Hello everybody, and welcome to chapter twenty-eight of the Winds of Change! So, got a couple of things to go through. First off, the first scene in this chapter is a sort of yaoi lime. For those who dislike that sort of thing, feel-free to skip it. It doesn't really add anything that you need to read, just as long as you understand what happens after. It's easy too though, so don't worry. I'm also looking for a new beta, or multiple ones. My last beta and I recently parted ways, so any help would be appreciated. This chapter was rather fun to write, actually. I'll talk about it in the authors note at the bottom. So, without further ado, I present chapter 28, of the Winds of Change.

Chapter 28:

Kiba didn't know where he was. Frankly, he didn't care. His body was overwhelmed with sensations, The scent of pine, the smell of flowers, the feeling of grass tickling his bare back. And then there was the man that lightly nipped at his neck. Kiba shuddered. The sun shone on the two sweaty bodies, making them glisten and gleam. Kiba let out a throaty moan as the man kissed his neck. He rolled over, his hips grinding against the man's, earning a soft moan. Kiba smiled wolfishly, rolling his hips over and over again. Their moans grew louder and more frantic, their hands grasping for skin. Suddenly, Kiba was pulled into a searing kiss. The man's lips were oddly soft, and tasted sweet and-

Kiba didn't have time to dwell on the though as a hand cupped his clothed member. He let out a gasp of surprise, his eyes quickly raking over the muscled form of... Shino.

"Kiba," Shino said breathlessly, before he disappeared in a swarm of bugs.

Kiba awoke with a start, feeling breathless and very warm. Sweat poured down his tanned skin as he hungrily took in gulps of air. A certain part of his anatomy was throbbing painfully, and he had to restrain himself from ripping off his covers and-

"K-Kiba?"

The dog nin inclined his head to the side. Hinata stood there, a jug of water half lent over a lone flower. Her face was a shade red, and her knees were wobbling rather furiously. "K-Kiba... um..."

She gestured with her arm, her lavender eyes becoming downcast with embarrassment. She fidgeted nervously.

It took Kiba a few moments to figure out why she was so... awkward. Well, more awkward than usual. His own face became tinged with crimson as he noticed the highly visible tent in his covers.

"H-hey Hinata." He waved casually, eyes continually glancing between his member and his blushing teammate.

The Hyuga didn't meet his eyes, instead placing the jug of water on the side. "I-I best be g-going. We'll t-talk later!" And with that, she ran out the room faster than Kiba had ever seen her run.

He sighed. He scared away Hinata with an erection. Wonderful, something else to add to the list of things he screwed up today...

Akamaru snorted from his spot at the edge of Kiba's makeshift bed. The Inuzuka shot him a warning look. He merely grumbled under his breath, and closed his eyes.

The first rays of sunlight were filtering through the blinds. Even that was far too bright for Tsunade. Swiping feebly in the windows direction, she winced in pain. Kami, what a hangover. She groaned miserably. How much did she drink last night? She wracked her brain. Was it four bottles of sake? Five? Six? Seven? Didn't matter, she supposed. She was drunk as a skunk, and that left her with a pounding and throbbing headache. She rubbed her eyes.

Her stomach rumbled loudly, accompanied by the sound of her brain trying to beat itself out of her head. She stood and wobbled, using the table to balance, before she stumbled her way over to the fridge. Opening it, she winced at how white it was. Why was everything so bright!?

Grumbling, she took out a bottle of sake. This would fill her hunger. And hopefully alleviate her hangover. Or so the old wives tales said, anyway.

She recalled vaguely arguing with Shizune last night. Ah yes, she always argued with Shizune after a night of drinking. She just didn't understand. Tsunade's brown eyes were drawn to the calendar. Her breath hitched. So, it was today...

The Sennin mumbled something under her breath, raking a hand through her long blonde hair. It was always the same, she would always travel in circles. Today was that day. The day when hope began to die, when her heart was shattered. She wished she was more hungover, so she could escape from this reality she was forced to live every single day. And, to make matters worse, ninja from Konoha were here. Great. More people to remind her of home, more people to remind her of the Hokage, and more people to remind her about Dan and Nawaki.

She bit her lip to stop herself from crying. What good would crying do? She was Tsunade of the Senju Clan, and she would not cry! She took a swig from her sake bottle, right as someone entered the small kitchen.

Tenten's eyes narrowed fiercely as she spotted the form of Tsunade slouched over the kitchen table, sake bottle in hand. "Hey." The Sennin greeted. Tenten bit the inside of her cheek to keep from angrily attacking her, and swallowed. She could do this. Get in, grab some crackers, get out. Simple.

