Slow Burn

On the Rocks

I'm going to try updating every Wednesday;)

All Hinata wants to do when she gets home is flip onto her bed and pass the fuck out.

But of course, a luxury such as that could never happen. Luck never seemed to play for her team, her entire life was filled with misfortune and disappointments.

Example; right fucking now as Hinata remembers— against her will— about an unconscious body lying on a worn out baby puke green couch. She remembers how easy it was to kill the woman.

But it wasn't Akiko Matsuda. The woman they— Hinata— set fire to, was Akiko's mother.

The feeling of guilt, the dreaded epiphany when they reread the scroll and saw that Akiko was an infant. Not a middle aged woman with honey blonde hair, and tan skin.

Fire spreads fast as Akiko's and her mother's screams melded together into one, the scent of burning flesh, the smoke swirling above their heads as one thought shot through Hinata's mind;

I'm a monster.

• • •

Training was something Hinata never really did to let out her emotions, she was never really an angry person. She never needed to beat the shit out of something to feel better, but at this point, taking all her frustrations out over some defenseless wooden dummy sounded like heaven.

But it would seem her usual training area was occupied, by Team fucking 7.

The three noticed her, but only Sakura ran over, ignoring the curious looks shot to her by Sasuke and Naruto. The pinkette grabbed Hinata's shoulder, her breathing erratic and eyes wild, "H-Hinata..! He knows... Kakashi fucking knows something!"

Hinata nodded and lightly shrugged Sakura's hand off, "Don't worry, I've already spoke with him. There was a mix up in missions, he took care of things."

"What... What did he tell you?" The lack of stutter and the lack of blush Hinata had— which would usually be worsened around Naruto— truly shocked Sakura.

White eyes darted to the side, catching the taunting gaze Kakashi sent her, "Just... Made sure that I knew ANBU is not an occupation we want to have."

A weak chuckle escaped Sakura's lips, "Well I'm sure none of us will want to join them after that..." Her eyebrows furrowed when Hinata looked away, biting her lip, "Right, Hinata...?"

A pale hand ran through Hinata's hair, becoming increasingly irritated with her long hair, "I'll leave. Talk to you later."

She left before Sakura could get a word in, only leaving her to think about Hinata's outward appearance. Her usual flowing, soft hair was oily, tangled and flat, her cheeks sicken in, dark circles lined the undersides of her usually bright eyes. When was the last time she slept? Or ate?

Without having much time to ponder those questions, Naruto called out to Sakura, "Oi! Sakura-chan! Spar with meeee!"

Don't do anything stupid, Hinata.

• • •

Hinata popped her neck as she walked towards the Hyuuga compound, although she had exiled herself from the clan, they offered free use of their training facility. Usually, she wouldn't want to impose, but today was a special case and Hinata really needed to let out her frustrations.

"I told you it was her, Shino!"

For the first time in her life, Hinata wanted to rip her teammates heads' off. She knows they won't let her go to the compound by herself and they wouldn't understand if she simply wanted solitude.