Hey, hey!

Just wanted to say, I plan on Neji and Hinata to have a close bond in this story. Just not THAT close, if you get what I'm saying. They'll be some inside jokes, about their closeness, but that's about it.

I hope you enjoy this chapter as my as I did writing it. This is one of my favorite chapters in the story.

So enjoy!

Kakashi sat under the shade with Naruto and Sasuke.

Today was a unique day. It was kind of a rest day for team seven since the Chunin exams were in two weeks. Sasuke's birthday was the day before the exams. Hinata and Naruto wanted to do something special for him even though Sasuke told them not to. He almost begged for them not to because Sasuke didn't want to go out anywhere nor did he want to be around random people.

Sasuke was a private individual. He knew what he wanted. Kind of knew how he wanted to go about getting it. He knew who he wanted to be around and he stuck to the people he wanted to be around. Adding extra people was pointless. Still, knowing Hinata and Naruto they were still going to do something small for him.

Today though, Hinata's sister came to visit. That was the good news. Bad news was, it wasn't really a visit. Hiashi and Neji came along and brought Hanabi, and she watched her big sister train with her father.

So, they were all currently out in the hot summer's sun watching Hinata train with Hiashi. Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi were under one tree and spaced across the training area, Hanabi and Neji were under another tree to keep cool.

It was VERY hot out.

Neji watched Hinata and Hiashi like a hawk. His eyes barely left the two and if they did, it was only to see what Hanabi was doing. Making sure she was paying attention. He'd sometimes point out what was happening and better explain it to Hanabi.

Last year Neji would wear dark colored shorts and a beige buttoned up shirt. His head protector was on his forehead more so to coverup his seal and he had two long straps on each side. Probably for more coverage. Neji was wrapped up a lot last year. A sign that he was harsh in his training and always working hard to perfect his craft.

This year Neji wore a white kimono shirt that was long loose sleeves. His pants matched the shirt and he had a greyish apron tied around his waist. Last year Neji would wear his hair in a low ponytail, while this year his hair had grown pretty long.

He kept his hair long while Hinata kept hers short. Meaning Neji never let himself get in a situation where someone could go for his hair. Again another way for a Hyuga to compare who was stronger between the two. Another shot at Hinata's ego because even her little sister Hanabi had longer hair.

Neji dressed like the average Hyuga and so did Hinata's father. Hanabi was still young and kind of dressed it. She wore what she wanted. A pale-yellow kimono that was colored with light purple designs. She wore white sandals and a pink hair clip. Her hair wasn't too long, but you could tell she was growing it out and it was much longer than Hinata's.

Hanabi looked very innocent. You could tell the difference the way Hiashi and Neji talked to Hanabi. It was a total 180 compared to Hinata. Hanabi had an innocence that was silently agreed between Neji, Hinata and Hiashi that they all wanted to keep pure.

Naruto and Sasuke looked over at Hanabi for a second before looking back over at Hinata. "That is such bullshit. They literally cast Hinata away like the red headed step child." Kakashi didn't look at Naruto. Instead he focused on watching the training session in front of him. Hinata had progressed since she started training back with her family again. However, her endurance grew from training with team seven.

"This is something Hinata has accepted. Let it go Naruto. You too Sasuke. I can feel the heat from you silently fuming over there." Sasuke didn't say anything at first, as he was just trying to stay cool in the weather's blazing heat.

Sasuke still wore his blue and white short sleeved shirt with his Uchiha symbol on the back. He wore his white shorts and currently had one leg stretched out and the other brought in to support his arm. He was leaning against the tree and laid his head back on it. "She shouldn't have had her title stripped. I haven't even seen her sister skills yet, but I can tell Hinata is better. Stronger. More level headed."

Finally Kakashi looked over at Naruto and Sasuke. "You ask Hinata why she throws her matches with her sister then. Her father can't figure out why she does it, so maybe you can shed some light to him. He knows this. Hinata didn't get her title stripped because her father was angry with her. She got it taken because Hinata decided she didn't want Hanabi to be branded with the Hyuga's curse seal. Hinata decided her fate."

