A/N: As warned, this chapter will be really short because I'm in the middle of my long tests week, so it's not advisable that I stay in front of the computer for too long.
Sorry to all Neji fans…
What can I say? Ever since he hurt Naruto-kun and Hinata-chan, I've…disliked him. A LOT.
Yeah, I know he's got issues with the main and branch houses, but still…
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters, or else I wouldn't be writing on this site.
Chapter 7: Fight Destiny
"What is he doing here?" Naruto asked, looking at Sakura. As if she could explain.
"How should I know, baka!" she shot back, although she sounded more worried and frightened than angry. "What I'd like to know is why he did that!"
The medic team rushed in to help Kiba. Neji whipped around and flung kunai at them. One by one, they dropped to the ground as the kunai hit them in the neck, the chest and other vital areas.
(A/N: Yeah, I'd say Neji's that good.)
"No one comes near," he said warningly, "No one."
"N-neji-nii-san," Hinata whimpered, "why are you doing this? What's wrong?"
"I'm sick of it," he said bitterly, turning to face her, "the main has always been better than the branch, or so everyone believed. But I changed all that. I was, admittedly, at first, better than you. I was stronger. I mastered the defense technique the Hyuga's are known for at the earliest possible age. I, from the branch family, managed to surpass you."
"It encouraged the branch members, you know," he said in a softer tone, "It gave them hope that, perhaps, the main wasn't as amazing as everyone thought it should be. And in doing so, I…I did what my dad wanted me to do."
Hinata looked at him closely. Was it her imagination, or did his eyes seem slightly watery?
"I opposed fate. I opposed destiny."
"But then, everything changed. You had demonstrated you ability, and soon, the main once again surpassed the branch. We were once again the people shunned in the background. And…I-I felt it. The disappointment of the branch members."
A slight pause. He seemed to be unwilling to say anything else. But the, he strengthened his resolve.
"You can't imagine the guilt I feel," he said, looking at her straight in the eyes. "Somehow, someway, I had to prove once again that the branch could be stronger. More than anything, I had to fight destiny."
"And here's my chance. Right now. Hinata, you'll fight against me. Then I'll know if destiny really can't be opposed."
"Stop!" Tsunade yelled, panic rising in her voice, "I won't allow this! You are already Chuunin level while she is a Genin. It's un-"
"This goes beyond your power, Hokage-sama," Neji interrupted softly, "this is a family matter, so I'll have to ask you to keep out of it."
"Neji-nii-san!" Hinata yelled, drawing his attention back to her.
"D-don't do this," she whispered, bringing her hands up like a shield, "Maybe…we could do something to change the way things are. I know the guilt that you're feeling," she continued, "and I know how much it hurts. The pain of letting someone down…I felt it, too. After you defeated me in the Chuunin exams, after the elders started giving you more attention, my father was disappointed. And his disappointment hurt me a lot."
She closed her eyes, as if remembering all that had happened before.
"Believe it or not, Neji-nii-san," she said in a low but firm voice, "I, too, want to fight destiny."
He looked at her, unconvinced. And she knew; her words did not reach him. He was deafened and blinded by pain.
"We can fight destiny together," she said, her voice growing fainter, "it doesn't have to be this way."
"Yes, it does." He said, crouching into his fighting stance, eyes blazing, "Believe me, it does. Now, prepare yourself!"
"N-no," she whispered, closing her eyes. Somebody stop this, she thought wildly, before it gets out of control!
Her eyes snapped open at the sound of running. He was charging towards her, blue chakra running up and down his arm.
There was nothing she could do now. No turning back.
She blocked each and every one of his attacks, her heart unwilling to counterattack. At the same time, she tried to reason with him.
"N-neji-nii-san," she whimpered, raising both arms to form an 'X', completely stopping his punch.
"We can stop this, now!" she said, pushing his hand away, trying to get him to understand.
"I don't want to stop," he hissed, his foot connecting solidly with her jaw. He watched, satisfied, as she hit the floor with a painful groan.
"Don't you realize? This is to the death."
"No!" Naruto yelled, gripping the ledge tightly.
"N-naruto-kun, wait!" Hinata yelled. "Don't-"
It was too late. Naruto clambered on the ledge and jumped down.
"She's right!" he yelled, seething. "It doesn't have to be this way!"
"Shut up," Neji said, throwing a kunai at him. He dodged it easily.
"Baka!" he yelled, charging forward, "there's no need to do something this drastic. Listen to reason!"
Neji met him head on, intending to strike him in the chest. Naruto jumped away, glaring at him. "Are you insane? You're willing to die or commit murder, just to try and restore lost honor? That's crazy!"
His cerulean eyes widened as Neji suddenly appeared in front of him.
"So maybe it is," he said softly, plunging a kunai into Naruto's gut, "but I wouldn't expect you to understand."
"Damn…you." Naruto glared at him, his voice coming out broken.
Neji said nothing. He slowly pulled out the kunai, causing the blood to spurt and Naruto to choke.
"Naruto-kun…"
Hinata was looking at him, eyes wide and alarmed. Naruto could only gaze at her weakly. She has warned him, he didn't listen. Once again, he made the wrong choice.
He could only whisper "I'm sorry," before he hit the ground.
A/N: Hey that's the quickest time I've ever typed a chapter.
If you guys somehow read 'PONTLESS WAR', you'll notice that I love making the seemingly weak character the strongest.
What? I can relate to those characters. People always looking down on you, ignoring you coz you're worth nothing to them…
Oops. Sorry. This isn't a journal. And I just remembered something my classmate told me: "people don't want to listen to your problems, because they are of no concern to them." Sorry. Won't happen again.
Okay…on to advanced algebra…
