Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto if I did, we would have a clearer picture of what Naruto's life was like.
An Uzumaki Tale
Arc 3: Early Years
Chapter 8: Meeting in the Snowflakes
Authors Note: Finally, some NaruHina into the main story.
The Rinne Festival is a winter holiday from December 25 to January 5 it originally started out as a time of prays for those who died and celebrating the cycle of reincarnation and rebirth.
It is said that during this time the souls of the dead who died during the year pass on from the afterlife and enter the cycle of reincarnation to be reborn into a new life for the coming year.
The souls are given time to say goodbye to their loved ones and come to peace before they pass on and are reborn.
It is said that this tradition was started by the legendary Sage of Six Paths his mystical eyes able to see the cycle of reincarnation and was made to not only remember the dead but also celebrate that they will start their new lives.
This is done to give the spirits of the deceased comfort allowing them to pass on in peace and leave their old life behind, knowing that their loved ones are alright.
As the centuries went by it also became a time of exchanging gifts between friends and loved ones, to remind those left behind that they are not alone and that there are those who still care for them.
During this time there were two people who spent this time not with friends and loved ones but on their own.
One a young girl who just lost her mother and lost the love of her father, as she makes her way down the academy path to pray for her beloved mother
The second a boy of the same age who has been alone since birth, never having been loved, never getting a gift and most importantly, not knowing the names of his loved for who he can offer prays for in this time of goodbyes.
On December 27 these two children's fates will cross paths, saving each other in their time of need and binding their destiny together forever.
As the snow falls a young girl walks into the Konoha cemetery a place where all those who died are buried and remembered.
The girl had short midnight blue hair that frames her face in a Hime cut, she wore a dark pale red coat and dark navy blue trousers, with dark brown boots. Around her neck to keep the cold at bay was a pale green- brownish scarf with a pale almost white green section down the middle.
Carrying a bouquet of lavender flowers she walks along the columns slowly so as not slip on the snow, she comes to grave covered in snow.
Wiping her hands on the snow, she reveals the words under it.
"Here lies Hitomi Hyuga"
"Loving wife and mother"
With a sad smile and watery eyes Hinata claps her hands together, giving her prays and wish's to her late mother.
"Dear Okasan… I hope you've been, well, we all really miss you, especially me and Otosan." Tears well in the young Hyuga's eyes as she thought this and remembered to how hard her mother's passing was for her father.
"Hanabi-Chan's been living up to her namesake, she's a bundle of energy, always crawling and never stopping, she's even started to learn how to walk, I-I'm sure you would have loved to see it Okasan." Hinata almost cried as she thought that, that her beloved mother would never see her or her sister grow up.
"O-Otosan has been working me harder, but I know he just wants me to be strong in your passing, I'll keep my promise and look after Hanabi-Imoto, I'll be strong like Otosan and Kind like you Okasan, so please don't worry about use." Hinatafinished her prays, leaving the flowers she brought on the grave.
"I love you Okasan." Was the final goodbyes she gave her mother.
As Hinata passed the other graves the memories of when she last saw her mother played in her head and she was cruelly taken from them.
Flashback
A five-year-old woke up in her bed it was early morning and much earlier than when she usually gets up at.
Hinata closed her eyes, trying to get back to sleep, before her beloved mother came to wake her, but sadly sleep did not come to the Hyuga Heiress as loud footsteps were heard coming from the hallway.
She tried to ignore them and go back to sleep thinking that it would be best to stay out of the way of her fellow clan members whatever they were doing. But just as the girl closed her eyes, she heard shouting, it was too muffled to hear what was shouted exactly in her room, but she could clearly make out that someone was shouting.
The noise woke her up and the young girl rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as her sleepy mind woke up the shouting got louder and louder.
Giving up on getting to sleep Hinata decided to investigate what was going, at her house at this hour in the morning.
The little Hyuga put on her slippers and crept toward the door slowly, her little feet barely making a sound.
