• *。‧ ˚❀༉‧˚.
That Night Beneath
the Cherry Blossom Tree
‧˚❀༉‧˚. 。* •
Part 1
Hinata was in her room, her teeth gritted, clenching her pillow tightly. She was doing everything in her power not to sob relentlessly.
The silence was deafening, broken only by her shallow, uneven breaths.
Morning training had begun as usual, a sparring session between Hinata and Hanabi under their father Hiashi's watchful, scrutinizing gaze.
Hiashi stood with his arms folded, his stern expression betraying nothing.
While the years had softened some of the tension between father and daughter, his gaze still carried the weight of a mountain, pressing down on her with the same familiar demand:
Be stronger. Be worthy. Be more.
Hinata activated her Byakugan, her pale eyes glowing with intensity as she faced her younger sister. Hanabi's stance was effortless, confident, a stark contrast to Hinata's tension-filled posture.
The fight began. It was a blur of strikes, counters, and parries.
Hanabi's precision was unmatched, her movements fluid and calculated. Hinata struggled to keep up, each deflection growing heavier, each step more desperate.
By the time the match ended, Hinata was on her knees, trembling and breathless, while Hanabi stood victorious, her breathing steady.
Hiashi's voice cut through the stillness like a blade. "Hinata, you hesitate." His tone was calm but unyielding, each word driving deeper into her chest. "You lack conviction. A leader does not falter. Strength is not in skill alone - it is the will to act without doubt. Doubt is the mark of a coward."
The words struck harder than any of Hanabi's blows. Hinata lowered her head, her fists clenching on her thighs. She had heard these critiques before, but today, they felt heavier, as though they carried the full weight of years she had struggled to meet expectations.
Her family. Friends.
Even Naruto.
Even after she had accepted death when she had jumped in to try and protect him from Pain.
He had ignored her.
They all ignored her, treated her as if she was invisible, like she didn't matter, despite her constant hard work to prove otherwise.
Like her feelings didn't matter.
"Chichiue," Hanabi interjected cautiously, catching her sister's expression. "Hinata-nee has-"
"Hanabi," Hiashi interrupted sharply, his gaze never leaving Hinata. "This is not about comparison. It is about leadership. Your sister must learn to carry the weight of this clan, or she will remain unfit. She is weak."
The dismissal stung more than his words. Hiashi turned and strode away, and the session ended. Hanabi hesitated before approaching Hinata.
"Onee-chan…" Hanabi said gently, kneeling beside her. "Don't take Chicihue seriously. You don't have to push yourself so hard. You're already-"
"It's fine," Hinata interrupted, her voice barely a whisper. Without looking up, she rose shakily to her feet and turned toward the house, retreating to her room.
Why can't I be stronger? Why can't I show him that I'm enough?
Hiashi's words echoed in her mind, relentless and unforgiving.
Coward. Unfit. Weak.
No matter how hard she worked, it was never enough. Not for her father, her clan, or even herself. The ache in her chest was unbearable.
And Naruto…
Her heart clenched as she thought of him. She had risked her life for him, stood against Pain with nothing but sheer will and the hope that he might see her. But in the end, he hadn't. He hadn't even acknowledged her feelings.
She didn't matter to anyone.
"Onee-chan?" Hanabi's voice outside her door broke her out of her reverie. Her voice was hesitant, as though she wasn't sure she should disturb her.
Hinata didn't answer. She stared at the floor, her chest tight and her breathing uneven. She felt trapped, suffocated by expectations she could never meet.
She needed air. She needed space.
Sliding her window open, Hinata climbed out into the cool evening breeze. She ran, her feet carrying her without direction until she reached the familiar courtyard beneath the cherry blossom tree.
Neji was there, sitting cross-legged in meditation, his calm presence a stark contrast to the storm raging within her.
"Neji-niisan," she called softly, her voice trembling as she approached, desperate for the comfort his presence always gave her amidst the chaos which was her life.
His eyes opened slowly, and he looked up at her. His expression softened immediately, his usual stoicism giving way to an almost imperceptible gentleness reserved only for her.
"Hinata-sama, you've been crying," he said plainly. "Come, sit," he patted the grass.
When she hesitated, he added, "You've always listened to others. Tonight, listen to me."
Slowly, she lowered herself to the ground, her gaze fixed on the grass.
He placed a steady hand on her shoulder, grounding her in the moment. "Now, tell me, what is troubling you?" he probed.
And just with that, all of her carefully guarded emotions threatened to spill over.
"I…" Her voice faltered, and tears began to streak down her cheeks. "I don't know what to do anymore."
