Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter Four
Hinata considered herself a socially awkward and introverted person, even if she's made friends in the four years she's spent at the academy, the ten year old still didn't understand somethings.
Such as the collective hate all the adults and even some of the kids held for Naruto Uzumaki, one of her classmates. And while the blond boy pranked the ninjas and defaced the Hokage Rock in his free time, did it really warrant this level of contempt?
Hinata deduced that she had to investigate, ask around, and she'd start with her friends.
At lunch time the usual group sat under their favorite tree, the group consisted of Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino.
Hinata broke the silence first, asking the group the question that was on her mind, "Why does everyone hate Naruto?"
There is a moment of silence, before Kiba shrugs, "I dunno, maybe because he's annoying? He's always pranking everyone too, you'd be surprise how red a Chunin's face can turn."
Shino speaks next, adjusting his glasses, "I don't know why they hate Naruto, I apologize Hinata-San, why? Because I don't have the answer to your question."
"It's okay Shino-San," Hinata says smiling at him, she turns to the other two who had yet to speak.
Choji shrugs, "I don't know why Naruto is hated, I don't think he's that bad of a guy," the Akamichi says honestly.
Hinata turns to Shikamaru, the lazy Nara sighs, "Maybe it has something to do with his birthday."
Hinata frowns, contemplating his answer, before trying to remember Naruto's birthday, "It's the same night the Kyuubi attacked and destroyed our village ten years ago!"
Kiba looks up at that, "Maybe they associate his birth with the Kyuubi and hate him for it."
Shikamaru's eyes widen as realization hits him, "Naruto is the vessel for the Kyuubi..that explains so much."
The ten year olds are quiet as they digest the information, "There's only one thing we can do," Hinata states, the four boys look at her, "We invite him to hang out with us!"
Line Break
Hinata stands outside her father's office, before taking a deep breath and knocking on the door, "Come in," Hiashi says from inside.
Hinata opens the door and closes it before turning to Hiashi and bowing respectfully, she then takes a seat in front of him.
"Do you need something Hinata?" Hiashi asks, looking up from the papers on his desk.
"Is it true that Naruto Uzumaki holds the Nine Tailed Fox spirit inside his body?" Hinata asks.
Hiashi narrows his eyes, "How do you know that?"
"I asked my friends about it at lunch, Shikamaru-San mentioned his birthday, then Kiba-San said the hatred everyone holds for him could be associated to his birth, and then Shikamaru-San figured it out," Hinata explains.
"The Nara's mind never fails to amaze me," Hiashi murmurs, "If this was true, what would you do with the information Hinata?" Hiashi asks.
"What would I do? I'd be Naruto's friend, he doesn't deserve to be alone because of something he didn't have control over, the Fourth Hokage sealed the Kyuubi inside him, so Naruto is really a hero, don't you think? Using his body as a container stopped the Nine Tails attack!" Hinata says.
Hiashi smiles, it's small but it's there, "You've grown so much, but I can't allow you to talk with that boy, the council will catch word of it and they won't be happy."
"I've been hiding my training from them for years father, I can hide the fact that I'm friends with Naruto Uzumaki, though I'd rather not because it makes no sense to do such a thing," Hinata frowns, "The council is so troublesome."
"That Nara is really rubbing off on you," Hiashi says, "Do what you want, but be careful Hinata."
Hinata beams at him, "Thank you father!" She bows respectfully, "I'll work extra hard from now on! When I become the Head of the Clan, I won't let the stupid council push me around! I'll be friends with anyone I want!"
Hiashi watches her leave, eyes slightly wide, 'What did I just unleash?'
Line Break
"Uzumaki-San!" The blond looks up, wide blue eyes take in the picture before him, one of his classmates, he can't remember her name, stood in front of him, four others behind her, "Do you want to eat lunch with us?" Was he dreaming?
Naruto decided he wasn't dreaming, because he pinched his cheek, the girl glanced back at her friends, before turning to him and beaming, "Are you okay?"
Naruto nods, "Yeah, I just..pinched myself since I thought I was dreaming."
