one_long_mission

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If this, then, was home, then for some, it was the only thing they knew.

For one teen girl, the life of a shinobi was all she truly knew. Her mother had died not long after giving birth to her, and her uncle and rest of family did not exactly approve of her suddenly being thrust upon them. Neji was somehow less than their own flesh and blood, and chafed under her reduced station.

If there were a way out, she would take it. As long as she did not dishonor her mother's name, she would take it.

Today was an uncharacteristically peaceful day as she sat atop one of the many tree branches around Michi no Sato. Border guarding was vital, if uninteresting. At the sound of approaching footsteps, she tilted her head; the direction was from the village itself. Likely no threat.

If they wanted her attention, they would request it; if they continued walking, she would have them halt to learn their purpose.

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He claimed a deep breath, trying to will his body to stop shaking.

"The tablet...in the temple..."
He recounted how it showed the history of their bloodline,s powers and the founder had left it so anyone could attain the power he had to serve the future generations, and it mentions their katon as the power to bring forth the light of destruction.

The future, he was sure of it, their destiny was inscribed upon the tablet. He had interpreted the ultimate knowledge as a weapon of mass destruction against any foe... but it could also be interpreted as their own end.

"Either... this power I have can turn he tables of war, or... or it's the power that brought forth this night.." there was also the idea that no one could predict the future, but he had cited many similarities. Eerie similarities.

And she just kept holding him as he spoke, listening carefully, analyzing what she could of it. From the description... it certainly seemed that way.

It was a long while after he finished speaking that she finally had something to say, her brow furrowed. "The question would seem then, is if it was a deliberate attack... or an unfortunate accident. Yes?"

He froze within her grasp, feeling his blood go cold.

"...deliberate?" his mind was reeling. "Who could want the death of his whole clan!?" This was far too saddening a thought.

She lowered her head and only held him all the tighter, fingers still gently combing through his hair. "I have no way of knowing, Sasuke. Neither of us do."

"..let.. let me stop..thinking..." who could have done it? Why? Deliberately? What could be so powerful? WHO could be?

That black fire.... was this what had done it? Was it something else?
He didn't want that truth anymore.

He did calm down though...once he had twisted within her grip to hold her tightly, as if he would fall into the deepest abyss if he let go...

"Sasuke..."

She swallowed hard and accepted his hold, one hand twining into the back of his hair, the other wrapped around his back to keep him in together against her.

"No matter what, I will help you. If I can, I will do whatever it takes." She inhaled deeply and leaned down, lightly pressing her nose against his hair. "Please, Sasuke..."

They were a cursed clan... the villagers had always said so.

They had a reason. He wanted to prove them wrong, to rise higher than any of them and protect the village...

This made him feared he might destroy it instead.

She wanted to help... she wanted so dearly, but... "I...don't know how... No one can turn back time."

"You can rebuild." She inhaled and only pressed her nose more firmly against the top of his head. "You can make a clan better than it was before. Far better than my wretched clan, that is for certain.

"And you can continue to search for answers. When this war is over... perhaps you can seek out the rest of your clan. There were those who left, correct? Before all of this."

"....rebuild.." he echoed, the option never having occurred to him. Making a better clan, one that would be -aware- of he mistakes of the past...

Was this, perhaps, the truth?

"...Madara was alone over there. Everyone else was... here..." he murmured, voice amazingly quiet.
Somehow, even if his mind was in turmoil, her body felt nice against his.

"Madara... the name from the book." She exhaled and nodded, holding him close. She didn't know how it'd happened, but somehow... she knew she would do whatever she could to help him succeed. It wasn't even about the clan for her, it was so Sasuke could succeed. More than just him as an asset to the village... but maybe then his nightmares would fade.

"Then it will be you who has that potential, no?" she murmured against his hair, bowing her head. "And I will support you in that endeavor however you will have me."

He gulped a lump, trying to steady his breathing.

Thanks to a tragedy, foretold or not, he was the sole survivor of the clan, and the one with its complete powers.

"I... won't burn everything to nothing..." He had her support, for whatever future he wished to shape...

"I know." So that was the power he had gotten at the temple, the one he had thought to destroy an entire platoon with... the black flames? But where did those stop?

"And you will show everyone here what Sasuke can make of the Uchiha clan."

"Thank you." he murmured.

He then shuddered and repeated "Thank you.", voice broken.

The tears fell then, and he held onto her.

No one... no one else ever had believed in him. No one thought he had enough promise to show anything but shame.. and then.... then she came.

