Proud Failures

Sasuke glared at the white ceiling. He was for annoyed for a few reasons and was granted plenty of time to sulk about them in his hospital room.

Firstly, he won his first match by a forfeit. A freaking forfeit!

Though the curse mark was painful, it wasn't impossible to fight with. To have his name picked first in the preliminaries was awesome. Sasuke was raring to go, satisfied at the horror that dawned on Zaku's face. He half-expected his fight to be against Kabuto's masked team-mate, instead fate had given him the chance to finish off what he started. To complete his revenge for the Sound ninja attacking his team. It seemed their previous fight still traumatised Zaku as he yelled his decision to forfeit straightaway. The Sound ninja was still scarred from their previous confrontation, feeling a phantom pain where is left arm once was.

Kakashi closed his eyes in relief at the sound of Zaku's forfeit. The faster he took care of the cursed mark, the better. He escorted a rather disgruntled Sasuke out the hall as his peers looked in disappointment from above. They expected a dramatic fight, especially if the notorious Uchiha was involved. Their anticipation to see the power of the Sharingan remained unfulfilled. Hinata was relieved; he was in no state for a match! Naruto complained about how easy it was for him to advance. Sasuke silently agreed with Naruto. He wanted a real match.

"It's that mark on his shoulder, isn't it?" Naruto asked quietly, "it's hurting him, right?" He watched as Kakashi and Sasuke left the building, his vexation about Sasuke's easy win waning.

Hinata turned to him, her eyes wide in surprise. "H-How did y-you know?"

"Back when the Sound ninjas atacked, Sasuke was acting weird. He kept scratching that same place near his shoulder. Then when we fought the ninjas from the Hidden Rain, that's when I saw the mark."

"Orochimaru bit him," Hinata confirmed lowly, watching next match commenced: Temari versus Tenten. "But Kakashi-Sensei says h-he can fix it." Despite her words, she wasn't feeling optimistic at all, not with someone fanatical like Orochimaru after him.

"To be honest, I haven't been feeling my best either since I fought him, like I can't control my chakra as well as I could before," Naruto admitted. At Hinata's worried expression, he added, "I'll get it checked out after my match, I promise!"

Sasuke sighed as he sat up on the bed, reclining on the pillow that was far too fluffy for his liking. The plain blinding colour of the four walls around him was driving him crazy. He contemplated a few times whether or not he should simply fling himself out of the open window. The brief, but wonderful breeze was the only thing that cooled his mounting annoyance. Even if he tried to climb out, it would be futile.

There was a group of ANBU stationed outside: the second source of his frustration. After Kakashi sealed the curse mark, the pain dulled immediately. Sasuke wanted to stay and watch the the rest of the preliminary matches, especially keen to see Gaara in action, but his Kakashi refused, much to his chagrin.

It was no secret that Orochimaru was after him. After the failed attempt in the Forest of Death, Kakashi received intel that Orochimaru's spy was in their midst. Security was tripled in the Hidden Leaf, and a special squad was assigned to him. Sasuke did not feel honoured. Not one bit. He was no damsel in distress. If he could take whatever the serpentine bastard threw at him. And so, Sasuke was trapped in this freaking room for his own safety, waiting for the next check-up from the nurse.

There were the same two old nurses who visited him. Their wrinkled mouths kept mum about the events of the outside world. Except one time, a young nurse-in-training gave him breakfast. Sasuke knew in an instant that she'd tell him everything he wanted to know. Her coy smile, the red stain on her cheek, and how she tried to make conversation with him drag on longer than necessary. Sasuke was all too aware of the tell-tale signs of a fan-girl.

Choji, Sakura, Ino were out. Sasuke expected that, not in the least bit surprised. Sakura apparently used genjutsu to repel Ino's telepathic attacks, but the match ended in a draw, both equally mediocre in taijutsu since their ninjutsu and genjutsu techniques cancelled each other out. Choji stood no chance against Dosu.

The Sand siblings were through to the finals, as he predicted, but the results made Sasuke feel uneasy. He wished he could have watched them with the Sharingan, analysed their battle tactics, figure out a weakness. Rock Lee put up a good fight with Gaara, but ultimately lost.

Sasuke dwelled on the extent of Lee's true strength. If he was capable enough to land hits on Gaara, then the boy was stronger than he let on. A part of him regretted not taking up his offer to fight him earleir on in teh exams. Despite his endeavour, Lee took a severe thrashing; he had to be put in an induced coma and was currently being treated in the ICU.

