Demon Talking

Human Thinking

Dream

"Do you want to live?" a smooth yet somewhat devious voice asked, its owner smiling in wicked glee.

"Who are you? What are you?" a girl laid trembling in a small pool of her own blood trying desperately to ignore the pain.

"That's not important right now, answer or die!"

The girl could just make out the intense purple gaze of the speaker and felt the trembling of her body increase.

"I-I want to live!"

"If I save you then your soul belongs to me, I will be free to use you however I wish."

"I don't…I don't care! I don't want to die!" the girl voice became stronger and she felt some of the pain go away, however this was fleeting was the girl felt a razor sharp object pierce her neck and rip out a chunk of flesh.

Before darkness claimed her, the little girl saw the body of a Wolf standing over her with bloody fangs.

Hinata woke up with a start and gently touched her forehead, it was that dream again, or maybe memory would be the better word. Sighing and looking around her small room, her eyes finally settled on what she was searching for.

A somewhat spiked ball of fur lay curled at the foot of her bed, snoring lightly and Hinata spent a moment studying the blaze of blood red amid the mostly gray body. Allowing a sigh to escape her lips Hinata absently runs her hand over her neck and winces when she feels the deep scars embedded there.

As she was getting ready to get out of her bed, the lump of fur stirred revealing itself to be a small female Wolf.

"Where are you going, little warrior?"

Hinata cringed at the name and for a second didn't answer. It was nothing more than the Wolf mocking her for her weakness.

"I'm going out to train, before I have to leave for the academy. You don't have to come with me Kuu."

The Wolf, Kuu, nodded her head and uncurled herself before jumping off the bed and landing neatly on the floor.

"Going out to train, and why is that? Surely not to valiantly prove to your father that you're not worthless, you can surely prove him wrong with a little training, yes?"

The young girl bit her lip from crying out at the harshness of Kuu's words yet it was hard. Kuu could see that she struck a well beaten nerve but refused to take anything back, the little warrior would have to learn to toughen up if she wants to survive.

Shaking herself in an effort to forget, Hinata quickly ran through her daily routine and sped rapidly out of the door with Kuu trailing slowly behind. Kuu heaved a great sigh before allowing herself to break out into a run and catch up with the young human.

She found Hinata crouching and body trembling from what she guessed to be crying. With an annoyed huff Kuu walked up to the girl only to backtrack when an unknown scent came to her. A young boy Hinata's age came to the weeping girl and placed his hand on her shoulder, startling her and causing her to fall over.

Kuu growled under her breath but made no attempt to help the girl out. Instead she thought it would be interesting to see where this would lead.

"Ah Hinata, I'm sorry I didn't know anyone else was here. What are you doing out here?" the boy's blue eyes showed worry, something that Kuu wasn't used to seeing being directed at Hinata.

Hinata seemed to be having the same thoughts as she stammered for a reply, rolling her purple eyes Kuu shifted her weight and continued to watch. This was not something she would bother with.

"Naruto, I…"

Before she could finish however Naruto seemed to notice Kuu and called to her to come out and with a snort the Wolf obliged.

"Who…" Naruto began.

Kuu stopped the boy with a flick of her tail. "Who are you, boy? Another spy sent to watch the little warrior and just some other hopeless dreamer trying to prove something?"

Again the words stung Hinata and like before she did not answer and only bowed her head. Sometimes she wondered why Kuu saved her from death, was it only to belittle her?

Naruto gave the Wolf a hard look and for a moment remained quiet while Hinata picked herself up and started to walk away. However Naruto's next words made her stop.

"Hinata, I don't really know what that thing is but you should stay away from it. It's nothing more than a dangerous beast."

"A dangerous beast, you say? Tell me boy, where did you come up with that assumption?"

Naruto took a brief look at Hinata who had her back to them and narrowed his eyes to the Wolf. "Because no one has the right to hurt Hinata or say that she is a hopeless dreamer!"

Hinata inclined a little to see Kuu's reaction but the Wolf remained unfretted, instead she seemed to be enjoying this and allowed herself a laugh before speaking.

"Boy, you shouldn't stick your head in things where it doesn't belong nor should you wander into things that you don't understand. The little warrior is mine to with as I please and there is nothing that can change that. Right, Hinata?"

Hinata closed her eyes tightly against the Wolf's words as if she could deny them by doing so but it was impossible to keep up yet she didn't want Naruto to know the truth about Kuu.

"I-I have to go Naruto, Kuu isn't that bad she's just…I'll see later at the academy."

Watching her leave Naruto turned his gaze on Kuu and glared at her to which the Wolf just smiled and went after the fleeing girl.

Hinata sighed as she put her head over her arms staring blankly at the board while the class waited for Iruka to show up. The blue-black haired girl thought of what Kuu said and felt a wave of self-loathing wash over her. Was she really nothing more than a hopeless dreamer who had no chance of gaining her father's approval?

Likely in class she had time to herself as Kuu does not come around and that little bit of freedom cheered Hinata somewhat. However it was a fleeting bliss as Kuu would often be waiting for her at home ready to berate her for something. She didn't notice that Naruto was behind her until he coughed softly causing her to jump.

"Naruto what's wrong, why are you…"

"That Wolf what's the deal with her? Why are you with her?"

Hinata lowered her head and said nothing yet before Naruto could question her further Iruka and Mizuki came and the boy was forced to sit down. The brown haired Chunin looked over his class and took a deep breath and preparing his little speech.

"Today marks the end of your training and the first step into becoming Ninja. Today your last exam would be to create three or more clones."

