"A BALL!?" Iruka-sensei ears were ringing from the combined outbursts of Naruto and Sasuke. "Yes, yes a ball! And don't shout!" Shaking his head, he never was able to get Naruto-kun to tone down his voice when he was excited or upset.
Both young men were aghast, though for vastly different reasons. Sasuke was terrified of being mobbed by every eligible maiden of the court, and as for Naruto he was afraid the ladies would sooner throw their wine at him let alone accept a dance.
Iruka-sensei waited for the shock to wear off before he continued, "I know what you are thinking." "Both of you!" he added after they shot him dark glares.
"But I have some good news." This time they shot him dubious glares. Sighing and praying for patience he finished, "The nobility of Konoha weren't the only ones invited. Nobility from allied nations as well as the prominent members of the country's working class have been invited to attend as well. That would entail merchants and wealthy land owners Naruto surely you know what you're father intended by including them?"
"Other than showing an interest in the people who create the prosperity this country enjoys so much?" Naruto answered cheekily.
"Baka!" Sasuke groaned at the now whimpering Naruto who was nursing his head. Iruka-sensei pulled his fist back from Naruto's noggin and gestured for the two to sit down.
On the table he had a neat list written down, and began to go over what the two would need to do to prepare.
Naruto toned his teacher out and brooded to himself. He knew now that his father had decided to go through with his idea of remarrying; why else would he throw a ball. It's not like he ever showed an interest in such things before.
He supposed he ought to try to be grateful, as Iruka-sensei believed he should, by inviting so many from outside the courtly circles. He supposed that if he gained a new mother, it would help to have one who didn't already hate him.
Being quite sharp and ignorant of Naruto's earlier eavesdropping Sasuke-kun understood Iruka's implication. Neither Iruka nor Sasuke were one to give credit to rumors; they had heard the whispered gossip concerning the Hokage remarrying but neither thought that was true. They understood that the plan behind the ball was for Naruto to meet someone, and Iruka smacked the blond haired boy because he thought the kid was being unappreciative.
Sasuke hated the idea of being surrounding by all the social climbing harpies that hounded him on a near daily basis in the palace, but if Naruto could meet people of the nation who didn't have a reason to dislike him then maybe he'd stop his stupid pranking and start acting like his true self.
Iruka had similar hopes for the young man, who he loved like a son. Every time he saw the boy hurt it broke his heart. More than once he'd been tempted to have a face off with the bastards, or even the Hokage himself; however, the man was 'manners' incarnate and he felt that it just wasn't his place. So he did the best he could trying to reassure the boy that they were wrong.
When he first met the boy he didn't know what to think. Armed only with his preconception he was prepared to hate the boy, the vessel of the creature who killed his family. But when he met him for the first time, and looked into his big blue eyes, he knew. He knew that this kid was no monster, and only a closed minded idiot would believe otherwise. Unfortunately, the court was full of such idiots and for the life of him he couldn't understand why the Hokage put up with them.
Turning his thoughts away from such troubling thoughts he focused on his task at hand. "Now first of all you'll need to take dancing lessons, and…Naruto! Are you listening!?"
"A ball?" Hinata whispered as she heard her stepmother read the letter that had just been delivered by a royal messenger. She sighed wistfully at the obvious excitement of her stepmother and sister. They had come to where her father and cousin Neji had been training to tell them the exciting news.
Hinata had been quietly observing the two when the woman had arrived. She watched them train whenever she was able.
When she was growing up she learned very quickly that her family didn't want to see her, but she wanted to be able to see them. So in response she became an expert in stealth, no one, not even her prodigy cousin could tell when she was watching.
During her observations she learned a great deal about her family's unique gift. Many families in Fire Country had special abilities that were passed down their bloodline. So if you were born into the Aburame clan like Shino-kun you had a special affinity to insects. Or like Kiba-kun who could communicate with dogs.
Hinata's special ability lay in her eyes. Hyuugas were born with pupil-less eyes that were always the same color; a pale lavender. With these eyes they could use Byakugan, a skill that allows them to have a nearly 360 degree angle of sight within a 50 meter radius and some like her father and Neji-san could see much father. This skill allows them to see through any surface and allows the user to see the inner chakra coil system, which leads us to the family's fighting style, Jūken or 'gentle fist'. Because the Byakugan allows them to see the chakra coil system they can attack individual chakra points to disable their opponents. Seasoned fighters can even kill with a single move using this style.
Hinata observations through the years had allowed her to learn Byakugan on her own, and she memorized all of the moves that Neji learned from her father and later practiced them on her own or with Shino and Kiba. In addition, in complete secrecy from everyone, she had been working on her own unique move.
It was watching Neji-san training to perfect two special techniques that she began to think of a new move of her own. The techniques are Hakkeshō Kaiten, literally Eight Trigram Palms Heavenly Spin, a defensive move that uses chakra to create a complete and impenetrable shield to protect the user against any attack. Second, Hakke Rokujūyon Shō, the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms move. This move allows the user to close off all 64 chakra points in the human body, disabling the flow of chakra in the victim's body for quite some time.
