Hinata glanced at the calendar and smiled. It was 'visit Neji day'. Her father had been devastated since the death of her uncle, his twin brother, and had allowed her to set a day, a couple of times a month, to visit Neji in the orphanage. Although recently, she had developed something of a crush on the blond boy her cousin was always keeping an eye on. A byakugan eye, as it appeared her cousin had spontaneously developed it in defense of his friend. She had seen him thoroughly intimidate her bodyguard when he glared at Naruto. Her bodyguard, who was three times Neji's size, and also a Hyuuga.

She stopped by her little sister's room, where she knew her father would be. "F-father, I am l-leaving to visit Neji. W-would you like to c-come?"

"No. I must take care of your younger sister."

The same answer. Every time. Hinata didn't mind, nor did she really think she wanted her Father to come, he would heavily disapprove of Naruto. But she felt like she had to ask every time.

She met her bodyguard outside of the house, bowing politely to him. He bowed back. "Hinata-sama, you are ready to go, I presume?"

Hinata nodded meekly, pushing her fingers together. "I-I'm ready."

They set off through the village, passing shop after shop as they went through the market district, which was right next to the orphanage.

Her bodyguard chose to remain stationed outside of the orphanage, perhaps to avoid the annoyed glare of Neji.

"Hinata," Neji greeted calmly.

"Hinata-chan!" Naruto said, grinning broadly and reacting enough to make up for Neji's lack of emotion.

"Good m-morning N-Naruto-kun, N-Neji-nii-san," Hinata said, smiling timidly. "Eep!" She was bowled over by a dog far larger than her. "G-good morning t-to you too, K-Keruberosu."

"Keruberosu!" Kiba squawked. "We can't just tackle her!"

"I-it's alright K-Kiba-kun," Hinata assured him. "I-I don't m-mind."

Keruberosu woofed at Kiba, and Kiba pouted at the massive dog. "It doesn't matter that she doesn't mind, we aren't supposed to do it!"

The two continued arguing while Naruto helped Hinata wriggle out from underneath Keruberosu.

"Let's sneak away and climb on the roof!" Naruto whispered loudly to her. Hinata wondered if he meant Neji too, but just let him pull her along, out into the backyard, up a tree, and across a branch to end up on the roof. Neji followed them silently as always.

"There are so many clouds today!" Naruto explained loudly.

Shikamaru, who was already on the roof, groaned. "You can't leave me alone in peace for five seconds?"

"But Hinata's here!" Naruto shouted.

"Shaddup and sit down if you're going to stay," Shikamaru groaned. "Otherwise, I will kick you off this roof myself."

Hinata giggled softly, and Neji glared at Shikamaru.

Naruto flopped down next to Shikamaru. "C'mon! I'm not that loud!"

"Y-yes you are," Hinata said, quietly sitting down next to them. Neji just sighed, moving to stand at the top of the roof and play lookout.

Naruto fell asleep after a while, sprawled out in the sun like a cat. Hinata held out for a while longer but soon succumbed to the peaceful warmth of the rooftop, slipping off into sleep. This wasn't the first time they'd just napped on the roof the entire time, it was peaceful on the roof, and warm when the sun was shining.

Hinata woke up when the sun stopped directly shining on her and started dipping below the horizon. "Oh!"

Naruto sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Mm?"

"I-I'm going to be l-late!" Hinata said, already scrambling for the edge. Her father didn't like it when she was late.

Neji, significantly taller and faster than her, somehow managed to pick her up and hop right off the roof, using chakra to cushion the landing.

"Th-thank you," Hinata said quickly, bowing shallowly to Neji before hurrying inside. Outside she heard Neji catch Naruto, then Shikamaru, both of whom had jumped after them.

"Miss Hinata!" The eldest matron said scoldingly. "Where were you?! You're going to be late getting home!"

"I-I'm s-sorry!" Hinata squeaked.

"Keruberosu's fast!" Kiba chirped, running up next to her. "You can borrow him! Right Keruberosu?"

Keruberosu knelt down, apparently he agreed with Kiba.

"Kiba, you'll have to go with them," the matron instructed. "Hikaru! You go with them too and make sure Kiba gets back here safely." She quickly lifted up Hinata, setting her on Keruberosu, then Kiba, then Hikaru, a slightly older Hyuuga boy.

