Lesson Two: he's so incredibly needy.
It's not like learning to use the makibishi is hard. But in between her stammering and his smart remarks, it becomes a bit of a struggle.
Then somehow he coaxes her into trying her eye technique against his one day – a stupid idea, because Hinata knows her Byakugan can't even compare to her eight-year-old sister's – and before she realizes it they're meeting to train regularly. It's a thing.
And she doesn't give it up. Not even when all the girls find out. Because for once…for once, her father starts looking at her with more than just resignation.
Perceptive as ever, Neji decides not to tattle.
Hinata becomes a little more comfortable around Sasuke. Less stuttering, more eye contact when they're not training, so on. But not much.
What she's learned about the Uchiha boy…is that he is really bossy. Maybe he's too used to girls following his every whim. Most of the time Hinata is too polite to say no…most of the time.
"Train with me." (Okay.)
"Do that spinning move thing." (Hinata tries not to be insulted by the demeaning nickname for one of the most secret taijutsu passed down in her family.)
"Dodge this attack." (She tries.)
"Make me bento boxes for lunch." (She refuses.)
Utility, Itachi told her, that one time. Sasuke treasures utility. If she weren't useful, he wouldn't give her the time of day, reasons Hinata. That logic allows her to dismiss the silly gossip that the younger Uchiha has a crush, and believe in the truth of her own words.
He's just needy. Sakura strokes his ego too much and Naruto is too loud. Hinata is some sort of happy medium.
So there she's fooled herself into thinking it is only about training, till Itachi's eighteenth birthday rolls around and the Uchiha clan holds a celebration for his entrance into manhood. Among the invited guests are members of the Hyuuga clan, of course. Hanabi remarks how pointless the whole thing is, considering Itachi was a member of ANBU by the time he was eleven, and everyone shushes her because she's right.
Pointlessness of the event aside, Hinata can see Itachi is a good son and will certainly make a great future leader simply by the way he smiles at everyone, takes time to talk with old creaky relatives, gracefully inclines his head no matter the rank of the speaker. Despite all the good vibes she's still not at ease. Social events are not her forte, and she has a feeling that if it did not look like she were babysitting Hanabi that she would be surrounded by people interrogating her about how she'll be the next Hyuuga clan leader. She wishes she had even half of Itachi's poise.
But then Hanabi does wander off, and Hinata is bereft of her shield. Luckily (unluckily?) for her, someone just as needy takes her place.
"Hinata."
Hinata has to look up, because these days the boys are hitting their growth spurts. "Oh. Good evening, Sasuke."
"Don't give me that," Sasuke responds, sounding as irritable as he looks. "You look miserable."
Hinata refrains from informing him of the hypocrisy of his statement. "Sorry."
The dark yukata he is wearing is nicely tailored. Too bad he's so sulky in it.
"Let's go train," he suggests, as his father's gaze passes over him and the Hyuuga heiress next to him like they don't exist before it turns back to Itachi.
"No," Hinata weakly rejects him. He shoots her an annoyed look, but she adds, "That would be…rude. To your family, and to Itachi."
"Itachi can go to hell," Sasuke says blandly. Hinata doesn't comment, though the constant unhappy glances he throws at the man of the party clearly say otherwise. It's not about his family's inattention, she can tell. He misses his brother more than anything else. Itachi must be a very nice person.
Hanabi returns from her quest, bangs falling over her eyes despite Mother's best efforts to pin it, and gives Sasuke a weird look. "They've got egg custard over there," she tells her sister. "It's pretty good."
Then the firecracker wanders off again. Hinata quails at the thought of crossing the room, but the appeal of egg custard is too much.
Still, when she finds herself aware of the presence of an equally abandoned boy following behind her in search of delicious tarts, she's not so bothered. Maybe she's just as needy as he is.
short, but necessary. WE'LL GET TO THE GOOD STUFF OKAY