This is where things truly start changing and I am going to need a lot of help keeping this plausible. If you start doubting my plot line, say something.
/
For the sake of my recovering student, I tried to keep training light that day. I extended our stretches and worked them through easy, yet fulfilling katas that required focus rather than exertion, control rather than power.
By the end of the day, I could not say for sure if I had succeeded in my original intent. Somewhere around noon, Tenten and Lee had decided it was time to show off what they had learned in the past week and proceeded to gang up on me and Neji. Though I should have been more worried than excited, it was thrilling to see my students new skills first hand and it was delightful to see that Neji had lost nothing from eight days laid up in bed. But, in my guts, I knew it was too much.
So, after defeating our opponents and laying them out on the grass, I called training off completely, much to the dismay of my precious students.
"Sensei, we can't quit now!" Tenten complained loudly, sitting up. "We're not even tired yet and you still owe me bo practice from last week!"
I chuckled lightly. "And we'll get to it, Tenten. But-"
"This is because Neji's still sick, isn't it? Dang it, Neji!" Tenten turned on him, shouting, "Stop being lame and tell Gai-sensei you can keep training!"
"Who put you on the ground, Tenten?"
When Tenten tried to get up, he just shoved her back down. Then, he turned on me. "I am not ill anymore, sensei. I feel fine."
"That is not even why I'm cutting training short!" I lied quickly, throwing my arms up.
Lee surged up. "Then why?! Did Neji give you his illness! Neji, you ruin everything!"
Neji threw his hands up in exasperation.
"No, my precious protege, I'm not sick. In fact, I feel just fine! Today is just a wonderful, gorgeous spring day and I feel as if you three should be left to enjoy it as you want! You're young, you guys. There will be plenty of time yet for you to train."
They all stared at me with equally serious faces.
Tenten was the first to speak: "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
"I do not even believe that, sensei," Lee chimed.
I rolled my eyes. "Fine. It is because I don't want to overexert Neji. Are you happy now?"
"No."
I gave my stoic student a hard stare. "Neji, you're never happy."
Tenten scowled at him. "Thanks, Neji."
"Don't pin sensei's stupidity on me."
"Do not call Gai-sensei stupid!" Lee shouted.
Neji frowned. "I'll do what I please, Lee."
"You will not!" Lee took up a firm stance, shouting, "I will fight for Gai-sensei's honor!"
Neji gave him a sidelong stare, then those eyes slid over to me. "I hope you're not attached to your honor, sensei."
"Fight me, Neji!"
Neji rolled those white eyes, shoved his hands in his pockets and headed for the gates. "Forget you, Lee. You give me a headache."
"I will give you a headache alright!" Lee shouted at his back, shaking his fist. "You will fight me today, rival!"
Tenten shoved him, nearly toppling him over. "Oh give it up, Lee. There's no point if we're not all here. Let's just go out and have a late lunch or something."
"Wonderful idea, my precious little flower." I patted her on the head, grinning. "It'll be good for you three to expand upon your newly obtained friendship and comradery!"
Tenten batted me away with both hands. "We wouldn't be in this boat if you'd just run Neji into the ground like planned!"
I laughed good-naturedly and grabbed her around the waist, giving her a powerful hug. "Don't worry so much about it. Just enjoy your time off! Starting tomorrow, I will not go so easy on you!"
Tenten rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh and I set her back down on her feet. She straightened her shirt. "Whatever. What do you want this time, Lee? Chinese again?"
"No! Let us go down to that sushi bar down the street!"
"Okay. I like sushi. Neji! Neji, wait up!" Tenten and Lee ran after him. "Neji!"
I watched them go after their stoic teammate and watched as they were turned down. They pushed and pulled and complained, but in the end, Lee and Tenten went one way, while Neji turned for the other. It was hard for me to see after I had seen them bond so much just earlier that day. I suppose it was a little more than I could hope for that Neji would want to continue to hang out with his teammates, especially when he was still feeling under the weather and they were going to go eat.
Perhaps he just did not want to bother them. That was probably it.
I jogged out of the training fields and caught up to him, slapping a hand on his shoulder. "Yo, Neji!"
Neji scowled and brushed me off. "What now, sensei? You can't cancel training and still expect to hang out."
"That is not why I'm here, Neji. I'm here to rest your mind and encourage you to go eat with your teammates!"
"I don't want to go. If I did, I would have."
I grabbed his shoulders and turned him around, pushing him towards Lee and Tenten's path. "Nonsense! I know you want to go. I assure you, you will not be a bother just because you don't eat with them!"
"Sensei, for god's sake," Neji ducked under my hands and got back on his original path. "I could not care less. I want to go home."
"But, y-"
"But nothing!"
I watched him go for a little while, still very much convinced he was being too sensitive. I frowned. Even the thought of Neji having feelings that were not anger or condescension was a little strange to me. Still, I could not force him- even if it was in his best interest- so I would just have to deal with it. Besides, if he was going home, then that gave me a perfect opportunity.
I ran back up to him.
Neji glared at me out of the corners of those white eyes. "Sensei, I said I don't want to go."
"I know, I know. I'm going to go with you."
