Shades of Cool
Chapter 1 - 5 Months
Short Description: Hinata has 5 months to become stronger or the title of head will be stripped from her.
Hinata sat at her vanity mirror. Her right hand held the comb, a strip of wood with six narrow teeth to untangle her long tresses. Before she sat at her vanity and proceeded to brush her hair as if it was the most tangled mess in the world, she had been in the washroom with the hot water running and the steam in the closed bathroom nearly blinding her. Hinata had washed her hair three times to make sure that their was no sign of any dirt or sweat. She also made sure to condition her hair with her favorite lavender conditioner she made herself. No, she would not look like an idiot today of all days.
"Hinata, you look beautiful." said Kameko, a member of the branch family and Hinata's caretaker.
Sighing, Hinata nodded her thanks. Kameko had been waiting patiently for the Hyuga heiress to finish herself up so they could both proceed to go to the meeting her father, Hyuga Hiashi, had instructed for noon, which was exactly five minutes from now. Hinata was beyond nervous to see what her father had to say to her and Hanabi in a meeting that he could have simply said in his office with only the the three of them. Nevertheless, Hinata decided that it would be better if she presented herself with much more grace than ever.
"Are you ready?" asked Kameko, a smile on her lips.
Hinata nodded and stood. The heiress had great guilt for Kameko. Though she was only a few years older than Hinata herself, she was far too young to be a caretaker to anyone. Especially the clumsy heiress. Hiashi had demanded that Hinata have someone walking with her at all times after a meeting he had put together a few years ago. Hinata, again, being clumsy, tripped over her two feet and went tumbling down the wooden stairs when she and Hanabi had been called down to be seated next to their father. Her embarrassment never subsided after that and having Kameko walking either besides or behind her did not help, either.
"I wonder what the meeting is about." spoke Kameko as she and Hinata walked towards the meeting hall.
Hinata nodded. "F-Father s-seemed very persistent to have the m-meeting."
"That indeed." Kameko nodded. "Maybe he has special news."
Hinata stayed quiet. Her father barely had anything "special" to say to his two children, and when he did it was towards Hanabi, her younger sister who excelled in all she did. Unlike her older sister. Sure, Hinata excelled in a few occasions, but nothing that ever caught her fathers eye like her younger sister has.
"Do not be insecure, Hinata-sama." Kameko's voice echoed through the heiress' ears. "What ever Hiashi-sama has to say, I am quite positive that it is important and beneficial to the clan."
Hinata sighed. Hiashi was not a man that had many kind words. Yes, there was a strong adoration Hinata shared for her father, as well as Hanabi - her younger sister. However, her father (though it seemed) to have a hard time in showering his eldest daughter his love. And if he did, it would be given in grunts and moans or, occasionally, nods.
"Let us be going, Hinata-sama." said Kameko. "We wouldn't want to be late."
Hinata nodded. She knew how frustrated the Hyuga head would be upon realizing someone - anyone - was late to a clan meeting.
As Kameko and she strolled down the spiral stairs to the Hyuga main hall, she could not help but feel her heart beating out her chest. Goosebumps began to rise on her skin as she felt pearl eyes like her own follow her every move (almost as if waiting for her to stumble and fall like she has done a few years back). The heiress began to breath slowly to herself like Kameko once coached her to do upon the many sea's of eyes.
"Now," said Hiashi, rising from his knees. "We shall begin the meeting."
Hinata had took a knee before her father. She had been besides her sister when she took a knee. "Hello, imouti-chan." spoke Hinata to Hanabi.
"Hello, onee-san." Hanabi nodded. "Is everything alright? You look nervous."
Hinata sighed. Hanabi, though younger than Hinata, was very intelligent and observant. The younger heiress knew when her sister was indifferent. Hanabi adored her older sister and would do anything in her power to see her content and stress free...the best she could.
"Everything is alright, Hanabi." Hinata whispered.
Hanabi knew better, but she did not press the issue. Instead, the younger heiress adverted her eyes to her father.
"Hanabi." spoke the Hyuga head.
Hanabi stood onto her feet and bowed. "Yes, Oto-san."
"How is your progress going with your training?" Hiashi asked, though her already knew the answer. Hyuga Hiashi had always been involved in his children life and well being (even if he was with Hanabi more than Hinata).
"My progress is improving, Otoō-san." spoke Hanabi. "As a Hyuga, my progress is to strive."
Hiashi nodded. He was satisfied with her answer.
"Hinata..." spoke Hiashi, his eyes adverting to her eldest daughter.
Said daughter lifted to her feet much like her sister has and bowed. "O-Oto-san."
