Naruto is a manga series by Masashi Kishimoto published by Shueisha in Japan's Shonen Jump and VIZ Media in the American Shonen Jump. The anime series is produced by Studio Pierrot and Aniplex for TV Tokyo and Animax with VIZ Media having gone through multiple networks over the years. I don't own the series, I make no money out of doing this. Please support the official release.
Hey guys, another serving of Slug coming at you Full Throttle. Be warned, this is a very talky one. Chapter 10 and we're still only halfway into the fight between Naruto and Neji. Hope you enjoy it!
As a side note, I'm preparing to write Slug versions of the movies and I thought I see what you thought. They'll be published separate and be loosely tied to the main Slug universe, much like the actual movies are to the original series. I will also be playing around with the agaes so that there will be some totally legal, totally smexy Yaoi all over the movie. Possibly Yuri and Het if pairings happen but most definitely Yaoi of the main Pairing. It's a bit of a cheat I know but hey it's my fanfic and my timetable. Let me know what you thought of the movies and we'll see what happens.
Chapter Ten: Gemini Shadow! An Intruder in the Hyuga Estate!
"As your Superior I command you to answer my question." Naruto faced the Hyuga boy as he moved closer, still in an attack position. "Why? Why did you mentally attack Hinata like that when she was trying so hard?" The Hyuga charged and launched into Kaiten. Naruto swung his Tessen and a great gust swamped Neji. His perfect sphere of Chakra lost form and he fell sprawling on the ground. "Insulting Hinata, automatically deciding she was a loser, I don't care what the hell has happened with your Clan but people who call others losers like that are people I won't forgive!"
Neji pushed himself off the ground, picking stone out of cuts and grazes. "Fine, I'll tell you. You've told me about a Hyuga past I didn't know about so I'll tell you about their present that you don't know about. I'll tell you about the Hyuga Clan's Destiny of Hatred."
Hiashi's eyes gave the barest flicker of emotion on his normally stern face. Not even his daughter noticed this. Hiashi moved closer to listen, wanting to know what was wrong with his nephew, it was truly as he thought.
Kiba didn't notice anything of this as he was too busy watching the ANBU focusing before thrusting his hand upon Hinata's chest. Kiba was at a loss, his teammate had lost consciousness and he was scared. The ANBU looked up. "Don't worry, I'm a Doctor."
"The Main Family of the Hyuga Clan has a 'special' ninjutsu that's been passed down for as long as any of us can remember. It's a Juinjutsu."
"A Juinjutsu?" questioned Naruto. Neji nodded. "That's barbaric. The Uzumaki Clan Scrolls state that in Uzushiogakure any and all Juinjutsu were labelled Kinjutsu. The teaching and use of Juinjutsu was punishable with expulsion!" Naruto felt rage boil in him. 'Neji's family used Juinjutsu on him? What one? And why?'
"What a village that you speak off. But this is Konohagakure and no such measures exist. The mark of the Hyuga Soke no Juinjutsu represents 'a bird in a cage'. It is… the symbol of being tied down to an inescapable destiny." The Hyuga Genin reached behind his head and undid the knot of his Hitai-ate. He let it drop from his head to reveal a barge black mark that covered his entire forehead. It looked like a manji with hooks on either side of it.
Naruto looked at the Mark with a look of disbelief. "That Mark is…."
The Sandaime Hokage watched the fight with a grave expression. 'I can't believe that a Clan in my village conducted themselves like this. How could I have been so blind? All of the Main House either wear the Hitai-ate around their neck or a clothing decoration or not at all while the Branch House have worn them on their forehead without fail. It was so obvious yet I…..'
Tenten looked to be in great pain as she watched this. The two opponents facing each other were both people she had a bond with and she didn't know who she should be supporting. They both had a reason to fight that she understood and she wanted them both to win and yet…
In the past month she had felt a bond form when she and Naruto had been together. Not the bond that so many of her fellow Kunoichi wanted to form with Uchiha Sasuke 'yuck'. No, her bond with Naruto was more like the bond she had with her parents. And yet she also had a bond with her teammate. She finally knew why her teammate had always seemed to carry so much pain in him. Had he told her she might well have taken the information to her father. She could picture him laying siege to the Hyuga Estate and squeezing Hiashi's neck till his head exploded. Probably just as well that didn't happen, thought she did notice a fire of anger ignite in her father's eyes when Neji revealed the Juinjutsu….
Hyuga Hiashi closed his eyes as a wave of shame filled him. 'Hizashi, I have failed you… and that boy…. I recognise you now. Not as Uzumaki though. I recognise that Chakra network and those eyes from last week. The little sneak thief….'
"When I was four, on the day of 'Lady Hinata's' birthday, the Hyuga Soke no Juinjutsu was carved into my forehead. But most have remembered that day as the day a Shinobi Leader from Kumogakure, a village that Konohagakure had been in conflict with, came to the village. While I screamed in agony, being branded as an inferior specimen of the Clan, the village was in celebration over the Alliance Treaty that was to take place. While everyone celebrated, one Clan was absent. The Hyuga Clan. From Child to Genin to Chunin to Jonin. Even the ANBU. All Hyuga Clan members were in the Clan Estate for 'Lady Hinata's' third birthday. Because that's when we brand the Branch members; the Hyuga Heir's 'Birthday Present' is a mass branding of the inferior stock." Neji reactivated his Byakugan. He watched as the 'orange-red' Chakra surged and hit against the Tenketsu spots he had blocked. It seemed to flow harder at one spot until the damage was undone and moved to the next. 'So that diamond was a seal. He must have set up that seal with a secondary Chakra network specifically for fighting Hyuga. He should be able to just fight with that network but he wants to talk while he fixes himself. Maybe his Chakra control for that network isn't as good.' Neji manoeuvred himself closer to his opponent. "My father was there as well. Hyuga Hizashi. 'Lady Hinata's' father, Hyuga Hiashi, and my father, Hyuga Hizashi, were twin brothers. But Hiashi was the first-born and became a member of the Main Family while my father, the second-born, became a member of the Branch Family." Hyuga Neji shook his head in derision. "When the Hyuga Clan's 'First Daughter' became three I was made a 'Bird in a Cage' through their Juinjutsu….. as a member of the Branch House of the Clan. And with this Juinjutsu in place a member of the Main House can…" Neji thought back to that time, years ago, when he saw his Uncle put his own brother through so much pain he passed out. With just a flick of a wrist.