Shikamaru also advanced, his intellect no doubt his best weapon. Sasuke was surprised that Shino Aburame also was in the finals. His affinity with bugs definitely had something to do with his success. And Naruto kicked Kiba's butt. Sasuke smirked, already imagining Naruto boasting and blustering about his win. He expected nothing less from the number one unpredictable knucklehead.

"Winner: Naruto Uzumaki!" Hayate Gekko announced. Medics rushed in with a stretcher for the unconscious Kiba and his dog, Akamaru.

Kakashi was impressed by his use of clones, tricking Kiba's powerful sense of smell and turning him against his own beloved pet. He had to give it to his dense student; Naruto was smarter than everyone assumed. He had come a long way since their first meeting. Where he lacked in academic intelligence, he certainly made up for it on the battlefield.

Hinata congratulated her team-mate, a light blush on her face as she gave him what was left of the healing ointment for his wounds. Naruto defeated Kiba, knocking the swaggering Inazuka out of the finals.

Kurehai looked downcast at her second student's loss. Shino Aburame was the last one left of Team 8,but she had high hopes for him. Kakashi smiled behind him mask at Hinata's shy gesture. Her affection for the blond boy went over his head.

"Woah, I'm healing really fast, thanks Hinata!" Naruto cried.

'That's not the ointment. It's the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox.' Kakashi's amazement was hidden as Naruto's cuts stitched together slowly and the colour of his bruises growing lighter.

The next reason why Sasuke was annoyed... no, pissed off: Neji Hyuga hurt Hinata.

She was in the hospital too. After treating her in the Intensive Care Unit, she was taken to a room in the west wing for a follow-up, while he was stuck in the east wing of the hospital. Sasuke was agitated with the knowledge that was so close to seeing her, yet remained stationary in his sterilised cage. The constant beeping machines gnawed on his sanity. Sasuke had one thing on his mind: to visit Hinata.

His grip tightened around the object in his hand: a key. The key he coaxed from the young nurse. Although she hesitated at first, his powers of persuasion always proved to be a success with the opposite sex.

"What's with this kid?" Kakashi muttered, concern flaring in his visible eye for his timid student. It was a ludicrous match-up, but Neji's spiteful attitude was on a whole new level.

"What's going on? I saw her hit him perfectly!" Naruto complained angrily.

"Face it, I am completely out of your league. You may not like it but it is a fact. This is the last warning-"

"-Don't listen to him, Hinata!" She heard Naruto frustrated shout from above.

Hinata stared in shock at the small bruises dotted along her arm. Fear gripped her as she took a step back, her breathing erratic. Naruto's cries calmed her breaths and Hinata sprinted at Neji, throwing another jab. Neji easily deflected the flawed attempt, delivering a precise attack to her ribs that hurled her several feet away.

"Forfeit now," Neji ordered. "Your strikes were ineffective from the start. This is the end for you."

"It's a mismatch! They gotta stop it," Sakura groaned, covering her eyes at the brutal display.

"Look at his eyes, is he really going to kill her?" Ino wondered aloud, fearful of what could ensue.

Hinata could not fail, she would not give into Neji's taunts and sneers because she was the same weak person she was before she became a member of Team 7. Kakashi-sensei, Naruto and Sasuke taught her more than how to be strong. They taught her to never give up because the odds might be in her favour. They taught her to be proud of her abilities, and strangely enough, being the awkward third person in the middle of their arguments taught her to not let others belittle her, to stand up for herself.

Confidence was a concept Hinata struggled with. An elusive object that was far from her reach. Her confidence began to sprout after being stamped on my her father's criticism. After being crushed by bullies who called her weird. After she endured the Elder's disapproval of her losses. Though she'd keep a stiff upper lip in front of them, her pillow was wet with tears at night. Keep he head down or run away; those were her solutions to all her problems. It was always easier to give up.

But not now. Not today.

"It looks like she's reached her limit," Kurenhai whispered to Kakashi, her chest tightening with pity.

Kakashi didn't wanted to agree. He knew his student's had tremendous potential that was criminally underestimated. But he conceded to the fact that Neji was a genius, the most gifted Hyuga he had seen at such an age. Hinata was brilliant too, but as an expert tactician, Kakashi deduced to beat the likes of Neji it would take a miracle.

"Neji has blocked her chakra points," Lee stated, feeling more sympathetic for the girl than giddy about his team-mate's inevitable success.

"What that got to do with anything?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Everything," Kakashi replied succinctly. "It means she can no longer send chakra into her opponents body to fight in the Gentle Fist style. Neji disabled her biggest strength."

