Psycho here. I've got a new pairing for you guys...-drum roll- GaaraxHina. Hey, don't knock it 'til you read it lol. Anyways, enjoy!
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own anything. Then again, if I did, that'd be dangerous. ;)
I stepped foot inside Konoha village, my home for the first time in three years. I glanced throughout the streets, but they were empty. No one was there to greet me hmmm...well, then again I didn't want a big "Welcome Home" ceremony.
Who was I to have a celebration?
I began to walk towards my house. The familiar paths and walkways gave me a strong sense of nostalgia. I truly had missed my family these past years.
As I passed the shops and houses, old memories began to form in my head, memories I didn't know still existed. Suddenly, I came to a stop and I couldn't prolong the tears any longer. I now stood beside a lotus blossom tree with pink beautiful blossoms.
I always loved this tree though it stood taller than me. I dropped my bags and fell to the ground beside it my hands touching its smooth bark.
(Flashback)
It was a warm summer day and I had been watching the others train for most of it. I felt so weak, even Ino was progressing better than I was.
"You're pathetic!" Neji's words still echoed in my head. I walked home alone that day turning Kiba down on his offer to walk with me. I reached home and washed my face to sit down and eat dinner with my father.
"Father I-I-ne-need to ask y-you som-something impor-important." I whispered, breaking the silence.
"What is it Hinata?" He asked.
I took a deep breath.
"I-I wa-want to train aw-away from the vi-village." I said.
"What?" My father asked confused.
"Kurenai ha-has already ta-taken ca-c-care of everything and I think i-it would be so much he-help for m-me as a nin-ninja." I replied.
"Let me get this straight, you want to leave Konoha, to train?" My father asked.
I nodded.
"How long?"
"A-as long a-as it ta-takes, maybe a ye-year." I replied.
"A year away from home? I don't think so Hinata," My father said shaking his head.
You're a pathetic, worthless waste of space. Neji's words echoed louder in my head. I couldn't take it. I stood up hitting my hands against the table.
"If you wont let me go, you might as well kill me!" I cried. "Because my dream is to be stronger and be someone noticeable and if I can't strive to be that person there is no use in living."
A look of shock flashed across my father's face and he didn't say anything for a while. I sat back down shaking from anger, sadness and fear.
"Father, forgive me for yelling but please let me go."
"You really want this?" My father said standing up.
I nodded. "Almost more than anything." I said, my mind wandering to Naruto, I wanted to be like him.
"Then you may go," He said.
I stood there, not believing the words that had came out of my father's mouth. A smile shot across my face and I ran to him and gave him a hug.
"Th-thank you." I said burying my face in his chest.
"Listen Hinata, your leaving has consequences, when you come back I may need a favor from you. You must promise you'll agree to it."
I moved back a bit. I began to think. What type of favor could he possibly want? I nodded to show my agreement.
The next day I spent it saying goodbye to all my friends.
"You're leaving!" Naruto cried.
I nodded.
"I-it wi-will only be a ye-year." I said.
"That's a long time." Naruto said scratching his head. "But you're going for a good cause." he added.
I smiled.
"Um Naruto...
"Huh?'
"I'm gonna m-miss- you." I mumbled too low for him to hear.
"Huh, what did you say Hinata?" he asked.
I shook my head. "Nothing."
"Hey you know what, take this." Naruto said handing me a small black polished rock.
"I found it a while ago but you can have it as a gift when you come back I may be Hokage and it'll be worth something." He added, winking.
I smiled. "Thank you Naruto." I said taking the stone from his hands.
"You're welcome." Naruto replied.
That night I couldn't sleep from the excitement and I certainly couldn't wait for the next day.
The next morning after breakfast, I stood outside waiting for my father who was supposed to walk me to meet Kurenai. Then she would take me away from the village to meet with a trainer Tsunade had found for me.
I sat on the porch for about five minutes, my father still hadn't come out so I decided to take a walk around. I stood up an inched forward.
"So you're trying to be something?"
I jumped and looked around.
Neji stood there leaning against a tree. A smirk played across his face.
"I'll never be something, but I will be someone." I replied. "Why do you care?"
Neji shrugged and stepped off the tree.
"Here." He said stomping his foot down on the ground.
I jumped back a bit.
"I'll plant a tree here and when you return I will fight you by it and we'll see just how much you're worth." He said before turning his back to me.
"I-acc-accept your challenge." I said.
Neji grunted and walked away just as my father came outside.
"Are you ready Hinata?" He asked.
I nodded.
The next year consisted of heavy training with sensei Daiskai, who didn't believe in rest until your body absolutely demanded it. I got only four hours of sleep every night, plus he never took it easy on me just because I was a girl. He said we were both human and pain was pain.
After a year Daiskai sensei decided I wasn't ready to return home and requested I stay two more. Father agreed.
Two years had passed, Daiskai sensei and I fought as a final. Though he won, he stated that I was very close behind.
(End of flash back)
Just to think that all that happened so long ago. I had changed so much. I was now fifteen.
My hair had grown longer, it now reached my elbows. I wore it the same in the front but the back I put in a ponytail. I also wore my headband on my head instead of around my neck.
I had lost my stutter. Spending so much time with Daiskai sensei made me kinda boyish. I was afraid I'd walk like a man now.
The stone Naruto gave me hung around my neck as a necklace. I would never loose it. Daiskai sensei had taken it away from me because I kept falling asleep. He would only give it back to me if I could take it from his hand. I did it in one try.
I stood up from my long gaze at the blossoms.
"Hinata?"
I glanced up.
"Father." I said running to him and hugging him. "I missed you so much!" I said.
"You've gotten stronger," He said.
"What?" I said pulling away. "How can you tell?"
"You nearly crushed me," He said laughing.
I laughed too.
"Where is everyone?" I asked.
"I'm not so sure. Naruto left after you to train, he's been back for a year now, and Sakura well...lady Tsunade has been training her."
I nodded. "I see. Well what about Kiba and Shino?" I asked.
"Well they've also gotten stronger and like you, they look different," He said ruffling my hair. "And that Akamaru is huge!" He added.
I smiled."Akamaru huge? That's strange."
"What's strange is standing in front of my daughter after three years and seeing her so different."
I shrugged. "I'm not that different," I said.
"You speak differently."
I blushed, he must be talking about my stuttering.
"What about Neji?" I asked changing the subject.
"You'll have to see about that for yourself." He said patting my head. "But for right now, I want you to get some rest."
He grabbed my bags and carried them to my room. I plopped down on my bed. How I had missed this place.
I closed my eyes and told myself when I wake up, I would go and see everyone.
AN: Don't skin me. This is just an introduction, a prologue of you will. Interesting stuff starts happening next chapter. Keep reading and please review. :)
