A/N: Okay great, no rant this time - just a few shout-outs to my most recent and kind reviewers.

dragon man 180: "Ask and ye shall receive" - that's what this chapter is about; hope it meets expectations.

Naruto fanfic: Of course Naruto is going to learn summoning; what kind of Naruto fan would I be if he couldn't? lol

Spyke the Hedgehog: THANK YOU, SOMEONE FINALLY GETS IT! The subtle hints will get more noticeable, and it will be explained, thank you. Also, I seriously appreciate the offer, and I will consider it. Hell, never hurts to have more than one beta reader, just depends because some people have more patience then others.

Okay, given that out of the way, on with the fic.

Chapter 12: "I hate white eyes!" - Origins and Trust Rebuilt

Hinata and Neji faced each other. Hinata looked worried, even trembling a little, and Neji looked at her, keeping his emotionless façade.

Ryo looked on lazily, thinking one thing: "If I'm lucky, they'll kill each other."

"I never thought I'd be facing you, Hinata-sama."

". . .Brother Neji."
Naruto jumped up at the word brother. "SIBLINGS!"

Ryo lazily spoke at the same time as Kakashi, but louder and clearer. "They're not related. It's just a term."

Kakashi sighed and continued with his explanation. "They are members of the greatest and oldest Clan of the Leaf: Clan Hyuuga. But, they aren't siblings."

Ryo muttered something incoherent at Kakashi but it was ignored.
Sakura looked up. "Then what are they?"
Kakashi sighed lazily. "Hmm. . .Well, they're members of the Hyuuga clan's main and branch houses.
Lee looked like he was about to speak, but Ryo beat him to it.
"The girl there is from the main house. The guy is from the branch." He wouldn't dignify them with names, nor would he let Lee go into a long-winded speech; he was too familiar with Gai-sensei's methods.

Sakura stared at the two Hyuugas. "Then, they're cousins. . .Won't it be difficult for them to fight?"
Ryo interrupted again; his voice seemed almost cold. "Fight? The Hyuuga don't care about family, or anyone else. They care about their honor. Fighting is nothing to them. All that matters is that they fight, and uphold their pathetic rules."
Lee butted in "You forgot that the branch and main are also on bad terms, as many things have happened between the two houses over the years."
Ryo scoffed and looked down at the girl. He was angry at all Hyuuga. He hated them, but. . .The girl looked so innocent, so afraid, he couldn't keep a hard resolve. Hinata was a different story.

Sakura looked at them. "So, they hate each other then."
"MATCH BEGIN!"
Neji placed his footing. "Before we begin, Hinata-sama, I have something to say to you." His eyes were cold and emotionless. "You don't make a good shinobi. Forfeit now!"
Ryo gripped tightly at that response. . .It brought back bad memories.

"Ryo! Forfeit now! You'll never be a good shinobi."
"Shut the Hell up! I can be as good a shinobi as anyone else! You'll see!"
"Heh, that's easy to say, but hard to do! Drop out! Now, prepare yourself!"

"Don't hold back for you won't get remorse loser!"

He shook his head as Hinata looked in shock.
"You are too kind! You wish for harmony and avoid conflict! You agree with others, never resisting! And you have no confidence in yourself! I always felt your sense of inferiority! That's why I thought it would be best for you to remain a genin. But this exam needed teams of three, and you couldn't turn down your teammates, so you were fated to be here. Is that not right?"

Ryo stared at Neji. The more he spoke, the more he wanted to take a kunai and. . . "No Ryo, calm down. You can't blow your cover over this you must relax. . .Still, that girl . . ."

Something that Hinata said shook Ryo out of his thoughts. "N-no, I-I w-wanted to. . .I just wanted to change myself. . .do it. . .myself." Ryo's eyes widened. She was. . . He couldn't hate her. He realized at that point, he couldn't hate Hinata. . .She was too much like Hana.

Ryo was training against the log when he heard a woman in the further area.

Curiously, Ryo walked to her, barely able to make it through the brush.
"Miss are you o. . .kay?" When he looked he saw a beautiful young girl around his age fighting a piece of wood; her hands were damaged and a little injured. Ryo looked and admired her a little. He walked up, and touched her shoulder.
The girl screamed in shock and turned blushing furiously.

Ryo smiled a little still blushing. "I-I'm sorry miss, I didn't mean to scare you! I was j-just t-training over there and…"
The woman blushed even harder, shuffling her feet. "I-I know y-you've be-been training here for a while, right?"
Ryo looked at her as she blushed even more, moving her fingers in a fashion showing her nervousness.
"Y-yeah I guess I have." He then looked down at his hands. "Y-your hurt, come on, I have some medicine, and I just learned this jutsu that might help. . ."