She stomped into the kitchen, her brown eyes looking anywhere but the busty woman looking at her with confused eyes. She reached upwards to grab the box of crackers on the shelf as calmly as she could. On the inside, her guts were boiling with unsuppressed rage. Tsunade of the Sannin, a pathetic old hag sat drinking sake early in the morning. When she could be helping Lee get better! Instead, she was doing nothing with her time. Tenten slowly began to shake, but stopped herself. There would be no point in arguing. She would just leave with her crackers and-

"What's eating you kid?"

Tenten froze. Tsunade's eyebrows furrowed. What was up with this girl!?

Tenten began shaking violently, the packet of crackers in her hand being crushed as her hand constricted around the packet. "What's eating me!?"

She spun around, the packet flying out of her hand and hitting the wall of a thud. Tenten wasn't deterred, taking a stride forward, her eyes burning d. "You want to know what's eating me, Tsunade of the Sannin!? I'll tell you!"

She slammed her petite fists down on the table. "You disgust me. Every fiber of your being I loathe. You won't help my teammate."

Tsunade frowned deeply. This girl dared disrespect her? "Why the hell won't you help Lee!?" She yelled, leaning forward, her teeth baring. "You think you have the right to deny us? He's a Konoha ninja like you bitch! And you have no choice but to heal him!"

Tsunade scoffed loudly. "Who do you think you are? Some little girl who decided to dress up and play ninja. In the real world, kid, I can deny who and what I want."

Obviously, this did nothing to placate the rage that Tenten felt. With a roar, she withdrew a kunai from her pouch and lobbed it at the busty woman. It took Tsunade a second to deflect it with her wrist, sending it into the nearby wall. "Did you just attack me?" She growled angrily, standing up. Tenten stared defiantly at her.

"You know Tsunade, I used to worship the ground you walked on. I idolized you, loved you. If you would have asked me to jump, I would have said how high. I would have greeted you as Kami himself, created altars and prayers befitting your name, that's how much I loved you. You were the greatest Kunoichi on the face of the earth, in all the Five Great Nations, people looked up to you, respected you. And now what are you? A washed up old hasbin hag! Someone who chooses to get drunk rather than help people, someone who chooses to let people die to see what's at the bottom of a bottle. How many people have you let die!?"

Images of Nawaki and Dan swarmed through Tsunade's brain. "You've not seen anything! What, were you one of those pretty flower girls who spent all her time in the academy picking flowers? What are you, sixteen years old? Isn't that cute. A teenage girl who runs her mouth like some sort of all powerful ninja. Let me tell you something! I've been in war, I've killed hundreds of people, I've saved thousands. You have no right to speak to me like that, yo petty little brat! What have you done so far, hm? Maybe participated in the Chunnin exams? Done a couple C ranked missions, eh? By your age I was fighting Iwa Shinobi on the frontlines, I was healing the sick and wounded, I lost friends and allies! You know nothing of what it is to be a ninja, and you never will. You know why? Because you're a hot-headed, weak minded, pathetic, naive little girl who will end up dead long before she knows what being a shinobi truly is!" Tsunade at this point was shaking with rage herself. But Tenten did not back down, instead her resolve seemed to steel.

"At least I give a shit about my comrades! Where have you been the past few years, oh great Kunoichi? Getting drunk off you ass at local bars? Giving sleazy men oral sex behind counters? Acting like a glorified hooker!? I now see you for what you truly are! A disgusting, vile, old bitter woman."

The brunette paused for a moment, her eyes losing some of their steel. "You know what, maybe I am the petty little girl. Maybe I am naive, and weak, and pathetic. But, that's because I idolized someone as weak and petty as you!? You shouldn't be a role-model, you should be someone people spit on when you walk through the streets, someone at people look at with such disdain that they feel like throwing up! You're a bum, you don't deserve to carry the title of 'Sannin'."

Tsunade was at her wits end with this girl. She comes into her kitchen screams at her not being a strong shinobi, and leaving comrades to die.

"Is this really what Sarutobi-sensei has done with the new generation? If so, Konoha is doomed! You are naive and hot-headed, two things that will get you killed real fast in the ninja world. And people will cry and your funeral, sure, but that will be out of pity. I left Konoha for my own reasons, and that will never be any of your concern! I'm going to give you one chance to leave. Just one. If you are not out of this kitchen within three seconds, I will teach you your place."

The two warring women stared at each other, brown eyes locking with brown and never leaving. They both weren't backing down anytime soon.

"Three, two, o-"

"You won't help Lee," Tenten spat, "I won't waste my time with you. Be warned, if my teammate, my friend dies, then I'm coming for you. And I will kill you, or die trying!"

