But to everyone else, except Naruto, she was the shy, timid, stuttering Hyuuga Hinata and disappointing Hyuuga clan heiress who was looked down on for not being able to learn and grow stronger in the clan's Jyuuken arts. It was said that her cousin Neji was a prodigy in their clan's Jyuuken and some in the Main House found it insulting that a member of the Cadet Branch House was far more advanced and learnt in their style while the proclaimed heiress couldn't even win a match against her own younger sister. Hinata was considered a bane and disgrace as a result.
"If they only knew the truth," Hinata said to herself in an under tone. Part of Hinata felt bad for hiding so much about herself from everyone. Even Yuhi Kurenai wasn't aware of her true abilities even though the young Jounin became a mother figure to Hinata. Neji would look at Hinata with hate-filled glares, demean and ridicule her whenever there was a moment he could do so while giving his misguided statements about fate. Hinata would often try to make peace with Neji but so far all of her efforts met with failure.
"Life can be cruel sometimes," Hinata said lowly as she caused the seals to disappear back into her body. She then got dressed and left her room to get some breakfast to eat. On the way, she happened to see Neji walking down the hallway from the opposite direction.
"Good morning niisan," Hinata greeted politely.
"Hinata-sama," Neji acknowledged her with a neutral tone.
"D-Did everythi-ng go alright with you and your team yes-terday after…training," Hinata inquired, "You looked a little roughed up when you-u returned home yesterday eve-ning."
"Sake poured into my teammate Lee's food accidently without us being aware of it at first and he turned into an all out Suiken (Drunken Fist) fighter," Neji explained, "It took the combined efforts of both myself and Gai-sensei to stop and restrain Lee without hurting him before he wrecked the establishment we were eating at and brutally attacked anyone who approached him."
"I see," Hinata replied meekly, "Lee…must have so-me hidden potential, if it took both you and Gai-sensei to at least hold him down."
Neji scoffed, "Don't make such senseless and foolhardy statements Hinata-sama. Lee is my class' dead last just like that imprudent clown Uzumaki Naruto of your class. The very fact that the Main House tolerates Naruto's presence in our clan's land sickens me and knowing that both you and Hanabi-sama are so fond of him disgust me. Neither Lee nor Naruto can change what fate had predestined for them no more than what fate has decided for you as being an unchanging weakling."
Saying nothing further, Neji walked off from Hinata's sight and to wherever it was he was going. Hinata shook her head and sighed to herself before resuming her original course in getting herself some breakfast and putting Neji's disrespectful behavior behind her. Though she wished both she and Neji had a better relationship with each other as cousins however, a darkened and hardened part of her really wished to humble and put Neji in his place, physically and painfully. It was her gentle nature and Naruto restricting her from revealing her true character that kept that darkened and hardened part of her nature at bay.
(Meanwhile)
Naruto had just finished ninja ID photo with his card finalized. Surprisingly, he wasn't in the mood for jokes like painting his hands and face with feudal war makeup for his photo shoot, though it was tempting. After his ID card was made, Hiruzen told Naruto to head to his office so he could discuss something with him. Arriving at the office, Naruto stood in front of Hiruzen's desk.
"So what is it you wanted to see me about," Naruto asked. Hiruzen tossed a sealed envelope at Naruto who effortlessly caught it.
"Your unofficial B-rank pay for Mizuki's capture and the return of the Forbidden Scroll," Hiruzen said.
"Is that all," Naruto asked.
"No," Hiruzen replied, "There's something further I wish to discuss with you; something I neglected to mention to you yesterday about your clan's ties with Konoha."
"Alright," Naruto said, "You have my full attention."
"I'm sure you notice the red spiral designs that all of the ninjas of Konoha wear, yes," Hiruzen brought up.
"What of them," Naruto remarked.
"That spiral is the official insignia of your clan, the Uzumaki clan and of Uzu No Kuni," Hiruzen stated.
"Say what," Naruto said.
"The Senju clan, the clan that the Shodaime, Hashirama, and his brother Nidaime, Tobirama came from, had very strong bonds and ties with the Uzumaki clan," Hiruzen explained, "In fact, both clans had a common ancestor thus they're practically cousins and brethren to each other. So close their ties to each other that Shodaime fell in love and married Uzumaki Mito and decreed as law that all Konoha ninjas wear the crest of the Uzumaki clan. The Uzumakis too were known for their red hair, which was basically their trademark."
"Amazing how this vital piece of the village's history was omitted from the Academy's lecture program," Naruto remarked, "I find it insulting that the village wears my family crest yet scorn the surviving heir and legacy of the Uzumaki seal masters. Wouldn't Shodaime be proud to see what his people have done?"
Hiruzen didn't miss the stinging sarcasm in Naruto's words and tone.
"Was the Uzumaki clan truly forgotten by the villagers," Naruto asked, "Or is it because that I'm a known Jinchuuriki by the older generations that my clan's legacy which help build this village was kept classified from those of the younger generation?"
Hiruzen sighed, "…As I told you before, both your parents and clan made powerful enemies. You being the son of Yondaime and the rightful heir of the Uzumaki clan would price of huge price tag of your head."
"It's rather contradictory really seeing that my last name is Uzumaki," Naruto emphasized, "It'll be known to many others once you start assigning me C to S-class missions."
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