Author's notes:

Good day to everyone. Sorry for the late update. I was really busy with school and some other important stuff. Fortunately, school is finally over, I got decent grade(thank God), and now I finally get to update my story. Think of this as a Christmas present for all of you.

Please be advised:

I've modified chapter 2 a bit. It has come to my attention that I skipped Hinata's team(can't remember the number) on that chapter, so I changed it a bit. It must have been caused by the half-asleep state I'm always in when I work on my stories. Anyway, thank to the one who gave me the head-up. You know who you are.

Disclaimer:

The following is a work of fiction created using elements not belonging to the author. These aforementioned elements belong to their respective owners. Any similarities with people, places, events, and/or stories by other authors, either living or dead, is purely coincidental.

The Hyuuga estate was a wondrous place. Pristine white homes were contained within the high walls of the compound. Gardens could be found within each house and trees lined the roads within the complex. Each house was well made and beautifully crafted. At the center of the compound was the palatial home of the clan head and his family. The structure looked more like a castle than a mansion, with its many floors and gardens. Such residences were well suited for one of, if not the, most powerful clan in Konoha

The Hyuuga estate, however, like many other things, has dark secrets contained within. Inside the fairytale like setting lives a family divided. The main house, the family of the clan head, lived in power and luxury, while the branch family, the children of the main house who were unfortunate enough not to be the first born, along with their children, lived a cursed life of servitude. Because of this each side of the Hyuuga had become alienated from the other. The main house considered the branch family as servitors while the branch house held a great contempt for the main house.

This has been the way of the clan for generations.

Currently, the estate holds another less dark, but equally sad secret. Within one of the rooms in the main family house lay Hyuuga Hinata. She was, by right of birth, the heir to the Hyuuga. As such she was expected to be a strong warrior. Hinata however turned out to be a shy, passive girl, one who did not posses the warrior instincts so highly regarded by the clan. For most of her life she was treated as a disgrace, the family shame, something that should only be ignored.

For a shining, yet brief moment, Hinata had been a different girl. Even for a short time she had become what she had always wanted. She had ceased to become a failure to the eyes of her family. She had gained the recognition of all in her clan. Much more, she finally had the heart of Uzumaki Naruto, the boy she loved.

Her story, however, would not remain a happy one. Naruto died a few days prior, and everything went down hill for the girl. With the lost of her beloved, she lost her new found will and confidence. She could no longer see the reason for living and had become a recluse. This change brought back the hurtful, degrading words that were once directed at her, now far worse than before. Her life has once again become a living hell.

Here, in the confines of her room, Hinata lay with what remained of her happier days. Her coat and fishnet suite hung in her closet, slowly gathering dust. Her forehead protector rested on her desk, left there in neglect. Atop her nightstand were a few picture frames. One held a picture of her mother holding a young Hinata in her arms. Another had her team with their sensei, Kurenai. A third held her, Hanabi, and Hiashi. It was taken shortly after her training under Naruto became official. It was the first picture of the three together that actually held some semblance to a family.

There was another frame among the group. It held a picture which contained two people. One was a girl with a pair of lavender eyes and a cute, little smile. She stood beside a blonde boy sporting a wide grin. Between them, the girl was holding a fox plushy with nine tails.

This was a picture of Naruto and Hinata taken the morning before he left to retrieve Sasuke for a second time.

Hinata held the stuffed toy tighter as she looked upon the picture. Those were some of the last gifts given to her by her lover. How she still remembered their last moments together.

Flashback: 2 week ago

It was your average day at Konoha. The sun was shining brightly, people were going about doing their usual business. A white haired man was watching several bathing women form behind some bushes, the Hokage was having a hangover as she complained about the mountains of paperwork, and an ANBU was being admitted to the hospital for being the unfortunate guy to wake up the Godaime.

Yep, pretty regular day for the village of the Leaf.

In training field 7, two people were seen locked in a heated sparring match. A young man with blonde hair was on the defensive against a young woman with dark blue hair. She was attacking him with open palm strikes and invisible chakra blades. He was dodging and parrying her, trying not to get hit by any of her attacks.

