AN: Hey so I know I said chapter six was the last chapter before the time skip but sorry I lied. This is the final chapter before the time skip, and listen, the plot will surely begin to thicken! I'm excited yet nervous, and I am really ready to write some romance. Let's see how this story plays out…
BTW I appreciate you guys, thank you all for the reviews! ❤️
Chapter Seven - Alike
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Time in Konoha had seemed to be all but an illusion. The days blended in together. Many having their outlook on the world changed without warning, multiple comrades lost, it was all a confusing blur. No one knew what was ahead of them. No one knew what part of their ideologies would be changed next. No one knew what comrade they would lose next. And almost no one understood that all of that was irrelevant. All that should've mattered was what was reachable for them now.
One shinobi had realized this sometime ago, although not without a bit of regrets. Hatake Kakashi. He taught his students to never forget their comrades, that for a person who did, were to be considered scum. Sometimes he wondered if he also was placed in that 'scum' category. Hence why he was at the place he visited nearly every day he was in the village. Standing in front of the tombstone of Nohara Rin. As a shinobi, no doubt there were many regrets one would have. However, one that not many shared, was the death of a comrade, a teammate on your hands. Whether unintentional or not. Not many had to live with that sort of fate. However, Hatake Kakashi knew exactly what that felt like.
Hyuga Hinata, wandering to a place she acquainted herself well with, sharing similar sentiments with a certain silver haired ninja, no doubt they'd end up in the same place.
Though her reasoning for being at the cemetery was a bit different from Kakashi, she wondered the same thing he asked himself over and over. 'Am I scum?'
Although she didn't kill Sasuke by her own hands, she might as well had as much as he might as well been dead. Leaving him to make the decision of becoming a rogue ninja to train with Orochimaru, and then reject to go save him in front of one of her closest friends, and teammates. She tried to convince herself every day that she had no right to decide his fate, that she could not understand his dilemma, his heart ache, his decision, that it wasn't her place to interfere. But then, she thought that maybe, just maybe, if she tried a little harder, if she expressed how much she cared for him, even if she didn't understand the extent that her feelings were, and even if he didn't fully understand, just maybe, he would've stayed. Maybe Naruto wouldn't be risking his life to find him, maybe Naruto wouldn't also feel like a piece of him was gone, maybe the rest of the genin wouldn't have a negative opinion on Sasuke, and maybe she wouldn't feel like scum.
Hinata noticed her sensei in the cemetery, but she was too occupied with her thoughts to realize he was approaching her. When he now occupied the previously empty space beside her, she could only look up with marble eyes full of tears threatening to fall down her cheeks as Kakashi looked down at the grave they were in front of. It read, Hyuga Hizashi.
Kakashi knew of the story behind the death of the Hyuga. He also knew how for a person like Hinata, although she was smart enough to realize that what happened was in no way her fault, the guilt and heartache she felt would surely make her the blame of his fate.
But Kakashi also knew that this was not the only reason for her pain. The disappearance of Sasuke was taking a toll on her, as was him too.
"Hinata." Kakashi's deep voice broke through their shared silence before he averted his eyes from the tombstone to Hinata's eyes.
Hinata raised off her knees from the ground and stood up, facing Kakashi, meeting his eyes with her head tilted upwards.
Understanding her body language and eye contact as having her full attention, he began to speak.
"I know what you're thinking Hinata. It's not your fault. Not what happened to Hizashi and not what happened to Sasuke."
Hinata slowly blinked the incoming tear that threatened to fall, away and looked back down at the tombstone.
"The life of a shinobi isn't easy. There are many decisions a shinobi must make. But also, part of being a shinobi is knowing what path you will decide to take. And it is not our place to decide it for anyone else but themselves. Even if it hurts us. The mistakes we made in the past should help to guide us to make better decisions in the future. I know it hurt you to decline the mission to retrieve Sasuke, just as much as it hurt you to see him leave the village. There was nothing you could've done to prevent him from leaving this village. You are not scum, and you did not abandon your comrade. You did what you thought was right. We'll get Sasuke back one day, I promise."