Hinata lifted her eyes and stared at her father. His own eyes shown no emotion, as usual, and his stare seemed to burn deep inside of her. "How are you, Hinata?" asked Hiashi.
"H-Hai, Otō-san." Hinata murmured. "I am well."
"How is your own progress within your training, Hinata?" asked Hiashi.
"I-Improving, Otō-san."
Hiashi coughed.
Hinata squirmed.
Hanabi sighed inaudibly.
Hiashi hummed. "Improving slowly." he spoke. "While Hanabi's improvement seems to accelerate."
Hinata frowned. As did Hanabi.
"Do you wish to become head?" asked Hyuga Hiashi, his eyes fixed on his eldest born daughter.
'Yes!' Hinata wished to say aloud and with confidence. But she couldn't. She desired nothing more than become head f her clan, but deep within her gut, she knew it was not he main priority. Yes, she wanted to become stronger and powerful to prove her clan that she, Hyuga Hinata, was not a weakling as they thought. She wished to demolish the main branches family juinjutsu - the curse mark - and have her family not be separate withing two. The heiress no longer wished to hear the screams of agony whenever a branch family member did not - or could not - satisfy the main branch enough and had to endure the pain of the juinjutsu.
"If you cannot answer, Hinata, then you would have no choice but to cease the title as head and award it to Hanabi."
Hinata gulped and her eyes widen. That was an idea she did not want to do. Her and Hanabi were close, and when they had the chance to talk with one another privately, Hinata had heard her sister mention many times that she desired to not become head - for she was still a child and did not have the opportunities to experience the childhood she (Hinata) and other's (like Neji) had. Upon hearing her sister confess, she promised that she would grow powerful enough to gain title as head.
"N-No, Otō-san." Hinata shook her head. "I-I wish to have the title as h-head."
"Is that so?" her father asked almost in a taunting voice.
'Yes.' Hinata thought. 'This is the one thing that I have left. I cannot fail.'
"Yes, Otō-san." whispered Hinata. "I wish to become head of o-our clan."
Hiashi stared at his daughter. After all these years, he watch Hinata grow from a young girl into a woman. He was proud of her - though rarely shown. He fought alongside her in the war, and though she had her mistakes, Hinata was powerful. But, this was not a war. This was a clan, and powerful clan that took centuries to build and control. Hanabi was as strong as her eldest sister despite having been a few years apart. Hanabi spoke with confidence and did not cower or tremble when eyes were laid upon her. Hinata on the other hand...
"Alright." Hiashi voiced after reaching his thoughts. "You have five months."
Hinata furrowed her brows. "F-For-"
"To become strong enough to fight against Hanabi." Hiashi interrupted. His eyes watched both of his daughters eyes wide and gasp. "Whoever is successful becomes head of the Hyuga clan."
"O-Otō-"
"You're all dismissed." Hiashi spoke above his daughter. He himself began to leave upon the many Hyuga branch families, some throwing her apologetic looks while others murmured.
Hinata hung her head.
"It'll be alright, onee-san." Hanabi placed her hang on her elder sister shoulder.
"I-I...I don't know what to do, Hanabi." Hinata whispered. And she was not lying. "I do not wish to fail you nor burden you with the title of head."
Hanabi watched her sister sob. It broke her heart, though like her father, she barely shown the emotion she desired. "I believe in you, onee-san." Hanabi whispered to Hinata, coming closer. "But...I do not want to see you put yourself down."
"You shouldn't do that."
Hinata gulped.
It was now the evening time. She was sure her clan were preparing for dinner (without her of course).
After leaving the Hyuga compound, she was met with Konoha's mid afternoon warmth that felt nice on her skin.
It had been mid afternoon, the heat surrounding Konoha felt nice upon her skin.
Hinata had left her home at the Hyuga compound and took a walk upon Konoha, her mind one her father's demand.
'Five months should be enough.' she thought to herself. It had to be, for if it was not, she would not be given the title.
Hinata rarely felt angry, and whenever she did, it was almost always towards herself. Constantly, the heiress would blame whatever her life consisted of would be here fault (even if it was not). Rarely would she ever put the blame or the sadness or anger she felt upon anyone.
Now, it was different. She felt just like a failure and did not know how she had let herself be this way. She knew her clan and she knew her fathers along with the elders. She knew that they would not go easier on her after the war, but it was hope. It was unfair. Truly unfair that she had become a burden to her father (and sister) that she was the eldest of the main branch. She knew her father had thought nothing of her but as a weakling. She knew, though Hiashi had not spoke it aloud, that he had wished Neji was his own son - a son to rule a clan one day. She had seen the sparkle in her fathers eyes whenever he trained with Neji and seen the Hyuga clan genius potential.
