Chapter 3: Little Hyuuga Problems
As every morning, she got up early and ready for the academy. Neji was already at the gates waiting for her. They walked in silence for a while which was normal for them.
“Why does Hinata like Naruto so much?” she asked
Neji looked at her.
“He is a good friend,” said Neji “that’s all that I know”
Hanabi asked no more as they arrived to the street before the academy. He left her to go on her own. She went into academy even earlier than some teachers did. She went into her classroom and found for the first time that she was not the first. Maiya, Mina’s little sister was there.
Hanabi sat on her usual place.
“You and your sister are both fools. To think we believed your stupid lie” said Maiya with a sneer.
“Then why did you back down” said Hanabi calmly
“Simple, I don’t want my sister to hand around such a stupid guy” she smiled like a snob.
Hanabi narrowed her eyes. Even she knew Naruto had worked hard for the village. She decided that Maiya was stupid and ignorant, better to be ignored. She opened one of the scrolls she borrowed from her father’s library and started to read. She lifted her head to find Maiya’s face close to hers. She tried not to show her shock. She did not sense her or hear her move at all.
“My clan will destroy yours,” she said after a long time of silence. Her childish expression from the previous day was completely gone. She was smart but acted dumb. Now Hanabi knew better than to trust a Tsukyuga. She just hoped her sister got the same message soon.
“Whatever you say,” she said going back to reading.
Maiya moved back to her place and as soon as other children arrived, they were attracted to her. They started to chat and whisper. Some looked at Hanabi. She tried to ignore them but she could feel their burning stares, some were with disgust and other feelings she did not like.
“Enough talk children, we are going to start class” Iruka sensei said as he came in. the children became quiet fast used to his orders. Hanabi was glad he had come. She had to admit she liked his teaching. Not that she ever had trouble understanding but he was so light when he smiled and gave instruction. It took off some of the pressure so constantly felt on the clan. However, many of the clan would consider him weak. There was no tree without roots to keep it standing and that was what he taught; the roots to be a great shinobi.
“Today we have a new student, please stand, and say something about you,” said Iruka before Maiya stood up.
“Hi” she said with a bright smile “I am Maiya Tsukyuga, my mother is the leader of the Tsukyuga clan, I have a strong older sister. I like to train a lot but most of all I like to hang out with my friends and have a good time. What I do not like are people who treat others poorly. Since my clan used to travel a lot, we got to see many different places and many interesting things”
“That’s great Maiya, now let us continue with yesterday’s subject” said Iruka turning to the board as she sat down.
Hanabi tuned the teacher out and glared at Maiya ‘we are shinobi; we all get to go to different places and see interesting things. You know nothing’
Hanabi stayed inside as usual when lunch arrived. She ate her small portioning and looked out the window as she usually did.
“Something wrong Hanabi” said Iruka coming back for some papers.
“No” she said still looking out the window
“Hm, then I guess there is no feeling of hostility between you and Maiya” he said trying to dig into her thoughts.
“Its nothing that concerns you” she did not like to be interrogated.
“It will be my problem if it interferes with your performance,” said Iruka with a kind smile. he started to leave the room “and a teacher is not only for teaching but also for helping his students”
Hanabi leaned back on her chair before looking out the window. She saw Maiya playing with the other students. They all liked her. She saw her eyes rest on her for a single moment before she whispered to the girl next to her. That girl looked at her with a feeling that was no kind or friendly. Hanabi knew this was bad.
When the class was back inside, she could feel the stares. Maiya was good at manipulating others. She hated that. Her sister had suffered because of that. She still kind of disliked Neji when she heard of what he used to tell her. She would not let it be same. Now this was war.
“Hanabi?” a girl sitting next to her said just before the class started again. The girl had a worried look as she glanced back from Maiya to Hanabi “I think that Maiya doesn’t like”
Hanabi looked at the worried girl. She had never seen any other student be worried about her “I know, it’s a clan matter”
The girl bit her lip “I know that, but if it is clan matter then why is she bringing all those other kids into it. It is unfair”
“She does not bring honor to her clan manipulating people like that, I will not do the same” said Hanabi seeing the girl smile.
“I know, you are the best in class!” she said cheerily “but just be careful”
Hanabi showed shock ‘she cares about me?’ “I will, thank you”
“You are welcome!” she said seeing that they were now friends. To be truthful she had thought Hanabi would ignore her as she ignored most.
“Is there something you want to share with the class Kimi?” asked Iruka, class had already started.
“No, no sensei, sorry” she said lowering her head and giving Hanabi a smile. Hanabi found herself smiling back.
Later that day they were doing target practice. Maiya was surrounded by her new friends; she hand been the first to try and got a bull’s eye.
Hanabi and Kimi stood at the very back waiting for their turn. Hanabi was not used to conversation but at least tried to ask from now and then while Kimi talked the most.
