Chapter One

Weak.

That was a word best suited for Hinata Hyuuga. Or at least, everyone around her thought so. And when everyone gets a certain idea about you, you begin to believe it yourself. And then you stop fighting it. And eventually, you truly become that idea.

Hinata believed this idea at just seven years old. Perhaps before then. Her family wasn't talkative, nor were they expressive. But Hinata's father reeked of disappointment in her. He'd leave her alone after a training session, with a flick of his hand a grimace on his face. The doors would close behind him, and she would cry.

At first, she didn't understand why she cried. Perhaps it was because of the way Hiashi would betray the disapproval in his eyes just long enough for her to see, before he barked at her to do the exercise again. Or maybe it was because of the way his command to shut the doors behind him was also a dismissal of her. Or maybe it was a combination of both.

But of course, at seven years old, she wasn't thinking about these things. She just knew in her gut that her father did not believe in her strength. And as this feeling festered within her like a malignant tumor, she slowly lost faith in herself.

"I am weak," she said to herself in the mirror. "I am small." Her voice was shaky; her body was trembling in her sparring outfit; her chubby cheeks were flushed in the effort to keep herself from crying.

"Big sis? It's time to start training!" Hanabi squeaked from the doorway.

Hinata sighed, wiped her eyes, and stood straighter. "Okay." Not too talkative. Not too expressive. She was a Hyuuga, after all.

But she was weak, and she would fail. The least she could do was humor her sister. The least she could do was follow the rules.

Don't speak unless spoken to.

Hinata inhaled as she followed Hanabi to the grounds, attempting to swallow the lump in her throat.

Do not cry.

She readied herself as Hiashi greeted them with his usual stoic expression.

"Begin."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Hinata wailed, her bones aching as the boys slammed their feet into her sides. She was shielding her head, keeled over on the ground, waiting for the beating to be over with.

And then it was.

At the squeaky bark of a little boy, her bullies withdrew to gape at him.

Hinata shakily got to her feet, backing away slowly to make her escape. But she stopped herself after seeing her rescuer make a hand seal.

"Clone jutsu!" he shouted.

She watched curiously as a replica of the blonde, blue-eyed boy appeared next to him, and then wobble toward the other boys and vanish. "Hah!" the big kids scoffed, advancing on him. She cringed as they began to beat him like they did her, and she immediately felt sad.

He was weak, like her.

And he knew he was weak.

So why did he even try?

The more she watched, the more her heart swelled with gratitude. Maybe he hadn't saved her in the way he had intended, but he still saved her. And she wanted to thank him more than anything.

"Lady Hinata!"

"Adult! Let's get out of here!" The boys dispersed in a rush, leaving the boy in a sorry state on the ground. Hinata's lips trembled as she took a step toward him, mustering all the strength she could to say thank you, but Ko, her caretaker had caught up to her and grabbed her by the arm.

"Lady Hinata!"

"That boy-!" she squeaked.

"You must stay away from him." He threw the boy a disgusted look before dragging her away.

She looked back, concerned that he hadn't gotten up yet. "But he saved m-"

"Do not go near him. Do you hear me? He is a bad person!" The expression on his face was so intense, so very un Hyuuga-like, that Hinata could only nod in agreement.

When they returned home, she felt inspired. Her father had commanded she and her sister spar again tonight, and she felt the determination of that boy within herself.

Perhaps this time, she would win. Maybe this time she could be strong enough.

Hanabi's final blow left her gasping for breath on the floor. Her muscles were stiff, her chakra was low, and she did not win.

Hiashi shook his head and left the room wordlessly. Hanabi watched her sister struggle to get up, guilt making creases around her eyes. But her embarrassment by Hinata's weakness caused her to look away and trail after their father.

Hinata was weak.

And she failed.

But she did not cry.