Whispers

Hinata was dead. Not literally but figuratively as she meandered her way to the Hyuuga compound. Her last mission had been an epic failure, only to add to her streak of 13 disastrously failed missions since she had been promoted to jounin status. She picked idly at the bandages that poked out from under her thin coat as the cold late November wind blew threw her stealing her breath.

There was a storm brewing as the sky darkened and the wind picked up so it was positively howling as people closed their shops for the night and people extinguished their lights to get ready for sleep.

Father was going to be furious. He had actually hit her last time when she had come home after a failed mission to wave where she had the tar beaten out of her and one of her teammates had been killed. She was failing as a shinobi, failed missions meant no income and that definitely did not sit well with Hiashi one bit.

Bundling her coat around her still sore and tired body she slid between the gates and stared up at the dark foreboding structure that seemed to loom and mock her as she swallowed her fear, as much as she could and pressed on into the house.

The wind moaned around the house making the darkened hallways seem endless and gaping like the mouth of a giant serpent. Hiashi had always liked to conserve money so most evenings the lights were turned off and traditional oil lamps were used. Hiashi liked tradition.

Hinata kept her shaky pace as she saw the soft glow of her father's study. She could hear the clink of glass on wood as she realized he had been drinking and winced. This was not going to be pretty as she reached for the shoji door. Her hand froze with fear and shook. She couldn't do it, she couldn't face her father with the truth of another failed mission.

She could see the flicker of the lamp just beyond the door. A light should mean warmth, comfort and love. But for her it meant another lecture and more rigorous training.

'Hinata get in here' Hiashi's voice was cold as she swallowed most of her fear and slid the door open. Inside her father sat at his wooden desk as she quickly crossed the room and sat on her knees bowing before the head of the Hyuuga household.

'g-g-good evening f-f-ather' she stuttered managing to get out the greeting as Hiashi gave a 'hunh' before taking another swig of clear liquid before pouring himself another cup.

'Another failed mission' he was blunt and to the point as Hinata kept her gaze fixed in her knees. If she looked at him she'd crumple and start crying at his harsh gaze.

'y-yes f-f-ather' she answered as he gave a humourless chuckle.

'This is your thirteenth failed mission as a jounin Hinata' he said icily as she flinched. Here came the screaming as she waited. Hiashi shifted in the desk eyeing his eldest daughter. He was sickened by her, so much like her mother, it was painful to see her everyday and watch her fail just like her mother had at living as a Hyuuga. He rubbed his forehead as he looked at the quaking girl before her.

'You are a disgrace to this family. I have given you everything! Training, lessons, the best education, the best weapons but no, you still cannot possibly achieve a simple mission of taking a document to a foreign country Hinata.' He spat as she focused on her knees. So much for a loving family, if she had been a boy then maybe just maybe her father would've accepted her like he did Neji but no she was cursed with two X chromosomes. Hiashi glared at his daughter. Weak, submissive, timid. Exactly the opposite of a Hyuuga. He had wasted enough time with her and trying to coax her along to be the head. Hinabi was more suited for the job.

'I-I'm sorry father… I-I'll do better next time!' she said as Hiashi froze. Hinata looked up as Hiashi burst out with cold laughter. It made the hairs on the back of her neck rise as he glared at her. Even though he was her father she swore that there was none of his personality in her as he shifted moods like a cobra strikes.

'Oh I don't care Hinata, you always say 'I'll do better next time' but I've had enough. I am disowning you Hinata. You've had too many chances to prove your worth to this household, I see nothing of a Hyuuga shinobi.' He snapped as Hinata froze. Disowned? He was disowning her? Kicking her to the curb because she wasn't efficient? She was frozen to the spot at hurt bubbled in her chest threatening to make her pass out as Hiashi's mood shifted again. 'Why are you still sitting there. I said you are no longer a part of this family now GET OUT!' he roared as Hinata jumped to her feet adrenaline now pumping as Hiashi was also on his feet. 'GET OUT!' he roared as he threw the cup with deadly accuracy.

Hinata dodged as the cup hit her shoulder and fragmented shards of glass sticking into her shoulder as she gasped in pain from the alcohol that made the cuts burn.

'GET OUT!' he roared grabbing his chair as Hinata ran. The halls flew past as she twisted down the maze of hallways and corridors to her room. Slamming it behind her she locked it and grabbed her mission pack. Hiashi wanted her gone, she had no problem with that. She stuffed her clothes, weapons, bedding, and survival gear into her pack. She cleaned out her room as she heard her father's drunken approach as he cursed and slammed a shoulder into a wall.

