"Just because a bird is flying, does not necessarily mean it's free."
Blood is spilling out his mouth. He knows that, but he doesn't care. His forehead protector is on the dusty ground, the battle warring around them. Of course, he was just another casualty in millions.
Two pairs of horrified eyes rests on him. One a clear, sky blue, another a pupiless lavender.
His body leans against Naruto's, blood escaping the massive wound at his midsection.
"N-Neji-nii..." he hears Hinata murmur.
His hate for the Head Family had been foolish, he knew, but he needed to direct his hate and frustration somewhere. He thought that their treatment of the Branch Family was equal to a master and his dog. That thought had infuriated him.
They were caged birds, controlled by the flying Head Family, who soared through the skies without a whim.
Who murdered his father because they did not want to lose their own.
And that day, while he was fuming at the Head Family, while he was crying for his father, a hand had been placed on his shoulder. He reflects that it must've been a sympathetic member of the Branch Family.
And he had told him.
"Just because a bird is flying, does not necessarily mean it's free."
And Neji had shrugged him off, thinking it was ridiculous. Of course it meant the bird was free! Being able to glide upon the wind, flying amongst the clouds, their wings contrasting the beautiful blue of the sky, doing whatever it pleased.
However, he had started to notice.
"You're too weak."
"You're worthless if you can't even beat your little sister."
"Get out of my sight, trash."
That Hinata had it no better than him.
Always being pushed, no matter how hard she tried, it was never good enough. She had been given up on, having dashed all the heavy hopes that had been placed on her the moment she was born.
And Neji realized that.
"Neji...why?!"
And the broken voice of the man, the person who had made him realize that, cut into his thoughts.
His tired lips pulled into a smile.
"Because...you called me a genius."
His eyes drifts over to his cousin; the one who was deemed a lost hope. The one who had tried her hardest. The one who had been suffering, trapped even though she was flying as hard as she could.
Are you free now, Lady Hinata?