Switched

Chapter Two

Many years after the sealing ceremony, and when Neji and Hinata were shinobi, the Chunnin Exams began.

After the written test and the forest of death, the remaining survivors were gathered together in a large arena. In order to lessen the numbers of students, they had to go through a series of one-on-one battles.

Guess who Hinata had to fight.

Neji.

The battle seemed to last forever. Hit after hit, Neji was brutally crushing her. She tried, she really did, but she just didn't have that kind of skill.

Finally, the final blow was placed. Neji had almost killed her, jabbing just below and a little to the left of her heart. It blocked the chakra flow, and she could almost feel hear her heart slow.

Thump-thump…thump..thump…thump…thump………thump……………………………..

Her breathing stopped.

As she fell to the ground, she heard him whisper just loud enough for only her to hear,

"I'm sorry, Hinata-hime."

The girl slowly opened her eyes. Her mouth was so dry it was painful. She tried to sit up, only to have a searing pain shoot through her chest. She fell back with a yell.

A nurse rushed into the room. "Hinata-Chan! You're awake! How are you feeling?" She asked frantically.

'Like my only friend tried to kill me' She thought. But she said nothing.

The door burst open. In walked her father and, typically, Neji.

"Hinata, my dear, how are you feeling?" He asked.

"Like crap." She said, her voice raspy. It was the first time she had ever cussed.

"Sir, can I talk to you out in the hallway?" The nurse asked.

Hinata and Neji were left alone.

"Hi." He said, glaring at his shoes.

"Hey."

"…"

"…"

"Neji-kyu-to…I'm sorry." Hinata whispered.

His head jerked up. He hadn't been called that in seven years.

"Don't be. I'm the one that should be sorry." He muttered, looking out the window. "I have to pay for what I did, anyway."

"What?"

He sighed. "I'm going to be killed in fourteen days." He said. But he didn't even sound sad. He sounded…angry.

Tears leaked down Hinata's cheeks. "This is all my fault." She whispered.

"Yea, it is!" He snapped, glaring at her.

Hinata cried harder. Her sobs ushered the nurse and her father back into the room.

"Oh, dear. I'm afraid that Hinata-Chan can't have anymore visitors until she's better. You'll have to leave now." The nurse said.

They left. The woman replaced her bandages and left Hinata to herself.