Chapter 7

Earlier that day, Hinata breathed a sigh of relief. She felt embarrassed In front of Sasuke. She knew she had to face him but this just wasn't the time. She didn't expect Naruto to be there. It had been a long time since she saw him and it still brought back some memories.

'I H-Hinata Chan, I don't know what.."

Quickly shaking her head to clear unwanted thoughts, Hinata decided to head towards the training grounds of team 8. She heard that Shino was back from the mission. It also had been some time since she talked to Kiba and Kurenai Sensei because she was busy with the Hyuga clan issues. Lately, there has been an awful lot of discussions revolving around the clan heiress and her marraige. She was sure the council was upto something.

Even if they, choose Hanabi as their heiress, she would gladly accept it. There would be nothing but happiness to know that her little sister will rule the clan. But she hated it when the council would degrade her abilities and skills. She knew that their behavior towards her was because she defied them and their orders ever since the war. The war had proven that her Byakugans' reach was absurd. No one in the Hyuga clan could see that far. This revelation came as quite a surprise to all that the clan, for the very first time, decided to train her. But she declined their offer. Ever since she was little, all she recieved was hate and insults and then all of a sudden when they realized her worth, they decided to take her in.

Instead of undergoing the Hyuga training, she went on to learn medical ninjutsu. She knew that it would infuriate her clan. All Hyuga's were destined to be warriors and ninjas with immense strength and courage since their birth. It was what their ideology said. Her own father, Hyuga Haishi, had restricted her from practicing medical ninjutsu as it wasnt befitting for the eldest of the clan. But she decided to follow her choices. Her decision was considered as disobedience to the clan's authority and power. It was a shame for them that the eldest of the clan was not a strong warrior who underwent the famous Hyuga training.

Hence they decided to supress her by sealing and marrying her off to an eligible suitor, who would listen to their orders, as soon as possible. So, she decided to play along with the marraige plans of the clan. Not even in their wildest dreams, would they have ever thought of her choosing a missing-nin. For who in this entire world would be able to tame an Uchiha.

It would be the perfect answer to the Hyuga's who tried to belittle and underestimate her too much.

Now let them come to seal her and she would give them a taste of their own medicine!

"Hinata!"

Turning towards the source of the noice, She found Kiba and Shino waving at her.

Shino showed up wearing a long sleeved shirt, pants and dark sunglasses, his headband displayed on his forehead While Kiba came in bold colors, though his shirt was long sleeved. He wore his headband proudly displayed on his forehead, with Akamaru at his side.

Brushing away all her thoughts, she waved back at them.

Kiba skidded to stop right in front of Hinata with a wide grin on his face while Shino walked behind him slowly. "How have you been, Hinata?" He asked.

"Kiba-kun, Shino-kun", Hinata smiled while shaking their hands. "How was the mission, Shino-kun?".

Shino smiled back, "It was fine, although we found it troublesome".

"Hey, you sound like Shikamaru, Shino", Kiba said as he leaned back and yawned lazily, putting his hand over his mouth.

Hinata giggled. It was nice to reunite with her team. Team 8 was her second family. Over the years they formed a special bond with each other. Kiba and Shino were her best friends.

"Say Hinata, how about we go to sensei's house?" Kiba smiled back, patting her head. "I'm sure she would make some delicious meals. I can't keep torturing my stomach anymore."

"Arf arf!" Akamaru barked in agreement as Hinata patted his head. He too was feeling hungry.

Shino sighed. Sometimes, he would wonder if Kiba lived to eat. As if reading his thoughts, Hinata laughed while Kiba and Akamaru glared at him.

They all walked to their sensei's house chatting happily on the way.

Yuhi Kurenai was suprised to see her students. Her team 8.

"Kiba, Shino, Hinata, About time you all visited me. I was starting to think you forgot your sensei ."

"Oh, come on sensei, we have come now isn't it?". Kiba gave a toothy grin to which Kurenai smacked his head.

"Unless you feel hungry, isn't it Kiba?", asked the teacher. Shino sighed as Kiba acted like he was in pain while Hinata went to hug her sensei.

"Hinata, you are the only one who really cares about me", Kurenai gave her student a motherly smile after hugging her.

"A-ano sensei, I'm sorry that I didn't visit you often."

"It is okay dear, I was joking. Come inside", said the team 8 teacher who stepped aside to let her students inside.