As she arrived at the door, she could hear the shouting much more clearly and the sound of people rushing in the hallway, she gently pushed open her door slowly to the side to see what was wrong, just enough to see through the gap.
The Hyuga heiress saw her clansmen running and rushing about, several of the servants seemed panicked, only a few actually tried to maintain the famous Hyuga mask.
Hinata was scared, she was so used to the quiet household, she grew up in never having seen the Hyuga compound so lively and in disarray.
The little Hyuga pushed the rest of the door to the side and left her room, intending to go to her loving mother until the house calmed down and returned to its cold, but quiet state.
Hinata scurried her way down the hallway, weaving pass the servants as they rushed, not one of them noticing her as she did, which wasn't anything new, most Hyuga just over looked her presence anyway.
After a few minutes of weaving through the estate Hinata saw her mother and father's bedroom, she saw members of the Ishi family the clan's healers outside the door, as well as her mother's hand maidens.
Dread filled the young Hyuga, as her thoughts processed why doctors were here her young, but well educated mind deduced that whatever the reason it can't be good.
Hinata rushed passed them before they noticed about to enter the room to her mother's bedroom, but seconds way her hand stopped, her subconscious telling her not to, that it would be better if she went back to bed and forget everything that was happening.
She knew that it would be best to not go in, to not see what was happening to her mother or father, but she couldn't turn back.
Her hand touched the door and the dread she felt got worse as she slides it open, grabbing the attention of the servants around her and one of them shouted "NO Hinata-Sama you mustn't!"
Sadly, it was too late Hinata opened the door and her eye's landed on her father who looked like he was almost in tears and the best healer of the clan and head of the Ishi family Hira Hyuga. But her eyes ignored them, focused on the pale unmoving form of her mother. Her skin was deathly pale, lacking the life and beauty it always seemed to radiate.
Hinata stood there frozen until the hand of one of the handmaidens awoke her, back to her senses she ran to her mother, despite the struggle the servants behind tried to put up, but none of them really had the heart to stop the young Hyuga.
"Okasan!" Hinata screamed as she ran and grabbed her mother's hand, shaking it, hoping that her mother would open her eyes and give her that lovely kind smile she always does.
But much to her dismay, her mother stayed still unmoving and she tried to ignore the fact that the hand she held was cold, that was until a hand clamped on her shoulder looking up she saw the eyes of her father.
"That's enough Hinata." Hiashi said, his white eyes were red and lifeless as they burrowed into her before he left and then the truth splashed her as the realisation that her mother was truly dead sank in.
"OKASAN!" Hinata cried as she jumped on the bed and hugged her mother, trying to get whatever warmth she could that was left praying that it wasn't true that it she wasn't gone, but much to her dismay, her mother didn't move no matter how hard she hugged.
Hira put her hand on the little girl and then slowly hugged the devastated Hyuga girl she was found of, Hinata eventually let go of her mother and clung to the women and cried into her as Hira tried to calm her down.
The scene shifted to grey and Hinata was standing in the rain, it was almost as if the very sky was crying for her misfortune. She held a cry Hanabi in her arms and she tried to calm her down, but she too was crying.
Her eyes landed on the picture of her mother and behind that the coffin, she would be buried in, she was attending the funeral with her father, the rest of the family heads and Hyuga council members surrender her.
Some were sympatric to her for the loss of her mother, others weren't and some were neutral. She didn't care, she could feel anything, not the cold rain that soaked nor the warm tear drops that fall from her face freely. She was numb, she couldn't hear the funeral around her, she then felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked into the cold eyes of her father.
Her eyes showed hope for comfort, to receive love and comfort from the only parent she had left. But dejectedly Hinata was forced to face facts as her father coldly told her "Hyuga don't cry Hinata, it is a sign of weakness." A look of hurt took over her and she felt like crying more.