When Hinata looked up at her sensei after his words and their eyes met, they both understood how much those words meant to the young kunoichi, and how much they were really needed. Tears streamed down the red-faced girls' cheeks, her eyes gleaming with hope, admiration, and respect.
Kakashi's one eyed reflected the same emotions, and his heart thumped wildly in his chest when he realized how much he meant to this young girl. He never thought he would be able to get close to anyone again, not after losing so many people. She had become his first student, his first introduction to healing his broken heart, and now he was doing the same for her. Kakashi hadn't had any kids of his own, but he realized that that wasn't necessary when he had Hinata. He had taught her since she was nine, and four years later he had seen growth worth a lifetime in her.
He had a part in her growth, and for that he was grateful, he would forever cherish her, and he would protect her with his life, because he knew deep down, even if he hated it, she would do the same.
"Kaka-sensei."
Kakashi averted his gaze to his student, her voice snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Domo arigato. For everything. From when I first met you, to today, you have helped me more than I could have ever imagined, and I owe you, my life." Without any sort of hesitancy, she closed the distance between the two and squeezed him tightly in a hug that expressed how much she appreciated, cared for, and loved the silver haired jonin.
His eyes widened at her sudden physical contact, and he understood it all. Every emotion behind that embrace. After getting over his shock, he slowly wrapped his arms around her back and returned everything he received in that embrace.
It was this day where neither of them would think of themselves as scum, because to do that, would mean they too, would think of the other that way.
~OoO~
It was a sunny and warm day out; the warm weather could bring happiness to anyone who stepped foot outside. Everyone except a kunoichi who felt the familiar chakras of her comrades. Those who were sent on the Sasuke retrieval mission. She had to make sure they were alright. That they all came back safely and alive. And if they were successful in bringing Sasuke back. Though in her heart, she knew that the latter was certainly unlikely.
Byakugan activated, and hair blowing in the wind, Hinata rushed to the Konoha hospital where she seen all her comrades off their mission.
Rushing through the entrance of the hospital, Hinata ran straight for the stairs headed to the floor where everyone resided.
Intensive Care unit 6
Hinata arrived just in time to see the Fifth Hokage, Shikamaru, a blonde girl she recognized from the chunin exams, an older man who appeared to be Shikamru's father, and Shizune who had announced Neji-niisan's safety line being secured.
Hinata's eyes widened. She didn't expect their injuries to come to this extent.
"And there's some information. Kakashi Hatake and Uzumaki Naruto have just now returned. Although seriously injured, it seems it's not life threatening."
Hinata smiled to herself. 'They're alright.'
"Two huh. Shikamaru, it seems this mission is a failure. But everyone is alive. That's the important thing." Hinata's eyes began to tear up. The Hokage was right, the most important thing was that all of them were alive, whether they brought Sasuke back home or not.
"Next time for sure… I'll carry out the mission perfectly." The tremble of his shoulders, and the crack in his voice led Hinata to believe that Shikamaru was crying.
Hearing the sincerity in his voice, Hinata couldn't stop herself from running to the chunin and embracing him from behind, her tears staining his vest.
Everyone was shocked to say the least, especially the one who was being embraced.
"You did well Shikamaru-kun. Thank you for staying alive and keeping everyone else alive. And thank you for taking this mission, without you I'm sure we would've lost comrades. You are a good leader, please remember that." Hinata's words were genuine and everyone around felt it.
Slowly releasing her arms from around Shikamaru, she locked eyes with The Hokage, and then not a second later did she nod to give permission for the heiress to visit her dear cousin. Hinata smiled faintly, her tear-stained cheeks rising slightly, and ran straight to the direction where her nii-san was.
~OoO~
When Hinata visited Neji, he was sleeping peacefully. She stayed by his side for a few minutes in silence, thanking all the Gods that he would live to see another day.
She couldn't help but feel guilty, she was supposed to be there in his place. She was supposed to be on that hospital bed. Not him. She began to think about what she would've done if she wasn't able to see him open his eyes again, to speak to her again, to know of her plans to fix their god-forsaken clan.
But then she remembered that he was here now, and that was all that mattered.
