Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
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Keiko Hyūga was born only moments after her twin. However, as it happened with the previous generation, this was reason enough that on her third birthday she was branded with the main family's juinjutsu.
She didn't cry, or rage, or complain about how unfair this was. Understanding the need for this tradition more than most people. The problem wasn't that they were twins and that automatically labelled one for the seal. The problem was that they were their father's first born children. And, as he was the head of the clan, his first born was to become his heir. Hence, why it became a problem when twins were clothed for the first title. Had he had a child before them, they would have both been accepted as part of the main branch. That was not the case. Therefore, as clan head, it was his duty to establish a clear-cut inheritance hierarchy.
So, the night of the branding Keiko graciously accepted her fate, barely batting and eyelash when her father was done and removed his palm from her forehead. She was the last one to get her mark, for the ceremony only happened on the heir's third birthday, and her grandfather even commended her on her attitude.
Her cousin, Neji, was on her right, head bowed slightly as he waited to be dismissed. Really, most people forgot the true purpose of the seal. Yes, it could enable the main clan to immediately kill them, which frankly in her opinion wasn't much of a problem for them at the moment, and she prayed for future generation to not give birth to a tyrant. But the seal, horrible as it might sound guaranteed them a level of protection which the main branch did not possess.
They wouldn't be hunted for their eyes. For their seal was well known. That was the point. It was only the main branch which needed to fear that fate. It was one of the reasons why, when Keiko made eye contact with Hinata, she gave the girl a reassuring smile. 'It's all right, you don't need to worry,' was what she tried to tell her through it.
If anything her twin was the one which deserved pity, burdened with the weight of their entire clan, she was bound to be heavily scrutinised and judged.
While Keiko, on the other hand, was freed to a large extent of those burdens. All she needed to do was not let her clan down and look after her twin. A task on which she decided long ago. After all, Hinata was her sister, and first born or not, she relied on Keiko. Especially when their father was being particularly harsh.
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Keiko had a bad feeling since the treaty between Kumo and Konoha was announced and the Hokage let them know that a delegation from said village was due to come here and finalise the treaty.
Everyone was so happy. People were cheering, whispers of true peace were spreading, overshadowing the one from the sceptics. Keiko being one of them. Kumogakure was rather infamous for their desire of bloodline users to add to their ranks. Their tutor had told them that during the last war they have attempted several times to acquire the byakugan.
But mother measured her that nothing was going to happen. "They wouldn't dare they something within our own compound," she said and Keiko believed her.
It is hubris like this that causes one to become ignorant.
Something did happen, not even two days after the Kumo delegation arrived. That night, Keiko woke up, feeling anxious for reasons she could express. Turning around in her futon, she was greeted by her sister's peaceful expression, fast asleep. It was enough to make her fall asleep herself, except she heard the shoji screen open and her heart stopped. There wasn't much that she remembered afterwards, black greeted her vision and when she next woke up it wasn't in her room, next to her sister.
Looking around herself, Keiko felt dread well up in her like never before. They were moving at high speed, four ninjas were around her, the other caring her in the crook of his arm. She didn't even know how long it has been or if they were still in Konohagakure, the forest trees being the only distinguishing feature of the landscape.
She could hear them speak, though her panicked brain could make no sense of the words which sounded like gibberish to her. 'I'm scared,' she thought, tears welling up in her eyes as she began to shake with suppressed sobs.
Her mother told her nothing would happen, her father said that he would keep her and Hinata safe. 'They lied,' was her thought when she calmed a bit, anger slowly creeping instead of her fear.
They lied and now she didn't know where she was or if Hinata was safe. As she couldn't see her sister around, Keiko decided that it was likely she wasn't taken. The next question, of course, was why. She might be relieved that her twin was safe, however, that didn't stop the thought from occurring.
And the answer she came up with was not satisfactory. They must have taken her by accident. It was the only thing she could come up with, what use would they otherwise have for kidnapping her? Her byakugan would become useless once she died or if they tried to extract it, even if she was alive. Ransom was her next guess. Though even then, they would have likely taken Hinata, as she was the heir.
However, regardless of the reason they now had her and she was powerless to do anything. It was frustrating. So, so frustrating that she couldn't stop the tears from flowing as the shinobi carrying her hopped from tree branch to tree branch.
'Please…father, save me,' she thought pitifully.