The girl looked even more confused, "Why would you do that? Oh well! Do you wanna eat lunch with us?"
"Yes!" Naruto agreed excitedly, following the group, "Hi Shikamaru, Kiba, Choji," He says greeting the three he knew.
"My name is Shino Aburame," Naruto jumps when he hears the quiet boy speak.
"H-Hi! I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" Naruto greets sheepishly, 'Is it bad I forgot he was there?'
"Our friend Hinata is the one who suggested we invite you to lunch, why? Because she's a good person and wants to be your friend," Shino says.
Naruto's eyes widen, "F-Friend?" That can't be true! No one wanted to be his friend, everyone hates him!
"Not just Hinata, all of us," Kiba corrects, "Your not alone anymore Naruto."
N-Not..alone, Naruto beams, tears welling up in his eyes, "A-Are you okay?!" Kiba shouts, confused by the sudden tears.
"I-I'm perfectly okay," Naruto says, wiping his eyes, "I've never felt better."
Hinata glances over her shoulder, "Don't cry Uzumaki-San, we're friends now, and even if there happy tears, I don't like seeing anyone cry, especially my friends."
Naruto calms down once they reach their hang out place, he settles down next to Kiba, and joins the Inuzuka in watching Shikamaru playing a game with Hinata, "What game is that?" He asks, having never seen it before.
"Shogi," Kiba says, "I wouldn't bother trying to learn it."
Naruto watched the game anyways, 'I have no idea what's going on,' the blond thinks.
Kiba snorts, "I don't know either."
Naruto glances at him, his emotions must've been pretty clear if Kiba had read them so easily, looks around the group, stopping on Hinata, who was smiling sheepishly as she played her move, he wasn't surprised that Kiba had become so perceptive, she could probably change and influence anyone with just her smile.
Naruto smiles and fully relaxes next to Kiba, he liked having friends..real friends, and he was sure they wouldn't turn their backs on him.
He was sure they wouldn't hate him like everyone else, they wouldn't have invited him to lunch, and called him their friend.
Watching the five interact, he was sure he found life long friends in them.
Line Break
Confusion crossed Neji's features when he saw her wave goodbye to Naruto, but Hinata didn't care as she walked up to him, "Why were you taking to Naruto Uzumaki?" Neji asks, glancing back at the blond who was talking with Kiba.
They cross through the gate and continue walking home as Hinata answers his question, "Because he's my friend."
Neji sighs, knowing anything he said wouldn't change her mind, "I hope you know what your doing Hinata."
The bluenette glances at him, "Of course I know what I'm doing, I'm making new friends."
Neji groans, "Does your father know about this?" He asks.
Hinata smiles brightly, "Of course he knows! I told him I'd be making friends with Naruto, and that I didn't care what the council thinks," she says.
Neji sighs, rubbing between his eyes, "Why do I even bother with you?"
"I don't know, I'd think you'd know by now that I don't give up," Hinata says with a shrug, "What's the harm anyways?"
Neji gives her a stern look, matching his voice, "If I catch you playing a prank with that boy, then I will personally make sure you are never able to see him again."
Hinata blinks at him, silence surrounding them both before Hinata bursts into laughter, "I would never Neji! In fact, I'll be stopping him from pulling pranks! Don't you think he'd change with our influence?"
Neji nods after a moment, "Don't say I didn't warn you."
"Neji-Nii-San, you can be such a mom sometimes," Hinata says, muffling her laughter.
Neji freezes, a shadow passing over his face as he turns to her with a frightening glare, "What did you just call me?"
The guards at the gate of the Hyuuga compound stand there quietly, bored as they made small talk, when they saw a cloud of dust approaching them quickly, "W-What is that!"
Time seems to slow down as the guards see the face of Hinata Hyuuga, the heiress, running passed them, Neji Hyuuga right behind her with a frightening expression painted clear on his face, 'What the heck just happened?' The two guards think.
