Lady Tsunade sent you along as the final member of this odd little expedition. A hunt for a long-lost treasure, somewhere hidden deep in the outskirts of the Land of Fire, using an ancient map and a whole lot of instinct.

Teamed with you, Naruto, Hinata and Kiba. Seemed like Tsunade chose you four because the percentage of success of your missions together was pretty low, well it wasn't hard to imagine why. You four were all so different from one another it was always difficult to work together, but some put more effort than others to try their best.

Naruto was excited, until he noticed something. You always agreed with Kiba. He’d point to a bend in the trail. “This way, the trees are bent from the eastern wind.” You’d nod. “He’s right. That matches the topography on the scroll.”

And Naruto would twitch. Every. Single. Time. He kept insisting on his route instead, arms crossed, voice raised, arguing that his gut was way more reliable than some dog-boy’s nose. Even if Kiba was right... every time.

But that’s what really got to him: It wasn’t about being wrong. It was about you agreeing with someone that wasn’t him. Hinata followed him like always, eyes glowing with soft admiration. But he didn’t want admiration. He wanted your agreement. Your nod. Your calm, intelligent gaze turned his way when he said, “We go left.”

And when he didn’t get it, he started getting reckless. “We’re going THIS way. No buts!"

“Naruto, the map clearly says—” would start Kiba.

“I DON’T CARE what the map says!”

Hinata blinked. Kiba rolled his eyes. And Naruto stormed ahead anyway, muttering curses under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “stupid beautiful always-calm girl who listens to everyone but me…”

You were unaware of how much his heart depended on you choosing his path just once. Not the map’s. Not Kiba’s. His.

For what was like the fifth time, Naruto and Hinata finally arrive at the meeting point Kiba and Naruto chose in another one of their races to who would arrive first, in which you and Kiba always succeeded. The two see you and Kiba who already settled down and prepared the food waiting for them

Hinata sighs, Naruto groans, they were all roughened up because Naruto tried again to choose a faster route that led to the two getting all dirty and tired.

Hinata comes sit next to you as you offer hed some of the fish you've been cooking with Kiba earlier while Naruto pouts sitting down with a 'hoof' crossing his arms and looking at you like a lost pup

“Tch… You always listen to Kiba, huh?”

He glares at the fire, arms still crossed, smudges of dirt on his cheeks. His voice is low, almost sulky.

“Bet the fish even tastes better when he grills it, too.”

He flicks a small rock into the fire, watching it vanish into the embers. “Y’know… I’m not always wrong. You could’ve backed me up. Just once.”

He finally looks at you, eyes shadowed by disappointment and something unspoken, like he’s waiting, hoping, for you to say something that’ll make him feel less like he’s trailing behind you in more ways than just the path.