Summary:

In one world, Hinata is a little less kind, a little more desperate, and a whole lot colder. And, well, the Byakugan is the most perceptive doujutsu. [AU] [Hinted SasuHina] [Non-Chronological Linked Drabbles]

.

General Disclaimer For The Entire Story:

I don't own Naruto. If I did, I'd have given a more character development and realistic reasoning for Epilogue!SasuSaku. Because, seriously? Just… no explanation whatsoever for that one. None. The cover picture isn't mine, either.


.

(state of matters and stated manners)

.

[Age 12]

It is quiet in the Hyuuga Compound, this early in the morning.

Nonetheless, when Hyuuga Hinata awakens in her bed, there is a Branch member outside her bedroom door, knocking.

"Yes?" she asks, opening her eyes, but not bothering to activate her Byakugan to check who it is.

(The bedroom walls of the Hyuuga Compound are, naturally, all Byakugan-proofed, with top-secret Main House seals. Other rooms requiring privacy, such as meeting rooms, are also sealed similarly.)

A feminine voice answers, stiffly, accompanied with the slight rustle of clothing being creased into a bow, "Breakfast will be served in half-an-hour, Hinata-sama."

She doesn't nod, because the Branch member wouldn't be able to see it, anyway. A simple, "Dismissed," will do just as well.

Another rustle, another bow, and the maid departs, a fleeting shadow across her bedroom door.

Shōji-style traditional walls, with the paper enclosed inside sliding glass doors.

There is nothing to be gained from lying in her bed any longer, so Hinata sits up and stands.

After perfectly arranging the futon covers, since the Hyuuga heiress cannot do anything less than perfectly, lest she chance bringing shame upon the Hyuuga name, she dresses herself for the day and enters the bathroom.

Her clothes, she supposes, are adequate for their purpose of presentable, practical apparel for a kunoichi-in-training unlikely to get into any dangerous situations.

Reaching down past her waist is a light-weight, neutral cream, long-sleeved jacket, marked with a prominent white Hyuuga Clan symbol on the back, and adorned with four visible pockets (several more concealed elsewhere).

Sleeves are folded, rimmed with white, and pushed back to her elbows. Her high-collar loosely tilts outward; not quite a fold, not quite tight around her neck.

A certain loop in the inside of the collar can snugly fit a senbon needle, reachable with a duck of the head and a bite-jerk of the teeth.

Using weapons are forbidden in Academy spars, and Hyuuga tradition mandates that Hyuuga members shall stick to their special taijutsu as much as possible, but Hinata is far more concerned with functionality than she is with humoring the people calling themselves her family.

If a hidden, surprise senbon shot can save her life, then she is going to make sure she has that surprise senbon shot to use when the time comes, and that she will have the skills necessary to fire that accurate shot.

(Sadly, to fulfil her goal, her goals, she is going to have to continue humoring those same people. At least for now. Because she had made a vow to herself, that cold morning as she woke up from a near-kidnapping, and she intends to keep that vow.

To be strong.

And that means she has to push herself, to excel beyond her limits, to never lose to Hanabi no matter how deep her affection for her may be or how similar she looks like their mother, to keep Neji on his toes just within her grasp just a little more and-!

She has to be heiress. There is no other way. No other way viable that she sees, anyway.

… Yes, Hinata is far more concerned with functionalities than tradition.

Although, when tradition happens to work in her favor, to achieve further clan approval…)

Wearing cream is a Hyuuga tradition to show that you've reached Genin-level in Byakugan proficiency, and to wear otherwise would signify subtle rebellion against the Jyuuken users.

Garment length is another common factor: Jonin-level, or former Jonin-level Hyuugas, all wear sober, dark-shaded long robes/kimonos, often with sleeves that drape over their fingers when measured.

Hair length is a sign of how far you have proceeded in your Jyuuken proficiency, although that is more sensibility and widespread understanding; long hair is a status symbol of sorts among ninja, declaring that they are either very vain, or they are a strong genjutsu or taijutsu type, and can thus afford to have hair weighing them down and acting as a 'taunt'.

'Pull my hair and find out what happens,' it suggests. 'Actually, just try getting near enough to pull my hair, and find out if I can truly kill you faster than you can reach for my hair.'