“I am not really from any clan but both my parents made it to Jounin” Kimi said with a proud smile since there were only a few Jounin compared to them amount of Gennin and Chunin “but I still think it would be really interesting to be part of a clan”
“It isn’t” Hanabi said with a little bit of temper, “they demand and demand and demand. it isn’t fun, you train a lot and have little time for yourself. My older sister, my father had her live somewhere else when a Gennin because she did not meet his expectations. He changed his mind later but I think he only did it because he had to keep an image with the clan as the leader”
“Oh my” said Kimi with sad eyes.
“I think I heard about that,” said someone behind them. A boy with dark green spiked hair and dark eyes “your sister is back to been the heir, right?”
“Hai” said Hanabi.
“Rokuro, you are part of a clan also, right?” asked Kimi with a smile.
“Hai, a small clan of herbal doctors, but we hear plenty about the other clans. But what I had heard before was that you were the heir”
“As if” said Maiya closing to them with her little group “her sister who is a loser is the heir again. Which means Hanabi is even worst than a loser, she is trash”
“Hinata is not a loser,” said Hanabi with a serious tone “she has surpassed Neji, the genius of our clan and she is already stronger than you could ever want to be” she didn’t defend herself but she couldn’t accept to have her family insulted.
Maiya glared and Hanabi gave her the cold look which Hyuuga had perfection.
“Hanabi is your turn!” Iruka shouted looking at his list.
Hanabi had her way blocked by Maiya and her group. With a simple jump, she jumped over them. Iruka smiled giving her the five kunais. She gave a several wrist flickers, sending the kunais into the very centers of the targets. Each one of them knocked Maiya’s down and stayed deeply incrusted on the target.
“Really good” said Iruka feeling the pressure between the two girls
“That was so cool!” shouted Kimi hugging Hanabi.
“How did you jump like that?” Rokuro asked with a curious and happy tone.
Maiya only glared and Hanabi glared back.
At the end of the school day, the three of them began to walk toward where usually Neji went to find Hanabi. It had been a long time since she felt this nice. She had two new friends who had stayed at her side no matter what. They were half way there before Hanabi turned around fast and with her gentle fist pulverized a rock that would have hit her in her back of the head. She saw about six girls and three boys along with Maiya walk toward them not looking very friendly.
“She thinks she is all that just ‘cus she is from the Hyuuga clan” she heard someone say
“Maybe we should test is they are that great” it was the largest girl from their class and she was much bigger and thicker than little Hanabi. They were all angry by the insinuations and rumors Maiya had told them.
“Byakugan!” Hanabi was ready but she was not sure she could take them all on her own.
“Cowards” said Rokuro taking out a slingshot, which Hanabi was not too sure it would help.
“…” Kimi had a fighting stance, which was not bad.
Hanabi saw Maiya smile as the other kids launched at them.
“What’s going on in here!” it was Iruka puffing in the middle of all and this time he wasn’t smiling also along with him was no other than Neji
“Nothing sensei” the guilty ones said hiding their weapons
“All of you go home, tomorrow you all will get a test if you don’t disappear in 5…4…” and then they were gone “Now where is she?” said Iruka looking for Maiya
“She ran away as you arrived,” said Hanabi
Iruka sighed. He knew this was going to happen. “I guess…” he was going to take Kimi and Rokuro home
“I will take them home,” said Neji
“Thanks” said Iruka knowing he could trust Neji
The three little academy students began to walk following Neji, the strong jounin that was said was the genius of the Hyuuga clan.
‘He is so handsome’ Kimi couldn’t stop thinking ‘and his hair’
‘He is so cool!’ thought Rokuro
“What happened?” he did not ask. He demanded to know
“Maiya started telling all these bad things about Hanabi to the other students and they all got so angry that they wanted a pick a fight with us” Kimi answered fast looking at Neji with dreamy eyes
He just turned around and they continued walking until they got to Kimi’s house
“Bye bye!” she said as she went inside
“Bye” said Rokuro as Hanabi just waved her hand and Neji just stared
“Let’s go” he said as they started to walk again
“Hey Neji!” screamed the green beast of Konoha landing before them.
‘Why now?’ Neji was more than tired all he wanted to do was go home and sleep
“Hello my Hyuuga friends and friends!” said Rock Lee landing in front of them with the same shiny smile their sensei had
“Not now Lee” said Neji
“Oh but it has to be now! We are going on a mission to the grass country tomorrow, well that’s it, bye and remember be youthful!” and with that he disappeared in a small whirlwind of green leaves
“And that children isn’t how you want to end” said Tenten from over the fence “see you later Neji” she said before disappearing
After that, they left Rokuro at his house. They started their way home. In the way, they saw a Kakashi sensei frozen in the street with one wide eye and then they continued their way back to the Hyuuga state. There at the entrance they found no other than Hinata. She looked somewhat tired and her clothes were not in the best condition less to say
“Don’t ask,” she said before going in.
