Time skip: Hinata; 16 Itachi; 20 Shisui; 21

Hyuuga Hinata was the heiress of the Hyuuga clan; the future leader.
She was to lead the Hyuuga after her father's passing and carry on his legacy. She is to fulfil her duties as heir, to utmost of her abilities.
The heir is someone with grace, poise and beauty, but most importantly possesses leadership qualities like strength, bravery, confidence and discipline.
The previous leaders have worked hard to build the clan to what it is now, and the future leaders have to honour and carry on their wishes; it is their duty.
As heir, you cannot go about doing what you like. What is done has to be for the good of the clan and not yourself. You cannot show weakness, you cannot portray such an image.
Thus you must not let your emotions get the better of you. You must not succumb to them, no matter how inviting it may seem. If you do so, you bring shame upon yourself and upon your clan.

Hyuuga Hinata is the heiress of the Hyuuga clan; the future leader.
She is clumsy, weak, pathetic, frail and extremely shy.
She is extremely sensitive and she allows herself to be taken over by her emotions. She openly cries and shows her weakness.
Hyuuga Hinata, is not worthy of becoming the heir.

"You disappoint me, Hinata." She is surprised she wasn't immune to those words. She still felt a sharp pain in her chest every time he says it, tears still brim at the mention of those words, and she never fails to apologize each time.
"I-I –"
"I told you, stop stuttering." She lowered her head.
"Not only is it embarrassing, it shows weakness."
"I am s-sorry, s-sir."
Hiashi sighed and looked out the window. "I wonder how my daughter turned out to be likes this..."
Does he even know?
"Your mother was such a great kunoichi."
Does he even know how hard she works and how painful it is for her?
"I was hoping that once you mature, you'd see the error of your ways and change."
Does he even care?
The older man stood up and looked down at her.
"But I was wrong. You are nothing like your mother. You will never be. You're just weak."
No. He does not.
She had wondered how she managed to keep the tears from flowing out as she noticed the disgust in his eyes. She had seen it for years; she had tried so hard to rid it from him.
In the end, whatever she does will just be in vain; because she knew she wasn't her mother. And she wasn't going to magically change into her either. She didn't want him to think that and make a conclusion that she was weak. She wanted him to acknowledge the fact that she was different but she was a great kunoichi on her own. She was someone to be proud of.
Her fists clenched at her thigh as he walked out, sliding the door shut behind him. Then the tears came out, flowing down her cheeks, dripping down her chin, landing on her clenched fists.
It wasn't her fault. It wasn't like she chose to be heiress. If she had to choose, she wouldn't have took the path to leadership.
Sometimes, she'd feel like fighting back. She'd want to tell him her opinion
But she was too soft. She was too kind. She didn't want to hurt her father's feelings like he had hurt hers. She didn't want him to feel more disappointment, and she certainly didn't want their relationship to deteriorate even further. It was fine, if it would make him happy she would do the necessary. She would train hard, she would try and suppress her emotions and she would become a great leader, all for her father's sake.

