Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the show, Naruto
Also I am not being entirely true to the show, as you can tell by how I've switched up the bracket for the Chuunin exams and the preliminary results. Also I've changed the characters to 16 and 17 years old because yeah.
"Next match- Kiba vs Gaara!"
Hinata did the clone jutsu, so that no one would notice as she silently darted from the stands, and made her way to the bottom of the stairs, which joined with the stairs leading from Gaara's section of the stands.
Gaara made his way down the stairs slowly, and got rid of the third eye. He did not want to look at Hinata anymore.
Gaara's fist clenched and he stopped in his tracks. Hinata was waiting, arms crossed and stiff still, at the bottom of the stairs for him, just out of eyesight of everyone else. And she looked positively furious.
Neither said anything, but Hinata's glare said enough. She held Gaara's gaze without flinching, and Gaara almost felt the need to look away himself, but he didn't.
"What?" Gaara asked, irritated. Hinata just continued to glare at him. The silence dragged on, and Gaara began to feel uncomfortable. His eyes narrowed in frustration.
"You're in my way"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Hinata suddenly burst out, uncrossing her arms and taking a step towards Gaara, "Am I blocking the door? Inconveniencing you? I seem to have a pesky habit of doing that. Here, I've got an idea, stop hurting people and I'll stop getting in the way of you hurting people! Dobe!"* She screamed the last word, throwing it in Gaara's face with as much venom as she could muster. For some reason she wasn't scared of Gaara. She didn't feel like her throat was closing up every time she said something, which was how she usually felt around people. Ever since Hinata was a child, every time people stared at her or asked her something or she had to speak up, her face felt hot and she got dizzy because she forgot to breathe. And even though now, stomping up the stairs away from Gaara in anger, she still trembled a little, but she had raised her voice and said what she really felt without hesitation. It was a strange sensation, and she could feel the adrenaline pumping through her.
Hinata quietly took the place of her clone, and everyone was too distracted by the coming match to notice. They probably wouldn't have noticed anyway. The only people who seemed to notice her were Lee (who was in the hospital) and Kiba (who was about to start his match)
"Kiba…" Hinata whispered. Despite her outburst a second ago, Hinata was still scared. But not for herself, for Kiba. She knew he could handle himself, but Gaara…Gaara was ruthless. He killed that poor woman. Gaara was…
No, he's not a monster Hinata scolded herself silently for even beginning to think that. He is a person, and despite everything Hinata fiercely believed that people were still good at heart.** But she was still worried for Kiba. Hinata prayed silently for Kiba to be okay.
"Begin!"
*Idiot in Japanese
**Yes, this is an Anne Frank quote =)