Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes, it's the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering, 'I will try again tomorrow' .

-Mary Anne Radmacher

Listening to Hinata's mission report, Tsunade's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her chin resting on the back of her palm as she leaned forward.

"Assassins? And you are unscathed so I assume you took care of them? No offence, but I was not expecting that."

Hinata didn't take offence, but the statement still hurt. How was she supposed to believe that she was strong, when others kept reminding her that they didn't think she was?

Her eyes glued to the ground, Hinata's shoulders slumped, as she seemed to curl into herself.

"But, that's the thing, Lady Hokage. They didn't show up."

Tsunade's eyebrows furrowed.

"What do you mean, 'didn't show up'?"

"I overheard Lady Kyoko muttering to herself about hiring assassins, and them not showing up. According to her, they were supposed to attack me while I was keeping watch."

"I see." A par of golden eyes turned to Hinata.

"And you are unhurt?"

"Yes."

In response, the Hokage grinned.

"Well, that's all that matters to me, then. For now, at least."

Pulling out a bottle of sake from apparently nowhere, she poured herself a cup.

"Come on! Let's have a celebratory drink!"

Beside her, Shizune's eyes bugged out of her sockets, Tonton almost falling from her arms.

"B-But, my Lady! You still have a lot of paperwork to do!"

The Hokage paid her no mind, quickly downing the cup.

"Come on, Hinata!"

The person in question sweat dropped. Hinata smiled nervously, not wanting to be rude. Shaking her head, she waved her hands around.

"I'm not of the legal age yet, Lady Hokage. Perhaps some other time."

Slamming her cup on the table, Hokage looked up at her, incredulous.

"Huh!?"

Hinata flinched slightly, grimacing, knowing what was going to come next.

"You're Shinobi! You were adult a long time ago!" She downed another glass.

"Kids should allowed to drink whenever they want. Who made this stupid rule anyway?!"

Shizune's eyebrow twitched.

Ugh, you? So that you can have as much alcohol as possible?

Instead of voicing her thoughts, Shizune helplessly stepped forward.

"My Lady, please. The paperwork!"

Tsunade only grinned in response.

"Come on, Shizune. Just one bottle!"

"But-"

While their bickering continued, Hinata quietly slipped out of the office, sure there was nothing the Hokage wanted from her.

Looking at the sky, she decided home. Suddenly stopping, she turned, feeling something off.

Something was different. Perhaps 'missing' was a better word.

Shrugging internally, she continued towards Kurenai's.

Reaching the front door, she opened it, taking off her sandles as she stepped inside.

"I'm home."

Looking up, she met crimson eyes.

She froze.

Her heart skipped it's next beat, her body tensing, immediately going into defensive mode.

Inside, Was her first thought, He never comes inside.

A second later, she sighed in relief.

It was Kurenai.

"Welcome home."

Kurenai raised an eyebrow at Hinata as she sighed loudly, relaxing completely. For a second, she had looked as if she was going to attack.

It wasn't anything new. Shinobi were often on edge after missions.

She hesitated for a moment.

"Is everything okay?"

Hinata looked up at that. Kurenai felt her eyebrows furrow in concern when she noticed the fatigue on Hinata's face. Walking closer to her, she placed a hand on her cheek.

"You should rest."

Hinata hummed in response.

"How are you doing? And the baby?"

Kurenai smiled at that, placing a hand on her abdomen.

"We're both fi-"

Hinata's eyes, which had been drifting off, shot open when she felt Kurenai suddenly clutch her shoulder, her grip bruising.

Hinata immediately straightened up, placing a hand on the older woman to steady her, as she swayed, her eyes blinking rapidly.

"Kurenai?"

Calming her growing panic, Hinata placed a hand on Kurenai's back, her other grabbing one of the genjutsu mistress' as she led her to the couch. Immediately rushing to the kitchen, Hinata filled up a class of water, returning to Kurenai just as quickly. Handing her the glass, Hinata sat beside her, helping her drink.

Kurenai gulped down the water, sighing at the end.

"Its nothing. I just...blacked out for a second. It happens, sometimes. Nothing to worry about."

Hinata exhaled in relief. Her panic now retreating, she felt her exhaustion crash down on her at full force. She yawned.

Despite telling herself not to, she had been thinking about the eldest Uchiha the while journey. And now, she was beyond exhausted.

Uchiha, She thought, blearily, Forgetting something about Uchiha.

"Rest." Kurenai repeated, as she pulled Hinata into her. Hinata, in turn, rested her head on Kurenai's shoulder, her arms going around her waist. Kurenai wrapped her arm around Hinata's shoulder as she pulled up her legs, resting her head against Hinata's.

