Hey, hey!

I rather enjoyed this chapter. It's a good chapter for Team Seven in my opinion.

Just to point out incase some don't know. To be green is with jealousy/envy. Sometimes called, 'The Green Eyed Monster' because you can see the jealousy in the person's eyes.

So, with that said. Enjoy that chapter!

WARNING: Talks of suicide and alcohol abuse in this chapter!

So, Hinata was the outcast this time around. That's fine.

Hinata was used to awkward silence. Just ask her family.

So, it didn't bother her too much that Naruto and Sasuke were giving her this unnecessary silent treatment. At this point in time. They didn't really know anything. They didn't know if that was really her in the alley or not. They didn't know anything, and they wouldn't know.

Hinata wasn't going to jeopardize Sasuke and Naruto finding out her secret. The repercussions from it could be damaging to not only her career, but to her family's name.

Last night. After the situation with Neji, and Hinata seeing her father start to talk to Kakashi. Things became a bit different with her and her father. She didn't get to see the conversation between her sensei and father. She was escorted away from her father and separated from Neji.

Hinata did see Neji leave their home, which because she shares the same gift of sight as Neji, Hinata knew he went to engage with Naruto and Sasuke.

It was a lot going on last night. Between her father and her sensei, along with Neji and her teammates. It was just…a lot. All because of her too. She was causing so many PROBLEMS.

Then when her father finished speaking with Kakashi. Hiashi came in their home and immediately walked up to her. He didn't say anything to Hinata, but he had someone escort her to his study. So at that point, she waited for him there. She was currently at that time nursing her swollen right cheek.

Hiashi had eventually walked in his study and just sighed when he looked at her. It wasn't his usual disappointed look that he had when he usually looked at Hinata either. This time he just looked tired. Exhausted. She couldn't figure out why.

Her father did speak to her that night. It was the longest he has ever talked to her since her mother was alive. He wanted to stress how important it was for her to excel. To grow stronger. To be more than himself, her sister and Neji. That if she didn't soon, then a lot of bad things were going to happen. To everyone.

Talk about adding more weight to her shoulders.

Her father didn't go into specifics, but he did stress how her teammates were not her actual friends. That they were using her and they'll keep using her until they were no longer attached in a team cell with her. Naruto and Sasuke weren't going to stick around after the end of team seven. Naruto and Sasuke were going to forget about her.

Hiashi challenged Hinata to give him reason to believe this wasn't true.

She couldn't give him one real reason because she didn't honestly believe they would stick around someone as useless as her anyways.

'Your family will always be there though Hinata. Whether you like it or not. At the end of the day you are a Hyuga and we will always be there for one another.'

Those were the last words her father said to her before she left his office for the night. With lasting words like that. How could she not want to escape?

To know that at the end of the day the only people that truly loved her, were the people hurting her.

When Hinata got to her room she unfortunately was reminded that she was all out of her precious cargo. So, she needed to make an emergency night run. Typically when she took that route Naruto was sleeping. She learned he wasn't a night person at all, and he valued his sleep. That's why it was important to know you teammates. To know everything about them.

Birthdays. Important holidays to them. Their sleep schedule. Everything. That way she could maneuver around them better.

Everything was different last night, not only was Naruto awake, but Sasuke was there too.

Calculating. Cold. Sasuke.

He probably was the reason Naruto was so harsh to her this morning. Sasuke didn't like her and Hinata felt like he actually hated her. Sasuke was a prime example of what her father was talking about. Sasuke was the reason her father was right and she hated Sasuke for proving her father right.

Okay. She didn't hate him, but Sasuke was getting close to Hinata not liking him anymore.

Sasuke was an Uchiha. At the end of the day he just cared about his family name. He didn't want to be associated with anyone, but his family. Reason why he's been so cold to everyone else. All Sasuke cared about was himself.

No matter how hard Hinata tried to open up to her teammates. No matter how much she tried to help and not be a burden. They would NEVER look at her as their own.

She was only a Hyuga to them. So, they would only be outsiders to her.

These thoughts could be genuine thoughts, or it could be the fact that Hinata polished two bottles off last night and she was still a little intoxicated right at the moment. Hey, it got her through the day.

"So. I'm curious. How did a Hyuga end up on a mission like this? Shouldn't you be doing whatever it is you rich breeds do?"

