Ok so, I previously had a story called "Pressing on" That I wrote several years ago. It's still up if you want to check it out for context but it will be deleted soon. I decided to rewrite it as a new story. I hope you guys enjoy this updated version on the story!"
Also, the first couple of chapters is pre-shippuden (Post chunin exams and sasuke leaving), right before Naruto leaves with jiraiya for training.
ENJOY! Chapter 2
"You're late." the monotone voice of Hiashi Hyuga said.
Hinata bowed her head.
"G-gomen Otou-san I-"
"I don't want to hear it." He said cutting her off.
Hinata didn't reply.
"You were supposed to be here over an hour ago for the clan meeting. As heiress you should know your responsibilities." He said.
"I'm s-sorry father I didn't realize the time." Hinata replied.
"No excuses Hinata. This is the third time and it better be your last. Now, go prepare my tea and then meet me in the dojo in 30 minutes." He said, waving his hand dismissing her.
"Yes, father." Hinata said and quietly slipped out of the room to prepare her father's tea.
Hinata sighed as she walked to the kitchen. She knew very well what the meeting was about. it was about her. She heard the whispers, she knew they thought she wasn't strong enough to lead the clan.
'They're probably right.' she thought to herself.
As she walked down the hallway Neji walked out of his room.
"Hinata-sama." He said.
She stopped and looked up at him.
"Don't worry yourself, there was nothing all that important in the meeting anyway" he tried.
But Hinata knew he was lying.
"I'm fine nii-san" Hinata replied, giving him a sad smile.
And she continued her trek to the kitchen.
She entered the dojo and sat waiting for her father anxiously. Soon enough she heard the set of heavy footstep approach the dojo's doors.
Upon hearing the doors slide open she quickly stood up straight. In walked her father, followed by two older council members and her younger sister Hanabi.
Hanabi took her stance on the other side of the dojo. Hinata realizing she would have to fight with hanabi sighed and also slipped into a battle stance.
Hiashi, ever quiet, simply raised his arm signaling for the spar to begin.
Hanabi rushed at hinata with a foward attack. Hinata, being as flexible as she was bent backward easily dodging the attack. So hanabi swept kicked hinata as she was mid flip causing the older hyuga girl to tumble. Hinata quickly regained her footing and swung at hanabi. The two went hand to hand a battle of whose gentle fist was stronger.
Strike after strike the two seemed easily matched. However, hanabi's strikes became more forceful. With a quick maneuver she twisted and landed a hit on Hinata's right side.
Despite the pain she was in she grabbed hanabi's arm right as she tried to pull away and landed a hit on her shoulder, then continued into the stance for her finishing attack.
"8 trigrams 16 palms!"
"2 palms!"
Hanabi stumbled back, surprised.
"4 palms!"
'I can't give up now!' Hinata thought to her self.
"8 palms!"
If one would closely you would've seen a ghost of a smile on hiashi's face.
"12 palms!"
Hinata watched as her sisters face contorted in pain, and she coughed up a little blood.
Suddenly guilt washed over hinata. She couldn't finish the attack. She was unable to bear the look of pain on hanabi's face.
In that split second of thought, Hanabi was able to collect herself and with as much chakra as she could push in her hands, got up and hit hinata in the stomach knocking her back into the wall.
Hiashi frowned at the sudden change in events. He lifted his hand once again signaling for them to end. The two girls, breathing heavily got up and bowed at their elders and made their way out the dojo.
The two girls walked in silence.
"Hinata-sama". Said a voice behind them.
They turned and saw Neji standing there with his arms crossed. His intense gaze was fixed on hinata.
"i watched the fight from outside. May I ask why you hesitated during the battle?" Neji asked.
"Yeah!" piped Hanabi. "I don't know why you always do this when we spar! If you were in a real battle you would be dead!" Exclaimed Hanabi.
"I-I just don't like hurting you-" Hinata started.
"Well get over it! " Cried hanabi cutting her off. " We are shinobi, and shinobi get hurt. You hesitate too much! That's why the elders think you're weak and even spoke about replacing you as heiress!"
The younger hyuga girl quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.
Hinata didn't reply as she fought back tears threatening to spill.
"Although it was very rude to say," Neji began as he shot Hanabi a look. "She is right, you need to start thinking about yourself if you want to get stronger."
Hinata simply nodded and Neji turned to walk off but stopped in his tracks.
