Only Time Can Tell

FAILURE

CHAPTER 26

FAILURE

HINATA UZUMAKI

I woke up in a place that I knew I didn't belong. My old home, the main branch of the Hyuga clan. I saw my sister, Hanabi working hard to train with Neji. Watching her felt wrong, seeing her progress faster than me felt wrong, but what was worse, was watching as Neji fought her. My instincts were to intervene and save her. I knew it was just training, but I couldn't help but feel my heart stretch outward to her, wanting to protect her and shield her, and knowing that I couldn't.

"Hinata." Someone said from behind me, I turned around to see my father. "I'm sure that you've noticed Hanabi's progress as well." I looked back to her, she was definitely faster than me, she was able to hold her own to Neji. Neji could use all of his abilities when he sparred against her. He always had to turn down his skills when he sparred against me. Hanabi was definitely a better fighter than I. "You understand, don't you?"

I turned to him. My heart feeling cold like he had drenched it in ice. "Hanabi will take your place as clan leader. She's more suited to the job than you are." The air was stolen from my lungs again. Of course, I already knew the truth, Hanabi was obviously the better leader than I was. But to be recognized as a failure by my own father...

"I understand." I said quietly. I turned, glancing back at Hanabi for a second, then returned to my room. I was a failure, and now the whole clan would know it. Why couldn't I be strong like her? I'm older than her, I'm supposed to be stronger than her, so why? Why can't I just-

"Onee-sama." I looked up, Hanabi was standing in my doorway. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I smiled.

"Neji's going to leave for the day if you aren't going to spar with him. I just thought you should know." Hanabi said, her gaze now indifferent to mine. She knew I was weaker than her, a complete failure.

"That's fine." I said standing. "I'll go out for today. I'll be back in time for dinner. Will you tell father for me?"

"Sure." Hanabi said, her expression turning to confusion as I walked past her, leaving my room. I knew that I couldn't stay inside the compound all day, it would only make me feel worse. Instead I headed out to the training ground where I had a good feeling that Naruto would be.

Seeing Naruto practice made me feel better, he was a failure just like me in many ways. Just like me he had trouble with shadow clones, and didn't excel in skill beyond me. And yet he was totally different from me. He was a Jinchuuriki, an outcast from the village. Naruto never did anything to deserve it, and he fought so hard to be recognized, and yet people would put him down a peg just because of the monster than was hiding inside of him.

It reminded me of the Branch house, the second least important house of the Hyuga. They didn't do anything to deserve being a lower house, they were just born into it. I found it to be extremely unfair. I hope, that one day Hanabi changes that. Then Neji could be freed from his curse mark. Maybe then he wouldn't hate me as much.

I was just Hinata though. Just Hinata the failure.

It was the chuunin exams then. I had been preparing for them with Kurenai sensei to the best of my ability. I didn't know how I was going to do with all the other more skilled ninja. Even Naruto had become much stronger than I did. He trained relentlessly. I just tried to copy him. My hands had become scarred from practicing. The calluses became thick, they hardly looked like girl's hands.

The time of my fight came up, and I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw who my opponent was. Neji Hyuga, the genius. The boy I had always sparred against since I was little. I was reminded frequently how much stronger he was than me. My heart was filled with dread. I could feel the room's eyes focus on me, it was an interesting match. Everyone wanted to see the Main House and the Branch House face off. But I already knew who the winner would be.