Because I Met You

Chapter 42: Preliminaries Part 6

"Next up... Hyuuga Hinata vs Hyuuga Neji."

Oh Hinata! It's the really shy girl. And Neji... The guy with the white eyes just like hers. They do have the same clan name. They must not like having to fight each other, though. Right?

"I never thought I'd be facing you, Hinata-sama."

"Neji-niisan..."

"Huh?! Siblings?"

Really? They're siblings? Maybe it's just that they're family or something. Also the way he addresses her makes me feel like she's not exactly his little sister... He actually seems to carry some resentment towards her. Other villages' clan dramas! Wish I knew more about it.

"You may begin!"

The proctor clears the way.

"Before we begin the fight, I'd like to say something, Hinata-sama. You don't make a good shinobi. Forfeit now."

What? How can he say that? It's not his place to judge others like that!

"You are too kind. You wish for harmony and avoid conflict. You agree with others, never resisting. And you have no confidence in yourself. I always feel your sense of inferiority. That's why I thought it would be best for you to remain a genin. But the Chunin exam exam can only be taken as a team of three. You couldn't turn down your teammates' request and unwillingly entered. This is reality. Am I wrong?"

He's merciless... Why does he seem to hate her so much?

"N-No... I just wanted... Wanted to change myself... To do it myself..."

Neji frowns after she says that.

"As I thought. You are a spoiled brat of the main house."

Main house?

"Huh?"

Hinata seems confused by his statement.

"People cannot change themselves."

Her eyes widen at what he says. This is intensifying... I kind of feel bad for Hinata.

"Loser are losers. Their personality and strength will not change. Because people cannot change, differences are born. Expressions like elite and losers are created. Looks, brains, ability, size, personality... All people judge and are judged in these values. Based on these unchangeable factors, people discriminate and are discriminated against. And they suffer within their own means. Just like the fact that I am from a branch house and you are from the main house cannot change."

So that's where the resentment comes from. There must be more to it though. It's not just because he's from a branch house or whatever... Or else that'd be really superficial.

"I have seen through many things with this Byakugan. So I know that you are just acting strong. Deep inside you just want to run away from here."

"N-No! I really...!"

Veins then appear around Neji's eyes. Is that the Byakugan? Hinata starts looking away and shaking.

"You can't fool my eyes. Against my pressure right now, you floated your eyes to the upper left. This is a sign that you're remembering your past experiences, your painful past. And after that, you looked to the lower right. That's a sign that you're imagining physical and mental pain. Basically, you are thinking about yourself. And from all the experiences until now, you are imagining the results of this match. Imagining that you'll lose!"

This is just plain intimidation at this point! Pisses me off!

"This action of raising your arms in front of your body shows that you are trying to build a wall between us, to create some distance from me. That you are trying to prevent me from figuring out how you truly feel. Because everything that I have said is completely right. Furthermore, touching your lips is a personality trait revealing a disturbance. It's a defence mechanism to soften the nervousness and worrying. So basically, in reality, haven't you already realized? That you cannot change your-"