Having power is not nearly as important as what you choose to do with it.

-Roald Dahl


Itachi was avoiding her.

Hinata knew this because, ever since they met, she had found him to be a straightforward person, even blunt on some occasions.

If he wanted to say something, he said it. If he wanted something, he asked for it. That was just the way he was, preferring not to waste time beating around the bush.

That is why, she was caught off guard when she noticed that she was seeing him less. He only came to check up on her health and change her bandages, or to give her food. And even then, he seemed to be distancing himself, as if trying to create a barrier between them.

For the past two days, she had been wondering what was wrong. And today, she finally named it.

Itachi was avoiding her.

The question was why?

It had taken two hours for Hinata to discover the reason behind his behaviour.

No, scratch that. It had taken two minutes for her to figure it out. She had spent the next two hours trying to believe it.

So, why was he avoiding her?

Simple. Because she told him to.

Back in the clearing, when she had been injured, she had told him that she didn't want to be with him. She had told him to go away, because she had known that if she went with him, it was only going to make her feelings worse.

So, to make things easier on her, he had decided to approach her as little as possible.

She had expected him to persist, considering how...open he had been in his advances. She had been surprised when he hadn't.

Surprised and a little disappointed.

Because, She realized with shame, a part of her had wanted him to not give up on her, had wanted him to chase after her.

A dark thought, but a curious one.

She knew anyone else would chase after a person they truly cared about, even after being rejected, especially if they knew that the said person cared about them too. They would look for the problems keeping them apart, and try to look solutions to them.

She knew that was what she would have done. Had Itachi been the one to reject her, she would have grabbed his face, looked deep in his eyes, and kissed him until he came back to his senses. Until he admitted that he really did care about her.

Why didn't he, then? What is stopping him? Why give up so easily?

About a month ago, Hinata would have felt sad; Insecure that it was because there was something wrong with her, that he didn't truly care.

But, the Hinata she was now knew better.

No person travelled hours on end--especially if they themselves were sick--just to check up on someone they thought was hurt, unless they were really worried about them.

No person spent hours of their time on someone else, trying to make sure they won't die, unless they cared about them.

Hinata had known Itachi in the little the they had spent together.

She had laughed and smiled and cried and fought with him. She knew he was strong and smart and kind and patient and everything in between. She had seen him when he was angry, happy, vulnerable and worried.

She knew the person he was like the back of her hand.

And it was because she knew him, she also knew that he cared. She knew that he liked her just the way she was. She knew there was nothing wrong with her in his eyes.

Then, why did he not continue to chase after her? Had he truly given up? Truly realized that they would never be?

The thought made her unexplainably sad, her chest clenching violently at the thought.

And though she tried to tell her that it was for the best best best, it did nothing to dull the pain in her heart.

What was she going to do? How was she ever going to go back to her normal life after he left?

After he left...

Another thought she didn't want to think about. So much had happened in the last month concerning the both of them, it was hard to Hinata to think of a future without him.

Placing a hand to her chest, Hinata slowly rubbed the spot.

Will the pain ever go away?

Hinata was broken put of her thoughts when she felt warmth of her cheek.

She blinked slightly as her blurry vision cleared. It was when Itachi moved the hand away from her cheek that she realized that she had been crying.

No sound escaped her mouth, as they continued to fall.

His eyebrows were furrowed in concern, as he glanced at the hand she had on her bandaged chest.

"Does it hurt?" He asked, tone soft, as he kneeled before her couch, referring to her injuries.

You have no idea, She wanted to say.

But, then again, maybe he did.

Maybe he knew exactly how she was feeling, because he was in the same boat as her. She had, after all, given up on him first and asked him to do the same.

She had no right to either be sad or disappointed when he had simply acquiesced to her requests.

More tears fell from her eyes, and he wiped them all away, one by one.

This moment with him seemed more intimate than any of their other encounters.

"Is everything okay?" He asked when her tears had finally stopped.

She simply shook her head. Her voice was thick when she spoke.

"It's nothing. I was just thinking about something."

He regarded her silently a moment before nodding.

A few second passed, before he settled himself on the floor. Hinata looked at him with slight surprise.

"Is there something you needed?" She asked.

He didn't bother her unless he did. She wondered what he wanted.

"Actually, I wanted to talk." He admitted.

"Talk..?"

"About what happend. At the clearing." He clarified.

Hinata's blood ran cold.

Darkness clouded her vision, bile rising up her throat.

The clearing...?

She swallowed, breath coming out in slow pants, a hand going to her chest.

Yes..that's right. Those ANBU...I killed them.

She looked at Itachi like a deer caught in headlights, form slightly trembling.

What if he abandons me after he finds out?

