A/N: Yes, I'm aware that this is an interlude, but because of the length of this interlude, it'll be acting as a chapter so no double update today lol

?￢ﾜ ? ~ Interlude Four — White Eyes ~ ?￢ﾜ ?ￂﾠ

A mere two months after the Kyuubi's rampage, half of the compound was reduced to ash. The remaining half was still neck deep in mourning and anguish. The Hyuuga mourned. Faces soaked with tears for their fallen friends, lovers, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins, sons, daughters… all dead. Most bodies weren't recovered either. Children were orphaned, which wasn't helped by the fact that the Kyuubi destroyed the Hyuuga's orphanage.

The grief-stricken clan could barely rebuild their compound. Rubble, ash, and wreckage blemished their home like burning acne. It would surely scab and scar as an eternal, ugly reminder of that day. This was the Hyuuga's darkest hour with not a single sign of light anywhere on the pitch black horizon…

That was, until a new dawn.

Hiashi Hyuuga watched with an uncharacteristic tear in his eye as the cries of a newborn child filled the torch-lit wooden room. The baby was held in the arms of a woman with raven hair. Hana Hyuuga, his beloved wife who had a steady stream of tears running down her face as she cradled her swaddled baby.

A beautiful, healthy newborn baby girl, nothing less than the spitting image of her mother. Hiashi's pale lavender eyes shone at the sight of his daughter; a warm pride swelled in his chest and more tears threatened to spill out of his eyes. He was a father and his family was now complete. Now, all he had to do was protect and grow that family, by any means necessary.

"Hinata," Hana said, nodding at the sound of the name as she caressed her daughter's cheek.

Hiashi smiled in agreement. "Hinata… That's perfect."

Both of them looked down at a cry from her. Her face scrunched and Hinata opened her eyes to the world for the first time. Hana's eyes widened and Hiashi gasped.

Hinata's eyes were white. A pure, pearly, pupil-less eye that shone like twin white diamonds. They twinkled with innocence as she grabbed her mother's finger.

Hiashi and Hana locked eyes. Then they looked back at their daughter. "She's…" began Hana.

"Bontena," Hiashi finished, looking into Hinata's white eyes.

Hiashi chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. He walked over to his wife and daughter, and Hana handed Hinata to him. Hiashi smiled as the newborn looked at her father with a tilted head. "You, my daughter, you, Hinata Hyuuga… are destined for greatness," he told her, tapping her lightly on the forehead.

Hinata giggled, almost like she understood the words being spoken. Hiashi chuckled back while Hana watched with an endearing, face-splitting grin.

The sun just began to rise, lighting the darkness with deep purple, and that was the dawn when the Hyuuga Clan changed forever.

—⊱✿⊰—

Three years passed and the Hyuuga's spirits soared like the clouds that mimicked their savior's eyes. Each of Hinata's appearances outside of her home was treated as lavish events, she always had her short hair done to perfection. She never failed to be dressed in the most extravagant of silks, and each and every blemish on her was covered by precise, yet minimal makeup done by nothing short of masters of the craft.

She held her father's hand in the street. Mother was still home. The many—over twelve—layers of robes she wore weighed her down and made it quite difficult to move. But it made her father happy—the elders as well.

Her father held off anyone who attempted to approach her. Hinata was displeased… but she couldn't exactly do anything. She did her best to smile at anyone her father waved away, making sure to have her eyes as wide as possible to make sure they saw them. That was usually a good enough consolation for them.

Finally, she was able to sit. From there, atop a hill in the Hyuuga's Yoshino Oasis, many members of the clan were able to meet and greet her. Hinata beamed at everyone she met. She was thanked so many times—many, many times. She always smiled, always said that it was her honor to serve them as the Hyuuga's heiress. This time… things were quite a bit different.

Another girl walked up to her, barely older than her. No parents accompanied her, it was almost sundown, and she was near the end of the long line formed that day. Of course, the girl bowed immediately. "Greetings, Lady White Eyes."

"No! Please, just call me Hinata!" she requested with her calm smile, bowing her head herself. She was just a girl… how would she be above anyone else in her clan? Before the talk could continue, her father gave her a knowing look from above.

As she mostly did, she dismissed it and looked at the girl. She cleared her throat. "Lady Hinata… I-I miss my parents. When the Kyuubi attacked… They didn't come home."

