I bet you can't find the disclaimer by yourself.

Hinata and her muscles groaned when she got out of bed. She rubbed her bicep as she made her way into the bathroom, planning on taking a steaming shower to relax. When she turned the water on, she was very frustrated to find that the water came out ice cold.

"Oh, no." She moaned, massaging her temple in annoyance. She closed her eyes and pulled her wet hand from beneath the water.

Every once in a while the water heater in the basement of the complex went out and everyone had to suffer with cold water for a day or two. It appeared to be one of those days. As she steps under the cold pellets, she hopes someone has already called the familiar repair man.

Once she finished her freezing shower, Hinata stepped into the living room in her robe, drying her hair. She had planned on making breakfast, but found that her refrigerator was empty, and her cabinets were in a similar condition. Of course. She had forgotten to go shopping last night. She blamed the fact that Sasuke had knocked her back and she had hit her head on the ground hard enough to see stars.

With a growling stomach she stepped back through the living room and into her bedroom to get dressed. While pulling her hitai-ate around her neck she heard the sound of shattering glass come from what sounded like her living room. She ran out into the main room, not prepared for what was waiting.

Sprawled out on her living room floor was a young Hyuuga boy who was retrieving a few kunai. He looked up at her with wide eyes, let out a short cry and dashed back out the window.

If it were any other kunoichi, or person, they would have ran to the broken window and demanded that he pay for it to be fixed. But it was Hinata.

She groaned, going to the kitchen to collect her broom and dust pan. She glanced at her window, where burning hot air was rushing into her apartment, causing sweat to bead on her skin.

"This is going to be a long day." She sighed, guiding shards of glass into the plastic container. And she had a lot planned.

First she had to have a check-in with her father, which was fairly normal since she moved out. After all, he still required her to eat dinner at the main household three times a week. Then, at noon, she had a lunch to attend with Kiba and Shino, and from there she and Kiba would be heading to training. Just the thought made her bones ache. Afterwards she had to go grocery shopping and then she would be home.

Dumping the glass in the trash bin she looked longingly at her bedroom. She could just go to bed and say she forgot about her father's check-in...

She shook her head, denying her indulgent side. Pinning a spare blanket over her window she gave a groan. It was pathetic. Perhaps she would ask her father about a replacement window.

Would that classify as exploitation? Yes.

She shrugged it off and went back into her bedroom to grab her equipment.

"How are you feeling?" Hinata asked politely, pouring steaming water into her father's cup, making sure to drown the tea leaves. He looked up at her.

"Hm? You must stop mumbling, Hinata. I cannot hear you. I don't understand how you've gotten quieter over the years. Honestly," he continued complaining about her meek voice and her lack of valiance.

He's just denying his old age and loss of hearing. She assured herself.

She sat down across from him and listened, as was usual once a week. She felt the vein on her forehead perk up slightly and thus began chewing her lower lip, trying to mellow out. Her nerves were seriously on a high run, every little thing that day invoking chagrin. She really was normally a patient woman, but a bad morning and a tedious afternoon were sure to ruin her mood.

"And why haven't you been completing missions recently? The fact that you cannot handle training and completing missions successfully is an embarrassment to the clan. I expect you to begin taking on missions. Understood?"

She wanted to drop her jaw and walk out. She wanted to flip the table over and scream her lungs out. But she didn't. Of course she didn't. She's Hinata, and she doesn't act out. She is the perfect example, no, the epitome, of good behavior.

"Understood." She confirmed with a tight jaw. Her father looked at her calmly, as if waiting. She wanted to snap, but kept her mouth shut and held his eyes.

"Understood?!" He said louder. Hinata briefly considered the possibility that if she hit her father with the table, he would hear her better. She shook her head to erase the violent thought.

"Understood!" She shouted, rising to her feet.

"Dear lord, Hinata, you don't have to yell." Her father scolded, shaking his head. He stood as well.

She gripped the frame of the sliding door tightly. "Your hearing is going out." She grumbled, rubbing her temple in frustration. He didn't hear her that time either.

The woman left, ready to yank out her hair.

Kiba watched Hinata approach, sensing her bad mood even from such a distance. She didn't have days like these often, but when she did even he tried to avoid getting on her nerves. That meant no mocking others, not picking from her lunch or dinner, and absolutely no teasing her. Damn.

She tossed her bag onto the table he sat at with absolutely no care. "Good morning." He greets cautiously, eyes narrowed in preparation.

She looks at him lazily. "Yeah." She mutters, flopping into the seat next to him. That couldn't even qualify as a logical response, could it? Not really. This was going to be a rough day. She sighs and rubs her temples with a grimace. "I'm sorry, Kiba-kun. I meant good morning. It's just... It's been a really rough day for me, so far."