She blushed, but winced a little as he held her hand. "O-okay, ummmm. . ." She gulped in a little fear. "M-maybe we can have lunch afterwards, I usually pack too much for myself and I can cook. . ..a little."
Ryo looked her in her eyes and smiled. "Y-yeah, I'd like that. . .By the way, why were you training so hard?"
The girl blushed more. "I-I wanted to change myself, be strong like some-" She blushed horribly red trying to avoid the comment.
Ryo didn't push it any further, but smiled. "Well, maybe we can train together. My name is Musashi Ryozuki, but everyone calls me 'Ryo'."
She smiled warmly, trying to hide her blush. "All right then, I'll call you 'Ryo-kun'."

Ryo blushed at the comment and her smile.

"My name is Hanarai Hyuuga. But I don't like the long name, so 'Hana' will do."

Ryo looked on one last thought in his mind. "All right, then I'll call you 'Hana-chan'."

Ryo looked on the battle now had his full attention.

Neji spoke again. "Hinata, as I thought, you are just a spoiled brat of the Hyuuga main house. People cannot change themselves! Losers are losers. Their personality will not change."
Ryo was beyond angry at that line. He held the railing as if he could break it with his sheer force. He almost did. Naruto looked like he was ready to bite off his lip.
"Because people cannot change, differences are born. Expressions like 'elite' and 'loser' are created. Looks, brains, size, personality. . .All people judge and are judged in these values. Based on these unchangeable factors, people discriminate and are discriminated against. And they suffer within their own means. Just like the fact that I am from the branch house and you are from the main house cannot be changed."
Naruto shook with rage, and Ryo held the railing tighter; it began to break under his grip.

"I have seen through many things with this Byakugan, so I know it's just bravado. But deep inside, you just want to run away from here!"

"N-no, I really. . ." Ryo couldn't take this. He wanted to jump down there and kill Neji there and then, but he sighed and tried to gather his cool as Kakashi explained Byakugan to a curious Sakura.

Neji activated the Byakugan and Ryo could see Hinata's reaction - her fear and everything else. He just stood there, his expression was emotionless, but inside. . .it was killing him to see Hinata like that.

"You cannot fool my eyes. Against my pressure, you just floated your eyes to the upper left. That is a sign that you are remembering something painful from your past. After that you moved your eyes to the lower right: that's a sign that you are imagining physical and mental pain. That is that you are thinking of yourself and me, and imagining the outcome of this match. Imagining that you'll lose!"

Ryo couldn't take much more. He had to do something - say something.

Hinata brought a hand to her face, and began to hyperventilate.
"The action of raising your arms in front of your body. . .that shows that you are trying to create a wall between us - create distance from me. That you are trying to prevent me from figuring out how you are truly feeling."
Ryo's hand began to glow with violet chakra.
"Because everything I have said is completely true."
Hinata began to bite her lip, with her eyes forming tears.

"Furthermore, touching your lips is a personality trait revealing disturbance. . .It's a defense mechanism to soften the nervousness and worrying."

Ryo's chakra was about to burst from his body, from the sheer rage he felt. Everything was a horrible memory for him. Everything the Hyuuga said made him want them dead.

Ryo, you just looked to the upper-right and lower-left. That means that you're imagining physical pain, and you see the outcome of this match! Are you afraid?"

Ryo stood, his eyes full of hatred and determination, as Hana laid behind him. "No I was just remembering my motivation to defeat you! I'LL KILL YOU!"


Ryo was about to scream.

"So basically, in reality haven't you already realized. . .? That you cannot change you-"
"YOU CAN!"
It was shouted in unison, with full force. Naruto had expected himself to shout at full volume.
What he didn't expect was that Ryo would be shouting with him.

"STOP DECIDING THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE, YOU DUMBASS!" Naruto had used the word "idiot". "KICK THAT BASTARD'S ASS, HINATA!"

Ryo didn't say her name as lightning struck in his mind. "Hinata Hyuuga." Why hadn't it hit him before? How could he have been so blind?

Naruto was the only one talking. "Hinata, stand up for yourself! This is really hard to watch!"

Ryo looked on for the first time in a long time he looked at a Hyuuga with sympathetic eyes.

And like him, Hinata's eyes had changed completely. "I no longer. . .I NO LONGER WANT TO RUN AWAY!"
Everyone looked surprised at Hinata, but Ryo only laughed cheering. "GO HINATA!"

"Brother Neji, we fight!"
Ryo was lost in his own world. Why hadn't he seen it before as he saw Hinata fight? Her form, her flexibility, her facial expressions, everything about her. . .He stood there, lost.

