He and Hinata grouped with Kurenai as they went on another D-ranked mission. This time it was actually a classic - Madame Fire, wife to the Daimyo of Fire, had lost her cat once again! They were tasked with tracking it down.

Kiba located its scent and Hinata locked onto its position. Once they found the cat, Saul quickly put the thing to sleep with a harmless Genjutsu. It was really easy actually - he wondered why Naruto's team was assigned that mission so often. Other teams were much more suited for it after all. Was the Hokage trying to familiarize Kakashi with the Daimyo and his family? To possibly succeed him as the Fourth Hokage?

Saul didn't know, and he didn't really care either. The old scheming man would be meeting his end soon after all. All his plans would turn into smoke with his untimely death.

After the mission he approached Kurenai. 

"Kurenai sensei. The Hokage spoke with Hinata and I this morning. It was partially regarding Yakumo."

Kurenai regarded him impassively, although a flicker of interest was present from her lips that had twitched slightly upwards. He had the red eyed woman's full attention.

"Oh? What about?"

"I'm not sure if you've spoken with Yakumo on this anytime soon, but she's already a full-fledged Genin. She'd like to join Team Eight."

Yes, Kurenai had spoken extensively with Yakumo during her tutoring sessions over the weekend. She never could seem to stop talking about Saul - always inquiring about how he was doing or what he had been up to. Goodness! She always felt bad for the girl. This boy was playing with her heart and Hinata's, yet Yakumo somehow still couldn't see it! Kurenai didn't have the heart to do more than hint at it, but the girl would simply brush everything off like it didn't exist. 

"Team Eight? But we're already a full team, someone would have to leave. It could only be Hinata in this case... right?"

Saul shook his head, "No, I would never abandon Hinata. I was going to ask Kiba."

A tick mark appeared on Kurenai's forehead. "Really? So you'd abandon Yakumo instead?"

Saul smiled, "Whatever do you mean, Kurenai sensei? Yakumo and I are just friends."

Kurenai threw her arms up in exasperation, "Whatever you say Saul! Good luck with that!"

She tried to walk away, but Saul called after her. "One more thing Kurenai-sensei... Team Eight will be participating in the next Chunin exams."

"Huh!?" Kurenai spun around, "Who gave you the right to decide that!" 

"...Otherwise, Hinata will end up being branded with the caged bird seal."

Her heart jumped. What in the world had happened at the Hokage's office!? She would need to speak with the Hokage-sama about this!

"Fine... I'll give you all my permission to attend the Chunin exams. Was there anything else you needed, Genin Saul?"

"Nothing else at the moment. Thank you."

Kurenai grumbled. 

The woman was hot, but he couldn't get an accurate read on her actual personality. She seemed to be very traditional, like Yakumo, but also quite protective of those she saw to be vulnerable. Also she was a little bit of a tsundere.

Saul could tell she saw him as a child. Even though his body was currently 18, she was already old enough to be his mother. Combined with her traditionalist mindset and her expertise with Genjutsu, Saul really couldn't seem to find an opening to slip inside aside from simply riling her up a little.

Maybe the correct angle lied with Sarutobi Asuma? He had started courting her after the Chunin exams and succeeded in leaving her with a child before he passed away. Saul was running out of time. At the very least he had to disrupt their relationship before it was too late. 

He approached Kiba who had immediately begun leaping through trees as his training. He wasn't even practicing the body flicker jutsu?

"Kiba!" 

"Grahh!"

The wild haired man gripped a nearby tree trunk, swung around it, then propelled himself directly at Saul. Saul however, stared at him stoically, didn't even move. Then a smirk slowly formed across his face.

Kiba panicked, opening his arms wide to increase the air resistance then spinning out over his head, before landing on all fours. He looked back up at the man with anxious sweat running down his forehead. He could feel the pressure now. He could sense what would have happened if he went through with his spontaneous attack. Saul had somehow grown way stronger since their last fight.

Kiba got up and lowered his head. He tried to calm his racing nerves.

"Saul." he greeted, before looking at him and smiling nervously, "What can I do for you?"

Saul looked at him like he was just some stray dog along the road. This coldness, the detached coldness that the man sometimes leaked behind his ever smiling mask of kindness was unnerving.

It was like he barely even saw anyone around him as human. It wasn't just to Kiba. He noticed it during missions, felt it through his animal-like instincts. What he saw, he knew, was just the tip of the iceberg. There was an unfathomable darkness inside the man.

Saul smiled at Kiba, and all he felt in response was fear. He shouldn't have ever thought he could test him. Akamaru whimpered before hiding within his coat. Everything was up to him now.

"Kiba. I see you're getting stronger and faster as always. Well done!"

Kiba scratched his head. "Hahaha, you noticed? Honestly it's nothing compared to you, Saul-san. I couldn't even attack earlier!"

He must be subservient. Don't give the man any more reason to target you. He had already fucked up.

"Don't worry about it... I just have a few tricks up my sleeve. However, I didn't come here just to catch up. Kiba, how would you feel about another spar against me?"

Shit.

"Really Saul? Why? I'm flattered by your offer, really, but what would beating up someone like me achieve? You're already much much stronger than me."

"Hmmm. Well that's slightly inconvenient. After all, I was hoping for Yakumo to be given a chance to join the team. You wouldn't give up your spot without a fight, right? I insist."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

"No no no, really, it's fine! Actually there are plenty of clan teams within the Inuzuka clan, I could just join one of them! No big deal, I would be happy to do you a favor!"

"Hmm." Saul smiled again warmly, "Well then there's no need for a fight. Thank you again for your kindness, Kiba. I won't bother you anymore. Just tell Kurenai you'd be happy to leave if it could help a poor sick girl like Yakumo. That's why you're doing it so easily, right Kiba? Out of the kindness of your heart?"

"Of course, hahaha! I would do anything for a friend in trouble, don't worry!"

"You're a good friend, Kiba. Thanks a lot." He patted Kiba on the shoulder, then walked past. Kiba could only smile while sweating all over his body until Saul left completely.

Hinata clung to him with a relieved smile. Saul-kun was finally back!

"How did the talk go with Kiba-san?"

"Good. Kiba's a smarter man than I initially thought. He agreed in a heartbeat, so you shouldn't be worried. He's going to talk with Kurenai now."

A smarter man? Hinata didn't quite get it, but she was happy that everything had gone well. She didn't want to end up forced away from her beloved Saul-kun after all.

Author's Note: Some people seemed confused by why Kiba would be so scared of the MC now. I would like to point out to all of you, that during the Chunin exams arc Kiba and Akamaru could sense evil, malicious intent regarding their livelihood. Before this, Saul did not hate Kiba nor did he like him, rather he was in-fact mostly indifferent to him.

That was before the Hokage threatened to have Hinata removed from team Eight. That was before Kiba became an eyesore to his plans and his women. Saul was planning to fuck him up really bad with Genjutsu this time, so Kiba sensed that and was rightly scared out of his mind. Combined with some of the Darkness he had already sensed from Saul, he noped the fuck out.