Notice: I do not own Naruto, and make no claims of copyright on the
characters who are not my property. Original characters, however, are mine.
Author's Notes: And, with vacation coming to and end I've managed to complete another chapter, yay (I'm not sure whether that's a good or bad thing). So, this is the final chapter before the main matches begin, though it might not seem like that initially. This chapter deals heavily with Neji and Shiren, for those not interested in that element, sorry. While not hugely important to the plot or anything, I'm mostly adding the romantic as a personal practice, since I've never really written a start to finish boy meets girl bit, and I figure a fanfic is the ideal point of experimentation.
And reviewers thank you all, it's always nice to see comments. For responses: WerdnaChi: Even funnier (not really) is how its beginning to look like they might all survive this.
Hattuteline: I'm actually going to gloss over the training bits pretty much totally so as to not get bogged down before going into an eleven-match tournament, of which I am in the process of writing them all. Still, I promise new techniques from Gosain and Shiren will show up, and some new stuff from Neji.
X2Darklord: I know I get readers who don't review mentally, but its just not the same feeling, and it always helps to get comments on what's working right and what's not. About dragons, well, they are one of my fantasy interests (along with undead, constructs, and ninja), and I'd never done anything with oriental type dragons before writing this story. In reality though, this story began with Draci Xi and the idea for the rend technique, and the dragon element got attached to it pretty closely thereafter.
Enduring Cold
"I was told, after I failed the chuunin exam the first time, that the month between the second and third stages of the exam is a critical component." Gosain spoke idly, talking only half to Neji, and mostly to the bleak sky outside their small window. "That aside from simply letting feudal lords arrive and the wounded ninja recover, this period is when those genin who have what it takes to become leaders step forward and learn the skills they will need to perform as those leaders. They said that the real chuunin would change their level and their perceptions during that month, would advance as ninja in a fundamental way. Those ninja who accomplish this become chuunin, those who don't fail." Gosain sighed. "I don't really believe that. One month of training and preparation, one month to make yourself as strong as you can possibly become, it's significant certainly, but ninja fail once and come back again to succeed, sometimes they even fail multiple times. How much does one month truly matter against the weight of experience?"
"Why are you asking me this?" Neji replied. He and Gosain were the only ones present, this the first day of that notable month. Xi was somewhere, supposedly in the hospital, as was Shiren. Neji did not particularly wish to talk with Gosain. He is a good companion, but I have nothing to say to him.
"Well," Gosain started. "I was wondering what you were going to do with the month you have. I expect to start training early tomorrow. There's quite a bit I need to do to be ready for Nemari."
"I am uncertain what I will do." Neji replied. "I expect I will work with Xi." Though he did not really wish to ask, Neji knew that Gosain wanted him to; he could read it in the man's face. "What is between you and Nemari?"
The older ninja shook his head softly, looking back out the window. "I know Xi told you about my past." Gosain said quietly. "About how many of my teammates have died or been crippled. I hate to think on those deaths, on the people I've had to put behind me, friends and enemies both. Still, I believe that as a ninja that is my fate, the road I've been given to tread. Nemari though, he is awash in far more blood than I am, though he is younger by over a year. The worst part, the part I hate about him, is that he could have prevented so much of it. Nemari enjoys hurting people, he doesn't just do cruel things for some purpose or kill people because he must, he likes it, and he's good at it." Gosain's voice hardened. "I won't accept that. We ninja, we are soaked in blood by our very being, but to swim in it, I'll break him for that."
That is not the whole of this, Neji could see that much. There is something deeper than this, he hates the man already, and the reasons are good, but there is a raw wound, and I can see the memory, but I do not know what it is. Still, there is no reason to ask. This business is Gosain's. "So you will break him then." He said calmly.
"Yes." The older ninja instilled a great deal of promise in the word. "It's not enough just to beat him, I will make it so he can never be a ninja again."
There was enough vehemence in Gosain's voice that Neji felt he should speak as the leader of the team for a moment. "Gosain, don't die, and don't forget the purpose of this exam."
"Don't think I will Neji." Gosain chuckled harshly. "And I won't die, not against him. I won't kill him either, he doesn't deserve that." The older ninja paused. "Tomorrow I'll be getting up very early. I don't expect to see much of any of you, but don't worry about me. Nemari won't try anything before the exam, it would ruin his fun. Still, since I doubt I'll see you much before the matches, I have one thing to say."
"And that is?" Neji asked levelly.
"It's been nice to work with people who held together as well as you did. I don't have any more dead teammates to bury this time." Gosain answered, and the older ninja let a smile creep over his features, a very unusual thing, for he never smiled. "Oh, and make sure you go see Shiren before she gets out of the hospital. I've already said my piece to her, so you're the one that remains."
"Yes. Me, and Xi." Neji replied.
Their conversation ended there, and Gosain went outside to scrape his chains with sand, trying to work out blood, ice, and rock shards that had gotten buried in them upon the mountainside. Neji watched Gosain go, wondering about the older ninja. A steady man. He decided at length. I suppose he would be a good chuunin. It was an answer Neji felt confident in, an answer to a question he could not yet answer for himself.
