My birthday was fun, I got to hang out with my friends and we played games and just got to be around each other. It helped me de-stress form my life. Presents are always fun too, since I never had them in the past life. From

Sakura, she gave me a set of black, red, gold, and blue nail polish as well as a coupon to get free dango for a month. Ino got me my first real ninja outfit because my onesies were so overrated: a lavender and black battle kimono inspired top with black shorts to go underneath.

Shikamaru got me a beautiful shoji board of my own with each square had our names carved into them. Choji got me a newly released book on shoji strategies and a new set of my favorite mangas. Kiba got me a black bracelet with a dog charm that looked like a dog collar, and I can store chakra in it for future use if I run low or something, as well as it helping him sense me better.

Sasuke got me a new pair of fingerless gloves, that grow along with my hands and wont tear with chakra usage, they were black and had intricate vine detailing in lavender and dark blue. The inside of the gloves were also made of a soft silk and had the Uchiha crest all over it.

Itachi took me to pick up the finest set of ninja tools, sealing scrolls, and a few of the books on chakra theory only allowed for people of a certain stature.

Mikoto and Fugaku, probably Mikoto's idea, gave a diamond encrusted Uchiha necklace. My parents gave me new books on chakra usage and also my first real book on water style justus. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

In January, we had a baby shower for my mom. I thought it was going to be unneventful, boy was I wrong. I see Neji every so often since it is his job to protect me. He usually stays far away from me and watches. Every once and awhile I sneak out to watch him train with his father and some other talented branch members.

Neji is really talented, he is learning the Hyuuga style gentle fist so quickly and learns and by the look of things he will be able to master clan techniques faster than any of the head family members I've seen training in the techniques.

He's talented but he's driven by his hate of the head family, which sucks because I really want to train with him and learn the palm rotation like he's learning.

Neji's obvious avoidance of me was what made it surprising when he showed up for the baby shower with Uncle Hizashi. He didn't do a good job hiding the disdain for my family, especially me, so beofre my dad could say something to make the situation worse, I gave a hug to Uncle Hizashi and pulled Neji into a training ground to let him vent his anger on me.

Neji was too shocked by my actions to react until we got to the training grounds. He turned to me, his face contorting from shock to one of the most hate filled glares I have even seen in my life. It hurt that I could make somebody hate me that much.

"What do you want Hinata-sama?" Neji spat out like my name was acid on his tongue. Losing my confidence, I put on a fake smile that seemed to falter as his glare hardened even more.

"Let's spar. You can take out all of your hate for me right here right now." Neji put on an evil smirk at that point.

"No. It is your destiny to lose to me, the prodigy. You are a failure and always will be, you fight for nothing and that makes you worthless. Soon everyone else will see it too."

"We will see about that wont we." Right then, Neji attacked. His attacks were quick and precise, he has real talent for a boy in his first year of the academy. I saw each hit coming, and I knew exactly how to counter, but I didn't. I let each and every hit he threw at me land. Each hit had no chakra, this was attacks of pure reckless anger, not the attacks of a shinobi.

The pain was immediate and after a few well placed attacks, I began to cough up blood. Yet I did not move or fall down. I allowed him to hit and kick me as much as he wanted too. After a few minutes of relentles attacks, Neji finally spoke up. He threw punch to my face.

"Fight back are you so weak you will just stand there?" Another punch. I coughed and looked up to meet his hate filled eyes.

"If I was weak, why am I still standing?" A strong kick and a yell from Neji.

"Then FIGHT BACK you worthless girl. I hate you, you ruined everything. It is because of you father is blind. It's ALL YOUR FAULT! It was his destiny to be strong, but now he is weak. Just like you, you will always be weak when you let people push you around like me. You disgust me." His screams turned into whispers and his hate turned into sadness as he beat me. I could no longer stand up and I fell to my knees but the attacks didnt stop.

"Neji, I know its my fault. I'm sorry I couldn't save your fathers eyes, that is why, I will not fight back. I can beat you but I wont. That wont do anything. I will take every hit you give me, put all of your hatred into it so you can finally have room for love again. I love you, you and if this is how I show my love, by letting you beat me senseless, then so be it. I will be here until you no longer hate me." I said to him with a weak smile on my face as blood began to trip into my eyes turning my vision red and murky.

I could barely make out the tears pouring down Neji's face at my statement. I could hear his breathing become so ragged, I knew he was about to collapse. Neji gave in a few more hits and kicks, I finally collapsed laying on the ground. A few seconds later, I could feel Neji lay beside me.

"H-How can you, I don't understand, Why?" He gasped out in a whisper. I reached around for his hand and held it, he didn't pull away.

"Like I said, I love you and I will let you beat your hate away until you love me too." I could feel the blood pooling around me. I should probably go to he hospital soon, but it was worth it. I felt Neji steady his breathing more, then he picked me up. I was barley conscious at this point, but I allowed him to take me to wherever he was going. I could feel him running and his arms tightening around me. He was mumbling into my hair.

