Seven

Hinata dreamed about a demon fox. And fire, lots of burning flames surrounding her. She wanted to cry out for help, but she couldn't.

She woke up out of breath, her heart throbbing loudly in her ears. A nervous sweat was on her back, and she closed her eyes in attempts to recollect herself.

Why does Naruto keep saying this is his fault?

He wouldn't hurt anyone here.

Hinata slowly climbed out of bed, suddenly feeling depressed. She had to get out of the house before she went completely crazy. After getting dressed quickly, she was out the door in a matter of minutes.


Naruto hadn't slept at all last night.

Instead, he wallowed in his misery out by the lake—even on that same boulder that he had sat with Hinata on, many years ago…

That time felt like ages ago. It seemed so far behind him, so out of reach—but was it, really? Now, he didn't seem so sure. It was all threatening to resurface again, after he had spent all these years working so hard to get it out of his mind and bury it deep within him to be slowly forgotten.

He threw a pebble out into the water, desperately trying to clear his mind. But his encounter with Hinata last night was constantly replaying in his head, and it only made him feel worse.

He was about to throw another pebble when suddenly, he realized that he wasn't alone.

"Why are you here, Sai," he sighed, this more of a statement rather than a question. He let go of the pebble and turned to look down at the dark-haired boy, a bit miffed that someone was catching him like this.

Sai closed up his sketchbook and aimed his usual friendly smile at Naruto. "Oh, I was over there by those trees drawing and then noticed that you were over here alone, sulking."

"I'm no sulking," Naruto argued, his eyebrows drawing together in slight annoyance. He just wanted to be left alone…

"Are you sure about that?" Sai was no longer smiling, watching him a bit more carefully. He tucked one of his pencils that he had been holding behind his ear.

"Dammit, Sai, I'm really not in the mood right now to be playing any silly games like this." Naruto uncrossed his arms and picked up another pebble, chucking it into the lake in irritation. He was about to get up and just leave—he need food, and sleep—when Sai interrupted him.

"You know, it isn't good to bottle up things."

Naruto scoffed at him, and leaped down from the boulder. " Like hell I would tell you anything. I'm fine, really." He turned away, ready to get out of there.

"It's her, isn't it?"

He stopped in his tracks, whirling around to glare at Sai.

"I don't know who you're talking about."

"Hinata…you know, she cares about you too."

Naruto's face softened a bit at the mention of her name, but then he glanced down at the ground defiantly. "What would you know about it?"

"I know what happened between you two."

"How?"

"Some people may have mentioned it."

"Sai, look here—"

"No, Naruto, YOU look," Sai said, a bit exasperated. "Even I can tell these things…you love her. That's why you won't let her be near you anymore, because you can't bear the thought of unintentionally killing—"

"Shut up," Naruto interrupted, his blood boiling. "You don't know anything! How would you know how I feel? You're normal! How about you just butt out." He turned and stomped away, now fuming. Love her? Me, love Hinata?

How ridiculous.

Sai stood there and merely watched, still confident in his observations.

It'll all come to him, eventually.


Hinata joined up with Tenten for lunch, tired of being alone and isolated most of the day. Some of her depression from earlier was beginning to wear off, but for the most part it was still bothering her. Since she wasn't exactly good at hiding this, Tenten noticed almost immediately that something wasn't right.

"Hinata, are you doing okay? You're not really eating."

Hinata's eyes widened, and she picked up her chopsticks. "O-Oh! S-S-Sorry." She took a bite of rice, and then reached over for her glass of water.

Tenten slowly raised an eyebrow. "You sure you're all right? Something seems to really be on your mind."

"Oh, it's n-nothing, really," Hinata reassured her, planting a small smile on her face. Tenten was still looking at her suspiciously. "W-What?"

"I know what it is."

Hinata took a gulp of water nervously. "You d-do?"

"Yep." Tenten slowly grinned at her. "It's a guy, isn't it! Tell me, who is this guy that you love?"

Hinata nearly spit out her water. "What?" L-Love? Guy? Then she thought of Naruto, the source of her depression in the first place, and turned red. Me, love Naruto—do I?

She burst out laughing, and then Tenten looked confused.

That's—that's just, silly. Not possible.