Hey guys! I'm sorry that I didn't meet my deadline but my parents surprised me and my sister with a family trip and I couldn't bring my iPad with me, which is where I write all my stories in. And college started back up, so I've been busy. But I didn't forget you guys. Now you guys already know whose facing who in this chapter because of the poll. I've got pms asking to for Neji to win and some for Hinata to win. So this is in between. This chapter is dedicated to SxH sasuhina and Black cross0, thanks for your ideas guys. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

Hinata sat on a bench, near a vending machine where she purchased a can of green tea, which half of it sat in her hand forgotten. The individual battles had been going on for two hours, so the proctors decided to give the genin a break.

During this time, Hinata thought about the pass six battles and their outcomes. So far Sasuke, Shino, Sakura, Ino, Tenten, Shikamaru, Naruto and Kiba had fought. Sasuke, Shino, Shikamaru and Naruto had won, Sakura and Ino match ended in a draw and Tenten and Kiba lost. She made a mental note to visit them after the exam.

Now her thoughts on the previous battles brought up thoughts about the upcoming ones. There were three matches left and she could be pinned against anyone of them.

"You're making a mess." A voice told her.

She jumped a bit and looked up to see Sasuke standing in front of her, holding out a few napkins for her. Hinata glanced down and saw a puddle of green tea at her feet and a crushed can in her hand.

"O-Oh! Um, thank you!" She took them and quickly wiped the floor.

"Are you ok?" He asked

Hinata threw away the can and dirty napkins "I just nervous...maybe a little scared too."

Sasuke sat on the bench opposite from the one she previously sat on, patting the space next to him. She complied and sat down.

"You worried about who your opponent will be?" Sasuke guessed

She nodded "Besides me, there is Choji, Neji, Lee, the sound village ninja we fought, Dosu and Garra, the sand ninja we ran into."

Sasuke nodded, understanding her situation. He couldn't blame her for being worried, not with who was left for her to face. But based on her expression, there was a certain person she was scared of facing, the only time she looked like that was when...

"You're worried about that Neji guy, aren't you?"

She flinched at the name. He had caught on to the cause of her anxiousness. Knowing there was no point in lying, she nodded "Neji...he's considered to be a genius."

"So am I and Shikamaru but that doesn't mean we'll win all the time. This has to do with something else, so what is it?"

She sat there, imagining his reaction to her answer. If she told him, Sasuke would march up to Neji and defend her which would be very sweet. However he would also throw in some insults and soon it would escalate to them fighting. On the other hand, maybe telling him would do her some good. If her opponent is Neji, then she wouldn't want to go into battle feeling like this "If I tell you, will you promise me not to react the way you would?"

He raised his eyebrow "Depends." He saw hesitation in her eyes as she looked at the ground, her lips pressed together and sighed "I promise."

She heard no lie in his words and spoke "Neji has alway made me feel inferior, putting me down, calling me a failure, especially when I'm with Lee and Tenten. Before we were a team, his words would keep going through my mind as I trained causing me to stop or give up."

"Hinata..."

She began to smile "But thanks you, Naruto and Kakashi sensei, I now have the inspiration, confidence and courage to never give up and see things through the end."

Her smile faded into a nervous frown as she remembered what he said to her when they saw each other "When those sand ninja told us about the exams, that was the second time I heard about them. The first was when I was delivering tea to my father, I overheard him saying that the exams were coming up and Neji was participating. I thought I wouldn't have to worry because usually genin wait a year or so before taking them."

Hinata tighten her fists in order to stop her anxiety that was slowly creeping up her body "The moment sensei gave us our applications, my blood went cold, part of it is because I wasn't sure if I was ready but the another part is because I knew there would be a chance I would face him. Now that there's a good chance I might face him, I'm scared that his words will make me lose all that."

Sasuke thought for a moment before asking "Hinata, what is your goal for these exams?"

"My goal?"

"You already know I don't care if I become a chunin or not, as long as I test how strong I've gotten. But you, is your goal in all this to be a chunin or is it something else?"

Hinata watched as her hands returned to their color after loosing her grip, the question he asked made her forget her problems for a minute "While it would be nice to earn the rank of chunin, in all honesty I took this exam because I want to prove I'm not the same shy and timid girl I was back in the academy, I want show my team and everyone how much I've really changed."

