Regarding Hinata's Childhood & The Hate She Gets

People always underestimate hinata’s childhood. They act like her life was filled with happiness or something. Just because her family is alive, just because she’s not a jinchuriki, that doesn’t mean her life is suddenly all sunshine and rainbows.

She had it rough herself, she’ll clearly an introvert to begin with, and introverts tend to stay away from people and find difficulty in bonding or expressing themselves with others. sasuke is clearly in the same boat as hinata in this regard. In fact, Hinata is much like naruto and sasuke, in that none of them had any real friends until they were assigned a genin team. Because of their pasts, all three found it very difficult to make friends.

I’d know, I am an introvert. Making friends is hard fucking work. And this alone should be valid enough of a reason to let her off the hook…. In any case, its more likely than not her mother is dead too. Think about it, Hinata looks and acts nothing like her father, she doesn’t have brown hair nor is she cold and stern like he is, that’s hanabi. So it’s logical to assume her blue hair and gentle personality are from her mother. Assuming that her mother was a gentle woman, how on earth would it make any sense for her to sit around and watch as her daughter is treated like trash? Simple, she wouldn’t… This is why I think it’s very obvious hinata’s mother is dead. However, I’d like to also add this: we know fugaku was stern and strict towards sasuke, always comparing him to itachi, which made sasuke feel bad about himself. But then mikoto, his mother, would lift his spirit by telling him how his father did in fact care for him. I thibk hinata’s case is similar to this.

Hiashi was stern and strict towards Hinata, always comparing her to hanabi, which made Hinata feel bad about herself. At this point, where is Hinata’s gentle and kind mother to lift her spirits up? Well, she really can’t do it, since she’s not around.

Speaking of Hiashi, he was the leader of one of konoha’s best clans, and he basically calls her a waste of time, that sure is something. Hell, hiashi went as far as to say he wouldn’t care if Hinata DIED in a mission, AND SHE HEARD THAT! How can anyone possibly believe she wasn’t crushed at hearing such things? Then there’s Neji, who gives her shit for being a main branch member, the same person she respects and cares enough for to even call him “brother” …..all this while she’s like 10?

And because of all this, she has low self-esteem, add this to her natural shyness, and its pretty clear why she was a loner without any friends: Because she thought that no one would want to lower themselves to the same level of someone like her, someone who was a “failure”

More likely than not, her relation with hanabi is also pretty rough, given how the two are seemingly competing over who will become the heiress. Not to mention hiashi is constantly comparing their strengths with each other, meaning the two would be trying to out do each other.

And it has never been shown that any other hyuga member ever reached a hand out for hinata to hold on to, and why would they? Her own father and the leader of the clan didn’t give two shits for her, so why would a lesser hyuga with little family connection to her do so? Think about it; did mikoto look after naruto despite being kushina’s friend? Did kakashi look after naruro despite being minato’s student? Did Jiraiya look after Naruto despite being his god father? No, no, no. So it’s obvious, not only by this, but also hinata’s lack of self confidence, that no one in her clan cared or acknowledged her. She was alone in her clan, no one was there for her.

And with her family treating her like shit, her only ray of sunlight is a little boy who has it just as bad as she does, yet he refuses to let it stop him from moving forward. And yet, even with that, its still inappropriate that Hinata would love him the way she does?

The best part about this is is that Hinata has every right to hate her entire clan, hiashi and Neji included, for what they did to her, and yet she is still caring and loving towards everyone, never using her past like a sob story to have people sympathize with her.

Honestly, I don’t know about you, but being shunned by your family would be worst than being shunned by strangers.

In any case, I don’t see people giving Naruto shit for not approaching sasuke early. But that’s okay, Naruto was just too shy/insecure to confront him. Iz oka haha

I agree. Hinata didn't have it easy.

Orihime from Bleach is the same way (i really don't need too make an essay about her childhood and past but it is about as bad if not worse).

Hinata not being "allowed" too love Naruto is because a certain ship is threatened by it.

There is double standard out there in reguards too Hinata, she had it rough but so did Naruto, Saskue and Garra and you do not hear them being throw under the bus because of their past.

Hands down Hinata had the worst childhood comparing to all other female characters in the manga!

The thing is that Hinata is not the only character who is victim of hatred. Of course, as Hinata fans, it pisses us off to see the amount of bashing and insults she gets but it is really sad to see that Sakura is also victim of the same thing, very often, because of being part of the rival pairing...

Anyway, I think Hiashi really lacked some comprehension towards his daughter because he had to endure himself this pressure of being the Hyuuga heir. The fact that Hizashi was his twin also complicated things imo. So, Hiashi might have thought that a hard/strict way was the best to train his daughter and I don't think he realized how harmful it was to Hinata actually.