Kakashi looked back at Hinata in thought. "Honestly. If she wanted the title back right now. All she has to do is challenge Hanabi and beat her. Then she would be heiress again and wouldn't have to worry about her future. However, Hanabi's future would be very, very bleak. Her career would be decided for her. How far she could advance. Who she married. How many children she would bare for her arranged husband. She'd be miserable. Hinata knows this."

Naruto looked on as Hinata's training was starting to pick up. The heat made it a little hard to focus during Hinata's warming up phase. His hair was growing and he wasn't wearing his forehead protector. His hair was falling in his face from not getting his hair cut and it was damp. He was constantly whipping his face from the sweat. Naruto had his orange jacket unzipped to catch the air whenever it started to blow as he sat on the ground crisscrossed. Thank goodness he wore a mesh undershirt.

"So that's Hinata's future?" Naruto looked at Kakashi as he asked this. "She wants a life like that? I don't believe it."

Kakashi watched as Hiashi and Hinata worked on her rotation jutsu. "Hinata doesn't want a future like that. She's terrified of that being her future, but her wants does not outweigh what life she wants her sister to have."

Naruto sighed as he looked back at Hinata and watched as her rotation grew in size. "That thing is pretty cool. It literally annihilates my clones in seconds. It's hard to get to Hinata when she does this. Especially when she's hyped up."

Kakashi hummed at this. "She has come a long way. You all have. I don't have any worries for any of you in the Chunin exams. Just don't get cocky. That's when you misjudge people."

"Count your palms out loud Hinata. Make sure you're on count and don't mess up." Hiashi lowered to Hinata's level. Both Hyuga's in their training clothing. All black with their ninja sandals. Hinata nodded her head and flinched slightly when her father tapped her cheeks.

"Focus on your numbers. Don't pay attention to me. You immediately faltered and ruined the start of your counts. I will not say this again, so stop messing up." Hiashi continued to tap each one of Hinata's cheeks as she prepared her palms. "Answer me."

"Yes sir." Hinata willed herself not to flinch when her father's 'taps' became more like slaps. She pushed past his hands and invaded his space. Reaching his chest and ignoring the last 'tap'. Hinata proceeded to call out her numbers as she attacked him.

"Why the fuck is he slapping the hell out of her? What is the point of that?" Naruto frowned as he watched the two. Slightly losing his temper at the scene.

"To distract her. As you know, in a real-life scenario your opponent isn't going to let you just land a killer blow on them. They're going to fight back. Throw you off track. A lot of Hyuga clan techniques revolve around specifics. If they're off the wrong count, if their concentration is off. Anything is off just the slightest. Then their attacks could be voided. Chakra control and emotion control is key for any ninja, but it's a Hyuga's must. Or they fail and they'll die out on a mission."

Naruto scrunched his eye brows in thought and wiped the sweat from his forehead again. "Is that why Hinata freaked out on our mission in Mist? She was lacking in all of that?"

Kakashi nodded his head. "She relied solely on her eyes and that is a common error for a dōjutsu user. They mask their actual weakness by being efficient with their eyes. However, when it came down to it. Hinata couldn't properly defend herself against gang members with low grade ninja training. At best, very low grade Chunin that you and Sasuke could easily take. Maybe if it was two or three of them she'd be fine, but ten. Hinata needed more strength for that, which she didn't have at that time."

Sasuke looked over at Hinata. She covered it all up very well back then. "So, that's why she resorted to using a barbwire laced club? Because she couldn't deliver killer blows yet. They kept getting up and she was growing tired."

Kakashi hummed in agreeance. "Tired and desperate. Scared too. She was alone and one of her hands was inoperable. She thought they were going to gouge her eyes out. They probably were going to. You'll be surprised what someone would do to avoid death, pain and torturing. Their true colors come out and that day, we all saw Hinata's true colors. However, if her family found out about what happened out there. She'd be shunned."

Sasuke looked over at Kakashi. Now he was confused. "Why? All because she didn't stick to their fighting style."