Hinata frowned and hung her head sympathetically. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't be sorry!" she pleaded, clenching her fists and shutting her eyes. "Before they were gone, they always told me stories of the White-Eyed Hyuuga… and how they were pure and how they were powerful." Tears fell from her shut eyes.

"And… they were right. All because of you. Thank you…" She cried, tears just fell and fell down her eyes.

Hinata stood—much to her father's dismay—and walked toward the still bowing girl. She put her hands on her shoulders. "What's your name?"

"S-Shireta," she managed through her tears.

Hinata nodded and wiped the tears from her face. She looked up to see Hinata's smiling face. "You're welcome! I'll make sure I become strong, just for you, okay?"

Shireta nodded and sobbed even harder. "Thank you…"

"You're welcome!" Hinata smiled brighter. "My mother hugs me when I cry, do you want one?"

The girl nodded again and Hinata pulled her into her arms. She let her cry on her for a bit. It didn't take too long for Shireta to pull back. "Thank you, so much."

Again, Hinata smiled. "You're welcome!"

—⊱✿⊰—

The next day, Hinata was out again. This time, her mother snuck her out of the house while her father was in a clan meeting. As much as she adored meeting all the grateful citizens of the Hyuuga, it was more on the exhausting side.

She walked the street holding her mother's hand. Her dress was much more comfortable and much more casual. Just a simple lavender dress that flowed down to her ankles. In that, she could move without each step feeling like carrying a boulder.

That didn't change the fact that she was recognized in public. But, her mother did not wave away any visitors. They always expressed their joy, gratitude, and the usual. She didn't need to hug anyone, however.

The smell of cinnamon rolls hit her nose as she and her mother approached the bakery. However, a set of frantic footsteps came from behind the two. A boy, a bit older than Hinata was panting hard and looked desperate.

"Lady White Eyes, Lady Hana! I am very sorry to bother you—but can you please help me," he pleaded with a deep bow.

Before Hinata could process the boy's question, her mother responded with a smile. "Of course!"

"But… the cinnamon rolls…" mumbled Hinata.

Hana looked down at her daughter. "A member of the Hyuuga Clan needs help, it would only be right for the heiress to help them… isn't that right?"

"Oh—Yes!" she agreed—a bit disappointed in herself for even considering the alternative. Hinata looked toward the boy. "What's wrong?"

"My cat! He got stuck in a tree! I can't reach him…"

Hana smirked. "I can help with that easily!"

A grateful smile crossed his face. "Thank you!" he repeated the phrase about ten more times.

Hinata was about to speak, but Hana spoke first. "You do not need to thank us! We as the Main Branch will serve you just as you serve us."

The boy nodded and smiled before leading Hinata and Hana to a nearby tree. Up above—nearly thirty feet—Hana spied a pure white feline in the tree. He didn't seem unsettled. As a matter of fact, he was quite calm.

Hana chuckled. "Now how did you get all the way up there…?" She walked toward the tree, then walked up the tree in a gravity defying maneuver. Hinata and the boy gasped in utter awe. It didn't take long for Hana to return with the feline in her arms, as calm as ever.

"Nyako!" he called excitedly as Hana handed him the cat. The boy bowed and thanked the two very very profusely.

This time, both mother and daughter responded, "You're welcome!" at the same time. With an endearing and contagious smile, Hana looked down at Hinata. "Now that we've done a good deed, the cinnamon rolls are going to taste extra good."

"Yay!" cheered Hinata as she followed her mother back to the bakery. One day… she wished she could be as kind as her. She liked to think she was on the right track.

—⊱✿⊰—

Chakra flashed blue with the Byakugan's vision. Even with her eyes, Hinata could barely keep up with the movements of her uncle and father's spar. They were the two strongest of the Hyuuga Clan! Even though Toneri of the Side Branch provided more competition than her father would've liked.

"Woah!" gasped her cousin Neji. Her uncle managed a great blow on her father. Hinata could barely see her father's counterattack that drove her uncle back. Watching them fight was always so exciting. What made it even better, was that she would be able to do that one day!

That was why her father made them watch. It was her and her two cousins, Neji and Kusari. She really liked Neji, they got along quite well! He was strong too, in their spars she never managed to best him. Even when she lost, Neji always helped her up with a smile. Hinata loved Neji, just as family should.

What made her sad was that her relationship with Kusari wasn't the same. Something inside of her, deep inside of her, always told her to be careful around her. She felt uneasy, like Kusari was going to attack her. Kusari was never kind to her, either. She just stayed away from her… they barely talked and wouldn't dare to be in each other's presence for too long.

