Chapter 3: Hinata's Burden
Outside Hyugan office, 6:57 pm
Hinata gasped. Husband? Husband?!
"It is my duty as a father and clan leader to ensure the clans' place in Konoha and you're well being. I received a letter from an old friend whose son is of age and from a noble family. Michimoe Takuya…" Hinata heard the words her father was saying…but she couldn't understand…
No! No! Why? Why? I can't! I simply just can't marry someone else! I love Naruto! I can't do this no matter how much father wants me too! I don't love this man, I've never even met him before how can I marry him and I don't even know him? Please no…don't let this be true!
I'm so sorry Hinata, Neji thought, I tried everything…please forgive me for failing you…
"Hinata needs a young man to guide her as she takes the position of clan leader! She can't do it on her own, you know this Neji!"
"Hinata is fully capable of leading this clan herself! You've never given her a chance to show you just how deserving she truly is!"
"My word is law in this clan. Hinata is going to be married and you will be her guard. Understood?"
"I know what you're thinking Hinata. But this is the best thing to do for your own well-being. Takuya is an honorable young man and will make you a fine husband. He will lead the clan well into high society and prosperity in Konoha, greater than what we are now."
"B-but f-father I've never even met him! I don't love him!" Hiashi's eye twitched. He folded his hands on his desk and stared at Hinata.
"Love has nothing to do with it. Power and enmity build a kingdom, Hinata. Not love. I'm disappointed in you Hinata. I thought you would want this clan to prosper." Hinata shook her head.
"No! I do! But I can't do this I just can't…"
"What do you mean you can't? If you're mother could, you can." Hinata looked at her father.
"I-I am not my mother. Nor will I bear the burden she did for so long."
"What?"
"I won't marry Takuya! I don't love him! I love someone else!"
"Hinata!" Neji seethed.
"And who would that be? Hopefully someone worthy of taking your hand."
"He is worthy! He is more than worthy! H-he loves me and w-would do anything for me!"
"Who would that unfortunate creature be?"
"U-Uzumaki Naruto. He-he is more worthy than you think, father, please. Just give him a chance!"
Hiashi glared with anger at his daughter. Neji place his hand on Hinata's shoulder. She loved Naruto and no other. But could she sacrifice so much for one person? Hinata and Hiashi stared at each other…
"I'm sorry Tou-san. But I can't do as you ask…" Hinata looked down at the floor and then her father. When did he activate his-?
"Ahhh!"
"Hinata!" Hiashi flew from behind his desk and knocked her into the wall. Neji came at him throwing kunai.
No! No! I didn't want this to happen! It's all my fault…why? Please don't fight, I hate to them fighting…Neji, father please stop, please!
Hinata struggled to get up but she couldn't. Her arm was broken. She gasped as the pain shot up and down her arm. Neji and her father were still fighting. They had broken a hole in the wall. Hinata heard footsteps.
"What in the blazes…Hinata-sama!"
"Hinata-sama!"
"Neji and Hiashi-sama are fighting! What happened?!" Two of the servants shielded Hinata while lifting her up.
"No! Put me down! I-I have to see Neji…"
Why did it have to end like this? Why? Why can't I make…I can! I will make my own choices! He is not my master! Who does he think he is?! Who gave him authority to lay a hand on me?! Just who does he think he is? WHO!?
"Stop! STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!!!" Hinata stood up and faced her father with sheer anger.
"NO MORE! No more fighting! I hate to see us fight! We are family! Why can we not act as one?" Hiashi and Neji stopped.
Hyuga Hinata was angry.
Her eyes…, Neji thought, I've never seen Hinata with those kinds of eyes…its pure anger! Those are the eyes of Hyuga Hiashi's daughter.
"I will never marry for wealth or stature! Never! I will not have the same fate or pain my mother had! I am not my mother and I refuse to be even compared to her! She was strong! Much stronger than me!" It was silent, not a noise broke through.
"Hinata-sama…" Neji said.
"No! Let me speak! I have worked hard for this clan and sacrificed many things, yet you act like it does not matter! I have been ignored and mistreated…I have been undermined and looked over. Yet what I do is not enough? I have had enough!" Hinata began to breakdown then. Tears of pain, frustration and anger mingled down her cheeks.
"I will not submit! I will not! I am my own person I am Hinata and no one else! And when I am leader I will change the ways of the Hyuga! I would rather die than have my children in a cage such as this!" Hinata dropped to the floor…she heard Neji calling her name…but…everything went black.