"You know I'm always here for you," he said, his voice low and grounding.
With his other hand, he gently brushed away her tears with the pad of his thumb, his touch impossibly tender.
"Chichiue... Hanabi-chan... Naruto-kun..." she tried to begin, just managing to hiccup the names.
"You doubt yourself too much," he interrupted. "You let their words define you - Your father's, Hanabi's… even Naruto's. But strength doesn't come from their approval, Hinata-sama. It comes from within."
More tears spilled over despite her efforts to contain them. "I've tried, Neji-niisan. I've tried so hard, but no matter what I do, it's never enough."
"It will be," he said firmly. "Because I'll make sure of it."
She looked up, startled by the conviction in his voice. His expression was unyielding, his pale eyes locked onto hers.
"You are not weak, and you are not alone. I promise, I will do everything in my power to make you stronger," he declared simply.
Her breath hitched at his response. "What more can you do? You already do enough for me. I'm just not worth it."
Neji's gaze hardened. "Don't you dare say that," he scolded her. He brushed his thumbs over her cheek again, wiping away her tears. "You're more than they see. More than they'll ever understand. And I will help you show them."
Still clutching her face, he kissed her forehead tentatively. "I see you, Hinata-sama."
And just like that, the dam broke.
The walls she had built around herself crumbled, her heart hammering in her chest.
Before she could stop herself - before she could even think, she leaned in and pressed her lips on his.
Neji froze, his eyes as wide as saucers. His entire body stiffened as her lips brushed his, soft and fleeting.
The moment was so sudden, so utterly unexpected, that his mind went completely blank.
He didn't pull away, but he couldn't respond either. His brain was too busy trying to comprehend why.
When she pulled back, her face was flushed, her wide eyes shimmering with more tears. "I… I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice barely audible. "I... don't know what came over me."
Neji's mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. He was the calm, analytical one - always able to assess a situation in seconds.
But now? Now he was lost.
"Hinata-sama," he finally managed, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it, tinted with something almost vulnerable. "What…?"
"I... don't know," she whispered, taking a shaky step back. Her hands fisted at her sides, her chest heaving with the effort to suppress a sob. "I just… I couldn't… I'm sorry."
He was too stunned to fully process what had just happened, but he saw the pain in her eyes and knew it wasn't a moment to dwell on his own confusion.
"It's alright," he said finally, the words tasting foreign in his mouth. He cleared his throat, his voice steadying despite the whirlwind in his chest. "You... don't have to explain."
Hinata's chest tightened at his words, but the shame was too much. Before he could say more, she stood abruptly and fled, disappearing into the shadows of the garden.
Neji remained rooted under the cherry blossom tree, his mind reeling. Slowly, almost unconsciously, he raised his fingers to his lips.
They still felt warm, tingling with the ghost of her kiss.
His thoughts continued spinning in chaotic circles. What did this mean? Why had she done it? Was it a cry for comfort, a mistake born of her vulnerability, or something... deeper?
And how did he feel about it?
More minutes passed by, and his fingers still rested against his lips. And for the first time in as long as he could remember, he didn't have an answer.
In the days that followed, Hinata was consumed by guilt and confusion.
What had she done?
She couldn't understand her actions that night. All she knew was the ache in her chest, an overwhelming need for comfort, and the knowledge that Neji had always been her pillar of strength.
But why had she crossed that line?
Her heart twisted painfully every time she caught a glimpse of him in the compound. She avoided him at every opportunity, her mind a battlefield of conflicting emotions; embarrassment, longing, and a desperate need to pretend the kiss hadn't happened.
Yet, every time she tried to dismiss it, her thoughts returned to the moment beneath the cherry blossom tree.
She could still feel the warmth of his presence, the fleeting connection that had felt so natural yet so wrong.
Does he hate me now?
The thought sent a pang through her chest. She dreaded the possibility that she had ruined the fragile bond they shared.
For Neji, the incident lingered in his mind, disrupting his usual sense of clarity.
He replayed the moment endlessly, trying to understand what it meant. Hinata's actions had been so out of character - bold and impulsive, two things she rarely was.
Yet, beneath his confusion, he felt something else, an ache he couldn't name.
He had seen her struggle that night, the weight in her eyes, the vulnerability she carried so deeply. The kiss, though fleeting, had been born of that vulnerability.
But what did it mean for them?
Should he confront her? Should he act as though it hadn't happened?
Every time their paths crossed, she would turn away, and he found himself wishing she wouldn't.
