A/N So onto the conclusion!


"So what do you think about the Leaf?"

"After their Hokage it's a massive drop off. I mean average to ugly looking women at best. They've got nothing on Cloud."

Kiba's ears perked up as the muttering from the other shinobi in the tent reached his ears.

"You notice how many of their women are medics? What's the deal with that?"

Quietly Kiba slipped out of bed and started walking towards the voices.

"Oi who has the balls to talk about my village while I'm in the room?" Kiba asked when he stepped right in the middle of two conversing Kumogakure shinobi.

"Hey relax friend, we're just having some fun." Said the cloud shinobi to Kiba's left.

A grin spread on the face of the shinobi on his right "Hey Konohagakure women are still a lot better than the beasts from Iwagakure."

Ok just a bunch of idiots I don't need to waste time on this.

Kiba turned away but the shinobi to his right put his hands on his shoulder. "Wait a second now maybe we weren't being fair. We did forget about the Hyuga heir counting for the Leaf. She's no Tsunade—

"But she's still stacked" The shinobi to Kiba's left added. "They're sitting on her chest like they're reaching up to pull down her face."

The shinobi on the right continued. "I wouldn't mind using those as pillows tonight if you know what I mean."

Kiba sucked deep breath, before facing the shinobi on his right.

"We need a medic over here; this guy has a broken jaw!"

"Jaw" the Cloud shinobi said bewildered. "It's my ankle that's hurt—"

The Cloud ninja was interrupted by Kiba's fist slamming into his face. He hit the floor as Kiba moved towards his partner. Kiba grabbed the shinobi by the collar and drew him into a powerful head-butt. His satisfaction at watching the two shinobi writhe on the ground lasted for a few scant moments. Without any warning Kitsuchi the commander of the second division abruptly entered the medical tent.

"What's going on here?"

"Umm friendly spar?" Kiba blurted.

"Sparring, during a war?"

"Gotta keep focus right?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Kitsuchi had a few Jonin officers lecture Kiba on discipline for about an hour and change. Then he was made to apologize, after that, they lectured him again. When Kiba finally thought the lectures were winding down, they hit him with an offer he hadn't expected.

If such an offer had come to Kiba a week ago he would have flat out refused it, in fact he would have been insulted. But now he had reason to pause and consider. He found that his heart said one thing and his mind another. He needed time to think about it, so the officers gave him by the end of the day to decide. Head down, shoulders slumped, Kiba stepped out of the officer's tent to find Akamaru and his teammates waiting for him.

Looking concerned Hinata stepped forward. "What happened in there?"

Kiba straightened up and patted his chest. "You're looking at the first guy ever to get reprimanded for fighting during a war."

Hinata shook her head in confusion. "I don't understand."

Kiba waved his hand in the air dismissively. "Eh some jerks needed an attitude adjustment that's all."

"I see you are well." Shino said from behind Hinata.

Kiba rolled his shoulders as if warming up for another fight. "Pfff a Zetsu scratches like a cat. I'm almost half curious to see if they can put up more of a fight."

"Hmmm they say curiosity conquers fear even more than bravery will."

"They also say "beat their ass, before they beat yours."

Slowly but surely a smile formed on Shino's face. "They…do say that I suppose. It's must be nice to have such a rowdy attitude even in these trying times."

With that said Shino stuffed his hands in his pocket and started to stroll away.

"That's it? Shino we came over to be supportive remember?"

"He seems fine to me Hinata" Shino said without turning around.

Chuckling Kiba stepped up beside Hinata. "Let him go, he's a man of few words. And we both know that we should just appreciate the few he gives us."

"Still" she frowned.

"Listen I get him. Guys don't need to say much to get their feelings across. Unlike girls who are way more dramatic and expressive."

"Is that so?" Hinata remarked with a quirk of an eyebrow.

"Yeah like if there's a guy they like, some girls might try a head on attack against an evil shinobi who can blow up villages with ease."

