we were too late? What if-
A soft whimper cut through my fears. There, curled up in a corner, was Yuki.
"Here!" I shouted, relief flooding through me. "We found them!"
The next few hours were a blur. Yuki was reunited with their parents, tears and thanks flowing freely. The Hokage himself came to congratulate our clan, his weathered face creased in a warm smile.
"You've done a great service to the village," he said, his gaze lingering on me. "Especially you, young Kiba. Your skills are impressive for one so young."
I ducked my head, mumbling a thank you while internally panicking. Had I shown too much? Would this bring unwanted attention?
But as we headed home, Tsume's hand warm on my shoulder and Akamaru trotting proudly beside me, I found I didn't regret it. We'd saved a life today. A family was whole because of us.
And yet... my mind kept drifting back to those blue eyes in the alley. To the loneliness and hope warring in Naruto's gaze. It's a cold world.
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