Chapter 1
An eight year old girl was sobbing at the park with a gang of girls her age bullying her. They were mocking and laughing at her as she continued to sob.
"H-hi, I-I'm Hi-hinata, t-the stu-stuttering wh-white eyed fr-freak" the gang leader pretended to stutter then all the other girls laughed as the poor girl only cried harder.
Behind the trees a small figure was watching the scene
"Ta-tadaima" the girl announced when she got home at their mansion around five in the afternoon.
Nobody came.
Nobody came to greet her "Okairinasai"
She didn't mind.
She's used to it.
She took off her muddy shoes and continued walking down the hallway. She passed a lot of maids bowing down to their little mistress ignoring that she's in a real mess. The girl on the other hand bowed back without saying a word then continued walking.
She went up the wide marbled staircase, making echoed sound of her footsteps. When she came to the 2nd landing, she turned right, passing a lot of vases, paintings, furniture, and doors.
She passed by two wide opened doors. She turned her head to see her father having a meeting with a few business men. The long haired man looked up and saw his eldest daughter at the doorway. She was a real mess.
Her dress, her face, her short purplish black hair was all dirtied. Her small clothing was almost torn. She had a sad expression in her eyes. And yet, he ignored her and turned his attention back to the business men and the papers in his hands.
The girl's face fell down. She looked away from her father and continued making her way to the end of the hall where her bedroom was. Who was she kidding? Her father never cared about her. He never took any effort to see how his little girl was.
Finally, she reached her room. Pushing the door, she stepped in the room. It was big, just like all the other rooms in the mansion. The peach walls and curtained windows are high. The room was filled with toys, stuffed animals, dolls, shelves of storybooks and all other kinds of things a little girl can dream of. In the farthest of the room was her blue sheeted bed with a lot of colorful and soft pillows. Ignoring everything around her, she went to the bathroom to wash herself.
It was almost six. The little girl stepped out from the bathroom with clean hair, clean face and clean clothes. She was wearing a blue little dress and black shoes. Knowing that sooner or later, one of their maids will call her for dinner, she lied down on her bed, waiting.
After a couple of seconds, tears began to fill in her pearly white eyes. Lying in her bed without doing anything makes her think.
How those girls mock her
How her father gives her a cold shoulder
How he shows more love and care for her younger sister.
How she doesn't have friends
How she felt so… alone
Her tears began to slide down her cheeks. Realizing the droplets pouring down from her eyes, she quickly wiped it all away when their maid finally called for dinner.
"Dinner's ready young Hinata-sama"
"H-hai" answered the girl called Hinata.
All she can hear was the clatter of spoons and forks. Everyone was silent as they enjoyed dinner. Her father, Hyuuga Hiashi, was sitting at the farthest end of the long dinning table. Her mother was sitting at his right. Between Hinata and her mother was the youngest Hyuuga, Hanabi, sitting in a high chair. On Hiashi's left was Hinata's uncle, also her father's twin brother, Hyuuga Hizashi. Beside her uncle was her prodigy of a cousin, Hyuuga Neji.
Hinata silently continued her meal. Hoping to finish as soon as possible before her father go to his regular routine of comparing her, Hanabi and her Neji-niichan. Of course, her Neji-niichan who was a year older than her will get more praise and recognition since he is a prodigy in both academic and athletic activities. Next will be Hanabi whom Hiashi kept on predicting as the next great model, athlete, honored student, successful businesswoman and other titled professions. Whereas her, Hyuuga Hinata, his eldest daughter, will be left ignored. If not, Hiashi will keep on throwing her words such as "I hope you will catch up to your Neji-niichan" or "Just look at Neji and Hanabi" or "Be more like Hanabi and Neji" and other words that will contain Neji and Hanabi's name embarrassing her to everyone else on the table.
Thank Kami, she finished the main course. She decided to skip dessert since she's really not in the mood for sweets. She drank the last drop of juice in her glass and stood up,
"Um… ano… E-excuse me otosan, I'll j-just skip d-desert. I-i'm already f-full" she politely said though stammered.
Hiashi didn't talk but continued on his meal but all the other Hyuugas was staring at her so she decided to look on her plate instead. Since Hiashi didn't answer, Hinata thought it meant "yes", so she continued to exit the dinning hall when Hiashi finally talked.
"A lady always leaves room for all food courses, do remember that like our little Hanabi, Hinata" Hiashi said not looking at her. "Fine, you can go back to your room and sleep"
Hinata faced the back of her father's dinning chair and bowed. "H-hai otosan, I'll r- remember that, g-gomenasai" she said and continued her way back to her room.
Unfortunately, when she was out of sight from the dinning hall, she heard something she didn't wish to hear.
"I noticed you have favoritism among your daughters" Hinata heard her uncle. "Aren't you being a little too harsh?"
Hinata stop from her tracks, waiting for her father's answer
"It is my business how I treat my children. You can't blame me for being fonder to my youngest daughter Hanabi. She shows more potential and strength than her sister, Hinata. And to think she is the eldest. She is the weakest Hyuuga I ever seen. You can see by her stammering that she also has a weak personality" Hiashi said then sighed. "I actually don't expect you to understand since you have a prodigy son"
Hinata noticed that her cheeks are streaming with tears again. The pain is just too much.
Why can't her father love her the way he loves Hanabi?
Why is she born in a family with high expectations?
Why can't she be what her father want her to be?
Hinata closed her eyes to concentrate. She recalled how Neji practiced this the other day. The cool breeze blew her hair as she changed her position to an unusual fighting stance. She opened her eyes and started kicking and punching at the invisible enemy. Her hands and feet fluently moved as she continued her practice but she would stop every once in a while to check her position or to see if she's doing it right.