This brought a half smile and a tinge of embarrassment red to Hinata's face. "Ok maybe there is some truth to what you're saying."

"'Maybe?" Kiba countered.

"Since we're on the topic it was Naruto who saved us you know. Well it was Naruto's clone anyway.""

"I heard. Was it a dynamic entry?"

"It certainly was. For a second there I thought I was done and then boom there he was."

Kiba licked his lips. "Listen; don't think I'm not grateful about that. I was just teasing about the Naruto and Pain thing."

"I know Kiba." Hinata eyed him curiously before swiftly wrapping her arms around him tight. "Hey is this dramatic enough to get my feelings across?"

"Hey come on this is embarrassing!" Kiba cried out while squirming in her grasps.

"What do you say, is this girl expressive enough for you Kiba?"

The more Kiba attempted to fight her off the tighter she made her hold on him.

"OK! I get it you were worried about me!"

'Good. I'm glad you're OK."

Kiba stopped fighting her and simply settled into the embrace. A wave of warmth came over his cheeks when he got another sniff of honey tea.

"I'm glad you smell so good."

Hinata looked up into Kiba's face. "What?"

"The food from the kitchen sure smells good."

"I thought you hated the food the army served?"

"Not when I'm hungry" Kiba said averting his gaze. He gestured with his head towards the general direction of the kitchen area. "You want to grab something to eat with me?"

"Sure" she stated with a smile.

And his heart skipped a beat.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

They were but a few moments away from the kitchen area when Kiba started thinking "out loud" without even realizing it.

"You're kind of a strange chick Hinata."

"Excuse me?" she said turning her head towards him.

Not knowing how to backtrack out of such a statement Kiba simply surrendered a filtered version of his thoughts as they walked along.

"I mean a few days before you leaped in front of Pain I was there with you when a movie about animals in the wild made you cry. During this recent battle you were breaking off Zetsu like some kind of hardened badass but a minute ago you were giving me a bear hug with misty eyes."

"You thought I was a badass?" Hinata asked with glowing eyes.

"Yeah" Kiba cleared his throat. "Well badass for you anyway…"

"That makes me really happy." She said returning her gaze forward.

Kiba scratched at his reddened cheeks. "You see, you saying stuff like that makes you sound like a like a little girl! You're supposed to say stuff like "I'm a badass even when you're not looking kiba" something cool like that!"

Hinata sighed. "Why are you upset about? Am I not supposed to take your compliment?"

"I'm not upset! And it's not a big deal, it's just an observation."

"Hmmm, well it's one that I really appreciate."

Visibly frustrated Kiba scratched at his hair. "Listen all I'm saying is that I've noticed how much you've changed."

Hinata turned and studied her teammate for a moment. "Do you see that as a bad thing?"

"Well are you doing what you feel is right?"

"I am."

"Then it's not a bad thing."

They walked a little further in silence before Kiba spoke up once again.

"You really like Naruto don't you?"

"I do."

"He inspires you and stuff right? You've changed because of Naruto."

She nodded. "Partially though admittedly it's a big part. Some of it is due to Naruto and some of it is due to me needing to change."

Kiba leaned over to scratch Akamaru behind the ear. "So you—are you afraid that Naruto won't like you back?"

Hinata stopped in her tracks. "Are you OK? Did Hana mention anything about you needing rest?"

Kiba glanced around anxiously as if he had just been caught stealing. "What, what's wrong?"

"Kiba you hate talking about emotion, feelings, and stuff like that."

"Who told you that?"

"You did, possibly a thousand times over the course of the time I've known you."

The Inuzuka clan member threw his hands in the air. "Oh wait so you're the only one who can change. I almost died; maybe the war has me thinking differently about things."

"Thinking?"

"Oh come on! Why is everyone acting like I'm not a thinker? Am I not allowed to think once in a while?"

Rolling her eyes Hinata placed her hands up to her chest. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm just curious about what you might have been thinking about."