Sasuke chuckled at that"As far as I've seen you've been proving that since the first day, your not the same girl as you were before and your battle skills have proven that too."

"I know but..." Hinata looked unsure "it's just I know Neji will try to make me quit, he'll say hurtful things and-"

"Then ignore him." He said sternly "If he calls you weak, think back to when you were training with me and your fight with that sand ninja. You did better than Naruto would have done. If he calls you a failure, then..." He sighed.

I can't believe I'm saying this "Then think about Naruto."

Hinata eyes snapped on him and her jaw dropped a bit.

Sasuke ran his fingers through his hair as he saw the look she was giving him "Just don't tell him I told you this but I admit the way he never gives up after failing at something or when people are putting him down is inspiring, I can see why you admire him."

Hinata couldn't help but smile at him, she knew it was hard for him to say but the fact that it was what he really thought of their teammate and he says it to make her feel better was... "Y-You are so sweet."

Sasuke had to turn away so she wouldn't see his cheeks turning red "I'm just telling the truth. If you still need convincing think back to all your success during your time with us. And..."

He turned to her, his eyes full with care and encouragement "Know that we will be cheering for you. That goes if you're up against him or any of those losers out there."

"Sasuke, that's mean" She giggled, her cheeks and heart growing warm at the way he was looking at her and his words.

"Hey guys!"

Sasuke and Hinata jumped at the loud voice and turned to see Naruto running toward them "Come on, Sensei told me to find you two, the break's almost over." He grinned "Let's go see whose butt you kick, Hinata!"

Sasuke nodded, looking at the bluenette next to him "You ready?"

Hinata looked at her teammates and saw their supportive expression. She took a deep breath and nodded firmly "Yes!"

Hayate stood in the middle of the battle field, watching the last few people make their way to their previous spot "Alright, now that everyone's returned, we'll now pick the names for the next match."

Everyone watched the screen go through the names, in seconds the match was decided.

Hinata Hyuga

vs

Neji Hyuga

Hinata clinches her hands as she saw her and Neji's names.

Knowing the history behind the Hyuga clan, Kakashi, Guy and the Hokage had serious expressions on their faces when they saw the pairing.

This should be an interesting match, indeed. The Hokage thought.

Hinata took another deep breath, then turned to her team "Well here I go."

"Yeah! Show that jerk who's boss!" Naruto cheered, pumping his fist.

"Remember what we talked about, the old Hinata is gone and the new Hinata is ready for anything. Show him what you can really do." Sasuke said

"Hinata" Sasuke and Naruto stepped back to let Kakashi stand in front of her. He looked at her for a moment, before he gave her a smile from behind his mask. He patted her head in a fatherly way "Do you best, Hinata. Win or lose, I'll know you'll do your best."

Hinata's eyes became glossy and smiled "Right."

On the battle field, Hinata and Neji stood there facing each other, Neji with a frown and Hinata with a neutral look.

"I never thought that you and I would have to face each other, Hinata." Neji said

"To be honest, in the beginning of this exam, I knew there would be a possibility of this, brother." She replied

"Brother?! I thought they were cousins?!" Naruto said, confused.

"They're both descended from the Hyuga clan, one of the most ancient and honorable families of the Hidden Leaf Village. They are related in the way a branch of a great tree is related to it's trunk. Which makes them cousins." Kakashi explained

"The trunk of a tree?"

"What do mean when you say that?" Sasuke asked

"Allow me to explain!" They all turned to Lee, who was approaching them "Hinata belongs to the main household, directly descended from the head of the clan. While Neji family is just a side branch of the clan."

Sasuke still had a bit of hostility towards the older genin after their little match. However Lee was Hinata's friend and he knows more about her clan than he does, so Sasuke decides to act civil "But it doesn't explain why this guy hates her?"

"Well from what I've heard, there has been some bad blood between the two families for many generations now."

"Hmm, and why's that?" Naruto asked

"I have never known the specifics but you know about the bloodline trait to the great ninja clans like the Uchiha and the Hyuga, special techniques and abilities unique to those families."

"Unique techniques? Like what?"

"Like my sharingan and Hinata's byakugan" Sasuke answered

Lee nodded "He's right. In their family, the first generation of the Hyuga clan made all sorts of rules and decrees that favor the main branch of the family. It seems some branches of the family broke these rules."

