She wakes up to her dad gently shaking her.
"Daddy?" she asks softly.
There is a look of guilt on his face. "I've got some bad news, Princess."
She sits up quickly, all traces of sleepiness gone. "What is it?"
"I've been called away on a mission in the Land of Lightening, I won't be able to make it to your exams tomorrow."
Relief and disappointment fight like the two wolves in her mind. On one hand, she wants her father to see her succeed (she hopes) or at least be there to cheer her on. On the other; she couldn't stand to see the look of disappointment if she fails, or let him see her get the shit beat out of her. But with the way that Dosu had been stalking her, killed.
"It's okay, Daddy." she says softly.
"Shikaku and Chouza with both be there. So will Santa, and other members of the clan who can make it."
Ino smiles. Great, now I can either disappoint my other two fathers, and show the clan that I am an unfit clan head. Or on the bright side, prove it! Stay positive, Ino.
"I'm glad to hear that. When will you be back?"
He shakes his head sadly again. "I don't know. Sooner over later I hope."
Ino nods again. "It's okay. I love you, Daddy."
Her father scoops her into his arms. "Win or loose. I am so proud of you."
She fights back her tears, and hugs him back. "I love you too."
"Go back to sleep. You have a big day tomorrow." he pulls away and smiles down at his daughter.
"I'll see you soon." she says confidently.
"I'll be home as soon as I can and you can tell me all about it."
The member of the Rookie 9 smiles and burrows back under her covers.
Hinata is surprised to hear that Ino Yamanaka is waiting for her at the gate. The young heiress uncaringly brushes the dirt from her garden on her pants and follows the branch member, Kinta, to the front gate. "Thanks Kinta." she says softly.
The younger nin smiles up at her, and opens that gate.
"Ino, I am surprised to see you. I figured that you would be taking it easy. Even Neji is spending the day meditating."
"That's why I am here. Are there any yoga sequences that you can lead me through that will help me stretch and relax?"
Hinata smiles at the other girl. "Of course, let me go change."
Ino finally notices the dirt that is sloppily wiped on the moon eyed girl's pants and the poorly cleaned soil on her hands, the creases of her knuckles and under her fingernails. "Are you gardening?" she asks quickly.
"Yes." Hinata is smart and quick to pick up on Ino's silent plea. "Would you like to see while I clean up?"
Ino smiles. "I would love that."
Hinata mimics her and leads Ino into the compound. They weave through other gardens, over koi ponds, and past what can only be a peace garden for meditation. She sees Neji's back and resist the urge to stick her tongue out at him.
The two come to a stop at a garden across from the Main House, and Ino can't help but smile brightly when she sees Hinata's assortment of flowers. Every single flower is one that can be used as an herbal remedy of some sort.
Lavender for relaxation.
Witch Hazel as an insect repellent.
Evening Primrose for all types of health benefits. Eczema, and more importantly PMS symptoms.
The list goes on and on. Of course the selfless Hinata would grow and make things to better her clan in some way. Her heart clenches; it is because of Hinata's kindness that she has lost her place as rightful heiress. Kindness is a rare quality in a ninja. Rumor has it that she even gave up her place because she couldn't stand the thought of hurting her little sister.
"Please feel free to examine them while I change." Hinata bows quickly and all but runs into the main compound.
Ino kneels closer to the plants; testing herself to see if she can remember the healing properties of all of the plants before her. She also tries to make a mental note of all of the flowers who's healing attributes she doesn't know to ask Hinata.
"I should have known that a flower girl would be staring at flowers."
Ino rolls her eyes. She'd felt Neji's silent approach, ever since Santa had started to help her hone her abilities as a sensor nin, she is able to pick up bits and pieces. Especially someone as strong as Neji; something akin to a killer intent that seems to flow unchecked. She assumes it's because of his hatred for the Main House.
"Looking at flowers that your cousin took her time planting." she stands and turns to face him.
"Wasting her time on flowers instead of training." Neji scoffs.
"Wasting her time on plants that have herbal remedies for her clan members." Ino is quick to defend Hinata. "But a genius like yourself would never seem to understand, considering how perfect you are."
She can see that Neji, who obviously cares and knows nothing about flowers, pause and think. "Next time you use a Hyuuga Home Remedy, probably after TenTen manages to give you a nasty cut, it was probably a healing balm that Hinata made."
"Ino! I grabbed us a bento box to split after we finish your training. I hope that you are not too nervous…to…eat…" Hinata yells quickly as she rushes down the stairs, but comes to a slow stop when she sees her cousin and friend openly glaring at one another.
Ino half turns to Hinata; she is unsure if turning her back to Neji is safe.
Hinata bows to her cousin respectfully. "Cousin."
Neji scoffs and gives his higher ranking cousin the shallowest bow he can. He turns to walk away. "Kindness should never be viewed as a weakness." Ino growls.
He pauses just long enough to indicate that he heard her words, before weaving his way back to the zen garden to continue his meditation.
"W-what happened?" Hinata asks softly.
"Your cousin is such a prick!" Ino exclaims, not caring if the entire compound hears her.
