Chapter Text
If deep down I was truly a kind-hearted person…
I would help all the people around me in trouble.
To be honest, I’m sick of feeling like a piece of shit,
Whenever I see something bad happen and pretend I didn’t.
Tarareba (What if)
Song by: Amazarashii
15th April
Hiashi. ☼
Year 54 of the Konohagakure Founding.
The Hyuuga compound has been unusually loud and cheerful in recent days, with everyone eagerly anticipating the arrival of the future Hyuuga leader.
During the Second Shinobi Battle, so many lives were lost, not just in the Hyuuga Clan, but across Konoha. That everyone needed good news, anything, to take their minds off the war sucking the life and hope out of them.
Hyuuga Hiashi, the Hyuuga's clan head was kneeling stiffly on the wooden floor of the hallway, outside of the delivery room. His hands were sweaty after gripping his white Yukata tightly, enduring his wife’s painful groans and cries for hours.
The usually proud Clan head was seen hunched down and pale. He was so preoccupied with his own thoughts and worries he had not noticed the sound of steps getting closer and stopping beside him.
Hiashi felt a tap on his shoulder and turned his head to see a reflection of his own face frowning at him. It was Hyuuga Hizashi, his twin younger brother.
“Elder Brother, a clan head shouldn’t be this unaware of his surroundings," Hizashi clicked his tongue in disapproval, "What would father and the elders say if they had known…” Hizashi scolded him, but his tone was light and joking.
“You look…” Hizashi muttered, then paused.
Hiashi felt his twin observing the bullets of sweat profusely dripping down his own face, gliding down, and staining the collar of his yukata wet, in fact, the top of his yukata, collar through the back was wet with sweat.
Hizashi hummed for a moment, seeming like he was contemplating his next words carefully.
“... like you need a bath and a change of clothes,” Hizashi said with a shrug as he bent down and sat down next to Hiashi.
Hiashi could feel his ire rise at his twin’s comment.
“You try enduring seven long hours of your wife’s screams and wails,” Hiashi growled at his younger brother.
It's uncommon for him to be this aggressive or even expressive at all, but he was worried about his wife and the unborn child.
Hizashi was about to open his mouth most likely about to snide another smart-ass comment at him but was cut off by the shrill cry of a baby coming from the delivery room.
Hiashi jumped faster than Hizashi has ever seen and stood up.
Hiashi paused in front of the shoji door, pacing right and left in front of the delivery room, contemplating whether to get in or not for several minutes before he decided.
He will.
And barged in through the delivery room, ignoring the medical ninjas and Hyuuga midwives, straight into the side of his wife, laid down weakly on the futon at the center of the room, holding a bundle of their child, still red and just wiped clean.
Hiashi kneeled down and looked at his wife.
“Sumire" Hiashi's brows knitted as he observed her wife's pale skin, glistened with sweats, and then he turned down to look at the baby in her arms. Still and not making any noises. He would have thought it dead, if not for the soft breaths he could hear from it.
"… You alright, my wife? Is the baby okay?” Hiashi asked with fondness plainly seen on his face.
Sumire, the dark violet-haired woman laid on the bed, turned her hold on the bundle of baby carefully, so Hiashi can take the bundle away from her.
“See for yourself, dear… She’s healthy and well.” Although still weak from giving birth, his wife beamed at him.
Hiashi took the bundle of baby carefully from his wife’s arm, firmly holding his baby, their daughter, in his arms. The midwives and medical-nins had left them alone in their room to give them some privacy, but he could feel their presence close by, ready to assist if needed.
Both of them relaxed, listening to the soft breaths of their daughter and the baby’s small spark of chakra. There is no need to speak, they understood each other's body gestures and facial expression well to know that they are just glad that the birth went well, and both Sumire and the baby are healthy. Hizashi gazed at his wife softly , smiling proudly at her.
She smiled gently in return, then a ray of light started to seep through the small window facing the center garden, basking him and the baby in his arms with moonlight.
“Oh , for the name… How about Hinata…" Sumire fell silent, her smile turned flat and she frowned.
"No, that doesn’t feel right, maybe Hinoka?” Sumire offered cheerily instead.
“...Sunny flower? That’s cute.” Hiashi commented, as he observed the flower patterned cloth covering their daughter, Hinoka.
“No! as in… Sunlight, namely you, Thriving with Culture.” Sumire started to giggle as she mentioned this.
“Did you just…" He scrunched up his nose, "Are we naming our first born from that horrible haiku I made?” Hiashi's eyebrows were pressed together, remembering his past’s self pathetic attempt at flirting.
“It was pretty funny, and cute… Don’t be too embarrassed by it my dear, I love your haiku.” She teased.
Hiashi grumbled and complained, but in the end, he couldn’t win against his dear wife’s smile and pouts, and so the Hyuuga Heiress, named Hyuuga Hinoka was born.
Culture
A Haiku by Hyuuga Hiashi
Natural, glowing
in the presence of sunlight
Namely you,
Who thrive with culture
September
Year 54 of the Konohagakure Founding.
