Chapter 4: The tale of Hinata

"Kiba-kun, Shino-kun, sorry I'm late" cried Hinata when she joined her team that morning. They were all gathered at their usual training place but this morning something was different.

Kurenai sensei had left them to go on a mission and they were supposed to train by themselves but soon Hinata found that that'd be quite difficult. She watched as she got near her teammates that the mascot of the team was acting a little impatient. Running and jumping from tree to tree, not even his partner could slow him down.

"Ano... what's wrong with Akamaru?" asked a worried Hinata to Shino that happened to be watching as well how Kiba was chasing his dog to make him stay quiet.

As soon as Akamaru noticed her, he jumped to her head and then started running to the Village followed by Kiba. "Sorry Hinata! I don't know what's wrong with him... I'll promise I'll be back soon" yelled Kiba leaving.

"Kiba... kun..."

"It all started this morning in our way here" began Shino. "Apparently, he was impressed by something he saw and now it's going after it"

"Impressed by something?" wondered Hinata.

"Yeah... I've seen that behavior before. Not from him of course but I think I can understand what's wrong with him"

"Ano... Don't you think Kiba-kun must know about that too?" asked a worried Hinata.

"Yeah, you're right. Maybe I'd go with him just in case" added Shino and started walking the same way Kiba took. "Will you be ok on your own, Hinata?"

"Yeah... I could always come back when this is fixed"

"Ok. Then, bye" added Shino and left.

"It's only a month left to the chunin exams, Hinata. At least you should try to watch Neji train so you can learn from him"

Her father's words sounded in Hinata's head as she walked home. 'I wonder... if Neji-niisan'd like to train with me... he's been very busy with his training lately' wondered her as she finally reached the entrance but then... the sight of his cousin pulled her out of her thoughts.

'There's him at the entrance' mumbled to herself. 'And with that kid... I wonder if I'd intrude...'

"Eh..." She couldn't help but make a weird noise.

"Hinata-sama" said Neji.

"H-hi, Neji-niisan" Hinata had no other choice but greet them.

Now with that kid wanting to fight his cousin, she'd have less chances of him training her but she kinda liked Konohamaru as he reminded her of Naruto somehow and, who knows, maybe he'd help her if Neji refuses to train her.

She positioned herself not too close from them and heard Neji doing his Hakke Rokuyuuyonshou... wait! he didn't... then all went black and the next thing she saw was Konohamaru sitting next to her.

"Hey you woke up" he said.

"Wha-What happened?" she said all flushed remembering the reason why she passed out. "What about the battle?"

"Neji dumped me after you passed out. I thought you had some kind of influence on him that's why I chose you for my jutsu, sorry" explained Konohamaru rubbing the back of his head. "I just didn't realize how much" added him frowning his eyebrows. "Anyway, I managed to hit him so you can say I beat him" said him with a grin.

'Me? Have an influence on him?' thought Hinata flabbergasted.

"I tried this jutsu on my sensei several times, it never fails!" cried him cheerfully as Hinata looked at him intently. "But since all the times I've tried it were with old people I thought I should try with younger ones... seems to work so far"

"Oh... but I don't think Neji-niisan is the type you could fool with that kind of technique" said Hinata in Neji's deffense. "He just... wasn't able to... attack... me" added her, unsure of what she meant by that, of course Neji was able to attack her, he'd almost killed her during the second rounds of their first chuunin exams.

"Yeah I thought that too when he stopped his attack" reasoned Konohamaru. "Maybe with younger ones, the technique works if you transform in someone the opponent really cares about or respects" pointed him in deep thought. Hinata was amazed at how he considered his technique as a powerful one.

"S-Seems you've been researching a lot" added her timidly.

"Oh yeah! Naruto-niichan only taught me the basics, I'm improving the technique myself"

"Na-Naruto-kun t-taught you that technique?!" asked a shocked Hinata.

"Yeah! But by this time I've developed the jutsu so I might say that my version is way superior" added him proudly. "I can't wait for him to come back and show him my version! Wanna see Hinata-neechan?"

"Wait... no... what if... someone comes?" managed her to say before Konohamaru completed the seals.

"Oh yeah... you're right" replied him. "Anyway, I wouldn't have any effect on you since you're not a pervert boy" reasoned him rubbing his head. "I need to work in a version of the jutsu that works in girls" added him in deep thought. Hinata just watched him again.

After a few seconds Konohamaru turned to Hinata with a naughty smirk. He then started making his seals but this time Hinata was prepared and covered her eyes the moment she heard "Henge no jutsu!"

"It's ok Hinata-sama. I'm all dressed" said a familiar voice.

"Ne-Neji-niisan" mumbled her as she took her hands out of her face.

"How do I look to you?" asked Konohamaru (in Neji's form) grinning widely making Neji look weird.

