Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine.

Prodigy

Strange, that Hyuuga Hinata should pity her younger sister. Strange, that the weak should have such sympathy for the strong. Who would have thought that it would be Hanabi breaking down in the dark under the stairs, the soon-to-be heir to the Hyuuga, the prodigy, and not the failure?

Kakashi would have known, if he had been presented with the situation. Neji, too, would have known, even though he would never have admitted it (clan politics, and all).

She cries in the dark, scraping the skin from her hands with blunt nails. It is the curse of the gifted, each taking it in their own way.

Hinata is at a dinner with her team, laughing quietly at one of Kiba's outrageous jokes, offering Shino the last spring roll, smiling at Kurenai-sensei.

Hanabi bites her lip and tastes blood and doesn't scream. She is the Hyuuga prodigy. She shreds her skin and her hands drip red. She is the Hyuuga heir. And she is proud.