Hisako couldn't believe how cruel fate could be. Neji didn't even look toward Hisako as he walked down into the arena to join Hinata there. The two cousins stood, staring at each other silently. Neji was the first to break the silence.
"I never thought that you and I would have to face each other," Neji said his voice solemn.
"Nor I, brother," Hinata replied, her voice steady despite what fear she must have been feeling.
"Brother?" Naruto shouted, turning to Hisako for an explanation.
Hisako turned to Naruto, giving him a small smile, "They're more like cousins," Hisako explained, her smile pained, "Hinata is part of the main household, while Neji comes from a side branch of the Hyuga Clan,"
"Still! They're family, and now they have to fight each other!" Sakura exclaimed, her green eyes concerned, "I feel bad for them. It must be hard,"
Hisako's eyes grew misty with tears as she turned her attention back to the fight, "In this instance, this is a battle that has been long coming,"
Sakura gasped, "What do you mean?"
"You see, the lower branches of the Hyuga Clan have begun to feel… resentment towards the Head Family. The Head Family has created a lot of rules and decrees that favor the Head Family. Because of this, it has created a feud and some branches have even broken those rules."
"So it's like, this match is a family feud!" Sakura replied, her eyes wide.
Hisako's chin trembled and she nodded her head, "Yes. That's exactly what this is. However, Neji's already won this battle,"
"What? You can't count Hinata out that easily!" Naruto shouted, grabbing onto the railing to stare down at the two.
Hisako's hands grasped the railing and she tightened her grip till her knuckles turned white. She didn't want to watch this fight. She knew this fight had to happen, knew this was the thing that would start to bring understanding to the family. She knew this fight was inevitable. But, she didn't want Neji to do something he'd regret. He was strong. A lot more powerful than Lady Hinata. And if he let his pain get the better of him…
She couldn't think of the consequences. She could feel for both Neji and Hinata. She was once like Hinata. A princess of some prominent clan needing to be protected. And Kei. Who is so similar to Neji. It hurt Hisako's heart to watch the two fight like this. But, Hisako made a promise that day back in the forest. She wouldn't get involved in Hyuga Clan's affairs. She said her peace that day, and now it was up to Neji to figure out what he wanted to do.
Would he let his hatred control him?
Down in the arena, Neji was playing a psychological game with Hinata. Trying to force her to forfeit the match. With his Byakugan activated, he could read her body language and used that to his advantage.
"Hinata, you are the pampered offspring of the Hyuga Head Family! People can't change. A failure will always be a failure," Neji was telling her, his voice emotionless.
Naruto grimaced beside Hisako. Hisako noticed the rage and anger that seemed to boil up inside him as he spoke with Hinata. The entire scene was so difficult to watch, a part of Hisako just wanted to turn away and wait till it was over. But, she had to stay here. She had to watch this. Support them both so that hopefully one day they would find peace in their family.
Hinata was absolutely terrified of Neji. Her fear was palpable, at one point, Hisako thought she was going to faint. Hinata dropped her gaze, lifting a finger to her chin.
"My eyes cannot be deceived," Neji announced, his voice cold and dead, "Just one moment ago, your eyes drifted to the upper left corner of the room. I saw, at that moment, you were thinking of your past. Your bitter past. And then, a moment after, your gaze moved to the lower right. It was a mere flicker of the eyes, but to me, it revealed all of your mental and physical sufferings. You're seeing your old self, and wondering if your life has prepared you for this moment. You're picturing the outcome of the battle. You see yourself losing."
Hinata gasped, Neji was winning this mental game. It made sense. Neji was skilled at this stuff. That was how he was always able to read Hisako so well. It was because he was a master at reading people's body language. He could usually read people without his Byakugan, his eye ability just made reading people all that much easier.
Hinata was going to forfeit.
Neji even mentioned how Hinata's arms were, her arms were raised, which to him, meant that she was trying to put a wall between them, to separate them. And, Neji was once again, right. Hinata's breathing became ragged, her entire body was trembling and she looked like a panicked animal trapped in a lion's den.