"You're not taking me seriously." The girl complained.

"I am taking you seriously." the boy countered, "That's why I'm trying not to get hit."

"Well you could at least try to hit me."

"Later, when the time is right."

The girl intensified her efforts. The young man began to feel his opponent's attacks grazing him. He knew he needed to do something soon. The girl sent in another attack, hitting the boy square on the chest. The boy promptly exploded into a cloud of dust. The young woman fell into the defensive, scanning her surroundings for her opponent.

As the dust cleared, thousands of blonde young men came falling from above. The girl attempted to execute her absolute defense maneuver but as her targets got closer they too exploded into clouds of dust, enveloping her and making it more difficult too see.

Unbeknownst to the girl, the dust cloud was swelling near her back side. From this blind spot, the boy appeared with a kunai in hand. When finally the dust settled, the girl was looking at a kunai held up to her neck. The boy gave her a grin.

"Gotcha, Hinata."

The girl smirked at the boy.

"I don't think so, Naruto."

The boy gave her a questioning look. She told him to look behind him. He saw her hand glowing and a cut in his clothes from his shoulder running diagonally down his back. Naruto looked back at Hinata.

"Eheheh, uh, tie?"

The two were soon sitting together and cooling down under the shade of a large tree. Hinata was drinking some juice from her thermos while Naruto was having his favorite exercise food, pork ramen. In the past Neji, being the overprotective cousin that he is, would be sitting between the two teenagers. Today, however, he was at home, sick and under the responsibility of Tenten and her caring hands, at least, as caring as a weapon mistress' hands could be.

This left the two with more time enjoy each other's company, which lead to how they are now. They were both in a state of calm and quiet. This silence was soon broken when the girl spoke.

"Naruto." The Hyuuga heir asked as she stared at her drink.

"Yes, Hinata."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

HInata looked at him with caring eyes.

"Is there something wrong?"

Naruto gave her a curious look. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I saw you weren't really giving it your all a while ago. It seemed you were distracted by something. Like something heavy was on your mind. Is there something the matter? Please tell me so I could help."

His face darkened for a second, then reverted back to a grin.

"Oh, its nothing Hinata. Nothing to worry about."

She gave him a smile and a nod. She felt he was hiding something, yet decided to be content with his answer. The two again remained silent for a few more moments.

"Hey Hinata." Naruto said, finally breaking the silence "There's a fair in town today. Want to go there later?"

"Are you sure, Naruto?" Hinata asked "Father is expecting us to be training."

"Nah, its ok. You're already very powerful as is. And if he doesn't believe you, we could give him an exhibition and show him how you kick my ass."

The two couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes, I would like to got the fair. But first we need to change. I feel hot and sticky."

"Great! I'll bring you home, go home myself and change, and be back to pick you up in half an hour. Alright?"

"Ok."

After a dash home, a quick wash, a change of clothes, and a pickup, Naruto and Hinata were walking together through the crowds in one of Konoha's famous fairs. Left and right there were booths of food, games and whatnots. People of all ages were going up and down the streets, looking at the stands for anything that struck their fancy.

"There are a lot of people here today." Said Naruto.

"Yes there are." Hinata replied.

The couple walked pass a target range booth. There were several stuffed toys lined on the top shelf. Below them were several balls each suspended above a container with numbers on them. The aim was clearly to get the most number of points by making the balls fall to the container.

"Hey, Hinata, watch me win you a prize for you."

Naruto walked up to the stand, put a few coins on the counter and began to play the game. He was able to score the top prize at the first try, much the both shinobi's delight.

"And the young man wins a prize." The shop keeper declared, "Well, what do you want, kid?"

The blond looked at the selection for a moment then turned to his blue haired companion.

"Well, Hinata? Which one do you want?"

The girl looked at the toys for a moment and quickly picked one.

"And a fox it is for the lovely lady."

"Why the fox, Hinata?" Naruto asked as they began to walk away.

"Well, I thought it was actually cute. Also, it reminds me of you."

