I'm on a roll!!!

That may be good or bad.

Bad: Bouncing off and breaking walls and shattering glass with my opera singing.

Good: ... -Let me think about that- runs away and never comes back.

Well I have great ideas!! But I'm not going to share them with you!!

Heck, just READ!


November 5, Year of the Crescent Moon

I haven't spoken at all since two months ago. Possibly more, less, I don't know. My eyes hurt constantly, I don't make eye contact much. Grades take a huge nosedive, my social life is once again reduced to negative one, and even Naruto has stopped trying to get me to speak.

Chuunin exams are tomorrow, people crowding in clumps at school whispering and yelling excitedly, evidently thinking they'll win.

Just another hope to be crushed.

In the morning, I sit on the log as usual, not saying anything, watching Akamaru catching fireflies. I'm placed in a group with Shino and Kiba. Lucky me. They stopped asking me to practice training ten days ago.

I don't care. I'm weak. I do not sign up for the exams, and my very own teammates probably hate my guts.

After a few more minutes of pointless training, Shino leaves for some bug catching expedition, and Kiba comes to sit next to me like he always does. As usual, I don't speak. Don't ackowledge.

Only this time he doesn't stay silent.

"Hinata," he says, bending down slightly to meet my eyes, "you should train."

I don't respond. Hypnotized, I watch his eyes; they're a deep, dark onyx.

What am I doing? It's not him, it's not anyone, it's my fault, my fault entirely. I can't live up to this. It's better to stay invisible.

Down goes my eyes. I never noticed that the bottom of my sneakers are gray.

"After all, you're in the Chuunin exams."

A side of his mouth quirks up as I glance at him. Chuunin exams?! That's impossible. I didn't sign up. I never did! And I never train.

Only plausible theory; he's crazy.

I study him. His eyes are teasing, but only on the surface. The smirk rapidly grows as my expression turns slowly into a horrified one. What! If this is a joke to make me talk, it won't work.

I clamp my mouth shut and look away, acutely aware of his gaze. How...what...no, it's not...

Pretty soon he gets Akamaru and ambles off, but not far away to be out of earshot. "Be there tomorrow at nine o'clock! That's when it starts."

Now I'm annoyed.

I run up as he slows down, and he shoots me a smile. Shoot me dead.

"What up with you?" The voice is clear and aggressive, intent on speaking out.

"Talking again?" he asks shrewdly, his eyebrows raised.

By the time I figure it's my voice that spoke, my words are already out, jumbled but still in an understandable pace, "How did you - I didn't sign up for the Chuunin exams! You - "

"It was easy." He pauses, his grin both interesting and annoying.

"I don't care." Now that the words are out, it's easy to talk, to communicate. I walk faster, and he matches my pace easily.

"I used my Jujin Bunshin to change Akamaru into myself, then the Transformation Jutsu to transform me into you. Akamaru, Shino, and I appeared to be Team 8." Apparently he's proud of his idea, "We went to Kurenai-san and I said that I'd changed my mind, except since I was you, so - " He pauses, and Akamaru barks happily to match his mood. His grin is getting on my nerves. "Ingenious, no?"

I don't know if it's the result of me clamming up for two months hibernating, his grin, or that his plan was clever, but I hit his arm. "Kiba! I'm not ready for this!"

"Ah, that's easily fixed." He turns towards me, Akamaru now yipping merrily. "We'll start training right now!"


At eight o'clock, we had been training for nine hours straight.

Without lunch.

I think my legs are going to kill me if my sore shoulders don't.

"You have good speed," Kiba pants, getting his coat and putting it on. "Get the kunais - I'll get the shurikens."

I deactivate my Byakugan, breathing heavily; the only thing holding my arms up is my knees.

"Got a workout?"

I wipe sweat off my face. I can't believe that I'd ever thought today was cold. Heat is literally radiating off of my forehead. "Yeah..."

I pick up his kunais, pulling them from the ground. They're embedded deeply - the ones deepest are his, shallowest mine - and I have difficulty pulling them like weeds in a garden.

Akamaru holds three in his mouth, somehow still managing to bark. His tail wags, tiredly but cheerfully. I take the weapons, murmuring a thanks. He yips and I hand the kunais, now dented and bent, to Kiba.

We walk back to town, the dog in his hair, three safe and rather wary feet between us. After a few minutes, I see and hear bright lights and busy streets. (A/N: Respectively, of course. )

The Ichiraku Ramen Bar is shining and brightly lit, looking the most promising. "Hinata? Want to...?"

"Yeah...I'm hungry." Usually I skip lunch and don't eat much anyhow; my allowance is down to a thousand yen (A/N: I think it's about ten US dollars. If I'm wrong please tell me!! Love Lumberry).

Unsurprisingly, Naruto is there, at least three bowls stacked to his left. "Hinata! I didn't expect..." Naruto stops eating and starts talking, his mouth full of ramen. "Are you okay? Are you - were you training? You look so tired! Chuunin exams start tomorrow - are you ready?!"

Curse him for reminding me. "Uh - yeah...not really - "

"Give it a rest, Naruto," growls Kiba, and then turns to Teuchi, the ramen shop manager. "Two bowls topped with everything," he orders, slipping off his jacket.

I try not to notice his thin shirt. "Kiba, I don't..." I finger my cash, handing it to Teuchi. "I hope this is enough - "

"That's fine," cuts in Naruto. "I'll pay, since you're finally talking!"

"Hey, forgot about me? I will," declares Kiba. "Besides, it's my fault she's so tired."

Naruto's glance turns into a glare. "I was only trying to - "

"Hey, hey!" interrupts Ayame, the assistant. She pushes back my money with kind eyes. "It's our treat. You guys are just nervous for tomorrow."

I mouth a thanks, but inwardly I'm rebelling. Another reminder!

I hate it. As if I'm already not anxious, not worried.

Pretty soon Teuchi comes back, managing two bowls in each crooks of his arm, and one on his head. "Eat up," he instructs, and then goes to wash dishes.

The two boys are stunned, I see.

I'm too hungry to question the power of the stomach.

I dig in, cramming ramen into my mouth.


Naruto finishes first and leaves, bidding farewell and good luck tomorrow and won't I meet him at the ramen shop at nine o'clock?

I don't answer, either because I'm seriously annoyed by the mentions to the Chuunin exam or that I'm busy ripping up narutos.

By now it's already ten o'clock.

Finally I sip up the last of my noodles and wipe my mouth, feeling full for the first time mentally and physically.

"I'll walk you home," Kiba offers.

Kindness. That's something he can afford to give away without asking anything back.

Friendship...

Something I can't do.

I shake my head no, feeling strangely sad. Emotions build up slowly, and I just want to cry. Thoughts drift into my head, and I fight the urge to sob and wail like a baby.

Kiba...I can't be your friend.

I have nothing to give, nothing to say, no love, no hate.

He's going to be horribly disappointed when he finds out how awful I really am.

That I don't feel anything for Hiashi's death. I don't care for anyone else...

That my kindness has evaporated and I'm thoughtlessly drifting inside.

That I wish he'd leave me alone so he doesn't get hurt and save him from unhappiness.

I walk away from him, trying to ignore his guarded look.

...That I wish we could be friends in another lifetime where my life isn't twisted and that I can find it easier to love...


My longest chappie!! Or sort of, anyhow!!

I'm tired, but undefeated!! Fwahuahua :P

I just got new rubber bands for my braces (yes, I am a victim of the braces).

I chose blue!!!

PS Don't forget to review!!

But then again, my saying is:

A Watches Review does not come.

Lumberrrrrrrrrrrry