What's writ in stone is writ,
And nothing, Heaven or Hell,
Can change its course or alter it.
It's like Neji's thoughts in poem form! Cool, no? But anyway, I'm sorry this took so long to update... I haven't really been into Naruto lately, but suddenly I had the urge to update this story. So enjoy!
I don't own Naruto! end /AN/
Neji's eyes were screwed shut in pain, and his breaths were shallow. Gai was changing the rag, while Lee was looking over his shoulder in concern. He had not expected such a thing to happen to his eternal rival, and now felt bad that they wouldn't get to compete against each other.
"Neji, do you understand me?" Gai asked, face serious with the knowledge that Neji's brain could have been harmed. Hinata looked away as Neji let out a pained grunt of acknowledgement.
Naruto stared, unable to take his eyes off of the spectacle in front of him. Kakashi was reading his book again, seemingly barely paying attention to the scene in front of him. Gai began to stroke the side of Neji's head gently, as the prodigy continued to gasp in pain.
"Is he going to be alright?" Naruto asked, already forgetting that Hinata had asked that before. Gai turned his head to look back at Naruto sighing. "As I said before, this has only happened once; I don't know if he will be fine. But it is a good sign that he knows we're here."
Lee nodded solemnly, remembering the fateful day well. Neji had been late to practice, and Gai had said they should go find Neji at his house. They had been able to get into the Hyuuga compound, and get directions to Neji's room.
But when they got there, and knocked on the door, they'd only been answered with a moan. So Gai had forced open the door, and they'd discovered Neji curled up on his bed in pain. Tenten had learned from another Branch family member named Hanako that Neji had angered an elder, accidentally going too far with his disrespect for him. And after his curse seal had been activated, he'd been moved back to his room, and left there to recover on his own.
Gai had been appalled, and they had stayed the whole day, tending to Neji and doing whatever they supposed might help. He'd recovered mostly by the evening, with only a headache left. But he had not been himself in between.
And now, Gai could only hope that Hinata had not activated the curse seal longer than the elder had. Because if she had, it could make a difference of hours, or days, for all he knew.
"I-I... I think that maybe a healer would be able to help..." Hinata said timidly, not daring to speak above a whisper. Gai nodded slowly, lips pursed in thought. "You're right," he couldn't help but admit, "Lee, go get one of the healers, please."
"Yes, Gai-sensei!" Lee said, saluting him and darting off. Neji winced at the noise.
"It'll be fine," Gai said, still stroking Neji's hair, trying to keep him calm. Because the boy genius was anything but, with his eyes shut tight and his breathing rather rapid. He let out another moan as his head throbbed. Gai quickly changed the rag.
Hinata's lower lip shook at the moan, and she looked down at the floor once again. "I-I really am s-so s-sorry... But I-I... I had to do it!"
"Because of the main and branch family thing, right?" Naruto asked, looking like he was finally understanding what was going on. Hinata nodded mutely, arms folded in front of herself.
Gai frowned. He hated to admit it, but Hinata was right. There had been no other way out of the fight, other than Neji bowing out. And of course, Neji would never do that, his pride could not allow it. Gai could see the trap Hinata had been in.
"There was no other way out," he admitted, glancing down at Neji. Neji was not one to sacrifice his pride, but he'd had it ripped away from him anyway. He would probably be very moody when he came out of the effects of the curse seal.
"Well, why didn't Neji give up if he knew Hinata could use the curse seal?" Naruto asked, looking a little confused. Kakashi cut in then, with a simple explanation.
"It was a matter of pride, Naruto. Neji knew he could beat Hinata in a fair fight," Hinata winced at Kakashi's words, "so he felt as though he couldn't back down."
"Oh." Naruto gazed on the ninja before him, curled up in a fetal position, and wondered if it really had been worth it.
/AN/ Well, I hope you enjoyed it! If you liked it, please let me know! I might write more Naruto stories if I get enough interest!