Chapter XVIII – Cursed
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The nurses transported Hikaru through the corridors to the room where Hinata was. The boy was nervous with all those injured soldiers, dead people and screams. He closed tightly his eyes and hid his head on the nurse's neck. Those memories would haunt him for years.
Hinata woke up and jumped from Shino's lap as soon as she saw her son.
"Hikaru! What are you doing here? Are you hurt, baby?" – She took the boy from the nurse's arms and scanned all his body, searching for a wound or scratch.
"No mom!"– Hikaru pushed Hinata's hands from his forehead-"Grandma told me to call you!"
"Your grandma? Why?"
"Because I told her Misa-chan took Hokuto-chan away! She got all scared!"- and he made a large movement with his hands.
"Misa-san…took Hokuto?" – Hinata felt her body tremble – "To where Misa took your sister?" – She asked slowly.
"I don't know. She and some other people went to the forest and never returned."
"What about Grandfather Hiashi? Hasn't he done anything?"
"Grandpa is not home yet…"
"What?"
"Hinata, your father's caravan was attacked in the morning. The Hokage sent your sister's Team to help. As far as I know they managed to win, but it delayed his arrival in several hours. I thought Neji warned you about this…" – Shino told.
"Grandfather Hideo only gave me the message telling that the war was over….and…." – All of a sudden Hinata realized her grandfather's betrayal.
Hinata put Hikaru on the ground. Looking lost; she leaned on a close wall, embraced her stomach and slid to the sit on the floor, shaking. Shino came closer, feeling his friend's anxiety.
"My baby….my baby….They took my baby away……" – she was muttering incoherently. She felt nauseated, dizzy; all her world went black.
"Hinata, calm down. Think." – Shino could see that she was near a breakdown.
"My baby! They are going to curse my baby!" – She turned to the Aburame man, with a mad expression – "I failed! I promised Neji I would take care of her and I failed miserably! My little girl will receive the Cursed Seal! They will take her away from me!!"
She was crying, exhausted and defeated.
Hikaru leaned on the room's wall and saw his beloved uncle Kiba laying on the floor, among undecipherable seals, with his body covered in bugs and healing amulets. Kiba was silent, his lips purple and his breath slow and deep. Hikaru never saw that man so quiet. He turned to watch his uncle Shino. That man who was the calm incarnated was showing traces of anger and despair. And his mom was sat on the floor, holding her knees, crying and smashing her head against the wall. Her whole body was shaking convulsively. The nurses were also trying to calm her down, but the only thing she said was my baby, my baby.
Hikaru closed his eyes. He was scared.
Suddenly he heard a slap and turned to see Shino's hand in the air and Hinata touching her cheek. A thin line of blood was on the corner of her mouth; her eyes were wide open staring Shino's face.
"Calm down, Hinata."
"Shino-kun…."
"Go to the Hyuga compound and try to save your daughter. You still have time. I will call Neji on the battlefield. This is more important than kicking Orochimaru's ass."
"T-Thank you, Shino-kun…"
Hinata ordered the nurses to watch Kiba and, holding Hikaru, she followed Shino to the Hospital exit. Each jumped to a different path.
Hinata climbed the rooftops, gathering as much chakra as she could on her feet. She felt her body respond to her efforts with pain. That surgery was too much for her. Hinata wondered if Shino would be safe in the middle of a battle against Orochimaru without chakra.
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Natsume was running slowly, slightly dizzy due to the byakugan activation. She hasn't used the bloodline limit since her academy days. Trying to avoid the anxiety of the moment, her mind flew to those days. All Hyuga born with the bloodline limit are supposed to attend the Academy. She was no exception.
But Natsume hated the shinobi life. She sucked at ninjutsu, at genjutsu and taijutsu. She was even worse at weapon mastering and chakra control. She really hated being a ninja and hated even more being a Hyuga. To hide the white eyes, she wore a long fringe covering the eyes and always walked with her head bowed. So different from her classmates, the Hyuga twins. Hiashi and Hizashi always walked together; not because they liked each other, but because Hizashi was supposed to follow and protect his brother. Hiashi was arrogant and cocky; Hizashi was quiet and shy. Three Hyuga in the same class and none spoke with each other.
