Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

"It's your fault!" Naruto yelled as blue eyes squinted through tears to stare into what seemed like emotionless black voids "It's all your fault!"

"Naruto!" Sakura scolded "I'm sure he did everything he could, but.." Her voice trailed off.

Somehow Sakura couldn't help feeling like it had been her fault for not being able to save what was left of the young kunoichi's life. At first Naruto couldn't accept the reality, then as he slowly started to his eyes glowed red and he began to lash out at the person he recognized as the source of his rage.

Shino stood patiently as Naruto continued his tirade against him.

"You've always been stony, Shino, but I didn't know you were so heartless. You're a heartless monster!" Naruto tried to scream, only to choke on more tears. "You're creepy and gross and it suites you! I hate you. She's dead because you're a gross, creepy, unfeeling monster. Your comrade, your friend is dead and you're just standing there like it doesn't matter. No wonder she was the only one you had."

"Are you done?" Shino asked calmy

Naruto whipped the tears and snot from his face with his sleeve and a fresh stream burst forth.

"Are you done?" he mocked "Hinata's dead because of you and you don't even care. I hate you!" Naruto screamed and pulled out a kunai

"Naruto!" Sakura screamed

But he didn't hear. Naruto only saw the figure he was running towards full force. He knew that Shino would just block him or dodge, but at the current time he didn't care. Naruto was just desperate to feel like he could do something, anything for Hinata. His arm stretched out and Shino made no move to stop him. Naruto tried to pull his hand back, but it was too late.

Naruto was frozen except for his shaking. His brain refused to admit what had just happened. His fingers refused to let go of the kunai. The blood running down Naruto's hand felt warm. Not cold like he'd imagined it would a moment ago. Somehow feeling its warmth was making him shiver. Or maybe it was Shino who was shaking.

"You know what hurts the most?" Shino sounded like he was using all his energy to talk

Naruto's world was spinning out of control. Looking back on it he'd realize that he couldn't remember if he had imagined Shino's words, or if the bug-nin had spoken at all.

"It hurts the most when you can't cry." Shino lifted his arm which felt impossibly heavy in an effort to take off his sunglasses, but it crashed back down before he could.

Shino's body fell slack so that only Naruto's kunai was holding it up. He felt heavy and Naruto couldn't drop him. As Shino's head sagged and rolled to the side his sunglasses fell off of their own accord. It was impossible to determine the color of Shino's eyes because of the blood running from his sockets into them.

Sakura had been trying to get past all the bugs blocking her. When Shino collapsed they lost interest in stopping her. She slapped Naruto aside and began to treat him.

"Idiot! He was using his bugs to tear down his own body from the inside!" Sakura thought as she gritted her teeth

"Sakura-ch-"

"Shut up, Naruto!" Sakura snapped

and Naruto jumped back

"Kiba told me that Hinata intrusted her feelings to Shino. When ever she felt sad or insecure Shino was the one who let her know it would be alright. If I had been in Shino's position right now I don't think I would've had the strength to stop you either."

"Sh-"

"Shino had a real relationship with Hinata. Tell me, Naruto, exactly how much do you know about either of them?" Sakura fumed

Naruto looked down at Shino.

"Sh-Shino. I'm scared of you and I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive you, I just want to learn everything I can about Hinata."

Now Sakura realized what it had been about Shino's body that had struck her. He was being taken down from the inside like Hinata's Gentle Fist did to people. The irony seemed oddly poetic in its hurt.