Hey guys, sorry for taking so long to post this up. These past two days had been busy with my dad leaving back home, then house cleaning, then practice, I hope I didn't make anyone sad.

Anyway hope you like it, I don't own Naruto, and Critics and feedback and polls are appreciated.

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Chapter 6

Hanabi was slowly walking back to the compound while lost in her own thoughts, ignoring everyone along the way. She had acted unusual with her sister, but she also felt like something heavy had been lifted off of her chest. The fight with Hinata had proven to Hanabi that her sister was the stronger of the two; she just was far kinder than most Huygas whereas they were stern. 'Perhaps Tou-san already knows, but because of the elders he had it played off as weakness' she thought that would ease her anger towards him, but for some reason it made her more angry; he was the head his word should be absolute.

"I guess I should read the history and see what I can do about the elders in the future" she thought out loud. While she was walking, she didn't notice the three boys following her who appeared to be 2 or 3 years her senior. Once she had reached an empty location towards the Huyga district, they decided to make an appearance.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here; a pupil less freak" said one of the boys.

Hanabi had stopped and turned around. She had the look of shock on her face; how did she not notice them, and how are they being so bold to make fun of her.

"Yeah, and what a shrimp, there certainly letting them out young these days, hey what cat got your tongue" said a second boy; they had circled around her at this point.

"Do you know who I am, and what clan I belong to?" Answered Hanabi; her voice was shaking in anger.

"Of course, that's what makes you a freak, thinking that just because you come from a great clan, your automatically allowed favouritism, it pisses everyone off" stated the other boy as he rushed towards her. She began to get into position, but the other two had held her arms back.

"Let me go" she yelled, squirming to get her arms released.

The boy had punched her in her stomach, knocking the air out of her; they had let go of her arms and she fell to her knees.

"Not so confident now are you now you freak?" The first boy sneered.

Tears of pain were beginning to form on her eyes, and she had wished that she had listened to her sister to walk her home earlier. 'Even if I'm strong, Nee-sama still has more experience dealing with multiple people' feeling disappointed in herself, she was about to just let them continue, when she heard a voice nearby.

"Hey you three weaklings, why don't you stop picking on the girl and take me on instead"

Konohamaru was bored. Despite being a hyperactive person, he actually was an early riser, but now, wandering the streets, he wished he had been able to sleep longer. His two friends were going to be busy with their families today, and since the semester was over, he had two months before the next year.

'This sucks, Naruto-ni-chan must be out on a mission and my two friends just can't make it today' he thought to himself. So far only those three saw him for who he was and not just the honorable grandson. He really wanted to change everyone's idea about him, wanted to earn their respect, not just given to him because he was related to the third. 'Even though Asuma-jij is his son, he is joinin and able to be respected for his abilities' his uncle, from what he heard from his dad, never really got along with his grandfather, I guess it was similar to how he would feel about being called the "Honorable grandson". 'Man I can't really get myself in the mood to train at the moment, I'll just wander some more to clear my head' thinking this, he realized he arrived at an empty location. Deciding to just let his feet take him, he suddenly heard a yelp nearby. 'Is someone in trouble?' Thinking this, he rushed to where the voices could be heard.

"Not so confident now are you now you freak?" He heard as he arrived on the scene presented before him; three boys were surrounding what looked like a girl much younger than them; she was on her knees holding her stomach. He couldn't just sit by, he hated bullies. Gulping, he tried to put his most confident face on, and yelled out, "Hey you three weaklings, why don't you stop picking on the girl and take me on instead".

The boys stopped and turned to the voice that had called out; Konohamaru could see they were at least 2 or 3 years older, but what pissed him off was he's seen these three do something similar at the academy to some of the students during lunch break when the sensei's weren't around.

"What you call us shrimp?" One of the boys had yelled out.

"You heard me, if it takes all three of you to take on a girl who looks 3 years younger than you than you must be weak" he stated, looking at the girl in question; he could tell by the look in her eyes that she was shocked.

"Get him" yelled one of the boys; they were charging at him.

Getting into position, he thought to what his sensei said about breathing, and thinking on your feet.

"Clone justu" he yelled, as three popped up next to him. Then, he threw a smoke ball on the ground.

"Where did he go I can't see him" yelled one of the boys.

"There he is" said the other, going to chase the three running Konohamarus.

As the three rushed to chase them, they never noticed the real one being covered as a rock, 'hehe I may not be strong, but at least I can be clever' looks like the pranks certainly helped his strategizing skills. Once certain that they were gone, he took his cover off, and walked towards the girl; she still had the look of shock on her face.

"I hope they didn't hurt you, are you okay?" he asked while taking in her appearance: she has dark brown hair that reached to her middle back, with her long bangs parted, and one lock on her face. Her eyes were white, with a tint of lilac in them. She looked to be wearing a sleeveless, blue V-neck shirt with mesh armour underneath; blue shorts and sandals. 'She's cute' was his thought as he gave his hand out to help her up. She shook her head and took the hand he offered. She asked the question that made his eyes widen.

"Who are you?"

"Who are you?" she had asked him. She felt hurt that mere civilians were able to beat her like that, even if they were older and there were more of them than her. She was surprised that a boy her age would help a stranger, and was actually able to help her. He had short spiky brown hair and black eyes. He also had a small chip in his tooth. His outfit consisted of a yellow shirt with the Konoha symbol in red, grey shorts, and long blue scarf. He was wearing a pair of googles on his forehead.