Standing up from the seat beside his bed, she stood staring down at him. "Well done, Neji-niisan, you did well. Now it's time for you to heal and rest. I promise to be by your side every day until you are out of this hospital. Sleep well, Neji."
Hinata took her leave out the hospital room, but not before she heard a small voice say, "Arigato, Hinata-sama, for everything." Just as she walked out the door, she smiled widely at her cousin's words.
Closing the door quietly, Hinata began to walk towards the room Naruto was in. Seeing as how Naruto arrived after everyone else, she no doubt had a feeling that the Uzumaki and the Uchiha got into a fight.
Whether the two had crossed paths and got into an altercation or not was the least of her worries, she wanted to check on the Uzumaki, and she also wanted to apologize for her harsh words. He didn't deserve to be treated that way that day, all he wanted was to bring his friend back home. Hinata realized that in that moment, her anger was more towards the realization that no matter what either of them would've done, they wouldn't be able to bring Sasuke back, she just wanted Naruto to feel her helplessness also.
Arriving at the front of his room, she reached her hand out to the knob, wrapping her fingers around the silver handle tightly. But she hesitated. Would he be angry at her? Did he even still want to be her friend? Did he see her as scum? Was she no longer a comrade in his eyes?
Hinata's inner battle went on for a minute before she decided to dispel all the fear in her heart and open the door to reveal the boisterous ninja, sitting up on his hospital bed, with bandages wrapped around his body and face resembling that of a mummy. Her heart broke seeing the state he was in. She almost ran to hug him before she stopped herself, noting that she would only cause him even more pain.
Naruto turned his head towards the door as it opened, he wasn't expecting any more visitors, but when he seen who it was, he couldn't help the wide smile that formed on his face.
Seeing the usual wide, genuine smile on the blonde-haired ninja brought tears to her eyes. 'He feels the same as before.' Hinata returned the wide smile and slowly walked over to the ninja, planting a kiss between his eyebrows. Both were sporting a blush on their faces, but luckily Hinata did not faint.
Moving away from the proximity she had previously initiated, she looked into his eyes and smiled warmly. "Thank you for coming back safely, I know you tried your best Naruto-kun. I apologize for what I said before, I am deeply sorry. I had no right to say those hurtful things to you. I hope that we can still be friends, you are a person who I care deeply about. I've been watching you since you saved me that day from those bullies, and you gave me my strength to be a formidable shinobi, you inspired my dream to become Hokage one day, and you were also my first love." Hinata averted her gaze at the last confession. "To lose you as a friend would break my heart, I hope you can forgive me." Hinata dropped to her knees and placed her forehead on the cold floor, bowing to him, proving her sincerity, nearly begging for his forgiveness.
Naruto's eyes widened; he had never felt this feeling before. To find out that there was one person who admired him, who saw him in a positive light, when he didn't even know, while all the other villagers and kids in the academy despised him. To find out that he gave someone the strength that he had to force for himself. To find out that while he chased after a girl that didn't want him back, there was someone all along who had felt those feelings towards him, genuinely. To say he was speechless would be an understatement. Here she was apologizing to him when he is the one who should feel sorry. To be chasing the approval of everyone else, when he already had hers without being nothing but himself. No, he was sorry. For not recognizing how she too was hurt by Sasuke's absence. And for not realizing that if it was him, Sasuke, Shino, or anyone else she considered a comrade, who decided to walk their own path, she would support them either way, because although it'll hurt her, she understood that a shinobi was free to make the choices that led them to their path.
"Hinata," tears fell from his baby blue eyes, "please look at me." Said kunoichi slowly rose from her position on the floor, her too, with tears falling down her cheeks, as she made direct eye contact with her friend.
Naruto clutched the white sheets that covered his body. "Hinata, I will never stop being your friend. I'm sorry for not seeing how much Sasuke leaving was also hurting you. I should've seen how much I meant to you before, and how much you mean to me. I promise to never let you down, even if we don't agree about bringing Sasuke back, I can never see you as any less than a comrade. And now, I see you as more than that. Now that I know we both dream of being Hokage, you're my rival. I hope that I can still be that inspiration to you, as you are to me. But don't be fooled, you'll accomplish your dream of becoming Hokage, only after I get the seat warmed up to you first, believe it!"