A tear slipped down Hisako's cheek. She wasn't sure if she could handle this. Watching these two fight like this. Neji was right. On all accounts, and Hinata was suffering the consequences of this mental game. It was almost too much.
Naruto snapped.
"That does it!" he yelled, grabbing onto the railing and for a moment, Hisako thought he was going to catapult himself into the arena.
In that split moment, Naruto projected his voice throughout the arena and drew Hinata out of her panic. She lifted her gaze to Naruto as he continued.
"Who gave you the right to tell her what she can and can't be? Go on Hinata, show this guy he's wrong!" Naruto shouted, "Hinata! You're just gonna stand there and take that? Do something! You're driving me crazy!"
Hisako bit the inside of her cheek. She could admire Naruto's spunk, his spirit. But, in a situation like this, it could be fatal for Hinata. To push her on like this, to give her the confidence she needed to fight, it could cost her her life.
Hinata's gaze dropped, and a wave of calm seemed to wash through Hinata as she turned back to Neji. Completely resolved, and determined. Her gaze was steady and her body language shifted. She dropped into the Gentle Fist fighting style, one hand outstretched in front of her with her Byakugan activated.
"Defend yourself, my brother," Hinata told Neji, her voice calm and steady once again.
Hinata was ready to fight Neji.
Neji took up the same exact stance, "Very well then,"
"Of course," Lee muttered from beside Hisako, "They're both in the Gentle Fist form,"
"Gentle Fist?" Sakura asked.
"It's the most effective taijutsu found in our village," Lee explained, his hands forming fists at his sides in frustration, "I have said it before, I have on my team probably the strongest Genin to ever come out of the Leaf Village. That man, Neji Hyuga,"
The two Hyugas locked deep into their fight a moment later. Neji, of course, being the stronger of the two.
"The Gentle Fist, combined with their Byakugan allows the user to block a person's chakra network," Hisako explained quietly, "But, it takes a lot of skill to make sure they're not hitting the same point over and over again. Although, because the chakra network is directly linked to organs and the nervous system, this form of fighting can cause severe nerve damage, internal bleeding, and death. Even though it isn't physically taxing, it looks more graceful than anything, it is one of the most deadly forms of taijutsu in the world,"
The exchange of blows between cousins didn't last long before the battle was over. At first, everyone in the audience thought Hinata had landed a blow on Neji. It looked like her hand landed on his chest, but they were all wrong. Neji has been slowly hitting Hinata's chakra points. He has slowly been disrupting her chakra network. This battle was over.
There was a pause as the cousins stared at each other. Hinata knew her situation. She knew Neji had sealed away most of her chakra points. There was nothing more Hinata could have done. Neji grabbed Hinata's wrist, moving her sleeve up to reveal the angry red welts and bruises on her arm from all the chakra points Neji hit.
"This match is over," Neji ordered, his voice absolute.
Hinata looked on in horror at her arm and Naruto leaned over the railing.
"No Hinata! Don't give up!" Naruto shouted.
Hisako cringed. That wasn't what Hinata needed right now. She needed to accept that this battle was won. Neji was in a league of his own. Way above Hinata. Hinata wasn't the fighter type. She was more for peace than fighting. There was no way she could win against Neji's genius and strength.
"Naruto," Hinata muttered, stepping back from Neji, dropping her gaze, "I told myself I would join the Chuunin Exams to see if I could change. I wanted to see if I could become something more. Because I've always watched you."
When Hinata's gaze lifted, despite her not physically being able to continue the match anymore due to her horribly damaged chakra network, she still somehow looked determined. Just knowing that Naruto was here, watching her, gave her the strength to continue.
Hisako leaned over the rails and Hinata went to attack Neji again, "No! Don't do it!" Hisako shouted.
She knew where this would lead. She saw the hatred and rage in Neji's lavender eyes. There was no mercy there right now. He wasn't in his right mind. He wanted revenge for everything the Head Family of the Hyuga Clan has put him through. And here was Hinata, and the perfect excuse to enact his revenge.
