Disclaimer: Making sure everybody knows and no one tries to hit me up for money. I sadly do not own Naruto or any of the characters. I know sad, isn't it?

Chapter 3 Help has come?

Morning light started to shine over the trees and illuminated a small figure on a training ground. Hinata had been training since before dawn. She started training before anyone in the compound would wake up. Although her father had stopped pressuring her as hard as when she was a child she still trained hard to keep up with Neji. Neji had accomplished to be a jounin and was working on being an ANBU.

Hinata finished her morning training and went to the Hyuuga compound to have breakfast. After eating in silence with her father and Hanabi she rose up to leave. "Continue training." The voice was the type that could send shivers down any shinobi's spine. "You must be strong. The Hyuuga clan is only as strong as its leader and if you are weak you are letting down your clan. Do you understand Hinata?"

Hinata stood still at the screen door as she heard her father's words. They caused a stinging pain in her chest but she had grown accustomed to those words enough to keep herself from crying. Her hands clench the frame of the screen door as she turned around and gave a bow to her father and bid good-bye.

Out in the middle of the compound Hinata stood looking a tree. The tree stood tall and firm in the ground. It was the only tree in the middle of the compound not including the small flowers on the side. For many the tree was a decoration but for Hinata it meant so much more. Several years back the tree had grown ill due to insects. They tried everything but it seemed that the tree was going to die and would have to be cut down. Hinata's grandfather stood up and told to let the tree live one more year and if it did not have blossoms the next spring then it would be cut down. One year passed and everyone expected to see the tree gone but spring came and the tree bloomed the most beautiful blossoms. That was roughly nine-teen years ago, around the same time Hinata was born.

To Hinata that tree was a symbol of her life. Right now Hiashi found her weak but she would grow strong and bloom like no one has ever seen. But she would need a great deal of training to accomplish her goal. Hinata took one last look at the tree before she left to meet her former teammates.

Back at the training ground, Hinata waited for Kiba and Shino to arrive. Even though they were no longer a team they still trained together when they had time or no missions.

Hinata never mentioned her morning training to her training partners for fear of what they would say. She was barely keeping up with them with the morning training and felt that if she didn't continue with both training she wouldn't improve.

"Konichiwa, Kiba-kun. Konichiwa, Shino-kun"

"Hinata-chan", Kiba said as he came close to Hinata. Shino stood still and gave Hinata a greeting.

"How do you feel Kiba-kun? Your head isn't hurting?" Kiba stood pondering at this unusual question that Hinata asked him. After a few moments it seemed that its meaning came to Kiba's mind and he gave a grin.

"Your talking about my and Naruto's drinking game, huh? Thank you for worrying but I am okay, although I don't think I can say the same for Naruto." Hinata could not but blush a bit at Naruto's name. "No I really didn't drink much. That dobe didn't know how to play. He kept drinking and not stopping. He deserves any headache he gets. Also did you see the beating he got from Sakura?" Kiba gave a laugh as the image of Naruto trying to move towards the door while Sakura was going towards him.

Hinata just looked down in silence when she thought of poor Naruto. He must have done it to try to feel better.

"Enough talking about drinking, we should get started." Shino changed the subject quickly to Hinata's relief. She couldn't stand hearing how poor Naruto might be suffering with a hang over.

"Let's get started." Kiba took his stance against Hinata and Shino. Akamaru barked as he stood next to Kiba. Hinata activated her Byakugan and Shino stood still as his insects started rising from his arms. They were ready for training.

After a couple of hours of training it was time for lunch and rest. Kiba sat next to Akamaru and rested against him. Within minutes Kiba's light breathing could be heard. Hinata sat a short distance away on a log.

"May I join you?" Hinata nodded to Shino as he sat next to her. Shino was always silent but this silence made Hinata feel awkward. Shino sat staining at unseen item in the horizon. Finally he broke the silence, " Hinata, I need you to be honest".

Hinata became very alert and her whole body became tense. Shino's voice was so serious and Hinata preferred the awkward silence. She began staring at the floor and Shino continued to talk to her. "Hinata I want you to be honest."

"Hai" Hinata managed to squeak out. Her throat felt very dry as if she had ran all day. She didn't dare look at Shino. She had no clue what he was going to say but his voice continued to say that it will affect her.

"Last night as you stood outside, you weren't waiting for me?" this sounded more like a statement than a question. Hinata just stayed silent as Shino continued. "Hinata, as you know I saw you with a certain ninja."

"Hai" Hinata said not truly knowing why but she felt as she should say something. She tried to say more but the words seemed to die silent when she would open her mouth. She was now fiddling her index fingers while her face started feeling as if it were burning.

