Disclaimer: Kiba and Itachi are sharing me now, but Itachi owns the majority.

A/N: When I get to the last match sequence (if it can be called that), I'll be making up stuff so don't get offended if you find something that doesn't necessarily fit. I still haven't seen the completion of an actually chuunin exam and Kiba isn't exactly acting like himself so bear with me.

"" talking

'' character thoughts

(()) POV change

- - time skip

Italicized writing: character's subconscious or dreams

() my personal thoughts (if I have any)

((Hinata's POV))

Kiba . . . My next match is against Kiba.

I can say that I'm not scared about going into the match. It's just that I'm nervous. I don't think I can actually bring myself to hurt Kiba. He's been my friend for so long . . . This is going to be bad. I can't let my feelings get in way but damn.

Kiba . . . I think I would have been happier if it was Shino. We don't know each other as well as Kiba and I do so I could see myself having to go against him if he were to betray the village.

I have to psych myself into doing this. I know I can do this. I really can. As long as I can use my Byakugan, I can do this. I know him and he knows me so I need to use my knowledge to my advantage.

I don't want to do this. Damn it, I don't want to do this! Why in the hell did this turn out this way? Anyone else, then I would have done it, but now I don't want to do this. I need to do this though! I want to become a chuunin! It's going to be another way to prove to Naruto that I've gotten stronger!

Why do they make it so hard? I don't think I'll be able to look Kiba in the face if I beat him, but then again I'll be furious with myself if I don't beat him.

Breathe . . . 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5 . . . I can do this . . . 7 . . . 8 . . . 9 . . . 10 . . .

Just remember what Kurenai-sensei told you . . . She said that this would probably happen. That's why she used that genjutsu on me. Breathe, Hinata, breathe.

((Regular POV))

Hinata had just finished hyperventilating from the thought having to fight against her long time friend, Kiba. She realized that overreacting wasn't going to help her at all. Just as she had come to that conclusion, the proctor spoke.

"Will the combatants for the final match please come to the center of the arena?"

The girl closed her eyes, sighed, and walked down the stairs with her mind clear. She stopped short of the opening.

'Here we go. I'm doing this for Naruto but most importantly . . . I have to do this for me.'

Hinata walked out into the sun with her eyes still closed. She stopped a little less than a foot short of the proctor. Seeing that Kiba was there, he ignored the girl's actions and went on with his announcements.

"This is the last match of the Chuunin Exam. This match will run for 45 minutes unless one combatant is beaten within the time limit. Anything still goes. Now without further ado, let the final match begin."

Uproarious cheering shook the arena. Hinata finally opened her eyes. Kiba sighed heavily.

"I'm not going to go easy on . . ."

Hinata moved in her fighting stance and activated her Byakugan.

"Kiba, let it be known that I don't want to be fighting you, but I never expected you to go easy on me. If you want to beat me, then go balls to the wall. I don't have time for to patronize me."

Kiba in shock just laughed.

"Alright, then I'll go balls to the walls as you put it so poetically. Akamaru!"

The dog hung his head.

"I know how you're feeling right now, Akamaru, but there is nothing I can do without forfeiting." Kiba said softly.

Akamaru reluctantly got into position. Kiba and Akamaru then went for Hinata straight on. Expecting this, Hinata went to defending herself. She was about to strike Kiba when smoke bombs exploded.

'He used this against Naruto the last time. I can't fall for this.'

Hinata stood in the cloud of smoke dodging the mysterious blows. Kiba chuckled to himself as he watched.

'She thinks that I'm using the same attack I used last time on Naruto. She's half right.'

Just then, Hinata cried out. Her eyes where burning.

"Hinata, what happened? Are you having problems with your Byakugan?" Kiba asked with artificial concern.

Hinata yelled something unintelligible.

"There are smoke bombs that can temporarily knock out any bloodline trait that uses the eyes. The bombs I just threw at you are said bombs. I hope it's not hurting you too bad. Then again it won't hurt if you aren't using your gift," Kiba laughed again.

Wanting to end the pain in her eyes, Hinata immediately deactivated her Byakugan. Like Kiba said, her eyes then stopped burning.

'Damn, I should have known that he would do something like this. My greatest asset is now gone. I have to figure out a way to use it still. If I can't use it, I'll be unable to hit the correct chakra points. Damn you, Kiba!'

Unable to block to the attacks coming at her in the smoke, Hinata abandoned it. She was then attacked. The crowd groaned as they watched what they thought was the end of the match. For two minutes there was dead silence. A wind blew across the arena, to show that Hinata had used a substitution jutsu at the last minute.

"It looks like they're both pulling out the stops," a jounin commented.

Another nodded his head.

"We can only hope that this match manages to last the time limit. That's how we'll know for sure that this time around we'll have more than one make it to chuunin."

The first jounin agreed and went back focusing on the match. Nothing much had gone on during their conversation. Hinata was in hiding and Kiba was trying to find her.

"You can't hide, Hinata. Akamaru and I have a hold of your scent. It'll only be a matter of time before I we find you."

Hinata ignored Kiba's taunting. As soon as she had done the substitution jutsu, she knew that Kiba's and Akamaru's sense of smell would help them find her. With this in mind, she spread her scent throughout the arena by leaving kunai behind. This gave her all the time she needed to come up with a decent plan.

"Hinata, why don't you come out? The clock is ticking, you know." Kiba said trying to again lure her out.

Suddenly, an idea popped into Hinata's head. She threw her voice to a bush behind Akamaru.

"You're right Kiba. The clock is ticking so I guess it's time I stop hiding."

Hinata performed another substitution jutsu but on the kunai she left at the bushes. Akamaru attacked while Kiba cheered. Hinata saw this as her opportunity to strike. Even though it hurt, the girl activated her Byakugan and began to rush Kiba. Kiba, to Hinata's surprise, had seen this coming. He had already gone through his All-Fours jutsu, giving Akamaru the food pill, performing the Human Beast Clone, and now it was time for Gatsuga.

It would have seemed as though Hinata was defenseless. This wasn't true. As quickly as possible she performed her Protection of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. The two attacks clashed. Ultimately, both were sent flying.

The crowd was enthralled. There was 15 minutes left and the question on everyone's mind was are they going to stop here or are they going to continue until there's no time left. The answer was about to be revealed. Kiba and Akamaru stood first. There was a terrible cut on head Kiba's and Akamaru looked as if he didn't know where he was but both were standing. Soon, Hinata was standing as well. There were cuts all over her arms and legs, but see didn't seem to mind. With her head hanging, Hinata spoke.

"I didn't c-come this f-f-far to lose."

With that declaration, the fighters went for each other. Within half a foot of Kiba, Hinata collapsed. Kiba just blinked. The proctor confirmed that Hinata was unable to go on and declared Kiba the winner. Kiba smiled wanly. He then collapsed.