"A Hyuuga festival?" Shisui blinked.
"Since when do they have Hyuuga festivals?" Shisui looked at Itachi who shrugged in response to his quizzical look.
"S-Since I turned s-sixteen." Hinata looked down at her feet, while nervously playing with the hem of her jacket.
"I-It's going to be a really g-grand festival and I really need your help w-with my speech."
"But Hinata-Chan I don't think we can help you much – "
"I-I don't mean with my script. I m-mean with my... my... m-my.."
"Your stutter?" Itachi raised a brow.
The girl nodded shyly without even glancing at the two.
"Ohhhhhh" Shisui nodded.
"That makes sense."
"Hn."
There was an awkward pause for a few moments.
"W-Well... ?"
"Sure! Of course we'll help you, Hinata-Chan!"
"When exactly is this festival?" Itachi is surprised that he first heard it from her.
"In one m-months time."
Ah, no wonder.
"That's a long time Hinata-Chan."
"W-Well, I-I stutter a lot..." The girl blushed. She looked at the two through her lashes and felt relief as she saw smiles on their faces.
"T-Thank you, Itachi-kun, Shisui-Chan." The girl bowed.
"But Hinata," Shisui started, making the girl slightly worried. She shot up to face the two.
"I hope you don't mind me asking but, when did you start stuttering?"
For a moment she was shocked, then slowly she smiled. It looked slightly sullen but she seemed to be alright with it.
"I-I can't believe I didn't tell you guys..."
"Well, we didn't exactly ask." Itachi pointed out.
"Mm. W-Well," the girl sighed. "N-no infant starts to stutter just l-like that. I-I am no different."
She stated as a matter-of-factly. The two nodded understandingly. "I-I started stuttering when w-well, when I was five. That was when m-my mother had left us." At this point her smile had wavered.
"Before my m-mother passed away, I was v-very quiet. I d-don't remember talking to my f-father even. I-I only opened up to her. W-When she l-left I was in a state of shock. E-Ever since then my father has b-been pushing me and h-having such high h-hopes for me. I f-felt so w-weak and pathetic a-all the time and as time passed, I-I just s-started..." She stopped. Not knowing how to continue.
Tears were brimming, and neither of them wanted to witness her crying.
"Hinata-Chan," Shisui grabbed both her shoulders and gave her a warm smile.
"Don't you worry. By the time we're done with you, everyone will be begging you for an impromptu speech!"
He looked in to her glistening pale eyes, filled with determination and eagerness. She smiled genuinely and nodded. "H-Hai!"

'Absently' pushing his friend aside, he stood in front of the girl; ignoring the 'oof!' from his tumbled friend.
"Have you memorized it yet?" Itachi asked with a straight face, folding his arms.
She shook her head. "B-But I will t-today!
"Good, make sure you memorize it by tomorrow."
"Ahh but I won't be here tomorrow!"Shisui framed his face.
"Ugh, Tsunade has me working on all sorts of weird missions! They're not even that important! Maybe I should just quit the ANBU..."
"N-no!" Hinata squealed, startling both men.
"I-I mean..."
Ken-san...
"I-It would be a w-waste if the ANBU l-lost you..."
"H—Hinata-Chan!" Shisui cried approaching her with wide open arms, this being another excuse for him to capture her in his arms.
Of course, this is not happening as long as Itachi's around.
"Don't try anything funny on Hinata, pervert." Hinata blushed and let out a high pitch squeak as she held on to Itachi's sleeve.
"I-Itachi-kun! D-Don't say such embarrassing things..." The girl shied away and Itachi let out a sigh as he looked down at the girl.
Even after four years she hasn't really changed much, emotionally of course; she was still shy and reserved, still so selfless and delicate with other people. She was nothing like the rest of the Hyuuga.
Of course, some of those traits are going to be in the way during her speech training.
For someone like Hinata to speak in front of a large crowd is just, impossible.
She has no self confidence and that is probably her worst trait as of late.
This is going to be tough.

"Shisui," Itachi called.
"Yeah?"
"When will you be back from your mission tomorrow?"
"Hmmm. Depends. Aren't you glad though? You get to spend some alone time with Hinata-Chaaan."
"Shisui..." Itachi sighed.
"Hey, it's normal! Even I like spending a little alone time with Hinata-Chan when you're not around."
Itachi's eyebrows twitched, even his fists clenched at his sides. He didn't realize until he met Hinata but he gets extremely jealous really fast. Just thinking about his best friend and the girl got him riled up, it was so frustrating!
Holding back his jealousy the Uchiha just nodded slightly.
"Can you believe we're still friends with her though? For four years?"
Itachi smirked. It was pretty amazing, really; being secret friends for four years.
"And the girl trusts us more than anyone, it's so weird." Shisui shoved his hands down his pockets and sighed.
"Well, this is me." Itachi stopped.
"Goodbye sweetheart." Shisui batted his eyelashes.
"You disgust me," Itachi sighed.
Shisui laughed off the insulting comment and waved at his friend.
"Good luck, on your mission."
"Thanks, see ya."
Tomorrow is going to be a really long day...

