#nejiweek

[chrimsonfoxdon]

Neji Week 2021 Day 4 - Alternate Ending | Growth

This arc really messed me up back in the day. Also happy Neji Hyuga Sundays

🕊☯️🍃

[yahboobeh]

NejiWeek Day 7 - Eclipse

It was a cool night. The early July heat had broken early in the day with a brief shower, a welcome reprieve after several days of sweltering humidity. It was the perfect night to lay out under the stars.

Team Gai had gathered at their training ground to watch the eclipse.

“When will it start, Gai-sensei?” asked Lee.

“Soon. You must be patient. We cannot rush nature.”

Neji watched the moon, waiting.

“Tenten!” said Gai, “Tell us all about the celestial meaning and messages for this most magical event!”

To his left, Neji heard Tenten sigh.

She was only pretending at desperation; Neji could tell. He could feel her energy vibrating and humming with excitement at the prospect of discussing the astrological aspects of the eclipse.

“Well, I’m still learning,” she admitted, “but eclipses are about change - really intense change. But some people are more sensitive to it than others. It depends on your natal chart.”

“Tenten! What does the eclipse mean for me?” asked Lee.

“Hmm. Well, Lee, this eclipse is in the sign of Capricorn, and —“

“Capricorn! That’s Gai-sensei’s sign!”

“Yes, it is.”

Neji rolled his eyes. It wasn’t that he put too much stock in the stars, but he was curious about what Tenten had to say.

“As I was saying. The last eclipse was a solar eclipse in Cancer. That was last month.”

“Last month?” Neji asked.

“I don’t remember that, Tenten,” added Lee.

“It was only visible over Suna,” said Tenten, “as I was saying, Capricorn tends to deal with matters of your career. Capricorns tend to be hard workers who are confident in their purpose and goals. Cancers tend to be very family-oriented, so, from what I’ve been reading, this eclipse will bring matters of work and family to light. Lunar eclipses also deal with conclusions, so you should look for resolution or endings instead of worrying about new situations.”

Neji frowned. Family-oriented? He was a Cancer, but… his family wasn’t exactly something he enjoyed focusing on. Tenten poked his arm, and he turned to look at her.

“Family-oriented doesn’t mean one big happy family, but it does mean your family has a large impact on your life and the decisions you make.”

Neji turned away from her and pondered his response.

“Work?!” Lee asked, “Do you think the eclipse could help with my leg?”

“It must, Lee!” Gai said.

“Then, I think I should get the surgery.”

“Wait… what?” said Tenten.

Neji looked over to Lee. Gai had sat up and was looking down at him, shining with pride and freshly shed tears.

“Lee, are you sure?” he asked, “Tsunade-sama said the chances of recovery were—“

“It doesn’t matter, Gai-sensei. Tenten said this eclipse brings about conclusions, and it is time I decided.”

“But Lee…” Tenten’s voice was quiet. “What if the conclusion is your career?”

“That’s the same conclusion if I do nothing. I want to try.”

They were quiet for a while, watching as the sun slowly slid in front of the moon. It was hard to see at first, but then the moon was no longer full.

“How long will it take, Tenten?” asked Gai.

“Maybe an hour or two?”

“And what does this even mean for my other two students?”

“Similar as with Lee, same for you too, Gai-sensei. It will bring us some family-work conclusions. Some people, like Lee, may feel it stronger than others.”

“Oh!” cried Lee, “Then surely Neji will have a very busy eclipse!”

Neji frowned.

“Why would you say that?”

“Because your birthday was just two days ago! Surely that means something!”

“The chunin exams are just a couple days away,” added Tenten. “I bet you’ll have quite the conclusion.”

“I’ll defeat Naruto and become a chunin. It’s expected.”

They fell silent again, and Tenten rolled into his vision, leaning over him.

She whispered so that only he could hear.

“But it could also be about family.” And then she was gone from his line of sight, back watching the moon.

Neji stewed on her comment as the sun crept its way across the face of the moon. If they had been alone, he might have said something sharp and unkind - something he’d regret. They hadn’t talked much about his match against Hinata. Tenten had been angry at him, and it had stung worse than Gai’s disappointment. Hiashi had been livid too and punished him accordingly. But that was expected. Tenten wasn’t supposed to get angry at him over his family; she knew too much, was too understanding. And Neji had thought they’d moved on from this topic, but she had brought it right back into focus.

