December 27th

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The first day of school was the most harsh for Hinata. Students and teachers eyeing her with spite and hatred forced an invisible weight to bind itself to her shoulders. Many made comments behind her back; others just turned away because of her family's renowned power. She felt alone in the sea of people. Every step echoed in her ears as they each took a small piece of her happiness with them. She was about to break when Kaben's voice broke her sorrowful trance.

"Hinata over here, ignore them all. Nothing they say has value."

Hinata smiled as she rushed over to Kaben. On the way, a student extended his leg and tripped the girl. Hinata was almost face first into the wooden planks when something grabbed her shoulders and held her up. It gently lifted her to her feet and patted her on the back, and Naruto's voice then burst in anger.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing!?"

"What are you gonna do about it, punk?" The kid just sneered at the small boy.

"This!" Naruto threw his fist straight into the kid's stomach and forced him to the ground. "Anyone else!?" Naruto spun around the hall, using his best intimidating look. No one moved an inch. "Better. Come on Hinata, let's get to class."

Despite Naruto and Kaben's kindness towards Hinata, her day only beginning. Teachers dismissed her comments and questions, belittling her for not getting it. Even key training instructors were giving her little information on matters of importance in subjects like basic ninja tool training, dealing with enemy ninja, and the possibility of killing, everything that was key to succesful ninja graduation. Hinata felt as though she was still prisoner to that darkened hut, where everything around her was meant to hinder her further, preventing her from true happiness.

For four years Hinata was ill-trained and unprepared as a ninja. She felt too bad to even tell Naruto or Kaben of the harshness of her mentors. Eventually the graduation exams would make or break her dreams. Knowing only what she could teach herself, she hoped she would be able to manage.

On her way to class, the kid from before stood in her way, making it impossible to pass. Hinata only hoped he would not provoke anything.

"Hey, weirdo! Where ya goin'?"

"P-Please, I-I must make it to exams..."

"Exams? Why you even bothering, you ain't gonna make it. Just go home!"

"P-Please..."

The kid pushed her back, and then laughed smugly. "What's wrong with you? Aren't you a Hyuuga? Come on and show me that 'Strength' you all possess."

Hinata clenched her hand, holding back tears of defeat. She was about to get up when another kid rushed through the halls, pushing her over to get to her oppressor. "Boss, Naruto's at it again, this time he's really gonna get it! You gotta watch!"

"What's he doing this time?"

"You just gotta come watch, it's gonna get him killed!" The boy left in a flash, as did the other.

Hinata just sobbed lightly as Kaben appeared to pick her up. They headed to a nearby window and looked outside. Naruto was being chased by Junin through the streets, his art was plastered all over the Hokage monument. Naruto was easily able to out maneuver the men chasing him and hide without notice.

"Suckers, they'll never catch me."

"Oh really, Naruto?" Iruka stood behind him, His pose as dominant as his voice. "You should be in class! Not out here goofing off!"

"I'm not goofing off!" Naruto held his ground.

"Then why defile the Hokage monument?"

"You won't understand! I'll do what I want."

"Naruto, just come to class."

"Fine." Naruto dragged his feet back to the academy.

"Ok, now that Naruto is done with today's eventful activities, we shall continue with today's test; The transformation jutsu. Sakura, you're first."

Sakura stepped up and performed a perfect jutsu, replicating Iruka's image.

"Good, Sasuke?"

"Did you see me, Sasuke?" Sakura looked at the dark haired boy with admiration only to be ignored.

Again, another perfect transformation was completed.

"Good, Naruto Uzumaki."

Naruto stepped up with a small grin. He held his hands together and performed the jutsu. Smoke blasted out from his feet and flowed around him, now in the image of a naked blonde woman.

Iruka was nearly shocked into a coma with such slander. Naruto deactivated the jutsu and laughed.

"That was my sexy jutsu. How do you like that sensei?" WHAM! "Ow!"

"Enough of your stupid pranks!" Iruka marked Naruto's score and sat back down.

"Hinata Hyuuga."

The timid girl walked up and bowed in respect. She placed her hands together and began to gather chakra for the jutsu. "Naruto-kun...I admire your strength for me. How you take all the attention off of me. Thank you Naruto-kun." She activated her jutsu and the smoke cleared, Revealing a similar jutsu to Naruto's, this one however was Naruto himself with the same lack of apparel. Hinata quickly suppressed the jutsu and blushed, her embarrassment set to a new high. "I-I-I...I'm sorry Iruka-sensei."

"Uh...It's...ok, just head to the back of the line."

Hinata walked stiffly back into the line, Naruto blushing along with her. The day passed by with small tension, and Iruka had stated that the graduation exam would be the clone jutsu. Hinata nearly cringed at the mention of it.

"My worst jutsu, I'm going to fail, I just know it!" Her gaze shifted over to Naruto, who had the same look of defeat. "Naruto...you too know my problem. We both could never do it...well at least we'll be together for another year."

"Class dismissed."

Naruto sat at a swing, looking at the other students. All of them were having fun and playing games, Practicing taijutsu, and other skills. Naruto spotted Hinata and Kaben together, talking amongst themselves. He just watched on, feeling that they needed their space.

"So, mind telling me about what happened with today's test?"

"Oh, um, I...uh." Hinata had hoped it would have been forgotten.

"Nevermind, Naruto did enough to make that thing look small. So, what about the graduation? I understand Hiashi merely taught you Jyuuken, your family's special combat skill. You hadn't taken time to practice many other jutsus?"

"He works me too hard, I go straight to bed after training. And now...now I'm going to fail..."

"Well, just do your best. I'll be rooting for you, and Naruto will no doubt be as well."

Iruka walked up to Naruto and looked at him watching the girls. He merely smiled and patted the boy on the head.

"You're gonna clean that up, you know?"

"Enh, I don't mind."

"You do it all for Hinata, don't you?"

Naruto froze, unable to find a response.

"I understand why you defend her. You do all this to get everyone to pay attention to you, rather than her. You're a true friend, never lose that light, Naruto."

Mizuki just stared at them from a distance, A cunning plan forming in his head. "I'll have my rewards, just you wait. We'll just see how long this friendship lasts..."

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And this will be the last chapter for a while. I'm having development issues and can't work well within the first few episodes guidelines. So in the mean time, I'll be rewriting 6 Weeks alone and it's trilogy, and much more of my Naruto fics, and a few of my video game selections. keep an eye on my profile, I'll try and post which one my week is dedicated too.