Hyuuga Hinata; 2 Years Later

Age 14

-Not Me-

Today was the day of the Chuunin Exam Tournament.

I have to admit, I was a little scared. I never actually expected to make it to the tournament, and I was scheduled to fight Ino in the first round. I was a little relieved that it wasn't Sasuke or something, but if I won against Ino then I would have to fight Sasuke.

I was also glad that I didn't have to fight against Kiba, since he was also in the tournament. I would hate it if I had to fight someone on my own team.

Unfortunately, Shino was away on a mission so, even though Kiba and I were in the tournament, he wouldn't be able to watch. He SAID he wanted to come and watch us, but when the Hokage wants you to go on a mission, it's not like you can turn her down.

I was mentally getting ready for the exam in my room when there was suddenly a knock at my door. It opened up and my father was standing there.

"Hinata, are you ready to go to the tournament?" he asked me.

It was then that I realized I had forgotten to tell my father that Kiba had offered to walk with me down to the tournament.

"Oh…dad…" I started. "Um…I promised Kiba I'd walk with him to the tournament…"

He looked angry. I don't think he liked it when Kiba and I walked together.

"Very well." He said. "But just remember, he's not a Hyuuga."

"Dad, it's not like that!" I insisted. And it wasn't! We were only on the same team and we were friends. But I guess it was sort of the situation with Naruto and I since I kind of liked him… though… even if Naruto ever did come around and start liking me back, my father would not approve.

Then the doorbell rang.

"That's probably him." I said quietly as I hurried past my father. I opened the door and Kiba was standing there with Akamaru next to him.

"Hinata, you ready to go?" Kiba said with an excited nod.

"Yeah!" I said as I stepped outside. "Are you ready to fight?"

"No, not really." Kiba confessed. "I've had a cold for two days! And besides, Akamaru's been being really difficult lately!"

Akamaru barked at him.

"Have to!!" he yelled.

"Oh no." I said. "How are you going to be able to fight together?"

"Ask HIM!" Kiba said.

Of all the days for him to be in a fight with Akamaru! He had to fight against a girl from the Sand Village. We didn't really know what to expect from her and I was a little worried for Kiba. But I believed he could win.

I was a bit intimidated by all the other people in the hanger area where the fighters were supposed to wait. Kiba made me feel a lot more comfortable though by hanging out with me until the tournament was scheduled to start. Even though he was arguing with Akamaru the whole time and when he wasn't doing that, he was blowing his nose, he still managed to comfort me if I started feeling nervous.

I was going to fight after Sasuke and whatever his opponent's name may be. He was fighting against a boy from the Mist Village and neither of them seemed very worried about each other. I wasn't even fighting them and I was worried.

"Hinata, I'm going to go and watch Sasuke's fight." Kiba said to me.

"Okay." I answered with a nod.

He wandered off to the opening where he could see the fight.

I stood there alone for a moment when suddenly, Ino came up to me.

"Oh!" I said. "Hi Ino! I hardly recognized you at first. You cut your hair a lot shorter."

"Yeah…" Ino said. "It got in the way…"

"We're going to be fighting each other in the first round!" I said.

"Yeah, I know!" Ino answered with a smile. "I'm not going to go easy on you, though! Have you read the program? You're the predicted winner of our fight!"

"Me?" I said, feeling nervous. People were expecting a lot out of me.

"Don't worry about it though." Ino laughed when she noticed I looked upset about learning this. "But just so you know…"

She smiled again.

"I'm going to prove everyone wrong!"

I now felt REALLY nervous. I don't know whether it was her intention to scare me out of my mind or not, but she certainly succeeded in doing so. I felt compelled to grab the program just to see if this was all true.

"The heir to the Hyuuga Household, fourteen-year-old Hyuuga Hinata, is the favorite in her first round." I read. "Her tenacity as brought her to the Chuunin Exam for the first time but she is expected to prove as a worthy advisory to Uchiha Sasuke who is expected to progress all the way to the finals. Little is known about her opponent, fourteen-year-old Yamanaka Ino who tends to keep her training practice to herself but already this young blonde has participated in numerous B-rank missions. As always, we can only expect to be impressed by the skills of our young aspiring ninjas!"

"Who writes these things?" I wondered out loud.

"Hinata!" I heard Kiba yell. I looked up. "Hinata, it's your turn to fight! You don't want to be late for your own fight!"

"Oh right!" I said, getting a little flushed.