"We aren't telling you to become heartless or ruthless. We're just saying, sometimes you have to be selfish in order for you to be selfless." He stated, and made his way back down the main hallway.
Hinata flashed Hanabi a sad smile and retreated into her room.
Back in the dojo...
"You do realize our hands are now tied Hiashi-sama?"One of the elders said.
Hiashi sighed. He knew it would have come to this. Now, Hiashi knew he was a cold man. But he loved his daughters very much, despite his cold exterior. But for the sake of the clan, he had to concede. He knew Hinata had potential, but she refused to tap into to it because of her weakness for others.
"We shall call a meeting soon." Hiashi said.
One week later, Hanabi, Neji, Hinata and several elders along with hiashi met in Hiashi's office quarters.
"I have called you here to make an announcement. It has come to out attention that Hinata is no longer fit for the title of heiress. So from this day foward, Hanabi will be named heiress, once she reaches of age." Hiashi said slowly, assessing their reactions.
Neji's eyes narrowed, Hanabi's eyes almost popped out of her head. Hinata didn't move though. Her face remained expressionless, although her eyes were glazed over with unshed tears.
Then one of the elders spoke up.
"Instead, so lady Hinata will not bring any more shame to our family, Once she is of age she is to be wed and she may receive the seal as well, for protective purposes."
At this Hinata's head shot up, eyes widened.
We have already found 3 possible suitors, all of course from some of the most prestigious clans in all the hidden villages. Lady Hinata will of course have the honor of making the final choice. They will be coming to konoha in a month's time. Hinata I hope you will not let us down and fufill your duty to your clan." He finished.
Hinata choked down a sob. No. It couldn't end like this. She wanted to scream. Her mind immediately moved to Naruto, to whom just the previous week she almost confessed too. Her mind became a swirling myriad of emotions.
So she ran.
She ran straight out of the compound towards the outskirts of the village. She stopped before she went any further out the village. Then she'd really be in trouble.
Sitting upright against a tree, hugging her knees Hinata began to cry. She made no attempt to stifle her cries lest someone hears her. She cried and cried and cried.
Unbeknownst to her, a silver haired ninja watched quietly from where he was perched on the same tree that Hinata was under. He noticed her running towards to outskirts of the village which was abnormal for the Hyuga girl. So he followed her to ensure everything was alright. Guess things weren't. Kakashi sighed and poofed himself to the hokage building.
Hinata woke up with a jolt. Sh scanned her surrounding and realized she was under the same tree. When had she fallen asleep? She did a quick sweep with her byakugan before getting up and walking back home. It was about 1 am.
As she passed the gates to enter back into town she noticed two people walking through. Looking closely she saw it was Shikamaru and Temari. She was curious to know why the two were entering the village together but she figured maybe they had to go on a mission together.
As they neared, she accidentally made eye contact with Shikamaru.
'What's Hinata doing out so late?' Wondered Shikamaru.
But before he could call out to her , she quickly turned and ran off. But not before he got a glimpse of her tear-streaked face.
Two weeks have passed since that night. She could not sleep. In two more weeks she was to choose a husband. Someone she didn't even know or love. And she will become a caged bird.
She thought about Neji and Hanabi's words to her.
"That's why the elders think you're weak"
"If you were in a real battle you would be dead!"
"you need to start thinking about yourself if you want to get stronger."
Their words replayed in her head over and over.
And then one night she realized what she had to do.
The next morning she woke up early, and made her way to the Hokage's office.
As she walked, she heard an all too familiar voice call out to her.
"OI Hinata-chan!" Naruto called.
Hinata tried to fight back her blush and she turned to greet the blond haired ninja.
"G-good morning N-naruto-kun" She said softly.
"Hey Hinata-chan where are you headed?" He asked walking alongside her.
'I can't believe Naruto-kun is walking with me!' Hinata beamed inside.
"I'm heading to see Hokage-sama." Hinata replied.
"For a mission?" Naruto inquired.
Hinata nodded her head. She didn't like the idea of lying to the blonde, but she had no choice.
"Awesome...oh! wasn't there something you wanted to tell me a few weeks back when we were at Sakura's house? I haven't seen you around much lately to ask." He said.
Hinata's heart pounded. 'He remembered!' She thought.
Hinata stopped walking, as did Naruto. She took a deep breath.
"Naruto for the longest time I've loved you, ever since we were kids back at the academy. You were brave, and never let anyone bring you down, no matter how much they tried. You became my hope, my inspiration..a-and I love you N-naruto-kun." Hinata said.