"Konohamaru Sarutobi of the Sarutobi clan, what's your?" He asked.

"Hanabi Huyga of the Huyga clan" she responded back.

"Hmmmm" he said as he deeply looked into her eyes.

"W-w-what?" She fidgeted; he was staring intensely at her.

"I don't get it" he said

"Get what?"

"Get how they could make fun of your eyes, I mean I'm looking at them now and they aren't freakish at all, their actually pretty" nodding his head as if he figured he came to a conclusion.

At this point Hanabi was starting to blush from both the compliment, and feeling embarrassed; that's the first time someone had called her eyes pretty.

"Ahhh, I didn't mean to embarrass you or anything, I was just stating a fact" he quickly said as he turned his head and began to turn red as well.

She began to giggle, and he smiled. It was strange, she didn't really have any friends her age, but even though he was a bit loud and obnoxious, he was nice.

"Well thank you for helping me from those bullies, I owe you one. I need to return back home though before my father starts sending a search party for me or something" she said bowing.

"Hehe no problem, if you ever want to play, I'll be at the academy grounds sometime tomorrow afternoon, later Hanabi-chan" he waved off heading east.

'Tommorow huh? Maybe I can tell tou-san that I want to go for a walk after morning training and meet up with him' she thought. It would be nice to get to know him and maybe be friends.

"…See you tomorrow…Konohamaru-kun" she said quietly to no one in particular.

"Bikochu? So it's that time of the season again isn't it?" Tsunade asked.

"Yes it is, back during the war times my clan used the Bikochu to pick up specific scents. It's even stronger than dog's sense of smell. I believe if we use this method then at the very least we can find a base if not Sasuke Uchiha himself" Shino explained.

Rubbing her temples, it actually bought more time to figure out what Orochimarus lackey was doing with a Kumo shinobi. It also might help get a certain genin off her back as well.

"Alright, this will be a B-rank mission with the risk of others also looking for this rare bug as well. Shino you will be in charge of this mission. I also want you to take someone else along this mission as well since he would have one of Sasukes item on hand with his scent" Tsunade stated in her hokage mode.

"Understood, so where is he?" Shino asked.

"Hey, I was asked to come in let me through" came a voice from behind the door before it opened up revealing one Naruto Uzumaki.

"Sorry, there wouldn't let me through, so what did you need me for Tsunade-Baa-chan?" Naruto asked.

Sighing, Tsunade waved her hand to the team in the room, "Meet team 8 in front of the gates in one hour. Shino will explain the mission details just make sure you have something of Sasukes on hand."

Looking at the team, then at Tsunade, he smiled and made a salute sign, "you got it" then dashed out of the room.

"Well I suppose we should get ready, lets head out" Shino said as the rest of the team left as well.

Gathering everything she needed, she put her backpack on and left her room.

"Going out on a mission Hinata" said her father as he was walking towards her.

Surprised, she replied, "h-hai, it will be a few days out of the village".

Nodding, he proceeds to walk forward. As she continued to walk she heard him speak, "Don't get in the way of your team".

Her shoulders slouched, and began to move a bit faster, nearly running into Neji, until the last second she spun on her foot.

"Sorry, but I'm in a hurry" she said not noticing her cousins surprised looked on his face.

"Psst, nee-sama" came a voice in one of the rooms.

Pausing and turning her head, she saw her sister in the room she usually trains in.

"You are going on a mission right?" She asked

"Yeah, I am" she replied, remembering what her father said.

Seeing this, she just gently patted her sisters arm, "hey, remember to not listen to tou-san; you're not a failure so give it your all" Hanabi said.

Raising her head, she smiled at her little sister, and then proceeded to leave.

'Naruto-kun wouldn't be down on himself, and if he won't give up then neither will I'

Hiashi was supposed to be known as a cold, stern person, but that was not the case; he loved his family and wished to fix the strain as much as possible. He began with Neji after the chunin exams, and was trying to figure out what to do with his elder daughter. Truth was he personally believed that Hinata may be the right heir with her personality since she cares to help the clan, not just make it a front of strength, but he couldn't sway the elders with his words alone; Hinata had to prove to them that she was capable.

His words this morning was him hoping it would motivate her to do her best, but he saw that it only dampened her instead. After seeing the exchange of movement with Neji, it only confirmed his belief that she indeed held more potential than his younger child. He had proceeded to follow a bit and perhaps see if he could say something else to say when he saw the exchange with the two siblings. He knew when Hanabi thought she snuck back in quietly that she had gone with Hinata that morning. He wasn't sure what was said with the two, but the exchange gave him a thought; Hanabi acted a little more distant with him that morning. Seeing the youngest cheer up his eldest, and telling her to disregard his words, made him think perhaps compliments might be the best with working with Hinata; he saw the confidence return to her before leaving again.

'Hinata, I truly wish I could be the father that you needed back then, hopefully it's not too late to start again once you return.' He thought to himself while thinking of his wife. 'She truly does look like you, I wonder what would have happened had you stayed, perhaps things would have been different for our daughters'

He only hoped that Hinata got strong enough before the decision came to who would truly lead the clan.

Done.

So yeah It's far longer than my usual chapters; I just didn't want to put part stuff on the next chapter in order to not make anything confusing.

Thanks for being patient with me.