Kakashi nudged his head over to Neji and Hanabi. "Look at how they dress. Their stature within the village. The Hyuga name is not barbaric. They do not spill blood and guts everywhere. The Hyuga clan was deemed the strongest clan in the village and the clan with the strongest allegiance to the village. People look at these people as some sort of divine beings. Hinata doing that ruins the image. No man would want a barbaric woman like that if she gets sent off for marriage."

Naruto was drinking water out of his canteen as Kakashi spoke. When he finished he looked over at him like what he said was the dumbest thing ever. "What? Because she's a badass fighter. That can hold her own even if she's the underdog. That's stupid."

Kakashi shrugged his shoulders. "To me and you. Yes. However, do you really think if the Hyuga clan marries off one of their own they are looking for a simple ninja? You could be a Jonin, you could be Anbu. Some high rank in a separate squadron. They don't care and don't want that. You're beneath them. They want wealth. A promise that you'll be able to financially care for the female they present you and you'll be beneficial to their clan. There is a reason the Hyuga clan has been top of the food chain for centuries."

Sasuke leaned back and looked on at the training. "So, our opinion means nothing."

Kakashi nodded his head. "Yes. It means nothing and Hinata losing her mind and ruthlessly killing a dozen men makes her look untamed. If anyone found out she'd be labeled worse than a female that didn't keep her virginity till marriage. Also, again. While that means nothing to people like me and you. To people in the upscale life like the Hyuga clan and their socialites, that is a big deal. An untamed woman. That would mean the man marrying her would have to put extra work in to put her in place. Groom her."

Sasuke let out a sigh as everything Kakashi was saying was starting to click together. He continued to watch Hinata as time went by. "You didn't put in the report that Hinata killed those men. Did you?"

Naruto looked at Kakashi just as curious. Kakashi was unfazed at the question and shrugged his shoulders again. "Nope."

"It would have ruined her?" Kakashi nodded his head at Naruto's question. "That and more. Any chance to get her title back as heiress and so much more. This is one of those things that stays within a team. Understood?"

Naruto and Sasuke both nodded their heads. They turned as they watched Hinata's little sister Hanabi walk up to them. She had this blank look on her face and it was something Naruto and Sasuke grew used to. They labeled it the 'Hyuga face' because everyone in Hinata's clan sported the blank look to outsiders. "Hello."

Sasuke didn't say anything as Hanabi spoke. Naruto smiled at her and gave her a bright 'hello' back. Hanabi titled her head as she looked at them like she was studying them "I don't know why Neji sent me over here with you guys. You're so boring."

Naruto gave Hanabi a tight smile. That was so fucking rude. She was way different then Hinata. It was too hot for smart ass remarks. "Hey umm Hanabi. Do you go to the academy?"

"Duh." Naruto's eyebrow twitched from her answer. He wanted to hang her upside down from a tree. "Okay. Well. I know someone in the academy right now. His name is Konohamaru. Really cool kid. Do you know him?" Hanabi stared at Naruto with her trademark blank stare before she rolled her eyes.

"Eww. You are friends with that kid. He's so loud in class. Never listens. Always disobedient. He just gets away with it because he's the Hokage's grandchild. Even though he acts nothing of the sort."

Naruto's nostrils flared. This fucking brat. How the hell was she related to Hinata?!

"You're one to talk. We're letting you get away with talking disrespectful because you're Hinata's sister. Even though you act nothing of the sort." Sasuke looked at Hanabi with an equal blank stare. He already wasn't fond of Hinata's sister. The fact she could talk and act as she wanted while Hinata constantly was walking on eggshells. All for this little girl.

Hanabi frowned at him. "You must be that Uchiha. Hn. Father was right about Uchiha's."

Hanabi crossed her arms and sat on the grass near Naruto. Sasuke had a look on his face that looked like he couldn't believe this…thing said that to him. He sat up from the tree but Kakashi reached his arm out to stop Sasuke from advancing. She was a little kid. Hanabi still had growing to do and was just a product of her environment.

