Naruto : The ultimate Troublemaker

Hinata's POV:

Today was a day I had been dreading for weeks. Just thinking about it made my heart constrict and my hands grow sweaty. At the academy, I couldn't focus on my lessons. My thoughts kept circling back to this afternoon, when I would have to face my little sister, Hanabi, in front of the most influential members of our clan. My father, the elders—everyone would be there to observe.

I tried to take deep breaths, but each attempt was shattered by the weight of my anxiety. I already knew how this would end. Hanabi was more talented, stronger, and she had always been the favorite of my father. Yet, despite my fears, I had no choice. This fight had to happen, and I had to face my fears, as I had promised myself.

As I walked towards the Hyūga estate, I gently clutched the moonstone pendant hanging from my necklace. It was a gift, a precious memento that helped me find a bit of courage.

When I arrived, everyone was already waiting. The elders sat in a circle around the arena, their stern gazes fixed on me. My father stood with his arms crossed, his expression impassive. Beside him, Hanabi appeared serene, almost eager. She wore her training uniform, and a flame of determination burned in her nacreous white eyes.

I could feel my legs trembling slightly, but I took a deep breath and entered the arena.

"Hinata, Hanabi, begin," my father declared coldly.

I bowed respectfully to Hanabi, and she returned the gesture.

"Good luck, big sister," she murmured with a confident smile.

I didn't even have time to respond before she activated her Byakugan, and I did the same. Our temporal veins bulged as our vision expanded, analyzing every movement, every chakra flow.

Hanabi struck first, rushing towards me with impressive speed, her palms ready to strike. I blocked her initial blow with my own palm, but the force of her impact made me take a step back.

"Soft Palm of the Hyūga!" she cried, delivering several rapid strikes.

I parried as best I could, but some of her blows hit my tenketsu, already disrupting my chakra flow.

Every move my sister made was precise and powerful. In comparison, my own gestures seemed hesitant and clumsy. Yet, I couldn't give up. I forced myself to concentrate, to read her movements in advance with my Byakugan.

I attempted a technique I had perfected in training.

But Hanabi dodged with disconcerting ease and counterattacked immediately, hitting my shoulder. Pain radiated through my arm, but I straightened up.

Whenever I tried an offensive move, Hanabi seemed to have already anticipated it. She was faster, more agile. I could hear the whispers of the elders around the arena. They were not surprised by my weakness.

"Hinata, focus," I told myself in a low voice.

After several minutes of struggle, Hanabi violently propelled me backward with an enhanced palm technique. I rolled on the ground, breathless. My body was exhausted, my tenketsu in disarray, and my vision blurred with fatigue.

"That's enough," my father declared, ending the fight.

I remained on the ground, staring at the sky above me. The whispers had fallen silent, replaced by a heavy and oppressive silence.

"Hanabi will be the heir of the clan," my father said in a cold tone before turning his back and walking away.

I slowly rose, my muscles crying out in pain. I looked around, meeting the disdainful gazes of the elders. I was nothing but a disappointment in their eyes.

Hanabi approached me, offering me her hand.

"Big sister, you fought well," she said softly.

But before I could take her hand, the cold voice of Neji rang out behind us.

"Truly pathetic."

Those words struck me like a punch. I felt my tears welling up, but I refused to let them flow in front of everyone.

Hanabi opened her mouth, as if to respond to Neji, but I didn't give her the chance. I rose hastily and ran out of the arena.

I didn't know where I was going. I just wanted to escape, to flee from their gazes and their judgments. My feet pounded the ground as my tears finally flowed freely.

"Why... why am I so weak?" I whispered between sobs.

After several minutes of running, I finally stopped, out of breath. I looked around and realized I was lost. All I could see were trees stretching into the distance.

This situation reminded me of another time, years earlier, when I had also found myself alone and lost. It was on that day that I had met him.

The one who had given me courage, the one who had changed my life.

I clutched my necklace tightly and closed my eyes, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart.

"I must find that courage again," I murmured to myself, though my trembling voice betrayed my doubts.

End POV

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