(5 years, 15 September)
Hinata walked into their clearing to find Naruto sitting on a rock reading a book. It was a simple story but seeing her Hinata can only feel pride. It has only been more or less two months since she had started teaching Naruto how to read and Naruto was already past the introductory guides on how to read for children. Hinata can see that Naruto was still struggling a bit because she would catch her mouthing different words trying to match them to what’s written, but she was picking it up quickly. Hinata was starting to realise that Naruto was smart. Maybe not conventionally, but intuitively. Once she sets her mind to something, she does her best. Hinata knew her friend was brilliant, but she had also started to realise the scope of the villages neglect. Naruto was smart, but no one would believe it for the sheer number of things she didn’t know. Before Hinata started helping her anyone who talked to her would assume she was an idiot, because how could she not know? But Hinata had a burning desire to raze this stupid village to the ground. Her friend had a brilliant mind, was intuitive and had a ridiculous learning curve. To have everyone assume the worst because other people was sabotaging her friend. Well, it made her angry.
Putting her backpack down Hinata started spreading her quilt. It was a comforting motion, a routine they had started to build on. “Hinata!” Came the joyful exclamation. It made Hinata feel special. Even though Hinata has seen Naruto every day since they became friends, Naruto was always so honestly happy to see her. “Naruto” Hinata smiled back, “How goes the reading?” It was an honest question, as Naruto had finished all the grammar rules, punction and now only needs a bigger base of vocabulary. Hinata had thought it would take longer, not because she doubted her friend but because literacy classes for immigrants lasted up to a year. But Naruto always has a habit of surprising you and reading was something she had always wanted to do. “It’s alright but I don’t think I’m reading this right” Naruto frowned. “She received a banquet of flowers from her friend?” Naruto shook her head “Banquet is food right so how…?” Hinata accidently let a giggle slip out, but Naruto only sheepishly ducked her head. At this point she no longer worried that Hinata was laughing at her, she had stopped being so defensive having realized that Hinata thought it was funny not that Naruto was stupid. “Bouquet Naruto, it means a bunch of flowers bound together.” Naruto scratched the back of her head “Oh, that makes a lot more sense than banquet.”
Naruto fiddled with her top. “Do you think I’m ever going to be able to read like you do?” She looked at the botany book on Hinata’s lap. Hinata smiled at Naruto, “Yes, I do. You learned to read in two months, that is amazing Naruto, you just need to learn to recognize more words.” Naruto smiled a bashful smile scratching the back of her head. She was always shy when honestly praised, it raised Hinata’s blood pressure. But she said nothing, just smiled, for Naruto didn’t need her negativity, she needed her support and that was one thing Hinata was more than willing to give.
Naruto smiled softly to herself, she was happy, the last two months has been a dream, Hinata was amazing, having a true friend was amazing, and almost nothing could get in the way of the sheer joy she was feeling when spending time with her friend, except the wince and flicker of pain on Hinata’s face. Immediately she dropped her book and headed for a wide tree just slightly behind the rock where they leave messages. It wasn’t the tree that interested Naruto, but the first aid kit bundled up in its roots to protect it from the weather. Naruto has never been interested in medicine, not when she had never needed it but since becoming friends with Hinata it almost became an obsession.
Hinata let out a sigh, she hadn’t meant to distract her friend, had thought she was concealing her injury well enough, but she should have known better. Ever since she came to the clearing injured after a spar with her cousin, Naruto has made it her mission to help. Hinata remembered that first day fondly even if it didn’t start off great it still made her smile with how much her friend cared about her.
Hinata was late, it was the second day since her arrangement with Naruto to meet at the waterfall and she was already late. Hurrying to the market Hinata hid a winch. Yesterday’s spar with her cousin was horrible, she had been unable to defend herself at all from his furious onslaught and was covered in bruises. He had broken her arm, but her father had that healed, along with any bruise that couldn’t be hidden, but left any that remained as a reminder. At least that’s what he said, but Hinata knew this was punishment for losing to a member of the branch family no matter how prodigious, punishment for her failure. She hadn’t expected it, he had never done this before, but since the birth of her sister, he had become even more cold, more determined in the success of the Main Branch, that every failure on her part to live up to his expectations was met with harsh words and disappointment. This was the first time it left her physically aching. A reminder.
