*Waves awkwardly* Uh, hello, Xejis here.

Sorry for the super long wait. My last semester was actively trying to kill me. But, I managed to graduate still, relatively, intact and have secured a job. So, yeah. Things are looking up in RL.

Warning: Use of headcanon for the Hyuuga clan, and the byakugan since we don't get a lot of that in canon (*Side eyes a certain other clan that took center stage with their melodrama…*). Also, there are a couple of mild breakdowns and an almost panic attack.

"The more someone cares for me, the more scared I get. Scared that someday, something terrible will happen."
Natsume Takashi (Natsume Yuujinchou)

He twisted out of the way of another sand attack and brought his hand up to trail along the edge of it, disrupting the chakra he could see woven into the tiny grains. The sand fell uselessly to the ground. He barely managed to stop himself from wincing at the feel of the strange chakra. His hands itched and burned from even the barest of touches.

Neji didn't dare glance at the other strange chakra dancing in the trees with the S-class traitor, but he didn't have to with the way the boy's chakra hung heavy in the air around him, visible to those even without a Byakugan. It was like nothing he had ever seen before.

His attention was caught by the battle before him once more when he noticed an attack aimed at Tenten. He grimaced and darted forward to intercept it.

With a twist and a brush of his hand he redirected the blow and disrupted the chakra. His teammate smiled gratefully, but he ignored her in favor of diving back into the fight.

He had to give the Nara boy credit, though it was likely just fate that led to him fighting this opponent. The blond girl and the boy with the face paint were mid to long range fighters. It would have made it more difficult for him to land his strikes. Orochimaru likely knew all the weaknesses of their clan from his horrid experiments and wouldn't have allowed Neji to get close either.

No, this was the perfect opponent for him.

The sand was a formable defense and was keeping his team at a distance, but he was wearing down the redhead's defenses by disrupting the chakra flow in the sand itself. So far, the redhead didn't even seem to notice due to his irate state of mind.

(It was a battle between the ultimate defenses. Truly a fated match, designed to test his abilities as a Hyuuga.)

He narrowed his eyes as Lee leaped in with another pointless attack. His speed was acceptable, but he still couldn't break through their opponent's defenses.

(It was a perfect illustration of Lee's futile attempts at beating him. He was already injured from his earlier fight, he should learn his place and bow out of this fight.)

Tenten wasn't much better, even uninjured. While her proficiency with weapons was devastating in most battles and missions they had completed, their opponent's defenses didn't let any of her blades land. She was left playing long-range interference with explosion tags tied to precisely thrown kunai.

The Uchiha, on the other hand, was doing more damage with his fire and water jutsus than either of his teammates even as he grew wearier from the exhaustion of fighting two battles back to back and his own injuries.

Neji shook his head and leaped into the fray once more. A barrier had just been erected around the training grounds, and he wanted to immobilize his opponent before reinforcements arrived. He would prove his strength as a Hyuuga and master of the Gentle Fist.

It all happened in a split second.

The orange haired genin was pulled into their battle and attack viciously by the sand.

(He pushed back the irritation at another interfering in favor of continuing his steady attack. Ignoring his companions pointless attacks.)

Lee continued his blitz kicks and Tenten continued her own long-distance attacks.

Neither of them had landed a successful hit until that moment.

He doubted Tenten even expected her kunai to land, judging from her shocked look.

With a click of his tongue, he moved in for a final attack.

"Everyone get back!" The orange haired boy shouted frantically. "Get away from him now!"

(Neji paid him no heed. He knew he could finish this battle. He was strong enough.)

A split second was all it took, for everything to go crumbling down.

The scream was disturbing, and the surge of chakra was nearly blinding.

It made him catch his breath and freeze at the sheer magnitude.

(The sheer rage.)