"Well how about this they offered to take me off the front lines." Kiba declared as pointed his thumb back towards the officer's tent.

"Because of the fight they think—-you know sometimes the war can get to people's heads—that's what they said, so they told me if I wanted to stay back and guard the injured while the main forces moved out I could."

Hinata shook heard her head. "Why would you want to? I mean not to demean those who will be staying behind but—"

"I'm considering it" Kiba interrupted. "It might not be such a bad thing."

Hinata stared at Kiba with a bemused expression on her face. "Why?"

Somehow the softness of her voice delighted and irritated him.

"Because…."

"Kiba you're strong."

"Yeah I know that. I'm not on par with Naruto yet but—"

"And you're tough."

He nodded. "That's true also. Listen I know this is all probably hard to understand since I was about as gung ho as anyone else to prove myself in this war."

"You don't have to prove anything to anyone Kiba. However you're right I don't understand, maybe if you can explain it to me?"

"I'm afraid" he sighed, heavily.

"Afraid of dying?"

"No, not that." He ran his right hand along his chin.

"I think I'm afraid of myself. I don't know how to explain it. OK maybe I'm being dramatic but you got your Sasukes, the Itachis, the Kabutos and Orochimarus of the world and these guys, it wasn't about strong or weak, they gave into something within themselves. I think I saw a little bit of that same stuff in me during the battle. To survive this war, I might have to go to that dark place. I might need that dark place. I don't like the idea of depending on it, the possibility giving in to it."

Catching his breath Kiba glanced up at Hinata but she only studied his form wordlessly. Unable to bear the silence and her gaze he continued the walk.

"I guess that makes me sound like a coward."

She quickly caught up with him. "It's your decision whether to march out with us or not. Whatever you decide I will respect it. But if you do decide to go with us…..I promise I will do my best to protect you."

"What?! I just said it's not dying that I'm afraid of!"

Kiba increased his pace, but Hinata kept up. They walked shoulder to shoulder now.

"I will protect you from the enemy and from yourself."

Kiba snorted, "And how will you that?"

Before he could even react she reached over and placed a hand against his cheek. Kiba's heartbeat quickened almost immediately. He was no raition user but it felt as though electricity were running through his veins.

"Kiba, I know you, I am proud to be your teammate. I know you are a good person with a kind heart."

She removed her hand from his face as quickly as she had placed it there.

"That is how I will protect you from yourself. And that's really all I'm going to need, the rest I'm sure you'll be able to handle."

Kiba's gaze fell to the ground. "Dummy, it's the guy who is supposed to protect the girl…." he muttered under his breath.

'What's that?"

"Nothing I was just…forget it, let's talk about something else." He muttered under his breath.

"OK but to answer your earlier question. No I'm not afraid, though leaping in front of Pain might not have been the smartest move in hindsight, like you said I'm doing what I feel is right. I'm following my nindo, and it was never promised that my nindo or any other way of life would keep me from getting hurt. But it's the way I've chosen and I'm going to see it through. Whatever happens next is mine to accept with all my heart."

"I see." Kiba said.

For a moment silence reigned.

"Hey Hinata how do you know when you're in love?"

She stared at him incredulously. "Are you serious?"

Kiba's defensive mode kicked into high gear. "What?! It's a simple question! I'm curious, just answer it"

"OK, ok, ummm well….well sometimes if the person you have an affection for pops up unexpectedly or does something unexpectedly for you well it's like lightning hitting your heart. But in a good way."

"Uh-huh"

Hinata placed her hand over her heart. "Another thing about the heart is that when you're around the person, it can jump right up into your throat."

"O-oh really?" Kiba sputtered.

"Yeah then it's hard to speak."

"That makes sense."

"You feel warm, safe, protected when you're around someone you love. They make you want to be great, and sometimes when you look at them they glow, they glow brighter than the sun."

"Brighter than the sun" Kiba repeated.

"Yeah."

"And there's no way to stop it from happening huh?"