'Never forget your duty.' His father's words echo in his mind. But why? "This Seal can, with a secret hand seal, destroy the wearer's mind. It only disappears when they die, and it seals the ability of the Byakugan with it. There are many who would go to any length to get their hands on the Hyuga Kekkei Genkai. So, with this Juinjutsu, the Branch House is allowed to live only to protect the Main House. Any form of disobedience is prohibited by the Main House. An advanced system, created to eternally protect the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan." Neji surged forward and launched his Hakke but his arm suddenly jarred. Naruto had folded his Tessen and pincered his arm. Naruto applied more pressure and pulled Neji forward. He then delivered an uppercut to Neji's face. The double Chakra Network running through the Orange Genin at the time increased the power of the blow and fired him over thirty feet across the arena.
Naruto tucked the Tessen back into the obi sash and walked over to Neji. 'It couldn't be that simple. A hatred of his Clan based on a Juinjutsu? Understandable but Neji was a Genius Genin, he could resent his position but that shouldn't make him so full of hatred that he would nearly kill Hinata in a Chunin Preliminary Match. That Hinata didn't use the Juinjutsu should have told him something.' "You're an idiot Neji-san. Do you hate Hina-chan just because you got branded on her birthday? That she, whose abilities pale in comparison to yours, will get to order you around? Do you not think it's strange that a Main House member couldn't just use that Cage on you?" He knelt done and whispered into Neji's ear as the Hyuga stood up. "It's not that she wouldn't, she can't. The Hyuga Elders are planning to have her 'demoted' to the Branch House. Now that they have Hanabi, a prodigy like you, they don't need a 'bumbling idiot' like Hinata." Neji looked at the blond in shock and pushed away.
"How? How would you know about something likethat?" Naruto smirked and flicked his arms. Twin tornadoes appeared and Neji rolled away. He turned and Naruto was stood directly in front of him.
"I'm the Gemini Shadow you Hyuga have been talking about." The two Chakra networks flexed as one and like a cannon, Naruto's fist drove into Neji's gut.
In the week leading up to the Chunin Exams Finals a strange phenomenon had been observed by many Hyuga on the Hyuga Estate. A small Shinobi completely covered in black had been seen on the grounds, specifically the Hyuga Library. When they had tried to see his Chakra to figure out who it was, they had been baffled by the fact the individual had TWO Chakra Networks circulating his body. And he was stronger, faster than an ordinary Shinobi of his size. They hadn't brought it to the Hokage because they feared the Double Chakra Network may have represented a flaw, a weakness developing in the 'All-Seeing-Eye' of the Hyuga.
Neji coughed and wheezed as he pushed his aching body. His opponent was not what he had expected. The 'Dead-last Loser' that had vowed to beat him was now some sort of 'Urban Legend' on the Hyuga Estate. Capable of eluding Shinobi whose job is to see through shadows. "And then…. Then came the day that tainted my life and showed me the terrible thing that is Destiny. The Day my Father was killed by the Main House." Naruto gasped. "Yes. One night, years ago. 'Lady Hinata' was taken by an intruder. Lord Hiashi took care of it, the intruder was all in black and his face was covered. Can you guess who it was?" Naruto shook his head and Hiashi's face became even sterner. "It was the Kumogakure Shinobi Leader, who had just signed the Peace Treaty. Obviously, the whole reason for the Treaty was so that they could get close enough to steal a Hyuga with the Byakugan. But Kumogakure, with one of their Leaders dead, on Konohagakure soil, by Konohagakure hands, saw an opportunity. They threatened Konoha with war till they made a single demand. One thing and there would be no war. They wanted the body of a Hyuga ninja with the Byakugan. They wanted the corpse of Lord Hiashi. And Konohagakure agreed."
Hanabi turned round and saw her father sink back into his seat with a weary expression. 'But father is alive and here. What happened then…'
The Sandaime Hokage sighed and fell back into his chair. 'The Hyuga Clan are playing host to great deal of drama right now, and I always thought they were a bunch of stiff shirts.' He turned to the Kazekage and fixed him with a glare. 'Normally I'd have to repeatedly tell him that I did not share his taste for testing the next generation with surprise assassination attempts. He's been almost completely silent. Could it be that he is…..'
"War was averted by killing my father and sending him in place of a Main House Member." Neji began to laugh. "Heh, to escape this horrid fate in this damnable cage, the only escape is death. They were twins, identical. Their strength, virtually the same…. Born first, born second….. Their destinies were decided by just that. Do you understand Naruto? Your fate was decided the moment I became your opponent! No Fuinjutsu from your forgotten Clan or Iryo-ninjutsu from the Medical Centre can change your fate."
Naruto raised his fist and in a twirl senbon appeared. "Now I know the cause of your darkness, I can now treat it. Hyuga Neji, prepare yourself for a lesson in Naruto Style Iryo-nindo!"