What did this man just say?

Hinata blinked back to reality when she heard their client, the bridge builder speak to her. She turned to him and blinked. He didn't just openly say that to her did he? Hinata has been insulted many times, but by someone twice her age that she was supposed to be protecting.

This was foreign to her. "I apologize. I-I didn't c-catch that."

The bridge builder rolled his eyes and huffed at Hinata. "You heard me just fine. You're an unmarked Hyuga. The money from this mission isn't even close to what you hold up in your trust fund. Why are you here? You're way too polished. Too proper to be a solid ninja, and what the hell is with the stutter."

Oh wow.

Hinata definitely has never been down right insulted like this before by someone not in her family. Did this man not know the type of night she had last night? Did he not know what she could do to him? What her intrusive desires wanted to do.

"Let's just focus on covering as much ground as possible before we get to a good rest stop. Oh, and Mr. Tazuna?" Kakashi came up behind the elderly bridge builder and placed his hand gently on his shoulder. Getting Tazuna's attention, "Next time you want to speak to my genin, go through me first."

Tazuna swallowed at the light threatening tone from the previously quiet ninja. A light squeeze coming from Kakashi letting him know he was treading on thin ice.

Kakashi looked over at Hinata, who was still a little dumb struck at what just happened. Hinata's mouth was hanging open in shock and her eyes had gotten as wide as saucers. It took her a solid five heavy seconds to realize she must have looked hurt by the comment.

This man didn't light a candle to how much hurt Hinata has really been through.

Hinata looked around the group. When she looked towards Naruto and Sasuke, they were both looking at her with the same shock. It was based on pity. They all felt this disgusting pity for her and she didn't want that emotion from them.

If Hinata had more alcohol from last night. She would surely be drinking it right now.

Hinata held on to her backpack straps and looked on forward. She increased her speed just slightly so she would be a little ahead of the group. Being the first to silently volunteer to be the head of lookout. Not saying anything about the situation or to anyone in general.

Sasuke frowned watching this. He wasn't mad at her reaction. It was a professional reaction to a client, but after last night. He could tell she wasn't all in for the mission. That look on her face showed Hinata was angry. At them more than the bridge builder. Angry that they saw her real life.

She couldn't run from them anymore. She couldn't fake around Naruto anymore. She had to be real and Sasuke was starting to see the real Hinata.

She was a fallen angel. She was broken.

Sasuke was learning he liked broken people.

Still, all of this could be damaging to the mission. Her head had to be in the right place. Anything could happen out here and he wasn't going to get injured because she wasn't in the right mind frame.

He refused to get hurt.

He refused to lose Naruto or Hinata either.

The group had been on foot for some time. It was almost time to set up camp or find a lodging area. It was starting to get dark. Kakashi looked at the evening sky and figured they should be at their point of destination in another day or so. "Alright Hinata. You've took watch enough. We'll settle down for camp in this area."

Hinata turned and looked at Kakashi. She gave him a respectful nod and the team went into the wood line to set up camp. Everything they did was in silence. Finding a spot to settle down in. Setting up the area and doing perimeter checks. Even preparing to make a quick meal was done in silence.

Naruto couldn't take much more of this.

"Hey." Naruto stopped fidgeting from his spot he was sitting down at. He wasn't far from their client and yet at the same time he wasn't on top of him either. After the builders rude comment to Hinata, Naruto didn't really want to talk anymore to the man. It was one thing to constantly make light jabs towards him, but Hinata didn't do anything to the bitter old man.

What that man said earlier blew Naruto's mind. That was almost how Naruto felt when first placed on Hinata's team. Before he got to know Hinata. It made Naruto angry that he once felt like that. Like Hinata was entitled. How could he judge her like that?

Naruto looked at Sasuke as the young Uchiha had tapped his shoulder. Naruto looked to see Sasuke was handing him some water. "Me and Hinata found a fresh water stream not too far away. We filled up the canteens." Naruto smiled and took his canteen from Sasuke. He looked over at Hinata to see if she was going to say anything, but sadly she was still mute. Off to the side separated from them.

Naruto noted that if he ever got in another argument with Hinata again he would be the first to clear the air. Hinata could drag an issue forever it seemed like.

