A/N: Hey guys. I realized I have confused so many of you and I apologize. But I would like you all to consider a few things.
1.I was planning to end this story after chapter 25 but continued it due to excessive begging so most of these ideas are from the top of my head
2.I have NO BETA READER, and I don't reread anything so I can get the chapters out to you as fast as possible.
3.I am a freshman in high school and in two honors or AP classes; basically that equals a lot of extra homework.
However I would like to thank you all for your continual support and if you were wondering I got rid of Healing sands 2 and just added the chapters here.
Chapter: 29
Hinata stretched as Shikamaru dusted off his clothes. They stood across from each other in the training grounds.
"That was a great training session Shikamaru-san," Hinata said earning a shrug from the young Nara. "Would you like to spar again?"
"No thank you, Hinata-san." Shikamaru said smirking. "You may have the stamina of an animal but I still have that of a normal human."
The Hyuuga blushed and was about to say something when a loud voice broke the silence between the other two things.
"That was awesome Shino!" Naruto cried, as him and the bug master approached the other two ninjas.
The blonde continued to blabber as Shino gave his acknowledgement to the other two teens. Naruto slowly fell silent and all four stood in awkward silence.
"Hey guys!" a peppy voice said relieving all of them.
"Oh hey Sakura-chan!" Naruto cried waving her over, while the others nodded.
"Sorry Tsunade-sama had me working on some paperwork she was too lazy to do herself," Sakura said, a little annoyed.
"That's ok," Hinata said. "We already worked out a training schedule."
"Awesome!" Sakura "So what is it?" Sakura asked.
Hinata opened her mouth to respond when she was cut off by a high pitched scream.
"Leave me alone Ayame-chan!" Natsu cried as she ran by, paying no attention to the stunned ninjas.
"Please just switch with me Natsu-chan!" Ayame cried chasing after the other girl.
"What was…" Naruto began but was immediately cut off as a kunai came flying towards them.
He hit the deck just in time and the kunai landed with a loud thud in a tree where Natsu's shirt got caught. Anko followed her kunai and rushed over to the struggling young woman.
"Naaaaattttttsuuuuuuuuuu-cccchhhhhaaaaannnn," Anko said smoothly. "If you trade with me I'll give you a prize."
"Prize?" both Natsu and Ayame said in unison pausing in their actions.
"That's right a prize," Anko said nodding.
"What is it?" Natsu asked, her eyes shinning like a child's on Christmas.
"The prize is…" Anko said, reaching into her coat. "CANDY!"
"EWWWW!" Natsu cried making Anko sweat drop. "I hate candy!"
Suddenly there was a blur and the screaming Natsu was silent and gone. The two older ninja's glanced around but stopped when they caught sight of Genma holding Natsu bridal style.
"Quickly Natsu!" Genma started catching the younger girls attention. "The village is going to blow up if you don't Jounin teams with me, run in a circle and go get me some senbon!"
"Senpai!" Natsu said her eyes glowing with emotion. "I'm not that stupid." She finished getting onto her own two feet.
Meanwhile the five chunin continued to watch in stunned silence when a small rustle sounded from the bush nearest to Hinata. Shino glanced at her along with Shikamaru who nodded to her. Hinata slowly activated her Byakugan but was surprised with what she saw.
"Ni-san!" she gasped as Neji appeared from the bush one hand behind his back.
"Hello Hinata-sama," Neji said nodding, but not looking at her.
"Why are you here, does otou-san need me?" Hinata asked.
"No, no I am not here to talk with you but with her," he said pointing a long finger at Natsu who stood in the middle of the group of arguing Jounin.
Without further interruptions Neji walked away from his younger cousin over to the group and pulled Natsu out.
"Arigotou, Neji-san!" Natsu said brushing off imaginary dust from her clothes. "I don't know what I would have done if you didn't come to my rescue. How can I ever thank you?"
"Well…" Neji began but was cut off by Natsu's playful chuckle.
"I know you wouldn't take anything your to much of a gentleman!" she said smiling at the crestfallen Neji.
The Hyuuga cleared his throat and got on one knee in front of Natsu, not only catching the girls attention but everyone else's as well.
"Natsu…chan, I um, I…" Neji stumbled casting sidelong glances at his frail cousin who seemed to stunned to look straight. "I uh…I LOVE YOU!" he forced the last part out while thrusting a bouquet of flowers at her face.
Hinata blinked twice before fainting, as if someone just proposed to her. Shikamaru and Shino quickly snapped into action and both grabbed an arm to hold her up. Naruto and Sakura stood stunned as they continued to watch.
"Neji-san…you love me?" Natsu said, a faint blush painting her cheeks.
The young man nodded eyes still closed tight and bouquet held high. Silence fell over the group and it seemed as if no one breathed. Slowly Neji opened his eyes and looked up to see Natsu beaming at him.
"N…Natsu-chan?" he practically squeaked seconds before she glomped him.
"I accept!" she cried, her arms wrapped around the young man's neck. "Wait a second…" she said an arm still wrapped tightly around Neji's while she put a finger to her chin. "That's means I'm getting married! Come on you have to meet my parents!" Natsu said dragging a choking Neji behind.