Naruto couldn't help but smile at this. They way his companion was snuggling the little plushy like a young, carefree girl tugged on his heart.

"Hey, maybe you should call 'em Kyuubi? He does have nine tails."

"No she cannot!" the angry voice of a nine tailed fox demon rang in his head "The name Kyuubi is to be feared, not given to an insignificant object."

"That's a good idea. A cute name for a cute fox." Said Hinata as she snuggled her 'Kyuubi-chan'.

'Take that, stupid fox!'

The blonde looked on at Hinata again. Again there was a tug on his heart at this sight, but along with it, a pang of pain. In his heart there was guilt. Guilt, not for something he has done, but for something he will not be able to do.

Hinata noticed the sad aura around her friend.

"Naruto, what's wrong?"

"Huh, nothing's wrong, Hinata? What made you think there was?"

"You looked like something was bothering you." Hinata said with a uneasy town. "I don't like it when you look like that. Please tell me what is wrong."

Naruto smiled. "Think nothing of it, Hinata. It must be just the hunger. C'mon, lets get some ramen."

His words still did not convince Hinata. She, however, decided to wait for him to be ready to tell her what troubles him. For now, they would enjoy the day, and each other's company. And so, hand in hand, they walked towards the Icharaku.

End Flashback.

A tear fell from Hinata's eye as her recollection ended. It had been a happy day, one of many more she though they would have together. Even when Naruto was called off to the Hokage's office, she was in high spirits through out the day. In her mind she thought there was nothing that could go wrong.

She should've known better. She should have realized something was wrong the moment she saw the sadness in his eyes. His mind had been on other things. Things that weighed heavily upon him. She saw these things yet she did nothing. She should've pressed him for answers. She should've forced him to talk to her.

She should've stopped him that night.

Flashback: 2 week ago.

Hinata was getting ready for bed. It had been a tiring day. But she was happy. She and her beloved Naruto had a great day at the fair. They had gone on every single ride, played on every single game, and did every single thing they could do that day. It had been a joyous occasion.

As she got to her bed, she picked up the fox stuff toy that rested on it. Naruto had won her a lot of prizes that day, but this one was her favaorite. It was the first one he won for her, and it reminded Hinata so much of the fox boy she loved.

She had just laid her head on the pillow when she heard someone tapping at her window. Activating her bloodline, she took a look at who was outside her room.

'Naruto?'

She quickly got up and opened the window. She was greeted by a smiling Naruto. He was wearing his regular orange and black jump suite. He may have been sporting a grin, but his eyes betrayed the sadness that Hinata had been detecting the whole day.

"Hey, Hinata. Can I come in for a sec?"

She nodded and stepped aside to let him in. The young man took a moment to take in how his friend looked in her night clothes.

"Hey Hinata, that night gown looks really cute on you."

Hinata blushed at this comment, but she couldn't take away the image of his sad eyes.

"Naruto, why are you here? Not that I don't like you visiting me, but I don't think this is a social visit."

Naruto rubbed the back oh his head. "Yeah, you're right."

He sat down on Hinata's bed. She sat down beside him.

"Hinata, you're the only one I'm going to talk to about this. Please don't tell anyone."

"Why? What is it?"

Naruto's face darkened. He turned his eyes away from Hinata.

"I'm gonna leave Konoha for a while."

"What? Why? Are you going out to train again?"

"No."

"Then why?"

He didn't turn back to her.

"Sasuke."

Hinata gasped at this. Naruto stood up and walked over to the window.

"He's been contacting me for some time now. Sending me letters, challenging me to a showdown. At first I didn't pay much attention, thinking it was somebody trying mess with my head or something. That was, until today. He sent a message to Old Lady Tsunade demanding she send me to fight him. Me and only me."

As he told the story, Hinata felt her heart sink. She had known of what had happened between her beloved and the traitorous Uchiha. She had been there when they bandaged his entire body the day he returned from the failed mission. She had stayed by his side as he recuperated, looking at the still, unconscious body of the boy she loved. It was like a dagger being twisted in her heart. Now she was feeling the same pain again. This time, however, Naruto was holding the handle.

