Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but Hizoku is my OC.
Prompt #48: Mesh - It was a weird combination - a pair of moon-pale eyes that saw everything, and a penchant for blowing up everything in sight.
Words: 1,201
When six-year-old Hizoku entered his cadet class that first day, everyone knew he was a son of the Hyuuga clan.
For one, he had the bearing. He walked in proudly, but without swagger. More like "I'm strong, but I won't brag about it." He seemed reserved and quiet, not shy but not antisocial either. Just...observant.
For another, he had the eyes. Like all his clansmen, he bore the pale eyes of the Byakugan. The white irises were tinted with a golden hue, unusual and beautiful, even for a Hyuuga. It made his gaze seem warmer than most other Hyuugas.
The girls in his class swooned over him every chance they got. The boys admired his strength and tried to beat him every chance they got. But the boy consistantly ranked one of the best in the class, and despite his name meaning "rebel," he was a model student.
All his teachers nodded and said the same thing. "Like father, like son."
"I'M HOME!"
"I could tell," said his father when Hizoku came stomping into the living room. "I heard you slamming the gate shut out front, as well as the front door." He caught the irritated glower on his face. "Rough day?"
"Awful," Hizoku growled. "Everyone watches me. Sensei keeps saying I'm just like you. Everyone does. That I'm ANBU Captain Hyuuga's son. It's annoying."
His father looked up from his report. "Is it really that bad?"
"Dad, I dressed like this so I wouldn't make that impression!" The boy pointed to his black knee shorts, which sported two orange belts crossing each other hanging off his waist, and his white shirt resembling the traditional Hyuuga top that had one sleeve ripped off at the elbow to bear his bandaged forearm.
Captain Hyuuga couldn't fully suppress his smile. "Hate to break it to you, but...that's close to what I wore as a genin."
"Aw, crud." Defeated, Hizoku flopped down on the sofa. "Great. How am I supposed to make a name for myself without being seen as a Hyuuga?"
"Hizoku, I hate to say it, but as long as you have those eyes, people will always know who you are." His father put down his papers and went to sit beside him. "But that doesn't have to define you. Look at your mother. She rose to become a great kunoichi and nobody knew who she was in school."
He knew his father meant well, but Hizoku was very intelligent for a six-year-old. "So you're telling me to just bear with it?"
"For now." Captain Hyuuga smiled. "But don't worry. You'll find something that will shatter their preconceptions of you right out of existance. You just have to be patient."
"I don't wanna be patient!"
"And in that aspect, you're just like your mother."
Hizoku looked at her picture on the end table. "I miss Mom."
"So do I, son. So do I."
So Hizoku followed his father's advice. He went through school his own way, showing the genius of his father while attempting to find something to portray his own individual self like his mother.
His chance arrived three months later, when the first practical exam was announced. All the parents were invited to attend, and before leaving for school, Hizoku managed to wrangle a promise from his father to be there on time.
Neji was sitting in the raised seats with the other parents when the class stood outside. A series of dummies were set up in a circle, each at a different distance from the center exam area. I remember this one, he thought. Using ninja tools, you have to hit all the targets without leaving the center ring as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Every other cadet used kunai, shuriken, and wires in combination, some successful, some not. Hizoku didn't even watch his classmates pass or fail as he waited. His gold-washed pearl eyes continued to scour the stands as if searching for someone.
Suddenly Neji was aware of another person dropping into the seat next to him. "Did I miss him?" Tenten huffed, looking for their son.
"Nope, he went last to make sure you saw his turn," he smiled. "He'll sure be glad to see you."
Sure enough, Hizoku's eyes lit up when he spotted them. A big smile widened across his face that made him look extremely happy, but at the same time, Neji felt like there was mischief in his eyes.
I wonder what he's planning, he wondered with his own smirk.
"Hyuuga Hizoku," announced the proctor unneccesarily.
Drawing himself up proudly, the young Hyuuga headed over to the table of ninja weapons and made his selections. After a few seconds, he made his way to center of the testing area.
This was it. This was his chance to show that he wasn't just his father's son. Time to make his mother proud as well.
Closing his eyes, he activated his Byakugan. This drew appreciative claps from the audience, but Hizoku tuned them out. One by one, each dummy was pinged by his vision. He knew he wouldn't miss; there was no wind, and he'd always had exceptionally good aim.
He'd practiced this move after finding out from his older cousin about this exam. He practically had this in the bag. But Hizoku didn't let his confidence make him cocky. Taking a deep breath, his knees bent as his hands came up in a familiar stance. He could hear some poeple speculating, "Is he going to use Kaiten?" (Revolving Heaven)
Sure enough, Hizoku started to spin in place. But unlike the usual Hyuuga technique, there was no sphere of blue chakra surrounding him like a shield. Everyone was dumbfounded. What could this child be doing?
Hizoku couldn't help the wide smile on his face as he cried out his jutsu's real name. "Kairyuu!" (Revolving Dragon)
From his sleeve flew the kunai he'd selected. In perfect timing with his spin, each was released at the exact moment needed to strike each dummy in the dead center of their painted chest targets. Once he ran out of kunai, Hizuko skidded to a halt in the exact same position he'd started from, facing the audience as they cheered his ingenuity.
You ain't seen nothing yet! he thought proudly. Forming the snake sign, he yelled, "Boom!"
Each dummy exploded, sending everyone diving for cover. Hizoku laughed as he emerged from the clouds of dust and smoke, waving at his parents. "Mom! Dad! Didja see that? I put explosive tags on the kunai handles!"
"I saw, honey!" Tenten crowed. "That was amazing! I'm so proud of you!"
In a rare break from his serious nature, Neji let out a laugh as he threw an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Just like his mother," he announced.
From that day on, nobody made the mistake of regarding Hizoku as merely another Hyuuga. Neji's influence was significant, but not the only one.
Hyuuga Hizoku was Tenten's son as well.
I LOVE HIZOKU! Ahem, um, yeah, anyway...
Review please!
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