By RequiemofDementia
Chapter Four: Hitomi vs. Hyuuga
The three new Genin sat upon the grass, while Shinzui stood. Across from them was the Hokage, here to explain the next part of their admission into Konoha. And across from that, the people that had volunteered to be involved in this test, the head of the Hyuuga family and Hyuuga Neji.
Neji did not know the people that were before him, but his instructions from the head of the family were clear. The Hitomi woman was a danger to his clan. One hand slowly balled into a fist, as his white eyes remained locked upon the woman that would be his opponent.
"Each of you will face a trial, where you will use all of your skills and resourcefulness. This will show us how far you have advanced under your sensei's tutelage, and what we can do with you." The Hokage's suggestion was very reasonable, Airen thought. That was, she thought that until she heard the second part. "In the first trial, Hitomi Airen will do battle with Hyuuga Neji."
She could see Shinzui tense at this announcement, and her eyes turned to him. He knelt slowly, his voice soft. "Remember what you learned, Airen. Be careful, and you can beat him."
She nodded slowly, as she began to stand. Her eyes moved slowly from Shinzui to Chie, who timidly gave her a thumb's up sign. She could tell from the look on the boys face that he was worried, so she leaned closer, giving him a little poke. "Giggle for me." Chie did giggle, and Airen smiled softly.
She stood ready now, and her eyes moved to her last companion. Riki's eyes met hers for a moment, and then, for reasons unknown to them both, he grinned. "Kick his ass for me." Airen laughed at that, giving Riki a small nod, before she walked towards where the fight would take place.
Neji stood calmly, his pale eyes upon the girl. He could tell that she was nervous, just by looking at her. He did not understand how this girl was a threat to the Hyuuga household, but he did not doubt the words he had been told. Slowly, his body moved, adopting his fighting pose. She would not last long.
Airen stood across from this boy, her eyes narrowing faintly. He was too calm, and she did not like that. Even Shinzui showed signs of being nervous before battle, everyone did. It was a natural response to the danger. Riki was the exception, but she would have been surprised if he had reacted to his foot catching fire. Her hands behind her back, she looked like a young girl with a secret, as she smiled softly to Neji.
"Two members of legendary bloodlines meeting," Neji said softly, his voice oddly detached. "I am sorry for what happened to your family. Fate had decided your time was ended. And I am sorry for what I am now fated to do to you."
Airen simply smiled. Her hand came out quickly, two senbon leaving her hand and streaking through the air. Neji had not been expecting an attack so soon, lunging to the side quickly. One of the small, needle-like weapons stuck into his sleeve, but he remained unharmed.
As Airen brought her other hand up, Neji was already in motion. Another two senbon, which he dodged swiftly, and then the two were up close. Neji's hand came out, glowing a faint blue with his chakra. Airen ducked down, under his blow, her foot coming out to meet his shin. He stepped back quickly, as she did, and then lunged in once more.
Airen was not much of a taijutsu fighter. Her kick had left her overbalanced, and she did not have time to recover. Her hand came up, but it was too little, too late. Neji's hand connected with her chest, sending her flying back across the clearing.
As Airen tried to stagger to her feet, Neji began to slowly walk closer, his voice soft. "You can do as you wish, Hitomi. I have won already. Your heart is wounded. You will not outlive the hour."
Airen rose to her feet slowly, coughing. Her hand came away from her mouth, blood splattered into her palm. Her eyes came up slowly, meeting Neji's. "Fated… to die?"
Neji simply nodded, each step bringing him closer to her. "No matter how hard we try, no matter how much we fight, we cannot fight Fate."
Airen's hands came together before her. "We can try." Her hands steepled, and then her palms came together, one hand up, one hand down. They flowed through hand symbols quickly, and as she did, the Hokage's eyes widened. Airen released the jutsu by placing two fingers upon her chest.
Neji stood before her, his voice soft. "Fare well, Hitomi." His hand lashed out once more, this time straight for her head.