It turned out that, while they were no longer in Konoha, they weren't far enough away for the Konoha shinobi to not catch up to them, even with the Kumo ninjas' advance.
The foreign ninja were surrounded and she felt her body be moved so that her back was held flush across the shinobi's chest, a kunai held at her throat.
"Move and the girl's life ends here," a gruff voice said from behind her, close enough for her to know it was coming from her carrier.
Casting a wild look around her, her eyes landed on the form of her father. He looked furious, his byakugan activated whilst he looked at a point above her, possibly her kidnapper. What happened next was chaos. Who made the first move she did not know, but the man holding her lost his grip and she was falling. In the distance, she heard a familiar voice shout her name, but fear acted as a buffer between her and the outside world.
Keiko only registered what was happening around her when she felt strange, familiar arms wrap around her. A smooth voice telling her it was all going to be all right. Opening her eyes she was greeted by her father's familiar face:
"Papa," she muttered, watching how the man's expression registered into one of pity and something clicked in her mind.
"Ojisan," she corrected herself, feeling as she was held closer to his chest, his body shielding her from the fighting happening around them.
"It's going to be fine Keiko-hime," he whispered, and it was true. Her kidnappers were captured, alive, and they were able to return home. It turned out that her father was part of the rescue team as well but Keiko refused to let go of her uncle, burring her face in his chest.
When her father tried to hold her she flashed him a furious look, betrayal shining clear in her eyes for all present to see:
"You promised nothing was going to happen," she accused, not taking note of the way her father recoiled back as though he was slapped. He didn't try to take her from her uncle anymore.
Back home, she was greeted by a distraught mother and sister. Her grandfather and cousin were also there, but Keiko only had eyes for Hinata, running into her twins arms the moment she was put down.
She took to avoiding her parents, feeling as though they betrayed her and made a point to leave meals as soon as she finished. Hinata was never far behind, following her sister and keeping her company. The event from weeks ago still haunting them both.
They both heard that the Hokage was furious with the Raikage, and whispers in the compound hinted at a possible war sparking from this. It never got to that point, Kumogakure demanding their ninja back and declaring them traitors acting under self-given orders. A hoax, everyone knew, but nobody wanted another war so Konoha accepted the not apology.
Training became more intense, Keiko going out of her way to train harder, seeking help from her uncle as a result. She still partook in the mandatory training with Hinata, supervised by their father, but chose his brother to ask for more help, not him.
For Keiko vowed to herself that she never wanted to be put in that kind of situation again.
She lost part of her cheer, most of her focus used to better herself at the expense of appearing cold, even to her sister. Neji became a regular sparring partner, the two pushing against each other without restraint. It was different that when she trained with Hinata. Keiko still loved her twin incredibly so, though it was impossible to deny that Hinata's shyness was not holding them both back during training.
Even so, Keiko made a point to encourage and push her twin onwards, inviting her to the additional training sessions as well. For while it terrified Keiko to think about ever being so helpless again, what horrified her and plagued her dreams at night was the thought of her sister being in that situation.
She refused to ever allow that to happen. But that also meant Hinata needed to grow stronger.
Yet, fate seemed to be against her family for not even half a year after the failed kidnapping, news of Hizashi's deaths reached them. It happened during a mission in Yu no Kuni, he was delivering a package to one of the country's noble families and was ambushed on the way back. They didn't seem to take anything and their only obvious intention was to harm him. People pointed at Kumo, though no concrete evidence was ever found.
Neji was completely devastated, his father's death affecting him more that anyone could have predicted. Gone were his smiles and kind words, replaced by anger and ambition like no other. Their spars grew more ruthless, him never holding back against her, barely restraining himself against Hinata, causing Hiashi to even activate his curse seal before them once.
Keiko screamed at her father to spot, falling by her cousin's side as he screamed his pain while Hinata watched on with horrified eyes, her body trembling in fear. The event only lasted a moment, though it felt much longer for those involved. Neji couldn't even get up from the pain and Keiko, for the first time, felt like she hated her father.
Poor Hinata cried and apologised over and over again, while Keiko attempted to reassure her that this was not her fault. Their cousin took to avoiding them after the incident, a rather hard task as they now lived in the same house, no matter how big.
Not that Keiko allowed him to do as he pleased, seeking him out instead of the other way around and simply sitting in silence with him if the boy didn't wish to speak.
