Chapter 2: Potential

"Are you ok?" he asked me as we settled on to the tree branch. I slowly raised myself and sat straight up beside him.

"Well…I…well…I think so…I had no idea it would start thundering like this", I stuttered as I brushed my unruly hair behind my ear and peered downward in embarrassment.

"I'm glad I heard you when I did. I was just about to finish my last bit of ninjustsu practice before I heard your cry for help".

"Th-thank you for saving me…" I said as I forced myself to look up at him. He gave me a toothy grin. "It's no problem! It's in my blood to keep an ear and especially a nose out for trouble!"

I felt myself blushing as I played with my fingers shyly, peering more into his dark eyes in awe. This mysterious shadow just stepped into my life when he could have just left me to die if he so desired. For my father always calling me worthless since I have not lived up to the clan's expectations, if I did not escape this incident alive I was more than ready to die.

The red fangs painted on his cheeks and his bushy brown hair matched his wild personality I detected only within moments of meeting him. He seemed as determined as Naruto-kun. But I never knew someone as motivated and boisterous as Naruto-kun…until now…

"You're Hinata Hyuuga right?" he asked me. I looked up in shock. Being the most quiet girl in the class, hardly anyone even noticed my existence. Only of course during exams would Iruka sensei notice me so that I could perform the examination's material.

"Well…y-yes. How did you know?" I stupidly responded. My darn introverted nature has made me lack proper social skills.

"Heh, you may be the shyest girl in the class but it is hard not to notice you! You're so gentle and generous compared to those other girls in the class. All they do is scream and fight over Sasuke like some damn doll!" he exclaimed grinning from ear to ear.

"Wow, I never thought of it that way. It…it's just how I am". There was a moment of silence as I tried searching for more to say. And then it hit me! I did know the name of my shadow savior, after all. It was Naruto's "foe"…who he is so motivated to beat.

"You're Kiba Inuzuka…aren't you?"

"Yup, you're right!" he chortled as he poked my forehead. "And don't you forget that, Hinata-san! Hey, let's train together some time ok?"

I nodded in agreement and smiled brightly. Suppressing my urge to giggle from such attention, I expectantly ended up beginning to shiver from the coldness of the dreary day. The first time in my life I felt like I was having a fun conversation. Though I have never been that great at socializing, I observed myself wiggling out of a confined cocoon like a newly blossomed social butterfly.

"Here," Kiba said. He gave me his black jacket and draped it over my shoulders to keep me warm. "I wouldn't wanna see my new friend get sick on me!"

"New…friend…?" I asked dumbfounded. Usually I have associated myself with others just as an acquaintance. Sheltering my true troubled feelings inside my subconscious rather than sharing with a close friend seemed safer to me.

"Of course, Hina! You have so much more potential than you believe yourself to have. Let me help you find your potential," he reassured, peering into my eyes. Kiba stood up on the tree branch and held out his hand to me. Another toothy grin appeared on his mouth which made me blush again. Closing his eyes, he laughed, "Here, lemme take you home. We're soaked and I bet your family is worried about you".

Speechless, I took his hand and he helped me up from my perch. "Well…I guess they are worried…" I lied. But something told me that I could trust Kiba. As much as I was afraid to unleash my deepest of angry and depressed emotions, I pursued the action anyway. "But…well…actually, my family doesn't like me that much", I corrected myself to sound honest.

We leapt from the tree branch and proceeded to walking home. Kiba did not follow what I said as he questioned, "Why would you say that, Hina? Of course your family worries about you".

"Not necessarily, Kiba-kun. I am the heir to the Hyuuga clan, but since I lack strength and confidence, I fail all of Father's physical tests. I can last only a small while in battle with my younger sister, Hanabi. Father is transferring status of heir to Hanabi; she exhibits more power than me". I peered to the wet, mushy ground as I told my degrading life story.

"You're not worthless, Hina! You can be who you want to be! Even if it means training harder to prove your family wrong. I know you are shy, but you just have to find that glimmer of confidence so that you CAN succeed!"

"Ki…Kiba?" I gazed up at him. Where did all of his energy come from? Why does he believe in me so much when I have trouble believing in myself?

Silence lingered between us the rest of the way back to the Hyuuga compound. I admired how Kiba has kept his composure and confidence this entire hour since we have actually first held a conversation. I informed him that this was my stop, and he smiled at me. The dog nin whispered, "It's true. It's not right how your family treats you bad like that just because you do not have the qualities they want you to have. You are your own person…and you just have to find yourself".

Going off topic, I remembered what was draped around my shoulders. I removed Kiba's black jacket from my now warmed body and handed it to him. "Here, Kiba. I wouldn't want to take your jacket from you". The dog nin pushed the jacket back into my grasp. "Heh, why dontcha keep it? Just in case you're out in the very cold rain again. I know that pink sweater must keep you warm to an extent but you never know when you need another jacket!"

I was taken aback by his kindness and generosity. "Are…are you sure?" I inquired. Being taught to returned what I have borrowed, this situation seemed foreign to me.

"I'm totally sure! I got a bunch more of those at home anyway. Think of it as a souvenir to remember today. The day me and you first met and became friends".

I couldn't help but finally crack a huge smile and giggle for long seconds until I was able to sustain myself back to normal composure, "Oh, Kiba-kun, you're such a good friend, but back to what you were saying: this potential you speak of is not inside me. No matter how hard I train and try to harvest this confidence…I can't…" I softly replied, looking down. I gasped in awe as he jumped up to another nearby tree and gave me thumbs-up!

"I'll help you realize your potential, Hinata! One day, you'll see!" he exclaimed happily and winked at me.

And with that, he disappeared from my sights jumping from tree to tree back to the Inuzuka home.

A/N: Of course Hinata still continues to admire Naruto for his determination, but now Kiba is her first true friend. What will happen next? XD