Chapter 1: The Plan

Kiba sat. He was annoyed, and he was tired. Akamaru wasn't around, he had caught some sort of dog sickness, and Kiba didn't have anything else to do but watch Hinata. Shino and he had finished their kunai exercises for the day, but Hinata was still working on hers, and they couldn't leave the tender care of sensei Kurenai without all of them finishing. So, Kiba sat. Not that he ever minded watching Hinata. Ever since the three had been chosen to all be on the same genin team, Kiba had held a soft spot in his heart for the young girl. Not that the girl was any younger then himself or Shino, but she sure seemed it at times. At first, he was just concerned about a girl like Hinata being in a group of people that looked like gang members. He had to admit, he and Shino didn't look like the friendliest of people, and Hinata didn't have a very strong heart. Kiba remembered the first time they really got to know each other. Hinata looked so scared that night, with Kiba and Shino looking like complete badasses, and her, the weird loner girl in class. But he was sure they changed her mind about the two of them that night. The three of them went out to eat, and joked around, making Hinata feel really welcome in their presence. He remembered her apologizing for always avoiding the two during classes, and her saying that they should do it again, and that she would pay the next time around. They did do it again, and Kiba never let her pay, no matter how prestigious her family was. What kind of man would he be if he didn't pay for the meal?

But that was a long time ago. After a while, Kiba noticed that he began to favor Hinata, caring more for her well being, and observing her more closely. It had been decided, he was in love with the weird loner girl from the ninja academy. He even loved her concentration and will to do everything and not fail. Something she had learned from Naruto.

Yes, Kiba knew that Hinata was in love with Naruto. He knew that Naruto was in love with Sakura. He knew that Sakura was in love with Sasuke, just like half the populous of Konoha. He knew that Sasuke was in love, but he didn't know with whom. Kiba sighed. He realized that his life was a soap opera. He was wondering which one was going to kill themselves, which one was his long-lost half-brother/sister 'Hinata, with my luck', which one was going to be the sociopath, and which one was going to be the vampire. 'How troublesome.' He thought to himself. He blinked. 'Great, now I'm beginning to sound like Shikamaru.'

He was in love with Hinata, but he knew that Hinata was still a little on edge around him. He came up with the perfect plan. He was going to show Hinata just what a great guy he was. Hinata loved Naruto. Kiba was going to get Naruto to love Hinata. It didn't matter if he wanted to be with her or not. He loved her, and he wanted her to be happy. And Hinata would be happy with Naruto. And Kiba would be happy for Hinata and Naruto. Even if it killed him.

Hinata finally finished the training exercises. All her kunai were in the target in the allotted time. Kurenai-sensei turned to Kiba and Shino. "Alright, your training is done. Make sure you all practice your speed and accuracy with your kunai. They'll save your life one day."

"Fat chance of that." Kiba muttered.

"Did you say something, Kiba?" Kurenai asked threateningly.

Kiba rolled his eyes. "No, sensei."

Kurenai let out an evil smile. "One hundred push-ups for lying to your sensei." Kiba audibly groaned. "Now, Kiba! Unless you want to do two hundred!"

Kiba's shoulders dropped and he got on the ground. He started knocking them out in proper ninja fashion. "One, two, three, ONE, one, two, three, TWO, one, two, three, THREE…"

"The rest of you are dismissed." Kurenai said to her other students. "See you all tomorrow at seven."

Shino and Hinata bowed to Kurenai, then started walking to their respective houses, which here in opposing directions. Kiba continued with his push-ups, under the scrutiny of his sensei. "One, two three, SEVENTEEN, one, two, three, EIGHTEEN…"

"Get down lower!" Kurenai yelled. "LOWER!"

After Kiba completed the set, collapsing a couple of times, Kurenai let him go. Kiba lay there, unable to will his arms to help him up. He moaned. "A hundred fucking push-ups…"

"Are… are you all right?" Hinata asked him.

Kiba looked up at her, surprised. "Hinata! I thought you went home?"

She pulled a small container out from her pocket. "Just to g… get this." She knelt down, and started to roll up Kiba's sleeves.

Kiba rolled over and began to work off his jacket. "It'll be easier if this isn't on." He stated. Hinata blushed a little upon seeing Kiba's sweat-soaked shirt clinging to his chiseled chest and abs. He looked at her a little with a sidelong glance. "Thanks for coming back with ointment. You really do make the best medicines."