Aside from establishing successful businesses, the Hyuugas have a special martial art named Jūken (Gentle Fist) exclusive for its members.
Of course Neji is talented in this field. That's why he is called a prodigy. He also has the highest ranking in his school making his parents proud and Hiashi jealous. Even though, Neji treats Hinata like a sister and doesn't brag about his greatness, Hinata can't help but to feel greatly envious to him.
"Ouch" Hinata yelped when she landed on her but.
Her train of thoughts made her unaware of the log behind her ankles, as she stepped backward she tripped over the log causing her to fall.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Hinata heard a familiar voice behind her.
She stood up and turned around to see her unwanted company. And as she guessed, it was the girls from the park the other day. Hinata frowned at the sight.
"What's with the face sweetie? Aren't you happy to see us?" a girl with two pigtails asked.
Honestly, Hinata was completely unhappy to see them. The first time she met them, was at the park where she was taking a walk. At first, Hinata thought they were friendly since they sweetly asked her name. Being a shy girl, Hinata stuttered her name then they started laughing at her. Then they bullied her on and on whenever they see her till she started sobbing. And that's where you came in.
"Haven't you seen her earlier? She was practicing a dance. Are you going to audition as a swan princess H-Hinata?" another girl with brown short hair asked mocking her by stuttering her name.
"W-what d-do you w-want?" Hinata cautiously asked.
"We want to play with you darling, don't you want that?" the gang leader, Ami said maliciously.
"No" Hinata answered making all the girls gasped in surprise. Hinata never rejected anything they say. "If y-you don't m-mind I-I'm l-leaving" Hinata stammered as she turned her heels.
Hinata was walking towards the exit when a pair of hands pushed her forcefully from behind making her yelp and fall on the ground face first. She turned around and saw the gang of girls surrounding her.
"Sorry sweetie, we're not gonna let you go just like that after your little rudeness towards us" Ami crouched to Hinata and pulled the collar of her blouse. "Next time, show some respect" Ami said as she launched her fist to Hinata's face.
Hinata closed her eyes. She lifted her small hands to her face to shield it from the coming attack. She waited for the pain. Any second now she would feel Ami's fist and the rest of the girls will surely have a piece of her. Hinata waited but…
Nothing came
"W-who do you think you are?" Hinata heard Ami's voice; she also heard the other girls gasped. She slowly opened her eyes through her fingers that have little gaps from each other. She felt Ami's hold on her collar loosening as she distinguished an image of a blonde boy holding Ami's fist.
Hinata completely put down her hands as she examined the figure before her. The boy indeed has blonde hair; he was wearing a white shirt and dark shorts. She can't see his face because he had his back on her. Based on his hold on Ami's fist, the boy seemed to have blocked it before the fist could've contacted with Hinata's face.
"You say that she needs to show respect. But based on what I've seen you and your gang are the ones who need to be less rude" the boy said as he released Ami's hand rather forcefully because Ami fell on her feet.
"Leave her alone! The next time you bully her, you'll end up black and blue. I can take you all down and I don't care if your little girlie girls!" the boy said. The girls glared at him.
Ami stood up not taking her eyes away from the boy. "L-let's g-go girls. We don't need to spend our time on these losers" Ami tried to sound brave but failed. She must've felt scared of the boy's strength when he released her hand. She turned around to take her leave as the rest of the girls silently followed her.
After the girls were out of sight, Hinata heard the boy scoff. "Speak for yourself" she heard him say. He turned around with a grin enabling Hinata to have a look at his face. He has amazing electric blue eyes and he has funny whiskers on his cheeks.
"Are you alright?" the boy asked as he extended his hand to help Hinata up. Hinata noticed for the first time that she was still on the floor. She timidly accepted the boy's hand as he helped her stand. Hinata looked at the boy again and saw him grinning.
"Those girls are a bunch of bullies. I've seen them bully a lot of girls" the boy said indicating Ami and her gang. "The name's Naruto anyway, Uzumaki Naruto" the boy introduced himself as he once again extended his hand. "Your name is Hinata right?" the boy asked again, Hinata had the impression that the boy is talkative.
The boy named Naruto waited for Hinata to shake his hands. However, Hinata stared at his hand except shaking it. Naruto frowned and put down his hand.
"I saw them bully you the other day. Why didn't you fight them? I saw you doing some cool martial arts earlier. You can beat them all up by yourself" the blonde boy said.
That made Hinata think. Why didn't she protect herself? "I also don't know" she timidly said.
"You don't like hurting people. Am I right? Even if they are hurting you" Naruto said as Hinata slowly nodded.
"You don't talk too much do you?" the boy examined her then suddenly bolted upright. "Don't worry as long as I'm here, I'll protect you" Nruto said pointing his thumb at himself. Hinata looked at him, surprised.
"R-really? B-but why?" Hinata asked. Why would I boy she just met want to protect her?
"Because we're friend" Naruto said. "Right?" he asked hopefully as he extended his hand again.
Hinata stared at his hand again. She smiled and looked up at him.
"Right!" she said happily as she took Naruto's hand and shook it.
"You know, I think this is the start of a great friendship" Naruto said
"I didn't know that he will be the one who will cause me so much pain"
To be continued…
I hope you like that. Anyway, this chapter shows their childhood and the next chapter will be the time skip where everyone is already in high school. Actually, this fic is the common story of two best friends falling in love to each other, hope you like it. And the last sentence was erm… Hinata's thoughts.
And sorry for the wrong grammars and spelling. Really, really sorry folks. And for those waiting for my update to Shinobi 14, sorry but you'll have to wait longer. If you want explanation, see my profile.
And oh, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW. That'll help
Can somebody tell me the meaning of OWARI?