The Winds of Change

by Zerojackson

Taken by an old enemy, Naruto swears to find and bring back one of his precious people. Kakashi, however, has other motives, a mission that will set in motion a chain of events that will drastically alter the world. Destiny's intertwine with a group of missing ninja, looking for their teammate. And, why does their leader look like Sasuke? Heavy OC use. Pairings inside. AU aspects.

47. Blood Feud

Hello everybody, and welcome to chapter forty-seven of the Winds of Change! From now on, I'll try and update every Saturday, so you'll be getting weekly chapters! I've said this before, but I will try and keep this promise, that I swear! I swear on my Britishness! This chapter introduces some new things, and we continue the trend of fight scenes that will continue till the end of the arc! So, without further ado, I present to you chapter 47, of the Winds of Change!

---

Kurenai knew it was a lie.

The earth was deceptive, but she knew its tricks, and its manipulations. She knew that, despite the winding wind that was cool to the touch, and the shivering blades of grass that shimmered with the bright silver light of the moon, and despite the twinkling stars that blinked amongst one another a thousand miles away from her, that it was all a lie.

Wine red eyes slid towards the magnificent tree, gargantuan in scope and size, as well as width. It's darkened height reached far into the clouds, but she could see the occasional flashes of orange or light blue against the brightening backdrop.

She had heard nothing from her comrades for the past hour.

Her brow creased into a firm line, mouth falling downwards into a scowl. She was not worried about her teammates, far from it in fact. They were capable, more capable than she. Their unique arsenal of Sharingan and Youthful Taijutsu were a force to reckoned with on their own. But together? Not a chance in hell of anything going awry there. It was just... anxiety.

And envy.

The Genjutsu Mistress was happy to admit she was jealous. She did not want to go looking for a fight with anybody, but right now, on the Jonin side of things, she was the weak link. The one that was left to watch over the injured. She understood she was the best to do so, of course. Her Genjutsu would prove invaluable in hiding them, if something did happen. But she wanted to do something. She realized, with a frown, she was acting like a petty schoolchild that didn't get to play the part they wanted in a musical. The thought allowed a small chuckle to escape from her soft lips. But, the opportunity to really help out, more so than just moral support... it would've been nice. She'd not go looking for trouble, however. Best wait for trouble to come to her.

Muffled sounds originated from behind the dark-haired woman. A curious look in her wine red eyes, she glanced backwards. Her sight was greeted to Tenten, curled up into a foetal possession, fast asleep. Her mumbles were ininteligible, mere whispers in the wind. Kurenai glanced over the rest of the genin with a calm eye. They, too, were fast asleep, Ino locked in a welcoming slumber, while Shikamaru's looked reckless. He twisted in his sleep, muttering something so quietly that she could swear he himself couldn't make it out.

She noticed, with a small smile, that there fingers were lightly touching, the tips almost fused together. How sweet young love was.

Kurenai turned back towards the nights sky, the dimming darkness giving way to the beginnings of an orange glow. The moon was slowly crawling down the horizon, ready to sleep for now, and give way to dawn. It was not finished projecting it's rays yet, however, and didn't seem to be going away anytime soon.

Kurenai felt her smile grow wider, eyes shining with emotion. "Things are going to change when I get back home," she muttered softly to herself. Slowly, but surely, she brought one of her hands to her stomach. "I'll have what I always wanted."

The rustling of the grass was the only answer she got, but she was content with it.

"Kurenai-sensei?" Someone grumbled from behind her. She inclined her head backwards, eyes shining.

"Hello Shikamaru," she greeted, "how're you feeling?"

He shrugged, bloodshot eyes locking with hers for a brief moment. His movements were heavy, dirt lightly pressed against his face, blood tainting his muddy clothes.

"Can you move about alright?" She inquired, looking the chunin up and down. Once more, he grunted, pulling himself upwards until he sat cross-legged. His brown, weary eyes made contact with the leviathan of a moon that hung in the sky above.

"I'm tired," he stated after a few moments, rubbing at his eyes, mouth forming a thin line. Kurenai gave him a small, motherly frown.

"Then you should rest. It's not healthy for you to be up and about right now, you know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know," Shikamaru grumbled, "It isn't going to stop me though."

Kurenai clicked her tongue, following the Nara's gaze back into the sky. "I figured as much."

A small smirk graced his face, eyes sliding over to the jonin beside him, before they once again locked with the moon. "It's troublesome," he began rubbing at his chin, "there are no clouds to watch."

The Genjutsu Mistress allowed a smirk of her own to grow across her face. "What is your obsession with clouds exactly, Shikamaru?"

He paused for a moment, and she could practically see the gears turning in his head. "They're what I aspire to be."

"What? Drifting through life, not a care in the world?"

"Sounds like heaven to me."

Kurenai rolled her eyes. "Too you, maybe. However," her wine red orbs were filled with liquid glee, "my version of heaven is better than yours."

"Yeah?"

"Oh yes," she grinned, "a nice hot bubble bath, scented candles filling the air with their sweet scent, a bottle of wine and glass by my side, ready to fill myself whenever I need to..." Kurenai trailed off, eyes moving over to Shikamaru. His gaze was not even directed anywhere at her form, instead focused intently on the still unconscious Ino. His mouth was contorted into a grim scowl, pools of brown filled to the brim with sadness. Her mouth formed a sympathetic frown. "You okay?"

Shikamaru looked from her, and back to Ino, before nodding wordlessly. He turned away from the blonde, eyes glittering along with the moon and the twinkling stars. "Yeah, no. Maybe. I dunno."

"You want to talk about it?"

She watched his eyes slide backwards once more towards the sleeping blonde beauty behind him. A small, soft smile lit up her face. "Your relationship is really sweet."

Shikamaru stiffened, muscles tensing, as he turned towards her slowly. Mouth drooping into a frown, he muttered, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Kurenai quirked an eyebrow, "Really Shikamaru? You have not even an inkling of what I'm talking about?"

"I've got nothing to say on the matter, troublesome woman."

The Genjutsu Mistress bit back an angry retort, instead just shaking her head, raven hair moving quietly along with it. "Your body language says it all. You held her hand for the majority of this mission, after all."

Shikamaru's brow creased. "But not for long enough."

Kurenai's smile slipped into a sad frown. "Is that what's bothering you, then? That she's injured?"

He merely grunted in reply, picking blades of grass out of the earth, before carelessly tossing them aside.

"So its not that, then?"

Shikamaru looked at her for a moment. His eyes were hard and steadfast, pools of brown that weren't in the mood for talking.

Kurenai, however, was in the mood.

"Did Asuma ever tell you how we met?" She inquired. She did not get a response, Shikamaru still intently focused on the earth beneath his feet.

"We met in a bar," Kurenai continued, unperturbed by the silence, " Well, actually, that's a lie. We'd known each other since we started the academy at age ten, but we never really spoke. During our genin and chunin days, we were rarely placed together on missions, and when we were, it was purely work related business we discussed. I'd recently been promoted to Jonin, and to celebrate, Anko took me out on the town. We both ended up in a shinobi bar, where Anko proceeded to run off and try and seduce Kakashi. Anyway, we talked at length over a bottle of wine about all manner of things, for the first time in our lives. We didn't need to discuss ninja related areas on that night, instead, it was just... fascinating. We bonded, and we agreed to meet for dinner the next night. That's when things turned... interesting."

Shikamaru perked up a little bit, although his voice was still rather dull, "Interesting?"

The corners of Kurenai's lips quirked upward, "Yes, interesting is the word I would use. I discovered, waiting outside the restaurant where we were meant to meet, he liked... smoking." The mere word made her feel ill and wish to throw up all over the place, as a shudder ripped through her. "It bothers me, as you can probably tell. Needless to say, I was not impressed. During the entire dinner, I didn't laugh at any of his jokes, smile very much, or even remotely have any sort of fun. But, internally, I was laughing at all of his jokes, I was smiling on the inside, and I was having a lot of fun."

"So why didn't you show him that you were having fun? And why're you still together, then?"

Shikamaru had turned his hard eyes onto her, although, she noticed, with a small smile, that they had softened slightly. His curious brown eyes scanned over her face, but she merely kept her lips upturned.

"To be honest, it was because I was petty. Due to his smoking habit, I immediately wrote him off as a dirty disgusting fool. Eventually, after Anko told me how much of an idiot I was being, I apologized, and we went out on another date. We've been together ever since."

"Ah," Shikamaru answered, mouth morphing into a frown. He sat there for a moment, staring across the grassy plain towards the line of trees in the distance, before he began to speak once more with a quiet, low tone. "Kurenai-sensei, can I ask you a question?"

She nodded slowly. "Sure."

"Why do you seem so relaxed?"

The question caught her off guard, and she blinked a few times, black hair blowing in the wind. "Sorry?"

"Why are you so relaxed? You didn't chastise me for calling you a 'troublesome woman', you've discussed your personal life with me, which I've never seen you do with anybody before, and youre not on edge as you, quite frankly, should be. I'm just curious as to why." He shrugged, a small smirk playing upon his lips.

This gave Kurenai pause for a few moments, wine red eyes narrowing. "I think its because I'm tense."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"No," she shook her head, "it doesn't. I don't think it's meant to, though. You'll understand when you've been on missions like this. Sometimes letting your guard down is the best thing you can do in these circumstances."