She vividly remembered standing over her little sister’s grave, pondering on what to do now that her only left family member has passed away—No. Had killed herself, because she, as a big sister, had failed her duty.
Roughly a decade ago, after her father's business had failed, he had passed away from a heart attack, her mom followed soon, likely from the heartache of being left by her husband, leaving herself a 5 years old little sister in her care when she was still in college.
She had studied hard and worked her ass off to get a job while also working part-time, gaining just enough income to pay her bills, and support herself and her little sister.
Inheritance? What Inheritance? Naturally, it all goes to her only male sibling, her elder brother. Because of course both her parents decided to leave almost everything for him, only leaving herself and her little sister the humble house they live in, which eventually she had to sell to pay off her father's loans for his failed business, while their brother is off god’s know where.
After all, you girls would only end up as someone's wife anyway. So it's better for him to go to college abroad. He will take care of our company, and he will take care of you girls… Please, understand dear.
She bitterly recounted the memory of her father, telling her to give up her scholarship abroad, urging her to settle for a cheap and badly rated college in town.
Her elder brother had only stayed for their parents' funeral, claiming his inheritance money and properties, then went away. Never contacting her or her little sister ever again.
Sorry dad, elder bro apparently only wanted your money and didn’t care about his own siblings.
Ever since then, she worked herself like a woman possessed, and had sworn to prove herself capable, becoming a successful career woman. She would not be a mere wife of a man.
For ten years, she had risen from a no name staff manager, to the co-director to one of the largest e-commerce companies in her country.
.
.
.
.
But in her journey to her ambition, she hadn’t spent enough time with her little sister, nor listened when lil sis wanted to chat, or sought help from her.
She has always been a workaholic, too focused on her career and her own ambition.
Only when it’s too late had she realized, what was truly important.
.
“Oh, sorry it’s your birthday, isn’t it? I have to stay at work, I’ll give you the money later, you can treat yourself!”
.
“Hmm, what was that? I was checking this file. Oh, you sure it’s nothing? Okay then.”
.
“Maybe later? I’m a little busy…”
.
“Later, dear…”
.
“I promise, tomorrow we can go…”
.
“Sorry I broke my promise, but if sis gets this promotion, sis can provide better for us, then you’ll see me more often...”
.
“Just be patient okay? Just until the promotion is announced.”
.
Then she found her little sister's body lying in her own pool of blood, cold, not breathing.
She stood for hours, over her little sister’s body. Uncomprehending.
It is after her coworker called her phone, checking why she didn’t come to work does reality hit.
.
.
.
.
The funeral was held the day after.
Her little sister had killed herself, out of years of depression and enduring bullying from school and neglect at home, she discovered later.
She had contacted her brother’s email and phone, inviting him to the funeral. But he still didn't come.
.
.
.
.
So what if she finally succeeded in both her career and reaching her dream?
When there is no one to share it with?
When she was left alone, losing her most loved one due to her own selfishness.
.
.
.
.
She barely remembers what happened afterward, but she died not long after her little sister’s funeral.
At the end of her life, bleeding and bent, broken on the asphalt road, as she was gasping her last breath, she wondered, what would her little sister say when she would meet her in the afterlife.
Now though, staring at the bunny and crescent moon-shaped toys hanging, and rotating above her crib, she wondered if her little sister hated her more than she thought and didn't want to see her.
Yes, you read that correctly. Her crib.
There is no way she didn't notice the baby crib imprisoning her, the pudgy hands that she’s waving in front of her face slowly, in coordination with her commands.
Yep. Her assumption must be true. She thought, as she rolled her body to the side, and peered through the bars of her crib, squinting her eyes at the giant cabinets, sofa, table, and chairs in here.. Nursery room.
She must have been reincarnated as a baby. She concluded logically in her head. She had read way too many isekai mangas to not know.
Or some giants with baby fetish have somehow stolen her corpse, revived her, and put her in this giant nursery. She thought jokingly, then paused.
Hold on, corpse? Wait, she had died, didn’t she? How did she die anyway?
She tried to dig into her memories but found them to be blank.
She couldn’t recall what had happened exactly, but she just remembered the feeling of dying, bleeding on the asphalt road not long after her little sister's funeral.
At the thought of her sister, her mood started to plummet down, and her baby instinct must be getting into her too, because she has immediately begun to cry loudly at the thought of her little sister’s death.
A dark violet-haired woman hurriedly opened the sliding door and walked to her crib, and lifted her infant body into her chest. She could feel herself being rocked softly in the woman’s hold, as she hums and mutters softly at her in Japanese.
Oh, so she was reincarnated in Japan.
She tried to calm down her cries into sniffles and listen to what the woman said.
She knew some Japanese.
“Hinoka-chan… there, there… Good girl, don’t cry anymore… mommy is here, okay?” The woman softly murmured to her, nope–Hinoka. That’s her new name.
Hinoka settled down her cries and began to babble, reaching out a hand at the woman who claimed to be her new mother. Her mom waved her index finger at her.
