Lolliot: The reason I'm posting early is because I am leaving on a camping trip tomorrow and will not be able to update...Also, on my homepage, there is a poll concerning a one-shot I was planning to write for Valentine's Day, please vote, I would be most honored -bows-
The following replies are for Chapter 5
Gaignun Kukai Jr.: ...Such few words, but very kind, Arigatou.
HiN4-cH4n: ...If such a frightening thing would happen because of my fanfiction I would be most agrieved. It's odd, one person says to not drag it out, and another says things are happening too soon...Perhaps I can not please everyone -lowers head-...Thank you for your kind words
Rei-06: Ah, I hope I have accomplished just that. Thank you for the advice.
Bitter-Blood-Sacrifice: -smiles- Arigatou
Mina Hyuuga: ...My, you can run quite fast...Arigatou
jjayno1: ...Frightful...But if you are a fan of Hinata-chan, I like you -smiles-
DJ: ...If it is in all caps it must have been good...
daydream14: My, spelling the word 'rocks' has gotten more complicated these days...Arigatou.
Milk Marshmallow: Yes, quite the miracle -smiles-. Arigatou -bows-
DarkSmile: ...Yes, 'tis very odd -nods-
MoonIdiot: -smiles- Arigatou
animeprincess619: ...Heh, I appear to also have the talent to make people laugh in my writing. That makes me glad -smiles-, Arigatou.
kenshinlover2002: -nods- I like it when Hinata-chan can be strong as well.
Black Lilly-chan: My, you are quite kind -smiles- Arigatou
Mimi: ...I find it better to explore what would have happened than why it didn't -smiles- Arigatou.
ginsensu: ...-reads again- 'Hinata will kick '? I do not understand, I'm afraid. Is there a part of the body that is called an ? -shrugs- I shall assume it is a compliment, Arigatou -bows-
Chapter 14
The Way She Looks at You
Hinata
This wasn't good, Sasuke had already been sent flying and was now using his Sharingan.
"I know your technique, forget it! It will not work, not on me..." Lee stated confidently.
"You know what? Here is what I believe, there are two different kinds of ninja. Those like you who are born with talent and don't have to work at it," before Lee finished, Sasuke charged at him.
"And those like me, who have to train everyday of our lives!" Lee added, "Fact is your Sharingan is the worst match for my taijutsu! Here is what I mean!" he said as he fought.
I winced as Sasuke was kicked up into the air. Lee appeared behind him.
"And I think hard work can beat natural talent," he whispered. I blinked. A statement in which I hoped for it to be true.
Suddenly, Lee's bandages around his arms were unwrapping themselves, "You're finished."
THUNK!
Something had stopped the bandages and pinned them to the wall.
"Huh?" I cocked my head a little, realizing the object was a pinwheel.
"Alright that's enough Lee!"
"Ah!" I jumped a little, turning to see the speaker.
…A…turtle?
Fortunately, Sasuke's falling body was enough to distract me.
"Ah! S-Sasuke-kun!" I cried as I ran under him and caught him, both of us skidding across the floor.
"Dammit," he muttered. An odd way of thanking someone I might add. We both turned and saw Lee apologizing to the turtle.
…I have a feeling I'm missing something…
"Hey! You guys!" a conscious Naruto ran over to us, "That weird thing over there is a turtle, right?"
"What do you think, baka?" Sasuke grunted. Naruto glared at him intensely.
"Anyway, maybe that means that turtle's can be sensei too!" Naruto reasoned.
"Ano, do you think that's possible?" I asked with wide eyes. Sasuke smacked his hand against his forehead in a 'I'm-surrounded-by-idiots' look.
"Are you prepared to take the punishment for your actions?" the Turtle-sensei growled.
"Yes sir..." Lee sighed.
"Alright then, please come out, Gai-sensei!" the Turtle-sensei demanded.
POOF!
Suddenly, a large green man shouted, "HEY! What's shaking everybody! Life treating ya' good?!"
…
Pardon me, but I don't think I can explain any of our expressions at that moment.
After we all regained our composure, Naruto spoke, "So that's where Lee gets it from. Same soup bowl haircut and even the same eyebrows."
"Hey! Don't insult Gai-sensei! He is one of the greatest men in the world!" Lee shouted angrily.
"Well excuse me for not noticing his greatness I was too busy watching him crawl out from underneath a turtle!!"
"He did not crawl out!!" Lee retorted. I couldn't help but chuckling a little.
"Give it a rest Lee," the one called Gai-sensei said, "Now for your punishment!!" he cried, giving Lee a hard punch.
"UWAH!" I shrieked, "A-A-Ano, Lee-san!"
Gai-sensei walked over and kneeled next to Lee, tears of sorrow in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Lee but, it's for your own good!" Gai-sensei sobbed.
"Gai-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei! I'm so sorry!"
