OPrincess ShinigamiO here! First of all, I am so happy (and surprised) to see that you guys loved the last chapter! I suppose that I should be more confident about my drabbles, hehe. Anyway, I'm also glad to know that there are nearly 3000 views on my drabbles! *pat in the back* Though I did kinda hope that more of you would leave some reviews if the readers are that large, it still makes me giddy inside to know that my drabbles at least look interesting! So thank you very much! ;)

About this chapter, this time, it's Hinata's turn to take the spotlight. We're going to dive into her point of view and how she'll handle her father's growing suspicion. I'd like to show how much she's matured since the start of Shippuden, and I hope that I made the point clear in this chapter of how she's grown up. So please enjoy! ;)

And of course, I'd like to thank my lovely reviewers once again! Thank you Serene-Aspiration723, Saki-hime, accentcore8, Trender, butterflyV, mariarassie, lala, ZoMg1010, and Kari Hitsugaya! Finally, the guest reviewers are giving names for themselves! Though I wouldn't be able to personally give my thanks if you continue using anonymous/guest mode. But still, thank you! ;D

Disclaimer: Do you see SasuHina or NaruHina sucking face in the open? Huh? No? Then that means that I don't own! XD

F-Freedom

…

It was a beautiful summer morning when Hinata stepped out of her home.

The Hyuuga clan has been busy redecorating the compound for the year's annual celebration for the end of the great war against Madara Uchiha. Hinata offered to help the servants, but her father reprimanded her from doing so.

Despite stepping down to give the clan leader's role to Hanabi, the current clan leader still treated Hinata like an heiress-in-training.

Their family's relationship has been going well so far, each of them opening up a bit more during mealtimes instead of being so formal as if on a business meeting among strangers, especially Hanabi (there was never a time when Hanabi would excitedly recall her "exciting" missions with her new team, which consisted of Konohamaru aka the mini Naruto, much to Hiashi and Neji's chagrin). Hinata supposed that their opening up to each other might partly be the reason why her father's much more protective over his little girls, especially after knowing about Hinata's daily visits to the Uchiha compound and Hanabi's frequent "missions" with Konohamaru.

The former heiress knew that her father didn't exactly approve of her visits, especially since it concerns a certain avenger who used to be one of the most sought after rogue ninjas of Konoha if not the whole world. Neji wasn't helping one bit either, the latter always giving stabbing glares and merciless, spine-tingling threats to the Uchiha whenever they cross paths.

Hinata remembered the one time when she came home after some rough training with Sasuke. The Hyuuga prodigy didn't hesitate to stomp his way towards the Uchiha Manor with a bloody axe on his hand (how he even got his hands on one, Hinata will never know. It must've been a gift from Tenten. And maybe that was why she found a beheaded turkey in the kitchen. Was he actually trying to cook?). It took several comforting assurances from Hinata to stop her cousin from either chopping up or strangling the confused Uchiha's neck.

It was a fright at the time, but since it was in the past, Hinata couldn't help but giggle at her cousin's ridiculous paranoia and overprotectiveness.

Just as she was about to slip on her sandals, a gentle knock on the wooden sliding door caught her attention.

She turned in surprise to see her father standing behind her with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Are you going to visit Sasuke Uchiha again, Hinata?" he asked in his usual stern voice. Hinata shook her head, giving a tiny smile to her father.

"N-no, father. He's been assigned his first mission outside of Konoha with his old teammates. He won't be back until next week at least. I was just on my way to the hospital to work in place of Sakura's absence. I might be home late because of the extra work."

Hiashi stood silently as if he was some sort of living statue of a god, contemplating on his next move.

"Until when are you permanently relieved from your duties to the Uchiha, Hinata?"

Hiashi didn't miss the surprised look on his eldest daughter's face, and he somehow knew deep down what her answer would be.

"F-father?"

"What I'm questioning, my daughter, is whether you're visiting Sasuke Uchiha because it's still a task given to you by Hokage-sama, or because it's a duty you've permanently made for yourself."

A few happy chirps from the birds in the garden filled the empty air. The Hyuuga leader firmly observed his daughter's expression, seeing a mixture of fear, confusion, and exasperation etched on her innocent face. Finally, the former heiress sighed and tried to look unwaveringly at her stern father's eyes.