"Huh?" They voiced

Lee continued "Anyway, it is said that because of that there has been friction between the branches of the clan."

"So it's like a family feud?" Naruto asked, looking at Sasuke.

However Sasuke gaze was on Hinata as she stood there with her head held up, staring at her cousin while he did the same with a slight frown.

Kakashi's voice got the teens attention "They're about to start."

"All right, you may begin when ready." Hayate announced

"Before we do this, a word of advice. Hinata, listen to me..."

She looked directly into Neji's eyes, her own slightly narrows.

"Withdraw now." He demanded "You know you were never meant to be a ninja. You're too kind and gentle. You seek harmony and avoid conflict. You allow yourself to be easily swayed by others. Admit it, you have no confidence. You feel inferior to everyone else here. It would've been better for you to simply remain a Genin, but to register for the Chunin exams, you need a team of three people. You never even wanted to take part in these exams, but your teammates did, and you couldn't bear to let them down, could you?"

Lee frowned at his teammate. He understood the bad blood in Neji and Hinata's clan and he has seen how the side branch serves the main branch but this was no way to act on the battle field. In these types of situations, you are to treat your opponent with respect and vice versa.

Sasuke and Naruto's fists were shaking at the insults he was throwing at her. They wanted nothing more than to go down there and make him take back every single word.

Kakashi's reaction was different. True, he was upset for his female student but unlike his other two students, when he heard these insults, it reminded him of the day he met with Hiashi Hyuga.

(Flashback)

Kakashi stood by the door in the main room of the Hyuga estate, with his hands in his pockets, watching Hiashi train Hanabi, who was on her hands and knees heavily panting.

Hiashi stood in front of her, his voice was stern "Stand up, Hanabi."

They watched as she struggled to get back on her feet. As he watched her, Kakashi couldn't help but think that Hiashi was being too hard on her. Unfortunately, it was not his place to speak on her behalf. However he could speak on his student's, given the request he was given.

"I have no problems taking Hinata under my wing but are you sure about this decision?" Kakashi asked "After all, she is your first born and heir to this household. Even if her rank is Genin, history has shown that even the life of Genin is dangerous and brief."

"Do what you will." Hiashi harshly replied

Kakashi narrowed his eyes at that reply.

"She's of less worth than her sister five years her junior. The Hyuga clan has no use for such an heir."

Within his pockets, Kakashi's fists shook with anger as his eye narrowed sharply at those words. This is how he treats his own kinds his own flesh and blood? One who is just beginning the path towards beginning a ninja?

Sensing the Jonin's anger, Hiashi turned to him with a challenging look in his eyes "Is there something you wish to say?"

Not wanting to give him the satisfaction, Kakashi replied "No, nothing at all."

The Head Hyuga turned back to his younger daughter, who had gotten back onto her feet "If you have nothing more to say, then be on your way. We have work to do. Leave us now."

Kakashi gladly stepped out of the room, anger still in his eye. But as he look to his left, the anger in his eye quickly melted into sympathy for his bluenette student who leaned against the wall with this sadden look on her face.

(Flashback ends)

You've struggled, Hinata. But...

"Hinata, you are the pampered offspring of the Hyuga's main branch." Neji said "People can't change no matter how hard they try."

"You're wrong..." She said

He glares at her, since he began talking that neutral look on her face hadn't changed and it was starting to annoy him. "Don't kid yourself. People can't run away from their true nature. A failure will always be a failure."

Naruto grunts in anger at those words. Listen to this bastard...

Sasuke hands on the rail tightened. Hinata, he's wrong and you know it. Don't let him get to you...

"People are judged by their true nature. It is the way of the world. That is why we have an elite and why there are outcasts. We can change our physical appearance, improve our skills with training and study, but ultimately we are judged by what we cannot change. What can't be changed must be endured. We are who we are, Hinata. And we must live with it, just as I must live with the fact that you were born into the elite of our clan while I am from a lesser branch. I understand these things because I see the world clearly with my byakugan."

Neji closed his eyes, forming a hand sign "Byakugan!"

Hinata bowed her head, her bangs covered her eyes as he looked at her with his Byakugan.

He felt satisfied at this "By the way you're bowing your head, you are finally realizing that you have no chance of winning."

"Show that jerk who's boss!"

"Do you best, Hinata. Win or lose, I'll know you'll do your best."

"You look fine just the way you are..."

