HELLO! Hi everyone. Thanks again to everyone who left comments! I'm SO sorry that my last chapter was uber short. That was because I had no inspiration at the time... But I PROMISE that this chapter will be longer! And as for 'The Plan' You'll find out soon enough... =))

-Standard Disclaimers Apply- I SO DO NOT own Naruto. :((

Here goes...
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[Kiba's POV]

I was riding Akamaru and we were walking moderately around town 'cuz... You can't run around the village in a huge dog and seem normal... Right?

Anyway, Shino's scent was getting stronger now and we walked a little faster. After a few minutes we ended up in a dead-end alley and there Shino was. Leaning against the brick walls of the alley playing with his bugs...

After all the years we've spent together training and hanging out. The sight of Shino playing with bugs... That lived inside of his body still freaked and grossed me out. I shuddered when I saw him.

"Kiba." Shino said my name. He probably noticed me when my body shook at the sight of him and his bugs.

"Shino. I have something important to tell you." I got off Akamaru and patted his side.

"Stay here." I told him.

"Arf." He barked softly and I smiled at him. I started walking towards Shino.

"What do you need Kiba?" Shino asked me in that dark-ish voice of him. What's wrong with him today? He seems emo.

"Man, what's wrong with you?" I asked him with a slightly sarcastic tone to try and lighten up the mood a little before I lay the big news on him.

"What do you mean?" He asked me.

"Well... You're tone is kinda... Like..." I said. Trying to think of a time when his voice sounded like that. "Like that Sasuke retrieval mission before the formation of the eight man squad that you weren't a part of. When the eight man squad was done. You held a grudge 'cuz you weren't in the last mission and while fighting that Tobi dude from the Akatsuki you sounded like that."

He was speechless for a moment.

"What is it that you wanted to tell me?" He asked in a nicer tone trying to change the subject.

Although I would love to know what was bothering him, telling him about Hinata's letter and Kakashi Sensei's plan was more important.

So, as much as I hated it, I just let his subject-changing question pass.

"It's Hinata... She may be... She's in trouble."

When I said that he gasped.

"What do you mean she's in trouble?" He asked curiously trying to hide the immense care and worry he felt for our teammate. The same one I was feeling. But I could see it right through his eyes.

"Well..." I continued to tell him about the letter and after, I explained Kakashi Sensei's plan.

"What's Hinata thinking?!" He said with worry in his voice. "Ugh."

"So, are you in? Whaddaya think?" I asked him about Kakashi's plan.

"Of course I'm in. Hinata's our teammate!" He said.

"Great. Kakashi said to meet up at the gate in... 38 minutes." I informed him.

"I'll be there." He said, his voice returning to the dark, emo-ish tone as before.

I could tell that he was really serious. I was too. We all were.

[Naruto's POV]

I was nearing Sakura's house now. I knew because the Yamanaka Flower Shop was now in sight and that flower shop was pretty close to Sakura's house.

I continued walking then I finally reached the front doors of the flower shop. As I was passing I saw Ino; arranging flowers.

"Hey Ino!" I greeted her. She stopped arranging the flowers then came towards me.

"Hey Naruto. What're you doin' here?" She greeted me; her natural bubbliness surfacing.

"Well... I was just passing by. I'm headed to Sakura's house." I told her.

She said something under her breath.

"Why?" She asked me.

"Well..." I was about to tell her why but then I remembered that she was one of the ninjas I wanted for Hinata's rescue/retrieval mission. So, I decided to tell her now.

"Hey blondie! I'm waiting here." She snapped me out of my thoughts. I was now oblivious to her crude remarks.

"Uhh... Hey Ino, before I go to Sakura's I need you help with something..."

"What is it?" She asked nicely... [Weird?]

I started telling her the contents of Hinata's letter.

"What?!" She burst out in shock after gasping. "I mean, I don't know Hinata that much but she's important to me too. We are friends and are from the same graduating class after all."

"Ugh! YOU BAKA!" Ino said after punching my arm.

"WHAT?! Why'd you punch me?" I asked her. Why did she punch me?! And why was I a friggin' baka!??!

"What does she see in you?!"

'Uhmm... Insulting much 'ne?'