Shikamaru's brows furrowed in annoyance, and he went to open his mouth to speak, but promptly closed it. Turning away again, he looked back up at the sky, a loud, deep sigh escaping his lips.

"I don't think its as simple as what you say."

"Letting your guard down?"

"Yes, that," he began, hands grasping at fistfuls of grass, "and ignoring the faults of others."

"Is this to do with Ino?"

Shikamaru slowly nodded, eyes downcast. "Yeah. She objected to me killing our opponent. I thought he was far too dangerous to be kept alive, but she thought otherwise. Fed her a sob story about something, and her heart must've melted. Eventually..." he paused, a growl escaping from his lungs, face stony and cold. His body was tense, and he licked at his dry, parched lips, "I used Shadow Possession Jutsu to take control of her body, and forced her to do a jutsu. It resulted in our opponents death."

Kurenai's eyes widened a fraction of an inch. "You did what?"

Her tone was fierce and stern, and he flinched backwards a little bit. "I did what I said," he answered. "From your reaction," he muttered, "I can see you agree with Ino. Troublesome..."

"I... I don't agree with anybody, Shikamaru," she answered honestly, rubbing at her forehead with a sigh. Peeking at The Nara through long eyelashes, she watched him fiddle with his jacket zipper, waiting for her to continue. "If what you say is true, then, in my opinion anyway, you did what you had to. As the higher ranking ninja, it was your job to make the tough decisions. And, you did. You made a really tough one, and in the end it saved people's lives."

"Then why does she now hate me?" He said softly, turning back to the grass and running his fingers over the blades.

Kurenai's face turned stony. "Because, Shikamaru," her voice was cold, "you made her to kill someone who she did not want to kill. She's never going to see it your way, because you forced her to do something. You possessed her body, which is, as I'm sure you can guess, very wrong in almost all circumstances. I can't say whether it was right in this circumstance, but she probably will not see it that , if I were in her shoes, then I'd feel as though you violated me, and then forced me to murder someone who I thought was innocent."

Shikamaru hung his head, willing the ground to swallow him whole. His hands had clenched into fists so tightly, his knuckles were whiter than mouth was contorted into a deep, sad frown. "Dammit," He started, running his clenched knuckles over his face, "dammit all."

Kurenai gave a pitying smile, reaching over and placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright," she gave it a gentle, reassuring squeeze, "she'll get over it in time."

"You think?" He asked solemnly.

She nodded. "I can't make any promises, but I believe, in time, she will look past it. She will never like what you did, but she will probably understand eventually."

Shikamaru rubbed at his eyes with his sleeve, gears whirring in his head as he processed the information. After a few moments, he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm the worlds worst genius."

Kurenai looked up, back towards the dark blue sky, cloudless and carefree. "I don't know," she shrugged, a small smirk forming on her red lips, I've met worse."

Shikamaru allowed the corner of his lips to upturn just slightly, before they broke apart into a loud, tired yawn.

"How're your chakra levels doing?" Kurenai changed the subject. He gave a shrug, body relaxing slightly.

"I'd say its at about twenty percent," he answered, meeting her wine red gaze, "Why?"

The Genjutsu Mistress stuffed her hand into her pocket, pulling out a small, round, black ball.

"Wait, you've had soldier pills this whole time?" Shikamaru deadpanned, eyes narrowing, "And you didn't think to share them with us?"

"There is a reason I didn't, in fact," she cut off his angry tirade with a glare, holding the pill out for him to take. He looked down towards it, and back up towards her with accusing brown eyes. She sighed, her voice taking on a lecturing tone, "Do you know how solider pills work?"

"You take one and it restores all of your chakra. They say it allows you to fight three days and three nights without stopping."

"And you believe that?" Kurenai quirked one of her brows.

Shikamaru frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "No," he said after a few moments, "if that was true, why aren't genin allowed to handle them?"

"Who's to say genin aren't allowed them?"

"Because you would've given us them earlier if they were. And I presume you didn't give me one because of the way it works? Please, sensei," he sighed gruffly, "I'm not in the mood to play guessing games."

She smirked. "Fair enough, I'm not much a fan of them either. This, as you know," she held the small ball up to the light, "is a soldier pill. There is a large mythos among genin that these can make you fight for three days and three nights without fail. Probably because the academy tells them so."

"And they do that why? Morale?"

"Bingo. It makes children more enthused to think that ninja's are super extraordinary heroes that can fight for days. Glory is a big reason why quite a few children want to join the academy. Anyway, that's false. A normal soldier pill will restore about fifty percent of your chakra. However, it does come with a cost. Take you for example: your chakra level is about twenty percent, right? If you took a soldier pill it would bring it back up to sixty percent, however, when you eventually used up all the chakra the pill gave you, it would reduce your original chakra level by ten percent."

Shikamaru's eyes lit up in understanding, "So, you wouldn't give one to Ino because she's almost completely out of chakra, and if you gave one to Tenten, she'd probably get up and try to follow the others."

"You are correct," Kurenai smiled, "Just as smart as Asuma said you were."

Shikamaru merely smiled softly.

The two lapsed into a comfortable silence after that, the Nara chewing as quietly as he could on the soldier pill. "Wow," he murmured, feeling energy return to his limbs, and feeling the pain of his bruises fade away somewhat.

Kurenai nodded, but did not speak. Instead, her mind was filled with indecision.

"Do I tell him? He's bound to find out as soon as we get to Konoha, anyway. And he is Asuma's student..."

The wind swiftly flew through the air, feeling the touch of Kurenai's long dark hair as it continued its quest across the world. The blades of grass swayed from side to side in a hypnotic dance, tickling against her fingers. She took a breath of the deep air, before beginning to speak in a quiet tone. "Shikamaru, there's something-"

"Is that Sakura?"

Kurenai's eyes snapped up, Shikamaru's finger pointed in a random direction. She followed it, brows furrowing in curiousity. Her wine red gaze widened slightly, as she leapt upwards.

The moonlight illuminated the two figures, one being helped along by the other. Both were caked in dirt, their clothes tattered and torn. What made them unique, a colourful backdrop against a slowly brighter sky, was once fluorescent pink hair, and the others strawberry blonde locks.

Tali held Sakura upwards, both girls shuffling forward as she supported her weight. Clear blue eyes gazed at her friends pale, sickly features. She frowned, turning her attention back onto the horizon. She stopped dead in her tracks, however, mouth opening audibly in shock, face contorting in confusion, when she spotted the two figures in the distance.

Kurenai lowered her hands down from the hand-sign, smiling softly. She bounded upwards, leaving the confines of soft grass for a few moments as she soared through the air, before she landed in front of Tali with a quiet thud.

It took a moment for what was happening to register in Tali's mind, but when it did, her shoulders sagged in happiness."Thank Kami," the blonde let out a sigh of relief, as Kurenai moved Sakura onto her shoulder, helping to support her weight, "I thought we were done for!""

Sakura's lips, cracked and dry, formed a small smile. "Heya Kurenai-sensei." Her voice was weak, and barely audible. But it was there, and that was what mattered.

Kurenai let out a loud breath of air, "We didn't think- well, never mind." Talking about the people that could've potentially died actually dying probably wasn't the best thing to do right now, she decided.

Tali nodded as they began to move forward, swallowing loudly. "Is anybody else back yet...?" Her tone was curious, but her eyes held hopefulness abound..

Kurenai felt a twinge of sympathy in her chest. The Genjutsu Mistress shook her head, and the blonde visibly deflated. "I haven't had any radio contact with them in quite a while."

Tali stiffened, placing a hand over her mouth in fear. "O-okay," she answered shakily.

Kurenai gave her as reassuring a smile as she could muster, as they reached the spot she was sitting at just moments ago. Shikamaru gave Kurenai and Sakura a small grin, and Tali a small, curt nod, to which she did the same. The two women gently lowered the pinkette down onto the soft grass, and she let out a deep sigh, twining her pale fingers amongst the green blades.

"Is she injured?" Kurenai inquired, turning away from the relieved genin and facing her new comrade.

"She's really, really tired," Tali answered, fighting back a yawn herself, "Do you two have any water?" She added as an afterthought. Shikamaru nodded, turning his attention away from the two and bending down to look through a pack of supplies.

"Are you sure?" Kurenai challenged, crossing her arms over her chest, "She looks on the verge of death."

Tali shrugged. "She's not dying, that much I know. My teammates a medic, and I've had to help him with a few things like this on our travels. She's just mentally and physically strained to a point where she needs rest. That's all."

Kurenai's fingers twitched, eyes narrowing. She was not one to believe what an unknown missing kunoichi stated. She was not being judgemental, she reassured herself, she was merely looking out for Sakura. "I see," she replied.

Tali gave her a small glare, mouth forming a grim line.. "I know what I know," she stated, "She's not going to die, she just has chakra exhaustion. You're a jonin, you should be able to tell, right?"

The Genjutsu Mistress nodded her head, red eyes scanning the girl in front of her. She was tired, breathing slow and quiet. Dirt was caked into her skin, hair matted with sweat. "I understand that," she answered, making a point to stand up straighter with a firm gaze, "but this is one of our own I'm talking about, here. Forgive me if I don't believe a missing ninja."

"Kurenai-sensei-" Shikamaru went to say, mouth contorting into a scowl. He absently noticed the stirrings of Tenten behind him, the brunette wiping the sleeping dust away from her chocolate brown eyes.

