How the Irons of Love Bond

Twenty-One Fetters, What's Born from Darkness

Tip, tap… Tip, tap…

Hatsu Hyūga paced himself upon his return. He'd already been seen by his keeper, and decided to retreat to his quarters for now. Other rogue shinobi had departed for miscellaneous missions and errands. A chūnin-level squadron—no older than seventeen, Hatsu had guessed—dashed by him. Two males and a female: The standard formation. Though, one male was strangely garbed in bandages and a hard shell on his back. His single eye spotted him as he went by, but didn't seem vaguely interested in Hatsu's presence.

The only ninja who was interested was a Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru.

Mostly intrigued by his father's construction of his own clan's genocide, Orochimaru sent Kabuto Yakushi as an envoy by to investigate those plans. The snake sage's magic worked in mysterious ways, but Kabuto's moonlit meetings with Hazukaki Hyūga had not been all for naught. He learned much about the old man's desires—especially to topple his youngest brother's "reign" and sustain the clan's purist holds. The old sage's interest was piqued: How far would this elder brother go to see his brother fall? Like a god bewitching a mortal Orochimaru gave Hazukaki the power to realize his goal, who then passed it down to his favorite son.

The Hyūga Conflagration was a test of fortitude. Posthumously enacted through his youngest son. Orochimaru's participation was on a whim, since he was curious about the Hyūga Clan's fighting techniques and genetic history. He'd joined in as if to revel in the destruction. The Compound was raided, its clansmen murdered, before everything was torched to the ground. He and his cohorts had gotten away.

It was a clean getaway. And now, Orochimaru was holed up in his chamber, studying and reading the candle wicks away.

Wondering if it was day or night left Hatsu in a fog. It was always dark, his vision spared by lines of torches. His sense of time was thrown out of whack, so much that the missions he'd take were the only gauges. The deeper he went, the darker it became. Although, a kiln-like effect warmed the underground hideout. Most of Orochimaru's underlings were directly under him—like assistants. As one of them, Hatsu didn't feel a particular affinity with the other Hidden Sound shinobi.

Moreover, he despised Kabuto with all his might. The young adult seemed to kiss the ground that snake sage walked on. A tad too eager to get under his apron, Hatsu had always thought. A decisive battle proved Hatsu's loyalty, and Kabuto halfheartedly accepted the informal induction. Not even semi-cordial, Hatsu chose to leave Kabuto to his kissing-up.

Instead, Hatsu focused on other things. One being his desire to grasp the finer points of his sliver of Sage power, as well as better dexterity to attune them to his Gentle Fist style. His contract summon had been established, after taking a trip to a cobra's den.

Amongst the less harmful species of snakes, one in particular was bewitched by Hatsu—not the other way around. A slender garden snake, female but a fast striker, with hollow emerald diamonds lining her back. Her name was Shimasue, and she was a proclaimed "Princess" in the reptilian hierarchy, but none of the bulls had captured her heart—or eye, for that matter. Not even the king cobra, Temuken.

The moment she locked eyes with Hatsu, her cold heart leapt ten feet high. "Byakugan eyes!" Throbbing hearts had replaced her own. "Oh, ho ho! You're a Hyūga! Such beautiful eyes! Please make me yours, Hatsu-sama!" She was utterly infatuated with him; it was the easiest, yet strangest, encounter he'd ever had with a snake. Nonetheless, he had her undying loyalty—despite the king cobra's gripes and the bulls' groans.

Orochimaru's hideout was barely any different than the cobra's den. It bent, twisted, ramped, and dipped all over the place. Chills filled the air whenever he felt Orochimaru's bedchamber or Kabuto's medicine lab. Further in, he reached an even stranger place.

Hatsu approached with caution. The entrance was iron, in bars and lock. Its single window allowed a minimal sunray or two inside. Beyond its tiny view was another iron door. Its bars divided the space in a neat row; festooned between each gap were paper charms and talismans.

In other words, the prisoner inside needed to be sealed away. Were they that strong?

The Hyūga's Byakugan activated. Wiry blood vessels protruded finely as he masterfully focused his eyes and chakra to a single point. He enhanced the view, much like a telescope, and noticed a burrow in the ground near the prisoner's feet. And out came five baby rabbits. They were feeble, skittish, and without much fur. Blind in the darkness, they had to rely on their whiskers to see. One bumped into the prisoner's leg, but immediately tried to climb it.

