CHAPTER 2

"Kina-sama, you know how your father feels about it when you come home a little past dark." Ko lectured as he reached for her bag. She shook her head though denying his help.

"Oh, it is fine. It's not like anything bad will happen anyways." She quickly kicked off her shoes; the pairs landed in different directions.

Ko sighed, fetching her shoes, putting them neatly away.

"I'm home!" Kina shouted, walking towards the kitchen.

Ko ran after her to help slide the door open.

"Thanks."

"Heiress." He bowed his head and shut the door behind her.

She could hear his heavy footsteps fading from the kitchen.

"You're late." Hiashi muttered.

She plopped down beside Hinata, opening up the bag of dangos and sat one down on her plate. "I told you I would bring some!"

Hinata looked up at her, cheeks blushing. "Ah! Thank you, nee-chan!"

"Here you are, Kina." Her mother said as she sat down a bowl of miso soup on the table in front of her.

Kina's mouth begins to water, glancing down at the food. The smell of it hitting her nose. "Thanks mom. It smells delightful!"

"Mhm." She walked back to the stove to get more food out for the family, setting them neatly at the table.

The family ate quietly until Hiashi broke the silence.

"Don't forget your uncle and Neji will be coming over tomorrow. The little ones start their training together."

Kina, who totally did forget it, replied with "how could I forget?"

'I'll have you train with Ko tomorrow instead. Moving forward."

Kina swallowed her food before speaking, "Ko? That's a first in a long time. He and I haven't trained in a long time together."

Her father clapped for his eldest daughter, proud of how skilled of a fighter she has become. "You can rest now." He demanded.

She bowed. 'Haiiiii"

Ko standing beside her, holding out a small towel for his Lady.

"Oh, thank you!" She smiled, patting away her sweat on her forehead and cheeks. The two of them walked side by side, heading towards the patio.

"Man, Lady Hyuga, you have gotten better from when you were younger!"

Ko, who was only a few years older than her, used to spar with her almost everyday as kids. Hiashi so kindly took him in when his parents passed away from a horrible house fire when he was only 4 years old. Apparently, Ko's parents were super close relatives on the leader's side of the family. Kina has always had him around since she was born. He was practically Hiashi's first child until she came along. He even had his own room here growing up until he was old enough to move out on his own. It was a rare case the lead branch let slide. No one outside of the lead family was to stay with them overnight. All the guards and maids only came during the day to work while the night guards patrolled the outer walls in the evening.

"Alright, I think it is now time for the young ones to spar," Hiashi suggested, looking at his brother; who answered with a nod.

Hinata gulped and her head turned towards her sister. Kina looked down at her and saw such a worried face. The heiress smiled softly. "You'll be okay, Hinata-chan."

The youngest daughter slowly rose to her feet and walked towards the center of the yard. Kina made eye contact with Neji where they both exchanged a smile before he met Hinata at the center.

Before the match even began, her uncle collapsed to the ground screaming in pain. Kina, in horror, stepped closer to her uncle to see what had happened. Ko held her back with his arm up protecting her and not letting her pass him. She could see the cursed seal on his forehead had been activated glowing green. She gasped in disbelief. Uncle wouldn't do that to us would he?

Being alarmed, more guards rushed to the heiress and Hiashi's side slowly surrounding the lead family. Neji began to tear up and called out to his father, crawling towards his side. Hizashi continued to scream in agony while Kina pleaded to her dad to make it stop already.

Her father's face was stern as he turned his attention to his brother who was gasping for air and trying to recover from the pain. He said loud and clear that he was going to spare his pathetic life only due to the fact they are blood brothers and to not forget the duties of the branch family. He then looked at Ko and demanded to have them dismissed.


"So what happened?"

Kina looked down at her hands in her lap. "I don't even really know…" she softly said under her breath.

The black haired girl's eyebrow raised. "Really?"

Kina looked up at her, meeting with her red piercing eyes. "Well, all I can say is that it was not good, Kurenai."

She sighed, "not even a little detail?"

Her eyes rolled. "You know how it is with my family. I can't be saying too much. All I can really say is that the lead and branch family is not looking so hot right now."

"Geez… No offense, Kina. But being a part of the head Hyuga Clan does not sound like fun to me."

"You're telling me…" Kina softly stated.

Ever since her uncle had some murderous intent against Hinata, things have been a little hectic. It was forbidden to have any contact with her uncle or Neji anymore. More frequent guards on patrol. Needing to have at least two guards following you at all times. It has made things difficult to really live life freely for Kina. Lately making it difficult for her to meet with friends, too.

The heiress glanced at the memorial stone while they were about to pass the graveyard, noticing the ANBU man from a few days ago. She stopped walking to take it all in. This time trying to remember every little detail of his physical appearance.

"Why are you staring at Kakashi-san?"

Kina turned to Kurenai with an awe look. "Kakashi-san?"

"You don't know him?" She asked, confused.

"I mean, not personally. I have heard a little about him, of course. But I have never really seen him around here quite this often as before."

"I mean, I guess that makes sense. You are a couple of years younger than him. He hasn't been around town much often since joining ANBU. I think Asuma said he just got back into town a week or so ago actually now that I am thinking about it. Guess he's on a break or something if he's showing face around here." Kurenai explained before grabbing onto her arm, tugging slightly, "come on… Gai and Asuma are probably waiting for us at the BBQ house already!" Kurenai began to walk, dragging Kina along with her. Ko and another body guard followed them as well from a few meters away.

"What's he like anyways?"

Kurenai looked at her, confused. "Why are you so curious about Kakashi anyways? He wouldn't like you. He is kind of a jerk anyways."

She started to blush, embarrassed she responded "it's not like that! I was just curious."

She rolled her eyes. "He's a smart ass, graduated at the age of 5, became a jonin at the age of 13. Now he's in ANBU. I feel like he just thinks he is better than everyone else. Well, I am sure maybe not anymore though… But still."

"What do you mean by that?" Kina asked as she sniffed the scent of BBQ in the air. They were getting closer to the restaurant and could hear the mumbling of people inside the building.

"It's a long story really. He lost his whole team during the war. Ever since, he just hasn't really been the same. At least he's not much of a jerk anymore… But what happened to him is tragic."

"Oh," Kina was about to say something else until she realized Kurenai was too fixated on something else in front of them. She glanced at where she was looking and spotted Asuma and Gai. Kurenai started to jog towards them saying hi while waving, leaving Kina behind.

She felt sad hearing his story. She thought about it a little more until she heard someone calling out for her.

"Hey! Kina, are you just going to stand there or what?" Asuma yelled out.

The heiress glanced over her shoulder, looking at Ko. "It won't be too long."

He nodded to her then looked at the other guard. The two of them separated; one going to patrol the left side of the building, the other taking the other side of the building.

She caught up with the group and said hi to Asuma.

"Wow, so fancy with your body guards there, girl." he teased.

"Aw, now. You can't be going around teasing the Hyuga heiress like that, Asuma!" Kurenai added.

The two laughed while walking into the BBQ house.

Gai did his pose and smiled big. "Kina-sama, we should have an eating contest tonight!"

She giggled, covering her mouth from showing her teeth. "Maybe next time, Gai. Not tonight."