AN: I'm sorry for the late update. No excuses, I'm a lazy bum. Gomen ne? Btw, please enjoy!!
Disclaimer: No, Naruto isn't mine and will never be.
It was just a normal Sunday morning when Hinata started her morning training. She hasn't started yet, in fact she was just standing in the training ground waiting for her sensei.
Her father's lecture was still fresh in her mind. She didn't want to disappoint her family, especially her father. She couldn't do something that would mar the Hyuuga name with shame. That would be bad for her, more lesson and lecture about the dignity of a Hyuuga should have. She felt somewhat lucky to be born in the Hyuuga family, the strongest clan in Konoha, but being an heiress to this formidable clan is another story. The other member of the clan can have a little freedom by doing mission in another country, but she was the future head of the clan. The clan won't let the future heiress running around doing missions to faraway country, is that for her own good, she couldn't tell. So her last mission was when she was fourteen, that was two years ago, before the chuunin exam. Even after the chuunin exam over and she became one herself, her father, the current head of the clan would prefer to have her around so he could watch her progress and berated her if she make some kind of slip-up.
Thus in her sixteen years of living in this world she began to understand that she couldn't let go of her family circle. She is a Hyuuga and will remain as one. Her clan existence is her existence. And she came to an undeniable conclusion that she would rule it one day in the future and it's her destiny.
The thing that she truly wanted to do was to serve the family as the heiress, be a good leader for the clan or anything that involving the clan and the people in it. Other things, she just pushed it on the far back of her mind. It was best, or so she thought.
She saw her cousin, his private sensei, walking to her direction. She gave a faint a smile and greeted him and he only nodded in return.
"Follow me, Hinata-sama" Neji ordered and he leaped to one of the roof and disappeared from her sight.
"W-what?! Neji-niisan, wait." She had no other choice but to follow him. He was far ahead of her but she could still follow him. After a few minutes of chasing she was finally able to catch up to him.
"Neji-niisan, where are we going?" she asked him.
"Training." He said curtly, and then elevated his speed. Puzzled, she followed him nonetheless.
They've been going for awhile now, they almost reach the outer forest of Konoha's border. Just, where is he taking me? Should I go back, but I believe him. At that time she could feel he slowed his pace, and finally stopped a few seconds later. She wanted to ask him why they were here, but decided not to so she wait for him to explain it all.
He was quiet for a moment then, "Do you know why we're here now, Hinata-sama?"
"Of course not. Is this related with the training, Neji-niisan?"
"Yes, this is some how related to the training." He said thoughtfully. "Behind this clearing is a waterfall. I guess you already know that. And I want you to train your new jutsu there because you say that it's more convenient training with the water splash."
Waterfall, now she remembered. She used to train under the spray of waterfall. She would hit the water specks so quickly, no, more like as quickly as she can so that no water would reach her shirt and soak it. But as long as she had practice the jutsu she wasn't able to evade all the tiny water specks, so her shirt was always damp somehow, but what kind of people is able to do just that. Then again she never thought of training in this waterfall, in her opinion the place is to open, only a small number of trees hiding it from prying eyes and it was also to close to the border line.
"But… now?"
"Yes, we come here for training, right?"
Neji walked to the middle of the pond standing on the water surface and waited for Hinata to join him in the not so usual training ground.
Hinata was a bit reluctant about the idea of training with Neji under the waterfall but followed him anyway.
Hinata prepared her Jyuuken stance and so did Neji. She waited if Neji was going to attack first but when he didn't she started on her first move to punch to aim for his vitals.
They moved graciously, just like the Jyuuken steps which emphasize deadly delicacy. The water splashed around them, everything was in slow motion when they engage in this battle, for Hinata it was a mean to show that she was skilled, competent to fight him equally. But are they really equal, or she was still under his great shadow. Her main goal wasn't to beat him, yet. At least now she would aim to be at the same level as he was. She was a simple person, really, she wasn't going to have an oath to herself if she didn't have the change to fulfill it.
"Hinata-sama, is dodging all you can do? Attack me like last night with passion burn to your eyes. Is kicking my ass too hard for you?" Neji moved his hand precisely to block her attack. "Finally." He smirked.
Hinata felt the rage swell inside her, she admired this person who was willing trained her, nonetheless his never ending remark about how weak she was annoyed her to no end.
She stopped her moves, measuring the distance between them, he was undeniably looking very pleased with himself. She hurled at him with speed, her fingers aiming for his heart, wanted him to feel how her heart ache now. She was sent flying back as he simply took his two fingers and pushed her away. She fell on the water surface soaking her pants.
"Learn, to control yourself, Hinata-sama. Don't let my taunting words get you."
"I know that, Neji-niisan." She panted, tried to give him the evilest glare she could muster.
He gave offered her a hand to help her standing, which she accepted, cautiously.
He smirked. "You're not afraid of me, are you?"
"Wh-why, would I be?" Neji-niisan, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why do you agree to help me with my training? I know father talked to become my sensei but you could have said no. You're a jounin, surely you were busier and as an ANBU…"
"Who's the better teacher than me." He cut her off with ease. "Now…now…let's not think about trivial things like that. I want to make you stronger, that's my mission."
"Y-your mission… from my father?" Hinata responded nervously.
"Hn…let's continue our training…" He said, ending their little conversation.
They were once again standing face to face. He prepared his stance then directed her fingers to her, which she dodged quickly. He was moving aside of her, sent another attack her. She deflected it, managed to catch his right wrist before it went to her midsection. He turned around and moved behind her, his other hand going for her neck, she leaned her head to the side, not quite missed his strike, she could still feel the wind blow on her cheek and it sting.
She yelped and lost her footing and had to land on the water twice that day.
"Is that supposed to be hurt?" He looked down at her from his standing position, didn't lend a hand like the last time.
"No." she lied, wincing slightly. "I-I was just surprised."
"That's the key to win a battle. Calculate their moves and finish them with a quick blow."
"I-I know that. But it's just…"
"What?"
"It's just that…you're the enemy. A-and you're already this skillful and talented and a genius of our clan and…and I don't know what else to do to fight you…please you with my average ability." Her voice cracked.
He was taken aback by her statement. Her quiet cousin was pouring her despair to him. They weren't close or anything, even after the reconciliation he had with the main family they didn't talk much. He was often away on missions and she had her own friends and activities. It was only a few months ago that he was appointed by Hiashi-sama to supervise her training. His first response was to object, but it was Hiashi-sama, the head of the Hyuuga clan so he had but to comply with his command.
He crouched down to level with her. "Hinata-sama, please don't think so high of me and so low of yourself." He said calmly. "You have your good aspects with yourself, you know."
She looked up to him. "What aspects?"
He smiled a little. "For once, your determination. Your spirit. Your kindess. All of them make the real you. You were good with people and a caring person. I could never be as carefree as you are, not even with my team mates."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. They are nice and all but…" He smirked, but not his usual icy ones. "We're talking about you, not me."
"But I want to kn… We can talk about you too." She said timidly.
"Maybe some other time." He glanced at her then pull her to stand with him. "It's noon. Let's go home."
"Alright."
"You need to dry yourself, if you don't wanna catch cold." He admonished.
"Okay." She said softly. "Thank you, Neji-niisan."
He smiled warmly. "You're welcome, Hinata-sama."
I was determined to post it today, no special reason just want to please you guys with the new chapter. I know it seems rushed and the fighting scenes suck. And please don't hate me for making Hinata totally self-doubting in this chapter. There isn't much progress in their relationship yet, so please bear with me.