If one were to ask any civilian on the street what they thought of chakra the likely response would be confusion; not knowing what it was. If one were to ask any shinobi on the street what their opinion of chakra was, they'd likely say that it was useful. If one were to ask a Hyuuga what they thought of chakra, the likely response would be that it was beautiful. While other shinobi and clans could catch glimpses of the life energy, the Hyuuga's Byakugan saw more. They saw the way it danced throughout the chakra systems. The way it healed, and the way it destroyed.

They saw it and they loved it.

Neji still remembered the stories his father used to tell him about the history of the Hyuuga clan. How they developed the Gentle Fist to compliment the chakra to utilize the gift they were given. He remembered the way his father would describe the dance it was originally developed from, before the clan wars. Before it became necessary to fight and defend. Before the clan was divided and most of it shackled with the mark he now bore on his forehead. Neji used to love those stories. But, now they left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Of all those stories; however, one found its way to the forefront of his mind at that moment.

His father always told it in a somber tone, very different from his other stories.

The story of the nine tails attack.

His father said that the beast's chakra was as beautiful as it was deadly. It was an all-consuming fiery rage of death and desperation.

Neji didn't really understand then, but as he gazed into the swirling depths of his opponent's chakra he was starting too.

(Rage and insanity mixed together to create a beautiful, deadly combination.)

He was frozen. Unable to move, unable to think.

The boy became a beast in front of his eyes. Sand that littered the ground rose up once more and surrounded him. It was forming something. Something that made his skin crawl and his heart beat rapidly in his chest. The face came first and as impossible as it seemed, he found himself staring directly into the beady golden eye of a monster as it twisted itself around the redhead's face and slowly came to life from the sand.

The tail came next. Lashing out behind, its chakra almost humming from the tightly packed intensity.

Neji saw the attack coming.

A simple swoop of the tail, aiming directly for him.

He knew it would be fatal.

But he still couldn't move.

'This is what I get for attempting to go against fate.'

(He knew. Deep down his petty rebellions against the clan were useless in the end. It amounted to nothing because he was nothing. Nothing more than branch family fodder. Like his father. An expendable tool for the main branch.)

He tried not to tense for the attack, but his muscles wouldn't listen.

(He was always trying to resist. Trying to fight. Even when he knew it was useless.)

His eyes slipped closed.

(This was the end.)

"You will not hurt him!"

Crunch.

The warm splash of blood felt like fire against his cheeks.

(It wasn't his blood.)

When he opened his eyes all he could see was green and red. The body fell into him, knocking them both completely to the ground.

Lee's face was white with pain. His upper body took the brunt of the attack. His arms lay twisted on his lap as he slouched into Neji.

Blood soaked both of their clothes.

"Why…" The word came out strangled and weak. He couldn't find the words to finish the question.

Despite his pain, Lee managed a trembling grin, but when he opened his mouth, there were no words, just blood as Lee coughed and shuddered.

(This was his fault.)

Everything hurt.

Her ears were still ringing, and her hearing was still a bit spotty. Her nose felt like it was on fire. She had to breathe through her mouth in sharp gasp like breaths because her chest felt like it was caving in on her.

Sakura had never been in so much pain before.

Nor had she felt so compelled to continue to fight despite the pain.

She marched forward determinedly, her eyes focused on the pair, that still looked frightened over their teammates' current breakdown. She felt Ino's aborted motion to hold her back, but she ignored it.

"We don't have to fight." She tried not to wince at how nasally her voice sounded. "Something is wrong. There is a Konoha traitor here. Our Hokage will probably call off the chunin exams. We should work together until Konoha shinobi arrive to deal with him."

The blonde's expression went blank the moment Sakura started talking. Her blue-green eyes were flinty and cold, only changing into worry and fear when she glanced at their redheaded teammate. Sakura turned to Kankuro. They only talked briefly, but he was very nice and just as excited at her to figure out how to beat the first task.

She felt her stomach drop.

There was an apologetic look in his eye and a reluctant frown on his painted lips. His hand twitched up before going limp again like he was going to scratch at the back of his neck before he pushed that impulse down.

