Naruko-

The Chunnin exams were in two days. The last rounds of the fighting; Jiraiya has gone who knows where, just leaving me a note that instructed me to 'rest up and good luck'. I decided to take a walk around Konoha, desperately trying to avoid those three little nuisances, Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon. Those three were pains in my sides, and I only have two sides so you can imagine how annoyed I am by them, it's not all bad, they look up to and respect me. But sometimes...

I'm getting totally off track. I was walking around Konoha. The boy I beat in the preliminary rounds, Kiba, he was trying to walk with me.

"And if we ever fought again, you wouldn't trick me like that!" He was saying. I sighed and looked over at him, and his dog.

"For the final time; I didn't trick you, it was your own stupidity and lack of training that got you caught in my trap." I shot harshly, keeping my voice level. He stared me dead in the eyes, the dog barked in happiness and he started laughing.

"Yeah Akamaru, she acts tough alright!" he laughed. I glared and walked faster, he followed. "Where ya heading?" He asked.

"None of your concern." I shot.

"You don't know your way around." He stood in front of me. "Allow me, milady." He bowed. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"…call me milady ever again, and your head comes off." I growled. Kiba stood nervously.

"Understood." He chuckled.

I was walking with Kiba, we went by the training grounds.

"Hey! Hinoto!" Kiba waved, I looked over and my eyes locked with pale ones. The boy had soft, straight, black hair and fair skin; he was wearing a too-big sweater and black pants. He saw me, his face went red and he froze. "C'mon." Kiba grabbed my arm and led me over to the boy. I tilted my head a bit.

"You tried to help me at the exams…" I remembered how he had asked if I wanted to copy his test. His hair covered his eye and his face went even redder when I smiled a little. "Thanks for that, it was a nice gesture." I said.

"Y-y-yeah… w-well. Um, it was…. N-nothing…" He stammered. Kiba laughed, patting the boys back.

"C'mon Hinoto! This is our new friend here! Let's be nice, huh?" he looked around "Where's Shino?" He asked. Hinoto shrugged a bit. Kiba sighed. "Ah well. Hey Naruko! Sit with us for a bit." He sat down, bringing Hinoto down with him. I stared at Kiba, he had called me a friend, what was this idiots problem?

But still, I couldn't help but sit down.

Hinoto-

Kiba, damn you! Why would you do this to me!? I couldn't believe my eyes when he brought Naruko over. She was just so… so… AH! I don't know… She's quiet sometimes… she's mysterious too. And really pretty… and, I just don't know why I can't have a normal conversation with her! Kiba's been talking to her like it was nothing, even though she mostly gives him one word responses. I just freeze up when she so much as glances at me… Does she think I don't like her? I hope not, because it's exactly the opposite!

She stared at me.

"Hinoto, is something wrong?" She asked with that monotone voice she always seemed to have. I felt my face heat up. I felt like an embarrassed school girl.

"N-no. Nothing. You were saying? Kiba?" I turned the conversation back to him, even though I wasn't listening.

"Uh, yeah, so, I can't believe I didn't notice those strings of yours!" Kiba said to Naruko. She shrugged.

"It takes a trained eye. Your overconfidence got you caught." She said simply. Kiba rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, but I'll be ready for you next time!" he laughed. Naruko relaxed, she smiled, laughing a loud laugh with him. Not a chuckle, like when she's amused but a hearty laugh.

"I doubt it!" She playfully punched his arm. Kiba punched back and they laughed more. I looked at her in wonder, she was amazing and talented, but she was nice and bubbly as well, you just needed to draw her out.

I laughed with them. I would try not to be nervous; I wanted her to be herself around me.

The first girl I've liked ever. Naruko Uzumaki.

Kiba-

I got you! I laughed with Naruko, it had been a while, she had shed her sweater and she and I and Hinoto were training together, just some sparring, though Hinoto seemed too nervous to try and harm one hair on Naruko's head.

Don't get me screwed up. I don't like Naruko in that way; I've seen the guys, mostly Uchiha. They're head over heels for this idiot. (God knows why) She wasn't bad looking, but not exactly… my type. I know, I didn't think I had a type either.