With an angry roar, Tenten stormed off, her eyes becoming moist.

Tsunade stood in the silence of the room for a few moments. She pinched the bridge of her nose, and sat back down on her seat, reaching for her bottle of sake. "Drunken old hag!" The girls voice rang in her head. She had almost forgotten the throbbing pain in her head. Almost. Now it was back, stronger than ever, clouded with the girls stinging words. Her hand dropped limply to her side, leaving the bottle of sake untouched. And she sat, and stared into nothingness.

"Really?"

Tsunade sighed from her place on the doorstep, her eyes sweeping the large open yard. Why were there children, and more importantly Leaf Shinobi in her yard?

She spotted the sight of vibrant blonde hair almost instantly. Her eyes widened. The boy sat, laughing iambically with another raven haired boy, who liked liked he wanted to throw up. Sapphire eyes shined with humour.

"Minato...?"

"Good morning Lady Tsunade! Yosh, isn't it a beautiful day!"

Tsunade cringed as Gai bounded up to her, flashing her with his signature pose. "Gai? What the hell are all these other people doing here!?" She hissed.

Gai smiled. "Why, your most youthful student Shizune allowed my wonderful companions to rest here! She is a beautiful blossom!"

The Sennin shook her head. She was going to kill Shizune horribly when she laid her hands on her.

"What time is it?" She grumbled, rubbing her eyes.

"It is the most youthful time of 2:30 PM! It is very unhealthy Lady Tsunade to sleep in. After all, the power of youth is enlightened by the morning air!"

"Right. How long have they been here exactly?"

"We've been here since last night, Lady Tsunade." Kurenai walked over, bowing politely. "My team was attacked by some rogue ninja. We had nowhere else to go. I apologize for troubling you." She bowed once more.

Tsunade grumbled awkwardly. God damn guilt-trippers. "It's fine, I suppose."

Kurenai smiled.

Gai laughed heartily. "Yes! To celebrate this most wonderful acceptance of our friends presence, let us run around the town three times on our hands! What do you say Lady Tsunade, Kurenai?"

Both sweatdropped. "Piss off, Gai." Tsunade growled, her eyes steeling.

"Yosh! Very well, see you in a half an hour!" And he was off, spouting youthful phrases.

"...I hate that guy."

Kurenai chuckled. "He has some... eccentricities, but he's a good person."

Tsunade grumbled.

Meanwhile, Naruto was having a conversation with Sasuke while Hinata looked on.

"So, I say to the old man, 'Listen, I want two miso ramen on the double!' and then he said 'I'll make it on the triple'. And then, Ayame said-"

"This is the worst story. Ever." Sasuke scowled. Naruto let out a murmur of hurt, before crossing his arms over his chest.

"See if I care asshole. Go talk to Hinata, then."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. It had been 'Hinata' this and 'Hinata' that ever since they had returned. Having woken from unconsciousness to the sight of bright green, and a blinding smile, he was not in the best of moods.

Corpses everywhere, some charred, some cut. Blood caking walls, eyes devoid of life.

Sasuke shook his head violently. "Shut up loser! Just piss off!" The Uchiha stomped away, his foul mood radiating off of him. Naruto scowled at the back of his head, before standing to get up and leave. He then spotted a rather busty woman, if he did say so himself, talking to Kurenai-sensei.

"Hey, who're you!?"

Tsunade's eyes locked with his for a moment. She frowned.

"I should be asking you the same thing brat!"

Naruto stormed over. "I don't want to deal with this crap you old hag, who the hell are you anyway!?"

Tsunade's eye twitched. "I've had enough of annoying kids today..." she grumbled, "Tsunade Senju."

"Well then, I'm Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage, believe it!"

The Senju Princess began laughing. It eventually evolved into full out guffawing. "You? Hokage!? Haha!"

"Hey! I'm going to be the greatest Hokage ever!"

"Sure you are kid. Because all Hokage candidates wore orange."

She had to admit though, she was impressed with his fiery personality. Reminded her of Kushina, actually. Just as boneheaded, too. "It doesn't matter what I wear! I'm being trained by amazing people who will help me become the strongest ninja ever!"

"Oh really? And who are these ninja, exactly?"

Kurenai chuckled at the interaction between the two, as Naruto listed off all the 'amazing people' that trained him. "Well, I have Kakashi-sensei-"

"Kakashi Hatake? Used to babysit him when he was little. Loved playing with his toy princesses. Anybody else?"

"... princesses? Anyway, I also have the Pervy Sage! Well, he's not really that great... but he's strong!... I think..."

Pervy Sage? Tsunade's brow furrowed. Where had she heard-

"Hey! I am great and strong brat, and don't you forget it!"