"I know that," Tali snapped, anger flashing in her sky blue eyes, "and she is just mentally exhausted, as I've said-"

She paused, however, eyes widening in fear, mouth popping open. "Oh no."

Kurenai snapped her head backwards, and her own eyes widened a fraction of an inch, wine red clashing with lighter red hair.

A woman, crimson hair brighter than blood, stood with a sword strapped to her belt. Her emerald eyes surveyed the two women, alight with mischief, mouth contorting into a grin. "I hate to break up this little argument," she spoke shrilly, as ten sound ninja appeared behind her with a blur of energy, "but you, blondy, are coming back with me."

---

"Neji, what're you doing?"

A little boy, long hair flowing down his back, looked up from a scroll. His wide, white eyes gave off a confused glint for a moment, before they calmed down, his mouth forming into a small smile. "Just reading," he answered.

Hizashi crossed his arms over his chest, white eyes scanning the room his son currently sat in. It was a dojo, and a recently used one at that. The scent of sweat stuck to the black mats on the floors, and onto the paper walls, sunlight just breaking through the white paper and hitting illuminating the room. Training dummies, worn down with age, chipped and wounded, stood in the corner.

"What're you reading, son?" Hizashi inquired, sniffing in distaste. He'd need to have someone clean this room soon.

"Some Jyuuken scrolls, father," the boy answered, eyes now once more fixed on the scroll in his hands, mouthing the words to himself. Hizashi stepped into the room, formal robes shuffling as he walked. The slap of his sandals on the mats didn't stir Neji's desire to look up.

"You've also been training," the Hyūga Branch Member noted, the sheen of sweat evident on Neji's brow. At this, the boy did look up, mouth turning upwards.

"Yes, I have."

"For how long?"

Neji shrugged, turning back to his scroll as Hizashi sat down next to him, crossing his legs, "An hour, maybe?"

Hizashi nodded wordlessly, allowing his eyes to wander, thoughts following that notion. He took another look at his son, glancing out of the corner of his eye. Neji was no longer looking at the scroll, instead focused on the doorway, where he came from. A small frown formed on the older man's face. Neji had always been ridiculously informal with his father. He just hoped that it never crossed over to the Main Branch, or there could be severe consequences. Shaking those thoughts out of his head, Hizashi opened his mouth once more, "What're your plans for today?"

Neji, once more, shrugged his shoulders, turning his white eyes towards his father. "I'm not sure. Since I don't have any training, or any work today, I was just thinking about going outside, and playing in the garden?"

The young boy scanned his father's face for any trace of annoyance or unamusement. When he found none, he released a breath he had been holding. However, his eyes travelled downwards, towards the floor, body becoming tense, mouth falling into a sad frown.

"Is something the matter, Neji?"

"I don't know. Not really. I just..." He trailed off, fingers picking at the mat he was sat upon.

Hizashi couldn't help the small smile that played on his face. It was hard to remember that Neji was just four years old, considering his prodigal status. A blessing and a curse, he supposed. The Main House always whispered about him, though. And it was generally always bad things. Hiashi, he knew, would not do something like that, not to his own flesh and blood. But the other main family members most certainly would. The thought made Hizashi's fist clenched, but he relaxed by taking a deep breath.

"Is something the matter, father?" Neji asked. Hizashi shook his head no, white eyes shining with some unknown emotion.

"Shall I repeat my question?" He asked once more. A small, soft blush tinted Neji's cheeks, as he shifted awkwardly.

"I-it's just-" He paused, placing the scroll on his lap to the side, before meeting Hizashi's eyes. White locked with white, and Hizashi tried to keep his lips from downturning.

He disliked the faint flecks of lavender in his son's eyes.

"Yes?"

"Why don't I have a mother?"

The question floored Hizashi, jaw slackening slightly and eyes widening. His hands clutched against his robes, turning his knuckles white. Neji's gaze was unflinching, and his mouth turned into a frown at noticing the shocked expression that overcame his father's usually stoic face.

The Hyūga Branch Member cursed himself for not preparing for this day sooner. He let a small, slowly sigh escape his lips, before he controlled his rebelling facial features into a calm gaze.

"You just don't, Neji."

He blinked. "'I just don't?'"

Hizashi sighed once more. "Your mother died during childbirth, Neji. She... she loved you very much."

Neji didn't reply for a while, absorbing in the information as the sounds of the Hyūga Branch servants filled his ears, shuffling about doing their daily duties. "Why did she have to die?"

"Because, it was fate."

Neji's eyebrows furrowed. "Fate? So, the reason everybody else has a mother, and I don't, is because of fate?"

Hizashi nodded, studying his sons reaction with a critical eye. It would be better to nip this in the bud now, rather than have it grow into something. He certainly did not want Neji asking any questions to Hiashi. That would prove the end of The Light Bringer.

The Light Bringer. A name bestowed by the women of the branch in secret. They proclaimed that Neji was a genius, a prodigy that only came once in every lifetime. With his help, when he grew older, he would usurp the Main Family and prove to the world that the Branch deserve to be treated as equals. It was a nice tale to tell the branch children, so they could dream of a better future, he supposed.

"Yes, fate. Fate controls everything, everyone, and everywhere. Fate is what we'll have for breakfast tomorrow, fate is what you'll say to me after I've finished speaking, fate is what type of weather we'll have for the summer, and whether or not the crops will be harvested."

"Can we defeat fate?" His son inquired, curiosity swimming in the pools of white.

Hizashi spoke without emotion, "I do not know, son. It might be possible."

"What about destiny?"

"It's the same thing, Neji," he answered, crossing his arms over his chest, "destiny is just another word for fate."

"But, when I asked one of the tutors about it, she said fate was to do with everything, like you said. But, she also said that destiny was your own personal fate."

"I suppose that's true-"

"So could it be my destiny to change someone's fate?"

Hizashi opened his mouth to counteract his son's statement, but found that he couldn't. Could Neji change people's fates? Could anyone, really? "It could be, yes."

"Could it have been someone's destiny to save mother?"

The question slammed into Hizashi like a brick wall. Of course, this was where the conversation was going. "No, Neji, no," He sighed, running a hand through his hair, white eyes filled with anxiety, "It doesn't work like that. Nobody could've saved your mother, not the doctors, me, or you."

Neji swallowed a lump in his throat, and looked down towards the floor again.

Hizashi frowned. "Why the interest in fate and destiny?"

The young boy, brown hair shining with childlike happiness, turned his gaze upwards. "I heard some other children saying it was fate they were born into the 'branch family'. I was wondering, could it be someone's destiny to get out of the branch family?"

"That's enough of this conversation," Hizashi cut across, sternness taking ahold of his features, "I want to hear no more of this 'destiny' or 'fate', or anything to do with your mother for the rest of today, do you understand?"

Neji flinched backwards, eyes filling with hurt. His mouth contorted into a sad, pouty frown, but he nodded nonetheless.

"There is nothing to think about with your mother, Neji," Hizashi sighed, white eyes locking with white, "it was over and done with when you were born. She's dead now, and we can't change that."

Neji nodded.

Hizashi felt sadness swarm through his gut, coiling at his very heartstrings. Coming down harsh on the boy now would save many dangerous ramifications in the future. But, in the present, it hurt far too much. Tough love was needed, but not wanted.

"I have something that might cheer you up," Hizashi spoke after a few moments of silence, birds chirping softly. "There is to be a feast soon, and all the other noble clans are attending. Hinata will be there as well, if you would like to come along?"

Neji's face scrunched up in concentration, all sadness lost for now, to Hizashi's relief. "Sure!" His son chirped.

He smiled, and patted Neji lightly on his head, ruffling his long mane of hair. "You've done good this week. You deserve a-"

"Hizashi."

The Hyūga Branch Member's eyes slid backwards, locking with the steely eyes of his brother, Hiashi. He stood in all white, stony face examining father and son with a neutral expression. His arms were crossed across his chest. "We need to speak."

Neji stood, before quickly kneeling, and pressing his forehead against the floor. "Lord Hiashi," he greeted respectfully.

Hiashi nodded in Neji's direction. Hizashi only knew, through years of knowing his twin brother, that his lips had upturned ever so slightly.

"Of course, Lord Hiashi. Wait here, Neji."

Hizashi stood up, gave his son a small smile, and walked towards his brother. They both exited, Hizashi leaving first, Hiashi shooting one last look at his nephew, who watched on with confusion, before sliding the door shut.

With a sigh, the young Hyūga turned his attention back to the scroll by his side, picking it up, and placing it on his lap. He began to study it intently, until the voices of his father and uncle floated through the wall.

They were speaking in hushed tones, but as he strained his ears, he could make out a few words they were saying.

"...Can't be seen together... leave the party early...she can never find out... if this gets out..."

He couldn't make out who was speaking, or what they were really talking about. He didn't have the chance to ponder it, however, as Hizashi slid the door open, greeting Neji with a stony expression. Hiashi walked past him, not looking at his brother at all.

"What was that about, father?" Neji inquired, as Hizashi continued to regard him coolly.

"Are you ready to go, Neji? You're going to miss Hinata."

Neji perked up at this, face losing all curiosity, instead replaced with enthusiasm. "Okay, I'm ready!" He exclaimed, a little bit too loud for Hizashi's liking.

It didn't stop him from smiling at it, though.

"If things were different, Neji," the older branch member thought to himself, as his son leapt up from the mat, forgetting the scroll on the floor, and running over his his father. "If only things were different."