Hizashi and Hiashi blink, the two were calmly drinking tea in the garden when Hinata and Neji suddenly appeared, Neji looked ready to murder Hinata, and the heiress looked ready to pee with how red her face was, and they both could tell it wasn't from running, but from holding back laughter.
The two kids freeze when they notice their father's and both straighten up and bow, "Hiashi-Sama," the two say.
"Hinata, Neji," Hiashi says, "Continue with what your doing, just be careful."
Neji frowns, "I apologize for my behavior, I'll see you later for Hinata-Sama's training session," Neji says before heading inside the house.
Hinata giggles sheepishly before bowing and heading inside as well.
"Were you really gonna let them continue running?" Hizashi asks.
"It was a test, and your son passed," is all Hiashi says.
Hizashi doesn't comment, and the two continue to sit down in silence.
Line Break
Hinata stretches out beside Neji, the older of the two having calmed down long ago, "That was close," Hinata says with a sheepish grin, "I'm glad you chose to drop it and head inside."
Neji glares at her, "Unlike you, I have a level head..and a conscience."
Hinata pouts, "I have a level head and a conscience too, but the difference between us is I know how to relax and have fun."
Neji rolls his eyes, "Whatever, next time you call me a mom I will seriously hurt you."
Hinata holds back her laughter, adopting a serious expression, "Yes sir."
Neji shoots her another glare and Hinata muffles her laughter behind her hand again.
"Stand up Hinata, let's spar," Neji says, moving into his stance.
Hinata quickly slides into her own and the two run at each other, Byakugan activated, and chakra flaring to life on their hands.
Hiashi and Hizashi watch them, both impressed with how far they've come.
"They'll make exceptional leaders," Hizashi says.
"Yes they will, with Hinata leading, and Neji by her side, they will no doubt succeed in whatever they have planned," Hiashi states, "And I'm sure, one way or another, Hinata will somehow stop the council from placing a cursed seal on Hanabi."
Hanabi, only four years old at this time, sat off to the side, watching Hinata and Neji spar, "Hina-nee-Chan is so amazing," Hanabi whispers in awe, 'I'm gonna be just as strong as her one day!'
She was to mesmerized by the spar to hear what Hiashi and Hizashi were saying, she didn't really care anyways, she was here just to watch her Hina-nee-Chan!
Hinata slides underneath Neji's attack and swipes his feet from underneath him, Neji hits the training mats letting out a wheeze as the breath is knocked from him, "Good move Hinata," he says once he gets up.
Hinata beams, "Thanks Neji!" The heiress moves over to where Hanabi sat, and plops down in front of her, "What did Hana-chan think?" Hinata asks.
Hanabi smiles brightly, "I think Hina-nee-Chan is amazing! And that one day I wanna be as strong as you!"
Hinata beams and hugs Hanabi tightly, "That means so much to me Hana-Chan! No doubt you'll be even stronger than I am one day!"
"Hanabi start warming up, your training will begin soon," Hiashi says.
Hanabi pouts, before brightening up, "Can Hina-nee-Chan stay and watch??" Hanabi asks.
"Of course!" Hinata answers happily, "I'll trade places with you, now go and stretch."
"Right!" The four year old stands up and hurried to the mats to stretch and warm up.
Hinata watched her with a smile, noting Neji and Hizashi left already, probably to do their own training.
The older girl was shocked by how easily Hanabi learned the gentle fist, and a proud smile appears on her face watching her spar against Hiashi, 'I'm so proud of you Hana-Chan, I know that one day you'll be even stronger than I am.'
To be continued..
AN: Another chapter of Altered I feel like this story is all can I write right now.
A special thank you to CrazyChimera for reviewing again! I love your reviews and they inspire me so much, I'm so happy you continue to enjoy each chapter and I hope you like this one even more!
More special thank you's to Damonian and LuvsOtis for following, and a thank you to Rhein for favoriting, and more thank You's to luciaaa, Hikari Light Uchiha, and SenketsuFangirl for both following and favoriting Altered.
All the support everyone's given the story makes me so happy and I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
See y'all next chapter! Bye!