For a few seconds there was a silence in the room, it was of unspoken acknowledgment, and forgiveness, until the room was then filled with the hearty laughs of the purple and blond-haired shinobi.
~OoO~
Once leaving the hospital, Hinata felt at ease. After her talk with Naruto, she also went to check on Kiba, Akamaru and Choji. Their injuries were evident of their difficult battle, but also of their strength, seeing as they all survived. Hinata was proud of her comrades, but she was also a little hurt. To know that their injuries were the result of Sasuke leaving the village, it hurt her to her core. She knew the real Sasuke, and he wouldn't want to be the cause of all this trouble. But she also knew that his goals trumped all of that, his trauma and pain, and vengeance were much stronger, and much more impactful than the bonds of his friends. And that hurt her too, but all it meant was that her will to protect her friends and village, and bring peace to this world trumped all else, so that they all could be happy someday, however that meant to each of her precious people.
Making her way to the Hyuga compound, Hinata began to feel a sense of déjà vu. If asked, she would say that is the reason she decided to eavesdrop near the clans meeting room in the main compound.
In the Hyuga's main house meeting room
It was a fairly warm day in Konoha. The sun was out, the birds were singing, and children played throughout the streets. However, almost like out of a cartoon, there was a big dark cloud hovering over the Hyuga compound, making the rooms, or more specifically, the meeting room held for the elders and clan leader eerily chilly. This day felt reminiscent to a very specific date only five years prior, and coincidently, it would be the day just as before where the elders would decide Hinata's fate.
"Hiashi, it's been months since the chunin exams, and you have yet to come up with a decision. Hinata has distributed great power, but she has also embarrassed us in front of all of Konoha and the Sand Village. No matter what we decide her fate as, she shall be punished for the odious behavior she displayed." Hizmoto finally began the meeting, getting straight to the point as usual.
Hiashi took a minute to digest what his uncle had said. Yes, there was a small part of Hiashi that was upset at how public his first born made their issues to the audience that day, however, the bigger part of him was proud of his daughter standing up for herself in a way that no one in this room, nor any Hyuga before him had done. If he was ever worried about how the Hyuga would progress in the future before, he dispelled all of those worries at that moment. While Hinata would be the one to change the Hyuga, he would be the one to make it an easier transition for her.
"I say we carry out the plan as before, if Hinata is able to display this much promise, then her younger sister can display just as much if not more, and she's more obedient. Thus-"
"Thus, we shall have two powerful people leading our clan into a much greater position than we have ever seen. Hinata stays alive and will be treated and respected as the capable heiress that she is. Nothing less! And she shall not be controlled by the likes of you two!" Hiashi cut Hikari off, leaving the older Hyuga's confused and angered at his 'sudden' change of heart.
"Hiashi, while you may be the head of this clan, I am still your elder and you shall respect me as such! And it seems your arrogance has made you forget that we make decisions as a unit-"
"Not anymore. As the head of this clan, the one with the final say, I shall be the leader this clan needs, even if that includes going against the elders."
"HIASHI! Quit spewing this nonsense, I will not tolerate the disrespect any longer. We allowed you to stall this plan for much longer than we wanted, and now you decide to not only foil what we had devised, but also forget your place? You shall be ashamed to call yourself leader of the Hyuga. It should have been you instead of your brother!" Eyebrows furrowed, veins dancing underneath his wrinkly flesh, and voice laced with malice and sincerity, Hizmoto tore through the room with his words, leaving everyone silenced at his last sentence.
On the other side of the door, knuckles clenched, and tears of anger floating in her eyes, Hinata heard everything. How dare they? They didn't care about the good of the clan, only what they could control of it. Hinata knew her father wasn't perfect, he was flawed in many ways, but he was also changing, becoming the father her and Hanabi needed, and the leader the clan needed, evident by this whole argument.
Back in the meeting room, while the two elders Hyuga's were too furious to notice the sudden familiar flare of chakra, Hiashi, although feeling a strike of pain from what was just said, recognized that chakra and smirked, using this as a perfect opportunity to end this once and for all.
