Chapter Eighteen: Hinata's Contempt

It was finally the day of the Chunin Exam finals, and Konoha was as busy as it could be. Stalls were set up everywhere, people promoted their businesses, and the streets bustling with crowds. Locals and visitors alike swarmed the Hidden Leaf Village, eager to witness one of the few public events where ninja displayed their jutsu without the risk of danger.

The Konohagakure Arena, built specifically for such events, was already packed long before the official start time. Hiruzen Sarutobi made his way to the Kage box at a calm, unhurried pace. Today was going to be a long day—far too long for an old man like him.

"Kami-sama, ancestors, and souls of the previous Hokage… whoever is listening…" he prayed quietly, pausing just outside the box reserved for village leaders.

"Please, don't let the Will of Fire be extinguished today. Guide me and my people through this dark hour. Help us in our time of need. Protect the younger generations from the hatred and mistakes of old fools like me."

Moments later, the Kazekage arrived, flanked by his bodyguards.

"Good to see you, Kazekage-dono. I hope your journey was safe and swift," the older Kage greeted.

"Yes, it wasn't too difficult for me. You're lucky the exams are being hosted in your village this time. You're getting too old to travel, Hokage-dono..." the veiled man replied with a subtle smirk.

"Bah, even if I wanted to retire, there's no one ready to take my place… So I'll be wearing that damned hat for at least another five years," Sarutobi sighed in defeat.

"And besides, I'm not that old."

"Bwajajajaja!" A booming voice filled the chamber as the Raikage entered with heavy footsteps. "You've got spunk for a geezer! I respect that!" he grinned, offering the Hokage a firm handshake.

"Raikage-dono, I wasn't expecting your presence. As far as I know, Kumogakure isn't exactly on friendly terms with Konoha..." the Kazekage said dryly.

"Good. That gorilla will be eager to help me deal with Konoha… assss long assss I let him take sssssome prissssioners…" he thought to himself.

The imposing, dark-skinned Kage snorted. "Miss the chance to see my cute Genin humiliate the competition? No way. Besides, it's the perfect chance to test out the new training program my brother pestered me into starting. It's a kind of early apprenticeship system—before the Genin even leave the academy—where willing Jōnin take them under their wing. Only Team B qualified to come this far… Lucky you, I guess. I have high hopes for them."

"Then I look forward to their performance. If they're as good as you claim, they might inspire others to train harder," Sarutobi replied with a small smile.

"That's what I'm counting on. That's why they call you 'The Professor,' huh?" the Raikage grinned again.

"On another note—can my assistant, Karui-chan, go to the participants' box like the other Genin?"

"Of course. Cat!" The ANBU with the cat mask appeared silently behind the Hokage.

"Please escort young Karui-san to the participants' box." The masked ANBU nodded and motioned for Karui to follow.

In the corridor leading to the participants' box:

"Yo team! How we doin'? Ready to kick some ass?" Karui called out as she approached Team B, who were about to enter.

Naruko was about to respond when Cat stepped forward. Bowing slightly, the ANBU said:

"Thank you. ANBU regulations don't allow me to say or do more… but thank you for saving Hayate." Then, in a swirl of leaves, Cat vanished.

Flashback

Bee had just found Hayate locked in battle with the Suna Jōnin, Baki. He was about to intervene when Baki's wind blade pierced clean through Hayate's chest. The Suna ninja fled immediately afterward.

"Oh man, oh man! Stay with me, yo!" Bee shouted, opening the downed man's clothes to examine the wound.

"Oh shit! His lung's gotta be damaged! What to do... what to do..."

"Bee! Use the Ecstasy Seal Naruko designed!"

"I don't know how to draw that, Eight-o!"

"But I can contact Kurama—she'll send us the steps, fool!"

Bee comically smacked one hand into the other. "Alright, let's do this."

"Ninja Art: Bijū Ink Sealing—Ecstasy Seal!" Bee spat out a fist-sized glob of ink, then slammed it with his palm onto a scroll. In a puff of smoke, Hayate's body vanished, replaced by strange glowing script on the parchment.

"Tell Naruko to alert the Hokage and summon the best medics in the village. We're rushing to the Sarutobi estate!" the Hachibi growled, already relaying the message to his sister.