Unsure about how to interact with her new mother, Hinoka hesitantly grabbed it with her pudgy hand, eliciting giggles from her mother.
Another person entered the room and stood beside her mother, peering at her with a soft gaze, but this was a mistake he made, because only when he peered down at Hinoka, she could finally see his face and realized who he was, noticing his pearly lilac eyes and the Konoha hitai-ate he wore.
Hyuuga Hiashi, observing the lack of caged bird seal on his forehead.
Gears started to turn in her head and Hinoka began to tear up again, and cry loudly at the realization.
Oh no, holy shit, I’m not in Japan, am I?
Hiashi, startled at her reaction and expression upon seeing his face, scrunched up his face in confusion at Hinoka’s reaction, and walked to the back of the room, away from her and her mother.
“Come on… don’t be like that to your dad, dear...” Her mother smiled and turned her head down, she lowered her head to kiss Hinoka on the cheek.
Now, that sentence stopped Hinoka’s cries.
Dad? But Hiashi didn’t have a daughter named Hinoka.
Hinoka’s still sniffling but she babbles and waved her hand, trying to communicate her intention of wanting to see Hiashi. Her mother must have understood it because her mom walked to Hiashi who was standing at the back of the room, and lifted her closer to Hiashi.
Hiashi stared at her worriedly, and smiled awkwardly at her, he had looked so ridiculously out of character Hinoka had startled giggling at him. She noticed him starting to relax at her giggles, so she waved her right hand at him excitedly.
He wasn’t sure what to do until her mom told him to hold his hand, and he did, awkwardly with his index finger and thumb, Hinoka babbles loudly at him and grabs his finger, a smile slipped into Hiashi's face at her response.
Hinoka’s previous thoughts and questions about her little sister’s death and her own death was still swirling somewhere in the back of her mind, but being here watching the innocent scene of her new parents made an old feeling of comfort and happiness settle into her.
It’s okay for her… to have this affection, right? Just a little bit?
Hinoka listened to her mom hums and her parent's heartbeats, falling into a white noise of comfort. A tear had slipped from her eye, but she didn’t realize it. A warm finger wiped it away and kissed her on the forehead. In the embrace of heart-aching warmth and safety, Hinoka fell asleep with a yawn.
A few weeks afterward, Hinoka has finally gathered some information about her new life and identity. She was born as Hyuuga Hinoka, the daughter of Hyuuga Hiashi and her mother, whose name she doesn’t know yet.
She lives inside the Hyuuga Compound.
Seeing that Hinoka hasn’t encountered Hinata or Hanabi yet, and after comparing the older-looking Hiashi from her memory, and the young-looking Hiashi in front of her now, she assumed that she was born somewhere earlier than Hinata and Hanabi.
The question is: When in the timeline?
With that thought, Hinoka mustered her strength, and kept trying to roll her body in a desperate attempt to move. With an ‘oomph!’ she finally rolled into the waiting arms of Hiashi, catching her and muttering praises at her.
It was around months later when she was carried in her mother's arms on a walk outside of the Hyuuga Compound, that she finally got her answer. Her mom had just walked out of the compound when a man appeared and greeted her.
“Oh, Sumire-san, how have you been? Oh… this baby must be your daughter, Hello!” A short-haired man with white hair peered at Hinoka in her mother’s arms.
“I have been well, thank you for asking, This is Hinoka, my daughter.”
“Aw, she looks cute… I see she takes after you with her hair” Sakumo muttered, observing Hinoka’s patch of hair.
Then the man’s eyes widened as if only remembering something, he suddenly disappeared from Hinoka’s view for a second, and in the next second he had picked up a boy with spiky white hair, black beaded eyes, and green shuriken patterned scarves around his neck.
And proceeded to introduce the boy to Hinoka.
“This is my son, Kakashi." He said to her and Sumire, then gazed down at the silver-haired boy, "Kakashi, say hi to Hinoka-chan and Sumire-san.”
The boy looked at her curiously.
“Good morning, Sumire-san, Hinoka.” Kakashi greeted lazily.
Her mother and Sakumo continued to chat, but Hinoka has stopped paying attention at this point. Staring at the toddler Kakashi in Sakumo’s arms, looking bored, not knowing the depressing future of watching his loved ones die one by one.
Kakashi looked like a toddler, and he doesn't look older than 3 at most, she has no idea whether Kakashi has entered the academy or not, but she is sure Kakashi hasn’t graduated yet as she remembered him graduating when he was at least 5 years old.
Hinoka's mind was reeling the whole time, recounting images of memories:
Obito released the Kyuubi killing Minato.
Kushina and hundreds of people.
Rin struck by Kakashi’s Chidori.
Obito, being crushed by boulders.
Child Kakashi was standing still over his father's corpse.
Hinoka standing over her sister’s corpse lying in a pool of red-REDREDRED—!
Hinoka shook the image off, sweat rolling down her temple.