It scared her too much… and Kusari just seemed to be angry after a bit.

Hinata couldn't understand.

A sudden poke to her shoulder brought her attention. It was Neji. "Look! My father is about to win!"

Hinata gasped and looked toward the fight. Hiashi was on the back foot, her uncle Hizashi's Juken assault was unrelenting. It was sudden, but Hizashi's back hit the floor. Hiashi's palm was outstretched where his brother's chest once was.

"You almost had me, brother," said Hiashi as he reached down to help his brother up.

Hizashi scoffed in defeat, taking his brother's hand.

Neji was floored.

A proud smile curled Hinata's lips. "My father just won."

Neji simply grumbled; that made Hinata giggle. Kusari frowned at the sight, but didn't say anything.

Hinata let out a satisfied breath. One day… she'd be strong like him—she knew it. Strong like her father… she hoped that she was on the right track.

—⊱✿⊰—

A few months passed; mother and daughter stood in the living room of the Clan Head's home. Daughter seemed quite bemused while mother was very excited.

"Dancing…?" Hinata asked with her head tilted.

Hana nodded profusely with a grin plastered across her face. "Yes! I loved dancing as a little girl, and I was hoping you would too…?" Hana asked bashfully with a raised brow, looking for an answer.

"Okay, I'll do it!" Hinata answered with a leap of joy.

Hana beamed and clasped her hands together. "Yes! Okay, so first we have to stretch."

"Like when father trains me in the Juken?" Hinata asked, tilting her head again.

Hana nodded. "Yes, exactly like that—well, not exactly… but it will work either way! But first, we'll have to clear out the room."

"I don't think father would appreciate that," Hinata said, looking up at her mother.

Hana winked at her daughter, and Hinata giggled. Mother and daughter moved the furniture in the room to the walls with Hana sporting a devious smirk the entire time. The orange light of the morning sun died into clear pre-noon light by the time they were done.

Hinata and Hana stood facing each other. They started their routine with the warm-ups typical for Juken training; they did the movements in perfect sync, moving their limbs slowly and methodically like a gentle stream. They concluded with a deep breath, and Hana smiled.

"Dancing time!" she announced.

Hinata threw her hands up. "Yay!"

"Okay, this type of dancing is all about control and purposeful movement. You're telling a story using only your body. You can't mess up, or else people might get the wrong idea," Hana explained.

Hinata nodded slowly, absorbing the information like a sponge.

Hana's smile grew. "You can do things from admiring a flower," she explained, demonstrating the movement with a wave of her hands in front of her. "And even enjoy the sight of the moon!" She expressed, performing a graceful twirl that ended with her hands making a circle above her head.

"Woah…" Hinata gaped in awe.

Hana giggled. "But for now we'll just focus on foot movements, alright!"

"Okay!" Hinata confirmed with a bright smile and enthusiastic nod. Hana proceeded to glide her feet across the floor with her waist bowed ever so slightly. Hana looked to her daughter, and to her surprise saw her mimicking the movement herself, deep in focus.

"Woah, I didn't even explain it, and you're already doing it well!" Hana exclaimed.

Hinata laughed, her white eyes beaming as they met with her mother's eyes of lavender. "Thank you! This is really fun!" she cheered, doing the movement once again, just a little bit more refined than the last time.

However, Hana noticed it. Her chest swelled with a warmth that radiated throughout her body. "If you keep this up, you'll be an expert in no time!"

"I will?" Hinata asked, eyes wide.

Hana nodded. "You will! Now let's wait until you master this before you move onto the next one," she said, joining her daughter in the movement as they both practiced. The sun rose in the sky just like their spirits as they continued. Things were looking up, and it wasn't even noon yet. However, their fun wouldn't last much longer.

"Ahem," a voice echoed through the room.

They froze and slowly turned their heads toward the source of the voice. It was Hiashi Hyuuga, wearing his typical stone cold expression, one which seemed to be carved out of marble that grew long, silky brown hair that flowed behind his back.

"Hana, do you care to explain why the furniture is misplaced?" He asked, scarily calm.

Hinata seemed to shrink, but Hana patted her on the head before facing her husband. "Hiashi, do you remember when Hizashi gifted us that delicious meal, and after we had our share, we put it into storage to eat later… and you had seconds while leaving none for me?"