"Y-Yo," Hinata giggled at her attempt of imitating Kakashi.
"Did you memorise it yet?" He decided he shouldn't waste any time. The girl nodded, handing over a piece of paper.
"Every w-word." She smiled.
"Hn." Itachi looked through really quickly and nodded as he read.
He lowered the paper and fixated his gaze on the girl. The girl didn't dare meet his gaze, instead stared at her lap the entire time.
"Read the first paragraph to me."
"E-Eh? R-Right n-now? H-Here?" Itachi nodded.
"I need to hear you before I can correct you."
"O-Okay... Sh-Should I stand up o-or – "
"As you wish."
"I-If I stand can y-you stand with m-me?" The girl blushed slightly. Itachi raised a brow.
"Hn." So she stood up, brushing herself off and waited for Itachi to stand in front of her.
She cleared her throat and inhaled. She looked straight and found herself staring right at his chest. He was tall, she knew that; but that made him all the more intimidating. With a nervous gulp, she looked up at the Uchiha. She tried her best not to flinch under his gaze. It was so... intense.
He stared at her with his dark, mysterious unreadable eyes and she almost couldn't take the pressure. She felt so nervous it made her shiver. She was used to Itachi, she was; and she liked him a lot. But he was a really intimidating man.
She clenched her fists and opened her mouth, only to close it again.
"Hinata." His voice was the limit, she flinched and completely tensed.
"What's wrong?"
"I-I..." Her face was heating up fast and her blush was prominent. Itachi knew something was bothering her.
"Hinata, don't you want to make your father proud?"
"Y-yes!" She shot up, looking at the man before her with her legs shaking and her heart pounding. She was nervous. She was so nervous and she was terrified of how it would be like if she was on stage. Though she doubted anyone else in Konoha had an intense look like Uchiha Itachi.
"Something is definitely bothering you, just tell me what."
"I-I..." She felt dizzy, her blood was gushing to her head and she felt like she was about to collapse.
"Hinata," Now Itachi was getting worried. He quickly grabbed her shoulders and she immediately leaned towards him resting her head on his chest and clutching the fabric of his shirt.
"Hinata..." Now both of them were nervous. What a dilemma.
"S-Sorry, it's just..." She buried her head into his chest. Itachi put a hand on the girl's head while the other one was on her back.
"W-When you l-look at m-me like that I-I..."
She had no idea how much her words affected him.
OH GOD! What is this girl trying to do to me?
Here he was thinking that he has it all together, and he wouldn't mess it up for Hinata's sake.
But then she goes and pulls off stunts like these. Sometimes it's like she is doing it on purpose; her breath against his shirt lightly stroking his chest, her hands clutching on to his shirt, even the scent of her is enough to throw him off balance.
What a dangerous girl.
Yes, he was definitely glad Shisui was on a mission.
Thank you, Tsunade-sama.
As much as he loved her being so close and holding on to him so desperately, he had to remind himself, she sees him as a really close friend. If he does anything stupid whatever they have goes down the drain. And as a good friend, the one she knows and trusts, he has to help her with her damned speech. He removed his hand from her head and grasped her shoulder, trying to get her to stand straight.
Slowly, she leaned back loosening her grasp on his shirt and gradually letting go (to his disappointment and relief at the same time). He bent down slightly, to be at eye level with her. He looked straight at her, trying his best not to seem intimidating.
"Hinata, calm down. I'll try not to be too scary." He smiled.
"Y-You're not s-scary, Itachi-kun!" His smile grew wider, this girl was just too cute to handle.
"I-I am sorry. It's not your fault. I-I'll try harder I p-promise!"
"Very, well then." He stood up straight and looked down at the girl as he folded his arms.
"Begin."

"It's been two weeks already."
"Hn."
"Itachi, she's not really doing that well. She hasn't improved one bit."
"I know."
"Yeah, but she did stutter less that day when you were off on a mission. But still, the stutter was there."
"She finds me intimidating." The young man sighed.
"How does someone even stop stuttering? I don't get it."
"It's just like any other disease."
"Hm?" Shisui raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean we have to find the cause."

