I'm back at it again, slowly but surely getting to the end of this fanfic. This won't be the final chapter but it'll probably take a few more chapters before we're finally at the finish line. Enjoy!

Naruto was nervous. He could feel his body tensing up as he neared the Hyūga compound. But the young hero wasn't going to back down this time. Naruto couldn't afford to be weak, either. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

He pounded on the front gate, noticing a lack of guards at the gate for once. Naruto thought that was a little odd. Should he chance sneaking in? He was already on bad terms with the Hyūga clan.

Fuck it.

He jumped over the barriers and made his way through the compound. The whole clan seemed engrossed in a gathering as dozens of Hyūgas had convened in one of the larger rooms on their property, with Hinata, her sister, and father front and center.

"You!" One of them spotted Naruto intruding upon the compound. "What gives you the nerve to intrude upon our home?!" Some of the Hyūgas moved to forcibly remove the blonde from the room, but Hinata stood up. She motioned for the men to stand down as she spoke to her ex directly.

"What do you want?" she demanded sternly.

Naruto exhaled. Here goes nothing, he thought.

Wordlessly, he chucked a kunai at her feet. But it wasn't a regular kunai. It was a ceremonial one, used in the village to formally request a -

"A duel?" Hisashi said incredulously, "You dare challenge my daughter?"

"I do," Naruto said evenly. His face was stony with determination. The room went into an uproar as they hurled countless insults and degradations. But Naruto remained steadfast and defiant.

There was a time in Hinata's life when she would have shrunk within herself and faded into the background. When she would have let others speak for her while she avoided conflict. But no more. She swiped her father's walking stick and struck it harshly upon a nearby gong that was hung in the room. Everyone quieted immediately.

"I accept," Hinata stated coolly.

"Hinata -" her father started concernedly, but she pressed Naruto for details.

"When?" she demanded.

"Tomorrow." He replied curtly.

"High noon?" she asked. Naruto affirmed so with a stiff nod.

"Get out of here," Hinata commanded coldly. The blonde poofed away with a cloud of smoke.

The ceremonial kunai still at her feet, Hinata bent down to pick it up from the floor. She held it tightly in her hand.

"My daughter – he is a jinchuriki, a fighter who has fought S-class criminals and won! He's even defeated the notorious Madara Uchiha himself; you cannot possibly -"

"This is who he is, Father," Hinata interjected. "He is a warrior. This," she held is the kunai, "is how he settles his disagreements. If he wants a fight, I'll give him a fight. Besides," she said with an air of confidence Hiashi had never before seen in his daughter, "he's never been able to master chakra control. It's something he's never been able to master. A weakness I am going to exploit. And I'm going to win."

"What?!" Sasuke roared in surprise as Naruto filled him in on his deed back at their shared home. "You challenged her to a duel?!"

Naruto became sheepish at Sasuke's uproarious response to his deed. "What?"

"It's a lose-lose situation; you're setting yourself up for failure here."

"How you figure?"

"Either you beat her down maliciously and be seen as a man who beats down on women, mind you a woman you were caught betraying with another - or she humiliates you by beating you up should you let her win," Sasuke argued.

Naruto gulped. That was definitely a downside.

"Dumbass," Sasuke shook his head. "How do you propose to get out of this mess? What were you thinking?"

"I thought that fighting is what I'm best at. Hinata may not look it or be at our level, but she's a fighter too, and this fight would be a way to get it all out, all of her anger."

"She's a Hyūga. She'll target your chakra," Sasuke stated, his head scrunched up in strategic concentration. It made Naruto fight an adoring smile. He's cute when he's all worked up like that, the blonde thought to himself.

"Sasuke, I have chakra to spare," Naruto said. "And it's not like she's gonna kill me."

"Don't underestimate her," Sasuke cautioned. "She may be weaker and an inferior fighter, but she hates you right now. And hate can be a powerful tool to destroy your enemies."

"You really think she hates me?" Naruto asked him in a small voice.

Sasuke sighed. "You know her better than I do." In truth, Naruto didn't believe Hinata hated him. Indeed he broke her heart, but for hate to burn in her heart…it didn't seem like her, pissed as she was.

