Sorry for the wait

Disclaimer: yeah, I don't own any Naruto characters, unfortunately (or maybe that's for the best) and so without further ado…

Kurenai sensei had been mad when she got to the training grounds. Actually, she had been more than mad when she arrived at the scene; she had been seriously pissed off.

She arrived just in time to stop the fight before it even began and she was thankful she got there when she did. Had Kurenai arrived any later the precious teamwork she had dilled into her pupils would have suffered irreparable damage. Millions of questions buzzed around in her head as she scolded her two male charges for what had to be the first time in years. What ever happened to their perfect teamwork? What could've caused this? Who started this? Kiba? Most likely…

"Where's Hinata?" she asked suspiciously eyeing the two males.

Her question was met with silence.

She repeated her question fixing her eyes on the Inuzuka. Kiba squirmed under her gaze uncomfortably; Akamaru whined and bowed his head in shame from his spot next to Kiba.

Shino, as always, stared impassively ahead. He shifted his stance lightly, almost unnoticeably, the only sign that he was worried or troubled.

This was getting her nowhere. Kurenai spoke once again, "Where's Hinata? Did she come here with the both of you?" Her patience was growing thin. Its been a while since we were able to do a mission as a team, but now I might have to cancel she thought with a sigh.

Kiba was never one for silence so it wasn't surprising that he was the first to crack. However, he was surprised when he opened his mouth and instead of the gruff voice that was his, a smaller delicate sounding voice answered, "I-I'm sorry, Kurenai sensei…he-here I am…"

If she had been surprised when she had seen that two members of a team well known for their amazing teamwork were about to engage in a frighteningly serious and probably crippling fight, Kurenai became ill at ease when the shy Hyuga heiress walked in to their little group.

Hinata timidly walked up to their sensei with her face downcast. Her face was hidden by her long bangs as was customary of the shy young woman. What remained visible was a sad little smile and cheeks stained with tears that Hinata had obviously tried to rub away.

Kiba felt the air leave his lungs as Hinata walked in. Her head was bowed and her hands were fidgeting nervously with her jacket sleeves. He cringed. On her pale cheeks were watery tear tracks. With a pang he realized that he had made her cry. Kiba felt his insides shrivel up with guilt and clenched his fists in agitation. He turned to Shino. The stoic young man shifted inconspicuously once more but did nothing else.

Kurenai sat down with a long sigh and motioned for Hinata to do the same. Turning to the remainder of her pupils she said, "As we are right now, we will not succeed in our mission. Only Kiba will come with me. I'll speak with each of you in turn, starting with Hinata." I had better not catch any of you eavesdropping. The young men seemed to understand her silent warning as both nodded. She dismissed them with a simple wave of her hand and both sped off in different directions.

--

Kurenai showed no surprise at the Hyuga's shy confession but she was having difficulties digesting it all at once. She coughed into her hand lightly then looked at Hinata once more.

"…boredom?" Kurenai asked incredulously. Hinata nodded, her cheeks flushed.

"…."

Hinata nervously twirled a few strands of lavender hair around her pale fingers. Kurenai rubbed her forehead tiredly, wishing she could ask Asuma about his lazy pupil. You just had to die, she thought sadly and even a little bitterly.

"What about Naruto?" Hinata shook her head lightly and her blush dimmed, "He l-loves Sakura." Hinata…Kurenai had to fight the overwhelming impulse to hug the young woman.

"B-besides, I-I don't fe-feel like that any-anymore I-I…" and not another intelligible word was heard from the flustered Hyuga. Her face would make a tomato jealous and her hair was dancing wildly about her as she shook her head and muttered into her sleeves refusing to continue her sentence.

After trying to get a little more from Hinata and failing, Kurenai went off in search for Kiba since Shino would most likely be easier to find.

--

A few minutes into her search, Kurenai found Kiba and his loyal dog perched atop the Hokage monument. Looking sad and guilt ridden he turned to his sensei and bowed deeply, "Sensei I'm really, really sorry. I just…I just," a blush stained his cheeks as he shook his head like a dog trying to shake himself dry. "I'm sorry." he finished lamely.

--

Shino was easier to understand. He had been near the forest of death harvesting what would prove to be very dangerous insects when Kurenai found him.

While Hinata had been gone to provide much information on the fight and Kiba had squirmed around his reasons when Kurenai confronted him about it, Shino delivered a mostly impartial account of the events.

--

Kiba returned from the mission days later sore all over his body and a lesson he wouldn't soon forget. Kurenai gave them specific directions for their training and had them doing relatively easy and simple missions as a punishment.

Sorry for the short chapter but I just needed to wrap things up. Review, and until next time.