"Where does it say we sign up?" asked Shikamaru looking back at the poster.
"At the village gates." Told Neji as he read over it.
"Well." Said Kiba." Let's get movin." Then he rallied the group forward with a wave of his arm and then they set off once more.
Meanwhile while the boys were talking over their recent discovery, Hinata was walking all around the village trying to find them.
She made her way down the street pushing and slipping past other people with a quiet 'excuse me' as she tried to look for Kiba. But her search went on hindered for some time.
But then Ino and Tenten came up from behind her and wrapped their arms around her. Hinata was shocked at first and jumped until she saw who was holding her.
"What are you-" she began but was interrupted by Ino.
"You're looking for Kiba." Said Ino as she looked around." I'm looking for Shikamaru, and Tenten." She added looking over to the agitated woman." Is looking for Neji."
Neji looked around angrily as she tried to spot him.
"And Sakura." Said Ino looking back at the pink haired girl.
"I want no part in this." Said Sakura.
"Is at large." Finished Ino.
"T-That's nice of you." Said Hinata." But I need to so this alone."
"Why is that by the way?" asked Tenten as she and Ino put Hinata down and looked at her critically.
"I-I." stammered Hinata as the two continued to look at her." I h-have something to tell him."
"Do you fancy him?" asked Sakura coming up next to Hinata. Hinata went red in the face for a few moments and stammered uncontrollably as a result." Oh it really is." Said Sakura at Hinata's reaction.
"Kiba and Hinata?" said Ino with her hand on her chin." What an odd thought."
"N-No." said Hinata." It's not like that at all."
"C'mon." said Tenten pointing to her right." I think they went this way." Then she led the way and the rest followed. Ino and Sakura pushing Hinata forward telling her that her shyness was cute and that they'd be there to help her along the way.
Meanwhile the boys approached the counter at the village gates, a sign posted there said 'Sign up for the Tournament here'. And behind the counter in the booth was Kakashi.
He'd have several ninja come and sign up, but over the course of the hours he was going to be there he became bored easily. With the pen down on the desk he pulled out his book and began reading.
Neji was the first to notice the booth and pointed it out to his comrades. Then the four of them walked up to the booth.
"Well look who it is." Said Kakashi as he noticed them walking up. He closed his book and then looked at them." Come to sign up have you?"
"Yep." Said Choji." You're looking at the champion."
"You've got to go threw me first." Said Kiba.
"Oh." Said Kakashi." So your all signing up?"
"That's the idea." Said Shikamaru.
"That'll be fine." Said Kakashi as he picked up the pen and handed it to them." Just sign on the dotted line."
Shikamaru was the closest to him and took the pen first and signed his name. Then he stepped aside and Choji did the same, followed by Kiba, and lastly Neji.
"Good." Said Kakashi after the four did so." I'm sure it'll be an interesting time."
"You know it." Said Kiba. Then the four turned and walked off.
Then the four walked off. Once they did Kakashi went back to being bored and opened his book to continue reading.
The four continued on and talked amongst themselves.
"Well that's all fine." Said Choji." Now what do we do with the rest of the day?"
"Well if we want to get ahead in the competition." Said Neji." It would make sense to train."
"Especially if the sand siblings are going to be there." Added Shikamaru.
"Yea." Said Kiba jumping forward and swinging his arms in a punching like motion." You just wait to see the moves I lay on those guys." Then he turned and swung his arms causing Choji and Shikamaru to duck. Then Kiba jumped in front of Neji." I'll just BOOM, BOOM, and then WHAM!" he exclaimed as he swung and lightly tapped Neji on the side of his face much to his friends annoyance." Haha." Said Kiba." I ain't worried about a thing." Then he turned around but when he did he bumped into Hinata." Oh." He said looking down at her." Sorry Hinata, I didn't see you there."
Hinata kept her head low and wouldn't look him in the eye. But then Sakura and Ino pushed her forward, urging her to confess herself.
"K-Kiba." Said Hinata looking up at him." I h-have to talk to you about some-something." Kiba looked at Choji and Shikamaru confused.
"And what's that?" he asked turning back to Hinata. Hinata darted her gaze from him quickly.
"I-I-I." she stammered.
"Look." Said Kiba." This'll have to wait, I have to go train." He moved to walk past her but once he did Sakura reached up and grabbed his jacket and turned him to face her.
