108Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Hinata isn't ignorant of her place in the ninja hierarchy. Yes, being born into the Main Branch and heiress to the Hyuuga clan certainly put her a few spots above the rest of her shinobi and civilian-born classmates. But it didn't erase who she was.
Small.
Soft.
And weak.
It was either she was too much (too gentle, too kind, too merciful) or she was not enough (not fast enough, strong enough, good enough). It has been that way her whole life. Repeated so many times that it has become truth. How can it not be when she's heard the same thing said to her a thousand times before. Yes, the words are a little different each time but their meaning is clear.
Hinata is weak. Her place is that of the outlier; an outcast. Better suited as a breeder than a ninja, she's heard in the Main Branch's halls, the elders uncaring if she heard them or not. Becuase she is not worth that courtesy.
Hinata cries out, small and high-pitched, as she lands on her backside on the dirt road. Her escort is missing today. Hinata would not be surprised if he forgot about her or was called to deal with more important matters. However, this leaves her ripe for the picking for her crueler, more outspoken peers.
"Not so high and mighty now, huh, Hyuuga?" One of the older students at the academy taunts above her. His two friends grin and giggle behind him.
Her palms burn where they scraped against dirt and rocks and her bottom throbs painfully. Tears gather in Hinata's eyes, unwillingly. She's always been so easy to cry.
The three boys crowd around her, erasing any hope of anybody seeing what's going on. If anybody were to even come by, that is. Hinata knows she shouldn't have taken this shortcut. At least not by herself. Why had she waited for an escort who would never come? Why hadn't she just walked home with Rin and Obito when they offered?
Why had she held hope?
"Oh, look she's going to cry." The older boy leans down, uncomfortably too close. "Are you going to cry, crybaby?"
Hinata lowers her head so her bangs form a barrier between her and the trio's mocking eyes. She knows her place in this world. It would be better just to be quiet and accept it like so many others have done before her.
But there is something hot and fierce within her. It has kept her warm all these years through her clan's cold stares and treatment. And it thrashes within her, begging to be let out. To prove that she is more than what everybody thinks of her.
"Hey," a harsh shove to her shoulder jostles her. She does not look up. "What's the matter? I'm talking to you, freak, so you better—"
Hinata lifts her head so violently she ends up headbutting the boy. He stumbles back with a pained shout into the arms of his shocked lackeys. The two boys blink in confusion and stare as the little heiress, who's usually so meek and quiet, glares at them.
"I'm not a freak!" The boys take a step back at her shout. Tears are running freely down Hinata's face, her voice wet and pained. "S—stop it! Just l—leave me alone! Please ." The last part is little more than a whisper, her body limp, anger spent at last.
As is her bully's bewilderment, it appears, the three beginning to get back their bearings. Their leader—his name escapes Hinata—shakes himself out of his friend's hold and marches back up. His little face is twisted in a scowl, embarrassed that he let her, weak little Hinata, get the better of him.
He points a finger at her, his other hand holding his nose. "You're going to pay for that Hyuuga!" Hinata flinches and curls herself small and tight when he lifts his fist. "Time to teach you snot-nosed Hyuugas a lesson."
The sound of skin hitting skin echoes in the isolated trail around them.
Hinata inhales sharply, expecting a sharp burst of pain. But there is nothing. No pain. Hinata opens her eyes in shock and uncurls to look in front of her. A boy is standing there in front of her. Her eyes travel past the scarf wrapped around his neck and up to the shock of grey hair sitting on his head.
Hinata's eyes widen further.
Hatake Kakashi.
She knows him. Of course, she does. If not for the fact that he's the son of Konoha's White Fang then it is becuase all the time she's spent listening to Obito rant angrily about their classmate and how he's trying to steal his best friend away from him.
Kakashi drops the older academy's student's wrist.
"You heard her." He says calmly but there is hardness behind the words, a subtle threat of or else. "Leave her alone."
The three boys' eyes are wide. Kakashi may be their junior but rumors of skills and prowess in the shinobi arts are known throughout the academy. They stand little chance of beating a full-blown prodigy.