The moon was a bright white crescent now, sliding through a month’s worth of phases in just over an hour.

Neji wouldn’t have minded Tenten’s anger or the ensuing fight they’d had if she didn’t have a knack for being right about these things.

The moon was visible again, full and stained red, like a sunset.

Conclusions were in the works.

--

https://www.fanfiction.net/~yahboobeh

[nejitenfanfiction]

Fate and Freedom

By scarletchidori @livvy-the-protector

Rated k

Romance and friendship

648 words and 1 chapter

“Neji is still not used to it. Still, not used to having her as a friend, as a confidant no matter how many years have passed.”

A line that hits to close to home “your freedom is not death”

[yahboobeh]

NejiWeek Day 6 - Rebirth

The first time he woke up felt surreal.

And then the pain came.

It washed over Neji in waves, lapping at the shores of his nervous system.

He could hear sounds and voices, but the language was foreign and unfamiliar. He could see, but his eyes wouldn’t focus.

That was all okay. Neji could ignore the strange sounds and blurred shadows. It was the pain that was the problem. Each ripple pulled away at his resolve until he was certain that the only way it would end would be for him to die.

He was pretty sure he’d already died anyway. Something had brought him back. Neji would have been relieved to still be alive if it hadn’t been for the pain.

He closed his eyes and felt something in his left hand. It was soft and warm and danced across his own hand, pressing into his palm and pulling his focus away from the pain. Slowly, Neji realized that it was another hand. And then he felt it in his right hand. This one wasn’t quite as soft. He could feel some callouses on the tips of fingers. This hand wasn’t as warm either. But it was familiar. He curled his fingers around the wrist and heard his name.

The pain ebbed, and Neji opened his eyes again. Slowly, things began to fall into place. He could hear Sakura yelling instructions as the warmth of her chakra sank into his torso. He could see the owner of the soft, gentle hand. It belonged to his cousin. She was crying. He gave her hand a light squeeze and turned his gaze to the right — to the familiar grip of his teammate. Tenten was crying too.

No one spoke; they just stayed together while Sakura worked, knowing that Neji had died and come back.

—

Every time Neji opened his eyes it felt like he was waking up for the first time, like he was being reborn. Even in his dream, under the heavy eyes of the infinite tsukuyomi Neji felt the strange awareness of his own life each morning.

And when he woke from that dream he felt reborn yet again.

His clean white hospital bed was a nauseating shift from the dirt and grime of the battle field. The bandages around his torso made him feel like a newborn freshly swaddled and tucked into bed.

Neji got used to the hospital eventually. But then it was time to go home. The sensation regained its strength the first morning he woke up in his own bed. And the pangs of newly realized existence hummed at the edges of his healing wounds the first time he looked in a mirror and saw his face. There was no longer a curse mark.

Of course not, he told himself, you died.

On his 19th birthday Neji felt the hum of rebirth again as Gai gathered his team around a dinner table to celebrate.

The first birthday after a brush with death was something worth celebrating.

Gai shouted his praise and raised a toast.

To Neji’s rebirth! Not even death could claim victory over you!

Then Gai cried. Lee’s tears flowed almost instantly. Neji looked over to Tenten, hoping to share her exasperation, but she was crying too. And then he felt his own tears.

Together, through tears, they joined their sensei and toasted to his rebirth.

--

https://www.fanfiction.net/~yahboobeh

[yahboobeh]

NejiWeek Day 4 - Freedom

There was something so freeing about his role in Hinata’s wedding. It was a traditional Shinto ceremony, and Hinata had asked Neji to drink from the sake bowls with them.

He’d asked her if she was sure if she’d rather have Hiashi alone or, perhaps, that Hinabi take their mother’s place, but Hinata insisted.

“You’re one of the most important people in my life, nii-san. I want you to be there with me.”

“And what about Naruto?”

“He agrees. Also, Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei will be part of the ceremony too. It’s untraditional, but—“

“I understand, and would be honored to help you, Hinata-sama.”

She’d thrown her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly with repeated thanks.

And that was how Neji ended up standing between Hinata and Hiashi, sharing bowls of sake.

Hiashi smiled down at him, and Neji felt something stir in his chest.

When the ceremony ended, and the couple had walked away, Neji felt Hiashi’s hand on his shoulder, holding him back.

