AUTHOR SAYS: HELLO HELLO! I'm going to try make this chapter long. 'TRY' I say. It's getting alittle harder to do because I want to hurry up and get to the Jounin Exam :) And umm, I'd like to say sorry for my previous AN at the end of Chapter 15..thanks to Fher34 I realised my mistake. So SORRY! Bows head.

R&R PLEASE

Legend:

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

"Jutsu"

Previously...

Little Asuma stopped crying and suddenly burped. Shikamaru chuckled, "Man, you almost sounded like Chouji."

Asuma gave him a dribbling smile, one the shadow nin happily returned, "Your gonna be one hell of a troublesome kid." He whispered tenderly, brushinga few stray tears from the boys cheeks, "And I'll be there to watch you."

Chapter Sixteen

Don't Fret

Present Day

"Woooof, wooof."

Ino turned, she gave the large canine a gentle pat, "Hey Akamaru." She greeted.

"Oh, Ino!." Kiba greeted, materializing from above them and landing on top of Akamaru.

Ino smiled, "Hey."

Kiba crossed his arms, "You never did finish that story you were telling Chouji."

Ino blushed, "W-what story?." She wondered, knowing deep down what it was he wanted to hear.

"I had Akamaru tracking your scent ever since we split." He explained, "Now, are you going to tell us what you saw or are we gonna have to get it out of yah?."

Ino held her hands up in defense, "I have somewhere I have to be Kiba-kun." She said, adding the prefix to help simmer his building anger, "Maybe next time."

Akamaru whimpered then thought to handle the situation himself, he didn't want to see his master and a friend fighting. He suddenly jumped onto the unguarded blonde, shocking both Ino and Kiba, then he applied his entire weight atop of her. Ino gasped beneath him and started giggling as he began licking her face profusedly.

"A-akamaru." She complained between giggles.

Kiba gave the giant beast a nudge, "Good thinking boy." He said, smiling with victory.

"Ok, ok." Ino said, his licks were ticklish but his weight was unbelieably heavy, "I'll tell you, I'll tell you."

Akamaru stopped licking and barked with victory like his master. Ino sat up on her elbow and wiped at her face. "That's cheating."

"It's not cheating." Kiba said, "If anything getting a lick from Akamaru is better than getting bitten."

Ino stood and brushed herself off, she suddenly turned serious, "If I tell you, you have to promise not to get all crazy on me." She said.

Kiba slid off Akamaru and nodded at her, "What did you see?."

Ino blushed, "Ok. While I was still connected with Sai..."

Hanabi POV

Flashback

Day 13 of Training - 17 MORE DAYS TO GO before Jounin Exam

'You can do this, Oneesan.' I thought, clenching and unclenching my fists.

Watching my sister now in comparison to watching her with Neji was just...wow. I never thought my sister could come so far in such a short amount of time. Not even tousan was able to bring out the potential Hinata was showing at this moment. Every so often when I felt her chakra rise, I felt pride swell inside of my chest. It's a shame tousan won't be able to see her in this light, perhaps maybe when oneesan goes for the Jounin exams, he would.

"Chidori Katana."

I tensed as did my ears if they could. The sound of chirping was deafening to my ears. I covered them only for a brief moment before watching Sasuke's sword emit blue lightning around him. I was amazed and mesmerized by the blue lightning that Sasuke channelled into his sword. If Hinata got struck, It was over for her.

'Don't stand there oneesan, dodge.' I thought helplessly. I came across as cruel to many my age and older but when It came to my sister, that was another story. With Hinata, I held a cold facade, not because I hated her, but because I loved her. I was glad at least someone amongst us Hyuuga's still had a heart.

"Hakkeshou Kaiten."

'What?.' I thought, looking on shocked, 'When did she? Who taught her that technique?.'

Father did that move alot in our training together. He said he would teach it to me one day and I was happy. But Hinata, seeing her rotation put father's one to shame. I felt a twinge of jealousy form in the pit of my gut, but I brushed it off. I wouldn't be mad at her, If father taught Hinata that technique before me then it was only fair, she was the oldest.

"Not bad." I heard Sasuke say.

I frowned. 'Tch, he certainly doesn't sound like an Avenger to me.' I thought

"Close your eyes." Sasuke ordered, sheathing his sword.

My sister obeyed. "Hai."

I felt Sasuke's chakra change. It was a drowning sensation, pure evil. I shivered. I definately take back my previous thoughts on him. He was the devil reincarnate.

"Hyuuga." He says.

My sister nods her head with eyes closed, palms facing toward him, "Hai."

"My intent is to kill." He warns, "If you do not stop me, I will hurt you, even kill you."

I tense, I could hear the truth in his words. I don't know why, but I knew even if I tried to assist her or try to stop them from even colliding, I'd be swept aside like nothing. This Uchiha had no feeling, just eyes with a Sharingan I've never seen before, eyes that were peering into my sister like she was already dead to him.

