Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Naruto series. They belong to their rightful owner, Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 25: More things turn up. Where is this leading me...?

I can't...

I can't afford to lose him...

I promised Mama I wouldn't give up...

I need to find him...

I feel like I'm running out of time, somehow...

...I don't know why...

Five years ago, Shino left the school without a trace, and no one has seen or heard from him ever since. Hinata's been in search for him non-stop since then. Now, 17 years old, and only three weeks left until her birthday...Her search continues, only to feel an ache in her heart telling her she's running out of time.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. But I haven't seen anyone like him around before..." Said an elderly woman with a confused look. Hinata bowed her head, and thanked her for taking off some of her time to listen.
Kiba and Naruto stood by the roof top, waiting for her. Both grew a lot as well, having their temper in check and more wiser compared to their younger days. Kiba had facial hair growing around his mouth, while Naruto had a little fuzz on his chin and a little below his nose. When they saw Hinata approach them, they knew right away the answer she got.

"Nothing, huh...?" Asked Naruto. Hinata shook her head. "...I don't know where else to look...I searched every town I could think of...I even traveled to other countries to find him but...but..." Kiba came and gave Hinata a hug. Hinata hugged back, shedding some tears out of the frustration that Kiba already saw she was having. Naruto joined in, rubbing her back in hopes to comfort her as well.

"I don't know what else I could do...I know I can't give up but..-!" Hinata started coughing badly. Kiba held her, both him and Naruto having a worried face.

"Hinata..." Started Naruto. "You've been coughing like that for almost a year now..." Hinata kept going into a coughing fit for another minute before she smiled softly at Naruto. "I'll be fine...Maybe..I'm just a little sick is all..."

"Hinata...You're coughing up blood..." Kiba noted as he saw her hands have little drops of blood on them. Hinata looked down at her hands, and felt a bit confused. "Huh...?"

"Let's go to the Hospital...You can't ignore this any longer..." Naruto suggested. "Wait!" interrupted Hinata. "Not yet! Please, not yet!"

"You're coughing up BLOOD...That is a very SERIOUS health issue...Please, at least to check what is going on..." Kiba slightly argued. Hinata couldn't deny it. She bowed her head low and spoke sadly.

"Okay..." With that, they were all walking back home.

Neji was walking pass the meeting room, until he heard voices speaking inside. He wasn't one to eavesdrop, but hearing something about 'Hiashi will not know of this' sparked his curiosity. Looking both ways, making sure no one was around, he leaned a bit closer to get a better listen.

"I knew we shouldn't have done this...I just knew it!" shouted what Neji guessed was a Female Elder. "And now...Hinata-sama...She's going to..."

"It was an honest misunderstanding!" Argued a man, who Neji knew was Elder Kyou. 'I refuse to acknowledge him as a Grand Elder...' thought Neji bitterly.

" A Misunderstanding that will lead to a tragic lost to the Hyuuga clan!" Yelled the Female Elder.

"Tragic lost...?" Neji said to himself quietly. 'What are they...implying...?'

"Maybe it's best this way..." Said Kyou. 'What...WHAT?' Thought Neji in shocking disgust.

"How...how DARE you...Do you not see how badly Hiashi is suffering...knowing he can't spend an ounce of time with his eldest daughter, or tell her how much he loves her,how proud of her he is of her when she has straight A's from school, and how he wants to deeply apologize for not being a father in her life!" The Female Elder said as she begin coughing.

"He agreed to it, and was free to decline my offer. So, it is not my concern" Said Kyou Scoffing.

"But you asked him in a very vulnerable state! You KNEW he was desperate for help, and you use that to pull him into that plan of yours!"

"Whatever do you mean, Akemi?" He said confused. Neji could tell he was faking it though.

"Don't play dumb with me, you know very well what I'm referring to..." She said.

"...Everyone was aware I was against keeping that girl from the beginning...Had they gotten ride of her I wouldn't have to have the need to use that spell and later finding out I misread it" he said matter-of-fact tone.

"You clearly have no heart for what you have done...You sicken me..." She said almost wanting to cry. "I should have told Grand Elder Haruto when I had the chance...before he..."

"Well he's dead. So, you'll have to put up with that Guilt for the rest of your days." He said smirking. "Now, be a good lady and put this on the shelf"

"Put it away your damn self...I'm leaving.." She said as Neji heard her leave the other side of the room. Neji was so shocked to form words properly. 'They...They were going to...!'

"Suit yourself" Elder Kyou continued. " At least she won't know where the THAT book is. Makes my job more easier."

Crackling sounds were heard inside and objects being shoved away. Neji could only guess he's opening something from...the floor?

"There we go, right under my nose. Just how I like it." he said snickering. Neji heard him close something from under the floor, and walk away.

He then heard a foot steps coming his way and hurriedly went to his room. Neji held his hand over his chest, but his eyes were wide with shock and fear.

"I...I can't believe this...I can't...!...Hinata...! She's...!"

She's going to die...on her 18th birthday...

"Is everything okay,Sensei?" Naruto asked the Doctor. He was just finishing up making herb pills for Hinata to take. "It's very strange, but we shouldn't worry too much. We stopped the bleeding just in time, but make sure she takes these. We wouldn't want another episode like that now, would we?"

"Of course not." Both Kiba and Naruto said at the same time. The Doctor chuckled at this, and gave them the prescriptions. "There we go. Now, Young lady, make sure you have plenty of rest and don't do anything too rash."

She bowed down smiling. "Yes, Sensei. Thank you so much." The Doctor smiled and waved them all off. The Trio left and continued walking home, after stopping halfway to see a doctor(urgently).

Kiba looked down, already feeling uneasy as he kept pushing forward. ' I don't like this...'

Meanwhile...

I can't stand her...

She made me like this...

I'm turning into a monster...

A Nanabi..

Each passing day...

It's all her fault...

She started all this...

...and I hate her for it...

Chapter 25 up! I meant to get this out yesterday, but completely forgot! DX I'm so very sorry!
So, as you all can see. Things are starting to come up, and more things are becoming clear as it goes on!
Poor Hinata...But don't worry. You'll see what happens later on. ^^

Thank you all for being so patient and taking your time off to read this story! Please, continue to let me know what you all think! I love reading them!

Take care and I'll see you all in the next chapter! ^-^