"Did that…"Ayame began stunned.
"Yeah." Genma replied, as equally surprised.
"And so now…" Anko trailed off.
"Yup," the other two said in unison.
They all looked at each other before dashing off screaming obscenities at Neji.
"What just happened?" Naruto asked Sakura.
"I have no clue." Sakura said. "Hey Hinata," she said turning around to see the two boys trying to revive the poor unconscious girl.
"HINATA!" Naruto cried running over to the slowly reviving girl.
Hinata's pearl eyes opened and the first thing that came in her sight was a bright crop of golden hair. She was pushed onto her feet and she wobbled slightly.
"That was such a strange dream," Hinata murmured.
"Uh it wasn't a dream, Hinata-san," Sakura said.
The Hyuuga swayed again but was caught by Shino and brought back to reality by Shikamaru. After she was fully conscious again they offered to end training for today.
"I think we all should go home," Shino said.
"Yeah, I'm beat, Tsunade-sama tired me out." Sakura said yawning.
"Okay," Shikamaru said looking at the sky. "I have to be somewhere in a few minutes anyway.
"Hey Hinata," Naruto said bouncing up and down and approaching the shy Hyuuga girl.
"I can walk you home, if you want."
Hinata looked at the blonde and her eyes softened but she gave her long time crush a sad smile.
"I'm sorry, but I was going to go with Shikamaru." Hinata said, pointing at the awaiting Nara.
"Oh," Naruto said sadly.
"But," Hinata said quickly trying to prevent the sad look on the blondes face. "I'll meet you here tomorrow and we can start training before everyone else comes."
Naruto smiled and nodded before she slowly backed up before dashing towards Shikamaru.
"Do you think we're to late?" Hinata said frantically.
"I don't know we might," Shikamaru said picking up the pace.
The sun sunk lower and lower over the horizon and both Shikamaru and Hinata continued to speed up until they were full out sprinting. They both reached the gate to Konoha breathless and anxious.
"There you guys are! I thought you would guys would miss me." An obnoxious voice called from far ahead.
"Gomen," Shikamaru gasped out.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world Temari-chan!" Hinata panted.
"Of course, why should I doubt you two," the blonde said approaching them.
"So you're leaving tonight?" Shikamaru asked.
"Yeah, are you going to miss me?" Temari teased.
"Not a chance," Shikamaru replied without missing a beat.
The two ninja's stared at each other waiting for the other to lose, but both where broken away by the soft voice coming from there other companion.
"Temari-chan," Hinata said reaching into her coat pocket and pulling out a sealed letter.
"Could you please give this letter to Gaara, it's about our…..uh cats!" Hinata squeaked her face turning the classic tomato red.
"Temari-san you've got to go!" a Jounin called from the gate entrance.
"Hai, I'm coming," Temari said turning around and heading to the gate.
"Wait Temari-chan!" Hinata said running after her. "The letter!"
"Oh right Hinata-chan!" Temari said grasping the letter between two of her fingers.
The two ninja's watched as Temari ran out of the gates and they shut with a definite thud.
"You don't have to be strong holding in your emotions is not good for your health." Shikamaru said, glancing towards Hinata as they continued walking on their way back to their respective homes. "I see it in your eyes you want to yell, you want to scream and cry. If you do why don't you just do it. It's troublesome to hold in all of your emotions."
"But that's not the Shinobi way," Hinata said wiping away a few unshed tears.
"Screw the Shinobi way!" Shikamaru said, stopping in front if Hinata. "Emotions are what make us human characterizes us makes us special. I say that if you can't then you're not strong enough to be a Shinobi."
"You're wrong Shikamaru-san," Hinata said.
"No I'm not you're wrong!" Shikamaru said. "Your not an emotionless drone. You were free in Suna and now that you're trapped here you want to become a perfect porcelain doll, but the fact is you can't. The Hyuuga's eyes may be a valuable weapon with the Byakugan but it sucks when hiding your emotions."
Hinata stopped and began to cry, she squatted on the ground and continued to sob and suddenly she was twelve years old all over again. Shikamaru watched as she broke down. Silent and motionless only watching his brown eyes emotionless. The tears slowly came to a stop and Hinata got to her feet before walking away slowly.
"Feel better?" Shikamaru asked.
"Yes, arigotou." Hinata said sighing.
"Phew!" a loud high-pitched scream came from above them.
Shikamaru and Hinata quickly got into fighting poses as the teenage girl from earlier jumped towards them.
"Hey I'm Natsu," she said. "And I'm glad I'm not stuck with some emotionless jerks, because we're stuck with each other for the Jounin exams!"
----Page Break---
Temari continued to run down the path anxious to get home and make sure her brothers were still alive. What she didn't notice however was the letter Hinata gave her fell from her pack and on to the ground. A cloaked figure emerged from the foliage and picked up the letter from the path before pocketing it and disappearing once again.
A/N: Sorry it took so long! But please read and review!