"Sorry," His blond teammate glanced sharply at him and he winced.

Sakura frowned. "What do you mean? This test has been compromised. We shouldn't fight anymore."

"Tamari…" Kankuro glanced at his teammate imploringly, his fingers tapping at his thigh nervously.

She frowned, uncertainty flashed across her face lighting fast before it was blank once more. She glanced at their other teammate and sighed softly. With a flick of her wrist, her fan was in his hands.

"Our mission was ruined the moment Gaara went off script." She glared at them fiercely. "Might as well put up a fight before we're captured and executed."

"Sis…" Kakuro sighed and brought a hand up to rub his neck, smudging the face paint on his jaw. "Alright."

Sakura felt her teammates move to her side. Their presence soothed the pit forming in her stomach, but not by much.

"Your mission…" Kenta murmured.

"You're traitors." Ino snarled lowly, putting the pieces together that Sakura didn't want too. "We have an alliance."

Sakura watched as Kankuro twirled his puppet with a devil-may-care smile painted on his face.

"Konoha has gotten too comfortable. Too bigheaded. We just wanted to bring ya down a peg and maybe poach some territory and clients while we're at it."

His eyes met Sakura's briefly before he looked away.

(There was fear in his eyes.)

They held spars throughout the academy. Sakura never did very well in them. She memorized the moves they were taught. The blocks, the kicks, the punches. She used to practice at home until her movements were perfect. But, just practicing moves in the mirror never helped her in the spars. It had always frustrated her, but she made up for it in everything else.

It wasn't until Gekkō-sensei started drilling her in taijutsu that she finally understood what was wrong.

She didn't react fast enough to her opponent's attacks because she was so focused on trying to make her movements textbook perfect. But, that's not how real fighting worked.

It was quick and unpredictable. If you focused too much on your own movements, you'd lose in a heartbeat.

Sensei taught her that.

(Things didn't have to be perfect. As long as it worked. Like her punch earlier. It wasn't perfect, and she got hit, but she messed up her opponent more than he did her. That was a win.)

The puppet shot forward with a twitch of Kankuro's fingers. Nothing in his expression or body language gave his attack away, except for the fingers.

The same fingers she had been watching the whole time.

Her body screamed at her as she shifted her weight back and twisted, but she didn't stop. She raised her foot and pushed her momentum into the kick catching the puppet square in the face before it could reach Hasegawa.

She hit it hard enough for the wood to crack and the head to spin around.

"Hey!" The other boy shouted and tugged his puppet back. "Don't break him!"

Sakura turned her scowl in him.

"Why not?" She growled. "You're a traitor!"

(Distantly, she wondered if she was a little too angry. They only talked once, after all. But now that memory of shared success was tainted.)

Kankuro grimaced. "It's not personal or anything. Fights between villages happen all the time."

Sakura narrowed her eyes and shifted into a fighting stance. She heard, more than saw Ino and Choji engage the blond girl. The wind from her attack made Sakura's hair fly around wildly. She scowled to herself, wondering when exactly her hair tie fell out.

She didn't allow herself to remain distracted for long.

(This wasn't for fun anymore. This wasn't just training. This was real. And if she didn't fight, then she'd die.)

She slammed into Kankuro's puppet without hesitation. Her shoulder took the brunt of the attack while her fist struck out in a jab; cracking the wooden chest and allowing her to get a peek at the weapons and mechanics of it.

Sakura scowled. Not good enough.

Kankuro was a difficult opponent. His puppet allowed him to attack from a distance and it carried an assortment of weapons ready to stab, slash or be thrown at a single twitch of his fingers. Any attempt at getting close resulted in him replacing his body with sand or his own puppet.

Sakura panted harshly as she wiped the sweat out of her eyes in annoyance.