She held back a scream as Neji went in for the killing blow. But, right before he could, the proctor and four Jonin stepped in to stop Neji. It took one Chuunin, and four Jonin to stop one boy. Hisako had to admire that fact at another time. She jumped over the railing with most of the other Genin. Hisako's green eyes, misty with tears, spared a glance in Neji's direction. He wasn't looking at her. His arms were crossed and his back was to her. Good. She wasn't sure if she could speak to him right now anyways.
Her emotions were too chaotic right now, and she couldn't trust herself to say anything productive to him anyways.
Hinata collapsed in the dirt and Hisako skidded to a stop, kneeling in front of her. Blood dripped from the sides of her mouth from the extensive internal bleeding, and when she checked her pulse, it was unstable, weak, this wasn't looking good for Hinata.
"We need a medic!" Hisako shouted, her voice desperate.
Naruto stepped up between Hinata and Neji, his blue eyes steeled and steady as he stared at Neji with a rage she had very rarely seen from the blonde haired Jinchuuriki of the Leaf. Naruto kneeled down, and dipped his fingers into Hinata's blood, raising his hand and forming a fist in front of Neji as Hinata's blood dripped to the ground.
"I swear I'll defeat you," Naruto promised, his voice low and dangerous.
Neji didn't respond, his lavender eyes impassive as he held Naruto's intense gaze. He scoffed and turned his back to Naruto, walking back over to the balcony overlooking the arena.
Hisako stayed with Hinata until the medics arrived before joining everyone back on the balcony again. Her gaze was dropped, and neither she nor Neji looked at the other. It was too painful. Now, there were so many emotions. Neji tried to convince Hisako that he didn't hate the Head Family, that it just is what it was, destiny put him in the lower branch and that was how it was. But, now, she knew just how deep his hatred ran for the Head Family. And it scared the Hell out of Hisako.
It also made Hisako realize that maybe this entire time, she's been so caught up in her own suffering that she hasn't been able to see Neji's clearly. Sure, she's called him out on it, she's tried to be there for him, but was it not enough? His hatred and rage were pure poison in his blood. And was there truly nothing Hisako could do about that?
The next match was rather long and boring to watch. Sakura and Ino fought against each other. It was a lot of back and forth, catty drama. Sure, Hisako and Sakura were best friends, but this fight was rather annoying. At one part, Ino cut her hair to match Sakura's hair which was cut short too. Hisako wasn't sure why Sakura's hair was cut short. She hasn't had the time to ask her friend about that.
But, what Hisako did realize about Sakura was that something had changed about her. Sakura was different somehow. Maybe more mature? Whatever had happened to Sakura in the Forest of Death, had changed her. But, eventually, the fight between Ino and Sakura ended in a draw. Double knock out.
Hisako let out a nervous laugh as she watched the names on the board fly by. The next match was Lee vs. Gaara. Hisako's blood ran cold and her hands stilled on the railing of the balcony. Lee cheered for the chance to battle and Hisako gave Lee a nervous glance.
"Lee, just please, be careful. There's something not right about Gaara…" Hisako begged.
Lee gave Hisako a thumbs up and a confident smile, "Do not worry, Hisako! With the Power of Youth, I shall be triumphant in this match!"
Hisako swallowed her apprehension as she watched Lee descend the stairs into the arena.
A few minutes into the match, Hisako knew she was right. Sure, Lee was an amazing Taijutsu expert. He even revealed his secret weight training as he unhooked the weights that were in his leg warmers from the statue in the arena he was standing on and let his weights fall to the ground. Two giant smoke clouds exploded from the ground from where the weights fell, and his speed which was already unmatched just increased. His Taijutsu was beyond anything Hisako could have ever imagined. And she realized Lord Hokage was right.
Lee blossomed in the face of a life or death battle. His true strength came out and he was truly a force to be reckoned with. It even looked like for a moment that Lee would win. He got in a few good blows on Gaara, and some of them looked like they maybe stung.