Hinata looked up as she shoved her journal and a few pens into her pack as the door rattled.

'HINATA! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!' he roared as Hinata grabbed her bathroom gear and shoved it in her pack as well. She could still hear the cursing as she slung her pack over her shoulder and opened the window. The stormy winds gusted in freezing her to the bone instantly as the window was wrenched from her grip by the gust. At the same moment the door splintered as she looked to see her father glaring at her. In that moment she jumped. Two stories she fell landing in a roll as she took off over the compound wall.

The wind was howling as she ran. She had no idea where she was going adrenaline pushed her as the wind howled pursuing her like a pack of wild dogs as she ran through the abandoned streets of town. She had to find shelter, somewhere to stay for the night. She knew she couldn't impose on any of her friends, no matter how kind they were she was not that kind of person as she looked up to find herself at her team's favorite training ground.

It was well sheltered by massive old growth pines that moaned and bent in the gale force winds as she hid underneath one of the ruffs of the pines. She was protected more from the wind that anywhere else as she pulled out a tarp that had been in her bag for ages and managed to make a tent like structure. Snow was falling now as she wrapped herself in her stolen blankets and as much clothing as she could wear before leaning against the trunk of the tree.

The wind howled around her as the forest moan and groaned under its heavy hand. Pulling her knees to her chest Hinata realized how stuck she was. She didn't know the first thing about getting an apartment or housing everything had been looked after by the household. She had about 30 ryou to her name, she was out in one of the worst storms of Konoha's history and she was homeless, nameless, unwanted and alone.

Tears came to her pale eyes as she sobbed. Life was so hard sometimes and it seemed it always dealt her an odd hand. At least the one good thing was that her father hadn't curse sealed her and since she was officially disowned and an adult she was untouchable.

It was so cold as she huddled in her makeshift shelter trying to conserve heat by keeping her chakra moving evenly around her body. Branches snapped and twisted off making loud dying screams of tree branches scraping against one another as she wished she was anywhere but where she was. She may have been a shinobi but even shinobi shouldn't be out in this as another wave of tears came. She really was pathetic, no wonder her father didn't want her. The night seemed to last forever, cold seeping into every pore in her body as she tried to keep herself warm. This was hell, not burning to death but freezing to death slowly.

The storm didn't blow itself out as soon the endless darkness turned to gray then pink and eventually the sun came up. The wind was still howling but some of the cold had been taken out of the night as she poked her head out of her makeshift shelter. The snow was blindingly white and it stung her eyes as all she wanted to do was sleep. But she couldn't. If she fell asleep then she would surely die of hypothermia in this weather.

Getting to her feet and did up her winter coat and grabbed the 30 Ryou she had and made for the grocery store. Her feet were cold, stiff and sore and her hands refused to work properly. She probably had frostbite as she noticed shinobi hurrying about dressed in their winter gear grabbing groceries and running to each others homes. She passed Kakashi and his new wife who was very pregnant as he ushered her past giving Hinata a huge smile.

At least there was happiness in this world as Hinata pushed open the door to the store. Instantly she was blessed with the warmth of the store as she wandered the aisles just warming up before pricing out food. She gathered a great deal of high energy foods and paid for them and headed back to her tent.

'HEY HINATA-CHAN!' she froze as she heard Kiba's voice and turned around to see the exuberant young man on Akamaru as Shino and Naruto trailed along. All were hunched against the fierce wind and blowing snow as she gave them a smile.

'h-hello' she said as Naruto beamed at her. He was now the sixth Hokage after Tsunade had passed on after defeating Orochimaru and destroying half of the city in the process.

'Hey we were going to go train, want to come?' Naruto asked as she grinned and nodded.

'I-I just have t-t-to drop these off okay?' she stuttered as they nodded. She had forgotten about their training that morning. Boys were all the same, they had to get stronger. The thought depressed her. No matter how much training she seemed to do she was still a failure as she doubled around to her little shelter.

It was well hidden and away from prying eyes as she heard a buzz. Looking to her right she noticed one of Shino's Kikai bugs and cursed. Of course Shino would notice if anything was even slightly amiss from her, he seemed to know everything and keep tabs on everyone. It was rather frightening. She made a grab for the little insect as it easily avoided her and escaped.