The spring following their fifth birthday, Neji was enrolled into the academy and their youngest sister, Hanabi, was born. The little babe was a sight to see and the two sisters were head over heals in love with the newest addition to the family.
For a while things were peaceful, next year they also joined the academy, although the class rooster saw the twins separated into different classes. It was the first time that they were expected to spend so long separated from one another and on a daily basis as well.
Keiko was more outspoken than Hinata, able to tell off the people that irritated her without fear, however, she knew her twin was not and it worried her that the girl was going to be picked on because of her shyness.
A fear that proved true, especially when, as they walked home one day, a group of boys came to pick on Hinata, and Keiko as a result. Of course, they were expecting a meal response so when the younger Hyūga lashed out at them the boys were taken back. Despite her sister's protest, Keiko didn't hesitate to resort to physical violence in order to prove her point. Threatening them should they ever attempt such a thing again:
"Come near my sister ever again and I promise, you won't even be able to crawl back home," were her parting words to the boys before grabbing Hinata's hand and walking home.
Hinata was still undergoing their father's gruelling training regime and Keiko could join them less and less as he focused on teaching her the Main family secret jutsu. This, in turn, resulted in her spending more time with Neji, regardless if the boy actually wanted to spend all of this extra time with her. Despite and of their misunderstandings and Neji's increase dislike for the Main branch, the two were good for each other. They could push each other in ways others their age were unable to.
Their talent wasn't unknown either and Keiko regretted putting extra pressure on her sister the most. She heard the whispers saying how Hinata should have been born after, 'fools,' she would think each time she heard the hushed whispers. None of them knew how much effort Hinata put into training and pleasing them.
"Being kind is not a bad thing nēsan," she would tell Hinata, trying to coax a smile from the other girl after each training session with Hiashi.
But things didn't get any easier for Hinata. When Before they even turned seven their mother died due to bad health, leaving three sobbing daughters and a distraught husband in her wake.
That was the first time in a long while that Neji sought Keiko on his own volition. Holding her as she cried just as she done with him when his father died. Regardless of what anyone said, themselves included, the two were as close as siblings.
A few months afterwards, when things were finally entering a sort of routine, news of the Uchiha massacre spread like wildfire and the Hyūga were tense. Such an event has never happened before and the thought of a single person, a boy, killing an entire clan that rivalled their own in terms of strength…was terrifying.
People were scared that he might return, patrols increased and for a while, the Hyūga had a self-imposed curfew put in place.
Things were hectic, but as with everything in life, time took its tool and pretty soon it became obvious the Uchiha murderer was not returning to test his abilities with another clan.
And as Hanabi turned four her abilities shone and Hinata's position as heiress was being put in jeopardy. Their youngest sister could already keep up with Hinata in terms of fighting abilities, and, unlike Hinata, who didn't wish to harm their sister in a fight, Hanabi did not share the same restraint.
Sure the youngest of the Hyūga sisters loved her sisters immensely, having spent ample time with both of them was they grew up. But she was also more confident in herself and understood the need to take a fight seriously more so than Hinata. And, while Keiko could understand why the elders and their father were considering giving the title of heiress to Hanabi, the way they went about it got her blood boiling.
When the match between the two sisters was announced, Keiko went to watch along with others, biting her tongue the entire time to prevent herself from making a comment. She could see the way Hinata was hesitating, not taking the opportunities presented to strike back at their sister and Hanabi's own growing frustration as a result.
Predictably it ended with Hanabi as the winner, but their father had to go throw salt in the wound:
"From now on I shall be training Hanabi as the heir, I can see now that all the time spend of you was wasted," before turning around, prepared to leave.
And Keiko snapped, anger like no other coursed through her blood at the sight of Hinata's tears, she wanted to hurt the man for pitting her sisters against one another. For making Hinata suffer.
But before she could so much as utter a word, pain like nothing she felt before spread through her entire body, paralysing her. Keiko screams filled the compound as she fell to the ground, her sisters rushing to her side, pausing in astonishment as being the curse seal activated. Whirling around to face their father only to see the man in a similar state of shock.
"The Hyūga survived only through sacrifice all of these years. To protect our clan we must do whatever it is necessary, even if it means causing pain to one of our own," their grandfather's words echoed in the training ground, walking forwards towards his grandchildren, face impassive as looked down upon Keiko's tear stricken face.