A vein in Tsunade's head throbbed painfully. She should have guessed.

"Tsunade!? It's been ages!"

The Senju Princess turned to see her fellow Sannin, Jiraiya, standing atop her 'house'. He flashed her a lecherous grin. He still looked the same as ever. Long white hair, tanned skin, rather well-built...

He leapt down from the roof, bounding over to the group. "Pervy Sage-"

Naruto was cut off as Jiraiya kicked him in the ribs, sending him flying backwards. "Ow, you asshole!" The blonde cried out. Jiraiya wasn't listening, waiting for Tsunade to greet him back.

It took her three minutes before she finally spoke. "Jiraiya."

The Sennin grinned. "Tsunade!"

"Naruto Uzumaki!"

"Quiet brat!"

"Oi! Don't speak to me like that you pervert!"

Tsunade grit her teeth in irritation. Her headache was coming back full-force. "Well..." Kurenai coughed awkwardly into her hand. "I'll just be going now... I've got to go and do some... shopping. a pleasure to speak with you, Lady Tsunade." Kurenai disappeared in a swirl of leaves. And there went the only sane one.

"Anyway Tsunade," Jiraiya called out, mercilessly bopping Naruto, who had recovered from his kick to the ribs and made his way back over, on the head, "Give me a few moments, and we can catch up!"

He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Tsunade rolled up her sleeves.

Deciding it was best to change the subject now, or face the wrath of the strongest kunoichi in existence (which he knew far too well) the Toad Sage said, "So, how's your training coming along Naruto?"

Of course her idiot was training this idiot... now it all made sense...

"It's going great Pervy Sage! I've almost completed the first stage of the Rasengan!"

Jiraiya was teaching him the Rasengan? Figures, it was his father's jutsu after all. Jiraiya seemed unimpressed. "Uh-huh. I gave this to you, what, three or four days ago, maybe a bit more? And you've only almost completed the first stage?"

Naruto shrugged uncomfortably under the criticism. "Well, it's hard!"

"Right. Hinata!" Jiraiya called.

Tsunade turned her head to where he was looking. Huh, what did you know, there was another person there. Timid and small would be the best ways to describe her, she mused. She blushed scarlet as Jiraiya called her. "Y-yes Jiraiya-s-sensei?" Her lavender eyes were filled with shyness. Well damn, a timid Hyuga.

"How's your training coming along?" So Jiraiya was training this kid as well. What, was he taking in all manner of strays? The loud obnoxious son of the Fourth Hokage and a shy Hyuga? Maybe he'd take on a polite Inuzuka next.

"W-well, n-not that go-good..." she stuttered uncomfortably.

"Nu-uh!" Naruto chirped in, "She's already almost got the second stage down!"

Jiraiya's eyes shone with curiosity and pride. "Really?"

"W-well..." She trailed off. Jiraiya gestured for her to come forward, and she did so, taking the smallest steps possible. Eventually she reached the group, but with her gaze lowered. "S-sorry."

"Sorry?" Tsunade and Jiraiya intoned at once. Naruto just looked confused.

"I-I'm sorry that I d-didn't master it y-yet. P-please forgive me, Jiraiya-s-sensei." She bowed deeply.

What she didn't expect was a firm hand atop her head, ruffling her short locks. Her eyes widened as she lifted her head up, revealing the beaming smile of Jiraiya. "You kidding me kid?" He asked gruffly, chuckling, "You've done amazingly well! Mastering almost two stages of the Rasengan in about four days? Unbelievable! It usually takes a week to master one!"

Hinata blushed under the praise, and she felt her eyes watering. "Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry-"

"In fact, I may just keep you as my apprentice and ditch this little fool," Jiraiya gestured to an outraged Naruto, a smug smile on his face.

"You can't do that Pervy Sage!" He cried loudly. Hinata looked worried.

"I d-don't want to t-take Naruto's p-place..." She trailed off. Jiraiya laughed.

"I'm just joking Hinata," he smiled. "I'll train the both of you!"

Naruto was still grumbling under his breath. "How do you know this old hag!?" The question was directed at Jiraiya. He beamed.

"This," he placed an arm around her shoulder, "Is my teammate. Tsunade Senju."

"Get. Your. Arm. Off. Me."

Jiraiya gulped, doing as the busty woman said. Tsunade growled awkwardly, a small blush crawling up her neck at where Jiraiya had touched her-

"She's a killer!"

Everybody's heads snapped to the side to see Tenten, her cheeks covered in tears, her eyes red and blotchy, scowling at Tsunade.

