Shadows of the Past

The morning after his visit with Haishi Raven sent out the letters and waited patiently for the replies. He knew that the recipients would wish to speak with Hinata’s father about the letters they received and that only after they confirmed that he had given his permission for the courtship to continue would they write their answers to his questions.

Later that afternoon Raven was practicing with his older brother in the dojo when he received an unexpected visitor. Calling for a break from their match Raven and Koga looked at the young shinobi that had entered their clan’s dojo.

Two sets of dark eyes met a single set of opal eyes as Neji stared unflinchingly at the brothers. Raven turned back to his eldest sibling and bowed. “Koga would you please excuse us,” he said to the ANBU Captain. “Neji-san and I have something we need to discuss.”

==============================

Fear is an emotion that Neji has only experienced a few times in his young life and it is that exact emotion that he feels as the ANBU sizes him up before turning to his younger brother. “We’ll continue this when I return,” the man says looking back at Neji one last time before walking out the door on the other side of the room.

Raven walks over to a nearby bench to retrieve a towel as he addresses the Hyuga. “I see that you have chosen to deliver your reply in person,” Raven says as he begins to wipe the sweat from his forehead before turning back to look at Neji. “What did you want to tell me?”

It takes only an instant for the young Hyuga to regain his senses as the anger that led him here returns. “Stay away from Hinata” he commands. “You aren’t worthy of her time or her affections so stop this nonsense and leave her be.”

Raven looks at the Chunin as he fights back the sudden urge to rip the other teen’s arms off and beat him to death with them. “Tell me something Neji-san,” he says sitting down on the bench behind him. “Why do you feel I don’t deserve to be with Hinata-chan?”

“You’re a Hiroku,” Neji replies automatically. “You’re clan has no honor,” he continues. “You proved that yourself during the Chunin Selection Exams. You humiliated Hinata-sama in front of the entire village and then have the nerve to court her.”

Raven sighs as his anger leaves as suddenly as it had arisen. “I see,” he says looking into Neji’s eyes. “Your reasons for not wanting me with Hinata stem from the bad blood between our clans. You think that just because I followed my father’s orders, orders that I admit were born of the same bad blood, that I have no honor.”

Raven stands up and walks toward the center of the dojo and bows to Neji. “I thank you for your honesty but I will not allow such an insult to my integrity go unchallenged. He assumes his defensive stance as he beckons the other boy to attack.

“Show me the strength of your conviction Neji-san,” he says. “If you are able to beat me, I will call off the ritual and never see Hinata again. If I beat you, you will give me your consent to continue to court your cousin.”

==============================

The intensity of the match draws the attention of nearly half the Hiroku clan and they soon come to watch the two prodigies. Nearly ten minutes into the match the two combatants abandon the cramped dojo for the more spacious courtyard.

“You’re pretty good Neji-san,” Raven confesses to his opponent. “I haven’t had to work this hard in a spar since I began training with Koga.”

As Neji tries to deliver a blow to Raven’s chest, the Jounin forces the hand to the side as he turns and counters with a chakra laced elbow to Neji’s sternum forcing the Chunin several steps back.

Raven stops suddenly as Neji's kicks up a cloud of dust as the Chunin vanishes. Turning quickly he stops the palm that had almost connected with head and jumps back as Neji rushes forward. They trade blows and Neji ducks below a punch, his own connecting solidly with Raven’s side. Neji side steps quickly and manages to dig his elbow into Raven’s back. Panting Raven crouches and swings his leg out. Barely fast enough to avoid having his legs knocked out from under him, Neji stumbles back.

Seizing the opening Raven launches into a series chakra laced palm thrusts, elbows and backhands to Neji’s chest and face that leaves the Hyuga reeling from the assault. As Raven draws in for another attack Neji calls upon his Eight Trigrams Divine Whirl but is a second too late to avoid the chakra laced shoulder that connects with his stomach forcing the air out of his lungs.

As Neji falls back onto his ass Raven falls to his knees in front of him. Both Shinobi are panting as they look into each other’s eyes. Slowly Raven rises to his feet and offers Neji his hand. “Good fight,” he tells the still sitting boy.

Neji nods as he accepts the hand and the assistance in standing up. “Hai it was,” he acknowledges grudgingly. “I apologize for my earlier comments.” It is hard for Neji to admit that he was wrong but throughout their entire match Raven had fought honorably and earned Neji’s respect.

Koga returns and smiles at the two teens. "You both look like hell," he tells them. throwing a towel to each of them he asks. "So have you worked everything out or do I have to knock some sense into the both of you?"

Raven and Neji both laugh as they wipe the blood and sweat from their faces. "No I think we've come to an understanding," Raven tells his older brother as Neji nods his head in agreement.

==============================

A few minutes later they are back in the dojo, having escaped the crowd of onlookers so that they could now speak in relative privacy. “About what I said earlier,” Neji begins looking ashamed of himself.

“Did you ever have the chance to speak with the Third before he died?“ Raven asks interrupting him. As Neji shakes his head sadly he continues. “During my first year as a Genin I had the opportunity to talk with him a few times. He was the one that told me about what happened to my mother and how the Hyugas had tried to save her.

“He also told me about the Will of Fire and how a shinobi’s greatest strength came from protecting those most precious to him.” Raven looks down at the floor as he remembers when it was he first experienced that strength. “I never really understood what he had meant until I saw Hinata trapped in that Water Prison. It was in that moment that I finally understood
what the Will of Fire truly was.” He takes a breath as he looks up and into Neji’s eyes.

“I had used up nearly all of my chakra during my fight with the other two Mist-nins and had nothing left,” he admits. “But seeing her trapped like that gave me a feeling of power I never knew existed before. It was also in that moment that I finally understood just how precious she truly was to me.

“I knew then that I would do anything to protect her, even if it means my dying to keep her safe. That was part of the reason I suggested her becoming an Academy instructor. I know it was selfish but I truly felt she would be better off as a teacher then continuing to carry out missions.”

“Neji nods as he considers Raven’s words and the emotions behind them.After several long moments he finally speaks. “I see now just how much you care about her and I know how much you mean to her. I can not, with a clear conscience, stand in the way of your relationship any longer.”

He walks over to raven and offers him his hand. “You have my consent to court my cousin,” he tells the Jounin. “I know that you’ll make her happy.” Raven shakes Neji’s hand with a smile of true friendship

==============================

A/N: I wish to theank Naruto Tops for the help she provided with this chapter. Her suggestions and ideas really helped to flesh out the fight scene as well as the transition to Raven and Neji's heart to heart. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please remember to R&R.