I quickly looked behind me to see that Sasuke had won his round, just like the program had predicted. Would I fulfill the prediction for my round or was Ino going to prove everyone wrong like she said she was aiming to do? Only time would tell.

"Yamanaka Ino and Hyuuga Hinata." The examiner said. Ino looked very serious as she struck her battle pose. She looked like someone I didn't even know, especially with her short hair.

After a quick glance around in the crowd, I spotted my father and my sister in the stands. I had to make my father proud by doing well in my match. Even if I didn't win, I had to be a good opponent.

I hardly heard the examiner say, "Go," before I was ambushed by Ino's attacks. It was an uncontrollable and constant barrage of attacks that I was unable to defend myself again.

Perhaps my head was too clouded with trying to prove myself to my father and the crowd that expected me to win. Perhaps I was weak. Perhaps I didn't even belong in the Chuunin Exam Tournament.

But then it occurred to me. Perhaps it wasn't me at all.

Perhaps it was Ino.

She was very strong.

And she was not going to stop until she showed everyone that she deserved to be a chuunin.

And she did deserve it.

I opened my eyes and looked around. I wasn't outside anymore. I slowly sat up and glanced around the room to see that I was in the medical tent.

The boy from Sasuke's first fight was there.

"Um…" I said, trying to get the attention of one of the medical ninjas.

"I told you she would be fine." Said one to another. "Just a bump on the head."

"Is the match over?" I asked.

"Yeah." Said the one who had spoken before. "That kid hit you real hard."

"I want to see him fight the Uchiha." Said the other.

"That'd be a fight." Said the first.

I wondered if I should tell them that 'he' was actually a 'she'.

Then I remembered that Kiba's fight was right after mine. I didn't see Kiba or the girl he was fighting in the medical tent. "Excuse me!" I said once the two medical ninjas had started talking about how interesting it'd be to see Ino and Sasuke fight. They both looked at me and waited. "Do you know who won the fight after mine?"

"It's still going on." Said the ninja.

Then the crowd cheered.

"Oh, never mind." Said the second one. "Let's go!"

The two of them dashed out of the room to go and retrieve the loser from the match. I looked across the room at the heap that was Sasuke's former opponent. I certainly hoped Ino would be all right once she finished her fight with Sasuke.

The two medical ninjas came back with the girl from the Sand Village.

"Oh!" I said. "So Kiba won?"

But then two more came in with Kiba.

A double knock out…

"A double knock out." One of the ninjas explained to me even though I had already figured it out.

Akamaru trotted in after the ninjas and hoped up onto my bed. He jumped onto my lap and sat there, so I put a hand on his head.

"I can't believe I missed Kiba's fight!" I sighed. "I sure hope he's all right."

Akamaru barked, but it's not like I could ever understand what he's saying.

"Maybe it's better that Shino didn't come to watch us." I decided with a nod. "After all, we both lost in the first round. When HE was in the tournament, he went all the way to the finals."

I looked up to see that the medical ninjas were staring at me.

"Are you talking to that dog?" one asked finally.

I was embarrassed.

I guess I sort of was talking to Akamaru subconsciously. But it seemed so natural since Kiba did it all the time.

"Is Kiba going to be all right?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, he'll be fine." Said the ninja.

I put Akamaru down and jumped off the table. I went over to where Kiba was just as he rolled over and regained consciousness.

"Oh…hey Hinata." He said, sounding groggy as he sat up.

"Kiba, you shouldn't sit up!" I said. "You don't look well!"

"I just have a cold." Kiba said, swinging his legs off the side of the bed.

"I'm sorry I missed your fight." I said, looking down.

"Don't worry about it, Hinata." Said Kiba. "You didn't miss anything good. Actually, I'm kind of glad you missed it since it's kind of embarrassing."

"Oh, okay." I said with a nod.

Just then, the door the medical area slammed open.

"KIBA!!!" yelled Kiba's mom as she came stampeding in with many of the household dogs that surely would have trampled me if not for the fact that I jumped out of the way.

Kiba's mom ambushed Kiba and checked him for injuries while talking on and on about how much she was worried about him and how he would never ever EVER be taking the Chuunin Exam again. Kiba really only rolled his eyes and nodded, not intending at all to fulfill his mother's wishes that would most likely last only for the hour.

Almost immediately following, I looked up to see my father standing in the doorway.

