A/N - whew, it's been a while since I last updated, hasn't it? Well, here you go. I'm positive, however, that this is going to be the second-last chapter of the entire story! GASP! The last chapter is obviously going to be the Jonin exam, and the exciting conclusion to this epic saga. I really appreciate everyone who followed the story from near the beginning as I updated, the alert list definitely pushed me to try and finish this thing. It might take a while for the last chapter to be written, but I assure that I will put a ridiculous effort in resolving this story. I'm sure that if you've been keeping track until now, you'll probably enjoy it as much as I.

Warning - parings: NaruHina, AsuKure, InoShino. Not as much crack, fluff/pseudo-angst.

Disclaimer - I do not own the Naruto franchise, or its original story/characters/plots. I own Rune Hunter Rena, and the meanest pair of shino-like shades that I acquired at Anime North.

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The Konohan yellow ladybug, Septempunctata saffronica, is well-known for its striking resemblance to the Hidden Mist beetle, another rare species found near the ocean country. It is similarly shaped, and comes in several different colours and designs, which includes the same yellow hue as S. saffronica. The Hidden Mist beetle, like S. saffronica, is also on the verge of extinction due to overforesting of trees in scattered islands surrounding the ocean country. This trend of overforesting has been thought to be caused by the boom of the economy of all nations surrounding ocean country, most notably, the rise of CHAMP, a very successful manga publishing company, known for its hit series, Rune Hunter Rena.

- Konoha's Guide to Foreign Insects and Arachnids, Vol. 1

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The fiasco at the cafe turns out to be a mere afterthought, since the team leaders suddenly approach our group outside the cafe.

"There is a slight change of plans" says Kurenai, sternly. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Jonin exam will be held at a different location. To meet the schedule requirements, we have to leave right now."

Everyone besides Choji and Kiba nod in agreement, and scatter to our respective houses to make adequate preparations. I direct my eyes at Asuma, who's intently focused on the intoxicated nin.

"Don't worry about these two." Says Asuma, turning his head towards me. "Kurenai and I will take care of them."

Somehow, I'm not too reassured. I give him a stern warning to not do anything freaky with my sensei while we're gone. Just the thought of it makes me cringe.

"Asuma," I reply, "even though Kiba and Choji are still happily drunk, it doesn't mean they can't see what you guys are doing, eh?"

Asuma stares blankly, then Chuckles nervously. "Of course, of course! Run along now!"

I disappear into the night, making my way towards home.

I'm totally ready to kick some ass at the exams.

---

The testing centre, as Kurenai described earlier before all the examinees boarded the ship, is accessible at the end of a gently weaving dirt road that juts out from the southern gate of the village, and subtly branches towards the southeast coastline, forming the commonly used route to one of the main ports of Fire country. A two-hour ferry ride from the port ends the journey at a lone Island to the southwest of Water Country, containing only a moderately sized barracks that was once used as a holding area for Fire Country troops during the great wars. In these times of peace, it is used primarily as the area where the Jonin Exams are held.

We reach the port at around 4:30 in the morning, despite the boat leaving at about 6. Blazing across the frigid sea, the air is quite cold, but has a salty smell that displeases the kikai inside me. They stir inside, suggesting that I should take them inside so that they don't get irritated any further. I grant their wishes, and make my way towards the cabin room designated for Team 8. The others are already settled in. Kiba and Kurenai are asleep their respective bunks, and Hinata is adamantly reading the newest volume of Rune Hunter Rena at the cost of her obvious seasickness. Hinata turns her now-pale face towards me and smiles, then turns back to her shojo story.

I sit down at my bunk, and decide to wait out the next few hours for our boat to arrive at the destination. I take out my trusty Gamestation portable, and plow through a few rounds of Planetz. It's a very challenging strategy game that involves taking over planets by sending units from a predetermined main base, expanding my territory. Each planet I own acts as another base, which produces more and more units, and I use them to keep capturing more planets, even ones controlled by the opponent. The gameplay is simple, but the strategy is quite intense, such that my dad often suggests that by absolutely mastering the game, it will help me micromanage my insects better. It makes sense, and as a result of years of healthy addiction, I absolutely rock at Planetz. Not even Shikamaru, who's an avid fan of the game, can beat me. It's one of my lesser-known skills which I don't pride on too much, because in hindsight, Ino would probably find it to be pretty dorky.

I'm in the middle of molesting the A.I. opponent, despite setting it to maximum difficulty and maximum handicap, and I start to hear Hinata from outside my field of vision sniffle. I pause the game, turn my head towards her, and I see her wiping her eyes as she lays down her manga on top of her backpack on the floor. She turns her head towards me, revealing her eyes, usually a mysterious white, but now slightly reddened, and begins to smile.

"Shino-kun, I'm so happy whenever I'm with Naruto-kun, I often don't know what to make of it."

Her feelings for Naruto are not surprising, but blurting them out like randomly confuses me, I don't know what to make of it. I try to respond as level-headed as possible.

"Aa."

Hinata-chan grips the manga in both her hands, and then holds it really close to her chest, as if she were an infant, clinging onto its blanket as if her life depended on it. She inhales and pauses, while looking out the cabin window in solemn reflection.