Little remained for Neji to do then, except to act on what Gosain had said. I have to go and speak to Shiren. He knew that, had known it, and yet he had not spoken to her since the three of them left her in the hospital the day before. Now, well into the afternoon of the day after, Neji still had not gone there. I must speak to Shiren, to discuss what will happen after this exam. We have to make some sort of decision. That far Neji had managed to reason, but little further. It was not like him, to not make up his mind. He was usually extremely decisive, but Shiren seemed to muddy the waters. He was closer to her than anyone else now, perhaps more than he had ever been to anyone, even though he had only known her a short time. In the first exam he had been forced to place his trust in Shiren, and she had proved that she was worthy of it, Neji had never really had such concrete proof he could trust someone before. Indeed, he had lived for over nine years since his father's death as if everyone was his enemy, from Hiashi, to Guy, to Rock Lee, and even to Naruto. Shiren was his first new friend since his views had changed, perhaps his first real friend ever. It was not difficult for Neji to tell that the situation was similar for Shiren as well. She has been isolated for most of her life as well, Xi had explained that to him, and though Neji did not know the reasons it was easy enough to read.
The trouble was that beyond being simply his friend and teammate, something Neji thought he could deal with, after all, he dealt with Gosain, Shiren was an attractive young girl the same age as he was. I tried not to notice that, not to let it influence anything, Neji reminded himself. That had worked for a long time, but the second exam had broken that wall down. Crushed together in tight spaces and then carrying her along for hours it was impossible to not acknowledge that she was a woman, and one he did indeed find attractive. What am I to do about that? Neji did not have an answer with himself.
It had forced him to reexamine his motives regarding Shiren, that realization. How does this affect us? I am attracted to her, but I cannot tell her feelings, though she has not expressed anything to the contrary. Though that was hardly comforting in this case. Unlike Tenten, whom Neji had read easily and realized that she idolized him greatly, he could not easily read Shiren. Her deep midnight eyes hide things from his vision.
Yesterday Neji had resolved to put off considerations between him and Shiren until the exam was over, but he recognized now that it would be too late if he did that. After the exam she will leave, and I will likely not even speak to her. If we are to determine our fates it must be now, but she will leave regardless. Neji had told himself that was the case, but he knew it wasn't the truth. Xi had told him Shiren had the potential to be a dragon ninja, knowing that, she would stay with him if Xi took her on. Does she want that? Neji wondered, coming to an impasse. I suppose I will have to ask. That was what he dreaded.
Regardless, Neji knew he duty. He would go see Shiren, a task he both welcomed, and was terrified by.
Shiren was lodged in a small hospital room in Stone's ninja hospital, a stout building near the center of town, and one obviously designed for defense. Most of the buildings of Stone were, rings within rings that could be fallen back to if the outer walls were breached, and this building was part of the inner most defensive line, along with the Tsuchikage's office, armory, and other key structures. It made for a depressing atmosphere.
Neji walked the short walk down to Shiren's room under the watchful eyes of a Stone medical ninja, who refused to let him wander around. The hospital contained many ninja; many of the genin who had taken part in the second exam were here, being treated for frostbite or hypothermia from their exposure to the mountains cold. Shiren, whose injuries were debilitating but required little more than rest to overcome, was not a priority here.
At the door Neji found himself facing Xi, who seemed to be standing guard. The older dragon ninja rested easily against the wall, in spite of the far more serious injury to his leg. That he has recovered so much this quickly, Neji marveled. He should not be standing at all.
"Neji." Xi spoke. "I expected you'd be here earlier. No matter. Take your time speaking to Shiren, and then meet me back at our rooms. We have a lot of work to do this month, and I intend to get started." The dragon ninja ordered.
"Ah." Neji nodded. He had expected this. He had seventeen dragon jutsus left to learn, and he expected Xi would attempt to teach him several during this month of training.
Xi walked away, hiding the slightest of limps beneath his definite movements.
Neji was left staring at the door, the medic having followed Xi out.
He took a deep breath, and then pushed the door open.
Shiren sat propped up on her hospital bed, a magazine on her lap as Neji came in. She smiled softly at him when he entered, and motioned him to a chair beside the bed. "Afternoon, Neji."
Shiren's smile was rather disarming, coming from someone who Neji had visualized as injured and in serious pain. Perhaps I was overly concerned. He thought, encouraged. "To you as well." He said.
"Gosain, then Xi, and now you stop by." Shiren said pleasantly as Neji took the seat next to her bed. "I hope your visit will be more pleasant than theirs."
"Did something occur?" Neji asked, more serious.
"Oh no." Shiren smiled. "Just that Gosain's really not good around wounded people, and Xi is well, Xi. Neither of them are very cheering when you're stuck inside for several days."
"How soon will you be about?" Neji asked her, hoping it was not long.
"The medics say I need to stay off my feet for another two days." Shiren replied, a bit of annoyance creeping into her voice. "I know they're right but it's frustrating, I have a lot of work to do for this exam."
"I suspect you will do fine." Neji said honestly. "You are more than suitably skilled."
