Sry for the lack of update, guys! I didn't really know how to continue(pathetic) and it didn't seem like a lot of people liked it…this chapter will be a bit weird….I don't know, lots of strange third person writing and weird explanations…

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 1:
Scars to the Heart

"K-kiba-kun…I-I…"

"I know, I love you too, Hinata."

The pale skinned girl blushed and snuggled closer into Kiba's chest. He tipped her head up and kissed her lightly on the mouth. Her face flushed crimson and she looked down at her hands. Kiba chuckled, she was still too shy, but he didn't really care.

He loved her the way she was.

He put one hand around her thin shoulder and looked out over the river. It was almost sunset and the sky was a brilliant mix of purple, blue and pink. The sun's fading rays shone through the translucent clouds as it slowly sank into the horizon.

"K-kiba-k-kun?"

"Yeah Hinata?"

"D-don't y-you j-just love th-the s-sunset?"

"Only when I'm with you…"

She gasped and blushed even harder. Her thin hand was wrapped around his neck and her face was toward the sinking sun. It shone onto her pale face like a bright lamp, and at that time, her face shone…like an angel's.

"Kiba? Are you okay..?"

"Wha..Oh, hey Sakura-san."

His voice was still heavy and full of sadness and regret. Sakura looked away slowly and sat down beside him by the fresh grave, she couldn't even begin to comprehend what Kiba felt like, losing his fiancé…and then having to put on a brave face, because shinobi are not supposed to feel emotions.

Emotions make us weak and cloud our judgement.

They hinder our skills and divert our minds.

If a shinobi is to become truly excellent, they must show no emotions.

Right?

No one was sure anymore.

Even though the best in their village were practically emotionless, the Konoha 12 had shown plenty of emotion throughout all their battles. And that's what made them strong. But what of the twenty-fifth rule of Shinobi Conduct? Surely they were made only to make us stronger, or was it to spare us the pain that would come with every assassination, every kill?

That may be so, but we are only human.

No matter how hard we try to deny it.

We are still humans.

Some might say that the village was getting too soft and weak for letting their best genin class to show such emotions. But for this generation…emotions made them strong.

Even when they face a terrible loss.

Such as the death of the Hyuuga Clan's short-lived leader.

Hyuuga Hinata.

Everyone mourned her loss, but not nearly as much as her fiancé, Kiba. It was rumored that they were to be wed in the coming winter, but she couldn't hold onto life for that long. So she passed away.

Much to the agony of her teammates and her friends.

The funeral had taken place instead of the wedding, in the dead of winter when the snowflakes fell and the ice froze the entire village. But even the ice couldn't stop the onslaught of emotions. They tore through the village, passing through each and every one of their hearts and ended at Kiba's broken heart.

They even went as far as the hot desert.

To one boy, with blond hair and bright blue eyes. His name, was Naruto Uzimaki, one of the former Konoha 12, now the Konoha 10. He had left. Betrayed them all. Now, he was feeling the punishment. He didn't get to see his friend one more time, to ask for everyone's forgiveness and maybe, just maybe, try to tell them the real reason that he left.

It was not his choice to leave them.

It was necessary if they were to keep their very lives.

But still, he was utterly devastated that he would never get to see her again. He was convinced that it was his fault. Maybe it was, but who's to say?

The gentle spring wind blew over the forest of Konoha, rustling their new leaves and adorning the marble grave with new buds and blossoms. The winter was over, but her death was still a fresh wound in everyone's hearts. Slowly, one rough and scarred hand traced the outline of the words on the tombstone.

Hyuuga Hinata

Age, 22

Beloved daughter and sister.

May her spirit be free and fly like the wind…

Tears started to drip onto the ground, and the sound of sobbing started to drown out the gentle rustling of spring. The chocolate haired man wiped his overflowing eyes onto the sleeve of his jacket. He looked at the grave affectionately, and started to clear away the leaves and dirt with a skilled and practiced hand.

"The cherry blossoms are pretty this year, Hinata…I wish you could've see them…"

A sad smile appeared on his face, tears still dripping down uncontrollably. He cleared away the rubble and placed a bundle of lavenders and roses down onto the grave. He placed a letter underneath the stems and walked away, tears still flowing from his eyes.

"Ohayou, Kiba. Visiting the grave again?" Sakura waved to Kiba as he passed the hospital.

"Hai…I really miss her…"

Sakura smiled again, wishing that she could heal his broken heart and stitch up his cracked spirit. Medicine can only do so much. Sometimes, the wounds to the heart can never heal, but they can leave an eternal scar. He needed Hinata, but now that she was gone, he would have to find some way to heal his soul again.

Sighing, the pink-haired medic walked into the hospital to begin her twenty-hour shift.

A figure jumped out of the trees and toward the grave, it was a young man, maybe in his early twenties or late teens. He stopped in front of the grave and whispered some words while tucking a pale piece of paper into the bundle of flowers. He traced the words engraved on the marble surface slowly and then dashed away, leaving a only a few tears on the ground behind him…
"Mommy, where's Auntie Hinata?"

Little Ren was nagging her mom for her favorite aunt. TenTen closed her eyes wearily, every time her daughter spoke that name, her heart ached. Ren was only four, too young to understand that her beloved 'auntie' was dead. TenTen longed to cry, but she had to keep a straight face in front of her child, lest she frighten her.

"Auntie Hinata…she went on a long trip, Ren dear…"

The girl's pale lavender eyes looked confusingly at her mother. Kami…those eyes….they just reminded her more and more of her departed friend. A tear almost made it's way down TenTen's cheek, but she held back, trying to be strong for her child.

"Well, when's she coming back?"

"Not for a long, long time Ren…not for a long time."

The girl looked like she was about to cry, like she was about to spill the tears that TenTen had been holding in for so long…she pouted miserably and asked, " Why? Why isn't Auntie Hinata coming back? Doesn't she love me anymore?"

TenTen sighed, "Of course she loves you, Ren. Don't ever think that she would stop loving you just because she isn't coming back, okay?"

"Hai, okaa-san…"

"Now..come here, give your okaa-san a hug.."

Little Ren ran over to her mother and fell into her warm arms. Sniffling, TenTen stroked her daughter's dark brown hair and those tears finally fell…

To Be Continued…

Shorter chapters are good, right? At least that means that I'll probably update more.

Maybe. PLZ REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.

(shorter chapters, or longer ones.)

moonlight haku