"What?" Naruto asked. "She's just an old hag-"

"She refuses to help Lee! She's going to let him die!"

Naruto froze. He remained motionless, a dark tone flowing over the group. Hinata took the smallest step backward.

"You what!?" He screeched loudly, his sapphire eyes darkening as he turned on Tsunade ferociously. "Why won't you help Bushy Brow!?"

"None of your business, brat!"

"It's my business! You won't help my friend!"

Naruto growled menacingly. "You will help him, Believe it!"

Hinata had quietly slipped away, trying to avoid as much confrontation as possible.

Tsunade grimaced. "Listen here kid, I don't give a shit about you. Back off!"

"No! My dream is to become Hokage, and I will not rest until you help Bushy Brow!"

Pictures of Nawaki and Dan swam through her mind like a tidal wave. She quickly shook her head. "Whatever, I'm not helping brat. Tell you what, how about we make a bet?" She sneered.

Naruto puffed up his chest, "You're on old hag!"

"Heh. How about this. If you can master the Rasengan in... shall we say, two days, I'll help your friend. If you can't, you leave me alone, and you all must leave this place."

"Tsunade... that's a bit hasty, don't you think-"

"Quiet Jiraiya," she snapped, "So kid, do we have a deal. Or are you going to be like all the other foolish Hokages."

"THE HOKAGE'S ARE NOT FOOLISH!" Naruto roared with such vigor it caused Tsunade to take a step back. "I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS YOU BITCH, AND THEN YOU'LL REMEMBER THE NAME NARUTO UZUMAKI!"

The blonde ran off, muttering obscene curses under his breath. Tsunade scowled in his direction, before turning around the opposite way, and walking off. "Wait, Tsunade!" Jiraiya called after her, following the Senju Princess.

Only Tenten was left, tears streaming down her face as she cupped it in her hands. She quickly turned and ran back into the house, leaving the courtyard empty.

"Why did you run off?"

Kiba turned his head to the side. Hinata and himself had been making small talk for the past hour or so. He could tell, though, that something was bothering his teammate. She held herself far more reserved than she usually did. Almost the same way back when they were first assigned together under Kurenai. Like she didn't trust them.

Kiba knew he wasn't really an emotional person, or someone who could read emotions that well. But he could tell when something was troubling his teammate. The way she flinched ever so slightly when he adjusted himself, the way she never met his gaze. She always used to meet his gaze.

"To chase my father." He answered, frowning in thought. Hinata was quiet for a long while, before she spoke.

"You could have waited for us." Her voice was distant and wispy, and seemed to shrink into her seat.

Kiba shook his head roughly. "I couldn't of Hinata, I'm sorry. It's just..." He trailed off, his eyes darkening. "It's personal."

Her head snapped up, lavender eyes widening, becoming watery. "P-personal? S-so you don't t-trust me?"

"No, I do! It's just that-"

"You trust S-Shino, and n-not me." She stated sadly, sniffing. "I understand."

"What do you mean I trust Shino. I trust you both the same!"

"N-no, you don't. S-Shino told me a-about your father."

It hit him hard. She thought he didn't trust her, but trusted Shino more. To tell all his dark secrets too. An unknown feeling bubbled in his gut when he thought about Hinata and him telling her about his father. Her questioning who's right it was to tell who ever he wished. "You never told anyone about your mother," he snapped.

She recoiled at his tone, her eyes showing her fright. "Y-you're doing it a-again."

"Doing what?" His tone was biting and fierce. He berated himself. What was he doing!? Shouting at his own teammate, how stupid could he be!?

"B-being your f-father."

He froze. Now he was pissed. How dare she compare him to his father! The nerve of her! He flung off his covers, standing to full height and scowling at her. "How dare you! I'm nothing like..."

He trailed off as she noticed the tears flowing down her face, they way she had shrunk so deep into her chair she could've become one with it. He opened his mouth, and closed it again.

"What..." He slumped down onto his bed, covering his face with his hands. Shino was right... he was becoming consumed with anger and hate. He had just lashed out at his shy teammate, someone who he trusted. And he had treated her like dirt.

"I'm so sorry..." He trailed off, biting back a sob. Inuzuka didn't cry. They never, ever cri-

He felt Hinata's arms wrap around him, pulling him into a tight and comforting hug. He could feel the wetness of her own tears on his shirt, as she lay into his shoulder.

"D-don't cry K-Kiba," She sniffed, "I s-shouldn't have compared y-you two. You're a g-great guy. I'm sorry."

Kiba rubbed her back as soothingly as possible. He refused to cry, but it didn't hurt to have a tender hug once in awhile. Not that he would ever tell his mother that. "Nothin' to be sorry for, Hinata. You're right. I'm becoming... like him." His fists clenched and his chakra flared. Hinata eeped in fear.

