Forever Uchiha

Chapter 6

One would think that more time would make anger worsen. That just isn't true. As the years passed and I grew older and matured a bit more, I began to see things in a new light. While I still didn't love Itachi and I was still angry with him, I.......I was beginning to forgive him. What he did had been horrible and wrong, but holding a grudge against him for all of eternity wasn't going to fix what he'd done in the past. And while I didn't love him.........I still wanted to find him. I couldn't help but wonder if there was hope for him. That is maybe I found him, I could talk him out if going down the dark path he was headed. I wanted to save him.

It was silly, and a few years ago I would have scolded myself for thinking something so naive and ridiculous. But now that I was older and had killed many people myself, I wondered if Itachi wasn't completely a heartless monster. For while people can commit atrocities, it doesn't mean they're completely evil. And anyway, I still had a lot of questions left unanswered, that I believed Itachi could satisfy.

I had recently been given the rank of jounin, and since then my missions had grown more and more dangerous. More than once was my life and the lives of my team on the line, death knocking at the door. It was hard seeing so many people die, but they gave their lives willingly and valiantly for the sake of Konaha. But that didn't make it any less difficult.

It also meant that I lost close friends too.

Kiba ran up to me panting hard, shock in his wide, wild eyes.

"Hinata! Hinata!"

"Kiba?" I frowned. "What's wrong?"

Kiba's voice cracked. "Shino."

I gasped. That was all Kiba had to say. I already knew what had happened.

"He's......gone?" My voice quivered. Tears filled my eyes, streaming down my cheeks before I could stop them. I fell to my knees, sobs shuddering through my body. A ninja was supposed to suppress their emotions. Never showing any signs of weakness. But I didn't care. Shino was dead, and I couldn't help but feel like somehow it was my fault.

Suddenly I felt a pair of strong arms around me, holding me close. I looked up at Kiba, sudden affection for him filling my heart. As tough as Kiba wanted to act, he really was kind at heart. I'd only fallen more in love with him as we both had gotten older, but I still wasn't going to break my promises to Itachi. Kiba probably didn't love me back anyway...right?

"Hinata, there's something I want to tell you." Kiba pulled away, looking at me with determination.

"Uhm...okay." I whispered. "What is it?"

"I......Hinata, I've felt like this for a while now, but..." Kiba breathed. "I just haven't been able to work up the courage to tell you."

I frowned. "Tell me what?"

"Hinata....I-I-I love you!" Kiba exclaimed, shutting his eyes tight as a blush dusted his cheeks.

My stomach dropped. Oh no. "What?"

Kiba opened his eyes. "You heard me. I love you. I've loved for a long time now. You're kind and caring, and....pretty. Really....really pretty." Kiba looked away, blushing furiously.

The next thing I said broke my heart, but I had to say it. Even though I loved Kiba, there was no way I could let myself be with him without any closure over what happened with Itachi.

"I'm sorry Kiba, but..." I shook my head. "You're very kind and strong, but...." I gulped. "I'm in love with someone else."

That last part was a lie, but it would be enough to keep Kiba from trying.

"Oh..." Kiba sighed, his eyes downcast.

"I'm sure there's someone out there for you, but I'm not that person." I whispered. "I consider you as one of my closest friends, but nothing more."