The older boy scoffs and shrugs, "Whatever. She's not worth it anyway." He turns on his heel and leaves, the other two quickly following after him.
Kakashi turns around and offers her a hand. Hinata hesitantly accepts it. Kakashi is careful not to squeeze around her torn palms and pulls her up easily.
He looks her up and down lazily. "You okay?"
Hinata nods quickly, "Y-yes!"
Kakashi makes a sound of acknowledgment and turns to go. Panic grips Hinata. No! He can't leave yet. She hasn't thanked him properly for rescuing her.
"Wait!" She calls softly. Not too soft for Kakashi, thankfully. He turns around, eyes half-lidded in apparent disinterest.
"Yeah?"
Hinata feels her cheeks heat up and bows in hopes of hiding it from him and also to show her gratitude.
"Th—thank you for saving me!" She lifts her head once her face cools down some. "I'm s—sorry you had to, Hatake-san." If only she were stronger, faster, more confident then he wouldn't have had to bother with someone like her—
"You're training to be a ninja right?" Kakashi says, interrupting her thoughts. Hinata straightens and nods timidly.
"H—hai. I am."
"Then consider it a favor from a future comrade in arms." Kakashi's voice is as serious and nonchalantly sincere. "We're going to be ninjas one day. I hope I can count on you to support me."
Hinata's eyes and wide and shiny, the boy's visage reflecting back at him.
"Hai." Hinata's mouth forms a thin, stern line. "I w—will," she promises.
Kakashi nods ever so slightly and leaves. Hinata stares at his retreating silhouette long after it is gone.
Hinata knows her place in this world. It is a low and miserable place. Marked by failure and mediocrity. Fists clench tightly despite the pain that flares up her arms. But it won't always be so. No, she will get stronger. And not for herself, no, for those who will come to depend on her. Those like Kakashi, Rin, Obito, etc. She will get gain power so that when the time comes she can help them, guard them, save them for once.
That hot feeling inside of her flickers back to life, burning away at her pain until she feels no more.
Hinata is weak.
But it is not her fate to be so.
Hinata likes Obito. He is unlike anybody she has ever met. Loud, unrepentant, and so very bright. Thriving with life despite the world's efforts to trample it down. Obito is a stark contrast to his more reserved, graceful clansmen. He's an outcast like her. He understands her. What it's like to bear the weight of your clan expectation and the pain as you're slowly crushed under it all.
"We're friends now, Hinata." He turned to her and smiled at her. Hinata doesn't think she's ever seen anyone in her clan make such an open, happy expression before. "So you don't have to be alone ever again, okay?"
Hinata didn't know what to say. She didn't think there would ever be enough words or a grand enough action to show how grateful she was for his friendship.
"Eh!? Hinata!? W—why are you crying?!"
Hinata laughed, light and carefree for the first time in a very long time, as Obito flailed around her.
Hinata had admired Obito from afar but never expected he'd take any interest in her whatsoever. Not her who prefers to stay on the sidelines while Obito is always the first to rush in. But one week into the academy and somehow Hinata finds herself being sucked into the Uchiha's orbit along with his best friend Rin.
Rin is a blessing. If Obito got to be too much for her—Hinata loved him but for someone who grew up in such a sterile, strict environment Obito was like a culture shock—Rin is always there to temper down the energetic boy. And she is so kind and thoughtful, always asking for Hinata's input for what game they should play and making sure she doesn't get left behind when Obito got too excited and ran ahead.
They are the best friends Hinata could have asked for.
"Kakashi really did that?" Rin asked in awed shock after Hinata retold yesterday's events. Their sensei had left their class alone a little while ago to go attend to an 'emergency situation'—their sensei had been stabbed in the thigh by an errant kunai during their earlier practice by a certain somebody —and they had been told to go back to their classroom and work on their homework quietly while they waited for a substitute teacher. Obviously, no one was really working. Everybody too busy gossiping amongst themselves and throwing Obito judgemental looks.
Obito had begged them to talk about something—anything—else and when Obito and Rin had turned to Hinata she had blurted the first eventful thing on her mind. Which happened to be how their classmate had jumped to Hinata's rescue.
