𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐆𝐀 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐍

Hiashi Hyuga

Last time:

Genma sighed, "Yeah, I get the point. Temari's done. The match goes to Hanara Hyuga of the Leaf! Temari of the Sand is disqualified."

Now:

Hanara slowly exhaled and smiled when the crowd cheered. She allowed her clone to dispel and where it once stood was now a puddle of water. Temari glared at her when she made her way past her to go up the stairs, but it wasn't any less than what Hanara was expecting.

'Man, trash-talking is so hard, I don't think I could do it again. Especially not to Shino. Oh, dammit. Shino's long-range too and he's got those insects. What to do?'

When she went back to the contestants' viewing area, she saw that Shikamaru and Naruto were missing. 'Well, if they aren't going to congratulate me, might as well go visit Neji. Naruto probably caused him to go through an existential crisis!'

Nodding to herself, she started to walk to the medical area.

When Hanara got there, however, the medic-nin wouldn't allow her to see him.

"Why not?" she protested, "I'm family, I have a right to see an injured family member!"

"I'm afraid-" the medic cut himself off and dropped into a bow, "Lord Hyuga!"

"I'm sorry, but could you please step out for a moment?" Lord Hiashi asked, walking up to him.

"I can't, we aren't supposed to-"

Lord Hiashi cut him off, "It won't take long, I assure you."

The medic sighed and nodded, "Of course."

Lord Hiashi turned to Hanara, "Come, Hanara, this is something I must tell you, as well."

She gave him a curt nod and followed him into Neji's room, closing the door behind her. Neji heard the door closing and glanced towards them. His eyes widened in shock and he got off his bed to stand up.

"Hanara, Lord Hyuga," he said, bowing to Hiashi.

"Please rise, Neji. What I am here for is a matter of great importance. It regards your father and my brother, Hizashi," Hiashi told them, "What I made Hikaru tell you all those years ago, was a lie."

Neji's eyes narrowed, "What do you mean? My father was killed instead of you to protect the Byakugan. He was put down like a lamb to slaughter, that's all there is to it."

"No, he did it out of his own will. He wanted his death to be something he chose to do instead of it being left to destiny. I wanted it to be me, but Hizashi interfered and demanded to be sent instead. I didn't tell you because I felt that being the focus of your hate would be what I deserved for allowing Hizashi to die. However, seeing how you both have grown makes me realize that it was a mistake," Hiashi said sadly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two scrolls, giving one to each child, "Before he left, he told me to give you both one scroll. These are his last words."

Dear Hanara,

I know you didn't tell me, but you had a bad feeling that day, didn't you? As you know, it was right, it is most of the time, too. So, listen to it, okay? How old must you be right now? Are you 5? Maybe 7? Or even 10? I told Hiashi to give this to you immediately, but he never does listen.

I'm sorry that I left you and Neji on your own right after you got used to me, but I felt that was something I needed to do. Please do not take your anger out on Hiashi, Hinata, or any of the other members of the Main Family because of what I have done. It was purely my choice. I was not forced into this.

I realize that I was wrong in assuming that those of us with the curse seal are like caged birds, having wings but not being able to fly. Yes, when it comes down to it, we must protect the Main Family's Byakugan no matter the cost, but how we do it is up to us and we must remember that. We cannot go on a raging tirade just because of a mark. It does not define our future. I do not know if Neji will understand this because I have been saying the opposite for as long as he can remember, so please keep him from going down that path.

I am sorry that I won't be able to help you grow and have left you and Neji as orphans at such a young age. I have abandoned you and that will be something that won't change, no matter how I try and justify it to myself. However, I do love you both, and that too won't change. I will watch over you no matter where I go once I am killed.

Please take care of yourself, Hanara.

Hizashi Hyuga

'Oh Father, you have too much of a good heart.'

"I know I should not expect your forgiveness- what I allowed Hizashi to do was unacceptable -but I hope that this has given you both some long-needed closure," Lord Hiashi said.

'Damn straight,' Hanara fumed, allowing her body language to reflect her anger, 'I already had a good idea of what happened, but I can't believe it took Hiashi this much to realize how badly he fucked up! He wanted to feel better and so, he ignored a dying man's last wish and sacrificed two children's well-being to save his own. Neji may forgive him, but I won't. Hiashi saw firsthand what giving the curse seal to his twin did to him and did it to me anyway! I don't care how much trouble the elders may have given him, his position in the clan should mean less than family!'

Neji smiled softly, "Thank you, Lord Hiashi."

"I shall take my leave now," Hiashi said, giving Hanara one last apologetic look before leaving the room.

After a long few minutes of silence, Hanara calmed down enough not to snap at anyone and everyone that talked to her. Noticing this, Neji decided to start the conversation.

"I'm sorry about the past month," he mumbled, "I know I wasn't being quite nice."

Hanara snorted and hugged him, "Understatement of the century but apology accepted. I'm glad that you're not mad anymore. I missed the nice Neji."

He sighed, "That's all you're going to get out of me, Hana. Anyway, you didn't know this was going to happen so why did you come here in the first place? Is your match over already?"

"Yeah, Sasuke's was postponed and Shino won because Kankuro forfeited. Shikamaru had Temari in a bind but then forfeited because his chakra was too low. I beat Temari and now they're probably waiting for Sasuke again. I came here because I knew that what Naruto did must've made you go through a minor existential crisis, and we can't have my amazing brother go through that," she smiled, releasing him and lying down on his hospital bed. What? It's a bed and if he's just going to sit on it, she might as well use it the way it's mean to.

"What made you start using elemental techniques?" Neji asked, no doubt thinking about her preliminary round.

"Well, I was doing a lot of research on the Byakugan while you were in the Academy and sometimes I'd use it to spy on Genin teams. I saw that it helped me see how their chakra was moulded so I thought that it would make learning ninjutsu easier. Besides, if our opponent's a long-range specialist, we're-" Hanara was cut off by a large boom that came from the direction of the arena.

She and Neji immediately get off the bed and run to the room's window. Half the village was in ruins and three giant snakes were causing even more chaos.

'What the hell's going on?