I am so excited for this chapter! The moment you've all been waiting for! Well, not exactly-the Hyuuga Massacre is actually the next Hinata pov. chapter this is just the prelude. But I still luuurve it. Anyway. Like always, eternal thanks to my Beta, Airyo, and credit also goes to Lyanah, for her lovely suggestion on her review. Or pm? Whatevs.
Hyuuga Blood
This was it. Her last day in Konoha. The last time that she would see these beautiful, winding streets, the last time that she would have a home to return to (to matter how cold and bleak it was), the last time she would be able to train with her team.
Yes, tomorrow were the Tournaments, which included the attack. The deed had to be done today- but she would do it in the evening, giving them one last final chance to change their decision (even though she knew they wouldn't), and one last final day to enjoy the feeling of belonging. After this day, who knows how long she'd be on the run.
Today, she'd have to kill her own family. She's have to spill Hyuuga blood, she'd have to spill the blood of her kin. And she would... today. Hinata felt scared (horrified, really), nervous (sickened, more like it), and chilled (freezing would be a more accurate description), all at once. It was a good thing that she was leaving tomorrow.
There was one final thing she wanted to do before she left. She wanted to spend time with Hanabi. Today would be the last time she'd see her little sister for quite a while (who knows if ever), and she wanted it to be special. She wanted to tell her things now that she wouldn't be able to tell her in the future. She wanted this last day to have a moment to bond with her sister, for the last time. Although she knew that it would be better to be distant, so her sister wouldn't miss her as much.
These last few years, she had been distant. They were spent training in preparation for tonight. She hadn't had time to pay attention to her sister, although she wanted to, dearly. The sad thing was, by now, Hanabi was used to this. She was used to Hinata being distant, to her not caring. She was used to being alone. And Hinata couldn't have been any sadder.
And so her feet carried her across the twisting corridors of the Hyuuga Compound, towards Hanabi's room. It was early in the morning- seven o'clock- and Hanabi was bound to be in her room. Hinata came to a stop in front of Hanabi's room. Should she knock? It was depressing that Hinata didn't even know the answer to such a simple question. This is the first time she's been in Hanabi's room... in years.
Hinata knocked loudly, three sharp pangs echoing throughout the corridor. A sleepy (and annoyed) Hanabi answered the door. She was holding in a yawn, and her hair was all over the place. Her pyjamas consisted of a red top and black pants.
"What do you..." Hanabi trailed off when she saw Hinata. She immediately straightened up, sleepy expression gone. Hinata was hit with a wall of sadness. "Yes, Aneki-sama?" Hanabi asked, all of her annoyance gone. Hinata was startled. Hanabi had never called her, 'oldest sister' in such a formal matter before. It used to be Nee-chan. A variety of bitter thoughts raced through Hinata's mind. If only she had been more mindful of her sister. If only the Hyuuga were not a bunch of prideful, arrogant pricks, it would not come down to this. If only. Wishing would not get you anywhere, Hinata reminded herself.
"Come. Let us train." Hinata demanded, eyeing a startled Hanabi. Hinata mentally face palmed. Training? Seriously? Why couldn't she have said something more enjoyable, like eating ice cream? Oh well... as long as she got to spend time with Hanabi, all was well, she supposed.
Hinata felt slightly better (and a lot worse) when Hanabi's whole face lit up like fireworks. Had she disregarded her sister that badly? Guilt hit her like a ton of bricks. Hinata mentally sighed... she hasn't felt that many emotions since the time she had murdered for the first time. While Hinata was lost in thought, Hanabi had went to change. She had come back in a black, traditional Hyuuga training outfit. She must train a lot with Father, Hinata mused.
Hinata walked off, expecting Hanabi to follow. Luckily, she caught the hint, and they proceeded to the Hyuuga training grounds. Hanabi was being very quiet; Hinata remembered her as an outspoken girl. Then again, she remembered herself as a stuttering mess. Times change, was the bitter thought that flashed across Hinata's mind. And not always for the good.