Hinata covers her mouth to hide her smile. "C-come on. L-let's help you calm down." The shy girl links her free arm with hers in a surprisingly bold display of camaraderie, as she leads them to the gate and in the direction of the training grounds.
They are back at the peaceful training area by the creek, Ino following Hinata's zen yoga postures and poses. They are focusing more on breathing and breath than they are anything else; slow and controlled, movements that indicate a water affinity.
"These are water affinity." Ino points out.
"Water is an underrated affinity. It is ever moving and flowing, flexible and open to change. But is capable of moving boulders and putting out fires. Powerful. Water is life."
"So we are flowing?" Ino asks.
Hinata smiles "Yes. We are flowing."
The tense and strained muscles in her body are slowly starting to loosen. She didn't realize how tight her hamstrings were, or how stiff her shoulders were from the amount of climbing she had been doing.
She lost track of time. Hinata making Ino close her eyes and focus on her breathing.
"H-how are y-you feeling?" the heiress asks.
"I didn't know I was so sore." Ino answers hesitantly opening her eyes.
"That's why Neji medi-meditates so m-much. He- he manages to find any-any body part th-that's sore."
"Your cousin is still an asshole."
"He- he's not so so bad." Hinata says softly as she sits on the ground in a half-lotus. Ino slides herself into the same position.
"Hinata, he tried to kill you."
Hinata's hand unconsciously goes to her heart where Neji had delivered the near fatal blow. "He is hurting." she replies softly.
"How is it that you are able to give him that pass?" Ino demands.
"He-he's m-my cousin. He i-is the weak one. Even though no one can see it." Hinata says as she begins to play with a dandelion. Obviously, not wanting the mind walker to know how she truly feels.
"What do you mean? He's the strongest member of Team One. The strongest Konoha contender to win." Ino says softly. She isn't sure how she feels about Hinata's observation; how can Neji be weak?
"He is blinded by h-hatred. He d-doesn't know where he b-belongs. My cousin is lost, even though no one c-can see. Even though h-he can't see."
Ino is at a loss for words. Although the more that Hinata explains it, the more that she realizes that it is true. Neji almost killed Hinata because of his anger. Neji made assumptions. Neji is cocky because he is the best and has always been. He pushes himself past his limits to make himself seem like he is the best. To make himself the best.
"You are too kind." Ino says. She realizes now that she sounds just like the Hyuuga family. Especially when she sees Hinata deflate at the comment.
"Hinata…I'm sorry."
Hinata quickly waves away Ino's attempt at an apology. "It's fine, Ino. L-let's share m-my bento."
"Hinata, I don't know if I can eat." Ino says. For the first time realizing that it isn't her vanity or dare she admit her obsession with calories and being thin, but actual nerves that are making her loose her appetite. Anko was right.
"Just do the best y-you can. A-any food i-is better th-than none." Hinata encourages as she pulls a small rice ball from the box and hands it to the blonde.
Ino tentatively takes it in her hand and moves it slowly to her lips. She takes a nibble, then another one before nausea takes it's toll and she places the rice ball back in the box. "I'm sorry, Hinata. It really is delicious, and I mean it! And this isn't about calorie counting, I think I am just nervous."
Hinata smiles sagely. "I f-felt the same way when we entered t-the Forest for the s-second exam."
Ino nods. "Thanks, Hinata."
Around dinner time, she hears a knock on the door. She sets down the bowl of rice that she is trying to convince herself to eat and walks to the door.
"Forehead?" she is surprised to see her pink-haired rival in love standing on the front steps.
"Pig."
"What are you doing here?"
Sakura pulls a red hair ribbon from behind her back and ties it in her hair. "I wanted to say good luck."
Ino feels unexpected tears to well in her eyes. She knows it's not the same ribbon, that one is buried in the bottom of a box, under her bed, full of other trinkets that she doesn't have the heart to get rid of. But it's the symbol and thought that counts.
The two meet in the middle with an embrace. "Thanks."
"I'll wear it tomorrow. I'm going to be there anyway; cheering for Sasuke and Naruto, I might as well cheer for you too. Don't die okay?"
Ino snorts and pulls away, the frenemies have tears in their eyes and weak smiles on their faces.
"Thanks Sakura."
The two stand together for a brief moment, unsure what to say. Both shocked that Ino used the pink haired girl's name instead of her nickname.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Ino." Sakura says, both unsure of what to do or say. They hadn't been real friends since they both fell in love with Sasuke.
"I'll look for you."
"Bye."
"Bye." Ino answers closing the door.
After a failed attempt to eat her dinner, Ino walks up the stairs to her bedroom. She drops to her stomach and pulls the box out from under her bed. She removes the lid and digs moves aside the random items that she keeps in the box; a lock of her mother's hair, her first toy kunai, a picture of one of her and Shikamaru's combined birthday parties (her smiling brightly and him with an exasperated look in his eye), then finds it. The ribbon is wrinkled, but she pulls it from the box and wraps it around her wrist into a combination bracelet/bandage wrapping.
She's going to wear it in the exams tomorrow; hopefully some of Sakura's good luck and big brain is woven in the threads. She's going to need all the help she can get.