Kakashi looked at Hanabi and smiled under his mask. "Now, now Lady Hanabi. Over on this tree, we mind our manners. We'll push you out in the heat if you keep up with that behavior."

Hanabi looked over at Kakashi with her arms still crossed. "Father said you were a pervert. I have no clue why my sister is living with a perv."

Naruto and Sasuke eyes snapped over to Kakashi and the two stifled a laugh. Oh this was rich. Kakashi clicked his tongue against his teeth and looked down at Hanabi. Reminding himself multiple times in his head that this was a child. "Why did Neji send you over here?"

Naruto cleared his throat as he tried to control his laughter. "Isn't it obvious sensei?" To torture him. Duh. Hiashi hated Kakashi. Anything to get under his skin.

With that Naruto couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. Hanabi looked at Naruto like he was weird. Her sister teammates were so weird. "Neji said he had to do something for my father."

Naruto looked over at Neji and saw how Neji still watched Hinata and Hiashi with intense focus. What was he doing?

Hiashi looked at Hinata as they finished eight trigrams, sixty-four palms. Hinata looked exhausted. She was breathing hard and he knew her chest had to hurt breathing in this thick, hot air. Hinata's hair was sticking to her forehead and she was sweating profusely. "I…need water."

"No you don't." Hiashi walked in circles around Hinata. Studying her form. Kakashi frowned under his mask as Hiashi stood in front of Hinata, blocking Hanabi from seeing what he was saying to her. Thus making it so Kakashi couldn't see and Kakashi wasn't going for that.

Naruto and Sasuke watched Kakashi stand up and move out from the shade and into the sun so he could see the conversation between Hiashi and Hinata. Naruto looked at Hanabi and looked back at Kakashi. Contemplating before he made his decision. "You stay here Hanabi. Don't you follow us either or I'll tell your dad and I know your dad would be angry with you."

Hanabi gave Naruto a hardened look before she snapped her head back to her father and sister. Sasuke looked at Naruto getting up to leave and followed him and Kakashi so he could also see what they were staring at.

They were looking at Hiashi stare down at Hinata and how she did everything in her power to not look at him. "You keep wearing that glove and act as if I haven't seen the damage yet. You have nerve damage in your hand from that mission. What happened?"

"It's in the report if you need to know Hiashi-sama." Kakashi called out and barely hid the annoyance in his voice.

Hiashi ignored Kakashi and still looked at Hinata. "I don't like this side of you Hinata. Fix it." Hinata lifted her head up and straightened her posture as she looked at her father. "Take the glove off."

"Fucking prick." Kakashi mumbled this under his mouth, but Naruto and Sasuke heard him loud and clear. Their sensei was getting angry.

Hinata took her glove off to reveal a heavily scarred hand. Discolored and marked up with healed lines from being sewed back together. Her skin stretched in spots that it had to connect back together and regrow.

Hiashi took her hand and looked at it with pure anger in his eyes. "I read the report. Your hand being damaged like this wasn't in it." Hiashi let go of her hand and cupped her face with both of his hands. Nothing was tender about this action.

Hinata shook as she saw the ice-cold stare her father gave her.

"Can we end this already? He's torturing her on purpose at this point. I know she's probably shaking right now. Look how he's staring at her." Naruto growled and wanted nothing more but to have the strength to control this stupid demon in him so he could obliterate that Hyuga leader.

Kakashi was silent as he continued to watch Hiashi. If he didn't take his hands off her in the next 60 seconds. Kakashi was going to go straight to him and have a word. With his fist.

Hiashi froze Hinata in her spot and looked at her seriously. "Don't you ever hide such things from me again. Do you understand me?" Hinata barely got out an audible 'Yes' but she managed.

Hiashi let go of her face and leaned his hands on his thighs as he leaned over to Hinata's eye level. "This for once wasn't your fault. It was the useless team of yours fault. I only blame you for sticking around with them and not moving on, when I see the potential in you right now."