"Hinata?"

After he realizes what a monster I am?

"Hinata, are you listening?"

And what of everyone else? Would they hate me too?

"Hinata?!"

She gasped as she was pulled out of her thoughts. It took a moment for her to realize that she had began crying again. Itachi's hands were on her shoulders, from when he had shaken her.

She met his eyes, lips quivering.

"Itachi..." Her voice cracked, before she buried her face in her hands and completely broke down.

His arms were around her in a second, her face against the crook of his neck, hands fisted in her hair.

"Hey, hey." He whispered against her scalp, his soothing words making her cry even more.

"I'm here. I'm right here."

He had no idea ho much those words meant to her.

Or maybe he did, and he said them only because he knew they would make her feel better.

She really didn't know anymore.

She cried quietly against his shoulder, her hands around his neck, fisted at the back of his shirt.

She faintly felt him press his lips against her scalp, before running a soothing hand across her back, whispering the same words over and over.

When she was done, she didn't move away. Instead, she took a shuddering breath, tightening her hold on him.

"It was me." She choked out, "The one who killed those men. It was me."

She felt the exact moment his breathing changed, the exact second he came into terms with what he was hearing.

But, he didn't let go.

"And why did you do it?" His voice was strained, as he slowly worded his sentence.

"I don't know what happened." She whimpered, "I was on a mission when I was asked to return. When I stopped to rest, they just attacked out of nowhere."

Itachi furrowed his eyebrows. He had gone back to the clearing to see the damage. It was his second visit that told him that those people were ANBU.

"They kept on going on and on about the Hokage wanting to kill me."

But, he had worked in ANBU and knew how it worked. They were directly under the Hokage's orders. However, the Hokage was not a woman to act rashly. She always did things face-to-face.

Letting the ANBU do her dirty work was unlike her.

Unless, they weren't sent by the Hokage at all.

Itachi's eyes widened at the thought.

Don't tell me... those were Root members?!

Hinata stopped in her rambling when she saw his wide eyes, and pursed lips.

"Itachi?" She asked slowly, "You-You know something, don't you?"

He hesitated for a second, wondering how much he could reveal to her.

Hinata was smart. The smallest slip could mean the end of his mission and the image he had tried so hard to maintain.

But, did it really matter? She had already seen the sides to him that no one ever had before.

Why not just...tell her?

No, He shook his head internally, resolutely. He would not drag her into this mess.

"I have a suspicion." He said carefully, "As soon as you are fit to travel, I want you to go back to the Hokage and tell her everything."

Hinata looked at him for a moment, before nodding.

Itachi glanced at her once.

"And those men... how exactly did you kill them?"

Hinata flinched at the question, pulling away from their embrace. Slowly pulling her knees up to her chest, she buried her face in them.

"Truthfully, I don't know." Her muffled voice came.

Itachi furrowed his eyebrows.

What?

"I remember being so angry and telling myself that I didn't want to die."

Her shoulders slumped.

"And then, I was somewhere else. I know that place was pitch black, and I saw someone. But I remember neither who they were nor what our conversation was."

"And then?"

"And then, suddenly all my Chakra reserves were full. It felt like I wasn't controlling my body, and instead, watching someone else do it."

"That foreign Chakra felt so familiar for some reason. But," Hinata shuddered, "There was so much hatred and malice in it. Hatred and malice that didn't belong to me."

Straightening herself, Hinata brought her hands together, cupping them around each other.

A moment later, violet flames ignited in her hands.

Itachi's eyes widened, as he leaned closer.

Fascinating.

He faintly noted that the Chakra, indeed, wasn't hers. Though it bore a faint resemblance to Hinata's chakra, but that was it.

"And how do you feel? Any different than before?"

Hinata cocked her head, as of thinking about it.

"Only a little strange. As if something is out of place within me. I still can't control large amounts of this Chakra. What I showed you was the most I can do."

"Hn." Placing a hand to his chin, Itachi contemplated.

As far as he knew, Foreign Chakra only entered a person on two occasions. When either they were being healed, or when they were attacked. However, both happened in the form of mostly Ninjutsu, never just raw Chakra.

"What do you think happened?" Hinata asked hesitantly.

"Truth to be told, I have no idea." Itachi admitted.

"However," He continued, "One thing is certain. This power, whatever it is, you need to master it."

Hinata's eyes widened, a look of fear and dread entering her eyes.

"M-Master it? Why? It's not like I'm going to use this destructive power ever again."

Gently grabbing her hands, he pressed her knuckles to his lips. He heard her squeak endearingly in response, a light flush taking over her cheeks.

Internally, he felt a bitter smile take over his face.