If there was a way, he would try anything at this point. The poor girl is losing her confidence every single day. She comes in the evening and practices with them without complaint.
If her father knew how hard she works would he still push her like he does?
Whatever the situation is, he has to do something. He has to get advice from a professional. There was a person in mind, but he wasn't sure he was willing to face her...
I guess I just have to suck it up.

"Hinata, would you stop reciting that stupid speech and come hang out with me?" Kiba was irritated seeing her paying more attention to a stupid speech than to him.
"K-Kiba-kun I am sorry but I have to make sure it's p-perfect!" Hinata was determined. Kiba saw that look in her eye and he knew he couldn't stop her. The Inuzuka sighed, thinking of how he would have to spend time with Shino until this Hyuuga festival is over.
"Hinata, it's not like they're going to be paying attention to your speech anyways! They won't listen to a word you are saying, they'd probably just stare at your nice rack." Kiba smirked, watching her turn impossibly red and stiffen. "K-K-K-Kiba-kun!"
It was always fun playing with Hinata.
"Sorry, sorry. What I meant to say was, your speech is going to be so good that they won't even notice your nice rack."
Kiba laughed watching the girl fall off the tree stump she was sitting on.
"Y-Y-You're not helping K-Kiba-kun..." she muttered. The dog boy got up and kneeled beside her. He had a serious look on his face this time.
"Sorry." Hinata looked away.
"I-It's okay."
"Come on, sit up."
"K-Kiba-kun..." her voice was shaky; almost like she was on the verge of crying. It wasn't about Kiba's jokes anymore. She honestly felt like she couldn't do it.
"Hmm?"
"I w-want to s-see him..." Kiba titled his head in confusion.
"Who? Shino?" She shook her head and then covered her face with her hands.
"M-My n-neko-san."

"Enter,"
"Hokage-sama." He bowed.
"Ah, Itachi. Hand over the reports."
"Hai." The masked young man handed over a file to the Hokage.
"Thank you."
"Hn." Itachi stood still, watching the Hokage read through his report.
"Hm, as expected. Good work." The young man nodded, but did not leave the room. He stood still and watched the Hokage sort out files and search through papers. She paused for a while, and looked at the Uchiha through her lashes.
"Something you need?"
"Hokage-sama, if you have time to spare I would like to ask your opinion on something."
The Hokage raised brow, and rested her chin on her hands, curios.
"And what exactly is that something?"
"Sorry, but are you able to spare your time Hokage-sama?" The Hokage sighed and gave the young man a smirk.
"I might have some spare time. Out with it Itachi what is it?" Shizune watched the two silently from the corner, curios as well.
"Well, I would like to ask you about a certain... disorder."
"Hm?"

"Don't lie. Lying is a sin."
"Look who's talking." Itachi folded his arms.
"You actually went to Hokage-sama herself?!"
"Tsunade-sama is probably the best medical nin in history. Her sense and abilities have surpassed almost every medical nin in the shinobi world. If I were to get information on something, I might as well do it right." Itachi smirked.
"So, what did she say?"
"She said that we have to find a way to make her believe that she can actually talk without stuttering."
"How do we do that?"
"You'll see."

"T-Tape recorder?"
"Hn." Hinata furrowed her eyebrows.
"W-What is it for?"
"To record." Shisui grinned.
"We want to record your improvement, Hinata."
"Yeah, we're going to work really hard and make sure you give the best speech ever in the history of Konoha, Hinata-Chan!"
Hinata sighed and covered her face with her hands.
"I-I am sorry... y-you guys are doing s-so much for m-me. B-But I-I..."
"Hinata, you're doing fine." Itachi lied.
"You can do this, Hinata-Chan!"
"I only h-have two weeks l-left!" She cried.
"I-It's probably best i-if you g-guys stop... I am s-sorry for forcing y-you to help me."