But she held on to Hanabi tighter and forced herself to stay quite not wanting to cause any troubles for those around her. She wanted comfort, she wanted her father to care, but to the devastated girl, her father's heart died with her mother and she didn't lose one but two parents that day.
End of Flashback
Hinata blinked away tears as she walked out of the cemetery and later past the Hokage tower and academy, planning to make her way through the forest path before she returns home.
As a snowflake landed on her nose the Young Hyuga giggled, before she was never allowed out on her own and this was the first time seeing snow on her own "But now Okasan gone and Otosan, doesn't care." Hinata thought as how cold her father was since her mother died. "He used to be more caring, sure he was always stern and protective, but he always made sure to make time for me and Okasan." A short smile made its way to her lips as memories of the good time she had with her family came to mind.
How her father was protective of her and would refuse to let her out of his sight in less someone accompanied her. How her mother would frown at him when he said it was too dangerous to go out, only for her to ignore him and sneak her out to play, especially at winter where she and her mother would build snowmen. Then she imagined the stern glare he would give them when they returned home and how with a simple kiss and puppy eye's her father would forgive them.
"But those times are gone Okasan gone and Otosan…i-is" The Hyuga heiress couldn't finish her thoughts, all the times she tried to hug him, only to be told off for it and how he'd been training her ruthlessly when he does pay attention to her, at the last one she unconsciously rubbed the spots where she developed bruises during training.
"Father won't let me even hug him anymore, saying that a Hyuga mustn't show such emotions in public. But how am I supposed to show him I still love him when I can't be alone with him!" Hinata screamed, contemplated a way to be with her father as she remembered how he coldly dismissed her whenever she visited him in his office the only time she could see him alone.
She missed him, not only did she lose her mother, but her father too, the days when he would make time for them are long gone, now he doesn't care about her in less it's for training "And even then he would just belittle me and call me weak." Hinata told herself with a bit of resentment.
"Some of the servants said Otosan lost more than just his wife, what else did he lose and how can I get it and the old Otosan back." Hinata was almost crying now "I thought he just need some time to accept Okasan was gone, but he only gotten worse and distanced himself from me."
Hinata looked at the sky and a snowflake landed on her mix with her tears at the loss of both her parents. "If this keeps up what will happen to me and…" Hinata gasped out as she realised she wasn't the only one that has and will be affected by her father's behaviour "Oh no Hanabi if I don't do something she'll grow up without an Okasan or Otosan." Hinata heart clenched painfully at the remembering her precious little sister and how she's the only reason she really been able to handle her mother's death.
Flashback
Hinata walked into a room her mother was laying on the bed slightly exhausted, in her arms was a little pink bundle "Hina-Chan come and say hi to you Imouto." Her mother called.
Hinata slowly made her way to her mother and as she got to the bed her, mother showed her new baby sister. Hinata eyes sparkled and she looked at the cute little baby with pink cheeks a turf of brown hair, the baby's eyes with a tint of lavender, but much lighter than her own eyes or their mothers and the silver/white of the Hyuga eyes was more prominent. She looked at Hinata with curiosity before she tried to reach out to her with her little hands, waving them about in the air, Hinata hand moved closer and the baby clung to it rubbing and even nibbling it, getting acquainted with the hand of her big sister and tickling Hinata as she gave a small giggle that Hanabi happily returned.
"Her name is Hanabi." Hitomi told her as she played with her new sister.
"Fireworks, it suits her." Hinata giggled as Hanabi put her hand into her mouth, with all the energy she could muster. The little firework, was opposite to her big sister so lively and full of energy, moving none stop and making noises.
2 months later
Hanabi was playing with Hanabi in the garden chasing Hanabi as she crawled away as fast as she could, when Hinata caught her, she would tickle her before letting go and then chase after her again.
Hitomi was watching from the koi pond, before she coughed into her hands loudly and then again drawing Hinata's concern "Okasan are you alright."
"I'm alright dear keep playing." Her mother told her, holding back another coughing.