Hiashi leaned up and backed away from Hinata. This time speaking in a tone so Kakashi could hear. "You are a Hyuga, Hinata. You've learned that you see things many cannot see and the world is lonely with the all-seeing Byakugan. Death is even lonelier when you see it coming and cannot help yourself. Perhaps if you were paired with your cousin Neji, this would have never happened to you. Family is all you have after all. You'll realize it sooner or later."

"Hiashi-sama. Are we wrapping things up!" Kakashi yelled this out as he walked back under the tree with Naruto and Sasuke. His anger now rising to a level that he was prepared to forget this man was a clan leader.

Again Hiashi ignored Kakashi and looked at Hinata. "Your form is good. Your endurance is better. Execution…good enough. You could have taken the last exams and passed it. Neji has taken the Chunin exams already and passed it. Why did you not take it with him four months ago? You're wasting time."

Hinata shook her head and looked at her father still fighting the urge to not pass out. "I. Do not know."

"Because I told her not to. It is MY team after all. She is MY student." Kakashi yelled this from across the field. Hiashi finally looked up at Kakashi for a moment. Choosing to pretend that he didn't hear that. "That is why you are in the position you are in Hinata. Neji submitted his own name. His teammates followed. You are not a leader. You are still a follower."

Hinata snapped her lips shut and looked at her father in an obedient manner. Refusing to talk back to him. "Prepare your rotation again."

"Hiashi-sama. With all due respect. You two have been at this intense pace for far too long, in horrible weather conditions. At this point she's burnt out and will tap into her reserved chakra. Surely you can see that." Kakashi frowned at Hiashi. His own patience was running thin with the heat and watching Hinata get verbally bashed for over an hour non-stop already.

Hiashi looked at Hinata with an amused raised brow. Almost entertained at the situation. "Who are you going to listen to?" Hinata didn't look at Kakashi as she prepared herself. "I'm ready."

Naruto frowned and looked at Kakashi. "What the fuck." Hanabi looked at Naruto in complete and utter shock. Her mouth was open and she looked appalled. "Hey! Watch your mouth!" Naruto looked at Hanabi and remembered how Hinata didn't like his vulgar language either. "My bad. Sorry." Hanabi still frowned and looked at Naruto, "I hope you don't talk like that around my sister. Hinata deserves so much better than this…than any of this."

Hanabi lowered her head and refused to look at her sister being battered any longer. Naruto looked at Hanabi and finally figured out that the rude and rough exterior was probably just an act to appease her father. Hinata wouldn't go through all of this to protect this little gremlin for nothing.

As Hinata started her rotation, Neji randomly stood up and sprinted towards her at speeds that caught everyone off guard. He came blazing with his own rotation and hit Hinata's at full force. She was pushed back a few feet before she pushed her heels into the ground. Focusing on perfecting her craft and not allowing Neji to break through it.

Hiashi walked around both the growing shields. Critiquing both of them. "Push yourself Hinata." Hiashi looked at Hinata and gave her the coldest stare that Kakashi has ever seen a parent give a child they were supposed to love. "Now Hinata."

Hinata nodded her head and pushed herself forward. Now making Neji have to back up. Hiashi now looked at Neji. "How can you let this happen and you're the one that's not winded?" He was fueling Neji's temper and Neji grunted between holding off Hinata. "If you want me to go all out and crush her, then that will be on you Lord Hiashi."

Hiashi didn't hesitate, not even for a second. "Go ahead."

Neji upped his chakra and started to advance towards Hinata and pushed her back further and further. Hinata's shield was digging further into the ground and backing her up to the trees while she was in the open field.

Hiashi walked closer to Hinata and had his hands held behind his back. Critiquing her. "You have advanced Hinata, but you should be at home. You'd be better than this. Whatever you call this. It's sad and pathetic. Look at you failing. Fight back now."

Hiashi looked up at Kakashi for a second. The two shared eye contact and during that moment Kakashi saw Hiashi's motive. He wanted to show he still had a hold over Hinata. That she would still listen to every last thing he said until he ruined her. He had that power over Hinata, he was her father.

Not Kakashi.