"Coming from you Neji that's very encouraging." Shiren laughed softly. "But I can't sit in here for a month. It won't be easy for me to become a chuunin you know, I'm going to have to do something spectacular or I'll just be ignored like always. Raikage's not supposed to make me a chuunin at all."
"Not supposed to?" Neji spoke before remembering the full implications of Shiren's outcast past.
"Political pressure." Was all she said in response, turning away for a moment. "Don't worry about it, we all have our handicaps. Of course, I do wonder what happens even if they make me a chuunin. No one's going to let me lead a team." Shiren's voice grew truly sad, something Neji not often seen from her. "Maybe they'd put me with Gosain, if he makes chuunin. That would be okay I guess, he's decent, solid." She paused. "But it's not what I want, and there's nothing in it. I couldn't go anywhere from there."
Shiren fell silent then, and Neji did not say anything immediately. He was unsure of what to say. He understood to some extent, he had known for a long time that no matter how strong he became he would never lead the Hyuuga. I worked so hard for so long simply to spit in their faces, to prove them all wrong, but it was wasted. Neji knew that all his struggles until facing Naruto and losing had been mostly spite and nothing more, he had not been contributing to the Leaf or anything else, had not escaped his destiny. Is that why I went with Xi? Because it was something else he offered, a chance to truly become important to everyone? Neji thought that might perhaps be part of it.
"What do you want then?" Neji asked quietly, at length, with as much kindness as he could manage.
"Heh." Shiren muttered. "Didn't Xi tell you?" She returned.
"He did." Neji answered. "Yet I would rather you told me yourself.' He managed, paused, and then continued. "Since it affects me as well."
Shiren looked at Neji for a long time, he deep midnight blue eyes probing the pupil-less white orbs that he possessed, so very different those two pairs of eyes, yet similar. Neji recalled the moment when Shiren had held up the kunai to her face yesterday, matching the blood on it to the blood on his face, had supported him in the face of the horrors of the dragon ninja. He had leaned on her support at that moment, and now he saw that it had been that support, that acknowledgement that had allowed him to take the step and summon Wusashu, saving all their lives. He waited for her words with a knot deep in his stomach.
When Shiren finally spoke it was slowly and deliberately. "I want to be a dragon ninja." She said clearly. "I have wished that since I survived the chaos eight years ago, since I learned what Draci Xi's fate was then. That path is the one I know I must take, if I am to become the ninja I that I decided to be when my parents died. It is my only choice."
Sensing that Shiren was not done speaking, even though she paused here, Neji only nodded.
"You know, Neji.' Shiren said, her tone slightly less as but no less serious. "When I heard Xi had trained you as a dragon ninja I wanted to hate you. That he had agreed to do for a Leaf ninja, a Hyuuga, upon whom so much of the responsibility lies for everything that happened to Xi and to me, it seemed horribly unfair. I am ready, I am capable, I know it, but Xi didn't choose to train me, he chose to train you." Neji felt the words hard, knowing that Shiren was well justified in her thoughts, that Xi had indeed passed her over for him in some strange way, many had been harmed by that decision.
"It was only chance that Xi found me." Neji answered, trying to reply to her concerns.
"No!" Shiren snapped sternly. "It was not chance. Something was at work, I know, since I met you." She took a shallow breath, and plunged on. "You should be a dragon ninja Neji, it is who you are, you are incredible. On the hills yesterday you summoned a creature out of legend, and faced it without fear, even as I stood shaking and terrified by it. The dragon ninja will be carried forward by you, to a height they have not known in a century, I am sure, you'll surpass Xi easily, and soon I expect. Having seen that I understand why Xi chose you, why you should be the next dragon ninja." Shiren sighed. "I am proud of you for it." She shook her head and looked away from Neji.
For a long moment Neji was stunned. He could say nothing. She admires me this much? It was beyond what he expected. I was always strong, and always hated for it, not admired. Why should Shiren look up to me? He looked at her then, and saw that she was on the verge of tears. It had taken tremendous strength for her to say that. He knew he had to speak, had to say something, this was the pivotal moment where he must act. If I am silent now, then this whole conversation will be a waste, a torrid goodbye long before she is gone.
Neji's mind raced as he searched for the right words, he latched onto the first thing that came to him. "Why is that so troubling?" He asked Shiren.
She turned back to him, confusion in her eyes. "What?"
"What does it matter if Xi chooses to train me?" Neji continued, finally hitting the right pathway. "Why should there be only one dragon ninja? He could train you as well."
Shiren blinked, and then again, staring at Neji. "He could." She said. "He could." She repeated. "Yes, but will he? I do not think that Xi wants to train another dragon ninja. Since the great ninja wars ended there has never been more than one master and a single pupil. The last time it was tried was under the first Raikage, and only one student survived all those who tried to kill them all."
"Things change." Neji answered. "I am not a Cloud ninja, but Leaf, if that can happen, why should there not be more? At least, it should be put to Xi, if this is what you want."
"It is." Shiren answered, smiling again, her face happier. Then she grew more serious. "I wonder, exactly, why did you ask this Neji? Do you want me to become a dragon ninja?"
Perceptive. Neji noted once more. He struggled to formulate a reasonable reply.