Clearing his throat to gather the attention from the two in the room, and the preteen behind the wall, Hiashi spoke of Hinata's presence shocking all three Hyugas.
"Since we are discussing the fate of my first born, why don't we invite her inside to see how she feels about this? Hinata, please come and join us." Hiashi said this with a devilish smirk plastered on his face, he knew neither of them were expecting this. He also knew Hinata wasn't planning on being caught, seeing as how her chakra suddenly appeared out of nowhere, but he knew that this was his chance to prove two things. To the elders, he was serious about everything he stated in this meeting, and to Hinata, that he will always protect her, like he should've all those years ago.
Hinata nearly jumped hearing her father announce her presence, her intention was not to get caught, but there was no turning back now.
Sliding the shoji doors open, she was greeted with two confused and upset faces, and one smirking triumphant one, that obviously belonged to her father.
Hinata and Hiashi made eye contact for a second, and that second held all the understanding that was needed.
"Hinata, as you know-"
"Enough! This is nonsense, she is a child, and she shall stay in a child's place!"
"She is the heiress to our clan, and she holds the future of the Hyuga. As I was saying, Hinata, as you know, I along with the elders have planned the kidnapping and murder of you since you were eight, and although I have since denounced my further participation of it, and the plan itself, the elders have decided that they will ignore my wishes as clan leader and would like to continue with the plan. Since their actions decides your fate, how do you suppose we settle this daughter?"
"I have had enough of this! Hinata go to your room, and you shall forget about this ever happening, and maybe I'll show you mercy for the stunt you pulled!" Hikari's menacing old voice left Hinata unfazed.
Looking at both elders, then finally her father, Hinata spoke, "Father, I think that since this all started because of my then lack of strength, the best way to settle this is by fighting to the death, since after all, it is my life at stake."
Hiashi smiled with a knowing twinkle in his eyes. He knew Hinata wasn't serious, although he sort of wished she was, he called her bluff, but he knew that it wasn't a bad idea. Hiashi knew that Hikari and Hizmoto understood that there was a strong possibility of Hinata defeating them, thus they would decline the battle. He also knew that although she threatened and disrespected their honor, she showed them that she was no longer the perceived weak little heiress.
"That is preposterous! Hiashi, I hope you are happy with your decision; you can keep your newfound father daughter love for now, but I hope you know that when the Hyuga falls, it will be on your hands. And as for you Hinata, you were better off being the weak little heiress."
At this, Hikari and Hizmoto began to get up from their spots on the tatami mats. But before they could leave the room, they were shocked once again by the events tonight when Hinata spoke.
"Hizmoto-sama, Hikari-sama, my goal to change the Hyuga will not be as heiress to the Hyuga, but as Hokage to Konoha. As Hyuga by blood, and Hokage by rank, I will have more power than any Hyuga ever, and I will make this clan better than you two could ever dream of. No more curse seals, no more separation, as Hyuga we will live as one, and anyone who threatens to come between that will be taken care of. Although I know you do not care about me, you are still my family by blood, and I'd hate to hurt anyone I share blood with. Please, respect my father as leader of this clan, and allow him to be the clan head that we all need."
Hinata's nails were prickling the inside of her hand as she clenched her fists, her resolve would not be taken lightly, and all those in that room understood at that point, even if two out of the three didn't like it.
'Hinata, you are the leader we need, both Hyuga and Konoha.' Hiashi smiled at his daughter's words.
~OoO~
It's been three weeks since the Sasuke retrieval mission, and Hinata's teammates, Neji and Naruto were almost back into tip top shape, thus, since it was a rare moment where they were all home from missions, the rookie 9 decided to get some BBQ.
After the waiter placed the meats and vegetables for them to cook, and some chatter here and a sizzle there, most of the food was gone, thanks to Choji. And then stood up Naruto, who seemed like he wanted to say something all night.
"Hey guys, I have an announcement to make!"
"Naruto, no one cares how much you love ramen." Sakura chided.
"Well I'd rather hear that than Choji's smacking." Kiba uttered, right hand holding his chin up as he suppressed a yawn.