She managed to scarf down two granola bars and an energy bar before taking off toward the training ground. She hoped Shino wouldn't say anything to the others. She was pathetic enough as it was, she did not need their help, if she was going to be her own person (or at least try) then she did not need help from them.

She cleared the last few pines as Kiba's loud rough voice caught her attention. The Inuzuka had always been a little rough around the edges but he meant well and had always seemed to care about her throughout their genin and chounin days. Now that they had become jounin they saw less of each other but were still good friends.

'-I don't know what Neji's problem is! The asshole wouldn't give me a straight answer!' he spat as she landed in the clearing. Shino turned to view the shy woman as he heard the buzz of one of his insects before it perched in his ear. She seemed particularly disheveled and tired today, not like the normal Hinata as Kiba seemed to pick up on it too.

'Good morning! S-sorry I was late. I f-forgot about our training today!' she gave a rather forced smile as Kiba raised an eyebrow. This was not like Hinata. Kiba looked at Shino who only gave a slight inclination of his head to indicate something was up. Akamaru barked as Kiba scratched the little dog's head reassuring him that nothing was wrong. Kiba turned back to Hinata with a smile.

'Eh, don't worry about it. This storm has thrown everyone off today' he smiled as Hinata relaxed a little as her shoulders dropped and she genuinely smiled.

'Shall we begin with weapons?' Shino asked as Hinata nodded. Kiba didn't care as they began their training in the slippery snow. Akamru barked and weaved between their legs occasionally dividing off to attack Shino as the bug boy easily deflected. More than once Hinata ended up sliding around and colliding into Kiba or Akamaru and knocking both of them into the fluffy substance as she gasped when the shocking cold met her flushed skin.

'Hinata are you distracted today It's not like you to fall so much' Kiba commented rubbing his head as Akamaru whined making sure his master was okay as she blushed. Her mind was elsewhere. She was trying to put together the pieces if Shino and Kiba had figured out something was wrong or if Shino knew what was wrong and just hadn't spoken up yet.

'I'm a little worried that this storm wont let up tonight' she admitted as Kiba nodded helping her up as her brushed himself off as Akamaru bounded away yapping merrily to snowplow his nose into the snow near Shino as he calmly watched his friends. He was trying to piece together Hinata from the information his Kikai had gathered.

'I can see why that would be of concern. Isn't the winter festival in a week?' Shino commented as Hinata blinked. She had completely forgotten about the festival. Ino would be so mad especially if she forgot she was supposed to help her set up the bouquets for the dinner arrangements for the Ichigo restaurant.

'Oh I completely forgot about that aren't you supposed to be helping Ino arrange flowers?' Kiba asked her as she gave a nod. She had a scapegoat for her behaviour but from the stance Shino was holding he didn't buy it. By now his Kikai would have told him all about her tent as Kiba suddenly pulled her in for one of his friendly hugs.

'Geeze you're cold as ice!' he laughed as she blushed and pushed her hair behind her ears.

'It is blowing snow out here Kiba' Shino stated bluntly as the Inuzuka shot him a dark look. Hinata giggled, these two were best friends and never had a problem of harassing the other as Akamaru growled at Shino in warning.

'I know that!' he snapped as Hinata put a gentle hand on his arm. She knew how hot tempered Kiba could be as Shino didn't say anything more and Kiba quieted down and Akamaru returned to his masters side dutifully.

'You should go see Ino.' Shino piped up as Kiba gave his friend a weird glance that Hinata missed because she was zipping her coat up as high as possible.

'Maybe' she said looking at her shoes as Kiba knew that look. Hinata was doubting herself again as he gave her a gentle punch on the shoulder. He hated when she did that, as a kunoichi she was rare one. Even at jounin status she still had compassion and love for others and hadn't been hardened by the assassinations and death she had to endure. She looked up at him as he grinned.

'Go show Ino that you can put her winter flower arranging to shame.' He said a small smile crossed her face. It made Kiba feel better as she nodded and started to walk away from the two boys.

'I will see you tomorrow!' she called and took off around a corner. Kiba put his hands in his pockets and walked over to where Shino was standing staring after the illusive Hyuuga.

'Something is up' Shino said as Kiba nodded. Hinata was not herself. She was more down, distracted, and her appearance was shocking compaired to her normal self. Her usual fire seemed to have been extinguished as the two jounin's shared a long look before Kiba stretched.

