HiN4-cH4n: I for sure thought so, because you haven't reviewed Just a Betrayal, it's like you totally forgot about that story and now that it's over you never will leave me a review right? I mean you have been with me since Just a thought and continued with just a betrayal but you gave up, I hope you don't do that with this one! Because above all else I want to read what you have to say!!!!! I don't see you so alive with just a betrayal…What about now, has she given it to you now?

Nope not if you send them express!!!! They'll get here just fine!

Yes, more NaruHina in this chapter too!! I hope you don't find it too sudden! It's fine I understand you're busy but I expect to hear from you, 'kay? Thank you so much for continuing to support me through all my stories, it's because reviews from you keep me going, thank you!!!!!! You are a great friend, I'm glad I met you here, thank you, I hope you continue to see me as a friend also!!!

Mistress of DarkShadow: Ah, you are too kind, thank you!!!

Yeah, a bit…

True, and I really still have to explain why he tries to keep her back, that will be for later chapters!!!

Look you may not see it but right now I'm on my knees begging for forgiveness because I took so long! I'm sorry Mistress, I took so long…please don't hate me! You've been with me from the start I don't want you to leave me, I'm sorry!!!! (I'm sobbing!)

I'm awful, aren't I? Just be honest, I promise I will read your (what I'm sure to be) AWESOME story I just have to update my stories then I will, I promise you, I'll leave you a review for every single chapter, and not short ones, but long ones!!! Okay, maybe short ones too…

I'll work quickly and update my stories fast so that I can read your story is that fine? I'm sorry!!!!!!!!!!!

I suck, I know…

Shale - Heart of the Pack: I know it took so long didn't it? I'm sorry!!!!

Thank you, I'm happy you find this story good I hope you can continue to say that!!!! Please do!!!

winterkaguya: I must admit I was having difficulty with this story but when I read what you're review on JAB and mentioned this story, which honestly I forgot I was writing I suddenly wanted to write this chapter…

Yeah, that's true. I mean he loves Hinata above all else but he still loves the gang the same. I know right, I really wanted him to do this way before but I found that it was necessary in the last chapter. Yeah, it did but maybe she needs Naruto to heal her…

It really is complicated, I kind of explain it a bit in the next chapter but I still have to go over why she still sticks with Sasuke, I mean she mentions it in here but I'll explain it further in the story. I think that's why even though Sasuke pushes her buttons and does the worst she'll always go back to him because of her promise but also because he saved her…No she wouldn't try to kill herself, she really wants to live. I will make her give him back his ring, yeah, I'll do it! Sadly not now… Yeah, he really did or does take Hinata for granted.

They are sixteen, some are a year older…I think…I should really figure this out, but they are all going to graduate this year from high school so yup they are around sixteen going on seventeen. Yeah, it's because before they gathered it was an ugly city but they kind of cleaned it up so to say.

I know, but should I just give in and write the names at the start to let people know? Would that make it easier on you?

I'm so sorry for taking more than four months to update, I'm awful, I have no excuse!!! I'm sorry please stick with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way thank you! You are the greatest, much thanks on my behalf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first of five updates I plan to do…

Why do I have to write so many stories? Answer me why?

By the way I removed the anonymous reviews from my profile; I'm just done dealing with stupid people who can't use their "real" name to write shit on my story! I mean if you want to speak your mind then do it openly not behind some stupid fake name!!!

It just pisses me off, these people so I don't want to deal with them.

I mean other people have complained about my stories especially this one but they never hid behind a fake name, they told it to me straight out, so why can't everyone else be like that?

I would've updated earlier today but I was busy reading new manga…I do that a lot…and it hurts my credit card when I like a series…

Chapter 13: Teenagers still like to play in the mud

A week has passed by since my kidnapping and I find myself in the same spot I've been at for the last seven days, looking out the open sliding paper doors to the outside world which is currently raining.

It's been like this for the last week, it's been pouring non-stop; we've been stuck inside the huge traditional Japanese mansion. I was told by some of the servants that this one mansion is the biggest traditional Japanese one in all of Japan. It even has its own temple, five lakes and even more acres then anyone can walk through. Shikamaru suggested that we grow weed on the grounds, I kicked his ass for saying that.