Hatsu peered closer. He saw the man's lips move, but couldn't hear what he'd said. However, he saw a pair of manly hands gently cradle the tiny rabbit. Brutish fingers tickled its underbelly; it squirmed, as a result. Its other siblings seemed to make their way over to the male's lap. Large hands scooped them up and bundled them up; his tattered shirt and crossed legs turned into an incubator of sorts. He watched them for a moment.

So did Hatsu.

Three brothers and two sisters. Apparently, the prisoner had sworn he'd take good care of them. It was the least he could do, since he killed their mother.

"Hey…! You…!"

The man had suddenly called out to the Hyūga. Taken aback, Hatsu stiffened. "He can see me?" he thought in a hurry. "No, wait…he isn't looking this way. Still…?"

"I don't think you're supposed to be here, mister." The man's echo didn't waver from its gentle tone. "My best friend's bringing them lunch, so…you might wanna leave before he stabs you in the back."

Then, a cold chill ran down Hatsu's neck. A sharp "shing" tore through the entryway's air. A clean puncture revealed a white blade going deep into the Hyūga's hand. The one shielding his sole weak point. His Byakugan remained active, and with it he was able to determine his would-be assassin.

"You are not authorized to be here. Leave immediately, you old lech."

"I see…" Hatsu felt blood running from his hand. "I suppose I overstayed my nonexistent welcome. You'll have to forgive me."

Hovering over the new presence's ankle were snake fangs. A white-scaled Shimasue was a bite away from poisoning her next meal. Venom dripped. Her eyes were tinged with fright. "Hatsu-sama! Are you unharmed?"

"I am mostly unharmed, Shimasue. It appears this young man knows my sole weakness…?" He turned to face his assailant. Ocular veins diminished, and a smirk appeared after the lady-snake retreated back into his pant-leg.

White hair was mistaken for gray in the dimness. Such seriousness preceded a man his age. Strangely, that white blade had retreated, as well—only into his forearm. And yet, balanced perfectly on his other hand was a small tray. On it, various vegetables. "Stay away from Jūgo. He is my charge, therefore I have full custody of him. If he escaped due to your haplessness, it'd spell the end for all three of us."

Hatsu let the man pass without any further incident. The white-haired man gave him a sidelong glare before keying the lock and opening the door. He remained wordless, and even lost interest in Hatsu's presence, and went on in. He hadn't meant to slam the door, but it clanked very loudly when he closed it.

Hatsu didn't have anything more to say. Although, watching their interactions entertained his plenty: As if a one-eighty had been made on his face, the white-haired man went from a grimace to a grin in no time flat. Eagerly, he passed some leafy greens through the bars. Kind, masculine hands shared a tender exchange with pale, delicate ones.

"I'm sorry for my tardiness, Jūgo. Here's some food for the little ones."

"Thank you, Kimimaro. I can always count on you, right?"

"Of course."

The man named Kimimaro had passed one hand between the bars to brush the baby rabbits' young coats. Nestled altogether in his lap, the prisoner—Jūgo—watched over them as they slept.

"You've always seemed 'maternal' to me, Jūgo," Kimimaro cooed softly.

To it, Jūgo half-smiled. His reply was a grumbling, "It comes from the powers implanted in me, that's all…"

There was a tangoing closeness between the guard and his charge. It enamored Hatsu, finding Kimimaro's lips meeting Jūgo's at one point or another. How were they kissing between the bars? The white-haired man did have a smaller jaw than the orange-haired one…Were they posing as the rabbits' parents? An odd way of playing house, he was certain.

Not that he was any different, Hatsu snickered over his departure.

Seeing their clasped hands reminded him of the relationship he couldn't have with Hisae. A greenish tinge coated his stomach, but he continued out the way he came. "Interesting…" he processed, "So many interesting characters have surrounded me. I'd have never imagined meeting any of them, if not for that prideful clan of mine. Alas…I'm stricken with heartache."

A porcelain maiden with long chestnut hair had perched atop a silk pillow when he'd first lain eyes on her. However, her eyes could not meet his own, even though they were sworn to mirror each other. Out of the three, she'd closest resembled their father, whose hair had blanched and skin had leathered. His own father, unmistakably aged the same way. She was a young bachelorette awaiting to be married off to a trusted clan's heir. Many suitors—including one from the Aburame Clan—had asked for her hand.