Hinata smiled as she began to apply the ointment to Kiba's arms. The eucalyptus ointment cooled his arms pleasantly, as they were burning up from the exercise. "Thank you, Kiba." she said softly. "This should help."

Kiba turned his head toward Hinata. "Hey, Hinata, me and Naruto were going to go to the Ichiraku Ramen stand together tomorrow, and I was wondering if you wanted to come."

Hinata showed one of her famous blushes. "Um, sure. If you don't think I'd be a bother…"

"Nah, not at all." Kiba laughed a little, then let out a small wince because of his sore chest. "I've been meaning to ask you to come hang out with us."

"Um, I'd love to." She spoke, almost whispering, as if her voice was somehow offensive.

Kiba thought it was the most beautiful voice he had ever heard. 'Now all I have to do is ask Naruto to come…' he thought to himself. 'It shouldn't be hard, I know how much he loves his ramen. Especially since he's not gonna have to pay for it.' He smiled up at Hinata as she finished applying the ointment to his arms. 'Don't worry, Hinata. Soon you'll be happy.' A tear threatened to roll down his cheek, but he stopped it in his eye.

She stood up. "There. Your arms should feel better in a while."

Kiba slowly stood up. "Ahh, they feel better already. Thanks." He started to walk toward his house, on the far edge of the Hidden Village of the Leaf. Looking back, he noted how cute Hinata looked. "We were gonna go right after training tomorrow, so you and I should just go and meet up with him, okay?"

Hinata looked back. She nodded, blushing, but smiling.

Kiba continued home, walking by numerous shops on his way. Up ahead of him, he saw the Ichiraku ramen stand. "I wonder if Naruto's in there?" he asked himself. He walked up and saw, sure enough, Naruto slurping down ramen and tea, ordering seconds happily at the same time. "Hey, Naruto!" he called out.

Naruto turned around, a small noodle hanging from his mouth. "Yeah? Hey, what's up, Kiba?"

"Nothing much, I was just wondering if you wanted to come to lunch with me and Hinata tomorrow, after training. We've been meaning to hang out with you more." Kiba flashed a grin, showing one of his doggie fangs. "My treat."

Naruto nearly jumped out of his chair. "All right! I'll be there. Thanks Kiba!"

Kiba shrugged. "Meh, I do what I can." He turned on his heel and walked out of the ramen stand. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Naruto. I'm a bit tired, so I'm gonna hit the sack early tonight."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow." Naruto yelled back. "Hey, old man, another bowl!"

The smile that was on Kiba's face disappeared as he moved out of earshot of the ramen stand. "I'm doing the right thing." He said to himself. "Hinata loves Naruto, and she deserves to get what she wants." He was trying to make himself feel better, but it wasn't working. "Who am I to stand in the way of Hinata's happiness?" After a short time, Kiba reached his house. His parents were gone on a mission for at least another month, so he had the house all to himself. He had tried to throw a couple of wild parties, but with all the troubles that were going on, like the invasion of the Sand forces and the rebuilding of Konoha among other things, not may people could ever show up. It was usually just Kiba and Shino. As he went inside, he opened up the fridge and grabbed out some leftover steak for him and Akamaru, who wearily walked up to him. "Hey there, Akamaru." Kiba greeted. "You feeling any better?"

Akamaru let out a sad whine.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that." He set the bowl of chopped up steak on the ground for Akamaru. "I know what you mean, about feeling terrible." Akamaru stopped eating long enough to shoot Kiba a puzzled look. "Oh, I'm setting up Hinata and Naruto."

Akamaru let out a short bark and looked up to Kiba inquisitively.

"Because Hinata deserves happiness, and Naruto can give that to her." He explained. "She's still on edge around me, no matter how comfortable I try to make her. She doesn't completely trust me, and she's definitely not in love with me. There's no room in her heart for me other than as a friend. But I love her, and I'm gonna make sure she's happy."

Akamaru nuzzled up against Kiba's leg. He let out a sad string of barks and whines.

"Thanks, Akamaru." Kiba said, scratching him behind the ears. "I know I'll get over her eventually, but it's just so damn hard now. I love her with everything I have." He sighed. "I guess I'm gonna have to love her enough to let her go." Another tear threatened escape, but this time, Kiba didn't even try to hold it back. "I'll do anything for you, Hinata. Even give you up."