"Get in your stance." Hinata commanded, crouching down. While she was not very well trained in the gentle fist style, her agility and flexibility should get her through this. As for a technique, she could use a less potent version of the (poisoned) needles in her bag. She got them out, having one between each of her fingers. They would do, instead of the gentle fist.
Hanabi looked at her strangely, as she remembered that their father had always scolded Hinata on her weakness. And the stance she was in was very curious, as well. It wasn't at all like the rigid stance that her father was always positioned it; it was more flowing... like water.
"Too slow." Hinata said, and threw a needle at Hanabi. Hanabi barely dodged, and looked slightly frightened. As Hinata's words registered in her head, Hanabi attacked. While her stance was definitely better than Hinata's at her age, it was still lacking in grace and precision; it was very rigid. Hinata worked to improve that.
Dodge. Hanabi didn't manage to tap her with her gentle fist. Lunge. Hinata attacked. Kick. Hanabi was sent flying. Duck. Hanabi was getting better, but her hits where still too slow. Hit. Hanabi was slow to dodge. Dodge. Kick. Lunge. The pattern began, yet again. It was all a flurry of movement, quite relaxing for Hinata (who's training sessions were much more intense compared to these lax ones) but quite tense, and stressful. Hanabi was working at her limit, but improving along the way. Hinata felt pride overflow her heart, knowing that her little sister was strong, stronger than she could ever be, anyway. She could live through the massacre. She could deal with the loss of her family. She could, but Hinata knew that she, herself, never would. She wasn't as strong as Hanabi. Not for herself, anyway.
It was already late in the afternoon by the time they had finished. Hanabi was red faced and panting, but Hinata had barely broken a sweat. It was a plus from training all day, and sometimes, all night. Hinata beckoned Hanabi to follow her back to the Compound, for tea.
Twenty minutes later, they found themselves sat at a traditional Hyuuga table, tea in hand. Hanabi was staring at Hinata with a new found awe; something which made Hinata's heart sink. She wouldn't see that look ever again. Not after today. Heck, she'd be lucky if she ever saw Hanabi's face again! Hinata shook herself out of her morbid thoughts, and forced herself to forget the time, and focus on her sister. Because her sister was important, more important than any of the Hyuugas' put together.
"Hanabi." Hinata started, her gaze focused on the distance. Hanabi looked at her curiously, wondering what the change of tone was all about. Hinata was serious; and it felt like she was giving Hanabi advice. But for what, Hanabi could not say.
"Promise me. Promise me that you will always be strong. I will not always be here, Hanabi." Hinata said, snapping her head up to face Hanabi. Hanabi was a respectful girl, and straightened her features, sensing the dark and forbidding atmosphere. Her sister was saying something important, she knew.
"I promise, Aneki." She had stopped saying the honorific, but one training session would not get her back to 'Nee-chan' status. No. She was still older sister, and Hinata was fine with that. But she wanted Hanabi to say it... one last time... one last time for old times' sake. It might be (would be) the last time that she would hear it from Hanabi's lips, anyway.
"Call me Nee-chan. Call me Nee-chan, one last time, Hanabi." Hinata said, her eyes boring into Hanabi's. Hanabi was bewildered, not managing to make heads or tails of the tension around her. She smiled uncomfortably, and fulfilled Hinata's request.
"Sure, Nee-chan." Hanabi stated, fidgeting awkwardly. Hinata let one extinct smile grace her lips, and rose from the table, already having finished her tea. It was time to start the preparation. The sun was starting to set, giving dark shadows to everything. It was a cold night. The world was laughing at her, setting up the perfect setting, Hinata decided bitterly. But she didn't want Hanabi to see this. No, not at all.
And that was exactly why Hinata had put in sleeping pills in Hanabi's tea. Hanabi would sleep throughout the horrors... Hinata would not scar her with unpleasant memories. Let her only know facts. And if the facts were enough to make her want to kill Hinata, then so be it. Hinata didn't have anything to live for, anyway. She might as well let Hanabi have peace if she killed her. After today, the purpose of her existence would have vanished. She envied those that were blessed with goals and purposes in their lives.