However, Gaara wasn't going to lose. Hisako wasn't sure at what point during the battle it happened, but looking at Gaara, looking into his cold dead eyes, it felt like a monster was staring at her. She saw in her mind's eye an image of a horrible beast opening its giant maw and letting out an ear splitting scream.
Hisako couldn't keep the gasp back as she stumbled back, raising her hands like the beast that was inside Gaara was going to lunge out and attack her. Everyone on the balcony turned to Hisako as she trembled in terror. She hasn't felt this type of fear since she faced the Koori No Oni. She hasn't sensed this type of despair since that monster attacked her home village.
"Hisako?" Guy asked quietly, taken aback by Hisako's fear.
Hisako stepped up, her voice panicked, "Please, Guy Sensei! You must stop this match! Before it's too late! Before Lee-before he's killed!"
"He won't die, Hisako, have a little faith-"
"No! You don't understand! This isn't a fair fight! Lee isn't fighting just another Genin down there. Gaara is a Jinchuuriki, but more than that, look at Gaara! You can tell that the demon inside of Gaara is the one taking control of him! Lee is fighting a beast down there! And he can't win!"
Guy Sensei turned back to the match right as it started turning against Lee, right as Lee started to lose and Guy's hands shook on the railing. His dark eyes grew misty with tears that he refused to shed and Hisako really felt fear grip her heart.
"We just have to believe," Guy Sensei whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.
However, it was all in vain. A few minutes later, some of Gaara's sand wrapped around Lee's arm and leg. He screamed and there was this horrible crunching sound as his limbs were crushed. Blood splattered the floor and Hisako's eyes bugged out of her skull as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Lee!" Hisako shouted.
She grabbed the railing and attempted to push herself off it, to save Lee. Gaara was going to kill him! Neji grabbed her waist, pulling her back down onto the balcony as Lee lay motionless on the ground bloodied and unconscious. His arm and leg were a grotesque image of torn up flesh and bone and muscle. But, despite Lee's horrifying wounds, even though he was unconscious, he got to his feet anyways.
Gaara controlled his sand to attack. Hisako screamed, the sound echoing off the walls. Right before Gaara was going to kill Lee, Guy Sensei stopped the match. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he somehow dispelled Gaara's sand with a single hand. He turned to his student, who somehow, unconscious and only balancing on one foot, still stood. Prepared to attack his opponent.
An expression of guilt washed over Guy Sensei's face as he slowly approached his bleeding broken student. He embraced Lee and collapsed to the ground with Lee in his arms sobbing. Hisako couldn't take it anymore. She pushed out of Neji's arms and jumped over the railing running for Lee. She wasn't sure what she could do for him, but she wanted to do something. She could at least try to administer first aid until the medics could arrive. But, she's never seen such gruesome wounds before. Just the sight made her nauseous.
Her whole body trembled and she slowly turned her gaze to Gaara as he stood staring at Lee who was fighting for his life in the tender embrace of his Sensei. Somehow, it looked like Gaara was fascinated by the sight. Like he enjoyed watching people suffer. Hisako had enough of the Sand Siblings' attitude. She had enough of their desire for blood. For pain. She completely forgot about how Gaara told her that if she ever spoke to him again, he'd kill her. The consequences be damned. Gaara wouldn't get away with this.
"Why?" Hisako asked quietly, her green eyes narrowing on Gaara.
Gaara turned his gaze to hers, his gaze hardening with a promise of pain as Hisako's hands formed fists at her sides. She took a step towards him, and Neji was there, holding her back his arms around her waist again.
"Don't do this! It's not worth it!" Neji scolded, keeping a tight grip on Hisako so she wouldn't approach Gaara.
"Not worth-do you see what he did to Lee? Neji! I knew Gaara once! And I can't let this go on any longer! This has to stop!" Hisako shouted, fighting uselessly against Neji's iron grasp.
He was determined for her to not get involved with the Sand Shinobi known as Gaara. His arms were like steel as they held her where she was, refusing to let her put herself in unnecessary danger. Naruto, however, had the same idea as Hisako did. He walked past Hisako and Neji and Hisako stopped as she stared at Naruto's back. The red spiral symbol stitched into his orange jacket that was not only the symbol for the Leaf Village, but also for the Uzumaki Clan.