Hinata was attempting to combine the two to create a move that was offensive as it was defensive. It was coming along slowly though, due to the fact that her hefty work schedule didn't allow much free time for working on secret techniques. But she desperately wanted to achieve her goal; she wanted to prove her strength to her family.
At this moment, however, Hinata's mind wasn't on her technique. She was watching all of them, smiling and happy, and with all her heart she wished that she wasn't so weak, so that she could belong.
"A ball." Akio-san stated.
"A ball, how nice." Tenten responded.
Looking over the invitation again Akio was pleased that his work had gained him such recognition, but a ball? What on earth would he do at a ball, demonstrate his latest weaponry innovations; discuss the best mix of metals to create the lightest and strongest kunai to the ladies of the court! Honestly….wait a moment.
"Tenten…you're a girl." He said in a thoughtful tone.
"Yes sensei, I am a girl" she humphffed.
"Yes, well, I was thinking that you should go with me!" That's it! I can show off my brilliant student and use her to break the ice! Everyone likes cute girls who can wield kunai right?!
"WHAT!" Tenten was pretty sure that her sensei had lost his senses; honestly, she really wasn't that sort of girl!
Several days later all three girls were sitting in the woods together, Sakura had dragged Tenten with her to where she usually found Hinata foraging.
Staring they finally spoke at once, Sakura squealed, "A BALL!" Tenten muttered sulkily, "a stupid ball." And Hinata softly whispered, "a ball."
Looking startled for a moment they quickly dissolved into giggles.
"Does that mean you two are invited?" Hinata asked after they all calmed down.
Sakura nodded, "Yes my father was invited! It's such an honor really, since we aren't nobility or anything. I think it's wonderful the Hokage is recognizing the value of his country's economic backbone."
Tenten snorted, "Did you copy that verbatim from your father?"
She scowled back, "So what if I did, I'm still proud of him!"
Hinata smiled softly, "That really is wonderful Sakura. So that means your sensei has been recognized as well right Tenten?"
Seeing Hinata's pleased expression Tenten didn't have the heart to put a damper on her good mood. "Yeah, his weapons have always been popular among the 'lesser' ninja, mostly genin and chuunin due to his reasonable prices. Anyway after a while the Jounin found out about him as well, and you know, word spread. Akio-sensei takes a lot of pride in his work and he still offers everything for a reasonable price. He seems happy about the invitation."
Grimacing she added, "But he's making me go to the ball with him, I think he's afraid to mingle on his own!"
Smiling, Hinata shook her head, "Maybe, but he is also very proud of you. I bet he wants to show you off."
Tenten just blushed. She had lived and worked with her sensei for four years and when she was with him she felt that this is what it must be like to have a father.
She never knew her own father; she had been raised by her mother and her mother's family when her village had been destroyed. She had asked her mother about her father but it had just made her sad so she stopped asking. Later she had wished that her mother had said something for when the village was gone she had no where to go, at that point it would have been really nice to have a father to go to, even a deadbeat would have been better than the streets.
Her sensei was one of her precious people and even though she complained about the ball she would go dressed in a nightgown if he needed her to.
Sakura brought them back to the subject of the ball, "well, what are you going to wear! Because you know I'd be happy to make your dress!"
"Just as long as it doesn't have ruffles!" Tenten teased.
Hinata just watched her two friends laughing and planning with a sweet smile on her face. She was glad that they could go and this way she'd have a first hand account as to what a ball is like, what the palace looks like inside, and all the other things she would have liked to find out for herself, but can't.
"And what about you Hinata?" Sakura asked, breaking Hinata out of her reverie.
"I'm sorry, what did you ask?" Hinata asked, mentally scolding herself for spacing out.
"I said what would you like to wear?" Sakura looked at her with a smile. Hinata didn't understand, "Wear to what?" How long had she spaced out for?
"To the ball silly!" Sakura was bouncing in excitement; she wanted to dress her friend up! Suddenly Tenten bopped her on the head, "Owww, what was that for?"
Tenten just nudged her and gave her a significant look.
Hinata just smiled, "I'm not going Sakura-chan; I wasn't invited."
Sakura's mouth dropped to the ground, she had been so excited about the whole thing that she had completely forgotten about Hinata's family troubles.
Sakura really wasn't all that naïve; it's just that she couldn't stand the idea of her friend being left behind. She was used to the three doing everything together.
Sakura's turned to Hinata with her jade green eyes wide in horror. "I'm so sorry Hinata! I just got carried away!"
"Don't be sorry Sakura, I'm not mad. I'm just glad the two of you are going, this way you can tell me all about it."
Hinata's friends wanted to protest but they weren't stupid and they knew that she couldn't come. But that didn't make it any less unfair, Hinata was the sweetest girl they knew, they both thought that she was wonderful and for her to be left out…well it just felt wrong.
"So, tell me what sort of dresses you two will wear?" Hinata asked, happy and excited for her friends she wanted to be involved even if she couldn't go. "I'll make sure to be in the city on the day so I can see you two all dressed up."
The girls smiled at the girl marveling at her attitude, most people would be angry or bitter in the same situation, but not Hinata. She always put on a brave face.
