Chapter Eighteen: Yoroi Vs. Hinata

Even as the computer began to run again, Neji looked to where Sakura was talking with Naruto happily. Seeing her glad made him feel... good. Yet looking around, he knew there were a lot of other matches to go through. And his gaze turned to Gaara, the red-headed Sand Shinobi. A pressing part of him told him he had to speak to him at once. There was a real urgency.

However, with that urgency came another impulse. Looking over to Kin some ways away, Neji found himself drawn to her. If he was going to converse with someone other than his team, she seemed the safer choice. And it wasn't as though the match was going to be any good. Most of the genin in this room were complete failures in the making. The only question was to what extent.

He'd already seen many of their fights in the Forest of Death.

Then his gaze fell on Tenten looked at the computer and he felt troubled. He didn't know why, but he felt... afraid. Afraid and concerned.

Why? This was ridiculous, he should be observing the matches. Not talking with the enemy. Then again, he'd gone and ruined his chances to prop up that failure Sakura. Why? Why had he done that?! Why should he care about her success, let alone pursue it at the expense of his own?! What did it matter if Guy-sensei approved? And why was he conflicted with this now, instead of before he did it?

The only consolation was that Gaara seemed to be just as confused as he was. So were his siblings and everyone else. What had he been thinking?

"Kakashi, you're back," said Guy-sensei.

Neji looked up and saw the silver-haired Shinobi arrive. "Yes, sorry for the delay Guy. Did Sasuke miss his match?"

"Not at all, Kakashi," said Guy-sensei enthusiastically. "In fact, you're student Sakura probably had the best match of her life."

"So she won?" asked Kakashi. "Who was she facing? Ino?"

"Neji Hyuga," said Guy, crying manly tears. "My student could have defeated her at any time, but instead chose to push her to her absolute limits. And, gaining the humility to realize that he was not yet ready to be a Chunin, he willingly forfeit out of respect for her determination.

"Oh the youthful triumph! I am so proud!"

Neji decided to get out of here before he became Guy-sensei's favorite. He was not going to wear green spandex. He began to move around the area, feeling the gaze of others on him. Why was everyone focused on him?

It hadn't been that impressive. Defeating Sakura Haruno was nothing special, let alone losing to her.

The names flared across the computer as Neji neared the Sand Shinobi. Finally, it settled on two names. Hinata would be fighting Yoroi Akado. Neji had little information on him.

"Hinata Vs. Yoroi Akado," said Naruto. "Whose this Yoroi guy?"

"He was on Kabuto's team," said Sasuke, "wasn't he?"

Yoroi was a tall, tan-skinned man clad in black with a veil over his face. He stretched as he walked out to the stage. "Great, I'm fighting a little girl. Well, I guess I'll get this over with."

"Are you sure I can do this, Kurenai-sensei?" said Hinata a little way away.

"It's fine, Hinata," said Kurenai. "You've learned your lessons well. Go out there and do your best."

Hinata nodded and walked toward the stairs. As she walked, Sasuke moved up to her. "Just be careful. This guy has gone through the Exams before so he probably knows a few tricks."

"Good luck Hinata!" said Naruto.

Hinata blushed scarlet and stared at Naruto. She was obviously infatuated with him and it was truly pathetic.

"What?" asked Naruto, oblivious.

Hinata looked down and clasped her hands together. "Thank you, Naruto."

Then she rushed down.

Neji wondered if there was some relationship. So much the better, it wasn't as if either of them would amount to anything. And it would be better for them to end up with one another. It would humiliate Hiashi even more than Hinata's utter inferiority already had. So, without further ado, Neji moved up to Gaara, and he felt the bloodlust as he did. It did not seem to be a conscious thing at all, in fact, Gaara hardly seemed conscious at all. His eyes had heavy bags under them. There was a vicious sense of hatred around him as Neji approached.

"I believe you had a question for me?" asked Neji.

Temari blink and looked flustered. "Me?

"I didn't speak to you-"

"I meant your brother," said Neji, wondering at her reaction.

"You... you're talking to Gaara?" asked Kankuro, voice afraid. "Why would you-"

"Shut up," said Gaara, moving forward. "Why did you spare that one?

"You could have killed her easily. She was worthless and weak. Incapable of justifying her existence in any way."

Neji considered his answer as best he could. This person was clearly mentally disturbed, he'd noticed the Inuzuki looking at him in clear terror. "Perhaps in your eyes.

"But that didn't mean that she could not be of use later, if she improved. I chose to spare her because she had value, however slight. And destroying that value, simply to prove my own, would only weaken me."

Gaara eyed him, and sand shifted out of his gourd. Neji tensed as Temari and Kankuro ducked for cover. "How could such a thing weaken you?

"The ability to kill and destroy is the soul reason for a ninjas existence."

"That is not my purpose," said Neji.

"Then what is yours?" asked Gaara.

"To die, of course," said Neji, and, on an impulse, he removed his headband. Why was he being this honest? He'd never been this honest with anyone? How did he gain from this? "You see this. I was marked from a young age with this sign. So long as I wear it, I may be killed at any time. It would not be murder, but destruction of property. In the eyes of the law, I am chattel.

"My purpose is to serve as a protector to that girls family."

He motioned to where Hinata was facing Yoroi.

"Well, why don't we get started, shall we?" said Yoroi.

"Match, begin." said the announcer.

Yoroi and Hinata surged forward toward each other. There was a flurry of blows, and Yoroi was forced to yield ground after a moment.

