Neij Hyuga knelt before Hiashi Hyuga in the clan's council room. It was the day after the second stage of the Chunin Exam had concluded, capping a long series of trials from covert information gathering to wilderness survival to individual combat. Neji had cleared each challenge with relative ease, as expected, but his uncle was not here to praise him.
"I am told that multiple jonin instructors were forced to intervene during your match with Hinata," said Hiashi.
Neji remained silent. This was not his place to speak; he had performed this disciplinary ritual many times throughout his life.
"Your destiny is to defend and serve the Main House," said Hiashi. "Your unwarranted act of excessive force was a great dishonor. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"The match was ongoing," said Neji. "We were competing as instructed."
"The medical ninja treating Hinata reported severe internal injuries, indicative of intent to cause permanent harm," said Hiashi. "I'm disappointed, Neji. You must remember your place in this world—let your juinjutsu seal remind you."
Hiashi performed the Hyuga clan's secret juinjutsu technique, activating the cursed seal branded on Neji's forehead. A bolt of excruciating pain cut through Neji's body, starting at the forehead and spreading down through his spine and limbs. It was a vicious punishment reserved for insubordinate members of the Branch House, a reminder of the absolute servitude demanded by the Main House. The branches must protect the tree during the storm, and a broken branch is of relatively small cost.
Neji cleared his mind, mentally escaping the physical torment that was being inflicted upon him. A shinobi must never show emotion. He thought forward to the opponents that he would face in the finals of the exam. First, Naruto Uzumaki, that was no concern. He had a strange affinity for Kage Bunshin, a typically jonin-level technique, but otherwise he was completely unremarkable. Neji's next match would be more demanding, as he would face either Sasuke Uchiha, surviving prodigy of the once mighty Uchiha Clan, or more likely, Gaara, the unnerving, young shinobi from Sunagakure. Neji didn't find any of his potential third-round opponents particularly threatening, but he would need to conserve as much energy as possible to be cautious.
Neji suffered no serious injuries throughout the beginning of the Chunin Exam, and so he started a strict, one-month training regimen as soon as possible. He spent hours each day with Hyuga Clan tutors honing his Byakugan abilities, and hours more conditioning his body and mind through arduous physical training and meditation. He had always been studious, but he was especially driven after witnessing Rock Lee's true brawn and agility in his preliminary match against Gaara; how could a user of the Byakugan be so blind to his own teammate's latent strength? Neji would need to push himself even further.
One such Hyuga Clan tutor was Kyoju Hyuga, a fellow member of the Branch House. Neji and Kyoju sparred on the outskirts of the village after a morning of studying Gentle Fist techniques.
"Excellent work, Neji," said Kyoju. "Your reaction speed and precision have greatly improved. At this rate, you'll leave me in the dust if I'm not careful."
With the aid of the all-seeing Byakugan, both shinobi noticed Tenten approaching before she entered the forest glade that they were using as a training ground. Tenten came running through the trees, waving to Neji and Kyoju.
"Kyoju-sensei," she said, offering a respectful bow. "May I speak with Neji? It's about Lee."
"Of course," said Kyoju. "We were just concluding today's training."
"What is it?" said Neji. Lee was unconscious in the village hospital the last time Neji had seen him. It hardly required the Byakugan to see that Lee's body had been brutally mangled in his bout with Gaara, but the Byakugan provided graphic detail that Neji found difficult to forget. Neji perceived every broken bone, torn ligament and ruptured organ—Lee's remaining skin was covered in thousands of scratches from the sandstorm he had endured.
"He's still unconscious, but they're saying he's through the worst of it," said Tenten. Her eyes were watering. "He's going to live."
Neji let out a long sigh. After the calm moment of relief for his teammate, he felt a growing anger, and a feverish desire to clash with Gaara in the second round.
A few days later, Neji was called to see Hiashi in the council room regarding a mission assignment.
"Delegates of the Meiyo Clan are traveling to Konoha from the Land of Earth," said Hiashi. "The Hyuga Clan is honored to welcome them, and you will be a member of the team that receives them in the town of Kakumachi. You will then escort them the rest of the way to Konoha. You leave tomorrow at dawn."
"Uncle, with respect, the finals of the Chunin Exam are only three weeks away, and this mission will surely take at least a week," said Neji. "Would it be possible for another member of the clan to take my place while I remain here to continue my training? I want to ensure that I'm adequately prepared, so that I can honor the Hyuga Clan by winning all of my matches."
"You will resume your training upon your return," said Hiashi.
"My teammate, Lee, suffered critical injuries in his last match," said Neji. "I'm told he will wake any day. Please, I would like to be here to greet him."
"It is already decided, Neji," said Hiashi. "You will join Atama and Kyoju. They will brief you on the mission details. I will not hear any further objections."
Neji accepted his assignment before bowing and taking his leave. He had been on a few clan missions like this in the past year—Neji was a genin in rank, though he was often trusted with more responsibilities due to his noteworthy skills in the ninja arts. It would be a straightforward mission, but time-consuming.
Neji, Atama and Kyoju left the village the following morning, traveling at a brisk pace to meet the Meiyo Clan. Atama, a member of the Hyuga's Main House, led the team toward the Land of Earth. It took four uneventful days to reach Kakumachi. Atama and Kyoju reminisced about their participation years ago in the Chunin Exam; like Neji, both had advanced to the final rounds of their respective exams.
"They're not here yet," said Atama as the team stopped at Kakumachi. "Always late, I swear. Kyoju, Neji, you two go up the road and see if they're close. Meet them halfway."
Neji, Kyoju and Atama equipped themselves with radio earpieces, and Neji and Kyoju departed from Kakumachi. The dusty mountain roads cut through cliffs and ridges, stretching out under blue skies. An hour into their search Kyoju spotted the battlefield.
There was blood spilled on the road, along with an assortment of kunai and shuriken, and a quick sweep of the area with the Byakugan brought them to the lifeless body of Torono Meiyo off the side of the road.
Kyujo switched on his radio. "Atama, it looks like the Meiyo Clan party was attacked on the road. At least one is dead, and there's no accounting for the other six that we expected. We're about ten miles north of Kakumachi, come quickly."