Interlude 4: Hinata and Hanabi (2)

Two months have passed since Okaasan left me and I feel like I can't take it anymore. I was walking around Konoha today to clear my head a bit, but it seems my misfortune does not stop.

"Watch where you're going, freak!" - shouted an older boy as two more boys approached where he was.

". . ." - I could only retreat in fear when I saw that they were up to no good.

"How can she see where to go when she's blind?" - asked the second boy while the others laughed.

"I-I'm sorry..." - I said with fear. My body hurt and I couldn't defend myself.

"An apology doesn't solve anything" - snorted the boy who was the leader as he looked at his friends - "You know what to do"

"Hai!" - The other two nodded as they started to beat me.

Why? Why is everyone hitting me?

"*Sob* Okaasan..." - I could only cry as I tried to hit back but I couldn't do anything because those bad boys were holding my arms as they hit me.

It took 15 minutes for them to stop and I was on the ground unable to move a muscle.

"I think that's enough" - said the leader of the children - "Maybe now this freak will understand that just because she' s from a clan she can't walk around with that condescending aura"

I didn't do anything... why would they attack me for no reason, if I just walked around the place without bothering anyone...

"I think we'd better leave or we'll be discovered" - said the third of the boys.

"Let's go" - nodded the leader as they ran away.

Why doesn't anyone help me? Am I only good for people to hit me?

"Okaasan... *sob* Okaasan... I miss you..." - I could only cry as I remembered how everything had changed since Okaasan died.

* * * * *

It's been two years and I'm now eight. Otousan doesn't come to my training anymore, it seems that he gave up when he saw that I couldn't handle the goals he was giving me, although he wasn't the only one because the whole clan sees me like I was the plague.

These have been the worst years, but the worst of all is the hatred that Neji Nii-san has for me.

It all started a year ago when Otousan brought him to the training ground.

I was happy to see the cousin I had not seen in a long time but when I tried to speak to him, all I saw was indifference and coldness.

Do you hate me too? Did I do something bad to you?

I did not know why Neji Nii-san was acting that way and I could not even ask him because the moment Otousan gave the order to begin, he attacked me without mercy.

It hurts...

Neji Nii-san's attacks were much worse than the other children I had trained.

It hurts...

Every blow he gave me was like he was destroying my bones.

It hurts so much...

But what hurt most was that expression on his face, as if he were telling me that I was less than trash.

Why...

I don't know the answer but it was obvious that the kind cousin I knew was gone, now there was only one kid who hated me for a reason I don't know.

From that day on, Otousan had me train with Neji Nii-san, though more than training it was torture because Neji attacked without restraint.

I tried to ask Otousan for help but he only responded with a cold, emotionless look.

Why... Why do you hate me... Otousan...

* * * * *

Months passed and today they made me fight Hanabi-chan. She had a cold, unemotional look, one that shouldn't be on a three-and-a-half-year-old girl.

"Hanabi-chan..." - I said as I looked at her but she still didn't answer me.

Why is everyone looking at me like that?

Hanabi had the same look that the other members of the clan gave me.

Don't I try hard enough?

I continued to train relentlessly but nothing seemed to satisfy my teachers.

" Start!" - Otousan shouted and without a second thought, Hanabi attacked me. I tried to defend myself but my body felt heavy.

The result was obvious, Hanabi beat me and won the recognition of the Clan, while I...

"Those eyes..." - I murmured as I walked to my room with tears in my eyes - "Okaasan..."

" Trash..." - I could hear people's thoughts.

I quickly went in and laid my wounded body on the bed while Otousan's words were repeated in my head - "If you don't get better, you will no longer be the Heiress of the Clan..."

"Okaasan... I'm sorry..." - I said as I began to cry.

Please... someone help me...

* * * * *

Today my days as a student at the Academy begin and as always, I went alone because Otousan was busy with Hanabi-chan.

When I entered the room, I saw how two girls my age were fighting for a reason I did not understand. I honestly just wanted it to be over quickly so that I could go home and continue training alone because no one wanted to teach me anything anymore.

Time passed quickly and our instructor appeared. His name was Iruka Umino and he seemed to be someone kind. He gave us the order to introduce ourselves even though I didn't want to because I couldn't make sense of it.

"No one will want to be my friend..." - I thought sadly.

"Next!" - I listened as everyone looked at me - "H-Hai!"

"M-My name is H-Hinata Hyuga! N-N-N-Nice to meet you!" - I said embarrassed.

Why did I have to bite my tongue at that moment?!

I was completely embarrassed but I still noticed how someone was looking at me with curiosity. He was a boy with reddish-orange hair and different colored eyes. I had to admit that he was handsome but the most eye-catching thing was those beautiful ears and foxtail. For some reason, my face turned red and my heart was beating like crazy when I looked at him.

His name was Naruto Uzumaki, a kind and warm boy. He was the only one who approached me so he could talk to me and with his help, I was able to meet the other boys.

They were all heirs to a clan and I even swear to have seen some of them as a child. They welcomed me with open arms even though I was a bit strange.

Time passed and the first class was over. The boys decided to return home, Naruto-kun being the first to leave, followed by Ino-chan, a girl who was honestly the person I wanted to be, kind, cheerful and without this constant fear.

Why are you nice to me?

Those thoughts didn't disappear from my mind. I was confused, no one had been kind to me since Okaasan passed away.