They both embraced suddenly as a lovely sun set in the west.
…Wait a minute…
"Actually, it's kind of sweet how they're all hugging and stuff," Naruto grinned. Sasuke gave him a weird look.
"Now take off! I want you to take a hundred laps around the practice field!" Gai-sensei proclaimed.
"Yes sir! No problem!" Lee nodded.
"Run into the setting sun! Run!" Gai-sensei cried.
"Hey wait a minute! We're not finished here! You can't just take off like that!" Naruto shouted, "And what about the chunin exams? There's no time for fooling around!"
"Uh, oh, right, I forgot about that!" Gai-sensei pondered for a moment, "Lee you not only disobeyed my orders but you disrupted the chunin exams. I think that deserves a slightly more severe punishment, don't you?"
"Yes sir!"
"Let's say five hundred laps sound!"
"They're insane," Sasuke sighed.
"For once we agree," Naruto grumbled.
"Tell me, how is Kakashi-sensei?" Gai-sensei asked curiously.
"A-Ano, do you know Kakashi-sensei?" I asked, looking into his unnaturally shiny face.
"Do I know Kakashi? Heh heh. Well, people say he and I are arch rivals for all eternity," Gai-sensei claimed. Suddenly, Gai-sensei was behind you all.
…I have a feeling that sentence could have been stated better…
"My record fifty wins and forty-nine losses. Which makes me better than him, by the way," Gai-sensei added, "The fact is I'm stronger than Kakashi, and faster," he grinned.
"You see! Gai-sensei is the best there is!" Lee cheered. Gai-sensei flashed another smile. I noticed Sasuke was clenching his fist.
"I am sorry for the trouble Lee may have caused you. Look into my eyes and accept my apology, also notice my handsome manly features," Gai-sensei boasted. Sasuke said nothing, so I had to be the one to look up. Gai-sensei's grinning was as shiny as his face.
"Hello there," he said, giving the thumbs-up sign, "Lee you should accompany this girl to the classroom," Gai-sensei suggested, tossing a kunai at the pinwheel, knocking it over.
…
"Wah!" I gasped, blushing instantly.
"No thanks!" Naruto cut in, "We can accompany her ourselves!"
Lee seemed oddly disappointed and continued to redo his bandages. Gai-sensei--literally--'poofed' away.
"Hey, Sasuke, actually, I have not been totally honest with you. I wanted to test my skills and that is true enough. But you are not really the one I wanted to test them against. I lied to you when we were fighting before, I told you I was the top genin but there is another top ninja who is on my team," Lee confessed.
My eyes widened in realization of who it was.
"I came here to defeat him, you were just practice. Now you are a target, I will crush you!" Lee added, "Consider yourself warned," Lee walked away without another word.
"Ha! Guess the Uchihas aren't as great as everyone thinks!" Naruto grinned.
"Naruto-kun!" I looked to him, surprised he would antagonize Sasuke at a time like this, "You shouldn't say things like that."
Naruto seemed a little surprised.
"S-Sorry, Hinata-chan," he muttered. I blinked, a little surprised at myself. I turned to Sasuke then.
"S-Sasuke-kun, d-don't take it to heart. Naruto-kun didn't m-mean it," I whispered to him. I knew how it felt to be told things like that. To have words that made you feel like you were a disappointment thrown at you carelessly.
I knew so well.
"Hn! It's not like I was planning to," Sasuke muttered, "This thing's starting to get interesting. The chunin exams, can't wait to see what's next," Sasuke said aloud, and with a smirk.
"…Right," I smiled with him.
Naruto
It was her eyes.
That was the thing that surprised me the most.
After I made fun of Sasuke, she had looked at me in a way that was different from before.
I remember, she used to look at me like I was special. Like I was the most important thing to her.
Now, that look belonged to another.
"Er, yeah! Chunin exams here we come!" I cheered awkwardly.
"Let's get it started! Naruto! Hinata!" Sasuke shouted, running off. Hinata and I followed him.
"YEAH!" I shouted in a cheerful way. Unlike what I felt on the inside.
Feelings I couldn't comprehend were suddenly lurching at me, coming from a place that was unfamiliar to me. I couldn't even name some of them. The way she had looked at me had taken the stopper off of them all at once.
What can I call this? What is wrong with me? There was no evidence Hinata had ever had felt anything more for me than friendship…
"Naruto-kun do you want to pair up to fight Kakashi-sensei!"
…Well, she did always blush at me…and faint a lot too.
"You're wrong about Naruto-kun," I said, firmly. "You really don't know anything about him, and I'd appreciate it if you would at least give him a chance before judging him."
…B-But! That doesn't prove anything! It-!
"Who are you to say that? How would you know anything? Eh? I bet you don't realize how she feels about you, baka!"
…
I really am…baka.