Humiliation Conga

Neji woke up.

Nothing hurt, and he was lying on a bed. It took him a while to realize that this was his bed, where he'd slept for years before that mission. For a moment, Neji wondered if this was all just some dream. But, no, he was taller, and he remembered it all.

A sense of dread fell over him as he looked at his bedside table. There was a mirror on it, and he reached for it. Then he stopped, not sure he wanted to go further. But he had to; he had to know the truth.

Reaching out, Neji grasped the mirror and brought it up to his face.

On his brow, he saw the symbol of the Caged Bird. The mirror fell from his hand as he clutched himself, feeling sick. It was done; he'd been branded while he slept. Hinata, she'd...

Why hadn't she just killed him?

It hit him, all at once.

Neji was a slave. He was one of them. The thing that he'd been fighting against for years had happened. He staggered out of bed or tried to and then fell backward. He felt himself hyperventilating.

"No, no, no! This can't... this can't be happening!" said Neji.

Gasping for air, he looked to the table and saw another thing. A dagger, lined with silver and razor-sharp. "A dagger.

"Perhaps... perhaps someone left it there out of pity. I... I don't want to die, but this is... I can't live like this."

Neji drew the dagger and prepared to draw it back. To drive it into himself. However, his arms would not move. The very thought of killing himself stiffened his muscles and made his body go rigid.

"Oh, so it works, does it?" said a familiar, sweet voice.

Neji looked up to see Hinata moving forward, clad in an outfit that bared her long legs. It was a very loose outfit on her. "Hinata?"

"I'm glad," said Hinata. "I wanted to test if the alterations worked. I wouldn't want you harming yourself, brother. You're too important to me for that."

"You... you made it, so the Caged Bird Seal prevented me from committing to my own death?" said Neji, leaning back against the bed as she neared him. "Why?

"To humiliate me?"

Hinata put a hand on his cheek and kneeled on his legs. "No, I don't want to humiliate you.

"It's just that having you is more important to me than you being glad to be had. Do you remember when we were children? I always said I'd be the strongest and become clan heir. You always said I was being a foolish woman.

"I guess I'm not quite so foolish now, am I?"

Neji, with horror, realized what she was doing. Such arrangements had been made in the past, but this... "Hinata I... this is unseemly. Don't... I'm your brother!"

"And I'm your big sister," said Hinata, leaning in. "Don't worry about the mark, by the way. It only stops you from killing yourself if it isn't on behalf of the Main Family. So you'll still be able to die for us like you're supposed to."

"Why did you do this to me, Hinata?" asked Neji, desperately trying to stall for time. "You... we both know that you would have beaten me even if I'd joined the wars! I've never been near your level! But... I could have made a fight of it; I could have lost to you with some honor!

"I would have lost because you were great, not because I was a failure."

"Oh, but you have to be a failure, Neji," said Hinata. "Otherwise, you'd have been picked as heir as tradition dictated, no matter how many times I beat you.

"Now, why don't we move on." She was leaning in very close, and Neji felt like a cornered rabbit in the eyes of a wolf. "Stay still, Neji! I have something to give you!"

There was a knock on the door. Hinata looked up in irritation, standing and going to get it. "Oh, what is it?"

"Lady Hinata, forgive my interruption. But the Senju delegation is arriving sooner than expected," said Lee.

"Already?" asked Hinata. "I had expected it to take longer.

"Well, we'd best go to meet them then, hadn't we, Neji?" She glanced back. "Get dressed, quickly. Your new clothes are in there. Then meet in the entry hall.

"Remember, you are on the left side now, not the front."

Right side. Where members of the Branch Clan were forced to remain. Neji remained in bed for a moment as the door shut. And he knew Hinata would be back, and absolutely no one would stop her.

"...This is my life now," said Neji in horror. "I... I can't say no anymore. I can be killed at any time without it being called murder. Why... why did it have to come to this?"

The door opened, and Lee peered in. "Neji, Neji, you must come quickly?"

"...Lee," said Neji, obeying and getting dressed.

"I've been given the task of helping you adjust, however when Lady Hinata sought to erm..." Lee paused, "visit you, I was delayed. Quickly, I will help you dress.

"I would not speak to anyone on your way here.

"Some among the Branch Clan resent you for earlier slights."

Neji was dressed in a new outfit of humbler origin than the kind he'd worn long ago. Not that he'd had the chance to wear silk since getting back. "That's right I...