One day, Jiraya-sensei moved by some twisted (or perverted) idea, decided to separate the twins and put Hizashi as Natsume's partner in the scouting class. They got along well; Hizashi was very patient with her clumsiness and complete lack of technique. Natsume discovered that the Leader's forsaken child was not arrogant or spoiled as she thought; he was a nice person. And on that day, a friendship was born and it eventually became love.
They married in their early twenties, but Natsume had serious problems to keep a pregnancy. She had some miscarriages before she finally could carry Neji's gestation up to the end. Neji was born when they were near 28 years old. He was wanted, expected and loved.
At the same time, Hiashi married a 17 year old relative from the Main Family, Midori. She was shy, sweet and peaceful; much like her daughter Hinata. Natsume was her maid for a long time.
Hiashi liked the woman and when she died giving birth to Hanabi, on her funeral Natsume told him: Now you know how I feel.
Hizashi's death was recent and her hatred towards the Main House was unbearable. Midori's death felt like Destiny's retribution. We are both fated to lose our loved ones, Hiashi.
She never allowed Neji to play with Hinata again. That Family murdered her husband and she would do anything to protect her son from the same destiny. Neji was named Hinata's protector, but Natsume didn't want her only child to die and kept him away from the Main Family, poisoning his mind with her anger.
After Neji's marriage with Hinata, Natsume forgave Hiashi and the Main Family. But the recent abduction of her granddaughter could change that feeling again…..
Something drove her away from the divagation. A fallen figure near the forest border.
Natsume could see the person was dead since there was no chakra emanating. She came closer and nothing could prevent her from the shock of seeing her own mother's dead body.
Natsume kneeled next to Sanae's body, stroke the lady's white hair, caressed her still warm face and cried.
"Who did this to you, mom?"
She touched Sanae's forehead, now bare, with no seal on it, just a fading red mark showing that her seal was activated before her death.
"So, the killer belongs to the Main House…."
Activating her byakugan again, Natsume saw 30 meters from her place the running shadows. She kneeled again, crossed her mother's hands on the chest, got up and started running again.
"They will pay for this! First my husband, then my mother! They will pay for ruining my life!"
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Hinata arrived at the Hyuga State and asked the gate sentinels:
"Has Hiashi-sama arrived?"
"Not yet, Hinata-sama."
"Where is my Grandfather?"
"I suppose he is inside the Manor, ma'am." – answered the man after some time.
"My daughter is missing." – She said, staring the man.
"Hu? Everything is normal, ma'am." – The man said, without looking in her eyes.
"I want patrollers searching the whole compound immediately!" – Hinata ordered.
"T-This is impossible, ma'am. We are under Martial Law. Sentinels, patrollers and everyone able to fight must stay on guard"
"T-This is an emergency! My daughter is missing! The enemy might have abducted her to steal the secret of byakugan!" – Hinata was shouting, nervous.
"I'm sorry, Lady Hinata. We must follow the Law. Hokuto-sama is not officially Heir to this family, so her abduction is not priority."
Hinata couldn't believe in that man's words. He was denying help to her daughter. How could Hyuga Laws be so stupid? Hinata was feeling helpless, lost. During her life others made the important decisions; and now she was all alone facing those damn laws and her grandfather's fanatic behavior. There was no Hiashi, Neji, Kurenai, Kiba, Shino nor Naruto to tell her what to do. But, one thing was certain: she couldn't afford to lose more time with that sentinel and for the first time she used her position to impose her will.
"I am the Heiress! I want patrollers and sentinels searching for my daughter! NOW!" – Her eyes were hard and her voice cold.
"Hinata-sama, I'm sorry, but you have no authority to order such thing. We can only interrupt the Martial Law by orders from the Leader or Regent. Unfortunately, none is here at the present moment…."
She fought the desire to use the Cursed Seal on that idiot. But time was running fast and it was pretty clear that her Grandfather plotted that abduction pretty well: the sentinels were in his hands. Hinata placed Hikaru on the ground, kneeled to see him in the eyes and said:
"Your dad is coming soon. Stay here and show him the way Misa took Hokuto. If grandpa Hiashi arrives first, tell him the entire story."
"I wanna go with you mommy. I don't want to be alone here….." – Hikaru was scared and feeling abandoned in all that mess.
"Oh my baby, mommy can't take you. It will be dangerous. Please, wait for your father. It is very important, dear!" – She was caressing his long hair, while fighting her own tears.
"But I wanna go!" – He frowned and started to sob – "I don't wanna be here alone!"