(Not so say that Hyuugas aren't incredibly vain, as well. They make many of their own perfumes, make-up, scents, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, facial cleansers, soaps, toothpastes, etc.. She knows that Cousin Neji favors a soothing Minty Berry Sunrise combo, whereas her father orders Flaxen Pumpkinspice Holiday shampoo and Cleansing Waterfall Ripple conditioner, her little sister goes through about a bottle of Chocolate-Covered Mango-Pear Delight 2-In-One per week, and she herself rather enjoyed using Guava-spiked Fizzy Dragonfruit shampoo, with Watermelon Hazelnut Plum-Peach conditioner.

And the whole family uses Cinnamon Brown Sugar body scrub, Rosebush Lilypetal Bouquet bubblebath, and Roasted Coffee Shea Butter Rub, of course.

The Hyuuga run a tight ship, and nothing feels better after a grueling training session than 'pampering time' in their many, many, luxuriously-fitted in-ground granite-tile full-body baths.

… Wearing scented hair washes in and of itself is another 'taunt', or, at worst, a dead giveaway for scent-trackers.)

It says something about 'confidence' that Hinata's been wearing cream since she swapped her white-on-lavender jacket in Year 4, and that Hinata has been growing out her hair since Year 5, reaching shoulder-length at Year 6. Before, it was kept trimmed in a half-neck bob.

Though, as her dear, darling father never tires of reminding her, Neji started wearing cream in his Year 3 class, and his hair has been shoulder-length since Year 5.

Standard mesh went over secure chest bindings, and under a flexible, breathable, white short-sleeve shirt that is easily glimpsed through the opened jacket. Bandages bind the naked skin from her elbows to her wrists.

The shirt can be pulled over one's lower face to provide basic air filtration, in case of smoke, poisons, or otherwise.

Extra support for blocking attacks is provided by the bandages.

Dark blue-black ¾ ninja pants and half-calf ninja boots of the same shade finish off her outfit, with more bandages wrapping her ankles and feet.

Long, repetitive hours of solo training wears out shoes and hurts feet, so Hinata typically goes shoeless and bandaged.

The scuff marks in the training grounds' floor are signs of her countless stances and katas and practice strikes that she goes through daily.

Barefoot still aches, however, so the bandages are applied after bathing and ointment cream, and serve a dual purpose of protection and relief.

.

.

.

Hinata, satisfied with her appearance, brushes her teeth and washes her face.

She combs her shoulder-length hair, smooths her forehead-covering bangs, and tucks her side-bangs behind her ears, clipping them back with simple black hairpins, preventing them from possibly falling in front of her face and obscuring her vision.

Well, it's not so much preventing blocked vision as it is preventing loss of reputation.

Because dear kami-sama, the day she loses in an Academy spar, Byakugan-banned or blind, is the day that the eternally brooding Uchiha stops glowering and chasing revenge and suddenly declares his undying, passionate love for one of the screeching civilian harpies who are only in the Academy for their 'Sasuke-kun'.

She allows herself a sharp smirk for that mental image, before clearing her features into impassivity.

One last check in the bathroom, straighten her spine, reminder 'perfect posture perfect look perfect powerful pride perfect Hyuuga', and Hinata is gracefully gliding out of her bathroom, down the halls, reminder 'nod to the Branch members greet the Main members posture pride heiress'...

Sliding open the shōji-style door, Hinata enters the private dining room typically allotted to them, removes her shoes, sits seiza very correctly in her usual tatami seat (middle of the table opposite her father farthest from the door 'honored guest' heiressheiressheiress), and then sinks into a low bow.

It seems she has arrived last.

"Ohayō gozaimasu, Otou-sama, Neji-san, Imouto-chan," she murmurs respectfully.

"Ohayō gozaimasu, Hinata," Hiashi rumbles back, dipping his head slightly in acknowledgement.

"Ohayō gozaimasu, Onee-san!" Hanabi chirps, remembering at the last minute to tone down her cheer.

"Ohayō gozaimasu, Hinata-sama," Neji agrees blandly, his tensed jaw (a surprisingly emotional display from her reserved cousin, albeit one that appeared every time he spoke to her) giving away his resentment.

There is not much talk after that.

