"Red bean," Kiba answered absently, mind caught up in the idea of not telling the truth. "I might fight anyway, 'cause that's what alphas do. Didn't you cut your hands apart? An' couldn't he smell if you didn't tell the truth?" He squirmed, tightening his legs around Ibiki's waist and leaning back to look at him more carefully. "An' alphas almost never apologize, 'cept Tori-bachan says Ma should apologize more often, that she's too canine even for the clan an' needs to work on bein' more human-like. She says the other alphas aren't such a pain." He stared hard at Ibiki, as if he could somehow see the secrets of what was really important.

"But I don't lie. Everyone can smell it." He hooked his fingers in the armor breastplate, tugging on it experimentally. "Couldn't your dad smell it on you?"