Reborn as Sakura and Hinata: Lost in the Wind

Hyuga Time: Hinata Strikes Back

I stayed standing where I was in the arena, staring at the blood stain on the ground.

"Hinata?"

I turned to see Neji in the arena, looking concerned and confused. I had to resist the urge to run over and hug him as I realized that I hadn't seen him since the first exam started. He had no idea of anything that had happened.

"Hi Neji," I said lamely. It was all I could really think to say.

"What happened to you?" his eyes scanned me and the horror he was feeling was evident.

"We can talk about that later," I assumed a battle stance, "We need to do this now."

"Hinata, tell me what happened." He glared indignantly at me, "Who did this to you?"

"Neji, please," I could feel my anger flaring, "I promise I will explain everything."

He sighed heavily.

"Alright then," he assumed a fighting stance as well, "do not hold back."

"And I expect you to do the same." I replied as I started walking toward him. Neji looked a little unsettled.

I was having an intense inner battle as I calmly walked toward my opponent. I wanted to win, of course, and no one would be satisfied if I didn't fight to win. I couldn't do that disservice to Neji. But if I fought using my chakra in my mental state... I might kill him. I couldn't remember what happened in my fight with the sound, but I knew that the horrific outcome of that fight was my doing. I had killed two people. As I closed in on him my time to figure out how I was going to win this fight dwindled. I could feel the world closing in on me as Neji made his first move.

His moves were always very decisive and calculated. While deadly they can be more easy to predict and thus avoid. I turned as he made a jab at my torso, using his momentum to try and carry him into an uppercut.

He skillfully dodged out of the way. His trip through the second trial was a lot easier than mine, but, despite my damaged legs and back, missing eye, shot nerves, and near useless chakra, I still had the advantage.

The fight at first was mirroring our sparring matches. Except, without my use of chakra, there was much more dodging and attacking with intent to cause external damage than normal.

I went for Neji's head, my movement heavy and uncoordinated. He easily countered, punching me in the stomach and sending me stumbling back wheezing.

"Hinata, this isn't a sparring match." Neji scolded, "You need to take this seriously."

"You don't think I am!?" I growled.

"I told you to give me everything you got!" he shouted as he began advancing on me. I weaved to dodge most of his attacks.

"And I am!"

"Why aren't you using your chakra then?" Neji accused.

Anger began boiling within me.

"Who says I'm not?" I blocked and countered one of his jabs, levering him to flip him onto the ground. He quickly sprung back up.

"You are clearly not. The sound of chakra hitting chakra is distinct. Anyone could hear its absence." He countered another punch from me, hitting me in the face in retaliation.

"Maybe I can't use my chakra!" I stumbled back, holding the left side of my face.

"Why not!?" he spat, kicking at me and forcing me to duck away from him and regain my composure, "Is it because you are afraid to hurt me?"
"You know that isn't why!" As he began to beat down on me, I felt a terrifyingly familiar burning-numbness begin to take hold of me.