"I'm sorry. I know it wasn't really your fault. Stay awake. Come on, were almost to the hospital." I smiled, it worked. it felt as though a weight on my heart had been lifted now that I have Neji filled with less hate and contempt. Neji sopped and I heard faint shouting. The last thing I felt before blacking out was Neji kissing my forehead and whispering an "I love you too, little sister."

I woke up greeted with blinding white light. I looked around, allowing my cloudy vision to adjust to the brightness of the room. Damn, the white walls and gross smell, I'm in the hospital again. I tried to move, but couldn't because of the pain I felt in my abdomen.

I looked at my body, I was covered in bandages. The little skin I could see was bruised darkly. Damn who would have thought letting yourself get your ass kicked by someone who hated you would hurt so bad. I heard faint snoring and looked to my left.

Neji was sleeping in the chair beside's by bed. I wasn't dreaming then, he really doesn't hate me anymore, sweet! I shifted a bit, but let out a groan. Neji woke up and was quickly by my side, looking at me with a mixture of guilt and worry. He grabbed my hand tightly, I could see the glassy look in his eyes from the tears trying to escape.

"Hinata, I'm so sorry, If i wasn't..." I cut him off.

'No Neji don't do that. It was my choice and I would do it over and over again. If I didn't let you, we wouldnt be hear doing this right now. You would still hate me and say something about my destiny to be a weak failure."

I let out a pained and fake laugh. Neji looked at me again, and nodded his head acknowledging that I'm right. He then pulled me into a hug, and even though it hurt like hell, I let him. All while he repeated "I'm sorry" over and over. Once he let go, I gave him a mischievous smile.

"So are you going to help me escape this hell hole?" Neji looked at me annoyed.

"No, you will stay here until the doctors say you can leave." I pouted and huffed annoyance. Stupid rule following Neji. After a few minutes of silence, my eyes began to flutter closed, until the door of my room was thrown open. I opened my eyes and saw my parents and Uncle Hizashi come into the room. My mother held Hizashi and let them over to me.

They embraced me and mother was crying for how worried she was for me. Uncle Hizashi just had a pained look on his face. I looked over to father, he was fuming. I've never in my life seen him so angry. I looked at where his gaze was and it was fully on Neji. Before I could say something, dad had Neji pinned up against the wall by his throat.

"You need to learn your place Neji. You disrespect and attack the heir of the Hyuuga clan, worse you send my daughter to the Hospital. Whats to stop me from killing you right now as reparations." Neji looked down ashamed.

"Nothing Hyuuga-sama." Father turned on his Byakugan and right before he could land a strike on Neji, ignoring all of the pain I went to block, father stopping before his hit landed. After the movement I fell to the ground, but before I hit, dad dropped Neji to cradle me in his arms. His eyes still flaring dangerously, but softened when he saw me.

"Papa, please. It was my choice, I told Neji to take all of his hate on me so he could love again. You and I both know I let this happen. Don't hurt him, he was the one who brought me here after our little fight. Please otousan, please don't punish him." I said holding onto my dad like it was a lifeline. He looked at my teary face and I felt the anger fade. Squeezing me tighter, he mumbled into the top of my head.

"My stupid daughter, you scared us all, you scared me. I won't punish Neji, but if it happens again I can't say the same. Lets go home, I will have a nurse care for you in the compound away from prying eyes." I smiled at dad and he walked out of the room with me in his arms. Everyone followed suit and we went back to the compound where I was on bedrest.

The next event that shaped my life came from the birth of Hanabi. Throughout the last month of my mothers pregnancy, she began to look weak and sickly, she could barely do anything for herself.

I didn't know much about pregnancy, but the eerie feeling I was beginning to have told me that this was wrong. I noticed the worried whispers of her nurses and midwife. My father looked more stressed and agitated then usual, especially during training when he was exceptionally cruel.

I pushed my worries aside and just focused on taking care of my mom, even lessening my training to always be there for her and make sure she and the baby are ok. On March 27, mom went into labor. I ran out of her delivery room and grabbed dad. We returned to the room and I help onto one of moms hands. Her grip was crushing my fingers, but I coated my hand in chakra and let her squeeze.

I ignored everything except focusing on mom to make sure she would be ok; I didn't hear the panicked shouting of the nurses, nor did I hear that Hanabi came out. I watched mothers face intently and I saw as her eyes began to fade. I watched her mouth moving, but I couldn't hear anything she was saying.

After a particularly loud scream, I snapped back into reality. I heard a nurse say there is nothing left they can do. They all left to clean off Hanabi, leaving me, mom, and dad alone.

No no no no. This can't be happening. After she finished talking to dad, who looked so broken in a way I've never seen, she turned to me with that warm motherly smile. This time, instead of the comfort I felt from it, it was haunting, emphasized with the dull grey of her eyes and hollow cheekbones. She released my hand and put it on my cheek, wiping away the tears I didn't know I had.

"Hinata-chan, my beautiful princess. I love you so much."

"No, mama, mom please no." I cried into her hand.

"Shh. It's alright my girl. You are beautiful, strong, smart, kind, and so talented. You are perfect the way you are. Promise me you wont change yourself no matter how much the clan pushes you." I nodded. "Protect your sister and your friends like I know you can. Don't be afraid of love, I want you to fall in love with a handsome boy who loves you. Goodbye my darling. Tell Hanabi I loved her please." Mom closed her eyes and I felt her breathing stop. I jumped on top of her and buried my head into her chest.