"...Hana I apologized—"

Hana closed her hands, and Hiashi stopped speaking. "You also said that I couldn't use the dojo to teach Hinata dance, so I had to improvise."

"I…" Hiashi started, before taking a deep breath, allowing the stone of his expression to break into one of playful defeat. "You were always one for clever mind games…" he mumbled, shaking his head. "You two may use the dojo, only if you put the furniture back where it's supposed to be."

Hana smiled. "Deal!"

"Do I have to help?" Hinata asked.

Hiashi nodded. "If you helped move the furniture, then you will help in putting it back. It'll be good for the start of your training as well."

"Yes, father!" Hinata said, before going to the nearest chair to push it away. As his wife and daughter took on the temporary profession of a mover, Hiashi couldn't help but stay and watch. Watch his gentle, clever, and beautiful wife; her soft, round face, her long, raven hair. Watch his daughter, whose white eyes beamed with life and hope as she seemed to grow to look more like her mother by the minute.

A smile crept on his face, and Hiashi turned away. He had matters to attend to, all for the sake of his clan, his family, his daughter.

—⊱✿⊰—

Nearly a year passed, and Hinata was now four. She sat in the private healthcare center of the Hyuuga Clan's Main Branch, twiddling her fingers, shifting in her seat, biting her tongue, all with a grin on her face. She drew many glances with the radiating of energy she gave off, all of which she barely noticed… all for one reason.

She was gonna be a big sister!

The past couple of months were very interesting for Hinata. She could remember the day she was told that a new edition to the family was on the way as clear as the past five minutes. She loved the smile that was on father's face. She barely got to see him smile—let alone one that was as big as the one she saw that day. The look on mother's face though was indescribable joy.

After she learned why her parents were so happy, she joined in with all the happiness and excitement she could muster. Hinata wondered if she made her parents that happy, she never voiced her thoughts on the matter though. She thought it would seem selfish. But the fact that she was going to be a big sister was more than enough for her to forget within the hour.

Seeing her mother in the following months came as a double dose of joy because she could kind of see her soon-to-be sister in her mother's growing belly. It scared her at first because she thought that her sister would explode out of mother's stomach. Luckily, Hana explained that her sister would not be exploding out of her stomach. She did never explain how she would come out though…

Hinata was broken from her thoughts by the sight of her father. She beamed, seeing that smile on his face again. "Father! Can I see her now?!" she called, running toward him.

"Yes, you can see her now," Hiashi affirmed, bringing his daughter into where her sister and mother were with a hand on her back. "You're shaking, are you alright?"

Hinata nodded profusely. "Yes! I'm just really excited!"

"That's good," Hiashi said with a chuckle. They walked into the room where the rest of their family was. The door opened and Hana's smile grew into a grin as Hinata gasped at the sight of the swaddled baby in her arms.

Hana giggled. "Hinata, come meet your sister, Hanabi."

"Hanabi," Hinata repeated, walking toward her sister with a smile. Before Hinata could even get close, Hanabi was already looking at her with pale lavender eyes. "Hi!" Hinata greeted.

Hanabi giggled and reached out to her sister. "Do you want to hold her?" Hana asked.

"Yes!" Hinata answered, reaching out to carefully grab her sister. Hanabi went into her arms laughing, and Hinata's entire body warmed as she slowly rocked her sister. "She loves me!" Hinata exclaimed.

Hana laughed. "She does!"

"Yay!" Hinata cheered. "I love you too, Hanabi!" she told her, getting another infantile smile and laugh as a response. As Hinata looked into her sister's eyes, she wasn't sure things could get much better than this. It was noon, and Hinata's spirits were as high as they'd ever been.

—⊱✿⊰—

Hinata didn't think anything could bring her down from the high she was on. She was wrong. It had only been a day since Hanabi was born, and the Hyuuga Clan delved into whispers.

"Why would Lord Hiashi have another child? She's taking attention away from Lady White Eyes."

"That second heiress is useless. She has no reason to exist because of Lady Hinata."

"Lord Hiashi should just banish that second heiress to the Branch Family so he doesn't have to waste his time with her."

Hinata's chest burned with each venomous comment about Hanabi she heard. Why would they say such things?! It relieved her that Hanabi couldn't understand what was heard about her, but what would happen when she was older? Would they all just hate her because she exists?! No… they didn't hate her because she existed…

They hate her because I exist… Hinata mumbled to herself, her demeanor shrinking as she walked beside her father, dressed up to the utmost as always.

