-x-x-x-x-

Day 14

Swings

An action will always cause an effect. No matter how small and now matter how big, an action will always cause an effect. Even if the action is done purposely or accidently, something will happen. What? Who knows. It may personally cause you or it may cause things to happen in other people's lives.

But all it takes for one action—may it be significant or not—and it will make results.

The results may be what you're looking for or it may not.

But you have to make the first move. You have to make the first move to start a chain of reactions. And who knows. Maybe you're already part of someone else's chain of reactions.

The ninja academy was scary. Hinata has been trained ever since she can remember but that was within the walls of her house. The only people she has ever interacted with were her little sister and cousin—who now has distanced himself due to her uncle's death. Her mother would take her out to the park but she was always driven away by other kids. It was her eyes that freaked them out.

Even before school started, she was bullied under the heavy snow of Konoha. But someone came to her rescue. Someone willingly stood against those three kids in order to save her. And even after the aftermath, he didn't point out how weird her eyes were or asked if she was as snobby as the rest of her family.

Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage—or as he proclaims.

But she believes he will achieve it. A Hokage, after all, protects everyone within the village. And he protected her. So it makes sense, right?

It also makes sense that he will have a lot of friends! He's so courageous and outspoken, who wouldn't be driven to be his friend?

That's why before school started she didn't give herself hope that perhaps they can be friends. Why would he want to be friends with her when he has many others? It was an impossible dream. But once she entered her room and saw Naruto walk in, she knew that her dream was popped.

It seemed everybody tried to avoid him. They'll make fun of him every time he made a mistake during their training and mock him when he couldn't do the hand signs right. It made her both angry and confused. Why would they do such a thing? He hasn't done anything! But every time he was pushed down or pitied against, he'll always make his voice louder and puff out his chest, "I will become Hokage! Just watch me!" Despite the laughs he'll receive, the smile he had wouldn't waver.

He was so brave.

But the first day has ended but Hinata couldn't bring herself to go home just yet. Something was telling her to go seek out Naruto, to see if he was okay. So she hid in the bushes when she saw someone from her clan come looking for her. Thankfully they didn't use their Byakugan and simply left. She stepped out of the bushes and watched as all the other kids left. But she didn't see Naruto.

That is until she turned to see him sitting on a swing by himself underneath a tree. His posture was slumped and his eyes looked sad as he gazed at the kids holding hands with their parents. She's seen that face many times every time she looked in the mirror and wondered if she was ever good enough for her father. Does loneliness look like that?

Her feet began to move and before she knew it, she stood in front of him.

He perked up immediately and raised his head. "Whatcha want, ya know?" he asked.

His eyes were so blue! So uniquely different from her own. Why was she here?

"Thank you!" was all she managed to say before bowing low.

"For what?" He stood up and crossed his arms over his chest.

"For saving me!" She was still in a bow.

"Saving you?" She heard nothing and looked up. He had his eyes closed and his lower lip was sticking out. She blushed slightly when his eyes snapped open and pointed at her dramatically. "You're the girl I saved from those bullies!"

She nodded and once again said, "Thank you."

"Oh no problem!" He scratched the back of his head and gave her a wide smile. "No one's ever thanked me before. It's my job as future Hokage to protect every one. So if you're ever in need of my help, just call me ya know! Uh, your name is…?"

"Hyuuga Hinata," she whispered, a small twinge of pain striking her heart.

"Hinata." He looked at her eagerly before gesturing to the swing. "Want to play with me?"

She looked behind her and saw the sun set. It was a beautiful orange hue that made the day seems more at peace. Her family was probably looking for her by now and she'll surely get in trouble with her father. She turned around and saw him. Waiting for a response with the biggest smile she has ever seen. He's the first kid she has ever interacted with outside her house. He's the first kid who didn't see her as a monster. He's the first kid who ever wanted to play with her.

"Yes," she finally answered, knowing well what her consequence will be.

But as Naruto pushed her and she flew high into the sky, she believed that this will surely overweigh the consequence of getting yelled at. Hearing his laughter with hers combined, she knew she made the right decision.

A decision that soon led them to become a couple when they both turned sixteen.