Chapter 1: "A New Start"
( I do not own Naruto or any of its characters even though I wish I did).
All was quiet in the Hyuga household, but Hinata lay wide awake in her bed. She was starting school tomorrow and her stomach couldn't help but do flips as she thought about it. Hinata imagined all the scenarios of the big day in her head. Every outcome was bad and involved her tripping and eating dirt in front of her new class.
That's why Hinata's lavender eyes were plastered wide, despite her attempts to fall asleep 'Neji was right,' Hinata thought to herself. 'I'm going to be eaten alive out there.' Hinata shivered than took a deep breath in.
'I'm going to try my best. Fighting!' Hinata snuggled deeper into her cherry blossom tree blanket that was gifted to her by one of her best friends, Sakura. She gave her panda plushy a big squeeze and finally, she fell asleep.
Hinata awoke to Neji pounding rapidly on her door. "Hinata you are going to be late on your first day of school!"
Hinata jumped out of bed and glanced in the mirror. Deep bags remained under her eyes and her hair looked like hell. By hell, I mean the tower of Babel could have existed within the confines of her towering knotted dark purple hair. Hinata thought about several regrets that morning, but the main one in her mind was her regretting growing her hair out.
Once again Neji banged on the door. "Hinata if you aren't ready in five. I'm leaving you."
"Neji my alarm didn't even go off. Please cut me some slack. You know how nervous I am for today."
"No excuses. You know I have Might Guy for my first-hour gym and he would make me run an extra mile if I was just a minute late."
Hinata grabbed the nearest beanie and threw on a sweatshirt and ran out of her room.
Neji stared at Hinata as he held back a snicker.
"What's so funny? You know I didn't have time to get ready."
"Nothing. You just look like some edgy emo kid. My Chemical Romance wants their depression back. Are those bags under your eyes on purpose or did you just go through an existential crisis?"
"Neji stop it! We need to leave! Wait where's Hanabi?"
At that moment Hanabi walked out of her room still in pajamas. She rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"What are you guys doing up so early?"
"What do you mean? Neji said we were going to be late."
"Are you kidding it's six in the morning!"
At that moment Hinata's alarm clock went off. Hinata glared at Neji.
"What? I thought I would wake you up early just in case and I couldn't help but prank you in the process. Plus the panic on your face was priceless."
"I am going to kill you!" Hinata's vein bulged out of her head as she cracked her knuckles repeatedly.
"Come on it was just a joke! Where's the cute little Hinata I used to know who couldn't even hurt a fly."
"She died when you interrupted her beauty sleep!"
Neji began to run down the hallway laughing maniacally. Hinata was close behind. Neji slid down the staircase and Hinata bit it. She tumbled down the stairs and landed with a big thud. Hanabi peered down the staircase.
"Are you okay Hinata?" the young Hyuga questioned.
"I'm fine. Just hurt my head a little bit" Hinata rubbed her head and when she looked up her dad was staring down at her.
"What are you kids doing up so early?"
"Sorry, just getting ready for school."
"I see. Well, have a good day at school. Make the Hyuga name proud."
"I'll tr-r-ry my best father."
Awkward silence fell between the pair: Hinata not meeting Mr. Hyuga's eyes and Mr. Hyuga at a loss of what to say.
"You do that then... Neji" Mr. Hyuga nodded in the boy's direction as he began walking away.
"Morning sir."
Hinata stayed sitting for a few more seconds her eyes following her father's movements as he walked away.
Neji offered her his hand. "Are you okay."
"Yeah, I'll be fine."
"So are you really going to wear that to school today?"
"There's no way!"
"I don't know. It kind of suits you."
"Can you guys shut up! It's too early in the morning for you guys to be fighting. I'm tired as it is, but you guys' constant bickering is giving me a headache." Hanabi called down still at the top of the stairs.
"As you wish princess Hanabi," Neji said as he curtsied. Hinata couldn't control her laughter and she met Neji's eyes he began choking up too.
"Guyyyyyyys! It's not funny! I'm being serious!" Hanabi's protests to her dismay were only met with more giggles.
Mr. Hyuga heard the laughter as he sat on the couch in another room. He smiled his face hidden behind a newspaper. The house was a lot brighter with all of them there though he would never admit that out loud.
After Neji's morning prank Hinata got to work for her first day of school. She jumped in the shower and used all if not almost all of the conditioner available. When she stepped out she grabbed a white fluffy towel to dry off. She brushed through her long purple hair and was finally able to brush through the knots. Her hair fell down silky smooth past her shoulders. 'Much better' Hinata thought to herself. Hinata walked to her closet and grabbed an oversized long-sleeved white t-shirt that read "Yeah I'm cute." She pulled on black leggings and combat boots to go with it. She glanced at her clock and it read 7:30. She grabbed her already jam-packed backpack and headed down the stairs. Nothing prepared her for the absolute inferno that was the kitchen.
A pan on the stove was in absolute flames. A burnt pancake was stuck on the ceiling. The fire alarm was beeping repeatedly. Hanabi had a fire extinguisher she was trying to put the stove fire out with and Mr. Hyuga was screaming "make it stop!" as his arms were flailing around him. Hinata rubbed her eyes. When she opened them up again she saw that Hanabi had put the fire out. Hanabi breathed heavily and flung herself down on the kitchen table chair next to Mr. Hyuga who was reading a newspaper.
'I must have just imagined father acting that way' Hinata thought to herself.
"So what exactly happened here?"
"Well, you see..." Hanabi began "Da-" Mr. Hyuga quickly covered up Hanabi's mouth.
"What Hanabi meant to say was that she was so excited for her first day of middle school that she wanted to cook a big celebratory breakfast for everyone, but as you can see she just got a little overzealous."