Hiashi looked down at her with a raised brow. "Is there something wrong?"

"They don't like Hanabi because of me, right?" Hinata asked, averting eye contact as she stared at her feet.

Hiashi frowned. "That… is true."

A lump formed in Hinata's throat as the words fell on her like a boulder. Hiashi placed his hand on her head, and Hinata looked up at him.

"Don't cry, Hinata; it can't be helped. They won't hate her forever. Hanabi is your sister, and that means that she'll prove herself strong like you are, and once that day comes, all the whispers will be proven wrong, and then they'll stop."

Hinata nodded slowly. "So, that means you won't send her to the Branch Family, right?"

Hiashi paused. "Excuse me?"

"I heard some elders say that you need to send her to the Branch Family…"

Hiashi took a deep breath. "I see…" he mumbled before crouching down to Hinata's level. "I can assure you that Hanabi will never be sent to the Branch Family and that you'll never hear of those rumors again."

"O-okay…" Hinata stammered, chills washing over her skin as she looked into her father's stone-cold gaze. The shade of the afternoon sun highlighted his pale skin as if it was half inferno, half night. It was terrifying to experience.

Hiashi seemed to realize this, as he quickly placed his hands on Hinata's shoulders, and forced a smile. "What is it that you and your mother usually get when you go out?"

"Cinnamon rolls," Hinata answered, starting to calm down.

Hiashi stood and took his daughter's hand. "Let us go and get some. How does that sound?"

"Good," Hinata affirmed with a nod, allowing herself to return her father's smile as they walked off into the afternoon road.

—⊱✿⊰—

A couple more months passed, and it was Hinata's fifth birthday. She spent the first half of the day mentally preparing for the massive social event that came with every single one of her birthdays. Honestly, it was less about her birthday and more about the day that the Hyuuga Clan was saved. Everyone wore white as a tribute to the color of her eyes, white sunflowers adorned the compound as a tribute to her name, and everyone would gift her the most lavish things that they could.

It was exhausting, all things considered. But Hinata didn't care, it made everyone smile; it brought cheers and joy to the Hyuuga Clan, and that was more than enough reason to suffer through her discomfort. After all, once the day-long party was over, mother, father, and Hanabi would have a private party not celebrating the Symbol of Hope: Hinata Hyuuga. They celebrated the little girl, Hinata.

However, this party was different. Father had to be absent because of a village-related meeting. Mother explained that Konoha would be forming a new alliance with their former enemy, Kumo. Hinata didn't fully understand, but it seemed really important, and father was disappointed that he had to miss her birthday, so she wasn't too sad that father wouldn't be there.

So, once the bombastic celebration of her birthday concluded, just her, mother, and Hanabi walked toward their home with the backdrop of the setting sun. "Hinata, I think you'll really like your birthday gift this year."

Hinata beamed. "What is it?"

"You know I can't tell you that yet," Hana said slyly.

Hinata pouted. "Can you at least give me a hint?"

"Hmm… It's about dancing," Hana informed.

Hinata gasped, nearly leaping with joy. "Are we finally going to do a full story?!"

"I dunno," Hana responded, whistling innocently.

Hinata pouted again, and Hanabi pointed at her sister with a sadistic infantile laugh. "Hanabi, that's not kind…" Hinata mumbled.

Hana joined Hanabi with laughter as she patted her eldest daughter's head. Suddenly, her laughter ceased. Her body froze. Her face turned cold. Hinata blinked, taken aback by her mother's sudden change in demeanor.

"Mother, what's—"

"Get behind me," she commanded, handing Hanabi to Hinata. She did as her mother said, holding Hanabi close.

A deep sigh was followed by footsteps, and a man with a bandaged head and a Kumogakure headband tilted over his right eye emerged from the shadows. "Man, I knew Hyuugas were notoriously hard to sneak up on… but damn."

"Tell me who you are, and why you're here," Hana demanded; the veins on her temples bulged, flushing with blood and chakra as the pale lavender of her eyes intensified and cracked, her Byakugan now activated.

The Kumo ninja scoffed. "I'm under no obligation to tell you."

"Mother… who i-is that man?" Hinata asked, trembling, with Hanabi starting to cry in her grip.

Hana's stare faltered. The Kumo nin charged. Hana winced as a fist met her face. She retaliated with a Juken strike to his arm. The man growled as a numbing pain ached through his limb. Hana glared at him and her Byakugan pulsed.