Hinata was getting more desperate and explain the situation to a three year old child was not easy. Hikaru crossed his arms in front of his chest and was crying low, beating his foot on the ground stubbornly.
"Please, dear! You must understand! Mommy has to go! Please!" – She was holding his little hands on hers, and crying too.
"Ok….I will wait for daddy." – said the boy, clearly upset to be left behind. He turned his back to Hinata and sat on the veranda, again, resting his elbows on knees, and head on the hands.
Hinata gave a murderous glare to the negligent sentinel and said:
"Can you protect my son, at least?"
"I'll watch over him, ma'am."
"Good."
She gave one last look to her disappointed little boy and dashed to the forest path.
Faster than Natsume she arrived at the forest border. Hinata saw Sanae's body.
"Oh Gods! Grandma Sanae!" – She put her hands on her mouth, muffling a scream.
With shaking hands, she touched the old lady's corpse. Dead. Poor grandma Sanae….
Hinata closed her eyes and cried. That day was supposed to be perfect; Neji finally admitted he loved her; she managed to get the confidence of her people and protect the Hyuga State; the battle was ending. Suddenly, everything changed to a horrible nightmare: Kiba, Shino's father, Hokuto's abduction and now Grandma Sanae….
It was like walking between heaven and hell.
Hinata laid a kiss on Sanae's cold forehead and continued her pursuit of her daughter's kidnappers.
In the forest, Hinata stopped and searched for some evidence showing the way the kidnappers took. Nothing could be found.
"Of course….they are shinobi too….." – She felt the despair rise again.
But, on a nearby tree, Hinata found a piece of cloth hanged. It was a pale blue kimono piece – Natsume's kimono. Activating the byakugan, Hinata found other pieces marking the way. Her mother-in-law was a smart person.
"Great! Thank you, Natsume-san!" – regaining some hope, she dashed following the path that the pieces showed her.
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The Hyuga forgotten Shrine was a wooden building in the heart of the forest. Old legends say that it was the Founder's first residence, birth of the Clan.
Now, it was just an old church, full of spider webs, animals' nests and climbing plants.
Part of the building had already crumbled and the wreckage was everywhere. The benches were the only thing intact. Nobody used that shrine anymore. Hyuga people liked the new shrine, built during the foundation of Konoha.
Hideo stopped in the center of the shrine, in front of a gray marble table. He made a gesture to Misa indicating the table. The ex-nanny carefully placed Hokuto on it.
With that ruckus, Hokuto was already awake, crying out loud and calling her mommy and daddy. She was frightened and trembling. But a three year old girl had no idea of what to do, except cry. As a matter of fact, she didn't understand the situation: that strange people, weird place and the look in her great-grandfather's eyes.
All seven elders positioned around the marble table. Hokuto was screaming. One of the ladies gagged the girl.
"Her father and mother are so quiet! I wonder from whom she inherited all this loudness!" – said the old lady.
"This is not important. Good idea to shut her up, so her cries won't reveal our position."
"Let's begin the marking ceremony. Misa, watch the door." – said Hideo.
"Yes, my Lord!" – Misa replied and positioned on guard near the door.
Hideo closed his eyes and activated his byakugan. Chakra glowed on his hands. The other elders also activated their bloodline limit and, joining hands, made a chakra chain around the table and the patriarch.
Hokuto could feel the chakra and stopped her cries. Suddenly, Hideo opened his eyes and gazed upon the girl. Hokuto's eyes opened wide as she felt the danger coming close.
Hideo bit his thumbs, letting the blood flow. He moved his hands to Hokuto's forehead. The girl tried to flinch, but the table was narrow, there was no where to run.
She closed her eyes as Hideo's hands touched her forehead. His fingers moved, drawing on her skin. Hokuto sensed the viscous moisture on her forehead and sometimes dropping on her eyelashes. She slowly opened her eyes to see her lap full of bloody dots. Thinking she was dying, Hokuto moved her body, kicked and punched the air, crying more, biting the cloth on her mouth.
"Somebody hold the little brat!" – Hideo ordered. One of the elders left the chakra chain and held Hokuto's arms and legs.
"Hum. The Seal is perfect. Let's make it functional." – More chakra gathered in his hands as he told those words. The little girl was still fighting.
Natsume watched in terror that entire scene. She was on a tree branch, looking through one roof opening.