I have a lot of foreknowledge, should I do it? Actively interfere with the plot? Or should I keep it to myself?
Hinoka could keep this to her own, and only use the foreknowledge when she needs it.
But seeing the innocent face of Kakashi yawning, Sakumo cheeringly chatting with her mom right in front of her eyes. She felt unease twisting in her guts, at the thought of letting the foreknowledge go to waste, and innocent people suffer at the cost of her ignorance and selfishness.
She understood the pain of losing your loved ones, and how every time they're taken, you lose a bit of yourself, until you're nothing but a husk of what you used to be.
She doesn’t want Hiashi or anyone else to suffer, she doesn’t want Kakashi to go through the same thing as she had. Hinoka's eyebrows furrowed, pondering.
Hinoka wasn’t a bad person per se in her previous life, but neither was she a good person. She was just… living, enduring life and its hardship, but she remembered having looked away at wrongdoings, harassment at work because it’s just easier.
Maybe… Maybe this can be my second try at life? To stop being a selfish bitch who only cared about her own ambition and had failed as an elder sister, to actually be a good person.
Hinoka was so engrossed in her thoughts, that she had missed Sakumo and Kakashi waving goodbye at her. She didn’t realize the whole walk was over, only snapping out of her own mind when her mother had placed her down in the crib of her nursery room.
She blinked and looked out through the small window of her room to the crescent moon on a dark night, time have passed.
The darkness of the night had fallen, and her room was only illuminated by a single electric lamp near her crib. Tucked warm in her blanket, Hinoka continued her contemplation.
Right now everything seems okay. Hiashi is nothing but a nice if overbearingly protective and fond father to her and a doting husband to her mother, but if the event of canon timeline would follow and he were to lose his own twin the same way, he would become bitter, mean and harsh to his own daughters.
Hinoka scowled as she recalled Hinata being treated way too strictly and harshly during training, the whole heiress rivalry happening between pre-shippuden Hinata and Hanabi.
Not to mention the whole caged-bird seal and the whole mistreatment of Hyuuga branch members.
Hinoka is Hiashi’s eldest daughter, that makes her the heiress. This means she should be getting training for her status. Perhaps Hinoka can show her intelligence in hope of getting trained early, and get into a position that would give her access to interfere with the plot. She should be protected by her clan, so she wouldn’t have to worry that much about being whispered away by Danzo.
Then she remembered Uchiha Itachi.
Oof, never mind, if Danzo could mastermind the Uchiha Massacre, and various other misdeeds and still get away from it, she shouldn’t let her guard down. Think, Hinoka.
What else can she do to make sure she would be protected from Danzo?
First, get training on how to fight, and run fast so she can at least escape if Danzo tries anything.
Second, Gain a high position with access to more knowledge and people.
Third, gather alliances? Friends? Make sure people will miss her if she goes missing?
And the plot? Which to change first?
Sakumo’s death. She doubts she can stop him from taking the mission, but maybe she can befriend Kakashi to get close to the Hatake, and talk to Sakumo if he gets depressed? Or ask for her father to help him from falling further into his depression and eventual suicide.
Alright, what else? Obito’s death and kidnapping, she has to be a shinobi before it happens so she can interfere. Help Rin? Make sure she doesn’t get kidnapped by Kiri-Nin?
No, too far.
First, she needs to focus on getting training and how to rise through the shinobi ranks fast. Sounds like a solid enough plan for the next 5 years at least.
Hinoka let out an enormous breath, satisfied for now.
That day, Hinoka found her resolve, a will of fire burning inside her heart.
This time I won’t fail my sister and my family.
Not again.
Hinoka's feet wobbled, she felt unsteady but she managed to stand for a few seconds before she lost her strength and fell.
During the months that have passed, Hinoka has managed to learn how to crawl, sit on her own, and has practiced speaking Japanese and simple phrases when left alone. She hasn’t said anything comprehensible to her parents yet. But soon, as a matter of fact, today she will do so.
Oh. And she thinks she can sense chakra. Hinoka started to notice the feeling of each person individually, whenever they approached her. She suspects this feeling to be chakra.
Hiashi’s chakra felt like a hot summer day , while her mother’s felt like freshly picked flowers. She has been practicing this ability by getting to know each people’s chakra and trying to track their position, but she really can’t sense them anywhere further than around 2 meters, so it’s not that much of an admirable skill, hopefully, it will grow if she trained.
Talking about chakra, she could feel several familiar chakras approaching, standing in front of her nursery room. She turned to the door and watched as her father, mother, and…
Her father again…? Huh? Oh, must be Hizashi.
“Morning! Hino-chan, mom brought you breakfast!” Her mom cheered as she put down a tray of a wooden bowl filled with fruit puree, and a plastic bottle of water with a straw, on the small folded table.
Hiashi sat down in front of her, calling her to sit on his lap. Hinoka crawled and settled herself on his lap. While there, she made a grabby motion with her hands at her food.
