Higuchi:Because a friend wanted me to continue writing this story despite my current state of depression, I've written this next chapter neh. I'm pleased to have gotten 153 hits (last time I've checked).

Sasuke:Depression my ass, you were probably itching to come back and write this story. Crazy Fangirl.

Higuchi: Nu, I am not a fangirl!

Naruto: She's such a cute fangirl -pinches Higuchi's cheeks-

Higuchi:-blushes-

Sasuke: This FANGIRL does not own Naruto.

Higuchi: neh.

Itachi – 25 years old. Member of the Akatsuki Gang.

Gaara – 15 years old, goes to Neji's boarding school.

Temari – 16 years old, goes to Hinata's boarding school.

Sasori (zmong, Sasori's alive) – 23 years old. Member of the Akatsuki Gang

Chapter 3: Why does Neji stutter?

-A Week Later.

Hinata was forcing herself to go on, 'Just twenty more minutes'. She told herself, but she knew she wasn't safe with them staring at her. All 5 of them, they looked angry and the looks on they're faced frightened Hinata. As the rest of the students fell back, already worn from the miles of track they were running, Hinata or, Neji, pressed on.

Before she would never believe she could run this fast, for this long. At first she had been fighting with Temari and Tenten, but as the 8th lap came around they both gasped for air and retreated to the benches. Hinata was alone on the track, and only 10 minutes had passed. The coach had said 'twelve laps', Hinata was going to give twelve laps.

She didn't know how fast she was going, she wouldn't give up. She was stronger than that, she had to prove she was. No, actually she had to prove Neji was fast, Neji wasn't a quitter. She was moving so fast she didn't know whether her feet were still below her. A pang of pain finally reached her, she buckled down once, but then regained herself.

Three more laps.

She couldn't ignore the pain.

"GO NEJI-SAMA!!"

"YOU CAN DO IT!!"

The voices reached her and made her want to put more effort in, as if she wasn't already straining herself. Her legs became heavy as she pounded around the track. She had to, it was a matter of pride. Neji was full of pride, wasn't he?

She hated Kiba, she hated Sasuke and Naruto and Sakura. But especially Kiba, because he was so devilish and so different, why didn't he understand that 'Neji' wasn't like the rest.

The pain in her bowels fought against her. She knew she should continue, her cramps forced her to begin to slow, pain almost engulfing her. She was amazed she was still running. Two more.

If Hinata wasn't running fast now, she bolted forth once more before she tripped and fell flat on her face. Clasping her stomach she moaning in pain and shrunk against the paved floor. Sweat ran down her forehead and she breathed heavily. She could hear the world move around her, she began to get dizzy with pain, footsteps against the track, someone running to her. Gentle arms picked her up and ran with her---

"NEJI-KUN!!!"

"Neji---neji are you ok? he's so light..."

Hinata fell into blackness.

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A soft, hand brushed against her forehead, it was warm to the touch and Hinata blushed as she opened her eye's, feeling sore. She lay, staring up into intense black eye's that looked into her own, apparently they had worried for her---Neji.

"Y-you--Your finally awake."

Kiba drew back, a hint of blush had arisen from his own tanned face and he turned away on his stool to look out the window. His hands sat in his lap, as Hinata noticed, the pain all about her body went away slowly.

"W-what happened?"

Her voice was soft, boyish. She worked hard to hide it from Kiba afraid something had happened why she was out cold.

"Nothing—I—I carried you here... after you passed out. We're in the nurse's office. She said it was probably food poisoning. If you need to throw up."

Kiba looked innocent as he motioned to a pail besides the bed. The motion made Hinata remember that she was angry at him because he had told her about Kohana gang.

"Yeah, thanks."

Her voice was cold, alien to her as she sat up, and the blanket fell around her. As she stretched. Kiba stared at her chest, then looked away, his face turned scarlet.

Hinata noticed him turn, for a second she thought he was sorry he had told her. Hinata felt the draft from the window come in and shivered. Looking down at her own gym uniform----

Hinata blushed madly as she covered herself in her blankets and hid under the covers, a sob escaped her lips, he knew now.

The movements caused the two have a moment of awkward silence.

"Wh---why are you wearing bandages?"

Kiba couldn't stare at Neji, he knew that there was probably something bad underneath there. Maybe Neji had been scarred all over his torso or... or...

"None o-of your b-business... go away!"

Hinata sunk low into the comfort of her bed. Pleading, praying. 'Kiba can't know, please don't let Kiba know.'

