Neji's Talk With Hinata and a Dating Swap

This part of the chapter doesn't have Neji in it so the POV changes around the room

After dinner almost everyone had left except Ino, Temari, Shikamaru and Kiba. Neji and Hinata went to the library to talk about how things had been going. Everyone else had left for the night.

Shikamaru POV

Troublesome… Throughout dinner I found out how clingy this Ino girl was. Its not that I don't like her, but she is so loud.That Temari girl was much more fun. She would fit in around here. Everyone liked her-for some reason Baki, Kankuro, and Gaara seemed to like her as much as me, if not more. After a while, Kiba and Akamaru didn't seem to like Temari as much anyway, he spent more time ogling at Ino.

Ino POV

"Awwwwwww!!!! Akamaru is soooo cute!!! Really Kiba, you have great taste in dogs!" I've given up on making Shikamaru open up to me, Kiba is much for fun anyway. Temari and I have been friends for years and I can see she has the hots for Shikamaru, he is more her type. Seriously.

Kiba POV

"Temari, why don't you go talk to Shikamaru, he looks lonely now that Ino is petting Akamaru." An investigator always has to know how to read people like a book. I've known Shikamaru for years so with him its easy. Besides, Ino is more open. Akamaru seems to like her more. She defiantly likes dogs…ogle at outfitogle at outfit

Akamaru POV

"Woof woof bark bark woof!!!!!" (I like Ino! She likes petting me and I think she's having her period! Blood! Yum!) pant pant slobber

Ninuri: Ewwwww…

Temari POV

I don't know what to say. Kiba just asked me to talk to Shikamaru-and be left alone with Ino. For some reason though, I feel this is the right thing to do. I don't like dogs all that much but Ino, my friend for years, does. I like Shikamaru better then Kiba to, I think. Also, even though I've never met them, I feel a strange connection to Baki, Kankuro and Gaara. I don't remember anything from before I was ten, maybe we're connected in some way. I just don't know any more.

Normal POV

Kiba was the first to have this idea- he thought they should switch dates. Ino agreed with him. So did Temari and Shikamaru. So it was settled, Kiba would date Ino while Shikamaru dated Temari. It seemed good enough to them. So Kiba went home and Shikamaru sat and played shogi with Gaara while he waited for Neji and Hinata to finish their conversation.

Neji POV

I can't believe it. Hinata was on a pilgrimage for the shrine she and the rest of the Hyuugas traveled to so long ago. She was traveling with a hundred people, all innocent shrine worshippers, and her escorts; Tenten, Sakura, Temari, and Ino. They were ambushed by Orochimaru and Kabuto, who wanted the people's valuables and jewelry. Then, even though the people handed over the jewelry, they were killed. Hinata and Co. were the only ones who escaped with their lives."T-that's w-what h-happened N-neji, b-but O-o-oro-oro him- we m-managed t-to e-escape. H-he w-won't c-come b-back."

I decided that Hinata needed to sleep so I went downstairs and booked the girls a room.

It was two rooms actually. The girls flipped a coin and it turned out that Tenten, Hinata, and Temari would share a room while Ino and Sakura shared one.

As soon as they were all inside, Naruto finished eating,unwillingly, and Sasuke stopped talking about schemes of revenge to Kankuro.

Baki seemed very serious and pensive for some reason, oh and I heard from Shikamaru that Kiba had taken the dog and gone home. Baki pulled a picture out of his wallet, I can't see it since I'm across the room but I think that Baki is sniffling, whether it is out of happiness or sadness, I cannot tell. I decided to leave, but Shikamaru said he'd catch up later. Sasuke and Naruto walked out as the same time as me and Gaara made Kankuro stop doing his makeup so they could go to sleep. I went home to bed, happy and quite pleased with myself.

Shikamaru POV

I'm alone here in the saloon with Baki.He is looking at a picture and whimpering. His eyes are teary and every so often he sighs. BEEP "O that must be the closing clock. It's getting late Shikamaru, I'm going to finish those dishes and close up okay" said Baki, who was struggling to stop crying.

"Yeah sure. I'll be out in a minute"

"Alright be careful on your way home".

He rushed into the kitchen, forgetting the picture on the counter. I clean up the shogi set and am about to go when I remember the picture. As I look at it, its an old picture of Baki, Gaara, and Kankuro. Wait… There is another person. That part of the picture is smudged a little, but I can clearly see a much younger Temari.