บท 10: Hinata’s third birthday
Author's Note: I decided to cut this chapter into two part. I will publish part 2 on Friday or Saturday (or sooner if I can).
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For most people in this world, today is a day like any other in their lives.
For people who live in Konohagakure, today is a day of celebration. Shinobi from Kumogakure are here to sign a peace treaty after years of war.
For members of the Hyuga clan (at least, half of them), today is a happy day. The clan's heiress is finally three years old.
For me? Today is probably going to be one of the worst days of my life.
I couldn't sleep last night, I was too stressed.
What if I fail? What if I succeed? My presence in this world, as well as my knowledge of the future, can impact the lives of everyone around me.
Although I already plan in my head the course of events of the day, I can't be sure that everything will be fine.
First, the cursed seal… There is nothing I can do to avoid it, except to flee the village, and I don't want to do that. It's not like I will keep this cursed seal for a long time, I already have a solution to destroy it.
Then, there is the kidnapping of Hinata. I have thought of many possibilities to avoid the death of the Kumo shinobi. The problem is if I fail, I die or my father dies…
So much pressure...
I get up from my bed, do my toilet, put my clothes, a blue kimono with a white belt, I will not wear my weights today. Then, I walk to the living room to eat breakfast.
"Good morning father. Good morning grandma Hamari." I said.
Now that I grow up, I call him "father".
"Good morning." Said my father.
"Good morning Neji-chan. Look at all the snow!" Said Hamari.
Yesterday, the first snow fell, followed by heavy snowfall. It rarely snows that much in Konoha, the village is in the Land of Fire after all. But it happened, exactly like in the anime.
Today is also the last time I see Hamari. I'm apparently old enough to take care of myself. It's true, but I will miss her, she took care of me since I was a baby.
"I saw it, grandma Hamari!" I answered.
We eat our breakfast in silence.
My father knows what will happen to me and I know it disturbs him even if he doesn't show it and keep a stoic face.
He didn't tell me anything, even though he knows that I'm more mature than my age. He only told me that I will meet his brother's daughter for her anniversary. He also told me to be respectful to them, to call them Hiashi-sama and Hinata-sama.
Around two hours after we finished to eat our breakfast, my father comes to my bedroom where I was reading a medical book. Reading helps me to not think too much about the upcoming events.
"We have to go now." He said.
I get up from my bed and follow him to the exit door.
"Please look after Neji." Hamari told to my father.
My father nods as the only answer and we leave the house.
We walk in silence through the Hyuga compound. Hiashi's house is not far from ours, not even five minutes of walk. I can actually see it with my Byakugan from my room. The range of vision of my Byakugan is almost 3 Km, it's not enough to see the whole compound but it's enough to see his house as well as all the strategic paths the Kumo shinobi could use to infiltrate the clan.
Of course, the easiest way to prevent him from kidnapping Hinata would be to tell my father and Hiashi to be careful of the Kumo ambassador since he is in Konoha. However, there are two problems with this plan. First, I'm not sure it will be enough, maybe they will have no choice but to kill him. I don't want to risk my father's life on a supposition.
And second, I'm not supposed to know that there are Kumo shinobis in the village since I can't leave the compound. The Hyuga clan is a very discreet and a very disciplined clan, they rarely gossip about what happens outside the wall of the clan. That means I can't even tell that I heard about the Kumo delegation by chance.
So, tonight, no one but me can stop the Kumo shinobi.
"What's wrong Neji? You seem pensive." Asked my father.
"Huh? Nothing… I thought about what might Hinata-sama look like." I answered.
It's not a lie. I really wonder if Hinata looks the same as in the manga.
My father doesn't say anything else and we continue to walk until we finally arrive.
Hiashi is standing with Hinata next to him in front of a big house, there are a lot of other members of the clan around him.
My father and I stop in front of them and I take a quick glance at Hiashi.
He looks exactly like my father, except he doesn't hide his forehead.
Then I look at Hinata… Yep, she looks exactly like in the manga. Same hairstyle, same shy attitude. She stays close to her father and glances at me from time to time without daring to look at me too long.
I admit that for a three years old child she's really cute, no doubt that once she grows up, she will be even more beautiful than in the manga.
"Hinata-sama, congratulations on your third birthday." Said my father.
Hinata doesn't answer and looks at the ground blushing.
"Thank you." Answered Hiashi.
"Neji… It is your destiny to protect her and to protect the Hyuga bloodline." My father told me.
Destiny? Destiny doesn't mean anything to me, I will show you!
"Alright, it's time for the demonstration. Follow me." Announced Hiashi.