"I'm sorry Neji, if the Kohana Gang ever tries to hurt you, I'll beat the shit out of them!"

Kiba understood now, why Neji stuttered. (Higuchi: HA! Your wrong Kiba 3. Sasuke: Heh, turning my members against me -glares-)

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Sakura looked as if she was going to cry, yet she forced herself from hugging and kissing Neji. She stared at him, lying with all the cuteness anyone could ever have in the world. She wanted to hug him, to squeeze him and call him her little sweet---. But he rested silently and softly, he didn't stir. Sakura almost regretted that Sasuke was going to send his guys to beat up Neji because Neji... He needed to join the Kohana gang. She longed for him to join, just as much as she had longed for Sasuke to tell her he loved her. But that dream was denied to her, she brushed Neji's black (DYED!!!) hair from his face. His soft features, she remembered the beautiful image before she got up and left.

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(For the Sake of this story, 4 days has past since Hinata passed out, and now its Friday and vacation for two weeks starts. Higuchi: lucky... boarding school kids x3)

Hinata sat slurping her Miso Soup, her eye's looked over the rim of the bowl at Kiba. A blush was on her cheeks. She continued eating her soup, and stealing a glance at the boy before her. He looked in boredom at his spaghetti viciously poking it with his fork.

Inner kiba: DIE SPAGHETTI! DIE!!!!

The Kohana Gang sat ways off at another table where Ino and Sakura discussed the hot new substitute, Itachi, who reminded them of Sasuke who wasn't at the table.

Hinata softly placed her bowl on her tray.

"Ah--"

She purred, Kiba looked up at Neji's face a cute cat yawn as he had finished all his soup. Since today was Friday, they could go into town and hangout. Hinata was looking forward to this, she would call it a date in other circumstances, but Kiba didn't know Neji was Hinata. It was already three days since Hinata had gotten out of the nurse's care. Gym was less harsh on her, Tsunade knew what Neji was making Hinata do and obliged to help her in her situation.

Kiba stood up and picked up Hinata's tray and his. They walked together, disposing they're lunch then making they're way to they're dorms. Hinata gripped the collar of her shirt as she followed Kiba. Feelings had been coming at her, making themselves apparent at every corner. Kiba refused to let Hinata be alone. He attacked all the boys from the dorm bathroom so Hinata could shower alone. He stood guard by the door as if he was her loyal knight.

Thinking about this made Hinata blush into new shades. She stopped instantly, 'Do I like Kiba?'

"Hey, the exits this way."

Kiba called.

"Gomen!"

Hinata came running after Kiba and he held the door open, she walked past into the afternoon sunlight. They both made they're way around the fence to get to the gate, leading onto the empty street infront of the school.

Kiba straightened as a breeze came, he hated Sasuke and his stupid plans. His ideas were bruter than akatsuki's ideas. He hate him more than he could stop himself from. If he saw him, he'd kick his ass. Kiba had contemplated the chance that Sasuke was beating Neji up, Sasuke had dragged Neji to the bathroom once, which was obviously weird.

Kiba reached into his pocket for his car keys, as Neji gave a little yelp, Kiba turned on the spot facing a man who wrapped his arm around Neji's stomach and held him against himself. His features were familiar to Sasuke's.

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"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?"

Kiba barked at the tall, handsome figure who looked like he was going to eat Hinata.

"Is that anyway to treat a teacher?"

Itachi retorted, calm and strong.

"P-please l-let g-go of m-me."

"Hehe, so cute."

A firm layer of blush appeared on Hinata's face as Kiba grabbed her arm and wrenched him from Itachi. The sky darkened and a sharp gust of wind hit them. Soft drops of rain touched Hinata's face and she shook. Kiba pushed Hinata behind him.

"I don't care who the hell you are! If Sasuke thinks he can beat the crap out of Neji tell him to bring his carcass here himself and I'll wreck his pretty boy ass."

Kiba felt the rain himself, Itachi's head cocked to the side as if he was trying to look at Hinata some more. He smiled at Kiba even so.

"My foolish brother wants to beat up small Hinata-chan---opps. Neji-"

"Wha---Hinata?"

Kiba said dumbly, and Itachi smirk.

Hinata stared at Itachi, a thick blush ladened her cheeks as she turned around and ran. Ran for dear life, her ears burning. Please, Please, Please, not Itachi.

"Oh- you better go get her, she's fast when she wants to get away."