Hinata hurried along the stream till where it turns into a river. She felt that her father was using her cousin as a way to break her spirit, to make her determined to rise up, or break her into pieces, and it might have worked, if it hadn’t been for Naruto. Naruto who looked so vulnerable, who needed Hinata. Naruto who was so brave, to accept Hinata’s timid offer of friendship even when she had been hurt so bad before. And that small ember in her veins, that struggled to fend off the coldness and fragility her family made her feel, had turned into a roaring tornado of flames, incinerating her doubts and self-consciousness. For Naruto has trusted Hinata, the failure, the weakling, with her secrets, with her vulnerabilities, even though she hid it from the world, had listened to Hinata’s pain and still loved her, still cared, even though she wasn’t strong or brave like Naruto, even though she was scared to stand up to the world, something that Naruto did so easily.
But Naruto trusted her, so for Naruto she will not be a failure, she would stand strong for her friend, would protect the one person who needed her to be capable. Not out of spite or pride but because Hinata was the only one who could. And for that Hinata will be strong.
Hinata burst into the clearing, so very out of breath she had to stop and breathe before straitening, she was more than an hour late, she hadn’t left a message, so it was only desperate hope that made her wish Naruto was still here. But Naruto was still here, looking surprised at her dash through the woods. But something was wrong, yesterday when she had left, Naruto had been radiating hope and love, but this Naruto looked fragile, as if her world had collapsed. Her eyes were blank, and it looked as if she had been crying. That threw Hinata for a spin, what on earth had happened since yesterday?
“Naruto” Hinata started cautiously, and then it seemed something registered to Naruto at the sound of her voice, because it was like a swich had flipped and Naruto, the bravest person Hinata knew was clinging to her crying her heart out. Hinata was more than a little bewildered, and definitely concerned, it seemed so out of character for her friend. But then between sobs the story came out.
Naruto had been at the waterfall since eight this morning, full of hope from her new friend but as the hours past doubt had started creeping in. Was she too hasty? Should she had waited to reveal her gender, even though Hinata said she understood, was that just something to say before she left, unable to deal with Naruto after hearing her damage? And then ten o’clock came and Hinata didn’t show up, and the longer she sat there the more hope she lost, until she was sure Hinata was never going to come. That she had chased away the one person that could understand. Hinata’s breath hitched, and she cursed her father and his stupid pride, because it was because of him she had been late. And as gently as possible she wrapped her arms around her crying friend. Her heart breaking.
“Naruto, I’m so sorry” She whispered, “My Father decided to train me this morning unexpectedly, so I couldn’t leave a message” Hinata left out that he did it in spite knowing her injuries were not healed. But Naruto pulled back looking vulnerable but determined, reading the truth in Hinata’s eyes she pulled back, wiping her eyes, before whispering a quite sorry. As she moved back, Hinata winced in pain, her arms were especially sore this morning, even though her arm was healed it still felt like a big bruise. Naruto went still, before gently moving away from Hinata as if sensing she was fragile. Hinata was afraid that Naruto would think she was afraid of her but before she could voice the thought, Naruto chuckled a bit hoarse from crying. “As if I’m ever going to doubt you again” She whispered as if ashamed of having doubted Hinata at all. But Hinata understood, She knew Naruto has been hurt before, that trusting in people was dangerous for her, so Hinata gently took Naruto’s hands in hers and tried to convey there is nothing to forgive. But in doing so she cringed in pain. This time Naruto paid more attention still holding onto Hinata’s hands she asked still whispering as if speaking loudly would break this moment, “What’s wrong?” Hinata was hesitant in showing her injuries but seeing the sincere concern on Naruto’s face rolled up her sleeves, showing the black and blue bruising. Naruto recoiled and with a pale face and shaking hands started searching Hinata for more injuries, the more she found the more she paled, Finally she choked out “Who…?” Hinata was confused until she remembered their discussion on what could happen if the villager’s found out about their friendship. “My cousin” She admitted a bit ashamed. Some colour returned to Naruto’s face, but her eyes darkened, and a snarl was etched on her lips. “Why isn’t it healing?” Naruto asked concerned, she remembered Hinata saying the match was yesterday, shouldn’t the bruises have healed by now?