For now, the events follow exactly what happened in the anime. Soon, I will have to spar with Hinata.
Hiashi, Hinata and the other Hyuga enter the house, followed closely by my father and me.
After passing the main door of the house, we enter a large courtyard surrounded by three building.
We enter the building on the left. Once inside, a man comes towards me.
"Please follow me to change your clothes." He said.
I look at my father who beckoned me to follow him...
The man gives me a set of black training clothes.
After changing my clothes, I follow him back to the main room. It's actually a very large room similar to the dojo where my father and I train.
Many people are here. My father, Hiashi, my supposed grandfather, I recognize him because he looks like an older version of my father. There are also a lot of members of the clan.
Hinata is already here. She's wearing clothes similar to mine.
"You two are going to spar. Do your best but without injuring each other." Said Hiashi.
[Quest name: A strong impression.
Type: Event quest.
Description: Impress your clan member.
Objective: Impress your clan member during your spar with Hinata.
Reward: XP +450, Shop points +500
Accept: Yes / No
]
Impress them? No way! If I use my true strength I will hurt Hinata and they will kill me for that.
Hmm… Actually, there is a way to impress them without showing what I'm really capable of… But I'm not sure it will work. Well, I have nothing to lose trying. 'I accept the quest'.
Hinata and I bow to each other and put ourselves in fighting stance.
Hinata runs to me and starts attacking me with her palms.
She's so slow! I dodge her attacks without effort.
It's my first time fighting with someone of my age. My father usually doesn't go easy on me and I'm forced to use all my strength and speed when I train with him.
I continue to dodge and block her strikes without fighting back. It looks like she's using all her strength but I can feel that she's holding back. I think she's afraid of hurting me. She's too kind…
"Hinata-sama, please don't hold back. You can't progress if you don't use all your strength." I said.
"Neji is right. Hinata, don't hold back anymore." Said Hiashi.
"Y-Yes father." She answered.
She resumed her attacks, this time with more strength and confidence. However, it's still not enough to hit me.
"Here!", I strike the flaw on her attack with two of my fingers.
She lets out a small cry of pain and steps back.
"You mustn't let your guard down when you attack. Try again." I said.
She attacks again while being careful not to let her guard down. She learns quickly for a kid!
"Here!", I kick her right leg and she falls to the ground.
"Pay attention to your footwork. Try again." I said.
She quickly stands up and immediately attacks me. I dodge her strike and she falls to the ground.
"Don't attack if your body doesn't have a good balance." I said.
I walk to Hinata and extend my hand to help her up. She takes my hand and gets up.
"All right, that will do for today… Neji, you are really strong. Hinata can benefit a lot by sparring with you." Said Hiashi.
[Quest: A strong impression completed. Reward: XP +450, Shop points +500]
"Hizashi, bring Neji to the main hall in one hour." Hiashi continued.
Hiashi, Hinata and the other Hyuga then leave the dojo, leaving me and my father alone in it.
One hour… It's all I have left before they brand me with this damn cursed seal…
"You did great Neji. You can go now but come back here in an hour." Said my father.
My father knows I didn't use all my strength. Does he mean I did great by hiding it?
Too late, I can't ask him, he already left the dojo…
I leave the dojo shortly after. Outside, I spot Hinata sitting alone under the porch. I walk to her and she sees me.
"Neji-nii-san… I… don't like to practice taijutsu." She said.
She looks depressed, maybe I was too hard with her during our spar. I must do something to help her.
"I think you did great during our fight. You learn really quickly." I said.
"Really? But… I am not as strong as you." She said.
She really needs something to motivate her. Her father always told her that it's her duty to become strong but I think she needs a real motivation. Hmm… In the manga, except Naruto Uzumaki, she also loves her family very much.
"Do you love your family?" I asked.
"Huh? Of course, I do." She answered with confidence.
"Don't you want to be able to protect your family?" I asked.
"I-I want, but…"
"In this world, if you want to protect your family, you have to be strong. You don't have to become strong because it's your duty as the clan's heiress but because you want to protect the people you love." I said, interrupting her.
She seems to think about what I just said.
"You are probably right, but… I don't know if I can…" She said.
"I will help you! We will train together and become strong together to be able to protect the people we love." I said.
She doesn't answer. She looks at the ground and blushes.
I hope it's enough to motivate her a little…
"Neji-nii-san… Thank you…" She whispered.
...
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Tensei_Rigan
Tensei_Rigan I can update more often with short chapters (1000-1300 words) or once a week with long chapters (2000-2500 words). What do you prefer?
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