Sorry my new update took so long!
The second chapter of this multi-chaptered story . This one is something I long awaited to post because it contains my one and only favorite Naruto character, Hyuga Neji! My cute genius,because of him I follow naruto 10 years now! Anyway this story is concentrating on Hiashi's view of his young nephew's life. Don't want to spoil anymore!
Read, Enjoy and review! Feedback Is always welcome!
Disclaimer notice: The manga and anime Naruto ,his characters that are referred below as well as some plot scenes that exist in the text, all these belong to Kishimoto Masashi and only!
*Spoiler alert at the ending notice*
Off we go!
Thoughts of a Noble man….
Chapter 2: The right time….
The rays of the early rising sun brightened his face. Although tired by the constant paperwork and Hyuga meetings, Hiashi would always enjoy getting up early and enjoy his tea as the morning chill would penetrate in his light robes. He would sip some of his tea and then he would breath the fresh air, he probably feels heavenly.
And that's what he does now, as a part of his everyday routine.
He stands outside the room of his work office before he entangles himself in another barrage of heavy work and Hyuga petitions and problems. Damn that world!
His tea is still hot despite the chilly air of March and he allows himself to relax and close his eyes for a moment. Although he detests loneliness at all, some minutes away from everything are really precious.
At least that's what he thought.
A few meters away on the other side of the house, near the Majestic Hyuga Gardens, he can hear something, or someone move. It can't be the cat making such noises, because clearly the sounds he hears come from a human.
He decides to approach a little closer. "It is probably someone who tends to the gardens" he thought inwardly. A better and closer look form the eyes of the Hyuga head however , make him have another opinion. He is totally surprised to see his young nephew so early, panting and heavily breathing. Surely he was training.
A smile curved upon Hiashi's face. "As expected of my brother's son" he thought. Though he still couldn't shake the thought that probably training at such early hours would be quite brutal for a young teenager. But Gai 's discipline probably has something to do with that.
Approaching silently a bit more so that he won't be a burden to Neji's training, he decides to hide behind a post that supports the balcony area of the mansion and watch his nephew from afar. He leans his head to the post and allows his mind to relax as he watches the young boy practice his taijutsu style techniques. It doesn't take many minutes for Hiashi to discern that the boy is indeed a genius, completing every move with perfect accuracy and grace, the talent of the Hyuga clearly running pure and intense in his veins.
Even though that should make him happy and proud, Hiashi felt a knock of guilt hit him inside. For no other reason, just because he remembered that fate's cruelty had him placed on the side of the Branch Family of the Hyuga .
"Stupid Hiashi. No such thing exists anymore. Don't think like that!"
For the Hyuga leader knows that the Hyuga clan will opt for better days and years but he will never forget what this idiotic cast system (whose functionality he never supported nor he understood the benefit ever) had done to his nephew apart from the loss of his father.
The train of thought began again. This time the road contained landscapes of fear, anger and pure teenage drama. He isn't very proud as a man that he really gets to talk and know his nephew only after at least 7 years. For he had no courage to approach him earlier, he had no words to speak to him with earlier.
Going back to the past ,Neji's birth was one of the best moments in Hiashi's life, because knowing his twin brother's depressed psychology he knows and he assumes at the time that the boy's coming to the world was like god-sent to him. His wife didn't make it at the childbirth, she died minutes later and she was happy she could hold and see his face for only a few seconds.
The child was like his father, identical even in face and in his behavior before the twins get apart. It was the time the two brothers forgot where they belonged in the house and followed their hearts. They spent time frequently together with little Neji and his father ,and when the tiny little baby was already one year old and would shot a smile to his uncle, Hiashi wouldn't hide his excitement and love for the child, promising to himself that he would protect him no matter what.
He is ashamed that he didn't keep this promise for a big part, not that he could do otherwise….
The hyperactive and energetic child, respectful and lovely met his daughter when she was three years old. He dreaded that day. He couldn't face Hizashi, knowing that he would be the one to brand this happy child with the Hyuga didn't deserve it….