"How did you know it was really him?" she asked.

"The message came with a list some things I know only Sasuke knows. Some things about me only he knew. That's when I finally realized it was Sasuke sending me those challenges."

Hinata was trembling. "And what did Master Hokage say."

"She said I shouldn't go, at least not without a proper team to back me up. But I will go anyway. I will go alone and I will go tonight."

"You shouldn't!"

Naruto turned and saw Hinata standing with clenched fists. Her eyes were shut and her body was shaking. Tears were threatening to overflow down her porcelain face.

"You shouldn't go. Have you forgotten what happened the last time? You had a hole in your chest, a bloody hole on top of your heart. You almost died. Why would you want to go after that bastard? Why would you want to get yourself hurt again? Why would you want to leave us? Why would you want to leave me?"

Her emotions finally overwhelmed Hinata, and she fell to he knees crying. As Naruto looked at the sobbing girl, his heart began to ache. He knelt down in front of her and took her in his arms. Truth be told, he also didn't want to go. He didn't want to leave her and his friends behind. If he could, he would gladly ignore the bastard's challenge.

But he knew he could not.

"I don't want to leave you. Leaving you and the others is the last thing I ever want to do. But this is something I must do." He said as he tried to make the sobbing stop.

"Why? Is it because you promised Sakura?"

Naruto knew this was part of the reason. But there was something more that urged him to seek out Sasuke. Looking up, he saw a picture of Hinata with her sister and her father. Taking it from the night stand, he showed to the girl in his arms.

"Look at this picture, Hinata, and tell me what you see."

"It's me, Hanabi and father." The girl replied.

"You see your family in this picture, don't you. These people love and acknowledge you for who you are. They will never abandon you, come what may.

I've never had a family, even a broken one. I was alone since the day I was born. I was never cared for and always cast aside. None loved me and all hated me. That was why I wanted to become Hokage, to prove to everyone that I existed, to show everyone I was worthy of being loved.

For a while I was like that. One day some people came into my life. They acknowledged me for who I am. They didn't see me as something to be hated. They treated me as a person. They welcomed me into their lives. They loved me for being Uzumaki Naruto. These people saved me from the darkness inside of me.

One of those people was Sasuke. We were rivals, and both of us recognized this. We respected each other's power and skill and tried to surpass it. Even if he called me dobe and I called him bastard, even if we insulted each other every moment we met, it was alright for me knowing he acknowledged me enough to treat me that way. In fact, now that I look back at it, I was happy we had such bouts.

We were like…no…we are brothers. He is the brother I never had. The only brother I ever knew and will probably ever know. That is why I must bring him back. He isn't just a comrade, or a friend. He's my family."

Naruto looked at the girl in his arms.

"Now do you understand, Hinata, why I must bring Sasuke back? You're family is once again whole. Now I must make my family whole."

Hinata was silent. She understood fully what Naruto was talking about. Her family was broken before. There was never any love in their beautiful residence. Their house was just that, a house and for a long time, that house was not a home.

In general, the entire Hyuuga clan was still broken. But change has began in the main house and it would surely spread to the rest of the clan. Given enough time, the Hyuuga will become a family again.

The girl looked up to Naruto.

"I understand how you feel, but please take me with you. You might need my help."

"I know you want to help me, but, no, you can't come with me. Worse case scenario is I get branded a missing nin. I don't want that to happen to you too."

Hinata's eyes went downcast.

"Hey, don't look so sad." He said as he lifted her face to his, wiping away her tears and giving her his trademark grin, "I promise to return as soon as possible. I'll be back before you know it."

Hinata managed to smile a bit. "Very well. I'll be praying for your safe return."

With this, Naruto stood up and got ready to leave. Hinata stood up as well, wanting to give him a strong image of her before he left. He was about to step on the window sill when he stopped. He turned his head back to the girl.

"Hey, Hinata."

"Yes, Naruto?"