---

Hinata's lavender eyes were wide with confusion, lips curled into a frown, face scrunched up. Pain racked through her body, blood seeping from her bloody and torn shoulder, liquid dripping down from the cut in her thigh. Her chakra points were mostly cut off, and as she watched events unfold before her, she began to unlock them.

"Neji? What do you mean, mother?" She asked, half concentrating on fixing her body, and half focused on her cousin.

The wind whipped through the branches, catching Neji full on. His hair was blown backwards, steely eyes shining with rage, as he glared at Hyouden. Her face was a mixture of shock, and to Hinata's discomfort, happiness. Despite the kunai hilts that jotted out of her arm, blood seeping down her white robes, discolouring them crimson. It hung limply by her side, but this did not seem to bother her. Her form was almost... relaxed.

"Are you alright, Lady Hinata?" Neji's voice was cooler than the edge of a blade, but his question was genuine. He did not meet her worried gaze, staring straight ahead at the woman he had just skewered. She met his stare with lavender eyes, no longer filled with hatred, but love.

"I'm fine, Neji," She couldn't stutter now. In this situation, she refused. She wanted, and she needed answers, and he was not going to avoid the topic, no matter the situation. "Tell me what you meant by mother, Neji."

He didn't reply, eyes sharper than broken glass, mouth curled into a deep, dark frown. Brows knitted together, his unflinching stone gaze bore straight into Hyouden, whose own was not nearly as stony. Curiosity danced around in her lavender eye, and her smile seemed warm, and not fake.

They stayed like this for a while, stock still, the world still turning, the clock still ticking. The wind howled, the sky growing lighter with each passing moment, and the leaves rustled in agreement for the night to end.

"I don't understand," Hinata thought to herself, glancing between the two Hyūga, "how can Neji be related to my mother?" From what she could recall, Neji's mother died giving birth to him. There was no mourning like with her own mother, though. Neji's mother was some no named branch woman, who, according to what she remembered hearing on her nightly jaunts to try and figure out what happened to her own mother, had a one-night stand with Hizashi, her uncle. Why they were still talking about it after so many years, and after Hizashi's death, she did not know. It didn't really matter now, it seemed. But it still didn't make sense! If Neji knew who his mother was, then why did he never say anything? Why didn't her father? He must've seen her around the compound, especially when they were little. They always used to play together, and her mother would come and watch, standing far away to keep an eye on them. And if they truly had the same mother, then why did nobody ever mention anything to her, or Neji?

The questions pounded against her skull over and over, dominating all other thoughts.

That was, until Hyouden opened her mouth, and began to speak.

"You've grown," she said softly, eyes gleaming with a motherly pride as she looked upon Neji, "You're a very strapping, and handsome young man, Neji." Her smile was genuine, and maternal in a way that made both Hyūga Cousins uncomfortable. "How're you-"

"Save it," Neji's voice was venomous, Byakugan blazing into life, "explain yourself, now. Where have you been, and why are you a member of the Akatsuki!?"

Hyouden flinched at his tone, eyes widening, before her hands clenched into fists. She turned, glaring, straight into the lavender eyes of Hinata, mouth curled into a ferocious snarl.

Hinata blinked rapidly, thoughts once more swarming around in her mind. "Why is she being so nice to Neji? She's said she hates all the Hyūga, and he took out her arm... what is wrong with her?"

"It doesn't matter, Neji," she said his name with an affectionate purr, turning away from Hinata as her smile came back full force. She raised her usable arm up palm first, in terms of a surrender signal, "I'm not here to fight you. Please, lets just talk."

Neji stared at her incredulously for a moment, but his body remained firm, never once slipping away from his Jyuuken stance. "Are you joking?" He spat. "You expect me to lay down my guard, when you've assaulted my teammates, and your own daughter? I have no interest in talking to you, unless you answer my questions. If you refuse, then you have two options: leave, or die."

Hyouden took a step back, anger forming on her features. She opened her mouth, but soon snapped it shut. Her face slackened, replaced by an anxious frown. Her eyes slid from side to side, before she spoke, slowly. "I joined the Akatsuki... for my own goals. They wished for my services, and in return, I was to gain something I've wanted for a very long time. That, and I wish to see the Hyūga Clan fall!"

"Hinata?"

The dark-haired kunoichi's head snapped to the side, eyes widening in shock. She relaxed, however, as she got out of the moment. There were still other people around.

Shino looked at his teammate with a cryptic stare, and she could tell he was judging her, even without his glasses. He looked tired, ribs causing him to hunch over slightly in pain. But, he was alive, and able to move. Kiba lay next to him, unconscious, in a puddle of his own blood. Akamaru was atop his master's body, snuggled up, and unconscious as well.

"I need to get them to Kurenai-sensei," he stated, glancing towards Hyouden as she spoke reluctantly, "tell me to take them down."

"Tell y-you?" She asked.

He nodded. "I won't leave you unless you want me too, Hinata."

His voice actually quivered. He was scared. She noticed, out of the corner of her eye, that his hand was firmly gripped around Kiba's wrist.

"Go, Shino. Get them all to safety. Take Shizune too. We'll m-meet up at the bottom of the t-tree."

The Aburame nodded wordlessly, turning and scooping Kiba up, onto his shoulder, Akamaru following. Before he went to run, he turned, and regarded Hinata with an imperceptible stare behind his dirty, dark glasses.

"You're incredibly brave, Hinata. I'll see you soon," he said with finality.

She could only nod.

He was gone within a second, and she watched, nervously, as he snuck through the bushes. She released a breath she didn't even know she was holding, as he grabbed Shizune, threw her over his other shoulder, and left the area.

"They're safe now," she muttered to herself, a small smile overcoming her face, "they'll live tonight."

Her mind jolted back to the two people in front of her, Neji's face becoming more and more contorted with rage as they continued to speak.

"You truly hate the Hyūga Clan?" He asked, anger making his voice quiver slightly. "Then you hate me, too. Your excuses mean nothing to me, nothing at all. Your reasons for joining the Akatsuki, I realize, are just personal excuses. You're nothing more than a power-hungry, sadistic bitch. You will cease in your attempts to capture Naruto Uzumaki, for whatever reason. As a genin of the Leaf Village, I order you to leave this premises, and never return to the Fire Country."

"She'd like that, wouldn't she!" Hyouden spat, pointing her good arm towards Hinata. "You're naive, son!" Her voice was shaking with emotion, eyes filled with hate that ran deep into her soul. "She's poisoned you! They've poisoned you! They'll stab you in the back and leave you for dead, Neji! My baby boy, please! Listen to me! She! She'll be the one to drive the knife in, when you'll least expect. One day, there will come a time where you are rivals, and she will use her power to kill you! The mark on your forehead defines you, and she knows that! But," she paused, venom dripping through her words as she fixed Hinata with a hellishly sadistic glare, "We can kill her, Neji. We can end it all now! We can be a family again, and you can join me! We can bring them all down together!"

Neji paused, mouth contorting into a grim line. His eyes remained steely, however, and directed towards Hyouden.

There was a tense, long moment. The wind howled in the background, the stars beginning to fade away into nothingness, as the sky began to take on a ever so slightly red hue.

"No," he snapped coldy, nothing but contempt and malice in his usually cool tone. He reached into his kunai pouch, palming one of the metal projectiles, clenching onto it tightly, "I don't need you. I have Hinata. And she is the only family I will ever need!"

Warmth flooded through Hinata's chest as she took in the information. "N-Neji sees me as the only family he will e-ever need?"

This thought pushed back the constant barrage of Hyouden. Replaced, instead, were visions of playing in the garden, the fresh smell of the summer air, the scent of the flowers, and the sounds of her laughter, as Neji chased her around and around.

Hinata rose, wincing as her shoulder exploded with pain. Her thigh ached, and even though she had unblocked a lot of her chakra points, her body was not one hundred percent. Not in the slightest.

"Hinata?" Neji glanced away from Hyouden for a split second, white eyes widening. "What're you doing?"

"I-if you can stand against her, Neji, t-then so can I." The Hyūga Heiress shuffled over to Neji's side, a warm smile present on her pale face. "I-if she is our mother, t-then we should do this together. S-she's a traitor, and as we're both members of the Hyūga Clan, it is o-our destiny to take her down."

Neji's eyes were filled with an unknown emotion, as he stared down at the injured girl in front of him. Wordlessly, he nodded. Reaching into his other pocket, he quickly handed her a soldier pill, which tentatively took, and swallowed

"You fool!" Hyouden spat, stepping forward, good hand clenching in rage. "You have poisoned him, you foolish girl! You take the name Hyūga, but you're not even worthy of that trashy clan! You're nothing more than dirt on my shoe, a girl I should've aborted when I had the chance!"

The word's stung at Hinata's core like a knife being plunged in her back. Neji's nostrils flared, and the kunai flew out of his hand with a flick of his wrist. Hinata's eyes were filled with an emotion he had never truly seen in her; anger.

Hyouden struck out with her palm, the kunai being knocked to the side, embedding in the bark below with a thud. To Neji and Hinata's horror, however, the former Hyūga began to make hand-signs with only one hand.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!"

Cupping her good hand over her mouth, six bullets, comprised of whirling wind, burst outwards towards the two Hyūga. Neji grimaced, and Hinata's eyes widened in worry. They leapt to the side, broken apart, as the bullets slammed into the ground where they once stood, splinters of wood sailing high into the air.