"We will be cheering for you."

"No...You're wrong..."

"What?"

Hinata slowly lifts her head and Neji's eyes widen at the intense look of her byakugan. The sudden shock causes him to subconsciously cancel his byakugan.

The look in her eyes...

"But you're also right."

The look of shock was replaced with a glare "What are you trying to say, Hinata?"

"I a-admit I am gentle and kind and I do prefer to avoid fighting and I know I can't change that. Frankly I don't want to." She cancels her byakugan "We, ninja have stained this earth with blood many times, taken countless lives, not only ninja but non ninja and made others shed many tears. I know this is how the world of the shinobi works but I want to change that or at the very least keep the peace at we are living in now. And I know there are others out there who feel that same."

Everyone, except Neji, from the leaf smiled, feeling the same way.

Neji scoffed at that "You talk all this nonsense about change, but how can you possibly make that happen when you can't change?"

"I have changed, I'm not the same girl I was before." She started to form hand signs.

"If you don't forfeit the match, you know what will happen."

She activates her byakugan "It's only in the end will we really know." She gets into her fighting stance "Defend yourself, my brother."

Neji gets into his own stance "Very well then."

"Of course, it is the Hyuga style" Sasuke and Naruto looked at Lee "That is why their poses are the same."

"I've heard of this style, it's the most effective form of taijutsu in the Leaf village." Sasuke said "It shows when we're training."

Lee nodded "No doubt in my mind, Hinata has changed. But I have said before, I have on my team the man who is probably the strongest Genin ever to come out of the Hidden Leaf Village, that man- Neji Hyuga."

"Well I don't know about being the strongest genin but Hinata can take him on." Sasuke looked down at her "She'll show him how wrong he is about her."

"Yeah! Take him down Hinata!" Naruto agreed while cheering for her.

Both Hyuga charged at each other, Hinata hits first but Neji blocks it. She tries the land a hit but Neji either blocks or dodges and the same goes for him as he tries to strike her. This went on for a while until she found an opening.

Now! She tried to land a blow but Neji quickly moved away, making her miss by just an inch.

"Did she get him?!" Naruto asked

"No, but she was close." Sasuke replied

"But she didn't touch him!"

"Even so, a glancing blow that is enough. That is what makes the Hyuga clan the most formidable of fighters." Lee said.

"What does?"

"He means Hinata's fighting style. How even the smallest touch from her can mean trouble for her opponent." Sasuke explained to Naruto.

"Correct." Gai spoke "You see their taijutsu is a very unique one that's been passed down for not the kind of taijutsu Lee and I employ. We tend to concentrate on inflicting external damage. We use crushing blow is to raise contusions and break limbs, pounding our enemy. The Hyuga way is to attack their opponents internal organs and the chakra network through which the chakra flows. Their way is more subtle. Perhaps not as thrilling to watch but it gradually takes effect with devastating results."

Naruto though back to when Hinata took out that sand ninja's arm "So it's like how she poked that sand ninja arm in different spot and he couldn't use?"

Kakashi nodded "That is part of it yes. You see, you can't build you up your internal organs, no matter how hard you train. Even the toughest ninja is vulnerable to this kind of attack."

The two below slowly circled each other, waiting for the other to move first. Both moved at the same time and continued their barrage of attacks.

I can do this! She began picking up speed, striking faster than she was before.

Neji grits his teeth at this. Because of the increase in her speed, he couldn't dodge like before, so to avoid any blows to his vitals, his option was to keep blocking her attacks.

After a minute both each landed a hit causing them to jump away from each other.

"Hinata, way to go!" Naruto cheered

"In our training, after she lands a hit on me, I've alway notice that my jutsu are not as powerful as before. It took me a while to realize she was attacking my chakra network." Sasuke looked at the bluenette with adorning eyes "She's really something."

"Yeah, you can say that again." Naruto said, turning to him "So what is the chakra network anyway?"

Sasuke resist the urge to faceplam himself "How did you graduated the academy?"

"Here, I will explain it." Lee said "It is the complex system of circulatory canals that distribute chakra throughout the body. Similar to a person of that vascular system the veins and arteries that carry blood."

"I get it." Naruto folds his arms "Only these veins carry chakra, not blood."

"Uh, basically. Furthermore the chakra network is so closely interwoven with all the most vital internal organs that they are virtually one in the same. Therefore, when the network is attacked, these organs suffer damage as well."