"The marking ceremony is starting. I got to do something" – she searched around to see something that could be used as weapon. The only thing she found was some nuts. –"That will do. I only have to gain time until Hinata and Neji arrive."
Misa had already spotted Natsume, but was just waiting to see what the woman would do. As the nuts started to fall and hit the elders' heads, Misa decided to take action.
Jumping through the opening, she kicked the branch where Natsume was. Neji's mother fell on one of the benches, breaking it and two of her ribs.
"Humgf. Go home or you will end up like your mother." – said Hideo.
"I don't care. You are not going to curse my granddaughter! You are going to pay for what you done to my family, your mother f...!"
"Now I know from whom Neji learned all the bad language…" – Hideo smirked, staring the fallen Natsume. –" Misa, do your job. Put an end on this trash's suffering."
"Yes, sir" – and even before she finished the sentence she was already landing her elbow on Natsume's stomach.
Natsume rolled on her back, screaming in pain. She was no fighter, how would she be able to beat that freaking girl?
Misa positioned in Juken stance, waiting to give the old lady a chance to fight back. Natsume slowly got up and also positioned herself. But it was a hopeless fight. Misa was far superior. Blow after blow, Natsume had her chakra points closed and her internal organs injured.
For her, it seemed like an eternity; but the whole thing only took some minutes. Natsume was defeated on the dirty floor, unable to move, watching in despair as the ceremony continued.
"Should I finish her, sir?" – Misa asked.
"Do whatever you want." – Hideo said nonchalantly.
Misa gathered chakra on her right hand and aimed to Natsume's heart.
Natsume closed her eyes and prayed. She felt the air move as the girl's arm landed close to her chest.
But she didn't die. Instead, a blood drop fell on her neck. Natsume opened her eyes and saw Misa's arm wounded by a shurinken.
Misa didn't need to turn her head to see who threw the shurinken.
"Hideo-sama. Lady Hinata is here."
Hideo turned to see his granddaughter in the eyes. She was angry.
"Why you came here? Can't you see that you are unable to fight?" – He said.
"Get. Away. From. My. Child!" – Hinata said, between pants and heavy breaths.
"I'm not harming your child. I'm following the law. You are supposed to know this, Hinata. The existence o f two candidates for leadership is dangerous to the clan."
"When the time comes, I will choose the right successor among my children. You stay away from her!" – Hinata said, coming carefully closer to where Misa and Natsume were.
"Misa, the Heiress is not feeling cooperative today. Please, put her to rest a little." – Hideo turned his back to Hinata and resumed the sealing ceremony.
"Yes. I'm sorry, Hinata-sama." – Misa jumped to attack Hinata.
Hinata dodged the attack and managed to counterattack, aiming for Misa's arms.
Misa had an advantage: she was rested and with full power, while Hinata was nervous and weak from Kiba's surgery.
"I'm not giving up no matter how weak or tired I am! That is my ninja way!" – Hinata whispered, trying to convince herself. And repeating those words in her head like a mantra, she ran forward to hit Misa's stomach.
Misa couldn't avoid that blow. And Hinata took chance from her opponent's distraction to land another blow on her arms' chakra points. Misa received the first wave of attacks, but blocked Hinata's attempt to close her shoulders' tenketsu.
Spinning her body, Misa kicked Hinata's face, unbalancing the heiress.
Hinata tripped on the irregular floor and fell backwards. Misa jumped, aiming two deadly fingers at Hinata's chest. Hinata kneeled just in time to use a low kick in Misa, avoiding the fatal blow.
Both girls jumped back and stared at each other. Misa had calm and focused expression, barely sweating. She was truly amazed with Hinata's skills. All her life she heard how weak and unfitted the heiress was; but the woman she was facing had neither fear nor weakness in heart. On the contrary, Hinata was a brave warrior.
Hinata was panting, suffering from lack of chakra. Her whole body was hurt and tired, claiming for rest. Her byakugan was active, but she could barely pay attention on the fight. Each attack, each jutsu and each technique were driving Hinata to a bottomless pit. The only thing that chained her conscience to the real world was her daughter. She repeated over and over: I won't give up. I won't give up!
The two girls jumped forward and a wave of chakra flowed from their palms in a marvelous and deadly demonstration of the Gentle Fist.
Hideo was not watching the battle; his hands were moving on Hokuto's forehead, filling with chakra the Caged Bird Seal.