"Father, I-I know that you aren't fond of Sasuke-kun," she steeled herself even further, trying to stop herself from looking away from her father's scrutinizing eyes and poking her fingers in nervousness, "B-but he's a really good person once you get to know him. He's just a bit l-lost and confused b-because of his cruel past."

She paused after seeing her father's eyebrows slope downwards before quickly defending the former avenger.

"B-but now that he has the chance to start over, he's slowly coming into terms of what he's supposed to do! I-I'm merely c-concerned for his well-being! And I don't want to just stand there in the sidelines doing nothing while he suffers all alone!"

She stopped herself after realizing of her sudden outburst, and then gave a deep sigh. She dropped her lavender-white eyes from her father's gaze and into her twitching feet.

"I don't want to do nothing without helping him grow into the great person he's meant to become. There's a reason why I was assigned to take care of him, and I certainly won't waste any chances for as long as I can be by his side to aid him."

She looked back at her father, making sure that her words are sinking into her father's head before taking a deep breath and continuing.

"I'm no longer the heiress to our clan, father. But that doesn't change my loyalties. No matter what happens, you, Hanabi-chan, Neji-nii, and the rest of the Hyuuga members, you all are my family. My home. The one place I'll never forget even if a time comes when I must leave this place."

Hinata gave a soft smile, and nervously, she took one of her father's calloused hands to her own.

"I-I know that we haven't had one of the best father-daughter relationships in the past. Even now, we still have a lot to work on. But I want you to know that I'm happy now. You love me and finally accepted me as a strong and competent shinobi. That's all that matters to me. But you have to know that I'm not a frail little girl anymore. I'm not as weak and fragile as you thought me to be. I've grown up, father, and I believe that I now have the freedom to make my own choices, even if you'll disagree with me. I'm still on the road to learning more wisdom, and by making the decisions I made, it helps me grow into a much wiser adult. As my father, I know that your duty is to help set up my values, but it's inevitable that one day you'll have to set me free. Isn't that all part of life? Making mistakes and learning from them?"

Hiashi was silent all the while, slightly shocked at the wise words coming out of his daughter's lips. He knew that Hinata was a strong woman not only physically, but he never fully realized until now that she had already seriously contemplated on her future. And somehow, he felt fatherly pride surge into his chest. He gave a tiny hint of a smile and nodded. To this, Hinata gave a relieved smile.

"Father, helping Sasuke-kun as his friend is not a mistake. I know it, and deep in my heart, I feel that something good will come off it if I continue to stay with him. So please, don't question my purpose for visiting him, and don't blame him for anything that ever happens to me. And if you didn't know, he's also helping me in his own way. I just want to do everything I can to help and to prove that I'm some worth in this world."

Hiashi lifted a hand up, effectively stopping her as he firmly closed his eyes as if listening to the whispers of the summer breeze. Taking in a deep breath, he heaved a relaxed sigh and gazed at his daughter, somewhat seeing his late wife's kind yet strong-spirited image in her. He smiled as he noticed the great resemblance, then slowly lifted a hand to gently pat on his daughter's shoulder.

"Very well, Hinata. Do what you like. Besides, if Sasuke Uchiha can take care of a cat in his home without hurting it, no matter the nuisance it becomes, then I suppose I can trust him with my mature daughter."

He turned to leave, but not before giving her a proud smile and telling her softly of how much he's proud of what she's become.

To this, Hinata gave a surprised look at her father's retreating form. Then slowly, her pale lips curved into a soft smile.

"… Thank you, father."

Slipping on her sandals, she began her short journey to the hospital. She observed the bright blue sky, somehow reminded of the sky blue handkerchief that the Uchiha used so often before he left.

"... I wonder how Sasuke-kun's feeling. I do hope he's taking his cold pills..."

...

Meanwhile, in a tiny camp located somewhere in the forest, the last Uchiha sneezed while eating his dinner.

"Oi, teme! Catching a cold in the middle of a mission?" Naruto mumbled with his mouth full of ramen.

"Or maybe someone's talking about him back at home," Sakura joined in before scolding Naruto about talking with his mouth full.

Sasuke frowned at his eccentric teammates before plastering back his unaffected face while chewing on his fried fish.

"Don't be ridiculous. Honestly, the things you gullible people believe in…"

But IF it's true (Sasuke insists that it's 99.9% unreal), then he hoped that it was only Hinata spouting praises about him.

…

Reviews are always welcome, thank you! Spoilers for the next chapter, hm? Well, let's just say that a very "youthful" character will have something to do with it! ;)