Yeah yeah, I'm late already. In my defense I had to attend a funeral for a relative I didn't know last weekend and after that I had a ton of homework and a script to write for my school's student showcase.

I ate the rest of my lunch in silence then took my dishes to the kitchen. After I was done I walked back to the dining room and Hikari and I started walking towards the sparring hall. We didn't talk or look at each other, we were both afraid of what was going to happen there. Hikari wasn't close to Hinata the way I was, but she knew Hinata was like a sister to me so she was concerned for my sake.

We reached the sparring hall after about a minute of walking and entered. The sparring hall was very similar to the Council room, long and plain. The main differences were that that there wasn't any torches or floor mats. All the light came in through the thin material of the walls and the floor was long planks of wood. We entered at about the center of the sparring hall, Hinata was to our left, kneeling with her hands gripping her knees tightly. Hiashi and Hinata's bodyguard Ko were sitting across from us. Neji hadn't arrived yet.

Hikari and I bowed to Hiashi. (I could sense that this wasn't the time to piss him off.) Then walked a little to the left to get out of the way of the entrance. Hinata heard the floorboards creek and looked up. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw me. I gave her a shaky smile then sat against the wall next to Hikari. Hinata nodded at me then looked down to her hands.

The sparring hall was silent for a good five minutes while we waited for Neji to arrive. The only sounds were every person's breaths and sometimes a creak from the floorboards when one of us shifted a little. We were all so quiet that when Neji entered the noise from the sliding door caused me to jump a little. Ko shot me a glare, evidently he had noticed. I didn't know Ko very well. He seemed nice enough but he respected the Hyuuga tradition a great deal so he only spoke to me when he came to fetch Hinata.

Neji bowed to Hiashi then walked to the far side of the sparring hall. He kneeled, nodded to Hikari and I, then glared at Hinata. Hiashi stood up.

"You both know what is expected of you," he said. Neji narrowed his eyes and Hinata squeezed hers shut for a moment.

"Stand," said Hiashi. They stood.

"Ready." Neji activated his Byakugan while getting into the Gentle Fist stance. Hinata had to run through the hand signs to activate hers, and then she got into the stance.

"Begin."

Neji rushed toward Hinata with his left palm pulled back. Hinata gulped and stayed rooted to the spot. Neji was on her a second later, lashing out with his left palm. Hinata somehow managed to knock his arm away with her right hand, then jab her left hand, shaped like a finger gun only with the thumb over her ring and pinky finger, into the right side of Neji's chest.

I was glad Hinata managed to land a hit, but unfortunately it all went downhill from there.

Neji wasn't even phased by Hinata's attack. Whether it had been too weak or if she had missed I didn't know.

It didn't really matter. Neji slammed his right palm into Hinata's chest and she was blown backward. She stayed on her feet but the attack had clearly winded her. She grimaced then ran towards Neji launching a series of palm strikes at him. He dodged or defleted each one with ease. Running out of ideas, Hinata leapt up and tried to kick Neji from above. But he just jumped over her and kicked her to the ground.

Neji landed on his feet panting. Hinata landed on her side with a loud 'thump'. I winced.

Hinata rolled onto her front and tried to stand up. But her arms gave out beneath her and she fell again.

Hiashi shook his head then left the sparring hall. Neji gave a curt nod to Ko, then left as well. Hinata finally made it onto her hands and knees. She was crying. Ko stood up and started to walk over to help her up but Hinata quickly stood up and dashed out of the room, still crying. Ko hurried after her but Hikari and I remained sitting. We remained silent for a few moments.

"Is it always like that?" I asked, staring at my feet.

"That was the first time Hinata-sama managed to land a hit on Neji," said Hikari, "She is improving."

I glared at her.

"Oh yeah, that's a big fucking improvement right there. No hits to one hit, whoop de fucking do," I said standing up.

"Hizashi," threatened Hikari, standing as well.