"I said fight back NOW."

Hinata let out an agonized battle cry as she listened. She was in pain and on the verge of passing out. Her body was beaten and tired. She was low on energy, but she upped her chakra and pushed against Neji.

Their individual rotation shields grew in size and started to kill the nature around them.

Hinata tried her absolute hardest and if this was any other ninja that she was fighting against in the Chunin exams. Hinata would be successful. However this wasn't the case.

Neji started to break through her shield. It looked easy for him. The rest of team seven could hear Hinata grunt out as she attempted to hold on equal to Neji. Kakashi shook his head. "Neji is easily a jonin level right now. He could be in Anbu in the future. He just has to wait the three-month time limit before taking the jonin exams. Hinata's only Chunin level right now. This is a very unfair match up."

Hiashi held his hand up to signal for Neji to stop. Neji did as he was instructed and disbanded his rotation and stopped advancing to Hinata. Said person was several feet deep in the ground and Neji stood above the hole and looked down at her. Hiashi looked at Neji surprised that he kneeled down and offered Hinata his hand to help her get out. "Leave her."

Neji closed his eyes in frustration and let out a sigh. He did as Hiashi commanded, stood up and walked away. Hiashi looked down in the hole at Hinata. "Since you want to continue these games and rebellious behavior with a team that won't be there for you once they progress higher in the ranks and leave you. You can stay in that hole and get yourself out. According to you. You do not need the support of your family. Do you?"

Hinata dug her dirty nails into the soil above her and Hiashi watched as she pulled herself out. Hinata's face was twisted in pain and her face was covered in dirty from being forced into the earth. She was on her knees as she gasped for clean air. Her eyes were still squeezed shut because they were starting to burn from being over worked.

Kakashi had enough of this and stood up to walk and get Hinata. He'd take her anywhere right now instead of here. Naruto and Sasuke were hot on his trail, but Naruto stopped walking when he crossed paths with Neji. Naruto eyed him. Neji was taller than Naruto, but size never meant anything to the hot headed Uzumaki. Neji looked at Naruto with an arched brow, "Do you really want to do that Uzumaki?"

Naruto's fists were balled and he had no problem with decking Neji in the face. He had no problem taking on more than he could chew. He looked over at Hinata and growled though. She was the focus point. Not picking a fight because he was pissed at Hinata's family. Naruto looked back at Neji with a smile. "I do…and I will sooner or later if you keep messing with Hinata. She's supposed to be your family. She calls you her freaking brother. Act like it."

With that Naruto walked to Hinata. Sasuke had stayed midway just in case something did happen between Naruto and Neji. As Kakashi got closer to Hinata, he watched Hiashi lean over and whisper something in Hinata's ear. Her hands coiled into fists and his words seemed to make Hinata just lower her head further in the dirt.

Like she was ashamed of herself.

Hiashi stood up and looked at Neji. "Go get Hanabi. Training is done for the day. Good luck at the Chunin exams daughter. I look forward to seeing the outcome." Hiashi looked at Kakashi now. "Let's see if you can keep your word Hatake."

Kakashi closed his eyes in frustration as he let Hiashi walk by him and let the three Hyuga's leave the training area. It took so much of his willpower as not only a noble ninja, but as a man to not challenge Hiashi and put his head through a tree.

After a moment of silence and when Kakashi was sure the rest of the Hyuga family was gone. He looked at Hinata. "Come on. Let's get you home and cleaned up."

Sasuke was kneeled down beside Hinata. He didn't have to touch her to know she was shaking. "Can you walk?" Hinata quickly nodded her head and started to stand. The pain in her body was screaming for her to not move.

Don't get up.

Hinata ignored that voice, because she felt if she stayed down she would be proving her father right.

Standing up so fast, everything spun immediately. She closed her eyes so she wouldn't get so dizzy and end up falling or passing out. Hinata leaned over and rested her hands on her knees. Taking a breather for a moment. "C-Can I-I have w-water p-p-please?"

