"That's some rip. I don't think it can be salvaged. Toss it with the other rags." One of the older Hyuuga tells her, and Nagi does as she's told.
They get paid for in-clan missions too. Chores that cannot be delegated to just any random genin for security's sake are done by Hyuuga branch genin, sometimes chuunin.
It used to be unpaid labor, when branch members were more slaves than actual clan members.
They say it's better now. It could be worse.
And Nagi agrees. It's not bad. It's just her doing her share of the load in the maintenance of the family grounds and just the general well-being of the clan at large.
But Nagi also knows that just because they're not being tortured for not doing the bushes properly, it doesn't mean they'd been done a favour.
It is neither a point for, or against, the clan.
In all honesty, Nagi can understand why Neji had felt what he did.
Can trace how it came to be. As more days pass, things just become clearer and clearer.
Because Nagi is only a branch member because her father was the younger twin. Because he's part of a twin.
If Hizashi had been born a year or two younger than Hiashi, Hizashi would've been kept in the main family.
But twins posed the risk of a possible messy struggle in the future, and the elders had deemed to settle it pre-emptively.
Nagi wash another yukata, wondering what it must've felt like, standing on one side of the bridge and seeing a copy of your face on the other.
Nagi is not main branch. But she could've been.
Funny how that simple thought, so vague, can affect her clan's treatment of her. It's not too apparent, but it colors their interactions with her enough for her to notice.
Because there's no denying that the clan is truly split into two, and to the main clan, she is not one of them, but to the branch members, she could've been.
And her clear proficiency and -pardon her- Nagi's genius somehow keeps throwing it back to everyone's faces.
Under her father's influence, she'd been sheltered (and her father's death had kept everything at bay by pity), but now, as she interacts with her kin more, it's hard to miss the occasional darkly satisfied look they get when they see her on her knees and serving. Doesn't matter who she's serving.
To the branch, it is proof that a main can fall if fate deems it so.
To the main, it is proof of their fortune and how favoured they are.
(That they are not her.)
Hyuuga do not have gods like the Uchiha.
Because they are the gods. Or at least the main clan.
A scroll appears on the windowsill in a puff of smoke, the kanji marking it for her. Another mission. Nothing confidential by the yellow band around it.
Nagi wash and dry her hands.
A week-long assignment to the land of tea, it says.
C-rank hunting mission.
Nagi feels something ominous in the air.
~*~
-It is hideous.-
"Even Yoji-san thinks so."
-What's that supposed to mean?-
Yoji doesn't usually think of anything, and for him to say that, even Itachi knows means a great deal.
Although he didn't need to say it so pointedly.
The team looks across them where a writhing, hissing, mass of mutated seagulls form a clump over a corpse very quickly being consumed.
The headband under the mess has the Konoha insignia on it. An Akimichi.
Nagi doesn't mention it and turns her attention away towards the earth construct keeping her and her teammates trapped with what may possibly be their deaths.
Yuki-sensei is working on getting rid of another flock of birds outside while keeping the Kumo ninja at bay.
Nagi breathes and forcefully return her focus on more immediate problems.
Jyuuken isn't very flashy. The Hyuuga aren't the flashiest.
They haven't made an art out of being pyromaniacs. Haven't cultivated powerful bonds with familiars or summons. Do not make landmarks with a flick of their finger.
But being a Hyuuga is neat in of itself, it's got a neat principle to it and forgive her for quoting the elders, but it's a solid foundation to success.
The Hyuuga interacts to the root of every power in this world and can reach as close to its life force as anyone can. They penetrate through everything superficial.
(They said that Eight trigrams is apparently the metaphysical model that makes sense of the universe.)
When a Hyuuga breaks through a fireball, it's the chakra that they affect. The flames are irrelevant (More accurately, non-existent without chakra). Fighting a Hyuuga is fighting with every superficial light stripped and reduced to the basis and groundwork of your very person, with eyes that can see through any deception and an immovable stance.
They are strong in both body and chakra.
They are superior in every way to any other ninja, the practice of chakra inherent in their blood, they have a history of rising above the masses, outstanding in only a way those born to be great are-
Whoops, almost fell for the brochure.
Anyways.
The art of Hyuuga, long story short, is to overcome every obstacle from its core. Ripping the plant by its roots.
(ahem, ahem.)
Attacking it at its source.
The reason Byakugan sight may sometimes seem to erase all colour from the surroundings is because it can see through even light.
So while Hyuuga cannot actually see your weakness -though a skilled shinobi can just as well figure it out- someone with good enough eyes can see the architect of your technique as it is designed without being distracted by the brighter, more vivid physical elements like, say, dirt.
Nagi can see the intricate skeletal chakra form that holds up the earth into a wall, as well as where it cohere into pseudo tenketsu almost similar to joints.
It reminds her and makes her think about being inside one of those expanding ball toys from her past life.
She needs to find which parts to cripple to bring it all down. Logic says to attack the foundation.
Nagi considers it, molding chakra in her hands.
"Would fire work on them?"
-They're so saturated with chakra it has to be one equally intense fireball.-
"If it comes to it, I'll try. But it's best not to disturb them and garner their attention until there's no choice."
"I can see it in my divination." Nagi announces and the two nod, giving her space to prepare herself, "Strike."
Dirt crumbles around them.
Nagi sigh, turning towards where Yuki-sensei-
"Nagi. Sensei ordered us to protect the civilians."
Somehow, the birds had managed to make a nest near a village undetected until it was too late. Konoha had been contacted for assistance.
Though her team hadn't been informed that they weren't the first one sent.
"Nagi." Itachi says, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"... yeah. Okay." Nagi bows her head before turning away from where Yuki-sensei is luring the other shinobi into one of his traps.
"Let's go."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I planned for Nagi to have her first kill here but, more realistically, her jounin sensei won't let her face up against a Kumo nin.
I don't know if it's just me, but I feel 39 and 40 are awkward but, eh, I'll just get back into its groove or somethin.