Neji was somewhat concerned.

Hinata had been out training all night, not sparing a moment to rest. She was wired and primed for battle. She had a layer of sweat coating her whole body as her wrath radiated off her in waves. Her Byakugan-activated eyes were laser-focused on the wood she had been continuously striking for some time, her hands suffering the strain as they bled and blistered.

"Hinata," Neji called out to his cousin. She paused at last.

"I don't see how this is supposed to help," Neji said to her as he approached cautiously. He had bandages ready as he applied first aid to Hinata's wounded hands. She flinched but didn't cry.

"I need to be able to strike hard and maintain endurance when doing so," Hinata said after a long silence. Neji noted how hard her voice was, the lifelessness.

"I don't know what you're trying to prove," Neji retorted, using some of his chakra to heal her wounds.

"No one thinks I can beat him, not even you," Hinata said in a quieter voice. That stilled her older cousin's movements.

"That's not true. He'll be sure to underestimate you. At least, I believe so. I know better than most how far you've come," Neji told Hinata. "I wouldn't count you out. Besides, this fight is of another sort. You're not fighting to the death but to restore your honor."

"He's going to try to wear me down like he did Sasuke," Hinata said, bitter and forlorn.

"You are no Uchiha. You're a Hyūga with a great handle on our clan's power. You do have a chance to win, but you're right. Naruto has more chakra than you. He's not an easy challenge, but you can overcome him. You'll need to be steadfast and ruthless." Neji cautioned, and Hinata nodded in agreement.

"You'll also need to rest your hands," Neji added, "go to the bathroom. The maids will have drawn up a bath for you with some healing fluids."

Hinata went as her cousin bade her, and as Neji watched her go into the family home, he worried for his relative. In times past, she always seemed so soft and compliant. Docile and quiet. But ever since Naruto, a seed took root within her soul. Hinata became outspoken, and what began as mere one-offs of candor over the years became more frequent as she grew bolder. The adult Hinata was a far cry from the demure little girl she used to be. But now she was so angry. She had never been so angry before, and Neji himself had given her plenty of reason to be in the past. Then, he wouldn't have given a damn about Hinata's welfare. He wished he could say something to bring some semblance of the kindness that once lived in Hinata's heart.

Later, Neji found himself walking over to the Inuzuka property. It didn't take him long for find Kiba.

"Neji? What are you doing around here?" Kiba asked the Hyūga, Akamaru barking in greeting.

"I needed to speak with you," Neji replied. "About Hinata."

"What about her?" Kiba remarked.

"I wanted to ask you about your time together in the past. How did she seem then?"

"Oh, you know Hinata – or erm, I guess you didn't really –"

"I'm not sure how much you were aware of the past between Hinata and me – but I cannot deny the tension between us. I truly resented her for my circumstances. Thankfully I let go of that hate and repaired my relationship with my family. But I fear now that Hinata is now at risk of succumbing to the hatred as I once had."

"Hinata?" Kiba scoffed in disbelief. "No way, man. I know she's super pissed, but that's understandable, given what happened to her."

"Hatred always feels justified, and like a seed takes deep root inside you and before you know it, without even realizing it consumes you entirely. All the kindness and capacity for compassion rots away, and all that remains is bitterness and resentment. Everyone becomes your enemy; you forget to trust and have no room for love. Life becomes this daily struggle of more pain, more anger festering within you, and darkness is the only thing you know…." Neji spoke in a tangent more to himself than Kiba, who was weirded out immediately.

"Uh…right," Kiba coughed. He and Neji never spoke much, and years before the Inuzuka recognized the prodigy that Neji was but always came off as a snobby jerk, especially with how mean he was to Hinata for things that weren't even her fault. Fortunately, Neji did come around and managed to pull out the stick up his ass, but every now and again, whenever Kiba and Neji crossed paths, Kiba noted he'd get all uppity. But hey, if Neji was worried about Hinata going dark…maybe he should check in on her.

"Did you hear about the duel?"

"The what now?"

"Naruto challenged Hinata to a duel."

"No way," Kiba said, astounded. "That fuckin' asshole!"

"It makes sense why – he is trying to regain his honor. Not that I agree with his methods, but it's the only explanation that makes sense," Neji elaborated.