Konoha Hospital, 8:45 am
"Hinata-sama? Hinata-sama are you awake?"
Where am I? What happened? I-I remember so little…I remember Neji fighting for me and…father…father said I would have to be married. Then the servants and Main…they were fighting…I wonder if Neji is ok? Oh Neji! You didn't have to do that! Please be ok…and father…I love you so much. Please be ok, please! I'm so sorry. I didn't think this would happen! Please forgive me!
"Hinata-sama…" Hinata opened her eyes to a white room. She was in the hospital. She jerked up from her bed.
"Hinata-sama! Don't do that! You still have injuries from last night! You're not well enough." Hinata looked toward the scolding voice. Hyuga Misa. She was one of the oldest Branch members still alive. She had nursed and been midwife to almost all of the births the clan had ever had. She laid a hand on her forehead.
"You and you're father had quite a run in last night. Didn't you dear?" Hinata couldn't look her in the eye…she turned toward the window.
"I-I tried so hard, Misa-sempai! But everything I do isn't enough! I don't understand…why did it have to happen? Why?!" She held Hinata's hand and squeezed it.
"Sometimes things happen to make us stronger. We don't know why, Hinata-sama…and you have certainly become stronger! If not more demanding! My I wish I could've been there! They said you were enraged, dear! I can just ima-" *Boom!!!!*
"Oi! HINATA!!"
"Hinata!"
"Hey." Misa shook her head. Young people these days…she nodded to Hinata, bowed to her then her friends and left. Sakura and Naruto came running through the wall they had just demolished. Sasuke came in stride.
"Hinata are you ok? I was so worried! One thing I'm working with some minor patients…and then next I know I see you, you're father, and other Hyuga members on stretchers! What the hell happened?!"
"I-It's really a long story, Sakura-san…" Naruto grasped Hinata hand. His eyes were glowing with anger, concern and a deep, fierce love.
"It doesn't matter…we'll be here all day if we have to."
2 hours later:
"Wow…Hinata…" Two hours had gone by when Hinata had finally finished telling her story…from the very beginning.
Hinata…I too had a father who didn't think much of me. In that I know how you feel.
How could your own father treat you like that?! Don't worry girl, next time I'll be the one throwing the punches!!! CHAA!"
Hinata I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you. Now you're promised to someone else…it's my entire fault. What possibly can I do now?
"Hinata! How are your wounds and bruises?"
"TSUNADE-SAMA!" Tsunade stood where the door had previously been. She looked tired as if she hadn't had any sleep. She walked to Hinata bed and took her pulse. She sighed.
"I'm glad you're doing well Hinata. When Neji first carried you in he looked about to fall apart. Poor boy…"
"B-but Tsunade-sama! Where's Neji-niisan…is ok? Where's father? What's happened to them-" Tsunade held up her hand.
"All in due time Hinata…right now you have to rest. Neji, Neji is…"
"Tell me, I need to know!"
"He's in critical condition…he's not doing so well. He and you're father really went at it…I didn't expect Hiashi to go that far, or Neji…"
"Should I go check on him? He's been sleeping for sometime…" Sakura asked. Tsunade nodded.
"Make it quick."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama!" Sakura gave Hinata a reassuring look then walked out. The silence was killing Hinata. Sasuke looked out the window…Tsunade's eyes were going over her scrutinizing her work. Naruto stared at his hands.
"Hinata…"Sasuke started,"Are you able to go back home?" Hinata raised her brow in question…what was he talking about?
" Able-bodied?" Hinata understood…she lowered her head.
"H-he was so angry…I don't know…"
"Know what Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked.
"If my father still finds me useful…whether or not he will discard me…if I will be disinherited." Naruto's eyes widened.
"You mean disown you?!"
"No, Naruto…he's just crazy." Catted Sasuke.
"Naruto! Sasuke!" Tsuande burst.
"Now is not the time for that! You two need to get along for all of our sakes! You two birdbrains…"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wow! I'm so glad I got this chapter over with! I felt like it was dragging on forever and ever!
REVIEW!!! Please!!! I would love you to review! I's realy important to me that people review to see how they liked my story!
Thanks to all of those who added it to your favorties list, it really made my day!
1. The last chapter of Naruo....423 (i think) it wasn'tall that good. Kakashi can't die! He just can't!
(Although it would be interesting....if he did)
P.S Tell your friends or other people to stop by and read my story! *smiley face*