*-Before beginning this story, I have a few things I'd like to say. First of all, I'm a reader of fan fiction, not a writer... however, I had this idea in my head for some time now, and couldn't bear not putting it on paper. Or in this case, computer. This is my first written story ever, and I'd appreciate some constructive criticism to help me make better stories in the future.
FULL SUMMARY: In the many lands, nine demons supposedly lived to wreak havoc, and spread fear in the hearts of all. Nine were known to the world, bloodthirsty and , a tenth demon lay hidden, and was kept secret... until an event triggered it's awakening. Hinata Hyuuga has just turned five years old, and is now the official heir to the clan. However, unforeseen events will put her to the test, and she will have to live a life of constant apprehension afterwards. Hidden demons will come to light, and a plot vastly superior to ones we know will shake the very foundlings of a land she knew so little of.
...All I can say now, is enjoy! -Kleeo
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She was 5. Four years of life meant a great deal to the main branch of the Hyuuga clan, especially for the eldest daughter. At this age, the daughter was deemed worthy of being announced the next official heir. Representatives of every country were invited to the event, in particular the ambassadors of the Cloud. To partake in another great event: A momentous peace treaty between them and Konoha, the country hidden in the leaves.
Hinata was 5 years old. A small girl, far smarter than what her age depicted. Fair skin, milky lavender eyes and a silver kimono was wrapped around her frail body. She had been woken up that morning by her father's servants, for the first time in her life being called mistress and lady. Before, the branch house merely acknowledged her existence by glaring at her whenever she passed by. Now, they respectfully bowed to her as she walked on, heading towards her father's study.
Hinata wasn't stupid, she knew what the glares and hateful comments meant. She was hated for being assured a great life. Her father Hiashi was the leader of the Hyuuga clan, and only because he was born 4 minutes interval before his twin brother, Hizashi. He was placed in the branch family, and branded with the Caged-Bird seal that now led his life. To follow orders without complaint, and live in fear of death on his brother's whim.
She knew that her position was only a matter of luck. The branch family knew this as well, and didn't fully acknowledge her position as the daughter of the main family. As such, her father instructed her from the youngest age to activate the Caged-Bird seal, and to ignore the rambling of those inferior to them. They deserved to suffer, as far as Hinata's father was concerned.
She didn't believe themselves superior to the branch family, so she just kept quiet whenever they would glare, insult or ignore her. And now that she was 5, they just respected her out of obligation. She didn't necessarily like it, but at least the harsh whispering had stopped.
Walking down the corridor, two branch members led her way. She was nervous, she knew the implications of her newly arrived birthday. It meant responsibility and high expectations. She fidgeted the whole way, pressing her index fingers together and chewing the insides of her mouth. When they arrived in front of the rather large door, the branch members bowed to her and left, leaving her to raise her small fist to knock on the door.
- " Come in "
She jumped, grasping the front of her kimono regaining her breath. She had almost forgotten her father's Byakugan, the kekkei genkaï for which her clan was famous for. Her trembling hand moved to the latch, pushing the door open.
Her father was a rather imposing man, in stature and power. He had piercing eyes, the same as his daughter's, except his were a shade of grey. He wore his hair long, wore a traditional yukata and walked with a cane, though it was obvious he didn't need it. He frowned as his daughter entered his study, head bowed in a defeated manner and shuffled towards his desk. He said nothing of her demeanour, and moved to take a seat.
- " What day is it today? " He asked simply, his head turning slightly towards the window to observe the arriving guests. Hinata simply cringed at the lack of emotion in his voice.
- " T-the 27th of December, father. " She replied softly, slightly raising her eyes to meet her father's. His frown deepened every so slightly, and she squeaked, lowering her head once more.
- " Do you know why I have called you here, daughter? " He asked simply.
Hinata nodded, still staring at the floor. She glanced down at her geta, tapping her feet together to make a wooden clapping sound. Her father sighed, and she took this as a sign to answer the question more vocally. She squeaked, straightening herself suddenly.
- " I am to.. to comport m-myself as a l-lady worthy of the H-Hyuuga name, to not… not bring shame to our clan. "
He nodded - " I expect you to be on your best behaviour tonight. To greet every guest, to maintain civil conversation and such. " He rose from his seat at his desk, walking around it to face his shrinking daughter. " Today is the day you turn 5 years old, and are officially deemed worthy of bearing the title of the next head of the Hyuuga clan. I do not need you to hide away from every person present, or fainting at every last compliment, do I make myself clear? " He pressed, half glaring at Hinata as she backed away, whimpering as she nodded her head, unsure.
Hiashi didn't press the matter further. He went towards the door, opening it with one hand and directing Hinata to pass in front of him. She once again lowered her head, and stalked out of the study closely followed by her father. Heading towards the garden, she caught a glance outside of the window. Snow was beginning to fall in soft flakes, the sky gray and cold. She rubbed he arms unconsciously as she continued her walk towards the celebration.
Once outside, she stopped before the gate leading to the garden. Her father looked at her puzzlingly, and she turned to look in his eyes for the first time in a while.
- " Where is mother? "
Hiashi's eyes hardened, turning as cold as the weather. Hinata cringed and stepped away from him, moving towards the gate as if she hadn't asked a thing. She opened the gate, the question still stuck in her head. The gaze her father threw only meant one thing.
She's sick again.
