BELONG TO ME
By: Nousama
Chapter One: Hinata
3 years after Akatsuki
Kohona Village…
The small dojo of the Hyuuga clan was occupied with several head family members as they watched the heir to the Hyuuga clan fight. Although Hyuuga Neji was the royal bodyguard of the heir and strongest shinobi of the clan, the heir was quickly catching up to his level.
"Hi-Yah!"
Neji quickly dashed to the side to avoid the electric shock to his charka holes as his cousin was attacking him. Hanabi was one of Hyuuga clan's strongest and most beautiful women, but she stood nothing in comparison to her older sister, who blossomed into a jewel in the past three years.
"Hinata! Watch out!" Hisashi shouted at his daughter. His fatherly love improved over the years after realizing what his neglect did to Hinata – it made her stronger. Stronger to the point she almost killed the entire clan. Everyone treated her like fragile flower now; she was after all, the possessor of the most powerful Byakugan eyes.
However, Neji was the only one who got close to Hinata. He never treated her gently; in fact, he spurred her anger and rage. Constantly challenging her was not easy however, Neji did come away from training with many bruises. Hinata however, was always bloody from the fight, but relished every moment of it.
Frighteningly, she liked challenging herself against Neji- her hard work paid off every time she landed a good one on Neji. Remembering when they were younger she never stood a chance against Neji, he was always the best, now she had him running and blocking all her attacks.
"Neji-ni-san. You better be careful." Hinata taunted. No longer was she the shy, polite, child who looked at the ground, her confidence magnified when she learned about her true abilities.
"Brag all you want. You'll still be the one who's going to lose." Neji smirked.
But no matter how much he spoke the words to her, Hinata was getting stronger and definitely more powerful. Her blows were 100 times stronger than what they were before when they fought in the Chunnin exams. A very frightening thought was that they were almost as strong as his. Of course he would never let his little cousin brat know that.
Over the years, Hinata and Neij became very close friends. She helped him understand his father's death and the meaning of sacrifices to the family clan. Neji himself would proudly sacrifice himself to protect his clan. Hinata, Uncle Hisashi and Hanabi were the only closest relatives he had left.
"Hinata, stop! You look like you're going to fall right over." Hanabi scolded her sister. Hinata never knew the meaning of giving up these days.
Hinata only shook her head as she summoned Neji to attack her. Hanabi was very proud of her sister, but since Hinata changed over the past three years, Hanabi became more worried for Hinata.
Hanabi didn't care that she was no longer the heir of the clan, it was actually a relief not to live up to traditional expectations, but Hinata on the other hand did everything for the sake of the clan. She breathed and lived Hyuuga – that's why so many of the elders loved and respected her. Everyday she woke up before the sun began to peek from the east, and never stopped training until the stars appeared at night.
Sighing deeply, Hanabi pays attention to the fight, just as Neji throws Hinata over his shoulder. She twisted in the air and landed on both legs bent with one arm bracing her fall. She laughed as she looked up. The devil! Hinata laughing? – She rarely laughed these days, much less smiled.
Hanabi remembers the day when Hinata completely changed. It still hurt to know that one person caused Hinata to change, to grow dark and dangerous. Since then, Hinata became a shell, a fighting shell with nothing inside but a broken heart.
"Hinata!" Hanabi shouted one more time. She turned to her father for help. Hisashi nodded, his eldest daughter did look exhausted.
"Hinata, stop. Give Neji a break."
Irked by his uncle Neji shouted back, "Break! Ha! You're her father, of course you have to let her loss down easy on her."
Hinata shot a punch to his arm.
"Oww!" Neji mocked as he grabbed his injured arm. The dojo erupted in laughter at the rare scene of Neji, the Hyuuga bodyguard, weeping in pain.
Finished with the training, the Hyuuga clan retreated to their homes and got read for bed. Another day in Kohona peacefully lived – it was blessing. Hinata stepped out of her small shower and noticed her younger sister sitting on her bed.
"What is it?" Hinata asked. Hanabi looked worried, again.
Hanabi bit her lip as Hinata adorned a sleeping robe. "Hinata. I… Are you okay?" she asked.
With her back to her sister, Hinata closed her eyes for a brief moment, and then quickly turned around. "Silly. What kind of question is that? I'm fine." Her certain voice had an edge to it.
Doubting her sister, Hanabi crossed her arms over her chest and arched an eyebrow. "I know you're in pain. It's the eyes, isn't it?" She stared at her sister intently.
Sighing, Hinata gave a little laugh. "It's nothing. Go to sleep, it's late."
"Hinata. I'm worried for you. You haven't been the same since"
"DON'T YOU DARE MENTION IT!" Hinata shot an arm out and grabbed her sister by the neck.
A moment later, she looked into her sister's tear-filled eyes and calmed herself down. Shaking, Hinata let go of her sister. She stepped back afraid and insecure. She stared frighteningly at her hands. "I'm sorry. Hanabi, I'm so sorry." Ashamed, Hinata retreated to the other side of the room and opened the door.
Straightening her spine she arched her head high, "Please leave me alone Hanabi. I don't want to hurt you again." Hanabi silently nodded as she slowly strode to the open door.
Hanabi turned her face to her sister one more time; Hinata didn't look up from the ground. "Hinata…" Still Hinata did not look up, so Hanabi continued.
"Hinata, you… it wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself for… for Naruto's death."
As Hanabi exited the door, she knew her sister had tears streaming down her face.
… to be continued …