In the span of three to four days, his whole life had changed.

She didn't bother to respond, only held him in close and lightly stroked her fingers through his hair. She didn't try to silence him, either. If he needed to cry, let him cry.

Was this the first time someone had believed in him...?

So she only tilted her head forward to rest her chin atop his and held him close, letting his tears stain her yukata without a second thought.

An undetermined length of time passed before he finally stilled and the tears stopped falling.
Had it been anyone else offering their help or their support, he would have scoffed, internally or externally depending on who. Her, however...

Neji Hyuuga... Had he not crossed her path, perhaps he would be in a much worse state.
He detached from her, reluctantly. He did not apologize. He had broken down and she had been there to support him. She was a pillar. Definitely. There was certainty around her, and she never hesitated in this world.

She was strong, and despite what he showed now, he was far from being weak.

"I feel... we could accomplish many great things together.." he murmured.

She contemplated not letting go for a moment, grip tightening around his shoulders before she finally let him draw back, hands falling to her lap as she tilted her head, turning to face where she knew he had to be from the sound of his voice.

"Perhaps," she agreed quietly, lips curving into a small, unintentional smile. "Fate can be difficult to discern."

He had felt that grip tighten, and equally contemplated halting his movement, but it loosened soon enough.
Too soon for his liking. When had he started liking people that clung to him?

Then again, when he was younger, he clung to his brother like glue, and his mother hardly had a break.... until that day.

He gave a light but long exhale. "Fate might have more in store for me, hm?"

"For you, or for me." She nodded and rose to her feet, using the sound of his voice to guide her fingers as she let the tips brush over his cheek. "Would you care for a glass of water, Sasuke?"

After crying... best to prevent dehydration, after all. And if she stayed sitting there, she might be tempted to try to hold him again.

It just as well might have something like magnetic attraction, how he turned slightly to follow her fingertips, and rising his own fingers to his cheek in an apparent attempt to try and emulate that sensation.
Such a light touch, too... How could it produce so much of a reaction within him?

"Ah.. yes. Water. thank you." it took him a few moments to respond.

"..as for who it may be that fate would hold more in store for, it... seems our destinies may be linked in some way, ever since we've met at the gates, that day"

Again, she wished she could see his face. Reading his voice wasn't enough without his expression... but she dismissed it, instead moving forward to run the tap until the water was cold enough to fill a glass. Everything was in its place, meaning it was simple enough for her to reach up and retrieve it before returning to him, placing the water on the table rather than stand there and hope he would take it.

Her cheeks flushed a hint of pink at his next statement, though, and she could only return to her kneeling position, face turned to hide that flush. "That may be so."

He claimed a deep breath and, as she placed the glass on the table, thanked her. She almost had no time to fully place it before he claimed it, fingertips brushing lightly against hers.
Even without sight she could maneuver perfectly around her home. He could only be amazed. Even if it was him inside that small house, he would most likely hesitate or shuffle around without his vision.

She was strong in so many ways...

"Had I been able to win against you.." he paused. "Then again, no. I would not have won, no matter my strength. Fate works in its own way..."

It was a large reason why she had insisted on returning to her home, after all. It restored a measure of independence, lessening her vulnerability if she could do simple tasks without assistance.

"You would not have been able to defeat me," she confirmed, lips curving into another smile. "Though fate had little to do with it. I simply outclassed you."

Past tense, because with the strange Chakra she had seen from the temple... she could no longer be sure.

"Ow.. my pride's hurt there, you know?" he gave a light huff. "The attention to tense is appreciated though." he chuckled.

Indeed, one might wonder just what was the extent of his power? Should that fire back then have been caused by some jutsu, it was certainly fearsome. Because of this, however, part of him was somewhat unwilling to find out the extent of those new powers he had gained.

"You have nothing to fear though. I'm on your side."

She only smiled briefly before letting it fade again, not bothering to comment further on that. Instead her attention focused on his latter statement, head tilted as if to weigh his words. A long moment as she considered the possibilities, the different meanings and undertones she could take from those words...

Then simply took them at face value and inclined her head.

"I am honored."

He gave a light chuckle. "You're the only Hyuuga I'll ever say that to.."

There was the lightest of hums as he pondered. "I was thinking, and going back to the subject of the impending threat of Shourisha, we might have a few days ahead of us depending on the speed they advance, if they have even finished gathering by now.. so your eyes might be healed by then." he gave a snicker. "Pretty sure you can outdo any of those other Hyuuga. After all, you took down a chakra beast singlehandedly."

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