As soon as Bee entered the Sarutobi compound, he found Hinata—still in her pajamas—wearing a grave expression.

"Quick! Bring him to the dojo!" she ordered without hesitation.

"Haku, you're going to use that jutsu. It's his only chance to survive, so don't worry about failing. If you don't try, he's dead," she commanded firmly.

"I've only ever tried on small animals… N-sama, please provide me with additional chakra," said Haku, kneeling in position.

Naruko knelt behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder, applying the chakra transfer seal.

The Hokage watched in amazement as Bee unsealed the critically wounded shinobi. Meanwhile, Haku performed an extensive series of hand seals.

"Ninja Art: Cryogenesis Decree," he whispered.

A thick white mist spilled from his right sleeve, enveloping Hayate's body. Then, with the chilling crackle of rapidly forming ice, a clear crystalline coffin solidified around the injured man, preserving him within.

Just as the seal was complete, the Hokage's personal medical team arrived. Hinata turned and addressed them with intense focus:

"This man has a full perforation from chest to back caused by a wind jutsu. Clean cut. You are to reattach the muscle tissue, mend the bones, reconnect all major veins and arteries, and repair his left lung. You'll be operating dangerously close to the heart, so proceed with extreme caution.

Haku-san will maintain his ice jutsu to preserve the body's viability until your work is complete. I'll guide you using my Byakugan. Should you ignore my instructions, frostbite will compromise the tissue. Ready when you are."

She activated her Byakugan and unfurled an Eye Memory Seal scroll, ready to relay precise anatomical data.

As Hinata barked orders and coordinated the operation, Bee leaned toward the Hokage with a grin.

"Impressive, ain't she? And yet her clan called her useless. She's strong, smart, and kind. I promised to introduce her to our head med-nin once she hits Chūnin, but she started studying anatomy just to improve her taijutsu style and learn med-ninjutsu.

I swear, I'd trust her civilian methods over most civilian medics. Her cousin—and the rest of her clan—ain't ready for the wake-up call she's about to deliver in that arena."

Back in the arena...

All the Genin had assembled—except Sasuke—when Genma Shiranui raised his hand to silence the stadium.

"Welcome, everyone, to the finals of the Genin Exams! This year we've got some promising Chūnin candidates from Otogakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and of course, Konohagakure. Let's hear it for these rising stars!" the Hokage's voice boomed through the arena, amplified by chakra.

Thunderous applause followed as the crowd cheered.

The old Hokage nodded to the proctor and sat down.

"Alright… let's get started. All participants except Neji Hyuga and H. Uzumaki, return to the waiting area," Genma announced.

As the other Genin cleared the arena, Genma enhanced his voice with chakra again.

"Let's begin the first match of the day. Neji Hyuga of Konohagakure versus H. Uzumaki of Kumogakure."

The mention of the Uzumaki name stirred murmurs from the Konoha clan stands.

"Both ready?" Genma asked. They both nodded.

"Hajime!"

Neji began pacing toward Hinata, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Fate has deemed me worthy to punish you, traitor. I knew who you were from the moment I saw you. The Hyuga Council confirmed it. You're a disgrace! How dare you show your face here? How dare you wear that headband?! You're the biggest shame our clan has ever known! But don't worry... I'll erase you—for the honor of our clan… and for my father!"

Hinata sighed and dropped her Perfect Henge. Her real form emerged, standing proud and strong. She wore a short-sleeved black kimono jacket and tight black shinobi pants. Her arms were covered in mesh from her gloves to her elbows, where the kimono sleeves began. Her hitai-ate was tied as a belt. Black sandals. Raven-blue hair fell to her mid-back. Lavender Byakugan eyes glowed with restrained fury.

She radiated nobility as she glared at her long-lost cousin.

"I don't know you, puppet—and you don't know me either. I'm not the girl your elders warned you about. And you… you're not the child of the man I called uncle. You don't deserve to call him 'Father,'" Hinata said coldly.

"HOW DARE YOU! YOU TRAITOR! KNOW THIS, HINATA HYUGA—" Neji raged. "I'LL KILL YOU! NOT BECAUSE THE ELDERS TOLD ME TO—BUT BECAUSE YOU DON'T DESERVE THE AIR YOU BREATHE!"