Neji grimaced. "Are you not satisfied with bothering me yet?"
I grinned cheekily. "Not even a little."
Neji scoffed and turned away. "You aren't clever, sensei. What do you want?"
"I want to tell Hiashi-san how awesome you did today, especially considering everything." I smiled inwardly. "It'll definitely do his heart good."
"You just want to rub it in his face that I didn't die on your watch."
"And what's wrong with that?" I teased, nudging him gently.
Neji scowled. "It's insulting that you're turning my training into a personal challenge, sensei."
"It's not a personal challenge, Neji. Your uncle and I just… don't exactly see eye to eye."
"That's certainly an understatement." Those cold eyes slid back to me as we approached the Hyuuga manor and he stopped in front of the gates, stating, "I would have gotten better with or without your interference. You have nothing to brag about."
"I was just kidding! I have a letter to deliver." I patted the front pocket of my vest. "He requested it special."
"I would sooner believe the first excuse."
"It's the truth, my precious student." I walked past him into the compound- and was quickly reminded of why I did not come by more often. Every white eye in the place turned and glared. All around me, those same faces I saw every time I stepped through those doors were twisted with anger, as if my very presence offended them. Then- in some strange synchronization- those eyes shifted and those expressions changed.
Then, every one of them stepped back and within seconds, the courtyard was clear.
I looked down in time to see Neji walk past me and head towards his room. If he had noticed his family's disappearance, he certainly did not show it. I looked around at the empty courtyard, then caught up to Neji, stating, "That was weird."
Neji did not say anything. His eyes were firmly trained somewhere ahead of him, yet I did not see anything he could be looking at.
I frowned. "Hey, do you mind?"
"He'll probably be in the center training field."
"Training field?"
Neji turned to me and that expression could have struck me dead. "The Main branch's training fields at the center of the compound. Did I stutter?"
I drew back from him, surprised by his outburst. Perhaps I had accidentally touched on something sensitive. I frowned. "No, but a direction would be n-"
I let my question die on my lips when a man came walking towards us. He looked very old- easily older than the Hokage- and his Byakugan had faded into the whites of his eyes, giving him a strange, hauntingly blind look despite how dead focused he appeared. As he got closer, I could feel the regality radiating from him and my stomach dropped and twisted. I stepped to the side to allow him to pass between my student and I, but Neji did not stray an inch from his path. Their eyes were not met, but there was a tension between them that felt like lightning and I thought for sure I was going to be struck when they collided.
Then their paths crossed and neither of them moved. They simply stopped. Neither one was looking at the other, nor were they even completely facing each other. Only an inch in either direction would have allowed them to continue on, but neither looked willing to give it up. Then, those blind eyes turned on Neji and I was sure I had never seen a face so full of disgust and loathing.
"So it returns."
Neji turned those white eyes to the man and said with a voice practically dripping with condescending malice: "Disappointed you didn't get me this time, grandfather?"
Grandfather.
My eyes shifted between the two, an uneasy feeling starting in my chest. I had no idea what Neji was talking about, but the way he said it made my guts twist. I could not let this continue. "N… Neji. Perhaps you'd like to introduce us?"
"That would imply this is someone worth knowing." Neji turned slowly on the man and those eyes narrowed. "Besides. He probably has his eyes on you anyway."
The man scowled. "I would advise any branch family spawn to bite their insolent tongues when in the presence of an elder."
"You'll have to forgive me for not taking your advice, in respect to where it has left me."
The old man's eyes flared and I could see him clench his teeth. His hand came up and formed a single seal. "Insolent dog."
I saw Neji's white eyes widen.
I whirled around and seized the man by the throat, slamming him against the wall. I could feel his pulse beneath my fingers, his breath hissing underneath my palm. His hands came up to mine, but the wood creaked as I pushed harder. I tightened my grip. "Give me the reason."
The man struggled vainly in my grasp, gasping for air.
I narrowed my eyes. "Don't threaten my student or even act like you might. The only reason I'm not killing you now is because you didn't get him. But, I swear to God, if I find out you threatened him again-"
I let the man fall, watching him crumple to the floor. "-there won't be a next time."
Whether he was shaken or not was a mystery, for that face showed nothing but twisted indignity and fury. Yet his fury was nothing compared to mine. My hand swept across, pointing somewhere- anywhere- else. "Now go!"
Though the man's eyes burned with an anger that could have melted steel, he stood up in a single graceful motion and straightened his clothes. He glared at me intently, then dared to turn his fierce gaze back to Neji. I put my hand on Neji's shoulder and pushed him behind me, taking a threatening step forward.
The man took a single step back, then swept off in righteous indignity. I stared hard at his back as he disappeared down the hallway. My anger still boiled in my chest, yet I could feel my heart racing. The consequences were piling up and I knew if I was not facing execution within three hours for what I had done, it was nothing short of an act of God. But how could I care? I could never have just stood by-
"You're a fool, Gai."
My eyes turned and my face softened as I looked into those blank white eyes. There was not a drop of concern on his face, but I could only imagine what hell I had just brought down upon my precious student and for that, I felt the hint of guilt. I tightened my grip on his shoulder and hugged him against my side. "Are you okay?"