Everything hurt, and it was getting harder and harder to concentrate on her chakra control. Kakuro turned to her and she tensed. But, before he could attack his blonde teammate's wind ninjutsu slammed between them as she fought off a tag team by Ino and Choji. They both leaped back to avoided being hit. Sakura winced as her ribs were jostled from her rough landing.

"Watch it!" Kankuro snapped towards his teammate, but only got an annoyed grunt in return.

He glanced toward his redheaded teammate, barely visible through the shifting sands, and Sakura took her chance.

"Suna has been allied with Konoha for years! You're breaking our treaty!" She charged forward while shouting. She kept her eye carefully trained on her opponent as he shifted his attention back to her.

Kenta dove at Kankuro from behind nearly clipping him in the head with a punch, but the Suna shinobi dodged to the side at the last moment. Hasegawa was there to meet him with a kick to his kneecaps. Her teammate cheered when Kankuro went down with a cry, but it turned into a cry of frustration when the body turned into sand. For the fifth time.

Sakura bit back a curse.

"I thought this was the chunin exam!" Hasegawa snapped. "That means we're all supposed to be genin!"

"Technically we are," Kankuro answered from a branch above them and gave them a strained grin as his eyes drifted away again. "We just got some extra training since we're the Kazekages kids. Gotta make sure we aren't killed by random assassins after all."

Sakura narrowed her eyes.

(This really was a declaration of war.)

"Incoming!" Ino shouted tugging Sakura back as another wind blast blew past them, tearing up the ground where they were previously standing.

"This chick is strong and clever too. We're not making much headway." Ino muttered. "How's your guy."

"Pretty good at dodging and his puppet has a lot of tricks," Sakura replied.

"Hmph. So, crappy situation all around." Pale blue eyes darted worriedly to her other wayward teammate battling probably the most dangerous missing-nin from Konoha.

(And if that didn't show how insane this situation was, Sakura didn't know what would. This was not how she expected her first chunin exam to go. Why was this happening?)

"We probably have the better deal." Sakura murmured, eyes darting to Sasuke dancing with fire and sand, looking pale and frustrated.

Ino groaned. "That's the worst part."

"If we can stop these guys," Sakura started. "Then we can help them."

Pale blue eyes ghosted over her briefly as the other girl frowned. "You shouldn't even be standing right now, much less fighting."

She turned sharply to face her former friend. "I can't just-"

A hand gripped her shoulder, keeping her in place in front of Ino. She could hear the battle continuing behind her and it made her tense with worry.

(If she couldn't see the attack…)

"I know." Ino flashed her a smile and with her free hand tapped under her right eye. "Just leave it to me. My team didn't sit around doing nothing, you know. We're Konoha shinobi too."

Sakura blinked slowly.

(What was she trying to…oh.)

She felt a grin tug at her lips. It was all teeth.

Sakura didn't move when Ino released her shoulder and watched silently as the girl shifted through hand movements in rapid-fire succession.

"Hey, stop gossiping and figh-erk."

Sakura had spun around at the last minute. She knocked the puppet aside with a fluid backfist. Which left Kankuro completely open for Ino's attack.

It was almost easy after that.

The blond-haired shinobi never expected her own teammate to turn against her suddenly and Choji was able to knock them both to the ground and tie them up with the help of Sakura's teammates.

Things were looking up.

Until they weren't.

Sakura choked, falling to her knees in shock.

(Too much. Too much. What was that?! Wrath, pain, death, fear.)

(Need to run.)

(Need to RUN!)

She fought against every fiber of her being to look up, towards the sudden influx of suffocating chakra.

It was the redhead.

"Gaara!" The blonde Suna girl cried out, tears falling down her face. "No!"

Sakura felt her own eyes water despite her best efforts.

(Why. Why was this happening?)

Ino was trembling beside her.

"Sensei…please…" She closed her eyes. But, she had no idea what she wanted to ask. For protection? For comfort? To take her away from this nightmare and tell her it wasn't real?

(This was too much. She couldn't… it was all too much.)

