Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto, even though I'd like to, the only character that is mine is Taku, Sakura's older bro.
Summary: Neji and Sasuke sworn to kill Orochimaru, no one can stop them and they will stop at nothing until they get what they want. (NejiHina, SasuSaku, a little bit Neji Tenten)
Spoilers: Episodes concerning the chuunin exam
Warnings: This is extremely stupid, on top of that all, I wrote this in Taiwan while on vacation while I was really really really bored. Anyone who loves Rock Lee should not read this, this fic insults him quite a bit…contains some language and lemon later on.
Cursed to kill- chapter 1
Neji stared off into space, this would be their last night here, to climb the hill and gaze at the setting sun as they did since they were kids. How could this day come so quickly? His arm was draped casually around Hinata's shoulder, "Tomorrow," he mused quietly, "The genin class will split into teams to continue the rest of their journey as chuunins and jounins. I don't think they'll allow two Hyugas on one team."
"Yes," Hinata nodded, "I know," she tried to smile, "Well, still, Neji-kun, before we do have to go…I want to say thanks."
"What for? You're always making a big deal of things." Neji asked.
"Everything." She replied simply, "Thank you."
"I don't need to hear it twice, Hinata." He responded roughly, trying his best not to look pleased and failing miserably, "It's only fair, you helped me before."
That was the way it was with Neji, he seldom complimented anyone on anything, and if he did, he would hide it in a mask of sarcasm or insults. Either way, it didn't fool Hinata, she knew her second cousin too well for that, "Okay."
He didn't seem to have anything to say to that, so he kept silent. Until the sun had gone below the horizon, he sighed, "I think we better go now, your father will worry."
"All right."
As soon as they reached the bottom of the hill, to the crossroad where one went east and the other west, they stopped. Neji turned, "Um, Hinata…I…I'll miss you, and the next time we meet, you'll be stronger, okay?"
"Okay, Neji-kun, I'll miss you too." Hinata said, "I'll train hard." Neji leaned in and kissed Hinata's forehead was gone.
Neji slammed the door to announce his arrival. "I'm home, Mother."
"Shh," his mother came to greet him, putting a finger to her lips, signaling for quiet, "It's late, everyone else is already asleep." She eyed oldest son warily, "Where have you been?"
"Out…" on a impulse, he decided to lie, "Training with Uchiha. I forgot the time."
"It's good to see that you are growing stronger, in a few years, you might be able to overthrow the Souke." She approved, "Tomorrow, you'll be leaving?"
"Err, yeah." Neji was actually only listening with half an ear, while considering his mother's words about the Souke. Would he really be able to overthrow them? There were plenty of other cousins who were geniuses like him besides Hinata; besides, did he really want to overthrow them? "I'll go to bed now."
The real reason behind his lie was that his mother didn't know he was associating with his second cousin Hinata, in fact, no one knew about their nightly visits to the hill…
Neji was only six when he first knew that Hinata existed, of course he had been a child then, and he was carefree of worries like any child, he did not know that Hinata was his lifetime rival. She had claimed the hill first, than had graciously invited him to join her.
But over time, as the two of them grew older, a wall developed between them, for Neji's mother had strongly disapproved of him hanging out with those from the Main House. Whereas, Hinata had been given the same lecture by her father. But they had still both deliberately disobeyed.
"Son, are you all right?"
His mother's voice brought him back to his senses, "Yeah, why?"
"You look unwell, don't you feel alright?" she asked worriedly.
"Fine, just fine." Neji dismissed the concern with a careless wave of his hand, "Don't worry about me."
"Every time you say that I can't help but do so." She gave him a stern look, "You're 14, what is a mother suppose to do?"
"I'm the family genius, Ma," Neji gingerly placed a kiss on his mother's cheek, "Good night."
Hinata crept into the house, in hopes of not disturbing anyone. Closing the door of her room behind her, she heaved a sigh of relief. Tonight would be the last night here; tomorrow she would take leave of here, and…who knows? Perhaps never to come back again.
