A strange new life

After two weeks of struggle and no real progress with fuinjutsu, I realized my mistake. I mean, I knew it from the first attempt, I just thought I could brute force stuff. My chakra control was horrible. Which surprised me. Hyuga were know for their precise chakra control. How in the hells it was so hard? I might not have the name anymore, but I was still a Hyuga, right?

I didn’t knew any control training aside from the ones in the story. Leaf sticking, tree climbing, water walking. Kakashi taught those to team seven after graduation, but I couldn’t wait until that time. It didn’t need to be a leaf. I tore a piece of paper and stuck to my forehead, I willed my chakra to keep the paper there. I removed my hand. The paper didn’t fall.

I cheered. In my jubilation, cut the flow of chakra.

The paper was still stuck to my forehead. I slumped. Right, paper, humidity. I went outside to find a collection of leaves for this training.

It took me two days to coax my chakra gently enough to keep the leaf stuck to my forehead. A week until I could move around and keep the damn thing in place. After that, I changed the exercise. Trying to keep ever more heavy things stuck to me with chakra. The academy training gradually changed as well. The ‘games’ got more complicated, other were added. Hand to eye coordination exercises, pattern recognition. Even in the form of children games, I wasn’t fooled. It was training, even more harder for me who refused to use chakra.

After those first few days, Naruto stuck to me like a sad puppy. Following me wherever I went. It didn’t last. He couldn’t read, I couldn’t speak. He tried to learn how to read, but gave up after only two days. We still ate lunch together everyday, and he often spoke at me, but he was still a brat, and future prankster and attention whore. That was fine with me. I wanted to make his academy days a little better, but I didn’t want to rock the boat in that particular storyline. I couldn’t imagine Naruto surviving without Shadow Clones.

I could have done more, of course. Try to keep the other children from being mean to him, but I was in the same boat. Other children avoided me, not the same as Naruto, but I often found myself alone in games and other activities. I did try to at least be present among the other kids. We couldn’t talk, but I had tricks up my sleeve. Every so often, I purchased candies and took them to class, divvying it up among the kids. It even earned me a new nickname: Okashihime (Sweets Princess).

At some point, I stopped paying attention to the letter songs, stopped participating. I already knew the basics. I used that time to study the language primer the Hokage gave me. The Academy sensei’s didn’t mind when they saw what I was actually doing. Daikoku-Sensei even tousled my hair again. Ignored my glares.

By the end of the first month, I knew I was in a spot of trouble. I had been cooking for me and Naruto every academy day. I didn’t mind. I already had to cook for myself. Make a bento for him as well didn’t add any trouble to my routine. What it did, however, was screw with my budget. I had to buy more stuff, and now, at the end of the month, I had nothing left, and the stipend was still a few days away.

I sighed. That was so dumb. I should have realized I would need more money. Should have saved more instead of paying extra for the old lady to change the clothes to my liking. Guess Naruto would have to take responsibility. And I would need Daikoku-Sensei’s help.

When classes ended I grabbed Naruto before he ran away.

“Hinata-chan? What is it?” The brat asked.

I rolled my eyes. Ignored his question. Dragged a squirming Naruto to sensei. Released his hand, but glared at him when he wanted to leave. I pointed down and stomped my feet. He got the message. No leaving. I got my communication board. Sensei looked amused.

I wrote. “Sensei, I need your help to talk with Naruto. Can you read for him?” I showed my board to sensei.

The portly man chuckled. “I can do that.”

I bowed in thanks. Easier than write. I erased the previous message, wrote another. “Naruto, I’ve been making bentos for you all month long, but I ran out of money. If you want me to keep doing it, you need to help me buy stuff.” I showed sensei the board.

The man looked between me and Naruto, read the words out loud.

Naruto, the dumb kid stuttered. “W-what you mean, Hinata-chan?”

I sighed, rolled my eyes. This was going to take forever. I erased the message, but sensei stopped me before I could write again.

“Let me see if I understand it right,” Daikoku-sensei said, “You’ve been cooking lunch for Naruto, but your allowance isn’t enough for the both of you, and you want him to help you out buying ingredients.”

I nodded. Naruto just looked confused.

“Let me talk with the administration. I might be able to solve it.” He looked at me, serious. “Do you have enough until your next allowance?”

If it was someone else, maybe their pride would raise it’s ugly head and say they didn’t need help, in a futile attempt to prove something equally dumb. I had no pride. I was used to it. In my Camilla’s life, I never had any money I didn’t beg mother for. I shook my head.

“Right.” Sensei said. He looked at Naruto. “You can go, Naruto-kun, and keep working hard on your letters. You’ll never be able to talk with your friend if you don’t.”

Naruto nodded. Fled soon after. Sensei chuckled at the scene.

In another world, another time, a small kid being alone with an adult and taking money from him would ring every sort of warning bell. I grew up listening to those advices every day. Here? I felt safe. I knew Sensei never even thought about such things. Cultural differences, maybe? Or the existence of genius children killers put a stop to any of that. Who knew?

Sensei handed me a few coins. More than enough until I got my allowance. I bowed deeply. Dodged the man’s hand before he tousled my hair. I mimicked Naruto; fled as fast as I could. Sensei’s rumbling laughter accompanied me all the way until I left the Academy.