"Hanabi, go to sleep." Hinata coaxed, with Hanabi nodding her head sleepily. Hanabi got up, and started to trudge to her room. Good. She wouldn't hear any of the commotion that would take place tonight. The sleeping pills were that potent.
Hinata herself stood up, going to her room to start the preparation. She had made her backpack yesterday, as the maids did their rounds twice a week, and wouldn't visit her room until the day after tomorrow. Well, they wouldn't be visiting at all, any more- this sight would be closed off to all but Hanabi.
The preparation didn't take long. Polishing and tucking away her weapons (needles and sword) in her pouch and sheath, changing into her outfit (all in black, as it was harder to spot in the darkness of the night), and stretching (so she didn't pull a muscle) was all she had to do. Oh, and the most important part: close her heart to the world.
She was no longer Hinata. Right now, she was a mindless puppet following commands. Hinata was somewhere deep, deep inside her, looking out the window of her soul, observing, but nothing else. Hinata could not show any mercy. She had already shown enough; she had given them a whole three years to back out. Three years.
She disappeared into the garden right outside, her eyes heard, and emitting a strong killing intent. As fate would have it- she had first bumped into Neji.
Neji had a hard time recognizing her, but he immediately got into his stance, feeling her intent. He knew that she had evil intent; and that was the whole reason why he didn't recognize her right away. Sweet, caring Hinata of his childhood would never act the way she was now; and she agreed. She wouldn't. But the Hinata of the past and the Hinata of the present were two separate people: people changed by the situations and goals that they were given by the world. They might share the same image, the same body, the same childhood: but they were two, very, very different people. And Neji just could not understand that.
"What do you want- Hinata-sama?" Neji's last word was said with uttermost disbelief; like he couldn't believe his eyes. Which was stupid; the Hyuuga eyes were the 'all seeing eyes'. If the Hyuuga's had one thing they could trust, it was their eyes.
But Hinata really didn't want to kill Neji. He was an innocent; he had taken no part of plotting the downfall of Konoha. Maybe if he got out of the way... maybe if she explained, then she would be spared the grief of killing her childhood friend and comrade.
"Neji. The Hyuuga are plotting to take over Konoha. Tomorrow. And it is my goal to kill them." Hinata explained, quite seriously, to a frowning Neji. Then his scowl became more prominent, as his stance became more rigid. Hinata had a feeling that he wouldn't believe her... and how right she was.
"You are not Hinata-sama, imposter. I am afraid that I will have to kill you. The Hyuuga did no such thing!" Neji said, his empowering voice washing over Hinata's being. If only. If only, Neji. Hinata wished desperately that what Neji said was true... but it wasn't. That was the whole problem, from the start. Hinata snapped out of her thoughts as Neji came at her furiously, with an intent to kill.
Why did it have to come down to this? Hinata thought sadly, almost shaking her head. There they were. Two cousins, with identical twin fathers. Childhood friends, playmates, Hyuuga. Yes, they both had the Hyuuga blood in their veins. So why was it that they were fighting a fight to the death? Was this the irony of the world? Its sense of humour? If so, it wasn't very funny... at all.
White locked with a light lavender. Anger clashed with misery. Yes, Hinata was miserable. She was miserable that she had to kill someone she had known her whole life... someone who she had loved, and who had loved her, at one point. It didn't matter that he now hated her... it didn't matter that he treated her callously on a daily basis... it all didn't matter, because they shared blood, they were family, and they loved. There was a faint line between love and hate, after all. The true opposite of love is indifference. Hinata hoped to never feel an indifference towards Neji, or his honourable death.
Neji came up to her, trying to kill her using his gentle fist. It seemed that he could see the tenketsu in the body; it didn't matter, as Hinata's technique was much... much more deadly. It vaporized things on contact; the only thing you could do was try and dodge. Water was water, after all.
Hinata quickly did a subsitution jutsu, appearing behind Neji. She wanted to make his death as painless as possible; and as quiet as possible, too. It wouldn't do if all the Hyuuga came around in one bunch to see what was going on; it was a good thing that both of their techniques were fairly noiseless.
