A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews and messages. I know I'm very bad at updating stories, but for those who did not leave and for those who are just starting to ready this is for you!


Chapter 4


Sunlight filtered through an open window brightening up the entire room. A lone figure laid on top of a bed, her entire body almost covered with bandages and healing salve.

The heir of the Hyuuga clan slept peacefully though her face was looking paler than normal. One wouldn't have any idea of the difficult struggle she faced for the past two days. Three knocks at the door cut through the silence yet Hinata's form did not stir from the sound.

Hizashi silently entered the room and headed straight to her bedside. He raised his hand and placed it on top of Hinata's forehead.

"I'm sorry, little Hinata. I failed to protect you from harm," he looked down on his niece's form. She was only six years old. She only had six years with her mother. He quickly pulled his hand away and clenched it at his side.

"Let us begin."

All the medic nins stared wide-eyed at the Hyuuga clan head's unconscious form in the arms of Hizashi who icily glared at them. The look left them scrambling to prepare the necessary scrolls for the dangerous procedure.

"Are you absolutely sure of this, Hyuuga-sama?" the head medic asked.

"Please. We don't have time to doubt. We need to save Hinata," Hyuuga Hitomi answered before placing her hand on her husband's cheek and kissing his forehead. She looked up and saw Hizashi looking at the painful exchange. She smiled and nodded once before sitting beside Hinata's body.

"What if two people helped with the process so that none of them will face chakra exhaustion? Will this stop the curse from killing anyone?" Hizashi asked while putting his brother at a nearby chair.

"I'm sorry, Hyuuga-sama but that will be too dangerous. We can't use a different chakra source since it is a one-way process. If we attempt to do so, I'm afraid it will put too much strain on the girl's body," Saeki, the head medic nin, shook her head.

"If that is the case," Hizashi stated before shifting his gaze to his sister-in-law, "Hitomi-sama, I will be the one to do the procedure."

"Stop this non-sense! I will not let you do that. Please think of your son. Neji doesn't have anyone else but you," she exclaimed, her face set in fierce determination.

"Hitomi-sama, please. I am only a branch member. It is our sworn duty to protect the main family," he argued and sat on the other side of Hinata.

"I'm sorry, Hizashi-san."

That was the last thing Hizashi remembered before he blacked out due to the pain of the curse seal being activated. When he woke up, he saw his brother hugging his sister-in-law's lifeless body and holding on to Hinata's hand.

"Leave," the sharp voice of Hiashi interrupted his train of thought. Hizashi turned back and faced his brother's emotionless mask. He bowed respectfully and took one last look at his niece before leaving the room.

The door opened and closed but Hiashi still stood quite a distance away from his daughter. His gaze remained unseeing and after a few minutes, he quietly left as well. No one was able to see the young heiress waking up from her dream to a real nightmare.


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"Nii-san, why must we wear formal clothes? It's uncomfortable!" Sasuke complained while pulling at his shirt collar. The Uchiha family were currently on their way to Konohagakure's cemetery to attend the Hyuuga funeral being held there today.

"Stop fidgeting, Sasuke," Itachi ordered. Sasuke, not being used to his brother acting cold, just frowned and looked away. Itachi saw his expression and sighed once before flicking Sasuke's forehead.

"Ow!"

"I'm sorry, Sasuke but today you need to be on your best behavior."

"Why?"

"Do you remember Hyuuga Hinata?" At the mention of the heiress' name, Sasuke turned his full attention and nodded once.

"Yes. We were at her birthday party last week. You told me she's fine now," his brow furrowed slightly upon seeing the gates of the village cemetery.

"She is but right now she's very sad. Her mother passed away and today is the funeral. We're here to pay our respects. If you'll behave then she would really appreciate that," Itachi explained carefully, his gaze now focusing on the dark clouds covering the sky. Even the weather was quickly turning somber for the occasion.

"Okay," Sasuke agreed and stood up straighter mimicking their father's figure who was walking a few meters ahead of them.

Itachi smiled upon seeing the act before looking at the crowd gathered in front. He saw the Third Hokage, different clan heads, high-ranking ninjas and even the feudal lord of the Land of Fire.

After formally greeting the group of people, Itachi and Sasuke wandered off to find Hinata who they have yet to encounter. Sasuke stopped and motioned to his brother.

"Let's ask him," the younger Uchiha stated before briskly walking towards the figure of Hinata's cousin with Itachi following close behind.

