Senju's Heir

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Senju's Heir

~~Hyūga Compound, Dojo~~

In a way, Neji had never been one to believe in superstition; his obsession with destiny aside. His way involved logic because logic never failed you, it never betrayed you. Logic is what drove his immense animosity towards the Main House of the Hyūga clan.

They had killed his father.

They had stripped him of his mother.

They are, and will forever be, the root of all his hatred. Hyūga Hinata is no exception to this.

...

Neji dropped his stance, and only stared, eyes cold and unforgiving.

"Pathetic..." He growled under his breath, his charge, on her knees, trembling and coughing blood like some common Genin. He turned toward yet another of his most hated figures. Though unlike the sheer disgust he felt for Hinata's very existence, the hatred he felt for this particular character could not reach critical mass.

Not if he wished to remain healthy, that is.

"As you can see," Neji bowed. "My time is wasted here, Hiashi-sama. She lacks the raw, merciless nature of a shinobi, and therefore cannot hone the instincts gained through training with a ninja of superior skill. I even avoided injuries that would otherwise harm her outer appearance, per your order. I beg you" -he straightened his stiff figure- "do not allow the few hours of freedom I have after chores to be wasted on... enhancing her regime."

Hyūga Hiashi mentally sighed. Neji's show of respect was flawless, no one could deny such a thing. But you did not need the all seeing Byakugan to know that his little exposition of respect was no more than a mere act being lead by condescending impudence. Calling it patronizing wasn't even worthy of the boy's animosity.

The child did, however, harbor a single shred of reason.

"Very well. It would be inadequate to strip you of the little free time you have to train with an inferior partner. And you, Hinata." His presence claimed all attention within the dojo. Disappointment could clearly be seen over his eyes. "I pray you have, at the very least, made progress in the one goal you have."

Hiashi stood, his noble figure oozing the displeasure he felt for his daughter even further.

"The clan has decided you are no longer required to become a ninja so long as you fulfill what has been asked of you, yet you persist... While admirable, it is both unnecessary and hazardous. Your body must retain its pristine condition or your chances of being noticed by your target will decrease when both of you come of age."

"I know him... H-he wouldn't notice..." Hinata struggled to breath, let alone stand from her sprawled figure on the wooden floor. "... A girl as weak as the one you want me to be, Otou-sama... Besides." She made a real effort to stand as blood splashed the material under. Though do to her condition, all she could manage was a feeble inch from the base of the room. "I refuse to be nothing more than a weak, pitiful wife... irrelevant of who my husband will be...!"

"Exemplary. And perhaps so," Hiashi retorted. "But the fact of the matter lingers, your body is at stake every day you live as a ninja. It is an indisputable fact." He made his way towards her and turned the exhausted girl on her back. "Just look." He traced the thin and vulnerable skin over Hinata's collarbone. "A wound on your first mission outside of the village. Disgraceful."

Neji hardened his fists into tight balls of flesh seeing Hinata loss consciousness. 'It takes more than hard work and grueling determination to become strong, otherwise we would all be monstrous warriors regardless of our lineage. Try as you might, you will never become a worthy ninja. Your destiny lies in serving as nothing more than a strategical bargaining chip for the Hyūga clan, Hinata-sama...'