Hi guys, HikariSpark here. This is my first in-progress fanfiction, and as such, I hope I do a generally acceptable job. I'm usually one to read fanfictions, and after reading so many I wanted to create my own. And let me just say- I have never realized how long and how much work it takes to write one! I spent over two hours on just this, and it still seems so short. However, I hope to improve and I hope you guys can enjoy this and review in a not overly harsh way. Moving on. My one-time relating to all chapters disclaimer!

DISCLAIMER: I do not under any circumstances own anything from the Naruto franchise. This fanfiction is written for fun and for the pleasure of readers everywhere! (Please don't sue me, I'm poor.) -HikariSpark

Alrighty. Here we go!

Chapter One: A Piece of the Past

She was already in pain. Barely ten minutes into the battle, and her body cried for relief. The wind caressed her body, bringing dust to her eyes and a chill to the exposed skin no longer sheltered by the security of her jacket. 'I have to get up... I have to keep going!' The first attempt to get up only caused her to collapse in pain. The second, she managed to get on her feet. Swaying slightly, she pushed herself to limp forward, only for her legs to give out, causing her to fall again. Body shaking with her effort to stand, tears in her eyes, hand holding her ribs as if to keep them in place, she endured. "Just stop... stay away..." His whispered voice barely reached her once more, ignoring the ache of her muscles and the sharp pain in her ribs, she pushed herself up on hands and knees. Crawling along the ground, she heard another voice. "Why... why would someone as weak as you try to resist?" She grasped the cold iron pinning Naruto's hands to the ground, immediately feeling the resistance of foreign chakra. "Why would you fight me... when you know you'll only die?" Her arms shook, her muscles protested, but still... she pressed on.

"Because... I never go back on my word. Because... that's my ninja way!"

She flew. She landed. There was agony. And then, there was nothing.

-Two Years Later-

December 27th, her eighteenth birthday. Hinata Hyuga reclined on her bed, staring outside at the late afternoon sky. 'It's all I can think about... when I have too much time on my hands.' So far, she had done well to keep busy all day. Training in the morning, an early birthday lunch at her favorite tea shop with Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru, a cheerful visit with Kurenai and almost two-year-old Aiko, a stiff family affair with Neji, Hanabi, and her father... and now this. Over-thinking something of the past that she almost wasn't alive to think about. Sighing, she rolled off the bed, landing softly on her hands and knees before standing to take a look at the new flower-pressing book Neji had given her. Lying on the desk next to the book was a vase of rare flowers Hanabi had handed her almost immediately after Neji handed her the then-wrapped scrapbook. Caressing the petals softly, she smiled to herself. Although her cousin and sister seemed standoffish, she knew that they both cared for her, each in their own way. She sat at the desk and had just lifted her hand to open the scrapbook's cover when she heard a knock at her bedroom door. "Come in," she said softly. The door opened to show a tired Neji. 'He must have just gotten back from his evening training session...' Hinata drew her hand back and settled for resting them in her lap.

"Good evening, Hinata." Neji had grown slightly over the past couple of years, but he looked almost exactly the same. The only obvious difference as of late was a three-inch hair length decreasement that amused her to see. Tenten had made a joke a few weeks ago that if his hair got any longer, she'd cut it off while he was sleeping... all while spinning a particularly sharp kunai on her index finger. Neji's face had turned stony, daring her to try, and she had 'accidentally' let the kunai fly towards him. It sliced through a good chunk of hair, leaving him with uneven ends and red cheeks as those of us there tried not to laugh at the horrified expression on his face. He had it evened out shortly after. His sharp eyes caught the smile that she was too slow to hide, and he gave her an exasperated smile. "Your father caught me on the way in and has asked me to tell you that he needs you in his office." His voice sounded as exhausted as he looked, but he still seemed to be in a good mood. "Thank you, Neji-nii-san. I hope you sleep well." The comment was received with a nod and a thank you as he closed her door quietly. Hinata turned back towards her window, staring back out at the sky. A bird lazily drifted through the chilly air. 'I better hurry before he becomes too impatient and comes upstairs his self...'

Hiashi's office wasn't what you would call warm and cozy. It had an almost sterile feel to it despite the expensive agarwood furniture filling the area around her. She stood in the doorway, observing the room as she waited for her father to look up from his documents and invite her in. His desk was directly in front of her, with a wood-backed chair seating her father behind it. There were two small tables off to either side of her, an impressive bookcase behind her father where scrolls related to clan activities were shelved meticulously, a decorative tea set she believed was a gift, and a few traditional paintings on the walls... It was considered one of the most beautiful rooms on clan grounds. Although Hinata was aware how wealthy her clan was, she just didn't understand their need to flaunt it so... so... obnoxiously. Putting her thoughts aside, she instead focused on her fathers face. He seemed to look slightly weary, a look that she didn't see very often.

"You do not need my permission to enter, Hinata." She met his eyes as he suddenly looked up and frowned. Hiashi raised an eyebrow at her, reading the emotion in her face. "You are my daughter," he stated simply. She made her way to one of the two chairs that sat before her father's desk, chiding herself for standing around. She was still used to the cold Hiashi of the past, the man who belittled her because he felt it would help more than harm her. The years had finally brought him to regret his mistakes, and while he was still trying to make amends with her it was sometimes hard to remember that she didn't need to act so formal around him anymore. A ghost of a smile flitted across his face. "Hinata. I have called you down so you can receive something set aside for you by your mother before you were born." Hinata's eyes widened. 'My... mother?' Hiashi stood from his chair and turned to pick up a small box sitting on an end table that Hinata had overlooked when she first walked into the room. "Your mother wanted you to have this on your eighteenth birthday. She said it was given to her, for you, by a close friend." He paused, a fleeting look of sadness shown in his eyes. "Although I have not been the best father, I do keep my promises. This was one of them." Hinata listened, shocked by his words, and took the box that was being handed carefully to her. Her hands gently cradled the small box, a mournful yet reminiscent feeling in her heart. She didn't have much to remind her of her mother, as Hiashi usually avoided any mention of his deceased wife and had most of her possessions removed and boxed up. "Please take it out of here. I do not wish to see it any longer." Hiashi's face had reverted into a hard, carefully blank face as he fought the grief that still overtook him to this day. He turned and faced his desk. "Thank you, father." Hinata gracefully rose and left the room, mind still spinning. Hiashi stood silently as his daughter returned upstairs, carefully picking up a small frame on his desk. 'Hitomi... I am sorry for not being the father you wished I would be.'

Well, I know it's short, as I stated earlier. If you're curious to the inspiration for Hiashi's office, you can google "Peace and Harmony Agarwood Furniture", there's a few pictures that you can see that were useful for my imagination. As far as how often the chapters will be coming out, be warned: I am a mother of a one-year-old girl and she takes up my day with her cuteness and baby activities. So usually I only have time at night when she goes to bed to write. Don't worry though, if there's one thing that disappoints me it's an unfinished fanfiction! Anyways, review if you'd like, I'd appreciate it! -Hikari