I could tell he was very disappointed, so I decided to go over to him while all the commotion was on the other side of the room. The medical ninjas were commanding Kiba's mother to calm the animals down.

"Hinata." Said my father.

"Yes Father?" I said, lowering my head.

He didn't answer for a while. "Nice…effort." He said finally.

I would have almost preferred for him to scold me instead of receiving something like that.

"Thank you." I said. It was quite obvious what he was actually thinking. About succession and my ability as a ninja not coming along as strongly as Hanabi's. However, Hanabi was still three years away from graduation.

"I'm taking Hanabi home." He said. "There is no reason for us to stay and watch the rest of the tournament. Come home when you like."

And with that, he was gone.

I looked over at Kiba and his family as he tried to calm them down.

I must admit I did feel a little jealous, but just a little.

When Kiba's mom and the dogs finally left, the medical ninjas told us it was all right to leave.

"I don't see how the Sand girl won that round if I'M able to just walk out and she has to stay for medical attention." Kiba said in a bit of an offended tone.

"I think you were knocked out before her." I said.

"I guess." Said Kiba, but he sounded bitter. "Hey, Hinata. What did your dad say to you?"

"He said I did a good job." I replied quietly.

"You did, Hinata!" Kiba said. Even though I know it wasn't true, it sounded so kind and sincere coming from Kiba as oppose to my father. The words from my father sounded callous and harsh.

We entered the stadium just as our friends, the medical ninjas, carried Naruto off the field. I feel sorry for Naruto. He didn't win.

"Ha!" laughed Kiba. "I'm glad Naruto didn't win. His mouth is always flapping. Don't you think, Hinata?"

I didn't know how to answer, so I just didn't.

"Hinata, do you want me to walk you home?" Kiba asked.

I wanted to go home, but I didn't want to go home. "I'd rather stay out." I confessed.

"Okay!" said Kiba. "Do you want to go eat?"

"Actually…I'm not very hungry." I said.

Kiba looked like he was truly trying and I felt so sorry. I just didn't know what I wanted to do. I was all around unhappy with the outcome of the tournament. The day hadn't gone at all well. Kiba and I both lost our matches. Shino didn't return from his mission in time and Naruto didn't move on to fight Sasuke or Ino in the finals. And, to top it all off, my father was disappointed in me.

"Hinata, I'm going to take you out to eat." Kiba said suddenly.

I wasn't going to argue with him. I allowed him to lead me to a restaurant where we sat down at a table across from each other.

A waiter came over.

"And what does the little couple want?" he asked.

"Oh, we're not a couple—" Kiba said.

"--Not together—" I said frantically.

Kiba and I looked at each other. I couldn't help but crack a smile. The mere thought of being "together" with Kiba made me laugh on the inside. Kiba was so not my type, and I was so not Kiba's type. But everybody seemed to think we were going out these days.

I just hope Naruto didn't get the wrong impression.

"Okay…just friends then." The waiter said.

"Yeah." Said Kiba. "We're on the same team."

"Oh, teammates." Said the waiter, but I could tell he didn't really care. But why should he? "What'll you have?"

After the waiter took our orders, he left.

"Hinata, isn't that funny?" Kiba laughed out loud, but it sounded strangely forced. "That waiter thought we were a couple!"

"I know!" I said. "Imagine that!"

"That would be weird!" Kiba continued. "I mean…yeah, that would definitely be weird!"

"Too weird!" I agreed.

We both cleared our throats.

I reached for my water, but Kiba reached for his at the same time. As a result, he spilled his all over the table… and all over me as well.

"Oh…I'm sorry!" Kiba said, springing up and grabbing a napkin.

"It's all right!" I said, standing up and brushing my clothes off a bit. "It's only water."

He came over to me with the napkin, pause for a moment and then awkwardly handed it to me. "Here…" he said. "You can uh… dry off a little bit with that."

"Oh, okay." I said. It was quite obvious that I would have to dry off a bit with the napkin.

In only a few moment's time, the waiter returned to find the spilled water. He was a little pouty but didn't directly blame either of us for the crime.

We were moved to a new table.

"Kiba…" I said slowly.

"Yeah?" Kiba said.

"Do you think that either of us will become chuunins?" I asked.

He smiled. "Not today, Hinata." He said. "And not tomorrow. Not the day after or the week after or even a month from now. But I have a good feeling about next year."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I'm going to train harder." Kiba answered. "And I know you will too."

I nodded. Kiba was right. He always seemed to know what to say.