The little girl lost her will to fight due the numbness of her body and mind. She tried to call for her mommy, but words were soundless. Her eyelids were heavy, her vision unfocused. Hokuto's mouth was open: she was using it to breath, engulfing massive quantities of air.
"Hideo-sama! The girl won't survive! She is fainting!" – One of the ladies said.
"I told she was too young!" – Another woman told.
"Shut up! If she dies, we will have the same result! Only one heir is needed!" – Hideo shouted.
Hokuto's eyeballs rolled up and her body fell on the marble table. Hideo didn't stop the ritual.
Natsume witnessed in terror her granddaughter's agony. Turning her eyesight to Hinata, she realized that her daughter-in-law had no chance. Misa would finish that battle soon. Staring at the elders, she noticed that they were too concentrated on the ritual. It would be over soon.
She had to do something. Anything!
Crawling next to a wall, Natsume collected all the rocks, nuts and wooden shards she found; and threw it all on the elders' heads, disrupting their concentration.
The evil councilmen started to curse and tell her to stop. But it only made Natsume throw more rocks and shards and finally the chakra chain they were forming faded a little.
Hideo screamed:
"Somebody stop that bitch! I need the chakra chain balanced to finish this Ceremony!"
The elder that previously held Hokuto made the hand seals and activated Natsume's Cursed Seal. She screamed in pain, but continued to throw things on the elders, even with little accuracy.
The elder intensified the seal, and Natsume had a nosebleed. Fighting the excruciating pain, she moved her hand to reach a wooden shard. The elder frowned and applied more force in the punishment.
Convulsion took her body, and Natsume cried out loud, losing her conscience and falling on the dirty floor, motionless.
Hinata heard Natsume's screams and shouted:
"Stop! Stop! You are going to kill her!" – As if one of those bastards would care….
"Hinata-sama, you should worry about yourself." – and saying those words, Misa finally managed to touch Hinata's chest, damaging the internal organs and reopening an ancient wound…..
Hinata coughed vivid blood, and the medic inside her knew that it signalized an internal bleeding. Iron taste filled her mouth and she vomited more blood. Her muscles were not responding anymore and she fell on her knees. It was like she was burning from inside, her chakra was long gone, and so was her byakugan. Despite that, Hinata still raised her head and looked on Misa's eyes.
Misa saw the fighting spirit glowing in the other woman's eyes. That girl was really stubborn….and strong. A worthy opponent.
Suddenly, Hinata made another attempt to stand up. Misa was terrified. What moves her? Why she still wants to fight? It is hopeless! The ceremony will be over soon!
Curved, but up on her feet, Hinata lifted her right arm: Juken stance.
"You have no more chakra, Hinata-sama! Stop or you are going to kill yourself!" – Misa's voice sounded hysterical.
"I…am…not…giving up. I…have….changed…myself. That…is my…..n-ninja way…." – the Heiress spoke as focused her tired eyes on Misa.
Misa gave one step back, feeling fear for the first time. They were wrong! They were all wrong! She is not weak! She is a menace! I'm must finish this soon!
"H-Hideo-sama! I am asking permission to ….kill Hinata-sama! She is not cooperating with the Hyuga, s-sir!" – Misa shouted, still looking at Hinata.
Hideo stopped and turned to see. He was surprised to see his granddaughter still up and trying to fight. That ceremony was interrupted many times and Neji or Hiashi would arrive soon. Hinata's stubbornness was an unpredictable nuisance.
"Do whatever is necessary. If she dies, the Main Family will raise the boy and make him the perfect leader." – He said.
"What about the father?" – One elder asked.
"If she dies, he loses significance. We will send him and this girl to some foreign country or simply dispose of him…."
Misa didn't listen to the elders' considerations; she dashed forward, gathering chakra on her palms to unleash a final blow on Hinata.
Hinata saw Misa coming, and tried to dodge the attack, but her legs failed and she fell on her knees again. Her body was not responding, not even a bit. Is it over? Why? I tried so hard! I trained so much to be like Naruto-kun, why can't I stand up and fight again? Haven't I changed at all? Am I the same weak and withdraw person I was seven years ago? So fate does exist….and I'm destined to be weak and defeated. Sorry Neji. Sorry Hokuto, Hikaru. Sorry Naruto-kun, but you were wrong after all….
She didn't close her eyes: a true shinobi faces death.
And Hinata saw Misa coming closer, grunting.
