Summary:

In one world, Hinata is a little less kind, a little more desperate, and a whole lot colder. And, well, the Byakugan is the most perceptive doujutsu. [AU] [Hinted SasuHina] [Non-Chronological Linked Drabbles]

General Disclaimer For The Entire Story:

I don't own Naruto. If I did, I'd have given a more character development and realistic reasoning for Epilogue!SasuSaku. Because, seriously? Just… no explanation whatsoever for that one. None. The cover picture isn't mine, either.


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(burning and catching to drag them all down)

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[Age 8]

There is hatred in the Uchiha's soul now, rooted deep, this much is beyond clear to Hinata, from the first day she walks into class after the unimaginatively coined 'Uchiha Massacre' occurred.

(It really actually happened three days ago, since it happened last Friday, Saturday and Sunday are non-school days, and Monday was declared an 'emergency closing', since they were still cleaning up the Uchiha compound and investigating possible witnesses.)

She cannot fathom why the screeching weakling civilians do not see that hatred as well.

They find his darkly bitter eyes to be 'onyx, obsidian, pitch-black, smoldering coals', and find him to be 'so cute/hot/sexy/attractive/bad boy' when he sits in his seat and broods intensely by the window, occasionally snarling or growling under his breath.

(Although that could be because he's annoyed by the sudden surge in fangirls disrupting his angsty, self-pitying, woe-is-me mourning.

Living in the past isn't healthy.

Look at Neji, she thinks.

Then she actually thinks about it, and the prospect of an Uchiha 'Neji' is so horrifying that she's tempted to shake the Uchiha and scream at him with wild eyes to promise to never become like Neji, because one of them is depressing and tense enough.

Instead, she twitches her left finger very carefully, and works hard on steadying her breathing with some calming meditation exercises she has memorized by heart and by body.

'Breathe in, breathe out, cast out your chakra as far as you can and sink down into it.'

Her chakra brushes briefly against the Uchiha's, and Hinata rapidly withdraws all of her chakra, twitching her left finger again.

Fire, soured, scorched, vengeance, and his former a-little-past-toasty-warm childish light.

All that in 3 days…?

She recalls her own sudden turn-around after her discovery of her 'drive', finally feeling a bit of understanding, even if she still mainly feels that he's being unreasonable.

If someone had killed Hanabi

If… If Neji had killed Hanabi...

Hinata stills her body, breathing in and out methodically.

Well, then.

That's why she needs strength.

[That afternoon, when sparring with Neji, if Hiashi notices how focused she is on beating Neji, and how she looks positively vicious for a split second after being narrowly defeated, he doesn't comment.

Neji is breathing much heavier than usual, which means Hinata is that much closer to victory against him, which means his heiress is that much more spurred on.])

Isn't it obvious that the Uchiha bears a hunger, a red-hot anger, a focused desire for revenge?

Her own eyes have been called 'cold' and 'deadly' before. The Byakugan is a formidable tool.

His eyes have been called 'cold' and 'deadly' as well, which she disagrees with.

True, the Sharingan is also a formidable tool, but the Uchiha doesn't have coldness inside him.

He has hate, a fiery heated hate, the furious will that says, 'I will melt anything in my way, turn the things I touch to cinders, destruction blazing in my wake.'

He's willing to burn for his 'revenge', and he has no quibbles about latching onto others and dragging them down to-

Burn.

With.

Him.

(That's self-destructive, others-destructive behavior, right there and then.

… Why hasn't he been dragged in for therapy yet?

Well, seeing as he's the only Uchiha in Konoha, he's technically his own guardian…

And Hinata can easily see the Uchiha as being someone who would view 'therapy' a waste of hs potential-training time.

The villagers would immediately protest at pushing the Uchiha to do anything, too. With the civilians firmly on 'his side', the Uchiha could probably get away with a lot. With many of the ninja at least partially sympathetic to his history, the Uchiha could probably get away with downright [unwarranted and unpaid] murder so long as he plays his cards right.

But he's not the type to have enough patience and finesse for doing that. His stubborn kiddish 'pride' prevents him from asking help. That's what happens with grown-up goals and unmatured minds. [And unmatured brains sending illogical signals and, in the future, oh horror of horrors, hormones. Uchiha's have reportedly always been 'late bloomers', however…]

Though he does have potential, if he would only ask then you never know who would deign to oblige and maybe just maybe-

… Eh.

Not her problem.

Or so she tells herself, over and over.

Does it work?

Does she really believe that?

Well, she chooses to believe that she believes that, and she believes that that belief is enough for her.)

Dramatic, maybe. Doesn't make it any less true.

Besides, the Uchiha have always had a tendency for dramatics, what with their natural Fire Affinity and ability to keep up serious grudges.

(Hinata admits that the Hyuuga have a tendency for dramatics and grudges as well. She can be gracious in admitting her faults, her shortcomings. Strength isn't gained by glossing over weaknesses; meticulous in her planning, Hinata seeks to compromise and resolve them instead.

Neji seems to think differently.

His petty grudge has certainly grown tremendously over the years.

Building, building…

One day he is going to confront her, and she will have to rise to his challenge.

It won't be easy, she knows.

She can only bide her time until then, though, and prepare as best as she is able.

Yes, Hinata can be gracious in admitting her flaws, and Hinata is meticulous in her planning.

With those two tools under her belt, even if it won't be easy, she is at least assured in being able to rise to his challenge.

But she wonders what his tipping point will be…)


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