"Can't you see he has something to say?" she asked. Kiba glared at her and let out a slight snarl.
"Oh no." said Choji his hand on his head." He's about to have another episode." Just then Tenten pushed past everyone and made her way to Neji.
"And what about you?" she asked as she looked up at his cold face." Where have you been?" Neji looked down at her with his usual look while she looked back up at him like something was wrong.
"We were signing up for the tournament." Told Neji.
"What tournament?" asked Tenten.
"The tournament with the sand village." Told Shikamaru.
"Sand village?" asked Ino." Does that mean those sand siblings are going to be there?"
"Most likely." Said Shikamaru as he scratched his head.
Ino bit her lip as she thought of the sand siblings, specifically Temari who went after Shikamaru's feelings as much as she herself did.
"And you were thinking you'd sign up for this tournament and forget all about me?" asked Tenten to Neji.
"It's nothing like that." Said Neji." Kiba was out for blood and wanted to hurt a few people, so we all decided to join him in the contest." Hinata looked up at Kiba in worry, this tournament was only going to hinder her progress to try and change him.
"A tournament, a contest!" exclaimed Tenten." Is that what grabbed your attention?" Neji nodded in reply enraging Tenten more." Fine!" she said. "Then I'll sign up for this thing to." Then she looked over to Kiba." Where's the sign up?"
"The booth by the village gate." Told Kiba as she shook Sakura off him." Kakashi is the one to sign up with."
"Fine then." Said Tenten." And you're going to be my training partner." She said pointing to Neji." And you'll find I can fight just as well as any man." Then she walked forward pushing Neji and Shikamaru aside to do so.
"Touchy isn't she?" said Shikamaru to Neji. Just then Ino ran by the two.
"Tenten wait!" she said as she did so." I'm coming with you."
"You're going to sign up to?" asked Shikamaru as she passed.
"Yes." Replied Ino as she looked up at him." Will you be my training partner to?" she asked with wide-eyes and a pouted lip.
"I-" began Shikamaru but began to stammer.
"He'd be delighted." Said Neji. Ino clapped her hands and ran over to join Tenten.
"What's got you to sign up?" she asked.
"Business." Replied Ino." There are things at risk here."
"Well isn't this great." Said Kiba." Everybody's signing up, why don't we make a little party out of it. Can we go?" he asked to his comrades. The four turned to leave, Hinata all the while trying to get Kiba's attention.
"K-Kiba." She finally said getting him to turn around and face her. He looked at her and she had trouble finding her words." L-Let me go with you." Kiba looked at his friends skeptical.
"I don't think so." He said.
"B-But I can help." Pleaded Hinata. Kiba was about to reply with no but then Neji spoke.
"Let her come along." Said Neji." She wants to help and she knows you're fighting style better than anyone else."
"Y-Yes that's right." Said Hinata. Kiba looked from Hinata to Neji, Neji grilling him the whole time trying to intimidate him to say yes.
"Fine." Said Kiba." It's all the same to me." Then he turned and began to walk off, Choji and Shikamaru close behind him.
Neji walked up and stood next to Hinata. Then he looked down at her and she up at him.
"What's this alla bout?" he asked.
"I have some-something important to do." She replied not making eye-contact.
"And what's that?" asked Neji.
"Can't you tell?" asked Sakura stepping up." She fancies' Kiba." Neji's eyes burst open for a moment and he looked over at Hinata.
"Is this true?" he asked.
"N-No." said Hinata." It's n-nothing like that."
"Then what is it?" asked Neji.
"I-I was told to calm K-Kiba down." She replied.
"Calm him down?" asked Neji.
"T-They told me to u-use my charm." Said Hinata. Sakura and Neji looked at each other unfazed.
"Your first story was better." Said Sakura." You can't hide your true feelings." Neji turned and walked off after that.
"I-I don't like K-Kiba like that." Said Hinata." He- He's more like a brother to me. Be-Besides I like someone else."
"And who's that?" asked Sakura.
Hinata bowed her head deeper before she spoke." N-Naruto." Neji was not too far off and he stopped when he heard the name, then he turned and looked back at them.
"Naruto." Said Sakura." The biggest failure of the five." Then she turned and walked off. Neji eyeing her the whole time.