"Hana, I wanted to show you a new jutsu I created!"

Hana smiled and followed him happily. "Okay Ryo-kun, let's see it."
Ryo focused his chakra to his arms, and focused them. They extended slightly, like blades on his hands, and quickly faded. He instead, had a little sweatdrop. "Heheh, it still needs a little work."

Hana cheered Ryo on. "That's great, Ryo-kun!"

Ryo smiled then, blushed heavily at her praise. "Umm, t-there's one more thing H-Hana."

Ryo jumped forward slightly, and kissed her gently as she stood there in shock, then eventually kissed back.
Ryo smiled warmly. "Happy birthday Hana-chan. . .Umm, will you go out with me?"

Hana smiled warmly and nodded as they trained together happily the rest of the day.
Now that Ryo thought about it, training on a first date had been kind of stupid.

"EVERYONE, REPORT TO THE HOKAGE'S OFFICE! KONOHA IS BEING ATTACKED! I REPEAT KONOHA IS BEING ATTACKED!"

Hana and Ryo gripped tightly nodded and sped off.

Ryo sighed as he watched. He could tell slowly, but surely, of the fight, and he admired Hinata greatly.
But Neji was winning.

Everyone else thought otherwise, but Ryo saw as slowly, but surely, Hinata was slowing down, and Neji was getting in more and more hits.

At the end, everyone realized who had won when Hinata spat out blood.

"So, this is it the extent of the main house's strength?"

Hinata went to attack, but like Ryo, had seen Neji come, dodge and strike her arm.

As he pulled her sleeve, everyone had seen as Ryo did earlier.
Her tenketsu were closed.

Neji then shot her back.
"Hinata-sama, this is the difference that divides the elite from a loser. This is the difference in talent that can never change. This is the reality that can never change. You said, 'I do not want to run', but you were trying to set yourself up for regret. You should be overcome with desperation right about now."

Hinata got up slowly "I don't. . .go back on my word." She smiled. "That is also my ninja way."

Ryo stood there in shock. She was still standing? He couldn't think straight after that point. She was coughing up blood, her body was at her limit, and then it hit him: he put two and two together and looked at Naruto, then inwardly laughed. "Heh! Of course. History repeats."

"YOU CAN DO IT, HINATA!"
Ryo looked weakly to Naruto; he still cheered her on. Of course he would. It made sense years ago that he would've done the same thing.

He didn't know the girl could push herself so hard though, as she went in to strike again.
And again. . .and again. . .and again, until she fell.

"You don't understand anything. From the beginning, your attacks have done nothing!"
The jounin running the match then went over Ryo and bit his tongue. He didn't want her to quit.

"Continuing is impossible, therefore the win-"
"DON'T STOP THE MATCH!"
Ryo looked at Naruto weakly, then looked down, even weaker. It hurt him to watch this.
She was getting up again. "It's not over yet!"
"Acting tough is useless. You can barely stand, I can see that. From the time of your birth, your role in the Hyuuga house has been forced upon you. You have always hated yourself for your own weakness. But people cannot change, that is destiny. There is no need to suffer anymore. Let it go!"
Ryo stood up. He had made his decision, and walked to the stairs. He knew what would happen next, but a little voice changed his ideal completely, causing him to stop.

"That's. . .not true Brother Neji. Because I can see it. . .it's not true at all. The person suffering within the destiny of the main and branch houses is you."

Neji then charged as the jounin snapped to attention. "NEJI-KUN, THE MATCH IS OVER!"

Neji was stopped as all the jounin caught him. Gai, holding his neck and shoulders, Kurenai holding one arm, Kakashi holding the other, and the other jounin separating him and Hinata.

Gai spoke to his student as he held him back. "Neji! Give it a rest. You gave me a warm promise not to lose your head over this main family stuff."

Neji scoffed. "Why do even other jounin jump in. . .? Oh, more special treatment for the main family."

Ryo sighed. He actually agreed with the Hyuuga brat, but that wasn't his concern as he calmly walked down the stairs.
He guessed correctly, as Hinata's organs gave out and she fell to the ground. And Ryo was right there to catch her.

Very quickly, Naruto and the others joined him. "She needs medical attention now." Ryo said it almost coldly.

Neji looked like he was to say something, but Ryo smiled at him, making him gulp in fear as Ryo held his eyes closed. He looked to Neji as if Ryo were to open his eyes, the Hyuuga might die of fear.
So he focused on Naruto.

"Hey. . .the loser over there! I'd like to tell you two things. If you're a shinobi, then cut out the pathetic cheering for others. . .And one more thing. . .in the end a loser is a loser. They cannot change that."