I don't know why you're so nice to me... but please... don't hurt me...

I felt strange... this warmth in my chest is strange... it feels familiar... Okaasan...

Memories began to invade my mind as I watched my mother smile at me.

"Remember Hinata-chan, one day you will meet that special person, that person who will help you when you suffer the most" - she smiled at me as she stroked my head - "Maybe it will be soon, maybe it will be in a long time but you have to remember that you never have to give up because if you do, you will never meet that special person"

Are you my special person?

I shook my head to stop thinking about it, he couldn't be that person, even though I prayed that it was true.

Will you help me?

Please... do it... I don't want to suffer anymore...

"Please don't lie to me again... Okaasan..." - I murmured as I gathered my courage again.

Calm down, Hinata. First, you have to do your part.

Little by little my courage increased while I was left alone in the classroom.

"I have to leave my shyness behind..." - I thought as I watched my new friends walk away - "I have to be stronger or I'll lose not only my position as heiress but also my friends..."

That's right Hinata, you need help but you can't leave everything to other people.

You have to do your part too.

Again I could see the light at the end of the tunnel as I prayed that this time everything would work out.

* * * * *

A year had passed and everything had changed for the better.

During this time I was not only changing little by little but now I was friends with Naruto-kun and the others, especially Ino-chan who was now my rival too.

Today was the day I would ask Naruto-kun if he could help me train, but Ino-chan got in the way, saying that she wanted to be stronger too.

Naruto-kun thought about it for a moment and told us to follow him home and ask Kushina-san, who after asking Sora-san, the only person who still respects me, told me that she was one of the strongest kunoichis Konoha had ever had.

With that information I knew that she could help me, now I could only hope that her answer was positive.

Okaasan... you were right... he is my special person... you didn't lie to me...

"Thank you, Okaasan..." - I said as tears streamed down my cheek - "Thank you for telling me I didn't have to give up"

* * * * *

It had been two years since we asked Kushina sensei to train us, and from the way I refer to her, it is obvious that she accepted.

The training was much worse than the one I had had at home but the difference was that this one did give results.

Kushina sensei was a sadist when it came to training.

"Now I understand why Naruto-kun is so strong" - I murmured as I used my clan's ointment to heal my training wounds.

Today was a normal day but everything changed when Naruto-kun told us he was going on a two-year training trip.

Both Ino-chan and I were devastated but after talking it over we just nodded. He had already made his decision and there was nothing we could do to stop him.

* * * * *

It's been two years, and today is the day of the test to be Genin. Also the day he returns. I just hope to see how he's changed and what surprises he'll bring with him.

I just want to see him...

The person who helped me out of that darkness...

The person who pushed me forward...

I want to see you...

Naruto-kun...

[End Flashback]

". . ." - Hanabi was silent as she looked painfully at her older sister - "Onee-chan... how did you manage to overcome all that?"

"I don't know, Hanabi-chan" - denied the older sister - "But now I appreciate it... if I hadn't gone through all that, I might not have met Kurama-kun or Ino-chan"

While she had suffered like no one else, she was now happy with her life. She had a best friend who supported her in every way, two Sensei who cared about her and a boy who had helped her since they had met.

"But back to the business at hand... how did you come to meet Kurama-kun?" - Hinata asked curiously.

"I followed him while he went home... twice..." - Hanabi murmured with shame.

"You followed him?" - Hinata asked in surprise - "Why?"

"It's because..." - Hanabi murmured in a lower and lower voice. "It feels good when he scolds me..."

"What?" - Hinata asked again.

"It feels good when you scold me, okay!" - exclaimed Hanabi with a red face - "I feel strange when he punishes me..."

Hinata could only imagine a similar situation as her face grew redder and redder.

Kurama: "You've been a bad girl eh~ Hinata-chan~" (taking the chin of the Hyuga)

Hinata: "I-I sorry... Kurama-kun!" (a little flushed)

Kurama: "I think I'll have to punish you Hinata-chan but don't worry... it will only hurt a little at first..." (While slowly bringing his face closer to hers)

Hinata: "Nooooo~!"

"Awawawawa~!" - Steam began to rise from Hinata's head as she imagined all the possible punishments her red hair would give her.

"O-Onee-chan! Are you okay?" - said a little surprised little Hanabi when she saw Hinata's condition.

"W-We can't Kurama-kun!" - shouted Hinata as she woke up from her sleep.

"O-Ok..." - said Hanabi not knowing what to say, although if she could hear her sister's thoughts, it would be something like "Onee-chan is a closet pervert..."

"Ahem! I can't let you go alone!" - said Hinata seriously - "A-As a big sister I can't let anything happen to you so I'll go with you.

Hanabi was silent for a few seconds - "You just want him to punish you... Don't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about" - answered Hinata, looking away.

"Come on! We are sisters! - said Hanabi trying to make her sister confess.

"Maybe a little..." - said Hinata with a red face - "Why are you making me say these things?!"

". . ." - the younger Hyuga just looked at her silently while the older one blushed more and more.

"Shall we go together tomorrow?" - Hanabi asked with a glint in her eye when she saw that she would finally do something with her sister.

"I have no problem with it..." - Hinata murmured as she looked away from the shame.

That was the day the Hyuga sisters discovered that they had the same tastes and apparently... the same fetish...