The battle had begun.

---

Neji grimaced, Byakugan bulging as he looked through the storm of dust and sharpnel. His eyes narrowed, face contorting into a snarl. "She's not going after me at all!" He shouted inside of his head, watching as his mother stormed towards his cousin. With a hiss, he dove forward.

Hyouden's face was a mixture of rage and contempt, speeding towards the injured Hyūga Heiress. "Wind Style: Divine Down Current!"

Doing one handed signs, Hyouden cupped her hand over her mouth, and blew. A huge, swirling vortex of wind burst from within, shooting straight towards Hinata. The blowback sent leaves and branches flailing backwards, Hyouden's long hair sent sprawling. Hinata dodged just in time, the lavender eyed kunoichi darting into one of the bushes. The vortex kept going on and on, eventually slamming into a bunch of gnarled branches, twisting them around in around, before dispersing and leaving the debris behind as its only witness.

Hyouden bit back a curse, feet coiling as she went to dive towards the bush where Hinata had last been seen. She never got the chance, however, as Neji blurred in front of her, palm reared backwards. Her eyes widened, and the former Hyūga was forced to jump away from her son, who's eyes held rage she had not yet seen in her lifetime. She skidded on the bark of the tree, raising her hand in a defensive motion, as Neji came at her again. He struck with both hands, fluid and swift. She ducked and dodged and weaved, attacks coming just a second away from striking her, only for the chance to be snatched away. Neji's mouth curled into a frown, as he twisted around, shooting his leg out. Hyouden was not caught unawares, using her good hand to catch her sons boot. She pushed upward, forcing him to flip over himself, landing on his feet once more with a thud.

He was nowhere near finished, however, as he dove back into the fray. Twisting his body around once more, he struck out with a palm strike, momentum on his side. Hyouden moved her over, blow sailing right past her. Eye's twitching, the Hyūga Branch Member lashed out with another strike, aimed at her well-endowed chest. Once more, Hyouden jumped backwards, the attack merely connecting with the night air.

"She's not even trying to fight back!" He seethed internally, taking a moment to breath, "All she's doing is dodging! Why!?"

"Why won't you fight back?" He snapped, raising his arms once more, slipping into his fluid Jyuuken stance.

Something warm flashed in Hyouden's eyes, and she reached out her hand, taking steps towards the Hyūga Branch Member. He watched her warily, until she was almost within touching distance. "I don't want to hurt someone I love, Neji." She moved forward, hand inches away from ghosting Neji's pale face. He closed his steely eyes, stance becoming rigid, as he dropped his arms.

Without warning they burst open, and he began to spin, "Rotation!"

The blue spinning dome followed Neji's movement, slamming hard into Hyouden. She screamed in pain, launching backwards with bone-breaking force. She smashed into a nearby cluster of branches, blood exploding from her mouth, before she slumped to the floor on hands and knees. Neji stopped the jutsu, blue dome dissipating as he surveyed Hyouden's form. She was shaking with some unknown emotion, hands curled deep, hand clutching at a broken piece of bark. Shards of wood layered her back, although none seemed to have impaled her.

Neji began to walk forward, steps slow and deliberate. His eyes scanned the surrounding area, finding Hinata slowly making her way towards him. A frown passed over his face, as he noticed she was clutching her shoulder. The soldier pill seemed to stopped the injury to the thigh, or at least the pain. Her shoulder wound, blood still trickling out of it, was proving to be a problem. From what he could tell, it wasn't bleeding badly enough that she would die of blood loss, but the sooner they got this done, the better.

He continued to walk, focusing back on Hyouden, who was now standing upwards. She raised her head, lavender eyes filled with betrayal that would've stung, if he didn't truly know who she was.

"What're you doing, Neji?" She almost whined. Her voice made bile rise up in his throat, revulsion sending a shiver down his spine. "Stop this, please?"

Neji roughly shook his head. "Do you not understand, mother? You may 'love' me, but I will never love you! You're nothing more than a traitor, to both your family, and your village. Your constant begging will never dissuade me. Tonight, you will die."

Hinata stepped out of the bushes, looking between the two Hyūga cautiously. She began to walk towards Neji, as Hyouden rounded on her with hate-filled lavender eyes. "This proves my point, Neji! She's poisoned your mind, along with the rest of the clan, don't you see it!?"

Hinata's brow furrowed in anger, as she reached Neji's side. The Hyūga Branch member snorted in distaste. "No, mother, I don't see it," his steely eyes flashed with anger, "but what I do see, is a crazy old bitch!"

Hinata flinched at the venom in his tone, despite feeling the exact sentiments he felt. Or, did she...? Her eyes became downcast, mouth curling into a thoughtful frown. Did she really hate her own mother? Despite all she's done, and tried to do? She... she wasn't sure.

Hyouden let out an angry shout, unintelligible, as her eyes bulged. With a growl, she thrust her palm forward, exclaiming, "Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"

The resulting wave of Jyuuken energy shot towards the two Hyūga, Neji grimacing. He weaved through hand-signs, slamming his own hand onto the ground, before yelling, "Earth Style: Earth Wall Jutsu!"

A wall of earth cracked through the bark below their feet, erecting steadfast and proudly in front of them. The Vacuum Palm slammed into the wall, causing it to shudder violently, chips of the earth beginning to fall off of it.

"We need to figure out a game plan," Neji stated, "Lady Hinata, what do you know about her attack stylings and patterns?"

"S-she rarely uses her Byakugan," The Hyūga Heiress stuttered, only this time, Neji noted, there was a deep fire in her lavender, pulsing eyes. "She's always used Jyuuken up to t-this point, as well..."

Neji's hands clenched into fists, as he scanned his mother. She was waiting for a few moments, painstakingly yanking the kunai she had impaled her with out of her arm. The squelch of blood, crimson splashing onto the bark below, did not seem to phase her, neither did the new colour of her former white robe. Instead, she looked betrayed, and livid. "She's using long range jutsu now," he theorized, "And we have nothing to counteract that-"

"Neji, move!" Hinata's startled cry shook the Hyūga Branch member out of his thoughts, Byakugan flaring.

"Eight Trigrams: Cyclone Palm!"

Thrusting her hand forward, Hyouden shot out a large, dominating wave of Jyuuken energy towards the two. Neji and Hinata both nodded, before leaping backwards. They avoided being blown away, the energy colliding with the earth wall in an explosion of air and dirt. Dust flew everywhere, pieces of stone clattering to the bark below.

Neji slipped back into his Jyuuken stance as the dust settled, searching for his mother. His pupils dilated in alarm, however, as she appeared right in front of him, hand moving through signs.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

Wind exploded out of Hyouden's mouth, Neji crossing his arms over his face in an x like motion. The air current slammed into his body, bones rattling and bruises forming as he was blown backwards. He went straight through some bushes, twigs and leaves sticking to his clothing, before he crashed against one of the clusters of branches, hard. Pain jolted through his entire body, face contorting into a wince as he fell to the bark below, on hands and knees.

Hyouden showed no enjoyment, mouth downturned into a sad frown. This was quickly replaced, however, with an enraged snarl, as she twisted her body around to see Hinata. She sped forward, palm cocked backwards.

Hinata deflected the blow with her forearm, wincing as pain shot through her shoulder. She struck back with a palm strike to the shoulder, but Hyouden was fast, ducking out of the way, blow sailing overhead. They went back and forth like this for a while, a deadly dance of palm strikes and low kicks. Hyouden was the faster and stronger of the two, using one arm to deflect each attack Hinata threw at her. The Hyūga Heiress was competent, though, avoiding most of the one-armed assaults her mother sent her way.

Pain, however, was catching up to her. Hinata ducked another palm strike aimed at her temple, tucking into a roll. When she righted herself, dark hair fluttering in the breeze, her arms immediately shot up, blocking a thrust to the chest that would've ended her life. Hyouden let out a throaty growl, foot shooting out towards Hinata's knee. The Hyūga Heiress felt her feet leave the ground as she jumped upwards, only for a sharp searing pain to explode through her injured shoulder, as Hyouden struck it once more with a palm strike. She landed on her feet, good hand clutching at the mangled mess her shoulder was becoming.

Blood dripped from Hyouden's palm, splashing against the darkened wood below almost silently. A grin curled at her lips, lavender eyes hard and wild.

Hinata felt her knee give out, collapsing onto one, as she eyed her mother with cold eyes. If she were to fall, she would not give her the satisfaction of being scared.

That proved not to be the case, Neji blurring into view right next to Hyouden. She bit back a curse, as Neji exclaimed, "Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!"

Neji began to fluidly move his hands forward, striking at his mother with pure killing intent. The speed increased with every thrust, aiming for as many chakra points as he could. To his horror and frustration, however, none of them landed. Hyouden was like a ghost, dodging and weaving out of the way of his strikes just in the nick of time. She was good. Very, very good.

With his last strike, he lashed out with more power than he had used before. His pupils dilated as Hyouden merely deflected it, using her wrist to push his wrist to the side, strike sailing past her head. She then quickly grasped onto his forearm, hand constricting around it, like a python coiling around it's prey.

"Neji," she spoke with a low, quiet tone, something flashing in her eyes, "Just prove me wrong. Tell me what you know is right, and prove that you're not poisoned by them!"

