Neji's POV (Team Nine's Training Ground - Hidden Leaf Village)
"Okay, okay," Kakashi replied with raised hands as Ino, Kurenai, and Neji glared a hole through the man. "The next question is easier. Do you hate Neji?"
"I care little for what he thinks," Neji replied stiffly. He was certain the blonde resented him deeply; it was only fair after the treatment Neji had given him. But it was necessary; it was only the hatred of the Main House that made him strong.
"I thought this was supposed to help." Ino pointed out.
"Certainly entertains," Yuno added.
"Naruto, just answer," Kurenai ordered much to Neji's amusement.
"No. I think the guy is an asshole and really needs to gain some humility. But from what I've heard and researched, it's not for just any reason. The idea of half a clan being treated as servants and hired help sounds much more like slavery than a tradition worth keeping to me. Maybe that's why, despite his behavior, I find myself kinda respecting him." Naruto explained. "Still plan on kicking his ass, however, in our secret spar."
There was another pause as everyone's eyes fell on the two of them. But Neji simply sighed as he stood up and marched calmly over to the blonde. He tapped his finger on the seal, compelling him to tell the truth too; his intent was obvious.
"Yes, Naruto and I had planned an intense spar after this training exercise. I recognize Kakashi that this seems less than ideal considering your warning of us working together, but I believe it will be the very thing that allows Naruto and me to "be on the same page", sort of speak." Neji explained that the seal was not reacting to his words. "I do plan on brutally defeating Naruto, but not out of malice but genuine effort to humble him, much as I imagine he feels the same. Naruto, if, like me, you think this is for the best, speak now."
"I really do think it's the only way." Naruto agreed with a nod, locking eyes with Kakashi and Kurenai. "It's like he said we don't wanna hurt each other, but we have a lot we wanna prove to each other. This fight will allow us to get that out of the way, and maybe even respect each other more."
"This seems like a bad idea." Shino disagreed.
"Beating the tar out of each other does seem like a bad way to foster teamwork." Yuno agreed.
"You don't understand it, but Neji and I are proud fighters. We enjoy pushing ourselves and facing a real challenge. For guys like us, a fight can be the best way to communicate. To allow our actions and the spirit behind them to do the talking, our words fail to do…" Naruto explained further.
"Kakashi!" Ino interjected, but Kakashi subtly shook his head.
"No, they're right, it's best we address this here and now… Kurenai, I know this wasn't the plan, but-"
"This isn't all that different from you and Obito back in the day," Kurenai said with an amused smirk. "You two would be at each other's throats, beat the tar out of each other, and then somehow be the best of friends. Maybe it's a male thing."
"We resent that," Shino said, and Choji nodded along behind him.
But Neji and Naruto ignored them all as they locked eyes. Neji tried to communicate his message through his gaze, but Naruto's bright blue eyes were hard to read, and showed no give within the man.
"So," Kakashi announced as he landed between them. The rest of the group ran off to the edge of the training ground as Neji and Naruto stared each other down mere inches away. "I guess we're doing this. This will be a sanctioned spar, as this is so incredibly personal, I will allow some leeway, but will be ending this spar before someone gets hurt. Let's try to keep from maiming each other, okay~!"
Naruto and Neji both nodded. Both focused entirely on each other…
Naruto's POV (Team Nine's Training Ground - Hidden Leaf Village)
Naruto could feel the tension fill the air around him. Neji's dull and cold eyes met his own, and Naruto wasn't surprised to see he was confident. As Naruto dropped into a stance, one hand toward Riptide on his back, and the other cautiously in front of him. Neji merely smiled, standing casually.
"The hell?" Naruto asked with a raised brow. "If you want to do this, let's get it over already."
"There's no need for me to be tense, nor even cautious. Someone like you, Naruto Uzumaki, could never beat me…" Neji replied calmly. Naruto growled, his hand twitching towards Riptide, but Naruto stopped himself as he dropped lower, prepared to charge. "Ah, cute, you intended to not use your blade against me. But that would be a dire mistake, you'll need every advantage you can get for this…"
"There it is again!" Naruto roared, refusing to draw his blade against his own comrade. "You go around treating everyone like dirt, like you're better than me, but you know nothing about me…"
"I know more than enough Uzumaki," Neji replied evenly. "A consistent slacker in academics, a clumsy, slow learner with practical skills. You're the kind of man who gets by on little more than guts and luck. But those two things are limited, they'll never be enough to change what you are…"
Naruto nearly charged the man, but over the years, he had dealt with this before. People within the Leaf sometimes simply didn't like him outright. That came with the advantage of learning how to deal with someone who irrationally hates you. Casual indifference!
