Hello, so this is the last chapter... sadness... Onto the story!

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Chapter 3: Neji and TenTen

-X-

It was something that was as persistent and as factual as the rise of the sun, this vision that kept replaying itself in his mind, reminding him every day why he was who he was. He could only ever remember the one part. It was where his father had died for the sake of the branch, and it scarred him ever since. Neji sat up from his bed staring at the darkness in his room. There was no light, no moon, no stars... no anything, just like his existence. He was forced into a destiny that he did not quite want, a destiny where it was always him who was seen as lower... and no matter how much he could show himself to be better than those in the higher branch of the clan, he would always be the lowest creature that ever existed. Touching his hand to the tattoo that reminded him constantly of his position, he got up to train. That was the one thing he could continue to do... train, because even though he would never be anything better than the scum of the Hyuuga clan, he could continue to get better for himself if anything.

-O-

Neji arrived at the training grounds with darkness to spare. It was still really early in the morning and he knew that he should have had the luxury to be alone in the fields, but as he approached he noticed that he wasn't granted that favor. He walked to the kunoichi, not even bothering to hide his displeasure at his teammate for being here.

"What are you doing here Ten-Ten?" he asked walking up to her.

She smiled, but when she saw the boy's face she frowned. "What's wrong with you?" He didn't answer her question, but only demanded that she explain what she was doing here so early in the morning. The sun had only just began to rise, but they were still cloaked in the darkness that extended from the forest. "If it means anything to you, I was trying to perfect one of my newest moves. I am guessing you are here to train as well, would you like to train together?" Ten-Ten looked at Neji. He contemplated for a while before he nodded yes. He wasn't going to go easy on her. He needed to let out some steam.

Ten-Ten was not exactly the fighter that he wanted to fight, only because she was already so weak when it came to him. Shoot, he was better than everybody on his team, but as time went on, everyone else started to show more progress, and he knew that she worked hard to keep up with him and Lee. She trained hard because she wanted to be the best weapon's meister, not to show off her strength, but Neji still had to let her know that she had to get better in all areas. For some odd reason, he offered to train her, and they would train together, mainly so that she could get better practice with her weapons, never to actually fight. As Neji took on the customary Hyuuga stance, Ten-Ten was already thinking about how she was going to get her weapons out to defeat Neji. She knew he wasn't an easy opponent, but that never stopped her from trying to beat him, and she told him too.

"I am not going to give up Neji, one day I will beat you." This was the same thing she said in the past as they continued to get stronger together and she really wanted to test out her skills instead of spar for fun. Never had he made a reply other than a simple smile, but today, with that vision fresh on his mind, he could not help but to reply.

"You really think so huh?" She nodded and he scoffed. "Losers will always be losers, Ten-Ten. No amount of training can ever change the destiny that will befall you." She looked at him, another frown forming on her visage.

"Are you saying that I can never, no matter how hard I try, beat you?"

"Ten-Ten, I only want to spare you from hurt, but why should you try if it can never happen? I am a genius," he looked away from her, into the dark sky, whispering the next part, "and even I cannot defeat my destiny."

By the time Neji looked back up at his teammate she was angry, running towards him at full speed. She ended in front of him, him not at all fazed by her proximity. She attempted to pierce him with the metal weapon, but she was a clone (as Neji knew) and he turned to meet the real Ten-Ten falling from the sky with a barrage of kunai. He could have, if he wanted to, deflect all of the kunai with his rotation, the perfect 360 degree defense, but he felt like he needed to show her that she could not win even when he did not use his full power. He moved skillfully through the raining metal weapons. Ten-Ten, who was still up in the air did another jutsu and a new type of weapon formed. She drew from her scroll, weapons that were heavy and spiked, and every weapon fell to the ground with an explosion. Neji jumped from the disturbed ground, meeting the girl in the air. With one punch, she was on the ground. Her weapons fell next to her, causing a massive explosion about her. Neji, feeling sorry for the girl covered her before she could get seriously hurt.

"Don't you see that it is impossible to win?" Neji said as he stood up.

