Title: catch my breath
Summary: After the once shy Sakura Haruno came to Hinata's rescue when they were children, the former Hyuga heiress loved her and when she finds herself on the same team as her long time crush, Hinata hopes to not only to gain Sakura's affections but to become strong enough to protect her as well.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I honestly don't think I'm that creative to come up with a story like it and if I did it would take me a lot longer than fifteen years to make it.

A/n: A "What if" fanfiction I decided to make after looking through the SakuHina tag on tumblr.

This story probably won't get that much attention, but if it does I am sincerely grateful for all the support I get and hope you continue to read and follow this story till the end! So please read, review, and show me some love too? (Fanfic fail...)

[X]

I could not tell you if I loved you the first moment I saw you, or if it was the second or third or fourth. But I remember the first moment I looked at you walking toward me and realized that somehow the rest of the world seemed to vanish when I was with you.

[X]

Prologue

At seven years old, Hinata Hyuga was sure about a few things. First, her father was the strongest shinobi she ever knew. Second, she was positive that her cousin Neji Hyuga hated her. And third, being bullied every time she was out of Kou's sight was going to continue for a long time.

"Gloomy girl!"

"Weird eyes!"

"No wonder you have no friends!"

Hinata sniffled at the three boys words but she made no effort to defend herself. This was an activity that had been taking place ever since she had joined the Ninja Academy a few years prior. She would attempt to do something on her own, and pretty soon Atsushi, Kenta, and Ganta would follow in pursuit with fists and kicks and insults. Hinata had tried to do something about it earlier, but she couldn't even hold her own in sparring matches against one person let alone three! The blunette felt tears begin to well up in her eyes.

Fighting them would be pointless and hoping that Kou, or anyone else for that matter, would come to her rescue was just as pointless.

"A-ano..."

Huh? Hinata looked up from her dusty pants and looked up to see who had intervened the torture she was going through. It was a girl, and while Hinata hadn't personally known her, she knew the pink-haired girl as Sakura Haruno. She had heard plenty of rumours surrounding the girl, most having to do with her large forehead. Hinata could never tell much of a difference though, it looked like a regular forehead to her.

Atsushi looked agitated. "Huh? What do you want?"

Sakura flinched back when she received a glare from all three boys. "I-it isn't good to hit girls." She wanted to kick herself for stuttering.

The ring leader of the three bullies just scoffed and smiled mockingly, "And what are you gonna do about it Billboard Brow?" On cue, both Kenta and Ganta began to laugh as if their leader cracked the funniest joke in the world. Hinata felt the second hand embarrassment flow into her and looked back down at the dirt she was laying on. She definitely knew the feeling of being teased, but she never experienced it happening in front of other people.

"Tell," Sakura hesitated, doubt flashing through her jade eyes. "Tell you not to hit her. Or I'll tell sensei!"

Hinata blinked her eyes in surprise and slowly lifted her head to look at the pinkette. Her heart began to pound when she saw the girl give her a nervous smile; one that said 'everything will be alright' despite Sakura's trembling form implying otherwise.

"Oh yeah?" Atsushi replied as menacingly as a seven year old boy could be. "Why you!"

Sakura let out a squeak as she was quickly tackled down by him, Kenta and Ganta holding down onto her arms to make sure she couldn't swing back. Hinata felt tears begin to swell in her eyes once more as she helplessly watched her defender get pummeled in her stead. I'm so useless!

But as quickly as Sakura's beat down began, it ended as another feminine albeit much louder voice rang across the area the children were all in. This time, it was Kenta that spoke. "Oh crud it's that Ino girl."

"I-Ino!" Sakura repeated, relieved to see her best friend. Like the pinkette that came before hand Hinata knew little to nothing about the girl known as Ino Yamanaka, but she recognized the blonde girl as she had been well-known among the children of the future Rookie 9.

Ino's hands were on her hips. "And what the heck are you losers doing?!" She was already charging forward to where Sakura was laying and when she was close enough she gave Atsushi a strong shove. "Get off of her!" Ino pushed Kenta and Ganta back as well then stood protectively in front of the teary-eyed girl she had taken under wing about a month ago. Hinata felt both a surge of admiration and envy as she watched on. That was what she had wanted to do had she been strong enough.

Ganta glared, "You can't tell us what to do!"

Kenta nodded and Atsushi shoved Ino back, causing her to nearly trip. "Yeah we're boys so we tell you what to do because we're stronger!"

"Well my dad said that a real boy doesn't hit girls that do nothing wrong to them and that if they do they're actually weaklings!" Ino grinned wickedly as the bullies faces began to twist into ones of realization.

"W-well my dad says that it doesn't matter if who you're fighting's a boy or a girl if you're a ninja!" Ganta stammered out. A nervous sweat was beginning to show on his forhead.

Ino crossed her arms an gave a small 'hmph'. "Well you're dad's wrong because my dad's the best ninja ever!" She had a look of pride on her face. "And my dad trained me! So prepare to get hit with a sixteen hit combo!"