^Hiashi is still from the "old school" if you get what I mean. To kill or to get killed is something very present in the Shinobi World. To Hiashi, Hinata was so weak, that he could not imagine her surviving in this world, especially as the Hyuuga heiress. His attitude towards her was cruel but what happened to his brother was also very cruel and unfair...

I don't think he realize the psychological damages he did to Hinata, who is from another generation and who has her own sensibility. And I would not judge Hinata's mother hastily even though she still could be alive.

Anyway, if she were not alive, that could also explain the lack of softness in Hiashi's ways...

Sometimes I think the reason Hiashi wants Hinata to be so strong is because he probably blames her fo Hizashi's death. I dunno....but that's just how it seems like to me, like her being kidnapped was her fault or something...

He can't blame her for something she had no control over, Hinata was very young and was sleeping when the Cloud ninja took her. Hiashi took it upon himself to kill the guy, I mean he didn't have a choice... lol.

Twin Steps wrote:Sometimes I think the reason Hiashi wants Hinata to be so strong is because he probably blames her fo Hizashi's death. I dunno....but that's just how it seems like to me, like her being kidnapped was her fault or something...

That's a good thought because I think Hiashi felt guilty when his brother had to sacrifice himself instead of him and that happened after Hinata has been kidnapped... And the connexion between twins is something very special too...The rest of my post will be put in spoiler-tags because of some off-topics.

Spoiler:

I got a feeling that I've seen this before on another naruhina thread but anyways good assay

Twin Steps wrote:Sometimes I think the reason Hiashi wants Hinata to be so strong is because he probably blames her fo Hizashi's death. I dunno....but that's just how it seems like to me, like her being kidnapped was her fault or something...

I highly doubt that would be the case but if so. Hiashi would be piece of garbage for even thinking along those lines.

Hinata was the kidnapie and Hiashi killed the kidnapper. If anything, he should blame himself. But then again he had no choice in the matter.

^

The Naruto wiki (not very reliable but whatever) said after the Chunin Exams Hinata, Neji and her father become closer as a family. But does that really matter? Matter of point of view really.

Spoiler:

Trying to see the whole thing, the Hyuuga clan itself has cruel traditions like the caged bird seal which gives a part of the family power and authority over the other one. These radicals things existing inside this clan are closely related to the protection of the Byakugan and its secrets.

Someone having the Byakugan and coming from the main family could always become the "prey" of people who would try to get those eyes. That's why, I think to the Hyuuga clan, strength is a must, either as main or branch member. To Hiashi, Hinata was not strong enough before and I think he therefore could not picture himself how she would survive in this cruel Shinobi world...

However, no matter what the reasons he had, he did not realize, imo, that he was hurting her deep in her emotions and soul... Hiashi was ready to die after what happened during the issue with the Cloud (ch 105) but the elders and Hizashi were opposed to that. Hiashi was ready to assume his responsibility but because the protection of the Byakugan was once again the most important thing, his twin had to go and that was cruel too...

So, Hiashi saved Hinata because she is his daughter, the Hyuuga heiress and because of the Byakugan. I think Hiashi felt then guilty when Hizashi had to die in his place and unfortunately for Hinata, she did not meet her father's expectations afterwards. As heiress of the clan, as someone who has been saved, to Hiashi she did not show that she deserved all of that. That's why he became indifferent to her.

But I think things have changed now.

That's the thing: I think Hiashi and the Hyuuga clan are used to be tough people and to act tough. Hinata's gentle nature was maybe something "new" to Hiashi who did not know how to deal with that. He, as the clan heir, had also to go through the pressure of having the responsibility of the whole clan on his shoulders and he could not adapt the right pedagogy for Hinata's gentle nature.

And he id not even imagine how terrible the consequences of his attitude towards his daughter would have in her life. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to defend Hiashi but only trying to understand all the parties involved...

Indeed Bubbles, the things you are pointing out need to be addressed imo as well.

@Bubbles brings up an interesting point. Hinatas sensei knows her better then her own father does and know what buttons (lack of a better term) too push. Even Naruto knows her better then her own father does and knows how too bring her up (well he has been there, done that).

For some people, once they lose confidence in themselves they never get it back. Hiashis way of doing things about put Hinata out of the ninja world period.

Hinata had: drive, determination, heart and courage. Sadly his paradigm only saw one thing: Failure. Hinata failed because he contributed too the failure and he didn't even realize it. Ignorence of your own doing too someone else is bliss.