Anger exploded in Neji's gaze, as he began to spin around. "Rotation!" Hyouden leapt backwards, sliding her feet across the bumpy surface of the bark, as she watched her son spin around. The blue dome he had formed soon faded, and their eyes clashed.

"I'm sorry to do this, my son. But, if its the only way to make you see the truth, then I'll do what I have too! Eight Trigrams: Cyclone Palm!"

Thrusting her good hand forward, a wave of Jyuuken energy exploded towards the Hyūga Branch Member. He retaliated effectively, spinning in place once more, a blue dome of chakra surrounding him in its entirety. "Rotation!" he bellowed out, the energy slamming against the dome, before fizzling out into nothingness.

"Water Style: Water Whip Jutsu!" Hinata's cry caught Hyouden's intention, the Hyūga Traitor's eyes snapping towards her daughter. She showed no remote interest as a whip, made of water, exploded out of the bark below. It wiggled around for a moment, before shooting towards Hyouden at a breakneck pace. She paid no mind to it, jumping forward to dodge it with practiced ease. It sent shards of wood flying high into the sky, water droplets spraying onto the surrounding area.

Hyouden reached into her kunai pouch, procuring four of the metal projectiles. Wasting no movements, she threw them roughly towards her daughter. Lavender eyes widening, Hinata leapt away from them, as they slammed into the bark below with a crack and a thud.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

A major gust of wind blew out of Hyouden's mouth, shooting towards her daughter with vigor. It tore up whatever it touched, wooden splinters flying up off of the ground, leaves blowing away into the sky as it passed. Hinata's feet had just touched the ground, when the blast knocked her off of her feet. She let out a cry of terror, soon replicated, only filled with pain, as her upper back collided with a nearby branch, a sick thud echoing around the area.

Neji growled, killing intent leaking from his coiled body. He leapt towards his mother, palm reared backwards. She blocked the blow with ease, flesh colliding with flesh as she deflected it. He went for her again, and again, aiming for her lungs, brain, neck, heart. Every single attack he threw at her, with startlingly good accuracy, she managed to dodge, weave, or defend against.

With just one arm, The Hyūga Prodigy was being outperformed.

His grimace grew deeper, leaning backwards as her sole working hand sailed overhead. Her strikes were faster and stronger than his, slicing through the air like a knife to hot butter. He struck back, steely white eyes widening as his palm came close to grazing her bosom. She deflected once more, Hyouden's face a mix of displeasure and satisfaction, as she lashed out. The kick connected loudly, slapping against Neji's thigh. He winced in pain, slipping out of his defensive stance for a few moments. The rush of air towards his chest was faster than his hands, as Hyouden's palm slammed straight into his ribcage, targeting his lung. He let out an explosion of crimson, blood dripping from his mouth as it splattered to the floor like a spilt drink.

He spat out another glob, righting his slacked figure, breathing throatily. He raised his hands in a defensive like motion, only to receive another bone-jarring attack, this time a kick to his chest. He soared through the air, crashing into the bark a few metres away, before skidding into a nearby bush.

"You should've listened, Neji," she muttered sadly to herself, pain plucking at her heart as she walked forwards. She brushed through the bush, twigs digging into her skin, as she looked at the broken form of her son before her. Blood seeped out of his mouth, white eyes glassed over, vacant.

The bark behind her broke apart, splinters being tossed into the air as Neji burst from the ground. His eyes were proud, mouth contorted into a grim line, as his palm shot towards his mother's back. "A friend taught me this trick!" He spat. Hyouden spun around, and before Neji was close enough to properly land a blow, her palm had slammed into his chest. He disappeared quickly enough, the mirage ending, as his mother's mouth curled into a snarl. Clones, it seemed.

The rush of air behind her gave the Hyūga Traitor enough time to twist her body, three kunai thudding into the bark where her upper back once was.

Neji watched his mother with a cold stare, feet glowing a light blue as he stuck to a cluster of branches. His mouth moved into an impassive line, as she spun around, looking for his chakra signature. "She still isn't using the Byakugan to find me..." He whispered to himself, voice trailing off, eyes widening. Pain coursed through his chest, and he found his eyes closing. She'd hit him good, it seemed. Movement would be impaired for quite a while, unless he could unblock the chakra point. And he'd need quiet to do that-

She spun around to face him, hand blurring through signs as she exclaimed, "Wind Style: Air Bullet Jutsu!"

Cupping her one, lone hand over her mouth, Hyouden's lavender eyes narrowed as a burst of air exploded out of her mouth. It formed quickly into a spherical shape, lashing against the branches and leaves, dicing them into tiny pieces as it sped towards Neji. The Hyūga Branch Member jumped off to the side, the cluster of branches he once stood on being obliterated in mere moments. Hyouden followed it up with another Air Bullet, the large sphere darting towards Neji, as he landed on another lone branch. Growling, he was forced to abandon his perch as it was diced into wooden chunks. Flipping through the air, the Hyūga grasped onto a nearby branch, using the momentum of his jump to swing up and over, twisting in mid-air and landing on a new perch. His eyes were critical and steely, observing for any movements from his mother.

"You're a coward, mother," he stated coldly, standing from his crouching position, moonlight peaking through the leaves above him and dancing across his back, "a coward who abandoned her family. Unless, of course, you're not even family. Explain it to me, mother. How are you related to both Hinata and myself-"

Before the question can fully escape from his lips, Hyouden's hand began to burst through a series of complex hand-signs. Neji raised up his guard, only for his eyes widen in horror, as she called out, "Eight Trigrams: A Thousand Cuts!"

"She knows a technique that powerful!?" Neji grimaced, as Hyouden's hand began to shoot out in all directions. Every time she touched a piece of air, it would form into a small bullet, spinning rapidly in one place. Realizing time was of the essence, The Hyūga Branch member began leaping from cluster to cluster, feet barely touching the wood before he took off once more.

It was too late, however, as with a cry of intense concentration, the bullets scattered in all directions. Hundreds of them cut through branches and leaves, tearing up the landscape in a vicious way. Shards of wood crashed to the ground, cracking the bark below as the lifeless green leaves floated downwards. Moonlight, dimming by the minute and being replaced by a reddish hue, floated easily through the large gaps, giving the forestry graveyard a ghouly glow.

It was barrage after barrage, The Hyūga Branch Member twisting and turning as he avoided the ravishing balls of air. Splinters and green leaf tatterings rained down upon him, but he pressed onward.

His Byakugan had missed an attack, however. His face contorted into a painful scowl, his voice betraying him with a cry of discomfort. His muscles ached, lungs burning, as he looked downwards. A gash ran across his leg, cutting through his shorts with a crimson glow. Blood seeped downwards, ice hot pain surging through his thigh. He went for another leap, only to falter, leg giving way to intense burning.

"That gash needs to be fixed," he groused, still being pelted by the windy bullets that destroyed everything around him, "and I can't do that while I'm up here!"

With a growl, The Hyūga dove downwards, rolling as he hit the ground hard. The air was knocked out of his lungs, but it was only momentary as he managed to right himself into a crouch. The hard landing caused a great ache in his shoulder, but he shrugged it off, hands dancing over his ribcage. "I should've fixed this earlier," he muttered to himself, tapping thrice over his lung. Immediately, relief flooded through his body, as his breathing troubles evaporated enough to make them less of a nuisance.

Hyouden exploded out of the bushes, good arm pulled back, intent on causing intense harm to her son. She skidded across the ground, thrusting her palm towards Neji's throat. The Hyūga Branch Member's eyes widened, as he raised his arm upwards, the blow glancing against limb. Leaping to his feet, Neji shot outwards with a high kick. Hyouden blocked with her forearm, but the blow jolted her. He followed up with another strike, aimed for kidney. The Hyūga Traitor pushed her body backwards, the blow inches away from causing a life threatening injury.

Hyouden let out a frustrated gasp, and began to throw her weight into her attacks. Neji's mouth curled into a frown, as he ducked and weaved backwards, avoiding a majority of her deadly strikes. He blocked one palm strike, slamming Hyouden's hand into a nearby branch, before following it up with a palm strike of his own. The Hyūga Traitor inclined her head to the side a little bit, blow rushing past her, before she retaliated, aiming towards his chest. Neji twisted his body around a nearby branch, attack sailing past him. He came back out the other side, thrusting his own Jyuuken strike forward. It lightly glanced Hyouden's shoulder, and she hissed in pain, before spinning around into a high kick. Neji ducked, pushing backwards so his hands touched the bark, coiling his feet so he could spring. Flying through the air, he landed on his feet, Hyouden rushing at him again. She was fast and furious, but he was quick and evasive. They moved backwards, the bushes and branches getting thicker and thicker with each passing step.

Neji didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse heading deeper into this forest, as he brushed off another strike to the chest, fighting back with a low kick to the shin that Hyouden dodged with ease. The deeper they went in, the less room Hyouden had to use her Jyuuken. The same could be said for him, however, and she had something he didn't: long range jutsu.

But that wouldn't stop him. His Byakugan blared outwards, searching for anything he could use to his advantage in the environment. He spotted something, and his frown turned into a concentrated line.

