It was dark everywhere, yet it felt so relaxing and calming; it was so peaceful. I've been fighting for so long, in this life and the last.
Why not just let go and stop fighting?
"Hinoka!" I heard a mix of male and female voices scream out.
What reason do I have to keep fighting?
"Hinoka!"
I slowly opened my eyes, my vision still blurry, as a figure stood there. "Big brother?" I mumbled.
That's right, Hanabi and Hinata, I have to watch out for them the same way Big Bro watched out for me.
My vision cleared up as I saw Neji.
I have to change the Hyuga clan so the pain Neji has gone through won't happen to anyone else ever again. So he'll be able to live in the clan happily. I have to live.
I abruptly started coughing as Neji turned me onto my side, and I coughed up water. He had this relieved expression on his face but still looked slightly worried.
His clothes were drenched in water.
He was the last thing I saw before losing consciousness.
"Hinoka!"
I woke up in the inn room I had been staying in back in the small village. I had slept for a whole day, only to wake up in the middle of the night.
The doctor had said I would be fine, my wounds were healing well, and I could go back to Konoha whenever I was ready, but I would have to rest a lot before going on any other missions.
I sat in bed staring out the window and at the night sky that was filled with billions of stars.
There was a knock on the door, and I told them to come in.
Neji walked in as he sat down on a chair next to the bed.
There was an awkward silence before I finally spoke up, saying, "Seems we successfully completed this mission," with a smile on my face.
His calm expression soon turned to anger as he exclaimed, "Why did you save me?!"
"Huh? I told you already, didn't I? I mean, even if I didn't, it's pretty obvious, isn't it? It's because we're family, and I've always and will always protect my family."
"Family?! I'm a member of the side branch, and you are a member of the main branch. Since I was a mere toddler, I've been told my destiny is to protect you even if it means losing my own life; that is the length of our relationship!"
"And yet you tried to kill Hinata. You hated your destiny, you hated the main house."
I couldn't help laughing, but it soon turned to coughing as I managed to continue, "You've changed since the chunin exams; you don't hate us anymore, or at least not as much as you used to, do you? Or you wouldn't have dove into the water to save me, someone you hate so much."
He just stared at me, not saying a single word, his fist clenched in anger.
I began staring at the night sky once again. "Hey, Neji?"
"Yes?"
"The sky is beautiful, don't you think?"
"... We should head back to the village as soon as possible, preferably tomorrow or the day after," he replied, standing up to leave.
"So serious…" I mumbled before saying, "You know I have a dream of a better clan, a stronger Hyuga clan, one that isn't stuck in the past, one where children can be happy. Where they don't have to live a life of torment or a life where they're controlled by seals and treated as though their life is worth nothing. Let's build that world, Neji."
Neji froze as he turned back around and looked at me, confused and surprised.
"I don't know where to start, but with you on my side, I feel like I'll be able to do it. So let's change the clan together," I looked back out the window and at the night sky, "and when we succeed, let's sit under the stars and eat something."
"You want me to help you change the clan?"
"Yeah, I couldn't think of a better partner. I mean, how can I, a member of the main house, pretend to understand the suffering the side branch has gone through as I try to convince the minds of people in our clan to change our ways?"
I smiled as I said, "We should be equal, even if the two sides of the clan have different roles; that doesn't mean one's life should have less value than another. The side branch shouldn't have to suffer so much just because of some outdated traditions. So what do you say? Partners?"
Neji stared at me as he asked, "Are you saying in this… dream clan of yours, others won't have to bear this cursed mark?"
"No, they most likely will."
"What do you mean?!" He replied, and I could tell he was trying his best to keep his emotions under wraps, but he was getting angry and was either going to pick a fight or leave.
"While they had a lot of things wrong, our ancestors did have the right idea with this. But it won't just be the side branch; it would most likely be the two sides of the clan. Its only use would be sealing the Byakugan after the death of a member. No one will be able to control you by activating a seal or anything, plus the design will most likely change to something prettier."
Neji stared at me, thinking for a moment, before asking, "You truly believe the clan would accept such a change? You would oppose the elders?"
"I've been opposing those old farts for years; this would just be taking it to a higher level. And whether the clan accepts these changes or not is up to them; I just want to show them that there is another path, a better one, and if they want to take that path, I'll fight for them. I'll go up against all the elders in the clan, against my father, if it means I can give the future generation of the clan a better future."
Neji looked at me, not saying a single word, but before I cracked a joke or something to fill the silence, he spoke up, saying, "I will help you if it means others do not have to suffer the same fate I did; maybe I truly can change my destiny."
I couldn't help grinning from ear to ear.
It was going to be a lot of work, but with Neji on my side, it seemed a little more plausible.
We would change the Hyuga clan no matter what.