Her mom obliged and lifted the folding table, positioning it in front of her. Hinoka peeked curiously at Hizashi and then Hiashi, but proceeded to ignore Hizashi and focusing on eating her food instead, she grabbed the wooden spoon and with some effort ate on her own, it took weeks until she could try eating on her own without spilling anything.
“Wow, is it normal for an 8-month-old baby to eat on her own?” Hizashi asked as he sat down across from Hiashi and Hinoka, observing her.
“It’s not, but Hinoka has always been intelligent, she’s a prodigy in the making.” Hiashi claimed smugly.
The adults chatted, and when Hinoka had finished her meal, Hizashi kneeled to her level and waved at her.
“Hello, Hinoka! I’m your father!” Hizashi falsely introduced, provoking an annoyed huff from Hiashi above her.
Hinoka smiled amusedly and decided this is the perfect time to speak.
“Dad?”
The room fell into silence upon her first word, she could feel her father shaking and glaring over her head at Hizashi, Hizashi was sweating profusely from the intense glare, while her mom had opened her mouth in astonishment.
“The hell you are-! Scram-!” Hiashi shouted to Hizashi, then lifted Hinoka to look at his face.
“Call me Dad, Hinoka! Come on, I’m your father!”
Hinoka hummed and called Hiashi “Uncle—!” cheerfully instead, this time eliciting a shriek of laughter from Hizashi.
Hiashi wrinkled his face unhappily at Hizashi and proceeded to scowl instead. Her mom knee-crawled, and approached Hinoka, lifting her from Hiashi’s arms into her mom’s arms.
“Boys, come on... settle down, and watch your language in front of Hinoka.” Her mom had sent a glare of warning to her father at the last bit, then looked down to smile at Hinoka.
“Now, you know who I am right? Hino-chan?”
“Yepp! mom!” Hinoka then threw herself at her mom to hug her.
Hinoka giggled into her mom’s embrace and let the sound of her father bickering with his twin lull her into sleepiness.
15th April
Year 55 of the Konohagakure Founding.
The sun had just set, but the Hyuuga Compound was already buzzing with energy and chatters, servants walked rights and left, busy in preparation for the Hyuuga Heiress's first Birthday, which wasn’t a simple birthday, as this will be Hinoka’s public introduction as the Clan Heiress. She heard from her parents that there will also be an erabitori event prepared for her.
An Erabitori event is a fortune-telling event, erabitori is believed to predict a child’s future based on objects that are laid out in front of them. Whatever object the child chooses and then takes will be related to their future, such as their profession, talents, or personality.
Hinoka had just woken up from her long nap. She had been tired from stretching her body. No one forced her to train or anything, she just wanted to stretch her body and practice walking around the room.
She sensed all the energy and chakra of people walking around and she decided to get out of her futon, yes futon— A traditional Japanese style of bedding. Her parents had finally let her out of her crib two weeks ago and gave Hinoka, her own bedroom and futon.
Goodbye crib jail, welcome freedom!
Hinoka walked outside her room and tried to look for her parents by expanding her senses, but she couldn’t detect her father, so he is probably out somewhere, but she could sense her mother in her parent's bedroom along with other people whose chakra she doesn't recognize.
She walked to her parent's room, and tried opening the sliding door, but it didn't budge. She kept trying until suddenly the door slid open.
"Mom…?" She peered into the room.
Through the opened shoji door, she saw her mother in front of a dressing mirror. A long-haired servant lady was helping her mom get dressed in a lavender-colored kimono, blue morning glory patterns adorning the sleeves and lower part of the kimono.
Her mother looks like a goddess, she gapes. And now Hinoka knows where Hinata has inherited her beauty from.
Waking up from her trance, Hinoka noticed the other servant lady with a ponytail, who had helped open the door for her, and belatedly, Hinoka nodded her head and thanked the lady.
The ponytailed servant looked surprised at being thanked, "Y-you're welcome, Hinoka-sama" She stuttered shyly.
"Mom!! Pweddy!" Hinoka ran to her mother and stopped, just before crashing into her, grinning widely.
"Aww, thank you Hino-chan… you know, mom also has a pretty kimono prepared for you"
Her mom turned to the ponytailed servant and nodded her head at her, prompting her to carry out a folded baby pink kimono along with a yellow obi.
Hinoka wrinkled her nose in disgust at the shade of pink.
"Ugwy!!" Hinoka pouted at her mother
Her mom frowned, and pursed her lips, then exhaled. "Sorry, Hino-chan… it's a bit too late to find another kimono for you right now…please just wear this one for today?"
"Hmph-! Fine..."
Hinoka begrudgingly let the ponytailed servant who introduced herself as Yukari, help her put on her kimono, while the long-haired servant, whose name turned out to be Umi, had combed Hinoka’s short hair and tucked a crescent moon-shaped golden accessory with little stars hanging from the moon between, and a bunny napping on top of the moon, on her left earlobe, looking like a mix of hair accessory and earring from afar.