"Hyuuga-san," Itachi called out prompting Neji to halt his steps and turn to the two siblings. Both parties exchanged curt greetings and impassively locked gazes. Sasuke, getting rather impatient, stepped forward, "Where is Hinata-san? I haven't seen her since we got here."

Neji wanted to smack the brat's head for being so rude. Unbeknownst to the brothers, he was also in a bad mood. He wanted to go to his cousin who wandered off while he was away. He was concerned because Hinata stopped talking to everyone after learning about her mother's demise. He then promised to remain by her side throughout the day but had to leave for a while to inform her father that they had arrived. When he got back, she was gone. The only trace left behind was her wheelchair. He was able to use Byakugan to easily locate Hinata who was now with his father. As he tried to get closer to the two figures, he saw his father secretly motion for him to stop advancing. He did so and waited until his father was standing in front of him. Hizashi informed him that Hinata did not want to be disturbed for a while. He asked for a reason but Hizashi merely shook his head. Neji frowned but did not disobey his order. 'So much for being Hinata-sama's protector,' he thought bitterly.

"She doesn't want to talk to anyone right now," Neji replied tersely.

Itachi grabbed Sasuke's shoulder to stop him from lashing out at the older Hyuuga. He already noticed Sasuke's clenched fists and Neji's tense posture. They didn't have time for a confrontation.

"Very well," Itachi nodded and nudged his little brother towards the direction they came from. Sasuke who was still irritated by the exchange, glared at Neji and turned to walk away. When they were at a distance, Itachi told Sasuke to stay with their mother until he gets back.

"Why?" Sasuke asked for the second time this day. His brows furrowed deeply and his mouth set in a firm line.

"I'll be back. Don't worry," he said and hurriedly left before Sasuke could reply. The Uchiha heir missed the disappointed look that flashed across his sibling's face.

"I want to look for her too," Sasuke grumbled and trudged his way to their parents.


.

Hinata stood up after her cousin left to find her father. She walked slowly at first to test her balance which was a bit off after the whole ordeal. Upon getting the hang of it, she strengthened her resolve and tried to force her legs to take larger and faster steps. Just a little bit more and she will have reached the line of trees along the perimeter of the cemetery. She felt suffocated. Everything that happened since her birthday passed by like a blur. She managed to hold on to a tree trunk but her arm didn't have enough strength to stop her fall. She landed on her knees and her other hand got scrapped, however, she did not cry out.

The Hyuuga heiress fisted the dirt and rubble beneath her frame and looked up. There was no blinding sunlight to greet her eyes, only huge branches and dark looming clouds in between their gaps. The wind was blowing moderately, sending cold shivers down her body.

Hinata picked herself up and began aimlessly walking into the shadows casted by the woods. Her legs finally gave way after she arrived at a small clearing. Not having the will to continue her walk, she crawled a few feet and managed to rest her back against a large rock despite some slight difficulty. She stayed like that for a while, quite thankful that she could no longer hear the mindless chatter of the people from the village attending her mother's funeral. Her unseeing eyes remained downcast, and her face showed a blank canvass.

Footsteps could be heard to her right. Hinata knew she was only given a few minutes of reprieve before one of the clan members found her.

"Hinata-sama," the voice of her uncle interrupted her new-found solitude. Hizashi stepped into the clearing, his gaze never leaving Hinata. He lowered himself and tried to catch her eye but was quite unsuccessful.

"Hinata-sama," he tried again and thankfully, the girl raised her face to look at him. Gone was the happiness radiating from her eyes, the warmth of color on her cheeks, and the contagious smile that she bestowed on everyone. This scene sent a stab of pain through his chest. Hizashi would've given everything up to remove that haunted look. It was the same one he saw on his brother's face. He even wished to see her crying instead of being this empty shell. The little girl had not even shed a tear after hearing the awful news. Seeing his beloved niece shut everyone out was enough to trigger the self-loathing and guilt but he managed to keep it hidden from view.

"We need to return, Hinata-sama. The others will be worried and the ceremony will start in half an hour," he told her but the request was only met by the furious shaking of her head.

"N-no," she managed to choke. It was the first time she spoke this week.

"How about later? Shall we join the ceremony later?" he asked gently but Hinata still shook her head and clamped her mouth shut. That was bad news. It would be improper for her to skip the funeral, and he was torn between letting her be or forcing her to come. Hizashi looked at the shaking figure of his niece and stood up. He slowly backed away upon noticing the telltale signs of her incoming anxiety attack. This made him cement his decision.

