No. I don't own Naruto… but if I did, Neji would have A LOT more screen time….
Summary: Every wondered how Neji's team found out about his curse mark? Or maybe how he covered it up while in the Academy? Oh, also I made Neji a year younger than everyone else
"Blah"- conversation
"Blah"- author's note
"Blah"- Characters' thoughts
Hidden Secrets
Lee stared at the clock. "Ugh… 15 more minutes until class is out." He focused his attention back on Iruka, his Sensei. He was explaining chakra control. Something Lee probably should have been listening too very carefully. "I can mold chakra! I just know it! But… something, I don't know what, just prevents me from it." Lee sighed, and drew his gaze towards a certain student sitting on the other side of the room. The student also wasn't paying attention to the teacher. Instead he rested his head on the desk between his arms, like he did every day. However today seemed different, he kept moving his head from the left to the right every few minutes, instead of looking straight ahead, like usual. In fact, Lee couldn't remember a single time the other boy was focused on the lesson. "I don't get him… He never seems to listen to Iruka-Sensei, and yet, he's the best in the class. Man, I would kill to have Neji's talent.
It was true; Neji was considered the best in his class… In fact, he is even considered a genius. His IQ is over 180, he has the best chakra control out of everyone and on top of all that he's only 9. Yep, that's right, only 9. Neji's birthday is in July, therefore he's fairly young to start out with, but he had also skipped a grade when he was 5. (A/N: Assuming they had grades…) He almost never talked, unless he was giving a report or answering a question, and above all, he was always serious. Neji almost never smiled… unless he was being condescending, in which case, he smirked. In fact, he hardly ever showed emotion.
"He's a bit secretive, now that I think about it. I don't think I've ever really talked to him, and when I did, Neji never told me much about himself. He must be hiding something. Oh! I know what I'll do! I'll list the facts about him I do know, and then maybe I can figure out his little secret!" Lee chuckled to himself, feeling like a detective and all. "Let's see, he's part of the Hyuga clan… and he's the youngest in the class…and…wow. That's all I know. Umm… okay… Oh! He wears that bandage around his forehead…wait. That's a bit suspicious. I've never seen him with it off. Maybe he's abused at home, and he tries to cover it up. Yeah that's it!" Lee lost his train of thought when Iruka dismissed the class. "Remember class, tomorrow you will be assigned to your new teams and Senseis. Lee packed up his book and walked out the door. He heard Iruka call Neji's name, and Lee didn't dare miss out on what he had to say to "the Genius."
"Neji," Iruka said, "Before you leave, let me talk to you a little bit."
Neji sighed. He knew where this was going, "Yes, Iruka-Sensei?"
"I noticed you were having trouble concentrating in class again. Is everything alright at home? Anything I should know about?"
Lee gasped as he listened from outside the classroom. "I knew it. He is abused!"
Neji blinked. In all honesty, he wasn't okay. Today was the 5th anniversary of his father's death. Something which Neji knew no one in his class could relate too, considering he was the only one amongst the other kids whose parents were dead. "No. I- I'm just distracted is all. I'm fine… really."
Iruka gave the small boy a sympathetic smile and knelt down to be at Neji's level. Although he was the brightest student Iruka had, he also seemed to be the smallest and youngest. "I know it's tough, but he would want you to be strong. Remember, he's still with you and he always loves you." Iruka leaned over and gave the small boy a big hug.
Truth is, before Naruto, Iruka's favorite was Neji. Of course he would never admit it to other students, but the quiet, mysterious boy seemed to catch Iruka's attention. Over the year, Iruka had gained Neji's trust, and eventually the Hyuga opened up to him. He revealed his dark childhood, and explained the Branches of his family to him, and even showed his Sensei the secret underneath his bandages.
Neji hugged Iruka back and struggled to hold back tears. After all he never cried, because he was a Hyuga, and Hyuga's didn't cry… except for his younger cousin Hinata, she always cried.
Lee gasped. "I don't understand. I've never seen Neji show any expression until right now. Who is this man they're talking about? And why is it making Neji so upset?"
Neji sniffled a bit, and let go from the embrace. He wiped his tears from his big, white eyes and nodded at his Sensei.
Iruka smiled. "Remember, final exam is tomorrow. Are you ready?"
Neji nodded. He was back to showing no emotions.
"Of course you are! After all, you are my best student." Iruka smiled at Neji. The boy nodded, and dismissed himself from the classroom.
Lee tried to walk away quickly; so that the Hyuga didn't see him, but he had accidently ran right into Neji instead. The smaller boy fell to the ground. He looked up to see the clumsy person who knocked into him. "Hn. Of course it was Lee. No one else in the class is as annoying or as clumsy as he is," Neji thought to himself. He stood up, and was about to walk past him until, "Hey, are you okay?" Lee asked, "I heard you crying in there, and you… you seemed pretty upset."
Neji simply stared at the other boy with menacing white eyes, "Hn. It has nothing to do with you. Perhaps if you spent more time practicing your chakra molding, and less time eavesdropping, you would be able to pass tomorrow's final exam." Neji passed Lee and walked out the Academy door. Lee was stunned. He knew, Neji could be condescending, but he didn't know he was so cold hearted and rude.