"Well, fuck that! He should've thought of that before stickin' his dick in other places!" Kiba said in outrage.

Neji chuckled with a knowing smile.

"What?" Kiba rounded on the older Hyūga.

"I've always been surprised at how much you care for her," Neji remarked in amusement.

"Listen," Kiba started to say in defense, but Neji kept smirking at him. Kiba wanted to punch him in the face.

After clearing his throat, Neji became serious once more. "Perhaps you are the one who can bring my cousin out of the darkness."

Kiba shrugged. "I don't know about all that – if she's as bad as you say –"

"She needs you, please," Neji pleaded, "just talk to her. That's all I ask."

Hinata sat among the elders, her father among them. They sat around her in a circle as essence was burned in the room, placed before Hinata herself as she meditated and inhaled. The objective was to prepare for a duel among the Hyūga clan. It involved calling upon the strength of the Hyūga from the time before to lend the warrior wisdom and providence. It was a ritual that had been practiced in the clan for generations long before the founding of the Hidden Leaf village.

It took two hours as the elders surrounded her and chanted repeatedly. Hinata didn't much care for it, but it was nice to have the support of her kin. Besides, she needed every bit of edge possible to defeat her opponent.

Naruto, Hinata thought bitterly. I'm going to make him pay. Her heart cried out in fury.

Her burning resentment for Naruto aside, there were other changes the Hyūga heiress began to notice. The other clan members began to regard her differently. Given her standing, Hinata was always spoken to with respect and reverence. But lately, everyone in the clan has been looking at her with a respect that wasn't on their faces before. Before, they were looks of pity or dismissal. But it appeared that Hinata's recent adversity garnered her some sympathy. Everyone was watching her in the village, observing Hinata's reactions since her first outburst in the public markets of Konoha. The next day she was due to fight with Naruto. The outcome of the fight would determine not just Naruto's future standing in the village but Hinata's as well. She always wanted to be bonded to Naruto by fate, but she never imagined it would turn out like this.

When the ritual was finished, and everyone dispersed, Hinata returned to her room. But she found Kiba, of all people waiting for her in there.

"Hey," Kiba said sheepishly.

Hinata regarded him, "How did you get in here?" She asked calmly as she shut the door behind her.

"Neji let me through," Kiba answered, "told the rest of your people I was here to see you."

"Oh?"

"I heard about the fight," Kiba told her.

"Oh."

"He challenged you?" She nodded in response. Kiba shook his head.

"Son of a bitch. When's the fight?"

"Noon tomorrow."

"I'm gonna be there. I'll get Shino too."

"That isn't necessary, Kiba," Hinata stated, her eyes hard.

"Yeah, it is. We're your squad Hinata. We're gonna back you up. That's not up for discussion."

"Kiba –"

"Look, I'm all for you kickin' ass and takin' names cuz those two dipshits deserve it for doin' you wrong," the Inuzuka referred to Sasuke and Naruto. "But I'd be lyin' if I said I wasn't worried about you."

Hinata was about to rebut, Kiba pressed, "Just let me say what I need to say, and you can tell me to fuck off if you want, but just let me say my piece. Please."

She begrudgingly relented.

"What makes you special, Hinata, is your heart. I mean, sure, you used to be shy and quiet. But so what? Everyone's got their flaws. But the point is to ensure your flaws don't outweigh your strengths. That's what's happening to you, Hinata. You're letting all that anger and hate inside you run your life. You're better than that."

"No, I'm not."

"Maybe you think cuz Naruto can't love you nobody can, but that isn't true."

"I don't want to talk about this –"

"You think this easy for me? I ain't one for mushy crap Hinata you know me. But sometimes you gotta say stuff that needs to be said."

"And what else do you want to say?"

"That you're too good for this to let hate swallow you whole. You were willing to forgive your cousin for all the shit he put you through. He sure didn't deserve it, but you forgave him anyway. Where's that Hinata, huh?"

"That Hinata got pushed around by everybody!" Hinata shrieked. "My father, the clan, my cousin – everyone looked down on me for being weak. I was quiet when I should have been loud, reserved when I should have been fierce!"

