Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto Characters

Prologue - You Found Me

My name is Hinata Hyuga. I am fifteen years old, turning sixteen soon. My family was large and powerful, and, unfortunately, I was supposed to lead the family next. This was the cause of all my pain. Because of my personality, to be shy and listen to others instead of actually vocalizing opinion, my father knew that I couldn't do this. And he hated that I was unable to do this… so he beat me for it. The worst part is, I knew what was coming, I could have stopped what happened early on somehow, or earlier at least. Now, however, it is too late and I have no one to save me, that is, no one knows how to save me from what I am becoming, from what I've seen. I suppose, though, that by now I should be used to this.

What he did to me started so long ago, and seemed harmless, but it had developed… greatly. This can all be tracked down to levels at which the beatings increased gradually. The beginning was when I was six… and mom died…

Mother had died giving birth to my sister, which left my father to take care of Hanabi, a new born, and me. Father was under a lot of stress and Hanabi wouldn't stop crying and I… wanted my mom…

I could hear the new born baby crying in her room with my father holding her in his arms and fussing over her. I crept down the hall to see what was going on. She wouldn't stop crying and my father was beginning to panic… it was obvious by how much he was pacing around the room. I crawled on the oak wood flooring and peeked in the crack, light flitting through the doorway of the room to the hall. There my father stood walking around, with heavy footsteps in the nursery, with the baby in his arms. By the contours of his face it was easy to see he was panicking; only his panic is different from others. When he can't… control a situation…he tries to find something he can.

Truth be told, it was purely bad timing. The baby began to quite down and he began to slow his pace. I hadn't seen the baby yet, so, naturally I wanted a look. I pressed my small hand on the door and it creaked open. I silently walked towards my father as he stood still holding the little girl. It was perfectly silent in the room, Hanabi had finally ceased her crying, and I wanted a quick look at a new baby.

I began tugging on my father's khaki panted leg and whispering, asking 'to s-see da widdle b-b-baby'. My father seemed not to here me so I spoke louder, again asking for the baby. He ignored me, as he had been doing for the past two days. I hadn't eaten since mom left, well, real meals, I had found some M&Ms in mom's cupboard. Anyway, my out cry had been… a little too loud. Hanabi had re-awakened with new found tears pouring down her face and screams echoing from her mouth.

I didn't even see it coming so I didn't flinch but, father hit me… he hit me hard. I had never been slapped before mom left so this was new and I didn't know what to do. The skin around and under my eye hurt so badly and it was wet and hot under my finger tips. I wanted to cry for my mother but, that wouldn't do anything. So I did the only thing a scared six year old could do. I ran through the house and to my room, where I hid under my bed, and cried myself to sleep.

The next day was as if nothing happened though, and I figured it would never happen again… I was wrong… very, very, very wrong about that. I was hit occasionally after that, sometimes worse, sometimes not as badly. I figured every kid got hit once in a while. A bruise was just a result that came with it, and it was a known fact that my mother and I bruised easily so, I thought it was okay.

The year of sixth grade was great. The curriculum was easy enough and I had friends, even a crush. Naruto Uzumaki had moved into my school district the year before and he was wonderful, but I couldn't get myself to stop blushing or stuttering long enough to get to actually speak with him. That year changed everything.

Father lost a great deal of money to another business called 'Corporation Uchiha'. My father, Hiashi Hyuga, being a very self-righteous and competitive man was practically ruined by this. So, like many times before, he couldn't control a situation. Instead, he decided to beat me. And I mean beat me. I had just come home from dance late…

Father walked out of the den and I was walking towards the staircase to go to my room. Lucky for me, my room was moved so there was more space for my father's things and Hanabi, so my room was moved to the attic. I was walking up the first flight when Hiashi came up behind me and grabbed my wrist. I gasped; he hadn't hit me in a month and a half. I was hoping he wouldn't do it again but, my hopes were crushed when he squeezed my wrist to the point that I could feel my hand separating from my forearm. I whimpered, that wasn't a good idea at all. Showing weakness encouraged the beast in him.

He grasped my forearm with his other hand and slammed me against the plain wall. I was actually later thankful that that wall was blank, a picture frame would mean glass, glass would mean cuts, and I didn't yet know how to treat those on my own. I was actually rather fortunate… Anyway, my book-bag strap slid down my arm with a thunk, leaving behind a burn from the pressure it put on my arm. Hiashi pressed one hand to my throat and lifted me up so that I was eye-level with him. My feet dangled a meter from the ground as I stared into the eyes of my father. I would come to hate those eyes. Clear white, the color often symbolizing innocence, was the color of the eyes that haunted me, that beat me, that I had for my eyes too. The color that actually linked me to this bastard was the color of innocence. How wrong people are to create an angel with white wings… Hiashi pulled me towards him and gripped my arms again. He swung me around by my forearms and threw me down the steps… and I lost consciousness… I didn't see the rest of what happened but when I woke up, I had bruises forming on my legs and forearms.

