Epoch
Summary: Hinata is eighteen when she chooses to be disowned. [Warning: strong!Hinata. Possible NejiHina.
Disclaimer: Naruto. Is. Not. Mine.
edit 29 April 2010: For some reason, this site has removed all the page breaks, making this incredibly difficult to read. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused! Darn you for making me re-upload this stuff, ff(dot)net!
She seems so cool, so focused, so quiet, yet her eyes remain fixed upon the horizon.
You think you know all there is to know about her immediately upon meeting her, but everything you think you know is wrong. Passion flows through her like a river of blood.
She only looked away for a moment, and the mask slipped, and you fell. All your tomorrows start here.
-Neil Gaiman, Fragile Things
"You're late."
Hinata says nothing in response to her father's statement. She's only a minute or so late, but anything she'd say in retaliation—even an apology—would add fuel to her father's already raging anger.
"Sit," he bites out. Hinata sits.
"I received a most intriguing letter today, daughter. It was seemingly written by your hand and signed with your name, but I could hardly believe the contents of the words were truly penned by you."
Hinata doesn't falter because it isn't her ninja way even though she's scared shitless right now as she responds that he hasn't been mistaken. "It is my official resignation."
Hinata's never seen Hiashi's frown so deeply set, not even when he'd told her that she would train with Kurenai instead of himself. You're useless, he'd said. Then he frowned and when Hinata bit back tears his face turned away in what she assumed was disgust.
"You realize that the resignation of the heir is not a simple process."
"Yes."
"You will be branded with the curse seal and never allowed on Hyuuga grounds again."
"Yes."
"I will only strongly advise you to reconsider your resignation."
It's only after a pregnant pause that Hinata answers: "I'm sorry."
But she isn't, really. She'd made up her mind nearly a year and a half before, and she won't reconsider anything. Hinata has everything planned out, from career plans to her father's next expression of indifference as he tells her she needs to remove her possessions by the end of the week, and that the ceremony will be held within the month. "It won't take much to convince the elders to let you go."
"Yes, Father—" she slips and then corrects herself. "Hiashi-sama."
Hinata averts her gaze to the ground and she doesn't tell him that all her furniture has been packed and moved to a small cottage on the outskirts of Konoha. When she looks up he's gone.
Hinata is eighteen when she chooses to be disowned.
A week and three days later, when Hinata is healthy enough to leave the Hyuuga infirmary, she bears a pale green scar on her forehead proudly.
While it is a symbol of enslavement to many a Hyuuga, Hinata sees it as her freedom.
She leaves a note in the Main house dojo addressed to her sister and father because she recognizes the improbability of seeing them in the near future and though her eyesight is blurred with tears she knows she will always see too clearly the disdain they have for her. And with a spin of her heel, Hinata leaves the Hyuuga house behind without a sound.
Neji walks her to her cottage, where she's been living for the past 6 months, claiming it his duty to protect her and not the heiress. She knows it won't last when he'll be called upon to protect Hanabi, but she still blushes and smiles and lowers her gaze shyly, because it's clear to her now that her cousin truly cares for her. When they reach her small home and Hinata opens the door she's stunned to see Kiba, Shino and Kurenai all waiting for her with a 'Welcome home' sign. Large crystalline tears fall crawl down Hinata's pale cheeks and she thinks, No one's ever done this for me before.
She's still weak from the seal's implantation, but when she falls to her knees, it's because she's overcome with emotion and for the first time in her life Hinata bawls with happiness and love.
Hinata is nineteen when she passes the jounin exams—with extreme difficulty—she almost loses both arms and eyesight, and her left leg is broken in two places—but she passes. She's never been happier or prouder of herself. Naruto, Shikamaru, Sakura, and Kiba have all passed as well, and the Hokage—who, despite everything she says, has quite the soft spot for Naruto—throws a party in honor of the five new jounin.
Hinata is sipping lemonade and chatting with Kiba (he's doing most of the talking) when the Hokage approaches them. Hinata's sure she wants to talk to Kiba, so she inches away slowly but the Hokage surprises her when she tells Hinata she wants a word.
"I want you to consider becoming a medic-nin."
Hinata's milk-white eyes widen in surprise; she cannot hide the fact that she is severely taken aback.
"P-pardon?" It's the first time she's stuttered in four years.
"Look, Hinata. I'll get straight to the point. You have excellent chakra control, just as good as Sakura. What you lack is chakra reserve, but that's easily remedied with some amount of training."
Hinata says nothing in response, and Tsunade continues.
"I've been watching you for some time. I'll admit, I was hesitant before to approach you because of your confidence problems, but you've impressed me more than I can say. Please consider it; talent like yours should not be wasted." Then the hokage bows and Hinata hastily returns it.
Tsunade leaves Hinata frozen in wonderment, the world moving around her at a ridiculously quickened pace.
Medic-nin?
Though she doubts herself, deep down she knows it's of no use. Her heart jumps with excitement as she accepts the next challenge.
Hinata is seventeen when she decides to leave the clan. She feels as light as a bird and she takes a deep breath, a soul-cleansing breath, and smiles.
She's in the middle of a training session with Kiba and Shino and when she stops to tell them Kiba and Shino are ecstatic—though they show it in much different ways—and Kiba suggests that they head out for a drink. They've been telling her to ditch the clan for as long as they've been teammates.