Hanabi started to cry at the lack of attention and Hitomi quickly picked her up to calm her down "There, there." Hinata concerned didn't fade, but she left it for now as she followed her mother inside.
"Hinata promise me, you will look after Hanabi-Chan" Her mother asked her off handily.
"I promise Okasan…I'll be the best…sister ever." Hinata blushed as she told her mother and Hitomi laughed.
"I'm sure you will."
5 months later
Hinata was walking down the corridor, tears in her eyes as she did, her eyes were lifeless after the death of her mother. But as she moved through the hallways, she heard crying following it, she found herself in her sister's room, where Hanabi was crying, having been more or less abandoned because of the chaos caused by her mother's passing, or it could be that even her baby sister could tell their mother was no longer here.
Hinata climbed up to her sister's crib and hugged her, the two sisters cried for the loss of their mother together.
End of Flashback
As memories of her precious little sister invaded her mind Hinata gave a determined glare "That's right Hanabi-Imoto needs me to be strong, I promised Okasan. I need to get out Otosan back." Hinata told herself determinedly.
"But how Otosan doesn't care anymore, he doesn't even train me himself anymore as much and never bothers me for anything, but training and he even… even forgot it was my birthday today." Hinata determination faded as she remembered that her own father, nor anyone else remembered her Birthday, was today. She didn't get one gift, nor a single Happy Birthday. "I don't care about presents, I would give up all my birthdays if only me and Hanabi could have our Otosan's love back!" Hinata started crying her warm tears were a contrast to the cold snow that fall and mixed with them.
"Did we do something wrong, does Otosan not love us anymore, is it because I'm useless and weak!" Hinata cried as self-doubt took over her, blaming herself for everything, her father told her she needed to be stronger.
"Maybe if I get stronger, he'll come back and start smiling again and I have the Byakugan now, wait the Byakugan." Hinata remembered the only time she really had her father's attention for months was when she first awakened her Byakugan. "Maybe if I train harder and can learn the clan style Otosan might prise me and I'll finally make him proud." The Hyuga thought as she wiped her tears remembering that her father started training her again in the clan style since she activated it and hoping that if she worked harder from now on he'll go back to how he was.
Hinata frowned, though, as a thought came to mind "But even though he's started training me he said that I should have activated it sooner, like Neji-Niisan, I bet Neji would have made a better heir then me." Hinata wallowed in self-pity, before she shook those thoughts away "NO! I can't just give up, if I do then Hanabi will grow up without knowing a parent's love, she needs me to get our Otosan back." She thought determinedly her hands running through the hand signs necessary to active her Byakugan, focusing the chakra into her eyes she screamed in her mind "Byakugan!"
The world around her went grey and she could see everything within her 360 degrees of vision. She could see everything, the footprints she made in the snow behind her, the exact number of branches that were in the trees above her, she could see everything down to the last detail.
To the young Hyuga the Byakugan was more than the most powerful dojutsu as her clan dubbed, but a gift that allowed her to see the world in a way most other people can't.
She loved the way that the world changed around, how her eyes could pick up everything that others would miss or take for granted. She loved how the world around her became so much clearer, how it all changed despite the fact that what she was looking at was the same things she was looking at before.
But with the Byakugan the entire scenery changed even though she was still looking at the same thing, to Hinata the world always seemed more beautiful with these eyes and there wasn't a truer moment than the one she was in now as her eyes sparkled at the sight.
Despite the fact the Byakugan sees light in a different spectrum, the snow around her sparkled in a way that her normal eyes couldn't pick up. But that wasn't all her new eyes saw, she could spot every snowflake in the exact detail each one unique as they fell to from the sky to the earth below. To her it looked like crystals were raining from the sky each unique in their own way, as they sparkled and danced to the would the world music that was the world around her.
She was mesmerised by the beauty of the world and before she knew it, she began to dance, spinning in the shower of crystals she could see to her it was like she was dancing with the snow as it enveloped her in its sparkling radiance.