Kiba moved and punched Itachi in the face, the man fell back astonished, as if Kiba wasn't the teenager to hit him. It began to rain heavy as the teenager stepped backwards, then turned, calling out Neji's name as the blue uniform ran out onto the street and into the district of apartments that surrounded the front of the school. He so was confused, he didn't know what he was doing.

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'No, please... Kiba-kun. Don't hate me Kiba!'

Tears ran down her face as she remembered the horrible things that had happened to her when she had been brought to the house of Uchihas. Itachi was so nice to her, and Sasuke so mean. They went to public school together, she had been forced to be apart of the gang, she got beat up, she got hurt. She had only wanted to see her family again. She sobbed as she ran on, the rain made her uniform press against her skin already goose bump covered skin.

Blinded with tears she turned a cornered, stumbled, then got back on her feet.

Kiba would understand her, Kiba would understand her and wanted to protect her. Hinata stopped running, out of breath, the dye dripped from her head onto the pavement as she collapsed.

"WHY?"

Hinata cried. 'Neji only wanted to protect me'. 'He should have tried harder'

"Neji?"

Hinata felt the pelts of rain falling on her as the slim figure approached.

"Oh, whats wrong."

The voice was so soft, arms wrapped around Hinata's shoulders as she cried into the already wet shoulder. An umbrella was swept away by the harsh wind.

"Neji?"

"I-I don't w-w-want to b-be Neji a-anymore!"

Hinata sobbed, a soft hand patted her head.

"I know, I know... I'm sorry Hinata, I would have helped you if I knew sooner."

Hinata looked up to the soft, wet face of Tenten, who helped Hinata to her feet.

"Come on, we have to get out of the rain."

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"Stupid."

"Troublesome!"

"Jerk!"

"..."

Shikamaru crossed his arms over his chest, he leaned against the lockers. Temari stared at him with such hate that he had to back down. The expression didn't look right on her beautiful face, he didn't want to catch more attention then he already did. Fangirls and other students swarmed past them staring at angry Temari and worried Shikamaru as they fought.

"Your an ASS Shikamaru! A LAZY ASS!"

Temari dared the fangirls who glared at her to do something. She stood in her skirt and button up uniform then she stepped forward, crossing the invisible boundary between her and Shika. Her hand raised but her wrist was gripped by a firm hand before she could pull away she was pulled into a deep kiss. The fangirls around them melted as Shikamaru grabbed Temari's other hand from slapping him and pulled her close to him.

"SHIKAMARU! STOP KISSING TEMARI, SASUKE WANTS US TO MEET HIM!"

Shikamaru was dragged away from heaven as he let go of Temari and stared into her eye's.

"go then..."

Temari's voice was but a whisper as she waved her arm at the pink haired girl who called him. With a grin, Shikamaru walked slowly to the blond girl, just as slow as he pleased, because the only person he'd ever speed up for was her. Temari didn't fail to blush as she felt her cell phone buzz in her skirt pocket. She pulled it out.

"-sigh-Moshi Moshi---Gaara?"

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Kiba practically attacked the wall in front of him. Neji had ran away so fast, track did pay off. Kiba was frightened out of his wits, just as he was frightened he was confused. Neji--- was actually Hinata? Who was Hinata? Why was she posing as a Neji? Why did she wear bandages? What the hell did Sasuke do to her? What the hell did Itachi do to her?

Anger boiled in Kiba as he kicked a trash can down, the rain fell on him like sharp daggers. He looked down the street when an umbrella flew past him in a strong gust of wind. He pocketed his hands and looked up at the gray sky as rain fell on his face and drenched clothes. He shivered, a couple of cars came past as he waited for nothing, for him—her to come back.

Unaware of time, Kiba stared at the street, a tear ran down his cheek. He didn't care if Neji was a boy or a girl, the only thing he wanted to do was protect him—her. Sakura emerged from his thoughts and he choked back a sob.

What the hell was going on. A sleek black limo drove up to the sidewalk and stopped infront of Kiba.

"We've been looking everywhere for you!"

Naruto yelled sticking his head out the window.

"Get in the car baka."

Came the cold voice of Sasuke, and Kiba went in, because he didn't know what else to do.

End Chapter

Higuchi: oh shiznit! So much has just happened! Crazy neh?

Hinata: -pokes fingers together-

Higuchi: Huh? Where'd Sasuke go, normally I talk to him.

Hinata:S-sasuke went to c-cater to h-his f-fangirls w-who write fanfictions w-where he is less v-violent.

Higuchi: Oh well, your so cute

Hinata: -blushes- G-Give Higuchi s-some reviews b-before she goes k-kaput with n-none.