Naruto wished she was speaking to them. They could have all went to the stream for a bit, because he knew Hinata loved the water. They've been together long enough for him to know Hinata would frequently play in the river and liked to get her feet wet. He didn't need Hinata to tell him that for him to see her passion for manipulating the free-flowing liquid. The happiest Naruto has seen Hinata was down at a small, private stream they found back in the Hidden Leaf Village. She would literally almost dance in the water.

Those were the memories they've been creating as a team. Those are memories Naruto cherished. Hinata could be happy. She could be great, but every time she had to spend any amount of time with her family. She'd come back numb and she wouldn't smile for the whole day.

"She still isn't talking." Sasuke whispered this to Naruto.

The young blonde held a determined face. He was about to stand up and walk over to Hinata, but Sasuke held his shoulder, pushing him back down. "Let her sulk. Stop buttering her up. She knows where we are."

Naruto looked at Sasuke and frowned, but he could see that Sasuke wasn't trying to be an asshole. He genuinely meant what he said. He wanted to send a message that no one in this group should be manipulating the other. Everyone should equally be on each other's side. Naruto couldn't keep taking Hinata's side and Hinata couldn't keep taking Naruto's side.

Naruto didn't reply to Sasuke. He just nodded his head.

Off in the distance Kakashi watched the group. This wasn't exactly how he pictured the trio to start their mission, but something internally with Sasuke, Naruto and Hinata was going on and he much rather nip this in the bud now instead of waiting until after the mission. "Hinata. A word."

Said person looked up a little shocked. Did she do something wrong? She opened her mouth to respond, but opted for just walking towards her sensei. Knowing her nerves she would have stuttered and this would have given the client another reason to complain. When Hinata walked towards Kakashi he lightly placed his hand on top of her head and guided her deeper in the trees. Away from everyone else.

When Kakashi deemed them away from earshot, but not too far that they couldn't rush back. He stood in front of Hinata and placed his hands in his pockets. "As you know. I know what happened last night. Everything. Down to what you said in your fit of anger Hinata."

Hinata knew this. However, she was hoping it was one of those situations that everyone just decided not to bring up. However, he didn't know about her escaping habits, so Hinata rather this talk than a different one.

"Yes. I-I know." Kakashi nodded his head at this, "You know what those words could do to your career right?" At this moment Hinata wanted to decapitate her own head.

"I-I…I am not sui-suicidal. Nor am I hurting myself." Kakashi tilted his head as he looked down at Hinata. She was someone that avoided eye contact in general, so dissecting if she was telling the truth or not wasn't the easiest. "You're not? I don't really believe anything you just said. You know Naruto and Sasuke were there last night right?"

She didn't lie. Hinata nodded her head showing that she did in fact know they were there.

"Then you would know they probably wouldn't believe you either. If you sat in front of them right now and told them what you told me. After they saw you last night against your cousin. I don't think they would believe you either Hinata. You know why? Because you're losing them. You barely had them to begin with, but you're losing what you had with your teammates. Is that what you want? To be the outcast? To not have a real comrade. I'll be the first to tell you it's a lonely world out there when you have no real comrade by your side."

Hinata sucked in a deep breath. Kakashi didn't understand. It was going to be lonely in her world regardless. It was in her destiny to be alone and shamed. How could she answer his question?

"I…I cannot answer that question right now sensei. P-Please forgive me." She hung her head low. Her father's words ringing clear in her head. Canceling out how she really felt.

She was supposed to be okay with being alone. Being the almighty Hyuga, but if Hinata was being honest. Since she was sobering up from last night. She could admit she was terrified of that idea. She didn't want to lose Naruto or Sasuke.

Being alone was always a triggering point for her.

Kakashi placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. He kneeled down to her eye level and looked at her broken face. He chuckled a little at the big bandage over her right cheek where Neji clocked her. "Hinata. Look at me."

Never to not follow an order. Hinata looked at him. Her eyes showing how confused she was. "I look at you and know you're not scum. You can never be scum, it's not in you. No matter how much your family tries to push it on you. I know you can do better. Don't lose your teammates Hinata. Go talk to them."

Her shoulders were slumped. She looked defeated, "B-b-but what a-about the mission?" Kakashi shrugged his shoulders and spoke to her nonchalantly. "I am confident I can babysit our client while you have a pow wow with your teammates." Hinata blushed in embarrassment. Of course, she was foolish to even try to use that as an excuse.