For the first time in months Hinata gave a true smile and laughed as all her troubles vanished and were long forgotten. Her world was just the small 5-meter bubble her Byakugan created, it may be a small world, but to her it was far from it as she danced with in it with the falling snow.
As the Hyuga heiress laughed and forgot her troubles she saw three kids about her age enter her extended vision, she could see up to 5 meters like everyone in her clan could with a newly activated Byakugan.
In her joy Hinata deactivated her Byakugan and turned to face the boys with a smile, her shyness, having more or less dissipated from the fun she was having, she went to greet the them with a smile like her mother taught her, but she instantly regretted it as one of the boys said something before she had a chance to talk.
"Hey look, it's one of those Hyuga!" spate one of them with venom as he caught sight of Hinata's eyes causing her to flinch.
"Oh yeah your right, shows us your Byakugan." The boy next him sneered at Hinata in a sarcastic tone, Hinata was too scared to do anything as the three boys surrounded her.
At seeing that she wasn't going to do anything the final boy glared at her as he spat "What aren't we good enough to look at with your precious Byakugan, if you're not gonna show us then don't look at us with those creepy eyes of yours" tears started to well up in Hinata's eyes because of the insult and hatred in his words.
"Yeah, those eyes of yours are creepy and ugly, I bet she thinks she's special like the rest of her arrogant, that we're not good enough for her to look at with her Byakugan." One of the other boys.
"I don't think that way though" Hinata thought as she started to cry and the boys smirked at her as she did happy that they were hurting this worthless girl as they begin to torture her more.
"Well you're, not you and the rest of your stupid clan are nothing, but a bunch of ugly eyed monsters!" The boy shouted, insulting the defenceless girl and her clan.
"Yeah, she's a Byakugan monster." A boy laughed and the other followed continuing to throw insults at the poor girl, Hinata started full on crying and she covered her eyes as she did, hoping the boys would just go away as she crouched to the ground, but despite her attempt to hide her eyes the boys still bullied her, she called still hear her cruel words.
"Make it stop, please make it stop! Why, why am I so weak, my father rejects me and now this, why does everyone hate me, WHAT DID I DO WRONG, PLEASE SOMEONE, ANYONE HELP ME!" The Hyuga heiress screamed in her mind begging wishing for someone to help, to save her from her suffering from this hell and as if someone hearing her prays someone did.
"HEY CUT IT OUT, LEAVE HER ALONE!" Someone growled out at the bullies causing all eyes to turn on him.
The Hyuga princess looked at her saviour and her eyes widened in recognising for he was the last person she expected to help her. Standing in front of her was a boy her age, he had sun kissed blond hair, that was spiky and wild and seemed to shine despite the fact it was cloudy. Brilliant sky blue orbs glared intensely at the bullies, they sparked with determination and were darkened in anger and other much sadder emotions that the young Hyuga couldn't make out. He had a cute round chubby face and three adorable whisker marks on each of his cheeks, making him look cute then threating. He wore green goggles that tamed his spiky hair somewhat and a thick jacket that, had orange sleeves and collar, but was white everything below and unseen to the Hyuga it had a red spiral on the back, he wore dark blue Ninja pants and boots.
He should look so out of place wearing those clothes in the snow, yet it looked like he belonged there as the snow almost seemed to embrace him.
Hinata recognised him, the one person that her caretaker and guardian told her to never approach, the one she was told was dangerous was here protecting her, a total stranger for no good reason. Memorise of all the times she caught glimpse of him ran through her mind and another when she saw him in the park once, how the villagers and everyone else seemed to treat him.
Flashback
A slightly younger Hinata was walking down the streets, the little girl held the hand of care taker Ko as she did when a shout startled her "You'll see, I'll show all of just you wait, the next Hokage will be…" The girl heard the boy say, but she couldn't remember what he said next.