Kakashi frowned at the regression. She was shaking like a leaf and her stutter was worse. Every fucking time her family came around. They just ruined everything. In a normal family situation, if the parent was being this toxic to a low level genin, then they could start a separation process and the genin could live on their own. However this was the Hyuga clan, Kakashi wouldn't even be able to attempt the process for separation.

"You don't have to ask Hinata." He handed her a canteen of water that he reserved specifically for her when she finished.

Hinata thanked Kakashi for the water and started to chug. She was so thirsty. The first gulp was painful because her throat was so dry, and dirt got up her nose and in her mouth. Just on pure reflex from being so dizzy and dehydrated. Hinata immediately threw up the water.

Naruto soft, but firmly patted her back so she could get it all out and not choke on saliva or mucus as water was coming out her nose as well. Naruto held Hinata because he felt her body shaking and could imagine her legs were about to give out.

Naruto looked at Sasuke and saw how Sasuke just couldn't look at this. Just out of pure anger. The more Sasuke looked at Hinata, the more he wanted to fight for her honor. The more he wanted to get to a certain strength level so he could make that so called father she had bleed.

Hinata coughed up a muddy loogie. Her spit and mucus mixed in with the dirt she heavily inhaled while being pounded in the dirty. That seemed to clear her up and Hinata nodded her head to Naruto that she was going to be okay.

Naruto smiled at this and helped Hinata straighten up. Even if she didn't need his help. He WANTED to help her. "There you go Princess. Good." Hinata furrowed her brows and looked at Naruto when he said that. She soon gave him a tired grin that he shared with her. He was proud of her.

Finally getting her barren, Hinata stood up and blinked her eyes into focus of her surroundings. The light from the intense sun hurt her, but she ignored it.

The group made their way back to Kakashi's home and Hinata kept up with their pace. Once in the apartment Hinata let out a sigh as she felt the cool air from inside. "Go shower Hinata. Please before you even open your mouth to ask me the ridiculous question of 'if you can'."

Kakashi sat down on the couch and Hinata blushed in embarrassment as she walked to the back of the apartment to the bathroom. That's exactly what she was going to ask him.

Naruto leaned against the bathroom door and looked like a loyal dog waiting for Hinata to come out the bathroom. Sasuke looked at Kakashi and sat on the opposite couch of him. "Will she be fine for the Chunin exams?" Kakashi had closed his eye to rest it, he opened his eye and looked at Sasuke. "I'm sure she will be just fine."

"Can we take her out for a while?" Kakashi felt a headache coming on from the uncomfortable heat and having to deal with the annoyance of the Hyuga clan. "Be my guest. 9:00 curfew."

Sasuke nodded his head at this and leaned back on the couch. Waiting for Hinata to finish getting cleaned up.

Once Hinata was done and opened the bathroom door. Naruto smiled at her and his deep blue eyes glazed over with affection directed just for Hinata. It made her blush. Before leaving Hinata eyed Kakashi on the couch. Naruto and Sasuke saw her pause as she looked at their sensei.

"I-I have left over dinner from last night wrapped up into a plate. Ready for you. If you wish, you can heat it up. I bought more of your favorite tea while I was with Naruto and Sasuke the other day, since you have been too busy lately to buy more. Also…the aspirin bottle is in the drawer near the kitchen sink. Take two, with water from the pitcher of cold water in the refrigerator."

Kakashi had his arms draped over his face as he was sprawled over the couch. He uncovered his face to show his exposed eye. Hinata was caring like that. Never selfish. Kakashi was so frustrated with her family that he was slightly showing his frustrations to Hinata and she didn't let it upset her.

Kakashi has been taking care of Hinata, but she mutually did the same with him. "Did you by any chance get any lemons?"

Hinata calmly looked at Kakashi and gave a slight nod, "Yes. Some already cut into the pitcher of water as well." Being around Kakashi 24/7, Hinata was bound to find things out about Kakashi that many might not know about. They had late night talks. Shared little details about one another that others might not know about.

Hinata paused one more time before leaving with the boys. "W-Would you like something sweet when I get back? I would like something sweet to snack on and would appreciate if you'd share it with me."