Hyuuga Hiashi disapproves of idle chatter at mealtimes, unless he is the one speaking, in which case it is either an announcement, a punishment, or an interrogation.

Never, seemingly, a celebration.

They say "itadakimasu", and then eat quietly of the food the Branch members have laid out, the silence disrupted only by the clinking of chopsticks against the bowls.

.

.

.

Hinata can see Hanabi at her left, restraining an itch.

Hanabi is too young to have completely mastered her composure, and lacks any real drive to strive for masterment, seeing as she is not heiress.

Indeed, carefree, oddly cheerful Hanabi is seen as a strange Hyuuga, but is predicted to calm down upon making Genin. She enjoys seeking out her 'Onee-san' to spend time with; Hinata does not mind the time detracted from training, reasoning that burning out will do her no good.

Privately, Hinata is glad her sister is happy, and has no need to become cold and hard like their father demands. Like she has become. Otou-sama mostly focuses on her, anyway, prodding about his heiress' progress, and rarely seeming satisfied.

They have a sort of unspoken agreement: Hinata doesn't fail his expectations, and he will remain civil and mostly ignore Hanabi's outspoken trespasses.

Occasionally, he is even downright lenient to his youngest child, favoring her with little gestures and small smiles.

(Hinata is both stung by biting jealousy and glad for Hanabi, who will never see the worst parts of her father.

She is confused as to why she is feeling the jealousy.

She hates him.

Hates him.

Yes, she does, because if she second-guesses at this point… she just can't. Not after all that she went through to get where she is today, to get this strong.)

Just as well.

Hinata may despise that man as strongly as she once loved her mother, but he is useful to her, so long as she keeps herself useful to him.

Him demanding her to constantly improve herself gives her something solid to strive for on her path to completing her vow.

At her right is Neji, stiffly eating his food, head down and refusing to look at them. He stabs his chopsticks and grits his teeth and appears to be clenched with tension.

Gone is the kind Cousin Neji from before, Hinata must remind herself.

This Neji is far more bent on fate and destiny and somehow proving himself to be far superior to Hinata, merely because of that quirk of fate leading her to be heiress and his father to be killed.

Secretly, if he had always been heir, and her father had been killed, Hinata does not believe that she will mind all too much.

She may even enjoy it.

Because if Neji blames her for things beyond her control, then it is only fair that she is allowed to envy and begrudge him for things beyond his control.

Uncle Hizashi loved Neji, she recalls this fact in vivid affirmation.

And that is one thing she can never, will never forgive him for:

For having a father who loved him, while she had a father didn't.

Yet Neji still had the audacity to hold that against her?

Yes, she will never forgive him for that, but now, it is just a little sad at how things have turned out.

Her own cousin, who was once like a brother to her, now cannot even bear to willingly be in the same room with her, or willingly interact with her past the minimum pleasantness he must show her.

Does he really think she might use the Cursed Seal on him?

Has he such a low opinion of her?

… Well, in her opinion, he turned on her first.

(Another thing she will not forgive. It would be almost funny to see how fast those unforgiveables add up when concerning Neji, except for the fact that it.

Isn't.

Funny.

At all.)

Neji clearly dislikes having to eat meals with them, despite how much of an honor it should be, if he had been any other Branch House member.

But he does, and it isn't to him, and he wasn't.

So why does her father insist on him being there, anyway?

Because he was one of the Hyuuga prodigies, even if he was a Branch member?

Out of a sense of duty to his deceased brother to look over his son?

Well, Neji won't be thanking him for that anytime soon.

Hanabi once told her, indignantly, and puffed up with righteous fury, "Neji's a meanie for being so mad at Nee-chan all the time! Nee-chan never did anything to him!"

She had replied, smiling, "Neji-san has his reasons, and I am certain he will eventually tell us what they are."

(Smiling at her imouto's childish speech. Not smiling at the topic. Or the topic's subject.

There's nothing to smile at with those.)

Hinata finishes her breakfast, returns her dishes to their former positions, replaces her chopsticks, and dabs at her lips politely with a napkin.

Bowing forward once more, she utters a "gochisōsama deshita," and awaits the ensuing dismissal.

.

.

.

It doesn't come.

Ah.

Her father must be in the mood for inquiries, then.

She raises her head, now awaiting the statement-questions.