"More sentimental than I expected of you." Shiren interjected before he managed to speak up. "It seems that you actually would like that." She looked at him seriously. "You really should answer you know."
"Ah." Neji mumbled. "I think..." He paused. "I think that we work well together, and I have few teammates or friends. It would be good to have someone around besides simply Xi."
Shiren gave him a soft smile, and a frightfully knowing look. "That will do, and you're right, we do work well together. Of course, I suppose then someone needs to ask Xi."
"I suppose." Neji answered, immediately finding himself quite dour. "I will have to do it." He acknowledged. "Since he already knows your feelings."
"Yes, that's true." Shiren looked far away for a moment, and turned to the window. "Neji." She began. "I'm sure I won't see you much for the next month, since we all have training to do, and by ourselves. So, tell me whatever Xi decides when the exam's over, it won't matter before then anyway, and I don't want to think about it until then. All right?"
"Ah." Neji replied. "That makes sense."
"Good." Shiren said sternly, then forcibly brightened. "Now, I'm glad you came by, really." She smiled one last time, and Neji returned it as best he was able. "I suspect Xi's waiting for you, and it's not good to keep him waiting too long. So, you should get going."
Neji stood up at that, recognizing the conversation was at its end, and he was not sure whether anything had truly been clarified. "Get better soon then." He said stonily, and turned to go.
Shiren watched silently as he left.
On the walk back to their rooms Neji made a single, simple decision. I will ask Xi right now, there is no sense in waiting, and I will not stop thinking about this until I do.
So, when Neji opened the door and entered their small suite of rooms, Xi, seated at the small table, gave him a strange look. "What is it?" The dragon ninja commanded.
"I have something to ask you." Neji answered.
Xi raised an eyebrow. "About what? The next month perhaps?" He looked at him strangely. "It's very simple, I am going to instruct you in as many of the remaining seventeen dragon jutsus as possible, so that you have at least knowledge of them all, even if you don't master them."
"No, not that." Neji answered. "That is about what I expected."
"Then its Shiren isn't it." Xi said sternly. "What about her?" The dragon ninja's face was ice cold.
"She wants to be trained as a dragon ninja." Neji said crisply. "I think she should be."
"You think?" Xi was taken aback. "You think she should be trained to be a dragon ninja? Since when does that matter at all?" Xi's voice grew angry.
"You made me a dragon ninja." Neji answered. "I should have some say in this."
"Really?" Xi barked. "I don't see why you should, Neji. Since I will be the one training her, unless you consider yourself capable. I made the decision to train you, I do not see why I should take Shiren and make her into a dragon ninja as well."
"You told me the times needed dragon ninja."
"I did." Xi replied. "And I was right." His tone did not change. "But I have discovered that I'm not a teacher. You are a genius, you get by, I can explain things to you and that is enough. I'm not a sensei; I can't undertake to teach Shiren. And so that you know, I will not make mistakes in teaching a dragon ninja; I will not unleash some half-trained killer upon this world. I simply will not do that."
"You are underestimating Shiren." Neji said with absolute certainty.
"Since when did you become such a judge of capability?" Xi snapped, the harsh personal remark very unusual for him, revealing his agitation. "I've seen countless genin, and known Shiren for years, how do you know she's ready to become a dragon ninja?"
"She is my teammate." Was the only answer.
"Dammit!" Xi spat. "I wonder about this Neji. I wonder about your motives, your judgment, and many other things. Don't think that I owe you this." His voice rose. "The last time I checked I owed no debts to you, student!"
Neji had difficultly standing up to Xi. The other ninja was infinitely more experienced than he was, and more powerful. He had been a ninja for a long time, seen things that Neji could not. He does not have my eyes, Neji knew, but how much can I trust them, that cannot pierce Shiren. Maybe he is right. No sooner had that thought passed than the counter came. Maybe he is wrong. Xi does not like working with others. He spent eight years alone. Perhaps he simply does not want another with him. "At least give Shiren a chance." Neji managed against Xi's rage.
"A chance?" Xi said, more calmly. "Exactly what do you have in mind?"
Neji had not had anything in mind when he said those words, but the answer was obvious, both to him and to Xi. "This exam, allow her to demonstrate her abilities."
"Demonstrate her abilities?" The older ninja appeared to consider. After a long moment of staring at the ceiling he decided. "Fine. I will allow this, since you feel so strongly, and perhaps you do know something. At the very least you are right that there is a need for dragon ninja, and perhaps for a dragon ninja from lightning most of all. These then are my conditions, Neji." Xi set down. "If Shiren can become a chuunin in this exam, and not in my estimation but in that of Raikage, who will most certainly be in attendance, then I will train her. However, during this month you will not mention this to her, and you will not give her any help during training. She labors under a considerable prejudice, so it will be very hard for her to become a chuunin. If she can do that, then I will accept that I underestimated her." Xi stopped. "Now, this conversation is over for the next month. We have too much work to do, so Shiren and Gosain are going to stop existing until those main matches as far as you are concerned. Do you understand?"
Completely masking the joyous feeling Neji felt at Xi's words, Neji replied simply. "I understand." Shiren will succeed. He believed.