“Walk with me, Neji.”

Neji nodded.

“Of course, Hiashi-sama.”

Neji had hoped to slip into the crowd and grab a drink before his team swarmed him, showering praise and crying over the ceremony.

But Hiashi led them away from the crowd, closer to the shrine, where Naruto and Hinata could be seen offering their prayers. They watched from them for a moment before Hiashi spoke.

“Neji, you have done more for this clan than any one man should.” Hiashi looked down at him. “Your father did the same.”

Neji bit the inside of his lip.

“I have been cruel over the years. Perhaps it was my grief for my brother or my own frustrations with the way our clan is set up. Neither, however, is an excuse for how I’ve treated you in the past.”

“That was a long time ago, Hiashi-sama.”

“You may forgive me, nephew, but that doesn’t mean I have forgiven myself.”

This was something that Neji had never considered. True, Hiashi had changed over the years, but Neji had never thought that his uncle still carried the burdens of his own wounds.

“My father would not have wanted you to—“

“Your father would have wanted me to do better. I know this. Every time I had to answer to the elders, he would give me that look. The one that said I should stand up for what is right, but I wouldn’t. And he was right.” Hiashi looked down at Neji, who met his gaze, not as his nephew or branch member, but as his equal. “I may be head of this clan, but I am not a true leader. I must act with the wishes of the elders.”

“I know.”

“But I have been too complacent for too long, Neji. I could have pushed more. I won’t make that mistake again.”

Neji waited for Hiashi to finish, curious about what he would say next.

“The curse mark is permanent, I can’t take it back, no matter how much I want to,” he said. “and I know it’s not the same as removing it from you, but as long as I am the head of this family, you will never again know that pain.”

Neji felt a nervous joy bubble within him. He had long suspected that his uncle had resolved to not activate his curse seal, but it was something else entirely to hear the words out loud.

“I… I don’t know what to say…” Neji bowed. “Thank you.”

“It’s not enough,” said Hiashi, “but it’s a start. I promise there will be more change. For now, consider yourself free from your duties as a branch member. Your fate is in your own hands.”

--

https://www.fanfiction.net/~yahboobeh

[cherryblossomshadow]

Inescapable

Summary: Fate was inescapable. At least, that's what Neji had believed. Naruto, Lee, Tenten, and Hinata have proved him wrong.

NejiWeek2020 Day 4 - Fate

522 words

helpful link to AO3

Fate is inescapable. He is a cloud flowing unchangeably to a fixed destination. He is a bird living in an iron cage: periodically pulled out to be shown off, but not allowed to fly. He is a genius waiting to be sacrificed. That's what he'd believed for so long. 

That’s how he reconciled his father’s sacrifice murder. That’s how he explained the iron bars that suffocated him. That’s what he’d held onto for his entire childhood. 

He had known fate to be a strong force in his world. 

But maybe some people were stronger.

The first to open his eyes to this (by beating it into him publicly) was none other than Uzumaki Naruto, the village idiot and outcast. Neji had always dismissed his cousin’s fondness for the pariah as a fleeting fancy. But if she had fallen for what Naruto had displayed in that fight, his tenacity and willpower, perhaps she wasn’t as foolish as he had thought. What a strong spirit, to overlook everything fate had told Naruto to be, and yet smile in the face of it all. 

But Naruto was far from the last person to show Neji how to overturn his fate. 

His own teammate, whom Neji had disparaged all year, smashed his fate into pieces. It was only fair, though, after the way that fate had sabotaged him in the first few minutes of his life, closing off both his chakra coils and the path to his dearest wish. Rock Lee had stared fate in the face, recognized that there was simply no road for him to become a successful ninja, and then did it anyway. He fought for his dream, he chased it, and he built a new road with his own bloodied hands. 

Neji’s other teammate, Tenten, was also thwarted by fate. It ripped away her dream of practicing medicine and following in Lady Tsunade’s footsteps. So she spat in its eye and made her own footsteps. She became her own Lady, pioneering developments in weapons and sealing fighting tactics. Fate had declared that Tenten would never be Lady Tsunade. But she proved she didn't need to be. She was her own person with her own talents. And as much as she had wanted to heal, she loved weapons and sealing so much more. 