He bent backwards, ducking a shot to the skull that most likely would've knocked him unconscious. Reaching into his kunai pocket, he procured four of the sharp projectiles. Hyouden noticed this, and readied herself for evasive tactics, until Neji began to spin around. "Rotation!" He exclaimed, a blue dome of chakra forming around him. The Hyūga Traitor bit back a curse, leaping back in time to avoid being struck. The thick coiling branches around him weren't as lucky, as they were sent flying in all directions, broken and torn into pieces. As Neji came to a stop, he let his four kunai fly upwards. Hyouden glanced towards the sky, before her pupils dilated. The projectiles slit through a few loose branches, which held up a massive amount of gnarled and not properly formed pieces of wood.

There was a loud creak, as a gust of wind burst through the trees, gliding across both Hyuga's dirty skin.

With a crash, the dam broke, and the humongous amount of branches began to skyrocket downward. Hyouden let out a cry of surprise, turning and leaping away just in the nick of time. The resulting explosion of wood and splinters forced Neji to cover his face, the dust kicking up to sting his eyes. When it cleared, the broken and dusty remains of the branches lay in front of him, having cracked the bark in long, winding ways. Shards of the once life-filled branches were nothing more than dead remnants of a battle between mother and son.

But the mother was not underneath that pile of wood.

Neji's thigh throbbed, his eyes sliding downwards to look at the crimson that stained his leg.

The sound of wind rushing behind him widened his white eyes. "She used the blind spot!"

"Wind Style: Wind Dragon Body Blow!"

Hyouden cocked her palm backwards, before slamming it hard into the side of Neji's ribcage. Pain coursed through the Hyūga Branch Member's body for just a moment, before he felt his feet leave the ground. Branches tore into his body as he burst through the undergrowth, moving so fast his own eyes couldn't keep up. He thudded into the ground, the thick and meaty branches having torn his clothes viciously, long thin cuts running along his pale body.

Neji blinked rapidly, moving about to see what the damage was. Nothing severe, it seemed, although his leg was still throbbing madly. The attack only seemed to push him back, and not necessarily incapacitate him. He frowned at this information. Was she still not trying to kill him!?

He sat upwards, hand touching his leg lightly, colouring the fingertips crimson. Byakugan flaring, he caught sight of her as she leapt through the bushes, flying straight towards him. Jumping back to his feet, he raised his arms in preparation for another Jyuuken fight.

"Water Style: Water Whip Jutsu!"

Hinata weaved through hand-signs, a whip comprised entirely of water exploded out of the bark by her feet. It wasted no time, shooting towards Hyouden, who remained in mid-air. The older woman grimaced, exclaiming, "Foolish girl!" before twisting her body around. Shooting out her hand, it clashed with the water whip, cutting it in half with ease. The liquid splattered lifelessly onto the floor below, The Hyūga Traitor lightly landing on her feet.

Her eyes widened, however, as Hinata's form disappeared. "A clone!?" She spat out.

Hyouden's steely gaze snapped upwards, as Hinata burst downwards from up above, palm clocked back. The Hyūga Traitor wasted little time, reaching upwards and brushing the blow The Hyūga Heiress was aiming at her throat away. She contorted her body, dodging her daughter as Hinata landed on her hands, righting herself quickly. She didn't have enough time, though, to block the incoming strike to her leg. Hinata let out a scream of pain, Hyouden allowing her stoic mask to slip into a gleeful grin.

Neji's face remained impassive was he watched the scene in front of him. "I only have half of my chakra left," he thought to himself, scanning his chakra reserves with furrowed brows. "This needs to end quickly."

He sped towards his mother, eyes hard and cold, palms outstretched towards her back. Something twinged in the back of his mind, though. This was his mother. His own flesh and blood, one of his few surviving relatives that he might actually care for-

The thought was ruthlessly crushed like an insect, Neji's eyes growing even icier, mouth contorting into a feral snarl that rivaled a lions. No, he would not feel sentimental. This traitor needed to die, for the good of The Hyūga Clan, for the good of Hinata, and for the good of himself!

Hyouden swung her body around, eyes locking to Neji's as he jumped towards her. Hinata, pain lancing through her face, coiled her legs with all of her might. She leapt into a nearby bush, the sound of her body hitting the floor giving Neji more motivation than ever.

Hyouden raised her guard, ready to deflect any Jyuuken strike Neji could throw at her. This proved useless, The Hyūga Branch Member lowering his arms and turning his shoulder towards her. The air exploded out of her lungs, Neji's tackle sending pain bursting into her gut as she slammed hard into the bark below. Neji didn't waste time, positioning his knees on top of her forearms, pinning them down. One of his hands, stained with blood, snaked around her throat, her lavender eyes bulging as he raised his palm.

"This is your end!"

Squeezing against her wind-pipe, he thrust his hand downwards, straight towards her forehead.

Her mouth opened, and a gust of wind exploded out of it, slashing across Neji's face. He let out a cry of pain, blood smearing in his eyes as he flew high into the air. His back broke through multiple bushes, but he still did not stop his ascent. Eventually, pain lanced through his entire upper body as he smashed into a branch too thick to break with her jutsu. His back was discoloured, a lone cut sending crimson rolling down from his eyebrow, leaking over his white Byakugan eye. Before he could fall back down, he reached upwards, one arm wrapping around the branch. With the other, and with a pained cry, he yanked himself upwards, until he safely rested atop.

He couldn't take much more of this. Even with half of his chakra left, the pain was extreme. His thigh was swelling up now, movements becoming harder and harder with each passing second. The cut over his eye was blinding him, the light trickle of blood colouring his Byakugan with a thick crimson. His muscles were revolting, screaming in pain as his bones creaked in agony.

"She didn't even use hand-signs," he realized after a few moments of heavy breathing, hand pressed hard against the cut that stained his face. Waiting for just a few seconds longer, he stood up, and with painful gasps, began to leap downwards.

---

Hinata searched everywhere, eyes alert and focused. Her hands were dancing across her leg, working furiously to unblock the chakra point her mother had blocked off. The Hyūga Heiress' breathing was ragged and forced, body aching in protest. Her chakra was waning rapidly, she realized with a grimace. She had only about ten percent left. One or two more big attacks, and she'd be done.

She leant back against the cool bark of a branch, leaves and twigs sticking out of her hair as if it were a birds nest. Pain touched every crevice of her form, and it refused to relent, reminding her how much stronger she needed to be.

The rest was needed, and appreciated. But it wouldn't win her the fight.

With another shaky breath, she began to rise upwards, hands clenching against her jacket. "Naruto..." She couldn't help it. Her mind wandered to her crush, his bright smile, cerulean blue eyes shining with warmth.

She would get through it for him.

For him.

She detected Hyouden a few moments before she blurred behind her, straight into her blind spot. Only the rush of air and sound of feet slapping against the ground had alerted the Hyūga Heiress of her mother's presence, and she used those precious few seconds to her advantage. She pushed as much chakra into her legs as she could muster, leaping high into the air. The sharp pain of her thigh, cut still gleaming with blood, didn't phase her as she grabbed onto one of the tree branches. With a yank, she pulled herself up, the sound of her mother cursing below filled the night air.

"Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm!"

Hinata allowed her usually shy complexion to vanish, replaced with a disturbed glower. Pushing more chakra into her feet, she pushed off the branch she was standing upon, sailing over to another as the one behind her exploded into chunks.

"Lady Hinata!" A voice rang in her ears, lavender eyes sliding upwards. Neji shot his hand downward, towards his cousin/sister. She wasted little time, leaping upwards and grasping onto it. He squeezed it tightly, and with all of his might, pulled her upwards through the branches.

Both collapsed onto the cluster of branches they now lay upon, breathing hard and ragged. Sweat coloured their forms in a thick sheet, dirt blackening every crevice it came across, while blood stained their bodies in a crimson canvas.

"She's too powerful."

Hinata's head snapped to the side, gazing at the person next to her with incredulity. His eyes were wide and tired, mouth curled into a frown. His chest rose and fell quickly and brutally, fists clenched.

"W-we can beat her, Neji," she tried to reassure, but her quivering voice did little to give any confidence to the statement. The Hyūga Branch member turned and looked at her, narrowing his Byakugan.

"With all due respect Lady Hinata, we can't. She's managed to deflect each and every single one of our attacks, and blocked off a number of our chakra points without using the Byakugan. That kind of skill is unheard of in the Hyūga. Even Lord Hiashi doesn't have enough skill to do that. And her mastery of Wind Style Jutsu is... insanity. Her co-ordination, and overall power with that element is breathtaking to behold. Coupled with her Jyuuken abilities, with only one arm, she is the perfect combination of long range ninjutsu and short range taijutsu. We need to try and get out of here-"

"No!"

Neji's eyes widened as Hinata hissed out the word, a fire coming into her eyes he hadn't seen since the preliminaries of the Chunnin Exam. Her eyelids drooped downwards, and she sighed. "We can't, Neji," she spoke firmly, not a single ounce of her stutter breaking into her words, "if we escape, then she can go after Naruto. And we can't let that happen. If Naruto gets captured, who knows what the Akatsuki will do with him? Please, Neji, please?"

Neji, with a jolt, realized something.

She sounded just like her mother.

Shaking those thoughts out of his head, he snapped open his eyes, white clashing with pleading lavender. After a few more moments, he nodded slowly.

"You have more courage than I, Lady Hinata," he admitted, eyes wandering off to look at the moon, slowly falling down into the horizon.

Hinata allowed a small, pained smile to grace her lips. "No, Neji, you do."

Neji ignored the comment, sitting up from his prone position, gears beginning to turn in his head. "Do you have enough chakra for one final jutsu?"