'But that was but a dream.' Hinata thought. 'Now longer coming to reality.' For Neji was gone...and never to return. That, and the elders would never allow a branch family member to rule the clan. It just was not realistic.
However, though it was unfair for Hinata, her fate had been decided the day she was born. She was to be head of her clan - to become a powerful kunoichi! This was her destiny and she would not let her sister decide her own destiny. Hanabi was born in the main branch, but not to become head. Hanabi was but a child and a child she will remain until her rightful moment. No, Hinata could not let Hanabi be forced into becoming something so demeaning and stressful at such a young age.
"O-Oh..." Hinata stuttered, her eyes filled with tears. When did she start crying.
As the byakugan user turned around, she eyed the stranger a few feet away from her. True, he was not an actual stranger. Hinata knew of him. He was a great friend of Uzumaki Naruto and a love interest of her friend, Haruno Sakura (and many more females of Konoha and probably around the nation).
"U-Uchiha-san..." Hinata murmured, her eyes wide. Suddenly, she felt small. Her hands went up to wipe her tears, only to find them dripping with blood.
'That's right.' she thought, her pearl eyes examining her cuts that oozed with blood. She had arrived at the training grounds and decided to train for the day, wishing her mind will take her elsewhere. It had not, but it left her in her own day dream that she was unable to sense the Uchiha coming.
'How did I not sense, Uchiha-san?' she cursed at herself mentally. 'If he was a true threat, I would have been killed.'
Not that Hinata did not think of Sasuke as a threat. She was cautious of the Uchiha returning to his home village by the demands of Naruto. After serving a few months behind bars, he was out to roam the village as he please (much to his despair, he openly showed his disgust for Konoha). Though, he did have eyes on his from time to time and could not leave the village to go on a mission if it was not with Kakashi or Naruto present.
"G-Gomen-nasai...I-" Hinata stuttered, unable to form words.
Sasuke eyed the small girl with amusement. He knew who she was. And it was obvious she knew of him, as well.
As much as Sasuke regretted not killing himself in the war when he had the chance to to prevent from coming back to Konoha, he had to admit that the village was amusing. From the villagers either following him in amazement or shunning him with hate, to Naruto requesting he actually become friends with most of the villagers to even Kakashi proposing that he read one of his Icha-Icha Paradise novels. Honestly, Konoha was a mess and if he was given the chance to leave and never come back, he would.
'But I have my own mission here.' he thought to himself as his eyes wandered from the Hyuga heiress to the poll she was viciously striking.
"Like I said," Sasuke spoke, "you shouldn't be doing that. As someone who fights mostly with their hands, it's a bad idea."
Hinata redden with embarrassment. Even Sasuke knew her moves and technique's better than she did and he was not a Hyuga.
"O-Ohh..." Hinata sunk to the ground. All of this was coming onto the poor girl rapidly and she could not contain herself any longer. She was tired of always being judged and read for filth. Nothing she did was right and even when it was, it was never good enough.
"Hyuga-"
Sasuke coughed and widen his eyes as he was interrupted by Hinata falling backwards and let out a yelp. He furrowed his brows as he began to walk closer to her. He wondered why in Kami's name had she fallen back ('Rather dramatically'. might he add.)
"I-I can't d-do this." the heiress cried out. Sasuke was unsure if she was talking to him or forgotten he was their in the first place.
Sasuke examined Hinata. She was wearing the bulky jacket she was accustomed to wearing, however it was slightly unzipped and Sasuke could see the familiar fishnets that most people wore beneath their clothing. Her hair had been in a loose ponytail and her bangs covered her forehead wetly with sweat from her heavy training. "You're tragic." Sasuke quipped.
Hinata huffed. "I know." she breathed out in, what seemed, one sentence.
"Hn." Sasuke didn't know how to handle the opposite sex. He never had to. While on team 7 in his genin years, Naruto or Kakashi kept with Sakura. While with Orochimari, her formed team Taka, and even there Karin knew what to do and what not to do. Jugo would often help with her episodes while Suigetsu seemed to almost always start them.
If Hinata was any other female, Sasuke would had walked away not giving a care in the world.
But she was not. In actuality, Hinata had something that Sasuke desired. And that was the reason why he had been following her for the past three days now.
"Why are you a mess now?" Sasuke asked, kneeling down the Hinata.
"I-I..." Hinata bit her lip. "Have to become s-strong."
Sasuke titled his head he was intrigued.
"I have 5 months t-to become head of my clan and I-I have no clue where to start-"
"I can help."