"Today is your graduation test."

She inclines her head.

"Hai, Otou-sama. The entire class will be participating in it today."

Monotonous.

"You will succeed."

Another incline.

"Hai, Otou-sama. I am confident in my abilities, and will show the superiority of the Hyuugas."

Those words are rotting in her mouth, but she forces them out anyway.

"Hm. You will be Rookie of the Year, and show that Uchiha who is truly better."

"Hai, Otou-sama. If that is your wish, then I will do my utmost to reach it."

He sounds like the Uchiha, she mentally remarks. And has he forgotten that I regularly spar with that same Uchiha?

"As agreed upon earlier, since it is your testing day, Hanabi will not accompany you to the Academy. When you graduate, she is allowed to enter your classroom, in order to familiarize herself with the squad-grouping process."

.

.

.

Children start at the Academy when they turn 5, unless there are special circumstances, such as health concerns, that rule against it.

(The Kurama heiress is home-schooled, for that very reason.)

Her imouto is in the Academy right now, at age 7 and Year 2.

The younger Years start class later than the older Years; Hinata is in Year 7, meaning that her classes begin at 7:00 a.m., while Hanabi's classes begin at 8:45 a.m.

(As it is not war-time, and there is no need for so many soldiers, advanced placement and early graduation and grade-skipping are frozen, by the Hokage's orders.

No more child genii for this generation; not even the Hyuuga heiress, not even the much-doted and heavily-coddled Uchiha.)

Nonetheless, Hanabi idolizes her sister, and often insists on going to school with her, ever since Hanabi was old enough to join.

Hanabi's favorite topic is Hinata, actually; on her first day of school, when asked to introduce herself and her family, her speech went something like this, except with much more Hyuuga stoicism, and with the more clan-sensitive material solely existing in her head, having been edited out verbally:

"I'm Hyuuga Hanabi. I like my Nee-chan, fireworks, bananas, milk, training, my father when he's being nice, and Cousin Neji when he's not being mean. I dislike mitsuba, Cousin Neji when he badmouths Nee-chan, not being with Nee-chan, getting wet, and slacking off.

"My hobbies are spending time with my Nee-chan and training with a Branch member. Father mostly trains my Nee-han, who's the heiress, and is totally awesome and way better than everyone else around her age. Especially Cousin Neji, who always glares a lot and makes hissing noises when he's super angry and is always such a downer at mealtimes.

"Grandfather once told me that everyone is linked to an unchangeable fate, and that I would always be a useless spare and destined to either get sealed or be kept as a security check in case Nee-chan dies without leaving children so as to prevent the Main House line from dying out, but then Nee-chan came in with this really flat line in her lips and said, 'No, that's not true. Weak can be strong, if they find their drive and are determined to succeed. I admit, I was weak when I was young. You said so, Otou-sama said so, and it's true, I was. Because I lacked drive. Now I have found my drive, and I have been careful never to lose it. Will you say that your heiress is not strong?'

"He looked really s-can-dah-lie-zud, and his lisp got all thin and pressed together, but he didn't say anything else, and stormed off looking really mad! (insert dreamy sigh) So. Freaking. Awesome. I want to be just like her!" is the rambling mental version.

"I am Hyuuga Hanabi. I like my family, my older sister in particular, training, and bananas and milk. I dislike mitsuba, being underestimated, and rainy days. My hobby is training with my sister. My dream is to one day fulfill my family's expectations, and receive their approval," is the actual, Hyuuga-esque version.

.

.

.

She waves (hugs, if Hinata is in an affectionate mood) goodbye to her sister, and then practices some stances in the Academy training grounds, supervised by the Branch member escorts, until it's time for her Year 2 classes.

(Hinata hates Hiashi, yes, but referencing that 'agreement' about Hanabi…

They make frequent 'deals', like the 'school deal'. In that case, Hinata had went to her father two weeks ago, and requested permission to bring Hanabi into her classroom on graduation day, since Hanabi had professed many longing wishes to do so, and Hinata is fond of making Hanabi happy.

Her father had stated, "She will not go with you on testing day. I will use that time to review her Jyuuken prowess. If she is satisfactory, I speak to the School Board regarding your request."

There is never any doubt as to whether she will pass.

There is never any doubt as to whether it will be allowed.

