What's up, everyone!? My "Tuesday Gift" to you all is Chapter 11! Hope you all enjoy it and I own nada! XD


Chapter 11: Neji

It had been days after I had been discharged from the hospital when I received shocking news:

Naruto had died in the mission to retrieve Sasuke….

And the one who did him in was none other than Sasuke Uchiha….his own teammate….

I couldn't believe it!

The boy who shouted and proclaimed to me, everyone and even the gods above how he'd never die until he became Hokage….

He swore how he'd become Hokage and change the corrupted ways of the Hyuga….

But he didn't.

Was it all nothing more than fate?

It had to be!

All along, Naruto wasn't meant to become Hokage, Naruto was meant to die in the line of duty, slaughtered in the line of duty by his "friend".

I swear to the God of all Shinobi if I ever see that no good traitor around the Leaf Village, I'll personally crush his throat and rip his own heart out myself. Ungrateful bastard…

The fool had a friend who would've gone to hell and back for him and that's the gratitude he shows?

Repulsive!

He wasn't just a fool, it was Naruto also…

I should've known his words to me in the Chunin Exams were nothing more than bullshit. You can't change your fate. Everyone in this world is shackled with a particular destiny that one can't do anything without. Just as how it wasn't Naruto's fate to become a shinobi stronger than everyone else but to just die while barely being thirteen.

If one hates what I'm saying, then that's tough.

I can't believe I was a victim of Naruto's preaching.

Well no more, I'll forever have the notion of destiny in my mind.

Speaking of friends, I had secluded myself in my room for days. Coming out for only the usual necessities such as food.

Lee, Tenten, Guy-Sensei and everyone else all tried their best to snap me out of what they called my "funk" but it was to no avail.

It was Naruto's fate to die.

As I blankly stared at the ceiling, suddenly in came Hinata who actually busted my door down with her Byakugan ablaze!

"Lady Hinata? What the hell?" I asked incredulously as she glared at me.

"I should be saying that to you. You haven't been training with your team and you've even missed two missions!" She yelled at me in a voice I've never heard from her as I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Hmph, what's the point? We all as ninjas will die one day so why should I hang with my 'friends' or even train with them? It's all fate and destiny in the end." I spat as Hinata's eyes widened in shock.

"Please don't tell me you're back to that mindset again. Naruto knocked those thoughts out of your head during the Chunin Exams." Hinata tried to reason as I scoffed.

"Naruto's a fool." I countered as time seemed to stop for Hinata as she looked down.

"W-what…did you say?" Hinata asked as I rolled my eyes. Obviously she heard me but she was in love with him so of course it'd be a shock for her to hear me speak derogatorily of him.

"You heard exactly what I said. Naruto's a naïve fool who's too stupid to see the ninja world for what it is. A world not meant for stupid, naïve fools. And that's what Naruto is. A dumb idiot. Someone who tried challenging destiny and it bit him in the ass. I can only wonder how Lord Thi-"I tried to say before I was immediately cut off with a harsh punch to my face that landed me in the nearby wall before me.

"What in the?" I asked before Hinata was suddenly on top of me before she started wailing down on me.

"Don't-you-ever-say-anything-like-that-about-Naruto-again! He-did-and-sacrificed-everything-for-us-and-you're-going-to-spit-on-his-sacrifice!? He-did-not-say-all-that-stuff-to-you-in-the-chunin-exams-for-his-own-health! He-said-it-for-you-to-make-something-of-your-life! He-and-your-father-would-be-crying-in-their-graves-if-they-saw-you-right-now!" Hinata yelled as she wailed on me with every word before emphasizing her word on the last punch.

As she finished her words to me, my eyes widened in shock at her words. She was right!

My father would be ashamed if he saw how I was….

A boy lost in his own misery…Not to mention Naruto….

I'm almost certain if he were here right now, he'd probably deck me in the face.

I spat blood before I sat up and looked directly at Hinata.

"You're right….I'm…sorry for how I've been acting…" I apologized to her as she gave me a sad smile.

"It's okay….and I'm sorry for being rough on you…But it's only because I care about you…" Hinata said as I looked down in shame.

It had been roughly six months since our nasty fight in the Chunin Exams and since then I've been trying my best to make it up to her for my horrible actions.

"Thank you, Hinata…for snapping me out of my own levels of darkness…" I thanked her with a sincere smile as she returned the smile.

"Of course, Brother Neji." She replied as I continued smiling at her.

"You know….your eyes are even better than mine." I complimented her as she blushed at the compliment.

I chuckled at that. Then again considering how our relationship was previously, I was happy we were on good talking terms.

I then dusted myself off before putting on my ninja sandals.

"I'm going to apologize to everyone for my actions." I declared as she smiled.

"Good for you, Brother Neji." Hinata smiled at me before I walked out of the door.

As I made my way outside of the compound, I heard something that made me smile with tears pouring down my eyes.

"Neji, you have the best eyes out of anyone in the Leaf Village!"


Chapter 11 is in the books! This was one of my FAVORITE chapters to write! Mainly because Neji's bond with Naruto was one of my FAVORITE ones in the series and honestly, out of Team Guy, he had the closest bond to Naruto IMHO! (Well him and Lee XD)

Also I felt it was fitting how Hinata would be the one to knock Neji out of his depressive slump. Especially considering she did it to Naruto when Neji died in the original series, haha.

In any case, next chapter is Ino's reaction which is coming on Thursday so please look forward to it then and please don't forget to let me know your thoughts! Thank you and have a great day!