WotN: Honorable Defeat

Pencil, Micron 01

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Another moment taken from Chapter 15b

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Groaning, Neji tried to sit up only to find that his limbs were too tired to obey his commands. The only thing he could do was stare up at the blonde as she made her way over towards him. “You beat me… with a clone…?”

She paused, scratching her head thoughtfully. “Ironic, isn’t it? Considering I can’t form a regular bunshin to save my life.”

“What…?”

“It’s one of the reasons I was last in my class,” the blonde explained, crouching down beside him. “Bunshin no jutsu was always part of the final exam for me and I always failed it. Now had it been Henge or Kawarimi, hell, I could’ve aced it no problem…”

“I don’t understand…”

She shrugged. “eople get so caught up by life that they only believe what they want to… Why bother trying to change their perceptions?” The blonde frowned. “That’s not how I wanna live my life. If I’ve got the power to change things for the better, why should I sit back and do nothing? ‘Cuz it’s Fate?”

Neji didn’t respond.

“Your dad’s gone, your life is difficult, but you work hard… You’ve become a ninja your family can boast about even if you’re only a Branch Member… Why settle for the hypocrisy of it if you can do something about it? If you don’t like how your family’s bein’ run, change it. Or…” She paused, grinning at him. “When I become Hokage, I’ll do it for you!”

The pale eyed boy stared at her, his face an open expression of wonder and confusion. There was so much hope and honesty in her face - as if she truly believed what she spoke. Despite everything, Neji found himself hard-pressed not to believe her.. ‘Who… is this girl…?’ He sighed heavily, closing his eys. “…Okay…” That said, clan prodigy, and last year’s #1 Rookie, Hyuuga Neji, lost consciousness.