As Naruto cheered her on, shouting her name with optimism she loved so much, she refused to give up. Each time he yelled her name, it kindles a flame inside her and extinguished her self-doubt. Giving up was no longer a feasible solution. It was not an option anymore because like Naruto that too was her nindo.

She wouldn't give up. With her words replaying in her mind like a mantra, Hinata heaved herself off the ground.

"I always knew Hinata was tough!" Naruto cried excitedly, punching the air.

"I won't give up!" Hinata declared proudly, "and I never go back on my word because that's my ninja way."

"What do you think your doing? Accept defeat so you don't have to suffer!"

As if to prove his point, Hinata choked on blood that gushed up her throat. She spat it out, feeling a vomit rise soon after at the revolting taste.

"I'm not done yet," she panted, her small form quaking as her legs trembled under her weight.

It happened in a mere second:

Hinata's white eyes filled with cerulean luminescence, bright electricity spiralling in her irises like quasars. Pupils that were supposed to be colourless were black like a new moon. The sudden surge of extraordinary power tore open the tenketsu Neji had blocked in her arm, enlarging her chakra pathways to an degree he had never witnessed before. The sheer amount of chakra he saw raging in her small body left his jaw agape, unknowingly taking a step back at the ferocity.

Shock and surprise mixed together into a single emotion that made his blood turn into ice. He knew instantly that if Hinata were to strike him once, it would render him incapacitated, even if he somehow blocked or endured her attack. No one alive had the capability to unblock the tenketsu in battle. The only cure was long weeks of rest. Yet, the power that seemingly exploded out of nowhere coursed through her chakra network, bursting through her limbs and organs: healing the scar he'd left on her heart.

Neji knew time was of the essence. He had to act fast before she had a chance to throw the first strike.

And Neji Hyuga was faster than his younger cousin.

He landed a brutal jab to her heart again, the attack throwing Hinata off-balance. Her petite body slammed into the ground, forming a small crater. His blood that was frozen by fear melted as he cautiously perused her fourth useless attempt to get up.

He took a breath of relief : her eyes were a comforting shade of white.

"You can do it, Hinata!" Naruto yelled, leaning over the rails as if he was going to climb over any second.

Neji quickly glanced above at the spectators. Their expressions showed concern, sympathy and pity for the girl. Even Naruto displayed no kind of surprise or wonder as Neji thought he might. Did they not see Hinata's Byakugan change colour?

"Idiot, are you trying to get her killed!" Sakura rebuked him.

"Hinata can win, I know it!" he retorted, glaring at Sakura.

He would let no one tell him Hinata was weak, not after he knew what he could do as they fought alongside each other on missions. Hinata was stronger than they all thought and she could all prove them wrong!

"Naruto, Sakura is right," Lee said solemnly, standing on his other side, "Hinata's determination and hard work is indeed admirable, but she is no match for a genius like Neji."

"No way, Hinata can win!"

"Look at her, Naruto! She can barely stand up! She has to forfeit otherwise she'll die." Sakura wanted to physically knocked sense into his brain but she was still aching after her fight with Ino so she settled for a slap on the metal railing as an outlet for anger.

Naruto's eyes gleamed with defiance. Ignoring Bushy-Brow and Sakura, he turned back to the match. "Stand up, Hinata! You can do it!"

"You loss was destined the moment our names matched, Lady Hinata," Neji stated.

Though his face was as stoic as usual, he was reeling from the change he witnessed earlier. However, to show uncertainty against an opponent would be a sign of weakness. That's what made Hinata a disappointing Hyuga. But was she a disappointment after what she did with the Bykugan? For once, Neji wasn't sure.

Hinata coughed out another mouthful of fresh blood as she stumbled up, clutching her chest. Each breath was a million needles puncturing her lungs. She ignored the sickening taste of copper in her mouth and resisted her mind's appealing suggestion to sit on the ground and quit. Her body angrily ached but she refused to obey. All voices around her were insignificant muffles, but Naruto's. His confidence in her rang loud and clear and his cheers reignited her motivation and self-belief.

"You got it backwards, Brother Neji. You're suffering because of it just as I am-" Hinata coughed out more blood, wiping the ruby trails that dripped down her chin. "...You're just like me."

Hinata matched his stony stare.

The air froze with a portentous silence as Hayate made an announcement-

Neji's calm composure snapped like a thin twig.

"How dare you!" he snarled.