A gasp went out among those watching. Airen had not reacted fast enough before, but she had this time. A single senbon pierced Neji's arm, straight through, blood already beginning to run along the steel. He moved back quickly, frantically trying to work his fingers. They did not move.
Airen straightened slowly, her voice soft. "When you know enough about the human body, some of this Fate stuff you are talking about… not so permanent."
Neji's eyes fixed upon her, as he growled out in rage, firmly tugging upon the senbon. It came out from his flesh soundlessly, his fingers beginning to twitch. Airen showed no sign of pain, and Neji realized that her jutsu had not been a form of attack, but rather, she had healed the damage he had done.
"Now I see," Neji said softly. The Hitomi girl was far more then met the eye. He was going to enjoy this.
The two faced off once again, Airen with senbon in hand, Neji using only his hands. For a moment, they faced each other, waiting for the other to move first. Then, as Neji began to advance rapidly, Airen once again sent her senbon sailing to attack. Once again, Neji was faster, ducking down as he ran, under the senbon. This time, however, the powerful blow Airen had been expecting did not come. Instead, her opponent poked her.
Her hands moved quickly, trying to fend Neji off, but he was in his element in close combat, and Airen was far from her own. His finger met her skin over and over, as he circled her. She could not understand what was happening. And then, Neji simply stood back.
Already, Airen could feel something was wrong. She looked down at herself, and then looked back towards Neji.
"If you know so much about the human body, I am sure you know what tenketsu are." Airen's look of wide eyed horror was all the confirmation Neji needed. He simply smiled, as he began to advance once again. He had left Airen completely without chakra. She would not be able to heal herself again. Just as he closed, she leapt away, her hands moving rapidly, showering Neji with senbon.
Once again, the two opponents faced off, Airen without chakra, Neji slowly picking a few senbon from his skin. He had not been able to dodge it all. "Now, you see that Fate cannot be avoided, Hitomi."
Neji circled Airen for a moment, and then came in again. Once again, he carefully dodged the senbon she threw, and they met in the middle of the clearing once more. Neji's hand came out quickly once more, again glowing with the energy of his chakra.
Airen was forced to give ground, falling back from Neji, working valiantly to keep his blows from landing. The two moved about the clearing quickly, Airen backing up, and Neji trailing after her, completely concentrating on his attacking. And that was his mistake.
Their path carried them over the area Neji had been standing before, discarded senbon laying upon the ground. As Airen ducked under another attack from Neji, her toes wrapped around the senbon, lifting it up.
Neji's eyes widened, as he lost all feeling in his left leg, and dropped to the ground. Airen did not let up, dropping down over him quickly. A second senbon stuck into Neji, this time his left arm. His eyes widened, as he realized what was happening. If he did not get her off him shortly, she was going to completely paralyze him.
Airen's third senbon was lifted from the ground, and raised up to strike. And that is when Neji's palm met Airen's chest once again, again lifting her from the ground and knocking her back.
As Airen lay on the ground, she coughed again, blood splattering the grass. She knew that her lungs were badly injured, and she no longer had her chakra to heal herself. As she forced her aching body to rise up to hands and knees, her head swung to Neji. His good hand was already plucking the senbon out from his leg, and he carried himself up to his feet.
Airen's eyes scanned the area, and settled upon Shinzui's. And that was when she noticed it. Unlike Chie, Shinzui did not hold a look of terror at what was happening. He believed she could still win this. And if he believed in her…
Neji dropped the second senbon to the ground, after drawing it from his arm. His eyes came up to his opponent, and then widened in shock. She was standing? "Your determination is admirable, Hitomi."
Airen's eyes met his. She did not say anything.
Neji began to advance slowly, his voice soft. "I will end your suffering now."
Still, Airen simply stared at him.
"Any final words, Hitomi?"
And then, Airen's mouth opened.
Author's notes.
Airen had always been planned to be weak at close combat. Who better to challenge her weakness then Neji! Lots of Neji fun for everyone, and in the other chapter too!
For those Neji fans out there, enjoy. And for those who aren't Neji fans, I give you permission to enjoy it for whatever other reasons you can find.