"P-please Kiba, stop!" She cried out, clutching him tighter. The Inuzuka took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I just... I don't know anymore! He's done so much to hurt so many people. He hurt my mother by leaving her. He hurt my sister by leaving us. He hurt me! He killed most of the members of my clan! He's hurt you... Everything he's ever done has been to hurt people. I want to stop him. I need to stop him. Don't you see, I can stop him Hinata, I can save peoples lives. I can avenge my clan members, I can-"

"Kiba, stop!" Hinata's cry echoed through the room. Even now her neck flushed with colour, but her eyes looked determined. "Kiba, please. Stop this..."

Kiba gently placed her on the side of the bed. She sighed. "I-I'm sorry K-Kiba. But I-I-"

"I understand, Hinata. I'm sorry. I've said that a lot, but I'm sorry."

"I-I'm scared of you, Kiba." She spoke honestly, pushing her long hair out of her face. "Yo-you're becoming obsessed with r-revenge. I want K-Kiba back, not 'Vengeful Kiba'."

He really was stupid. He was pushing everybody away to focus on revenge. He ran away from Sasuke, Naruto and Kurenai-sensei. If he were there, he could of helped them in their fight. He had endangered the life of his teammates by acting recklessly.

"You're right," he decided to lighten the mood, even though on the inside he felt far more depressed than he ever had before. "I mean, 'sides, without me being the funny one Shino would never get that pole out of his ass!"

Hinata giggled lightly, but sort of gave him a cute look. "K-Kiba, don't speak about Shino t-that way."

He grinned wolfishly. Ha, that was a good joke. A pole up Shino's ass... oh dear.

Kiba swallowed down the interesting feeling of blood pulsing to his member, and turned to face Hinata. "I'm g-glad the real K-Kiba's back. Promise me he-he'll stay?" She blushed. He chuckled.

"I promise. I'll never scare you again Hinata, ever. But, I want to ask... was that really your mother?"

The sombre mood returned, and the warmth in Hinata's eyes faded, replaced with an almost imperceptible emotion. Kiba could smell sadness on her, however.

"Y-yes. S-she left after Hanabi was born."

The Inuzuka frowned. "I'm sorry Hinata."

"Yeah."

And then he noticed. She wasn't just withdrawing from him because of his behaviour, she was withdrawing from him because of what her mother said. He couldn't imagine what it felt like, being told you were worthless by your parents like she had been all her life. And hearing that from her mother in the heat of battle. He realised, however, that he did know what it felt like. His father belittled him too. But nowhere near to the extent that Hinata's mother did to her.

The door to his room swung open. Both nin snapped their heads forward to see who was there.

Shino and Neji stood stoically in the doorway. Neji frowned. "Are we interrupting something?" He questioned.

Kiba gulped, and roughly shook his head. "Good. Lady Hinata, I must speak to you in private at once, follow me."

And he left. Hinata nodded towards Kiba, and shyly smiled at Shino, before brushing past him to speak to her cousin.

Shino stared at Kiba for the longest time. The Inuzuka moved fidgeted uncomfortably. Being on the receiving end of a calculated Aburame gaze was probably one of the worst experiences anyone could ever have. "Hey...?" He said uncertainly.

Shino's gaze never wavered. "You made Hinata upset."

Kiba flinched. "How do I know that, you ask? Because my Kikaichu sensed her discomfort and sadness."

"It's really nothing-"

"Do not lie to me Kiba. I heard what happened. You were attacked by the 'Akatsuki' correct?"

The Inuzuka Heir nodded his head. "I couldn't beat them."

Shino moved into the room silently, sitting down beside Kiba on his bed. "No, you could not. Why, you ask? You were being reckless."

"I was not!"

Shino's critical gaze cut through any bravado Kiba had, and he sighed. "Yes, I was."

"Explain to me what happened, please."

Kiba growled under his breath, but spoke clearly, "I smelt my father's scent while goofing around with Naruto. I ran after him, and Hinata followed. We fought, I lost, Gai-sensei rescued us. That's all." He shrugged.

Shino's kikaichu buzzed absentmindedly as the Aburame heir hummed in thought. "I see. I presume you ran headfirst into the battle without thinking at all about the help your teammates could have offered. Not only that, you placed Hinata's well being in danger with your recklessness, and almost got yourself killed." There was an inflection of some sad emotion that Kiba couldn't quite detect in Shino's voice. The normally stoic genin's shoulders were slumped. Wordlessly, he reached for the zipper of his coat and pulled it down slightly, revealing the pale sharp jaw of Shino Aburame.

