A/N: Sorry if Neji seems a bit OOC. -blush- I don't know if Shino and Kiba have to protect Hinata on missions. And don't bother asking why Neji wouldn't have spotted Hinata when he activated the Byakugan. I didn't think about that till later. XD
Hinata peaked around a tree, watching the couple as they stood across from each other. The girl smirked and pulled on a pair of half fingered gloves. "No holding back, Hyuuga." Neji gave a small sigh but activated his Byakugan.
"You'll only get hurt." She shook her head with a small smile, taking up a fighting stance.
"Not a chance. I look forward to watching that defense of yours crack." She charged him suddenly, fist reared back. Neji activated the Heavenly Spin in the blink of an eye and Hinata cringed when the two collided, expecting to see her cousin's attacker fly through the air. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. Neji's chakra dome was…bending? It definitely had a very distinctive dent forming. Then the two were blown back after a second, both flipping to land on their feet, breathing heavily. Neji looked a bit surprised, retaining his crouched position as his attacker stood and adjusted her gloves. The woman frowned and shook her head.
"Your control is astounding." She chuckled.
"For a 'Non-Hyuuga' you mean." He smirked. "Thanks, but it's not enough. It didn't break." She frowned then shrugged. "Oh well. Next time I guess, same time next week if you're not on a mission. I'll win." She winked and he stood with a small chuckle, following her. Hinata leaned against her tree, eyes closed.
Left behind again.
She squeezed her eyes shut as pain blossomed in her chest. Sakura was so strong now that she'd started training under Lady Tsunade, no longer the worthless weak link in her team's unit.
Unlike her.
Shino and Kiba would never admit it but she knew the boys could function better as a team without her. could carry out a mission without having to worry over who would stay behind to protect her. She felt tears well behind her closed eyes and opened them to glare at the tree in front of her.
"No," she whispered. No more. She unzipped her jacket, letting it fall to the ground and stepped onto the training field. She would train. Train until she could be the type of person Shino and Kiba could be proud to call their partner. Train until her father had no cause to ignore her. Train until she could look in the mirror and like who she saw.
She'd be damned if she'd be anyone's weak link again.