The environment in a near three-sixty degree view was as clear as day. Hinata and Hanabi were trapped behind her in a dead end. The only way out was forward, directly toward the Kumo ninja.

Hana took a deep breath. "I will give you one more chance to retreat. You are a foreign Shinobi trespassing in Konoha and attacking one of its Shinobi. You will be executed if you are captured. So, leave with your life, or pay the price."

"You're saying that as if you can kill me," The Kumo nin responded, pulling out a kunai.

Hana glared. "Because I can," she bluffed. "I am a Main Branch Member of the Hyuuga Clan. Who are you to me?"

"I'm the Head Shinobi of Kumogakure!" He boasted. "My authority is only second to the Raikage himself, and you better believe I have the power to back it up!"

Hana narrowed her eyes. "And what would Kumo's Head Shinobi, here on a peace mission, be doing here? Sounds like a waste of your talents, attacking me and two defenseless girls."

"Who are you to determine what a waste of my talents would be?! I'm here for Ms. White Eyes over there!" He shouted, pointing at Hinata. "Kumogakure desires the secrets of the Byakugan."

Hinata took a step back, barely being able to stand because of her deep, tremorous tremble. "My e-eyes?"

"I see," Hana began. "Neither you nor Kumo will be laying a hand on the Byakugan, or my daughter," Hana seethed. Her Byakugan pulsed as she charged at him. He blocked her palm with a kunai, ripping it open. Hana rotated and attacked with her other palm. She hit him in his chest, making him stumble back.

She took a step forward and attacked again. She kicked her in the chest. He attempted to rush forward but Hana stopped him in his tracks. She crouched down and spun, creating a rotating dome of blue chakra that launched him back. Hana immediately ran to her daughters to grab them. The Kumo Nin returned, and Hana was forced to hold him off again.

Hinata watched the battle with tears rolling down her face, breathing short and shallow breaths. She clutched the wailing Hanabi as securely as she could. Helplessness gripped her with sharp and cold hands as she watched her mother fall to the ground.

The Kumo Shinobi sighed before to walking toward Hinata. She quaked and her chest felt like a void. He approached closer with a cold and unfeeling expression. He reached out and Hinata's throat clasped itself shut. But he was kicked into the wall of the alley, and Hana—bloody and bruised—limped between her daughters and the Kumo Nin.

He narrowed his eyes before flinging a kunai at her. She blocked it with her hand and charged. She fell to her knees before reaching him. The Kumo Nin grimaced before kicking her in the face. She collapsed to the floor. He set his sights on Hinata again.

Hinata's face was drenched with sweat and tears, the sclera surrounding her white irises were bloodshot a deep crimson. Her eyes were petrified wide open with her vision shaky as her eyes darted in her sockets. From her mother to the man, to Hanabi, and back to the man. He sighed, looking away.

"I'm sorry, but it's for my village. No hard feelings, kid," he said, before walking toward Hinata, and reaching out a hand.

Hinata shut her eyes and looked away as she swaddled Hanabi in her arms, only to hear the man yelp in pain. She slowly opened her eyes to see him kneeling and looking back at her mother, who gripped one of his ankles with her bleeding hand.

He looked back at her. "Don't make me kill you."

"Not even death will stop me from protecting my Hinata," she spat.

He winced, before yanking his ankle out of her grip. He fell the moment he attempted to step on it. He grimaced and stood on his working leg. He pulled out a kunai and it glinted in the moon's light.

"NO!" Hinata cried.

The kunai sliced through the air. The sound of a blade piercing through skin hit Hinata's ears. Hinata's grip on her baby sister tightened. She hung her head down and curled up into a ball to protect her. The tears stung Hinata's eyes as she sobbed. Her irises burned and she yelped. Opening her eyes to look at her mother.

Her white eyes stared at her mother's body with clouded focus. She was limp, unbreathing, still, bleeding, and bruised. That image burned into her memory, as she stared at it, more tears burned her eyes, too scarred to even react to the pain. Her now lavender eyes looked toward the man, who stared at her right back. She dug her head into her lap and shut her eyes.

The Kumo Nin sighed before limping over to Hinata. Her skin crawled as she felt his hand reach out… but his grip never came. She heard a thump and looked up from her ball to see him on the floor, staring at her with a lifeless gaze. She flinched and looked away. Her father stood over her, his Byakugan slowly receding.

"Hinata… are you hurt?" Hiashi asked with a shakiness in his voice she had never heard before.