"Wow, Lee. How'd you ever get to be so smart?"

"God must really like you, Naruto because It truly is a miracle that you are a genin." Sasuke said

"Yup, I'm just that lucky!" Naruto grinned, then blinked when he realized he was just insulted "Hey!"

Hinata and Neji both went on the offensive. The air became tense as they both strike each other chest.

Sasuke looked at her state. Did she get him?

Both Hyugas stood still, neither moved leaving everyone on the stands wondering who's attack caused damage.

Everyone watched as Hinata bowed her head and start coughing.

"Hinata!" Naruto called out while Sasuke gripped the rails tightly.

"You see, even if you have gotten faster, it makes no difference when-"

What happened next cut Neji off and shocked both himself and his team. Hinata moved quickly, striking his left side with such strength that his body was force to lean back. Before he could react, she did the same to his right side, throwing him off his balance. Using that to her advantage, she used both her hands and strike his chest. The force of the attack sends him flying making landing him close to the wall behind him.

"Alright, Hinata!" Naruto cheered, pumping his fist in the air "Way to knock out his high horse!"

"Hm" Sasuke smiled down at her as his grip on the rail loosened.

Lee look at her in disbelief.

I-I can't believe it, She was actually able to send Neji flying.

Not even Lee of Tenten manage to pull that off, Gai looked over at Kakashi. You trained someone who can give Neji a run for his money.

Neji got on his hands and knees and started violently coughing, the attack really took the wind out of him. After his coughing fit, he panted, glaring at her. He notice she wasn't coughing and through his byakugan, there was no damage done to the area he hit.

"H-How..." He got on his feet "I made a direct hit, so why are you still unharmed?"

"Because...I did to you what you did to me" She replied as she rolls up her left sleeve, revealing the damaged charka points on her arm.

"You did what?!" He looked at his right arm and through the bandages, he was shock to see that she had damaged his charka points too.

Naruto was confused "I don't get it, what are they talking about?"

"On the chakra network, there are 316 energy centers, or chakra points, and each are only about the size of the head of a pin. Hitting one directly can affect charka flow, either halting it or increasing it, depending on how the attacker strikes the charka points. Theoretically, doing so allows a ninja to gain complete control over an opponent's chakra flow. But these charka points, they're undetectable even to my sharingan eye. And even beyond their ability to see the charka points, they can target them accurately, even during intense battle." Kakashi explained

Neji was trying to keep his composer, not only was he fuming in anger but he was beyond confused. Just months ago, the girl in front of him couldn't even look him in the eye, now was able to knock him off his feet. H-How? How in the world did she become like this much in a short period of time?

Hinata's observation skills have improve to a point where almost nothing can leave one. Kakashi thought

Hinata unrolled her sleeve and looked up at her team. I...I was able to get this far because of you.

Her gaze then focused only on her black haired teammate.

Sasuke...

(Flashback)

2 weeks before the exam

"You want to focus on developing my byakugan more today?" Hinata asked

It was the day after her little breakdown and Sasuke had planned for them to meet up at the same training field as the day before.

He nodded "Your eyes are able to see the charka network, meaning they can also see the charka points. I notice my justus getting weaker when you hit. However I get the feeling that you aren't taking full advantage of your ability."

Hinata sighed, looking at her feet "You're r-right, with the byakugan I'm able to see charka network and its points. When these points are locked, it stops the flow of charka making our opponent unable to use their jutsu."

Sasuke was amazed, the girl next to him alway manage to land a couple of hits on him. He could easily lose if he's not careful.

"But in battle, I'm only able to graze them, causing disruption in the charka network. It's harder to lock the charka points when my opponent is moving, especially if they're fast."

"Then that's what we're going to be working on." He said, making some distance between them

She lifted her head so fast, she almost got whiplash "E-Excuse me?!"

"You're going to learn how to hit my charka points directly, we'll start off slow and by the time we're done, you'll be able to do it when I'm at my top speed."

"B-But Sasuke, even the chunin of my clan are unable to do this." She protested, feeling discouraged "H-How am I suppose to do what they can't ?"

"Because it's you." He replied

The bluenette looked at him, confused "Because it's me?"

