Kiba and Shino met up at the training grounds and noticed Hinata wasn't there. They hadn't heard or seen from her either but they had planned to all meet here and it was unlike her to be late.

"Hey you seen Hinata, Shino?"

Shino looked around then shook his head no.

"Huh…it's not like her to miss a training day. Wonder where she could have gone off to."

Shino merely shrugged then looked toward Neji.

"Good Idea Shino let's ask Neji, him and Hinata are cousins."

Kiba, with Akamaru in his jacket, and Shino, walked toward Neji and his team. His team consisted of Rock Lee, himself and Ten-Ten with their sensei Guy.

"Hey Neji, you seen Hinata around anywhere? She hasn't shown up yet and I know you guys like live together so have you seen her?"

Neji glanced at Kiba then looked away. He looked very stoic.

"Do I look like my cousin's keeper? I have no clue where she is nor do I care, honestly. She's a nuisance, a stain on the Hyuga name. Worthless…pathetic…des-"

At the moment where Neji was most likely going to call Hinata despicable an unforeseen force hit his face. The force was Kiba's balled fist up against Neji's cheek, knocking the wind out of him slightly. It had momentarily caught him off guard which is a shame because most Hyuga's can predict movement. Kiba was trembling with anger, seething fury located in his eyes as well as forming tears. Behind the dark sunglasses Shino's eyes were round. Kiba was not one to screw with at all; the Inuzuka's were all like that. Fierce and loyal.

"What the hell Neji!? How can you say that about your own flesh and blood?! Especially Hinata! She is none of those things! She watches you train ever damn day in hopes to become like you, to shine in your eyes and here you are throwing her name in the dirt! You are the one who is not worthy! Hinata is amazing…and good, and kind! How could you say that about her?! If you'd get off your fucking high horse, you'd see how hard she tries, how much blood she sheds for you! The hell with you Neji….you're not even worth my time…"

By then a large crowd had gathered around the shocked Neji and the furious Kiba to gasp and awe at the scene. Kiba started to walk away, a crowd parted him and Shino. Somebody tapped his shoulder and he looked around to see Naruto's team.

"We'll help you look for Hinata."

"Yeah, Hinata's our friend too! BELIEVE IT!"

Kiba smiled warmly as more people began to join, Ino's team, and surprisingly even Ten-Ten, Lee and Guy. Neji stood where he had been hit, still absorbing it all in.

"You're right Kiba. Neji should care more about his cousin then his reputation," agreed Ten-Ten

"We don't know Hinata that well, but she's a youthful girl and we'd love to help," Said Lee with enthusiasm, giving a thumbs up.

"We should start at where we last saw her," Offered Kakashi, "Which was dashing out of the hospital."

"WHAT!? We told her not to go…ugh she didn't listen to us. She could be hurt."

"Then we haven't a moment to lose! We should ask around the neighborhoods!" suggested Sakura.

"And make flyers!"

This came from Ino, Sakura's arch enemy; she was a pretty girl with light blonde hair and even though in the past she and Sakura were friends things had come between them, like their mutual crush, Sasuke. But in this moment Sakura decided to tie loose ends and smile.

"I agree."

Of course everyone was shocked that the two foes weren't yelling each other's heads off, even Ino herself was shocked but she understood and smiled. The big search for Hinata began, making posters and flyers, searching the forest and Konoha for the girl. The search dragged on all night where people went home, exhausted, but promised to do as much as they could when they could. Only a half of Konoha was searched and it seemed impossible to search every nook and cranny, but Kiba was determined to find his friend. Shino leaned up against a tree and looked asleep but really wasn't. Kiba touched a picture of Hinata that was nailed onto another tree. Sure it was a drawn picture but it's the best they could do. Big opal eyes, peach colored skin, indigo hair, little pink circles on her cheeks for blush.

"Don't worry Hinata we'll find you. I won't rest until we do."

He sighed then looked around, saw what he thought was a sleeping Shino, then looked back at the picture and tenderly kissed it.

'Kami be with you, wherever you are, my Hina-chan.'

Shino smiled behind his flipped collar. He always guessed that Kiba had a little crush on their teammate ever since they were kids. Shino leaned back and finally drifted off to sleep while Kiba lay down on his back and looked up at the sky. Before his eyes closed he swore he could feel Hinata's presence was near, very near and that somewhere in Konoha she was looking out into the same starlit sky, wondering if anyone was asking, "Where is Hinata?"

His eyes closed with only Hinata on his mind. That night he had a terrible dream. Hinata was dressed beautifully in a fine gown of pearls, gems, flowers and lace with a crown atop her head and flowers intertwined in her hair. Her lips were painted a light pink and she had on a lilac eye shadow and long gloves upon her hands. Though Hinata was a radiant sight she was in a cage, looking miserable and sad. Kiba, dressed in a dashing suit and tie with a single blue rose in his pocket, rushed forward and unlocked her. Suddenly, a strange, horrid looking monster with fangs dripping with saliva busted through the scene and pinned Kiba down. It chuckled sinisterly and looked at him.

"She's ours boy. Her blood is only for us," It said wickedly.

It lifted up Hinata in his claws and bit into her body. Blood stained her beautiful skin and dress turning it all red. Her blood slid down his fangs and claws. It dropped her lifeless body to the floor. Suddenly the monster started cracking and pieces of its shattered skin lay everywhere. It was like watching a ceramic pot breaking. The only thing left in its wake was a naked body. The body was trembling; it was then that Kiba realized it was sobbing. The deep, somber voice rumbled out of the body.

"What have I done? What have I done? WHAT HAVE I DONE!?"

Kiba struggled to see the face of this naked body until he could finally make out the features. Its lips were tainted with Hinata's blood as were his hands; which were covering a good majority of his face. The hands moved slowly down the face and the face turned to Kiba. The narrow, aqua eyes, rimmed with black, the red hair, the kanji…it could only be….

"GAARA!"

In the hotel Hinata woke up in a cold sweat. She had just had the worst dream ever. She panted and looked toward Gaara who looked at her.

"Yes? You yelled my name?"

"N-N-Nothing…Just…Oh n-never mind."

"Good. Now get back to sleep for tomorrow we train."

Hinata rolled over and tried to close her eyes but her dream had scared her and on top of that she could have sworn she heard Kiba not too far away.

In the woods Kiba had just screamed out "GAARA!" then woke up in a cold sweat and was panting. He woke up Shino who tilted one eyebrow up.

"Nothing…just a really….really bad dream."

He rolled over and tried to shake it off but was that…could it be he just heard Hinata scream Gaara too?