Sobokusa
Chapter One: Insolence
Author: HeartsSalvation
Words: 2,148
The setting of this story will be the same as most of my others. So far, I'm sure that it will mainly take place in the Hyuuga Clan Compound. The time of it is just as the Shippuden series starts, or about that time, anyway. That would make Neji about sixteen and Hinata around fifteen.
So, about the pairing, I will offer explanation as well. In Japan, though it may not be common, it does happen that some first cousins marry. And, as well, in strong blood-lines, such as the Hyuuga Clan in Naruto, they try their best to keep the blood pure.
Sobokusa - Simplicity [Japanese] (And some other stuff I can't remember.)
So, on with it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I'm sure that you may know that, though.
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The Branch Family. That is the status that I remained under; the second-rate side family. I was bitter; infuriated. Fate was unfair, careless, merciless.
Fate did not care for me.
My father... He was a great man. I believe that he was once as resentful as I am. And though he was one half of a whole; of a pair, he always knew that there should have only been one. More than that only tore the Hyuuga Family in two, in more ways than one.
When Hizashi was born, he was born the second son in a pair of twins. The difference that his older, twin brother - by all of two minutes - would be head of the clan was devastating, though not to everyone, of course, but to himself, at least. Two minutes decided his fate; his dark destiny. It was an understatement to call the decision 'unfair'.
He, as all of the rest in the side family, was branded with the green emblem of the branch of the Hyuuga clan. It was, and still is, an embarrassment to wear. We were the dogs, and fated to stay as such, of the Main Family. Nothing more but to forever serve our own blood.
I remember, painfully, when I was younger, before I was branded their pet, I watched helpless and in horror as Hizashi tried desperately to attack Hinata; the first daughter to the Head of the Clan. I only saw her for what she was, not an heir, but weak and incompetent.
Fate always plays cruel tricks on us for its own enjoyment.
The inky, green seal controls those of the branch. My father had hardly made it three strides before he was rendered harmless; a threat no more. I could see my uncle, just as clearly as I could see him now, standing in his satisfaction, his kicked dog kneeling before him in obedience.
The day I was branded. It was that same day. And it was the day that I trained, as if it helped; as if anything that I did would make a difference. To this day, I still watch my cousin, the heir to the family, Hinata train in a pitiful excuse of the Gentle Fist fighting style.
I knew from the day that I watched her white eyes grow wide with the growing threat of Hizashi, that I would always resent her and the main family.
That great man, the father of only myself, died in cold blood because of the Main Family.
My grudge was forever.
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I sat perfectly still, almost completely rigid, my knees bent and my calves going numb, tingling under my weight. My dull, pearl-colored eyes watched blankly as my younger cousin trained. Her dark hair, reaching to the small of her back, whipped violently in her haste. It had been a month or two since I had seen her.
The Chuunin exams. Something I'd never expected that day... My defeat, my acceptance, my life. Everything changed. So much in so little. And, yet nothing had changed. I felt no difference in the way that I saw the people before me.
And, then, for the first time after them, I felt approved, appraised by all the ones around me. Hinata, the heiress, she was no longer the object. It was something I was not familiar with. And while fate may have released me; that now I lived the way I wished, there was that thing that had not left. Such things as acceptance, it could not erase vivid memories.
Nothing could bring back what was taken from me. His death was all in vain, a simple sacrifice for his family. A sacrifice that hurt his son more than he knew it could. All to protect someone who couldn't defend herself against an Academy student. It would never change.
I sighed quietly through me nose, my eyes focused unseeing ahead of me as my cousin came at her father. She struck and missed, drawing back quickly from his own attack.
While they did train in the Gentle Fists style, they used no chakra to harm each other. Even so, it was apparent that if either made contact when fighting normally, they could easily be taken out, losing their use of chakra slowly with each touch.
Hinata sighed, frustrated, and activated her byakugon hastily as a bead of sweat ran the curve of her temple. The heiress' dark blue hair was matted wetly to her cheeks and forehead. My uncle and her had been at it for at least and hour. Soon, he would take a break and then ask me to join him as Hinata rested.
This, like every other day, was our normal routine. When we weren't away on business, the Head of the family was constantly trying to keep our skills sharp.
The kunoichi sprinted in attack once more, striking a swift blow to the man's chest as she blocked his open hand from touching her thigh. In mere seconds, a cloud of smoke engulfed her father's body with a dull pop, the white puffs creeping through the air in tendrils. The girl's ivory portals opened a fraction of an inch in understanding.
At the heir's back, a rather relaxed Hisashi stood stiff, a firm palm held just in between each of her shoulder blades.
