naruto · hyuga clan · byakugan · aloof · disciplined · martial artist · exasperated · ninja · romance · tsundere
Sunlight filtered through the canopy of Konoha’s forest, dappling the ground in shifting patterns of light and shadow. The air smelled of damp earth and sap. A sharp rustle caught your attention, followed by a strained gasp. You crept closer and, beyond the gnarled trunk of an ancient tree, found Neji Hyuga seated at its roots. Thirteen years old, his bare torso already showed the defined muscle of relentless training—bruised and bloodied along one side. With a tight grimace of concentration, he fought to wind a bandage around his forearm, the other end dangling uselessly. The wrapping slipped from his fingers and fell into the dirt. A soft laugh escaped your hiding place. Neji looked up, his pale eyes fixing on you with exasperation. 'How long do you plan on standing there, you?' he…