It wasn't a surprise, she was often sick since Hanabi's birth. Her blood pressure would suddenly drop to dangerous levels, and she was bedridden most of the time. The clan thought she had passed on this sickness to Hinata, which would explain her frequent fainting and flushing.
Hinata greeted every person she met, from the ambassadors to the bourgeoisie. Some of the women would pinch her cheeks, the men would make comments on how she reminded them of their own families back home. She would make small talk with the noblesse, and receive compliments on her kimono and her uncommon intelligence for her age. She was used to it, but never quite enough to keep her from blushing, which made her father glare at her from afar.
The night was fairly uneventful after that, with the people commenting on the weather and the people present. Most of the gossip was reserved for the Cloud ambassadors, who made it clear that they didn't want to be disturbed. They just glared at anyone who got too close, and acted civil towards the higher-society. They didn't bear Hinata a thought, and she didn't mind at all. They were creepy men that her father invited for the sake of the peace treaty, and she wasn't particularly thrilled to present herself to them. She just did as she was told, acted as the perfect host and ignored them throughout the night.
It was practically midnight when the soirée came to a close. Hiashi had no comments for Hinata, and sent her to bed the moment the guests had left. Without a word, she was escorted to her room by branch members, who bowed to her once she had reached it. Thanking them shyly, she entered her room and went directly to her bed. Falling on top of it, she sighed deeply in her pillow before turning around to face her ceiling.
And with this, I am officially the heiress to the Hyuuga Clan.
It went rather simply. Once supper was served, her father had called for a toast to congratulate the peace treaty being formed between Konoha and the Cloud. Gifts were given to the ambassadors as a token of appreciation, though none of them really expressed any evident gratitude towards them. Once that was over, Hiashi made a second announcement. His daughter had turned five, and as decreed by the laws of the Hyuuga, she was ready to be announced the official heir to the world. People clapped their hands politely, then offers for her hand in marriage began to arise. Hinata just sat through it all, horrified that her own wedding was being organized before her eyes. Offers of riches and baubles were being sent her father's way, and a notary had arrived to write down the offerings. To have the heir of the Hyuuga clan as a wife would bring power and position to the man she would call her husband. Her marriage was one of convenience, that much she knew. Although having a trophy wife such as her must've lead the ego of many others.
Her mother had read stories to her from her bed, where girls met their prince charming and married, had children and lived happily from then on. Instead, she was staring at her father considering money offers, gifts and power, in exchange for her. She was just sitting at the table, head facing downwards as she heard the offers being spread around. People looking her up, smirking as they imagined her growing older, while others just ate their meal, acting as though the proceedings were entirely normal. Silently sobbing to herself, she remained seated to her chair, trapped.
At the end of the night, she was unhappily arranged with a marriage, and whisked off to bed.
As the thoughts went through her head, her face contorted from anger, rage to desperation. Before she knew it, she was sobbing once again in her bed, turning over and hiding her screams in her pillow. Hitting the sheets, she figured that nothing was fair anymore. She hadn't even been wished happy birthday today.
Still crying, she got out of her bed and tiptoed to her door, placing an ear against it. No sounds could be heard outside, since all the servants were busy cleaning the garden. Swallowing her fear, she opened her door slightly and looked outside, looking for a trace of movement. It was now that she cursed her Byakugan for being inactive. Silently, she creeped around the halls, heading towards her destination. As she arrived, she peered over the edge of the wall to see two guards. She whimpered, sliding against the wall to meet the floor beneath her. She brought her knees up, wrapped her arms around them and sobbed, her head lowered.
- " Mother…. "
oooooooooooooooooo
Neji wasn't one to stay up past curfew. In fact, he was silently fearing the punishment that could be attributed to the fact that he stayed up so late. Though he couldn't really help himself, he had promised Hinata that he was going to be there when she became the official heir. Of course, he couldn't tell her that he had been hiding in the bushes, masking his chakra because he had been kicked out originally, but he had been with her. From the sidelines.
However, he was horrified at the celebration's hidden purpose. Forget the fact that she hadn't been wished a happy birthday the whole night, but marriage? She was only four!
He now understood his father's hatred towards the main house, or rather it's laws. It wasn't human. To force a young girl to bear witness to her marriage being arranged, totally ignoring the fact that she was crying in her chair. Neji sneered.
Worst. Birthday. Ever.
He climbed the stairs, activating his Byakugan as he did. Two of them were guarding the door leading to Hinako-sama's quarters, three were patrolling downstairs. He climbed the stairs quickly, skipping the ones that creaked. Kneeling at the top, he scanned his surroundings to make sure. Three at the first floor, two at the top. As he walked along the corridors, a third figure appeared in his line of sight. Blurry at first, then slowly beginning to take the shape of a small girl.
...Hinata?
From what he could see, she was crouching at the segment leading to Lady Hinako's room. He stopped, observing and reading her body language, searching for a clue as to what she'd be doing there
She's crying.
It wasn't hard to guess why: after this disastrous birthday, she wanted to find comfort in her mother's arms… but Lady Hinako never received visitors. Not since Lady Hanabi was born anyway. She was too sick, no one was allowed to see her, even her own daughter. He frowned.
I could distract the guards long enough to give her the chance to see her mother. After today, it's the least anyone could do for her. Marriages, hateful fathers, responsibility and disappointment…
He closed his eyes, rubbing his temples as a headache came along.
Worst. Birthday. Ever. …I am SO grounded.
