The concept of this is completely stolen. I got it from a fic I read about Hana a while ago, and just sort of flip-flopped it. Unfortunately, I don't remember who wrote the fic. Anyway, the concept isn't mine.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Wow...I've been forgetting that. Oops.


Neji comes into the world as all infants do: wet and naked and squalling. He's got quite an impressive set of lungs, the doctor who delivers him--a blank-eyed Hyuuga man--comments, as he checks the child over. Everything is exactly as it should be, and though the possibility of it being otherwise isn't high at all, Hizashi breathes a silent sigh of relief when he sees his child's pale, pupilless eyes. There have been Hyuuga babies born without the Byakugan before, though they never live long enough for anyone but the clan to know.

Born in the family compound, surrounded by white-robed men, with pale mirrors looking out from his red face, Neji is a Hyuuga now.

Neji's four years old, and he's taken from his father's side. Hiashi-sama takes him into a dark room he's never seen before in all his exploring, with the elders standing like icy-eyed statues. He's frightened, just a little bit, but he doesn't show it because he knows his father would tell him to be brave.

They burn a cage into his forehead, tying him to the clan and making sure he will fly for none but them. The pain eventually resolves itself into green lines, a mark that he will someday come to hate and despise and hide away. Right then, though, all he knows is that now the Main Family can hurt and control him at their discretion.

There's a seal on Neji's forehead now, green bars caging him in, and he's not a Hyuuga anymore.

Neji's thirteen, and he's finally been pushed too far. The Main Family has rebuked and gone against him time and time again, but this defiance, from weak, spineless Hinata, sends rage singing through his veins. So Neji rushes at her, chakra screaming death in his palms, fully intending to hit her over and over until she doesn't get up again.

Before he gets within three feet of her, there's three jounin holding onto him and the examiner between him and his target. Neji manages to reign in his anger enough to stalk off without painting the arena in Hinata's blood. He knows that the clan will hear about this, but he doesn't care.

Even though he was stopped, Neji's actions are still an act of open rebellion against the clan, and he's not a Hyuuga anymore.

Neji's nineteen and a jounin in ANBU. He comes back from his last mission with his mask tied to his belt. The pattern's been altered by a new set of red streaks whirling across its white surface. If he could see it, Neji would be displeased; he always keeps his equipment as clean as possible. But Neji can't see anything anymore.

He's laid out in the Hyuuga compound, wrapped in ceremonial robes and his hair carefully brushed glossy. They burn his body so it can never fall into enemy hands, because, even though the seal has already ruined his eyes, there are other secrets buried within his very bones. The ashes are scattered over a garden, and Neji is laid to rest.

With his forehead as blank as his lifeless eyes, Neji's finally a Hyuuga again.