The Girl Who Lived
By Stella the Hedgehog
A/N: This is the debut of my fan character, Keitorin Hyuga - splee! I also have two more characters appearing in this story, the little sisters of Rock Lee. There names are Rock Kyandii (pronounced "rock candy" ) and Rock Ari (because I like the name Ari. Stop hassling me!) Their sensei is named Chansu Karasu, but he's not so important in the story.
oOo
For as long as I care to remember, my team has been my family, and I'm fine with that. Going back further just brings on a blur of Neji, Ninja Academy, and sand. Lots and lots of sand. But I really feel welcome with my team, like I am a part of them: Chansu, the level-headed but strict jounin, Kyandii, the boy crazy klutz, Ari, the hot-headed leader, and I.
What am I, really? My parents had told me that I am a beauty. It's true, I have looks, just like most of the other people in my family. I'm creative; I have a flair for writing. I'm mysterious and stubborn and a brat most of the time. But really, out of any word that I would use to describe myself, if I could pick only one, is a shadow. I am a shadow, and I live in the shadows. I was overshadowed my my powerful genius of a brother, Neji. Overshadowed by Ari, the most powerful Chunin on my team. Overshadowed even by my cousin Hinata. Though she isn't praised and loved and celebrated like Neji, she is smart and beautiful and obedient, a delicate little flower. Hinata is everything I am not. Except beautiful. I like to think I have plenty of that.
I try, I really do, to make a name for myself, but always there is someone stronger, smarter, faster, prettier, better. So when I met him, and saw how he appreciated me for who I am, and not my heritage, or my astounding beauty (Haha, yes, I'm vain too!) I knew that Naruto Uzumaki was something special. Sure, Ari didn't trust him (that's not saying much, she's very cautious) and Kyandii was just after his ADORABLE sensei (because she's an insane boy-addicted person!). But I knew that Naruto and I had a connection. I knew that he was special.
And he is.
Through Naruto, I made a name for myself. I am the girl who lived through death. (Some people also say the girl who married death, but I don't think that's true. For death, he's really sweet once you get to know him!) This is me. This is my story.
oOo
I don't remember much about my childhood. I remember perfect, perfect Neji, my twin brother. I also remember Hinata, my cousin and dearest friend in the world at the time. My parents didn't play a huge role in my childhood - and they still don't really play a big role in my life - ao I won't bother talking about them.
I do remember running away from home. I was seven years old. I felt that I needed to get my own identity. Neji Hyuga was a great ninja, and little Hinata (she was the same age as me, but dreadfully short) was just so smart and pretty. I wanted to be Keitorin, not just Neji's sister or Hinata's cousin or just a Hyuga.
Anyhow, I ended up in the desert within a few months of my leaving. It's a miracle that I even lasted that long. Lots of people were willing to give food the the dirty homeless girl with hair down past her knees and the huge purple eyes, but there wasn't much civilization out where I was traveling. One of the coolest moments ever took place there, near this weird little village. I met the cutest little boy! (I despised him when me met, but still.) His name was Gaara of the Sand. Little did I know that I would meet him again later!
The rest of my life, up until I became genin, was Ninja Academy. And it sucked. But if you're a munchkin, you're broke, and you're alone, it's a good place to start. Imagine my suprise when I discovered that Neji and Hinata had also enrolled themselves! Despite Neji's former additude toward me, he was glad to see me again and actually greeted me with a kiss on the cheek - which is a big deal, he is Neji, after all. Ninja Academy, too painful to go back to. I can trace every day I've ever spent there using my diary, but it wasn't the best time for me. I was short, I was fat, and I had no friends. Because unfortunately, no one wants to hand out with the telepathic freak in the suspenders. Yes, I am telepathic. I could only communicate one way, until I was almost 13, and someone finally found it in them to communicate back to me.
I met Ari and Kyandii on the day that I became a genin and they became my teammates. And during the Chunin exam, I met Naruto Uzumaki.
And as far as I'm concerned, my life began at this moment. Or at least, a new segment of my life.
I'll be honest right now, write what I have not written nor said: I loved Naruto, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I wanted him more than anything else in the world. But Hinata wanted him more than that, and I could see the gentle love that shone in Haruno Sakura's eyes everytime Naruto's name was mentioned. But strangely enough, I didn't feel the heartbreak, even though I took it head on. I was far too busy convincing myself that I didn't love him. If you're confused, don't worry - girls are complex.
Anything I felt was numbed, anyway, because ever since I met another boy, a certain guy with soft red hair and shining sea green eyes, I was infatuated. And it all started with a simple gesture of friendship, a rice ball.
oOo
A/N: That's just the beginning! This is in Keitorin Hyuga's POV, if y'all didn't catch on when she said she was Neji's sister and all that jazz. And the mysterious red-haired guy she likes? Well, he's quite possibly the only red-haired guy on the anime. Figure it out yourself!