"Don't sweat it, Hinata-chan!" He comforts, patting her shoulder affectionately from where he sat. Was that a joke? She gave him a grim smile, taking a look up at the sky. It was absolutely scorching out, sweat sliding over her skin.

"Where's Shino?" She asked, tempted to remove her jacket. Kiba shrugged slightly, poking at the bobbing ice in his glass of water. She twisted her lips into a slight pout. "It's not like him to be late." The brunet nodded his agreement, scratching at his neck. The frustration was slowly absorbing her brain. Kiba's not being energetic, and Shino's late. What's next? Is Sasuke going to show up to training in a dress?

Shino eventually arrived, fifteen minutes later, with sweat covering what skin could be seen. Hinata then realized how ridiculous her entire team's apparel was. They all wore thick jackets and long pants, but by now she figured Shino had it the worst. He wore layers. In the terrible heat.

He's a masochist. Hinata decides as they order their lunch and talk quietly. Shino had just returned from a mission an hour ago, in which he had tracked down a couple's missing son. Shino complained about the boy simply running around in the forest, playing. Hinata frowned slightly, because Shino rarely complained.

There must be something in the air today. She decided, sipping her water while listening to Kiba grumble about his sister. Kiba never grumbled. If he was mad, he yelled. He didn't grumble.

After their lunch Hinata hugged Shino goodbye, wishing him luck with his day, and set off towards the training grounds with Kiba.

Sasuke felt wily, to say the least.

He had been playing mind-games all day with the guards. They'd peek back at him and he would be laying on his cot, and then when they faced forward he would walk up silently and stand behind him, undetected. Then, when they turned to check on him again, they would jump. And when he got his lunch, he took pieces of rice and tossed them at the backs of his guards, counting how many stuck and how many fell. He really was loosing his sanity, wasn't he?

Oh, just in case you're wondering: 43 stuck, 39 fell.

When they told him it was time to go to training he felt what could only be described as mild excitement. He knew he could mess around with the Hyuuga all he wanted and she wouldn't do shit. She was too scared of him. She'd whimper and tremble and stand there and take whatever the hell he threw at her because she was pathetic. Spineless even.

He complied with every command given, not even giving out a snarl or a dirty look. His guards gave him strange, suspicious glances. He kind of understood. He had adopted a completely different attitude that day.

During the walk to the training grounds he considered the possibility that the guards had spiked his water this morning. It was possible. He narrowed his eyes at his chaperons, mulling over the possibility. Craning his neck to peer at the guards behind him he was reminded of his handicap.

That damned device that was strapped around his throat, constantly draining his chakra. Just enough so he wouldn't be able to efficently fight back. He held in a sigh and felt a bubble of enthusiasm, a very loosely used term, burst in the pit of his stomach at the sight of the training area.

Upon arrival he was slightly pleased to see he wouldn't have to wait for Hinata.

But, being the expert shinobi he was, he did not miss the strange air in the vicinity. Perhaps he wasn't the only one feeling different that day.

"Hello, Sasuke-kun." Hinata greeted mildly, heavily pondering whether or not she should remove her jacket. Sasuke ignored her, impatiently waiting for his arms to be released from the restraints. Hinata bit the inside of her cheek. Right, Sasuke Uchiha didn't care about pleasantries.

Hinata stretched her arms and legs as Sasuke was released, feeling her spine pop a few times. She had a feeling that day the training would be extra rough. Once freed Sasuke stretched his arms and twisted his torso before setting his eyes on the girl before him. He took note of the sweat streaming down the sides of her face and her neck. Feeling the sweltering heat, he contemplated removing his shirt, but decided against it. She'd get distracted.

"Whenever you're ready." He smirked, watching her draw in a deep breath. He would admit, she had grown faster. By a fraction. But she was still weak, so much so that he would even say she was frail. As he had stated many times before, she was pathetic.

Hinata's eyes flickered open and she dashed forward. With a meter between them she saw Sasuke begin to move, forcing her instinct to skid to the side, evading whatever force he intended to use. The man back-peddled two steps quickly, attempting to catch the woman's temple with his fist as she stood. But her forearms were raised just in time, still causing her to stumble backwards slightly. But it was enough.

Sasuke knocked her off her feet, watching her slam against the grassy floor. She gave a slight groan, her headache and irritation increasing ten fold. She slowly rose to her feet, ready to give it her all. She ran forward, fist drawn back. Sasuke smirked, entertained by her clumsy tactic. He side-stepped and deftly avoided the palm being rushed at his head over her shoulder. She attacked him in a flurry of frustration and determination. Sasuke settled with dodging, pleased with the angry expression on her normally soft features.