He sprinted towards her, aiming straight for her heart again. A third strike would finally end the match once and for all.

Except Kakashi stood beside him, his hand wrapped like iron around his upper arm, Guy-sensei held back his shoulder back, and Kurehai was crouched, grabbing his other forearm. The exam proctor in between him and Hinata, his index finger touching Neji's forehead protector in silent warning.

"Looks like you didn't hear, but the match was declared over," Kakashi said, his fury well-controlled. "You've won already."

It was an unfamiliar feeling for the young Hyuga heiress: the fear of being watched. She could feel eyes boring invisible holes through the window and into her. Though Hinata looked out the window a dozen times to dispel her suspicions, the trepidation swelled. She craned her neck, squinting at her surroundings, but no one so much as looked in her direction. To any sane person, it was cretinous to sneak on a Hyuga. An impossible task when they had a 360° vision.

But Hinata could not activate her Byakugan. Her chakra reserves were so badly diminished that nurse gave her strict orders to rest and so could not do anything that requires chakra. Hinata assumed she'd suffer from an impaired chakra after Neji blocked her chakra points multiple times, but her result came back as normal much to her surprise.

Somehow, the preliminary match depleted all her reserves. It was perplexing considering Hinata didn't perform any kind of ninjutsu, the art that uses a healthy amount of chakra. It was a match of Gentle Fist, an style she had been trained in since childhood. She had heard overuse of the Byakugan lead to chakra exhaustion, but she hadn't overworked her Byakugan. The first symptom was temporary blindness, something Hinata never experienced.

A shoot pain suddenly set her temples on fire. She clutched the side of her face, hissing in pain. The dull throbbing sensation in her chest was minor compared to the agony that blazed sporadically through her eyes. It convinced her that maybe she did overuse the Byakugan after all.

The echo of a single knock on the door took her attention off the pain. "Come i-in," she croaked.

A smile found a way on her face as Sasuke strolled in leisurely in his hospital gown.

"How are you?" he asked. He looked around. Finding no chair, he sat on the edge of her bed.

"I'll be okay. The nurse said I-I have acute chakra e-exhaustion," she replied. Her brows knitted in concern, "is the curse m-mark still hurting y-you?"

Sasuke shook his head curtly. "Kakashi-sensei sealed it. Said it shouldn't bother me as long as I didn't try to use its power."

"I didn't have chance to c-congratulate you. I wish I c-could be in the f-finals too, but at least I can c-cheer you and Naruto on."

"And who will you cheer for when Naruto and I fight in finals?" he asked curiously. He saw her squirm uncomfortably. Sasuke easily picked up on her discomfort. She couldn't hide it even if she tried. "What do you think of Naruto?" His prompt held a hint of intrigue.

"N-Naruto? He i-inspires me to become s-stronger." Though she could say more, the look in Sasuke onyx eyes told her he wasn't interested in hearing Naruto's praises.

"And me?"

"I didn't expect to become g-good friends with you," Hinata admitted, "but you continue to s-surprise me."

"In a good way I hope," he remarked, a smirk tugging the edge of his mouth.

"O-Of course!" she stammered, taken aback by his playfulness.

"You surprise me too, Hinata Hyuga," Sasuke grinned in the way he only did when he was alone with Hinata. "I heard that you didn't give up against Neji. Shame you lost."

"Naruto showed me to n-never give up, and I wanted to be f-fearless like you."

Sasuke looked at Hinata, silent appreciation in his eyes. His voice was quiet as he uttered his next words. "When we first did our introductions as a team, i said that there wasn't much I liked, but that's not true anymore."

"What do y-you like?" Hinata asked, wonder in her pearlescent eyes.

His unreadable look caught her off-guard, but not as much compared to when he reached out for her hand. Hinata jumped at the contact, staring at him in confusion. As Sasuke's registered his gesture, he rapidly retracted his hand. A faint pinkness dusted his cheeks and Hinata's confusion simmered. He was just as flustered as she was, smiling absent-mindedly the the predicament. It was probably an accident, especially since they were sat close together, though she didn't know why he suddenly avoided her eyes.

Hinata didn't ponder too long however as the door creaked open and the sweet scent of freshly baked goods wafted into the room. Hinata could recognise that smell from anywhere.

"Hello Hinata, Sasuke... what a surprise." Kakashi greeted as Naruto alongside him.

"Hinata!" Naruto cried excitedly, "Sasuke? I just asked the nurse about you and she said no one was allowed to visit you. What'cha doing here?"