Neji pushed away from me. Nothing crossed that emotionless face, even as he repeated, "You are a fool, Gai. I have said it before and I am going to say it again. I am none of your business. Stick to what you can affect and leave the rest."
"Neji, I couldn't just-"
He did not let me finish. My student just turned his back on me and walked down the hallway, vanishing around the corner.
I stared at where he had been for a long time, before I set my jaw and channeled my anger forward. I turned heel and marched towards the center of the compound and whatever awaited me there. I passed several Hyuuga on my way and pushed past each one of them. I could not care less about them, for I had a bone to pick and I was gathering every drop of fury boiling in my body for our inevitable meeting.
"Hiashi!"
My voice rang like bells, resounding from the circular stone center to the training field. In the middle of it all stood Hiashi, straightening up from a deep stance to glare at me. "What do you want, Gai? I am currently occupied."
"I don't care!" I shouted, storming across the perfect grass and stepping into the engraved circle. "You have a lot of explaining to do!"
Hiashi grimaced, like my words tasted bitter. He turned with a single wave of his arm. "Hanabi. Leave me."
My eyes flickered, to the little girl near the edge of the circle. Her white eyes were trained on me, even as she gave a polite bow to Hiashi. She scampered away as if her life was in danger. And if I did not hear what I wanted, it might have been. "Hiashi, what is wrong with you? Why don't you put a stop to this?"
"Do forgive me, Gai, if I cannot read your mind to know what you're referring to," Hiashi snapped, folding his hands inside his sleeves. "Elaborate on what I should be stopping."
"I'll elaborate alright! One of your Elders just threatened Neji with ninjutsu!"
Hiashi did not look horrified. In fact, the news did not even faze him. "And?"
"And? And?!" I shouted, throwing my hands out. "What 'and'?! There is no excuse for that! You don't use ninjutsu against children!"
"Perhaps you haven't noticed, but we have a different approach to discipline here," Hiashi stated plainly, his eyes practically staring through me. "Neji is part of a separate family from my Elders and I and he is expected to act with a certain level of respect."
"What does that have to do with anything! A lack of respect is apparently natural for kids, according to you! How in the hell does something natural warrant a grown man using ninjutsu against him as a punishment?"
"It is a specific ninjutsu, Gai, and it is used on all Branch members- not just Neji."
"That doesn't make it alright! That damn seal of yours isn't meant to be used at random!"
"And how would you know? Our customs are none of your bus-"
"They are my business!" I roared. "So long as Neji is my student, his home life is my business! His safety is my business! His well-being, his happiness, his stability is all my business!"
Hiashi's eyes narrowed. "No. Your business is his ninjitsu. Everything else is my business."
"Like hell it is! It's only your business when he reflects poorly on you! Other than that, you don't give a damn about what he does, how he acts or even if he's healthy or happy!"
"Don't speak to me like you know-"
"I do know! Because if you cared about him and bothered to raise him right, he would not be this way! He would not be so angry, so self-centered, so spiteful, so… so… awful! And that's all you know about him, isn't it?" I could feel the fury rush to my face as I just roared, "You should be ashamed of yourself and ashamed of what your clan has become! Great and noble, my ass! There is nothing great about it and there is certainly nothing noble about what you let happen here! All the Hyuuga clan is is a bunch of backwards customs and barbaric traditions and I can see very plainly why Neji has nothing to be proud of!"
The expression on Hiashi's face was indescribable, yet his voice was as calm and collected as ever as he said, "You don't know what you're talking about, but I will not stand for this disrespect-"
"Well, respect this, Hiashi! I cannot unsee what I've seen today and I will not forget or forgive any of it! And I will not stand for it, either! Until you can fix the tragedy that is your clan, I am taking my student out of here and putting him somewhere where his life is not threatened!"
"Like hell you are, Gai. You have no right-"
"Take it up with the Hokage, Hiashi," I snapped, turning my back on him. "I'll see you in his office!"
I did not wait for a reply, my blood singing in my ears. Not a single strike came at my back, not a single word pierced my ears. I marched back to Neji's door and I threw it open, snapping, "Get your things, Neji! You are leaving!"
Neji turned to me from his place at his desk and the look of concern on his face was disturbing. "Sensei, what did you do?"
"It doesn't matter. Pack your things, you're leaving."
Neji stood up, his eyebrows furrowing over those blank white eyes as he repeated slowly, "Sensei. What did you do?"
"Nothing that shouldn't have been done a long time ago." I shook my head, slamming the door shut and rushing to grab him up in a hug. "Neji, I'm sorry! If I had just paid a little more attention, maybe I would have noticed before and gotten you out of here a long time ago! I am so very, very sorry!"
"Gotten m-" Neji shoved away from me, his voice cracking. "Sensei, what did youdo?!"
"Neji, all you need to worry about right now is getting your things and getting out of here. I am taking you somewhere safe."
"Safe? Where? What the hell did you do?!"
"Neji, please. Just trust me and do as you're told."
And for the first time in a long time, a human emotion crossed Neji's face:
Fear.