Drifting off, Hinata didn't quite realize the word that escaped her lips. But, Kurenai, with soft eyes and fond smile, did.

Placing a kiss on the crown on Hinata's head, she too drifted off, those words giving her peace.

"Sleep well, mother."

Waking up after a few hours, Hinata felt infinitely better. Her exhaustion was all but gone. Getting up, she grimaced, realizing that she went to sleep without a shower.

She probably smelt like trash.

She mentally praised Kurenai for keeping up with her as long as she had.

Shivering in disgust, Hinata made her way upstairs to her room. Entering the bathroom, she peeled off the sweaty clothes and turned on the warm water.

Humming softly, she stepped into the tub, relaxing when the warm water tended to her sore muscles. Leaning her head back, she let her mind wander.

The past few weeks had certainly been eventful, with Uchiha Itachi being the constant.

Against she felt the nagging return, that she was forgetting something important, but the more she tried to grasp what it was, the more it slipped away from her. She frowned.

Instead, furrowing her eyebrows, she wondered why the heck she was still alive.

The Uchiha was known for being a cold-blooded murderer, and his actions proved just that. Even among legends, he was a legend, and he had done something she hadn't even thought was possible.

Despite the hot water, she shivered.

A whole clan in a single night.

She bit her lip, still deep in thought.

He must have felt something, right? When he slaughtered his own? The very people he had grown up with? The very people who had clothed him, and fed him? After all, he was a human, too.

Right?

But, if he hadn't felt anything when killing his own flesh and blood, then why hadn't he killed her, a complete stranger, yet?

Was this all nothing but a sadistic game to him? A way for him to toy with his prey?

She frowned, shaking her head slightly.

No, he doesn't seem the type to do that.

Everything he did screamed professionalism. As a shinobi, it meant that he believed in doing things as quickly and silently as possible.

Closing her eyes, she sighed.

She could come up with only one reason as to why he hadn't killed her yet.

He had some use for her.

As hard as she thought, it was the only valid reason she could think of.

But, then, what use could I possibly be to him?

The only favourable trait of hers that he didn't have was her Byakugan.

She groaned, rubbing her temple to ease the headache that had just built.

Why do all these things have to be so complicated?

She closed her eyes, trying to push the Uchiha out of her mind.

I hope I never have to see him again. Perhaps, it's for the best that he left after our fight.

She sighed, sinking slightly into the tub. Going over her words, she suddenly shot up.

That's right! He LEFT!

This was what had been missing for the past day!

His presence!

Forgetting that she was still in the tub, she immediately stood up, resulting in her foot slipping. She fell into the water again.

Gasping as she came up, she coughed the water out from her mouth.

The Hokage. She needed to get to the Hokage!

But wait. what if this was some sort of a test? To see if she would act out of line? What if he was still hiding in the shadows waiting for her to make a choice? To give him a reason to attack?

What if she went to the Hokage, and while she was gone, he killed Kiba?

"No." She gritted her teeth. She would not let that happen.

But, if he really was gone, then she'd be missing this golden opportunity.

But, at least, Kiba would be safe.

Analyzing all the pros and cons of each situation, she decided to keep her mouth shut.

Better safe than sorry.

She sighed, settling back into the water, disappointed.

After doing her normal routine, she stepped out, wiping herself. Wrapping a towel around her body, and another around her head, she walked out of the bathroom and towards her closet. Eyeing her clothes, she sighed, opting for her normal attire.

Contrary to many ridiculous beliefs, she did have other clothes. The problem was that they showed skin. They weren't even that revealing, just enough to make her uncomfortable.

Maybe one day, when she would have both--the confidence and the reason-- to wear them, she would.

For now though, she would stick to her usual baggy clothes.

Once she was done with her clothes, she turned to her dresser, removing the towel from her head. Grabbing a brush, she gently worked out the tangles from her hair.

Running a hand through her midnight locks, she marveled at how long it had grown. She wondered if Naruto would like it when he returned.

The thought made her blush. Placing a hand to either side of her cheeks, she felt them grow warmer as she pictured the blonde knucklehead.

Naruto...

Furiously shaking her red head, she willed herself to cool down.

This time, for sure. She would make him notice her.

Strengthening her resolve, she calmed her heart as it beat erratically in her chest. She took a deep breath, and stepped out of her room, walking downstairs towards the kitchen.

Kurenai was still asleep and would, undoubtedly, be starving when she woke up.

And everyone knew not to mess with a hungry and pregnant woman.

With that thought in mind, she immediately started on lunch. True to her predictions, Kurenai stepped in not long after.