The procedure was quick and tried to make the child remember as less as he could for the day. Only Hiashi was present at the marking for , if one day Neji hated the responsible ones , it would only be him…
From then, Neji saw his uncle less, though he didn't hate him . He started to do that though, when the adult man was forced to activate the seal on his twin, once he felt malice towards his own daughter…Any parent would step in front to protect his precious child...
And then incident with the Cloud happened….Hizashi's death fell like a ton of bricks to the five year old child….He could justify him, because, if really you lost the only person you had as support…what would you do?
Since then, Neji stopped talking to his uncle and his daughter. Hanabi's coming to the world was indifferent to him. Hiashi was worried. But he really hated himself and blamed his cowardish mind, while he really wanted to tell Neji the truth, he was scared that the child would act violently and he didn't want to cause unintentional fuss, especially within the territory of fearsome Hyuga elders.
"When the right time comes, I will…."
Because he knew, if the boy said something harsh, Hiashi would undoubtedly forgive him. But the snobbish elders like his stern father would not in any way…
The time went by quickly. Neji was like and( behaved as such)like a stranger to the clan. Hiashi had already lost hope for the boy to mend the oceanic-like rift between his close relatives and for his sweet Hinata, who proved much more fragile and weak to inherit the title of the head of the Hyuga. This period of life seemed so hard: when he thought something bad happens, something worser appears…
He is informed that Neji is exceptionally talented at the academy and he graduates as number one rookie from his class. Then he is placed at a team which is supervised and lead by Maito Gai. The latter, although gives Neji the impression of a psychotic- hyperactive man, always has in mind to secretly inform Hiashi of Neji's accomplishments and improvement, and never forgets to emphasize the fact that the child's psychology is totally ruined and he is confused on the inside. Hiashi nods, though he knows a few things can be done, if the child won't accept to face his family again.
"He will mature soon and will know" he always told himself. "I just have to be patient, time cures everything…"
He was surprised to hear that Neji would be participating in the Chuunin exams. Not that he doubted about his nephew's capabilities! He was sure that the boy, being the prodigy that he was, and with the will to surpass the Main family's members in fighting style and talent, would pass with flying colors.
Then he learned about Hinata's injuries and her immediate care at the hospital…
He didn't know what to do and how to act. How would he go the hospital and face his daughter (if she ever had the chance to wake up and recover), the one he abandoned to Kurenai Yuuhi to train alone?…..And Neji? Surely the Elders must have heard of what he did on his time of range…They would't let that go by just like that….Already, some Elders are trying to find the right causation to punish the child,. Being prodigenous and from the Branch Family is like the biggest threat to them….
He searched for Neji but knew he wouldn't come to the house after what he did to his cousin…Probably he spent nights at his teammates' houses….Or Gai was keeping him…
After he visited his daughter on the hospital , on his way home he pondered why things turned out like that. Not like he didn't expect that. He starting doubting his role as an ideal father….and the promise he gave to Hizashi? That his son would be provided for? Too many things….so little courage…
When he arrived at the Hyuga Mansion, the leader was still in his thoughts. Deciding to check upon Neji's room in any case he had returned, he noticed that the sliding door was closed but not completely, a small gap indicating that someone carelessly didn't close it while he left or someone was inside and was going to leave the room soon. Realization hit him when he remembered whose room it was. Neji's room…It has been too long since he hadn't been at that place of the mansion…
He stood there for a few seconds…Should he knock to check…No, Neji wouldn't come to this place. No matter how strong he was, human fear is something that once it takes over, won't get away easily. Just as he was ready to leave the place too, he heard some noises from inside the room…."What is going on? Is he inside? Is he here?"
The corridor of that side of the house was lonely and quiet and Hiashi thought it wouldn't hurt to linger a bit more and hear. Muffled cries and sobs came from the room. He slided the door ever so lightly so that he wouldn't be noticed and tried to look inside. He regretted it instantly.
Inside the room he saw his nephew, sitting at the edge of his bed, curled, his one foot on the bed and the other on the floor, both hands supporting his head. He was thinnier than ever…
His hair was untied and a total mess. Some of them were sticking to his face due to the tears running from his closed eyes. His expression was that of a person in pain and desperation, a moment before he falls of the cliff….
