Update, if anyone is interested. Just the next day after I updated last time it was announced that the school system had to be shut down for a while, but everyone I know is okay. I'll be honest, I was a bit lazy this week and wrote everything in two evenings, but I hope the new chapter isn't too bad.

LB Cat: Congrats on giving me my 40th comment! Don't worry, I'm pretty paranoid and wash my hands really often and make my family do the same. I heard from my mom that it helps to gargle with warm water and vinegar to kill viruses and stuff. I don't know how true it is, but it makes me feel a bit feel a bit better.

By the way, does anyone see a line break here? I notice that they don't always appear when I upload


As per Tsubaki's expectations, Hinata did not fail to exhale fire across the lake, though it was rather shapeless instead of the round shape it was supposed to take. The proud mother could only applaud her daughter's analytical mind and the way she managed to dissect the jutsu in only a week, but it didn't ebb the small pang of disappointment Tsubaki felt when the stream of flames vanished in a mere ten seconds.

"Was-was that okay, Hahaue?"

The Hyuuga Matriarch slowly tilted her head in consideration before saying, "it could be better, but for your first try I'd say you did very well."

Hinata let out a shaky sigh of relief at the verdict.

"Try again," Tsubaki ordered. "And don't forget to actually take a deep breath this time."

"Yes, Hahaue."

This time the stream of fire lasted a bit more, but to the mother's disappointment, it was considerably weaker than the first.

Holding in a sigh, she gave pointers, "don't hesitate-use as much chakra as you want, the hospital is very close if you reach chakra exhaustion. Oh, and you should make sure that you spit the fire and don't choke in the smoke you make."

Not very convinced, but unwilling to displease her mother, Hinata once again took a deep breath and exhaled as much chakra as she could muster though she noticed not all of it came out as fire. At least her mother was patient enough to continue with giving pointers here and there.

"Don't waste breath or chakra. Again."

Not quite.

"Take your time with the hand seals. Again."

Still not there.

"Again. Watch your breathing, remember all the breathing exercises."

After regaining her breath, the heiress once again closed her eyes and slowly went through the hand seals before a thought occurred.

"Can't you do it and let me see it with my Byakugan?"

Tsubaki shook her head, "rule number one?"

"Don't depend on Dōjutsu," Hinata sighed.

"But really, I think you're doing a great job without it, Chibi. Consider this my way of teaching you to break down jutsus on your own because you won't always have the Sharingan or Byakugan to help you."

The girl only shrugged with a pout.

"Come on, Chibi! Now that I mention it, how's the progress with your eyes?"

"Still can't activate both Dōjutsus at once," she complained. "But I'll do it someday, I hope."

Tsubaki dipped her head, "I'll help you with that later, but first you must master this jutsu. Try again."

And again and again and again...

And so they continued like that all morning until Hinata was breathless and close to chakra exhaustion. No amount of matches could ever prepare her for Tsuabki's idea of a 'short polishing session' which only grew longer and longer. She was starting to wish for Shisui to arrive and gallantly distract her mother while she ran off to the bakery in the district, but unfortunately for the heiress, he was probably too busy trying to catch Izumi's attention or off on a mission.

"May I rest?" Hinata asked between breaths.

"One more time," the matriarch pressed.

With sluggish movements she made the necessary hand seals and inhaled before someone slapped her back and pushed her in the lake. With a previously nonexistent motivation, she quickly swam to the surface for precious air. Up where she stood moments ago was her cousin who looked sheepishly down at her.

"Oh, hey Hina-tan," Shisui waved stiffly with a nervous laugh beside his ex teacher who looked murderous. "Fancy seeing you here…"

"I thought you were out on a mission," the older woman said dryly.

"Ha, no, I just got back yesterday. Today I was out looking around the village."

The heiress spit the lake water in her mouth in Shisui's general direction, "what type of greeting was that?"

"Sorry, I didn't expect you to not hold on," he apologized with an offered hand that his younger cousin readily took. With a small tug, she was pulled out of the water and handed over to her mother.

"It better not happen again, you twit," Tsubaki warned her nephew (who was comically much taller than her) as she wrapped Hinata in her hakama.

Shisui saluted her solemnly, "yes ma'am."

"You owe me a trip to the bakery, right Hahaue?" Hinata snickered now in the safety of her mother's arms.

"Indeed," she joined in. "Maybe you should invite Itachi too, I remember he's fond of sweets as well."

He looked horrified at the notion, "no! I refuse! Those two will leave me bankrupt if I ever pay for everything they eat in that place!"

"Well," the matriarch said as she started heading away. "We're off to steal Sasuke's clothes, if you wish to join us."

The Uchiha boy grinned, "I think I'll steal Sasuke's food. No one can beat Aunt Mikoto's cooking."

"True," the mother and daughter agreed simultaneously.

After a few moments of silence Hinata was reminded of an upcoming event. "Say, Shisui?"

"Hm?"

"Have you thought of anything for Itachi's birthday?"

"Oh yes," he smirked deviously. "I've been planning this for years."

This caught his aunt's attention. "And what would that be?"

"Just some books, Auntie."

Tsubaki curled her lips in distaste, "it better not be what I think it is."

"What is it, Hahaue?"

"Nothing you, Itachi and Sasuke or," she grabbed Shisui's ear, "you should concern yourselves with."

"It's fine literature, I tell you!" he exclaimed. "Besides, you want people to think you're related to a hermit, right?"

The matriarch laughed and shook her head, "let him live at his own pace. I can assure you, your favorite cousin will not remain without a girl in his life past fifteen, mark my words."