"God, I'm starving! I haven't eaten in forever!"

Hinata did nothing to stop the giggle that escaped.

After they'd eaten, Hinata piled up the plates and placed them in the sink. She was just about to wash them, when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"That's enough, Hina. I'll take it from here."

Hinata shook her head.

"You shouldn't push yourself, Kurenai. It's fine. I'll do them."

Kurenai just rolled her eyes, exasperated.

"Oh, for the love of God! I'm pregnant. Not helpless. I'm doing the dishes and that's final."

Hinata hesitated for a moment, then sighed in defeat. Better to listen to what Kurenai said. Stepping back, she glanced at the clock. She still had plenty of time.

"Well," She began, slightly hesitating, "I'm off to training then."

Kurenai hummed in response.

Grabbing her things, Hinata headed towards the gates of Konoha. There was a forest nearby, where she liked to train. It was silent there, and it helped her concentrate.

Smiling at the guards as she passed them, Hinata headed to her spot. They knew her, as she often went to the forest to train.

Reaching a clearing, she did a few stretches. Then, she decided to train her Byakugan.

With that thought in mind, she activated her bloodline trait, expanding her vision to its full potential.

She froze at what she saw.

There, a few kilometers away, was a figure making its way towards Konoha.

Its eyes shone red.

The colour drained from her face as the realization struck. The Uchiha had left, after all. This had been no test, it had been a golden chance!

And she had squandered it because of her idiocy.

Clenching her eyes shut, she mentally slapped herself many, many times.

How could she have been so stupid?! Missing a chance like that?! He'd been gone for almost the whole day. If she'd just told the Hokage, then they would've have had enough time to get to Kiba.

She could feel the tears of frustration fill up her eyes, as she covered her face with her hands.

God, she was such an idiot.

She wished she could just dig up a hole and die.

And now, he was back.

She felt the sudden urge to scream.

"You are unfit to be a Hyuga."

She recalled her father's--

No, She gasped, He's not my father. Not anymore.

--Hiashi's words.

Instead of a few words of encouragement, this was what had been drummed into her head even since she was a child.

And everytime, she heard of another achievement of either Neji or Hanabi, she was reminded of them.

And it was times like these, when she failed so very miserably and pathetically, did these words ring true.

"You are unfit to be a Shinobi."

So lost was she in the thoughts, that she didn't notice the kunai that whizzed past her. She snapped of her thoughts at a sharp sting, as she felt something warm trickle down her neck.

The projectile had slightly nicked her ear.

Quickly turning around, she activated her Byakugan from when it had turned off during her bout of shame.

There he was.

However, he made no move to attack again. Taking her chance, she jumped on the nearest tree branch. Now, she could see him clearly without her Byakugan.

Pulling out a kunai, she lunged towards him. He easily dodged, and retrieving one of his own weapon, he attacked. She jumped away.

"Weak. You are weak."

Her foot slipped as it landed to the next branch. Loosing her footing, she fell, pain erupting in her side as it slammed against the ground.

Thankfully, the branch wasn't that tall, or she would've been seriously injured.

Panting, she slowly eased herself into a sitting position. Looking up, she gasped when she saw the Uchiha coming straight for her. Stumbling as she got up, she quickly jumped away, just as her opponent reached where she had just been standing.

Still mid-air, she turned her head, to see a kunai coming straight at her. She panicked, terror entering her eyes.

"An heir like you will bring nothing but disgrace upon the clan."

Still fixated on the kunai, she failed to see the attack coming from her right. She felt the breath being knocked out of her, as something slammed into her abdomen.

Her face contorted in pain, when her back hit a nearby tree roughly. She coughed as she steadied herself against the sturdy branch she had been kicked on.

Not a second later, a kunai landed right next to her head. Her eyes widened as she watched it embed itself in the bark. Suddenly, something else slammed on the other side of her head.

Slowly turning her head, she felt her heart pop out of her chest when she made out a palm.

She had been trapped, backed up into a corner with no way out. She clenched her eyes shut, slightly trembling; the very picture of prey right before it was devoured by its predator.

*Furiously dodges the things being thrown at me*

I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY FOR THE CLIFFHANGER!!

Its just that...

..

..

..

..

...I couldn't resist it.

*Dodges a few more things*

Phew..

So, how was it? Did you like it??

Fortunately for all of us, the next chapter is going to be a continuation of this one.

*places hand in chest*

And our characters, are going to have their very first heart-to-heart.

*wipes away a tear*

I'm so proud, at how far they've come. So proud.

BUT, this is nothing. Just you all wait and see what happens next.

Untill then, ENJOY!!

-Your mischievous author.