"That's big talk coming from you. You talk about fate, order, and reality. But they are nothing more than excuses for you, something to pin your hatred on. But the truth of the matter is you're the one to blame!" Naruto countered passionately. "Maybe get off your ass instead of-"
Naruto would've loved to finish, but flinched as Neji blurred forward. Naruto attempted to raise his guard, but Neji blitzed past it, slugging Naruto directly in the face. The blonde was stunned as the blow sent him reeling back, nearly falling flat on his ass. Naruto spat out a wad of blood and offered Neji a wild smile. The guy packed some strength under that frame. Naruto took the lead this time, leaping forward as he threw two kunai at Neji. It was meant to buy time as Naruto closed the distance, but Neji caught the first one and deflected the second, slashing with a kunai as Naruto came close. Naruto abandoned his charge, backing up to block the attack, before tackling Neji to the ground.
Naruto smiled as he managed to drag Neji to the ground. While it was simple and indeed not pretty, it worked like a charm. Naruto straddled him in an instant before unleashing a punch, two, the third was stopped as Neji showed impressive flexibility, hooking his legs in Naruto's arms and flinging him back with ease.
Naruto hauled himself back to his feet as soon as he hit the ground. Only to be perfectly placed to eat a roundhouse to the head. Naruto stumbled back, and Neji followed up with a palm to his gut and a slap to the face. Naruto grit his teeth, throwing a wild haymaker to stop the assault, but Neji caught the arm and wrenched it to the side, slamming an elbow into it as he did. Naruto howled in pain and kicked him away.
However, it only bought him a moment as Neji blurred forward again, jabbing him in the nose. Naruto flinched from the blow, taking a right hook to his face, and a poke on his leg that made his leg collapse. As Naruto was kneeling, Neji mercilessly kneed him in the face, sending him skidding back.
"It's ironic hearing you mention reality," Neji said, charging forward again. Naruto ducked a punch, but his return blow was caught; the Hyuga tripped him with ease as he continued. "You yourself are blind to it. You are not a true shinobi, you were a chronic failure during the Academy, a social outcast to much of the populace, and you dare mention reality?"
"That might be true!" Naruto howled as he caught Neji's attempted stomp and flung him back with pure strength. Naruto rolled forward and grabbed Neji's legs and ripped them from the ground. Using his absurd strength, he lifted the man by his legs and spun him with his power. Naruto twirled three times before hurling Neji across the field with a heave. "But that doesn't mean anything! Maybe I'm not in the best position now, but I'll fight like hell not to stay there!"
Neji skillfully twirled through the air, somehow landing on his feet with a skid and a smirk. "Ah, yes, that blind optimism of yours. You may be a loser here and now, but you intend to be more… you'll try your best and through your efforts achieve more… I've heard it all before. Those words I once said, words another even wiser than had taught me."
Naruto launched on the offensive now. Neji deftly dodged Naruto's flying kick, follow-up spinning backfist, and his flashy flip kick. Tripping him one again and kicking Naruto away with contemptuous ease. Naruto barely felt the blows, more of the embarrassment of the moment as he rolled to his feet. "If you know the feeling-"
"It's because, like you said, Naruto Uzumaki, this is about me more than you," Neji said with a scowl. "I find you iterating, foolish, and foolhardy. But that's not why I oppose you so openly. It comes from a place of caring."
"You have a damn funny way of showing you care!"
"It's because what I'm doing is necessary, Naruto," Neji replied evenly. "There was a time, like you, I thought I had a choice in life. I thought our circumstances and position in the world were nothing more than variables. That with time and dedication, one could overcome them."
"What changed Neji…" Naruto asked with a frown. What Neji was saying spoke to him on a deep level; he had nearly thought those exact same words on the occasion. "What made you into this…"
"You know of the way of the Hyuga, do you not?"
"Some of you are forced to be… servants to the others," Naruto said uncomfortably. He may have disliked Neji in the present moment, but the reminder of what pressure had formed the man around him left him confused.
"The Main House is treated as a true and righteous Hyuga." Neji began bitterly. "They are selected from birth; those of direct lineage to the Main are inducted within their ranks. While those born "late" or by "lesser blood" are inducted into the Branch House. While members of the Main House enjoy the full benefits and rights afforded to a Hyuga, those of the Branch House are considered secondary servants to those of the Main. From the moment I was born, and even before that, the moment my father was born after his brother, my life had already been decided. But as a youth and during my years at the Academy, my father and I were hopeful. We had assumed that if I proved my skill and power beyond equal in both the Branch and Main House, I'd have to be accepted. I trained day and night with my father, all in the vain hope of change… but my father's life was sacrificed to save his brother. And with his death so did my only hope. I will never escape the Branch House… that discovery nearly crushed me… still threatens to do so to this very day. But that failure created clarity. I saw the world for what it was, I for what I was, and through it found the closest thing those born inferior can hope for… You can't change fate, Uzumaki. And I will help you accept that fact, perhaps then we can finally see eye to eye…"
"I won't lose, I won't accept fate or anything being impossible, and I damn sure will never understand that!" Naruto replied, incensed. It helped him understand Neji; in fact, Naruto felt less angry with him already. From what he heard the man was misguided, this was Naruto's chance to prove himself and help his teammate.