"Do not count me out just yet, Neji Hyuuga!" Ten-Ten pulled the string that she had gathered, connecting them to different weapons. As she moved out of the way, they came to Neji. "I spread these invisible string on the exploding weapons." Neji scoffed. This was nothing that his rotation would not subdue. Dust and dirt lined the air, but Neji could still see where Ten-Ten was. He grabbed her, dropping her to the ground.

"I told you Ten-Ten, you cannot beat me. You are a weaker, and will always be weak." Ten-Ten got up, Neji and she tried to punch him. He caught her fist.

"What is it with you?!"

Ten-Ten had always suspected Neji had a problem with people surpassing their limits, or destiny as he called it. She did not know what the details were, but the way Neji always said that Rock Lee could never amount to anything or the way he put her down as well, it seemed that it was personal. She looked into his eyes and she saw pain, mixed with anger. Ten-Ten took a step back from Neji. "I have gotten stronger since you first met me, Neji. Lee had gotten stronger as well... why can you not acknowledge that fact? Why can you not believe that people have more going for them then where they came from?"

This was the first time since she had known Neji, that she he had seen him lose his composure. "Why? This is why!" He said as he pulled off his headband, and showed her the mark that had cursed his branch for generations. Ten-Ten was confused. "This mark, it reminds me every day that I will never be better than what the clan sees me as; that I will never be able to be more than a vessel, a tool for the main branch of the Hyuugas..." Ten-Ten looked at him, stepping toward him, cautiously, in the process.

"But why? You determine what you do in your life Neji..." She grabbed his hands with both of hers, and looked in his eyes. "Even if you are bound by the shackles of the clan, you are still doing things that will affect your own fate. With whatever freedom you are given, be free to the best of your ability. Your place, your status, your life is not predetermined because every action changes a fate."

She took a deep breath and took a step away from him. The silence was a good sign. "Neji, I did not know what I wanted to do in my life, and I was terrible at everything, but then I found weapons. I had to train, and work hard to get to where I am, and I continually train because I know what I want. I want to be a great Kunoichi!" she yelled this, and Neji was taken aback. Ten-Ten had a smile on her face, running up to Neji again. "Do you understand, Mr. Genius?" she asked. He was so deep into her speech that he did not notice her hand pulling back, and coming forward into his stomach. She punched him, a bold move it was. The boy fell to the ground from the unexpected movement, and looked up at Ten-Ten who was now standing in front of him.

The Hyuuga was astounded; he had been distracted, he will give her that much. She waited for him to accept her extended hand. He grabbed onto her hand, and she help him up. As she did that, she pulled another bold move; she wrapped her arms around Neji, giving him a hug. "You can be more than what this curse seal makes you, shoot, you can be more than you yourself makes you. Always remember that your destiny is what you make it, Neji." The vision was gone from his mind as he thought of those final words.

The sun had its place high in the sky. Birds and other animals had begun to sing and come to life. Neji thought to himself as he saw a bird spread its wings and take on the world. He was not there yet; he was like a baby bird. He would one day be able to be free, but first he had to understand that he was free to first fly where his own minds would let him. He looked back at Ten-Ten, a smirk on his face. "Cheap shot. I guess it would take something like that for someone like you to get me on the ground."

Ten-Ten stared at her fellow companion. She was pumped up now. There was none of the malice that she had felt earlier before. Ten-Ten looked up at him and was happy to see that there was no more pain. Now he wanted to test her. "I won't go easy on you either Neji! I still didn't get to show you my newest move..."

"You won't be able to beat me Ten-Ten..."

She pulled out her scroll and bit into her finger, smearing her blood on the length of the scroll. "Here we go!" she yelled, and Neji could only smile.

Although he was still thinking about his position in the clan, he knew he had a new mindset and that meant he had a new fate. Nothing was going to stop him from being what he wanted to be, or even better, who he wanted to be. Just one touch showed him that he was not what his circumstance was and that he was not to be a victim any longer.

-X-

A/N: Finally I finished this chapter! It took me a whole (insert number here) year(s) to complete. Actually, it was the NejiTen story that had me going crazy! I just could not find a plot that would give them justice, and even adding in this hug to the end was… *wipes sweat* some hard work. I, ended up with this, that I believe actually captures each of the characters personalities.

Let me know what you all think! Thanks!

Ronko45