"Good. We will begin with a jutsu called Dragon Fang." Xi said as he stood up from the table.
Author's Notes: And, with vacation coming to and end I've managed to complete another chapter, yay (I'm not sure whether that's a good or bad thing). So, this is the final chapter before the main matches begin, though it might not seem like that initially. This chapter deals heavily with Neji and Shiren, for those not interested in that element, sorry. While not hugely important to the plot or anything, I'm mostly adding the romantic as a personal practice, since I've never really written a start to finish boy meets girl bit, and I figure a fanfic is the ideal point of experimentation.
And reviewers thank you all, it's always nice to see comments. For responses: WerdnaChi: Even funnier (not really) is how its beginning to look like they might all survive this.
Hattuteline: I'm actually going to gloss over the training bits pretty much totally so as to not get bogged down before going into an eleven-match tournament, of which I am in the process of writing them all. Still, I promise new techniques from Gosain and Shiren will show up, and some new stuff from Neji.
X2Darklord: I know I get readers who don't review mentally, but its just not the same feeling, and it always helps to get comments on what's working right and what's not. About dragons, well, they are one of my fantasy interests (along with undead, constructs, and ninja), and I'd never done anything with oriental type dragons before writing this story. In reality though, this story began with Draci Xi and the idea for the rend technique, and the dragon element got attached to it pretty closely thereafter.
Enduring Cold
"I was told, after I failed the chuunin exam the first time, that the month between the second and third stages of the exam is a critical component." Gosain spoke idly, talking only half to Neji, and mostly to the bleak sky outside their small window. "That aside from simply letting feudal lords arrive and the wounded ninja recover, this period is when those genin who have what it takes to become leaders step forward and learn the skills they will need to perform as those leaders. They said that the real chuunin would change their level and their perceptions during that month, would advance as ninja in a fundamental way. Those ninja who accomplish this become chuunin, those who don't fail." Gosain sighed. "I don't really believe that. One month of training and preparation, one month to make yourself as strong as you can possibly become, it's significant certainly, but ninja fail once and come back again to succeed, sometimes they even fail multiple times. How much does one month truly matter against the weight of experience?"
"Why are you asking me this?" Neji replied. He and Gosain were the only ones present, this the first day of that notable month. Xi was somewhere, supposedly in the hospital, as was Shiren. Neji did not particularly wish to talk with Gosain. He is a good companion, but I have nothing to say to him.
"Well," Gosain started. "I was wondering what you were going to do with the month you have. I expect to start training early tomorrow. There's quite a bit I need to do to be ready for Nemari."
"I am uncertain what I will do." Neji replied. "I expect I will work with Xi." Though he did not really wish to ask, Neji knew that Gosain wanted him to; he could read it in the man's face. "What is between you and Nemari?"
The older ninja shook his head softly, looking back out the window. "I know Xi told you about my past." Gosain said quietly. "About how many of my teammates have died or been crippled. I hate to think on those deaths, on the people I've had to put behind me, friends and enemies both. Still, I believe that as a ninja that is my fate, the road I've been given to tread. Nemari though, he is awash in far more blood than I am, though he is younger by over a year. The worst part, the part I hate about him, is that he could have prevented so much of it. Nemari enjoys hurting people, he doesn't just do cruel things for some purpose or kill people because he must, he likes it, and he's good at it." Gosain's voice hardened. "I won't accept that. We ninja, we are soaked in blood by our very being, but to swim in it, I'll break him for that."
That is not the whole of this, Neji could see that much. There is something deeper than this, he hates the man already, and the reasons are good, but there is a raw wound, and I can see the memory, but I do not know what it is. Still, there is no reason to ask. This business is Gosain's. "So you will break him then." He said calmly.
"Yes." The older ninja instilled a great deal of promise in the word. "It's not enough just to beat him, I will make it so he can never be a ninja again."
There was enough vehemence in Gosain's voice that Neji felt he should speak as the leader of the team for a moment. "Gosain, don't die, and don't forget the purpose of this exam."
"Don't think I will Neji." Gosain chuckled harshly. "And I won't die, not against him. I won't kill him either, he doesn't deserve that." The older ninja paused. "Tomorrow I'll be getting up very early. I don't expect to see much of any of you, but don't worry about me. Nemari won't try anything before the exam, it would ruin his fun. Still, since I doubt I'll see you much before the matches, I have one thing to say."
"And that is?" Neji asked levelly.
"It's been nice to work with people who held together as well as you did. I don't have any more dead teammates to bury this time." Gosain answered, and the older ninja let a smile creep over his features, a very unusual thing, for he never smiled. "Oh, and make sure you go see Shiren before she gets out of the hospital. I've already said my piece to her, so you're the one that remains."
"Yes. Me, and Xi." Neji replied.
Their conversation ended there, and Gosain went outside to scrape his chains with sand, trying to work out blood, ice, and rock shards that had gotten buried in them upon the mountainside. Neji watched Gosain go, wondering about the older ninja. A steady man. He decided at length. I suppose he would be a good chuunin. It was an answer Neji felt confident in, an answer to a question he could not yet answer for himself.