The girl felt the hand she was holding tighten hurting her slightly, she turned a worried gaze at her caretaker who was glaring at the boy. Her little ears picked up whispering and she heard many things ranging from" it's that boy, monster and other insults." But out of all the words said the one that caught her attention the most was "Kyuubi".
Turning her gaze back to her current guardian the little girl asked with innocents "Ko-San what's Kyuubi mean?"
Ko looked at Hinata nervously to the girl it was nothing, but an innocent question, but to Ko it was so much more "Nothing Hinata-Sama, don't concern yourself with it" Ko told her as he held her hand tighter, causing a wince of pain from the girl "But you must stay away from him he's dangerous."
Hinata frowned as she watched the young blonde boy run down the street, concerned for the boy as her questions were left unanswered.
The scene changed to one where Hinata was outside the academy, she was holding hands with her caretaker Ko.
"Hinata-Sama this is the academy you'll be attending one day." Ko told her, Hinata looked at the academy before she heard a creek, turning around Hinata saw a young blond boy the same one she saw running down the streets.
He was swaying on the swing an empty look in his eyes as he did "He looks so lonely." Hinata thought as she watched the boy who emanated nothing but sorrow.
"It's that boy." She said out loud, getting Ko attention and he looked at the swing.
"Hinata-Sama you mustn't go near that boy." Ko told her as he started dragging her off "Now come on its time for your training."
"But…" Hinata complained, but she stopped as Ko dragged her back home, she looked toward the boy one last time "He looks so hurt and alone." She thought as she watched him sway in the wind.
The final scene was a fox being picked on, Hinata almost crying as some bullies threw a kunai that clipped its leg and it cried in pain.
She watched as the bullies through another Kunai only for a boy to huddle over the fox protecting it with his own body.
The three bullies changed their target to the boy and hurt him nonstop as Hinata watched, after a few minutes the bullies left the boy hurt and bleeding, but to her surprise the boy got up and checked over the fox like nothing was wrong.
She watched happy that they were both ok and giggled as the fox licked the boy's face, she watched as the fox followed the boy, while he tried to send it away only for it to follow him still.
As the flashes of memories stopped Hinata told herself "Maybe he wants some reward for rescuing me." not believing anyone would just protect her for no good reason, only her mother was ever that kind, but she didn't believe her own thoughts because they just seemed wrong for the boy that was saving her now.
Hinata looked up to her saviour as the bullies mocked the boy "Ha a shrimp, just who the hell do you think you are?" the fatter boy sneered.
The boy just looked annoyed as he proclaimed, eyes burning with determination "I'm Naruto Uzumaki the future Hokage-Dattebayo!"
The boys looked at Hinata's blond savour stupefied before they "Ahhh aha ha!" they all laughed "A shrimp like you Hokage as if, what are you stupid."
While the boys laughed Hinata was amazed that the boy she now knew as Naruto didn't back down even though, they laughed at him, even though he was treated even worse than her, he just stood there as the boys insulted him before he finally reacted.
"Fine don't believe me, I'll show you!" Naruto growled out as he put his hands together in a cross shape, like one of the ninja he saw do it once.
"SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" he shouted and the bullies were scared as two clouds popped into existence, Hinata watched in amazement as they did, but what popped into existence wasn't what anyone was expecting and those present had different reactions.
"THERE SO CUTE!" Hinata squealed in her head as she gazed and two adorable little versions of the boy that saved her with hearts in her eyes. The clones only came up to just over her ankles and she just wanted to hug them and take them home with her.
But sadly this wasn't the time or place for that as Hinata came back to her scenes and gave a worried look to the boy, realising the Jutsu didn't work and that the boy would most likely get hurt because of her now.
The three bullies stared dumbfounded before they all broke into laughter at the blond boy's failed Jutsu "What… the hell is that…Aha aha!" they laughed.