Neji and TenTen are in the same room as me, they are watching TV as I look outside.

"I've been thinking that we're going to need more people, why don't we contact Killer bee and his team? I'm sure his brother, the leader of Cloud, will be happy to lend a hand," I say as I keep my eyes out towards the open doors.

"Are you serious? Do you know how severe this is?" TenTen yells at me.

"Why?" Neji asks me I can feel his eyes on me.

"Cloud hates Hiashi, correct?" I ask and turn my bored eyes back at them. "Akatsuki is in league with Hiashi, Hiashi may have a hidden agenda with Sasuke so wouldn't it be to our advantage to have them help us out?" I ask. "For one they'll destroy Akatsuki because to them they're an obstacle, they can't stand Hiashi nor Sasuke."

"But their price will be too high, we should keep this inside. You know between us and Itachi now; but you have to remember the more people that know the biggest chance there is that Sasuke will find out," Neji the ever rational man explains.

"They'll be a big help, mostly everyone in the outside gang has joined because of Sasuke so they won't be on our side but his. The only ones that will follow us are our trusted men the rest of the gang follows him. They out number us by the thousand," I tell them turning back toward the open doors.

"The dick will be pissed off enough to order them to kill us. To show us: the traitors no mercy…" TenTen says sounding a bit scared.

"TenTen I don't want to obligate you to go against him, you don't have to." I say to her I sense her glare on my back

"I know! I just want your happiness you are my best friend, I want what's best for you," she confesses to me softly.

"You're just saying that because Temari isn't here and you want me to choose you over her. That won't happen," I smirk back at her.

"Whatever! You know what? I won't ever, are you listening? I won't ever say another nice thing to you! Never again!!!" she shouts at me, I nod feeling tired. The room becomes quiet the only sounds heard are those from the television and the rain that keeps falling on the muddy ground.

"Have you talked to him yet?" Neji softly asks me, I keep my eyes out on the big droplets of rain. I don't have to think of an answer but I pause feeling even more depressed.

"No! He's usually with Sasuke, it's like they are glued to the hip! When he sees me approaching him he runs away! I'd find it funny any other time but not right now…I run after him too but he's too fast! I can never catch up to him. He is avoiding me almost as if he knows what I want to talk to him about!" I tell Neji frustrated.

I should be pissed but the truth is that I can't, if anything I feel happy so happy that I realized it, if I could I'd shout it out but it'll cause him harm and I don't want that.

"Maybe he realized that day too," Neji says. I look at him over my shoulder and whisper.

"You think so?"

"The both of you are similar so I wouldn't put it past him," Neji says as he lays down on TenTen's lap.

"Yup! They're both similar for example both are idiots!" TenTen says as she bends forward to kiss Neji's forehead. I turn my eyes back out towards the rain.

Some areas on the grass are puddle filled, I watch as the rain splashes onto those puddles.

I see someone out of the corner of my eye passing by the outside on the platform; I see the blond hair and quickly stand and close the door. Neji and TenTen turn to look at me with a funny look; I put my forefinger on my closed lips signaling them to keep quiet. I mouth his name, and as his shadow passes by I slowly open the door and throw myself at his back, hugging him.

"I caught you!" I shout happily. I look back at TenTen and Neji only to find them gone. "I've wanted to talk to you all week but you've been avoiding me." I tell him sliding off his back and grabbing his arm to make sure he won't try to escape.

"I'm meeting with Sasuke. He's waiting for me," those are Naruto's first words to me. He doesn't look back at me but at the rain.

"It won't be that long! I promise!" I tell him forcing my voice to come out cheerfully. He lets out a long-bored like sigh letting me lead him into the now vacant room.

Hinata as a child was cruel, pessimist and just plain mean. She was angry at the world for what she went through, hated adults, told scary stories to kids; she knew words that we didn't know the meaning of. As a child she cussed at the end of each sentence she spoke, the teacher would always have to put her in a time out. Instead of calling our sensei she called her bitch. It was around that time Sasuke became her friend and by default I became her friend as well. Even as a kid I was nice so she always took advantage of it and bossed me around, I'd let her because I knew she was angry for a reason. And if it bossing me and making me do things for her helped Hinata then it was okay. It was a couple a weeks afterwards that she told us the "real" story of milk. She always told us that the grim reaper was at our backs; that angels are really soul eaters if we see them they'll take away our soul. God was actually the devil, heaven didn't exist, Santa Clause was a child molester and that the only way we'd get presents is if he raped us. I'd go to my parents asking if everything Hinata said was true, they immediately called her father.