Oh yay, more Hiashi and/or Hyuugas are evil stuff. This will ramble because I'm addressing points I've seen as I remember them regardless of the order they were posted or who posted it. ;p

Personally, I don't think Hinata's personality was "new" because it's not her personality that is the problem nor ever was the problem. Hiashi was only concerned with Hinata's lack of performance--not her nature/personality.

I'm going to disagree on Kurenai knowing Hinata better than Hiashi. There's nothing in the manga that shows that at all. Kurenai didn't know Hinata needed time, which is not what Hinata needed actually. Hinata needed confidence in herself. To get that confidence boost, Hinata needed encouragement from someone she truly considered dear to her. If Kurenai really knew what Hinata needed, then Kurenai would've had Hinata interacting with Naruto more often as the main reason Hinata pushed herself (surprising everyone, including Kurenai--which is another reason I completely disagree with portrayals that have Kurenai supposedly understanding Hinata so much) was due to Naruto's presence and direct encouragement OR she would've pushed Hiashi more to acknowledge Hinata (which it does not seem she did either, but I'm willing to acknowledge it's possible though it's never been shown). The only reason I don't include Neji (who also could've done it) is due to the fact that at the time there's no way anyone other than possibly Hiashi could've gotten through to Neji and even Hiashi still would've needed "the right moment" (good job Naruto for creating it) or else Neji wouldn't have reacted well to the truth involving Hizashi regardless. Kurenai only acknowledged that Hinata worked hard and still failed. It was the failing part that caused Hiashi to turn to Hanabi over Hinata because it doesn't matter how hard you work if you don't get the results that are desired when it counts.

The fact that if Kurenai gave Hinata any encouragement (which again she was never shown doing in the manga either so I'll admit that I personally don't think she ever did) didn't cause any noticeable changes causes me to believe that they're not that close or else I think it would've worked (her memory of Hinata hearing that she's not needed would've been a great time to be encouraging but it wasn't done--or if it was done but not shown, then it didn't have any effect, which I can't see not working if Kurenai did it--one of the reasons why I tend to think she wasn't really encouraging). There has to be some closeness due to Kurenai being her teacher, but I don't see Kurenai superceding Hiashi, Neji, or Naruto for Hinata (not even sure if she's above Shino or Kiba--and neither of those two are the encouraging type either). The only reason I don't include Hanabi is that we've never seen the two interact so I'm not going to use my opinions on their potential relationship cloud what might be shown for it in the manga. Of course, considering what we've seen of Kurenai, she's not an encouraging type. In fact, Kurenai's behavior/attitudes (the little we've seen of hers is very strict and demanding) is pretty similar to Hiashi's (the little we've seen of his) in the manga.

I also disagree that Hiashi is supposed to be a father and a clan leader. That's ignoring the reality of the Naruto world. While a bit off-topic, I think this will help bring about my overall point. The idea (though not supported by the current Naruto world) that Hiashi is supposed to be a father and a clan leader is the same reasoning that causes some people to hate Minato for choosing to make Naruto a jinchuuriki when he could've let Kushina re-seal Kurama and then raise Naruto on his own (and now based on other things, possibly with Kushina alive). The reason for the hate is due to Minato choosing to put Konoha/world over the idea of being a father. Hiashi has only done the exact same thing (though when he did try to put something ahead of being a clan leader--preventing his brother from dying--he was overruled by the system that said family is secondary): put family behind other things that potentially affect a lot of people.

Sure, it might be nice to be "both," but that's not the Naruto world. The closest usage of the Naruto world that is similar was the Fugaku mention but even that isn't actually applicable. Fugaku never said anything nice to Sasuke directly until Sasuke succeeded (and Itachi seemed "weird" at the same time or else he probably would've still compared Sasuke negatively to Itachi). Sure, Mikoto said that he said nice things about Sasuke to her, but what's to say that Hiashi didn't do the same to anyone else himself? Can't prove it one way or the other, but if you're going to discuss "clan leader to their children" aspects, you can't use those that aren't the "clan leader" into it and be fair (especially as you'll always get more details and explicitly written sides to things dealing with Sasuke as a main character than Hinata as a secondary character). The only difference between Fugaku and Hiashi when it comes to Sasuke and Hinata is that one was dealing with their second child and the other was dealing with their firstborn (outside again that Sasuke did finally succeed in something whereas Hinata didn't).

Now, one can argue that the Naruto world is not a good place, and you'd be correct--especially since both Naruto and Sasuke are trying to change their world for the better. However, expecting characters that aren't going to go against the established norms (and 95% of the Naruto characters aren't going to do things against the norm especially after they get knocked down after trying to do so, which is true for Hiashi) to be different than what they are isn't completely fair either.