Little remained for Neji to do then, except to act on what Gosain had said. I have to go and speak to Shiren. He knew that, had known it, and yet he had not spoken to her since the three of them left her in the hospital the day before. Now, well into the afternoon of the day after, Neji still had not gone there. I must speak to Shiren, to discuss what will happen after this exam. We have to make some sort of decision. That far Neji had managed to reason, but little further. It was not like him, to not make up his mind. He was usually extremely decisive, but Shiren seemed to muddy the waters. He was closer to her than anyone else now, perhaps more than he had ever been to anyone, even though he had only known her a short time. In the first exam he had been forced to place his trust in Shiren, and she had proved that she was worthy of it, Neji had never really had such concrete proof he could trust someone before. Indeed, he had lived for over nine years since his father's death as if everyone was his enemy, from Hiashi, to Guy, to Rock Lee, and even to Naruto. Shiren was his first new friend since his views had changed, perhaps his first real friend ever. It was not difficult for Neji to tell that the situation was similar for Shiren as well. She has been isolated for most of her life as well, Xi had explained that to him, and though Neji did not know the reasons it was easy enough to read.
The trouble was that beyond being simply his friend and teammate, something Neji thought he could deal with, after all, he dealt with Gosain, Shiren was an attractive young girl the same age as he was. I tried not to notice that, not to let it influence anything, Neji reminded himself. That had worked for a long time, but the second exam had broken that wall down. Crushed together in tight spaces and then carrying her along for hours it was impossible to not acknowledge that she was a woman, and one he did indeed find attractive. What am I to do about that? Neji did not have an answer with himself.
It had forced him to reexamine his motives regarding Shiren, that realization. How does this affect us? I am attracted to her, but I cannot tell her feelings, though she has not expressed anything to the contrary. Though that was hardly comforting in this case. Unlike Tenten, whom Neji had read easily and realized that she idolized him greatly, he could not easily read Shiren. Her deep midnight eyes hide things from his vision.
Yesterday Neji had resolved to put off considerations between him and Shiren until the exam was over, but he recognized now that it would be too late if he did that. After the exam she will leave, and I will likely not even speak to her. If we are to determine our fates it must be now, but she will leave regardless. Neji had told himself that was the case, but he knew it wasn't the truth. Xi had told him Shiren had the potential to be a dragon ninja, knowing that, she would stay with him if Xi took her on. Does she want that? Neji wondered, coming to an impasse. I suppose I will have to ask. That was what he dreaded.
Regardless, Neji knew he duty. He would go see Shiren, a task he both welcomed, and was terrified by.
Shiren was lodged in a small hospital room in Stone's ninja hospital, a stout building near the center of town, and one obviously designed for defense. Most of the buildings of Stone were, rings within rings that could be fallen back to if the outer walls were breached, and this building was part of the inner most defensive line, along with the Tsuchikage's office, armory, and other key structures. It made for a depressing atmosphere.
Neji walked the short walk down to Shiren's room under the watchful eyes of a Stone medical ninja, who refused to let him wander around. The hospital contained many ninja; many of the genin who had taken part in the second exam were here, being treated for frostbite or hypothermia from their exposure to the mountains cold. Shiren, whose injuries were debilitating but required little more than rest to overcome, was not a priority here.
At the door Neji found himself facing Xi, who seemed to be standing guard. The older dragon ninja rested easily against the wall, in spite of the far more serious injury to his leg. That he has recovered so much this quickly, Neji marveled. He should not be standing at all.
"Neji." Xi spoke. "I expected you'd be here earlier. No matter. Take your time speaking to Shiren, and then meet me back at our rooms. We have a lot of work to do this month, and I intend to get started." The dragon ninja ordered.
"Ah." Neji nodded. He had expected this. He had seventeen dragon jutsus left to learn, and he expected Xi would attempt to teach him several during this month of training.
Xi walked away, hiding the slightest of limps beneath his definite movements.
Neji was left staring at the door, the medic having followed Xi out.
He took a deep breath, and then pushed the door open.
Shiren sat propped up on her hospital bed, a magazine on her lap as Neji came in. She smiled softly at him when he entered, and motioned him to a chair beside the bed. "Afternoon, Neji."
Shiren's smile was rather disarming, coming from someone who Neji had visualized as injured and in serious pain. Perhaps I was overly concerned. He thought, encouraged. "To you as well." He said.
"Gosain, then Xi, and now you stop by." Shiren said pleasantly as Neji took the seat next to her bed. "I hope your visit will be more pleasant than theirs."
"Did something occur?" Neji asked, more serious.
"Oh no." Shiren smiled. "Just that Gosain's really not good around wounded people, and Xi is well, Xi. Neither of them are very cheering when you're stuck inside for several days."
"How soon will you be about?" Neji asked her, hoping it was not long.
"The medics say I need to stay off my feet for another two days." Shiren replied, a bit of annoyance creeping into her voice. "I know they're right but it's frustrating, I have a lot of work to do for this exam."
"I suspect you will do fine." Neji said honestly. "You are more than suitably skilled."
"Coming from you Neji that's very encouraging." Shiren laughed softly. "But I can't sit in here for a month. It won't be easy for me to become a chuunin you know, I'm going to have to do something spectacular or I'll just be ignored like always. Raikage's not supposed to make me a chuunin at all."