"I can't but notice that you may have feelings for this loud ninja…" these words were more silent to not be heard by Kiba who still seemed to be asleep. Hinata head shot up and looked at Shino who still was looking straight ahead. "…I have only found out recently but I had a feeling about it for some time now."

Shino stood quiet waiting to see if Hinata would say anything, such as denying it but she had resumed at looking at the floor. Shino gave a big sigh, "Have you told him?"

"N…n…no"

"Have you been having feelings for him for a while?"

Hinata looked at Kiba for a moment as to make sure if he was still asleep. His breathing seemed slow and steady, making Hinata sure that he was asleep. "Hai. Since the academy."

This stunned Shino. He knew that it had been at least two years but to be since the academy. That had been almost six years. Shino took some time to compose himself after that information. "That has been for almost six years. Hinata, have you thought of telling him? For so many years I would have presumed that you would have tried to inform him of your feelings."

Again silence between them resumed giving Hinata time to think. Why is he asking me this? How did he know that I like Naruto? Now, I just told him that I have liked Naruto since the academy. Why did I tell me? I could have lied. No he wouldn't have believed me anyways.

"Hinata, I have known you for a long time. As your friend and teammate I believe that I should give you some advice. For it being that long I recommend that you….."

Hinata looked at Shino when he never finished sentence. As she looked up she saw what the cause of his silence.

"Are you going to stand there all day or are you coming down?" Shino spoke out loud to a blond nin that was in the tree branch right above Hinata and Shino. Naruto jumped off the tree and stood in front of Hinata and Shino.

Seeing this Hinata froze in place, not only because it was Naruto but also the conversation that Shino and her were having. She wondered how much he had heard and why hadn't she felt his presence. Fortunately for Hinata, Shino had felt his presence and that was the cause of his falling silent in the last moments. Going any further would have said too much, but then again it is Naruto so it probably wouldn't have mattered.

"What are you doing here Naruto? Are you training?" Shino stood up and walked towards Naruto. Naruto stayed where he had landed looking towards Kiba direction. Kiba had woken up with Naruto jumping off the tree and was rising to his feet. Shino again repeated his question to Naruto, but Naruto seemed to preoccupied glaring at Kiba, to hear the question.

"NARUTO!"

Shino hardly ever raised his voice but it seemed that this was the only way to get Naruto's attention. It did work since Naruto turned around and complained about the yelling. "Well if you would have been courteous enough to answer I wouldn't have yelled."

Naruto grinned, it wasn't the first time that this had happened. "What question?"

If it wasn't for Shino having a large tolerance level for this type of behavior Naruto would have heard more than he would have wanted. But all that Shino did was repeat the question. "Tusande-baasan is calling for you. She has a mission for us. She wants you at her office."

"Fine I'll be there now." Shino turned to Hinata, "I'll talk to you after the mission. Hinata remember what we talked about"

"Hai" Hinata bowed her head in responding to Shino but also in trying to hide the blush that had crept on her face on seeing Naruto. Naruto in the meanwhile seemed to resume his glaring at Kiba who now was standing next to Hinata.

"What are glaring at, baka?" Kiba asked with a smile, knowing that Naruto was still mad about the incident of the drinking game and Naruto's beating.

"Kiba, I am going to get you for that."

"Hey don't blame me. You're the one the made Sakura mad. It is your own fault for being a baka." Naruto grew angry and ran towards Kiba ready to attack. Kiba accepted the challenge and began to charge when Shino grabbed him by the back of the collar and pulled him to the side. Naruto stopped from his attack when he almost ran into Hinata. Hinata stood trying to catch her breath, Naruto had been so close to her that she was able to smell his scent.

"Hinata-chan are you okay?" Kiba was grabbing Hinata's shoulders and looking at her with eyes full of concern. Hinata took a while to recover after smelling Naruto. Naruto had smelled so good that it made Hinata go into a daze.

"Baka. You almost hit Hinata." Kiba turned his eyes back to Hinata. Hinata realized that Kiba was holding her and was startled at how close he was to her.

"Ki..Kiba, I'm okay." Hinata took a step back and faced Naruto who had calmed down and was feeling guilty for what almost happened.

"Hinata, I'm sorry. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" Hinata blushed at Naruto feeling concerned for her. He was really concerned for her and was worry about hurting her.

"It's okay. I am not hurt. Th…thank you for as...asking, Naruto-kun."

"Are you sure, you look a little red" With this Naruto placed his hand on Hinata's forehead as to see if she had a fever. This was the breaking point for Hinata and Kiba. Hinata started to see her vision become dim as she started to fall unconscious to the floor. Kiba rushed in trying to catch Hinata; unfortunately for him Shino was closer and was able to catch Hinata before she hit the ground.