"This series happens to be one of my favorites," she confidently states, "because of the strength that Rena shows as a main character. Not only is she responsible for saving the world, but within all that chaos, she is able to realize her love for the main guy character, and be able to deal with it amidst the pressure to defeat evil. It's really cheesy, but I've definitely learned a lot from it, especially when it comes to the huge crush that I had on Naruto."

I nod politely. It's a bit discouraging that despite all those years of Kiba and I being a shoulder for her to cry on, it would be Kiba's sister who introduced her shojo manga, and to the inspirational characters from which that Hinata would eventually model herself.

"And after all those years of you and Kiba being a shoulder for me to cry on," she adds, almost as if she had read my mind, "I realize now that it's been difficult for me to return such a huge favor. I'm really thankful."

"Don't mention it, Hina-chan." I respond.

Hinata's eyes tighten with determination. "And now that you've finally found a girl in Ino, I want to help out in every single way I can. It's the only way I could ever repay you!"

Now wait a minute. Ino's not actually my girl now, is she? I mean, she's a great girl, and I've spent many great moments getting to know her better, and getting close to her. And due to her determination to become a Jonin and her intentions behind being a Jonin, I admire her as a person, who is, in my own eyes, complete in almost every single way. We're not really together are we?

"Hinata."

She sets her dazzling eyes at me contently. I guess I've made my decision. I'm definitely going to let her help me with my relationship woes.

"Hinata," I sigh, "I'm in love with Ino."

"Great. Read this, and you'll understand what you have to do."

She gestures at her copy of Rena as she gently places it on the floor by her bed. She lies down on her bunk, pulls a blanket to her neck and closes her eyes. The sun is just about to rise. Orange-red hues trickle through the cabin windows and onto volume 24 of Rune Hunter Rena. I pick it up and open the book. I start on page one.

So let's see. Rena and company are at the Fortress of the evil villain, yada yada yada. I skip a few pages. The evil henchmonkeys shoot laser beams out of their eyes, targeting the shy, blue-costumed Rune Hunter. The headstrong orange-costumed one pushes her out of the way, and begins to reprimand the blue one for not focusing. Yada yada yada, I skip a LOT more pages. Sorry Hinata, Shojo isn't my thing, but I still trust that there's something here applicable to me.

Aa. this is probably the part that Hinata wants me to read. I sit back on my bed, and begin to silently read out the speech bubbles.

"Rena, all your friends have been captured by the Shadow Council! There is no hope for you or mankind!"

"No! I will not give up, especially against you, Darkheart! I will take you down with all of my strength!"

"Ha! Such a lavish threat from a weak little girl, perhaps you will enjoy fighting my new second-in-command, instead!"

"What? Naoki!? Why are you dressed like that? Darkheart, What have you DONE to him!?"

"He's under my influence now, and there's nothing you can do to stop him! He WILL kill you under my order."

I pause for a moment. I think of previous conversations that Hinata has had with me regarding Naoki. Something about sexy bishonens, and how Rena goes all doki-doki when he's around her. I get it now. He's her love-interest that she's never had the courage to confess to directly.

It's too late now though, that Darkheart seems to have gotten him good.

"Naoki! You have to snap out of it! It's me! Rena! Don't you remember me!"

"...I serve Darkheart now."

Rena is now in tears. I can see why Hinata likes this series. The illustrator has such a great eye for detail, and his artistry brings Rena to life in a way that reaches out even to me, personally. I begin to read faster as the intensity builds. Darkheart vanishes into the shadows and awaits Rena at the top of the Tower of Destiny. Rena is alone to fight against her love, Naoki.

I turn the page. The fight scene depicted is creatively executed. Naoki is drawn with his sword in hand, locked against Rena's Rune Staff. They are both nearly in profile, with massive amounts of magical energy emanating from the tension between both weapons. The scene is slightly faded in the background, while Rena's thoughts are scattered throughout the page as the main focus.

"Naoki..."

"...as a rune hunter, I have to save the world..."

"...it is my duty..."

"...that is why I have to defeat you..."

"...I must be strong..."

"...it is the only way I can protect the one I keep in my heart..."

"...to protect you. The one I love."

The last page in the hits me hard. No text. Just a full-page panel of Rena from the back, walking away from Naoki, dead on the floor. Her world has plunged into darkness, a starless black sky looming over her war-torn figure. With Naoki's sword held tightly in her hand, his blood trickling through her fingers, she walks towards the Tower of Destiny.

This isn't the Rena that Hinata was always joking about in previous conversations with her. Rena was always described as absent-minded, hot-blooded, and an overbearing loudmouth, almost like Naruto. But somehow, with this sudden turn of events, she has found the courage inside her to fulfill her duty, and even come to terms with her own feelings for her deepest love.

The sun has gone up. The rays that shine through the cracks of the window have gone from a bluish red to a noble yellow. It hits the cover of the manga as I close it shut. I hold it close to my chest for a moment, and lay it on Hinata's bed, beside her pillow. I turn off my gamestation portable, and grab all of my stuff, and step out into the upper deck of the boat. I stand on the bottom rung of the rail of the ship's hull. The examination centre is in clear view. I know now what I must do. I must follow my ninja way. I must strive to become stronger, and become a formidable bug-user.

I will become a Jonin, so I can protect the one who I keep closest to my heart.

To protect Ino. The one I love.