That was all it took for the three boys to finally retreat, one of them yelling out something about getting their big brothers. Ino just scoffed though, it didn't matter to her if they actually did bring someone older than them. She'd just make them go through a sixteen hit combo too. After the three boys became nothing but specks Ino placed her hands on her hips with a sigh of frustration. "Geez Sakura I can't let you go anywhere by yourself." She sat down on her knees, brushing out flecks of dirt and whatnot out of Sakura's hair. "And they messed up your ribbon too."

"My ribbon?!" Sakura repeated, reaching up at said object with panic. That had been a gift given to her from Ino when they first became friends and Sakura kept it meticulously clean.

"I think it'll be fine though," Ino said after awhile, making the adjustments for Sakura's ribbon herself. "Anyway how'd you end up getting beat up? We were supposed to be playing hide-and-go-seek remember?" Her voice sounded a little annoyed.

Sakura waved her hands defensively, "Well I was but they were picking on Hyuga-san!"

"Hyuga-san?"

Sakura nodded and pointed over to whomever she was talking about.

This time, it was Ino's turn to jump up in surprise. She hadn't even noticed there was another girl there and it was written all over her face. "Whoa! You've been here the whole time?!"

Hinata avoided any eye contact with her two classmates, feeling wave after wave of embarrassment. That was another problem with her; she lacked presence. Her father told her that was something a leader was supposed to have and she definitely didn't have it. There were times where she even wondered if anyone would notice she was missing had she ever disappeared. Maybe father would, but that's just because-"Ano, are you okay now Hyuga-san?" Hinata's train of thought broke and she looked back over at the best friends in front of her. It was Sakura who had asked.

Suddenly Hinata's cheeks felt warmer. "Th-thank you!" Hinata bowed down politely. "Thank you very much!" This had been the first time anyone had stood up for her.

"You don't have to do all that!" Ino sounded flustered and Hinata looked up to see the blonde awkwardly rubbing her neck. "I mean, Sakura was the one that actually saw that you were here so you should be thanking her."

But Sakura became just as flustered, "I just got beat up until you showed up Ino." She shot the Hyuga heiress an apologetic smile. "Sorry I wasn't really that much help to you."

There it was again, the heat rising on Hinata's cheeks and the quickening of her heartbeat. "I-i-it's fine..." Did I get sick? Hinata hoped that wasn't the case as she felt a strange feeling welling up in her stomach, feeling like a thousand butterflies. Like how it would when she knew her father was disappointed in her, but this time it was different. It was warmer. Hinata's eyes glanced down to her knees then back to Sakura, her breath heaving in shakily.

"Hinata-sama!"

For the umpteenth time that day, surprise filled the three girls as yet another person entered their smaller group of 'companions'. This time it was an adult though, sporting dark brown hair and like Hinata, lavender eyes void of any pupils. Hinata felt happiness the moment she saw him. It was Kou, her cousin and bodyguard. Kou had a firm look on his face. "Hinata-sama, why are you covered in the dirt?" His opal gaze pointed over to Sakura and Ino accusingly, focusing more on the dirt that had accumulated on Sakura as well. Sakura flinched back, taking cover behind Ino's back.

"Sakura got beat up for her you know so you should be nicer!" Ino said, trying to sound confident.

Hinata wanted to wince as well, not only because of how she hated confrontations, but because of how Sakura's once smiling face had contorted into one of anxiety. Hinata decided that she didn't like the expression on the pinkette's face and felt her cheeks heat up once more from the thought. Luckily, Kou was able to prevent anymore spacing out on the younger Hyuga's part. "Is this true, Hinata-sama?"

"H-hai!" Hinata nodded. Once again she glanced back over to look at Sakura.

"Very well then," Kou bowed his head at Ino and Sakura in apology. "I'm sorry for accusing you of these deeds." He payed no mind to how Ino had turned to Sakura, asking her what 'accusing' and 'deeds' meant. "Come along now Hinata-sama, we need to go back home now." Kou lifted Hinata onto her feet with ease, holding one of her hands.

Ino stood up as well, now wanting to leave the now awkward situation. "Yeah let's go back too Sakura, everybody's probably wondering where we're at now." When Sakura was back on her feet the blonde girl started walking back in the direction she had came from.

"Oh, see you at the Academy, Hyuga-san!" Sakura waved, a timid smile on her face.

Hinata felt her heart beat fast again and she nodded, too tongue-tied to actually say anything. She felt very weird around Sakura, but Hinata was sure that this time weird was good.

"Come on, Sakura hurry up!"

"Coming!" Then without looking back the pink-haired girl turned around, jogging back to catch up the frowning blonde ahead.

Sakura-san... Hinata felt her cheeks become warmer once again as she looked back to watch Sakura as she left, liking how her ribbon bounced as she took a step.

Then as Kou began to lead Hinata back to the Hyuga Compound, she realized that she was certain of four things now. First, her father was the strongest shinobi she ever knew. Second, she was positive that her cousin Neji hated her. Third, being bullied every time she was out of Kou's sight was going to continue for a long time. And fourth, no one made her heart beat faster than Sakura Haruno.