This woman...She made him go crazy with her innocent antics. She was unlike any other woman he had ever met.

He would have dwelled more on the thought were it not for the important conversation going on.

"Whether you are going to use the power or not doesn't matter." He said, his tone serious. "Power is a dangerous thing, especially when used by the wrong hands."

That's right. He would not allow her to end up the same way as him. No, he would watch out for her, warn her of what was to come.

He met her eyes, his voice hard stone.

"You should learn to master it." He repeated, "Before someone else does.

Because if they do, then who knows what they would use it for, what they would use you for."

Itachi stood up, letting go of Hinata's hands.

"Think on it." He advised, "Would you rather have someone use you to hurt your loved ones? Especially, when you have the chance to stop it?"

Hinata stared at her hands, eyes wide, her conflicting thoughts waging a full-on war behind her eyes.

"Think on it." Itachi repeated, more softly this time, before he turned away and walked back to his room.

Watching him leave, Hinata stared at her hands, clenching and unclenching them.

After a moment, she made up her mind. She was going to learn about this aspect of herself, even if it meant losing her humanity in the process. But, she would not allow anyone else to die at her hands.

Closing her eyes deeply in thought, Hinata contemplated. Firstly, she needed to learn to control this Chakra.

But, how to do that?

She knew she had had good Chakra control for as long as she could remember, thanks to her Hyuga training. But, exactly which aspect of it had contributed to that?

She racked her memories, looking for any exercises that had helped her in Chakra Control.

It was difficult to even open that particular box of memories and emotions, considering how deep she had buried them as soon as she had been taken in by Kurenai.

When she finally found some concrete memories, she but her lip before diving into them.

Chakra control, Chakra control, Chakra contr-

Her eyes snapped open.

Mediation!

The teachings of her tutors came to her.

"To do any kind of Jutsu, one needs Chakra. To be able to use that Chakra, one needs to learn to control it."

Hinata hummed in determination.

"The best way to control your own chakra would be to get to know it, get to know of the feeling of having it inside your body. This is done by mediation."

Opening her eyes, Hinata straightened, crossing her legs. Placing her hands in her lap, Hinata closed her eyes again and breathed deeply.

She could feel the familiar feeling of her chakra circulating her body.

She inhaled, at the same time letting her Chakra flow to the inner part of her body. Then, she exhaled letting it come back out.

Inhale. In. Exhale. Out. Inhale. In. Exhale. Out.

As a steady rythem was set, she felt a the candle light up within her. It was the only way she had been able to describe the feeling of being aware of her Chakra.

She inhaled, and the candle burned brighter, then exhaled, and the candle burned so low that it almost extinguished.

As she went deeper into the mechanics of her Chakra network, mentally taking note of every tenketsu, every branch that extended into her body.

At her core, she felt something else interfering with the flow. She focused on it, trying to get a hold of what it was. As her concentration increased, her awareness increased, the 'something else' expanding and contracting in accordance with her breathing.

Suddenly, she gasped, feeling the overwhelming amount of Foreign Chakra being expelled from her body. Immediately, she reached out to it, pulling it back inside her.

A drop of sweat of trailed down her forehead, as she strained to keep her hold of the Chakra and pull it back.

After a few long seconds, she finally succeeded. She exhaled in relief.

Another candle lit up within her, this one burning much brighter than her own. She took ahold of it, letting it flow alongside her own Chakra.

She gently pulled it back to her very core, before pushing it outward to the very edge, until she could almost feel the static of the Chakra, the coolness of it simmering beneath her skin.

After doing the same routine for a few more minutes, Hinata relaxed, before opening her eyes slowly.

She almost screamed, her heard jumping out of her throat, when she saw Itachi standing at the opposite wall.

"You scared me!" She laughed hysterically, a hand clutching her chest.

He chuckled in response.

"Your Chakra fluctuated. So, I came to check up." He tilted his head to one side.

"What exactly were you doing?"

"Chakra Control exercises. I was just getting used to the feeling of having that new Chakra in my body."

Placing a hand against his chin, Itachi hummed.

"I still can't control it, of course." Hinata continued. "But, if I can get used to it, then, it will be easier to control, since I will be more familiar with it."

"Hn." Itachi looked deep in thought. Then, his eyes lit up.

"You should have an idea too, don't you think? About how much damage it would cause as compared to your normal Chakra?"

Hinata nodded cautiously, confused as to where this was going.

Then, Uchiha Itachi grinned.

"Heal yourself. We're going to spar."


HERE I AM PEASANTS, TO MAKE YOUR MONDAY MORE BEARABLE!!

So, what do you think? Are they going to spar? How will it go? Be sure to tell me your thoughts!!

Until next Monday, ENJOY!!

-Your