For only a moment the young boy looked up at the pale ceiling , it was like he was asking for help and courage from the heavens. Hiashi started to feel guilty witnessing Neji in his most vulnerable of states. He wanted to do something, embrace the boy and calm him down, but knew that his own nephew hated him..He left him in his own privacy and headed towards his workoffice.
There, that time was one of those rare ones that you could find Hiashi broken, and with faint tears across his cheeks...
When the Chuunin exams day arrived, he decided that no matter the outcome, he would talk to Neji , even if the latter was against it and he would give him the right explanation.
Neji, although proved to the audience why he has entitled as the Hyuga prodigy, lost to Uzumaki Naruto and then he decided to follow the medics. This would be the time. In a few moments, all would be finished. No matter the conclusion.
Neji was angry with himself, and was even more shocked that the Hyuga leader was in front of him. He spoke to him with harsh tones but Hiashi expected worser. And he revealed it. He confided to the young boy that he was ready to die in order to save his family but his brother stepped in , willing to take his twin's place. Neji's confusion was so evident in his features, Hiashi took a scroll out of his robes, entrusting to this little item his last hopes of restoring the estranged relationships with his nephew. Neji read it in an instant, a whole world of beliefs, ill-fated opinions and moments of sheer mental torture and threats all over him, crumbled in an instant before his eyes. And of course having the head of the Hyuga bow in front of you wasn't something he saw everyday. The man he used to blame all his life, the man he never wanted to see again in his life was down on the floor, kneeling, bearing not the face of Hyuga leader but the face of a pained man that seeked forgiveness at least eight years now, the man that tries to construct a "bridge" among that rift between the people of the clan.
When he left the stadium, he still couldn't believe Neji forgave him. Yet again, they probably wanted a path out of tragedy and they opted for better. And yet again , Hiashi wasn't present to see his nephew shed a few tears for all that had happened up until now.
Neji , through the years, matured. He became a fine, noble man with manners that exceeded even those of the Elders that feigned nobility inside the clan. He learned not to fear, not to judge without knowing and his father's sacrifice became a motive for him to become stronger and the free bird he always wanted. More positive and more friendly, he made steadier bonds and with no more bitterness.
He had to admit though, that Hiashi was a big support on that too. He would allow by any means no one to come closer and hurt the boy, let alone threat him. Same with Hinata. He stopped being impersonal to her and found out that family bonds are really something he should treasure. He shared technique styles with his nephew, despite the disapproval of his father and also let him help him with some work on his office. From that moment, Hiashi made a new beginning and a new start for the Hyuga.
"Uncle? Are you feeling all right?"
A soft baritone voice took him out of his reverie. He looked up from the floor and directed his eyes to the voice , where he came face to face with the boy he was thinking all these few minutes. Said boy was staring at him with a questioning look on his face and spoke again.
"You are up early, Uncle!"
"Yes, indeed Neji. So are you, my boy. I suppose you practice. You should take a rest you know. Even geniuses need it!"
Neji didn't know if he had to preserve hi s seriousness or to laugh but he was afraid if such action showed disrespect to the older man's comment. He just let it pass.
"Nice day today, right? I guess I should enjoy it before I get to work on that depressing office of mine!"
"Would you want me to help you in anything with your work Uncle?"
Although the proposal of Neji helping him was more than tempting, he really spoke otherwise.
"No, thank you Neji. I will look at it myself. Don't bother yourself with that at such a beautiful day. Thank you again!"
Neji smiled lightly and bowed before he excused himself for the way to his bedroom. Hiashi knew that although young, this boy was gifted. And he made sure that he let him enjoy his time , because maybe he had plans for the boy in the feature. Plans that surely the boy wouldn't put aside…
*spoiler alert *
The last line refers to Hiashi wanting and having in mind to make Neji the Head of Hyuga, even if the other's protested it. Before he died, I honestly believed Neji would become Hyuga head, he wanted it I am sure and deserved…
Danm you Kishimoto. Bring him back…I 'll never get over it…..
*sobs*
Rate and review!