As the sun's gentle rays dispersed the morning mist over Konoha, one of the training grounds buzzed with life. Tenten found solace in a quiet corner, observing the intense spectacle unfolding in the heart of the battlefield with a weary expression.
Neji, his obsidian hair tousled, bore the strain of activating his Byakugan to its very limits.
His stance, meticulously practiced for almost a decade, now binded him amidst a sea of metal needles and spikes that encircled the ground around him.
His face etched with determination, he stood like a statue marking his territory, aware that a single careless step could lead to grave injury on this array of spikes in the grassfield.
On the opposing side stood Sakura, her breathing laboured but her demeanor resolute. Despite her fatigue, a flicker of confidence danced in her eyes.
She had turned the battle to her advantage, limiting Neji's movements to the point that any movement he does will injure him and believing victory was within her grasp.
However, Neji's voice sliced through the tense air, laden with impressed acknowledgment. "I am impressed by your ingenuity, Sakura. Had this been any other Hyūga branch family member, your strategy would have worked."
"At last, it was me you had to fight," he remarked, his voice laced with confidence. His smirk hinted at an unseen resolve.
In an instant, Neji unleashed his Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven technique, creating a swirling dome of cerulean chakra that flung the metallic weapons on the ground.
Sakura faltered, her disbelief evident as Neji surged toward her. But just as Sakura's fate seemed sealed, her voice cut through the chaos, a surrender wrapped in defeat.
"Stop, I-I Lose! I lost!" Her words hung in the air, halting Neji's advance mere inches away from striking her.
She gasped for air, relief washing over her as she collapsed, her body meeting the unforgiving ground. "Your Byakugan is incredibly powerful," she let out, her voice strained but laced with admiration, her gaze locked onto Neji's eyes, appreciating the strength that had pushed her to the edge.
"That's obvious," Neji asserted proudly, his confidence in his clan's abilities unwavering. "It's because of the Byakugan that the Hyūga clan stands as the strongest in Konoha."
Sakura, slightly sceptical, asked further, her voice careful not to offend Neji. "What about the Uchiha and Senju clan?" she inquired, her curiosity driving her to understand the complexities of Konoha's power dynamics.
Neji's eyes glinted with pride as he explained, "The Uchiha, with their Dōjutsu, excel in all three basic jutsu—Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu. But the Hyūga can counter them all."
His confidence in his clan's abilities was palpable. "Genjutsu barely affects someone with the Byakugan, our Gentle Fist can cut through chakra-based substances, including Ninjutsu, and our Eight Trigram techniques have been refined over the years, making them among the best in Taijutsu."
Sakura's interest only deepened. "And what about the Senju clan?" she inquired, her innocent curiosity shining through.
Neji's expression turned contemplative. "The Senju are different," he mused, choosing his words carefully.
Neji's expression grew serious, his respect for their abilities evident. "The Senju are natural geniuses," he explained, his voice carrying a weight of admiration. "They master everything from Ninjutsu to Kenjutsu techniques and more. Their diverse arsenal of both offensive and defensive techniques makes them unpredictable in battle."
A sigh escaped Neji's lips, a melancholic acknowledgement of the Senju's fate. "They were truly the strongest clan in Konoha. However, their downfall came when they allowed outsiders to marry into their clan," he revealed, his gaze shifting toward Sakura.
"Outsiders?" Sakura's head tilted in innocence, prompting a knowing look from Neji. "Unlike the Uchiha or the Hyūga, who marry within their clans, the Senju welcomed civilians. This choice diluted their bloodline, leading to their eventual extinction in this day and age."
Sakura absorbed Neji's words, her brow furrowing slightly as she contemplated the complexities of the ninja world. "Woah, Clans, Bloodline, Kekkei genkai, these things sure are complicated," she mused, a touch of awe in her voice.
"But I suppose it's all worth it in exchange for having such strong powers," she added, finding a glimmer of fascination in the intricate system that defined the abilities of the Nobles of Konoha.
Neji's eyes, laden with a mix of wisdom and regret, met Sakura's gaze. "You know, it's not always worth it," he whispered, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken experiences and memories.