At that time I didn't know what was going on in her home…what her father was doing to her…if I did I would've kept my mouth shut…if I did maybe she wouldn't have gotten close to Sasuke first but to me…

She didn't come to school for a week, when she returned she didn't talk at all, I got frightened I thought an angel took away her soul. I went to her and asked if the angel took her soul away she smirked and told me that the Devil has taken it and now she's going to die. I never understood what she meant. That night I went to Sasuke's house to find that Hinata was living with the Uchiha's from then on. She had those dead eyes that really made me believe her soul had been taken away.

I told her then that I was going to meet with the Devil and make a pact with him to get her soul back.

She stared at me stunned and slowly her lavender eyes changed and she smiled shyly at me with a blush on her pale skin, she thanked me.

I never understood her until I found out: by listening in on her and Sasuke's conversations about the life she had before living with the Uchiha's. It was then I understood her and vowed to return the soul the devil took from her.

Now I look up to find a different Hinata, one that isn't cruel or pessimist, now she loves and understands. She became this person without my help, she didn't need me. She's strong on her own…

"What do you want?" I ask her growing angry towards her for no real reason other than my own failure to help her through everything…

Why is he angry should I be the one who's pissed at him, for running away from me?

I let it go, I smile at him and he turns away angry, what did I do? I feel my smile slowly go away. Should I hold off telling him until he's in a better mood?

No, I can't, I must tell him, I've got!

"Naruto I realized during…when you came to save me after getting taken…I've always felt this way towards you ever since you told me you'd make a pact with the devil for my sake…for my soul that was when I first fell in lo-" he cuts me off as he looks up, I take a step back his eyes they're the same as when he was fighting with the group that kidnapped me…

"Don't continue!" he says in a low-threatening voice, the skin on back is full of goose bumps, my skin wants to run away, no I want to run… "I don't feel the same way when are you going to understand?! Fuck Hinata are you mentally challenged?" he continues to keep his voice low but it sounds so angry.

"I'm not! I'm just in love with you!" I shout out closing my eyes not wanting to see his angry expression. This isn't how I wanted it…he's supposed to admit how much he loves me too… "Don't you understand I've always loved you? Even when everyone said you were dead my heart couldn't stop beating for you! It still does and always will!" I confess then open my eyes to look into his now softening stare. "Naruto, I'm in love with you. I always have been, you…it hurts me when you tell me to shut up and not to continue. Because the way I feel, it wants me to shout out my love for you. I want to shout it out to the world! I'm just so happy," I confess in a whisper as I meet his beautiful eyes.

"I'm not, because I don't feel the same way! Don't you get it? I hate you, I fucken hate you for making me leave my life behind, I hate that you're here in front of me! I fucken hate that I have to see you every single miserable day!" he yells out so loud that I feel I've gone deaf.

"You can't mean that!" did I say that out loud? Did I question him just now?

"Yes, I can and I do, I can't stand the sight of you!" he gives me his back; I feel the tears roll down my frozen cheeks.

"You don't know what you're saying! I love you," am I speaking out loud or am I talking in my head?

"I don't care how you feel, I can careless how you feel!" I stand here frozen and without realizing it I'm walking to him and clinging onto his back.

"No, Naruto don't say that! Please take everything you said back! Please, please I love you so much!"

"Hinata let go, don't touch me with your dirty-" he stops right then. Not finishing his sentence he whirls around, a regretful look in his wide eyes.

"Hinata, I didn't mean what you think-" he says walking closer to me but I push him away and run for it, Naruto…he thinks. I'm a dirty whore! That's what he was going to say, he was going to call me a whore, I run outside towards the woods, I slip in a puddle and my front side of my body lands in mud. I get up not bothering to take the mud off of my body.

I don't care, I don't! They guy I love, he thinks I'm a whore! My lungs, chest, my heart, every single organ feels on fire. The tears mix in with the rain, I run remembering the one place I always hid in. I'll go there knowing no one will find me, I need to be alone…

"…hands that still cling onto Sasuke…" that's what I was going to say to her, I was never even thinking about calling her anything more…

To me she's as white as a cloud, I…each time I think about what her father put her through, I want to kill him in the most painful way imaginable!