I snorted silently. I'd known the exact moment he had shifted positions, even without my kekkei genkai I could see the action just as easily as if I were watching it on a slower, instant replay. It only proved how terrible the dark-haired heiress really was. As soon as she closed her eyes to activate the byakugon, he had formed a clone, taking on his position. Hisashi had been counting on her making that move.
Was it even possible that the blood of this clan ran pure through her?
Anger flashed through my veins, white and hot, venom in my blood at the thought that she would be the Clan leader. Her lack of skill infuriated me. Other than a disgrace for our clan, she was a sorry excuse for a ninja of Konohagakure.
I controlled my expression, holding back a scowl at my younger cousin as she tip-toed behind her father, her breathing slowly regulating. Hisashi smiled incomplete of true friendliness as he stepped onto the wooden paneled porch. I nodded in acknowledgement as he and Hinata sat before the tray at my knees.
Eagerly taking a saucer and cup, my uncle gulped the cool water hungrily, sighing in contempt as he finished and setting it back before himself, folding his hands back into his lap. Hinata glanced at me timidly as she gasped for a porcelain cup as well, sipping it modestly.
Eyeing my expression deliberately, the man raised a thick brow, every bit of his leathery skin folding into wrinkles. "Neji? What would you say to joining me?" He asked politely, guessing my answer with ease.
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I took in all of my surroundings, calculating, as he panted hurriedly in sync with me. His eyes flicked to every twitch I made and focused back on my feet each time. His byakugon was inactive, just as it was with his daughter.
If he hadn't known all of my weaknesses, as well as the byakugon's, I would surpass him, his age now a handicap. Though, still, he made it difficult to find a soft spot in any of his defence.
Thinking before every move I made, I kept my pearl-colored irises centered perfectly on the threat before me, in turn keeping check on his chakra. Nothing out of the ordinary in his chakra control, I examined his pulse as it beat erratically. He was defending, not attacking.
A droplet of salty moisture inched the curve of my cheek, falling faster as gravity pulled hard, it bowed under my chin. I dully noted its disappearance in the back of my mind as I clashed with my uncle at the exact moment. Both of us held kunai in each hand.
As soon as I had come so close, I knew that I was incapable of looking away for a moment. That was all it would take. The second a distraction took my attention it would be over.
I shifted my weight to my back foot, my sturdy stand faltering for a instant as my left foot flashed out from beneath me, striking the back of Hisashi's knee. All of his weight pressed on the weakened joint, letting him fall forward. The Hyuuga leaders milky, pallid eyes opened a fraction of an inch as he let his guard fall in a moment of feebleness, kunai clattering uselessly into the dirt.
My tight fists rested at his throat, black metal knifes in both, the two of them crossed over each other, clasped as close to his Adam's apple as possible without drawing blood. His skin dipped at the points of the shining black metal. Just a small, quick scissor-like action and pint after pint could pour from jugular.
The though was satisfying...
I heard Hinata gasp to my left, almost as if she could hear my thoughts, and a monochromatic cup and saucer clattered to the wooden floor. I resisted the urge to blink and turn to look at her, the spar was not yet finished.
Hisashi raised his hands in defeat, too many emotions to pick apart coating his face in an odd expression. I withdrew my weapons, dropping them back into their pouch and offered my uncle a hand. His gaze did not leave my face as he stared hard into my eyes.
"Your getting old and senile, Hisashi-sama." I said, a horrible attempt at mock horror dripping from my words. I leaned back, using his weight to balance me in pulling him to his feet. The man only stared back at me, almost like he was seeing me for the first time. I was not all too proud to say that this had been the first time I had defeated the Hyuuga Family leader, there was no question as to why he appraised me in such a way.
I followed slowly as he made his way back under the awning around the length of the veranda. He took his place in front of the tray and gazed over at his daughter picking up the dropped cup and placing it back on the silver platter.
As I knelt to pick the tray up, I glanced over Hinata, mild shock covered her features. A fist to her chin, her index and middle fingers grazing her lips in contemplation. In the short instant that I looked into her identical silvery irises she glanced quickly to mine, looking away just as fast at our contact.
Hisashi nodded to the dark-haired kunoichi discussing with her patterns and techniques - as if it would help - telling her of his insolence in our brief spar. I stood and turned, listening intently as their words faded with the distance.
A smile spread glacially across my lips and I continued forward with nonchalance. I held back a chuckle, retaining my pride at where it now stood.
Insolence was just the right word.
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M'kay, so, this is my second, only my second, time writing from first person point of view. I'm not very sure if I portrayed Neji right, if I didn't please tell me and I'll fix it and make it better in the next chapter. I'm not sure how may chapters any of my stories will have, but I'll see when I get there.
I really hope that you all like my writing. I do try my best. Please tell me what you think. (That means review. I'm not even sure anyone is reading what I write.)
-Eureka-chan