Hinata bowed her head misunderstanding the question. “My father felt that it should be a reminder to do better next time” She admitted, feeling safe to do so to her friend. With a flash Naruto remembered that she healed faster than others, remembered that the kids at the orphanage needed a medic when injured, and never needing one herself. She felt cold, she didn’t know any healing herself, she had never needed too. Looking at her bruised friend something logged in her throat. “How…?” she choked “How can I help?” Hinata looked at the desperation in her friends face and although not understanding why she felt it so desperately, she tried to remember how to wrap wounds, but she drew a blank. She had always had the medics at the compound heal her when she was injured. “I don’t know” Hinata whispered. But something desperate clawed behind Naruto’s eyes and so Hinata said, “I can look for a book?” Anything to stop that desperation strangling the insides of her friend. But while it stopped the desperate fear, it steeled into determination. “And I’ll learn” Naruto vowed. Still scared at how slowly her friend healed, but more than ever determined to ease her burdens.
Naruto slowly and carefully started tending to Hinata, She still remembered how her fear of abandonment melted in the heat of her anger. She had never liked the village, vowed to live to spite them, always bitter of her lot in life. But she had never been angry, not really. After being so relieved that her friend still cared that she still needed Naruto, the bruises was a slap to the face. That little voice inside shouting ‘All your fault’ almost caused her to be sick. Yet it wasn’t because of Naruto, it was Hinata’s family that did that to her, and Hinata can’t heal as quickly as Naruto. Bruises and wounds that take a day to heal on Naruto takes weeks to heal on Hinata. That scared Naruto, to know her friend is hurt, and she is helpless. So, feeling more determined than she had ever felt before she had gone to the person she turns to when nothing makes sense. Her Jiji.
Hinata had kept her promise, even though she was injured she still went through the effort of teaching Naruto to read, but Naruto was boiling inside, she did her best to hide it from Hinata, but from the frequent glances the other girl sent her she was not that successful. Still, she was gentle with Hinata, making sure she took breaks and that she didn’t make her injuries worse. On the inside though her organs felt as if they were melting in the fire of her anger, turning to steel in self-defense. She felt like breathing fire from all that rage that shimmered in her veins, but the longer she waited the more it turned molten, every wince and flicker of pain Hinata tried to conceal, turned the molten fire turned into lava, a force that crashed into the ice of her helplessness and transformed her will to help her friend into a core of diamond hard determination.
Naruto wasn’t stupid, it was true there was a lot she didn’t know, things like why Hinata’s family was hurting her. But she knew that it wouldn’t stop here. After the first hit there was no going back. She knew Hinata didn’t see it as abuse, just punishment. Naruto was not that ignorant, and that made her angry, but more than that it made her determined to be a place of help for her friend to turn to. But Naruto didn’t know how to help her precious person. Only knew she needed help. So she but a smile on her face and distracted Hinata from her pain, making up elaborate plots to make her smile. When it was time for Hinata to leave, she hugged her gently wishing she could feel safe in Naruto’s useless arms and let her walk back to a place of pain. Naruto was too small and useless to take on the Hyuga and win. She was just one orphan, a pariah at that, there not much she could do. But she knew someone who could do something and even if he couldn’t, he could help her learn what she needs to learn to help Hinata. And there is not much she wouldn’t do to help her friend.
She hurried to the Hokage tower, knowing it was almost time for her Jiji to take a walk around the village. She didn’t use to understand why he did this, but she was starting to. Jiji was the leader, he was the one who kept the village save, but it was difficult to notice all the problems when you don’t spend time with the people you are trying to protect. Like she would have never noticed Hinata’s pain if she didn’t talk to her. He once told her that the village is like his family, so everyone in it was important. Nariko couldn’t love the village like he did. It had hurt her too much to freely give her heart to the people that hurt her so, but her precious people loved the village, so she would love them and protect the thing they loved.
Seeing the Hokage walk out of the big tower was a relief for Naruto, she didn’t want to talk to the guard again, she didn’t have time for arguing. Hurrying over she ran to her Jiji throwing her arms around him, trembling slightly. Today was a long day, even if it wasn’t over yet, she hadn’t realised how scared she had been until the Hokage wrapped her in a hug.
The Hokage was surprised at the missile that had launched at him unexpectedly, but feeling how afraid Naruto was caused him to wrap her in a hug and shun-shin to her apartment. Closing the door behind him, he gently sat her down before looking into her eyes. “Naruto what’s wrong” Hiruzen was very afraid of her answer, well aware that Naruto was not easily spooked, and that he had not hear of an incident, meaning something could have happened to the girl he saw as a granddaughter without his knowledge.