Before the Hyuuga heir could react, she was a swept into the arms of the Kyuubi container. She soon found his lips pressed against hers. Her lavender eyes went wide as his blue ones closed. Many times in her wildest fantasies did she dream of this. Now it was coming true. Hyuuga Hinata was being kissed by Uzumaki Naruto.

As quickly as it began, their moment of bliss ended. Their lips parted, but her body was not yet released from Naruto's arms. Putting his mouth to her ears, he whispered to her…

"When I get back, I will marry you. That is a promise of an eternity. Good bye, Hinata. I love you."

…and disappeared into the night.

As the realization of what transpired took root, Hinata's body began to shake and sob. Her hands flew to her mouth and tears began to fall from her eyes as his confession and proposal finally registered in her mind. Overwhelmed by the shock and the joy, she fell to her bed and cried.

End Flashback.

That would be the last time Hinata would see Naruto alive. The next they met, he was a corpse.

She did not want to remember these things. She did not want to remember how she had lost that which she had loved the most. She did not want the feeling of emptiness and pain inside. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than for the anguish to end. She wanted the heartaches to cease. She wanted the memories to stop coming.

She wanted it all to stop so much, that she was cursing the cause of her pain. She was despising the source of her misery. She was wishing Naruto had never lived, just so she could be spared the pain.

'You said you loved me. You said you always kept your promises. That was your ninja way. You said those things but you didn't keep your word. Why did you break your promise to me? Why did you leave me?'

Hinata's eyes drifted form her nightstand to her desk. On it was her kunai holster. Slowly she got up and walked towards the table. Picking up the holster, she took out one of the throwing knives. Her fingers glided along its edges. As it did, a red line appeared on one of the digits. The weapon was still sharp.

Two voices were now warring inside Hinata's head. One told her to put down the kunai and walk away. Another told her to take the blade and do what was needed to end her pain. Her will to live fought desperately, but it was already weak to begin with.

The girl slowly put the tip of the blade to the middle of her chest. Its cold point touched her pale skin. She slowly closed her eyes. She drew back the blade and plunged it in her chest.

Instead of pain, she only felt her hands hit.

Opening her eyes, she saw Hiashi standing in front of her. The kunai she was holding moments ago was held high above his head.

"What do you think you're doing, Hinata?"

Hinata's eyes went wide. Crying out, she jumped after her kunai. Her father raised the knife out of her reach, yet she continued, like a child desperately try to take back something important that was taken from her.

"Give it back! Please, give it back!" she screamed.

"Hinata, get a hold of yourself" Hiashi said, "You're going to get yourself hurt."

"I don't care. Give it back to me. I want it all to end. I want it all to end!"

The father gently pushed his daughter to the floor, so as to not hurt her. She just sat there with her head bowed, tears falling from her face.

"I will not let you do this. I will not let you take your own life." Hiashi said with a firm voice

"Why do you care?" Hinata shouted at him "I'm only a nuisance in your eyes, nothing but the clan shame. You never gave a damn about me. I was never your daughter. YOU NEVER LOVED ME!"

The girl was caught off guard when her father's hand made contact with her face.

Anger was clearly seen on Hiashi's face. This, however, was not anger towards his daughter. It was anger towards himself. He had allowed his daughter to be consumed by hatred and sorrow. He had repeated history when he was trying to prevent it from happening again. He had destroyed his daughter just as the council had destroyed his wife.

Hinata knelt there at her father's feet, tears streaming down her face. Emotions swirled within her. Anger, fear, confusion. She felt so lost within that small space which occupied. She looked up to her father's face, expecting either anger or contempt written on it.

She did find anger, but it lasted only moments before it was replaced by passiveness.

"Hinata, get yourself cleaned and dressed then meet me at the front porch. " Hinata heard her father's voice. As she listen to it, she detected something out of the ordinary. There was no force in his words.

"Why should I?" she said as an act of defiance.

"Hinata, please." There it was a again, his voice was devoid of any forceful tone she had grown accustom to. Instead, it was almost pleading. "Grant this foolish old man this wish."

Hiashi spoke these words and left.

The girl was surprised by these words. Never has she seen her father act so humble in front of anyone, let alone her. There was something strange going on.

