Sorry about the lateness of this chapter. I had a rough time Christmas shopping and getting homework done, sadly, my most popular and favourite story is coming to an end soon, but I will be making a sequel to this after it is completed but enjoy for now!
Getting used to the village again was really interesting, everyone was glad I was back and I trained in secret for the tournament, Hiraku still stayed by my side, but I think the person who was the most glad to see me was my father. He wouldn't stop saying how glad he was for me being back. I didn't know how to respond to all this. My father had welcomed me back so gladly! I thought he'd hate me. He loved me dearly all this time and was only being strict to save me. I was suddenly filled with guilt for saying such terrible things to him before running away when he loved me more than anything. The days went by quickly with hiraku hiding out in some forestry behind the hyuga residence. I was so glad he had came! I really needed the support. No one had made me feel this comfortable with such a great thing on the line. If I lost to hanabi I would certainly receive the curse seal.
After a week of getting used to the village and secret training the tournament was finally starting. The entire clan was helping organise the tournament and all the entrants. We set up seats for spectators and a tournament ring for the fighters. Neji was looking at me weirdly but I couldn't find out why. The setup took us a large part of two days. We were expecting almost the whole village to be there. I was praying every night for a good turnout so everyone could realize my new power. The night before the tournament felt like Christmas eve. I was all exited and I couldn't sleep. my blankets felt too hot so I kicked them off and went outside to reflect on everything. I had my elbows on the railing and I was just staring into the sky, admiring what a pretty night it was. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, I spun around only to be face to face with my father. "So, are you ready for the tournament?" I sigh deeply, "yes, I've been waiting for this." He looks surprised. "you've been training these years?" I gulp quickly, "yes, I thought the tournament would be my chance to reclaim the right to heiress." To my shock, he scoops me up into a tight hug. "I was heartbroken when the hyuga elder rejected you. I had tried my hardest to train you." I started crying out loud. "I'm so sorry for saying all those terrible things when I left! I was just so shocked the elder would go that far!" he pats my hair softly which relaxed me a lot. "I didn't blame you one bit. I hated myself for having to do that." I break away from his hug and give him a reassuring look, "I've been working hard these three years so you wont have to worry about me!" he looks at me earnestly, "I noticed something changed about you. Go back to bed so you can do well in the tournament tomorrow." Without a word I hop off to bed and snuggle into my covers. Tomorrow will be when my whole world changes. You just wait elder, I'll prove it to you that I'm not a failure!
The day of the tournament finally came and I felt nervous. I needed to perform well to guarantee my placement as heiress.
The arrangement for the matches took far too long. Hanabi started whining and I was starting to get annoyed myself. Finally the first match was called! Hanabi v.s hitari. I saw hanabi strut arrogantly into the fighting ring while another hyuga walked in gracefully.
He looked like twenty years old! Hanabi didn't have a chance!
They both stood face to face and shook hands. The whistle blew and they both attacked each other! It looked like hanabi was performing the eight trigrams position but so was her opponent! They jumped at each other and kicked up a massive dust cloud.
It sounded like a lot of struggling was going on then it stopped. The dust faded and everyone saw hanabi standing next to a twenty year old hyuga knocked out! Everyone looked shocked except my father. "there's my girl." He muttered. She strutted off the field with hardly a scratch. I gaped at her. She just shrugs me off and grabs a juice bottle. How am I going to top that! I didn't have time to think. The next match was being called. Hinata v.s Neji. My stomach sank. This was a nightmare! I was going to be beaten in the first round! I was going to lose! I started hyperventilating. All my work was going to be ruined! I caught Hiraku out of the corner of my eye. He shook his head and lowered his hand. A sign for me to calm down. He smiled, suddenly my fear was slowly leaving me and was being replaced with confidence. I was working hard and I'm sure I could beat anybody! Neji looked at me but continued down to the fighting field. I followed him and I was soon face to face with him. "Hinata." He spoke to me softly. "You may be hurt in this fight, will you accept that?" I nod my head in agreement.
He smiles, "good!" with that the whistle was blown and Neji and I jumped safe distances away from each other. I saw his plan to attempt the air palm on me so I let him take the shot and I spun using the palm rotation. Almost every one in the crowd gasped. I put on a satisfactory smirk. They all assumed I was weak. I hoped backwards in time to see Neji's shocked face. it only got him for a second but I had to use it. I got into my gentle fist stance and blasted him with my air palm. He countered with his palm rotation but my air palm was too strong! It blasted through neji's palm rotation and struck him backwards. I used this to get into eight trigrams one hundred and twenty eight palms to strike but he had recovered so quickly! He to was in eight trigrams stance and we lunged at each other. I struck him over and over but he also struck me over and over. We recoiled, both standing but both ready to pass out. I flooded chakra into my legs to keep myself standing but Neji was wobbling. He tipped over a little and fell to the ground. Completely worn out! A huge eruption of cheers flooded my ears as I stood over my successful defeat of the hyuga clans genius. My father rushed down and grabbed my shoulders. "How did you do that! Neji was a genius!" I glance over to see Hiraku giving me a thumbs up. "I guess I'm a genius too. It just took an even bigger genius to figure it out." He looked at me. slightly confused. "well, good job at least." I sigh. "Thank you father. You have no idea for how long I wanted to hear that!"