Hinata touched her forehead where Neji's lips had grazed, it was strange, even though they had watched the sunset for so many years together, he had always been cold, and sometimes even cruel to her.
So why…
Uchiha Sasuke hurled another shuriken at the target; it hit three inches below the bull's eye. He stared at his hands, which were now scraped with scars and bruises, they stung. "Damn."
"Sasuke." A voice called his name.
"What do you want?" he snapped without turning.
"It's late, don't you think you should get some sleep?"
Sasuke whirled around and saw the speaker, when he saw who it was, he dropped to his knees, "Hokage-sama."
The old man smiled, "You have worked very hard today, I've been watching you, but now, get some sleep, I'd think that would be the best, you don't want to miss the ceremony tomorrow."
"Yes, sir." Sasuke nodded, he collected his weapons, which were scattered all throughout the training field and jogged home.
The little pathetic shack that he called home was messy as always, he didn't bother to clean it, there was no need. He had lived this way ever since he was eight and his bastard brother Itachi killed off the entire Uchiha clan.
Of course Sasuke didn't know how he had grown four inches over that summer, since he didn't care about nutrition. But still, he never went hungry, the girls would always bring him food.
And tomorrow…he would kick ass.
"Sakura," someone turned on the lantern, bathing the porch in a murky light. "What are you doing out here?"
She turned and saw her older brother, Taku, who was a jounin and a village guard. "Can't sleep, Taku-niisan."
"Bet you're excited about being divided into teams tomorrow, eh?" Taku sat down next to her, "I remember when I was a genin, I was so nervous that I threw up in front of everybody of the academy."
"Really?" Sakura was surprised that her twenty-year-old brother could do something so stupid.
"Yep, everything came out crackers, milk, apples…"
"Disgusting."
"It's true though." He looked at her intently, "Don't worry about it, you'll do just fine, and hey, maybe you'll even end up with Uchiha."
Sakura blushed furiously, "Shut up."
"Hey, it just might be though, 'cause every team has a strong, medium, and a girl." Her brother slapped her playfully.
"The weak." She finished dully, "The girl's the weak."
"That's not always the case." Taku said quickly, "The academy this year has a lot of strong beginners, Uchiha, Hyuga Neji, to name a few, if you get lucky, you'll get one of those two."
"They're the top two, and they both have a lot of girls chasing them. But they never do anything about it."
"Oh, the ' I'm way too cool for you' kinda guys" Taku answered knowingly, "There's always some people like that somewhere." Patting her back comfortingly he added, "You should sleep now, before Mom or Dad find you."
The next morning, the entire genin class stood out in the courtyard of the Ninja Academy, waiting. There was a tense silence that hung like a dark cloud in the midst of the students. Hinata stood sandwiched between Ino and Sakura, who were both staring at Uchiha Sasuke.
Sasuke was the only surviving member of the legendary Uchihas, one of the most powerful clans in Kanoha. They were the main rival of the Hyuga clan. Despite that, Neji and Sasuke were friends, perhaps it was because they were at the top of the class and were always sparring together, for the other students in the class didn't give them enough practice. Hinata didn't know why Ino and Sakura liked him.
Neji stood next to Uchiha, with a thoughtful expression on his face, staring at the five sensei. He did not wave to her or give any sign of recognition, he would not admit that he knew her in public, since she was from the Main House, and he from the lesser Branch House, it would be a disgrace for both of them.
The first sensei, the one with a head shaped like a mushroom stepped forward, "Tenten, Rock Lee, and Hyuga Neji, come here."
Neji brushed by Hinata and gave her arm a light squeeze.
"Good bye, Neji-kun." She whispered.
"Hinata, did you say something?" Sakura said, snapping out of her trancelike state.
"N-no, nothing." Hinata said quickly.
Next to come was the sensei wearing a bandana and carrying a book, he was covering the title, but, Hinata could clearly make out the word 'Paradise' "Umuzaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke."