Hinata heard Naruto groan out loud and grumble how the clone jutsu was his worse, the girl felt sorry for him but couldn't offer any support as she called up.

Entering a room that had a desk stacked with leaf headbands Hinata mentally prepared herself and tried to calm her nerves. Exhaling slowly, Hinata faced her teachers who motioned to her to start wherever when ready. The girl nodded and readied herself, performing the correct hands and completed the jutsu with a bit of effort. Three clones stood next o Hinata all in good condition, not perfect but good enough to pass. Mizuki and Iruka nodded to each other and beckoned Hinata over.

Iruka stood up and gave the girl a big smile while handing her a headband. "Congratulations Hinata, you graduate!"

Hinata took and headband and stared at it for a while before tying it to her neck. A feeling of joy and happiness coursed over her and forgetting herself she let out a yell of triumph. She was a Ninja at last.

Iruka let the girl celebrate for a moment more before calming her own and telling that she has to go to let the other students in. Bowing gratefully to them Hinata walked out of the exam room happily. She noticed that Naruto was walking towards her and in a moment of giddiness showed him her new headband.

"Wow, that's great Hinata! Way to go!"

Hinata smiled happily and nodded her head. "Thank you, good luck Naruto-kun."

The blonde haired boy stopped upon hearing the suffix and Hinata cursed herself quietly but to her surprise Naruto just laughed.

"It's okay Hinata, you can call me whatever you want. By the way, thanks."

Hinata nodded again and took her seat but it wasn't long before she heard a yell of frustration and saw Naruto running out of the exam room looking distraught. Hinata was watched him go and after a minute of debating took off after him. Naruto was easy to find, he didn't even go very far, just to the little swing on the edge of the academy yard.

Steeling herself to talk to him, Hinata went over to Naruto who had his head bowed. Yet before any words could come out of her mouth, a surprise greeted her.

Kuu sat on one the larger, top most tree branches glaring down lightly at her while slowing waving her ash colored tail.

"Well if it isn't the little warrior and the boy. What are you two doing here, should you be frolicking about playing Ninja?"

Once again the Wolf's words stung but Hinata shook them off and in a moment of smugness showed Kuu her headband. Purple eyes taking in the metal and cloth head ordainment Kuu yawned insolently and gave Hinata a bored look.

"Congratulations, you now have something other than that stupid jacket to cover up your scars."

Hearing the word "scars"made Naruto look up and caused Hinata to start fidgeting, all the while Kuu was having a good laugh. Putting a hand to her neck Hinata took a step back until Naruto stopped her. Gently moving her hand the blonde could now clearly see the grotesque scaring that covered most of the young girl's throat.

Anger welled deep inside the boy and baring his teeth all but growled out the words. "Who did this!?"

Hinata's eyes widened in shock as she took in Naruto's appearance, he looked ready to kill. Taking her by the shoulders and shaking her a little the boy repeated his question with no answer. Losing her voice Hinata just shook her head and let a quiet sob escape her lips. Hearing this Naruto quickly calmed down and pulled her into a slightly awkward one-sided hug.

"Naruto-kun…"

"I'm sorry; I promise I'll try not to get that angry in front of you again."

"Cute, you both are so cute you make me want to throw up! Little warrior enough with this silly game, your ever pleasant father is looking for you and is pissed off."

Hinata lowered her head at the news of her father looking for her and started to walk towards Kuu when she stopped. "No, I want to stay with Naruto-kun."

Kuu's gray/red fur began to bristle at this but she quickly calmed down and gave the Wolf equivalent of a shrug. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Hinata hung her head while all of what Kuu said began to whir in her mind. She was brought out of it by Naruto who gave her a soft nudge.

"Hey it's all right, go see what your father wants I'll be fine."

Hinata's expression turned blank while Naruto gave her a kind smile. "I'll be fine really, there's always next year. I'll become a Ninja yet, you'll see!"

The blue-black haired couldn't help but smile and went after Kuu to find her father. As she ran Hinata didn't notice Mizuki walking up to Naruto with a smirk on his face.

Hinata walked towards her home with a smile on her face, she wasn't able to find her father but if he was in the main house then she could show him her new headband and he would finally be proud of her. With this thought in her head the girl continued on, confident that nothing could spoil her good mood. However when she reached her father's room, a sense of unease washed over her. What if Hiashi wasn't proud, what if he would scoff and send her away like others who had displeased him?

No, that wouldn't happen. Hinata shook her head and took a deep breath, gathering her nerves to enter her father's room.

Hiashi looked up at the sound of his door opening and tipped his head to the side and then slightly trembling, Hinata poked her head through. Hiashi motioned for her to come which she did with a swift bow.

"I-I passed my final exam. I'm a Ninja now." Hinata spoke quietly with her head still bowed. She moved to take the headband from her neck and showed her father.

For a moment Hiashi was silent as he looked from the headband to his daughter and back again before a smirk found its way to his lips.

Getting up Hiashi walked towards Hinata until he was right in front of her, "Congratulations, I want you to continue on bringing pride to the Hyuuga and to me. The road ahead will be hard but I have no doubts you will succeed. Maybe you'll become a great Clan leader."

As he turned back to his desk Hinata waited for him to continue but once it seemed this would not happen she became chest-fallen. As she got ready to leave Hiashi spoke up again, that smirk still on his face.

"Well done Hinata, I am proud of you."

A/N: Well that's the first chapter of the re-written A Quiet Ninja's Pride, hope ya like it. And if you don't…well whatever.

~Sage