Reborn as Sakura and Hinata: Lost in the Wind

Last-Minute Preparations

I looked at the supplies spread out on my coffee table, doing another neurotic once over to make sure that I had everything I needed for the next day. Had it really been a year? At once it seemed like too long and too short considering the relative chaos of our lives since the previous exams.

I tried to shake those thoughts from my head and focus on the task at hand. Scrolls, food, water, notebook, pencil, Hinata's field first aid guide, I poured over the items I had once more. I guess the only thing left to do was pack.

"Do you need any help?" I turned to see Hanabi peeking over the couch.

I smiled, "No, but thank you. You don't need anything do you?" She didn't stay over very often, so I wanted to be sure that she was taken care of.

She shook her head, walking around to look at the supply spread.

"How was training?" After the... events last time I trained with Kiba, we hadn't trained together alone; I was certain that he wouldn't have agreed to come over if it wasn't for Hanabi, and, even then, he didn't do much talking. I wasn't sure what I was expecting though, of course he'd be uncomfortable.

"It was good." she smiled, "I learned some arm locks!"

"Do not try those on your classmates, understand?" I laughed.

She mocked a pout, "Aww, why not!"

I rolled my eyes with a smile, "So, I take it he's left then?"

She cocked her head to the side in confusion, "I don't know, actually. I went inside to take a break, and he said he was going to stay and train himself for a while."

I glared at the table; that was odd behavior. Did it have to do with me? Or something else?

My concerned inner ramblings were interrupted by the sound of scratching at the back door. Getting up, I ran over to the door to find Akamaru whining and stamping nervously at the ground. I had a bad feeling. Hanabi and I ran into the back clearing, scanning the area to try and find him.

"He must be near the back." I stated before running past some of the greenery to find something that made me freeze in my tracks.

Kiba was there, repeatedly punching at a long since demolished dummy. There was a silent, chillingly robotic nature to his movements, and I was uncertain as to the nature of the situation. Akamaru ran up to his master, jumping up onto him just to be shoved off. The dog whined again, jumping up and biting onto a sleeve.

"Kiba, what the hell are you doing here still? It's almost dark." I called out, walking up to him, "How long have you been here?"

Now that I was closer, I could see that the remains of the dummy were smeared with red. Without hesitation, I reached out and jerked Kiba around to face me, "What are you doing?" I cried out, being met with a wide-eyed, tear stained face.

Kiba let out a surprised yelp at being grabbed, holding up his hands ready to attack. I stared down in horror at his hands which were almost completely covered in dried blood.

I held his shoulders firmly, "What the fuck have you been doing this whole time? Have you been training since Hanabi left?"

"Let go!" he shouted, trying to grab onto my arms before crying out in pain.

"Look at yourself!" I grabbed one of his wrists, "You know the exams are tomorrow, right?"

He went white when I said that, shoving me back. He stumbled backwards before gagging, running over to a tree where he began vomiting.

"Oh, shit..." I muttered running over to him, and trying to support him so he didn't fall over. I placed a hand on his back, trying to comfort him the best I could, shooting a terrified look to Hanabi who had her hands over her mouth and began to tear up.