The room gave off a cosy feeling, with couches lined across one side of the room and the television set across from it with the windows behind it and the curtains drawn. "How is Mirai, sensei?", Shino asked as his friends seated themselves in the couch.

They all knew that their sensei was having a hard time managing Mirai and teaching at the academy. Mirai was indeed a powerhouse. She had so much energy in her that she could even beat Naruto. That cute little girl was a ball of sunshine in Kurenei's life.

"She is at the day care with other kids. She loves spending time there although she complains that you three don't come to play with her." Kurenai said as she served biscuits and tea for her students.

"Sensei, I wanted to meet Mirai-chan and play with her but the clan is keeping me busy ", Hinata said while watching Kurenai set the tea cups on the table.

"Don't worry Hinata, I understand".

Kiba stopped munching the biscuits as he heard what his friend said. "Hinata, what does the Hyuga council want now? Is everything okay?".

Shino too nodded. He wanted to know if Hinata is facing clan issues. Hyuga always sidelined and refused to acknowledge their friend, over the years. This infuriated both to a great extent that they decided to protect Hinata from the clan and its orders.

Hinata smiled nervously at all of them as she drank the tea. She felt the atmosphere in the room turned serious as three pairs of eyes focused on her. Now they were worried about her. She shouldn't have mentioned it. But she could not go back now.

"No Kiba-kun, Shino-kun, Everything is alright. They are now going to decide the clan heir."

All three gasped. Selecting a clan heir means sealing the other.

"No, they are not going to do that right?", Kiba glowered to which Shino touched his shoulder telling him to calm down.

Kurenai inquired worriedly with a calmer tone," Hinata, are they going to seal you?"

Hinata knew this question was coming. She didn't feel bad when her team assumed that she would be sealed. She knew everybody thought Hanabi as a more capable heir than her. She had been accustomed to this from years. But hearing it from her own teammates and sensei had hurt her a bit.

As if reading her thoughts Kurenei gasped slightly, "Oh Hinata, I really didn't mean that. I-I ..."

"Sensei, it's okay. It was going to happen this way. I already knew it." Hinata smiled trying to comfort her sensei.

"We will talk to the council. I, Shino and Kurenai sensei will convince your father..", Kiba aggresively demanded in an attempt to help Hinata from the fate the clan has decided.

"Yes Hinata, what Kiba said is right. We will talk to him", Shino too supported Kiba's decision. They could never see her sealed.

Hinata smiled at her teammates as she held her sensei's hand.

"Thank you so much. You all are my only support but Father is trying to find a way out of this."

"Hinata, you don't..", Kurenai tried convincing her but Hinata beat her to it.

"Sensei, don't worry about me. No matter what happens, I will never allow myself to get sealed. I will not allow the clan to decide my fate. It is a promise I made to myself long ago".

Kurenai realized that she no longer was the little shy girl she once knew. Right now, she could see a new strength and confidence in her student. Hinata had changed a lot, which she failed to notice as a teacher. Perhaps it was for the best.

On realizing this, her eyes gleamed with tears as she spoke, " Hinata, I'm proud of you. No matter what your decision is I will be there for you in the end."

Kiba was about to interupt when Shino cut in, "Kiba, we should respect her decision. I'm sure she will get through this."

Shino knew Hinata well. But after seeing her confidence in herself, he trusted her with her decisions. If she met the Uchiha that day, then there must be something important. He was sure she has found a way out of this problem. A solution that has something do with the Uchiha.

No matter what it is, he knew Hinata will surely tell him one day. Until then he will wait and support her.

Hinata didn't know what to say. She hugged all three of them as tears betrayed her face. She was lucky but then she felt bad she didn't tell them the truth. Silently she prayed, closing her eyes tightly as she had only one thing to wish for.

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'Kami-sama, Okaasan, I hope they won't resent me when I make my choice.'

Author's Note

A 2k chapter!! Thank you for reading. I know I made you all wait but sorry for the delay. So now tell me,

1) Your reviews and thoughts about this chapter. Both positive and negative appreciated.

2) How are you all? Tell me how is 2022 treating you? *pretty bad for me*

Do post reviews before leaving either a chapter review or about yourself or questions you want to ask me.

Your support is my motivation to write. Thank you for all the reviews of previous chapters.

With love,

ELSA