The Curious Heiress

Hanabi Hyuga was not specifically known to be the curious type. This reason usually stemmed from the fact that...she hardly had the time to be curious. Ever since her bout with her elder sister, Hinata Hyuga, she had been named the heiress to the Hyuga family. Day after day, her life seemed to be spiraling in a trend of homework, training, and practices in law, business, clan affairs, and political engagements. There was rarely a time that Hanabi was allowed to be by herself.

Fortunately, this was such a time that she could be alone. No bodyguards, no lessons, no lectures, just a nice walk through the village. Well, perhaps that was a lie. Right now, she was sneaking, watching Uzumaki Naruto have his own walk through Konoha. Allow, Hanabi to reemphasize that she was not much of a curious person. What people did in their day was not her business, but...she found herself slowly walking behind the blonde as he turned another corner.

If Hanabi were honest, Uzumaki Naruto was something of an enigma to her. Many of her retainers such as Natsu or Kō had told her that she should shun the boy. Hanabi did not know why she had to do this. Indeed, she was from a noble clan, and seldom did nobles and commoners find much compatibility with each other, but she didn't want to blatantly hate someone without probable cause. That wasn't to say she ever tried to associate with him. There was no need for her to, but...for whatever reason her elder sister was hopelessly infatuated with the blonde commoner and Hanabi did not know why.

The young Hyuuga watched the boy turn down another corner. She wasn't sure where he was going, but she thought to just observe him for a little bit. What about him made him catch her sister's attention. Whatever happened, they could not be together. Her elder sister, heiress or not, was still a member of the noble Main Branch of the Hyuga clan. She couldn't marry someone like Naruto. Perhaps she could if this were a romance novel, but...it wasn't. In order to get what one wanted, they had to be strong and...as much as Hanabi loved her sister, Hinata was not strong in her opinion. Her sister was the type to always lose something because she couldn't fight others for her own dreams. Perhaps that was a bit harsh, but that was what Hanabi had learned from her life with her family. The strong were respected and admired, and the weak were disowned and forgotten.

So...what did her sister since in this blonde oaf that made her seem to hold him in such high regard? Hanabi hoped to find out. After all, it was commonly known that Uzumaki Naruto was a troublemaker. He costed the village hundreds of funds in repairs to shops and other forms of public space, but...Hanabi didn't think the criticisms that were directed at him were those much harsher than he deserved. Then again, what did she know of the rising punishments dealt out to the common folk?

"Where is he going? That's not an area for children!" Hanabi thought to herself. A part of her figured that she should turn back now. She easily ran the risk of getting into trouble for this and potentially disgracing the Hyuga name, but...her need to know was too strong. She turned around the corner that he had turned. She gave a slight yelp of pain as she scraped her arm over a broken piece of board. She noticed a trickle of blood fall down her arm, but she ignored it. She'd have someone bandage it later.

Once she turned the corner, Hanabi's focused gaze quickly turned worried. He was gone. Where did he go? She couldn't have lost him. Her eyes turned left. They then turned right. He was nowhere in sight. Did...did he know she was following her? No, he couldn't have known that. It was no surprise to anyone that Uzumaki Naruto was the worst of the academy. It was a fact that most everyone knew about. There was no way a failure of the academy could have known she was tailing him.

Hanabi took a step into the alleyway. She treaded carefully. It was a bit dark, which surprised her considering how much sunlight there was outside. She felt a shiver down her spine when she heard the sound of an empty can rolling on the ground. What was she doing? She was actually searching for a common boy through a filthy, rat-infested alley. What should she care who her sister liked? She didn't have the time to be chasing such ridiculous quests.

Hanabi turned around and nearly jumped when she saw Naruto standing in front of her, his arms folded. "You...you're Hinata's little sister, Hanabi. Why are you following me?" The blonde asked. Yet, what unnerved the young Hyuga girl was...the color of his eyes. A deep red like the wine glasses that her father had when important guests visited the Hyuga mansion. She took an unconscious step back.

"I...I wasn't following you. I...I wanted to go this way. You just happened to be going the same way as me," she claimed. If Hanabi were honest, she didn't know why she lied. She also wasn't sure that he believed her, especially not with the stutter she had just emitted. if the same lie had been told to her, she doubted she would believe herself either. Why was she nervous? He was just the worst student in the academy. So...why was she shivering?

"Oh, you like to walk through dark alleyways where no one can find you? That's dangerous, Hanabi-chan. You never know where some sick pervert might be hiding just waiting to grab you. I'm sure you know, but there are many people who value the Hyuga. Some with good intentions, most without," he replied.

"Don't call me Hanabi-chan! I...I can take care of myself. Anyway, I'll be going," she said. She got around the blonde, but he quickly grabbed her arm and his smile widened.

"Whoa whoa, I'm not gonna bite ya! Since you're here, I needed a buddy to hang out with," He replied to her. The young Hyuga took a deep breath and exhaled. She didn't know why she was so anxious, but...her father had raised her to remain calm. Now was a good application of those studies.

She cleared her throat and faced him. "Why would I hang out with a troublemaker like you? I have important things to do," she said. She felt his grip on her arm loosen. She was never more thankful for this opportunity. The heiress to the Hyuga clan began walking away. However...the blood clone of the Kyuubi jinchuuriki was quick to turn this into his favor.

"Yeah, you're right. Probably best for you to get home. You couldn't keep up with someone like me anyway. Alright, run on home," Naruto said as he passed her by. He then walked down the corner he had just come from. He didn't have to turn around to know that the sudden rush in the young Hyuga's blood had sparked. He grinned.

"Three...two...one,"

"Hold it right there! What makes you think I can't keep up with you! Just because you're a little older than me doesn't mean I can't take whatever you've got. Besides, you're the last place in the Academy. Whatever you're doing can't be hard for me." she replied back with fire in her voice.

Ah yes, the infamous Hyuga pride. Despite being rather a rather calm and passive clan, whenever their superiority was called into question they turned out to be just like every other clan. As with all of them, they long to prove themselves over others whether it is wise or not.

"Awesome, dattebayo! Come on Firecracker! Let's blow up the town!" Naruto said. The weight of what she had just said quickly came to Hanabi and she found herself easily stuck between a rock and a hard place. She prayed to Kami they weren't...actually going to do that. But, she found the Uzumaki's hands on her back and her pushed her forward. Soon, her legs started moving on their own and she entered the streets. Hanabi dutifully prayed that she hadn't made some type of mistake.

....

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