Naruto looked at his two mini him's as they squeaked threats to the trio, a dumbfounded expression on his face as he looked to the laughing bullies then back to the clone's "Oh, crap that wasn't supposed to happen." He thought embarrassed that he failed the Jutsu, he looked up at the three bullies one more time only to meet a punch in the face, that knocked him down giving him a bloody nose.
The boy that punched him jumped on him and started punching him with the help of his two lackeys. The young Hyuga watched in tears as the boy that tried to save her was hurt because she was so useless to help him.
The bullies took his scarf and with an evil smirk they all grabbed an end and stretched it between the three of them, causing tears to appear in it, once that was done, they climbed a tree and hooked the scarf on one of the branches of the and two of the boy's jumped down and swung on the scarf, until it eventually snapped sending all the boy's to the ground.
Angry that they were hurt when they fall, they started stomping on the scarf while one of them sneered "You think your so cool, wearing this ugly red scarf."
By the time they were done all that was left of the scarf was scattered pieces of fabric, laying ruined in the white snow.
Hinata went and picked up what was left of the scarf "His lovely red scarf ruined now because of me." Hinata thought, blinking back tears as she looked at what was left of the once beautiful scarf and then to her saviour "And he got hurt while all I could do was watch."
Hinata took what was left of the scarf and then walked back over to Naruto to see if he was alright, as she did Naruto shot up shouting "This time I'll do a super duper…Jutsu." He slowed down at the end realising that the bullies were gone, he brought back a hand to his bruised cheeks as he crouched down "Owww" he whispered
Hinata crouched down and asked "Are you alright?" in a concerned voice as she watched the boy rub his injuries "Smooth move Hinata, of course he's not alright, he just got beat up trying to save us, he probably hates us now to."
Hinata was brought out of her troubled thoughts as her battered saviour replied "Yeah, it's nothing" and then mumbled "I'm used to it."
"You shouldn't be used to it." Hinata thought as she watched Naruto rub his cheek and felt sorry for him, as she showed him the scarf "Your scarf…those three bullies they…" Hinata was suspired as the boy just smiled and waved her off and Hinata apologised "I'm really sorry."
Naruto just got up and smiled, surprising the Hyuga girl as he told her "Neh forget about it, I'm just glad your safe." He gave her a sincere smile as he did, that made Hinata blush and feel even worse at how nice and understanding the boy was being to her a total stranger.
Naruto got up and started walking away as he did Hinata scrambled to her feet far "Emm... I... I just wanted to say thank you further much" she told him bowing, grateful for rescuing her.
Naruto was taken by surprise, no one's ever thanked him or bowed to him, he felt embarrassed as he brought one of his hands to rub the back of his head and laughs, giving Hinata a genuine smile that makes her cheeks feel warm for some reason. "Sure anytime, and don't listen to those guys I think your eyes are beautiful." He blurted out before leaving.
Hinata watched the boy back as he left, her cheeks red as she repeats what he said in her head, "No one's ever call my eyes, beautiful before." She could see the red spiral symbol on his back, Hinata was amazed at the kind boy who saved her, a total stranger for nothing in return she remembered just how badly he was treated and couldn't help. but cry for him after seeing how nice he was.
But she also felt strength from seeing him struggle when his life was far worse than hers. "If I was strong like you maybe I could bring Otosan back." The Hyuga thought and she decided that she would do it. "I'll train hard and show my Otosan that I'm not a failure, you don't have to worry Hanabi-Imoto I'll get our Otosan back I promise. He may not have time for us anymore, but I just need to train hard and believe in myself." She thought determination sparkling in her eyes thanks to the boy she met today.
She looked back to where the boy ran off and then back to the scarf, looking at it fondly as she remembered who it belonged to. "Thank… you Naruto-Kun, thanks to you I can try harder…" She blushed at the next thought "And when I'm stronger enough I'll knit you a new scarf…. showing you just how much this and you mean to me."
Hinata left, that day she met someone who gave her strength, beyond what she had alone and the scarf that was left behind was the best Birthday and Rinne festival gift she ever had, giving her the courage to keep on fighting and she hoped that she would meet the boy that saved her again one day and thank for saving her from the darkness when she was all alone.