"Since beating her senseless on a daily basis has improved her from 'unbelievably pathetic' to 'barely believably pathetic' let's beat her up multiple time a day now! Yeah let's punish her for not being fucking perfect at every fucking thing she does! Let's beat her shitless for not being a born prodigy despite born prodigies being pretty fucking rare. Instead of, oh I don't know training her in a way that actually fucking works? And doesn't require her to fight pointless battles that do nothing but destroy what little self confidence she has left? Nah, that'd never work, let's just beat her up!" I was shouting at the top of my lungs and Hikari was desperately trying to calm me down.

"Hizashi! Keep your voice down. I know it's unfair but they'll-"

"I don't give a FUCK what they think of me right now. The bullshit they pull with Hinata is wrong and you know it!" I yelled.

I was about to continue when all of a sudden the door to the training hall was thrown open. An Elder stood in the doorframe, and he was livid.

"You DARE to question the wisdom and tradition of the great Hyuuga clan's training techniques?" he growled.

"Elder-sama forgive my son, he's just upset to see Hinata-sama like that," said Hikari.

"He seems to be upset that the current heir was hurt, not that she is weak," said the Elder.

If I hadn't had the curse seal on my forehead I would've ripped his fucking head off.

"Her name is Hinata you old son of a bitch!" I yelled.

If the Elder was livid before he was absolutely fuming now. Hikari shoved me behind her to try and shield me. She then got on her kneels and bowed to the Elder.

"Elder-sama, please, Hizashi is only a child he does not know what he says," she begged.

"He insults the clan tradition, he feels sympathy for the weak, he insults me and my heritage," growled the Elder, "He is no longer a child in the clan's eyes. He is a full member of the Hyuuga clan and a shinobi in training," he paused, a smirk growing on his face.

Oh shit.

"And as a shinobi in training I think it's time for his first sparring match."

Shit.

"I will bring a sparring partner soon. Hopefully this will teach you respect," said the Elder. He left the room and slid the door shut. Hikari stopped bowing and returned to a kneeling position. Neither one of us said anything for a few moments.

"I know the treatment Hinata-sama endures borders on cruel," began Hikari.

I snorted.

"But simply shouting about it like that won't solve anything. Mouthing off like that is only going to get you in trouble," said Hikari.

"I least I'm actually doing something," I said. Hikari didn't move. I felt a wave of guilt roll over me.

"Mom, I'm, I'm sorry Mom. That was unfair," I said.

"It is true though. I sit on the sidelines and watch Neji hit Hinata-sama like that regularly. I also know how she is treated outside this sparring hall. I feel sorry for her yet I don't do a thing."

I was about to try and comfort her when all of a sudden the doors opened again. The Elder was there leading a Branch family member who looked about sixteen. He had black hair pulled back into a short ponytail and was wearing a chunin vest over a white shirt with dark blue pants.

"So sorry to interrupt but it's time for the match," said the Elder.

I gulped but walked over to the place Hinata had been and kneeled. The Branch member looked at me incredulously.

"Elder-sama, you wish for me to fight him?" he asked.

"Yes Junichi. Your match will be with him," said the Elder.

Junichi stared at me for a moment then sighed.

"As you wish Elder-sama," he walked over to where Neji had been and kneeled. He looked at me pityingly. I did my best to glare back, but I was terrified.

"Elder-sama, may I fetch my other son before they begin?" asked Hikari. The Elder nodded and Hikari swiftly left the room.

The Elder then walked to where Hiashi was and sat down. Junichi and I stared at each other for a few moments.

"I want you to know that I don't want to do this," said Junichi, "I take no pleasure in sparring with children to punish them."

"Then grow some fucking balls and tell the Elder to fuck off," I said. Junichi looked a little startled but recovered quickly.

"Ah, so you're the infamous Hizashi," he said.

"Infamous? Gee, I'm flattered."

"Remain quiet," said the Elder.

Junichi and I went back to silently staring at each other. After a few moments Hikari and Neji entered. They bowed to the Elder then sat close to me. Hikari was biting her lip and tapping her fingers. Neji was trying to remain stone faced, but he would occasionally suck in a sharp breath and let it out shakily.