"-and we could s-spar one day…. I mean, if you want to…" Hinoto was trying to talk to Naruko, he was one of those guys, head over heels in love and it was kind of funny to watch him blush whenever Naruko so much as moved her finger.

"Sounds fun! Hey, you're a Hyuuga right? You must be strong!" Hinoto looked down, his face red.

"Uh, not really…" He muttered. Naruko tilted her head a bit.

"Oh. That's too bad." She stood. "It's getting late, I should go." She said, then smiled. "It was nice talking to you, Kiba, Hinoto. I'm glad we're friends." She turned and walked away.

I nudged Hinoto when Naruko was out of sight.
"YOU TOTALLY LIKE HER!" I burst out laughing. Hinoto's eyes went wide and he blushed.

"I- I…" He stammered. "Damn you Kiba!" He got up and stormed off in the opposite direction. I stood.

"Well, come on Akamaru." I nudged my sleeping friend. The dog climbed to my shoulder and we headed home.

Naruko-

The next day was a day before the exams, I decided to train, then rest. Training was strange, I felt myself being watched, but no one was around.

"Who's there?" I would call, not very angrily though, whoever this person was, I could feel that they met no harm. I punched the tree again, barely feeling the shock in my fist. Sasuke hasn't come back yet. He better not be late. There was a grunt far off. I heard yelling.

"You're distracted! Try again! Weakling!" I heard in the form of a faint shout. Someone was training. I shook my head, more grunts, then, the sound of kunai.

"Focus on yourself." I said to myself.

My curiosity got the best of me. I was jumping silently through the trees, then, I saw them. Hinoto was going head to head with Neji; I think they were cousins, or something along those lines. They were fighting, training. Neji looked angry. Hinoto kept glancing around, he was distracted.

"Focus, Hinoto!" Neji shouted, dealing a few hits. I watch Hinoto struggle to stand. It hurt to watch, Hinoto was being beaten so badly. "Stay down." I would say, but Hinoto would get up, of course he couldn't hear me. It hurt to watch, but it was almost admirable.

After a long beating, Neji was heading back; Hinoto was standing in the field. I jumped down and ran over to him.

"Hinoto?" I said, he didn't respond. "Hinoto, are you ok?" I asked. His eyes were blank, he was unconscious. "Hinoto…" I poked him and he fell onto me. I dragged him away from the training grounds. I walked him to the hospital and saw Neji on the way there; I couldn't help but feel a wave of anger as he approached me.

Neji-

Naruko was carrying Hinoto.

"Hello, Naruko-san. I see you've met my cousin." I smirked, trying to be polite. Naruko was silent. She kept walking, practically ignoring me. "Naruko-san?" She glared at me and walked away. I walked with her.

"Don't." She growled.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Hinoto's hurt." She adjusted him on her shoulder.

"It's his own fault, as fate would have it he's not very strong. Not strong enough." I shrugged. Naruko stopped.

"Fate can change." She said. I was quiet. She was making me angry. "Hinoto is my friend. As fate would have it." She said the last part sarcastically before sending me a death stare. "And I will not tolerate my friends being hurt." She walked.

"Friends? With Hinoto?" I asked.

"Yes." She stated. There wasn't another word from her mouth, I just watched her walk away. But instead of the beauty I saw before, I looked at her with distaste, she was cocky and weak, she thought fate could change. Just like her alleged friend Hinoto. Come to think of it, she left Konoha on her own, and I don't take kindly to traitors.

So! Gah, school, sorry I haven't updated in a while!
Naruko- It's fine, you've been doing homework non-stop for two days, you should take a break and enjoy yourself today
Me- And what better way to enjoy myself than by writing new chapters!?
Naruko- Woo!
Me- WOO!

Sasuke-...
Me- Aw, come on Sasuke.

Naruko- He's mad he wasn't in the chapter.
Me- Sasuke! Woo on three or no chappy for you!
Naruko- 1 2 3-
Sasuke-…. Woo.