"Wha? No- no-no, not that. I mean I do love ramen but that's not what I was going to announce!"
"Then spit it out Narutard"
"Eh, SAKURA-CHAN! OW!" Sakura punched Naruto in his head.
"Fine, Fine." He said Waving his hands in front of him then rubbing the sore spot on his head. "I was just going to say that I'll be leaving with pervy sage to train so that I'll become stronger and bring Sasuke back! I promised you that I'd bring him back Sakura-chan, and I will, believe it!"
Everyone at the table got quiet for a moment, even Choji's obnoxious smacking had ceased. Sasuke was still a sore spot for the better half of the male rookie 9. As it also was for the female half, and all for different reasons. Two, a so called first love heart break, and a broken bond of a childhood best friend.
When Naruto realized the sudden mood change in the group, as an attempt to lighten their sprits, he started to make a joke, but not before he could, Sakura began to burst out into tears.
"Oh Sasuke-kun, why did you have to leave, why wasn't I strong enough to make you stay!" The tears and sobs broke everyone out of their own grudge against Sasuke and onto the attention of the crying girl.
Ino also began to tear up and started consoling the pink haired girl.
"Sakura, it'll be okay, Sasuke will come back." She said between sniffles and rubbing Sakura's back.
"But why would he leave? I love him so much, and now he's seen as a missing nin. It's not fair!"
Almost everyone looked away from Sakura, from either not knowing how to be comforting and not wanting to get involved, or for feeling like their night out had become an awkward encounter. Hinata looked at the two crying girls feeling both empathy and a bit of disdain. She too was hurt over Sasuke's absence; however, she was also one hundred percent sure that she was the only one, except maybe Naruto, who truly knew who Sasuke was. Hinata always teased Sasuke about his "fangirls", with Ino and Sakura being his top two admirers, both of which she always questioned their "love" for him. Not out of jealousy but curiosity. She was sure that most of their undying love for him had to do with his looks and high grades in the academy, not his character. Which they solely knew as him calling them annoying, or his cold shoulder to them. Even her own feelings for Naruto had to deal with his character and inner strength.
They hadn't seen the true Sasuke. Not any part she seen, no, she was sure of that.
So, moments like this did always make her feel uneasy
Sensing Naruto starting to feel down for the somber mood he didn't mean to cause, Hinata spoke up. "Naruto-kun, when are you leaving?"
Perking up at the soft voice and smiling, Naruto looked at Hinata, "Tomorrow."
"Oh." Hinata looked down at her half-eaten plate of beef sadly. She'd be losing her other best friend also, and all to getting stronger. Sometimes Hinata wished she wasn't a ninja, for a simple civilian hadn't need to worry about power, abandoning villages, or losing loved ones at any day because of the career they chose. It felt good to dream sometimes, but that sadly wouldn't be her reality.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, his face showing a half smile, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys sooner, it kind of slipped my mind since I was focusing on getting out of that stuffy hospital."
Hinata looked at Sakura, now she did feel for the girl, Hinata was now losing her two best friends, but she still had her teammates, to whom she was also close to. Sakura was losing her team, what would she do now?
"Sakura-chan, will you be, okay?" Hinata asked sincerely. Sakura looked at Hinata with swollen eyes and nodded, but not before sporting a weird look on her face. Looking back at Naruto, Hinata smiled a small but genuine smile at him, "Naruto-kun, I know we'll all miss you" "speak for yourself" Ino said smirkingly between sniffles. "But I can't wait to see how strong you'll become." Naruto's smile nearly blinded them all.
"Thank you Hinata. Say, do you think you could give me some of that ointment you make for my trip? I used up all of the one you gave me at the chunnin exams!"
"Hai. I'll meet you at the front gates tomorrow morning before you depart."
Naruto gave Hinata his signature thumbs up and smiled, "I'll be there!"
"Obviously, aren't you the one who's leaving why wouldn't you be there?" Everyone shared a look at Kiba's smart reply before laughing together at Naruto's denseness, leaving the night on a better note.