Hinata did what her father asked her. Soon she looked like how she was before this whole affair. The only difference were her hollow, lifeless, lavender eyes. She got to the front porch, where her father was waiting. Hiashi looked at her for a moment, nodded, then said…

"Come, Hinata. Walk with me."

Soon the two were seen walking the streets of Konaha. Hiashi walked in front with Hinata slightly trailing behind. This had been the first time Hinata was out of her room for a week now. She kept her head down, partly because the light was hurting her eyes.

Above them, dark clouds began to gather.

Father and daughter continued walking for almost an hour. Before Hinata knew it, they were in the forest. As the girl looked around at her surroundings, she couldn't help but feel that this place was…familiar.

Hiashi soon stopped in a clearing. His daughter did the same, and once again taking in the familiar looking surroundings. Realizing her father has not moved from his spot for some time, the girl asked what was going on.

She was answered by a Hakke Kuushou (Air Palm) to the chest.

Hinata tumbled a few feet before hitting a tree. She looked up just in time to see her father in the process of sending another Air Palm towards her. She jumped out of its way, but was caught by the aftershock as the attack shattered the tree she was leaning against moments ago. She scrambled to her feet and saw Hiashi in his Juuken fighting stance, Byakugan fully activated. It was then that Hinata finally realized what this was all about.

'He wants to kill me.'

As if to prove her point, her father charged at her with hands aglow with charka. Fear spread across the girls face as her once father now would be executioner quickly approached. She was hit on the right shoulder, effectively cutting off the chakra flow in her arm. Next was a strike at her thighs, making her fall to her knees. Finally, a close range burst to the chest, sending her rolling to a tree.

The girl tried to stand, but her limbs would not have it. She looked up and fear spread over her face as she saw Hiashi advancing again. Taking what small ounce of strength and courage, she forced her limbs to act and tried to defend herself. This however was futile. Her blocks were uncoordinated, her parries soft, her defense full of holes. She was hit several times on her body and arms, each and every one extremely painful.

Another chakra burst to the chest and Hinata was sent flying several meters. Shakily she tried to stand, this time not to defend but to flee. She could not hope to win against the head of the most powerful clan in Konoha. The girl tried to scramble away from the man she had once though her father. She had reached the edge of the clearing when the suddenly materialized in front of her. With a chakra reinforced kick he sent her to the other side of the clearing, where she slumped against a tree.

Hiashi looked at the girl. Cuts and bruises ran up and down her arm. She was shaking in terror from head to toe. Fear and panic was etched on her face, as tears fell from her cheeks. Around them, water slowly began to fall from the dark clouds that was looming overhead for some time. Lightning flashed and thunder roared around the two. The dark and chaotic condition of the weather reflected what was happening between the two.

Suddenly Hiashi spoke.

"Hinata, stand up."

He took one step towards her, and Hinata only cowered even more. Again Hiashi spoke.

"Hinata, stand up and face me."

Another step forward and the girl shrank even more into herself. One more time Hiashi spoke.

"Stand up. You are the heir of our clan. Your actions aren't becoming of a Hyuuga, let alone the heir."

This statement earned a different response. Whether it was out of absolute fear or resentment for her title, Hinata shouted.

"I can't! I can't fight you. I don't have the strength to go against you. I am weak, useless, inferior. You yourself have said I am an unworthy heir because of my weakness. I can't do it."

Out of breath, the girl fell to the ground.

Hiashi looked at the sobbing girl. His face was passive as he looked upon his broken daughter. Once again he spoke.

"So you are giving up."

The girl remained silent. The man lowered his head.

"Where is my daughter? Where is the child who reminded me so much of my Yuki? Where is the girl who promised never to give up, even though the odds were stacked so much against her?"

Pain washed across Hinata's face.

"That girl is gone. She died the moment Naruto did. Naruto was her strength, her light. Now that he is gone, now that his love is gone, she is no more. The one she love is dead, and with him your daughter died."

Hiashi looked again at Hinata.

"You say you love Naruto. Then prove it to him."