"Remember what I said yesterday, you are a great ninja in the making. Unlike them, you have the desire to protect those important to you and that goes a long way." Sasuke said, before smirking at her "Now, are you going to come at me or am I coming to you?"

Hinata couldn't help but giggle at that. He's right, if I want to protect my loved ones, I have to stop being negative and focus on getting stronger.

She activated her byakugan. So no more running away.

"Here I come!"

"Hm, bring it!"

(Flashback ends)

Hinata charged at Neji and they began going all out.

You are always cheering me on, standing besides me, making me feel like I can do anything. You made me feel like I'm really worth something.

"Nnnnnaaah!" Neji strikes her under her chin at the same time Hinata strikes his cheek. Both sledded back and stared at each other panting.

Kakashi stared down at his student. An image of Hinata when he first met her appeared in his mind.

Hinata, you've struggled, you've cried and almost given up. And from all of it, you have grown into the strong genin I see right before my eyes. You've matched his attacks, caught him off guard with your new found speed and you have this fierceness in your eyes. You are the only one from you three that has a chance of winning against Neji.

Hinata braces herself and charged at Neji as he charged at her.

Sasuke, I'll show you that your faith in me wasn't for nothing!

As their attacks made contact, both Hyugas flew away from each other and landed on their backs.

"Hinata!" Sasuke and Naruto called out.

Gai kept a sharp eye on as when they collided. That last attack was with his left arm, it definitely got her this time.

Kakashi narrowed his eye at the fallen figures.

Hinata and Neji were on their hands and knees, panting heavily. Both struggled a bit to get in their feet. However as soon as Hinata got on hers, she gasps in pain and held her chest as she coughed up blood.

Sasuke's face turned pale as he saw the blood. He saw that last blow was aimed at her heart, if Neji struck another blow like that, she'll be dead. His body was trembling with the urge to go down there and stop this match. But when he saw the look in her eyes, he forced himself to stay put. He knew that look from anywhere, it was the same look that he and Naruto got when they are far from over.

Neji was still panting a bit but was satisfied as he finally landed a good hit on her.

"Hm, so that's all there is to the-"

He was cut off by a pain in his abdomen, Neji wrapped his arm around the area as he started coughing blood as well.

Lee and Gai gasped at this development, while Kakashi smiled behind his mask.

"Yes, she got him too! Go, Hinata!" Naruto jumped up and down.

Sasuke sighed in relief. It really worked.

He felt eyes on him and looked down to see it was Hinata's. He smiled down at her and secretly gave her a thumbs up.

Despite the pain she felt, her heart leaped in joy. She's finally showing everyone what she can really do and it was paying off.

"I...I don't understand this."

She looked over at Neji as he spoke "When we attack, I made certain your good arm was no where near my vitals and yet."

"That's true, I knew from the angle I was at I couldn't use my right hand. But my hands are not the only things that can cause internal damage."

Realizing what she mean, Neji gasps "You couldn't have!"

She nodded "When I couldn't use my hand I went with another option, my foot. The same moment you let out a blast of charka to my chest, I did the same when I kicked your abdomen."

"This can't be..." Team 7 looked over at Lee as he muttered "The Hyuga clan style is alway with their palms, how could she do this?"

"It's not that different when you think about it." Kakashi said

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked "She used her feet, not her hands."

"Think of it this way, punching and kicking are only different because one is used with a fist while the other is with a foot. The same rule applies here, she used her foot instead of her hand. The difference is the control of her charka."

"He's right about that." Gai said "It's much easier to send charka into your hands than it is to your feet. For her to employ the gentle fist technique into her feet in the heat of battle like that, she must have excellent charka control ."

Sasuke smirked at that. Of course she does and that's what will take this guy down.

Hinata watched as Neji clutched his teeth as he pants from his pain. She could practically feel his anger and hatred toward her grow. She know of the bad blood between the main and side branches of their clan but this ran deeper than that. It's like Neji wanted to hurt her more because of something else.

"W-Why do you hate me?" She asked him

Neji looked at her and scoffed "You're kidding, right?"

"I'm not, I know that the branches of our clan has had a feud for a long time but your anger is toward something more than that. I sense it!" Hinata exclaimed "I have never done anything to offend you and I've never treated anyone from side branch as if they are beneath me. And yet, in the past when we train together, you were trying to hurt me more than necessary. You-"

"Don't go around making me the villain! You know exactly why!"