Hinata's smile never wavered.

---

Hyouden's eyes were steely and cold, hand brushing against the cool hilt of the kunai that lodged within the right side of her body. Her lone eye, the only one with any visibility, scanned the treeline. Her mouth was curled into a frown, twisting and turning her body at every rustle of leaves, every current of air, every creak of the branches.

The sound of branches snapping above caused her eyes to leap upwards, widening. Neji and Hinata burst out of the treeline, determined looks ingrained in their pale faces. Their bodies, despite the injuries they had sustained, looked ready for war.

"Now!"

Hinata pulled her palm back, ready to thrust it towards her mother. Neji, however, started to spin, and started the beginning's of his rotation.

It never happened.

A miscommunication caused Neji to twist right into Hinata's line of sight. Her palm already outstretched, she could do nothing as it slammed into The Hyūga Branch Member's side. He let out an exclamation of pain, shooting towards the ground below. With an intense crack, Neji's scream exploded through the entire area, as he clutched his arm, twisting his body in agony.

Hinata landed away from him, eyes filled with fear and worry. "Neji, I'm so-"

"You bitch!" Hyouden snarled, rounding on her with hate filled lavender eyes that were so alike her daughters, "I told him! I told him you would stab him in the back and leave him for dead! You Hyūga are all the same, and nothing more than scum!"

The Traitorous Hyūga growled furiously at Hinata, before twisting around and moving towards Neji, who was rocking back and forth in pain.

"Don't touch him!" Hinata hissed, hand darting into her kunai pouch, before she threw one of the metal projectiles at her opponent. Hyouden cursed, dodging out of the way, only for her, and Hinata's lavender eyes to go wide with worry.

Neji's shriek resounded in each of their heads, kunai impaling his shoulder, blood leaking out of the wound. The Hyūga Heiress brought her hands to her mouth, taking steps backward as her body began to shake. "Neji..."

"You're dead!" Hyouden shrieked loudly, charging towards Hinata with the fires of rage burning deep within her soul. Turning around, and letting out a squeak of alarm, Hinata darted into the bushes, The Hyūga Traitor hot on her heels.

---

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

Hinata let out a sharp gasp of pain as wind assaulted her body, sending her flying through the bushes and slamming onto the bark with a thud.

She blinked rapidly, moonlight drifting down onto the small clearing she found herself within, sky turning into a reddish canvas with each passing moment. A paradise amongst the gnarled and twisted branches she had been running through for the past few minutes.

Hyouden followed quickly after, rage still burning in her lavender eyes. Hinata winced, hand reaching for her thigh, now covered in thick, purple bruises. Her movements were shaky and weak, as she forced her protesting body to stand and face her mother.

"Weakness. That's what I see when I look at you, Hinata. You should've been stronger! You should've been able to best me. Your Byakugan was no use to you here, was it? I stand tall, barely winded, and you stand there, almost unable to make it to your feet." A look of sadness flitted across the older woman's face. "Perhaps if things had been different..." Hyouden shook of the look, replacing it with a vicious snarl. "But they're not, and you're weak and foolish."

"W-what th-things could've been d-different?" Hinata's shaky voice inquired, swallowing down the bile in her throat.

Hyouden's eye became filled with untold rage, Neji seemingly forgotten. Her skin seemed to burn brightly with the fires of anger, and her mouth curled into a snarl that would've made Orochimaru quiver.

"Hiashi." She spat, saliva flecking onto the ground by her feet. "He is what could've been different."

"I-I don't know what my father did," Hinata's voice began to regain strength, and she slipped into her Jyuuken stance, despite the ache that clung to her bones, "but I know I don't care anymore. You're targetting one of my precious people in Naruto Uzumaki. I know you want him, and I don't care what reason you have for it. You want to hurt him, and I will NOT allow that to happen, mother!"

The Hyūga Heiress leapt forward, beginning to spin around for the Rotation. Hyouden raised her arms in defence, legs coling to escape, until her lavender eyes widened.

Hinata had simply vanished, and in her place, were a bundle of explosive tags, stuck all around the clearing.

Hyouden reacted quickly, beginning the motions of the Rotation as the tags began to glow pure white. "Rotation!" she called out, a blue dome of chakra enveloping her as she spun.

An explosion of fire so hot it licked at her skin from within the Rotation burst into life, searing all it touched and turning it to cinders. With a wince, she maintained the spinning as more and more of the explosions went off, ringing in her ears. Fire was all she saw in her lone eye, but still, she kept on moving, and kept on spinning.

Finally, the dust and fire settled, smoke tarnishing the once fresh air. Black and charred pieces of wood scattered all around the slowing down traitor, the fires having dimmed, replaced instead with broken and cracked branches. The combination of the Rotation and exploding tags going off had created a deep crater, blacker than even the darkest ocean.

Hyouden let out shaky breaths, smoke stinging her eyes and drying her throat.

She'd underestimated them.

"You're foolish, mother."

The Hyūga Traitor swung around, eyes widening as Neji's form appeared through the smoke, unharmed. His gaze was cool, but his mouth was contorted into a cocky smirk.

"B-but you-"

"A Genjutsu, mother," his emphasis on the word was covered in a thick, vicious venom, "a Genjutsu you fell for with ease. I was never injured, and Hinata isn't even in the vicinity. For the past five minutes I've watched you chase shadows and mirages, and now, you're defeated. But," The Hyūga Branch Member paused, mouth reverting back to a thin line, "I want to know something?"

Hyouden was seething with rage, her body shaking as she regarded her son with contempt. "What?" She spat.

"Why do you never use your Byakugan?"

At this, Hyouden took a step forward, mouth curling into a ferocious snarl. "I will never use the trash that your clan gave me! Now that you're here, I most certainly will not. This fight is over!"

"Indeed it is," Neji slipped into his Jyuuken stance, a sigh escaping his lips as he closed his emotion-filled eyes, "goodbye, mother."

His eyes soon snapped open, Byakugan bulging as he shouted, "Earth Style: Eight Trigrams Sixty Four Palm-"

"Byakugan!"

Hyouden made a single hand-sign, veins bulging in her one eye, as she uttered, "Sixty-Four Palms!"

Neji was floored for a moment, eyes widening. She wasn't anywhere near him-

Pain exploded throughout his whole body, air leaving his lungs as something hard slammed into his gut. "Wh-" another blow, and another. They came again and again, smashing and crashing against his chakra points, agony searing through his entire body. The strikes, invisible, were coming in so fast, his pain receptors didn't have enough time to catch up. Eyes wide, Neji could do nothing as almost all of his chakra points were systematically blocked. With one final strike, The Hyūga burst through the branches and bushes at a speed which even the Sharingan would have problems following.

He soon came out to the original position, only this time with far more speed. The boom that echoed throughout the clearing as he smashed into the bark, kicking up a dust cloud that covered the entire area, reached out across the entire length of the tree.

Hinata jolted in fright, eyes widening as she activated her Byakugan. The plan was supposed to have worked!

She let out a horrified gasp, leaping to her feet and running over to Neji, who lay groaning in a crater of bark and shrapnel.

"Y-you're chakra points... they're almost all blocked!" She cried out, kneeling down and setting to work in an attempt to unblock them. She found, agony coiling in her gut, that these weren't blocked like a normal Jyuuken style. These were blocked in such a way that no outside help would do anything. Medical Ninjutsu wouldn't work here. Only Neji would be able to unblock them, from the inside out.

Footsteps echoed through the clearing, and her gaze snapped to where the sound originated from.

"You tried to defeat me," the voice was low, dust beginning to clear as the wind solemnly blew it off into the night.

Hyouden's figure appeared out of the bushes, and Hinata's lavender eyes widened, zooming in on one particular difference in her mother's appearance.

Her lone Byakugan was not tinted with free-willed lavender, or concentrated white. Instead, it was a metallic silver, bright, and filled with an anger unmatched by anyone in the Five Great Shinobi Nations.

"Your clan gave the Byakugan to you," Hyouden growled, pointing her finger towards her silver eye, multiple veins bulging and flexing, "but I have this. The difference being, your clan gave you your Dojutsu, but I earned mine!"

With a snarl, Hyouden slipped into a one-armed Jyuuken stance.

"And now," she said, darting forward, "we get to see which one is better!"

---

And there we go! So, yes, there will be some Byakugan upgrades (No relation to the Byakugan Upgrades from HBE by TheParagonPariah (Go check that out!) whatsoever.

I should also point out that there have been a few changes to this story. It's a long tale, but I had two things planned out, and accidentally went for the wrong one! So, nobody knows about Hyouden. Neji doesn't know she defected, only Hiashi and Hizashi know/knew. All we be explained in time, of course, but this is something I wanted to fix. The chapter where this is talked about has been changed and edited to fix this issue. Things will be explained in later chapters, I assure you! Next chapter, we'll go back to the summit of the tree, and see what is going on up there!

As for the poll, last week's vote was a landslide... NaruHina was victorious! They'll be getting a small romantic scene in the next arc!

For this weeks poll, the question is this: Which of three fight scenes would you like to read first in chapter 48?

Itachi vs Kisame?

Kakashi vs Orochimaru?

Naruto and Sasuke vs Mizuki?

Poll closes when chapter 48 comes out!

We're only five more chapters away from the end of this arc! So, have a great morning/afternoon/evening/night, and see you next Saturday!