"Visiting Hinata. Isn't that obvious, dope?" Sasuke said, raising a brow in mock.

"Why do I feel like I'm interrupting?" Kakashi added humorously.

Naruto grinded his teeth and glared at the smug Uchiha, but his fiery retort dissipated with Kakashi's observation.

"N-No, Sensei," Hinata stuttered, not meeting his eyes. She reddened with embarrassment.

Sasuke looked away, the pink blush tinting his pale skin betraying his stoic expression.

Naruto didn't understand why Sasuke's and Hinata's faces were both red, but found it strange nonetheless. He stared at the two as if he was trying to solve a puzzle, but then again, Naruto hated puzzles. He shrugged the confusion off. If Sasuke like Hinata then maybe he really did have a chance with Sakura! He'd come to her rescue when she got upset. Naruto smiled inwardly; it was a foolproof plan!

"Sasuke, the nurse gave you explicit instructions to stay in your own room." Kakashi's tone was reprimanding. He held back harsher words, wondering if Sasuke had an inkling of the gravity of the situation he was in. Orochimaru wasn't a foe to take lightly. Sasuke's reckless behaviour would only bring more trouble.

"I got bored," Sasuke replied, deadpanned.

"How ya feeling, Hinata?" Naruto plopped on the bed beside her.

"I have acute c-chakra exhaustion. If I rest for a m-month, I'll be b-back to my full s-strength hopefully," she said, giving a tired smile.

He held out the box proudly. "I got you your favourite to make you feel better! You like cinnamon roll, right?"

"T-Thank you, Naruto!" she cried, blushing at the fact he remembered. She savoured the bite from the sugary roll, the fresh warmth filling her.

"Hey Kakashi-Sensei, can you train me and Sasuke since we're both in the finals?"

"Actually Naruto, I'll be only training Sasuke, but don't worry, I've assigned you a new tutor."

"W-What...?" Sasuke looked equally surprised as Naruto.

"Not Ebisu," Naruto grumbled.

If Naruto thought Ebisu was a huge perv, then he was in for a shock when he met the Toad Sage. Naruto admitted that the old man was a good teacher if he ignored his peeping habits (research, Jiraiya corrected him). So the perverted man was also an author too. Come to think of it, Naruto was certain he'd seen Kakashi read those book. Make out... something. Naruto never cared for book anyways. Books bored him.

The cool water of the stream flowed under his feet. The serene movement was interrupted with a sudden jump. Water splashed on to the grass, and what was a solitary jump turned into a delighted prance. Naruto's eyes gleamed surprise as how easy it it was to walk on thee surface of water.

Whatever Pervy-Sage did to the weird birthmark on his stomach lifted the fog within him. Since his encounter with Orochimaru, Naruto felt as though he had to exert twice as much chakra than he usually did, as if the chakra was knotted a hundred times and he had to untie each one just to be able to control it. Chakra control was never his strong point, but his match against Kiba was way more difficult than it should have been.

"This is easy!" Naruto exclaimed, skipping across the glistening stream. The sunshine bounced off his golden hair and his bright laughter could make the sun jealous. "Hey, Pervy-Sage, I guess your not that bad."

Jiraiya's eyebrow twitched at the nickname. "Of course I'm not. I've had plenty of brilliant students!"

"Like who?"

"The Fourth Hokage-" It slipped out quicker than it should have, and Jiraiya hoped Naruto didn't pay attention to it.

Except it was obvious he did because Naruto stopped immediately. The stream was grateful for the respite. The serenity of the water returned after the foreign movements of the ninja ousted it from its idle flow.

Naruto had stars in his eyes at the mention of his hero, but they disappeared as he frowned. "Is it true about what the people say about me? I know I have some kind of demon fox inside me, but did the Fourth Hokage really die because of me?"

Jiraya's face grew serious as he ushered the scrawny boy to sit beside him. "The Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself to save those precious to him."

"Right, the village," Naruto said gruffly, the reply not quite mitigating the guilt he felt.

His statement was not false, but also not entirely true. Minato Namikaze sacrificed himself to protect the most precious thing to him: his son. The same boy that shared his blond spikes and azure eyes, who stared glumly at the grass. Jiraiya decided not to discuss it further. Not yet, at least. It was too soon.

"Enough of that," Jiraiya said, "how would you like to learning a new jutsu?"

Naruto pushed aside his gloom and stood up with a cheer. A grin returned to his face as Jiraiya conjured a huge scroll out of a puff of cloud.

"It's the called the Summoning Technique," he announced, unwrapping the toads' contract.