She dozed off during her preparations and moved robotically, nodding her mother’s warning 'to behave, be polite, and greet the guests and introduce yourself'’
Hinoka walked along with her mother, hand in hand, followed by Yukari-san and Umi-san to a stop in front of a large door in front of her house's training dojo that has been turned into her Birthday party hall.
Hinoka could feel numerous chakra waiting inside, between all of them, one chakra signature caught her attention. It was the brightest and warmest chakra she has ever felt, but it also felt the most contradictory?
It's as if the sun is illuminating, and behind it… is... danger—danger, hate, frustration, bitterness, stupid pathetic humans-!
Hinoka wobbled and fell to the floor with a gasp, her vision blurring.
That chakra felt horrible and terrifying—! Who was that!?
Through her blurred sight, she saw her mom kneeling beside her, her mom gently pulled Hinoka's face to look at her.
"Hino-chan!? Are you okay? What happened?" Her tone was clear and composed, but there was a slight tremble on the hand touching her face.
"Hinoka... Ner-bo-us, bud okay now!" Hinoka lied through her teeth, hand massaging her aching temple.
Her mom sent her a questioning look. "If you're unwell dear, you don't have to stay at the party, you can rest."
"Hinoka owkay!" To prove she is alright, Hinoka decided to go ahead and walk into the party hall.
And instantly regretted it.
Hinoka gulped loudly, feeling the sudden attention from hundreds of eyes.
In the hall, sat various clan heads, elders, and important figures of various clans, along with The Hyuuga main branch members and elders, while in the garden below, behind the opened veranda like engawa—Japanese styled porch, with tatami mats, were people, Hyuuga clan mates of old and young age sitting on picnic clothes with foods strewn between each group of people.
Hinoka spotted Hizashi, looking and waving at her, on one of the picnic blankets laid in the garden.
Her father, Hiashi, was sitting in the center of the room, on top of a red pillow. He was wearing a black kimono along with gray hakama pants and white haori himo– A tie to fasten the haori, His black kimono was covered with a white haori with a large Hyuuga clan symbol sewn with a gold-colored thread on his back, that is a formal haori that the Hyuga clan head only wears for formal events and clan meetings.
Her mom coughed behind her, and she turned her head back at her mother, eyes panicking seeking help. She watched her mom's mouth 'remember what I said' only then Hinoka was able to take a deep breath and calm down her beating heart, and lift her head to look at the various people in the hall.
"Hewwoo evewyone, I am Hyuuga Hinoka, dhanks for coming! '' she ended her greeting with a slight curtsy, then walked to sit next to her father at the center of the room, ignoring the growing whispers and ‘awwe’ noises from the crowd at her Introduction.
She watched her mom finish her greeting and sat beside Hinoka.
"Now let the feast commence!" Hiashi commanded loudly beside her, breaking the silence. And slowly chatters of conversations began to grow as the guests began to eat and talk.
Hinoka scans the crowd and manages to spot the Ino-Shika-Cho clan heads trio sitting next to each other, Sakumo and toddler Kakashi in matching dark green Kimono, Fugaku, and Mikoto, and Hinoka’s eyes stop at the red-haired woman sitting next to Mikoto, Uzumaki kushina.
So that's where the contradictory chakra signature had come from. Hinoka observed the teenage Kushina while munching on the offered mochi by her mom. Kushina must have already become the Kyubi Jinchuuriki, Hinoka thought. She knew Jinchuriki chakra is supposed to be violent, but knowing and feeling it directly is different. Hinoka shuddered and tried to forget the feeling of its chakra.
Hinoka dozed and almost fell asleep sitting, when her dad called her name, she straightened to attention, blinking rapidly.
“It’s time to do the erabitori, Hinoka. Go ahead, pick an object.” His father nodded his head to the space between the guests where several objects had been laid.
Hinoka stood up shakily, catching herself before falling to the floor, legs numb after sitting in seiza for so long.
She stood up again, carefully this time, and walked slowly to the objects laid on the space in front of the guests, Hinoka paused and observed the objects. There is an abacus, a pen, a pair of scissors, chopsticks, a scroll, a mirror, a purse, a ruler, a ball, and of course a kunai.
None of it interests her, maybe she could just pick up a random object quickly so this will be over soon.
Or… perhaps?
Struck by a sudden bout of mischievousness, Hinoka grinned and ignored the laid objects. Walking back to her father.
“Can Hino hab disss?” She asked sweetly while pulling on her father's White Haori, the Hyuuga clan head haori.
Hiashi’s face of indifference almost fell at her puppy eyes, but he held his expression firmly.
“No, Hinoka. You have to choose from those.” Hiashi pointed at the objects in the center of the room.
Hinoka shook her head stubbornly. “But Hino wand dhisss mandleee! It’s pwetty!!”
Hinoka whined loudly, prompting the guests into various responses of amusement, stifled laughs, and some awe from Hyuuga Elders who shouted "She knows her place as the future leader!"
Hiashi reluctantly takes off his Hyuuga Clan Head's Mantle and puts it on Hinoka's shoulder, the sheer size and weight of the mantle immediately weighs her, she tumbled and fell on her butt. A bubbly laugh burst out from Hinoka, feeling satisfied with everyone's various expressions due to her antics.