'Why do girls even have to learn about flower arranging anyway?' he asked as Shino shrugged and turned to head back toward Kiba's apartment to meet up with the other male members of the genin nine. Hinata's actions had Kiba feeling strange like he needed to go after her and demand to know what was making her upset so he could find the bastard and beat the shit out of them.

They rounded a corner to see Naruto and Shikamaru standing knee deep in the snow as the thought was put out of his head as he ran to catch up to bug boy.

Hinata was in a different situation. Ino was in an uproar because the shipment of flowers couldn't come through because of the storm. The blue bells were the main focus on the centre pieces and they needed to be delivered within the week.

'Ino, please calm down' Hinata begged as the blonde sat fuming in the back room as she kicked a bucket of long stemmed roses rather forcefully leaving a dent in the bucket.

'I cant BELIEVE they would do that!' she hissed as Hinata twirled a lock of holly between her fingers as Sakura was trying her best to calm down the furious blonde. Hinata didn't really care, she was just glad the shop was warm as her thoughts drifted to Shino and Kiba. Her stomach clenched, Kiba had gone to the compound looking for her. At the very least she was glad that Neji was the one who had caught him. She and Neji had come to an understanding after Naruto had left the second time to retrieve Sasuke. He had trained her to become a jounin and they had become… closer in a way. Not best friends but they didn't hate one another any more, they just simply were friends.

'DAMMIT!' A crash followed as Ino threw something. She had her father's temper that was for sure as Hinata reflected on her less that stellar performance at training in the snow. Even Kiba had noticed, but then again he picked up more on body language and shifts in scents than actual verbal expressions. He had known as soon as she had stepped into the clearing that something was up. She cursed how intelligent her teammates were without knowing it. Sometimes she wished they could be a blind as Naruto. Her heart twisted rather painfully as she caught sight of Sakura's left hand.

Yes Sakura was going to marry Naruto. She had given up a long time ago trying for Naruto's attention. It still upset her but as she moved on she had realized that Naruto really wasn't right for her but they were still as close as best friends could be. He even snuck her out of the compound some nights to go bar hopping with the rest of the jounin's and that was always a party.

Still it hurt knowing that even after all of this time Naruto had still never once taken an interest in her. But now she had bigger problems. Because of the heat she was getting sleepy and Shino knew where she was camping and Kiba knew she wasn't alright.

'Hinata are you sick?' Sakura's voice cut through her mulling as she glanced up to see the two girls looking at her.

'Uh- um n-no I-I'm just tired' she stuttered as Sakura sat beside her gently probing her with chakra as she gasped.

'Hinata you're exhausted did you not sleep at all last night?' she said as Hinata shook her head.

'The wind kept me awake' she whispered as Ino nodded. Everyone was on edge because of the storm it seemed as Sakura flopped back in her chair.

'Eh, it seems that everything has been thrown off because of this stupid storm. Even Neji has been acting weird he asked me where you were today Hinata' she said as Hinata paled. Neji was looking for her meant that he was concerned and would be arousing people's suspicion about the family.

'Oh, h-he probably wanted m-me for a f-f-family mission' she gritted out as sick as saying family made her feel. She no longer had a family, after her mother had passed on she hadn't had a family. She had had a hierarchy where she was the underdog of a soldier that couldn't keep it together and ended up being kicked out because of her uselessness.

Sakura watched the emotions flicker across Hinata's face. She seemed incredibly sad and hurt like she had finally given up at trying as the Hyuuga raised her pale eyes as Sakura smiled.

'How about we get some food? My treat' Sakura said as Hinata smiled shyly and nodded. Ino sighed and flipped her hair as the duo looked at her.

'We still have to get the basis of the bowls set up so when the bluebells do arrive we can just put them in.' she said as the other girls nodded and got to work arranging the fifty table arrangements according to Ino's design.

The time passed swiftly and before long the three girls relocated to Sakura tea house as Hinata was enjoying her warm Miso soup.

'So Sakura, when is the wedding going to be?' Ino asked as the pink haired kunoichi blushed hotly.

'Four months. I'm run rampant with work for this and Naruto isn't helping but I have good news. Ino, I want you to be my maid of honour.' She said as Ino squealed and grabbed her friend in a massive hug as Hinata smiled glad her two friends were so excited as she took another sip of her soup. 'And I want Hinata as one of my bridesmaids' sakura said as Hinata nearly choked looking up in alarm at their massive smiling faces. Ino laughed as gave her a swat.