"I bet my weapon stash, he won't."

"Hm, I bet my scrolls that he will."

Later on in the future, Tsubaki would be devastated to lose the bet when her sixteen year old nephew went without showing an interest in anything with two X chromosomes aside from the one in his nuclear family with the exception of Hinata (who didn't count at the moment), but that's another story.

Without bothering to knock once they reached Mikoto's house, the Hyuuga Matriarch pushed open the front door and left Hinata and Shisui in the kitchen while she looked around for anything suitable for her daughter to wear.

"Can you pass me the cookies?"

Shisui touched his chin and hummed, "only if you share with me."

The soaked heiress promptly complied and was happily munching on her cookies by the time Tsubaki came back with a spare yukata and the Uchiha Matriarch in tow. The pair in the kitchen innocently waved at the women as they pushed the cookie jar behind their backs.

"Oh, she really did take a fall," Mikoto looked surprised as she took in the appearance of Hinata who was shaking off any crumbs on her face.

"Well that's what I said," Tsubaki huffed. "Sometimes I feel as if you don't take your dear sister seriously."

"Nonsense," the Uchiha Matriarch waved her off. "Here Hina-tan, take the clothes and get the water running, will you?"

The heiress glanced at her mother and aunt with confusion. "I don't mind waiting till we get back to the compound."

"Don't worry about it, Sasuke hates wearing traditional clothes, you'd be doing him a favor," Mikoto reassured her. "While you clean yourself, your mother and I will be having a conversation with Shisui."

Said boy stiffened, but knew better than to bolt. It was a fact that those two could track him down to the ends of earth if they so pleased. Scary women, scary women…

With a shrug Hinata abandoned her now helpless cousin and made her way around her second home.

oOo

Needless to say, within the following days the heiress managed to get a better grip on the fire jutsu, but her taijutsu training took a hit. Not that it concerned Tsubaki in the slightest; she was too busy trying to figure out her daughter's eyes.

"I'm tired, Hahaue."

"Just wait a bit more, Chibi," she stated rather than asked. "Activate your Byakugan."

With slow hands she went through the seals before saying lazily, "Byakugan."

"Good, good," the matriarch clapped her hands. "Now the Sharingan."

With shaky breathing, the girl abruptly changed the flow of chakra in her left eye. She could feel it flicker between red and white for a few seconds until it settled on the comfortable flow of the Byakugan. Seeing Tsubaki's eyes fill with dismay, she tried to alter the flow again.

It was a strange experience to say the least. For a moment she was suddenly transported back to the Uchiha District where she could've sworn she saw an older version of herself and her cousins for a moment. They seemed so happy, it was a future she certainly wanted. It felt like a dream until small hands were snapping before her face.

"Oi, wake up Hinata-sama," Neji prodded. "Tsubaki-sama is worried."

Blinking owlishly at the change in orientation, Hinata could only assure him and her mother that she was perfectly fine. She was not lying, but they didn't seem to buy it and sent her straight to bed with Ko at her side in case she needed anything.

Hanabi didn't delay in dragging her caretaker, Natsu, to her beloved elder sister's room to play ninja for a bit. It was one of the few occasions that Hinata had spare time to play with her and she wasn't about to waste more time than necessary with any tutor when her sister was able to play with her. It was pointless to mention the grudge Hanabi harbored against her Uchiha cousins who did nothing but take away all of Hinata's spare time when she could be in the compound with her.

"Aneki?"

"Hm?"

Hanabi fidgeted before asking, "can I use your kunais?"

"Nope," Hinata laughed. "Maybe when you're older. We can use the wooden ones for now."

With a pout Hanabi complied and pulled out her wooden tools before jumping on Hinata's back. "Now carry me or else, um… Or else I won't play with you!"

"Oh no!" Hinata played along. "Where would you like to go Hanabi-chan?"

"Well…"

And that was all it took for Hinata to ignore the Hyuuga Clan's golden law: no Byakugan inside the compound. It was all fun and laughter until a peeved Ko and Natsu caught them and handed them over to the matriarch who was wearing a withering expression.

She didn't say a word until both of her daughters were tucked in Hinata's bed (as per Hanabi's request) and ready to sleep. "Do you realize what happened, young ladies?"

The younger girl froze and looked up to the heiress for guidance.

"I'm sorry Hahaue," Hinata jumped in immediately to Hanabi's defense. "It was all my idea."

The woman ruffled Hanabi's hair with a knowing smile. "Don't get caught next time."

"Yes Hahaue," both girls chorused.

"Good night, Chibi, Hana-chan."

As soon as their mother left, the younger girl poked Hinata's side.

No response.

"Aneki," she hissed.

"What is it, Hanabi-chan?"

"Can we go for banana ice-cream when you leave the Academy?"

With droopy lids the heiress sighed, "isn't it too early for that, how about we get you some cupcakes?"

"Ew," she scrunched her nose. "That's Itachi's thing."

Hinata was too tired to be offended so she shrugged and said, "it's my thing too, but if Hahaue lets you, we can ask Natsu and Neji-nii-san to take us."

"Okay, but promise that you will," Hanabi said with a raised pinky finger to Hinata's face. "Even if Chichiue and Hahaue make you do more training, okay?"

"You got it," the bluenette yawned.

"And no Uchihas, okay?"

"Sure- wait, no! Sasuke walks home with me, you don't mind him, do you?"

Hanabi grumbled, "just him, not another Uchiha is invited."

"Okay, okay…"

That night Hinata dreamed of an ice-cream stained sweater and fireworks.