She meekly nodded her head and Kakashi walked behind her as she made her way back to the campsite. When Kakashi and Hinata emerged, Kakashi watched Hinata walk over to the boys with great hesitance. He imagined whatever conversation she held with her father last night was the main reason she was a bit difficult to get through right now.

No worries. This was all fixable.

"Mr. Tazuna. Please come over and join me. We can discuss our journey ahead." Kakashi called over their client so he wouldn't be in ear shot of his students conversation.

Naruto watched as the bridge builder left and in exchange, Hinata came with sluggish feet. She sat on a log opposite of himself and Sasuke. He watched her play with her fingers and he wanted nothing more than to stop her from picking at her skin. "Umm…did you open your present Naruto-kun? There is no rush! I-I…umm j-just wanted to know."

Naruto blinked at Hinata. He stared at her for a split second longer before a smile formed on his face. Even if this conversation was forced from Kakashi. Naruto would still take it because it meant that Hinata knew she was in the wrong and wanted to fix it.

He pulled out his gift box from her and sat it on his lap. "I was waiting for you, so we can open it together." Hinata eyes that were casted down slowly moved up to look at Naruto in awe. He was waiting for her? "What?...I…I don't understand."

Naruto grinned at Hinata. "Yeah. Me and grumpy pants Sasuke over there were waiting for you to come around. We didn't want to bother you too soon. After last night and everything. Ya know?"

Hinata gazed over to Sasuke for a moment and saw that he was actually looking directly at her. She shifted her focus away from both of them and her hands balled into fists in her lap. Sasuke and Naruto didn't react to this, they just let Hinata go through the motions. "I…I am not like my family and I don't…I don't understand why."

Hinata didn't know if she even wanted to be like her family.

She rested her elbows on her knees so she could bury her face in her hands. "I am supposed to be better than this. I am supposed to be clan heir. Fearless. Stronger than you two. I am supposed to be superior to Uzumaki and Uchiha. I am a Hyuga. I..I do not need you to help me. I do not need you two. I am BETTER than you."

Hinata was almost hyperventilating, but she pushed the urge to pass out away. She had to say this. She had to show them the real her. She was actually scared of losing them. Hinata couldn't remember the last time she relied on people. She typically just relied on her method of escaping.

"Is…is that what your father thinks of us?" Naruto walked over to the log Hinata was sitting on and sat on the ground beside her. His hands were holding on to hers as support and also so she'd stop tugging so harshly on her hair.

"So. Why aren't you like them? Why aren't you like the other Hyuga's?" Sasuke was on the other side of Hinata, but he was standing above her with his arms crossed over his chest. He wanted to know why her dad was such a freaking prick and would tell her something like that.

Naruto gave him a sharp look before Sasuke took the hint. He frowned and silently sat on the log Hinata was sitting on. "Tell us now." Naruto rolled his eyes at Sasuke. What the hell was wrong with this guy?

"Sasuke!"

"No. I'm tired of this. You should be tired of this too. Both you and Hinata. Last night should be the last straw for you, Hinata. I know it was for me." Naruto stared at Sasuke for a few more seconds before his hand that was holding Hinata's gave it a light squeeze. "I really hate to agree with Sasuke, but I do Hinata."

Naruto relaxed a little when he felt Hinata gently squeeze his hand back. "My father talks that way about everyone that is not a Hyuga. I am not like my family. I cannot view people so…harshly. I…tried. I really, really tried to keep my distance. Even with you two. I still can't seem to see you two negatively. This whole trip I really tried."

She tried but she rather liked Sasuke's honesty and Naruto's openness.

She wasn't crying. There was nothing to cry about. Hinata just sounded exhausted. Sasuke and Naruto could see that her family just absolutely DRAINED her. She wasn't like this when she spent the day with them. Only when she had to deal with her family did she return to the team battered and hollow.

"Stop trying to be who your dad wants you to be. Just be you Hinata." Hinata smiled at Naruto words and shook her head. "No. That isn't going to give me back my title. I was stripped the title a year ago. Me succeeding will give me my title back. I…have so many people hoping I fail and so many praying I succeed. I can't fail anymore. I cannot afford it."

