PART 2

Sasuke hurriedly ate his breakfast, stuffing food in his mouth. His mother said sternly, "Sasuke, don't eat so fast. You could choke."

The little boy swallowed his food and said, "Sorry, but I was going to meet Hinata."

Itachi entered and heard of Sasuke's plans. "Hinata? The blind heiress?"

Fugaku frowned, "Why are you so close to her? She is useless and is just an obstacle in your path."

Sasuke grew angry. "She's my best friend!! And she's not blind! She sees things better than anyone else!" The boy ran out of the house and his annoyed father sighed.

His mother spoke lovingly, "Dear, it's his first friend. Please don't be so hard on him."

Fugaku rubbed his forehead and replied, "He should be able to pick better friends. Not useless people."

Meanwhile, Sasuke ran over to the training grounds where he was supposed to meet Hinata. When he arrived, he saw her sitting on the grass, hugging her knees.

He sat beside her, and muttered, "Hello."

Without turning her head, she asked, "Are you in bad mood?"

Sasuke grunted, and she asked why.

Black eyes lowered as he said, "My father…he doesn't think that I should be friends with you."

Hinata froze. After a moment of silence, she spoke in a quiet whispered voice, "I…I understand."

Sasuke looked up at her in surprise, and said passionately, "But that's not going to stop me! I will always be your friend!! I promise!!"

The once-heartbroken girl then smiled happily. Sasuke jumped to his feet, pulling Hinata up.

"Ne, ne Hinata!! Let's play a game!"

"What kind of game?"

Sasuke thought for a while, and then smiled a toothy smile. "Come on. You'll see."

XXXXXXX

Naruto was taking a lonely walk around the village. He passed by a stream but then stopped. On the hill next to the stream, he saw two children running around.

He recognized both of them. But the only one who caught his eye was the girl. He always saw a lonely look in her face, that is, until now. Naruto knew that she was blind, and always felt a kind of bond to her.

He smiled for her now, happy that she found a friend.

XXXXXX

There were whispers surrounding the Hyuuga clan as the head and his wife and daughter walked among the crowd. The whispers were mainly about 5 year old blind girl though (it's been a year).

It was a clan gathering, where all the clans in the village would come together.

"Neji, take Hinata to sit down." Hiashi ordered.

A white hand grasped her small one, and led her to a table. "Hinata-sama, is something wrong?"

The blind girl nodded shyly. "D-Do you see a boy with raven hair and black eyes?"

Neji scanned the crowd and his eyes rested on a boy who sitting alone at another table holding a cup of soda. Neji confronted the boy and asked him to follow.

Hinata smiled as she sense Sasuke's presence. "Neji-nii, this is my best friend Hero."

Neji wore a puzzled look, but only said, "Pleased to meet you. I am Neji, Hinata's cousin."

Sasuke smirked but asked politely, "Are you enjoying the gathering?"

Hinata wore a bored look, which practically answered his question. Neji was called on by his father, and taking this chance, Sasuke held Hinata's hand and pulled her out of the building and outside.

The cold breeze brushed past their faces leaving their cheeks numb with cold. Sasuke sighed in relief, "I'm glad we're out of there. I don't understand how adults can have fun."

Hinata giggled lightly. "Hero-kun, what do you like to do in your free time?"

"I like to play with you."

She blushed and said, "Me too. I'm glad I'm not a bother."

Sasuke stared at her and the force of his gaze caused her to flinch. Yes, she could feel it.

"How...how can you feel like that?" Sasuke asked angrily.

"H-Hero-kun?" the girl squeaked.

"How can you let people boss you around like that? Can't you at least try? Can't you at least try to prove that you're more than just a bother?"

Hinata was silent, so then Sasuke said in a lowered voice, "I'm always behind my brother. I have to work hard just to show Father that I am something. That's how I-"

"Hero-kun, I am not you. What can I do?" Distressed, Hinata walked off, leaving Sasuke drowning in guilt.

XXXXX

Sasuke sighed and was about to walk outside even though it was 2 in the morning. What he had said about Hinata, was what he felt guilty about. He had always been thinking about himself, and never thought of how her life was. How much she suffered.

Before he could slide open the door, he heard faint talking outside. He strained his ear and realized that Hiashi and Fugaku were talking outside of his house.

"Hiashi, you have begun training your daughter?"

"Yes, and what of it?"

"Why do you bother, although I mean no offense."

"I want her familiar with the fightning style so that when she gets surgery, she won't be behind."

"When is the surgery?"

"2 years from now."

"So far from now? Why is that?"

"The doctor said that if she did it now, there's a 90 chance that she wouldn't live. So when she is eight years old, there is a 40 chance that she won't live."

A whistle. "That's a gamble still, Hiashi. Are you sure about this?"

Sasuke couldn't listen anymore. He ran back upstairs and shut the door behind him.