As the last word left Hiashi's lips, a large lightning bolt flash overhead, illuminating the area. It was then that Hinata saw that there was something behind his father.

Naruto's grave.

Now she understood why the place was so familiar. This was her beloved's last resting place.

"You say he was your strength, and I know for a fact that he has inspired you to work harder and improve yourself. Show him now that even though he is no longer with you, you will continue to follow his example. Show him that you still place those values and times he shared with you at high esteem. Show him how much you love him, and because of your love for him, you will not give up."

Hinata looked at her beloved's grave. At that moment she was once again at twelve. She lay on the cold arena floor at her cousin's feet. Both her spirit and body was broken. In her despair she was about to surrender, until his voice rang out in the arena.

"Don't give up, Hinata"

As if by magic her strength returned. His words restored her unlike any soldier pill could. Slowly she got up.

'I won't give up…'

Her legs were still weak, yet she still planted them firmly on the ground.

'…I won't back down…'

Raising her hands, she prepared them to fight.

'…I won't surrender…'

She closed her eyes for a moment. Blood vessels on her temples slowly begun to bulge. Chakra began to pump into her eyes. When she opened her eyes, her entire environment was presented to her. Forest, father, rain, everything. Hinata's Byakugan was fully online.

'…because…'

"I'm ready, father. I will not back down."(insert dramatic lightning flash here)

At these words, Hiashi felt something he had never felt for such a long time. A tear fell from his eye, its decent hidden by the rain, yet he was not sad. He was happy.

'My daughter has returned.'

The father once again took his fighting stance. In a blink of an eye he launched himself at his daughter. The girl moved her arms to the side as if she was going to parry the strike.

'She'll most likely do the Kaiten.' Hiashi thought to himself. 'If she does, I'll have to use that counter move I've been designing.'

As soon as he was in striking distance, he drew back his hand, charged it with chakra and sent it against the girl. She moved to execute her absolute defense…

…but it was not the Kaiten.

As soon his hand was within her area of divination, Hinata began to swing her arms while her hands produced minute chakra blades. Because of the paths her hands took, the blades surrounded her like a dome, preventing anything from getting through. Hiashi was promptly thrown away.

It had been quite a long time since the Hyuuga clan head was thrown away in a duel. Needless he was quite shocked. Another shocker came when he tried to stand up. Pushing himself with the hand he tried to attack with, he found it riddled wit small cuts and burns. The sleeve on that arm was reduced to scraps.

Hiashi looked at his daughter just as the dome dispersed. White charka surrounded her body, outlining here form. The charka then went back inside the girl's body, leaving only the combat ready form of Hyuuga Hinata. She stood there with great intensity and determination in her face. No more was she the timid girl, she was now a woman warrior, a kunoichi of the leaf, the heiress of the Hyuuga.

"Incredible! Hinata, what was that technique?"

"That, father, is called the Shugo Kakke Rokujuuyonshou (Guardian Eight Divination Signs Sixty-Four Palms of the Hand). It is a technique known only to me. My very own absolute defense."

'Incredible' Hiashi thought to himself 'She adapted a purely offensive strike into a defensive maneuver without losing its attack capabilities.'

Hiashi stood up once again, his eyes shining with pride as he looked upon his daughter.

"You have done well in modifying our clan techniques." The clan head then changed his stance "But how good are you in executing the originals."

At this words, Hinata assumed the same position. For a few moments they were like this, sizing each other.

In a flash, father and daughter launched their assault.

"Hakke Rokujuuyonshou!" (Eight Divination Signs Sixty-Four Palms of the Hand)

"Two strikes…

…Four strikes…

…Eight strikes…

…Sixteen strikes…

…Thirty-two strikes…

…Sixty-four strikes!"

There was a great burst of thunder when both attacks met.

The sun shone brightly that morning as two birds sang on a tree branch outside a bedroom window. A gentle breeze rocked the small branch, and caressed the face of the room's occupant. Lavender eyes slowly drifted open, blinked once, then shot wide open.

