I own nothing! Naruto belongs to Kishimoto, not me!

As I sat smiling at Naruto, I knew I was making the right decision. Naruto was brave, sweet, strong, and an overall great guy, but he and I did not mesh well. I loved him, yes, but not in the way I thought I did. We couldn't communicate effectively as a couple, and both of us were too afraid to hurt the other when we felt neglected, so we never voiced it. It was better off that we stayed friends.

"Are you sure this is what you want, Hinata?" Naruto inquired. It made me happy. He was never a jerk, he was always considerate, and he genuinely cared.

"I'm sure, Naruto-kun." I smiled and patted his hands to reassure him I was ok.

"Ok then, Hinata… Do you mind if I give you a goodbye kiss?" He flashed me his million dollar goof-ball smile, and leaned in. Pecking him on the lips, I blushed and quickly retracted.

"Sorry I can't stay longer, Hinata, I have a mission." He waited for my approval to leave; Sakura sure had been working on his manners.

"It's fine! Have a wonderful time, and come back safe." Naruto nodded to me as he rushed out of the park.

**Later that Day.

While training with Shino I flew at the ground fast, and hand to do a short flip to avoid serious injury. Even with my Byakugan activated it was hard to follow his Anbu speed, and if I could, I was no match for his strength.

"So, you really did break-up with Naruto?" Was he really trying to talk while I was so out of breath?! Instead of answering I just gave him a caveman like grunt. He took this as enough incentive to finish the conversation, continuing his onslaught of kicks and punches. I was about to pass out when I heard a distinctive scream coming to my rescue.

"GATSUNGA!"

My hero… I thought as two twisters of death came flying at Shino, who easily jumped out of the way to stare the three of us down.

"Kiba, you're late." He glared. The only clue to this was the distinctive sheen of his glasses, this happened even at night, with no light around when he was angry. I think Shino may be a magician…

"Calm down, Bug-Freak. I was helping my sister with a new litter of pups." Kiba smiled down at Akamaru as he patted the overgrown dogs head.

"Aw, Kiba-kun, can I meet them?" I loved dogs, and puppies were just too cute!

"Of course Hina-hime. Maybe your Koshi will get one for you, well I'd give you one anyway, but your birthday is coming up, and it would be sweet of him to-" I interjected before he went off into one of his never ending triades.

"Kiba, I broke up with Naruto-kun, so I hardly expect a birthday present from him." As I said this I had no idea that Kiba's face would light up so much.

"Oh, Hina-hime! I'm so proud of you!" Kiba hugged me tightly as he whooped so loud the birds all fled. Akamaru joined.

"Proud?" I'm sure a blush was across my face. I wasn't always comfortable with such close proximity, even when it was Kiba, who had no sense of personal boundaries.

"That came out wrong, what I mean is-" Kiba started.

"Kiba let her go. She's uncomfortable, and you're squeezing again." Shino ordered, but not rudely. He knew of my discomforts more so than Kiba did.

"Oh… Sorry, Hime. As I was saying, I meant that I was proud that you were able to reach into yourself and pull out the courage to be so independent. I'm sure Shino agrees, eh Shino?" Kiba looked to the man who always stood quietly by our sides in case we ever needed him.

"I knew our Hina-hime had the courage, but I am proud that she showed it so well. You have definitely grown, Sun Princess." Shino looked at me as he said the last part, and I could feel the smile in his hidden face, a smile that filled me with pride. Both the men in my life were proud of me, and the both of them knew I could do it the whole time.

"Our little princess…" Kiba sighed as he leaned against a tree. "We always knew you could." The way they called me 'princess' was flattering, but I always got the feeling that when they said it, it meant a little more.

"Why do you guys call me 'Princess'?" I blurted in a sudden bold moment. The both looked at each other in surprise before smiling at me.

"Because you are." Kiba grinned.

"You're an heiress, so it makes sense." Shino said with a nod as if that was all the logic he had.

"Oh… I guess." I'd gotten so used to the name, that it never bothered me, but now I was beginning to hear the adoration in it. It sounded as if the worshipped the very ground I walked on.

I couldn't have been more close.