I'm an idiot! I should've just told her what I truly meant instead of pausing. I should've told her the truth instead of just keeping it inside. This always happens to me when I'm dealing with Hinata, when I'm around her I can't think straight.

I stand here even though my feet are pleading for me to run after her to chase her and hug her close to me, and to never let go again…if only I could but I won't!

I watch as she disappears in the heavy rain, she shouldn't be out there it's dangerous before I can think more about it, I walk to the door she ran out of but then I hear Sasuke's voice.

"Hey, where have you been? Was that you yelling out like that?" he asks me as he looks up from the book in his hands.

"I was just passing by when I saw something on TV that pissed me off," I lie to him.

"Only a stupid loser like you would yell out like that," he tells me. "Well Hinata does too but she's different," Sasuke says looking at the TV. "We should get going Jiraiya and Kakashi are waiting."

"Is it going to keep raining?" I find myself asking as I follow after him.

"Yeah, there've been flood warnings for this region. It's been all over the news. If you watched it every once in a while you'd know of this," he says in a snobby tone.

"Well watching the news depresses me, so leave me alone you asshole." I'm such a liar, I lie through everything.

My teachings in Mt. Myobokuzan by Pa and Ma told me that I should never lie but look at me now. I lie for everything, from telling white lies to denying what my heart desires the most…

Should I run to her? Beg on my knees and beg her to let me love her, to confess to Hinata that my heart beats for only her? That I love her more then I love myself? That I'd do anything for her? Would all of this help me?

Or would it all be cheesy?

"Whoa! What do you have on your mind?" Jiraiya the man who is my godfather asks me, I look up to find him next to Kakashi.

"Where'd Sasuke go?" I ask them looking around.

"He went in saying that you were just standing here like an idiot, he was talking to you and everything but you didn't respond to one word," Kakashi tells me. I look up at them feeling like I'm lost.

No more like I lost a precious someone and will never be able to get her back, no matter how much I beg and cry, nothing will make-up for how I treated her.

"Oi! Are you okay, you're really pale," Jiraiya says to me putting his hands on my shoulders I nod.

"Is it going to continue to rain?" I find myself asking once more.

"The news is reporting that in this region there have been reports where the rivers and lakes are rising higher than expected. They're warning people to stay away from those places. They don't want people to drown," Jiraiya tells me. I stand here thinking. Where we always used to meet in secret it's in the middle of the biggest lake; the one where the river runs through.

"The currents in the lake and river must be tough," I say without much thought. Hinata wouldn't go there; she's not stupid enough to go in the middle of the ugliest rainstorms in history.

"Yeah, not even the greatest swimmer could win against these currents," Kakashi comments.

Hinata never learned how to swim; she said she wasn't a fish so she had no need to learn.

"This is my favorite spot in the whole world! Do you know why? Because this place holds our memories…whenever I come here I'll remember you…always, only you Naruto…"

Hinata! She would go there to lick the wounds I caused!

"I-I've g-got to go!" I shout as I run for it, I don't bother to put on my shoes; instead I grab an umbrella and a raincoat. I run as fast as I can. I run towards the hidden path in the forest. Hinata…I'm such an idiot! How is it that she could love me? I just don't understand what she sees in me…

I've got to hurry; I have to save the one girl who is my world…

"Where do you think he ran off to?" Jiraiya asks Kakashi who is busy reading the newest installment of Jiraiya's series. He shrugs one shoulder as he turns the page. "Lot of help you are," Jiraiya murmurs and walks into Sasuke's office.

Sasuke sits there in the chair that once belonged to his dad, and the desk also, he looks away from the window to look at the two men.

"One is missing," he says as he looks down at the papers in front of him.

"He ran away," Kakashi speaks up closing the book.

"Oh?" Sasuke speaks looking at Kakashi for him to explain further.

"On urgent business!" Jiraiya is quick to defend his pupil.

"Really? It happened sooner than I anticipated…" Sasuke says in a manner that makes him sound as if he knows what is going on. Both older men look at one another wondering what's happening. But then Kakashi watches Sasuke who turns his gaze to the bay window behind him, could Kakashi know something?