However, before Naruto could engage with Gaara, Kakashi Sensei stepped in, stepping in front of Naruto with an arm outstretched. He turned to his student and gave Naruto a smile through the mask.
"How about we save this for the fights, sound good?" Kakashi Sensei said, his words more like an order than an actual suggestion.
"What? But Kakashi Sensei!" Naruto complained, his blue eyes wide in rage and disbelief.
"Cool it, Naruto. The same goes for you, Hisako,"
Both Naruto and Hisako froze with Kakashi Sensei's order and Hisako shook in unbridled rage as she stared at Gaara's retreating form.
"Like I said, weak, pathetic," Gaara whispered sneering as he walked away.
This incited a new rage in Naruto as he lunged, trying to make it past Kakashi Sensei. However, Kakashi was faster. He grabbed Naruto and physically held him back by the collar of his shirt as he fought and screamed at Gaara.
The medics came by and gathered up an unconscious Lee. Guy Sensei decided to follow Lee to the hospital, which Hisako didn't blame him. Neji finally released Hisako as they stood staring at the board as what few names remaining flew over the screen.
Hisako gasped when the next set of names came up. Hisako vs. Temari. Gaara's sister. What shitty luck Hisako had.
"Hisako," Neji whispered, his voice low in warning, "Forfeit this match. You cannot win against Temari without your Ninjutsu or Genjutsu,"
Hisako bit her bottom lip. Neji was right, like always. But, there was something she needed to do before she forfeited her match. There was something she needed to say.
"Yeah, I know," Hisako replied, her voice curt, her green eyes narrowed and full of rage and anger as she walked over to her opponent, Temari.
Neji knew Hisako wasn't going to forfeit this match.
"If either of you wishes to-"
"Just start the match," Hisako interrupted, her gaze narrowed on Temari.
Temari had a large grin on her face as she leaned against her giant fan, regarding Hisako like a wolf would regard a lamb. What she didn't realize was this lamb was actually a lion. And this lion was pissed.
The proctor cleared his throat, "The match will begin," He said, stepping back from the two girls.
"Why?" Hisako asked, her voice calm and steady.
Temari's grin grew, "You mean why did Gaara try to kill your pathetic little teammate?" Temari asked, her voice mocking as Hisako sneered at her, "That's easy. He was weak. Gaara was stronger,"
Hisako took a warning step forward, her fingers grazing her kunai knife pouch, "That's not what I meant. Dammit, Temari! I knew you guys! I knew all three of you! Why? Why do you three just want bloodshed and pain? It started when Kankuro attacked Konohamaru! Gaara has been aggressive and violent this entire time! You've been rather silent, but I feel it's because you fear them! Why the bloodshed? Why the thirst for pain and misery? What has made you three so miserable that that's what you choose to thrive on?"
Temari laughed, a deep guttural sound, "The strong will always outlive the weak! The strong survive, and the weak die! That is how this world works,"
"No it's not!" Hisako barked, "The strong are meant to protect the weak! That is why we have villages! That is why we have Shinobi! A shinobi's job is to protect the village and her people. People who don't have abilities with chakra and jutsus! If you have forgotten the true meaning of what being strong means, then, dammit! Wake up!"
Hisako couldn't control her rage and anger. Even though she knew she couldn't use her ninjutsu or genjutsu, she couldn't just stand here and watch the three siblings from the Sand Village that she had known all those years ago go down this dark path. She had to try and beat some sense into at least one of them.
She lunged for Temari, bringing up a fist in rage. But, the moment before she struck, however, the pain in her neck from the curse mark became overwhelming. She stumbled and almost fell when she saw Temari bring her fan forward. A giant blast of wind sent Hisako flying back. She gasped, the wind being pulled from her lungs as she flipped and skidded across the dirt ground.