Hinata patted Keruberosu, worried that he wouldn't be able carry them all, her worries were quickly rectified when Keruberosu started trotting towards the door, showing no clear signs of straining under the weight of two three-year-olds and a six-year-old.

Her guard was very startled when the massive dog trotted past him and out into Konoha at a pace that any kid would have difficulty keeping.

"L-lady Hinata?" The guard asked, walking very quickly to keep up. "You do know you're late, right?"

"That's why we're riding Keruberosu!" Kiba shouted cheerfully. "Go on boy! Follow Hinata's scent back, and let's lose this loser!"

Keruberosu woofed delightedly, breaking into a loping run.

Hinata giggled quietly at her guard's horrified face as he was also forced to break into a run to keep up with the dog.

Twin whoops came from the two boys behind her, and Hinata giggled louder, ignoring the highly annoyed shouts of the guard behind her.

"Take a left here to take a short cut!" Hikaru called up.

Hinata pointed to the alley he'd mentioned. "Turn h-here please K-Keruberosu."

Keruberosu woofed and made an abrupt turn into the alley.

"Turn right at this next intersection!" Hikaru called up. "Jump onto the garbage thingy, then up onto the roof! This is a shinobi highway place! The roofs are closer together here!"

Keruberosu barked, following the orders, Kiba whooping in delight as they soared across the rooftops. Hinata tentatively copied Kiba, putting her arms up in the air, holding on tightly with her legs.

"Hyuuga compound straight ahead!" Hikaru shouted, his voice barely audible over the wind rushing through Hinata's ears.

Keruberosu woofed, and Kiba quickly put his hands down. "Keruberosu says hold on! We're gonna get off the shinobi highway!"

Hinata quickly put her arms down, winding her fingers into Keruberosu's thick fur.

Suddenly they were airborne, then landing roughly and taking off again, running right past the startled Hyuuga guards who luckily recognized Hinata and let them in.

Keruberosu finally skidded to a stop at the door to the main house. He woofed happily.

Kiba whooped. "Yeah! We aren't late!"

Hinata's guard finally caught up to them, breathing heavily. "Don't do that!" He finally managed, picking Hinata up off of the dog and setting her on the ground. "Run along now you heathens!"

With a guileless expression on his face, Hikaru said "But aren't we supposed to see her in? The matrons say that's what you do when you walk someone home."

The bodyguard sighed heavily, but opened the door, allowing Hinata and the dog inside. Kiba scooted up a bit to allow Hikaru more space on Keruberosu.

Keruberosu woofed, hurrying ahead of Hinata and stopping her from continuing.

"Wha?" Kiba said, frowning. "Whadda mean you smell blood. From where?"

Hinata looked where Keruberosu was gesturing with his head, and gasped. "Th-that's my s-sister's room!" She ducked under Keruberosu, running into the room, then just as quickly backing away from the open door. Her father was sprawled across the floor, having clearly put up a fight, if the blood all around the room was any indication. The smell of iron was overpowering, and Hinata sprinted for the bathroom just in time to empty her lunch into the toilet.

She quickly rinsed out her mouth with water, then peeked back into the hall. Hikaru looked mildly sick and was covering Kiba's eyes, despite the fellow three-year-old's protests.

"Kids," the bodyguard quickly ordered, having come in when he didn't see the kids leaving. "Take Hinata and tell the Hokage."

Hinata obligingly walked over to stand next to Keruberosu while Kiba and Hikaru wriggled backward to make space for her. The bodyguard quickly picked her up and put her on the dog, gesturing back towards the front of the house. "Report the assassination of the clan head of the Hyuuga."

Hikaru nodded, and Hinata simply leaned forward to hug Keruberosu's neck, trying to process.

They reported it to the Hokage, or rather, Hikaru did, as he had seen it, and wasn't in shock.

"If you wouldn't mind staying at the orphanage, Hinata-chan, we can get your stuff tomorrow," the Hokage said gently, bending down slightly to be able to look the three-year-old in the eye.

Hinata nodded quietly, and that was that.

(A/N) I'm sorry, but then I'm not, so yeah. There's a poll, so vote.