"Who does he think he is?" Obito grumped. "A shoujo manga hero? Pfft, if I was there I would have beaten them all up."
"Ano, Obito-kun, m—maybe that's a little too violent."
Obito looked at her, face screwed up in an angry expression. Not at her, she knows, but on her behalf. That he cares so much as to be angry for her warms her heart.
"I don't care if it is too violent. They hurt you." Obito lifts up his fist with a fierce, protective look. "They deserve a good punch to the nose!"
"You're okay, right?" Rin searches her closely for any injuries. This too makes Hinata feel warm and nice.
"Yes, I'm fine."
Rin looks at her skeptically and then glances down at the white bandages wrapped around her palms. Hinata flushes in embarrassment and moves her hands further under her desk and away from her friend's eyes.
"Just a f—few scrapes." Hinata amends. "I put some salves on them so need to worry, Rin-chan."
"Bastards," Obito grumbles. Rin squints at her but eventually relents.
And then, much to Obito's clear frustration, Rin redirects the conversation back to Kakashi.
"I still can't believe Kakashi did that. He's really going to be a great shinobi." Rin looks down at the front of the classroom where said student is sitting quietly. Rin's eyes soften as she watches the boy.
The Uchiha mutters, "He's not a ninja yet." He sags in his seat and crosses his arms grumpily. Hinata holds back a giggle with practiced ease.
She smiles reassuringly at her friend. "You can save m—me next time."
Obito grins. "Yeah! I'll definitely save you next time and be your hero." He nods to himself, his mind made up. His words make that warmth in Hinata's chest blossom and her insides turn into heated honey. A pleasant blush on her cheeks is the only outward reaction she shows at how touched she is by his concern.
"You're already m-my hero," Hinata confesses quietly. Obito stares at her, face steadily turning red. Rin giggles at the sight.
Obito turns away to hide his face to the two girl's amusement. His eyes catch sight of Kakashi's unmistakable hair.
Maybe he isn't such an asshole after all.
After Kakashi helped her out with her bullies, Hinata finds herself watching him. It's nothing like how her other classmates watch him—with jealously, awe, and sometimes heart-eyes—no it's not a genjutsu, at least not one her eyes were able to see through.
No, Hinata is merely...curious.
Kakashi is a lot like her. The her from before Obito and Rin had inserted themselves into her life. They had breathed back life into her miserable world, painting every corner in bright colors and filling it with the cheery sounds of their laughter and friendly chatter.
Kakashi is always alone, Hinata notes. His fan club doesn't count since all they do is follow him around from a certain distance and Kakashi never interacts with them in any meaningful way, too busy avoiding and sometimes flat-out running from them. It's both a little sad and funny to watch.
He doesn't seem to have any friends. Not one. Hinata can kind of see why. Kakashi is a very quiet and reserved individual, fully content with his own company and no immediate need to reach out. He's someone focused intently on his career as a future shinobi with no need for friends, only allies. He's not unfriendly, Hinata notes. He still plays kick the can when invited and participates in their peer's discussions on who the coolest ninja is (Kakashi always advocates for his father, The White Fang, which Hinata finds endearing). It's just that he makes no effort to include himself, preferring to do his own thing. It is all those things and the fact that Kakashi is a prodigy far outclassing Hinata and her classmates (even the older students) that isolate him from the rest. No one wants to be in someone else's shadow.
Hinata watches Kakashi walk down the road amid the crowd of recently let-out academy students. He's alone. Just like he is every day. Her eyes narrow slightly and her back straightens from its timid hunch.
She figures it's time to change that.
Yes. Hinata nods her head, gritting her teeth when her lips threaten to wobble.
Yes, she'll be Kakashi's friend. After all, the shadows have never bothered her.
Obito nudges Rin's arm. She looks up from her bento and to her right where her best friend is seated next to her. Obito's eyes are squinted, his attention not on her but to her left on Hinata.
"...Obito?" she starts, confused at why he's zeroed in on their best friend so intently. It's a miracle her head hasn't burst into flames. "Why are you staring at Hin—mphf!"
