Children are not to be blamed for the faults of their parents.

-Aesop


Everything was a blur, as he raced past the streets; just the colours blending into each other endlessly. Kazue's eyes were clenched shut, and so we're his fists, his legs pumping, urging him to go faster and faster, further and further.

He needed to get away from here.

He suddenly wished that he was back home, in his mother's arms as she told him stories and sung him to sleep. It was lonely, where they used to live, but at least, they were safe.

Here, everyone was always fighting and fighting and fighting. And his loving mother, a victim to their attacks.

When Sasuke had told him about his father, he'd accepted it. His papa had hurt people; Sasuke, maybe Neji, but the thought of his mama being one of them had never struck him. Never knowing him, and seeing other couples back home, he'd simply assumed that they had loved each other too.

But now, as Neji's words rang in his head, the possibility presented itself.

"I'd always feared that it would resulted in her being taken advantage of, and the fact that it's your brother makes me sick to the stomach."

His papa...

Did he hurt mama too?

He gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the possibility. His mother had always had a dazed look in her eyes when he asked about his papa. But, there had also been sadness within.

Had she been recalling all the time she spent with him? Remembering every drop of her blood he had shed? Had she truly been relieving all her pain? While he, her foolish, foolish son had been forcing her to recall her tormentor all for the sake of his curiosity.

Had that truly been the case?

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he, suddenly, stumbled over his feet, crashing into something.

He felt his knee burn as it grazed harshly against the rough ground. A cry of pain escaped his lips as he fell, coughing slightly when he inhaled dust.

He clenched his teeth at the pain, making a move to get up. A voice cut through.

"Hey! Are you o-"

Looking up, Kazue saw the two men freeze, the expression on his face changing from concern to shock to anger. The fact that Kazue registered all those emotions made him realize something.

Quite without his permission, his Sharingan had flickered on.

Before, whenever he went out, he was always accompanied with Sasuke, Kurenai or Kiba. But, now he was alone.

Kazue saw on of the men grin. Not like the one Kiba and Mirai did. Instead there was something very, very wrong with his grin. And Kazue knew exactly what.

He gulped, taking a step back, then turned, intent on running as fast as possible. However, before he could take more than two steps, someone grabbed his collar.

"Let me go!" He shouted as he struggled, his hands trying to reach the man behind him, but in vain.

He heard a laugh.

"He's the one, isn't he, Akira?!"

Another man, 'Akira', stepped forward.

"This is precious! I can't believe it! I never thought that I'd meet you in person, but here you are!"

Grabbing the front of his collar, the other man forced Kazue to face them. Then, roughly taking Kazue's jaw in his hands, the man's lips curled into a disgusted the sneer.

"Look at you. You're a spitting image of your brutal, maniac of a father. Probably as sick as him too."

Kazue bared his teeth, sudden anger erupting in his chest, at the men in front of him.

You know nothing. Nothing at all.

Before he could stop himself, the words tumbled out of his mouth.

"You don't know anything about my father!"

Akira stepped forward, his expression igniting, lips curling into a snarl.

"There isn't a shinobi alive throughout the Five Nations who doesn't know about your father!"

The man holding Kazue lifted him clean off his feet by his collar, hand letting go of his face.

"Fucking murderer. There's no doubt about it. You whole clan is sick."

He gritted his teeth, tightening his hold, watching as Kazue coughed.

"Akira? Tenso? What is going on over here?"

All eyes turned towards the newcomer.

"Hattori! Perfect timing!"

Hattori stepped forward, eyes narrowing at the scene in front of him.

"What is the meaning of this, Tenso?"

Without warning, Tenso let Kazue go, watching without sympathy as he landed in his arm, most likely injuring it. Testifying the the fact, Kazue screamed at the impact, bowing his head, so as to not give the men in front of him, the satisfaction of seeing his tears as they fell on the pavement. His shoulders shook, as he clutched his arm, all his fight gone from him, as he desperately wished for someone--anyone!-- to come for his rescue.

In a flash, Hattori was by his side.

"What the actual fuck, Tenso?!" He growled, as he slowly extended his hands towards Kazue.

Both men watched, as Hattori tended the boy.

"Don't you know? He's that child."

Hattori pursed his lips.

Of course, he knew. How could he not? Everyone was talking about it. He didn't exactly know the details, but knew that there was another Uchiha in the village. In fact, he'd seen the boy, walking side by side with Uchiha Sasuke many times.

And though, he wasn't exactly a big fan of the Uchiha, it was no reason to treat the boy like shit.

"You're both fools, you know?"

Akira and Tenso narrowed their eyes at him, fists clenching as they stepped forward.

"What was that?!"

Hattori silently regarded his comrades.

"Do you have any idea why the Hokage was been so open with this information? Why Uchiha Sasuke has been parading the boy around the village, knowing the amount of enemies he has? Did you even stop to think about it?"

Both men blinked in response, the realization dawning upon them.

"That's right. If the Hokage or the Uchiha ever hear of this, do you know what will be done to you? You will be set as an example for all others."

