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The sun peeked through the village rooftops as Neji stepped through the wide gates of the Ninja Academy, his white robes fluttering lightly in the morning breeze. The courtyard was abuzz with the voices of children—some giddy, some nervous, all full of energy. Neji let out a small, rehearsed gasp as though he were overwhelmed.
"So big..." he muttered under his breath, eyes wide as he scanned the stone walls, wooden training dummies, and the large indoor hall beyond. A pair of nearby students glanced at him and chuckled.
Neji smiled softly. This was part of the act.
He had resolved to keep his true strength hidden—at least for now. If he drew too much attention, he risked becoming the center of rumors and expectations. And more importantly, it would put distance between him and Hinata, whose future years at the Academy would be closely watched. If she was going to grow, she had to do so without the weight of being constantly compared to him.
So he played the wide-eyed boy. Enthusiastic. Slightly clumsy. Curious.
Their instructor, Orui-sensei, stood at the front of the room, his clipboard tucked under one arm as he welcomed the new class.
"Good morning, everyone! I'm Sasamoto Orui, and I'll be your homeroom instructor this year. We're going to train together, learn about teamwork, ninjutsu, chakra control—and most importantly, how to become strong of heart and spirit."
The students cheered, and Neji raised his hand timidly as though unsure of what to do.
Orui pointed to him. "Yes? What's your name?"
"I'm Neji Hyuga, sir! I'm really excited to be here!"
The words left his mouth a little too eagerly, and several students giggled. Orui offered a kind nod. "Welcome, Neji. We're glad to have you."
Neji took a seat near the window, gazing out thoughtfully. He spotted a few notable students—Inuzuka with a dog on his lap, a lazy-looking boy from the Nara clan, a red-eyed girl who glanced around with calm precision. But two students caught his attention more distinctly.
One was a boy with bushy eyebrows and an intense look in his eyes. He seemed incapable of sitting still and practically vibrated with nervous energy.
The other was a girl with her hair in buns, flipping a small metal kunai in her fingers as she stared at the wall with focused determination.
"Hey there! I'm Rock Lee! What's your name?" the boy blurted as he approached.
"Neji Hyuga," Neji replied with a humble bow. "Nice to meet you."
"I'm gonna be the best ninja ever, even if I can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu! I'll do it with hard work and passion!" Lee exclaimed, his voice echoing across the room.
Neji blinked, feigning mild confusion. "You can't use ninjutsu?"
"Not yet! But that's fine. I'll just work twice as hard! Maybe more!"
The girl leaned in. "He's not kidding. He does 500 pushups before class every morning."
"Tenten," she added with a nod. "You're from the Hyuga clan, right?"
"Yes," Neji said softly. "But I'm not very good yet. I'm still learning."
Lee slapped him on the back—hard. "Then we'll learn together, Neji! Let's work hard and become awesome!"
Neji smiled. He could already tell Lee's energy was going to be a lot to deal with, but part of him appreciated the purity of it. There was no calculation in Lee's words. No pretense. Just sincerity.
Class began with lectures on shinobi history, village structure, and the Five Great Nations. Neji took careful notes, his handwriting tidy and elegant. When Orui asked questions, he was quick to raise his hand—sometimes with wrong answers. He made sure to miss a few obvious ones on purpose.
Next came target practice.
"Alright class, let's test your accuracy with basic kunai throwing. Line up, five at a time."
When it was Neji's turn, he walked up calmly and stared at the dummy. He drew a kunai, took an awkward stance, and threw—intentionally off-target.
Clang.
It hit the wooden post a few feet to the side. A few students laughed.
"That's okay!" Lee shouted from the back. "Try again, Neji!"
Neji flushed and nodded. On his second try, he made sure to graze the target barely. Orui gave him a polite nod.
He returned to his seat, shaking his head. Part of him hated pretending to fail. But it was necessary. Let the world underestimate him.
Lunch came quickly. The students sat in groups on the training field, unpacking their bento boxes. Neji sat under a tree with Lee and Tenten, listening quietly as they talked about training, their dreams, and their families.
Lee munched happily on rice balls. "I want to prove that even if you're born without talent, you can still be strong! What about you, Neji?"
Neji looked up at the sky, watching a hawk circle far above. "I want to understand fate. And maybe change it."
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