The clock read nine. Hanabi was supposed to be spending the night at a friends so no one was there to pick me up… no one was there… at all. My father wasn't home so I had quickly limped up the stairs. When I reached the landing to my room I pulled down the string for my stairs and quickly ran up them. I did my best to try and put salve cream on my bruises but, I was so tired that I fell asleep almost instantly. That night I didn't eat or do my homework… And so began the covering up of bruises and making excuses. Luckily… heh… luckily, the beatings weren't so close together then, the massive beatings I mean. I started to slip-up in my school work after that. Which resulted in more beating and more slip-ups… and then… the worst beating of them all.

That day… the day that altered everything… I was late…With my breath ragged and scratching at my throat, I was running up the front steps to the house, when I heard a great big crash from inside. I was coming home late because of practice and Hanabi was home alone with Hiashi…

'He wouldn't…' I snatched at the handle and flung the door open. I didn't see anything in the foyer. I hastily ran through the first level of the house. Past the living room, through the dinning room, and into the kitchen and then I found them… both of them… Hiashi had finally lost it. Kitchen utensils were splayed across the floor, the marble counter top was covered with plates while the ground was covered in broken glass… glass bits… shards… everywhere. Hanabi lay in the center of it all. Her face had a bruise forming and there was blood… so much blood… Hiashi stood above her. His hands were covered in grime and red… blood… Hanabi's blood. He had never once touched Hanabi. He had only ever gone after me. In the recent year, he had taken to drawing blood. And the one time I wasn't there…

I screamed. My voice rang out through the house as a desperate wail. Hiashi turned around and sneered at me. His eyes were… not the same… he had… snapped… He lunged at me. Like always. He grasped my neck and dug his fingers in. I gripped his hands and tried to pull him off. He squeezed harder around my neck and lifted my head to his face… I'll never forget what he said… 'You two are the reason I'm not happy… now DIIIE BITCH!!!' He started banging my head on the tiled floor and I immediately resigned myself to death. Then… out of the corner of my eye… I saw Hanabi's hand twitch. She was ALIVE! There was still hope for her! And I would stop this monster at all costs so the hope would form fact.

I clawed at him. I kicked and he snarled. He jumped away from me and I struggled to stand up. My hands scraped against the glass and my knees dragged behind in their wake. I could see my father's shadow and I snatched at the glass. He grabbed my upper arms as I grasped a chunk of glass with my bloodied hand. He threw me towards the marble counter top with aggression that he had never used before. I staggered towards the counter but braced myself for impact and was able to lessen the blow somewhat, although the glass weapon in my hand cut deep as I did so. I pushed off and spun towards him. He was glaring at me with pure malice glistening in his eyes. I hated this man, this man who tortured my very soul and belittled me because of his own faults. I was going to end this once and for all, and by any means necessary.

With the glass still gripped tightly in my hand I ran to him. This bastard was going to pay for what he's done. I thrust my hand towards his chest but he avoided the blow and struck my thighs with great force. I fell to my knees before Hiashi and he grasped my head by tugging on my long indigo hair. He reached behind him, in search for a weapon, and came up successfully with a knife in his hand. He smirked evilly and glanced down to my eyes. I stared, horrified, up at him as he swung the knife towards my neck. I jerked away from him quickly but not unmarred. My hair floated down around me, drifting to the war-ridden floor, the nape of my neck stung and by cheek seeped blood from a slim cut that would heal unscarred. I stood up quickly and caught him slightly unaware. I was by far more agile and fluid in my movements then he was but he still had brute force to use against me, along with fear. I charged at him and swung my fists, one still containing the glass. Blood trickled down his mid-section and his clothes were slightly shredded. His face shone shock and a tinge of horror. He obviously underestimated me.

He stepped back but found himself hitting the cupboards. He growled at me ferociously and leaped towards me. We skid across the floor together with him grabbing at my forearms again. He pinned me easily and there was victory in his eyes even if the rest of his face didn't show it. I resisted as best I could but my plight resulted in the inevitable nothing. He started punching my face and cursing me and my sister. His anger blinded him to my other movements, which happened to be me bringing up my leg and kneeing him in the groin. He fell off of me immediately and withered on the floor in agony. I struggled to my feet and stood up straight. He still withered on the floor as I approached him silently. I quickly stomped my foot down on his shin, compressing all of my force into it as best I could. A satisfying crack and yell was heard by my ears.

I panted as I backed away slowly. A broken shin wouldn't stop him, just slow him down. He started to raise himself off the kitchen floor and I ran. I plundered through the house and towards the stairs. By the loud thunking noises behind I knew he was following me. I raced up the stairs and waited. I needed to come up with a plan, was my only thought. Somehow I still contained the glass in my hand. Beyond all odds it was there and imbedded into my skin. He turned the corner and began his climb up the stairs. I waited. I was ready, my plan intact and possible. His pace hastened and I braced myself, I needed to be precise in my movements or I would be dead for sure.