"Okay. It's okay, Hinata-sama. I will not pressure you," he tried to calm her down, "I'll let you stay here until everything's over." He knew it was pointless to wait for a response now but he still hoped that she would talk to him again. Realizing that it won't happen, Hizashi left silently praying for the little heiress' forgiveness and strength to overcome this great hurdle in her life.

Hinata clasped her hands on top of her lap and quietly observed the difference between them. One was pale and unblemished while the other one was smudged with dirt and dried blood due to the small wounds she received from her earlier fall. The sight was similar to her situation before and after she lost her mother. That previous life was filled with warmth, love and happiness but now everything was gone. Her father was distancing himself, Hanabi was still too young to understand, and Neji and her uncle were treating her like a broken doll. She heard all the nasty rumors and whispers that the adults were attempting to hide from her. She didn't know who to trust anymore so she stopped trying to talk to anyone.

Small droplets of rain started to fall but she didn't care. She had no idea how much time had passed and guessed that the ceremony might be over once she heard someone coming nearer. She closed her eyes, uncaring if it was a friend or foe.

"Hyuuga-san."

Hinata refused to open her eyes to see dark orbs gazing down at her. It will be filled with pity for sure. She didn't need pity. She didn't need anyone. All she wanted was her mother.

She felt his presence draw closer to her and realized that the Uchiha heir was trying to shield her from the drizzle. Slowly opening her eyes but refusing to meet his, she stared at his feet clad in black leather shoes. Hinata pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around them.

"The ceremony is about to start," Itachi stated still not quite sure how to approach the young girl who was trying to cut herself off from everyone.

"You need to go now if you want to make it in time," he urged when he noticed that she was still not moving. The silence stretched on for a while longer, both still at the same position.

Itachi believed that the girl was either in denial or in shock. 'This won't do,' he mused and steeled his resolve.

"Is this how you want to remember the last moments of your mother? Hiding away from everyone?"

'That caught her attention,' he thought wryly when Hinata's head snapped up to look at him straight on. Her face looked blank but upon close inspection, he saw a lighted fire in her eyes. Seeing a hint of emotion from her was a good sign. It meant that he was somehow getting through the wall she put up.

"Get up," he told her and extended his hand. He was shocked when the young heiress slapped it away.

"I.. I don't need y-your help," she said.

"Fine. Stand up and walk on your own," he countered and crossed his arms.

"Please leave," she muttered and tore her gaze away. Itachi frowned. She was starting to hide again.

"I never thought of you as a coward, Hyuuga-san."

"Please go away."

"Your mother will be so proud. She risked her life to save a coward."

"Y-you don't know anything!" Hinata finally raised her voice.

"Then tell me. What are you so afraid of?" he challenged.

"You won't understand! No one will!" she cried and attempted to stand to get away from the hurtful words being thrown at her. She lost her footing and collided with Itachi who managed to hold on to her arms. She struggled and hit him, not wanting to be around his presence any longer.

"What is it?" he asked.

"L-let me go," she pleaded.

"Hyuuga-san," he tried to stop her movements but was still met with resistance.

"Let go. I w-want to leave," Hinata insisted.

"Hyuuga-san," Itachi whispered. His soft voice reached her ears and finally made her look up.

"We won't understand if you don't tell us," he told her gently and eased his grip once her actions ceased.

"Stop telling lies."

Itachi had to strain his ears to hear her words and was confused about the meaning behind them.

"What do y-"

"Stop pretending to be concerned! I know everyone is lying! I know what everyone thinks! I know! I know!" Hinata shouted and bit her lip to stop it from trembling. The pain she was repressing finally flooded her entire system. The onslaught of emotions had her reeling back. Her small body shook and her knees gave way. Slumping to the floor, she tried to stop the unshed tears from flowing.

"I killed her. I killed her. If I wasn't here, mother would still be alive. It's my fault. I killed her. I killed her. I killed her."

"Hyuuga-san."

"I'm so sorry, mother. It's all my fault. I'm so sorry," Hinata kept repeating while cradling her head in both hands.

Itachi knelt and placed his hands on top of hers to calm her down. 'Where did she hear this?' he frowned while looking at Hinata's still shaking figure.

They stayed in that position until Hinata's mumbled words turned quiet. The sound of a snapping twig caught Itachi's attention and he immediately activated his Sharingan. He looked at the source of the sound and nodded once he realized who it was. The shadowed figure stood there for a few heartbeats before silently moving away.