"Not supposed to?" Neji spoke before remembering the full implications of Shiren's outcast past.
"Political pressure." Was all she said in response, turning away for a moment. "Don't worry about it, we all have our handicaps. Of course, I do wonder what happens even if they make me a chuunin. No one's going to let me lead a team." Shiren's voice grew truly sad, something Neji not often seen from her. "Maybe they'd put me with Gosain, if he makes chuunin. That would be okay I guess, he's decent, solid." She paused. "But it's not what I want, and there's nothing in it. I couldn't go anywhere from there."
Shiren fell silent then, and Neji did not say anything immediately. He was unsure of what to say. He understood to some extent, he had known for a long time that no matter how strong he became he would never lead the Hyuuga. I worked so hard for so long simply to spit in their faces, to prove them all wrong, but it was wasted. Neji knew that all his struggles until facing Naruto and losing had been mostly spite and nothing more, he had not been contributing to the Leaf or anything else, had not escaped his destiny. Is that why I went with Xi? Because it was something else he offered, a chance to truly become important to everyone? Neji thought that might perhaps be part of it.
"What do you want then?" Neji asked quietly, at length, with as much kindness as he could manage.
"Heh." Shiren muttered. "Didn't Xi tell you?" She returned.
"He did." Neji answered. "Yet I would rather you told me yourself.' He managed, paused, and then continued. "Since it affects me as well."
Shiren looked at Neji for a long time, he deep midnight blue eyes probing the pupil-less white orbs that he possessed, so very different those two pairs of eyes, yet similar. Neji recalled the moment when Shiren had held up the kunai to her face yesterday, matching the blood on it to the blood on his face, had supported him in the face of the horrors of the dragon ninja. He had leaned on her support at that moment, and now he saw that it had been that support, that acknowledgement that had allowed him to take the step and summon Wusashu, saving all their lives. He waited for her words with a knot deep in his stomach.
When Shiren finally spoke it was slowly and deliberately. "I want to be a dragon ninja." She said clearly. "I have wished that since I survived the chaos eight years ago, since I learned what Draci Xi's fate was then. That path is the one I know I must take, if I am to become the ninja I that I decided to be when my parents died. It is my only choice."
Sensing that Shiren was not done speaking, even though she paused here, Neji only nodded.
"You know, Neji.' Shiren said, her tone slightly less as but no less serious. "When I heard Xi had trained you as a dragon ninja I wanted to hate you. That he had agreed to do for a Leaf ninja, a Hyuuga, upon whom so much of the responsibility lies for everything that happened to Xi and to me, it seemed horribly unfair. I am ready, I am capable, I know it, but Xi didn't choose to train me, he chose to train you." Neji felt the words hard, knowing that Shiren was well justified in her thoughts, that Xi had indeed passed her over for him in some strange way, many had been harmed by that decision.
"It was only chance that Xi found me." Neji answered, trying to reply to her concerns.
"No!" Shiren snapped sternly. "It was not chance. Something was at work, I know, since I met you." She took a shallow breath, and plunged on. "You should be a dragon ninja Neji, it is who you are, you are incredible. On the hills yesterday you summoned a creature out of legend, and faced it without fear, even as I stood shaking and terrified by it. The dragon ninja will be carried forward by you, to a height they have not known in a century, I am sure, you'll surpass Xi easily, and soon I expect. Having seen that I understand why Xi chose you, why you should be the next dragon ninja." Shiren sighed. "I am proud of you for it." She shook her head and looked away from Neji.
For a long moment Neji was stunned. He could say nothing. She admires me this much? It was beyond what he expected. I was always strong, and always hated for it, not admired. Why should Shiren look up to me? He looked at her then, and saw that she was on the verge of tears. It had taken tremendous strength for her to say that. He knew he had to speak, had to say something, this was the pivotal moment where he must act. If I am silent now, then this whole conversation will be a waste, a torrid goodbye long before she is gone.
Neji's mind raced as he searched for the right words, he latched onto the first thing that came to him. "Why is that so troubling?" He asked Shiren.
She turned back to him, confusion in her eyes. "What?"
"What does it matter if Xi chooses to train me?" Neji continued, finally hitting the right pathway. "Why should there be only one dragon ninja? He could train you as well."
Shiren blinked, and then again, staring at Neji. "He could." She said. "He could." She repeated. "Yes, but will he? I do not think that Xi wants to train another dragon ninja. Since the great ninja wars ended there has never been more than one master and a single pupil. The last time it was tried was under the first Raikage, and only one student survived all those who tried to kill them all."
"Things change." Neji answered. "I am not a Cloud ninja, but Leaf, if that can happen, why should there not be more? At least, it should be put to Xi, if this is what you want."
"It is." Shiren answered, smiling again, her face happier. Then she grew more serious. "I wonder, exactly, why did you ask this Neji? Do you want me to become a dragon ninja?"
Perceptive. Neji noted once more. He struggled to formulate a reasonable reply.
"More sentimental than I expected of you." Shiren interjected before he managed to speak up. "It seems that you actually would like that." She looked at him seriously. "You really should answer you know."