Kakashi shrugged his shoulders at this. "If you're buying. I'm in."

This brought a sweet smile to Hinata's face, "I look forward to it."

To be able to have a bad day and still be able to come home at the end of the night to an adult that welcomed you with warm arms. That was a blessing that Hinata had wanted for quite some time. In the beginning she wasn't comfortable, but now she enjoyed staying with Kakashi.

Sasuke lead Hinata and Naruto out the apartment and the three wandered the village. "Let's go this way." Sasuke guided them off road, to Hinata's favorite watering spot. Hinata knew where they were going and still remained silent as they walked.

"How are you feeling?" Naruto looped one of his fingers with Hinata's and looked at her. Hinata walked with this void look on her face. Her eyes lowered as she followed Sasuke's lead. Naruto expected her to be like this. Exhausted both physically and mentally. "I am fine. Thank you for asking."

"What did your father say to you before we walked up to you?" Hinata looked at Sasuke confused on what he was talking about. Sasuke didn't look back at her as he kept walking, "Don't give me the run around either. Don't lie to me."

Hinata let out a defeated sigh. Emotionally drained from the day. Naruto pulled her closer to him so she could rest her body on his as they walked. "Whether I like it or not. I am his child. I need him. I'm…just like him."

They arrived to the stream and Sasuke turned to look at her. "Well that's the dumbest thing I ever heard. Don't listen to him." Hinata looked at the water and was happy to see the streams were moving quickly. She'd be able to feel the water moving through her toes. "I am his child. I do need him."

Naruto watched Hinata take her sandals off and walk towards the water. "How could you say that Hinata?" Hinata simply shrugged her shoulders and stepped in the water. "Because it is true." Naruto took off his sandals and walked over to Hinata. "So, you want to go back to that? Go back to how you were?"

Hinata shook her head as she watched the water. Naruto took her chin with his finger and raised her to look at him. "I don't want to, but I don't want anything to happen to Hanabi. I have to do something. I can't let my weakness be Hanabi's downfall. She deserves the world."

"So do you." Sasuke said this as he finally entered the water. "Why don't you see your worth? Why are you willing to be some man's…property? You have all this potential. All this talent and you let your family dwindle you down to some object to dangle around to the highest bidder."

Sasuke leaned his forehead on the back of Hinata's head. "They don't know the real you. We do. We know all your dark secrets. Who you really are when you are happy, sad, scared. Even when you are broken. You think your family makes you strong, but they don't. We make you strong and you go back to them to show them what you've accomplished with US."

Hinata furrowed her brows together and closed her eyes. She finally leaned into Naruto and Sasuke's touch and relaxed around them. "I…don't want to be married off. I want a choice, but I don't want this to happen to Hanabi either." Naruto took her whole hand and brought it up to his lips as he kissed it.

"Become a leader Hinata. Change the rules. Change how your family does things. If they don't like how you do things, then you show them why you're a leader." Hinata looked at Naruto and he could see her eyes get watery. "I have to do that alone?"

It was a light joke. Hinata's own way at flirting with the two. Naruto smiled back at her and shrugged his shoulders. "If you want me and Sasuke to stick around for the ride. Just say that."

Hinata gave an airy laugh as she hugged him. Sasuke hugged her from behind and the two were in a comfortable embrace. Everything was different now. Not like before. Her father words use to stick in her mind and eat her alive. Now bits and pieces stuck with her, but Hinata was able to brush them off more now.

Simply because she knew she wasn't a loser. She wasn't useless. She wasn't weak. She was progressing fine and as long as she was progressing she would be just FINE.

For the first time in her life. After having a hard moment with her family. Hinata didn't have the urge to drink.

Yes, Hiashi is back to being a jerk. He will only get worse from here on out. Kind of. Awww, I don't want to spoil it. Lol

Hanabi is always a firecracker in my stories. I don't know how some ship her with Naruto, I just don't see it, but oh well.

Hope you all enjoy the chapter. See you Wednesday!