After the Erabitori was over, Hinoka walked wobbly away from her seat, to Kakashi and Sakumo to greet them with a, "I like youw hairr colowr! Dhanks for cowmingg."
Kakashi gruffly muttered a thank, along with his father amused, "Thank You."
Then she left them and approached Uzumaki Kushina sitting in the corner of the room, who was chatting with Uchiha Mikoto and greeted them.
“Onee-chan, you are pweddy!!!” Hinoka tugged on Kushina’s deep purple kimono sleeve, gaining her attention.
Kushina smiled and a light blush bloomed on her face, caught off guard by the compliment, “Uh... I… Thank you…ttebane.”
Hinoka grinned, then turned her head to Mikoto Uchiha who was next to Kushina, eyes amused watching Hinoka and Kushina.
“Onee-chan is beau-ti-ful too.” Hinoka nodded her head at Mikoto as if trying to reassure her, and waved goodbye at them. Greeting other guests one by one who she has no idea who but still thanked for coming.
It's only polite to do so, right?
She kept making rounds and greeted the guests in the room and finally headed to the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio. Young Inoichi, Shikaku, and Chouza were chatting amicably until Hinoka greeted them.
“Hewwo, I Hinoka! Dhank you for coming to my biwday pawty!!” Hinoka repeated the greeting, then beamed at them.
“No problem,” Shikaku responded dryly, expression covered by the mug of tea he was holding, but Hinoka can see sparks of curiosity and amusement in his eyes.
Inoichi smiled friendly, “It’s our honor.”
And from Chouza a booming, “You’re welcome Hinoka-chama” through a grin at her.
Hinoka giggled at their response, waved at them for a good last time, and walked away.
She wanted to greet the branch members, but couldn't find a way to get down from the engawa to the garden by herself, so she decided to wave her hand wildly at the groups of branch members having a picnic in the garden, Hinoka stood on top of the engawa and shouted.
“Dhank you, everyone, for coming to Hinoka’s biwdayyy pardy—!”
Her mother immediately came over, face flushed with embarrassment. Sumire took her away from the porch in panic, started apologizing to the Hyuuga Elders and the guests for Hinoka’s rude behavior, and brought her back to her seat.
Hinoka was tired from walking around and greeting everyone, that when she had been carried back to her seat, she nodded into sleep almost immediately and only had to wake up later when the party is over, and everyone has went home. Clothes changed and carried into her room.
One day, a grumpy-looking man approached her, followed by her father, and another unknown presence waited outside of her room, while she was drawing, sitting on the floor of her room.
He was shorter than even Hiashi and Hizashi. A main branch Hyuuga, she noted, after failing to see a seal on his forehead.
Hinoka could only blink owlishly, still holding her crayon, mid-drawing on one of the papers strewn across her room. As the short man said nothing, and simply encircled her, observing her like a carnivore pinning prey.
Hiashi coughed out loud, gaining Hinoka and the short man’s attention.
“Hinoka, this is my father, Hiroto." He gestured to the grumpy-looking man, "That makes him your grandfather.”
Hinoka turned her head to observe Hiroto. He has black hair with several strands of graying hair in-betweens, deep lines were etched on his face and his lips looked like it was permanently stuck with a scowl.
So this is the bastard that told his son to sacrifice his other son, all for the safety of the Hyuga clan’s secrets, huh? Hinoka reigned her scowl and anger, instead trying to keep her face flat and expressionless.
She put down her crayon, and brushed her crayon-stained palms on the hem of her hakama and stood up, then bowed in a simple greeting before lifting her head.
“Grandfather, I’m Hinoka nice to meet you.” She has practiced every day to smoothen out her pronunciation, she’s capable of speaking long sentences without stuttering or stumbling on her words so much now.
Her grandfather smiled in approval at her polite speech.
“Nice to meet you, my granddaughter. Just as I’ve observed from your birthday party, you’re not just a normal child aren’t you?”
Hinoka started to sweat, he can’t possibly know, right??
“You’re a growing prodigy indeed,"
Hinoka exhaled out a sigh of relief.
"Just what I expect from my eldest grandchild.” Grandfather nodded at her, then called out to the person outside in the hallway to come in.
A pretty boy entered, an 11 years old Genin boy with raven black short hair and long bangs stopping above his eyes, with slanted byakugan eyes.
He was wearing a plain black turtleneck, covered by a light purple haori, with the Hyuga Clan symbol on his left arm, and had proudly tied his Konoha Hitai-ate on his head, covering his forehead. He wore a brown backpack on his back.
“He is Hyuuga Mitsuru, a branch member." Hiroto scrunched up his nose, peering down at Mitsuru.
"This boy will be your caretaker, he will start teaching you how to write and read, and various knowledge you will need for your duty as a shinobi in the future.”
Nice, I just turned one year old and the training to become a child assassin has already begun. Hinoka somberly thought. I have no choice but to be a ninja, don't I? What a fucked up world.
