Chapter Three: Journal


Hinata was dressed up in a very elegant kimono. A kimono which is colored black with lavenders decorated on it. It was simple as well. There was a feast today held by the clan to celebrate Hinata and her new position.

It was a dinner with all the main family members, some from the branch family and some political figures especially the Hokage.

It was a quiet formal party. Yes they talked occasionally but not much.

After the dinner the others left, but Tsunade stayed.

"So Hinata I heard your resignation from Neji." Tsunade talked to Hinata, then took a sip from her sake. "This is good sake."

"Yes of course." Hinata poured her another cup. "Anything for the Hokage."

"There's no need for that." Tsunade waved her ahnd.

"Oh please let me you are our guest after all." Hinata humbled herself.

"No I meant you giving up your career." Tsunade began to look at her in the eye. "You should think twice, Hyuuga-sama."

"Hokage-sama..." Hinata blinked hard and said. "As said by my cousin I shall resign because I am now the head of my clan."

"You can be that and be a great kunoichi at the same time." Tsunade stood up. "You're still young, Hinata… There will be a lot of opportunities when you're a ninja. Please think about it."

"Yes Tsunade-sama I will."


Hinata then went to the training grounds. She felt peaceful there and thought that that might help her think more clearly. She sat on a log that was lying on the ground. It was facing the lake which shimmered due to the full moon and the stars. She inhaled deeply but instead of smelling the scent of the trees and flowers she smelled noodles or something of that kind.

"Hey Hinata you're on my spot." A voice said.

She turned to see who it was and saw the blue-eyed person who was grinning at her. "It's you."

He laughed awkwardly. "I was just joking. Say do you mind if I eat here?"

"No… Go ahead." With that he sat right next to her. She felt her cheeks burn but didn't know why.

"Do you want some?" Naruto offered her to eat.

"No thanks." Hinata refused politely.

Awkward silence… and the slurping of noodles.

"I always come here when I get bored just eating at Ichiraku… The view is nice, huh?" Naruto started a conversation but Hinata was in no mood. She just sat there quietly and ignored him.

Hinata straightened her kimono. "Would you give up your dreams for the sake of your family?"

"Huh?" Naruto wondered what she was talking about.

"I bet you wouldn't because you're a great ninja with dreams as tall as a tower. But what if you're forced to give it all up?"

"I-I…"Naruto couldn't speak.

"I wanted to help people not kill them… But now it's too late." Hinata's eyes were watery.

"To tell you the truth I never wanted to kill people, too… It's just the way of the ninja." Naruto paused. "A ninja once said that we ninjas are tools. But I think we aren't. Why do you think I do this? Do you think I am this because I wanted to kill?"

Hinata shook her head. "No?"

"Yes you're right… I don't want to. But I still do it… for Konoha, for the people and mostly for my love ones." Naruto said.

Hinata blinked hard. "I understand…"

"And besides when you go back on being ninja, we'll see each other more often." Naruto tried to cheer her up. "And that's good, right?" He grinned.

"I think so… But wait what's your name? I don't even know you."

"You don't! But it's me, Naruto!" The loud mouthed ninja exclaimed.

"Naruto… Okay I'll try to remember your name. From now on were friends." Hinata smiled and took his hand and shook it.

"Yeah… Friends…" Naruto scratched the back of his head and gave an awkward smile.

He was about to say something but Hinata said something first. "I've got to go. See you Naruto-san!" Hinata ran towards the direction of her house.

Naruto stood there dumbfounded. "She doesn't remember me…?"


Crimson Notebook no. 13 Entry 25

It was wrong but I have to do it… I need to help him. I might not tell him how I feel but at least I can show it… I need to… I need to follow him no matter what happens.

Tsunade noticed Hinata sitting outside her office, looking outside the window.

"Hinata you're early." Tsunade spoke to her but she didn't reply. "Hinata, are you –"

"Oh Tsunade-sama, you're here." Hinata bowed.

Tsunade led the Hyuuga to her office.

"Well first and foremost I'm glad that you decided to come back." Tsunade then took a large file folder from her desk. "There are a lot of missions I'd like to give you but since you just recovered…"

Tsunade flipped the pages. "I guess the other ninjas could do these tasks…"

"Can I be with my old team?" Hinata requested.

"I'm sorry you can't. You see Shino's an Anbu and Kiba… I think he's on another mission… There's just too much work, I already forgot. Where's Shizune when you need her?" Tsunade scratched her head.

"Are you okay?" Hinata asked.

"Yeah it's just that I don't have an assistant for now, Shizune needed a vacation so I asked Sakura to take her place but she said she had things to do in the hospital… Wait maybe you can be my assistant for a couple of days –"

Then the door opened and Shizune came in. "Tsunade-sama, I'm back!"

"Shizune!" Tsunade stood up. "What happened, I thought you wouldn't be back for at least a week or two?"

"Well I got bored on doing nothing… So what's our agenda for today Hokage-sama?" Shizune started fixing files and papers.

"Can I just take a break for awhile? Can you take over and be Hokage..." Tsunade said as she massaged her temples. "Too much work... Sorry."