They drink until Hinata is plastered (20 minutes and 2 drinks later) and as Hinata stumbles out of the bar, Kiba and Shino decide it's best if they accompany her home. So each take one arm, sling it over their respective shoulders, and head to the richer northern areas of Konoha. Kiba pokes fun at her for being such a lightweight while Shino smirks and listens in, but his smirk quickly fades when they meet up with Neji—who demands to know what they did to the heiress.
She's the only family he loves and he'll be damned if she's corrupted by anyone or anything while he can help it.
When Hinata uncharacteristically throws herself into Neji's arms and drunkenly slurs to him the great news his jaw clenches and he tightens his grip around his cousin's petite body but he can't claim to be surprised. He's known this day would come.
Neji waves away Hinata's teammates as he carries her semi-limp form away from the Hyuuga building. Who knows what the elders would say if they saw her…
What Neji does know is that when Hinata officially leaves, they'll be damned. And there won't be anything they can do to stop their own downfall.
When Hinata wakes up the next day with a massive hangover, she finds herself not in her room, but in a slightly larger, pale-yellow room. It's bare, save for the makeshift cot and wild plantlife growing up the building and into the house through the window. She thinks it probably smells good, but she can't tell over the rancid smell of herself. The hangover is taking over all of her senses.
"Good morning, Hinata-sama."
"Shh…please…" her voice creaks and her head throbs with the extra effort of speaking. Neji walks over to the side of the bed and slides open the curtains and bright light streams through the old windows and FUCK, Hinata, sweet Hinata mentally swears as she glares at Neji, promising to kill him as her eyes narrow in pathetic attempt to block out the light.
Neji smirks at her and she decides she's never wanted to punch someone in the face so bad—especially when he says he hopes she's learned her lesson now and how many drinks did you have anyway?
"Two… think…headache…close…blinds…please…now…"
Neji smirks once more but heeds her plea. He then moves closer to Hinata and motions for her to stand up. He activates his byakugan and sends a blast of chakra right above her liver and another, much smaller blast through her temple. She immediately feels better and sags back onto the cot.
"Thank you, Nii-san…"
He waves it aside and his pearl-white gaze becomes serious. "We need to talk."
"…Yes. I suppose we do."
She knows exactly what she's confessed to him and it would be foolish to pretend otherwise. He's grown more patient towards his cousin and senses her nervousness and suggests in the most stoic voice he can muster lest she think he's getting soft that they discuss it over breakfast. She timidly agrees and follows him into the quaint but small kitchen, marveling at what a cute cottage he's brought her to.
"W-where are we?"
"It was a place my father used to take me when he wanted to get away."
"Oh." There's a pause, and Hinata doesn't know what to say because it's her fault Hizashi died, she has no right--
"You shouldn't think like that, Hinata-sama."
"Wh-what--
"Your thoughts are plain on your face. It's not your fault my father died, so please refrain from thinking so again."
And that's that. Hinata's guilt won't vanish with a few words, but it's a start.
After a few minutes of silence, Hinata asks, "You live here?" The pantry is too well-stocked for him to come here only on occasion.
"Sometimes." He doesn't elaborate so Hinata busies herself with the eggs and toast on the stove to avoid the awkward silence and upcoming, inevitable conversation. He's still watching her, leaning against the wall silently with crossed arms.
"It's time," she says softly. They both know she isn't talking about the toast.
"Hinata-sama…"
"I'm ready, Neji-nii. Don't you think it's about time?" She pauses. "I'm just tired, Neji-nii."
"By leaving you're just playing into their plan." It's the only way he can convey that he doesn't want her to leave.
"So let them win the battle," she shrugs meekly. "It's better this way, isn't it? I get what I want, and so do they…"
He doesn't approve, he never will, but he knows there's no use in trying to dissuade her. He knows too well the strength of Hinata's determination, which could have changed the Hyuuga fate. So instead of attempting to change her mind, Neji sighs after a few minutes and mutters, "You can live here."
It's the nicest thing he's ever done.
Hinata is nineteen by the time she's totally settled into the cottage. Two rooms, a kitchen, a common room and a garden. It's everything Hinata could possibly ask for.
Even though Neji has given her his home away from home and has moved what little belongings were already there, Hinata furnishes the second room to match Neji's personality. He notices this and accepts the unspoken offer gratefully without a word and again it becomes his chosen haven away from the Hyuuga life and politics.
"They're saying they want me to marry Hanabi."
"She's only fourteen!" Hinata gasps. She doesn't remark upon the greenish tint of Neji's skin.
"They've gone completely senile since you left," he snaps, shaking his head. It's his way of begging her to come back
Hinata, who is much less shy than she was at 15, can't help but tease Neji even if she is disturbed at the news he bears. "But your children would have such beautiful hair…"
Neji's face is an odd shade of puce now and he can't even speak as she giggles. "Y-you…Hinata-sama…"
"Please do not address me so." Hinata replies sharply, and it kills the mood, and she calls herself and idiot a hundred times, but she doesn't apologize.
Neither does he.
"I cannot," he says.
He cannot, he will not, because he still hopes she'll come back to save them all.
So, what do you all think? I know it ended a little abruptly, but I wanted to get it out before I lost anymore time. Please leave me some criticism and comments, I really appreciate it. I'm afraid I won't be able to update for some time, college is seriously kicking my ass. But the more reviews I get, the greater the urge I have to write. So please don't be shy, hit the purple button!