"Oneesan." I whispered, alittle panicked though I didn't show it.

"Come at me." I heard my sister say.

'What?.' I thought, confused. How could she say such a thing? Did she know what kind of position she was in? Did she know who her opponent was? She had no chance, and yet, she didn't move. It seemed like time had stopped before my eyes. One minute they were standing there, the next Sasuke was nowhere to be seen. I couldn't follow his moves. But Hinata, to my surprise, could.

"Juukenpou Ichigekishin."

'That won't work.' I thought, becoming irritated, 'He has to be close to you oneesan.'

I heard a slight grunt, saw but a tiny speck of blood, then the ball was rolling again. My eyes widened, it was like I'd just seen something magnificent for the first time. Juukenpou Ichigekishin is a Taijutsu technique I've seen Neji use. It's suppose to be a close range attack, roughly 5m. So how the hell was she able to extend it's range? Let alone use that amount of chakra to knock the Uchiha back? She couldn't possibly keep expending chakra with large bursts like that.

'Has Neji seen you utilize his technique so proficiently?.' I asked her in thought. 'Has he ever even seen you use it?.'

"Unreal? Eh."

I craned my neck with a glare at the girl who now stood beside me, "How long have you been there?." I snapped, I felt like an amateur for not sensing her.

"Not long. I felt there chakra while I was training."

"Cool story." I retort.

"If we're not careful, Hinata might overpower all us girls." She said with a giggle.

I didn't reply. It's not like I needed to be told that by Neji's silly girlfriend. I didn't even know if she had that title yet. TenTen, that was her name, she was a weapons specialist.

"Why are you here?." I ask, I was turning to leave. Being in the company with someone I didn't care to be near, bothered me.

"Curious." She replied.

"Whatever." I say, she seemed to get my drift and prepare to take off as well, "Ja ne." I mutter, not bothering to hear her reply.

Present Day

"How long are you gonna stay pissy at me?." Shikamaru wondered as he poked around his ear for wax.

Naruto snorted, "If your going to be my advisor, then you should damn well be here. Not set me up with a clone, bastard."

"I had other things to do." He retorted.

"Like what?."

Shikamaru sighed, "I was babysitting for Kurenai, ok?."

Naruto bit back his next remark, "Oh." He said, "How is Kurenai-sensei? You know with..-"

"She's fine, she needed to talk to Tsunade-sama." He explained.

"Baa-chan? Girl stuff?."

Shikamaru nodded, "Yeah. Better her than me I guess. Women are complicated. Troublesome creatures."

"Speaking of women.." Naruto whispered.

"Ino told me she's going to be helping Sakura out." The shadow nin said, hoping to steer the conversation towards anyone but a certain lavendar haired girl.

"Sakura-chan?." Naruto said, concerned, "Did she say how she was?."

"Maybe after you finish all the paperwork you've tried to stash away in your drawers, you could go visit her." Shikamaru suggested.

Naruto sighed, "I don't know."

"You do want to see her, eh?."

"It's not that I don't want to.." Naruto said, "It's just that, I've caught whiff of a new scent and I want to kind of keep it lingering for a while.

'Baka.' Shikamaru thought. 'It's too late. Sasuke won't give her up that easily, but then again, Naruto's never been one to give up. Damn troublesome if you ask me.'

"Sakura could really use a friend right about now."

Naruto caved. 'He's right. Sakura-chan needs me.' He thought.

"How about it, Hokage-sama?." Shikamaru said, "Finish up here then go see her."

"Yeah." He whispered.

Shikamaru didn't miss the look of uncertainty in the blonde's eyes.

Meanwhile...

"Kiba? Akamaru?." Shino murmured low. Something was definately off with his team mates. They were walking almost as if they were drunk off sake.

"S-shino.." Kiba stuttered, he almost sounded like Hinata. Only his voice came out as a whine.

Shino took a step back, Kiba was just to close to his face. "What happened?." He asked in his usual monotone voice.

"Ino told me."

The insects within him started buzzing with interest, they wanted to know also. "What did she say?." He asked, more curious despite not showing it.

"Hinata and Sasuke..." He trailed off.

Shino wasn't slow. He knew, but he needed to confirm it. He turned from his team mates and began walking away. Kiba couldn't tell if his friend was upset, angry or anything as he stalked away.

"Ja ne." Shino said with a wave. 'I hope you know what your doing, Hinata.' He thought.

AUTHOR SAYS: Another one bites the dust! Nah dry! Another chapter down. Also, thanks guys for the reviews. I'm happy to say, I think the sequel will be well received. Ok I'm not that confident about it but I think it's cool LOL. Happy reading. R&R if you want.