Hinata snapped her mouth shut. She had not a clue as to why she had been conversing with Uchiha Sasuke with her problems for this was the longest the two spoken in...forever! True, the both graduated together in the Academy and belonged in respected and powerful clans, but they hardly spoken. Sasuke was not a nice child as she observed in the her genin years when he shunned people away.
"S-Sumimasen." Hinata shook her head. She lifted herself up, cringing how her hands ached with pain. "I-I must be leaving...Uchiha-san-"
"Sasuke." the Uchiha groaned, rolling her eyes. "I am not the one for honorifics." he murmured.
"S-Sasuke...kun..." Hinata let his name roll off her tongue. It felt weird. "Gomensai, S-Sasuke-kun." Hinata bowed.
As Hinata began to take her leave, Sasuke spoke up. "Striking a wooden post will not guarantee power."
Hinata sighed. She knew of this.
"I can offer assistance." Sasuke spoke, his voice lowering. "For a favor in return."
Hinata turned around, her eyes wide. "A favor?" she asked.
Sasuke nodded. Though his favor was already in the making before finding the Hyuga sparring with a wooden post, this made it easier for him to get what he needed from Hinata.
"W-What favor...?" asked Hinata. She was skeptical. What could Uchiha Sasuke, one of the strongest in the village, want from someone like Hyuga Hinata?
"That is not of importance now." Sasuke waved his hand to dismiss her curiosity. "Though I can tell you that it isn't anything major."
'Then what could he want?'
"You w-wish to train with me?" asked Hinata, her eyes wide. "What - I - a-are you-"
"If you do not wish for me to assist you then I will not bother." Sasuke shrugged. He began to walk past her. "But f you do, I can tell you that you will become successful in becoming head."
Sasuke knew what to say to get people to agree with him. It was a gift he had since he was a child.
"Are you sure, Sasuke-kun?" asked Hinata. Her eyes were gleaming with hope.
Sasuke nodded. He seen himself in Hinata - his former self. The Sasuke that desired to become powerful and gain his father and brothers attention. He wanted to become strong enough to be known just as his father and brother was. Yes, he knew what Hinata was going through and only he could help her overcome it.
'Without leaving he village, massacring a few people and becoming a hated person along the way.' Sasuke chuckled darkly to himself.
"I-I have 5 months." Hinata repeated herself. "D-Do you think I can become h-head in 5 months, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke frowned.
As did Hinata.
Suddenly, Sasuke lung himself at her, his Sharingan activated. Hinata yelped, and with instinct, activated her Byakugan.
"Hmmm."
Sasuke managed to halt in his tracks in front of the small and terrified girl. His eyes looking into her own.
"Though you have instinct, you did not move out of the way or get into a defensive stance." Sasuke noted, shaking his head. "We have to work on that."
Hinata felt a shiver on her spine as Sasuke, Sharingan activated, stare down at her. Hinata could not speak. She let herself nod.
"I am willing to train you, Hyuga, if you are willing to listen." Sasuke deactivated his dojutsu. "I am aware you have potential, but potential is nothing when the user refuses to acknowledge it."
Hinata gulped. She too deactivated her Byakugan while she listened to the boy in front of her eyes.
"Also, as I spoke before. I would need a favor in return. However, that will be discussed later on into your training."
"S-Sasuke-kun-"
"Shut up." Sasuke lifted his hand. "I will be meeting you here tomorrow for day 1 of your training." Sasuke instructed.
On Sasuke's reached onto the side of his hip where he had a pouch. "Heal your hands and rest for the night." he informed.
Sasuke grabbed a small, circular tube and threw it towards the heiress who caught it (barely) with a cringe and a yelp at her cut hands. "W-What is this?" she asked curiously.
"Ointment." Sasuke spoke. "To heal your wounds. Sakura insisted I keep one with me at all times, that annoying girl."
Hinata nodded, letting a small grin grace her lips for the first time that day. "Thank you."
"Hn."
Sasuke watched as Hinata rubbed the ointment onto her palms, smelling the familiarly fresh peppermint.
"Sakura a-adores you..." Hinata spoke without hesitation. "To give you such an ointment that is rare in Konohakagure."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I could not care less about one sided feelings." he replied. "I will be expecting you here tomorrow morning to begin your training. As for now, rest your hands."
And without a word from the heiress, Sasuke strolled off, his back facing her as he did. Hinata watched until his figure was no longer visible and thought about how in the world she had Uchiha Sasuke as a trainer.
Hello!
I am back and better with a new SasuHina story.
It's something new for me so I hope all of you will enjoy it. As always, please tell me what you think!