Hollow Mark
by BuhoAure
The infuriating calls of chaos erupted in the echo of sad cries that expanded throughout the large city. The heavy mist that clung under the grey skies dispersed, opening like the mouth of a beast a enormous storm captivated the dry landscape.
Beneath the skies a diminutive shadow observed the clouds.
"You called me..." he spoke, stood defenseless in front of the enemy. Nonchalance transfixed on his figure, unguarded from any of the many dangers that could eliminate him. The low tunes of his voice chanted with a possessive calmness that disturbed the young man that glared at the Uchiha with indignation. The cholera of the Uchiha's enemy danced with a fire that he hadn't seen on ages. "And yet, you seem to hesitate..."
The mocha hair curtained the corners of the Hyūga's face. Small traces of his hair hanging in front of his face, the hunger of the eyes in search of vengeance made the Konoha shinobi seem like a feral animal, ready to use his claws.
The weight of impatience and impotence danced on the last restraining threads of Neji's self-control.
As he spoke the Uchiha could clearly see how much the Hyūga struggled to maintain some kind of control on his power to dictate a logical attack against Itachi. Seemed to be more attached to his hatred towards the Uchiha, mesmerizing in the broken mind of the Hyūga the Sharingan user manually calculated the next steps of Neji.
"Mercy? You called what you did merciful?" How logical thinking and unconscious thirst of anger mixed together as Neji spoke. Like acid every word that emanated from him burned in the mind of the Uchiha. "They were children."
Using boredom as his playing card. The Uchiha's unconditional lack of interest was shown as he heard Neji's words, the Uchiha with his emotionless mask glared straight at the pale orbs.
"Cursed children with not relations to Konohagakure. It was the ineptitude of your team. The impatience of clinging to change something that is destined to the death." As he finished Neji persuaded his attack. Sloppy and impulsive. Itachi easily evaded the attack, the Hyūga fell straight into the wet land. Dirt and blood painting his body. Crawling he approached the Uchiha.
Itachi had turned the Hyūga from a strong warrior into a fragile beast with the lack of self-control. The deep scars that he implanted on mind and body were easy to use against Neji.
They encountered in the town as he had done the damage to a collective of some maniac that had captured a small army of children. Controlled them with a cursed symbol. Neji had lost it. Chased after the Uchiha by himself, leaving his team behind.
He had forced the Hyūga to take off his headband. Ridiculed him as a marked animal.
"Bastard! They-"
"They were dead already." He spoke. The sad figure that crawled in the mud pausing as he spoke. "They were chained. Tell me Hyūga. You must know it already. How is it to be clinging to a desperate hope of freedom."
Nothing could wash away the infuriating misery of the truth. And Neji knew it, knew he hunted for a impossibility of hope each day, knowing that a decorative curse plastered on his skin was the only impediment of liberty. Because, as he glared at the burning flames of the Uchiha's dojutsu he knew it.
"Why are you still clinging?" Itachi was the beast approaching. The demon walked towards the fallen figure. Irises burning Neji's hope in ashes, ready to convert the life of Neji into the seek mercy of death. "I'll lend you that liberty, Hyūga. Death will be your freedom."
Neji remained rigid. A broke bird placed in the trance of confusion. His Byakugan meet Sharingan. The delay of his death was interrupted by the raspy voice of the Nara.
He appeared. Anger and fear clearly painted on his expression as Shikamaru ran towards them. Reached from his pocked as he ran effortlessly, throwing a Kunai at Itachi.
A cry of ravens dispersed on the rain. The flesh of the Uchiha transformed in a group of ravens that flew in the rain.
"Neji!"
The call of Shikamaru's voice had saved him. His hyena eyes looked up at the skies, saw how the enemy escaped.
"Damn it." He took his attention towards the falling Hyūga. Knelt in the dirt and held the Hyūga's shoulders, shaking him. Searching for any damage other than the confusion. "Neji! Are you an idiot? How did you plan to take on the Uchiha by yourself? Why the hell got into you, breaking the team out of nowhere!"
No response. Just a silent sound of hisses. Frustrated the Hyūga clung to Shikamaru's jacket. Then Shikamaru finally noticed. So clean and viciously open in display. The cursed seal. The Uchiha had done more than just physical damage.
The cries of Ino and Sakura became distant. Distant because the Nara felt the insipid feeling of anger taking hold of his heart. A hollow feeling of guilt, because he had allowed this.
"Neji..." Merciless cuts decorated the pale flesh. Open wounds and bruises maintained the Hyūga in such a weak state that he could barely take a proper hold of Shikamaru's jacket.
Not much to say. But, so much to do.
Shikamaru frantically started to search in his pockets, having Neji clinging to his jacket forced the Nara to have a great deal of difficulty as he finally founded the bandages.
"Neji..." no response. Just hisses and curses emanated from Neji's mouth. He knew it. Knew how hard it was for Neji to remain in control.
He approached the back of Neji's head. His fingers caressing the wet hairs, Neji flinched. Took hold of Shikamaru's wrist, impeding Shikamaru to continue what he desperately wanted to cover.
"Neji. Let me go..." not such thing was going to happen. There was just one way he could continue. "Let me cover it."
At those words Neji blinked hard. Slowly realizing what Shikamaru was doing. Covering his scars. Covering his cursed symbol. He freed the Nara's hand and permitted him to cover his front, felt the trembling hands of the shadow-nin.
In all the chaos. The only words he could manage to say made the Nara close his eyes.
"Thank you..."
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Ok. First no idea what I was writing. Well first I thought. Hmmm let's make a ItaNeji. But then I started to crave ShikaNeji. So...this is what happened. Sorry if there is difficulty reading this. I'm starting to write in English. Since I'm a Spanish speaker the order and the way words are phrased on English sometimes confuse me. But. I'll try my best!
Thanks for reading. Don't know how or why, but I might continue this one if I find a connection with the three.