Omake Alternative Timeline Part 5
Naruto was running to meet up with Hinata outside the academy on a snowy day "Damn it, I'm going to be late!" he shouted as he passed the swing to the academy.
As he ran to the agreed meeting place he saw Hinata on the floor crying, her scarf that her mother made her was in ruins and next her were three boys that were laughing at her "You're a freak, a monster!" heard them shout at his Hinata.
Naruto felt rage as he shouted "What the hell do you think you're doing!"
The three boys and Hinata watched as he arrived "Naruto-Kun!" Hinata shouted happily with a smile.
Naruto was seeing red as he spouted the red mark on his beloved's face.
"Just who the hell-" one of the bullies started, but was cut off by Naruto's fist sending him flying and breaking his nose.
"How dare you hurt my Hinata-Hime!" He growled and Hinata blushed at being referred to as his.
The other two bullies were about to retaliate, but before they could Naruto made a cross sign with his hands and shouted "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!"
In a giant poof of smoke, the bullies shit themselves as they were surrounded by hundreds of Naruto's, each glaring at them with blood red eyes that were out for blood.
"I'll kill you!" He growled before he and his clones charged.
1 Minute Later
The three bullies were beaten and bloodied by the Naruto army and lead the lesson "That will teach you to pick on my girl!" Naruto stated before he left to check on his Hime.
"Hinata-Hime are you alright." Naruto asked in concern and Hinata clung to him crying into his shoulder.
"Naruto-Kun they, they…" She cried and Naruto knew what she meant as he looked at the purple scarf on the ground.
Naruto had an idea "It's ok Hina-Hime you'll just have to share my scarf." Naruto told her as he unwrapped his and Hinata gave a confused glance at him.
"huh…" she said and then Naruto, wrapped his long red scarf around the both of them, pulling the Hyuga girl into him and they both blushed.
"There we go Hime are you alright now." Naruto asked as he blushed.
Hinata hugged Naruto and nuzzled his neck "Yep, I'm all warm thanks to my Naruto-Kun." She told him and Naruto blushed.
Minato and Kushina arrived after sensing Naruto's Chakra spike only to see the two lovebirds cuddle, wrapped in Naruto's red scarf together.
"Aw, would you look at that Minato-Kun, our Naru-Chan found his own red string of fate." Kushina told her husband with tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, he sure has." Minato smiled and watched as Kushina brought out a camera and took another photo to add to her Naruto and Hinata album.
As the Husband and Wife watched the scene they couldn't help, but remember how their own red string of fate brought them together, as the shared a kiss under the snowflakes.
Authors Note: Yo chapter is done, most of the ideas I did were expanded from my first story Kiss It Better which I deleted and am planning to re-write since I made a lot of mistakes the first time around. Below is how I came up with the Rinne festival lore.
I hope you like what I came up with for the Rinne Festival the time it takes from December 25 to January 5 are from the 12 days of Christmas since it is also a time to give gifts and I wanted it to last longer than one day since it was a festival.
The part about celebrating the dead being reincarnated came from the fact Rinnegan means samsara eyes and samsara means the cycle of rebirth and the six worlds people are reincarnated into which are also what the six's paths are named after. God, Demi god/demon, human, animal, hungry ghost and Hell.
I also mentioned that the Sage of six paths was the one who made it having the ability to see the cycle of reincarnation, which, considering he could tell Naruto and Sasuke were reincarnations of his sons by seeing their chakra is kind of true.
I am quite proud of myself for it, but whether I remain that way or not will depend on how you think of it, canon never really gave us anything to go by so I based the Holiday on what I could find and inserted into the Naruto world.
Next chapter is the Academy Arc and I plan to do a flashback chapter from Naruto's POV in it at some point.
Please review, I haven't been getting as many reviews for this story.
Naruto and Hinata Forever:)