Naruto glared. "You want to test me?"

Neji laughed and smirked as Naruto went to charge. As soon as he charged, Rock Lee stopped him. . .But Ryo wasn't, as Neji went flying into the nearest wall.

Everyone stared in shock as Naruto stood there, chakra blaring in his fist.
"People cannot change. . .Heh, that's bull. You better pray you don't get me in the matches, Hyuuga!"
Ryo was then pinned down by all the jounin, but Ryo only held up his hands. "I'm sorry I lost my cool; it was unlike a shinobi for me to do so."
Naruto had smirked but, was a little annoyed he had wanted to do so.
Neji looked like he could rip off Ryo's head he was so angry.

Ryo then walked backwards as Hinata coughed blood. Everyone turned their attention to her, and Ryo slipped away from sight.
Kurenai was the first to run up to her. "Her heartbeat is erratic!"

She then glared at Neji.
Neji regained his look of indifference. "If you have time to glare at me, then take care of her."

"MEDICAL TEAM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING! HURRY UP!"

Naruto was still there even though Ryo wasn't, as he took out his fist covered in Hinata's blood.
"I promise. . .," he said, then looked at Neji with hate in his eyes. "I will win!"

"Ryo-kun, are you all right?"
"Y-yeah I-I think so. . . Where is the enemy? Is Konoha still under attack? Are you okay!"

She smiled warmly at him.
"No Ryo-kun, you did it! We won! You're a hero!"

Ryo laughed at the words. "Hero. . .my mind just won't let me forget." He then walked into the medical room as his formal form. "Damn her heart is still failing! We need more chakra."
"Move."
Ryo didn't look at them. He didn't question them. He just shoved them out of the way and began doing seals as his two hands began to glow with chakra. "Focus on removing the Hyuuga's chakra from the girl, then you purify chakra and send it through her coils for a healing effect. Pay attention! You guys always screw shit like this up!"
The medical team was speechless. They didn't know what to do. Call the Hokage? Attack him? They decided to finally let him heal the girl.

Ryo then looked to them. "Clarification number for medical anbu squad is 142769, medical anbu attack infiltration specialist. Code name 'Weapon.'"
Some of the medical ninja stood there in confusion.
But two of the elder ninja stared at him, jaws dropped. "R-Ryo-s-sama! B-but you were-I saw you!"
Ryo laughed. "Did you see me that day?" He then looked at him with his right eye, which made the man pale as a ghost. "Then you'll know that if you say anything about it, I'll kill you where you stand. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to speak with the Hyuuga girl."
The medical ninja swallowed and spoke. "S-sir i-I am fully aware of you're ideals towards the Hyuuga I will not allow you to harm the girl!"
Ryo turned and smiled at him. "Really now? Well, do you think that you can really stop me? Also, I would like to state if I wanted her injured, she wouldn't be healed right now. Now I'll say this again." His voice turned dead cold. "If you value your lives, GET OUT!"
They ran like Hell; they didn't know what else to do so they ran, or more like they were pushed out by chakra.
"S-such sh-sheer force! I-is he a monster sir?"
"No. . .He's a weapon."

Ryo scoffed. "SHUT UP ALREADY!" He slammed the door and looked over at the girl who was finally starting to wake up.
"N-Nar-Naruto-kun?"
Ryo laughed. "Nope, sorry Hinata-chan. How are you feeling?"

Hinata snapped up, blushing like crazy that she had been talking about Naruto in her half-awake state. "U-umm, who are you?"
Ryo smiled. "Just a doctor Hinata-chan. . .I saw your match."
Hinata looked down. "I lost."
"I wasn't expecting you to win."
She almost cried at that.
"But then again, I wasn't expecting you to fight. . .You really impressed Naruto there. He promised to beat Neji, just for you."
Hinata blushed, twiddling her fingers. "Naruto-kun is going to fight for me?" she thought.

Ryo smiled. "Your mother would've been proud of you, Hinata-chan. You're almost identical to her."
Hinata looked up, confused. She had never met her mother, as she had died when she was born. "Y-you knew my mother?"
Ryo laughed. "Yes, I did. I knew her before your father, and I knew her as. . .more than a friend."
Hinata's eyes widened, her body still shaking from earlier.
"Hinata, I'll tell you a story. . ."

Done. I decided by the time I had finished the extra-long chapter like I had planned, we'd never see another chapter for a long time. Besides my poor, loving beta reader would have to read like, 50 pages of work. :laughs nervously: I know, it's evil, but you'll have to live with it. Next up, Chapter 13: A Story of a Girl. It's going to be all flashbacks people, deal with it.