I apologize for this chapter being a little short, but the next chapter is a companion chapter to it. Also, this chapter is mostly Hiashi's point of view.

Power Trip

"Hizashi Hyuga! I gave you a command and I expect you to execute it!" Hiashi shouted as his brother continued his leisurely walk towards the compound gates. "Are you listening to me?"

"Yes, I heard you." The fifteen year old recently-promoted chunin turned to gaze over his shoulder at the future clan head. "But like I said before, I have somewhere to be right now. I would attend to your demands if I didn't have a prior engagement."

Hizashi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Hiashi had been on a power trip ever since their chunin exams. Of course, that had probably been his fault. When they had been matched up in the final rounds, no one had expected a branch member to defeat a main house member, especially not with secret main house techniques. Even though they had both been promoted, Hizashi was pretty sure that Hiashi had been punished substantially for his failure to defeat a branch member, even if they were twin brothers. Hiashi's defeat had been an embarrassment for Hitori; now the whole village knew that his younger son was stronger than his heir.

And that gap was increasing.

"Hizashi, I am the heir to the Hyuga Clan. You will obey me." Hiashi said, his voice steely. How dare Hizashi defy him! Twin brother or not, he was the next clan head and Hizashi was a lowly branch member. What gave him the audacity to refuse a command?

"Hiashi, I have another commitment. If it were any other time…" Hizashi started to turn back toward the gate when he caught sight of his brother's hand. "You wouldn't."

Hiashi noted with vague triumph the expression of anxiety that crossed his brother's face. He began to weave the signs for the curse seal activation. Would Hizashi dare to keep going? "Why not? I have every right to as a member of the main household. Now, Hizashi. Do what I asked."

Hizashi sighed and for a brief moment Hiashi thought he had won the argument. But then Hizashi turned resolutely back toward the gate, ignoring his brother once again.

A red haze of anger and frustration passed over the heir and before he knew it, he had activated Hizashi's seal. He'd seen the seal activated several times, but never on his brother. However, he expected screams of pain, begging, and violent thrashing. But Hizashi did none of those things. He simply crashed to the ground as if someone had removed his skeleton. Curious, Hiashi moved closer.

The seal glowed a sickly acid green on Hizashi's forehead as it razed his brain. He noticed that his brother's body was shaking uncontrollably in small tremors and his eyes were open and vacant. His breathing was raspy and uneven as he tried to inhale properly. Disturbed, Hiashi deactivated his seal and scurried off.

Once he was far enough away that no one would see him, Hiashi let the tears fall. He hadn't wanted to use the seal, but Hizashi didn't know the pressure he was under…the pressure to be the perfect heir. But he knew Hizashi would hate him for it.

"Damn it! It isn't fair…"