Sakura, caught off guard, sought clarification. "What was that?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Neji's smile was small, but genuine. "Let's stop talking about Kekkei Genkai now. They are not as important as they seem," he reassured her. "After all, with enough determination, anyone can overcome the limitations of their bloodline."
"What?" Sakura protested, her disbelief evident. "No way!"
Neji's smile softened as he shared a piece of his own journey. "I used to think like that too, until someone humbled me in a certain chūnin tournament match," he revealed, his eyes holding a depth of understanding that resonated with Sakura.
In that moment, a shared acknowledgment passed between them, bridging the gap between their worlds and experiences.
Neji suggested a pause, his weariness evident after their intense spar. "Let's rest for a bit now, I am tired after our spar," he said, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue. With a sense of camaraderie, he made his way towards Tenten, who sat patiently on the edge of their battlefield.
Sakura, her determination unyielding, stood her ground, ready for more. "You rest, I still have some strength left," she declared, her gaze shifting to Tenten. "Alright, Tenten, you've rested enough, come join me!"
Tenten, visibly fatigued, hesitated but was quick to decline. "I'm sorry, Sakura, but I'm still too tired to fight you again," she admitted, beads of sweat glistening on her brow. Sakura's disappointed posture made Tenten sigh in relief.
Neji intervened. "Training excessively without proper rest can be harmful. Let's take a break for now, Sakura," he suggested, his tone gentle but firm, emphasizing the importance of balance in their training regimen.
With a resigned sigh, she hit three apples on a distant tree with her kunais. As the apples fell, Sakura blurred, catching them mid-air by body flicker technique.
Then, She materialized beside Tenten, handing her one of the apples before tossing another to Neji. With a contented munch, Sakura savored the fruit, the taste a fleeting reward for their efforts in the battlefield.
The trio sat together, a moment of shared respite amid their relentless training, finding solace in each other's company.
Sakura's gratitude toward Neji and Tenten shone in her eyes as she spoke, "Thanks for being my training partners, guys. I've learned a lot today."
Tenten nodded appreciatively, adding, "We learned a lot too."
Neji's gaze turned thoughtful, memories flickering in his eyes. "Before, Lee used to train with us, but with him gone, training wasn't fun anymore. However, that changed when we trained today," he acknowledged, his words carrying a note of gratitude towards Sakura.
Sakura's expression turned somber as she expressed her regret about Lee. "I'm sorry for what happened to Lee," she said, a tinge of guilt creeping into her voice.
Suddenly, her tone shifted, and a sharp yelp escaped her lips. "Ahh! Now I feel guilty for training here!" Her distress was palpable as she allowed herself to collapse onto the grass. The weight of her remorse seemed to physically pull her down, etching lines of worry on her face.
Tenten reassured her with a smile, "Don't worry about that. After Guy Sensei requested Lady Tsunade, she promised to heal Lee, once her important matters are settled."
Sakura's eyes widened with relief. "Oh, that's great news!"
Neji, his curiosity piqued, redirected the conversation. "Sakura, tell me something," he inquired, his eyes probing gently, "Why aren't you training with your Jōnin team?"
"Oh, that?" Sakura hesitated, beads of sweat forming on her cheek as she tried to find the right words. "Uhh, my teammates are a bit weak compared to me," she confessed, her voice laced with uncertainty.
"So my Jōnin Sensei said that he will recommend solo missions to me from now on. Mixing different standards of ninja in the same team disrupts the balance, he said." She finished, her voice laden with a hint of sadness.
"It's not that they are weak, it's just that you're too strong," Neji interjected, his tone carrying a hint of frustration.
He clenched his fist slightly, his thoughts consumed by the flaws he had discovered in his own techniques during their spar. "Today, when we sparred, I realised a lot of flaws in my techniques, flaws in the Hyūga fighting style."
"Same for me!" Tenten chimed in, her admiration evident. "I never knew you could use weapons like that, Sakura. Your observation skills are truly impressive!"