Hinata stared at her.

"Sorry." Tsunade coughed. "Oh yes… I couldn't give you Shizune's place because apparently she's here already… So maybe I could assign you a mission with some other ninjas. Come back later and I'll tell you the rest of the mission."

"Okay."


That day Hinata waited for a message or a summoning from the Hokage but there came none.

Hinata decided to train and went to the usual place. It was quiet and not many ninjas were there. After she trained she went back home.

Once at home she took a bath. Then when she was done she dressed and sat in her room as if waiting for something to happen or someone to come by.

There was noise coming from inside the closet. She stared hard at it. She then opened it hesitantly. Then the black lacquer box fell.

She slowly opened it. There inside it was the white notebook which was open.

White Notebook

No. 9 Entry 15

Today is my birthday. Most of kids my age are usually happy when they are having a birthday, but I am not.

Father postponed the party…

Mother is sick… She has been sick ever since last year… I don't know how she got so weak... I miss her so much. I wish I can talk to her… but I can't, father wouldn't let me or Hanabi go inside her room.

I feel so scared at night because mother doesn't go to my room and tells stories or kiss me goodnight… But I shouldn't be selfish… She is sick and she needs caring more than I do… But my fears become worse when I hear her crying at night. I want her pain to vanish… but no matter how hard I pray… I still her crying.

Little Hanabi asked me when mother will be back… I couldn't speak… I was afraid that she'll feel the pain I feel inside.

No. 9 Entry 24

I heard mother sing a song last night.

At the very moment I woke up this morning, I smelled incense but I didn't care I needed to speak with my father and tell him the good news. But something was off… Father's eyes were bloodshot, I realized that he was crying and lacked sleep… He told me… mother was gone… As those words landed on my ears… I ran away… I ran away from the manor… I came to the training grounds to calm myself… And it seemed that the rain came to calm me, too…

The sky was so grey…

Mother had blue eyes…Blue as the sky, now that she has left… I wonder if I will ever see the sky as blue again.

Hinata changed the page and scanned the notebook… Then one page caught her attention.

No. 10 Entry 42

Father yelled at me today… It's getting so frequent and it seems like everything I do is wrong. I was so afraid of him that when he watches me perform seals or practice, I always make mistakes. I get so nervous because I'm afraid he might get mad… and the more I get nervous the more I make mistakes…

He pushes me so hard to perfect techniques like Neji-niisan. But I am not like him, he is strong and skilled.

Father told me I was useless and I'm beginning to think that I am.

No. 10 Entry 48

Iruka-sensei asked me why I was always late… I didn't answer for I was afraid that he would be furious at me. This morning as I was going to school I stopped by where the cherry blossoms grow. It was indeed a wonderful sight! I watched as its petals dance in the wind and fall on the water. No matter how many times I see it I'll never get tired of it. I remembered mother…She used to love flowers and plants. She even used to make herbal medicines from plants… She even kept a notebook about it which I always read and I am learning something from it, too!

Anyway as I was gazing at the lovely scenery someone called me by my surname. When I turned to look around it was one of my classmates… He was the one who was always scolded by the senseis. But what caught my attention are his blue eyes… It was like mother's but it was different at the same time… His blue eyes were lively but were keeping something he dare not speak about… What was his name, I wondered.

Then he asked me something… He asked me why I was looking at things as if it were the first time I saw them. I ran towards the direction of the school as I was feeling embarrassed in front of him.

Hinata flipped the pages and her eyes landed on the words 'chuunin exam'. But she was interrupted by a knock at the door. "It's me, Nanami. Hinata-sama."

She kept the notebooks inside the box. "Come in."

"Hinata-sama, it's Neji-san! He was rushed in the hospital!" Nanami exclaimed.

"Rushedto the hospital! Is he injured?" Hinata asked Nanami.

"Well yes but no… but mostly it's because he's sick. The doctor said that he might be infected with the disease. There's an epidemic, it was announced just yesterday, Hinata-sama." Nanami informed her.

"What! Can I go and visit him?" Hinata asked yet again. "How come I never knew this?"

"I'm sorry but the doctor said that this illness is highly contagious and he advised us that we stay away from him for awhile. He also was the one who called the paramedics and put him to isolation in the hospital." Nanami biting her nails was hesitating to say something. "I'm sorry but Neji-san said that I should not tell it to you… If he knows this he'll be furious!"

"Calm down please… I'll try to be discreet about you telling me about his condition." Hinata eyed the outside of her room through the window. "Are there anyone else in the family infected with the disease?"

"No one I knew of, Hinata-sama."

"Very well then… Call the doctor I want him to explain me details about this… epidemic."

Nanami stood up and nodded her head.


A/N: Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto.

Before I forget the Italicized ones are Journal Entries .

No. -indicates her age at the time she wrote the entry.

Entry -Is number of entries.

By the way Naruto's age now is 16.

Thanks to the people that reviewed.

By the way this is the edited version. Not much is edited...

I just made a mistake in the entry no. (age) It was supposed to be 13. Sorry.

Special thanks to Shy-Princess for pointing out my error regarding the age.