I would've kept running, I wasn't out of breath but a sound stopped me, I stop to listen over the rain.

"…wahhh…" I look over to the side and find Hinata there on the bridge to the small red teahouse that rests in the middle of the lake. She's just stand there with her face up towards the dark clouds, her eyes closed. She looks like a baby crying for its mom. I clutch onto my shirt, seeing her like this…and because I was the one who told her shit! It causes me to hate myself more. I'm an A-class asshole, how is it that she can actually like me?

She's trembling so much, her teeth clatter under her closed lips, and she opens her mouth to let out another. "…w-a-h-h-h-h-h-h…" she then falls to her knees her face still facing up to the sky, "wha-h-h-h-h-h!" she cries out up to the falling rain. I go down in front of her and put my hands on her drenched shoulders, she flinches and I take them off.

"Hinata it's dangerous to be here, there has been a flood warning in this area," I say softly, she turns her head away from me.

"I-I d-don't c-care a-any-more-e," she whispers between sobs, she hides her face from me.

"Well I do, come on; if you don't walk I'll carry you myself," I threaten her. She doesn't look at me, I lean forward to grab her in my arms but a fist comes flying, I move to the side and with her other fist she aims for my nose, I block it with my hand. She glares at me. It's at this moment that I notice her eyes look exactly the same as when she was a kid. The very same ones that lead me to believe her soul was taken away by one of those "angels."

I get distracted by staring into her eyes and she takes advantage of it she kicks me in the knee but I grab her ankle before she can do any real harm, she looks at me as she lays there.

"I-I h-hate y-you!" she yells out.

"Didn't you say you loved me?" I ask her with a smirk, I'm being a jerk.

"I do! B-but-t I-I s-still h-hate-e y-you!" she shouts and stands on her own and walks away to go and sit under our secret hiding place. Somewhere that no one knew of. None of the other gang members knew that we hid in here to be with one another alone, be it to talk, just to hang out, kiss, or go on our "dates."

Hinata would dress up and I'd pretend to drive and take her to fancy restaurants, or to the zoo, maybe to a concert, this was the place where we wouldn't let Sasuke or anything else keep us down. Here would be our pretend world where we imagined ourselves in the outside world, living together, just being able to be together out in the vast open and wide world.

She keeps crying, the gasps become longer, can she not breathe because of her sobs? I feel like my heart is being torn as I listen to this, I want to run away from her. I don't deserve Hinata; there must be someone else that's worthy some other guy that will love her more than I do!

It's impossible to believe but it should be possible, it has to be!

Neither Sasuke nor I deserve her, there has to be someone in this world that would be able to love her.

"Wh-what a-are y-you-u th-thinki-ing?" I hear Hinata mumble; I keep my eyes down and don't respond she stays there quietly waiting for me to speak. It's almost as if she grows tired of waiting and walks away from me and goes back into the rain. I watch her back, it looks so small…

"What's wrong?" I stupidly ask. She whirls around then, I notice her face, and she's making an expression that is breaking my resolve. I watch as she moves her mouth but no words come out instead I just hear her gasp and hiccup. She can't form any words…how could she make such an expression and why am I just sitting here? She pulls on her hair growing frustrated at not being able to speak, she grabs her throat. I stand not being able to take it and I grab her to me. God, how I've missed holding her like this, she tries to push me away but I just tighten my hold. I close my eyes as I speak.

"That I wish we could stay here forever just the two of us," I whisper, she doesn't say anything right away.

"But-t…" she stops herself but decides to continue, "I-I thought y-you-u…" she doesn't finish her sentence.

"No, I feel the same way you do but in my rational thoughts I thought if I lied out loud then it would become true, instead I just hurt you. I'm an asshole who doesn't deserve you at all! I'm not worthy of your beautiful love! I'm the one who ran away leaving you behind! How can you still love me after everything?" I shout out crying at my uselessness.

"I…I love that idiot side of you…" she whispers, I walk backwards with her in my arms we sit down on the wood floor. "You have…my heart from the start it has only belonged to you…" I turn my crying eyes up to stare at her, she's crying too. She kneels in front of me and grabs my face in her warm hands.