He acknowledges Hinata as a strong heiress.

He practically owns the School Board.

Hinata bows to him, and leaves his office.)

Snapping back to reality, Hinata hurries to reply without seeming hurried, "Hai, Otou-sama. Your generosity is gratefully appreciated."

Hiashi nods regally.

"You are released to depart, Hinata."

Hinata rises in one smooth motion, and collects her shoes.

"Good luck, Nee-chan!" Hanabi calls to her, as she crosses the threshold.

Neji is noticeably silent, his quietness an audible sound in and of itself.

Hinata doesn't look back, but she does say, "Thank you, Imouto-chan," loud enough that Hanabi can hear it.

The girl most likely beams brightly, and will also most likely get another lecture on proper decorum, on 'Onee-san' vs 'Nee-chan' and 'expected behavior befitting a Hyuuga.'

Flanked by three dutiful Branch members, Hinata leaves the Compound, carrying a backpack packed lightly with two sets of kunai, shuriken, ninja wire, a few pens, three notebooks, her food (bento, snacks, water bottles), a book on chakra control exercises, all her textbooks, and a well-stocked equipment maintenance kit.

(To send off the Hyuuga heiress with anything other than an entourage would be a slight.

In her case, sending three Branch members is both an entourage, as well as an indicator of her skill.

'See? Our heiress is so strong, she needs only three members to accompany her.'

If Hiashi had sent her off with no bodyguards, or had only sent her Branch member cousin, Neji, to pick her up from school, it would have been as good as a dismissal.

'We do not care about our heiress enough to bother sending anyone but her young, inexperienced relation. She is not worthy of being our heiress.'

But he didn't.

Not in this world.)

She does not allow her guards to carry her load for her; it shows respect for the Branch members if she does it herself.

It's also good strength training, she reminds herself.

(Hinata still doesn't look back.)

They walk down the streets of Konoha, and everyone clears a path, fearful of the might of the Noble Hyuuga Clan, fearful of their much-acclaimed heiress with her blankly cold eyes.


#

#

#

- Edited 10/24/15 -

Hanabi's wiki page says she used to adore Hinata and follow her around, but after Hinata lost to her in the heiress battle, Hanabi grew to doubt her sister's strength, and her admiration faltered.

Then her grandfather told her about the 'destiny' thing, and she started thinking that Hinata was weak to have lost to someone five years younger, and Hanabi fully embraced her role as the Hyuuga heiress, growing distant and scornful of Hinata.

Here, Hinata never lost to Hanabi; in fact, the battle was never held. So Hanabi continues to adore Hinata, much like a pre-Massacre Sasuke idolized his brother.

.

If Hinata's motivations seem to change, or if she acts apart from what she claims is her main motive, that's because nothing's ever really that easy.

People are complicated; they lie to themselves, they believe their own lies.

She wants to be strong, yes, but her original reason for wanting to be strong was to be strong enough to defend herself, so she wouldn't ever be caught off guard and at the mercy of someone else again.

Sure, she might also add that she wants to protect her precious ones and make sure no one gets hurt because of her being weak, but people are intrinsically selfish, and Hinata is truly afraid of dying helpless, unfulfilled.

Fulfill what, she doesn't know, but that's what life's for: to figure out your purpose.

.

She says she hates her father... and Hiashi knows that she feels like that.

But he's still her father, and she feels genuinely happy whenever he or the caln praises or acknowledges her, and that makes her struggle internally, because on one hand she wants to be heiress for an entirely selfish reason, and on the other hand, she finds herself slowly wanting to become heiress in order to please her father and her clan.

Hinata's core traits are still there... just buried deep, deep down, and repressed with tons of denial stemming from her childhood.

.

Remember, these are drabbles that are NOT set in chronological order. All over the place, really. And if you're actually reading this rant/explanation, please type 'gooseberry' in a review. Even if it's just that one word. I'm kinda curious, actually...

If the constant parentheses and brackets-inside-parentheses were confusing and annoying, I apologize.

But you may as well quit reading now, then, since future updates will follow the same format, albeit probably neater and more streamlined, as there are many things needing explaining in this universe, and people's thoughts tend to wander, so you're essentially tracking how Hinata thinks.

#

-Please Review.-