Twilight

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Summary: As Hinata's crush on Naruto fades away, she meets a mysterious boy who has a bizarre fascination with bugs. Soon, she finds herself deeply in love with him only to find out his dark secret.

Pairings: Hinata/Shino, Neji/TenTen, Sasuke/Sakura, and Shikamaru/Ino.

Hinata was prancing around the Hyuuga mansion to escape her boredom. Hiashi was out for the day and she had finished training with Neji so she had nothing better to do.

After a while, she decided to head out to the back yard and relax on the soft grass. The backyard was one of Hinata's favorite places. She walked barefoot and felt the softness of the ground while Neji meditated nearby, sometimes shirtless to the pleasure of Konoha's many girls.

As she made her way through, a little beetle made its way. Unfortunately, she didn't see and nearly stepped on it until an even voice said, "Watch out!"

Hinata turned around, and stepped back. She saw nobody there but a little beetle she almost stepped on. Had the beetle talk to her? She looked around carefully until she heard the same voice say, "I'm right here!"

Her eyes landed on a boy kneeling in the bushes. He got out and stood up and he appeared to be around her age. His hair was poofy and poking straight out and he wore sunglasses to conceal his eyes. She suddenly felt fear.

"Who are you?" She asked timidly, ready to activate her Byokugen. "What are you doing here?"

The boy pushed up his glasses and looked straight back at her. He glanced at the beetle, picked it up, and placed it on his shoulder. The beetle crawled into his jacket.

"I don't like it when people step on his bugs." He said as though it was completely fine to go into people's yards and place bugs into their jackets.

"B-But," Hinata stuttered. "Who are you?"

She saw, to her horror, many bugs crawling from the side of his neck. Her eyes widened and she was rendered speechless.

"I'm a friend," He answered simply. "A friend who likes bugs."

It made sense but Hinata suddenly wished Neji would come into the backyard to back her up in case she couldn't take this guy on. She was frozen in her spot.

Finally, she found some words. "I-I'm Hyuuga Hinata." She hadn't expected herself to give this stranger her name. She could tell her father would be furious with her.

"Hyuuga Hinata?" The boy asked. "What a nice name. You can just call me Shino."

For a moment, she felt his intense gaze until a voice interrupted them.

"Hinata, are you there?" Came her cousin' unenthusiastic voice.

"I have to go," Shino said as he made his was toward the fence. "It was nice to meet you, Hyuuga Hinata." He climbed the fence and disappeared.

"Shino." Hinata whispered to herself as Neji came to view.

"What are you looking at?" He asked as he saw her looking strangely at the fence.

Hinata broke her gaze and decided not to mention Shino to Neji. "Nothing, L-Let's go g-get some r-ramen."

Neji looked at her as though she had been hit with a rock. "Only blonde haired freaks eat ramen."

Hinata suddenly felt herself really craving ramen. Or better yet, craving Naruto.

"I h-hear TenTen really likes ramen." She found herself lying. Neji perked up.

"Ramen it is!"

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