Hattori snorted.

"All because you were idiotic enough to not look underneath the underneath. I find myself insulted to call you a Shinobi."

Hattori turned to Kazue, gently tracing his hand over his arm. The boy flinched, biting the inside of his cheek to stop himself from crying out in pain again.

Hattori glanced at the men still in the alley, mentally debating a way to get out of this mess. They turned to him, lips curling in disgust.

"You would side with him?!"

Once again, Hattori looked at them, frowning.

"I don't know why everyone is making such a big deal about all this. Uchiha Sasuke has been pardoned for four years now, meaning he is a full fledged member of the Leaf. I fail to understand why the village still treats him, much less his son, like an enemy."

There was silence, as the three men stared at each other. Then, Akira and Tenso burst out laughing.

Hattori looked up, eyes widening in surprise, at the two men in front of him. Beside him, Kazue looked away. Unknowingly, he slightly shrunk away from Hattori, knowing that he, too, would be an enemy, once he found out.

Hattori narrowed his eyes, at being the target of their ridicule.

"Is something funny?" He asked icily.

Both men stopped laughing, though their faces were still adorning matching smirks.

"I'm not surprised you don't know. You practically live under a rock." Akira claimed. Beside him, Tenso sniggered.

Then, all at once, both turned serious.

"Brat here isn't Sasuke's son."

Hattori furrowed his eyebrows, confused.

Then, who..?

His eyes suddenly widened, remembering the only other Uchiha known to have been in existence in the last decade.

At the same time, Tenso stepped forward.

"He's Uchiha fucking Itachi's." He practically spat.

Coming to the same conclusion, the hand that had been resting on Kazue back recoiled, as Hattori gasped sharply, staring at the boy wide-eyed.

Kazue felt something clench at his heart, as he watching the fear flash through the man's eyes.

Why? Why? Why?Why?WhyWhyWhyWhy--

Looking up at Hattori, he couldn't help but feel betrayed, the said emotion settling on his face.

But, who was he kidding?

To them, he was just another monster, meant to be every bit as sadistic as his father had been.

The thought made him cry.

He wanted to go back. Go back to his mother. Back to their old home. He hated it here. He hated it! Hated it! HateditHateditHatedit--

Kazue stared at the pavement, watching as it slightly blurred, going out of focus.

The first tear fell.

"I-I'm s-sorry."

His voice was small, barely above a whisper, his hand clutching his injured arm. His head was bowed, jet black strands almost brushing the ground below, eyes clenched shut as he willed his tears to stop, but to no avail.

They just kept falling and falling and falling.

"I-I'm s-sorry. F-For being h-his son. I really really a-am."

Watching the child in front of him break, Hattori felt ashamed. Nothing was his fault. He didn't deserve to be treated like that.

He was suddenly reminded of how cruel the Shinobi world could be. Even to children.

"I-I'm sorry." He managed between sobs, "P-Papa didn't m-mean to. H-He just wanted to p-protect everyone."

Hattori furrowed his eyebrows.

What?

Kazue clutched his shirt, right in front of his chest, and gasped sharply.

Why? Why is it hurting so much?

"If P-Papa ever hurt y-you, then I-I'm sorry."

There was silence, the only thing breaking it being Kazue cries admist which were his pleas of 'Sorry'.

There was a growl, as Akira stepped forward.

"Well, guess what?" He began, so lowly that it sent shivers down Kazue's spine. He suddenly wished that the man would just continue shouting.

It made him realize that the words of a calm man were more dangerous than the words of an angry man.

Kazue clenched his eyes shut.

"You apologizing doesn't change shit. He's still the demented monster who killed his whole clan, and you are still his son."

Slow deliberate steps approached him with every word.

"No matter what you do, you will always be half him, half-devil."

Every word was cold, going straight through Kazue's chest and imprinting itself on his heart.

It did nothing to stop his tears.

Then, suddenly, the man grinned. It was the type that made Kazue want to run away, to look for safety. To go far, far away, so that he would never have to see it again.

"I almost feel bad for your mother though." Kazue whipped his head up, tear trails decorating his face, his eyes wide as he stared at the man.

"She must hate you. And now because of you she's going to die."

Kazue's blood ran cold.

What? Mama...is going to die?

Akira snorted.

"Serves her right though. For spreading her legs to that-"

But, before he could finish, he felt the breath being knocked out of his throat as he was slammed against the wall, mouth gaping in a scream.

Thick killer intent filled the alley.

Hattori gritted his teeth, trying to breath through the suffocating intent.Tenso slid to the ground, gasping in order to breath properly. His eyes watered, as he clawed at his throat, at the same time stumbling away from the figure in front of them.

The figure crouched admist them looked up, prodigal white eyes alight with anger, promising death.

Hattori paled, taking note of the person who stepped in.

Hyuga Neji.

Crap! Crap! Crap!

White eyes fixated themselves on them, glaring, his time the coldest they had ever heard.

