A/N – Thank you for the kind reviews! I really appreciate the feedback!

Just wanted to mention that the adult chapters will be coming soon. A lot of the events that occur when they're older stem from things that happened in their childhood (which is why there is so many childhood chapters, LOL). Their childhood builds the foundation for things that occur later. But don't worry, those chapters will be coming soon!

Chapter Six

Current Age: Sasuke & Hinata, 8

Hinata smiled when the tea was done. Right on time. As always.

It was early in the morning and Hinata was running a bit late. It had her worried. She had been at the Academy for a year now and had never turned up late before. She knew she shouldn't have stayed at the secret clearing she once shared with Sasuke so late the night prior.

In the back of her mind, she knew he wouldn't show. But she still had hope – so she never missed a day. The time she spent there had also become therapeutic for her as well. It was her alone time – when she could gather her thoughts. And that reason had caused her to wake up a bit later than usual this morning.

So, she sped through her typical morning routine.

She was glad that she still had time to make tea for Hanabi and their father, Hiashi. At only 2 years old, Hanabi had training sessions with their father every morning. Hiashi saw promise in her. Even as just a baby, Hiashi said that she had the perception of a future leader. A prodigy.

Hinata didn't understand it. She wasn't used to this side of Hiashi. She never seen her father be so proud of a child before. But it didn't bother her – because she was proud too. She was proud of Hanabi's skills. And she was happy that her little sister didn't have to bear the weight of Hiashi's disappointment.

So, every morning, she made them tea. She wanted to leave Hanabi something to remember her by while she was at the Academy. A way to show Hanabi that she was loved so dearly by her. And that she would miss her for the few hours she was gone.

Hinata made her way towards the dojo to silently set the tea right outside of the door, as she usually did. When she placed the tea set on the ground, she paused at the quiet conversation that was happening between her father and Hanabi.

"You are our future, my daughter." She heard her father say to Hanabi. Hinata's eyes watched the scene before her. Hiashi was seated on the mat with his back turned to Hinata. Hanabi was placed on his lap, the little girl was listening intently to her father's words. "Our last gift from your mother. A precious gift. The clan resides on your shoulders – so you must do great things, do you hear?"

"Yes, father!"

"Good, I am proud." Hinata watched as Hiashi poked Hanabi's nose.

Hinata felt her eyes fill with tears. They weren't sad tears, though.

The scene in front of her gave her comfort. She always knew what she lacked when it came to her father. She knew she couldn't live up to be the warrior that he was. She knew she wasn't fit to run the clan one day – she had accepted this a long time ago. She was sure her father did as well – the birth of Hanabi just made it more obvious.

Instead, she was grateful for the scene that was happening before her. After their mother's passing, she was glad that her father found happiness in Hanabi. He found his new reason to continue. Though Hanabi would miss out on her mother's love, she would still get love from both Hinata and Hiashi. And one day, the whole clan would love her too. Hanabi would be surrounded by love, enough to fill the void that was left by their mother. She would grow up with none of the troubles that Hinata had to bear. And that made Hinata very happy.

Sure, she knew what this all meant at the end of the day. If Hanabi became the new heir, that would only leave two fates for Hinata. She would either have to marry before her 20th birthday – or she would bear the cursed seal of the branch family.

Hinata shook her head. She wasn't going to think of these thoughts so early in the morning.

She quietly made her way away from the dojo as she wiped her tears. She grabbed her bag and slipped on her sandals before opening the sliding door to the main exit. Just as she stepped through it, she collided into someone's chest. The impact caused Hinata to fall backwards and land on her behind.

"Ow." She muttered in a low tone before she looked up at who she collided into. Her breathing stopped when saw Neji's cold eyes staring down at her. "I-I'm s-sorry, N-Neji-"

"Don't bother." Neji said in an annoyed tone. "I can't even understand what you're saying." Hinata felt her cheeks burn in shame.

Neji rarely spoke to her ever since his father's passing. She understood why. His father, Hizashi, was her father's twin. On the night of her father's assassination attempt, Hizashi was placed as a decoy – in place of her own father, Hiashi. It was supposed to be her father who was killed that night. Hizashi died for his brother.

Ever since Hizashi's funeral, she rarely saw Neji. She has caught glimpses of him every now and then, but it was always by accident – and always in passing. She felt as if he was avoiding her. And the one time that she finally got to share words with him again, her shameful stutter ruined it.

"A Hyuga who can't use the Byakugan. A ninja who can't sense the presence of another. A girl who can't even speak." Neji's words caused a heavy ache in her chest as she stared up at him. His cold glare never breaking – never changing. "Tell me, Hinata, is there anything that you can do at all?" His words were laced with hate.

Neji hated her. She had disappointed him in some way. She had disappointed everyone around her. And she didn't know why that fact made her feel so… alone.

Hinata felt like she was about to cry. She felt the tears returning to her eyes. Neji noticed it.

"Pathetic." He said as he made his way around her and walked away.

Hinata didn't move from her position on the floor for a few minutes. Instead, she stared out at the opened door as she tried her best to control her shaking. She choked back her tears. She didn't want to cry for the second time this morning.

I miss you, Sasuke…

Hinata tried her best to get Neji's words out of her mind when she finally reached the Academy doors. But they replayed in her head – over and over again. Her failures. Repeated to her by her once beloved cousin. Hearing them said to her in such a hateful way did something to her. She felt like even more of a failure that she usually did. And that hurt her.

She was tired of disappointing everyone.

I'll just have to do better… be better. I can do this! I can change!

"Look, there he is!"

"He really is so cute!"

"I can't wait until we can finally be in love!"

"Back off forehead, I saw him first."

"No way, pig. He's my bond, I just know it! We are perfect for each other!"

"Now you're just delusional. Sasuke doesn't even know you!"

Hinata felt her breathing stop at the conversation she was hearing. Her legs turned into led as she came to a stop and quickly turned towards her classmates, Sakura and Ino. They were huddled by the swing and watching up ahead. Hinata quickly followed their gaze and felt her heart stop.

There he was.

After almost two years, Sasuke was right in front of her. Walking towards her. And she didn't know how to feel about it.

Suddenly, it all came crashing down. Sadness, worry, anger, happiness, love, affection, devastation, abandonment, adoration. Her heart was running a mile a minute. He was there! After almost two years of going to their secret hideout to no avail, he was right in front of her. He was finally there!

Hinata watched as his eyes finally laid on hers. She watched as he stopped walking for a second – only a second, before he continued walking towards her. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know if she should hug him, slap him, yell at him, hold his hand. She was frozen in her spot, trying to make sense of all the emotions running through her.

Sasuke came back! He really came back!

When he finally was close enough to her, she opened her mouth to speak.

"S-Sasuke-"

She was cut off by him walking right by her.

Hinata stood there as she heard the door to the Academy open. Hinata continued to stay frozen in her spot as she heard the door close behind her. Sasuke had walked right past her – he didn't even acknowledge her. After almost two years of waiting for him, going to the secret hideout, never missing a day. After almost two years of praying for his return. He just walked right by her…

It was as if she never existed.

Hinata felt the tears return once again. And this time, she let them fall.

A/N – I know, two chapters in one day, WHAT? It's because I was originally planning to write chapter 5 and 6 as one chapter. But I felt like it was getting a bit too long, so I split them up.

Please let me know what you think!