Temari slammed her fan into the ground, she had opened it just enough so that one purple full moon was visible on the fan, "Just so you know when you see the third moon, you'll know this match is over,"
There was some sort of horrifying threat in Temari's words. A realization that maybe that third moon meant death for Hisako. Hisako stood up, her green eyes grazing over the moon. This wasn't good. Neji was right. There was no way she could win this fight without her ninjutsu or genjutsu. Hisako was proficient in taijutsu, but not to the extent where she could win against an opponent of this caliber.
Hisako breathed through the pain of the curse mark on her neck. It felt like searing lava was coursing through her veins, and it was hard to concentrate on the battle. But dammit. If Sasuke could somehow pull off a miracle without the use of his Sharingan, or other abilities, then so could she! She was an Uchiha too! Besides, she's copied most of Lee's Taijutsu by now. Did she intend to copy his moves? Not necessarily. It sort of just happened in the heat of battle. But, she could use that to her advantage.
Whether Lee's forms of Taijutsu damaged the body or not. Hisako would take the damage to try and win this battle. She had to show these three Sand Village shinobi that they weren't invincible.
"This would be so much easier if I had use of my Ninjutsu and Genjutsu," Hisako hissed, standing up on shaky legs as she observed Temari.
Temari was waiting for Hisako to strike first. Of course, she was. That was always the smart move in a battle. Whoever kept a calm head and whoever didn't react first, usually won. She was keeping calm alright.
Temari's cool teal eyes didn't stray from where Hisako stood. She was patient, calculating. Waiting for Hisako to make the next move. Hisako felt the eyes of her comrades up on the balcony on her as she thought of her next move. She had to move quicker than Temari would be expecting. Hisako had to get through Temari's defenses so she could land a hit on Temari.
Hisako steadied her breathing and dropped to the ground, concentrating on taking even breaths as she held Temari's gaze. Her muscles tensed, preparing to attack. She would have to move so fast that she would disappear for a moment. And there was only really one way to do that. She had to use the Primary Lotus.
An ability that took a large toll on the body, and an ability that she only knew because she could copy it from Lee. And an ability she wasn't sure her body could withstand. She hasn't gone through the same type of training Lee has because she didn't want to specialize in what he did, but at this moment, she wished she would have trained with him for just a little while longer. Maybe then, this ability she was about to use wouldn't cost her as much physically. She just hoped that one day, Lee would forgive her for copying this ability from him. But, she had to tell him when she could that this taijutsu ability may just save her life.
"First Gate. Gate of Opening, Open," Hisako muttered so quietly, her teeth baring in rage and pain as she felt the power surge through her body.
She's done enough research into this ability to know that the first gate, once opened, allowed the person to use one hundred percent of their muscles' capabilities. When normally, the mind restricts the body to only use twenty percent. The body wasn't designed to use all of its muscles' capabilities like this. Not without intense physical strain. But, this was the only way to use the Primary Lotus. She just had to hope her body would hold out.
She disappeared in a flash, and before Temari could see where Hisako went, she appeared right in front of her. Dropping down to the ground to use the ground as extra strength behind her kick, Hisako's foot made contact with Temari's chin sending Temari into the air from the force of the kick. Hisako was hot on Temari's tail and a moment later, appeared behind Temari, taking on the typical form of the Primary Lotus. The same one that Lee has used.
This was the first time she's ever used this ability before. She's never felt the rush of opening up the first gate until this moment. The pain was worth it. The speed and the strength would give her what she needed to win this battle. She let herself smile. She could still do this.
However, the moment before she was going to go through with her attack, the curse mark awakened, and that searing lava poured through her veins again. She bit back a scream, but that was all the hesitation Temari needed to regain her composure. She yanked her fan around her and disappeared right before Hisako's eyes. Her eyes widened in horror, and she looked down. On the ground, right below Hisako, Temari stood. The second purple moon was showing on her large fan.
Hisako couldn't dodge. She was still in the air when Temari swung her fan out. Hisako screamed as the violent wind collided with her sending her out of the air. Hisako flipped and rolled on the hard unforgiving ground before her back and head hit the wall of the arena with a painful thud. She gasped, all air escaping from her lungs as she slumped down to the ground, bleeding from multiple cuts and injuries from the winds that had cut her.
