Okay listen up… I am skipping up quite ahead but trust me it's all part of the plan.

I don't own Naruto.

I landed on the ground hard.

"Oh, come on, Shino. Is that all you've got?" Shikira called out to me. I sighed and groaned; one exasperated the other for being in pain.

It has been three years since we met. Like she said it was the start of a great friendship. Getting to know each other, well, that was the easy part. Almost every secret we had, we told each other. Bu t at this moment I regret having to be so observant.

Flashback

I was waiting for the end of previewing our skills to our sensei. But I got to watch Shikira go last. I was somewhat worried I mean she was going up against Uchiha Sasuke.

"Go." Our sensei this year yelled. Sasuke charged and threw a punch; she dodged and had a perfect shot to win. She didn't take it and at that moment I knew she was holding back. Their fight went a little longer. Then it was called a tie. I walked over to her.

"Shikira?"

"Yes, Shino-Kun?"

"First no Kun. Secondly, why did you hold back?"

"Meet me after classes are over at the track." With that she left me to my thoughts.

End Flashback

That was the day I figured out she was a prodigy. Not like me, but like Uchiha Itatchi. It had been six months since that day. Training every day since then.

I stood up, readjusted my glasses, and looked over to her.

"Can we take a break?" I said, panting slightly.

"Yeah… I need to talk to you anyway."

I raised my eyebrows in question. We walked over to our tree. We sat in silence. This area was rarely used and very hidden. I guess that is why she chose this area to train in.

"So, what is it you want to talk about?" I questioned.

" How would you mind if we added another person to our group of two?"

"It's fine. I guess. But who?"

She smiled. Something told me this would really good or really, really bad.

It was break time. I was sitting in the shade away from the rest of my classmates. Shin-san and Aburame-san were walking over here, slowly. I thought they were going to go straight past me. After all, it was obvious that those two were very close. He opened up around her. But they didn't. They stopped in front of me, looking down on me like the rest of the world.

"Hinata-Chan?" Shin-san said to me. I didn't look up, afraid of what I would see in her eyes.

"Y-y-yes, S-shin-san?" I whispered.

"I have a question for you?" I looked up startled. Aburame-san was as emotionless as always, but Shin-san was looking at me with a smile and non-judging eyes.

"Y-yes?" I questioned back, nervously.

"How would you like to train with us? Every day, after classes are let out?"

"A-ano, I w-would have t-t-to ch-check-"

"Yeah, yeah. Check with you father. He'll say yes, trust me." For some odd reason, I did trust her, completely.

"Anyway, when he says yes, do you know where training ground two is?"

I nodded.

"Meet us there." Aburame-san said, speaking for the first time.

"And call us by our first names. Come on, Shino. We have stuff to do."

He sighed. He said a quiet goodbye to me, turned on his heel and left.

"Bye, Hina-Chan. Bring your ninja gear." She said before she ran off after…Shino-Kun.

My Father said yes, as Shikira-Chan told me he would. He told me not to be a nuisance. I ran to the training grounds. When I got there I was shocked. Both Shino-Kun and Shikira-Chan were in a full out spare. It was obvious Shikira-Chan was better. I gasped at how good they were. Both stopped and looked over. I was over –whelmed at how out of my league they were.

"Good Hina-Chan. You're here. Drop your stuff there and come show me your Gentle Fist stance." I did what I was told. Shino-Kun sat down, while Shikira-Chan circled and observed me. She suddenly snorted. I looked at her shocked, when she was in front of me. I noted Shino-Kun's eyebrows were raised in question.

"How many people have tried to teach you the Gentle Fist?" She asked.

"T-two."

"Can I insult them?"

"Uh…I-i-i-i… I guess."

"Idiots! All of them! It's quite obvious; you're not suited for the Gentle Fist. You're flexible and petite. Shorten your stance, bend lower, and pull in your arms." She called to me.

I did as I was told, mostly I did it because I was in shock. But this stance felt different but more natural.

"Practice the Gentle Fist with that stance and you will become stronger. Shino, start your taijutsu form." She told us both. Shikira-Chan walked over to a tree and got in a unique stance. Her knees were bent, with one foot in front of another. Her arms looked like they were ready to strike, even though they were at her sides.

"S-s-shikira- Chan, what i-is that s-s-stance?" I heard myself ask.

Without looking back at me she answered.

"It is my own personal taijutsu style. I created it."

As I watched her and Shino-Kun practice, seeing how strong they were, I knew they would help me. That we would become friends. They would help me become stronger and not be failure. Maybe even get the attention of Naruto-Kun. Only time would tell.