"I don't!" She yelled, her voice cracking "When we first met, you gave me a kind smile and I hoped we could become great friends. But a short time, you began to glare at me as if I did do something you can never forgive. So why is that? What happen to make you this way?!"

Neji stared at her, looking for anything that may tell him that she's lying. The expression on his face turned solemn when he found nothing "You really don't know, do you?"

Hinata looked confused "Know what?"

"They've kept the truth from you this whole time."

The pain returned to them, both launched forward coughing up blood. Hinata tried to ignore the pain "W-What truth?"

Neji pants "As you know, the Hyuga clan heritage of hatred has gone on for generations. And it's all because of the curse mark jutsu."

Curse mark? Sasuke subconsciously touch his mark.

"Curse mark jutsu?" Naruto said confused

Kakashi looked as Hinata expression saddened at this.

"It symbolizes a bird locked in its cage, a mark that bounds us from the side branch to a destiny we can not escape." Neji removes his headband, showing a green X between a line on his forehead. "You remember the day the treaty was made between our land and the land of lightning, our clan was the only one who didn't attend the celebration because it was your third birthday. I was four years old and it was on that day I was branded with this mark by your father, my uncle. All because your father was born first and mine was second, making him part of the lesser branch."

Hinata bit her lower lip, she knew that leaders of their clan branded the lower branch with the mark, but she never knew her father was branding them as well. How could he have the heart to do it to his brother's son, his own nephew?

"Around that time, I wasn't against my destiny of protecting you and preserving the main household. But after seeing what happened to my father when uncle used the mark on him, I started having my doubts about the main household. Using the mark as an instrument to keep us in our place, we live will the fear of main branch having the ability to turn our brains into jelly."

Hinata's gazed down at Neji's chest, unable to look him in the eye. That was the shame she felt about the main branch. Forcing their own fresh and blood to serve them and punishing them in such a way if they went out of line.

"The branch family's purpose is to defend the secret of the byakugan and serve the the keepers of the secret, the main household, your household obediently and without question for all eternity, that is our destiny."

Neji's eyes then turned sad "Or was."

Hinata's gaze went back to his face. Was?

"Until that dreadful night, they went to far." His eyes narrowed in anger "When they murdered my father."

Hinata's blood ran cold as her eyes widen in horror.

"One night while you were asleep, someone enter the main household and abducted you. Your father quickly caught and killed the man and who was this intruder? It was none other than the head cloud ninja from the land of lightning, the man who had just signed an alliance with us. It was obvious he was after the secret of the byakugan but the land of lightning professed shock of this willful murder of their ninja. They claimed that our village was in violation of the treaty and demanded recompense. Things got worse and worse until it looked like war would break out anew. The leaf village wanted above all things to avoid a war, so at last they made a deal."

Hinata gulped as she figured what the deal was "Life."

He nodded "A life for a life, the land of lightning demanded the death of the person who had slain their ninja. If there was to be your father must die." His grip on his headband tightened as he continued to speak "The village accepted their terms and so to avert a war a man was killed, but not Hiyashi. My father, his twin brother was killed in his place in order to protect the main household!" He yelled in anger

"Neji..."

"Only in death was my father finally free of this evil curse mark. They were so much like, twin brothers but their destinies had been determined long ago when one was born a few seconds after the other."

Now I see why he's like this. He's been hurting this whole time, suffering more than I have. I can't blame him for resenting us but still I don't believe father would just let his own brother take his place. He's not that kind of person. Hinata thought

He placed his headband back on his forehead "The moment you with pitted against me, your fate was to lose. Once a failure, alway a failure, you can't change that."

She shook her head, disagreeing with him. He's been so angry that...

"You're blinded."

Neji raised an eyebrow "Come again?"

She looked directly into his eyes "Your anger has blinded you from seeing that your actions doesn't match up your words."

"What was that?!" He said angrily "What makes you I'm being hypocritical?"

"You keep saying that I can't change my destiny but I've see through your actions that you are trying to defy your own. Over the years when you've trained with the members of our clan, you proven that you aren't like any of the lower branch members. You are considered to be a genius and a prodigy in our clan, yet you claim that the main branch members are the elites. Through our training together, you were constantly pushing me back and mocking me for being weak. I always wondered why you were like that but now I know it was you showing that you wouldn't submit to the will of the main branch."