"I-It's ok, I guess" answered her timidly. "For a moment I thought you were going to do what you... did to Neji-niisan a moment ago... you know... all n-naked"

"Hehe I didn't want you to pass out again" giggled him making Neji look weirder if that was possible. "Besides I have no idea how he'd look naked" added him making Hinata blush.

"Y-You don't have to show me either... I-I'm fine not knowing it" said her all flushed. "Be-Besides, I don't think it'd be the appearance that makes your jutsu more realistic" added her playing with her fingers. "Even if that grin looks good on you... you have to notice the personality of the person you transform into... for example... it's not common to see Neji-niisan smiling... I've only saw him once... and I think I'm the only one who'd see that" explained her not stopping from pushing her fingers as Konohamaru stared at her intently.

"I see... so I have to act more serious right?" said him in Neji's stoic voice.

"Yeah that was good" said her cheerfully.

"I don't know why girls like this kind of serious guys. They don't look that interesting" said Konohamaru taking his role seriously.

"W-Well I... I'm not one of those girls... the boy I like coudn't be more..." Hinata started to explain but was interrupted by her father.

"Hinata. Neji. Good to see you two together. Have you been training?" said Hiashi who hadn't activated his Biakugan.

"Ha-Hai, father" said Hinata nervously. She didn't know if it was a good thing that his father hadn't recognise that the person in front of him was not Neji.

"Good. Now that you've train properly, I must take Neji for a bit of training. Make sure you watch us" added him as he took off his robe and walked into the training area.

Konohamaru remained cool even if he was inwardly shaking. It was good that he remembered what Hinata said before but that wasn't Hinata's case.

"Ano... father" she said. "I-I was wondering if... i-if I could train with you... today?" added her unsure of what it'd turn out.

"Hinata. There's only one month left for the chuunin exams and I won't be waisting my time training you if you're gonna fail them. I'd rather train Neji who is more prepared to pass the exams"

"Oh... I see" added her in response. Now Konohamaru was in trouble... she could see her father standing in his fighting stance as Konohamaru managed to copy him. The problem started when he was down at the first strike.

"Neji. What's wrong with you today?" asked Hiashi in a serious tone.

Remembering to keep his coolness Konohamaru said. "I'm sorry. I guess I've used too much chakra and can't train more"

Hiashi seemed annoyed but added "I could see that from the beginning. I just thought you'd be more prepared" and then turned to Hinata. "But it's strange that Hinata's chakra is in perfect conditions though"

"Well... that's because..." Hinata started thinking in a good explanation but that wasn't necessary.

"Ok, Hinata. I'm sorry I thought your cousin would be more prepared" Hiashi sighed and then continued. "We can train now as you seem to be in conditions" Of course neither Hinata nor Konohamaru noticed the insult to Neji behind his words.

"Uh... that was... uh... close" Hinata said to Konohamaru, who returned to his real form when they reached the entrance. Both of them were panting after having to run to that place when Hinata's training finished.

"Yeah... That father of yours was... scaring"

"I-I'm sorry you had to stay... and watch my training" said her.

"Don't worry... I didn't want to left you alone either... Hinata-neechan... It was good, though... that that ojiisan came and took your father"

"I guess... now I have to go to Yamanaka's to pick some arrangements" said her looking at one little piece of paper his father gave her.

"I'd be careful not to transform in Neji the next time" added Konohamaru. "Maybe into someone less serious like..." he started thinking.

"I don't think there are much people as Neji-niisan" Hinata said.

"Like Naruto-niichan! I wonder how good Naruto-niichan I'd do" cried Konohamaru excited. "Maybe if I combine Neji's and Naruto-niichan's personalities I can make him more attractive" added him with the same seriousness as before when he was talking about his jutsu's research.

"Oh no... please no... Konohamaru-kun..." Hinata tried to stop him but he didn't pay much attention to her and started making his seals.

The next thing Hinata saw was a shirtless Naruto two inches away from her, saying something at her ear she couldn't understand before she passed out... again.

A few hours later

Hinata woke up in her room and found Konohamaru sitting at her window.

"Ko-Konohamaru-kun... h-how did I g-get there?"

"After you passed out I transformed into Neji again and carried you here. I asked a maid where was your room" explained him with a grin.

"W-What about the flowers my father asked me to pick?"

"Oh, I also did that for you" added him but then changed his expression. "But I had some problems with the girl there... she was scary... reminds me of Sakura-neechan" Konohamaru shook his head. "Anyway, I must be leaving now. Ebisu sensei must be worried about me. So, ja ne!" he said and jumped out of the window.

When she got out of her room... she couldn't help feeling guilty for what his father was saying to his cousin.

A/N: wow this is my longest tale yet. I hope this will explain the lenght of Neji's one... (sigh) and he IS my fav character... how could I make the smallest one for him! now I feel terrible... Anyway, I like Hinata too so... forget about what I say... cheers for Konohamaru!! (I'm loving him more now :P)

Oh Oh! forgot to tell you... next: the tale of Kiba and Akamaru xD