DISCLAIMER - I don't own Naruto or its original characters and plots. I don't even own a bloodline limit cries
---
They stood alone in the courtyard of the empty manor with their fearsome eyes. Although only a few feet away from each other, the two Hyuuga shinobi took their stances. The older cousin was first to activate his secret technique.
"Byakugan!" Neji chanted. His eyes widened with formidable intensity. Blood pulsed through the veins around his orbits as they swelled with unbearable tension.
"Byakugan!" Hinata shrieked shortly after.
She stared back at her rival with conquering intent. It was so long ago when they last struggled against each other like this. The last time such a challenge occurred, it was a clear victory for the older Hyuuga. But Hinata was not one to back down from a challenge, and showed that she could stand up against him without fear.
They remained in their stances, motionless. They didn't even blink.
Neji looked into Hinata's eyes and into her soul, and saw fear: fear of failing to live up to the Hyuuga bloodline, fear of being once again defeated by the superior ninja, fear of losing those she held dear to her, namely, a certain blond-haired loudmouth.
Hinata glared into Neji's eyes and into his heart, and saw a lonely boy, desperate for his father's approval. She saw a boy who could never get his father's approval, because of his death. She felt an undirected vengeance; that somehow, with the undeniable gifts the boy had, he would find some way to change the shackles of fate.
They just stared. They didn't even blink.
Watching from the opposite sides of the contest were the Hyuugas' teammates. On one side stood two boys and a dog. The taller boy stood seemingly aloof and nonchalant. Behind his glasses, however, his eyes could not bear to consider the outcome of their match. The boy beside him held his dog gingerly in his arm. He heard the whimpering of his pup, and took it as a strange omen. All they could do was watch.
On the other side stood a boy and a girl. The boy watched with indignation. He was in the springtime of his youth, and as he clenched his fist, he knew that the Hyuuga boy would explode with youthful fire. The girl clutched a kunai in her hand as she watched with great concern. She cared deeply about the boy with the empty, but passionate eyes. She was never able to admit her feelings, but resolved to support him unconditionally. She pondered about the possibility of giving him a kiss if the contest was to be in his favour. She could only hope.
Meanwhile, the two in the centre didn't seem to breathe. They didn't even blink.
It was dusk, and the sun was buried deep into the horizon. The eerie twinkle of the emerging moon shone over the towering gates of the Hyuuga manor onto the courtyard. Although the neighbouring streets were brilliantly lit with paper lanterns, no one dared to disturb the confrontation stirring in the courtyard.
The Hyuugas appeared to have finally reached the limits of their almighty bloodline techniques.
One of them blinked.
"OHHH, WHAT YOUTHFUL EXPLOSION!!!! NEJI BLINKED!!!!" decreed Lee.
"SUGOI!! THAT MEANS HINATA WON!!" Kiba concurred.
"I guess that means you have to treat my teammates to ramen, Neji-niisama!" Hinata rejoiced, relaxing from her stance.
Neji stood in defeat, as he wiped his dry, dry, eyes.
Shino was silent.
"Dammit Neji-baka," shrieked Tenten, disappointingly, "and to think I was going to kiss you if you had won!"