As for the idea that the Hyuugas became closer after the Chuunin exams, I'm sure they did as that is what Kishimoto was trying to show in the last chapter of part 1. Of course, Hinata had finally began to show that she might be able to perform finally during the Chuunin exams (and has actually been demonstrating it for Hiashi's direct viewing in the war arc). So, that's not really all that surprising considering it was Hinata's inability to perform up to standard that was problem and nothing else.

As for those who really do compare "worse childhoods," I think that's not necessary. At the end of the day, pain is pain and how "bad" something happens to be has a lot to do with our own personal biases.

I can't think of anything else I saw at the moment so I hope this post made some sense despite me going all over the place.

Yamasaki Akaiko wrote:I'm going to disagree on Kurenai knowing Hinata better than Hiashi.

How can you disagree with that? Hell, even Lee seemed to know Hinata better than Hiashi. What exactly did Hiashi know about Hinata that would lead you to think this. You don't mention it in you comment. At least Kurenai knew that Hinata had in her to be strong and that she trained a lot, but that her lack of self-confidence led her to fail in missions. Hiashi just called her useless and put someone else in charge of training her.
When people say that Kurenai was like a mother to Hinata, I don't agree, but that he knew her better than her deadbeat dad, I think, is pretty clear.

The only things Hiashi has ever said about Hinata are that her footwork needs work (that was true and made even more "official" when it was Hinata's footwork that was preventing her from completing the 64 Palms due to her hesitating--the issue of her confidence messing up her skills coming back to play though which makes me wonder if bad footwork helped cause the confidence issues in the first place that got compounded over the years, particularly by being replaced as heir), that Hanabi is better than her (the only thing we've never seen directly and unfortunately can only take Hiashi's word), and that he's okay with her becoming a genin (which ironically brings potential implications that I'm curious about and hope Kishimoto does mention before the story ends--will mention my theory later in this post).

If the only things that Hiashi had a problem with when it comes to Hinata are her footwork and that Hanabi performed better than her (when Hanabi is clearly fighting/training hard), Hiashi doesn't think that Hinata isn't a hardworker. Hiashi knows she works hard as it's something clearly implied by the fact that he doesn't say that Hinata isn't a hardworker. Hiashi also knows that Hinata fails constantly. Kurenai said both of those two things: Hinata works hard but fails. The two have the same perspective on that front, which is why I don't see Kurenai as having some insight that Hiashi didn't have (unless learning that Hinata is interested in Naruto--which Kurenai only figured out at the Chuunin exam preliminaries--gets to count). The only character that seemed to have insight others didn't have on Hinata is Naruto (of course Naruto was oblivious to social stuff to balance out his ability to see Hinata's potential).

Hiashi didn't put someone else in charge of training Hinata at all, unless you mean the academy and have a similar theory to mine. Kurenai wasn't put in charge of Hinata due to Hiashi though. Hinata, as a graduating student in the academy, was assigned to Team 8. That's the only reason Kurenai is even in Hinata's life at all. Hiashi just chose not to train Hinata because he chose Hanabi to be the next leader of the clan. As per the traditions of the Hyuuga Clan, the clan leader is only supposed to train one person to be the next leader. Hiashi was originally training Hinata to be that person. However, once Hanabi was old enough to also be trained, clearly Hanabi impressed Hiashi more than Hinata did so he chose Hanabi over Hinata. That's it. The only way the idea that Hiashi chose to have someone train Hinata can be accurate is if it turns out that Hanabi did not attend the academy. If the idea that the next clan leader never attends the academy due to being trained by the current head of the clan is true (which one of many things I'm curious about with the Hyuuga clan and have been ever since Hiashi's comment to Kurenai actually and made even more interesting to me when I saw through the databooks that Hizashi was a Jonin & Hiashi has no ranking, but Fugaku and others that are clan leaders are ranked as Jonin; so I'm curious if Hiashi even went to the academy), then yeah Hiashi turned over Hinata's training to the village so that she could still become a ninja and helpful to the village but not the next leader of the Hyuuga clan. Personally, I think that the whole Hanabi being gone with Hiashi during the Pain arc helps the theory, though I'm prepared for this theory to go down in flames as there are other potential explanations for many things.

