Fragile

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto, or any of the characters affiliated with it, and this is merely a fan-based piece of work.

She lay upon the grass, with her arms widespread, as the blades tickled her fingertips, swaying in the wind. There was enough shade to cover a part of her arm, while she was draped in tendrils of bright sunlight, staring up at the clear-blue sky, not a cloud present. But despite the tranquillity of her surroundings, Hinata didn't feel peaceful. There was a tightness in her stomach, a knot in her throat, and her heart just would not stay still; threatening to burst out of her ribcage, as it was. Tomorrow would be the deciding match between her and her younger sister Hanabi, as to whether Hanabi would become the new heiress, or Hinata. And Hinata was greatly bothered by this. She didn't think she had the skills to beat her younger sibling, her imouto, and the more the minutes passed of her lying on the sweet grass reaching her pale fingers, the more she felt overwhelmed to a point that she felt like silently screaming; because screaming of any kind was pretty much uncharacteristic to her.

There was a point in time, however, when it would've been applicable.

The next day, Hinata had walked in her training attire consisting of a cream-hooded jacket with the clan's symbol on one side of her sleeve and the symbol of Konoha on the other, and her dark blue pants cuffed at the edges, plus her equally blue open-toed sandals. Her forehead protector, complete with hitai-ate shone in the sparse sunlight of the dojo, as the rest of the clan members including her father Hiashi, sat down on the floor. Hanabi had gotten into her fighting stance, the Hyuga fighting stance which was renowned, as did Hinata – and the fight ensued. Weary and tired after no less than two hours, both girls were finding it hard to keep up with one another; Hinata was on par with Hanabi's stamina, but her chakra was of a lower value, but her speed was consistent. Both panting, they looked at one another; Hinata with a look of despair in her eyes, and Hanabi with one of determination; she was not beaten yet.

Parries, blows and hits occurred, and Hinata was nearly close to her limit – she hardly had enough chakra, as Hanabi aimed a close open-palmed blow to one of her chakra points, in her shoulder, closing it, and the rest of them off. The young girl sunk to her knees, exhausted, as she put a hand to her arm, almost as if she was bleeding, staring up at the victor through her straight fringe. Hisashi came up to congratulate Hanabi, as he frowned at his daughter as if to say, How could you not defeat your younger sister? You are a disappointment to the name of the Hyuga.

Tears filled Hinata's eyes as she clenched her fists to the ground, her body shaking. "I declare Hanabi the winner, and the new heiress to the Hyuga Clan." There were murmurs among the elders and the rest that attended, but they bowed to the Head of the Clan, and were silent.

That night, Hinata had been truly fragile.

She sobbed and sobbed until her throat was aching and her eyes were so red and sore that it seemed as if they could shed no more tears. She curled up in a ball by herself and reached for her forehead protector weakly, still shaking and crying, as she gripped the sleek metal surface with her fingers. She tightened her grip. Naruto wouldn't have wanted her to seem so weak. Naruto would have wanted her to win! He wouldn't have wanted her to be treated so harshly... Naruto, he...

Naruto...kun... In the darkness of her room, with tears spilt, and exhaustion and tiredness aplenty, Hinata closed her eyes and opened them, her violet eyes clear.

She would not let this get her down.

So she wasn't the heir anymore, and her father had no faith in her. So what? She was going to start a new chapter in her life. And she was going to promise Naruto that she would do her very best.