~OoO~
As Hinata made her way home, she decided to stop by their tree, and take the long way home.
The wind blew past her face as the memories of her and Sasuke throughout the years began to consume all her senses.
WOOOSH
A large fireball the size of a house floated over the lake from Sasuke's mouth. After being pleased with his demonstration, Sasuke expelled the fireball and turned to the 10-year-old Hinata, smirking smugly.
"See tomato, that's how you do the fire release: great fireball technique. Do you remember the hand signs for it?" The young Sasuke looked so pleased and eager to teach his great family jutsu.
Hinata nodded, "Hai, Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger." Hinata began to perform the hand signs, but just before she performed the jutsu she stopped and looked at Sasuke to his dismay. "Ano, Sasuke, is it okay for me to do this jutsu, even if I'm not an Uchiha?" Hinata looked at Sasuke innocently through her bangs. Coming from a noble clan herself, she understood how private and prideful clans could be with their jutsus, and how angered they were when shinobi not a part of their clan would emulate their creations. Hinata just didn't want to overstep.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, fed up with Hinata's politeness. "Hinata, I'm an Uchiha and I said it's okay so you can do it. Plus, once I defeat Itachi I will be the clan leader as the last Uchiha, and that means I can do what I want. So, I can change rules that I don't like."
"But this jutsu is an Uchiha tradition, you can't break that." Hinata cried.
"Well then I'll make you an Uchiha!" Sasuke stated as if he found the meaning of life.
"How are you going to do that?"
"Mhm. My ka-san told me a story about how when a man and a woman gets married, the girl takes the guy's last name."
"So, we're going to get married?"
"Mhmm. If that's what it takes for you to become an Uchiha, since that's the only way you'll do the jutsu." Sasuke turned his back towards Hinata with his arms crossed, pleased that he came up with the perfect solution.
"But-but, I-I don't want to marry you." Hinata looked mortified, and Sasuke turned back around with a quickness, with an angered look on his childish features.
"Why not?"
"Because…because-"
"Because you like Naruto. Hmph, I knew it." Sasuke started walking away from the girl.
"No, no way! I don't like Naruto-kun anymore, it's just-"
Stopping in his tracks to turn to Hinata, "Then why?" Sasuke said.
"Because, I don't want all of the girls in our class to hate me."
After what felt like hours, Sasuke turned his attention off Hinata and onto the path that they came from and began to walk in the direction out of the lake, but not before making the girl he was with faint with his words.
"Too bad, you're going to be an Uchiha, and they'll have to just deal with it."
With a deep blush on her face, Hinata smiled fondly at the memory. She totally forgot about Sasuke's marriage declaration, which was solely so that she could feel comfortable doing the fireball release jutsu. She didn't know if that was romantic or overkill, but it warmed her heart, nonetheless. 'I wonder if Sasuke remembers that.'
Before Hinata could think about any other memories between her and the avenger, she started to sense an unsettling feeling in her stomach. And not even a second later did a kunai fly past her, only a centimeter from her face. The kunai went through two different trees before plunging into the third, the force of the kunai making it evident the wielder meant it for her.
'What is this? Did an enemy nin get into Konoha?' Before Hinata could ponder anymore, two more Kunai whizzed past her, with one of the two leaving an artificial wound on her arm.
Sensing this shinobi wasn't going to stop without her blood being spilled, or worse, Hinata activated her Byakugan and got into battle stance.
Feeling a chakra to her left, Hinata looked in that direction and seen a blur of chakra.
"Anbu…" Hinata whispered, her heart was racing.
Standing before her was a ninja about seven inches taller than her, dressed in a black hooded cloak, with matching black sandals, a tipless tantō behind his back, and a bear mask.
Why was she getting attacked by an Anbu? Weren't they some of the strongest ninja in the village that protected Konoha behind the scenes? Didn't they go on the most dangerous missions? So why was one attacking her? Did the elders do this? Tsunade-sensei wouldn't allow this right?
Before Hinata could ask herself anymore questions, she noticed the Anbu running at her at full speed, tantō in hand, her name written on the katana.
Sensing this could possibly be the end of her if she didn't think quick, Hinata performs the Eight Trigrams: Air Palm.