She saw when the jounin girl stopped, eyes wide, few inches away from her, without attacking.
The only thing she didn't see was the moment that kunai pierced Misa's neck.
Hinata couldn't understand, neither Misa. But the kunai was there, draining blood from Misa's neck.
Both girls – Hinata and a wounded to death Misa – turned to see from where that kunai came.
And, at the door frame they saw Neji, Lee, Shino and Tenten – the one who threw the kunai.
"Just in time guys!" – Tenten said, rolling another sharp kunai on her index finger.
"Young and brave always arrive on time, Tenten!" – Lee smirked.
"Hinata, are you okay?" – Shino asked kneeling next to his friend.
Neji didn't speak; he was only staring at his grandfather.
"H-Hideo-sama….t-they a-are …..here" – and those were Misa's last words.
Hideo turned to see his grandson. The other elders became restless, unbalancing the chakra chain again.
"Hideo-sama! The Regent is here! Stop!"
"It is over, Hideo"
"NO! I came this far and I'm not going to retreat now! Protect me! I'll finish the sealing ceremony!"
Obeying the former leader, the other elders broke the chakra chain and formed a barrier, protecting Hideo's back.
Sweating and applying all the chakra he had, Hideo rushed to finish the seal.
"Neji, what should we do?" – Lee asked.
"Get those old timers. Kill them if necessary." – And smirking devilishly he said – "But that bastard Hideo IS MINE!"
Payback time.
Tenten jumped and opening a scroll, a kunai rain started over the heads of the elders.
Lee took advantage of the distraction his fiancée created and spun, kicking three elders.
Neji stroke one elder on the stomach, other on the forehead and a third on the chest, all in his way to Hideo.
One of the ladies tried to use the cursed seal to stop Neji, but Tenten used a wire to hold her hands.
"Not this time, ma'am!" – she gave brat smile to the woman.
Lee was still punching and kicking those elders. He was a young taijutsu master and those guys couldn't follow his pace. Besides, Lee knew Gentle Fist Technique pretty well – he was defeated by that uncountable times. But those elders were nothing compared to his eternal rival Hyuga Neji.
Shino, incapable of fighting, was trying to keep Hinata alive. His bugs were working on maintaining her chakra.
Hideo was not paying attention on the fight, rushing to finish Hokuto's seal. He couldn't notice when his grandson stopped behind him. Hideo only realized the danger when felt the murderous intent glowing from Neji. He slowly turned, thinking in a way to escape from the Hyuga Prodigy and cursing his companions' failure.
"Neji…" – he said in the most humble way he could.
"Bastard….I didn't forget a single injure, a single hard word you threw at me….I'm going to kill you." – Neji was smirking, cracking his knuckles. He was filled with joy….a murderous joy.
"Grandson…."– Hideo tried to say, appealing for the young man's emotions.
Neji laughed.
"Grandson, you say! How pathetic! I never considered you part of my family! You are just the genetic vessel used for my father conception." – His eyes were hard, cold. And his byakugan made the scene even more frightening.
"You can't deny our bloodline relation. You are just like me: cold, arrogant and power thirsty." – Hideo dropped the nice guy attitude.
"Yeah. I know. That is why we can't coexist. So, you are going to die."
"Branch House scum! Do you know that killing a member of the council is considered high treason?"
"Yes. As much as attempting against the life of any member of the Royal Family. In case you forgot, my daughter IS the Heiress' child and granddaughter to Hiashi-sama. Hokuto is from the Royal Family"
"She is the second child!"
"Who said that? She is a member of the Main House until a formal announcement is made. So, you just tried to kill a member of the Royal Family, and as Regent I'm going to punish you!" – He was still smirking.
Hideo realized that, this time, he was the one trapped in the Hyuga Laws.
"Naïve boy. The one who emerge victorious is the one who survives! If you win, I'm guilty. But If I win, you will be the criminal." – Hideo smiled and jumped, leaving the marble table between them.
Neji groaned.
Hideo performed the activation of his grandson's cursed seal. But Neji was no longer the sixteen year old boy from four years ago. He grew up in height and talent. Faster than light, he moved around the table and touched Hideo's arm with his palm, cutting the chakra circulation.
The old man jumped back and positioned in Juken stance. Neji did the same.
Attacking each other, the two Hyuga displayed all that clan's power. Hideo, in spite of his advanced age, was a master of Juken. He was not fast, but fought in many battles of the past.
