N/A: I decided I'm a masochist and publish this story wherein only the structure is written down. Even though I have two other fic pending. Because I'm an asshole too. \n_n/ This fucking shit is going to kill me because it's gonna be the longest thing I'll ever write. Choosing the title has been a nightmare already and it's going to be around 10 chapters long. So, except this one, chapters will be hella long.

Basically, it's going to be a retelling of Naruto but with Civilian!Hinata. So kinda AU. Besides, Kishimoto's original idea was this one but I have never seen an AU based on this (if there is a fic someone PM it asap) and it's like, why? People were told but no one did it? jfc I have to fix it . And so, this fic was born. Although, mind, even if it's an AU, I'll stick to canon as much as possible, and the biggest changes won't appear until later. I'll just try to work around with Naruto's relationships and his opinions and so on. (really, I'm not sure what the heck I'm doing but I swear to god I'm trying and any pointer will be rewarded with cookies)

Cutting the mindless babbling short, thanks for reading, reminder that english isn't my first language so don't be afraid of pointing typos and yada-yada!

Shrugging Off the Dark

Prologue

Before the First Light

Like with every story ever told, this one starts like this.

Young Naruto Uzumaki, barely eight years old, wanted to play the hero. Someone who was lauded at, was powerful beyond anyone and didn't need to worry about hateful, fearful glares that all the people always gave him. Someone who came to save the day in the last, precise moment with effort and dedication, even when the villain was big and bad and frightening.

He wanted to be the hero, the same one he read on tales like the one titled The Samurai and the Tyrant and admired in real life like the Fourth Hokage.

So, when he saw a little girl bowing while sobbing and three big ugly bullies harassing her, there was no doubt in his mind. That was his moment. He jumped in, demanding to leave her alone or else, as he stood high and proud before the withering stares of the three really, really ugly boys.

For a moment shorter than a glimpse, he became a hero. He was brave, he was daring, he was the best; he shone saving the poor girl who needed help. He was like a full-fledged Hokage. Until the goons laughed –it was so loud with mock lacing every gasp of air– and the blond boy was not as confident anymore. It didn't stop him. He wanted to be a real hero, the kind of person who saved friends when they were in danger and had people to care for and would do anything for their dear ones.

He fought them with vigor, an attempt to shut them up even if it required strength.

And failed spectacularly.

Instead, he was the one who got beaten up, face shoved into the cold snow while the bullies ridiculed him a bit more. It was a shame, really, and he felt like his eyes were tearing while the punches landed all over him. But that couldn't be so, because no, no, no, no, he wasn't a monster or useless or a freak. Only the next Hokage and, pfff, Hokages did not cry. They were the idiots, truly.

The three idiots must have been tired after beating the living lights out of him since they left the place while hurling insults occasionally. Naruto didn't get up from where he was, the pain still crushing though every part of his body. Although it was quickly disappearing as it always did. He breathed slowly, noticing how his clothes were getting wet and his nose was turning into a shade of red that was not healthy. The cold made him shiver, and only then did he try to get up with a swollen eye and a cut in the lower lip.

Suddenly, someone 'eeped' close by startling him. His head snapped upwards in surprise, almost tripping over to the floor again. Naruto groaned, holding his side, before finally managing to stand up with shaking legs.

The girl was still there, the one he tried to protect. She was small, even smaller than him, with dark midnight hair and really weird and creepy white eyes. But there was concern in them too –the genuine kind he rarely ever saw–, her trembling hands holding a handkerchief. She got nearer with dubitative steps before kneeling in front of him and his jaws went slack.

"A-a-are you alright?" The strange girl asked, a blush taking over her cheeks.

"Yeah," Naruto answered, eyes wide in shock. "S'just stings."

It didn't stop her. She leant carefully, almost as if she was afraid of him, but he knew better when looking at her determinate weird eyes. They were hard to read, although they didn't hold the hateful edge so common on others. So when she raised her hand with the handkerchief to his face, he didn't flinch. Instead, he let her whip the blood dripping from his chin. A smile, albeit weak, started to appear slowly.

When she finished her task, they stood awkwardly in uncomfortable silence. He couldn't quite believe what it was going, or what he should do now. However, there was no much time to think when he saw the girl squirm, her gaze darting everywhere except to him, and flushed as if she was going to faint at any moment now. He panicked and as always, did the best he could do: improvise.

"Who are you?" He blurted out, a seemingly reassuring smirk crossing his face and fingers scratching a whiskered cheek. Then, in an afterthought, he remembered Iruka-sensei scolding him for not following formal etiquette or something. He extended a hand confidently. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki by the way. I'm gonna be Hokage one day, believe it!"

He waited for the laughter, the sneer, the big unbelieving eyes at the last part of his grandiose introduction. She didn't do any of those things, though. She blinked once, twice; then, her pale skin that had already been dusted with pink intensified to crimson. Yet, it took many seconds that made Naruto doubt of his opinion on her until, tentatively as she so far had been acting, she grasped his hand with hers, a shining akin to awe standing out on her expression, he wanted to believe.

"Hinata H-Hyūga," she stuttered while slightly bowing as greeting. "Tha-thank you for helping me."

Right there and then, Naruto decided that Hinata Hyūga was one of the nicest people next to Old Man Hokage and Iruka-sensei. His smile broadened significantly, endlessly shaking her hand with an enthusiasm he hadn't felt all day long. Hinata's blush spread more, taking over her nose and ears.

She was still weird, with all the red and white, but Naruto liked it. Because she was kind to him, the boy who no one needed a reason to hate, was always shunned even by his peers and was still far from being a real hero. It was refreshing and nice and invigorating and–

An idea crossed his mind, the best idea ever since the invention of ramen, and his chest puffed with pride.

Hadn't Old Man Hokage told him to try to do it anyway? Hadn't Iruka encouraged him to go for it after the first few months in the academy?

It was settled. He stiffened, hands landing on each of the little girl's shoulders –she gasped at the contact but didn't flee from it– and with a serious expression that was overshadowed by excitement, he achieved what he hadn't for the longest of time.

"So, so!" The Uzumaki exclaimed gleefully. "Let's be friends, Hinata!"

In the middle of winter, between the cold and the wounds, Naruto Uzumaki made his first friend.

And this is how they met. It's a well known story, very popular and very common to the point of becoming a cliché with the lonely boy and the shy girl.

But this is nothing but the beginning. The rest? That is a story worth telling.