Charging the chakra between her palms, she pushed her palms outward towards the masked ninja. As soon as her arms stretched out in front of her, she notices the Anbu disappear from his previous occupied spot, leaving no trace that he was there at all.
"What?" Hinata whispered, not believing what was going on.
Turning around, Byakugan still activated, 'nothing.'
If it wasn't for the blood from the wound the Anbu gave her she would've thought she imagined it all.
Just when she started to run towards the direction of her home, she felt the ground beneath her shake, the evenly cut grass begin to look asymmetrical as the ground split in two, then four, then six pieces. Before she had time to register the extent of the destruction and jump to safety, her ankle was grabbed by none other than the Anbu as he rose from the cracks in the ground.
Hinata was momentarily frozen from the contact, before she kicked at the hand, but as she raised her leg, the Anbu grabbed it with his other hand, with both of her ankles in his grasp. From her Byakugan, she noticed a surge of chakra coming below as the Anbu pushed himself up fully out the ground, her tagging along by default. She was now several feet in the air, still in the Anbu's grasp, before he threw her body forcefully into a tree ten feet away, her back slamming against the tree.
Hearing the cracking of her bones, Hinata groaned. But before she could even move a muscle, the Anbu appeared right in front of her, grabbing a fistful her midnight blue locks in his hands and within a flash, her face was slammed into one of the nearby trees, that had his kunai lodged into it, forming splinters in her cheeks, sporting a serious nosebleed, and busted lip, it was a miracle her face hadn't been smashed in, yet.
Just as the Anbu was about to smash her face again, with her last bit of strength, Hinata quickly and secretly performed hand signs for her water removing jutsu, channeling the 'invisible' chakra string to the Anbu before he even realized what was happening. Slowly, the grip on her hair loosened, and the Anbu began to make a noise as if he was suffocating.
Not wasting any time, Hinata yanked the kunai from the tree bark, and all in one motion, decapitated the Anbu as she turned face him. Him finally releasing the painful grip on her hair, as she released him from the impending death of dehydration.
Looking down at her hand with the bloody kunai, the liquid dripping into a puddle of blood where the Anbu's head lay, Hinata dropped to her knees from exhaustion, but the liquid from her eyes could only be explained by the mourning of her first kill, and of a Konoha nin no less.
The imminent depression that was festering inside her had nearly distracted her from the nearing footsteps in the grass.
It was like time had stopped, each shuffle was blasted in her ear drums, but Hinata squeezed her eyes shut, fearing what enemy presented itself next to her, all while she was on the brink of chakra exhaustion.
As the footsteps stopped right in front of her, she bowed her submission, admitting her defeat, and waiting for the final blow to her death.
But it never came, instead….
"Well done, Hinata. You've showed great promise as a shinobi. Now tell me, to whom does your allegiance lie with?"
Hinata slowly raised her head, her vision a bit hazy from tiredness, and the dark sky, but after focusing on the man's form for a few more seconds, she took in his appearance. She did not recognize this man; he could be an enemy from another village for all she knew, but she did know her answer to his question.
"To Konoha, always and forever." She rasped out, wishing her reply sounded more assertive.
The man nodded in approval, but his face didn't show much emotion. "Very Well. Welcome to Anbu-root." The man turned around and begin to walk away.
"Wait, who are you, and what do you mean?"
The man stopped walking and turned the side of his face, speaking calmy but proudly. "Danzo Shimura. You'll find out soon enough." Before giving her a chance to reply, he started walking again, before he stopped once more and uttered, "And you shall speak of this encounter to no one." Words demanding nothing but submission. And then he was gone.
Hinata stayed in that spot for a few hours, pondering what just happened, she was so caught in her thoughts in fact, that she never noticed the familiar feeling being watched.
Blood red eyes stared in relief yet horror, as the young kunoichi was able to survive, but only under the confines of a much more sinister and smothering presence than death itself.
Uchiha Itachi, after watching over Hinata since the birth of her and Sasuke's friendship, could only hope that she did not receive the same fate as him, for he knew they were much more alike than anyone could've imagined.