He wanted to understand her feelings, but more than that, he wanted to keep his promise; to make her stronger.
He wanted to make her feel safe with him again.
So Neji acted the only way he knew how.
The next morning, he appeared at her door with the first light of dawn. Hinata, startled to see him, hesitated before sliding the door open. She avoided his gaze, her hands fidgeting nervously.
"Neji-niisan, I…" she began, but her voice faltered.
"Hinata-sama," he interrupted gently but firmly, his tone leaving no room for retreat. "Meet me in the courtyard. Training begins now."
She blinked, her confusion evident. "Training?"
"Yes," he said simply, his eyes steady. "You want to be stronger, don't you? I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it. We start today."
Though her chest still ached with uncertainty, she nodded.
From that day onward, their training sessions became a constant. Neji was relentless but fair, pushing her beyond her limits while providing the guidance she needed to grow. Every strike, every block, every failure became a stepping stone toward strength.
At first, the tension between them was palpable, an unspoken weight hanging in the air. But over time, the rhythm of their training sessions began to ease it.
"Focus your energy, Hinata-sama," Neji instructed, his tone calm yet firm. "Channel it into precision. Trust yourself."
Slowly, she began to believe in those words. Her movements became sharper, her confidence stronger. She started to catch glimpses of the strength Neji had always seen in her.
With a deep breath, her fists erupted into blue blocks of chakra once more, but this time, they finally took perfect shape as komainu - lion-like creatures. Guardians.
Perfect twin lion fists.
It was a highly advanced Main House technique she had once thought far beyond her reach.
Neji's lips curved into a wide smile, his eyes shining with pride. Turning slightly, he noticed Hanabi watching them, her eyes wide and mouth open in astonishment.
He met her gaze and nodded in acknowledgment, as if to silently say, This is the strength she's earned.
Life in Konoha carried on, and then, there was a war.
Neji stuck close to her constantly, shielding her, fighting beside her, and nearly giving his life for her. And all the while, she did the same for Naruto, but he still did not notice her.
The war changed the ninja world, but the event that truly shifted her own world came when Hanabi was kidnapped. The mission to rescue her took Naruto and Hinata to the moon, while Neji stayed behind to protect the rest of the Hyuga family.
Amidst the chaos, Naruto and Hinata found themselves growing closer in ways no one had anticipated.
Stuck in a genjutsu, Naruto noticed the scarf she had carefully knit for him.
"You made this… for me?" he asked.
Hinata nodded, her cheeks flushed. "I… wanted you to have something to keep you warm. Something that reminded you… of home. Of… me."
Naruto stared at her for a long moment, his usual boisterous energy softened by something deeper. "You've always been there for me, haven't you?" he said quietly, his gaze unwavering.
Hinata blushed. "Naruto-kun… I-"
Before she could finish, he reached out, his hand brushing against hers. "Thank you, Hinata," he said with a smile that made her heart ache and soar at the same time. He leaned in and kissed her, and Hinata gasped, melting in his embrace.
By the time they returned to Earth, they weren't just comrades anymore, they were something more. Naruto had finally seen the depth of her feelings.
It felt like a dream come true. After years of quietly admiring Naruto from afar - his strength, his determination - he had finally chosen her. The joy was almost overwhelming.
Yet, as she lay down to sleep that night, her heart tightened with an unshakable weight.
Naruto had been her beacon, but he had never truly seen her. Not in the way Neji always had.
It was Neji who had taken her hand, guided her toward strength, and helped her grow while expecting nothing in return.
Her breath hitched as the memory of that fateful night in the courtyard resurfaced, vivid and bittersweet. She could still feel the lingering warmth of the kiss they had shared, an impulsive moment that had made her realize an unspoken truth; Neji had always believed in her.
She thought of the promise he had made to help her become stronger, the countless hours of training, and the quiet strength he gave her when she struggled to find it within herself.
Even now, with Naruto's love filling her heart, a small, guilty part of her ached for the bond she shared with Neji - the one who had always been there for her, steady and unyielding.
The kiss, the training, and the unwavering support - they were all pieces of a connection she couldn't ignore, no matter how deeply it was buried beneath time and circumstance.
Part of her still felt tethered to that moment frozen in time.
To that night beneath the cherry blossom tree.
Author's Note: This was a spur-on-the-moment NejiHina I wrote because I randomly felt like it.
For some reason, I am physically incapable of writing a reasonably sized one-shot. It always grows too long and detailed and I end up having to split them into parts.
Not exactly sure where I want to end it yet, so I thought to get this part out meanwhile.
Enjoy, and kindly let me know what you think!