Neji was young, strong and blinded by rage.
Hideo knew his only chance would be stop the kid enough time to perform the seal activation.
Neji knew his grandfather plan. He would not be fooled again.
Eyes on eyes, they stroke each others tenketsu. Hideo was tired from the marking ceremony. Neji was exhausted from the previous fight against Orochimaru.
Suddenly, Hideo tripped on one of Natsume's nuts and almost fell. Neji advanced, hands aiming to his chest, ready to kill. Desperate, Hideo held the marble table to avoid the fall and catching one of the many wooden shards on the floor, he placed it on Hokuto's heart. Neji retained his attack.
"Stop or I'm going to kill the girl. It doesn't matter anymore. The victorious will be the one who survives this battle! And even if you kill me, if this girl dies I achieve my objective!"
"Son of a bitch." – Neji felt like his arms and legs were tied.
"The bitch is your ancestor!" – Hideo laughed, dancing the wooden shard on Hokuto's chest.
Tenten, Lee, Shino and Hinata were watching that fight. All the other elders were defeated and tied in Tenten's wire.
Neji couldn't see and exit from that situation; he relaxed his body, gazed upon his fainted daughter and closed his eyes.
Hideo smiled at the young man's defeated expression.
"That is it. That is what you get from trying to break the rules!"
Neji could feel the rage burning inside him, the bittersweet taste of inferiority. He was never used to these feelings. He always fought this, trying to believe in Naruto's words. Was Destiny showing its inevitable claws? A Caged Bird will always be bound to imprisonment; singing to its master a sad melody. Hyuga Neji refused to sing that melody his whole life; better be mute than sing that. Hinata taught him that he had the keys and could open the cage anytime. But she never realized that she was caged as well.
But when everything seemed lost, Neji felt something touch his foot. Discretely he looked down and saw a wire moving, passing by him and going to Hideo's foot. With his byakugan, Neji saw Tenten pushing the wire in his direction. He understood her idea. Thanks Tenten!
Hideo was still staring his grandson, laughing. Neji treaded on the wire and concentrated chakra on his foot. Chakra traveled the wire and reached Hideo's foot.
It was like receiving an electric shock; Hideo screamed and dropped the wooden shard.
He saw the wire touching his foot and moved backwards, avoiding another shock. But he realized too late that the shock source had moved: Neji dashed and was close to him.
Hideo yelled in fury and fear, but his grandson was smirking and touched two fingers on his throat.
Their faces were so close that they could feel each others breath.
Hideo was sweating, staring at Neji's murderous eyes.
Neji smiled and moved his tongue around his fangs. He hissed:
"Farewell, grandpa." – pressing his two fingers on Hideo's throat, he closed the tenketsu there.
Hideo choked, coughed, unable to breathe. He was staring his grandson in terror. He would die asphyxiated. Falling on his knees, Hideo crawled to Neji and held his ankle.
Neji looked upon the old man with a cold and arrogant expression, removing his leg from the man's hands.
Hideo's face was turning blue and his eyes were begging for mercy. He crawled again to touch Neji.
Neji gave another step back. He was enjoying each second of Hideo's agony.
Suddenly, a kunai flew and hit Hideo's forehead, ending his suffering and his pitiful existence.
Neji turned to see who interrupted his vengeance. And he saw Hinata's stretched arm.
"Don't….be…like…he….niisan….." – she said with a feeble voice.
It was the same sensation he felt when the jounins stopped him in the Chunnin Exams. But looking at his daughter, Neji felt he didn't want to continue that bloodline of angst.
Neji held his daughter in the arms, watching in sorrow the Cursed Seal drawn on her forehead. He felt miserable.
Helped by Shino, Hinata walked to where her husband was. She touched the little girl's forehead and smiled:
"He couldn't finish the seal. We can still undo this…." – but she was too weak and only members from the Main Family do that.
"Do we have time to wait for Hiashi-sama?" – asked Neji.
"Not much. Or we finish the seal or undo it. If none is done, she will die from chakra exhaustion" – Hinata said.
"I'll search for Hiashi-sama, Neji!" – Lee said, handing the sleeping Natsume to Tenten.
"No need for that, Rock Lee." – A voice came from the old shrine's entrance.
All turned to see Hiashi, Hanabi holding Hikaru, Kurenai, Gai and several Hyuga soldiers.