"But I…shouldn't…" that magical smile of hers is directed at me.

"Tell me…" she whispers for a moment I didn't hear her because of the rain. She comes closer to me and I meet her eyes, she leans her forehead on mine as we look deeply into our souls…

"I love you Hinata and I'll never rest until I get your soul back from the devil," I confess still crying with her. This is my Hinata the one who forgives so easily…I love her so much that I feel I'm going to burst. She touches my lips with her own closing her eyes I do the same.

As our lips meet for the first time in all these four years I see fireworks and hear as those "angles" sing…

This…this is what I came back for…Hinata…

I see both of their heads together. They got back so easily? Hinata is much more of a fool then I thought. I feel my phone vibrate. I don't look down at the screen to see who it is I just answer.

"Well, Shino what is happening?" I hear Sasuke's impatient voice.

"They are arguing on the bridge and wait…Hinata just pushed Naruto in the lake…" I lie to protect the two people I love. "Should I go help him?" I ask Sasuke.

"He'll get out on his own but go and bring Hinata back," he tells me.

"Roger," I then hear him hang-up. I look over at them and don't see their heads.

I was the first to realize how they felt but never mentioned it. I thought that it wasn't my place to say anything since I owed them for so much…But I owe Sasuke too…I guess…

I sigh as I leave my hiding spot to go to them.

"Hinata," I shout out she stands up quickly and walk to me. Her face is so red that she looks like she'd glow if it was darker.

"Sh-Shino! Wh-what a-are-" but I cut her off.

"Naruto you can come out," I say. He comes out with an equally red face.

"Ha-ha! Th-there's an e-easy explanation for this!" he shouts at me.

"Look Sasuke called, he sent me as his spy but I lied to him on your behalf so now-" before I can go on I feel Hinata's warm body surround my own.

"Thank you," she whispers, "I'm happy you understand."

Because she's hugging me I know I did the right thing…

"Thank you Shino," I hear Naruto say to me. These two they…they are my life…they may not know it but its true…

"You guys must be careful though, Sasuke he'll…" but Hinata stops me.

"You worry too much," she says with a beautiful smile directed at me.

"No, Hina he has a point," Naruto speaks up, she goes to stand next to him and he puts his arm around her shoulder. They…it seems so normal to them…this is whom they are meant to be with. The two of them are truly meant for one another, I see that now. "From now on we have to be careful and it seems that Shino is the only one who'll know about us for the time being. We won't meet alone, okay?" he asks her in a tone. She stares at him in wonder, her eyes grow big as she shakes her head, and she bites down on her bottom lip and keeps shaking her head. "Hinata!" he says in a semi-loud voice.

"No! I want to hug Naruto and tell him how much I love him every second of every day of every year for the rest of our lives!" she shouts in her child like voice.

"Aww…I love Hinata way more than Hinata loves me! And I want to broadcast my love to the world!" he says to her with a really red face. What a pair of idiots.

"Aww…Naruto…" Hinata whispers with flaming red cheeks, I turn my head to look at Naruto.

"Yes…Hina…" he whispers back, I look over at Hinata now, they stare deeply into each other's eyes. I cough loudly and they are back in reality. "Oh yeah…" he says with a chuckle.

"Of course…" Hinata doesn't bother to hide her disappointment.

"There are still things that I have to tell you about," he confesses. "Some of it has to do with us. I think we should talk it all over to clear all the misunderstandings between us." He says in a sincere voice; she looks away but nods.

"I understand…"

"Should I wait or should I tell you now?" he asks her in a low voice.

"I'm not sure…" she responds still avoiding looking at him.

"We'll do it tomorrow," I speak up. "Gaara and I will be in the room as you talk to one another. So that Sasuke won't suspect, since the four of us have always played together," I say hiding deeper in my jacket.

"That's true!" Naruto shouts, "Hinata befriended Gaara first then Hinata and me talked to Shino!" he shouts almost as if he barely remembered…

"Yeah…" I say looking away feeling my cheeks grow warm in my jacket.

"Let's go, it's raining harder," Hinata says loudly.

"Yeah," both Naruto and I say together, they at first walk in front of me but stop and look back at me with a smile they wait and I go between them and the three of us walk together.