Naruto's eyes widened. For the first time Naruto was at a loss for words.
"I-I-I don't know what to say Hinata-chan.." He said.
"It's ok Naruto-kun. I-I know you d-don't return my feelings. Because you love Sakura-chan." Hinata simply replied.
"I'm sorry Hinata-chan. You're really a great girl, and I know you are going to make somebody happy someday. But you're right, I-I do love Sakura-chan, and I wouldn't want to hurt you by leading you on. But we could still be friends right?" He said.
"Of course N-Naruto-kun!" Hinata said with a small smile.
Naruto smiled back. "Great!" He said, and hugged Hinata tightly.
"You should get going though You wouldn't want to keep Baa-chan waiting. I appreciate you Hinata, don't forget that." Naruto said.
Hinata swallowed hard to keep herself from sobbing.
"Thank you Naruto-kun for being Honest with me." She Said.
With that She turned away, her resolved now strengthened. Knowing she was unable to be with Naruto, (and not having to worry about marrying a stranger.) she no longer had a reason to stay. She was going to leave the leaf village.
She knocked softly on the door three times.
"Come in!" Tsunade yelled from the other side of the door.
Hinata walked in slowly, closing the door behind her.
"What can I do for you Hinata?" Tsunade asked eyeing her warily.
She remembered the conversation she had with Kakashi just the other day.
Flashback
Kakashi sat lazily at Tsunade's windowsill. Sensing his presence, without turning around she called out to him.
"Hello Kakashi, to what do I owe this pleasure?" She asked.
"I was just in the neighborhood." Kakashi said, now entering the office.
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "I'm sure there's something more." She stated.
Kakashi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well I did see something weird this afternoon." He replied.
"Go on." Tsunade urged.
" Hinata Hyuga. She was running fast towards the outskirts of the village. Although I doubted it was another sasuke situation, but I know it's unlike her to be in such a frenzied state. So I followed her. She stopped right before she reached the gates, and slumped herself against a tree and began to cry. And kept crying." Kakashi explained.
"Hmm...that is weird. I wonder what happened. Maybe I'll have a talk with her the next time I see her." Tsunade said.
End Flashback
"I'm sorry Tsunade-sama...but I-I want to leave the village." Hinata Stammered.
Tsunade open her drawer and pulled out a bottle of sake and gestured for Hinata to sit down.
"May I ask why?" Tsunade asked.
"I have nothing against this village and I do not wish to be an enemy. But There is nothing left for me. I do not know if you have been made aware yet, But I have been disowned as heiress. And Once I am of age I am going to married to one of the three suitors that are coming to visit next month." Hinata said.
Tsunade downed her first cup.
"So what do you think leaving the village will accomplish.?" Tsunade asked.
"I want to become stronger. I want to do this for myself, Tsunade-sama I guess you could say I'm being selfish. And unfortunately you cannot meddle in clan affairs. So you can't keep me from this arranged marriage, or stop them if they decide to give me the caged bird seal. So both our hands are tied." Hinata stated.
Tsunade tapped her fingers on the desk thoughtfully.
"Hinata I don't know if that's such a good idea. You have your friends here and we need you! Your team is one of the best tracking teams in konoha!" Tsunade said.
"I understand but I just can't be here anymore! I-I just can't...I need to do this. Maybe I can come back but I just can't be here!" Hinata said, as the tears began to flow freely.
Tsunade hummed.
"I'll tell you what. Come back tonight and I will have an answer for you"
Hinata nodded and began to walk out. When she opened the door she found Shikamaru and Temari standing there. Shikamaru's hand raised ready to knock.
Hinata bowed before excusing herself.
"What's up with her?" Temari asked.
"Yeah, this is the second time we've seen her like this." Shikamaru stated.
"When was the first?" Tsunade asked.
"About two weeks ago." Shikamaru said.
Tsunade downed her second cup.
"She just asked to leave the village." Tsunade replied.
Temari gasped and shikamaru's eyes narrowed. This was so unlike the hyuga.
"Don't tell anyone about this. She said she was disowned as heiress, and that she was going to get seal. On top of that, she will be forced into an arrange marriage. And unfortunately as Hokage I cannot get involved in clan matters." Tsunade said.
The room was silent for a moment before Temari spoke up.
"Hokage-sama, I think I have an idea that could work." She said.
Well that's all for today guys! I will try to update as soon as possible! Hope you enjoyed and please review!"