The only thing Hiashi has ever been shown doing/saying that could be considered cold is the fact that he said to Kurenai that Hinata isn't considered important to the clan (of course it doesn't help that it's been twisted to be "Hinata was disowned" a lot of times--if she was disowned, she wouldn't live in the Hyuuga compound nor still be part of the main branch which caused Neji to continue to dislike her back then for that last reason). What's ignored is that Hiashi said that in response to Kurenai's claim that Hinata is supposed to be heir and Hiashi was correcting Kurenai's perception of the situation (of course, this does support the idea that heir goes to the academy but isn't allowed to become a genin--which is another theory of mine). Yeah, it stinks that Hinata clearly overheard it too but that phrasing wasn't said directly to Hinata. I can't prove Hiashi never said anything that mean to Hinata to her face, but no one can prove that Hiashi did say something that mean to Hinata to her face either.

I just think it requires taking pretty much one scene a bit out of context to the exclusion of all other evidence to the contrary to make Hiashi out as someone who he really isn't. There's a lot more to him than he's sometimes given credit for. But he's most definitely a clan leader before a father... until Hinata finally started showing promise because it became easier to be "both."

P.S. Hiashi isn't a deadbeat dad. Deadbeat dad's don't provide food, clothing, shelter, etc. to their children. Hiashi did all of that for Hinata, even when he was saying that she's unnecessary to the clan. ;P

@ Yamasaki Akaiko Although I agree with most of your points, I don't think that anyone here meant that Hiyashi/ the Hyuugas are "evil". The protection of the Byakugan is the main reason why they had to develop such harsh ways inside their clan and this might have influenced the whole mindset regarding the relationship between the members and the training of the clan heirs for instance.

What I think shocked a lot of people are Hiashi's words to Kurenai about his daughter. No matter if Hinata were there or not, these words coming from the mouth of a father were too harsh despite the fact that Hiashi was talking as clan leader at that time. If the latter decided to privilege his second daughter because he judged her better for the job, I don't really see where is the problem but going to the extent of saying that he was not interested anymore with what could happen to Hinata, her dying or not, was too much imo. And that just because her footwork was not good enough?

Yes, that's what has been shown in the manga and like you wrote, the difference with Sasuke for instance is that we as readers had more insight in his life than in Hinata's one because he is a main character. I admit that the personality thing is an assumption but I don't think it's completely far-fetched. To be leader of such a clan, I guess one has to make sometimes cold decisions and act tough. A gentle nature combined to a lack of confidence could therefore be seen as an handicap which could have disastrous consequences for the whole clan.

Take chapter 614 for instance, Naruto got impressed by Neji's genius and Hiashi just lectured him, asking him to focus on the fight. He knew how critical the situation was and knew that people would died and he reminded that to Naruto.

Letting personal feelings or traits of the personality interfering in matters which Hiashi considers as vital for the whole (clan or alliance in the above example), is unthinkable because like you said, the one time he tried to let his personal feelings take over the priorities, the elders and Hizashi showed him that it was not possible.

Another point: yes the last chapter of part 1 showed a kind of improvement between Neji, Hiashi and Hinata but there again, one can notice something. Ok, Neji was a genius and Hiashi decided to train him... but it could have been an opportunity to train Hinata too. Hinata was shown as the "good woman" bringing tea to the men after their training. To be honest, Hiashi could have let her train with them. That would have for sure helped her to improve her skills. Although it could have happened off-panel, I don't have the feeling it did. To me, Hinata had to work hard alone having for motivation Naruto's example and his Nindo she'd adopted.

Anyway, I would like to read your theories about the Hyuuga clan. I'm sure they are very interesting.

I think @Bubbles @Batokusanagi pretty much nailed it.

I think like Yamasaki Akaiko's stated that there is more to discover in Hiashi's attitude. Although it's not going to pleased everyone here, I am trying to be neutral on this one.

To me, since the issue with the Cloud and the sacrifice of Hizashi, Hiashi did not want to let his personal feelings interfering with his role as clan leader anymore. Unfortunately, by doing so, his role as clan leader took over his personal feelings leading to what happened with Hinata. In other words, he probably "forgot" that he was also a father and that he could have dealt with some issues differently, for instance with Hinata.

To make it simple, Hiashi might be a good clan leader but he failed as father regarding Hinata. The question now is to know what is more important? Personal feelings? The clan? The village?

I think, like Itachi, Hiashi did a big mistake on personal level: the way Itachi dealt with Sasuke, putting the latter under Genjutsu, triggering his hatred and so on and Hiashi because he stopped to consider how worthy Hinata was because she was not fit for the clan leader's job.

However, both did what they did for something they consider as something higher than themselves and their personal feelings. Itachi did all these horrible things for the village's welfare and I guess Hiashi did that for the clan's welfare as well.

Unfortunately both did not expect the terrible consequences it would have in the lives of Sasuke and Hinata, despite the fact that in Hinata's case she never went to Sasuke's extent.