Hinata shot up and looked around in confusion. She was in her room, in her bed, in her bedclothes. Bandages covered her torso, forehead and arms. Memories of the duel flooded her mind. She didn't understand what was happening. She wasn't expecting to be in her bed after her father…

At that moment, the man in question entered the room.

"F…father?"

"Hinata, I see you're awake. You've already been asleep for almost a day now."

Hiashi slowly walked forward to his bewildered child.

"W…why am I here? Aren't suppose to be banished."

"No." he said calmly, "It was never my intension to do that to you."

"But, I lost. You defeated me and…"

"Who said you lost?"

Hiashi slightly parted his top to show the bandages around his chest. He then pulled back his sleeve, showing the heavily bandaged arm.

"It was an even match, Hinata. We fell together. I was only able to recover faster as I have experience being hit with such a technique many times in the past."

"But I thought you were trying to dispose of me."

"No."

And for the first time since her mother died, Hinata saw her father show sadness.

"I have been… a bad father to you, Hinata. I was bringing you down instead of lifting you up. When I should have been happy for you, I belittled you. Of the things I should have done as a father, I did none. It had not been my desire to do these things to you. All I wanted was to keep you from a fate that was like your mother's.

Every night my last glimpses of her haunts my dreams. I would see her weak, frail, broken. You were so much like your mother, in so many ways, that I knew I had to protect you from meeting the same end.

But instead I nearly destroyed you. I had been a foolish old man. How could I prevent such a fate, when I was brought up by the very things that caused such an end? All I knew were the strict warrior codes and the regimented protocols of our clan. I was so stupid to think that these same rules would help you.

I only realized my mistake when I met your Naruto. He encouraged you, believed in you and you became stronger. But much more, you were happy with him. He showed me the error of my ways and I tried to change them. I tried to follow his example, but later I found out I was already too late.

When he died you began to slip deep into depression that I felt like I was watching Yuki die all over again and I as before I was helpless to stop it. That was why I did what I did that night. Naruto encouraged you to go on, to push forward even it seemed impossible. I knew I had to remind you of how he inspired you, so that even if he's gone, you would still go on.

I knew your love for him would help you where I couldn't."

As he finished, Hiashi fell to his knees and kneeled before Hinata.

"What I did to you in the past is unbecoming of me both as a man and as a father. I do not deny that. And for that I ask your forgiveness. Forgive me, my daughter."

Inside Hinata was a whirlpool of emotions. There was disbelief at what her father had said, and at what he was doing now. There was also sadness, from the knowledge that she had almost betrayed her beloved by giving up on her life. Finally, there was guilt. There had been many times in the past that she had thought badly of her father. There had been several occasions that she inwardly cursed at him. She had even snapped at him just the other day.

Now that she had gotten to know what he felt, Hinata pitied her father. They were the same. They were both tormented by the lost of their beloved person. Both couldn't move on with their lives because of the loss. Both almost got their lives destroyed because of this.

"Father…"

Hiashi looked up just to see Hinata throw herself at him.. The girl gripped his clothes and sobbed on his chest. Wrapping his arms around the girl, he held and comforted her. At that moment both knew…

…they were once again father and daughter.

It was a sunny day. Birds were singing in the trees and a gentle breeze was blowing.

In a small clearing, a girl with lavender eyes and blue hair crowing past her shoulders was standing in front of a grave marker. Kneeling down, she place a bouquet of flowers on the grave. Placing her fingers to her lips, she placed a kiss on the name on the marker.

"I will go on, Naruto. I will continue to live my life. You may not be here with me anymore, but your love will always will be. And even though you're no longer here to encourage me, I will continue to strive. I will not give up."

Slowly she stood up.

"For that is my Nindo, my way of the ninja."

As these last word left her lips, a small wind blew around her, picking up leaves and carrying them heavenward. Hinata followed them with her eyes.

"Our way of the ninja."

Coming Up Next:

A repentant brother and a divided friend. Trouble ensues as emotions surface and feelings are revealed. The guilty will be punished, but are the blood stained hands truly accountable. The enemy draws near. The serpent has come to collect its prize.