"Hinata." It was the first time Itachi regarded her so sternly. It made her literally jump.
His face remained impassive, but he was starting to get a little too serious.
"Are you saying you just want to give up?" The way he said it sent shivers down her spine.
"Itachi..." Shisui tried to ask him to tone down, but Itachi ignored him.
"N-No... I-I just.."
"I didn't think you were the type to give up Hinata. But you certainly don't want to take the effort.
You say you want to make your father proud but you don't even want to try."
"I-It's not that! I j-just don't want you g-guys t-to –"
"Stop. Stop making excuses for yourself" He sounded so cold. It was hard to believe that it was Itachi talking. It was like he suddenly got possessed. Shisui stared at him the whole time with the 'What the hell are you doing?!' look plastered on his face.
"Don't be weak."
"I-I am n-not..."
"You don't care. You don't care about your father's – "
"I am not weak!" The girl exclaimed, in a loud voice they didn't know she had.
"You don't understand! I don't want to be a burden to you two! You don't understand!"

Shisui finally understood where the voice came from, for the first time in all their time together, Hyuuga Hinata was angry; but not at Itachi, not at Shisui, not at her father, but at herself.
"You're just making excuses. You're scared. You're a coward." The Uchiha taunted her, knowing that it was working. He found out her fear. She was shivering, tears had already trickled down her cheeks and her head was faced down.
"If you are not weak, then tell me why. Why can't you speak properly? Why the hell do you stutter?"
"Itachi-kun..." She sounded breathless. She really wasn't used to this emotion.
But everything was going as planned.

"You don't believe in yourself do you? You don't believe in yourself at all."
"Itachi-kun, why?..."
"Why? Why don't you believe in yourself? Why? Why Hinata?"
"Itachi, stop it." Shisui growled.
"Why Hinata? Tell me why. Why? Why?"
"Itachi!"
"Because I am weak Ok?! I am weak! I am pathetic! How do you expect me to believe in myself when no one else has?! I can never make my father happy! He was never happy with me! I am weak! I can... never catch up to him..."
After the outburst, she had lost her breath. Her legs gave way and she landed on her knees, with her face buried in her hands, crying bitterly.
Itachi sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Shisui glared at him, wondering why the hell he would do that to sweet little Hinata.
Itachi then approached Hinata, standing before her. He kneeled down and put a hand on her shoulder.
"D-D-D-Don't touch m-me." She sobbed.
"Hinata."
"H-How could y-you say all that I-Itachi-kun?"
He grabbed the girl by the shoulders and pulled her into a tight embrace. He felt so guilty. He really did, but he couldn't stop until he was sure.
He hurt the girl that mattered most to him, and he truly felt like shit.
Shisui was totally confused now. First he scolds her like she is some trash, and now he is hugging her? She didn't hug him back; instead she fisted her hands on his chest and tried to push him away. The more she pushed, the tighter his grip got.
"Hinata, I am sorry. I didn't mean it." He whispered in her ear.
"W-Why would you s-say that I-Itachi-kun? I-I felt so h-hurt..." She sobbed as she slowly relaxed in his arms.
"You're not weak. You're not a coward. Stop believing that you are. Hinata, you have no idea how strong and special you are." He absently ran his fingers through her long indigo locks as she continued sobbing bitterly (Now it was getting kind of weird for Shisui...)
"I-Itachi-kun... I d-don't know... I-I really don't think I can do it..."
"Think again, Hinata." He whispered. In that instant her sobbing halted, her head tilted, staring in to Itachi's face. Itachi grunted and reluctantly let go of the girl, allowing her to sit up straight and wipe her most face. He reached for his pocket, pulled out the tape recorder and gave the girl a warm smile.
"You spoke without even stuttering once. Congratulations, Hinata."

Woot! Okay two chapters in a day, I am trying to get most of it finished for all of you while I still can. School holidays are almost over and when school starts, I won't be able to update that fast. Maybe one week once... Eh, details, details.
Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed it. Don't forget to review!