Start From Naruto: Shino the Dominator

The morning sun bathed the city of Oujisama in its warm glow.

Shino and Hinata emerged from the hotel where they had spent the night.

Hinata trailed behind Shino, her steps less hesitant than the day before and her hands less clingy, but unease still lingered in her eyes.

She couldn't shake off the worry that gnawed at her heart, this time for a wholly different matter - Kiba had yet to return.

After walking in silence for a while, Hinata finally mustered the courage to speak, "Shino-kun, do you think something happened to Kiba-kun? He's never been gone for this long before."

Shino glanced over his shoulder at Hinata, "If you're worried, we can go look for him. It's possible he encountered some trouble."

Hinata hesitated, her mind filled with the memories of the slums and the fear that still clung to her.

She resisted the thought of returning there, but her concern for Kiba won over her hesitations. "Mm, let's go find him..."

Thus, the two made their way back to the slums.

Coming across some of the locals heading off to work, Hinata went up and politely asked in a soft voice, "E-excuse me, have you seen a young man... about this height-"

After gesturing a bit taller than herself, Hinata continued, "He has a little dog by his side..."

Asking around and around for a while, they finally found a lead.

"Oh, that young brat. I sent him off toward the warehouse of the Shin gang yesterday. Don't tell me..."

The middle-aged man's eyes ping-ponged between the two before he whispered, "Your companion disappeared, too, huh? Damn, I even warned him that it was dangerous."

The shy Hinata perked up at his words, "C-Can you tell us which direction he went?"

"Huh? You two also want to go there? Young lady, I would advise you against it..." Seeing Hinata's determined face, the middle-aged man threw a glance at the forehead guard on Hinata's neck before grumbling, "Well, I won't say more. You do you. The warehouse is that'away."

"T-Thank you mister." Hinata politely bowed before she scooted back into position behind Shino, giving his sleeve a tug.

Shino gave the man a nod and turned to walk away, towing Hinata along.

When they were some distance away, the middle-aged went back to squat in the shade, grumbling unhappily, "Damn kids, they just like seeking death these days, don't they? Pity. Could have been worth a good sum on the market..."

Arriving at the warehouse, Shino and Hinata searched it... finding it to be eerily empty.

There were signs of scorch marks and charred ground from previous explosions, but there were no other clues, not even a single blood stain.

Hinata's heart sank at the implications. Yet, Hinata refused to give up hope.

"Shino-kun, let's search somewhere else. I'm sure we'll find Kiba-kun eventually..."

Just when they left the desolate warehouse, their ears caught the anguished cries of a woman in a nearby alley. "No! No! Somebody help! Mmph-"

The echoes were hauntingly familiar, mirroring the events of the day before. Hinata froze in her tracks, her body trembling. Images of her nightmares resurfaced, threatening to paralyze her, yet her innate kindness forced her to face reality.

Silently standing by her side, the stoic Shino observed Hinata's inner struggle, but he didn't intervene.

He knew the torment she was experiencing, but he also understood her compassionate nature. The decision rested with Hinata, and he respected whatever path she chose.

In the end, Hinata uttered in a determined voice, "Shino-kun, I'm going."

Then, she mustered her strength and stepped into the dark alley, leaving Shino to shake his head with a sigh.

It's too difficult to change the personality of important characters. But this is also part of the fun of the game...

In the dreary alley, Hinata cautiously approached the source of the cries and found a distressed woman cornered by a group of unruly men.

Ignoring her own trembling limbs, Hinata summoned her courage and yelled, "Leave her alone!"

The men turned their attention to Hinata, their eyes gleaming with malice. "What's a delicate flower like you doing in this part of town? This is none of your business, little girl."

Undeterred, Hinata straightened herself, entering combat posture with hands raised. "No one deserves to be treated this way. Release her at once or... face my wrath."

The men, finding amusement in Hinata's audacity, let out mocking laughter, "Hahaha!"

"You think you can stop us, girl? You're nothing but a nuisance."

The thugs closed in, "Come here, let big brother teach you what happens to nosy chicks! Hahaha..."

Hearing the familiar words and the malicious laughter, Hinata's breath hitched, her body trembling as the memories of the previous night flooded her mind.

The suffocating fear paralyzed her, rendering her incapable of taking action!

Just as despair threatened to consume her, a firm hand landed on her shoulder, fishing her out from her crippling weight of fear.

Hinata turned, seeing Shino behind her.  "I'm here, Hinata. You don't have to face this alone."

His words, like a soothing balm, resonated within Hinata's core. Ah... that's right. There was a beacon of strength in the darkness that surrounded her. Her path forward was now... lit.

Feeling a strange courage flooding her veins, Hinata's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly averted her gaze, a flush coloring her cheeks.

"The heck? These two kiddos dare to play house in front of grandpa? Ha! Grandpa will give you two a good lesson for treating this like a game!"

Oh, there was still some trash that needs to be taken out. Hinata formed hand signs, a small smile curving her lips.

The chakra within her stirred, "Byakugan!"

Her once gentle eyes transformed, becoming piercing orbs of pale white, brimming with untapped fierceness, ready to face her past and future.

Meanwhile, the teammate she was looking for was also facing their own past and future... perhaps even more harrowing and traumatizing than the innocence available here.

And even her sensei had been dragged into the abyss...