Hanabi broke away from her father's grip. "That's not what happened! Da-" Once again Mr. Hyuga covered Hanabi's mouth.
"Isn't she a riot?"
"I see then..." Hinata said not quite sure what to make of the whole situation.
Hanabi stomped on her father's toes. "I'll show you a riot!"
Mr. Hyuga fell to the floor and held his foot close to his chest, rocking back and forth. Neji walked into the kitchen and his white eyes widened.
"What the-" That's when there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it," Neji said. He stepped over the anguished Mr. Hyuga to get to the door.
"Morning Neji! What is that smell of death?" Tenten asked. Her brown wavy hair was up in two messy buns. She wore a crop top and baggy pants and in her arms was a skateboard.
"Not death Tenten! It's the smell of blood, sweat, and tears someone poured into cooking for those they love!" Rock Lee shouted as his eyes gleamed passionately. His black hair was cut into a bowl cut. He wore only a Nike green shirt, Nike green shorts, and Nike green shoes. What can I say he wears a lot of Nike that's green.
"Whatever floats your boat then," Tenten said as she rolled her eyes.
"Good morning Neji! I hope you had a fulfilling night's sleep and are ready for a passionate day of learning!"
"Yeah morning you two. Come on in sorry for the...devastation in our house today. I swear it's usually not like this."
"It's all good. Thanks for inviting us in." Tenten replied. Lee and Tenten walked over the still thrashing Mr. Hyuga on the floor and sat at the kitchen table where both Hinata and Hanabi were chatting.
"Hinata, these are my friends Tenten and RockLee."
"It's n-n-nice to meet y-you guys I've heard so much about you," Hinata said looking down shyly.
Tenten grabbed Hinata's hand. "It's nice to meet you too although we technically sort of have met before."
"Really?"
"Yeah I went to school with Sakura a long time ago and then I moved, but we stayed in contact. So I have heard a lot of great things about you. But more than that she added me to a discord server with you in it."
"No way are you martialartslover12?!"
"Yup in the flesh."
"No way this is so exciting! I finally get to meet you in person. And we are going to the same school together."
"It is pretty great!"Tenten beamed. Neji smiled. He was happy to see the two girls he cared about getting along.
"Sorry to interrupt ladies, but I thought I could introduce myself too." Hinata's face turned a deep red.
"Of course."
RockLee offered Hinata his hand. "Like Neji said, I'm RockLee, but you can call me Lee for short. If you have any problems and you can't find Neji I'd be glad to help out. Because that is the duty of a true man: to help friends in need."
Hinata smiled gratefully. "Thanks. I might have to take you up on that offer since I get lost quite a lot."
Tenten giggled at this. "You are so cute!" She went over to Hinata and hugged her. Hinata's face turned a light pink. Tenten released Hinata realizing what she had done.
"So sorry. I got overzealous. I know I just met you, but you were just so cute...I couldn't help myself."
"It's all good. I like hugs I was just a little shocked. Do you mind if I give you a hug now?" Hinata asked timidly.
"I would love that!" Hinata walked up to Tenten and hugged her. In return, Tenten squeezed her tightly and swung her around. Hinata began laughing uncontrollably.
"Well, I'm glad you guys are getting along. But we should get going if we don't want to be late."
"You are completely right Neji. Our passion for education must not be quenched by tardiness!"
Everyone at the table got up and got ready to leave.
"Hinata are you going to have any breakfast before you leave?" Mr. Hyuga asked.
Hinata looked at the charred remains of the kitchen. "I think I-I-I'll just grab a protein shake to go. Y-you know since we are in a rush."
"Neji?" Mr. Hyuga asked wide-eyed.
"I think I'll just grab a shake too."
They both went to the fridge and pulled out the icy beverages, not noticing the distraught face that Mr. Hyuga was making.
"So we carpooling?" Tenten asked.
"Yup," Neji responded.
"Carpooling?!" Hanabi's eyes sparkled. As she followed the group of teens out the door. Mr. Hyuga grabbed Hanabi by the collar.
"You aren't going anywhere. I'm driving you to school since I have a meeting that direction anyways. And if you go with them who is going to eat the breakfast I made for hours this morning!"
"Have a good day Hanabi!" Hinata said as the door closed behind her.
"No, take me with you!" Hanabi screamed in anguish.
"Come on its not that bad." Mr. Hyuga said as he placed Hanabi down in a chair by the kitchen table.
"Well, I don't see you eating any," Hanabi said as she plugged her nose when Mr. Hyuga placed a plate full of scorched pancakes in front of her.
"That's because I have a particular pallet." Mr. Hyuga snapped as he opened his newspaper once again.
"You know dad...making breakfast for her is not going to erase all the things you've done to Hinata."
Mr. Hyuga refolded his newspaper set it down and began messaging his head.
"I know...I just wanted to do something for her. Is that so wrong?"
"No, but if you hurt her ever again. I'll never forgive you." Hanabi met her father's eyes.
"I know. If I ever did anything like that to Hinata again I would never forgive myself. I know it's going to take time to heal our relationship, but I'm willing to wait forever and do whatever it takes. Even if she never forgives me I understand. But I just want to be a good dad to her for once."
Hanabi smiled "I know Hinata. And if she is as loving as I know she is. She'll forgive you."
"Thanks, Hanabi. Look at the time. It's time to get you to school."
Hanabi snickered to herself. She had avoided her dad's cooking.
"Also don't worry about lunch. I already packed some leftover breakfast for you."
"No!" Hanabi screamed as her father dragged her out the door lunch bag in hand.
It was the first day of a new beginning for Hinata. Little did she know by just being herself that she would leave and imprint in many student's and teachers' hearts and change their lives for the better. Highschool would of course be hell, but it would be a hell that was full of growth, friends, and new memories. And that would only be the beginning.