My third birthday is about a week away and I've been dreading it. I know this is when I'm supposed to be kidnapped, Neji gets the cursed seal, and Uncle Hizashi dies in place of father. I don't want this to happen, nobody deserves to lose their father at such a young age, and the curse seal is such a terrible invention, I am honestly sometimes ashamed to be apart of a clan that would partake in such traditions.

I have spent the last year trying to find Neji so we can build a bond that will have hopefully lasted through my birthday so he doesn't end up hating me for 10 years but because he is a branch family member I have never been able to get close to seeing him. I have rarely seen Uncle Hizashi and one it is only so father can subtly rub my prodigious self to Uncle Hizashi to prove head family members are better. This whole branch and head family thing is such bullshit and I cant wait to end it when I become clan leader.

Back to the birthday thing. I have been trying to figure out a strategy to solve the issue of Uncle Hizashi's death and my kidnapping but I'm not sure how. I mean sure I've gotten pretty string in my fighting but I don't think that will match up against full fledged Kumo ninja especially if they could kill someone as strong as Uncle Hizashi.

For the whole week I've been super stressed running through thousands of different scenarios in my head but none of them end up satisfactory. The stress has taken a toll and mother noticed how disheveled I looked the day before my birthday.

"Hinata-hime whats wrong?" As soon as she asked I ran to her lap, tucked my head in her stomach and began to bawl

"Mama I'm so scared."

"Of what darling?" I knew I had to make up a lie so I embraced my inner canon Hinata.

"My birthday. There's going to be so many people. What if they don't like me or don't think I should be clan heir. What if something goes wrong." Rubbing circles in my back, mother calmed me down whispering about how everyone has to love me because I'm so cute and strong and smart and nice. Mother is the kindest person and gives me all of the fluffy love father doesn't. Her calming presence and overwhelming love helped me calm down and I ended up falling asleep with her holding me like the child I still am.

The next morning I woke up better rested than I have been this whole month and mother was waiting for me. She picked me up and put me in the bath making sure to wash me with my soap that I can only use for special events. It smells faintly of lavender and makes me smell so nice for the whole day.

Mother was being extra gentle with me today because of my breakdown yesterday and I can't help but thank her for how wonderful she is. Once I was dried off, she began to do my hair into a fancy spiral bun with red roses intertwined and a few curled pieces of hair to frame my face.

I never had fancy hair like this but I couldn't help but fall in love with how beautiful my hair looked. Being Hinata, has changed me I think because I would have never been girly like that but now I cant help but love the feeling of looking like a princess.

Then mother helped me into a beautiful white kimono with golden trim and blue floral accents and a black obi with a red sash. I truly looked like a princess and It momentarily helped me forget what was going to happen today as she led me to the party in a different area of the compound.

I looking down at my feet walking behind my parents, nervous of all the eyes on me as well as if my plan was going to work when we stopped. Looking up I saw Uncle Hizashi. Oh my gosh I'm finally going to meet Neji. He's going to be so squishy while he's not such a dick about destiny. Stepping out from behind my parents I began to carefully study Uncle Hizashi. He smiled at me and wished me a happy birthday.

I would have believed it to be truly genuine but the ever so slight muscle twitch in his small smile and barely there fluctuation in his tone of voice let me know that he was probably dreading this day as much as I was. No parent wants to see their kid branded with something that gives someone else total control over them.

Looking down from Uncle, I saw Neji standing beside him. Neji fidgeted slightly smiled at me and I smiled back with the biggest and most friendly smile I could muster. I walked over to Neji I grabbed his hand. "Hi I'm Hinata, you must be Neji-san. I think we are cousins but I'd rather call you Neji-nii because then we can be like siblings. I don't have any and neither do you so I just thought we could." I rambled happily trying to form somewhat of a bond hopefully to lessen hi hate for me in the future if my plan fails.

"Hello Hinata-hime" Neji said with a bow "I believe it is alright if you call me Neji-nii I would like a little sister to look after." I giggled I happiness. After our introductions, father had me go with him and Neji and Uncle Hizashi to a small chamber where I knew Neji would receive his curse seal. I felt so bad for Neji especially as he cried out in pain. All while my ever stoic father explained to me the workings of the cursed seal as well as the roles of the branch family. I disagreed with him but knew not to say anything so that I can keep my position if heir before Hanabi comes so that I can make a change.

After I met Many of the clan council and important members and wooed them with my charm and prodigy-ness, The party wound down and I went to bed, kunai in hand ready for my kidnappers. After a few hours I heard my door open and I began to shake. I finally realized that me fighting back could kill me again and I really didn't want to die. I got so scared tears began to fall and I froze almost ruining the plan I had stressed about over and over.

