Author's Note: Hello again! I've been giving most of my free time to my Hinata Sweetheart story, but took a break tonight to work on his as the chapters are much shorter and usually a little quicker to push out.

Enjoy!

Chapter Nine

Hinata exhaled slowly as she made her way back to the Hyuga compound. The emotional ups and downs of her afternoon after a full morning of training had really taken a toll on her. She was ready to bathe and relax, maybe drink some tea in the garden when she was finished if the sun was still up. She just wanted to be away from everyone at the moment.

Not long after, she entered the luxurious bathing area used almost exclusively by her and her sister - one of the perks of being a main branch Hyuga. She stripped off her dirty clothes and scrubbed her body hard, as if trying to cleanse her emotions as well as her skin. After rinsing her first round of soap, she reached for it again, only to be startled by the sight of her little sister.

Hanabi was sitting on the stool next to her, eyebrows furrowed in consternation as she blatantly ogled her older sister's curves.

"Onee, what's the point of having such big boobs if you're just going to hide them all the time! It's not fair," she finished with a pout, looking down at herself and willing her pre teen body to develop faster.

Hinata made to cover herself, before realizing it was useless. Her sister always ambushed her like this when they bathed at the same time. She didn't understand Hanabi's jealousy as she herself was uncomfortable with her body. She always had been. Most Hyugas were lean and fit, with long limbs suited to giving them a better reach for their Gentle Fist. She was quite short; her sister who was five years her junior had already begun to catch up to her height.

Instead of the lean, lithe frame most of her clansmen had, she was full bodied, with wide hips and large breasts that she'd had a hard time learning to fight around. Her stances were always different, her katas slightly dissimilar to the other Hyuga as she had to adjust to her body type. She had purposefully trained for extra flexibility in order to account for what she saw as a handicap.

It wasn't enough that she couldn't be as talented in the Hyuga fighting style or as prideful and stoic as they preferred. She had to have a different body as well, one that had started to develop early on, hindering her even as she finally made some progress as a genin in her confidence and training regimen.

"Imouto, you know I don't like it when you stare like that," she said quietly, rinsing herself for the second time. She made her way quickly over to the bath, sinking down into the water to feel less exposed.

Hanabi pouted further. Her sister didn't see it, but she was beautiful. Hinata had inherited her looks from her mother, someone who was only three quarters Hyuga. Everyone had always commented on how beautiful their mother was, and here Hinata was covering herself up in those ridiculously loose clothes when she could be showing everyone just how beautiful she was inside and out.

It saddened her that her sister still didn't see herself as she saw her, but it didn't feel like today was the day for another one of those conversations. Instead, she followed her sister into the water after a few minutes and leaned her head back, letting the warm water relax her strained muscles as she knew her sister was doing.

"So, I hear you've been training with the Uchiha."

Hinata looked up, startled. "How did you hear that?"

Hanabi narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Why, is it supposed to be a secret or something?"

"No, I was just curious." She and Sasuke were both pretty private people. They weren't together often for things besides training and although their training wasn't hidden, it also wasn't exactly on the most beaten path. Hinata just wondered where Hanabi of all people would have picked up the information since she hadn't bothered to mention it.

"People talk. I hear things around town."

"I see," Hinata said, her eyes closing as she leaned back again in the water.

"I heard some other things. Interesting things," Hanabi continued.

"Hmm?" Hinata hummed, entertaining her sister's conversation though she wasn't particularly interested in gossip.

"Apparently you're spending quite a bit of time with the Uchiha. His fangirls are pretty vicious. They're telling people you seduced him with your Hyuga standing and have promised him doujutsu children."

Hinata opened one eye, unsure if her sister was telling her the truth or if she was just trying to get a rise out of her.

"That seems pretty absurd, imouto."

"So you say. Everyone else is pretty excited about the combination of Hyuga and Uchiha genes. And others are upset that you snagged one of the strongest, hottest guys in the village. They don't seem to care that he was once set on destroying it."

Hinata hummed again, sure that Hanabi had just been hanging around some strange stores. Of the two of them, she was the one who liked to shop. However, she didn't approve of the tone with which she spoke about Sasuke.

"Sasuke-kun has changed. He cares about Konoha now."

"It's pretty convenient that after years of training with a traitor and wanting to destroy us, he suddenly changes his mind and comes to live here. Don't get me wrong, I respect his abilities, but it does seem a little suspicious."

Hinata smiled to herself. Her little sister was very shrewd. She'd make a great leader in the future.

"I understand your thoughts, but it seems to me his change is genuine. Besides, Naruto-kun has a knack for doing the impossible."

Hanabi smirked. "Speaking of Naruto-kun," she said in a sing-song voice, "how are things going with him? Made any progress?"

The stiffening of her sister's body was so sudden it caused ripples in the water. Hanabi regretted her question immediately.

"There is nothing to progress, imouto. He and I are friends and that is all we ever will be. I am thankful to have that opportunity."

The younger Hyuga scowled. Whether he meant to or not, Naruto had hurt her sister. Hinata was kind, always caring for others more than herself. Savior of the world or not, Hanabi didn't tolerate anyone hurting her sister.

She switched the conversation back to training, telling Hinata some funny stories of her team to try to make her laugh and forget that they had ever mentioned the blond.

After a while, they both dried off and wrapped themselves in robes, walking together down the hall and bidding one another a good night before entering their separate rooms. Hanabi had wondered if there had been some truth in those rumors that she'd heard about her sister and the Uchiha, but her reaction to them and to Naruto just confirmed they were the baseless ramblings of his stupid fangirls. She'd honestly kind of hoped her sister had moved on, but supposed she didn't really want an Uchiha in the family.

She might let some of the rumors leak to the elders, however. One of the old farts would probably have a heart attack from the idea of their Hyuga princess sleeping out of wedlock with the last of their rival clan. And since it wasn't true, it wasn't like her sister would get in trouble for it.

Hanabi smiled evilly, thinking of the best way for them to hear about it. It couldn't come straight from her, but she sure as hell wanted to be there to see their faces. This plotting would be fun.

There you have it! I've actually got the next chapter almost entirely written and think I'll probably have it out sometime this week. Again, I'm trying to focus more on my other story since it's a little more intensive, but I figured you guys who are reading both have been waiting long enough for something.

I do intend to have an update for that up by the end of the year. And maybe some solid editing of the first couple of chapters. We shall see.

Let me know what you think! Your reviews are definitely my motivation. And next chapter has a bunch of NaruHina so the more motivated I'm feeling, the faster it'll be out! (Was that considered extortion? Hehehehe)