Hinata shook her head, before unraveling to show him Hanabi. "She's not hurt e-e-either."

"Okay…" Hiashi said, before crouching down in front of his daughters.

Hinata gulped, pushing down the lump in her throat with a wince. "I-is mother gonna be okay?"

"No," Hiashi answered, looking away. "She's gone."

Hinata froze, slowly looking down as she processed what she just heard. "She's… gone?"

Hiashi answered with silence.

Hinata sobbed.

—⊱✿⊰—

A year had passed since the death of Hana Hyuuga. Since her death, almost everything good in Hinata's life had died as well. The White Eyes she and her clan cherished so much faded into the pale lavender that every other Hyuuga Clan member had. She wasn't special anymore. Hinata may not have been totally comfortable with all the attention she received as the Hyuuga Clan's Savior, but it was much better than what she got as the Hyuuga Clan's Failure.

She and Kusari never truly got along. There was always a nagging feeling inside telling her to be careful around her. But now… she loathed her. So did Neji… someone she would've considered a friend. It was all gone. Everything was gone.

Hinata let her clan down, so she felt that she deserved the stares of contempt, sorrow, and disappointment she received from the Hyuuga Clan. Since her mother's death, her training in the Juken began formally, and she was no prodigy. Her father trained her endlessly and harshly, and she was barely a novice despite a year of training. She disappointed him, and with each subpar performance in the Juken, she felt her father grow colder and more distant. And it was all because of her. Because of her failure, because she lost her White Eyes that night.

She missed the smiles. Hinata wasn't sure the last time she'd seen an adult smile. She longed for the time when people came up to her and her mother on the street and they'd tell her how much they loved and appreciated her for being their savior. She missed seeing the Hyuuga Clan celebrate because of her. She missed catching her father smile as he watched her and mother practice dance. She missed her mother; she missed seeing how many people she made happy, she missed all the times they'd practice dance, she missed her hugs and loving embrace, she missed her mother's contagious smile. Hinata missed so, so much… and it hurt so much more because she'd never get it back.

She once wished that people would see her for who she was, and not who she could be. She wished to be seen as Hinata the girl, and not Hinata the Savior. She got her wish. People saw her for the disappointment she was. She once lamented all the prep and how her father had almost all of her outings to be a social event, she wished for a less publicized life. She got her wish. It was all gone… and so were the smiles that came with them. If Hinata had the opportunity to have all the social events, prep, and the savior moniker return to her life… she'd take it in a heartbeat.

There was still one light in her life. One person she could rely on for a hug, for a smile, for love. It was her baby sister, Hanabi. She would give up the world for the one light in her life. She was one. She could walk, and say isolated words. Hinata's heart soared whenever she saw her sister, whenever she heard her babbles, whenever she attacked her with a hug. That was the one thing in her current life she wouldn't change at all. If there was one good thing that came from her fall from grace, it was the fact that nobody doubted or hated Hanabi anymore. As a matter of fact, they looked to her as their new light and hope. Hanabi was the lone firework in the night sky that people looked to, and it made Hinata proud because she knew Hanabi wasn't a fraud like she was.

She was the Hyuuga Clan's true savior.

Hinata would be happy to take all the blame for everything bad.

All so Hanabi could succeed.

—⊱✿⊰—

Years passed. A Konoha headband was draped around Hinata's neck. Her eyes were closed. A white jacket with pale lavender stripes followed the methodical movement of her hand. The similarly colored pants she wore were guided by the grace of her legs. Her hands were cupped together, they were low. She drifted her bare foot across the carpet of her room and her cupped hands rose.

They were the sun.

Once Hinata's hands were above her head like high noon, she pulled them apart. Her fingers spread like a firework. She dropped them in front of her chest, where she held her arms like an infant was swaddled inside of them. Hinata smiled, kissing the imaginary infant's forehead. Her head swayed to the sound of the outdoor winds. She rocked the baby in her arms to the rhythm.

Hinata opened her eyes and slowly let her hands fall to her side. She inhaled, taking in the unusually cold summer air. On exhale, she sat down on her bed.

The Chunin Exams are today… she murmured. Her hand clenched into a fist. I will get promoted. No matter what. I will not disappoint you, Miya-sensei.

Hinata took a final breath before she stood once again. I hope I'll be able to make you proud again, father.

?￢ﾜ ? ~ Interlude End ~ ?￢ﾜ ?