Bravery was an underrated trait.
Hinata decided this as she sat on the veranda of the Hyuuga manor and stared up at stars that blinked back impassively.
Her childhood had been filled with stories of heroic exploits and romantic tales as much as any person's childhood had been (before the death of her mother and the harsh training began) and the basic underlying lessons had been learned: princesses are to be rescued. Witches and step-mothers are always wicked. Bravery is to be admired.
Then she had entered the Ninja Academy, and by about the time she was eleven or twelve, she had learned a different view of bravery. Bravery was a trait of idiots, not heroes. Going against impossible odds was stupid. Real ninjas knew when to run and when to fight. This was inculcated by the Academy teachers, by the other girls in the class who nodded in agreement with worldly knowing, the same way they strived to look pretty and to impress the popular boys (because every girl knew that was how you were meant to act when you were twelve).
People like Neji, like Sasuke, were considered brave. Not stupid-brave, but cool-brave. Hinata heard that on a mission to the Wave country, Sasuke had taken on a pair of ninjas called the demon brothers all by himself. This had been acknowledged by all who heard, including her father, that the Uchiha boy was a great and brave ninja. On the other hand, the Uzumaki boy who had attacked the Demon Zabuza by himself… that was just plain foolish.
A timid thought had occurred to Hinata, as she watched the people in her life, that perhaps bravery was not so bad. And she didn't mean cool-brave.
Watching Naruto get up again and again after the insults hurled by his fellow students, by the villagers, by his teachers. Watching him continue to try even after having been bested by Sasuke. Hearing that Lee had taken on the fearsome Gaara, almost defeated him only to have his leg and arm crushed. To hear that after all his training to be a splendid ninja even if he could only use taijutsu, Lee could never be a ninja again. To hear that despite the big chance that he could die in the operation that may restore the use of his arm and leg, Lee had decided to undergo it…
Bravery in the face of intimidating odds. The decision not to waver, the decision not to give up. To follow one's ninja way…
Yes, Hinata thought with a smile. Maybe her father and everyone else was right, maybe standing up against impossible odds was a show of stupidity. But in this, she'd decided she'd take the chance of being wrong. Incidentally, does anyone think I missed out any other characters who are especially brave? If so: here's a challenge! Wrote a oneshot about a contribution to their bravery… it can be as long or as short as you want it to be! Also, if anyone feels like critiquing my writing… it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading! ;)
Phew! This became longer than I pictured in my head! Yes, yes, I wrote about Hinata again! I know! Don't worry, I'll definitely write about another character for my next fan fiction…