The screaming turned to laughter halfway through. It was an abrupt shift that reminded him of his time as a Root spy. People broke sometimes. They couldn't handle the pressure, and they snapped. After being caught in the aftermath once, Kabuto learned to read the signs and distance himself from the resulting disaster.

That's what made him one of the best.

(It's also what got him into dangerous territory with Danzo. He liked his broken toys better. Easier to mold. Easier to control.)

This; however, was on a completely different scale.

It was complete and utter chaos.

Even from his perch high and hidden away from the battle, he could feel the waves of wrathful chakra soaking the air. He wasn't sure if he was far enough away not to get caught up in the aftermath of what was undoubtedly going to be a bloodbath.

"Heh," He murmured to himself. "Bijuu are terrifying."

(But, also interesting.)

He could see why Orochimaru would be interested in the younger Uzumaki if this was just the One-tails power. If one could harness all that power properly they'd be a menace.

Kabuto rocked back on his heels.

Then again, everyone already knew that. That's why jinchuuriki exist. So, what made the little Uzumaki so different that he would grab his masters attention even in the midst of his obsession over the Sharingan? There was still so much he didn't know about this situation.

His master landed lightly on the branch beside him.

Kabuto didn't even spare him a glance. Keeping his eyes on the scene below.

"Are we leaving?"

Orochimaru hummed. "Not yet. I want to watch."

Kabuto raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "We're toeing the line a little bit here. The Hokage set up a barrier and everything. Basically, all our plans are ruined at this point."

The man shrugged. "All the more reason to watch."

He shook his head as his eyes slid over to the man. "What exactly did you see in that boy?"

His master merely smiled. "Look and listen for yourself. If I'm right…well, this should be interesting."

Kabuto turned his attention back to the battle below. The other Suna shinobi were tied up on the edge of the clearing, with a handful of Konoha shinobi, out of the immediate danger zone but not completely safe. The One-tail had formed its head and tail, attaching itself to its host like a parasite. One of the genin who had been fighting the jinchuuriki was already down with his arms twisted in a way that made Kabuto nearly wince. It looked like the Hyuuga would be next.

"Looks like the older brother finally woke up." Orochimaru murmured, just as a blond blur dove towards the two genin trailing explosion tags in his wake.

The Uchiha twirled into view between the genin and the monster, adding his clans signature flames as the tags activated in the One-tails face. The blond Uzumaki gathered up the injured genin in his arms and dove out of range, while the Uchiha turned and tugged at the Hyuuga harshly, dragging him out range when the boy hesitated too long.

The One-tails recovered quickly. Eye roaming; searching.

And suddenly uncanny golden eyes focused on its new target. The younger Uzumaki. Still frozen a small distance away, looking conflicted and utterly terrified.

(What did his master see in him?)

"WHeRE Is KURaMA? I FELt HIM." The bjiuu tilted its head and bared its teeth at the younger Uzumaki. "YOU're LEAKing hIS cHaKRa! ARE YoU…?"

It broke into disjointed laughter. It was high pitched and grating. The laughter of the unhinged. The sands around it shifted to form more of its body around its host even as it cackled in sheer delight.

"That BASTaRd gOt CAUght? HA! SerVES hiM RIGHt!"

With a lightning fast slash of its tail, the orange haired genin was sent flying into the nearest tree.

He blinked. 'Huh, I expected more.'

Kabuto rocked back on his heals eyes drifting to the forest. It wouldn't be long before backup arrived. It would be difficult to get out of this predicament, but not entirely impossible. His master had many tricks, after all.

He glanced at Orochimaru again, but the man was still focused on the battle below. He sighed and settled back down to watch. He didn't understand. The kid was lucky if he was alive after that last blow and even if he did survive he wasn't going to be able to join this fight again.

(We should just leave. This is just a passing interest, we shouldn't be risking so much for this.)

He kept his eyes trained on the battle regardless. His master had told him to watch and listen, so he did.