Neji struck the trunk of a tree with his palm, each hit causing a deeper dent. His mind was far from concentration on bruising the wood, unable get the picture out of his mind. The bright, vicious look in Hinata's eyes. The power she exuded in that infinitesimal second. He was the renowned prodigy of the Hyuga clan, the undisputed genius who learnt secret techniques of the main branch merely by witnessing them. But Hinata had surely awoken a power that eluded him.

"Neji, congratulation."

He stopped his assault on the tree to greet his fellow branch member and Jonin, Ko. "Thank you. I shall try my best to win."

"Against that Naruto? He won't stand a chance," Ko replied, "if you need help, I'm here for you. I've been told I make a great sparring partner."

He felt a pang of sympathy for the boy. Neji Hyuga was both a pride and shame of the Hyuga clan. Neji's distaste for the main branch was the proverbial elephant in room. He displayed no outright rebellious act- no branch member did with that damn seal branded on their foreheads- but his views were known through the rage in his eyes. Other branch members stayed away in fear of the punishment if they were seen fraternising with someone who detested the main family, and some criticised his mutinous nature. He was ostracised by the ones whom blood he shared. Neji rarely trained in the Hyuga dojo, shunning the tradition of the clan.

"Is it possible for the Byakugan to evolve," Neji inquired.

Ko looked at the younger boy like he had grown another head. What kind of limits was Neji trying to break? "If you mean like the Sharingan, then I'm afraid not."

"Are you entirely sure?"

Ko hesitated. "There was a bed time story my grandfather used to read to me. Some old Hyuga lore. There was someone whose Byakugan transformed."

Neji never heard of such a story. His father didn't have time to tell him stories and his grandfather favoured granddaughters of the main household over him.

"Transformed?"

"It was named the Tenseigan and held power of untold devastation. In fact, in the story the person could not control its power and was driven mad by it. Eventually, he was killed by the Tenseigan."

"A double-edged sword," Neji mused.

"Don't take it seriously. It's a myth. There's be no official accounts of a dojutsu called the Tenseigan. I checked restricted archives dating back a hundred years when I was promoted to ANBU. There was nothing about a Tenseigan recorded, not even in documents from before the Hyuga clan migrated to Konoha from the Land of Demons."

"But myths are originally based on fact, so hypothetically there may be some truth to it."

Ko shook his head in disagreement. He understood Neji's ambition and was proud that a branch member like him was trying to break the chains that held them back, but the possibility of a new form of the Byakugan was complete folly.

"There were exceptional members of the Uchiha clan confirmed to have unlocked the Mangekyo Sharingan. If it was the Tensiegan was real, a member of the main household would have achieved it by now," Ko stated with a tone of finality.

"Thank you for the information."

"No problem, Neji. Good luck on the finals. Show the village the strength of the Hyuga clan."

The Tensiegan... Neji had never doubted what his Byakugan showed him and there was no reason to start second-guessing his judgement. That must be the only possible explanation for the incident. The blazing sapphire eyes, the immediate surge of monstrous chakra... how could some as weak and pathetic as Hinata be gifted with a legendary dojutsu?

But if the Hyuga folklore is true, then that means Hinata's life is in danger.

Something uncomfortable stirred in the pit of Neji's stomach at the possibility. Hinata was never the true object of his hatred, but merely a medium to express his pent-up resentment. An easy target. A valid target. She was blessed with everything he should have, and he would have made a better leader than her. He heard the Elder lament this fact numerous times. But destiny played him a fool. Hinata provoked his rage because she represented exactly what he loathed.

"Because you're just like me."

The words she said to him in their match rang loud in his mind. Neji was furious... because Hinata was right. She didn't have a choice in life, just as he did not. Her demeanour was less like Hiashi and more like his late aunt Hikari. Kind, sympathetic... perhaps too much for her own good. He despised Hinata Hyuga, daughter of Hiashi Hyuga, supposed heiress of the Hyuga clan.

But Hinata, the shy cousin who looked up to him and never treated him differently even though he was from the lesser branch; the one who wanted to play with him even though it was against the unwritten rules of the clan. The girl who apologised with tears in her eyes after Hiashi activated his Caged Bird Seal during one training session, causing his mind to compress in indescribable agony.

His cousin didn't deserve a horrible end.

"What's she doing here?" Sasuke asked Kakashi pointedly.

Donned in a new black outfit and fully healed, Sasuke looked at the Chunin Exam proctor with partial surprise. The wind blew over the rocky terrain, far from the grassy outskirts of the Hidden Leaf.

