A/N: In this chapter, well, let's just say things are going to change. Believe what you want to believe, and enjoy this. I can already feel adrenaline at the thought of writing it.


Hinata wondered what was happening to her. Yes, every precaution had been made. Kurenai-sensei had told her that it probably wasn't a genjutsu. If it was, it would be too high leveled. However, she was still mysteriously injured by a dream. She sighed. She was so tired.

Kurenai-sensei had told her to consult the Hokage. She sighed. Shino and Kiba had offered to go with her.

She was so tired that her head was throbbing with a dull pain.

He would be late in coming home today.

She let herself into his room tentatively. Lying on the floor, she felt all her energy being sucked out of her. She gave in to the demands of exhaustion and let herself fall asleep.


Strangely enough, she was in darkness. There was nothing but darkness. Not even the faintest spot of light.. She tried to touch whatever was around her but realised that she could not. She waswas floating in mid air! What was happening? Panic erupted in her, and she started shuddering violently. Everything was so… so untouchable.

"Why does she worry so? She is getting what she needs. Why? Why, even when he is not bothering her?"

Finally, her fingers touched a soft material. Somehow, she knew that it was a blouse, a familiar blouse.

She felt a tremor run through her body. She clutched at the material.

"Does she miss me too?" The voice questioned, almost to itself. It sounded soft, quiet and reminiscent.

" You have been gone for such a long time…" she felt herself reply in the same tone. There was no stammer. It was almost as if the voice had spoken to itself. She did not understand the words, but her lips had moved of their own accord, her mind recognizing the voice instantly even though she did not.

"Yes, I have… Is it Yuzuki's fault then?" The voice asked as it faded away. Hinata felt her body regaining its consciousness.


She tried to open her eyes, but they were sealed. Something thick weighed upon them. She raised her hand to wipe away the offending substance.

Suddenly, she realised that she was carrying something. She let go of it. It fell onto the ground with a distinct clink.

Was that metal?

Perhaps she was still trapped in a dream.

"N-Nii-san…"she whispered to herself, afraid. She wanted to be protected. She wiped the substance away. It was wet and sticky. Anxiety wrecked her and she rubbed at it even more roughly than before.

She could feel some of it falling on her face now. She opened her eyes.

It was almost as if she was still in a dream. Blood… so much blood… her knees buckled under her and refused to move. Yet it was light. Perhaps she was in that dream. She looked around her.

She almost screamed again. Her protector… he was stained in blood, spent. Sweat still fell. As she approached him, she could see anxiety on his face. This couldn't be happening! Her Neji nii-san was never afraid! What was wrong?

Recalling the sound of metal falling onto the ground, she looked around and saw a blood-stained katana.

She sat by his side. He recoiled as she touched his arm.

"N- Neji nii-san… d-did I do t-this t-to you?"

It was impossible, her mind screamed. She had no way of being able to beat him, not when she was unconscious herself! She couldn't even scratch him at the Chuunin examinations, and at that time she was fully conscious! She didn't even know how to use swords properly! Besides, her body could not feel any strain. If she had lifted that sword, surely she would have felt something! Perhaps… perhaps… Perhaps someone had planted it in her hands! Perhaps the person in her dreams had escaped, perhaps…

Hinata knew it was ridiculous, but she couldn't have…

He sighed softly.

"I need not protect you anymore, Hinata-sama…"

"What d-do you m-mean?"

"What use is a protector if he is so easily beaten by the person he is supposed to protect?"

These words echoed in her mind. Did she really do this?

"I d-did not mean to… S-Summimaisen!" she murmured, as she held the tears aout to flow. She had to get him to a medic nin… immediately! Being a ninja, she had seen many injuries…but even so... this was a lot of blood.

She picked up the sword and hid it under his bed. She meant to analyse it again later. Then, she grabbed him arm. Thankfully, he did not flinch or avoid her gaze.

"At first I thought I could be gentle…but…It's the dream again, isn't it?"

She nodded. "I'll l-look for the H-Hokage… I won't l-let this happen a-again. Summimaisen!" she apologised, although it sounded more like a plea. She attempted to lift him up. When she realised that it was hard for him to walk, she placed an arm around his waist, supporting him.

"I know it isn't your fault, Hinata-sama," he replied at last, weary.

"Did you know?" he asked, almost to himself. "The knife…it was pointed at my heart, but you did not thrust it in. You asked me to scream."

She froze.

"I… I d-did?"

"You didn't stutter," he continued, "and I knew it wasn't you…" A tear slid down her cheek. Ninjas weren't supposed to do this, but…

She quickened her speed, eager to get him seen by a medic nin.


"How did he get in this state?" asked Shizune, shocked. "I'll have to consult the Hokage."

She moved Neji away by the use of a stretcher.

Shino and Kiba were by her side, eyes questioning However, they had yet to open their mouths. It turned out that they were waiting patiently by the door. Although they had no idea what was going on, they knew that to Hinata, meeting the Hokage was horrifying, so they were there since five, intending to have breakfast with her before escorting her to the Hokage's office. It was now six, and she was thankful that they were here to help Neji, even though they did ask some alarming questions when they saw him.

"Y-You guys are curious, a-aren't you?"

There was a silence.

"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to," Kiba told her, "Were your teammates, and we're there for you. No matter what."

"A-Arigatou, Kiba-kun," she whispered, eyes downcast. "Firstly, we h-have to find N-Nii-san's sensei."

"Gai?" There was a note of contempt in Shino's voice.

"Hai…"

"I agree with Hinata… you would like Kurenai to be informed if you were injured, right?"

"This is not the time! Besides, the news will get out soon."

"I w-wonder whether Kurenai-sensei is w-worried about us…"

"Hinata's right. I'll inform her of your whereabouts. You'd better comfort her, Shino," Kiba threatened.


As the Hokage rushed into the room, Shino broke the silence. "Hinata, do you… do you want to talk about what happened?"

The events flashed into memory. Hesitantly, she told Shino what had happened. However, she was careful to leave out the interaction between Neji and herself, except for those which were vital. She just knew that he would misinterpret it.

As she finished her story, she braced herself to meet his eyes. She was sure that they would be filled with disgust and contempt. How could she hurt someone who had protected her? The dam broke, and she let all the tears she had been holding out. Through her blurred, tear filled eyes, she saw that his eyes were filled with sympathy and regret. Impulsively, he hugged her.

"Why didn't you tell us? I was so worried…"

"It was all my fault…" she whispered, cherishing the feeling of being protected.

"Hinata… It was never your fault. If anything, it's my fault. Why didn't I press you to reveal what was troubling you? I can't help you at all… I feel so helpless."

"Shino-kun…. A-Arigatou…"

"I'll help you get through this, I promise."

"You shouldn't worry about me! Neji nii-san…he…" she choked out, staring at the window.

"Hinata-chan…"

"Call m-me Hinata… because h-he… he called m-me Hinata-chan…"

"Hinata," he continued, as if claiming her name for himself, "You mentioned a katana, didn't you?"

"The sword I nearly killed him with…"

"As soon as you've met the Hokage…show it to me… no, fight me with it."

"S-Shino-kun…" she pleaded.

He shook his head. He had to figure out how she could have taken Neji down when she didn't even know how to use that sword. It couldn't be possible, could it? He didn't think so.

"I'll be careful."

Right now, you're more important than anything else, Hinata.


A/N: Hope you enjoyed it.