Title: Cloud Hands
Author: branchandroot
Genre: Drama, Action, Romance
Rating: PG
Pairing/Characters: Hinata/Neji. Hinata, Neji, Hiashi, Hinata's mother, Hanabi, Sakura, Naruto, Kiba, Shino, Kurenai, Shikamaru, Chouji, Ino, Lee. Chorus of sundry ninja.
Word Count: 17,415
Notes/Warnings: AU starting with Sasuke's (non)departure, part of the Avalanche arc.

Summary: Hinata has long been inspired by Naruto, and watching his determination helps her find her own. Seeking a way to help her clan and herself, she turns to Hyuuga's history and finds old strength and new thoughts there, courage and hope. In the end, she even finds her way back to an older love. Drama, Action, Romance.

When Hinata was fourteen, she gathered all her courage in her hands and walked into the training hall while Neji-niisan was working, and asked to train with him. Quietly, face shadowed by the wooden slats of the window, he agreed.

That was the year she began to wonder whether she could change fate, too.