1st Tenketsu

[twinlionfists]

[Action: Somewhere in the village - Sakura Only]

[Taken from the battlefield, Hinata let out a gasp before she found herself waking up on the ground. She slowly stood, taking in the fact that she was wearing clothing that was decidedly not her uniform from the war. In fact, her arms and legs were sticking out of the flimsy white dress, making her feel extremely under-dressed.

As she turned around, she saw a flash of purple that seemed to remind her a little of the jacket from her normal outfit. She reached out to grab at the colorful thing and brought back a handful of lavender feathers. Suddenly, she was overcome with nausea and lightheadedness before she passed out, never noticing the familiar face of her pink-haired comrade from Konoha as the blackness took over her again.]


[Video: For others, Two days later]

[Have a very confused looking hime-type, Luceti. Complete with the self-conscious blush.] E-excuse me. M-my name is Hyuuga Hinata. I have just arrived here to this village. [The camera shifts to point out her lavender wings.] If they serve no practical usage, why are they there? And am I the only one who discovered a brand on the back of their neck? They seem rather obvious.

Comments

[weaponry]

And what does this have to do with Nej.... [ And then it hits her, like a tidal wave. At first, she feels swept by emotion. There's part of her that wants to wail and cry, but that feeling is fleeting. She eventually simmers down into a numb type of state and just looks blankly ahead. ]

But how? [ Her voice eliminates itself into a tiny, hoarse whisper. ]

[twinlionfists]

N-Naruto-kun was about to be impaled by the Juubi... [Hinata's voice is cracking with every word, but she presses on and refuses to cry, despite the stinging in her eyes and the tightness of her throat.] A-and I jumped in the way to keep him safe... Neji-niisan saved both of us...

[weaponry]

[ So Neji sacrificed his life to protect the main branch? In some ways, Tenten's taken aback by this. A small smile starts to form on her face. There's a sense of serenity that comes with a closure, although, it won't last for long. He died against the Juubi. There's no shame in that. ]

So, he went out like a hero in every way.

[twinlionfists]

[Hinata is finding it impossible to look at the other girl. It is too difficult for her to face someone else who cared about Neji a great deal when she was the one responsible for the end of his life.]

Y-yes. He...he said that he understood why his father died the way he did finally. [She balls her hands into fists, nails digging into her palms and possibly drawing blood, but that's what she needs to keep from crying, from being weak in front of the other girl.]

[weaponry]

[ Tenten looks up with a determination that hasn't been demonstrated from the Kunoichi. The determination is almost on the level of Tsunade. ]

Don't take it personally. It wasn't your fault. He was dedicated to the clan now, and you couldn't change that. He would have done the same, even if you didn't jump in the way. Naruto changed his life. He changed all of our lives. He's the key to winning the war, and he should be protected. Blaming yourself is insulting to Neji's legacy.

[twinlionfists]

[What Tenten says is like a slap to the face. Of course Neji would want to protect Naruto—the one shinobi who could actually save the rest of them from dying in a pointless war. And he'd all but out-right stated that in the end Hinata would be the leader of the clan. The clan that they both loved and wanted to make better.

Neji chose his death and it was a meaningful one at that. One that any shinobi would be proud of having. Her actions and thoughts about how it should have been her were an insult to her cousin and the way he lived his life.

It takes a moment, and her face is very flushed from embarrassment, but she manages to look up at Tenten. Her hands have loosened from the death grip.]

Y-yes, you are right, Tenten-san.

[Her voice was still tight with unshed tears, but the look in her eyes is just a tiny bit more hopeful.]

I-I do not know what the others here know, but I did not see a reason to keep the news from you as well.

[weaponry]

[ Tenten has a PhD for verbal slaps to the face. Sometimes they're needed, sometimes they're hot headed but she's glad to see Hinata's shaping up from her talk. ]

I think they were just busy or hesitating to tell me. It's kinda difficult to tell someone that not now, but in the future, your best friend dies a bloody death. [ She takes a gritted breath out. ]