Hinata's palm slammed sharply at the underside of his jaw, knocking him backwards some and causing him to see stars. When his vision focused, Hinata knew she was in for hell. His eyebrows crunched together and he ran at her, intent on hurting her. She prepared herself, defenses rising. When he was nearly upon her she tensed all her muscles and allowed the barrage of harsh punches and kicks.

Eventually getting fed up, Hinata grabbed his forearms and shoved them aside, striking his stomach as harshly as she could. He was hardly fazed, opting to kick her in the abdomen. She tumbled to the ground, blood flying from her lips. Panting heavily Hinata regained her composure and stood slowly, feeling a rapid succession of heat flashes. She dropped back to her knees, blinking back the inky black spots that were splattering her vision. It was too hot to wear a jacket.

Shy tendencies had overridden survival skills as per usual for the Hyuuga. She began to stand, wiping the sweat from her cheeks and forehead. Sasuke watched with calculating eyes. He let out a short, humor-less laugh.

"Are you so insecure that you're going to ignore the fact that you're about to pass out?" He scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. Hinata jumped slightly, lifting her eyes to meet his. She tried to fight down her labored breathing and re-assumed her fighting position. He snorted in response, letting his arms fall to his sides.

She ran for him, formulating a plan as she moved. Feign a kick to his side and when he goes to block, spin, and strike the jugular. She put the sketchy plan into action, expecting failure. He did go to block, and she did manage to spin, but the heel of her palm connected with his collarbone. Not exactly a bad thing, just not what she had planned. Sasuke took her wrist and twisted it, forcing her body to curve and bend. He looked down at her back, finding her jacket soaked with sweat. He applied little pressure to her wrist and watched her squirm.

Hinata made a move to turn and hit his jawline, but he further bent her arm in the wrong direction, causing her to release a cry of pain and stop all movement.

"Go ahead, Hyuuga. Get out of this." He smiled cruelly, applying more pressure to her wrist with his thumb, listening for her whimper of pain.

Maybe it was the ridiculous heat, or the pounding headache. Or, it just may be that she was tired of accepting all the hell he gave her.

Rushing chakra the the sole of her left foot, Hinata released a relaxed breath. She slammed her foot into his lower abdomen, looking over her shoulder to see his expression distort into one of pure pain. He released her arm and stumbled backwards, clutching his abdomen. He looked up at her with murder in his eyes. Just as he dashed forward Hinata raised her hands and attempted to block off most of the chakra points in his right arm.

For the first time in his life, Sasuke didn't know what to think. Here she was, finally showing him her teeth, using every ounce of her strength to try and shut him up. Of course, she's too slow, but he decides to let her get her rage out; he doesn't fight back. He leans however he must to avoid her lit palm. His fingers twitched to remind her that he had the power here, but he held them still. Finally, with her energy completely spent, she stopped and slumped her shoulders, panting heavily and staring straight into his eyes. He smirked.

He relaxed his tense fists and shoulders. Oddly enough, he felt a slight pride in her; she had finally fought back. One corner of her lips quirked upwards as she wiped sweat from her upper lip. It seemed as if even she was proud of herself.

"Decent. But you cheated."

She laughed, exhausted.

Kiba eyed Hinata warily. She was smiling as she ate, rice sticking to the corners of her lips. Her mood was completely reversed.

"What made you so happy?" He finally demanded, voice slightly shrill. Hinata giggled and shook her head slightly.

"I'm not sure. I just feel... Successful. Although, I do feel bad for Sasuke-kun. His stomach must hurt from that kick," she became quiet, watching the Uchiha drink his water from across the clearing, "do you think he's lonely, Kiba-kun?" He narrowed his eyes at her with a pout on his lips.

"I don't know, nor do I care." He turned his head indignantly, shoving a warm dumpling into his mouth. Hinata turned to him and smiled slightly, shaking her head at him. "What?" He demanded, his mouth full.

"Sometimes you're so mean." She smiles though, laughing slightly to herself. He shrugged.

"So?"

"So I think you should be nicer to Sasuke-kun! You never know, you could end up being friends," she smiled, trying to entice him, "I mean, you're both smart and strong." She grinned, knowing just how to play Kiba. He adored compliments. His lips twisted.

"I know I'm smart and strong and all that good stuff, but that guy is no good. It's best you don't try and pursue any sort of friendship with him." He decided, nodding to himself before flicking a cherry tomato into his mouth. "I know you, Hinata-chan. You're going to want to think Sasuke's just a sad person or whatever, and maybe he is, but he's too dangerous. You're a sensitive girl! You can't hang around with guys like him, okay?" Hinata pursed her lips, nodding slightly.

"Right." She quietly consented, consuming a fried shrimp. She knew Kiba was only looking out for her, and he really was right. She was probably just giddy over her very minor success.