SASUKE: The Beginning Of The Journey.

Chapter 10: The Massacre. (Hyuga Clan)

In that moment, a swirling pattern, not unlike the drain of a bathtub swallowing used water, appeared as Madara materialized in front of the Hyuga clan compound. His sinister smile played on his lips under his mask. To his left was the katana he used to kill the Konoha Military Police Forces earlier. As Madara stood outside, looking at the compound's entrance, two Hyuga guards noticed him, demanding to know his identity and intentions.

Madara thought, "Oh, I'll show you my intentions." He said this aloud to the two Hyuga guards as his Sharingan blazed red in the single right hole of his mask. The guards, noticing his Sharingan, assumed he was an Uchiha. They activated their Byakugan to defend themselves and identify the Uchiha behind the mask, but they couldn't see who he was, or even sense his chakra, as if he had some kind of countermeasure. He stepped forward boldly in a flash. The once slowly stepping masked man was now standing behind one of the guards, his katana in a reverse grip. He slashed the other guard instantly, the guard screaming in agony as deep cuts burst open, spilling blood into the air.

The other guard was stunned by his speed. He didn't understand why an Uchiha was attacking them when they were supposed to be allies against Konoha. Then, the masked man moved behind him and stabbed him in the back with his blade. The guard screamed, his katana dripping with crimson blood. Suddenly, the masked man vanished. Blood splattered on the walls and ground, and piercing screams of agony echoed inside the main house. Madara slaughtered them all one by one; they couldn't react to his speed. As their bodies lay on the ground, Madara’s Sharingan shone red in the single hole of his mask, piercing the dark.

While Madara killed the Hyuga in the main house, Neji headed to the compound, passing the dead guard's corpse. The moon was out as he jumped to the tree branches, perching like an owl. For years, the Eagle had been seen as an omen of wisdom and knowledge, its omen surpassed only by the Eagle. Perhaps tonight, Neji was not an Owl. Perhaps he was the Eagle, a scavenging bird that killed the small and picked clean carcass of what had already died. And tonight, everyone in this clan is dead; they just don't know it yet.

Neji was fueled by loyalty and vengeance. His movements were swift and silent, his steps precise, like an angel of destruction. His eyes were sharp, and his Byakugan blazed white in the night. He jumped three by three in the Hyuga branch house. The first place he would go was Natsu’s room. She was the one he loved most, and she was the one he needed to kill first. She was his weakness.

Neji’s mind was already working overtime, his heart bleeding from the actions yet to be taken – a strange manipulation of cause and effect in which the effects were felt before the action was made. He knew if he didn't kill her first, he wouldn't have the emotional fortitude to do so later. So, he quickly went to her room and knocked on the window. Natsu was combing her hair when she heard the knock. She opened the window and saw Neji outside.

“Neji, what are you doing here…” Natsu said in a surprised tone. Neji didn’t answer her, rarely looking out from the darkness.

For a moment, Natsu thought she witnessed darkness and hatred in his eyes, but upon closer examination, his eyes displayed fear, like a child that had done something wrong and was waiting to confess to their mother. Tears welled up in his war-weary eyes.

“Can I come in...?” Neji asked with a stoic expression. Natsu nodded and let him inside.

Natsu noticed Neji crying and slowly walked towards her, speaking, “Neji, what’s wrong?” she asked in a calm and gentle voice. She led Neji into the moonlight to get a closer look at his face. A tear fell from Neji’s Byakugan. “Natsu, I have failed...”

“Failed? What do you mean…?” she asked, surprised. She immediately noticed his flak jacket and the blood-stained blade in his hand. “Neji…” Natsu said calmly.

Neji’s cheeks pulled into a sorrowful expression. “I couldn't stop the coup, and time ran out. And now, both the Uchiha and Hyuga clans will destroy Konoha together,” he said, his voice laced with sorrow. Was he trying to convince her, or himself?

Natsu already knew about the coup but didn't respond, gently touching his cheeks. Neji could feel the heat in her hands; her touch was very calming. He opened his eyes once more, his sclera written by tears and strain from the quickly bursting blood vessels within his straining Mangekyo.

Neji held her hands with his right hand and said, “I’m putting the coup to rest, by order of my excellence,” looking into her eyes. Natsu’s heart stopped for a second as she let go of Neji’s cheeks. Her mind struggled to process this, feeling the moment begin to return. She took a breath and continued.

“Is there no other choice…?” Natsu asked, her expression full of understanding.

Neji nodded and said, “If I kill everyone in the Hyuga clan, including the branch families, Lady Hanabi and Lady Hinata will survive. If I don’t, we all die together… I have to save my cousins; they have nothing to do with this.” Neji said, sounding sad and hurt.

She grabbed Neji’s cheeks and pulled him into a kiss. “Then, save Lady Hinata and Lady Hanabi. It's our duty to protect them after all, right?” she said, giving him a warm smile.

Neji heard her and saw her warm smile. For a second, they stared at each other, sharing one last warming kiss. He enjoyed the last kiss he would ever taste from his love and the last smile he could have ever seen from her.

Gripping her throat, he pushed her back and raised his blade. Neji’s face displayed rage and hatred, the only emotion he could conjure that would give him the strength to do this. Neji looked at her one more time, but as he did so, Natsu’s gentle and warm smile caught him for the last time.

“What an honor to die in the arms of the one person who means most to me…” she said, her gentle smile didn’t disappear. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world… and Neji, I will always love you, even in death…” Natsu’s words shattered Neji’s will. In an effort to salvage this, Neji hit her with a gentle fist, knocking her unconscious to prevent her from seeing or hearing what was about to happen. Natsu slowly fell, and Neji caught her on time.