As soon as I felt my sheets be ripped off of me, I sucked in a deep breath, jumped up and slashed at whoever was trying to grab me. I could feel the kunai slash across his skin and heard the ripping of flesh it was so gross and I wanted to puke, but I knew if I did, I would be taken. I heard one of the shinobi growl out "you little bitch" and I swiped one more time before screaming out for father and began to flip around them, using my small size and quick reflexes to try and avoid being grabbed by the pissed off ninjas.

I could feel the difference in speed with my lack of weights and it helped me tremendously in avoiding the angry Kumo-nin, my body was lighter and my reflexes were even better than before. If I wasn't scared shitless and crying while dodging for my life, I would have thought this was fun. As one hand grabbed me from behind and another came to grab my front I infused chakra into my fist and I made contact with the nin. I released the chakra that I had gathered in my fist and I could hear his arm crack from my hit.

A burning pain shot through my arm and I bit my lip making it bleed to hold in my screams. I refuse to give them the satisfaction of hearing me cry out in pain. My timing and technique was still not perfect when trying to use such a high level of Chakra enhanced strength and because of my error, the chakra backlashed and I knew my wrist was broken. I gripped my wrist, ready to move again but before I could go, a blunt force hit the back of my neck and everything went black.

I woke up the next day and when I opened my eyes, everything was so bright and white I thought I had died and finally sent to the afterlife. But then I heard noises and the faint sound of machines. Blinking a few times my eyes adjusted to the light and I realized I'm in the hospital hence the creepy amount of white I was seeing. A nurse with long dark pink hair and lanky form scuffled in checking my vitals. My eyes trailed her every move and when she finally noticed, she began to ask me questions. "Hinata-hime are you alright how do you feel. Do you need anything?"

"I'm fine. I would like to speak to my father."  I mumbled out quietly.

"Yes, Hime I will send Hiashi-sama in now" she said with a quick bow. A moment later father walked in and sat by my bed with one of the coldest looks I've ever seen on his face. Loosing confidence I mumbled a "Good morning". Instead of responding father grabbed me and hugged me tight. My almost kidnapping was hard on him too then. With his love I finally released my emotions one more time and cried into him. Father began to pat down my hair as he held on to me and started talking to me. "De you remember last night?"

"Yes."

"You held off 3 men long enough for me to get there right before they could take you from your room. One of the men was bleeding and one had his arm shattered from his elbow down. Did you do that"

"Yes." I sniffled. Daddy held me tighter at my answer in an embrace I could only classify as a proud one.

"You were kidnapped as a rouse for an attempt at my life and for the Rikage to finally get his hands on the Byakugan. Fortunately they failed but not without casualty." My heart dropped at this. I failed to save Uncle Hizashi, am I so worthless that I already failed at making a difference. I wanted Neji to grow up with the love of a father, I wanted to keep uncle Hizashi alive but I failed. I was so caught up in my own depressing thoughts, I didn't notice dad trying to get my attention until he shook me out of my stupor.

"Hizashi was there to fend off the other attack but was blinded and lost a hand in the process." I cringed at the horrible things that happened to him but let out a sigh of relief knowing that he is still alive. At least he can be there for Neji now, even if I ruined his career. Because they were not killed and instead detained in the process, Hizashi was not sent as an eye for an eye type deal

"I'm glad you are safe papa. How is Uncle and Neji-nii taking it?"

"They will get over it." The oh so softhearted response of my loving dad, I swear saying something emotional would kill him. He removed me from his lap and got up to leave to allow mommy and the nurse back in. Right before he left he turned around and said, "You did not disappoint me."

I fist pumped in the air when he left only to cry out in pain from my wrist. The nurse scurried over and scolded me for being reckless right after an injury. I was told I can't do any training with my right hand for at least 2 weeks. That sucks because now I'll only be able to run which is never fun. I would say dad would take it easy on me since I got hurt, but knowing him, he will just intensify the running and find other workouts that don't involve hands.

After I was released, mommy took took me to check on Neji and Uncle in his hospital room before we went home. Neji was definitely not as mad as he was in canon but I could tell he still blamed me when he told me I could no longer call him nii and that it's my fault his father I hurt.

After watching him for a bit I could see the anger and confusion directed at me as a substitute for his growing anger for the head vs branch families and I knew that it was very strong but at least this time he doesn't completely want to murder me. He's just a boy who realized the difference in status and is mad at how the branch family has to take the pain for the head family like his father. I guess can't blame him. Hopefully I will earn his forgiveness someday.