Fight Against Fate

Author's Notes: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in this fic.

I really like Hinata. I find her a delicate and kind being who should not be overlooked, but that's just my opinion. This is not a two-sided romance, so I apologize to those waiting for some sweet HinataXNaruto scenes. I mean, they're only 6! Anyway, please read and review. I'm still an amateur at writing, so pardon me for some mistakes or lack of excitement. Thanks for all the reviews, I'll try my best not to disappoint~

Sneaking out of the house was not a problem for Hinata as people always said she was unnoticeable. Even with an injured foot, she was able to reach the outskirts of the village unnoticed. The rustling leaves seemed to be gossiping about her pitiful sight and the air was filled with cold hostility. The moon now hung up high and proud, as if mocking her for running away from her destiny.

What destiny?

Hinata had no destiny to speak of. Now that she was to be replaced, she had nothing to look forward to. She was not needed to glorify the Hyuga Clan, nor was she needed to be a caring daughter. She did not wish to grow up to be a lonely ninja in this village. What would she live for? Her desire for her father's approval no longer seemed to matter. She realized that her family did not care, no one did.

She reached the forest surrounding the village and sat on a rock, resting her poor foot. All her feelings and thoughts seemed to crush her and suddenly, she just broke down and cried. Not the usual quiet sobs the shy little girl would do, but loud cries, cries of frustration, hurt and loneliness. As Hinata finally let out all her bottled up pain, the trees in the forest seemed to cry with her.

I shall run away from all this...

This thought had appeared many times before, but just as before it was swept away by uncertainty and worry. Where would she go and how would a little girl like her survive? She had no one to turn to and she felt that she did not have the ability to escape through the forest. As her confidence plunged into the earth, she became aware of her surroundings.

Hinata realized that she had gone quite deep into the forest, even though it did not appear so. Perhaps it was the lateness of the night that made everything eerie. Darkness cloaked the forest and Hinata felt alone. Fear gripped her as the trees and bushes rustled loudly.

Wait a minute...bushes rustle?

To her horror Hinata saw figures approaching her, and they did not look human. She opened her mouth to scream as they came into view, but what came out was a weak cry.

Just a few feet away from her were two wild dogs, bigger than the rocks around and their skins dark as the night. Huge teeth shone under the moonlight while the saliva dripping from their mouths reflected their hunger.

Too frightened to run, Hinata's legs gave way and she collapsed on her knees. She was ignorant of the pain her injured foot gave her as terror overtook her. Hinata was simply stunned.

When she collapsed, the dogs had stepped back a bit, thinking that she was going to attack. However, they had sensed her fear now and knew they were going to have an easy feast. They moved nearer towards the small, shaking body.

This is no time to be stunned!! Move, Legs! Move, Body!!

Screaming in her head was all she could do at that time. Fresh tears blurred her eyes and her whole body was trembling. She thought of the only person who could save her, yet she felt that he would probably expect her to defeat these creatures alone. But how was she to fight them if she could not even stand?

"F-father...save me...h-help...PAPA!!"

Abruptly a figure jumped out from bushes and the sudden movement stopped the dogs in their tracks. Hinata felt a spark of hope. Her father had come to rescue her. Perhaps he did love her after all...

And Hinata's face fell when she saw her 'hero'. To Hinata's relief, he was human, but to her horror, he was also a child just like her.

A young boy, probably of her age, landed in front of her with a thick stick on his hand. It would have been a very heroic act if he had not landed on his bum. Hinata just stared at her so-called savior, dumbfounded. The boy rubbed his bum in pain before looking at her, smiling sheepishly.

"You alright?"

Just then the blond boy was knocked over roughly onto a rock by one the dogs, which had been angered by the fright. They had decided to slowly torture their food-to-be. The other beast closed in on the stoned girl, growling in anticipation.

Hinata lost all hope.

______________________________________________

He had not planned to act heroic. In fact, he had not planned to care at all. He did not know the girl. Besides, the girl would probably look at him the same way everyone did. So why was he kissing a rock just then?

It was the pain in her cries. Naruto knew that cry for he had many times cried the same way. Hurt and loneliness filled the air. He thought he had found someone like him. He thought he had found a friend. So he had grabbed the nearest stick he could find and jumped out without a plan.

Now pain struck his head and made it clear. As Naruto got up he realized what situation he was in. Alone with a weak girl...attacked by two huge hungry-looking dogs. WAS HE MAD? Did he really want to end his life so badly? So soon? In such a horrible manner??!

His legs started to tremble as he turned around to face the approaching dog. Biting back pain and fear, he held the stick out with small, shaking hands. Terror was about to overcome him when he noticed the other dog moving towards the little girl, whom he was supposed to rescue. The girl who might become his friend.

No, he did not want to die now. He did not want to leave this world without making a single friend, without someone to mourn over him when he left. No, he was going to save her. But how?

There was no time to think. Both dogs had started their attacks and the girl had not moved. Naruto's instincts made him dodge the one plunging at him and dashed towards the still frozen girl. He had totally forgotten about the stick in his hands when he banged onto the other dog with his body and smashed his head into its ribs. With a painful yelp the beast fell onto the ground, temporarily paralyzed. One down, one more to go.

A powerful jaw caught his shoulder by surprise and threw Naruto onto a tree trunk. The girl seemed to have awoken from her trance and let out a shocked cry. This brought the dog's attention to her and it sprang up...

Only to get jabbed at its side. Naruto had finally made use of his stick when he ran to save her. Blood poured out from his deep wound and he could not stand properly. The pain was numbing. He had never bled this much before, thus his young body could not hold it up well. He could not understand why he was fighting this dog for a girl he never met. He could have fled and let the dog eat her. He could still run now.

No, he would not flee. No more would he run away from pain and anguish. He would face them. He would prove to everyone that he deserved better than what they were giving him. He would fight his destiny, and for that, he needed strength. He needed power to show everyone, he needed power to save this girl. Something surged in him. Something popped in his head. Suddenly, he felt that he had an aim in life. With this newfound courage, he charged towards the dog yelling,

"I AM UZUMAKI NARUTO, THE NEXT HOKAGE! I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED HERE!!"

To be continued...