But the one that is surprising to Neji the most is his cousin ⁠— his meek, docile cousin. Hinata doesn’t fight fate; she quietly subverts it. She has accepted her meager abilities and her demanding position and is discreetly using them against fate’s own decrees. All those years ago, she had smiled at her cousin, forgiveness in her eyes, and vowed to set him free. Soon, she will single-handedly change the fates of her entire clan with her compassion.

Neji will not be the only one that surrenders to his fate. He will look destiny in the eye, spit in its face, and tell it "you're not the boss of me." His cousin has already pledged her help to his freedom. But he won’t be simply waiting for her to deliver. He will find his own way to subvert his fate.

Somehow, a lot of my Neji fics involve lifting the curse. *shrugs*

Be the change you want to see in the world lol. 

Long Live Neji!

If you enjoyed this, please let me know what you thought!

[yahboobeh]

NejiWeek Day 3 - Lavender

Tenten smelled like lavender. That was what Neji remembered when he caught her face in the crowd just before the ceremony.

He remembered how Hinata had heard about a lavender farm in the Land of Tea; and how Tenten jumped at the idea of a trip. Since the end of the war, there had been fewer and fewer chances to leave the village, especially with half of Team Gai recovering from injuries.

The farm intrigued him, and he would have agreed to go with little persuasion. But when Hinata timidly asked if they should invite Naruto, Neji had insisted on accompanying them.

Neji wasn’t naive, he knew the complexities and intimate lines they had likely crossed since they’d started dating, but he wasn’t about to let that stop his sense of duty and protection towards his cousin. Naruto may have saved them all, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t hurt Hinata.

Whenever they flirted, Tenten would tease Neji, and call him a prude. Naruto complained very bluntly about the lack of privacy, and Hinata was her quiet, reserved self seeking to appease the two men who were most important to her.

They were pleasantly surprised to discover that the farm also doubled as an inn. But Naruto’s insistence that he share a room with Hinata had soured that quickly.

Tenten pulled him to the other room, insisting for both of them that it was not a problem.

Once the door was shut, Neji vented his frustration.

“How could you agree to that?”

“Neji, they’re 19 and have been dating for 6 months.”

“It’s inappropriate.”

“It’s their decision.”

“Hiashi-sama will—“

“Not know. Because you’re not going to tell him. Come on Neji, you know as well as I do that they’ve already—“

“Don’t say it, Tenten.”

She sighed at him.

“Such a prude.”

Neji crossed his arms.

“Forgive me for not wanting that particular image in my head.”

Tenten laughed and dropped her bag on the ground.

“Come on, let’s go check out the fields. You’re going to need a lot of lavender to help you relax tonight.”

Neji rolled his eyes but followed her out of their room.

For a few ryu, they had each been equipped with a pair of scissors and a basket. The woman behind the counter had animatedly encouraged them to cut as much as they want.

“It’s the end of the season, after all!” she’d said.

The late summer sun was hot on their backs as they crouched over the stalks of purple flowers.

“It smells so good out here!” Tenten said.

“It’s amazing,” added Hinata.

“How much should we cut? Do you or Sakura have any good recipes?”

“Sakura and Ino would both love bundles, I think. Sakura can make some tinctures to help patients in the hospital relax.”

“Ah, so cool!”

“And we can make some balms and oil!”

Neji enjoyed watching her cousin shine with confidence and excitement. Tenten was good at drawing that out of her.

“Just let us know how much to cut,” said Naruto.

The more they cut, the stronger the scent. It hung in the hot air and clung to their damp skin and clothes. Neji would later, privately, tell Tenten he had enjoyed their time out there.

She looked to be in heaven herself with a soft smile on her lips and a basket of lavender on her arm.

When they had cut their fill, they went back inside and sat down to dinner. Each item had been prepared with some part of the lavender plant. They trudged down the hall to their rooms and said goodnight, sleepy from the sun and aroma.

Tenten smelled like lavender that evening too, as they both dropped onto their shared bed, still fully clothed. It was an intoxicating mix of sun-kissed skin, the remnants of sunscreen, and lavender. She sighed content, next to him.

“I’m so relaxed,” she said.

“Mmm.”

Quiet settled between them before Tenten spoke again.

“There’s no way those two are doing it tonight,” she yawned, “If they’re half as relaxed as me, then they’re almost asleep.”

“Tenten…”

She rolled onto her side to meet his eyes and laughed.

