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Title: Spirit of Flight

Pairing: Neji x Hinata

Genre: Adventure/Epic/Drama/Friendship/Romance

Setting: AU (Alternate Universe in every sense of the word!)

Focus: Neji-centric

Notes: Complex story plot with a lot of themes. The time frame spans two generations starting with the parents later entering the lives of the major characters. There's a number of other pairings that are not definite at this point, I'm letting the story decide how it goes. There is no yaoi, but I'm possibly playing with the thought of hinting a BL pairing (And yes BL and Yaoi are two different things so don't get it twisted *laughs*) I have plans on working on some artwork for this, but I'll let you guys know if I get any done, it's very hard for me to sit down and draw something decent these days.

This story setting is actually from an original story that I'm developing; the concept of the Eras mineral, EV Ships and other weird terminology and concepts are my ideas this is like a Naruto version of my story. I've used most of my imagination nothing is scientifically accurate so don't criticize me based on such things… but I wouldn't mind you guys pointing out any spelling and grammar issues. I'll gladly fix them as soon as I can.

I am in every sense, in every way, a die-hard Neji fan. This story is completely centered on him, the characters, everything. If you feel as you read this that I'm putting him on a pedestal… then find another story… I'm so sorry… but this is the only way that I can vent out my fan-girlish fixation for him because unfortunately Kishimoto-sensei is too obsessed with Sasuke and Naruto to give two shits about Neji… *cries*

When the world was one long, long, ago... Child Earth was the only offspring of Mother Moon and Father Sun. But Earth was too far from their reach and they longed to bring her closer—much closer to be within their arms—the sky.

Yes.

The Moon's tears of longing fell and created the bottomless ocean. The sun burned with fervor to grant her happiness and set the ocean to boil... and suddenly, yes, suddenly, their child rose to the air. One large continent rose into the sky, the arms of Lady Moon, of Lord Sun.

And to this day Child Earth floats in the middle of the sky. Over centuries it broke apart and formed the five countries. Each named after the elements.

Fire.

Water.

Lighting.

Wind.

Earth.

The people in each isolated country lived without knowing the existence of one another. In their own world, the edge meant an everlasting fall into the oceanic abyss... That is until the discovery of the Eras, made one hundred years ago by Lord Hashirama, the first Hokage. It is a precious ore, a mineral buried deep within the fertile soil of the fire country. With it, he founded the era of,

Aerial Navigation.

"Eras," because it will create new time periods, indeed—it will change our world."

- Senju Hashirama the First Hokage -

1st Wind: A New Era

Ships sail through the skies: Their sails billowing filled with sun, their engines powered by liquid Eras. A very strange concept, indeed, but if Lord Hashirama where to see what his discovery led the world, he'd be extremely pleased...

Without explaining much, the mysterious ore, Eras, is a mineral with two states of matter. At a solid state, it is an opaque crystal with a teal colored core in the center. But when it's melted under extremely hot conditions, it transforms into a liquid that breaks down the molecules around it causing whatever it touches to rise to the air. A fact that caused an idea and an idea that caused the ships that sailed the seas and take to the skies.

Aerial Navigation.

Ships weaved with solar panels, sizes smaller than pennies were integrated into the fabric powering the ship's engine that melts the ores that buoys the ship into the air. Technology unfolded like fluttering pages of a torn book. But the people retained their ancient custom, their belief, their dress... Indeed not all embraced such a radical era.

The Hyuuga were one of those people.

Hello, dear stranger. I am Lord Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage of Konohagakure. And I really appreciate your company. Come sit, I'm sure you are weary from your travels. You've come a long way it seems... and I'm afraid I may have exhausted you by all these explanations, it just had seemed that you barely know anything about these parts...

Oh?

Who are the Hyuuga? And why they didn't embrace the idea?

Heh, heh... quite the curious one, eh? Hmph, well it seems I've caught much of your interest. Very well, the Hyuuga are a clan of people, there are many clans that exist here in the five countries. Focusing here, we have the Uchiha, Nara, and the Akamichi among many others. I myself stem from the Senju clan. Well, the Hyuuga by nature are strict traditionalists, following a very extreme code of conduct. On the outside, it may not seem so, it is because they paint an image of simplicity on the surface but like a taproot flower, their roots are immense, incredibly profound and complex. They are independent, and if allowed, they'd form their own country their own existence outside. They are very easy to deal with on that respect because they do not care for power, rather stability and autonomy. Because this, they out flat rejected any cooperation with the development of any of the EV blueprints and construction.

What does "EV" stand for?

It stands for "EraVessel" and they are any type of vehicle or machine that is powered by the Eras mineral. You see in the prototype years of development, I sought out skilled engineers, carpenters, and many other artisans, a lot of them being Hyuuga. There are a people committed to study and the pursuit of knowledge. For they are constantly searching for the truth, which seemingly matches their ability to see through everything, heheh...

After turning down the offer, the Uchiha quickly stepped up and took up the opportunity. They are another notable clan that once fought for leadership long ago over Konohagakure. The Senju had always been very skeptical about them because of their bloodthirsty nature and the previous rivalries. But they are too, known to produce countless geniuses in all areas ranging from combat to medical studies. And so various models were produced and the patent for the blueprints where traded and negotiated with other countries. Soon enough, trade routes where developed, maps, books, items and many things pertaining to aerial travel came about.

The Uchiha rose in power and importance, indeed, the best sky pilots were and are the Uchiha transitioning perfectly to match their never ending thirst for adventure and combat. But probably their most well known role is as the International Kohonagukure Police Department (IKPD). They are stationed all over this country and they handle local as well as international affairs. Also being in charge of preparing a military force during times of war. They unlike the Hyuuga are integrated with society, and they are most troublesome to deal with, for if I blink, they may even dare to take over and rule over my place as Hokage (laughs).

Well that's enough from me... I'm sure by now, you're tired of listening to me ramble on... So go along and listen this story...

END CHAPTER

Notes: I know this is a very weird setting for a fanfiction, but I hope you guys can hang tight for the story. It will be get better trust me *laughs* The next chap will be the actual story and be told in regular third person. I just wanted to feed you some background information so then you can understand my craziness. XDDDD Another thing I'd like to warn you guys... I like to mix pairings around I tend to ship anything x anything as long as the storyline seems to flow with it. I have a tendancy of using Het pairings though, I'm not against yaoi I'm just really used to writing boy/girl relationships. KK? I actually enjoy reading yaoi, but I usually write Het... so please don't discriminate me or anyone for their preferences... that's all I ask. Let's be nice kind and mature people. We're all in it for the story right?! ^_^"

OH and Happy Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year people!!!!