"Neji." Hyuga Hiashi stopped his nephew from going out.
He felt him return home at almost 3:00 AM. He no longer can ignore Neji's insubordination. He is tarnishing their name.
"Uncle." Neji said.
"Stop better this nonsense. You present yourself to Akkari's family. Neji - don't you dare ignore me!" Hiashi shouted the boy.
"I can't marry her, Uncle. I won't." Neji answered simply.
"You don't get a say in this, boy! Or else - "
"Or else what, Uncle?" Neji asked. "You're going to take the position of Branch house head from me? Or you'll kick me out? Or maybe you'll disown me? I don't care, Uncle. I won't let you dictate my life now the way you did to my father."
Hiashi's face contorted with anger. "You insolent fool! You will obey the traditions of our clan! You will marry Akkari and uphold the honor and legacy of the Hyuga!"
Neji stood tall, a defiance in his eyes that mirrored the resolve he had found within himself. "I respect the traditions of our clan, Uncle, but I won't let them crush the happiness I've found. I won't let you control my life. I choose love over duty."
Hiashi's eyes flashed with fury. "Love is a weakness! It clouds judgment and leads to foolish decisions. You are throwing away everything for a fleeting emotion!"
"No, Uncle. Love is strength. It gives purpose and meaning to our existence. I won't let the clan's rigid rules deny me the right to choose my own path. I won't let it force me into a loveless marriage," Neji asserted.
Hiashi raised his hand, as if to strike Neji, but the young man held his ground. The tension in the room was palpable.
"Neji," Hiashi hissed, "if you choose this path, you will be disowned. You will lose everything."
"I've already lost everything once, Uncle. This family made me lose my father, made me turn my back on the only choice I made. I won't let fear control me, anymore. I choose Sakura, and I will face the consequences of that choice," Neji declared, his gaze unwavering.
Hiashi's face turned red with anger, but he lowered his hand. "You are a disgrace to the Hyuga name. If you go through with this, you are no longer part of this clan."
Neji nodded, accepting the consequences. "So be it, Uncle. I won't let my life be dictated by fear and tradition. I'll forge my own path."
With that, Neji turned and started packing his belongings. He left half an hour later, barely sparing a glance to his uncle who is still fuming in anger.
"Neji-nii-san?" Hinata's timid voice stopped him in his tracks. "Where are you going? Why did you pack your things?"
"He's no longer a Hyuga, Hinata." Hiashi asked for Neji. "I just regret that I decided to remove the seal on your forehead, Neji. You wouldn't be able to defy me like this if you still bore that."
"No, Hiashi-sama. I'll still chose her even if it means death." Neji answered defiantly. Then he turned to Hinata. "Hinata-hime, I'll be going now."
Hinata's eyes widened with shock, her Byakugan activated involuntarily. She had never seen her cousin so resolute, so determined to break free from the chains of their clan. "Neji-nii-san, please... don't leave. Can't we find another way?"
Neji sighed, his gaze softening as he looked at Hinata. "Hinata, I appreciate your concern, but this is something I must do. I can't live a life where my choices are not my own. I hope you understand."
He walked over to her and gently placed a hand on her head. "Take care of yourself, Hinata. You have the strength to change things from within. I believe in you."
With a final nod, Neji left the Hyuga compound, leaving behind a conflicted Hinata and a furious Hiashi. The moon hung high in the sky, witnessing the unfolding drama within the prestigious Hyuga clan.