"You were a fool. You let your personal feelings get in the way of a mission, and almost got one of your teammates killed."

Kiba grunted in acknowledgement. He already felt bad about it, Shino didn't need to rub it in! "I know. Can we drop this."

"No Kiba." His voice had risen, almost challenging. "We need to discuss this."

The dog ninja growled. "We don't Shino! I'm done with it, it's over!"

"Is it? You think you can control yourself? I sensed your chakra and anger flaring when you were talking to Hinata."

"You were spying on us?"

Shino's mouth fell into a grim line. "No, of course not. I sensed it in the courtyard, the amount of chakra was very strong. Everybody sensed it. We assumed that an enemy had infiltrated the area."

Kiba gulped. So now he was scaring more people? Great. "However," Shino began again, the corners of his mouth upturning ever so slightly, "I managed to tell them it was your chakra, and I would deal with you. I would not flare up again. Why, you ask? Lady Tsunade has a rather potent hangover, and as such any major flares of chakra cause 'the pounding of drums' to resonate through her head. I would advise that you do not do it again. Unless you wish to fight one of the legendary Sannin."

"One of the Sannin? The Three Legendary Sannin?"

Shino nodded wordlessly, his mouth resetting itself back into it's usual stoic position. "Back to the topic at hand. You think you can control yourself? You see your father and you bolt. What if that was a mission, what if it resulted in Hinata's death? Your death? Could you live with yourself?"

"Being dead would make that impossible," Kiba snorted. Shino did not laugh. If anything, the corners of his mouth turned lower.

"Do not joke, Kiba." His tone became far more commanding. "You will never do that again. Understand?"

"Bu-"

"Do you understand?"

They faced down, the cool metal of Shino's glasses glaring into Kiba's dark brown eyes. "Yes."

Shino nodded. "Good. I'm glad you will never do that again. Why, you ask? Because losing you would be a horrible fate."

Kiba felt his heart beat faster in his chest. Shino... would miss him?

"I've lost enough these past few weeks, Kiba. I can't lose you, or Hinata. My father died from fate. You have the chance to keep yourself alive. Please, don't turn revengeful. I need you in my life."

Kiba felt a blush crawling up his neck and onto his face. He turned to face Shino, and saw, for the first time in his life, a smile on the boy's face. It was sweet, and gentle. Just like he imagined it would be-

No, he didn't imagine Shino's smile. Never ever ever. Or his lips. Nope, he wasn't going there. No, no, no...

"I'm sorry, you're right." Kiba broke eye-to mouth contact. "I won't be reckless ever again."

Shino seemed.. different for a few moments, his gaze lingering on Kiba's own lips, before he inclined his head to face the wall.

"Good. Losing another precious person... I don't want to think."

Kiba bit his lip in thought. Should he, shouldn't he... His body reached without thinking, his arm reaching over and placing his hand on Shino's thigh. Very, very close to the crotch area.

"K-Kiba..." Did Shino's breath hitch? The sound of it made Kiba get very, very-

"Somebody is coming." Shino inched away from the Inuzuka (Which caused a mixture of relief and sadness to course through both their veins), as the Aburame did up the collar of his coat.

Kiba could only think what it would be like to have touched Shino's bare, white thigh.

"Lady Hinata, is it true?"

They were down the end of the hallway, away from most of the rooms where people could possibly be in. Hinata's breath hitched. He knew?

"Wh-what's true?"

"Your mother," Neji's voice was grave and low, "Was she here?"

She nodded. Neji's eyes were filled with a mixture of hate, confusion and a small touch of sadness. "I see." He stated blandly, leaning back against the cool wall. "I thought she died, though?"

"S-so did I. But, she's alive. S-she attacked us."

"I know. Was she strong?"

"Y-yes...?"

Neji sighed. "I see. I heard stories from my father about her prowess on the field of battle." He hung his head low.

"Y-yes. I'm sorry." She bowed her head. "I wasn't s-strong enough."

"Of course not. She was one of the best, or so the branch members said. I could be wrong, though." His mouth contorted into a frown. "Although, surely someone must've of known she didn't die?"

"I-I don't know," She muttered, twiddling her fingers together, tears prickling in the corner of her eyes. Then, something clicked inside of her brain. Her face contorted into a shocked frown, lavender eyes wide with fright.

"What about Hanabi?"

Neji had never once heard his cousins voice so steadfast, and yet so broken. Tears ran down her pale cheeks. "I-I'm sorry, Lady Hinata. I do not know- Wait, Lady Hinata!"

The Hyūga Heiress had twisted her body around, bounding down the hallway, sobs and sniffles punctuating the air. And Neji could only watch.

