Disclaimer : I don't own characters from NARUTO, the characters are the property of Kishimoto Masashi, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Warning : Totally AU, almost plotles. Feature canon pairing and most are out of characters. I don't know Japanese but I liked to test the usage of some Japanese honorifics here.

Synopsis : Hinata Hyuga, a 18 year old heiress, seeks out to carve her own destiny after she overheard her father mentioning her name on a phone conversation. He was thinking of nominating her younger sister as clan head, instead of her the first born. Upon hearing her father's words she ran off to sulk. She began thinking that she was not worth her father's time. Eventually nearing her 18th birthday, she roped in her cousin Neji to plan her year away from Sand and travel to Leaf where her family once resided.

1 : Denial

"Name?"

"Hyuga, Hinata."

"Age?"

"Tw…."

Hinata brushed aside her long hair and composed herself. I must appear confident.

"Twenty," she said clearly.

The customs officer looked at Hinata, checked the screen, and looked back at Hinata again. With her long blonde hair, brown contact lens and tan skin, she looked so different from her passport photo, which guaranteed a double look from any customs officer.

Hinata presented him a confident smile. The officer paused a little and looked back at the screen and continued questioning her.

"Objective of visitation,"

"Study, work, vacation, searching for the purpose of life?" her voice playful.

The male officer probably in his mid twenties, scanned the passport, tapped a few buttons on the screen and the white screen changed into blue. He returned Hinata's passport and documentations back to her. After she took them from him, he placed his right hand on his heart and bowed to her.

"We apologize for any inconveniences Lady Hyuga, but we are being audited by the International Travel Committee, thus the formalities." He looked up at Hinata and smiled. With his hand still on his heart, he continued.

"We hope you'll have a pleasant journey with Violet Falcon madam. The plane will depart in an hour, have a nice day Lady Hyuga."

"Thank you, and no problem about that… and I… um appreciate your professionalism." she said smiling and bowing back to him. She left the queue to make way for the next passenger in line.

Hinata entered the department lounge carrying only a small bag which held her phone, all her travel documentations, a wallet and a change of clothes. She had already checked in her bag from the hotel this morning so she wouldn't have to wait around the airport with extra weight.

As the department lounge was well lit, Hinata chose the most empty row of seat which was quite faraway from the window. She flipped her phone out and tapped on the Leaf apps. For a month she had searched all information about Leaf, where her family was originally from, and where her life for the next year or three will be. Unfortunately she had no recollection of Leaf at all and neither does she ever meet the aunt that she was going to live with. She had always been afraid of the unknown, but not this time.

As she browsed more information about Leaf, she noticed something moving outside and saw that the plane was moving towards a bridge connected to the lounge. Children in the lounge ran towards the window to see the aeroplane.

"So huge!"
"Aewoplaneeee!"
"Mama, such a big bird.."

The little chibis shrieked and pointed excitedly at the plane. Hinata continued browsing and waited for Neji.

Ten minutes passed.

"Wow… you look just wow... Hinata."

Hinata recognized the voice, so she looked up. Upon recognizing the person she instantly brightened. Neji nii-san looked happy but obviously tired, in crisp untucked blue shirt, sleeves rolled back, gray dress pants and a loosened slim gray striped tie. His long black hair tied back in a loose pony tail.

She set aside her phone and stood up to hug Neji, her cousin and who over the years had become more like her big brother. Hinata motioned for Neji to sit beside her, the row was still empty. Other passengers were sitting somewhere else but there, with the bulk of them crowding in one spot of the lounge, a travelling group it seems. Hinata noted the harmonious carmaderie happening between the teenagers who looked the same age as her. She could never enjoy being in a crowd that big, she was much more comfortable being in smaller groups or being alone enjoying vasts moments of me time. Maybe, that's why father...

"I thought you were some gorgeous babe until I saw the travelling bag I gave to you." Neji said pointing to the purple cat printed carry on she had placed beside her.

Hinata smiled and chuckled, regaining back her wandering mind. She had spent a few good weeks letting her mind wander after overhearing her father talk about her, but today was not a good time. She decided to overlook the fact that Neji had said she looked hot.

