It'd been three weeks since the drama-filled party at Sakura's house. Hinata and Naruto were officially "dating", Neji and Sakura had been minding their distance but exchanging that shy yet sweet smile every chance they got, Shika was getting a billion visits per day and at least ten of them we from Shikamaru who stopped by because he was 'in the neighborhood' as he said. Everything was excellent.
Strolling down the road and holding hands with Naruto, Hinata wondered if life could get any better. But she had been in her own little fantasy for the past three weeks. A little peice of reality snapped back to her when she saw Kiba sitting on the curb holding his head. She looked at Naruto who went from happy-go-lucky to concerned. He nodded, knowing she was asking for permission which he couldn't quite fathom. He didn't own her after all. She smiled, kissed him on the cheek, and then walked over to Kiba. Naruto proceeded forward to Lady Tsunade to recieve a mission.
"Are you all right?" Hinata asked in a girlish whisper. Kiba moved his head in a mixture of a nod and a shake. Hinata bit her lower lip, entirely more confused.
"Let's go to the forest to talk privately. . .?" She said making it sound more like a question. When Kiba did nothing she grabbed his hand and pulled him with her to the woods. They sat up in a tree and talked. Apparently, Kiba had been dating Ino. How did Hinata miss that? Anyhow, Ino had just broke up with him the hour before. Kiba was more confused than sad, though. Ino had said "I can't believe you did that! You're so mean, why'd you do it? You know what don't answer that! We're done." And Kiba's big issue was that he had no idea what he did wrong. He didn't cheat, he wasn't mean. What could it have been?
Earlier that day
Sai was sitting in the forest drawing pictures. He drew his brother mostly. But then after three pictures of him and his brother, two pictures of the sky, four pictures of the trees, and three of animals, he started to draw without thinking. He drew a tree with an extended branch. Then on the branch he faintly started outlining the figure of a person who shortly after became a woman. He then made her have long hair and drew her hands holding something in them although he himself was not quite sure what, yet. After he drew the woman with blonde hair and a long dress. She was gazing at the sky through her blue green eyes, a red rose in her hands. When Sai finnished he finally noticed that it had been Ino he was drawing or someone remarkably similar. But he thought nothing of it. He liked the picture but it didn't mean anything to him, so he left it there on the grassy forest floor.
Later, Ino was taking a walk and came upon the picture. She studied it.
"It's me." She whispered. She analyzed it thorougly and - although she knew from the beginning - verified the artist. Sai was obviously the only one capable of such a masterpiece. Ino held the picture close, feeling happy that he cared enough to draw her. She walked the rest of the way home deep in thought, but none of that mattered because she forgot all about it as she drifted into sleep, muttering her last words of the day. She sighed , "Thank you, Sai."