Yeah, my loyalty is to these two…

I'm a weak kid…my dad is strong but I've turned out weak, do you know why? It's because I'm always picked on by older kids as I walk home…just because I'm different just because I like bugs…and collect them during recess…

Is it wrong to be different?

But I don't mind because I'm fine, I can handle their bullying, it's fine…

Because my love for bugs is greater than my fear of getting beat up.

I always had this love for insects, it didn't matter to me how many number of legs they had or eyes, or even how slimy they all are. There is just something magical about them, all their different abilities or the different things they can do, they are like real superhero's in my eyes there is just something new to be discovered of them, they are essential to the earth. Only right now no one agrees with me…

"What'cha doing?" I hear a girl's voice, I look back and up to see Hinata there, I look forward and back down.

"Collecting insects," I whisper.

"What?" she asks me loudly; I look up again and stare back at her.

"Collecting insects!" I say louder, she smiles down at me I notice a front tooth missing.

"OH! That sounds like fun!" she looks behind her and I do too, that angry red haired boy glares at me. "Gaara lets help Shino!" she tells him excitedly. He glares over at me then walks away with a plastic bucket and matching shovel over to the sand box. Hinata weakly smiles and laughs, she scratches the back of her head and leans back a bit. "He's a shy boy…" how did she know my name? Most of the teachers forget about me and the kids who beat me up just call me 'bug boy.' No one bothers to remember my name… "What kind of insects are we collecting General?" she asks me as she kneels down next to me.

"Any kind," I respond keeping my eyes down to watch for bugs.

"Roger! Do you have-" but she stops herself as I show her the plastic container.

"Hinata!!! Sasuke fell asleep again and I drew on his face!" I hear the overly hyper voice of Naruto.

"Did you take a picture?" she asks as she keeps her eyes down on the grass.

"Eh? How?" he asks her as he stands behind her.

"With a camera," I whisper.

"OH YEAH! Thanks Shino! Wait what are you doing?" he asks bending down towards us.

"Collecting insects," both Hinata and I respond.

"Eh? I want to play too!" he says as he stomps his feet.

"What about the picture? Because if I don't see it I won't believe it!" she says.

"What why do you want a picture?" I look back to see his head tilted to the side and a confused look on his expression.

"Of Sasuke," I say up to him.

"Eh? Why would I want a picture of that dork?" he asks me, I look over at Hinata, she shrugs her shoulders and shakes her head. Is she telling me to give up?

"Look! I found a lady bug!" Hinata shouts. "Aww, but it looks so happy here in the grass!"

"Watch out or you'll-" but I stop as her palm goes down on the lady bug, no small insect has a chance of making it out alive…

"D-did-d I-I-I j-j-just-t…" both Naruto and I nod slowly we helplessly watch as tears form in her eyes, her lips tremble. "I'm a…KILLER!!" Hinata screams out as she runs away sobbing.

"Shouldn't you…" he shakes his head as he goes down on his knees next to me.

"Nah, the Killer would've wanted me here, by your side," I look back and find Hinata there with an empty plastic bucket, the one Gaara had. Gaara stands next to her trying to take it away from her but she throws it at Naruto's head. His face lands in the wet dirt. I see Gaara start to cry, Hinata is still crying and Naruto begins to cry…

Honestly all I wanted was to get some insects…

That week and the following one the same events occurred as the first time, until I finally had it. I ordered Hinata to hold the container and to come over to Naruto or me whenever we had an insect to put in the container. It seems they don't want to leave me alone.

"Shino I've been wondering why do you like insects?" Hinata asks me.

"Eh?! That's easy a boy is supposed to like insects and mud! Duh, Killer!" I watch as Hinata grabs the bucket next to her and throws it at Naruto. When will he learn?

"It's because…insects even though people find them ugly and stupid, all these little guys help the Earth. They help us make this world livable…they are vital for us to survive. It doesn't matter to me how many number of legs they have or eyes, or even how slimy they all are, there is just something magical about them, all their different abilities or the different things they can do, they are like real superhero's in my eyes." I confess to them. I expect them to laugh at me and to leave me but instead they stay quiet I keep my eyes on the grass searching…

"Hinata we have to help Shino collect the most insects ever!" Naruto shouts as he jumps up and takes the dirt off of his face.