"This one's custom made. So blonde or blue black I will always know that it could only be you, my dear Lady Hinata."

Hinata blushed and shoved Neji playfully with her shoulder. Neji just laughed at her instead of shoving her back.

"I don't want to ask you why you are heading back to Leaf Hinata, but I just hope you will find what you needed." Neji said without looking at Hinata.

Hinata looked up at Neji and looked back at the plane and the sky beyond it. It was 10 minutes to 6 pm and the sky was almost golden now.

"Neji nii-san, thank you. You inspire me."

Neji thought about their conversation a few months ago and he realized that she was referring to it. Instead of asking for explanation he said.

"Thank you too."

Neji took one of Hinata's hand in his and covered it in his hands, he playfully played with her fingers while he acted all big brotherly.

"I will be here if you need anything, just say it and I'll come. If you fall, I will be here waiting for you. If you want me there I could…"

"Neji stop," Hinata pulled out her hands from Neji's grasp and placed it on her lap. Hre hand fisted her skirts until they were in a bunch.

"I know that deep down inside you are afraid for me. But I need to be afraid, frightened and scared of the outside world and not stay in my cocoon a minute longer. I have been protected for so long and it had not been good for me."

Neji sighed and lean back on the seat. He looked at Hinata's neglected phone and took it in, the screen still bright from being unlocked. He scrolled down the screen and read snippets of information about Leaf.

"Before I forgot, Hanabi wanted you to have this." Neji stood up and shove one hand inside his pants' pocket and took out an object and handed it to Hinata. "It's a surprise farewell gift."

Hinata took the object and surprisingly stated "It's a phone? I think Hanabi just gave me one for my birthday two months ago."

"It has pictures of us, our family and old videos she converted into digital format." Neji sat down back beside her and continued. "For when you are homesick."

"Nii-san," Hinata wailed and hugged Neji.

Hinata had wanted Hanabi to be there on her departure, but Hanabi as the future clan head was away as her father's proxy at an important meeting in Suna all day. The Hokage was there so it was important for their reputation to be present. I don't have to be there, somewhere I am not wanted.

Hinata switched the phone on and launched the video apps and began watching the videos with Neji until the announcement for her flight. Those were great times when they were smaller, a lot of Hinata fainting and Hanabi bullying her and a stoic Neji.

She walked towards the plane's entrance and watched Neji became smaller and farther away. She was getting used to a more relaxed Neji now, compared to a stoic and by the book teenage Neji.

Neji waved at her until she disappeared into the metal bird. Captain Neji, major shareholder of of Violet Falcon watch proudly as his 18th plane being operated by the best cabin crew and flight team of last year. He had wanted Hinata to join him during her 'year away' but Hinata rejected her offers saying she wanted to return to Leaf, far away from Sand. Whereas for Neji, it was quite ironic since Violet Falcon was originally a Leaf company which he bought, renamed and relocated its headquarter to Suna. He wanted to still be beside the Hyuga clan while making a name of his own, while Hinata looked like she so much prefer being away from the Hyuga. He knew Hinata was copying his move to Leaf and he hoped Leaf has the answer for her life's question, like it had during his 'year away'.

Neji walked back into the airport and waited for his driver while pondering about his year away. The year away started because the elders wanted the young Hyuga's of the millennium generation to be loyal to their clan by choice and not from tradition. The Hyugas had by the late 90s become a public listed company and some movers and shakers within the clan wanted the new generation to be more in tune with the current global trend and had persuaded the conservative leaders, including Hiashi and Hizashi. Hinata's and Neji's father to make the 'year away' compulsory. Thus between the age of 18 to 21, young Hyugas are allowed to leave or stay and not be shouldered by the Hyuga's name and clan's responsibility.

For Hinata, not only is she going away, but she had changed her Hyuga trademark appearance, blue black hair and lavender eyes, into something generic, blonde and brown eyed. Neji thought Why not blue eyed? Maybe she did not want that much attention. He entered his car and continued pondering.

Meanwhile in the plane, the captain has begun their flight. Hinata sat down and let her mind wander. She sat at the window seat as her aisle was surprisingly empty seeing the plane was half full. She watched as Suna became smaller and the sky getting darker. Her year away, had officially began.