Back when Hinata said she couldn't afford to fail. That's what she meant. Sasuke and Naruto finally understood now. She wasn't insulting them. Saying they could fail and be fine. She was literally saying her life was on the line.

Another piece of the puzzle was put in. One more piece and it would be complete.

"So what is success in your family then Hinata?" Sasuke asked this. She was successful in missions, good in training, useful to her team. What else did they want?

Hinata chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, "My cousin Neji. Hyuga Neji is success in the eyes of a true Hyuga. That's why I train with Neji. I have to surpass him. Or at least be his equal. Mentally and physically."

Naruto scrunched up his brows. Memories of last night flashed in his mind. How absolutely insane Hinata looked after Neji punched her. He had never seen her like that.

It was a pain like no other he felt when he saw Hinata like that.

He looked at the bandage on her cheek and actually started to grow angry, "No. I won't allow it." Hinata looked at Naruto, caught off guard by his newfound anger.

"What? I won't let you do that to yourself. Did you see how crazy you looked last night Hinata!? I mean of course you didn't see it, but me and Sasuke did! We saw it. We HEARD you! I won't let you end up like that asshole cousin of yours."

Hinata's lips thinned as she looked at Naruto. Her eyes grew wide with emotion, "Please do not call him those names Naruto-kun." Naruto gave Hinata a heated look.

Green laced his eyes as he looked at her. Sasuke eyed Naruto. So, Naruto did get jealous over Hinata. Even though he swore there were no affectionate feelings towards her. Sasuke just at this moment saw otherwise.

Naruto continued to stare intently at Hinata. "Why are you defending him?! Look what he did to you!" He leaned up and met Hinata's passionate stare down and the two refused to look away from one another.

"I agree with him. Why are you defending your cousin? Why are you silently defending your family?"

Hinata looked between Naruto and Sasuke. She didn't know what to say. She didn't like being put in the spot light and she definitely didn't like talking about her family. They were getting too close. To close to her secrets. "I…I do not like this." Hinata squeezed her eyes shut and balled her hands into fists as they gripped her pants.

Looking at her puff her cheeks out in frustration, and how they grew red from being upset. Hinata was having a fit and this was honestly the first time since being on a team with Hinata that Naruto and Sasuke saw her get upset and flustered. FIRST time in OVER six months!

It was cute.

Sasuke has never seen a female get this upset and still be silent about it. No yelling. No screaming. Only Hinata could still be extremely reserved and mad at the same time. She couldn't even properly express herself. "What? What don't you like? Make sense of all of this."

Hinata shook her head vigorously. Her eyes still tightly shut, "I do not like this. What you and Naruto are doing…to me."

Stop caring about her. Stop trying to get her to open up. Its fake it's all fake.

"Hinata." She felt Naruto place his hands on her shoulder. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, but Sasuke still heard. It wasn't intended to shut him out. "We're not going away. You're really on our team. You really are important to us."

A situation like this. Naruto this close to Hinata typically would make her light up like fireworks and pass out at that given moment. However, now. Right now she was just too drained to feel remotely special from this moment.

Sasuke took the initiative to inch closer to Hinata on the log. To the point their knees were touching. He knew this was pushing Hinata's comfort limits and his own personal comfort limits as well. Hn. What this girl pushed him to do.

"What else do you not like?"

Sasuke decided to change the course of the conversation. Open the door to Hinata to get back in their group. In their circle. That wouldn't be complete without their third teammate in it.

When did he start to feel like this? He didn't understand why, but helping Hinata through whatever it was she was going through. It made it feel stronger, and it made him feel weak at the same time.

Hinata opened her eyes and turned her head to Sasuke. The two locked eyes for a moment before in a rare moment. Sasuke gave her a smile. It was small, and only appeared for a moment, but Hinata and Naruto saw it. She turned and looked at Naruto as well. He looked just as eager to know the answer as well. His bright blue orbs encouraging her to talk to them.

"I…umm. I do not like crowded areas. I do not like going to eat out at rush hour times, it's too many people. I lose my appetite when too many people come around. I do not like cursing. It is umm…very inappropriate. I'm not a fan of spicy food and I do not like shrimp."

Sasuke eyes lit up in amusement at the last statement. He liked shrimp. He did notice that Hinata didn't order seafood a lot. If she did end up getting shrimp on her plate, Sasuke always ended up eating it. He did it to make her upset, no wonder she never grew angry from him doing it.

