Hinata touches her childish reflection in the mirror, tracing over raw cuts and bruises with small, unsteady fingers. At seven, Neji's ninjutsu skills are developing far faster than hers, driven by hatred and loathing against Hinata's sweet nature. He's nearly killed her twice already, and hates her all the more for the punishments they've both had to endure.

She refuses to be healed this time, staring her mother down with silent defiance. She wants to keep up with her cousin, to match his long strides and live up to the title of heir.

Others, in her situation, would work to grow strong to defend themselves against him.

Hinata just wants to be something worth protecting, just as her father was to his.

So she keeps the marks and memorizes the pain of two swollen eyes on the long road to Suna, determined to learn from her mistakes.

"Your eyes," the Kazekage's youngest son (Gaara, she's told later) has black eyes to mirror her own, his voice carrying the kind of repressed emotion Hinata is all too used to.

"A mark of shame," she mumbles timidly, and an alarmed squeak escapes her as he flings his arms around her.

He knows.