Sakura waved off their compliments, trying to downplay her abilities. "Stop it, you guys," she said, scratching the back of her head, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Feeling the need to change the topic, Sakura redirected her attention to Neji. "Neji, why doesn't the Hyūga clan explore Ninjutsu and other techniques?" she asked, her curiosity driving her question. "Isn't it kind of a waste to stick to only Gentle Fist and Eight Trigrams?"
Neji's words hung heavy in the air, his frustration and resentment palpable. "Mastering Gentle Fist and Eight Trigrams Techniques is not easy," he reiterated, his voice filled with a mixture of resignation and frustration. "Some spend their lifetimes trying to master these techniques and still fail."
Then, his tone turned bitter, a sense of betrayal seeping into his words. "However, occasionally, when someone is talented enough to master every Hyūga technique at an early age, they are forbidden from learning more under the pretext of preserving Hyūga tradition." His voice crackled with the weight of unspoken challenges, the clash between individual potential, and clan tradition casting a shadow over his words.
Sakura glanced at Neji sympathetically, her hand gently patting his shoulder in a silent gesture of understanding and support. No words were needed to convey the weight of tradition, Discrimination, and the struggle for individual growth within the constraints placed by narrow minded clan elders.
Tenten, sensing the tension in the air, swiftly changed the flow of the conversation. "S-So, guys," she stammered, diverting their attention, "Why do you think Lady Tsunade is here in Konoha after all this time?"
Sakura, lost in thought, rubbed her chin in contemplation. "Hmm, now that you mention it," she pondered, "Even Master Jiraiya is here. I think this is my first time seeing both Sannin in Konoha at the same time."
"That's because the Kage summit is going to happen the day after tomorrow," Before the conversation could progress further, an unexpected voice cut through the air, making all three of them turn toward the source.
Chōji, accompanied by Ino and Shikamaru, had arrived. Chōji's eyes widened with realisation. "Oops, I shouldn't have said that," he mumbled, his expression regretful.
Ino, standing beside Chōji, facepalmed in frustration before turning to Sakura, Tenten, and Neji with a pleading look. "Please keep that a secret," she requested, her tone filled with urgency.
Sakura nodded understandingly. "Sure," she assured before redirecting the conversation, her curiosity piqued. "So, what's a Kage Summit?"
Shikamaru, although finding the situation troublesome, took it upon himself to explain. "What a drag..." he muttered, clearly unenthusiastic. "The Kage Summit is the gathering of all five kages to discuss important events."
"I see," Sakura acknowledged, her curiosity satisfied.
Tenten, ever perceptive, delved deeper into the topic. "Are they here because of the Akatsuki Attack?" she inquired, her eyes narrowing with concern.
Neji, his brow furrowing in thought, expressed his skepticism. "That doesn't make sense. Why would the other villages care about Konoha?" he questioned, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Shikamaru provided insight into the situation. "I think they are coming to discuss the recent emergence of strong rogue ninjas as a whole, instead of just the Akatsuki," he explained, his voice carrying a note of caution. "But, nothing is concrete. For all we know, they might be coming here for their own selfish agendas."
The gravity of the situation settled among them, each contemplating the possible motives behind the gathering of the kages. Neji, driven by his curiosity, directed his question at Shikamaru. "Why are you guys here, anyway?" he inquired, seeking clarification.
Sakura, taking the opportunity to explain, raised her hands slightly. "Oh, that's because of me," she admitted, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "I asked Shikamaru if he wanted to train with me, and he said he would bring his team along as well."
With infectious excitement, Sakura looked at Neji and Tenten, her face beaming with enthusiasm. "Now the three of us can fight the three of them, and that will make all of us stronger!" she exclaimed, her determination evident as she stood up. "Let's go, guys!" With swift strides, she headed toward the centre of the battlefield.
Neji and Tenten exchanged a glance, sighing in resignation before standing up. They followed Sakura, signaling the Ino-Shika-Chō trio to join them. As they approached the battlefield, a sense of camaraderie and determination filled the air, their shared training session becoming a testament to their resilience and unity.