Naruto pouted a little at hearing her. He always dragged them out to eat at rush hour times. That explains why she disappeared so fast when they went out to eat for his birthday. Hinata probably never planned to stay the whole time based off the time and area he picked to eat at anyways.

Hinata saw the disappointed look on Naruto's face and immediately started to pick at her fingers. Her nerves getting the best of her. Naruto and Sasuke swatted at her hands lightly to stop her and acted like the situation never happened. "What are the things you like?"

Naruto asked this and smiled at Hinata. His bright excited smile. These were questions that should have been answered day one of team seven introducing themselves, but Hinata wasn't ready for that yet.

Naruto understood. He wasn't upset. Hinata just wasn't someone to immediately open up to you. She had to trust you and to know your true intentions.

A light blush came across Naruto's nose as he saw Hinata smile at his probing. "I like…sweets. I love baking and my favorite is cinnamon rolls. I like finding unique flowers and pressing them. Swimming. I love water and I like to swim. My elements are fire and lighting, but I picked up water on my own and I like to train in the water."

Naruto smiled and laughed at Hinata. His mouth hung open for a moment in awe. He knew about her love for water because that was something Hinata could not hide. However, her love for sweets? That was new to him.

Sasuke scrunched his nose up. Slightly grossed out. "I hate sweets." Hinata giggled at this. It caught Sasuke off guard and his eyes widened at her. She never did that for him before. "What?"

"You just haven't had the right sweets Sasuke. I can make a really nice bitter dark chocolate for you. I know you'd love it. It's really nice to have with black tea. You like tea." Sasuke blinked at her.

Hinata just offered to cook for him.

Also. She knew he liked tea? She got away with knowing all these things about him and Naruto and they are just finding out that she liked cinnamon rolls.

Hinata smiled from the relaxing conversation between Naruto and Sasuke. She never really got a chance to talk to them like this. She was usually either listening to them or stuck in her own mind, just being flooded with negative thoughts.

Now there were no negative thoughts.

Also, this was the longest Hinata's been without double backing to her room to escape.

"You like tea too?" Sasuke asked this and Hinata nodded her head as an answer. Well, it was nice that she was riddled with cavities by sweets and knew how to balance. Sasuke has seen her many times consume fruit and vegetables. She was very knowledgeable in her food groups.

Naruto was still on the ground as he stared at Hinata's fingers in her lap. He took her hand again and lightly held it. He smiled up at Hinata when she looked as if she wanted to shy away from him. "Thank you for sharing Hinata. Now, if you could just dig a little deeper and share a little more." Hinata looked at Naruto confused for a moment before realization dawned on her face.

He knew. They both knew her secret.

Naruto felt Hinata lightly tug to free her hand. In an attempt to pull it away, but he was having none of that. "Hinata. Just relax. Look…we know. Me and Sasuke know it was you. We don't even have to ask or beat around the bush. You can just talk to us about it."

Sasuke grunted. A way to show he agreed with Naruto. He pushed his own limits and closed in on Hinata. Rubbing their shoulders together and at the same time keeping her stationary between him and Naruto. Making her a stuck middle of their sandwich.

"They sell illegal things out there in the red-light district. So, what is it? You're on drugs or something? If so what kind? That way we know how to work you out of this."

Hinata's mouth dropped as her head whipped around to look at Sasuke as he spoke. The hand Naruto was holding squeezed him in a vice grip to show just how upset Hinata had gotten. Naruto took in a sharp breath and grunted at the pain. "Hinata…CHILL OUT."

"How DARE…Who do you…I am NOT on drugs." Sasuke arched an amused brow at Hinata. He has never seen so much emotion from the girl. She was always as silent as a mouse.

"What? You think because you come from a polished clan you cannot become an addict. There are plenty of rich and powerful people that do drugs. Now that I think about it, you fit the profile perfectly."

Naruto frowned at Sasuke's picking. He was getting a kick out of getting Hinata so riled up. It was rare she ever got upset and she never did on this caliber. Usually Sasuke could only get Naruto this upset. "Oi. Cut it out teme!"

Sasuke didn't break his eye contact with Hinata. She didn't give off signs that she was on some insane drug. Something that could ruin her career, but she was doing something.