Neji was visibly shaking, anger course through his veins. He didn't know whether it was because she didn't have the right to talk as if she knew how he felt or the fact that in the back of his mind, he knew she was right. But it didn't stop him from charging at her again.

"I've heard enough!" He attacked vigorously while she dodged all the same "You are a failure and you'll alway be one! You can't change your destiny!"

People use to call Naruto a failure, he failed to make a single clone of himself so many times and now he can make thousands of clones. Sasuke once told about the first time he used his fire ball jutsu, he could barely make one the size of his fist, now he mastered one of the Uchiha's most powerful jutsu. They showed me that even if I failed at first, as long as I keep going and never give up, I can achieve my goal. So I'll never give up, if it's my destiny to fail, then my goal will be to change it!

Time seem to slow as the two made contact with their final attacks. A blast of Hinata's charka went through Neji's abdomen as his charka went through her heart. A large amount of blood spilled from their mouths before both fell to the ground, side by side.

"Hinata!"

"Neji!"

Their teammates shouted in concern as they watched the Hyugas go down.

I...can't...move. Neji tried to get up, but he couldn't. He was too tired, his charka was low and he was in a great deal of pain. I can't believe...she actually...

"N-Neji..."

He couldn't turn his head but he could see the outline of Hinata's body next to him.

Hinata wasn't doing any better, her heart was severely damaged and she was weak to get up. But she wanted to tell him something, so with the little strength she had left, she turned to lay on her back like Neji and gave him a sad smile.

"I-I know...that you s-still resent...the main clan...but our destiny is...our own. I-If I can change...s-so can you."

He didn't know how to respond to that but there was a question that plagued his mind since the beginning of the match "H-How did you?"

"I..h-have people w-who believe in me. T-Their support...and care brought me this far."

Hayate walked up to the two and saw that neither one of them could stand.

"Both competitors are unable to continue! This match is a draw!" He announced.

Kakashi and Gai appeared before their students a second after with the others following behind them.

Gai crouched down next to Neji "You promised me you wouldn't let this clan issue get to you during this exam."

Neji looked in the opposite direction, refusing to look at his teacher.

Gai sighed "I didn't want to stay anything because I knew you wouldn't listen. Your philosophy causes you to underestimate your opponent and in doing so, causes your downfall. I'm proud that you fought your best however I hope this match changes the way you see things."

Kakashi gathered Hinata in his arms "Hinata..."

"S-Sensei..." She sees the others "Sasuke...Naruto..."

"You did great, Hinata! You were so awesome out there." Naruto praised

She gave a little giggle "Thank you."

However her gaze wasn't on him when she answer, her eyes were all on Sasuke and his eyes were on her. She swallowed a bit of air and asked "D-Did I...?"

She stopped when his hand grabbed hers and he gave her proud smile "You did it, Hinata. You proved you truly have changed."

Tears peaked the corner of her eyes, she was so glad, so happy that she was able to show them, to show him that she is strong kunoichi. "Sasuke..."

But the moment was short lived as she coughed up more blood than before. Her team panicked at the sight. Kakashi immediately laid her back down and listen to her heart. His visible eye widen.

She's going into cardiac arrest!

Things weren't going well for Neji neither as he suddenly launched forward and threw up blood. Gai paled at the sight.

This isn't good!

"Get a medic over here, quick!" Both sensei's ordered

Moments laters, the medical came and examined the two. "His insides are in very bad shape, we need to get him back now."

"This one is worse, she has about ten minutes at best!" The medic checking Hinata said "Let's move these two quick!"

Sasuke clutched his teeth as he watched them take her away. She did great, she proved her worth and this was the price she had to pay for it, it wasn't fair. He took a step forward, ready to follow them when a hand caught his shoulder.

"Not so fast, Sasuke..." Kakashi said "I let you stay for her match, now it's time to go."

"You can't really except me to leave her like this, do you?"

"She's in capable hands, I asked for their best medic to take care of her. Believe me, she's be all right soon."

Sasuke wanted to argue but he knew it would be pointless. He already asked to stay with them and promised not to resist when it was over. And waiting to hear her progress would drive him crazy. Besides before the match ended, he was starting to feel the effects of the pill he took starting to wear off. He decided the moment this curse mark thing was dealt with, he would go see her. He took one last longing look before following Kakashi in the opposite direction.

Wait for me...