ShinoXHinata fanfic
All the characters belong to (c) Masashi Kishimoto

Ages: Hinata- 15; Neji- 16; Shino- 15

A/N: Sorry it's been so long, I just was cleaning out my desktop and found 10 chapters written up for this story, all unfinished and mostly just lists of ideas. I decided to write up the second chapter and work through the rest. I'm thinking I just want to get this one posted and then see if the response is good enough to go back and rework through it again. This story interests me still, and I'd like to see it end well and not quickly. Sorry for the wait if anyone of you were waiting…

His reached for his sun glasses and pulled off the shattered lens. He felt naked. His layers of jackets and his shirt were lost in the battle. His spectacles were lost. He glanced over at his partner, a smile gracing his exposed face.

Hinata was breathing hard. She could feel the blood matted in her hair and not for the first time she was thankful that the blood she was bathed in was not hers. She felt eyes on her and turned towards her teammate. A small apologetic smile appeared.

"You did well," Shino stated quietly. His eyes wondered to her attire, she was in her black tank top and that top had seen better days.

"B-but…I almost got us k-killed!"

Not that he minded, if he was going to go die, he wouldn't mind Hinata being the one to do it. She has already killed his heart countless times. He was used to it by now.

"We're alive, aren't we?" Was his simple reply while turning his eyes to look around the cleared area. He felt some unfriendly rocks stabbing into his rear, yet he was much too tired to care for them at the moment.

She smiled, "Hai," and too soon looked dismayed, her eyes roaming the 4 missing-nin bodies. She was not far from Shino, planted on her behind as well, and on even less friendly rocks.

Shino got up slowly and held out a hand for Hinata. She reached out and he grabbed her, "Let's hurry up and dispose the bodies. Then we'll get out of here before more come."

They finished their mission quietly and after changing their ruined clothes they trekked quickly out of the battle area. They stopped at the halfway point and decided they would set camp and reevaluate their wounds.

Shino was starting a fire when Hinata noticed something different about his hands. She paused, uncertainty eating away at her shy mind, "Shino?"

"Hai?"

"Let me see your hands."

He frowned, but his new coat hid his face, "Why?"

"P-please?" She moved to sit next to him, not wanting him to have to fix his own hands once he saw her intention.

Shino couldn't refuse and held out his hands, several of his fingers broken in odd directions. She fixed him up quickly and he knew she was making it the least painful it could be. Once she was done he mumbled a humble thank you. Next thing he knew, her hands were in his hair, her chest level with his eyes.

He wanted to dismiss the heat travelling up his face. He felt his hands twitch, wanting to grab her waist and pull her into him. But rationally that would destroy their friendship. That's all they were…friends.

Hinata pulled out some twigs and branches and then smiled at Shino with her innocent blush. He gave his thanks and Hinata left him to go to her pack. She pulled out a pan and smiled. "I'll get us some fish. We'll have the last bit of rice and celebrate our mission."

"We've not returned yet. We're not done. Do not be careless."

"Sorry…" Her face fell.

He gave in quickly and retracted his words. "Go ahead, we should eat plenty to restore our energy… we can call it a celebration of sorts."

She smiled and left the camp to get fish. He smiled watching her and sighed relieved.

They walked together slowly back to the village. They were in no rush, and they rather have the Hokage notified of them so by the time they reached the village she would be more sober than she would be if they ran. They were silent and enjoyed the sounds around them. Birds chirped to one another and the insects droned on.

Hinata looked forward. She could not wait to get home. She missed her sister, training with Neji, meetings with the elders. She actually enjoyed her life at her house. It was still just as tough, but much more bearable now. Her eyes drifted to Shino. She was going to miss being alone with him. She scolded herself and reminded that they could always train together. Thoughts of Kiba drifted into her mind and she sighed. Don't be so selfish, Hinata. She told herself and subconsciously she quickened her pace.

Shino looked forward, and his eyes drifted away from the village. Hinata and him would not be alone together once inside. He knew Kiba would be over Hinata like a dog on a bone. Hinata would amuse the boy, and Shino would be left to tailing the two. He noticed Hinata walk a bit faster, and frowned. She wasn't going to miss being alone with him. She clearly wanted to get home faster.

Another successful mission was completed by Hinata and Shino. Hinata sighed relieved once they left the Hokage's office. Hinata was a Chuunin now, but it never made her missions any easier. Team 8's three-man squad worked well together and the years together enforce their ease with one another's movements. She worked well with Shino, and they could speak with one another without words.

Kiba usually joined Hinata and Shino on missions. But as of late he had been away with clan business. He was supposed to be finished once they got back from the latest mission.

Hinata was happy enough with her new rank, proud of it but knowing it would never be enough for her father. Kiba was bragging to town about his rank to any ear that would listen. Shino was silent and mysterious as always.

Three years since Naruto had left and quite a lot occurred between team 8.

"Hey Hinata, want to go get something to eat?"

"Huh?" Hinata stutter out, realizing she was off in her own world. Kiba laughed and ruffled her head pulling her along with him. Where he was going she did not know, she gave Shino a pleading look, asking what was happening.

"We're going to get something to eat." Shino simply stated.

