"Hello again Naruto."

Hinata was walking home from the Chunnin Academy and running into Naruto was turning out to be an almost daily thing. She always thought she would never be able to hold a real conversation with him, or she would run out of things to talk about and he would think her boring.

That was never the case though. They talked about everything together. She even told him how her family was doing which had been a very sore spot for her in the past.

Flashback:

Everything had changed when she returned from the hospital after the pain incident. She had slowly fallen into a depression. She was inactive until all of her injuries were healed and she regained her strength again. She stayed in her room at the compound for weeks without leaving and having all of her meals sent to her quarters.

Neji had tried many of times to get her out of there so Hiashi would stop his foaming at the mouth downstairs about her not being a good enough heirs.

It was the night after war was declared by Madara that she came out of her long solitude. She had sat down at dinner and her father was being sarcastic with her.

"It looks like the dead has risen again."

She just sat there with her eyes on her eel filled sushi.

"Hinata, I don't know how much longer I will stress your importance to the clan. You have not made any progress in your training since the incident. You have just been sitting in your room refusing my orders to come out. You have done nothing but sulk about it. You're giving me no choice but to put my hope and faith in Hanabi."

That was it. Hinata let the tears fall to her plate.

Neji sat there wanting to yell at Hiashi but knew better. Then to everyone's surprise Hanabi stood up and flung her plate across the room.

"Leave her alone father!" this stunned the remaining people at the table.

"Hanabi what is the meaning of …!" he was interrupted by her tossing a piece of sushi in his face.

"Just leave her alone! Our whole life you have done nothing but rag on her about all of her failures and never praising her about anything good she had done. She has done nothing but obey your every word and take whatever verbal insult on her talent you dish out. I refuse to see you treat my older sister like that anymore. I'm surprised she hasn't tried to kill you in your sleep for every harsh thing you have ever said to her. It's always the importance to the clan but do you even care what we believe is important. She doesn't want to clan head and neither do I. You can brand me if you want for my behavior but I will no longer become your fail-safe net or turn on my sister for you and the elders benefit." Hanabi stormed off to her room.

"Hanabi is right. Hinata has done nothing but take everything you throw at her. I'm surprised she never threw anything back. You're going to lose your family if you don't fix your way of thinking." And with that Neji was out the door too.

Hiashi and Hinata were the only two left in the dining room. Hinata kept her head to the floor. She was scared of the wrath her father was about to rain down on her. She feared more for her sister and Neji then herself.

"I will pack my belongings and leave so you no longer have to deal with such a heavy burden I have placed on this family. Just please do not punish Neji or Hanabi, they were only trying to help a useless cause." With that Hinata stood and started her walk to her room.

"Do you hate me?" Hinata stopped in her tracks. She looked back at her father. The sight was pathetic.

He had rice all over his the left side of his face where Hanabi had thrown it as him. Sadness itself was writing on his rice infested forhead and what looked like water began to fill his eyes.

Hinata welled up with tears and looked toward her father. She picked her head up and spoke with all the confidence in the world.

"I do not hate you and never will I. I will say, I don't not like the decision you make nor do I like what you say about me. But as your daughter I accept it and try my hardest to please you. The thing is father, you are never satisfied. I might not be mother, but I am done trying." With that Hinata turned her back and began to walk to her room. Only to be once again stopped by her father's voice.

"I-I-I am sorry. Please stay." He said in a soft voice. He reached out to her and she looked at his big hands as she walked over to them. She stood in front of her father, lean over and kissed him on the top of his head.

"As I always do father, I will obey you." And with that he gave her a hug and they cried together.

The next day things were somewhat awkward in the house. No one was talking to anyone and the tension could have started a fire.

Hiashi called for Neji, Hanabi and Hinata that after noon.

"Thank you three for coming. I have a few announcements for you. Neji…" Neji straighten up ready to accept any punishment Hiashi threw at him.

"Neji…I have your adoption papers here for you to sign so I can legally adopt you as my son. With you being the oldest out of you, Hinata and Hanabi that would make the next heir of the clan. You can accept this role only if you have your 'new' sisters as your council members."

Neji's jaw was on the grown, a bug could have flown in and he would have never notice. He was going to be the clan head and finally be accepted by Hiashi at the same time. Tears started to form.

He pulled himself together at that moment, wiped his eyes and bowed toward Hiashi. "It would be a great honor…father."

"Hanabi, Hinata do you accept your role as Neji's to advisors?" Hiashi had changed his gaze to his two daughters that were still in awe about the situation that was unfolding. They both looked at their father and nodded saying "yes father, we accept."

Neji looked at his sisters and gave them a smile never before seen by anyone in the household. And they looked back at him with that same wide grin.

Hiashi stood up from his desk sliding the papers toward Neji. He walked over to them and leaned to sign them. As he did Hinata and Hanabi held hands thinking the same thing, 'were free and Neji accomplished his goal.'

"Neji, training for this role will take a few years and less time on the battle field. It will also mean that you will have to find a bride by age 20 that's a about 3years from now so you might have to make a move soon. So let's see, by the time you 21, 22 you should be clan head and I can retire early and spend time with my future grandchildren. Sounds like a plan to me." Hiashi smiled and walked out the door. His children looked at each other.

"Grandchildren?" Neji said aloud. His eyes got wide all of a sudden. "Marriage?" Hanabi giggled at his shock as Hinata spoke up. "W-well I guess t-that means y-you will have to m-make a move on Tenten real s-soon." Neji glared at her while Hanabi was rolling with laughter. "How did you know…you have a 4 second head start." Hinata realized what was going on and took off running to her room so Neji couldn't get her. "You too Hanabi, 3….2…"Hanabi took off at that point and Neji was left alone in the office.

He looked around the now empty office.' This will be my office in just a few years. I did it father, I have accomplished my goal and now I will be able to reach my dream of combining the head and branch family.' the tear flowed freely out of his eyes as he looked to the sky with a satisfied smile on his lips.

End Flashback:

"Good morning Hinata, um…I need to ask you something!"