The wind blew Hinata's hair, kicking up dust on the village streets as she waited. Would she miss it?
The grass crunched, alerting her that her wait was over. Naruto came up behind her with a big dumb grin on his face that she almost felt bad for wiping away, but this needed to be done. It was her first step to letting go.
After the pleasantries of a greeting, Hinata released what she had been holding for years. "I love you."
Naruto didn't get it at first. His smile widened until her seriousness made it clear that she wasn't telling him this as a friend. His face dropped, and she could see the conflict in his eyes. He didn't want to break her heart, but they both knew he didn't feel the same. "I… I just started dating Sakura."
Hinata blinked at him. That was his answer? Years of pining and hoping, and he couldn't even break her heart? Her lips came into a line. "That's not an answer, Naruto-kun."
Naruto at least had the good sense to look ashamed. "I can't return your… feelings. I'm really sorry."
Hinata felt a quiet rage in her heart, having to pry that out of him, but at least it was over.
More footsteps alerted them they weren't alone. "Hey Naruto, Tsunade-sama is looking for you." Sakura trailed up behind them. It took her a moment to read the situation. "Sorry, am I interrupting?"
Hinata would have to let this go if she was going to move on. "No, I was just leaving."
"Hinata, I'm sorry. I didn't know." Naruto reached out for her as she left.
"She did." Hinata walked down the hill and back into the village as the end of the crush she had held on to for years finally hit her. Tears spilled over her eyes as she walked. She ducked her head to hide behind the bangs. Would she ever be able to forget? The wind blew her hair into her face as she walked. She grew it out to have him notice her. It was a burden that she constantly fought with.
Hinata sniffed and wiped the tears from her face. This was only step one. She had a lot more to do.
Neji walked past Hinata's room and double-took in horror. "What did you do?"
Hinata over her shoulder at him, her hair shifting with her, jaggedly cut at her shoulders. Her eyes glittered brighter than he had seen in weeks. "I don't need it anymore."
Neji sighed, closing the door behind him. Something was going on. "Well, you made a mess." He picked up the scissors from the night vanity and fixed the ends. Hinata closed her eyes, trusting him to clean up the edges. Her behavior was concerning him. She was distant and secretive. With the council closing in on her, pressuring her to either prove her worth or step down, Neji worried that the pressure was getting to her. This rash haircut wasn't making him feel better, even if she finally had on a smile.
"I told him." Hinata sighed.
Neji hesitated before going back to work. "How do you feel."
"Free." A tear ran down her face, making it feel bitter. There was nothing he could say that was going to make it feel better. She wiped her face and looked at him in the mirror.
Neji set the scissors down and brushed the ends with his fingers, signaling he was done. A simple haircut made her look like a proper young lady.
Hinata opened her eyes and smiled in the mirror. "Perfect, thank you." She wiped her face and looked at him in the mirror. "I am going to tell you something you can't repeat."
Neji brushed off his hands and waited. When she didn't immediately start, he worried it was more serious than he thought. "I promise not to repeat it."
"I'm leaving." Hinata turned to him. "So I can be free."
It took him a moment to understand what she meant because it was so absurd. "What?"
"The council asked me to address them to defend my birthright. I think it's clear at this point that they don't intend on ever letting me become head." Hinata was too calm. She spent a lot of time thinking about this. She had already decided. "I would fight to protect Hanabi-chan, but she's made it clear she doesn't want to be protected."
"Hinata-sama you can't be serious." Neji came around to her side to look her in the eye.
Hinata's face softened as she explained. "It's the only way I will be free."
Hinata knew the turmoil he went through after being sealed. She knew more than anyone how he felt about it. Neji couldn't blame her for trying to escape it, but they wouldn't let her go. They would never let her go. But she knew that. "The Hyuga will hunt you for the rest of your life."
"I'm prepared for that," Hinata assured him.
The worst pit twisted in Neji's stomach. He couldn't protect her out there. That was his duty, but he couldn't even protect her from the Hyuga. If Hinata were caught, she would be branded and locked in a room for the rest of her life. Not even the Hokage would be able to let her out. "You can't just run away, Hinata-sama."
"I'm not running anyway. I'll be running my own life." Hinata reached out for his hand.
Neji took it and squeezed his worries into it. He could stop her, but could he support her?
Hinata debated telling her team, but the more people she told, the more danger she put herself in. Kiba and Shino had her best interest at heart, but Kiba, especially, acted before he thought things through, and he might out her if he thought it would make her stay, even if he unintentionally trapped her. If the Hyuga knew, she would never see the light of day again.
But there was one person she needed to tell that she trusted to understand.
"Hinata…" Tsunade leaned back in her chair with her lips in a line. "I don't think this will work out how you want it to." Like Neji, Tsunade was conflicted. She knew what the Hyuga was like, what they had done to her over the years, but her hands were tied. She couldn't interfere with clan business.
Hinata could only hope that Tsunade could see what this meant to her. Leaving the village didn't outright make her a missing-nin, but the choice to leave the Hyuga did. The clan laws were part of the village laws. "I need to do this."
Tsunade sighed in defeat. "I will do what I can to keep your status clean, but I can't promise you anything." She rubbed her forehead, thinking of the paperwork. "I might be able to keep the Hyuga a bay for… a week tops."
"You don't have to. I accept the consequences." Hinata knew this meant never coming back. It was worth it for her freedom.
"Are you sure I can't just send you to Suna and change your citizenship? I hear it's nice when the sand isn't trying to destroy everything." Hinata cracked a smile. Suna wouldn't stop the Hyuga. It would only cause conflict that no one needed. "The Hyuga will chase you to the end of the earth. You'll be hunted by bounty hunters. Kohoha nin will attack you on sight. Friends might become your enemies."
"I die or get stronger," Hinata confirmed.
Tsunade didn't like that answer but raised her hands in defeat. "Fine, you will have no trouble leaving the village. I'll keep my mouth shut."
Hinata bowed deeply. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
"You aren't my ninja anymore. It's Tsunade." Tsunade held her arms out.
Hinata hugged her. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama."
Hinata waited to be called into the council room. This might be the first time in her life she wasn't nervous. She was packed, and Neji was waiting for her to say the word. She was ready.
A tap on the door was her cue. This was it.
The councils' cold glares followed her to the podium, wishing she was never born. Years of feeling inadequate and worthless finally got to her. They were going to get what they wanted. They just weren't going to like how they got it.
No turning back now. "By a raise of hands, how many of you think I am not ready to lead you?" A few brave hands were raised. They had no problem alluding to it, but now they were afraid to say it to her face. "I know it is more than that."
Slowly nearly the entire room raised their hands.
"How many of you believe my sister would be a fitting replacement?" Every hand was up now, excluding her father. He was lying to her face.
"Then, I renounce my position. Hanabi-chan will start her studies to be the head. That is if you have not already started her behind my back." Shock flooded through the room and kept everyone quiet. Hiashi eyes hardened on her while everyone else was too shocked to speak. "Since I am no longer the heir, I don't belong in this meeting. May I be excused?"
Hiashi nodded. Hinata bowed her head to the room and then to her father. This may be the last time she ever saw him. She hoped he got a good look. As the door closed behind her, excitement and fear rushed through her.
Hinata left for the main gates, where Neji was waiting with her pack. She didn't want to be seen leaving with a bag. It would give the Hyuga some time to notice her missing.
Some part of her thought it was cruel to leave like this without goodbyes, but she couldn't risk it. With a last hug and a forlorn look from Neji, she stepped out of the gates and didn't look back.