"Hai Corporal!" Hinata says, "Oh, hi Gaara," I look back at him. "Do you want your bucket back?" she asks he shakes his head.

"Help…" he says as he leaves his bucket and small shovel next to Hinata. He comes next to me and goes on his knees, I smile to myself.

"For sure today we'll find the most!" Naruto says. I nod silently. Just two weeks ago I was alone; searching for insects today I'm doing it with my friends…

As I walk home I look down at my plastic container it's full of the insects we gathered. When I get home I'll free them into my backyard with the rest of the insects we've gathered!

"Oh, what's this?" I hear someone say. I look back to find a group of second graders behind me. I give them my back and walk away ignoring them.

Not today, please not today!

"Hey, listen to your sempai!" I hear another one shout. I was going to run but I crash into one of them. As I fall down to the ground my container top flies off. I watch as the insects fall out, I quickly try to put them back in but one of them steps on my hand while another steps on the insects themselves. The tears cloud my vision.

"What a freak!" one of them yells. Another one kicks me in my stomach. I look down at the insects Naruto and Gaara helped me gather…all the work we did…is being killed!

"Stop it please!" I cry out. "Naruto, Gaara and even Hinata they all helped me…" I say to them, two of them grab my ankles and the rest of the insects fall out of my container as they hold me up. "NO!! PLEASE!!" I cry out and the remaining two step on the insects. They drop me and kick me.

My friends they will hate me…

"Hey! Leave Shino alone!" I look back to find Naruto there and Gaara stands next to him.

"Shut up! This freak is annoying us!" Naruto runs at them as does Gaara. They start to throw punches and kicks. I stay here watching as they beat up all four kids, they run away as they realize how strong both boys really are.

"I'm sorry…" I say to them as the tears fall quicker.

"Stupid Shino!" I look up to see a crying Naruto. "We don't care! We still have tomorrow and the next day and the day after that to collect them! So don't worry!" Naruto shouts in a broken voice as he continues to cry.

I look over at the corner of the street to see a sobbing Hinata stand behind the corner of a wall. She runs over to me and hugs me, she pulls away and I look at her face, her boogers fall out of her nose, she doesn't look cute at all… not like this…

"I'm sorry!" she shouts as she hugs me closer."I'm weak! I couldn't stop them! I'm sorry!" she cries to me. I hug her back for the first time; I look up at the two boys who cry with us.

I really do have friends that are human…

"It's fine…" I whisper, "I'll become strong to protect us…"

"Shino look!" I turn my head over at Hinata; I see a plastic container in her hands. "I bet there are tons of insects out right now!" she says enthusiastically. I look over at the rest of the gang who stare at us. I turn around on the sofa to give her my back.

"Only kids do that," I say next thing I know the container hits me in the back of my head.

"Stupid Shino!" she shouts as she runs out of the room.

"Don't pretend to be an adult, let's go play in the mud!" I hear Naruto say with a laugh, "Or else the killer will kill all the insects," I look back and sure enough Hinata is back and somehow got her hands on a bucket and this time it's a metal one and she throws it at his head he falls face first on the floor.

"Nah, I've outgrown that," I say to a 'dead' Naruto, he looks up as some blood trickles down his temples.

"Ah, come on!" I hear him whine.

"I want to play too…" I look back to find Gaara with the container in his hands. He stares down at me, I look up at him. I sigh as I notice Naruto stand next to Gaara and both of them stare at me with a hopeful expression on their faces.

"Come on then, Killer-I mean Hinata lets go…" she runs back in with a smile on her face.

"I never got to collect them with you, can I go too?" Chouji asks as he follows after us.

"Yeah…" I say and he smiles.

Now my world is bigger…I have lots of friends…and two people I'll protect above all else.

Since those two people are my world…

There, I gave you Shino's story!! Did you like it? Did you like how Naruto and Hinata are finally 'together' or did I disappoint you? I must admit I really like Shino's story because he's the one whose loyal to both not to just one… I hope you enjoyed it and I'm sorry for taking so long…I hope it was worth the wait!!!

Please look forward to my other updates for my other stories that are on-going and be sure to read my new Naruto and Hinata story!! And another story I'm doing as Sasuke and Hinata as the pairing, more info to come!!!!!