Naruto looked forward in awe. "Look at that. Hinata is really fighting well, isn't she?"

And then Yoroi's hand glowed and lashed out to grab Hinata's arm. She cried out in pain as he pulled it up. Neji saw that her chakra was being drained. He hoped there would be permanent damage.

"Stupid move, kid," said Yoroi. "My jutsu makes me perfect for fighting you Hyugas."

Hinata wrenched her hand and managed to slip out, before backing away. Yoroi advanced on her, but Hinata stagged away. She began to dodge and weave, but she was tired now.

"Hinata! Don't give up!" called Naruto. Then he looked to Kakashi. "What's happening? All he did was touch her?"

"He's using a chakra absorption technique," said Kakashi. "It's a dangerous technique that makes him a menace in melee. Hinata has her work cut out for her."

"What's the matter? Running scared?" asked Yoroi mockingly. "Why don't you save me the trouble and forfeit!"

Hinata looked about ready to forfeit. A shame. Neji was hoping to reduce the population of the main branch by at least one person in these exams.

"Hang in there Hinata!" called Naruto. "You can do this! Use a trick or something!"

Hinata looked up, then back to Yoroi. Then her expression hardened. As Yoroi charged her, she zipped down her cold-weather jacket and leaped over him. It was a great spring, and she passed over Yoroi she brought down the coat to cover his head with it.

As he struggled with it on his face, Hinata came at him from behind and unleashed a flurry of blows. She struck Yoroi in the back and then kicked the legs out from under him. He hit the ground and went still.

"Amazing! Did you see that?" said Naruto.

"She used her coat to obscure his vision so she could deliver a winning blow," noted Sasuke.

"Nice work, Hinata!" called Naruto. "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen!"

Hinata turned around and looked up as Naruto ran up to her. "I... well, um..." Then she went red and fainted.

"Oh no, did she suffer from Chakra exhaustion!" said Naruto. "Quick, get the medics in here!"

"Well, at least Naruto is doing well," said Kakashi.

"...She is weak," said Gaara.

"Of course she is," said Neji. "The weak can control the strong by manipulating them. By preying on their feelings and getting them to act against their own best interest."

"They should be killed," said Gaara. "The weak should be purged, they should die. Every single one of them should die!"

"Gaara, calm down!" said Temari. "If we start a fight here we'll all be killed!"

"Why do you believe that?" asked Neji, remaining calm. He stayed where he was, but prepared to move if he had to.

"Only the strong can justify their existence!" said Gaara. "Those who cannot do so must be destroyed."

"But what would the purpose of the strong be if they destroyed all those weaker than them?" asked Neji.

"...They would exist in power," said Gaara.

"Yet when one does not excercise, one weakens," said Neji. "If a powerful being ever destroyed all other beings, they would become weak."

"Why are you saying these things?" asked Gaara, voice shifting as the Sand flowed around him,

"Step away from him, you fool! You'll get us all killed!" said Kankuro.

"Because I believe them," said Neji. "Why do you believe that you must kill to justify your existence?"

Gaara looked downward, muttering to himself. "Yashimaru... he said... I am... I am a weapon. I am the weapon of the Sand."

"We're all weapons in our own way," said Neji. "Was it your choice to become a weapon?"

"I am the Jinchuuriki of the Sand!" said Gaara. "I destroy and kill because that is my purpose! I need no other reason other than that! I was born with power, power given to me by Mother. Mother made me strong!

"Cursed me with power!"

Neji shifted. "I see.

"I chose to join the conventional forces of the Hyuga of my own accord. I had known years of hatred for my family. And I wanted nothing to do with them.

"I chose to become a weapon of the Leaf, instead of a weapon of the Hyuga."

"How?" asked Gaara. "How can you choose to be something other than what you are made?"

"It requires courage and self-reflection," said Neji. "If you understand yourself, you can understand what you need to do to get where you want to go. What is it you want out of life, Gaara?"

"You..." Gaara suddenly looked furious. "You're trying to confuse me! I SHOULD KILL YOU!"

"Gaara, wait!" said Temari. "If you kill him, we'll all be killed right now! You won't be able to justify your existence! There are half a dozen powerful jonin in this room!"

"Can you answer the question?" asked Neji.

Gaara quieted. "I... I desire to justify my existence."

"But is violence the only means by which you can achieve that?" asked Neji.

"Okay hold on!" said Kankuro. "What are you doing?"

"Talking to your brother," said Neji. "I'm surprised you didn't do it yourself."

"Yeah, well do it somewhere else," said Kankuro. "The last thing we need is someone provoking him. You're gonna get us all killed."

Neji decided that it might be best to cut his losses. So he put his hands into his pocket and turned to walk away.

"Wait..." said Gaara. "What did you mean by that?"

Neji glanced back. He decided that anything he said would probably only upset him further. But he ought to give an answer"What do you think I meant?"

As Neji walked back to his team, he saw Gaara looked very troubled and he walked several steps from his siblings. Kankuro and Temari shared a glance, first at Gaara, then at Neji.

Tenten looked at Neji. "Neji, what the hell was that?"

"I thought I might ask him some relevant questions," said Neji.

The next match would come soon, and he'd need to make that time count.

For now, Gaara obviously had no real loyalty to the Sand Village at all. It was clear his siblings regarded themselves as his handlers. Perhaps Neji could convince Gaara to abandon the Sand Village. But then, how exactly would Neji benefit from it?

Another part of him noted that Neji ought to focus on helping others. But it did not seem like the real him.