She 'summoned' water. It grew in pools all around Neji, who dodged, seeming sceptical of the water. His eyes grew alarmed as he saw that whatever the water touched, it turned to vapour; it was quite a sight, Hinata had to say. She trained against clones, so it never made an impression, but it seemed that to other people it was a very dangerous technique.
But Neji was walking right into her trap. Hinata had connected her needles to some ninja string; making them seem like puppets. That was one of her newer techniques; it worked very well, making the needles reusable.
And yes, they were station right behind the log that Neji was going to step behind... now. The moment he stepped there, she snapped her hand back, the needles flying with it. They were made from the poisoned water, making them deadly if they so much nicked the skin of the opponent. And Neji didn't have time to dodge; it went right into his blind spot. Hinata was a Byakugan wielder herself, and knew all sorts of tricks, making her see the vulnerable in the 'invincible' Hyuuga eye.
One of the needles went through his back, while the other through his stomach. If the situation wasn't so dire, Hinata would've been impressed... he was still alive and breathing. And, most importantly, standing. That hit was supposed to be a killing blow. Not to the prodigy Hyuuga Neji, it seemed.
While Neji might have been a prodigy, he was still a Genin. Maybe at around Chunin level. Hinata was ANBU level and above; her techniques are to be feared. The outcome of the match was clear (to Hinata, at least.), and Hinata would be the winner. She had taken down Kurenai in a matter of minutes, after all.
However, then, it was Kurenai that Hinata was facing. This was Neji, her kin, her family, and that made it all the harder to kill him. But she had to; quickly. Before the other Hyuuga notice what was going on.
Hinata would honour Neji with a quick death. One swipe of the sword would do. She walked up to Neji, who, even through proud and honourable, was just a child. He had backed up against the trunk, feeling the death that was approaching. While his stance betrayed him, his mouth did not. Neji had more self control than that. Much more.
And when Hinata walked up to him, she dealt him a clean blow through the heart, instantly killing him. He no longer had a heart to beat; he was no longer alive. She stared as the colour drained from his face, as his form became lifeless and still. No. She would not look away. She caused this. She caused this death, this pain, this suffering.
Hinata reflected that maybe if Neji was in the right frame of mind, he would have stood a better chance. If he let go of all the anger, and the feeling of revenge, he would not have let his emotions get the best of him. He would have seen Hinata's point; he would have not mindlessly attacked, calling her an imposter. But those were all would haves or should haves, and they did not change the horrible truth: the truth that Neji was dead.
Hinata wished that she had the luxury to cry. She wished that she was able to show her tears now; that she had all the time in the world to mourn such a tremendous loss. Even if it was her fault. She wished that she could express her sadness to Neji's corpse, the image of him that Hinata was sure that this was the last time that she could see it. If she visited Neji's grave, she wouldn't be able to see his body; he'd be buried six feet under. And it was her fault.
Neji fought bravely and honourably, defending his family, even though they did not have honourable intentions. It didn't matter, though; it was much more honourable to defend your family than to kill (destroy, Hinata's voice whispered in the back of her mind) it. Yes, he was honourable, but not alive. Maybe if he had less pride, if he could admit that the Hyuugas' did wrong, he wouldn't be dead now... but, he had Hyuuga blood pumping through his veins. The damnable blood that values pride and honour over everything and everyone.
And Hinata desired very much to have more time to dwell on Neji, on her sins, on this murderer, but she didn't. This might have been the first Hyuuga blood that was spilt, but she had much more to do. All the Hyuuga's but one, actually. Her sword would be stained in red by the time this was over...
And so she left, knowing that by the time the night was over, red liquid (Hyuuga blood) would be in puddles on the floor...
This was the end of the prelude. I am evil. And yes, Neji is dead. I am very sad, as well. :'(.
But I had this idea, that in the manga, he dies because of Hinata, anyway. So even in this alternate universe, he's still die because of Hinata. And anyway, this has to be the reconstruction of the Uchiha Massacre... so no Neji allowed... :'(
Review, Review, Review,
Aurora-chan!