He composed himself, sneering.

"You, once the princess of the Hyuga clan, will die like a stray dog. And no main branch member will save you after what you did."

Hinata's eyes narrowed.

"Sorry... but Hinata of the Hyuga is already dead. I am Hinata of the Uzumaki. I'm not the betrayer—I'm the betrayed."

Her Byakugan flared, and with it, all her buried pain surged toward the opponent she was about to destroy.

In the stands...

Luckily for the Hyuga Elders, the noise of the crowd drowned out the heated words exchanged in the arena. Otherwise, the drama unfolding would have caused a scandal.

Hiashi Hyuga sat quietly, observing.

"Watch carefully, Hanabi. This is the pride and power of our clan. Not our money. Not our politics. Our sheer might."

Hanabi narrowed her eyes.

"Don't worry, Father… I'm watching. I'll see how the sister our clan took from me—the so-called failure—beats Neji into the dirt."

Kage Box

"That's my girl. Chunin for sure!" roared a proud Raikage, cheering for his team.

"Impressive…" murmured the disguised Sannin. "Maybe I should mark this one too."

"Well, your elite Genin project clearly shows promise. That was quite a show. And yes, I agree—she's definitely Chunin material. Tell me, what were those techniques she was using?" asked the old Hokage.

"Oh, that?" A chuckled. "Jejejeje. That's young H-chan's Way of the Water—her own original water-based Nin-Taijutsu. Lethal and graceful. She combines her mother's Juho—the Gentle Fist adapted for water-natured chakra users—with the principles behind my Nin-Taijutsu and dance. A deadly cocktail that punishes both the body and the chakra network. She's a nightmare in close quarters, and she can hold her own at mid and long range too."

A was swelling with pride with every word.

Infirmary

While the crowd cheered, despaired, or simply admired the results of the match, Hiashi of the Hyuga quietly left his seat and made his way to the infirmary to check on his nephew. He had to know who that girl was—and he needed to begin mending the long-broken bond with the little family he had left.

"Hyuga-sama! The patient needs to rest. Please, I must ask you to leave," said the nurse, but stopped as the Hyuga Clan Head raised a hand.

"I know… don't worry. I just want to check on my nephew—and congratulate him. Even if he lost, he's proven himself far more capable than most give him credit for."

It wasn't common for a main-branch Hyuga—especially the Clan Head—to praise the defeated. Taking advantage of the nurse's stunned silence, Hiashi stepped into the room where Neji was resting.

"Hiashi-sama!" Neji tried to rise, but Hiashi placed a firm hand on his chest, gently keeping him down.

"Rest, Neji. You took quite a beating. But I'm proud of you. Even in defeat, you displayed real talent and skill."

Hiashi was about to say more when Neji, voice heavy with shame, interrupted him.

"I… she was toying with me. She called me a puppet… and she was right. I'm nothing but a puppet—and a coward. I've been so wrong."

Tears rolled down Neji's cheeks. The sight pained Hiashi more than he expected. Father and son… so alike.

"I need to know, Neji. Who is she?"

"...So it's true," Neji muttered. "Everything she said was true—if they didn't tell you who she is."

He retrieved a small note from his ninja pouch. Written in elegant calligraphy, it was clearly meant for both of them.

Neji, I am sure the Clan Head will ask you about me. Tell him that I was betrayed by the clan, and that he need not act. Those who wronged me will face consequences, but the rest of the Hyuga have nothing to fear. The Hokage knows who I am and what happened to me. I ask you to trust me and be patient. The truth will not remain hidden—not from those with the white eyes.

"She… she's Hinata. And the Elders… they asked me to kill her," Neji confessed, fresh tears falling.

"She told me to ask them some things. Can you forgive me, Hiashi-sama? I was so blind… so full of rage…"

"Yes… and when we're alone, please… call me Uncle," replied the stoic leader. But inside, he was a storm of emotions.

"Please… tell me why they fear Hinata. Tell me about her mother's style… and about my father's letter… Uncle," the boy pleaded.

"Neji… I see now that I should have done this years ago. Forgive me for being such a fool."

Hiashi sighed, then began to recount the final days of his beloved brother.

I'll be releasing a few more chapters today. I hope you enjoy!