"Ssh!" Obito hisses. He uses the hand slapped around her mouth to pull her closer. Rin glares at him and debates whether she should bite him or not for the manhandling. Obito looks at her intently, eyes wide and then back at Hinata. "Just—just watch. Look." He whispers. Rin rolls her eyes but does what Obito wants her to. Hinata is sitting a little away from her now, her lunch sitting half-eaten in her lap and small hands clutching a small cup of juice. She's watching their classmates enjoy their lunch break. 'People-watching' is something Hinata enjoys doing. Something Rin has seen Hinata do a hundred times and not at all deserving of Obito's panic.
Rin firmly grabs Obito's hand and removes it from her mouth.
Her displeasure is clear in her voice, "What, Obito? It's just Hinata-chan."
Obito shakes his head, "No, no, you're not looking!" he whispers violently and points into the distance, away from Hinata. Rin follows his fingers but notices nothing out of the ordinary. Just Gai being Gai who's, admittingly, doing something weird but that isn't abnormal. Rin looks back at Obito a little more irritated than confused now. She figures if anyone is being odd it's Obito.
"I don't see anything. Just Gai—"
"No, no, no, not Gai!" Obito interrupts. "Look!" He points at Hinata and makes a line with his finger in the direction he motioned to before. Rin follows his finger.
"I don't see...anything." Rin trails off as she finally notices the boy sitting half-hidden behind a tree with a book in his lap. She whips her head back to Hinata to confirm if she's watching who she thinks she's watching.
Obito grins, "You see it now, huh?" His grin quickly twists into a scowl when he focuses back on who has captured Hinata's attention so thoroughly. "She's been staring at him forever. I don't know why."
Rin doesn't look away from the boy they're all staring at. He hasn't seemed to notice, calmly flipping a page in his book.
Rin grips the front of her shirt. "You don't..." there's something unpleasant stirring in her chest, "...think she likes him, do you?"
Obito's expression morphs into a cross between disgust and horror.
"Noooo! Not Hinata-chan too!" He wails. Hinata startles next to Rin and she catches Kakashi's head turning their way.
"Obito-kun? W—what's wrong?" Hinata asks, her attention now on the distraught Uchiha and no longer on Kakashi. Obito makes his way over to Hinata and holds her to him as if scared she'd be snatched away by the Hatake.
"Not you too, Hinata! Promise me you won't leave me for that jerk. You can't! I won't let it happen!"
Rin can't help but giggle at the panicked look Hinata shoots her.
"O—okay." Hinata promises despite obviously not understanding what it is she's promising or why but eager to quell her friend's fears. "I promise."
Obito cheers and happily swings the little Hyuuga side-to-side like a doll. Rin watches on with a smile, the unpleasant emotion that had befallen her dying down. She glances back at the tree where Kakashi sits. Worry and that same, negative feeling stirs awake.
"Ooh, are you going to eat that?" Obito suddenly asks her.
"Huh?" Rin shakes her head and looks down at the onigiri Obito is pointing at. She hands it to him. "Oh. Sure. Here."
"Thank you!" Obito crows gleefully and shoves the rice ball in his face. Rin laughs. He looks like a squirrel readying itself for winter.
"Waf oo raffing ah?" Obito tries to say around the mouthful of rice, getting right up in her face.
Rin wrinkles her nose and leans back, "Ew, Obito, don't talk with food in your mouth."
He opens his mouth to probably apologize but a wince from her has his mouth closing shut and an embarrassed flush polling in his rice-covered cheeks.
"Oh, Obito-kun," Hinata cries, "you have rice all over your face."
Rin giggles as Obito tries to squirm away from Hinata who is uncharacteristically determined to wipe his face clean.
Kakashi watches them from across the schoolyard. His eyes flick to each person with apparent disinterest before finally settling on the smallest of the two girls who's wiping at a red-faced Uchiha. The one he knows had been watching him for a few days now. Ever since he helped her out that one time. Kakashi closes his book and gets up. Dread pools in his belly and his shoulders droop minutely.
Oh, Kami, please let this not be another fangirl.
A/N:
I have shipped this crack ship with all my little shipper heart since I was twelve. I am now in my twenties and am now FINALLY contributing to the kakahina community. This fic is cross-posted on ao3 under the same username.