She was breathing heavily, and her vision blurred. But, she would not give up. Not yet. She still had some fight left in her. She stood up, her hand resting on the wall for support as she concentrated on calming her breathing. Blood dripping onto the dirt at her feet, her muscles screaming in protest.
"Hisako! Forfeit, give up!" Neji shouted from the balcony, "You can't win! Not like this! Don't be reckless!"
"Go on, Hisako! Show that Sand Village Shinobi whose the better shinobi!" Naruto shouted, completely ignoring Neji.
"Yeah! You got this! You're stronger than her!" Sakura yelled, adding to Naruto's cheering.
"At least one of those morons is right up there, you know," Temari taunted, a devious smile on her face as she leaned against her mostly open fan.
"What did you just say?" Hisako asked, her voice low and daring as she locked gazes with her opponent.
"You heard me. That moron, what was his name? Neji? Yeah. He's right. You can't win, you know. You might as well just give up!"
Hisako's rage and anger were ignited in her very soul once again as she straightened up.
"You just made a huge mistake, Temari. No one calls my comrades morons,"
"Oh! Then come over here and prove it to me then!" Temari shouted, with a laugh.
"Don't fall for it Hisako! She's baiting you!" Neji yelled.
Hisako didn't care. She heard Neji's words, but they didn't really stick. The warning in his words. Temari would pay. She would make sure that all three Sand Village Shinobi would apologize for everything they've done to her friends and comrades here in this village. She wouldn't put up with them anymore.
Hisako disappeared again, reappearing beyond Temari's defense, and her stupid fan, she threw a good punch toward Temari's face. Her fist collided with Temari's cheek and she felt a wave of satisfaction go through her. Dammit, if she couldn't use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, then she would be fine with beating Temari with good old fashioned fists. She just had to be faster than Temari and her stupid fan.
Hisako kept on Temari, never letting Temari get her fan into the match. Hisako just kept stepping past the fan faster than Temari could swing. Blood dripped from Temari's face from multiple wounds, and Hisako was hopeful that she had at least broken a few of Temari's ribs too. Hisako would win this by the skin of her teeth if she had to.
The curse mark flared up again, and this time, Hisako tripped and fell to the ground. This was a fatal mistake. Hisako rolled to her feet again, but Temari had already gotten way out of her reach and had brought her fan back, the third moon showing.
"I'm done with you!" Temari yelled.
Hisako's eyes widened in terror and a scream lodged itself in her throat as Temari brought the fan forward. Twin tornadoes made out of razor sharp wind picked Hisako up off the floor and twisted her in the air. A scream broke free, but she wasn't sure if anyone could hear her scream over the roar of the wind. The wind finally stopped, and Hisako free fell from the sky, barely conscious. She opened her eyes just enough to see Temari standing underneath her, her fan ready to catch Hisako.
If Hisako landed on that fan, she wasn't sure if she could survive the injuries she would sustain. She saw a blur in the sky and the moment before she landed on the fan, she was scooped up into strong arms.
Neji had caught her and cradled her to him as he gently landed on Temari's closed fan and jumped off of it, skidding on the ground with Hisako in his arms. Her blood covered his vest, and he looked in horror at all the small flesh wounds that littered her body. It was like she was attacked by millions of small razors.
The proctor cleared his throat, "The winner is Temari," he announced.
Temari sneered in Hisako's direction before turning on her heel to retreat to the balcony again. Neji didn't move for a long moment as he stared at Temari's retreating frame, a look of ire in his lavender eyes.
"I'm sorry," Hisako whispered, barely conscious in Neji's arms.
Neji turned his attention back to Hisako, "Hisako, you shouldn't have fought her. Not in your condition. You knew you couldn't win," he scolded quietly.
Hisako's expression soured, "I know," she replied, her voice sad and quiet.
But, she felt like she lost more than just this match. She may have lost any chance she had of knocking some sense into at least one of the Sand Village Shinobi.