Kiba slowed his pulling on the shy girl and paused, a piece of him wanting to tell Shino to bug off. But he gave in and continued to pull the unsuspecting girl.

At the restaurant, Kiba and Shino got into a light argument on a certain blonde ninja returning. Though, Kiba was the one who was more argumentative while Shino corrected his outlandish views and English.

When the name Naruto was brought up Hinata looked up from her food, "N-naruto-kun?"

Shino sent a glare to Kiba for bringing up the matter.

"Yeah, I heard he's back." Kiba stated, unable to deny Hinata of the truth. He mumbled curses under his breath as he watched the girl quickly get up and turn into a fumbling red tomato.

The girl blushed and hurried a goodbye. She left the two shinobis heart broken. She had no idea. Kiba was crushed, and he showed the pain on his face. Shino scolded Kiba in his mind for failing to hide feelings. Inside he was just trying to keep out the thoughts of Hinata and her love for the blonde boy.

Hinata's mind raced. She hadn't seen him in three years! She hurried to the town's number one place she knew she would find Naruto at if he was back in Leaf Village as Kiba said he was. The ramen stand was empty. She sighed to herself.

In her haste, she ignored that Kiba and Shino followed her, but now that she paused and took notice to her surroundings she gave a sad smile at the two who followed her. She turned away from the Ramen stand and walked towards them. As she passed an open alley a blonde blur ran into her.

"Naruto, you moron!" A very angry Sakura screamed chasing after Naruto. Hinata looked at the blonde who crashed her into the ground. "Nar-" She stumbled on her words as Sakura drew near. The pink hair girl grabbed the boy up by the ears and continued to shout into him explaining that he was a baka.

Hinata felt herself blush at the contact Naruto and she just had. She turned red and fainted. She wished before she felt herself black out that she didn't… Had the three years of training not change her?

Kiba was pissed. He helped Sakura out in scolding Naruto for knocking out Hinata-chan. Shino quietly told the yelling teens that he'd take Hinata home and left. They didn't pay much attention as they badgered Naruto.

-~Transition~-

Hinata stood panting. She had been training for the last three hours and finally thought she was getting somewhere.

"Very good, you can show Hiashi this in a week if you keep up this attitude up."

Hinata blushed at the compliment, "Arigato Neji-nii-san." She bowed.

"Hinata-sama, I have to go train with Lee and Tenten. You are dismissed for today."

"Hai."

They split their ways, a bit reluctantly. Hinata liked Neji's new softness around her. She felt that maybe she was a bit desperate for any recognition but somehow Neji never gave her pity. A soft smile formed at her lips. He had changed so much since the chuunin exams. Her father making them train together was a great idea. She really must thank him for the opportunity later.

"Thinking of me?" A voice taunted in the hallway.

Hinata looked up, realizing she was smiling like a silly school girl, or worse Sakura-chan. She found her little sister leaning against the wall, trying to look tough but only made her look cuter.

"I'm always thinking of you!" She swept her sister in a hug and spun her around, tickling the 11 year old girl.

"Stop! Ahaha! Stop it Nee-chan!" The two girl's laughter rang in the hall, causing all the ears who heard the two to smile. Hyuuga had become much less serious once the heiress had proved she was strong enough to lead them into a bright future. The heiress had grown as a chuunin with above average strength, as a promising apprentice to the Hokage and a girl who had a heart large enough to make up for all the heartless Hyuuga's in the main and/or branch houses.

Around the corner to where the sisters were, Hiashi slightly smiled but caught himself quickly. It would not do for the head to show his emotions so carelessly. But he couldn't help feeling that Hinata would always show her emotions and that she would be stronger than him because of that. And in some insane way the elders had agreed. He had a bet that they had agreed along with their fattening stomach that was filled with Hinata's cooking, that sneaky ninja.

Hiashi turned the corner and watched Hinata place her sister back on level ground. "Hinata."

She bowed deeply and looked him straight in the eye, "Hai, father?"

"There will be a meeting tomorrow evening, you may have the day off today and tomorrow until then."

"Thank you father, may Hanabi join me?"

He thought for a moment. Hanabi looked eager at her sister but masked her emotions like her father quickly. She was for the longest time their last hope at a strong heir, and still was strong, but Hinata had grown well and was the ideal heir now. Hanabi couldn't compare to her sister any more. "Hai."

The two bowed and gave their thanks, happiness evident. They ran off to Hinata's room once given leave but Hinata lingered and told Hanabi to go ahead. "Thank you, father, because you allowed me to train with Neji, I am becoming somewhat appropriate to the clan." She bowed and ran off.

Hiashi smiled. She was being too modest. Her body had finally caught up to her goals, and that's what changed her the most.

"Hanabi, I have to go meet with my teammate in a bit, and early tomorrow. So why don't you plan something special during the noon tomorrow and I'll try my best to fit in everything you want."

"Really Nee-chan?"

She laughed, "Yes, really. I'll even pack a special bento." She whispered even though it was just the two of them in her room. Her younger sister squealed in delight and ran off to plan the most outrageous day.

Hinata looked at the time and paled, she was going to be late.

Chapter 3 is in the works…