Hinata shrugged. "Who are we Kiba to tell fate where it's supposed to go?"

"Good point."

"Hey Kiba."

'Yeah?"

"I think we passed the kitchen a while ago."

Stopping himself Kiba looked around to find that Hinata was right. "Well I'm not really hungry anymore. Actually I'm going to go and think about some more stuff."

Hinata nodded. "Sure."

"Let's go Akamaru."

Kiba started to turn away but stopped himself, "tell Shino if I see him crying on the battlefield again I'm going to smack him."

"Um…OK."

He started to walk away but stopped again. He turned to her. "No wait don't warn him. I'm just going to smack sense into him the next time I see him doing that. The smack will be its own warning."

With that he spun on his heels and started off.

She called out after him. "Does this mean ….?

He interrupted her with his third sudden turn. "Hey, thanks for talking to me."

She sighed happily. "No problem."

"Come on Akamaru."

She expected him to turn around for a fourth time so she waited until he was out of sight just to be sure.

XXXXXXX

Brighter than the sun…We can both glow though, you can be my strength, and we can be together like stars, both of us, brighter than the sun

"We're moving out." A familiar voice stated.

Kiba looked up from his supplies to see his sister.

"How are you feeling pup?"

He smiled as he slipped a few items into his pockets. "Like a future Hokage in the making"

"Good."

Hana made a move to the exit of Kiba's tent but he called out to her. "Hana, can I ask you a personal question?"

"A personal question?"

He smiled sheepishly. "Yeah but it's a little embarrassing."

Hana's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I knew this day would come. You're going to ask me about sex aren't you?"

"No! I mean why would I?!"

"Because it's OK to ask, it's only natural to be curious."

"You've it got all wrong!"

"First you have to be smart you should always carry protec—"

"Stop it Han! Just shut up! I want to ask-if you've ever really liked someone who already really liked someone else?"

Hana shook her head. "No, I can't say that I have. I would imagine that's a pretty tough situation to be in."

"Tough" Kiba laughed. "You're right it does sound like a tough situation to be in."

With shoulders squared, his chest out, and his nose in the air Kiba strolled up his sister.

"But the thing is…" He said brushing past her. "It's only tough if you lose."

He exited the tent and Akamaru greeted him with a broad stroke of his tongue across his partner's face.

"You ready to shred some Zetsu ass?"

"Kiba!"

Turning towards his tent Kiba saw his sister standing by the entrance with a stupid grin on her face and offering him a thumbs up.

"Don't worry your big sister supports you, follow your heart!"

"SHADDUP!" Kiba he shouted at her. Why do I tell her anything?

"Is it prudent to be so loud in the morning?"

Kiba's eyes cut from his sister to Shino and then Hinata beside him.

Still rubbing sleep from her eyes Hinata said, "It is a little early for a ruckus Kiba."

"Yeah well I hope you guys are ready because we've got an important march ahead of us" Kiba proclaimed.

"We're ready when you are" Hinata smiled.

"Yeah well…" He gulped loudly. "Hinata I—"

"Go for it pup!"

"What is your sister going on about?" Shino inquired.

"She's just supporting me because we're going to be on the front lines!" Kiba snapped. He turned his attention back to Hinata.

"Hinata I just want to say."

His eyes shifted from Hinata to Shino, back to his sister, Akamaru. Shino, Akamaru again then back to Hinata.

"I won't lose to Naruto!"

"Alright" Hinata said casually.

Kiba nodded to himself and then moved past his group. "Yahoo! Akamaru, let's do this march!"

"He's excited this morning."Hinata remarked to Shino. "It's been awhile since he's talked about competing with Naruto for the Hokage title."

"I'm not sure he was talking about the Hokage title" Shino shot back.

"What else would he be talking about then?"

Shino smiled knowingly. "Hmmm, I wonder."


A/N Thanks for reading folks, I hope you enjoyed it. Read and review why don'tcha.