Disclaimer: All characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This a merely a fan based story.
"Feelings you have for each other will not be heard unless you voice them."
Kiba gently squeezed the hand of the raven haired girl, staring straight into her gentle, farseeing eyes.
"Sometimes…You just have to take the subtle hints they give you…"
The shy girl was struggling to keep eye contact with her team-mate, unsure of exactly what those words were said to mean.
"I…I..-"
She placed her free hand up to her mouth, breathing through short, timed breaths, not daring to break their gaze.
The brunette saw her discomfort, as he flashed her a reassuring grin.
"I think Naruto would definitely respond to your feelings."
At this, the girl shot her gaze to her feet, face red with those unexpected words.
Maintaining his comforting grin, Kiba patted his other hand on top hers.
"So, why are you hesitating? Go tell him already!"
"Arhf! Arhf!"
The large white pup added a voice of agreement to the end of his statement, clearly marking that she couldn't protest against it.
"Hehe! Yeah, you agree to, don't cha' Akamaru!"
"RrrrrArf!"
Akamaru wagged his tail at the boys words, happy to be included.
All the meanwhile, the poor embarrassed girl was barely maintaining her posture let alone try to speak.
"k-k-Kiba-kun!"
She barely managed to voice the words, as she was pulled up by her lively companion.
"Come on Hinata!"
He gave her an encouraging push forward, sending her stumbling to the stone path.
"Naruto lives right down this street, ya'know? I'm sure he's in there, we have no missions at the moment, so he's either there or at the Raman stand!"
Giving her a grin, he beckoned her to go ahead, Akamaru gladly giving a nudge with his wet nose.
"It'll be fine! Just remember what I said, yeah? Heh, just for once I got something helpful ta' say, right? Heh heh!"
Playfully giggling at his own pitiful humour he scratched the back of his head, slightly blushing.
Hinata looked on at the boys very familiar grin, completely taken aback.
When Kiba-kun gestured to speak with her, she figured he had just wanted someone to help him bathe Akamaru again…
Since she could never say no when it comes to helping her team-mates.
Even if it involved helping collect honey with shino-kun…
She shivered remembering the previous weekend, scratching at her bee sting on which Shino seemed to care more for the loss of the bee then her sting.
"Mm? Oi' Hinata! Whatcha' doin' still here? Go already!"
With that, and the knowledge of her team-mates stubbornness, she knew she would have to go see Naruto sooner or later.
Even if the thought made her knees grow weak and her head feel heavy.
She stepped toward the path, giving Kiba a quick, polite bow, as she slowly made her way down the ally.
Completely horrified.
She couldn't tell Naruto! Never! What would he say?
"He couldn't like me.. He-"
Kiba's previous words strung in her mind.
"Feelings you have for each other will not be heard unless you voice them."
The raven haired girl swallowed down her fear, she was older now! If she didn't have the strength to tell her feelings, then had she really matured at all?
Determination grew in her eyes, as if she were to be on an undercover, A-rank mission.
Her feeling of fear was greeted with the force of excitement, as she looked up towards her destination.
Today was definitely her day to show how mature she had become, if only through such a small action, she would grow up.
And with that…A new strength was growing at the realms of Hinata's spirit.
Kiba watched as his team-mates steps became quickened and more confident.
He lowered his face, slightly grinning.
"Heh..I guess she has grown the willpower to admit her feelings, right, Akamaru?"
The large pup whimpered slightly, nudging his owner softly, as if to try and comfort him.
"Yeah…Maybe someday I could found that willpower, to…"
The boy trailed off, slowly glancing one last gaze at his disappearing team-mate.
"Maybe…."