"I used to be a student of Orochimaru and you have the same Cursed Seal of Heaven that he gave me," Anko answered, folding her arms at Sasuke's brusque mannerisms.

"Cursed Seal of Heaven?"

"That's the name of the curse mark. Orochimaru experimented the seal on many children, but Anko was the first to survive. She knows how to control it and she is the best person who is able to teach you how to keep it under control," Kakashi explained. "The Hokage is convinced you are Orochimaru's primary target, but it won't stop there. I suspect he also had his eye on Hinata."

"What the hell does he want with her?" Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"Orochimaru's goal is immortality and he will do everything he can to get it. He wants to learn every jutsu there is, but bloodline abilities can't be learnt even using the Sharingan. To possess a Byakugan would add to his arsenal."

Anko's steely look faltered. "I remember a boy. Kimimaro Kaguya. Just like you he was the last of his clan with a powerful kekkei genkai that weaponized his bone structure. Unfortunately Sasuke, you fit the perfect description of the kind of children Orochimaru preys on."

"If it's that serious, why isn't the Third Hokage calling off the exams?" Sasuke demanded, not understanding why he was taking such a massive risk.

"We can't call off the Chunin Exams because of classified reasons, but we are preparing for the worst case scenario. Hinata is in a vulnerable position so I will have to also keep watch on her. In the meantime, Anko will help you train to control the curse mark."

"What are you going to teach me?"

Kakashi's tone was grave, reflecting critical situation they were forced in. He knew there was more than Orochimaru's spy involved. The Sound Village were also working alongside him, but al they had were circumstantial evidence. Hiruzen deduced there were more than one party at play and if Orochimaru threatned Anko to not postpone the Chunin Exams, then he was planning something bigger than a kidnapping.

"Gaara is the strongest genin in the tournament. I have a hunch he's hiding something big so I'll teach you something that he won't be able to dodge. I will show you how to use the Sharingan more effectively and," -electricity cackled as twisted around his arm, forming a sizzling ball of his palm- "this."

'The Chidori!' Sasuke's eyes widened in intrigue.

Anko scrunched her face, not as thrilled as Sasuke. "Lightning Blade? Are you serious, Kakashi? That attack could to more harm to Sasuke than Gaara. "

"That Gaara kid doesn't hesitate to kill and I will make sure Sasuke perfects it by the time the tournament begins."

"You believe he can do it in a month?"

Sasuke scoffed at Anko's doubt. "I can do it in less," he smirked.

"Since you're busy researching most of the time, I invited Hinata to help me out," Naruto said.

"Hinata, eh?" Jiraiya asked, throwing Naruto a teasing look.

Naruto sighed, squinting his eyes. "She's too young for you, Pervy-Sage."

Jiraiya's mouth fell open. "I know that, fool!"

"Then why'da ask?"

"I mean is she your girlfriend?" Jiraiya asked, "jeez kid, do I have to spell out everything to you?"

Of course his pervy teacher would think that. "Hinata's my best friend."

"Just a friend?" Jiraiya wiggled his eyebrows at Naruto.

"Man, we really need to get you a wife," Naruto said, narrowing his eyes.

"Kid, remember who you are talking to!" Jiraiya exclaimed, vexed by the kid's comments. A legendary shinobi's ego bruised by a little kid.

"Plus, I'm pretty sure Sasuke likes her," Naruto added with a careless shrug.

"Ah young love. Do you like someone else?" Jiraiya couldn't help himself when it came to the topic of romance.

"Sakura, but she likes Sasuke," Naruto mumbled in dismay.

"How typical," Jiraiya replied, remembering his long line of unrequited love during his youth. He ruffled Naruto's hair- a gesture he didn't appreciate as he moved his head away.

"Is... he always like this?" Hinata asked in astonishment.

Jiraiya was peeking through the bushes, spying on bikini-clad women by the river, a salacious expression plastered on his face. He was practically salivating at the sight. Naruto sighed and his eye twitched in annoyance at the pervy old man. While he was used to his teacher's antics, he didn't realise how Hinata would react to it.

"Yeah, you should have seen his face when I did the sexy jutsu," he muttered, mentally shaking off the horrendous memory. "When he said he'll teach me, I didn't think he'd be perving at girls most the time."

"I-I think it's amazing t-that he's teaching y-you the summoning t-technique," Hinata said, looking at the bright side. "I wish I c-could learn it too but I'm not allowed to use c-chakra."