Taking a deep breath Naruto started her story, About finding Hinata being bullied and them becoming friends in secret and how Hinata was going to teach her how to read and softly she spoke of the bruises, of how helpless she was in the face of her friend’s pain and how scared she was for her friend having to go home every day.
The god of shinobi once more acutely felt his age. He was beyond glad that Naruto has found a friend, beyond sad that he never knew she couldn’t read but proud of how she protected her friendship, well aware that the Hyuga would not stand for their heir to be friends with a commoner unaware as they are about her heritage. He was proud that Naruto had come to him for help even if he knew he couldn’t do much. Every clan in Konoha was internally regulated, as Hokage he is not allowed to interfere with how they trained their members. But looking at her hopeful face he knew there was something he could do.
“Naruto, I cannot interfere with Hinata’s training” Seeing her stubbornness about to rear its head he continued “But I can teach you how to help her yourself.” Here he paused, looking at her serious. “My wife was a talented medi-nin she had created a lot of techniques that can be used without chakra, creams to speed healing and promote regrowth, If you are serious about this, I can get you a copy of her journal. But it must stay a secret. That is my condition to this, as well as that you come to me for any questions.” He thought for a moment. “You said Hinata liked botany, it should help you get the ingredients needed. But once again this needs to be a secret.” Hiruzen knew he loved this little girl like she was family, but he was well aware how his enemies would use her against him. That is why he could only rarely be seen with her, why he never knew she couldn’t read. He must keep his distance to keep her safe. But he hoped one day, when he found a successor, he would be able to take her home and introduce her to his children, like he would have introduced her to his wife if she had survived that terrible night. But as long as their relationship is seen as a leader looking after a village asset than she will be safe, and as long as she knew he loved her, he would keep the status quo.
Naruto looked down, she knew he couldn’t always help, that there were rules that he couldn’t break to keep her safe, why he had the ANBU look out for her instead of helping himself, why he left her at the orphanage. It was why she never told him she couldn’t read; she didn’t think he would have been able to help her. It’s why she had only gone to him when Hinata needed help. And although she was disappointed, he couldn’t take Hinata away from her family, she was beyond grateful for the help he offered her. She knew how much he loved his wife; knew she died years ago in the nine tails attack. So, she was touched that he would share her work with Naruto.
“Thanks, Jiji” She whispered touched. “Jiji…” She began hesitantly “Can I enroll in the academy?” The Professor was surprised, Naruto has never asked to be a ninja, and although he knew that as a Jinchūriki she would be expected to serve the village, he was sure he would have had to protect her rights should she not want to. So, this came out of left field for him. “The Academy?” He said slowly looking at her for a clue to where this was going. “Hinata is going to be a ninja” Naruto whispered. Understanding came immediately. “As long as you can read and count there shouldn’t be a problem.” He reassured her. “But Naruto you should enroll because you want to, not just to follow your friend. The life of a ninja is tough, it could break someone if they don’t have the right motivation.” He cautioned her. But Naruto looked at him with wildfire in her eyes and iron conviction in her words. “I don’t want to be a ninja to follow Hinata. I want to be a ninja to protect my precious people. I can’t protect anyone if I’m not strong enough. So, I’ll get strong and stronger until nothing could take them away from me.” Looking at her he saw a slightly bigger redhead glaring at him with fire in her eyes ‘I’ll get strong and stronger until nothing could take them away from me.’ Kushina had said after the loss of Uzushiogakure. Hiruzen desperately hoped that her daughter had better luck than she had. But he swallowed the lump in his throat and looked past the ghost to the little girl he cared about. “I’m sure you will” He said softly almost like he willed the world to make it true.
That next day she showed up with the book and a bag her Jiji called a first aid kit. And together the girls learned how to make the ointment, Hinata sneaking the ingredients out of the compound, and Naruto learned how to tie bandages just right to be tight without restricting movement, how to stitch cuts and when to just add a little cream with an adhesive bandage. But every time Hinata looks so grateful for the little bit of care, Naruto’s feels a bit of her heart darken towards Hinata’s family. Because as much as she had wished otherwise her prediction proved true, Hinata only became more and more injured as time passed, and as Naruto’s helplessness grew so did her determination to one day be strong enough to protect her friend. She was going to have to be the strongest in the village, If she wanted Hinata to ever feel safe she would have to be the best, so she would be the Hokage, the strongest Hokage that has ever lived so that nothing can stand in her way of protecting her precious people.