"Mommy please. I promise, I promise. You can't go. Stay STAY! I need you, you can't leave us." I wailed. I felt multiple arms wrap around my small frame and rip me off her body.

I was thrashing screaming for my mom when I felt myself get pulled into a warm embrace. I inhaled and could smell the scent of Shisui. He was whispering words I couldn't hear, but I felt myself relax into him. I cried into his shirt for what felt like hours until I fell asleep in his arms.

I woke up and all I could feel is numbness. My mother, the one who cared for me, is gone. How do people handle this, it feels like my world has collapsed in on itself. I'm not even in my room, I have no idea where I am. Nobody is here, I am alone. Shisui came in, I must be in his room.

I looked at him and blinked. He smiled but flinched away at my stare. I cant bring myself to smile, it wont work. Itachi and Sasuke came in following behing him. I still didn't ackwnoledge them, I couldn't, it hurt too much. Sasuke pushed past Itachi, ignoring his warings to stay away, and hugged me. Sasuke was borderline suffocating me with his hug, but I didn't care. My whole body was cold but he was warm. Shisui asked me if I wanted another hug. When I weakly nodded yes, I was pulled into Itachi's lap and Shisui hugged my other side.

I was surrounded by them, it helped, I could feel something other than cold. We stayed like that for a bit, but Shisui knew I needed a distraction. Him and Sasuke then began to tell me about training and playing at the park. I cried a bit, but they kept talking. Then they began to talk about Hanabi. Shit Hanabi, I promised I would take care of her.

"Where is she?" I choked out, my voice raspy from crying. Someone, I'm not sure who, said she is with Mikoto. My dad left on a month long mission today, and I am staying with the Uchiha's for the time being.

"I want to see her." Itachi moved me off of his lap into Shisui's and left the room. A minute later he returned with Mikoto in tow, she was holding a bundle of pink blankets. Sasuke let go of me and Mikoto placed Hanabi into my awaiting arms. Hanabi was small. So tiny. A little flat baby nose and a tuft of brown. Perfect. She smiled at me and I cried, giving her a small smile back.

She's mine, my little sister. I lost my mom but now I have a sister to love and care for the same way mom did for me. I touched her cheek and her small fingers wrapped around my index finger. I can't believe she's my sister, other than our eyes, we look nothing alike. She looks so much more like mom and dad than I do. She has brown hair like they do, a round baby head. She is so beautiful and delicate, like a piece of fine china.

I held her closer to me and just watched as she looked back at me giggling. After a few minutes of her watching me, she began to cry. Mikoto rushed over to me with a bottle. I held it and Hanabi drank, slowly falling asleep in the process. Everyone left the room for us to be alone. Once she finished eating, she was fully asleep. I laid Hanabi down and crawled next to her, going to sleep myself.

When I woke up, I felt arms around me. I looked in front of me and Hanabi was still sleeping. Shisui was on the other side of Hanabi, sleeping with his arm behind my head. Carefully, I turned around and saw Sasuke sleeping and hugging me from behind. Itachi was sleeping in a chair next to the bed. A warm feeling enveloped me, I am so lucky to have them.

The next week went similar. I couldn't care to talk unless its to ask about how to care for Hanabi, every day I would do nothing but take care of her. Each night, I would sleep with Hanabi, and throughout the night they would all join me. The pain was still there, but the distractions and love they provided me with helped me begin to feel. The second week of being there, I had a surprise.

When I woke up in the morning, instead of my normal bedmates, I had many more. Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Ino, and Sakura all joined me in my room sleeping in various places. As soon as everyone noticed I was awake, I was bombarded with hugs. The pain began to fade a little bit more, control beginning to settle back in. It was at this time that I decided to train again.

I trained harder and more dangerous than ever to fulfill my promise to protect the ones I love. Every night I would return to the Uchiha compound bloody and bruised worse than any of my other training sessions. The physical pain helps with the mental pain. Training was the only time I would be away from Hanabi. After a few weeks of this, I still was silent, but my eyes had some of the gleam return.

One day, my father walked through the compound and took us home. He said nothing to me, he couldn't even look at Hanabi. I knew the death was hurting him, but I never thought I would see him so cold to me. When we got home, Neji came up to me and hugged me. He lost his mom at a young age too, so he knows how I feel. I was comforted with his presence and the knowledge that he can understand me.

Neji spent the night with Hanabi and I. In the morning, dad walked into my room and woke me up for training. He still didn't acknowledge Hanabi. Neji told me he would care for her while I was gone, so I left for training.

Training with dad became miserable. He would yell, he would push me to the point of needing a doctor to stay on watch one night. It was like he was purpose pushing me away to hate him. I've never felt so unloved and miserable. Any of the love that used to be in fathers eyes was completely gone. I no longer was aloud to hang out with my friends, the only things I could do were train, make my plans, and care for Hanabi.

The only light I had was Hanabi, and my drive for my dream to protect everyone was the only reason I could keep going.This is how my life went until late August, when it was time to start the Academy.