Naruto finally yanked Hinata's hand so she would focus on him. He looked at her. The intensity in his blue orbs always took Hinata's breath away. Naruto always had a knack for getting Hinata to stop her wild thoughts and listen. "Hinata. Sasuke is teasing you, but he is serious. Please…just tell us. We can help you."

Maybe it was her pride. What was left of it. Hinata didn't know what made her say this, but she did. "I do not need your help. I am fine, I can handle it myself."

Naruto stared at her in utter shock. She validated everything without admitting anything. "I'm not going to ask you again Hinata."

Hinata paused and her eyes grew when Naruto's hand loosened over hers. He was angry with her. Naruto genuinely looked upset and hurt by what she said. He was always open and honest with her. Gave her all his patience and was always open to her, and she does this to him.

Hinata didn't meant to hurt him. She didn't mean to come off rude if she did.

She was losing them again. She could tell herself a million times she didn't care if she lost them, but in reality she did. "I…drink. I drink alcohol. I go there to buy it because we are too young to buy it on our own. Plus…people know my face around the village. Out there, they don't know me or care. This is not a problem, alcohol is a casual thing that many older people consume daily."

It was silent between the three. Hinata just hoped they would never talk about the situation again. Of course that was in a perfect world for her. "How many bottles did you buy in the red-light district last night?"

Hinata closed her eyes to answer Sasuke. "Two." Sasuke slowly nodded his head, "And you just left those bottles home after taking a few shots?" She shook her head, "No. I…d-drunk them. I drunk both b-b-bottles."

Sasuke's head snapped over to Hinata and he refused to believe it. "How big were the bottles?"

Hinata held up her hands. Naruto still wouldn't let go of one of her hands so she used that hand to act as the bottom of the bottle. Her top hand went up to show a bottle that was probably about a fifth. So about 26 ounces.

Of distilled. Heavy proofed. Alcohol.

There was no way. Hinata was a tiny girl. How could she empty two bottles of alcohol that size. "You finished two bottles, probably more prior to your fight with your cousin, that was that size in one night. Yet, you are telling us you do not need help? That you have it all under control?"

Sasuke gave her a heated stare and Hinata couldn't look at him. She wouldn't dare. "Consuming that much alcohol are you insane? You could have died? Clearly the alcohol is probably still in your system."

That was it. That was the final puzzle piece. This was Hinata's puzzle creation. This was Hyuga Hinata.

Sasuke kept pausing because words, insults and past memories started to flood his head. "You've been like this all along haven't you?" That's why she looked numb all the time. Why his insults never got to her. Sasuke had said some pretty off the wall things to her. This is why she never broke. She could barely process what he was saying.

Naruto stared off in thought and realization finally hit him. "Is that why you threw up on the bell challenge? You got so upset at Kakashi-sensei for checking up on you. You didn't want him to smell the alcohol. That's…that's why you were sloppy in the beginning of your spar with Neji. You were wasted."

There was no point in denying this. No point in lying and telling them it wasn't true. They knew. They weren't stupid. All Hinata could do was nod her head and tell them they were right. "Please. Don't tell anyone." Hinata mumbled this. Sasuke looked at Naruto and Naruto looked back at Sasuke.

This was a lot. This was a lot to keep between them.

Yet. They felt like it was something that should just be between them.

"Are you going to stop?" Naruto looked at Hinata as he asked. The answer should be obvious. It shouldn't be something that she has to think over. For a normal person. The answer should be immediate, but Hinata wasn't normal. Hinata had problems. Problems at home. Problems in her head and now problems with a habit.

"What Naruto meant was, if you do not tell us right now that you are stopping, at this very moment. Then yes, we will be telling your heavy secret." Hinata let out a sigh. She didn't really want to agree to such a thing. She didn't see the problem that Naruto and Sasuke saw. This was helping her. Relaxing her. Made her normal for them.

"Yes. I agree." Naruto and Sasuke gave Hinata a skeptical look. Hinata looked at them and frowned. They didn't believe her. "I PROMISE." Neither of the two were buying it, but she gave them her word so they would hold her to it.

Better yet. They'd make her keep her promise.

End of chapter!

I hope you enjoyed it. At this point, team seven will have a better concept on how to communicate with one another from now on.

So, I'll see you Wednesday!