Oh.

Oh.

He clutched the seals within the hidden pocket of his vest.

He was running out of time.

No, he was already out of time.

He should have known.

He should have been more careful.

He should have never let them enter this exam.

"Kakashi!" He ignored the call of the other sensei. "Wait!"

He shouldn't have taken this team in the first place.

Obviously, something would go wrong.

Something always goes wrong.

It goes wrong, and someone dies.

And Kakashi is left to pick up the pieces.

(Alone.)

This was everything he didn't want to happen and more.

(He deserved every second of it.)

Kurama let out a soft breath and ignoring the sharp pain every movement brought. He couldn't move his left arm anymore. He couldn't even feel it. Kurama stared up at the branches of the tree above him, eyes not quite able to focus. He could hear Shukaku still chuckling over his realization, muttering incoherently about Kurama not being so big and bad now.

(Why? Why did this have to happen? He worked so hard. He tried so hard to prevent something like this from happening. This wasn't what he wanted. He couldn't...he couldn't handle this. He was too weak and injured from his last couple of battles. He couldn't fight. Couldn't defend. Too pathetic. Too small.)

He didn't even realize he was trembling until pain shot through him from the jostling of his wounds.

It was hard to breathe.

Kurama managed to push himself up to a semi-sitting position and tried to focus on what was happening around him.

But, he couldn't.

His vision was blurry, and darkness crept around the edges of his sight. And he still couldn't focus. His chest was burning. It felt like his heart was going to leap out of his chest. He lifted a hand to clutch at his chest. It felt like his heart was trying to escape from his chest. His skin felt tight. It felt like a noose was tightening slowly around his neck. His hand went higher to scratch at his neck in hopes of relieving the pressure.

Then he heard his brother scream.

Kurama sucked in a sharp gasp of air and raised his head.

Naruto. (Stupid, brave, kind) Naruto had his leg caught by Shukaku's sand while trying to defend the other genin. He was twisting and shouting valiantly, but all it took was a slight tightening of sand and Kurama could hear the crack from where he was still slouched across the clearing.

(No. What was he doing? He couldn't let this happen. He couldn't just sit here.)

He took a breath, then another, and another.

Shukaku tossed Naruto away like a child throwing a broken toy and Kurama tracked his movement as he slowly got to his feet, wincing at every sharp pain that even the most minuscule of movements brought.

(He couldn't move. Couldn't do anything. Too weak.)

A flash of dark hair and furious red eyes leaped into view and caught the blond. Sasuke darted between attacks and practically tossed Naruto at Shikamaru before twisting back around and letting loose another burst of flames towards an oncoming attack.

The Uchiha was exhausted.

Kurama could tell. He could feel his fear. It was tangible, even under the weight of Shukaku rampaging emotions. He could feel all their fear; their horror; their pain. Kurama swayed.

(He couldn't do anything.)

He could barely stand.

Sasuke was thrown back landing closer to Kurama with a heavy thump and rush of expelled air.

He stared at the boy silently for a moment. Then he shifted his gaze over the huddled group of genin on the other side of the clearing. Then to Shikamaru trying to flee towards that group with Naruto slumped on his back.

Finally, he turned his gaze to his irate bijuu brother. He was terrifying in the red light cast by the barrier. All swirling sand and sharp teeth. He was slowly building his body around his host. Growing larger even as he still cackled wildly.

(If he didn't do something then everyone here would die.)

(But, he couldn't do anything.)

Except…maybe he could.

Shukaku was merely a shell of his former self, still trapped by the seal even as he squirmed and squeezed his consciousness into the physical world. If Kurama broke the seal within himself he'd be stronger. He could beat him and protect the other genin even at half his strength.

(He didn't have to be so weak.)

(He could be free.)

Kurama ignored the sudden pain that squeezed at his heart and the burning in his eyes. He pushed forward. Decision made.