'Don't look so shocked! There aren't many of us kunoichi and we're all good friends of course you were going to be a bridesmaid' Ino laughed as Hinata smiled.

'Okay' she said as Sakura enveloped her in a warm hug as she returned it. She was happy for Sakura she really was but a little phrase she had heard Chouji say years ago echoed back to her as she was sitting there embracing one of her closest friends.

Poor Hinata, always the bridesmaid never the bride herself

She closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to fall as Sakura pulled back and started talking excitedly about dresses, venues and invitations. Hinata finished her soup and took one of the mochi nibbling on it. She didn't want to return to her tent the storm was still raging and had picked up again since the sun had set and was now blowing gusts so hard that the windows rattled and a few signs had been blown off their hinges.

She could not sleep tonight.

'Sakura do you haven any soldier pills?' she asked quietly as both girls gave her a strange look.

'Why Hinata?' Ino asked as she looked at her shoes. She needed a lie, a good one, she thought for a minute as she felt the heat rise to her cheeks. How she hated how easily she blushed.

'I-I lost mine on-on my last m-mission' she bit out as she saw Sakura's eyes soften.

'No sorry I haven't made any in a few weeks. I can make you some tomorrow is that alright?' she asked as Hinata nodded. Tonight was going to be nearly unbearable as the girls prepared to leave.

'So we'll see you on Wednesday to pick out invitations right?' Sakura asked as Hinata nodded bundling herself up for the long trek back to her camp in the blizzard. They stepped outside as the force of the wind slammed into them. The cold snared around Hinata and knocked her breath out of her as she hunched against the blasts.

'Holy shit!' Ino cursed as they all waved and hunched over running to their respective homes leaving Hinata standing in the middle of the little road. She ducked as a sign shot past her nearly striking her in the shoulder as she turned and ran with the wind. If it hadn't been so deadly it would've been fun as the gusts pushed her along nearly lifting her off her feet as she slid around a corner to hear a crash where a window shutter had come loose and splintered on the side of the building.

This was bad. Very, very bad.

She was only a little ways away from the training ground as she heard someone call out to her. Turning she saw a shadow standing under a streetlamp. The snow obscured everything as the figure moved. It was Neji, he looked pissed off as he moved stiffly. Hinata did not want a confrontation with any of her family. Her banishment still felt raw and she felt unwanted. Neji may have not done anything but he looked too much like her father for comfort as she quickly made the seals for the transportation jutsu.

'HINATA!' he bellowed over the roar of the wind as she vanished just in time to avoid being hit was a large tree limb. Neji cursed and doubled back, he had to rally the others and get Hinata out of this storm. His cousin was being particularly stubborn which was unlike her as he stopped by the first apartment he could find.

Hinata gasped as she landed on her blankets with a thump as she quickly rolled herself in them. The far side of her tarp had been ripped and was now flailing uselessly. This was so bad, why was everything so against her? She closed her eyes and pulled her knees to her chest huddling against the trunk of the tree. It was so cold, she had stopped shivering a while ago which was not good and fatigue was setting in.

She was getting hypothermia as the winds roared in the forest around her threatening to crush her with her own beloved trees that nurtured Konoha. She hugged her knees to her chest was she this unwanted. Neji had come after her but she did not want her family's help. They wanted her gone then she was gone. There was no chance that she was going back. But she knew she needed help she had taken being stubborn too far.

Would anyone notice if she never showed up for training again? She knew people would miss her, her father wouldn't. He'd go to the funeral but not a tear would be shed for his useless heir. She was merely a tool for her father to command and since she was defective to his purpose she had been cast aside. That hurt to no end.

Unwanted. That's what she was. The wind howled as little whispers of snow seemed to enter ears and beg her to sleep. Sleep. It was so tempting. But she couldn't if she slept she would die.

The temperature was dropping with the wind and Hinata knew she was in trouble. She had to go find someone, get into a house where it was warm. She managed to get to her feet as a wave of vertigo washed over her. No no no! not now! She dropped to the ground as her world swam around her. Low blood sugar, she had used all of her energy to keep warm and was now paying the price. She needed to fight stay awake! Shino, Kurenai, Sakura, Ino, Naruto, Neji, Shikamaru, Chouji, TenTen, Lee….Kiba. She tried to hold on but she was sucked under but the darkness.

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Alright this is a new fanfiction. If you want more review. I left it a cliff hanger for a reason. -evil grin-