"Yay!" cheered Sakura, " I'm with Sasuke-kun."
Ino rolled her eyes.
Then the only female sensei, "Aburame Shino, Hyuga Hinata…"
Hinata did not hear the rest, she walked with leaden feet towards the front..
Neji stood aside, watching his second cousin without much emotion, he was just numb for no particular reason. He had tuned out on Gai-sensei's lecture on Teamwork, courage and some other shit that was otherwise useless.
"Neji? Neji!" Tenten slapped him, "Sensei just asked you a question."
"Pardon?" He asked
"What is the value of teamwork?" Gai repeated.
"Do I look like I give a damn?" Neji was pissed, "Teamwork is just another word for weaklings that can't defend themselves."
"You are very conceited, aren't you?" Gai fixed the young Hyuga with a unwavering gaze.
"So what if I am?" Neji sneered back, "It doesn't matter.
Gai crossed his arms, he could see that this boy was going to be difficult. "How old are you?"
"14, in other words, old enough to beat the crap out of assholes." He replied.
"You're off to a late start." Rock Lee smirked.
"Say that again?" Neji's hand shot out and grabbed the back of Lee's neck.
"He's hurting me, sensei!" Lee whined.
"Neji, stop it now!" Gai commanded, jerking him off of Lee and threw him against a tree.
"Damn you." A trickle of blood appeared on the side of Neji's neck, he got woozily to his feet and rushed Gai again, only to crash into another tree. "Goddammit."
"Neji, may I remind you that you are still but a genin. Therefore, you have a lot to learn." Gai said sternly. "You still have a long way to go."
Lee decided that, since he had Gai protecting him, it might be a good time as any to throw in a few insults: "You must think you're some kind of god, Hyuga Neji, but in truth you are nothing!"
"You…" Neji could hardly wait to get his hands on the twerp and teach him a lesson or two, "You are just pathetic, hiding behind the sensei, always expecting him to protect you, fight me then…if you are really all that yourself—"
"SHUT THE HELL UP!" roared Gai, "Both of you! Now, Neji, apologize!"
"That bitch doesn't deserve an apology." Neji retorted.
"Neji…"
"Fine, but its not I mean it."
"My name is Kurenai-sensei." Said their new teacher. "Now, I would like you three to introduced yourselves and say something interesting about you."
"I'm Shino." The boy with the sunglasses held up a hand, "I like to collect bugs, and I'm 14."
"I'm Kiba, this is my dog, Akamaru, I'm 13, he's 3, and we both like to eat beef jerky."
Hinata felt all the eyes turn to her. "Um, I'm Hinata…I'm from the Hyuga Main House…I'm, uh, never mind."
Kurenai nodded, "Very nice to meet you all, now go say good-bye to your friends and let us began our journey together."
Naruto approached her, "Hiya, Hinata –chan, train hard, eat ramen, always, 'kay?"
Hinata felt the familiar blush creep up her cheeks, "You too, Naruto-kun."
"Shake on it?" Naruto grinned, "A friend?"
"Yeah." They shook hands.
"Hinata!" Sakura came running up to her, "I can't believe it! I'm with Sasuke-kun!"
"Good for you." Hinata hugged her friend.
Then she saw him, Neji was standing apart from the others, and there was blood on his the side of his neck.
"Neji-kun?" she called his name softly as she put a hand on his shoulder, "Why are you bleeding?"
"None of your concern." Neji responded roughly, "Go away."
"At least wipe it off." When he did not take the handkerchief she offered, Hinata touched his neck and proceeded to wipe the blood away.
Neji was shocked, he had never known Hinata possessed such gentleness. As the blood disappeared, the pain went as well. He leaned forward and kissed her, this time on the lips. Before he completely lost himself, he shrugged her arms off of him and said, rather harshly, "Watch yourself, cousin, stay alive, I want there to be a next time for us, and that is hopefully not your funeral."