NejiHina - Gentle Fist, Gentle Heart

Chunin Exams - Before the storm!

Hinata steadied her breathing and closed her eyes. In and out. She hurried over to where Kiba and Shino were already waiting for her. Neji had already gone over to join his own team mates.

Hinata was scared, but determined to pass. She put her hand over her heart and thought of Naruto, knowing that he would be cheering her on. I will catch up to him!

Her eyes scanned around the area, all she saw was a group of nervous Genin, huddled together - all eager to pass. Whilst everyone was in their own teams, everyone was close enough together for conversations to be easily heard.

Hinata was actually, feeling kinda confident! That was, until her eyes fell on Sakura and Ino. They were standing close together, admiring a small, cute charm Sakura was holding.

"Eh? That's so cute Sakura!" Ino was fawning over it, upon closer inspection it was a heart charm.

"It's nothing." Sakura was blushing, denying everything Ino was saying.

"It's not nothing or else you wouldn't have bought it! Naruto sent it to you right? Right? Right?" Ino kept nudging Sakura. "Thats why you bought it today, since it's a good luck charm riiiiight?"

Sakura's blush only increased, she shoved the small heart into her pocket. 

"Shut up Ino, we should be strategising!" she chastised.  

Hinata felt sick, Ino and Sakura kept prattling on, but Hinata couldn't hear them. She couldn't hear anything, just the words Naruto sent it to you. It had been over three weeks since Hinata sent her letter to Naruto, and she still received no reply. Yet Sakura seemed to have gotten a reply and  a gift. 

Kiba and Shino were playfully arguing about something, Hinata turned to them. "Um - I need to go for a moment.."

Kiba made loud noises of protest. "eh? Hinata! The test it about to start... Oh! I know. You need to take a dump right?" Kiba laughed, "No need to be polite in front of us, eh Akumaru?" The dog barked in agreement. "Just be back soon!" 

Hinata felt to numb to even be embarrassed by Kiba's normal crassness. She turned around and ran.

The first stage of exams was held in a big building near the center of the village, Hinata ran out of the Lobby, hoping that some fresh air might help.

Once outside, thankfully - there weren't any people around. She tried to get her breathing under control, but she couldn't stop herself from freaking out. All my training... everything, was to catch up to him. 

Hinata felt big, angry tears prick her eyes, she forced them back. Why would she cry over something so? SO.. heartbreaking?

Why hadn't Naruto replied to her? She had checked so eagerly everyday.. she had only assumed that it hadn't reached him? Would her feelings ever reach him? 

I'm so.. pathetic. She put her face in her hands, trying her best not to cry. It was dawning on her, that Naruto had been her only inspiration, her only.. reason to fight?

"Hinata-sama?" 

"Neji Ni-san.." she replied, a few stray tears running down her face.

"Hinata-sama..." Neji wasn't exactly sure how to respond in this situation. They had barely recovered from last week, trainings were stilted - although they still made good progress, they both felt too awkward to share any form of small talk.

Should I tell her to pull herself together? Neji looked at Hinata sniffling.. whilst he felt a critical voice in his head say that this is not how someone of Hinata's status should act in public, he felt now wasn't the time to lecture about mannerisms. 

"I-I..." Hinata tried to speak, but she was too upset to say anything.

Neji felt this overwhelming feeling burn in his chest again, something that almost instinctively pushed him to wrap his arms around her. He had one hand around her back and he rested one on her head.

"Hinata-sama, take a moment to compose yourself. Take as long as you need." he murmured. 

Chunin exams be damned. Neji thought to himself, he didn't care if they were late - he'd move the earth for Hinata if she asked - that idea in itself shocked him, but he knew it was true.

Hinata sobbed for a little while longer, to Neji's surprise, he felt her own arms reach around him. She looped her arms underneath his, and pressed her right cheek against his chest. Hinata felt him begin to sync with his own breathing. Eventually she was calm.

They pulled away, Hinata's face was flushed - Neji was unsure whether that was because she was embarrassed or because she was crying, probably both.

"T-thank you Neji.." she whispered, so soft Neji could barely hear her.

Neji held out his hand, "Lets go Hinata-sama, I'll accompany you."