“Such a prude, Neji. Even after all that lavender.”

He smiled at her.

“I suppose I can’t help it.”

“You’re going to need a lot of Sakura’s tincture when Hinata gets pregnant.”

Neji opened his mouth to respond but caught himself. Tenten had closed her eyes, already dozing, and the calmness that radiated off of her in waves timed to her pulse dragged him down with her into a deep sleep.

--

https://www.fanfiction.net/~yahboobeh

[yahboobeh]

NejiWeek Day 2 - Family

“You look tired.” Neji glanced over his shoulder, even though he knew Tenten’s voice better than his own. “Did Naruto keep you up all night?”

“You’re early,” he said.

She was standing on the threshold of his bedroom, watching as Neji double-checked his appearance in the mirror.

“I came to see if you needed any help before the ceremony,” Tenten entered the room and came to stand at his side, leaning up against the dresser. “Lee went to pick up Gai-sensei. They should be here to help soon.”

Neji glanced at his teammate. Freshly plucked cherry blossoms encircled both of her buns, and her yellow cheongsam was accented with a similar shade of deep pink, almost red. His eyes landed on the top of the slit, which sat at the top of her thigh. Had it been anyone else, Neji might have commented on the height of the slit.

“What do you think?” she asked. “I wasn’t sure about the color, but—“

“You look beautiful.”

As soon as the words left his lips, Neji wished he could take them back. A warm flush swept across his face. Tenten looked down, her cheeks dusted with pink.

“Thanks.”

Neji chewed his lip, unsure of what to say. He hadn’t intended to be so blunt, and, to his relief, Tenten recovered quickly and leaned towards him, smoothing out the wrinkles in his haori.

“You clean up pretty nicely yourself,” she teased.

Neji grinned and met her gaze again. He thought, briefly, that it would be easy to kiss her. Naruto’s words from the previous night rang in his head.

She practically threw herself at you in the hospital.

“Are you nervous?”

“What?” of course he was. Tenten had utterly disarmed him without so much as a senbon.

“About the ceremony. Are you nervous?”

“Oh,” he watched her fingers trace the hem of his coat. “No, not really.”

“You’ve got a pretty big role in the ceremony today,” she continued, “was babysitting Naruto really more unnerving?”

Hinata had asked Neji to stand with Hiashi, in place of her late mother, and drink from the sake cups with them. It not only united Hyuga and Uzumaki; it was a silent joining of the main and branch families. It was truly brilliant on Hinata’s part.

“I wouldn’t have called the prospect of staying with Naruto last night unnerving so much as annoying.”

Tenten snorted, dropping her hands from his chest.

“Lee made it sound like you had fun.”

“Lee makes 500 laps around the village sound fun.”

Her laugh brought a smile to Neji’s lips. He decided then that he would kiss her. Neji tilted his head a little, and she watched him with a sudden understanding. Her eyes flashed with nervous excitement. And then—

“Neji!!!”

His head snapped towards the door just as Lee and Gai slid around the corner and into his room.

“There you are!” Lee bounced on the balls of his feet from behind their sensei and pushed the wheelchair further into the room.

“Look at you two!” said Gai, “Two shining examples of youth and beauty!”

“Gai-sensei…” Tenten blushed again. “You don’t have to over-exaggerate.”

“But he’s right, Tenten,” added Lee, “you look beautiful! And Neji, my handsome rival! Hinata-san is so very lucky to have you by her side today!”

Neji shifted, uncomfortable.

“Anything else, Lee?”

“Yes! I am so jealous that you will be able to call Naruto-kun family!”

Neji sighed.

“Well, Lee,” interjected Tenten, “if Team Gai is a family and Naruto is going to be Neji’s cousin-in-law, then you could technically call him family.”

Lee’s face lit up at the prospect.

“Yes!” agreed Gai, “Lee, our little family grows every day!”

Neji interrupted before the tears began.

“We should go and see if Hiashi-sama needs any assistance.”

“Yes! Perhaps Naruto-kun will need assistance too!”

Lee spun Gai around and flew out of the room. Neji gestured towards the door for Tenten to follow them. She waited for him by the door, looking over her shoulder with a smile.

“I’m glad you’re here for this.”

Neji nodded and joined her on their walk down the hall.

“Me too.”

--

https://www.fanfiction.net/~yahboobeh