He reached the landing I stood on and charged at me. I shot my hand forward as he reached me and heard a sickening sinking sound. I backed away to see the glass now lodged into his abdomen. He looked down in astonishment and wonder, and then raised his gaze to me again, registering what just happened.

Hiashi's feet began to slip backwards as his eyes shined with fear. Hiashi fell down the steps, landing at the bottom with a gurgly thunk. I stepped cautiously towards the edge of the landing to see Hiashi's body sprawled out on the floor unnaturally and blood seeping from his hidden abdomen.

I stared down at his body in astonishment and accomplishment mixed with horror and numbness. I fell to my knees and my surroundings slowly turned gray around the edges, and finally fell into darkness and oblivion…

Some time later the police and an ambulance arrived. Apparently a neighbor had heard the screams and other sounds from the fight and actually called the authorities. Unfortunately… they called too late. Because, by the time the gurney reached my younger sister, Hanabi, she was already dead.

Hiashi had died instantly after falling down the stairs. I honestly wished that he had suffered more for what he did to us but, they said the break across his neck was clean. I was entered into the emergency room on a stretcher and was taken by multiple doctors. I was awoken by the shreaking siren of the ambulance, so I saw the looks on their faces as they removed my clothing in the hospital and saw all the damage. A man actually gasped at multiple scars he saw across my back, and a woman hissed as if she were in pain as she slowly removed the pieces of glass from my legs and arms.

I was kept in the hospital for a month. The only good thing was I didn't have any homework to miss because it was the summer; the summer between seventh and eighth grade to be exact. A week after the incident, I was questioned by the police. As soon as they knew my name, I told them everything, starting from the very beginning. They declared the event self-defense and that I was clearly within my rights. Besides, the state didn't want to represent a dead man who had been beating me for the past… six years. It was decided, as a mercy towards me, that there would be no trial. I didn't talk for a while after that.

I was entered into social services as soon as possible, that is, as soon as they determined that I was stable. I was supposed to be sent to an orphanage and receive routine check-ups by local nurses, but I was adopted almost immediately after being released from the hospital. I spent only two nights in the orphanage, enough to last a life time, and was adopted on the third day.

My rescuer, an occasional teacher for the children there, was Ms. Kurenai Yuuhi. The moment she saw me she took my hand and immediately asked who my worker was. I went home with her and slept in my own room that night. Unfortunately for her, she had absolutely no clue of my past, or the nightmares that plaque my sleep. When I finally began to trust her and she actually saw most of the scars from that day, I told her what happened. The entire time I kept my face as emotionless as possible, while she silently cried. She embraced me warmly for a long time as she whispered the whole time 'I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry…', which possibly confused me the most. It wasn't her fault. She didn't even know me.

That night, as I pretended to sleep, I could hear Kurenai calling people: checking on me in-between calls. We never spoke of it again after that… probably for the best… I don't think she could handle much more.

Since the… incident, I always wear baggy, conservative clothes. Only so I can hide what lies beneath them. I haven't been myself since then, I know it. It's with good reason though, I think. Since moving in with Kurenai, I have met my cousin Neji. Whom I actually had no idea existed. He is now living with Kurenai and me. Apparently after his parents died he was supposed to be entered into the system but never was; an oddity that I find myself both irritated and grateful for.

I have also been immersed into a different social world. My friends from before went to another school, and seeing as I continued my education at another we didn't communicate, at all, ever again. Now, seeing as I am a teenager and somehow changed, I have found myself forged into what I am now. Whether it was for the better or worse of me, I suppose I will never know… But now I get to do, really, whatever I please. And it's all thanks to Gaara, my friend, that I am as strong as I am now. Now I can protect myself and those I love, yet, it seems it was… too late… much… too late…

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Author's Note:

HEY!!! Okay, so I'm kind of really super excited about what I'm gonna do with this fanfic. SO, about reviews. Okay, I'll take flames, as long as they give reason. Random and useless yelling is just boring and, well, useless. Also, depending on what I get, I'll update the next chapter as soon as possible and all that. Also, I've finished the first chapter but I still need to look it over, turns out that its over 5,000 words… is that okay? Cause I could split it up as part 1 and 2. I'm just not sure. I kind of tend to use a lot of words and events for each chapter… anyway. I hope you didn't bleed from your eyes by reading this. Also this will (eventually) be a Sasuhina, somehow. AND, it was really hard to write the messing up Hinata and all this, HOWEVER, it will make sense and end up being the reason why she awesome. So, although its likely no one read this note cause I know I wouldn't, THANK YOU!!!

And, guess which band I based the name off of. If you get it right, you get imaginary cookies!!! With ICE CREAM AND FUDGE!!! (you don't really have to I just wanted to know if anyone got it)

AGAIN SORRY!!! And THANKS. I'll update as soon as I can, I want to aim for every other week or better, seeing as I'll have time.