"Don't worry! When I get the hang of this, I'll show you! Alright, here it goes, Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!" Naruto cried, throwing his hand onto the grass. Strings of black kanji appeared around his hand on the ground and after a small poof! he waited excitedly to see the glorious result of his hard work.

"It's bigger than last time," Hinata noted as his shoulders sagged in disappointment. "Let's try again!"

"Sometimes I feel like I'm a total screw-up," Naruto confessed in a quiet mumble, hopelessly watching the tiny tadpole he summoned wriggle.

Another freakin' tadpole!

"That's not true," Hinata rebutted, shaking her head vigorously, "You're one of the s-strongest people I know!"

Naruto head perked up, azure eyes looking at her earnestly. "Do you really think so? I only act tough because I'm so frustrated at being a failure-"

"You make m-mistakes and get stronger from them," she interjected vehemently, "even w-when you fail, you have the strength to s-stand back up. I think that's w-what true strength is... and because of that I-I admire you... a lot."

"You admire... me?" Naruto repeated in awe.

Though his eyes stared at her quizzically, a warm feeling suddenly burst in his chest. He gave her a toothy smile that made her red. She avoided his eyes, nodding as her cheeks turned light pink. She didn't know where she found the courage to speak to Naruto like this without fainting.

"People might think nothing's changed a-about me, but I feel different... like a b-better kunoichi now. It was because of y-you I didn't give up during the preliminary m-match."

The grin dropped, a guilty expression crushing his momentary bubble of happiness.

"But that's why were got hurt real bad. Everyone was telling me not to cheer you on, that it would be better if you forfeited the match, but maybe if I listened then you wouldn't have ended up at the hospital. I'm really sorry, Hinata."

Despite his admission, Hinata's face glowed. "D-Don't be! I'm happy about what happened."

Naruto scowled, remembering Neji pummelling Hinata. He couldn't control the anger in his voice. "Happy? That guy nearly killed you!"

Hinata recoiled at his tone, looking down at her hands in nervous thought. Naruto slapped himself mentally for upsetting her. As he opened his mouth to apologise, Hinata beat him to it.

"I'm happy because for the first time I s-stood up for myself. I didn't cry or run away like I do when I'm s-scared. I knew Brother Neji was faster and stronger than me, but... with you c-cheering my on, I-I wasn't s-scared at all." Her voice was quiet, yet confident. She looked up, meeting his surprised gaze, "so thank you, N-Naruto for showing me how to be s-strong. I g-guess we're b-both proud failures!"

'Proud failures,' Naruto thought, a smile gracing his lips. He didn't know how, but Hinata could always find the right words to lift his spirits. His cheeks had a rosy tint as he rubbed the back of his sheepishly.

"Nah, you were always strong, Hinata. Still don't get it why Neji was such an jerk to you. You're family, right?"

"He wasn't always like this. When we were children he'd always look after me and help me train. We used to have snowball fights in the winter and he'd let me win," Hinata recalled, smiling fondly at the innocent memory. Her smile faded in a glum line. "Since Uncle Hizashi died, Brother Neji became a different person. He despises the hierarchy in the Hyuga clan. I suppose it's because h-he's from the a branch family whose responsibility is to serve the main household."

"I don't get it," Naruto said, face scrunched in bafflement. He didn't have a family, but he didn't think families were that complicated! "What's the point of a main family and a branch family? Why can't you just be one big family or somethin'?"

"It's been the Hyuga tradition for as long as the Hyuga clan have existed. It's our way of protecting our bloodline trait from being stolen."

"I guess that makes sense," Naruto shrugged. "But I'm still going to beat him. I made a vow on your blood, Hinata! I'm going to make him regret all the crap he said about you in front of everyone!"

Hinata blinked at the revelation. The sheer zeal in his words and actions sent the butterflies in her stomach into overdrive. Heat rose to her cheeks, covering her face in a bright shade of red. He would defeat Neji... for her sake?

Naruto watched her sway precariously in a fashion that always left him puzzled. However, this time he an idea why. Naruto shuffled closer so he limp body fell on his shoulder. He put his arm around her, shifting her into a more comfortable angle.

'Poor Hinata, it's probably the chakra exhaustion thing,' he thought in concern, oblivious as usual to the real reason of his team-mate's common swoons.

A/N: I have a terrible habit of writing ahead for chapter I have ideas for. Some authors are probably more methodical in their writing, doing outlines and drafts but I'm not that organised. With this chapter I was getting a bit of a writers block, hence the slight delay.

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