"Because if you had, Naruto wouldn't have cheated on you?" Kiba questioned.

"Because if I had, I wouldn't have lost everything," Hinata lamented. "When I was with Naruto - when I finally got to be with him, I started to see the future. I'd always dreamed about it before, but it was just a fantasy. When I held him in my arms, I could see our wedding day, picture our children. The vision would get clearer every time. It was all just within my reach. But now, I realize it was only what I wanted to see. Because that's what dreams are. Delusional hopes that set you up to fail. I didn't understand that before, but I do now. I'll never forget it, never again." Her voice was hard enough to cut steel. Kiba looked at her, regarding Hinata's face, her body and her form. The resentment in her eyes. It drove him to say the following.

"Look," Kiba's palms were sweaty, "Naruto may not love you, but I do."

Hinata looked at Kiba irritably, almost dismissive, "Oh please."

Despite the plummet in his heart, he persisted, hoping she wasn't getting it, "No, Hinata, really, I love you. I love your smile, your laugh, and how you are with Akamaru. How you can pack it away when you eat, how you take care of Shino and me, your fighting spirit even though it's not as loud as mine. I love how you temper my worst impulses, and I can temper yours. We bring out the best in each other. I think about you all the time. I love you, Hinata."

Hinata regarded Kiba with a softening gaze as she finally grasped what her teammate was trying to tell her.

"What?"

"I love you," Kiba repeated as softly as he had ever spoken to her.

Hinata opened her mouth but was unable to form any words to speak.

"Me?" She said at last, "You love me?"

"I know I never said anything before, but you were all crazy for Naruto that I figured I didn't have a chance. Besides, I figured he'd treat you right and make you happy. But I guess I was wrong."

"You love me?"

Kiba chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I do. You got a problem with that?"

"I can't believe it," Hinata remarked in awe. She had been so wrapped up in Naruto over the years that never once did she ever consider someone else could ever have an interest in her. That someone could see her the way she longed for Naruto to see her.

Now she began to see Kiba in a way she never could before. And for the first time since her return to the village, her heart felt softer.

"Um," Kiba shuffled his feet, "you're kinda putting me on the spot here."

"I… don't hate that you care for me in this way," Hinata said slowly. "This is all so very new to me. I didn't think…"

"Yeah, believe me, I get it," Kiba replied in sympathy. "I guess it's just one of those things. The kind of feelings that just sneak up on ya. At least that's how it happened to me."

The kind of feelings that sneak up on you…a concept Hinata could appreciate.

But she had run out of time. Now she had a duel to win.

Walking closer to Kiba, the heiress grabbed his strong, calloused hand and held it tightly. Holding his gaze, Hinata said, "I have to go to the duel, but when it's over, we should talk." In her lilac eyes shone hope. The kind that made Kiba fall in love with her. He gave her a cocky grin.

"Kick his ass," he said.

So Naruto and Hinata are gonna duke it out, for nothing less than honor since Hinata's honor was consider to be slighted due to Naruto's indiscretion and Naruto's honor was slighted due to his own actions and how much shit he's been getting from the village as a result.

Why is Hinata so pissed? Well I'm sure everyone has understood but to be clear, she invested these feelings of hers towards Naruto for so long given what we saw in the anime - that format of the story certainly put in more moments and references than the manga did. It's natural to feel hurt when it becomes clear that someone you have deep feelings for doesn't love you back or has feelings for someone else as Naruto does for Sasuke in this fic. Hell, she almost died in some declaration for love for Naruto! I'm still not over that. If not for Naruto talk-no-jutsuing Pain, Hinata WOULD have died, for good along with Kakashi and other Konoha villagers.

But I took this opportunity to bring Hinata out of the darkness a little by exploring a relationship that I would have liked to see develop in the anime/manga - KibaHina. I saw that they were gearing Hinata to be Naruto's main love interest since Sakura only had eyes for Sasuke, but what we saw of Kiba and how Kiba and Hinata interacted, it would have been interesting to see Kiba and Hinata's relationship get some sort of romantic relationship even though it seemed like their bond in official canon is more sibling like. But hey that's what fanfic is for! Let me know what you think of the KibaHina pairing!