"You dare talk about my sister in that tone?" He took a step towards them. "You deserve to die for it."

His Byakugan activated.

But before he could take two more steps, tiny hands clutched at him.

"S-Stop! Uncle, please! Stop!"

Neji froze.

Uncle?

Taking advantage of his shocked state, the Shinobi scrambled up, immediately bolting out of sight.

Snapping out of his shock, Neji gritted his teeth at their retreating figures, as he made an attempt to follow them. However, the same hands only clutched him tighter.

Neji snarled, turning around to face the boy.

"Wha-"

However, the words died in his throat.

He hadn't been as worried as Tenten and Sasuke, and it had pissed Sasuke off, especially when Neji refused to use his Byakugan to find Kazue. Neji took a deep breath, recalling what Sasuke had said to his refusal.

"If your whole clan is like you and your Uncle, then it's no wonder she ran away."

Now, as Neji stared at the boy in front of him, he saw, instead, his sweet little cousin, bruised and beaten up, crying her heart out. It was how he'd once found her after she had run away from training.

Is it true then? The reason she ran away was because of us?

Kazue looked so small against him, the baby fat on his cheeks stained with tears, wide, doe eyes shut as he shook against Neji.

He looked down at the child sobbing helplessly against him.

"D-Dont hurt them! P-Please! They will only h-hate me m-more!"

Silently, Neji crouched down, looking at the boy closely for the first time. And suddenly, he could see what Tenten saw, what Kiba saw, and what Kurenai saw. He saw what had taken his breath away.

He cried like Hinata; openly, either uncaring or unknowing of all his surroundings.

It made Neji wonder if his smile was like Hinata's too.

It made his gut twist, guilt stabbing at him, as he realized that this child shedding so many tears was his nephew.

Hinata's son.

How could he let her son suffer this much? Even worse, be the cause of his suffering? It suddenly dawned upon him that he had been wrong all along.

Gently cupping the boy's face, Neji leaned forward, placing a kiss on the boy's forehead, as he had done so many times to Hinata.

It was a promise. A promise and an apology.

Then, he carefully picked up the boy in his arms, listening as his cries subsided, until only an occasion hiccup or sniffle broke through.

Kazue clutched at his Uncle, the warmth he gave off similar to the one of his mother, as he buried his face in his shoulder.

"T-They said mama w-was going to d-d-die! Is it t-true?"

Neji gritted his teeth.

"No," he said sharply, "It isn't true. I won't allow it to be."

Kazue looked up at Neji, his pale skin and white eyes reminding him to his mother.

It reminded him of the very reason he'd run off, the words said by the very person he was snuggling into.

"Is it true?" He asked quietly, his voice hoarse, "What you said about mama and papa?"

Neji began walking, eyes closed as he realized just how much damage his words had caused. He remembered all Tenten had told him, all that Sasuke had spat out in his own bout of anger.

"Hinata's eyes are special...she saw something everyone else missed...like someone who had lost a very old and precious one."

"My brother was a hero. And it makes me sick to think that the pathetic existences he gave up his life for belonged to the likes of you."

And for the first time since Hinata returned, Neji accepted the way things were.

In response, he shook his head.

"No, it isn't. I was angry and said things I didn't mean. I'm sorry."

Kazue shifted.

"I forgive you."

Neji looked down at him.

"Just like that?"

Kazue met his eyes.

"Mama told me it's always the right thing. Instead of letting your hatred and anger against the one who wronged you fester, you should have mercy on yourself and forgive."

Neji's eyes widened, Kazue's words reminding him of another event several years ago, during the Chunnin Exams.

"I'm sorry, Lady Hinata, for all the pain I have caused you over the years. I was ignorant and blind, not knowing what to do with all my anger and hatred. I do not care if you forgive me. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't, but I would just like you to know that I regret all that I have done."

"I forgive you."

"Just like that?"

"It's the right thing, Brother Neji. I have decided to have mercy on the both of us by forgiving you."

It made Neji realize that he was still the blind, ignorant bastard he'd been years ago.

And that had to change.

With that goal in mind, Neji sighed.

But, befor that..

"Come on. Let's get you home."


THERE IT IS!!!

SAINTS, IM EXHAUSTED!!

Anyhow, what are your thoughts?

I don't know why but this chapter seemed a little weird to me. I re read it so many times, but couldnt find what was wrong.

If you guys find anything strange, be sure to tell me, kay??

Like, was Neji too OOC? Or was the chapter going too fast? Did anything even make any sense???

I really need a third opinion.

My aim was to show that even though Kazue had the face of someone Neji disliked, he still had enough of Hinata's traits to make Neji realize that he was wrong in being angry at both, Hinata and Kazue. It also made him realize that, maybe, the Hyuga had been the reason Hinata left after all.

Or something like that..

Either way...

WE ARE ONLY TWO CHAPTERS AWAY FROM THE FIRST ITACHI/HINATA MEETING!!!!

Until then, enjoy!!

-Your tired author.