"Naruto, why did you do that? Are you trying to hurt Hinata?" Kiba was now fuming. Not only did Naruto almost kill Hinata but now he had done this. But he was angrier with Naruto touching her than his charging at her. Kiba didn't understand why this was the case but it didn't matter, all that matter was that it was Naruto's fault.

Naruto stood perplexed at the situation. He had only touched her he didn't do anything else. He knew she wasn't that weak, was she?

Hinata woke up hearing two voicing that were screaming at each other. "I didn't do anything to her."

"If that is the case why is Hinata unconscious? You did something to her and now you have to answer to me. Tell me!." Kiba was grabbing Naruto by the collar. Naruto pushed Kiba off of him and continue with his defense.

Hinata continue to lie on the floor as she watched all of this. Akamaru came close to her and nudged her with his head. Shino turned to look at Hinata who now was sitting up right and looking at the show that Kiba and Naruto were making. "Are you feeling better?" Shino kneeled next to Hinata but still continued to look at Kiba and Shino. "The two of them have been at it for the past five minutes. I think I should stop it, Tsuande-sama is waiting."

Shino stood up and walked in between the two loud rivals. "Naruto we should get going. You know Tsuande-sama's temper and it is not wise to keep her waiting. Kiba take Hinata home to rest."

"Hai." Both loud opponents responded in unison.

After Naruto and Shino left Kiba walked up to Hinata. Hinata continued to look dazed as if trying to gather her thoughts. All of the day's events had taken a toll on her emotions. Finding out that Shino knew about her love for Naruto. Naruto running by her. Naruto's scent, that was so sweet and refreshing. Also his touch. All of it was too much.

"Hinata-chan, do you want to? With me?" Kiba continued to stare at Hinata waiting for her answer. His face was only inches away from hers, staring into her eyes. Kiba continue to question her, but he was so close that it made Hinata uncomfortable. Although they were good friends and they had been around each other for many years they had never been this close. Hinata could smell his scent; Kiba didn't smell bad even after the training but it was not the same sweet smell that she smelled with Naruto.

"Hinata, did you hear me? Do you want to go get a bite to eat before taking you home?" Hinata couldn't answer Kiba because he continued to stare at her so closely. He still was only inches away from her face, being this close caused Hinata to blush. She decided to take a few steps back, away from Kiba before she answered. Kiba was taken aback a bit to Hinata's distance but began to smile when he heard her agree to go out and eat.

"Great, let's go. I know this really good place that has grilled squid and…Hinata aren't you coming" Kiba stared at Hinata who stood her ground and did not move.

"Kiba-kun, we need to pick up the equipment first."

"Oh, he he" With Hinata agreeing to go out and have dinner with him, Kiba was so happy that he had forgotten that they had yet to pick up. Kiba smiled and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I didn't forget" Hinata just giggled fully knowing that Kiba indeed had forgotten.

At the restaurant, both Kiba and Hinata had their food placed in front of them. Kiba gave thanks to the server and resumed talking to Hinata. Kiba was too happy having the chance to be alone with Hinata that he didn't notice Hinata was not fully there. Her eyes seemed to lack something, not just color and a pupil but also attention. All of Hinata's attention was on another person, the person that was traveling with Shino at that moment.

"So that is when Naruto…"

"Naruto?" Hinata blinked into the presence at the name of Naruto.

Kiba laughed, "yeah it was Naruto who… Hinata have you been listening to what we have been talking about?"

"Sorry Kiba. I think the training was a bit much today. I feel really tire and should be getting home." After declining another cup of tea, Hinata rose from the table and headed toward the door. At the door Hinata turned around and gave a short bow before leaving. "Thank you again for the food, Kiba-kun. Good-night"

Kiba stayed a few more minutes enjoying the moments that he had spent with Hinata when he looked at the plates in front of him. His plate was nearly spotless without the food that he had eaten but Hinata's plate seemed untouched. She didn't eat or drink her tea, but how could this have past by Kiba. Kiba at the time was too happy to realize how distant Hinata was acting.

Kiba turned towards Akamaru who was lying on the floor next to him. "Did you notice something weird going on with Hinata? Do you think something is wrong with her?"

Akamaru gave a bark that indicated that he was in full agreement.

"We're going to finds out what it is then." A determined face was on Kiba as he left the restaurant and headed home for the night.

I really don't know if this gets read by anyone but I am still posting this story. I once again apologies for the grammar and spelling errors. I have been so stressed out with mid-terms and projects that I didn't have a chance to correct. If is really bad just tell me and I will do something about it.