Don't own Naruto or any thing affiliated with it. Boo hoo. This one kinda sucks as far as the writing goes. I was trying to say something, but the typingness didn't let the message show as far as I can tell. I don't know. You tell me.
In My Own Eyes
"Spar with me, niisan." Hyuuga Hinata stood at the edge of the training area.
"Only until Uchiha shows up." Hyuuga Neji stood in the center of the training area, waiting.
"Hai." Hyuuga Hinata darted forward, bloodline already activated. They traded blows, the chakra visible with each attack, with each block. They traded comments, the familiarity evident with each insult and remark. Both were holding back. One because it went against her principles. Because she sought to save, to grow strong to nurse those close to her.
The other because he didn't need to fight to win. Because he was stronger than she was, but he could still remember when he'd been fighting to kill. And she had still called him…
"Neji-niisan, you're not paying attention." Her palm had grazed his torso.
"You're reflexes have slowed, Hinata." His counterattack had not been blocked.
"And you're wits have slowed even more, niisan." She kicked him in the ribs, his attack to her arms leaving his sides open.
He only moved an inch. "Still faster than yours." He sent her flying. She flipped, landing on her feet. A foot in front of where Uchiha Sasuke was watching.
"Sasuke-san! Gomen, I will let you two spar."
"You may stay and watch." His voice was still the same as she remembered, cool and smooth, not loud, but still piercing.
"Arigatou, Sasuke-san. May I, niisan?" At Neji's short nod, she knelt on the grass outside the area. She watched the two fight; these two Konoha shinobi. The two top ninja of their respective graduate classes.
They were similar and different, as most people are. Most of the ninja population had welcomed Sasuke back, if not with open arms, with open minds. Neji had been one of the first. Perhaps he had sympathized with the desire to exceed one's limits. The two had a silent understanding that neither held anything but respect for the other. Not now.
Hinata remembered the cold days after Sasuke's defection. She found all her comfort in the hospital. Watching her cousin, watching her friends, watching the healers.
Shizune had found her then, and had trained her until finally the Hokage had accepted her as an apprentice along side Sakura. Becoming a medic nin had made her feel stronger than any other time in her life. With the focus in healing, she had been forced to have confidence in herself. She finally proved to everyone; friends, family, fellow ninja, and most importantly herself, that she was strong enough to be Hyuuga Hinata.
Hyuuga Neji understood silence very well. Uchiha Sasuke appreciated that. He respected the Hyuuga ninja, because they both knew the value of silence. Silence without accusations, without blame. Without pointless apologies, or empty words. They sparred to express their respect for one another. They did not talk together, the only words they needed were those that came with their attacks. Sasuke did not go easy on Neji, even though Sasuke had defeated on of the original Sannin. Neji did not try to prove his worth to Uchiha Sasuke, because Sasuke already knew that Hyuuga Neji was a strong ninja.
They fought to prove that they were ninja, and that they were friends. A quiet friendship, punctuated by blows, but it was a friendship. Neither ever came out unscathed, but wasn't that the point?
Uchiha Sasuke was just another Konoha ninja now. He was one of the strongest, and one of the most well known. But he still had his problems, his dreams, his friends and his name. He had his strengths, and his weaknesses. He just a ninja after all.
Today was one of the increasingly fewer, but still numerous, days when Sasuke sent Neji flying. Hinata was up as soon as she determined that Neji was not going to land on his feet and charge back into battle. He was on his back, looking resigned. He waved away his cousin. Who ignored him, and started fussing good-naturedly anyway. Sasuke simply stood, watching.
When Hinata decided that Neji was as patched up as she was going to get him without protest she followed him back into the training arena. And softly offered Sasuke the same. He could feel Neji's white eyes on him, but declined help anyway.
Instead of the under the surface offense he expected, she laughed.
"I saw the hits you took. At least let me open the holes again. You have to be feeling the effects of that blow to your chest." Sasuke noticed Neji's ever so slight wince. Hinata must have too, for she turned and tugged at straps framing his face, pulling him down. She whispered, "You know I forgive you, niisan." Her smile was warm, as it always was, whenever she smiled.
Sasuke was obviously missing some piece of information, but it didn't really matter, for she'd whirled on him almost immediately. Two strokes and he was on the floor. He could still see the green glow of healing chakra over her hands. Neji looked unsurprised. She had obviously done this to him on more than one occasion.
She bowed formally. "Thank you for letting me watch." And she was gone.
They were different, they were similar. They were all ninja.
If you want to whine about how much it sucked, then please, offer suggestions. I'm more than willing to redo it. It's really jsut a matter of how I ought to do so. And if you aren't willing to do that, I have a family of pirahna who would love to meet you.