Kiba smelled sadness and sorrow before he heard the sobs and sniffles. Shino stood up from his seated position, Kikai escaping from his coat. "It's Hinata." He stated blandly, although his hands were curled into fists inside his coat pockets.

"What!?" Kiba growled, standing up. "What has that bastard done to her!?"

Akamaru finally stirred from his position curled up at the end of the bed, growling under his breath as he jumped down to be at his master's side.

Hinata finally came into view of the open door, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were swollen and red, and her once beautiful complexion was wet and sorrowful. She paused briefly, letting out the choked sob of "I'm s-sorry." Before she ran once more.

Neji came by soon after, practically leaping into the room. "Is Lady Hinata in-"

He was cut off as Kiba charged him, slamming the Hyuga into the wall as his forearm pressed against his throat. "You bastard! What the hell have you done to her!?"

Neji struggled to breath against the strength of the Inuzuka. "I've done nothing mutt," he rasped got out. Kiba pushed harder on his throat.

"Liar! Tell me-"

Kiba's shin burned with pain as Neji's foot smacked into it. With a cry, he was struck in the shoulder, sending him stumbling backwards.

The Hyuuga branch member stood defiant. "I'm sorry for attacking you, but I will not be accused of something I have not done. Stand down."

Kiba growled. "Make me asshole!" He roared, ready to attack once more.

Shino placed a hand on the Inuzuka's shoulder, shooting both of them a pointed gaze. "Stop this. Why, you ask? Hinata will be more upset if you two beat each other to bloody pulps. We need to find and comfort her. What did you say, Neji?"

Neji mumbled under his breath, but stood tall and confident. "I am sorry. That is Hyuga clan business, Aburame."

"Not when it involves our teammate, Hyuga." He challenged, kikai buzzing around his head.

Neji faltered briefly, but remained defiant. "I cannot tell you. We need to find Hinata."

"I'll go get Kurenai-sensei," Kiba growled in Neji's direction, before rushing past him, making sure to bump shoulders with him along the way. Akamaru trailed behind his master, nipping at Neji's shoe before continuing.

"Whatever you did Hyuga, if she doesn't recover from this it'll be in your head. Why, you ask? I gathered from her chakra that she was already severely depressed and lacking in confidence, much more than she has recently. You've made it worse."

"I apologize... I didn't know."

"Look harder next time. Or Kiba won't be the only one attacking you."

With that cold threat, Shino walked past him. "We may be teammates now, but I'll never forget what you did to Hinata. Remember that." And he was gone.

Neji took a deep breath, before he exited the room. He would go look for Lady Hinata later. After walking, he reached the room he was looking for. The door was open, and the small sobs of a girl rang throughout the hallway. Neji grimaced, knowing who it was almost immediately. He let her have her privacy, slowly turning around and walking back. His footsteps were as dull as he felt.

And there we go! So, it's been awhile since I've had one of these my thoughts on the chapter type deal. So, here we go. I really enjoyed writing the Tenten and Tsunade confrontation scene. It was a lot of fun to do. And it just flowed out of me. I think in some places it becomes stunted to a degree, so I'll need to work on that. But yeah, enjoyed writing that scene.

The yaoi scene was my first foray into that sort of lime area, and I enjoyed it for the most part. I know it's really, really short, but it was an experiment. A fun one at that.

We then get the confrontation/talk with Tsunade and Naruto. I had a lot of trouble writing this, and you may be able to tell it's slightly rushed as the scene ends. It just refused to come out of me (dirty, dirty mind...), I don't know why. I had to write the rest of the chapter and come back to it.

Now, the Kiba/Hinata talk was also difficult, but for a number of different reasons. Mainly because I couldn't decide on what Hinata would do when Kiba started going on a revenge rant. I was going to have her slap him like she does to Naruto in canon, but I didn't think she would be that confident. I was also going to have them fall over and accidentally kiss, but scrapped that idea as well. In the end I went for the raising of the voice. Thanks to KiyumiArashi for helping me out with that!

Now, the stuff with Kiba/Shino just... wow, that's so easy to write. I love writing for the other pairings, but this pairing just clicks with me. I could write about it for hours. It's so much fun working with these two particular characters. I dunno, but they're my favourite couple so far in this story. In fairness, I've not written many of the other couples, apart from ShikaIno (Which we haven't seen in forever, might I add!), so I can't say it'll be my favourite of all time. But, for now it is.

Neji and Hinata was good to write too. Nothing else really to talk about with it. It was simple. Same with the last scene.

And that's that! I'll see you for chapter 29! Have a great morning/afternoon/evening/night!