Reborn as Sakura and Hinata: Lost in the Wind

Prosthetics and Hospitals

I let out a frustrated huff as I turned the corner down the fifth street I've walked through. Why did Hinata have to have 'important business' today? I knew it was frankly selfish of me to want her at my beck and call, but couldn't I have that just this once? I was utterly confused on how to feel, or what I should do.

I went on a date with Izumi.

I almost couldn't believe that it had actually happened, but it did, and I had no idea if I had done anything right or not. How does one know if a date was successful? I mean, yes, Izumi seemed happy, and I somehow managed to not offend him the entire time, but was that the bare minimum for a good date? Above average? Or was Izumi just pretending to have a good time? Christ... I was a mess.

The only consolation I had in all of this worrying was that I knew that I did like Izumi. When he asked me out, I hadn't really considered how I had felt about him with much depth, but something made me say yes anyway. Working on the prosthetic with him and the other guys revealed him to be sweet, funny, and a little flirtatious, a surprising breath of fresh air who seemed completely happy with himself, and now that I had gone on a date with him those feelings were only strengthened.

Sounds of distant cheering drew my attention to the woods, a familiar voice piquing my curiosity. Changing my direction from my aimless meandering through shopping streets, I headed through the trees until I came to a small clearing, confirming what I had heard.

Izumi and Lee were cheering on Kiba as he seemed to be doing pull ups on an overhanging tree branch. I stopped in my tracks at the sight; he had taken his jacket off probably to avoid overheating, which meant that I had a good view of his well-built arms, and his broad shoulders and... how had I not realized I was gay sooner?

I shook my head of those thoughts and walked into the clearing, Izumi spotting me almost immediately and waving with a wide smile, "Hi Neji!"

That actually made my heart skip a beat, he was happy to see me? "U-uh, hey, what's going on here?"

Akamaru got up from where he was laying and came over to greet me, seeming a little nervous. I hoped there was a sensical explanation for this scene.

"We don't know," I almost jumped in surprise at Shino's voice, noticing that he was leaning up against the tree, "We found him doing this."

I frowned at that, realizing what that probably meant.

"For whatever reason, these idiots started cheering." I looked up to see Sasuke sitting on the branch by Kiba's hands.

"Idiots?" Izumi gasped, "We're giving him support!"

"Yes!" Lee agreed enthusiastically, "Every workout can be improved with friends to cheer you on."

Mid pull up Kiba looked at me with a deadpan expression that told me he wasn't quite in agreement with that statement, and I hid a smile, "I'm not surprised you think that way, Lee."

"This..." Shino drew my attention as he crouched down to a bag at the base of a tree, pulling it open and gingerly pulling out... a completed prosthetic!?

Sasuke looked down, then glared at Kiba, "Dude, did you finish one and not tell us!?"

"Uh..." Kiba's form faltered slightly, "Yeah, kinda?"

Lee gasped excitedly, "Oh wow! That's so cool!"

"Why do you have it with you?" Izumi asked stooping down next to Shino and gently poking at the contraption.

"I have a meeting with the council today to show it off and propose the idea and whatever." Kiba huffed as he resumed his reps.

Sasuke sat up, "Oh! You're nervous." He looked down at Kiba, "That's what this is about."