"Listen. I don't know but as far as I'm concerned Hinata's VERY important to me! BECAUSE AFTER I READ HER LETTER I REALIZED THAT I LOVE HINATA TOO!!! And now her life's hanging by a thread because of me! All these years all I've done was try to protect her! Because I knew that I could. But SHE can't protect me from MY enemies! This is a suicide mission and we all know it! She shouldn't be the one on the verge of death! I SHOULD! But now it's too late to stop her 'cuz she's gone off somewhere in the forest looking for death! Now, all we can do is save her! And stop her from ultimate suicide! So are you in or not?" I burst out, out of breath.

Wow. So, that's what felt heavy inside my chest all this time. The reason I felt kinda guilty when I was around Hinata. It was because I hadn't admitted to her and to myself that I truly do love her. I... Love her. Just like she loves me... and now that... I've come to this realization I felt light again and more determined than ever.

Ino was wordless after my outburst right in front of her...

"I'm in." She said in a more serious, calm, [strangely] caring/understanding and respective voice.

"Thank you." I sighed.

"But... Do you have a plan?" She asked in her normal tone.

"Well... I don't but Kakashi Sensei does... He said to meet up at the front gate in... 28 minutes." I informed her.

"Oh. Okay. Thanks Naruto." She said cheerfully.

"Oh. No problem. Well I'm going to Sakura's now. Uhh... Before you go to the front gate can you inform Shikamaru and Chouji too?"

"Sure. I will. We'll be there. Don't worry."

"Thanks Ino! Bye now!" I said then started walking away towards Sakura's house that was now in sight.

[Sakura's POV]

"Haii..." I sighed as I lay down on my bed looking at our old Team 7 picture. With me and Kakashi-sensei smiling and Naruto and... Sasuke arguing.

I miss those days when... when Sasuke was still around.

I sighed again. Now, even saying his name hurt.

'Why'd he have to leave?' I thought to myself. Remembering that night... When... He left me.

'Sakura... Why are you such an idiot?' I asked myself as I reverted to lying at my back and staring at the ceiling.

I had a lot to think about.

Like, after all he's done to me... Why do I still love Sasuke?

What is it about him... that I loved a little too much?

I sighed. Again.

'Thank You...'

His words on that last night echoed in my head. He said those words with the same cold voice but with utter softness and care.

"I miss you Sasuke..." I thought out loud.

I do miss Sasuke. But a part of me also hates him... For a lot of reasons...

'Why'd you have to leave Sasuke?' I thought to myself once again.

Then, sub-consciously, tears started rolling down my cheeks. I curled to the side then hugged a pillow tight. Trying to stop the tears from flooding my eyes but I couldn't. Every time I did more tears soaked my pillow and fell down my cheeks.

"Sasuke..." I muffled under my tear-drenched pillow.

"Sakura-chan!" I heard Naruto's voice.

"Huh?" I said under my breath.

"Sakura-chan! Are you there?" I heard again.

"Uhh... I... I'm coming." I said as I put my pillow back on top of my bed. I stood up and tried my best to stop crying as I wiped my cheeks while heading for the door.

"Sakura-chan!" I heard again. If I was in my normal state I'd be irritated and shouting right now but I was too depressed to even think.

"I'm coming." I said softly as my tears slowly subsided and my cheeks were almost completely dry.

I reached the door and opened it slowly the sun shined and blinded me for a second then I saw Naruto's cheerful face standing at the doorway although... He wasn't so cheerful today. He looked... sad.

"Naruto? You look sad. What's up?" I asked him expertly hiding my tears and the pain I felt.

"It's about Hinata..." He said. Stopping mid-sentence.

He told me about Hinata's letter and that Kakashi-sensei had a plan to save Hinata from the suicide mission

"I'm in! We have to save Hinata!" I said very worried at what I just heard.

"Great. Let's go to the front gate. Kakashi-sensei will explain the plan there."

And at that we left for the village's front gate. I hope Hinata's okay...
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OKAY! Thazzit 4 now. 'The Plan' will be revealed next chapter! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!! and sorry 4 typos if there are any this is half-unedited. REVIEW!!! REVIEW!