Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter 1: Setting Out

Journey of the Three Failures

One: Setting Out

'The winner is... Hyuuga Neji.'

Oh, how one event could change the future – but to say it merely changed would be an understatement. More accurate would be warped, stabbed repeatedly, tossed into a blender and crushed to tiny pieces, scattered in the wind to be collected and rolled into a fresh ball of clay, mashed haphazardly into something new that got fired far too long – which was dropped and broken – and then reformed in an entirely new way because no one had a clue what the heck it was supposed to look like.

Uzumaki Naruto's defeat at the hands of Hyuuga Neji jarred not only the destiny of three individuals, but Konohagakure no Sato, Hi no Kuni, the Godaikoku, and the entire shinobi world as we know it.

Fate is a funny thing.

Hinata ヒナタ

I picked myself up off the floor, gasping as I raised one palm before me, the other near my side.

"A-again," I gasped.

Chakra pulsed through my feet, propelling my sprint forward. He did the same, meeting me halfway to effortlessly block one palm strike, thrusting aside the next. I began to fall backwards, off-balance, as I blocked a high, heavy strike, and instantly two fingers jabbed sharply into my bicep as a palm crashed into my belly. He closed in in a blur as I stumbled back, and with lightning speed a very sparring-unfriendly palm smashed brutally into my sternum.

Chakra-imbued Juuken strikes were not permitted, of course. It was for this reason that Neji-nii-san merely attacked me with the ferocious entirety of his hatred-fueled strength.

I wasn't sure whether or not I should be grateful.

I landed several yards away, struggling to draw a proper breath, head ringing at the pain in my chest. Stunned, I rolled onto my side, coughing wetly.

"Nii-san," I heard Hanabi say timidly. No one particularly enjoyed talking to Neji when he was in one of his rages. "I – I think you're ... hitting too hard..."

"Maybe," he scoffed icily, "or perhaps Hinata-sama is too weak."

My teeth clenched in pain and determination as I stood, fighting tears. I raised my right arm in front of me, the left near limp at my side.

"A...gain..." I croaked.

He shook his head in disgust. "Why do you even keep standing? You're no match, Hinata-sama. Accept that you're not destined to win."

I glared at him, even knowing the look couldn't be half as menacing as his cold, calm scowl. "I can't give up! Naruto-kun wouldn't give up, so I won't either! As long as I can stand – I will!" Three passing Hyuuga shot me a look.

"Oh? I defeated Uzumaki. You think you're stronger than your precious Naruto-kun?"

I opened my mouth, and then closed it. I wasn't sure what to say to that. He frowned.

"If you want to defeat me so badly, order me to lose – or even better, activate this seal!" he screamed, and in one motion ripped off his hitai-ate, exposing his curse mark in a challenge.

"No!" I cried, appalled.

"Pathetic!" he spat, and suddenly there was little distance between us. I blindly raised an arm to block, but a strong hand grabbed it, pulling me forward and down. He attacked from low, rising to slam a palm into my chin. Pain shot through me.

I realized in a moment I was on my back, and tried to blink away the darkness creeping in along the edges of my vision. Hanabi shrieked something like, "Nee-chan, you're bleeding!"