"Ah." Neji mumbled. "I think..." He paused. "I think that we work well together, and I have few teammates or friends. It would be good to have someone around besides simply Xi."
Shiren gave him a soft smile, and a frightfully knowing look. "That will do, and you're right, we do work well together. Of course, I suppose then someone needs to ask Xi."
"I suppose." Neji answered, immediately finding himself quite dour. "I will have to do it." He acknowledged. "Since he already knows your feelings."
"Yes, that's true." Shiren looked far away for a moment, and turned to the window. "Neji." She began. "I'm sure I won't see you much for the next month, since we all have training to do, and by ourselves. So, tell me whatever Xi decides when the exam's over, it won't matter before then anyway, and I don't want to think about it until then. All right?"
"Ah." Neji replied. "That makes sense."
"Good." Shiren said sternly, then forcibly brightened. "Now, I'm glad you came by, really." She smiled one last time, and Neji returned it as best he was able. "I suspect Xi's waiting for you, and it's not good to keep him waiting too long. So, you should get going."
Neji stood up at that, recognizing the conversation was at its end, and he was not sure whether anything had truly been clarified. "Get better soon then." He said stonily, and turned to go.
Shiren watched silently as he left.
On the walk back to their rooms Neji made a single, simple decision. I will ask Xi right now, there is no sense in waiting, and I will not stop thinking about this until I do.
So, when Neji opened the door and entered their small suite of rooms, Xi, seated at the small table, gave him a strange look. "What is it?" The dragon ninja commanded.
"I have something to ask you." Neji answered.
Xi raised an eyebrow. "About what? The next month perhaps?" He looked at him strangely. "It's very simple, I am going to instruct you in as many of the remaining seventeen dragon jutsus as possible, so that you have at least knowledge of them all, even if you don't master them."
"No, not that." Neji answered. "That is about what I expected."
"Then its Shiren isn't it." Xi said sternly. "What about her?" The dragon ninja's face was ice cold.
"She wants to be trained as a dragon ninja." Neji said crisply. "I think she should be."
"You think?" Xi was taken aback. "You think she should be trained to be a dragon ninja? Since when does that matter at all?" Xi's voice grew angry.
"You made me a dragon ninja." Neji answered. "I should have some say in this."
"Really?" Xi barked. "I don't see why you should, Neji. Since I will be the one training her, unless you consider yourself capable. I made the decision to train you, I do not see why I should take Shiren and make her into a dragon ninja as well."
"You told me the times needed dragon ninja."
"I did." Xi replied. "And I was right." His tone did not change. "But I have discovered that I'm not a teacher. You are a genius, you get by, I can explain things to you and that is enough. I'm not a sensei; I can't undertake to teach Shiren. And so that you know, I will not make mistakes in teaching a dragon ninja; I will not unleash some half-trained killer upon this world. I simply will not do that."
"You are underestimating Shiren." Neji said with absolute certainty.
"Since when did you become such a judge of capability?" Xi snapped, the harsh personal remark very unusual for him, revealing his agitation. "I've seen countless genin, and known Shiren for years, how do you know she's ready to become a dragon ninja?"
"She is my teammate." Was the only answer.
"Dammit!" Xi spat. "I wonder about this Neji. I wonder about your motives, your judgment, and many other things. Don't think that I owe you this." His voice rose. "The last time I checked I owed no debts to you, student!"
Neji had difficultly standing up to Xi. The other ninja was infinitely more experienced than he was, and more powerful. He had been a ninja for a long time, seen things that Neji could not. He does not have my eyes, Neji knew, but how much can I trust them, that cannot pierce Shiren. Maybe he is right. No sooner had that thought passed than the counter came. Maybe he is wrong. Xi does not like working with others. He spent eight years alone. Perhaps he simply does not want another with him. "At least give Shiren a chance." Neji managed against Xi's rage.
"A chance?" Xi said, more calmly. "Exactly what do you have in mind?"
Neji had not had anything in mind when he said those words, but the answer was obvious, both to him and to Xi. "This exam, allow her to demonstrate her abilities."
"Demonstrate her abilities?" The older ninja appeared to consider. After a long moment of staring at the ceiling he decided. "Fine. I will allow this, since you feel so strongly, and perhaps you do know something. At the very least you are right that there is a need for dragon ninja, and perhaps for a dragon ninja from lightning most of all. These then are my conditions, Neji." Xi set down. "If Shiren can become a chuunin in this exam, and not in my estimation but in that of Raikage, who will most certainly be in attendance, then I will train her. However, during this month you will not mention this to her, and you will not give her any help during training. She labors under a considerable prejudice, so it will be very hard for her to become a chuunin. If she can do that, then I will accept that I underestimated her." Xi stopped. "Now, this conversation is over for the next month. We have too much work to do, so Shiren and Gosain are going to stop existing until those main matches as far as you are concerned. Do you understand?"
Completely masking the joyous feeling Neji felt at Xi's words, Neji replied simply. "I understand." Shiren will succeed. He believed.
"Good. We will begin with a jutsu called Dragon Fang." Xi said as he stood up from the table.