By the time he made it to Sasuke, the boy had already pushed himself to a sitting position and was blinking dazedly at the world around him. Kurama fell to his knees, body, and heart still screaming in pain. He ignored them both, in favor of catching the Uchiha's attention.

"Sasuke! Sasuke, please listen to me! Things are probably going to get crazy after this. I don't know what's going to happen to me, but please. Promise me you'll protect Naruto. If I'm…If I can't…Please, just promise me you'll stay by his side. He needs someone…you both do. Promise me." His voice was hoarse and he struggled to get the words past the sudden lump in his throat.

He had to do this. This wasn't like before in the forest. He wasn't just doing this for himself. For his own image.

(If they continued to fight Shukaku…)

He took a breath, then another.

(This was for them.)

Shukaku had completely wrapped himself around his host's body and was slowly pilling on sand to make himself bigger. Likely trying to reach his former mass.

Kurama placed himself between his bijuu brother and the other genin.

"Shukaku!"

Focus on me. Only on me. Ignore everyone else. Please. Please. Ignore them. Don't hurt them. Just focus on me. I'm the one who deserves all your ire.

"I am Kurama. Not a Jinchuuriki. It's me." He couldn't stand tall, nor shout the words defiantly. He probably looked like a pathetic mess of blood and bruises. But, golden eyes met his with the strange stillness that came with shock.

"IMposSiBLE! YoU, YOU're…"

(Weak. Pathetic. Tired. And, incredibly human against his will.)

Kurama winced. "It's true."

His chakra was sluggish, still trying frantically to heal his wounds, but he pulled on it and let it spread around him. His eyes burned as he glared into Shukaku's golden irises.

Focus on me. Ignored them. Focus on me. Don't hurt them.

"I am the Kyuubi. I am the Nine-tailed Fox." He drew in another breath and cast his mind back to the words he knew Shukaku would remember, even after all these years. "Even if you are separated now, you will always be together and one day you will return to being one. Every one of you has a name and you have a different form from before…follow a rightful path search for what is the real strength and until that day…"

(How long had it been since he thought about those words? How long had it been since he thought of Hagoromo at all?)

Kurama gazed up solemnly at Shukaku. His dumbfounded expression would have been comical in any other situation.

"YoU REAlly aRE…"

Kurama glanced over his shoulder to see how the other genin were holding up.

He accidentally met wide blue eyes.

(He shouldn't have looked over his shoulder.)

He turned back, heart pounding wildly.

(It hurt. Why did it hurt so much? Those eyes, full of fear. Full of uncertainty. Directed at him. He expected it, but it hurt.)

"Sorry." He murmured under his breath and reach inside himself to yank.

He felt his power swell for one beautiful moment…

Before something slammed into his back and it was all gone in an instant.

He sucked in a breath.

Pain. Pain. PAIN.

Everyone cell in his body felt like it was on fire for a brief moment that seemed to last years. He heard himself screaming and felt his body jerked and twist involuntarily. Then everything went numb. He fell back. Limbs trembling and vision dimming.

The last thing he saw was a single conflicted grey eye before everything went dark.

Neji is a pain in the butt to write. I didn't realize just how messed up his mentality was until I started trying to write it from his perspective. Damn kid. You need a hug. Unfortunately, you won't get one till later. And then there's poor, poor Natsuki. Will I ever stop torturing you? Who knows.

Also, I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm on Tumblr as Xejisss. I check and post there every day, so if you have questions or want to know how the next chapter is coming along that's the place for it. I'm horrid about the messaging on.

Also, also, a lot of people have asked about romance. To which my answer is…I dunno man. I hadn't really thought about it much. I'm not that great with writing romance. So, this fic will probably stay gen through the whole thing, but I'll let you guys know if I change my mind.

Shout out to sushinita over on tumblr, who made some awesome fanart with the twins and Sasuke, and to V01dSw0rd for helping me with this chapter and letting me rant about it.