::Remember the Name::

“I can’t believe you made it, Hinata-chan! I mean…I can--but…err…well…”

Hinata chanced a shy smile. “Thank you, Naruto-kun.” Her cheeks flushed a bright crimson as she hugged the AnBU uniform to her chest rather proudly. See? She was just as good as Neji. She could do the same things he did. There wasn’t a difference--not anymore.

“I could join AnBU if I wanted to…I’m pretty sure I would pass the tryouts,” Naruto grinned. “Don’t you think so Hinata-chan?”

She blushed even more deeply and was actually forced to turn away to keep him from noticing. “Of course, Naruto-kun.”

Naruto puffed up his chest, basking in the praise. “Well, I’ve got to go meet Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan down by the Main Gate. I’m running over half-an-hour late--Sakura’s gonna kill me!”

With a laugh and a wave, the blonde teen was gone. Hinata managed to crack a fond smile. He was already running late and he came to see me…?

She made her way back home in a daze, brushing past villagers and other shinobi with hardly a care. Could this day be any better? She passed her AnBU exams, she got to talk with Naruto…the pale, white-eyed girl was so lost in thought she barely registered her cousin join her as she walked through Konoha.

“If you want to survive this job, you have to be more alert than that.”

She jumped a little at the sound of Neji’s voice and resisted the instinct to quail in fear. “Cousin--!”

Neji looked at her coldly. “Luck can only take you so far, Lady Hinata. It’s luck--it can’t throw itself in front of you to block a kunai. It cannot perform Ninjutsu when you run out of chakra within minutes. If it’s not tangible, you cannot rely on it. There is only one thing that will protect you…yourself.” He sneered. “As if that’s any comfort.”

Her fellow Hyuuga threw her another haughty stare before disappearing into the crowd. Hinata watched him leave, not conscious of the cracked mask she held in her arms. She had clutched it so tight that it crumbled in her fingers, cutting her frail skin.

Cousin…you trained, I trained harder. You joined AnBU, I followed suit. And yet…I’m still not good enough? One of these days, Cousin Neji…I will surpass you. You’ll see.

But Hinata’s small bout of furious silence only lasted so long, suddenly going out like a candle flame in the wind. What was she thinking? She’d never be like Neji. Even with all the extra training deep into the night with Kurenai-sensei, Neji would still always be smarter.

Faster.

Stronger.

He’d still always be more like the child her father wanted to have instead of her.

Ever since the Chuunin Exams, when her father had witnessed exactly what Neji was capable of, it was as if he lost all hope of Hinata ever making the Main Branch family proud and welcomed her cousin with open arms instead. It didn’t matter how headstrong, or how condescending, or how arrogant Neji was. He had true power; true Hyuuga talent. Her father would go to any length just for a chance to train him.

Even if it mean ignoring his own daughter to the point that even she was beginning to question if she existed. If she was real.