And yet, the guilt in her eyes spoke of a secret too dark for any Hyūga clansman to see.

His pines went ignored. His yearning, put down and shamed. His rage murmured like a quagmire. At long last, after seizing his only chance to woo her, she admitted to her grave mistake.

She'd told him that she was in love with her brother, Hizashi. And she was pregnant with his child.

The Elder's shock nearly led to a mistake worse than death: Hisae was too far along in her pregnancy to terminate the child, so he decided against the traumatic measure. Instead, he disowned her and forbade her from leaving the family premises and barred her from marriage. Despite having already eloped with Hizashi, Hisae was shunned by her fellows. She was labeled all kinds of horrible names, but the ones that stuck were "Abomination" and—after Hizashi's murder—"Widow."

Hatsu saw past all that, even as his heart broke for her, and loved her regardless. He was an abomination, as well. His father's "favorite" abomination, at that. Her retreats and declines simply fueled his desire for her. Heightened security made his moonlit visits more difficult to get away with. The older twin, Hiashi, had instigated the "Hyūga Affair" by redirecting the fault from his brother to Hatsu. It'd churned into a ball of messy confusion by the time Neji was born.

Thus, intertwining the complications further.

Hatsu was furious when he heard the announcement. A baby of disputable gender had been born. Enraged, Hatsu sought the infant's death to magnify Hisae's punishment, as well as satiate his vengeance. His plan ultimately failed, both Hisae and Hizashi survived, and worst of all—that baby was spared.

"It makes no sense to be lovesick now," Hatsu spat at himself. "What's done is done. If I am to reset our clan's fate…it must be done when the bees are in flight and the flowers…are in bloom."

Between the brother and sister, Neji resembled her mother the closest. It was uncanny. Miraculous. As if the stars had aligned just for him. Those dreamy pearls. Those silk locks. That tenacious smirk, frigid glower, and motherly smile. All wrapped up in a comely, reincarnated package.

"Let the birds and bees finish their tasks." Hatsu went into his bedchamber, shut the door behind him, and leaned against it. "Let the flower stay abloom just a day longer. Let her scent reach its peak. Her petals aren't ready to be plucked just yet…."

Neji Hyūga had blossomed into a beautiful maiden, in opposition to being raised like a handsome serf. Her features mystified the general public at first glance: White eyes? Long, dark hair? A summer yukata? Frigid, yet timid? An ice princess's features, yet bearing a name that means "a place in the sun"?

Somehow, day lilies came to mind…

A multitude of them. They cascaded like ocean waves. A breeze gave them life and movement. It also played with Neji's hair. Seated atop a rock, the lilies tickled the girl's feet and adorned her head. Playful giggles escaped. A royal furisode beckoned him to take her hand.

"I must not deflower her just yet…" Hatsu's inside voice clanged across the meadow.

His hand took hers. But the instant he did, shock entered her eyes and she screamed. Muted terror. A poisonous orange dyed the blooming lilies, now. A distrusting, baleful orange.

"Otherwise, she will not bear my fruit. They will rot, and she will lose her way…then writhe quietly on the next breeze."

A sinister aura curled the petals downward. From Neji's eyes flowed a syrupy substance: Amber-colored and glistening, it was nectar. But as Hatsu held on, it reddened. More muted screams. He reached for her hair, grasped it, and pulled her face closer to his own.

Her lily wreath burst. Dying petals scattered. The meadow, writhing in gingery hues.

All that was left of her was the massive, sticky bloodstain that coated Hatsu's entire front. His shirt, sleeves, apron, and pants. His lips, bangs, and cheeks. His hands, too.

It made his mouth flashed with white. There was a madness tinged with anguish echoing in his own scream…

Hatsu Hyūga stood there for a while. He had forgotten the pain in his hand.

It was too late to undo all that he'd done. All that his father had planned. His philandering ways had brought down the Hyūga Clan's status. It was brotherly justice that dethroned him. And now, with every ounce of Hazukaki's blood in his veins, the stars had crossed against him. Doomed to do the same, no matter what path he chose.

Silent tears ran all the way to his chin…

He'd forgotten the blood trickling down it, too.

How did it take him this long to figure that out? And why?

How the Irons of Destiny Bond…