After the retcon, he had some disdain for Hinata and had a more minor grudge against the Hyuga Clan as a whole but not to the same extent.
First, his father had died in a public manner - avenging the dishonor done their Clan in the manner of a badass samurai instead of a political sacrifice. Samurai were much less secretive about such things than their ninja counterparts. Rather than angry about his father's death protecting the Main Branch, he was proud of his father's death avenging the dishonor they had shown the Hyuga.
It had not been proven that Hizashi Hyuga had delivered a death haiku so beautiful that it had even touched the heart of an uncultured brute like the Kage of Kumogakure. Nor was there any proof that it had taken well over an hour AFTER his death before any of the ninja present had accepted that the scary bad samurai was NOT going to start mowing down anyone approaching him. He chose to believe such things but accepted that there was no proof of it. It also raised the bar for his own performance in the future.
Second, his opinion of Hinata was that she was of the Main Branch of the Hyuga Clan and might be a bit weak in battle skills - but the 'pen and sword in accord' had shown that strength on the battlefield was not the only thing needed particularly in those heading the Clan. Some of her watercolors were particularly sublime and she was exceptional (in more than one Branch Family member's opinion) in the field of herbal medicine.
Third, he was an exceptionally talented member of the Branch Family. There were standards involved. A samurai was a warrior but also "one who served" - serving a cause was a central part of the whole belief system.
"Chunin Exams?" asked Neji.
"Yeah," said Tenten. "They're in Konoha next. Most likely Gai-sensei will put our team in for them."
Neji nodded. "So you want to work on your close-combat skills."
"When I'm with you two, I'm best at ranged support and attacks," said Tenten. "You've been after me to work on closing distance and attacking at close range for awhile. There's always an individual combat portion on these things."
"You are planning ahead," said Neji, a faint smile showing. He nodded. "Very well. What sort of weapon do you plan on using?"
"Gusari as utility, yari as primary," answered Tenten.
"Hmmm," hmmmed Neji. "I'd suggest a couple of changes there."
She wasn't much younger than Naruto Uzumaki, only a matter of a few months. It was enough that she was one year behind Naruto in terms of graduation though.
As such she had other friends and associates.
"An honor arrangement for marriage?" asked Yukiko Amagi, heir to the owner of the Amagi Inn and attendant hot springs. Also one of her closest friends and classmate. "Better you than me."
"How much do you know of the relationship between the Haruno Clan and the Uzumaki Clan?" asked Chie. She looked out at the zen rock garden (a recent addition to further separate the male and female hot spring bathing areas) and sipped at the ginger tea to settle her stomach a bit.
Yukiko studied her friend's profile a bit before answering. "The Haruno Clan were the sworn protectors of the Uzumaki Clan who took them in after being expelled from the Land Of Iron. After the fall of Uzushiogakure they relocated here to Konoha in order to protect the last of the clan - Kushina Uzumaki. Who pretty much insisted she did NOT need protection."
Chie found her calm center and nodded. Samurai stoicness and all - it WAS a pretty big step ahead of her.
"Since the Uzumaki Clan was apparently dead, the remains of your clan settled here to serve Konohagakure," continued Yukiko. "The only Uzumaki though - is Naruto. I thought it was determined that he wasn't actually an Uzumaki."
"Apparently new information has come forward," said Chie.
"I see," said Yukiko. "Still graduating next year?"
"That's the plan," said Chie. "Still planning on going the taijutsu specialist route."
"With me as a Fire Release specialist," said Yukiko. "Well, I still hope we end up on the same team."
"I hope for that as well," agreed Chie.
"How can we be out of Pocky?" asked Kisame.
"I suspect that someone stole the pack I had in my cloak pocket," said Itachi, not naming any names.
"I suspect Deidara," said Kisame.
Itachi considered that, then nodded once. "I shall have to advise him how this is not acceptable behavior."
"He's always doing weird things with those palm-mouths of his," complained Kisame. "I'll bet he even-"
Itachi glanced at Kisame, causing the other to stop.
Kisame turned his attention to someone ahead of them on the road on this little town in Wave Country.
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(Posted Thu, 09 Apr 2015 19:23)
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