"Let this be a reminder that you should never let your anger cloud your judgment again Keiko," he told her, waiting as she managed to turn watery eyes towards him and resisting the urge to sigh at her mutinous expression.
"Keiko," Hinata uttered, tears streaming down her own face at her twins pain, a clutching Keiko's limp one.
"Aneue," Hanabi echoed alongside Hinata, not knowing what to do in the given situation. She had never, not a single time seen Keiko cry, certainly never heard her wail in pain like today.
"Chichiue," Hiashi's voice called, angry and with a glare on his face.
"Have you forgotten the vow you took when I entrusted the clan to you?" their grandfather asked harshly.
"She did nothing to warrant the seal's activation that was-," but Hiashi never finished as Keiko's hoarse voice interrupted them:
"A-and…di-did Neji do, s-some-thing…to deserve his…?" she got out through spasms still rocking her body and voice hoarse from screaming. Her question remained unfinished but the implications were clear enough for Hiashi to understand.
"You proceed with your foolishness girl?" her grandfather asked, sensing the anger that still ran strongly through her. It made her father tense even further and he watched as Keiko stared defiantly at him, feeling the hatred directed towards him and his heart break.
With a quick apology to his dead wife and daughters before him, Hiashi raised his right hand, seal formed and face carefully blanked as he activated the seal once again. Bracing himself for his daughter's anguished screams and hating himself even more.
'Is this how you felt brother? When you had your own seal activated?' Hiashi wondered, feeling as though he himself was tortured as his daughter screamed while the other two begged him to stop.
This time, Keiko passed out and he left, self-loathing being the only feeling he had left as the sounds of his daughters' sobs grew fainter the further he went.
'Is this really me destiny?'
—.—.—.—.—
Keiko woke up in the middle of the night that same day. Now moved to her own room with both sisters on either side of her, drawing a small smile from the girl before she winced, her body hurting all over.
"Keiko…" Hinata's voice whispered, eyes wide open as she looks at her sister, white clashing with white as she tried to smile, an attempt at reassuring her elder sister. Their movements thankfully didn't wake up Hanabi and the twin fell asleep holding each other in their arms.
The next morning Keiko was told to take it easy and had both sisters and even Hanabi's caretaker, Natsu, fuss over her health.
"No, you must rest Keiko-sama, do not force your body, the woman said sternly, worry evident in her arms when Keiko insisted she was well enough to walk. Truth was that her body still hurt but she didn't want to give the elders and her father the satisfaction of knowing this affected her so much.
"Please sister, listen to Natsu-san's advice, I'll get you anything you need," Hinata pled, causing Keiko to sigh in defeat, slumping against the wall.
It was at evening when Hinata and Hanabi went to join the rest for dinner, promising to return right afterwards, that Keiko was finally given a moment alone. Once Natsu brought her a tray of food and left to have her own meal, the smile Keiko forced on her face through the day fell and her hands fisted in her covers.
She never really expected her father would activate the seal, certainly not after her grandfather just did. Despite everything they've been through, Keiko realised that part of her still held on to the father she so loved and admired when she was very young. It hurt realising how betrayed she felt by his actions and a self-deprecating laugh escaping her throat.
This was the time her shoji door was open and her head snapped immediately towards the newcomers, relaxing her posture only when she saw that it was Neji. The older boy muttered an apology for intruding and said nothing else till he took a seat on her right, leaning against the wall as well.
"I heard," was all he said, face turned slightly towards her.
"I'm sure it's the gossip of the clan," was her reply.
"…I'm sorry," he said softly, hand going out to grasp her own.
"It's not your fault Neji-nii."
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A/N: I have 2 exams in 3 days I am not revising and instead procrastinating like it's my job. Seriously what is my life?I know I still have other stories to update I just don't have the: 1)Time I use properly 2)They just don't want to be written right now
I know I still have other stories to update I just don't have the: 1)Time I use properly 2)They just don't want to be written right now
My apologies dear readers.
Now for new readers, that you for lasting so far in this chapter and welcome to the madness that is my writing style. Apologies for any grammatical error or spelling one and please feel welcome to point them out. This isn't planned to be an overly long story but who knows how I end up writing it. Oh! I made this OC a page on narutooriginals if you what to check it out. My username is the same and it is titled: Hyūga Keiko. I also made one for my main OC Uzumaki Michiko.