Control

The Spark

Even before the dust and debris cleared, Neiji knew what was happening. His byakugan could see everything...he could see you. He could see as you tried crawling away from Kidomaru...he saw the webs and your hands as they wildly clawed at the ground...surely you knew your fate was sealed but you still fought against it.

He shouldn't be surprised. You had always been this way--so unrelenting and stubborn. You always fought for the destiny you wanted and not the fate you were dealt. He used to hate that about you. Your ideologies were just so different from his. No matter how many times he put them down you still stood strong in your beliefs. You continually challenged him to think differently. It was infuriating. Fate was supposed to be predetermined...it wasn't supposed to be something you could mold into the future you wanted...but slowly, you began to change this belief of his.

When he met you, you were so unbelievably weak and unskilled. In all honesty, he thought you were very unfit to be a ninja. You had little natural talent...but that never stopped you from trying. You always tried. You always trained and slowly you began to improve. He witnessed first-hand as he trained with you. He watched as you slowly grew faster and faster until you could nearly dodge all his attacks. You were rather ungraceful but you still made it work--you still always tried and now was no different.

You were afraid. Neji could see that in your eyes, but he could also see that unmistakable fire burning in them—that bright spark that challenged fate—that challenged him. However, this spark also froze him in place as he witnessed your appearance firsthand.

The wild almost desperate spark in your eyes accompanied by your blood-stained face was haunting. So much so that Neiji hesitated to move. Neji was never one to freeze or be overcome by emotion. He was always calm and composed. That was who he was but right now, he couldn't help the anger slowly rising in his stomach as you desperately tried to crawl away from your capture. You were trapped, with no hope of escape but you still desperately fought to escape your fate.

Neiji watched, hoping by some miracle you could defy fate once again but as Kidomaru drew you closer to him doubt began to cloud Neji's mind. You wouldn't make it out of this one...not without help.

Neji's body began to move on its own. He wasn't sure what he hoped to accomplish. He was too far away to make a difference but he couldn't stop. He had to try. He had to try and twist fate in your favor. He had to try for you.

As Neji ran to you, his path soon became blocked by a large boulder Jirōbō threw. Neji expertly jumped out of the way along with everyone else but by then it was too late. Kidomaru had you wrapped in his webs and he shot Neji a vicious smirk before tossing you over his shoulder.

"Keep them busy Jirōbō"

"Will do." Jirōbō laughed as he threw a large chunk of earth; effectively blocking everyone's path and allowing Kidomaru to escape with you.

Neiji watched with narrowed eyes, his byakugan activated as Shikamaru jumped to his side.

"Can you see where he's taking her?"

"He appears to be going after the rest of his team. If we follow him, we can rescue her and Sasuke."

As Neji spoke, he shifted his gaze to Shikamaru where Yumi sat perched upon his shoulder. Kenji disappeared in a could of smoke after throwing you from his back but Yumi remained. Neji wasn't sure why.

"We need backup. Gyo will kill me if anything happens to (YN). It's my job to keep an eye on her." Yumi anxiously huffed from Shikamaru's shoulder before jumping into the air.

"I will alert Tsunade of the news and report back when I'm done." She hurriedly spoke before flying away without another word.

Neji briefly watched Yumi before returning his attention to the direction Kidomaru ran. Kidomaru was now out of his range and so were you. This was bad. Their retrieval mission had now turned into a rescue.