But Hinoka has purposely shown her intelligence in the hope of getting trained early anyway, so this offer is going in her favor.
Hiashi stepped between her grandfather and her. “Father, wait, please! We didn’t talk about this! Please, she is still too young, at least wait until she is 3!”
“Nonsense Hiashi! Of course, she won’t be taught any taijutsu or ninjutsu yet. but surely you realize it is a waste of her talent if we don’t guide and teach her?”
Her father gritted his teeth in silence and instead turned his head to Hinoka.
“Hinoka, how do you feel about this? Do you want to learn how to read and write?”
Hinoka nodded her head excitedly, “I do! I do! Then I can read story books right, father?” Hinoka asked in a fake wonder.
You are a one-year-old child prodigy, not a bitter thirty-something woman. Let your parents have their fun raising a child, not a mini-adult. Hinoka repeated in her head like a mantra.
“You will be able to read so much more than just a storybook, Hinoka.” Hiashi smiled kindly, then his gaze turned somber. “Do you know what a ninja is, Hinoka?”
“Sure do! That’s you and mom, and uncle Hizashi right! You’re all ninja!”
His eyebrows were pressed together, “Yeah, but do you know what ninjas do, Hinoka?”
“What does a ninja do, father?”
Her father's expression is warring in conflict, he took a long second before he opened his mouth and started to explain.
“You see… Ninjas are warriors who fight and protect their village, there are many kinds of ninjas. Father and uncle Hizashi are good at fighting, while this boy,” His father pointed his hand to the pretty boy in the room.
“He is training to be a medic, that means he can heal people who are hurt, But…” His father paused.
“Being a ninja is harsh, you have to train a lot, you will be in danger all the time, you will get hurt, you will hurt a lot of people.” Her father said the last part with a pained face.
“Even then, are you sure you want to do that? Become a ninja?”
How sweet. Father tried to give her the illusion of choice, even though she know very well that as the heiress, there is simply no choice, but to be a ninja.
The Hiashi that was portrayed in the anime was mostly stiff and didn’t show his affection at least until Boruto and Himawari were born later, but this Hiashi? Her father?
Hinoka guiltily admits she started to love her father, as a family, not as a Character.
Hinoka paused, then looked up and stared at her father in the eyes, eyebrows drawn together, lips tightened. And nodded firmly.
“Hinoka can protect dad, mom, and uncle, Hinoka wants to be a ninja!” She poured her earnest feeling into the tone of her voice and expression.
Hiashi's eyes turned glassy but he blinked it away and patted her fondly on the head instead.
“Then you will be a great one, dear.” his tone was warm and proud.
Hinoka let herself drown in the show of affection, then was abruptly interrupted by her grandfather who spoke and broke the moment.
“So it’s decided.” her grandfather said haughtily, he walked, and stopped beside Hinoka, looking at her.
Hiashi has stopped patting her and instead looked up to her grandfather.
“Hinoka, you will study how to read and write, and history about Konoha from Mitsuru from Monday to Thursday from 10 Am to 2 Pm, while you will learn Etiquette lessons from your mother every Friday, you can discuss the lesson time with your mother.” Her grandpa stated firmly, leaving no room for arguments.
Then her grandfather turned his body to Mitsuru. “You,” Grandfather said pointedly, then continued, “Introduce yourself to your master.”
Mitsuru’s body stood still in attention, he went closer to Hinoka and then bowed his head low at Hinoka.
“Hinoka-sama, let me introduce myself… My name is Hyuuga Mitsuru, I’m 11 years old and have just graduated from the academy.” Mitsuru paused for a moment, glancing at her, making sure she was paying attention, then continued, “Although I might still be young and inexperienced, I promise to do my best as your caretaker to fulfill your needs, support you, and protect you as a branch member until the day I die.”
Mitsuru lifted his face and waited for Hinoka’s response.
Until the day you die? Dang, that’s a heavy oath for 11 years old.
“I'm looking forward to working with you, hope we got along well, Mitsuru-san.”
Mitsuru blinked, surprised at her polite and friendly speech to him.
Geez, this needs to change soon. I hate the stupid mistreatment the Branch members are facing.
“Likewise, Hinoka-sama.” Mitsuru smiled politely at her, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
“Uh… Mitsuru-san? Can I call you that?”
“You may call me whatever, Hinoka-sama, for I am yours to command.”
Sheesh, look at him being this smooth at this age, he will be a heartbreaker. Hinoka nodded sagely.
They fell into silence.
“Can you teach me how to read now, Mitsuru-san?”
Better get this over it.
Mitsuru nodded and brought out a beginner book on katakana, hiragana, and first-grade Kanji, along with colored cards with Japanese words written on them, out from his backpack
Mitsuru's eyes glimmered as he opened the first page of the book, Hinoka inspected the pages curiously.
Katakana and Hiragana, easy peasy, she got this.
“Then shall we begin the lesson? Hinoka-sama.”