Hinata remained oblivious to the exchange as the accusing faces of everyone she knew passed through her mind. She tightly shut her eyes willing away the images. It was too unbearable. When she finally cleared her thoughts, she heard a faint sound.

Hyuuga-san. It was someone's voice.

Hyuuga-san. Was it calling for her? She focused on her surroundings. She was getting a bit wet from the drizzle but her hands were warm. She could feel someone else's faint breathing right at the top of her head.

"Hyuuga-san." Hinata jumped slightly when her awareness returned. She completely forgot about Itachi who was kneeling in front of her, a concerned look adorning his features.

"It's not your fault. No one's blaming you. If they do then they don't know what they're saying. Don't listen to them," he told her.

"But-"

"Have you entered the Academy?"

The random question caught Hinata by surprise that it took her a few seconds to shake her head no.

"Are you a genin?" Hinata frowned and shook her head again.

"Jounin?"

"N-no."

"Are you a member of ANBU?"

"Wh-what does this have to do with anything?"

"Just answer me, Hyuuga-san," Itachi said still not letting go of her face.

"No, I'm not." Her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Are you a missing nin?"

"I'm not a missing nin." Itachi gently pulled her hands from her head and placed it between them.

"Then, are you the Hokage?"

"I'm not, Uchiha-san," Hinata frowned and looked down.

"Tell me. How did you manage to kill your mother if you don't even have the skills for it? She was a great ninja from what I've heard."

His words struck something within her. She lifted her gaze and observed the dark-haired boy. Itachi smiled before settling beside her.

"Will you tell me about your mother?" he asked raising one of his hands to catch a few raindrops. She debated whether to answer that question or not but the encouraging look in Itachi's face helped her decide. She stared at his arm before answering.

"Her name was Hyuuga Hitomi."

"Go on," he urged, looking sideways at the young girl.

"She was a wonderful mother," a lump formed in her throat as Hinata tried to recall her mother's face, her voice, her laughter and her smiles.

Itachi remained silent willing her to continue with her story.

"S-she loved my father, my little sister Hanabi and..,"

"And?

"And me… She loved me too," Hinata finished. She covered her face and cried silently, her teardrops mixing with the rain. Itachi took off his black coat then used it to cover Hinata.

"You can cry all you want. No one will see and I won't tell," he explained then turned his head sideways to give her some privacy. Minutes passed and the rain had gone but the two of them still sat beside each other.

"Thank you," Hinata sniffled under his coat, still trying to wipe away the remaining tears. After drying her face, she took off the coat and placed it on Itachi's lap. Silence enveloped the pair but it was a comfortable one. Finally, Itachi stood up and again held out his hand.

"Do you want to see her?" he asked. Hinata gave a small nod before taking his outstretched hand. She got to her feet and was surprised when Itachi lowered himself.

"Uchiha-san?" she asked tentatively.

"Climb on my back. We don't have much time left," he explained. Hinata nodded and carefully wrapped her arms around his neck.

The unforgettable scene of Uchiha Itachi carrying Hyuuga Hinata welcomed all the guests at Hyuuga Hitomi's funeral. Various emotions erupted from the crowd. Some were surprised, others shocked and a few were concerned. Murmurs could be heard as Hinata finally jumped down from Itachi's back and immediately ran towards her father. Without warning, she took Hiashi's hand before pulling him towards the casket being lowered into the ground.

Itachi took a step back and turned to find his own father looking at him and gesturing to the spot between him and Sasuke. He gave his father a firm nod before joining them and grinned at his brother who was pouting at him.

"I knew you were going to find Hinata-san. Why didn't you bring me with you? We could've found her faster," the younger Uchiha complained.

Itachi chuckled and ruffled Sasuke's hair, "I'm sorry, little brother. Don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to be friends with Hyuuga-san when you enter the Academy."

"Hmp! I'm going to be stronger than you, Aniki. And then, I'll be the one to find her next time!"

Itachi's eyes widened at the declaration before his lips formed a smile.

"I'll remember your promise, Sasuke," he chuckled, his gaze now drifting towards the subject of their conversation.

The Hyuuga clan head and heiress proudly stood, their hands clasped tightly together while they silently watched the body of their loved one being buried. From everyone's point of view, the pair looked like strong pillars braving a storm. In reality, no one but them saw the tears flowing freely down their faces.

.

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つづ

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: Any guesses as to who the "shadowed figure" was? :)

Don't worry. The next chapters will be lighter in tone.