The Black-Haired Ōtsutsuki

Chapter 3

Days went by smoother than I thought and soon, the day of our graduation came. Graduation meant becoming a full-fledged kunoichi, and although I've already been through this stage in life I couldn't help but become nervous.

I trained myself to become stronger every day, and as I became better and better at each little jutsus that I could perform, my confidence grew little by little. I guess already knowing the tips and steps of each jutsu does play a great advantage after all.

I also found myself being able to speak up and get less giddy whenever I talked to people. I was able to befriend some people that I wasn't able to back when I was this young. Traveling back in time doesn't seem that bad of an event anymore.

That was what I thought until I realized that my relationship with people was not the same as the one in the future. First of all... Neji Niisan and I aren't as close yet... Sasuke-kun will soon desert the village...sigh, is there a way for me to fix these things? There has to be a way for me to make all of our future less painful.

Trudging my way to the academy, countless numbers of jumbled-up thoughts passed through my head. There were just too many things that I had to try and fix for the future of my village. Preventing every little thing from happening is impossible but... maybe, just maybe I could prevent some events from happening.

"Hinata!"

As I heard someone calling my name, I quickly looked up to find Naruto-kun waving at me. Over the last few weeks, I helped Naruto-kun with some jutsus and was able to grow a little bit closer to him. I hope that my company has relieved some of his loneliness.

"Naruto-kun! Good morning :) Are you ready for the graduation test today?"

At my words, Naruto-kun tensed up a bit, nervousness evidently showing on his face. Sheepishly smiling, he answered:

"Ehehe, well I hope I am dattebayo? But I'm still not good at the kage bunshin jutsu...sigh you spent so much time practicing with me so I have to pass today dattebayo..."

Smiling at the little boy I gently patted his shoulder which brought back his smile. Every time he smiles, my heart flutters like the wings of a thousand butterflies but I've been trying to hold those feelings behind.

"Gabatte Naruto-kun! You've made lots of progress over the last few weeks, so I'm pretty sure you'll nail today's exam. Now let's get going or we're going to be late."

Timeskip to the exam

"Next! Hyūga Hinata."

Letting out a nervous breath, I headed out of the classroom into where the teachers and Hokage-sama waited.

Bowing slightly to show my politeness, I smiled at Iruka-sensei and Hokage sama who was looking at me with a smile. However, secretly I knew that that did not hold high hopes for my performance. I wasn't the strongest or smartest student after all.

"Okay Hinata, whenever you're ready please perform your kage bunshin no jutsu and produce three bunshins."

Nodding with confidence I proceeded to follow the steps. When I was able to quickly produce five bunshins, everyone in the room looked quite surprised. However, soon they smiled happily at me, Iruka-sensei handing me the forehead protector with the leaf symbol on it.

"Nicely done Hinata! You've improved quite a lot over the last few weeks! We're looking forward to seeing more of the potential that you hold. You may leave now."

After leaving the room, relief rushed over me as I started heading back to my classroom. I started skipping my way over until I bumped into someone.

"Oww...sorry I wasn't looking are you alright?" I could feel a cold stare on my head and sure enough, Sasuke-kun was standing right in front of me. The emo child, what's wrong with him anyway? Always glaring at people thinking he's the best...huh? Is that a hand? Whose hand...wait Sasuke-kun's hand?

"Tsk, watch where you're going. Come on, stand up, I need to get going."

Dumbfounded, I just stared at the raven-haired boy standing in front of me. The cold, ignorant boy that I've always known was holding his hand in front of someone he rarely speaks to...just to help her stand up? What's gotten into him, did he eat something weird?

"Uh, thank you...? I'm sorry for taking your time, you should get going." Smiling politely, I slightly waved back at Sasuke-kun and started heading back to my classroom once again.

A while later

"Naruto-kun how'd you do?" After a few hours, everyone went through the exam and as always, Naruto-kun and I were heading back to my house.

"Ehm...sigh I didn't pass dattebayo...but Mizuki sensei said there is a way for me to become a shinobi without passing the exam!" Full of excitement, Naruto-kun started explaining his plans to me which started to remind me of another incident that happened around this time of the year.

'Oh, so he's going to steal the forbidden jutsu scroll. Well, this surely isn't good but, isn't that how he was able to learn his special kage bunshin no jutsu..? AHHH WHAT SHOULD I DO?? Iruka sensei is going to get injured too...oh no oh no I have to do something.'

With a heavy heart, I stood in front of the threshold of my house, unable to go in. Turning around to face the blue eyes that stared back at me, I offered to do something that I would grow to regret later on.

"Uhm Naruto-kun, if you don't mind, would you like some help? Maybe I could look out for you so that no one comes to bother your plans!!" Scrunching my eyes with disbelief of what I just blurted out, I nervously looked at Naruto-kun.

"Hm, that doesn't sound that bad at all dattebayo! Okay Okay, meet me at the roof of Hokage ojiji's office dattebayo! Jia ne!"

Smiling brightly, the boy whose hair was like the burning sun started heading back home. Looking at his fading form, I sighed and brought myself to go into my house.

As time passed by, my anxiety grew and grew.

'Hinata, you should have stopped him from doing something so reckless! Ugh, why did you make such a stupid offer? AHHH whatever, what's done, I should probably get ready. Mizuki sensei won't get near Naruto-kun tonight no matter what. Yes, I will protect Naruto-kun.'

While I scolded myself for deciding on something reckless, the sun had gone over the hill and the time for the rendezvous came in a flash.

Before I left my house, I took one last glance at my room and muttered under my breath:

"Hinata, let's live a life without regrets....sigh I hope nothing bad happens tonight," and soon I was running towards the Hokage's office.

A/N:

Hi everyone, it's been a long time!  Thank you for waiting for the update :) School is starting tomorrow so now I will try my best to fit in an uploading schedule to my weekly one! Thank you for your support and have a great week