Typically I use the space just prior to the chapter to answer questions reviewers may have brought up, clarify assorted issues or make certain notes. These are always offset from the rest of the chapter by a hyphen. If you do not wish to be bothered by such things, the content begins directly below the aforementioned hyphen.

It is my intention to update this story consistently; a polished chapter each week. In theory this would occur every Thursday, but a new segment should definitely be attached here by every Saturday.

I am somewhat gratified knowing that you find my first person writing effective. However, the story does not remain that way. While it can prove effective for dealing with emotions, I find it woefully inadequate for action of the caliber a Naruto work relies upon.

For those of you who were anticipating the violence, you will be forced to wait for another week until the third chapter comes to be here. You will, however, get a healthy dose once it does arrive.

Enough parenthetical notes. Let us move to the chapter.

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Chapter 2: Honesty

Over the flickering orange flames, Kayaki glanced at Hinata carefully. She was certainly what Shino had claimed, though she didn't seem to be very confident in herself. At the moment she was looking over her shoulder where he had gone, obviously lost in thought...

His back quickly fades away into the forest, becoming invisible to my eyes. By chance I notice that he has changed his uniform somewhat. Though it is nearly a larger version of the same style, Shino has for some reason decided to switch to black. Actually, I think that I like this somewhat better, it seems to fit him more. It's been a long time since I've seen him, and I'm glad that he kept the high collar. That always made him seem more mysterious, back when we were on the same team.

Shino was almost more silent than I was back then, though for entirely different reasons. He wasn't shy at all, not like I was, he just chose his words very carefully. I always liked that about him. Kiba would talk and talk, and that would make me feel uncomfortable. But Shino kept silent unless there was something to say.

He was a wonderful team mate, and an efficient ninja. I admired his wisdom, though I can't imagine myself actually paying anyone a compliment. Even if I did, he would probably just nod. Still, it was remarkable that he didn't make me feel uncomfortable.

That thought strikes somewhat of a vein in my mind, as I realize that he was basically the only one who didn't make me feel uncomfortable. Back then I was even worse than I know I am now. I wish I could have changed myself... but I fear I relapse into old habits far too easily. I'm not sure exactly why Shino didn't bother me; maybe it was the fact that he was mostly silent, but I'm not sure that's all it was. Funny... I hadn't noticed until now. So many years later...

Very different than most other shinobi I've met. Even Naruto-kun made me feel uncomfortable. Of course, that's because I love him, and he just doesn't understand. He and Shino are very different people... I'd never thought to compare them until now.

Both of them are wonderful ninjas, though with very different skills. They're both confident in themselves and refuse to give up, no matter how difficult the situation may appear... I wish that I had that sort of confidence. But while Shino is mostly silent, Naruto is loud and noisy. Where Naruto is a bit insensitive, though I'm shocked I can admit that to myself, Shino understands almost anyone. He's capable of doing subtle kind acts, such as making the Genins be silent. I've never noticed those little things before...

Of course, there is the Sakura factor, an issue I never think about when possible. But now that it has come to mind, I know that it will torment me for some time. Naruto dotes on her pathetically, perhaps as pathetically as I dote on him. She's so different from me: bold, beautiful. No matter what she does Naruto will continue to chase after her. If I hadn't held on to my own dream for so many years, I'd accuse him of never growing up. I guess that people like us never learn to get over such things.

It's funny... I don't think I've ever made these observations before. Shino is nicer to me than Naruto ever was. I don't think I've acknowledged that or thanked him even once. What makes up love... I really have no idea. But I don't think that I've ever really known what it was. For many years I've been younger than my age.

And yet all of this thinking is so very futile. I like him, but there is no way of knowing if he feels the same. Of course, he is kind to me as a team mate... he was kind in the same way to Kiba. But he's constantly stoic, revealing nothing of what his thoughts may be inside. If he does have emotions within, it is impossible to tell.

[i]Why do you torment yourself, Hinata?[/i] I ask myself. First a laughing, unpredictable clout, then a man who may as well be made of stone. Life is hard, or perhaps this is merely my fault. If I had done something differently, maybe things wouldn't be this way.

I am looking down in the fire, but that does not prevent me from seeing Ruana as she begins to move. She was very subdued for some time after Shino's rebuke, but now that he is absent some of her spunk is apparently returning. I wish it would not... this silence, however painful, is forcing me to look at myself carefully and honestly. Maybe if I look often enough, I can find something that will change myself...

"Those bugs are just disgusting," Ruana speaks up.

"You [i]always[/i] say that!" Watashi complains, quite loudly. "We know already!"

"No really! Shino-sensei is a powerful warrior, but do you know how creepy that would be? Having bugs crawl beneath your skin, come out of your body, crawl on you? I can't imagine it without getting the chills! That simply isn't natural. You can't be human and-"

"Shino is human." I actually spoke. This surprises even myself. In any case, my input stops Ruana's apparent repetition of her opinion. Strange... I did not realize that I felt the need to defend Shino. Across the campfire, I think I see Kayaki speculating me, perhaps noting the same thing that I have. What he determines from it I cannot imagine...

The conversation ends uncomfortably, but my mind has moved to other topics. At first when I met Shino and discovered what he could do, I'll admit I was a bit disturbed. But in time I became used to it, and no longer gave it a lot of thought. Once I used the Byukagen to look inside him, and I saw all the bugs. He's a living colony.

It wasn't disgusting, though, I found it interesting. Normally I dislike bugs and other small things that skitter about, but the Destruction Bugs aren't that way. They're almost a part of Shino, and they serve as extensions of his will. Seeing him from the outside, you would never know the bugs were there.

At that very moment Shino returns to the camp, having apparently thought about all he needs to. As usual, he remains completely silent about what he was thinking. I'm relatively certain he heard what we were saying, but he would never mention it.

"How closely are they trailing you?" he asks, remaining on his feet. I have to think about that one a bit, give him the best answer possible, as he will be using it to strategize.

"I had outdistanced them by a few days, but they were gaining on me. Their land speed isn't incredible, though. It's the new Missing-nin they picked up that I'm not sure about."

"I see." Shino pauses a moment, considering the information. He has always been one to plan carefully, analyze the situation before taking action. "We'll camp for tonight, then try to find and ambush them the next day. If we can't we will return to Konoha for the sake of protection, and we'll get Anbu to track down whoever is following you. I will explain my full strategy in the morning."

No one else seems ready to speak, now that Shino has made a decision. I certainly see no reason to fault it. Kayaki is the first to leave the campfire, unrolling a bedroll and swiftly lying still. The other two are less organized and take considerably more time, but eventually are drifting toward sleep as well. Shino does not move during this time, waiting, I think, for all of them to be unconscious.

Silently he moves to a pack of supplies, then tosses me a bedroll. Considerate of him... I haven't been very well organized since I've escaped from the mission. Surprisingly that he carried an extra, as well.

As I get comfortable on the ground, I find myself drifting toward sleep remarkably quickly. It's been a very long day, and I am more tired than I realize. But it was a good day, and perhaps this issue is finally over. So very tired...

-

There is one specific element about which I would humbly request feedback. Did the switch from first person Shino to first person Hinata misguide you? If so, for how long? Those who have read this manuscript in full have had varying responses regarding this issue. Was the brief third person from Kayaki's perspective helpful in regard to this or did it detract from your understanding?

In regard to reviewing in a general sense: kindly expend the effort to do this. While I would respect and perhaps validate constructive criticism, I would also appreciate a brief note stating that you did read. Without such, I may be led to believe that only one or two individuals happened upon this work.