"Rise," said the Elder.

Junichi and I stood.

"Ready."

Junichi entered the Gentle Fist stance while activating his Byakugan. I did my best to imitate the stance, but it felt awkward, and I couldn't activate my Byakugan yet so I just narrowed my eyes.

"Begin."

Junichi rushed toward me, arm pulled back just like Neji's first attack. I stayed still. When it looked like he was about to attack I tried to deflect it the way Hinata had, but he had fainted, pulling back at the last second. I was wide open. Before I could recover he was back on me and he drove his palm into my stomach.

Holy shit that hurt. It felt like someone had jabbed a bunch of needles at various points where his blow had landed and I was thrown backward.

I managed to stay standing but my legs were shaking and I was bent over my stomach in pain. Junichi didn't press the attack.

"Hizashi, get into a ready position," said the Elder, "You're not done yet."

"Fuck you," I mumbled then I straightened up. I started to go back into my bad imitation of the Gentle Fist stance then I stopped.

There wasn't a point in trying to fight like that, I flat out didn't know how. So instead I moved my right leg behind me, placed my two fists right in front of my nose, then put my weight on my back foot so my body lowered down and my elbow covered everything from my chest to the top of my stomach.

The peak-a-boo style.

I had been a boxing fan in my old life and this was the style used by the boxer Mike Tyson. Mike was shorter than most of his opponents and had less of a range. So he'd use the peak-a-boo style to get in close, letting his arms soak up the damage, then when he was in range he would open up and bombard his opponent with punches.

I had never tried it in a real fight but at the moment it seemed ideal.

Junichi stared at me for a moment.

"Are you sure you want to use a made up stance?" he asked.

"Hey, it can't get any worse," I pointed out. Junichi shook his head then sped towards me. I tightened my fists and planted my back foot. His right palm flew out, striking my arms. Once again it felt like someone had jabbed a needle where he had hit me but I didn't give any ground. His left palm flew towards me, aimed a little higher than his first strike. I raised my fists up so they completely covered my face. His palm slammed into my fist which then banged against my head, I had to take a small step back then, but at least the throbbing needle pain was in my left hand rather than my face.

His right palm flew towards me again, this time I was ready. When it came at me I stepped forward and to the left so that his palm went past me. I was inside his guard but I wasn't in range yet. I shuffled forward then shoved my left arm into his lower chest then punched him in the stomach with my right fist.

This caught him off guard and he stumbled backward. Taking advantage of this I continued my assault, pushing him back with my left arm while repeatedly slamming my right fist into his stomach. The only reason it was working was because he was so surprised. I was a four year old and he was a hardened chunin.

Literally.

'Rock hard' abs are not an expression. I was probably doing more harm to myself than to him.

At the moment though, I didn't give a shit.

After a few moments though, Junichi recovered, grabbed my head then shoved it down into his knee. I heard a crunching noise and then fell face first into the ground. I groaned. My nose was broken and my knuckles probably weren't doing much better. I was done.

I heard Junichi panting above me. Then I heard he and the Elder exit the room. Hikari and Neji rushed to my side and rolled me over.

"Oh God Hizashi! Are you alright?" asked Hikari.

"Never better Ma," I panted out.

"Why were you acting so foolishly?" asked Neji.

"Nii-san, I'm not in the mood to yell at you about that at the moment," I said. I was still pissed at him about Hinata, but I was glad he was concerned about me.

"Hizashi? What was that technique?" asked Hikari.

Boxing, I used to watch videos of guys doing it.

"I don't know, I was just making it up as I went along," I said.

Hikari looked contemplative.

"We'll have to talk about it later. Right now we need to get you back home," said Hikari, hoisting me up in her arms.

I wanted to protest but my Mom's arms were too comfortable to resist. So I stayed quiet while she carried me back home and into my room. She laid me down on my bed when we got there.

"Alright, I'll get some ointment for your nose. Just stay here and rest okay?" she asked. I nodded and she left the room.

I stared up at the ceiling, was I ever going to catch a break?

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