"I held my station over them a long time ago."

It seemed like a different life—a different time.

As Lee led Neji to the meeting hall, Neji looked around it mutely. There were several triumphant glances his way as he moved to his prepared place. As he walked, someone caught hold of his leg, and he fell. Standing and stumbling forward, he kneeled where he was meant to.

Why had Lee been chosen? He wasn't a member of the Branch Clan. But now Lee was gone. And Neji saw Father sitting in his chair.

"I won't be introduced as his son," realized Neji, the humiliation coming to him.

And then, into the chamber, came Hashirama Senju and Tobirama. Neji had seen them many times from afar, but up close, they were far more impressive.

"Welcome, Hashirama Senju, to the home of my clan," said Hizashi.

"It's an honor to have arrived here at last," said Hashirama. "Father is skeptical of our ability to work out a peace treaty, but your message arrived at a perfect time. I'm here on behalf of the Senju to-"

"I'm afraid you need not say whatever it is you are about to say, Hashirama," said Madara Uchiha as he came out of the floor. "For I have come on behalf of the Uchiha Clan to negotiate an alliance with the Hyuga."

"Madara, how did you get behind us like that?" asked Hashirama, seeming more amused than afraid.

"I confess, I pointed him in the direction of the alcove when he first arrived," said Hinata, by Father's right side. "I thought you might enjoy the surprise." Her face was hidden by a fan.

"My apologies, Hashirama," said Hizashi. "I knew nothing of this, but my daughter Hinata is known for sewing mischief now and then."

"Not to worry, Lord Hizashi," laughed Hashirama. "This seems it may be a fine evening of entertainment after all."

"I must confess, the present moment has a certain thrill," laughed Madara.

"If you wish, I have provided a banquet tailored to your particular tastes," said Hinata.

She wasn't.

"And how do you know our tastes?" asked Hashirama.

"Well, when a kunoichi is curious about so powerful a pair of warriors, there are ways of learning," said Hinata. That bitch. She was taking credit for Neji's work. And no one would call it wrong because of the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead.

It was all he could do not to speak up.

But Neji did not speak up. It was as though he'd never left his mission. Once, he'd been in the wilderness, silent and afraid while watching. Now he was at home. Either way, he was alone. As everyone filed out, however, Lee stopped him.

"We're not to go that way, Neji," said Lee.

"Why not?" asked Neji.

"I..." said Lee. "Lady Hinata has commanded you be given other duties. I, I believe she is concerned at how you may react if at the banquet."

"Meaning she intends to take full credit for my actions," said Neji. "And doesn't want to be reminded that she is a liar."

"You are of the Branch Clan now; by definition, all your work is to the Main Clan's credit," said Lee. "It would be best to remember it."

And they couldn't even be bothered to give Neji a member of the Branch Clan as a guide. Well, they weren't going to have it all their own way. Neji might have to wait a long time to get revenge for this, but he would get it. "...Fine then, what humiliation does the witch have in mind for me instead?"

"Don't talk that way about Lady Hinata," said a servant girl. "She's a far better ninja than you will ever be."

"Yes, if we report you, you could suffer the same way you did to us," said another, no doubt feeling very triumphant.

"Kindly do so at once. You'd be doing me a favor," said Neji. "Lead on Lee."

Lee led him away, looking unsure of himself. But eventually, they did get to Neji's new duties. Washing clothes. A small crowd had gathered covertly to watch his humiliation. They were to be disappointed. Neji had been living in the wilderness and washing his own clothes for years. Having tools to do it with was a luxury.

Even so, "Neji, I am unsure of this decision. You are unlikely to make very many friends this way."

"I'm not planning to make friends, Lee," said Neji. "I'm planning to get myself killed as efficiently as possible.

"I don't suppose you could kill me?"

"Neji, even I were able to do that, I would not. It would get me killed as well," said Lee. "I may not bear a Caged Bird Seal, but they have the power of life and death over me."

Neji sighed. "Which means that I'm going to have to find some way to die without having someone else's blood on my hands."

"Are you certain you want to give up on living so quickly?" asked Lee.

"Well, obviously," said Neji.

"...I do not see how that is obvious," said Lee.

"Lee, I have been branded as a slave to my own family," said Neji. "I am despised by those who now share my rank for actions taken years ago. I practically had to beg my Father to even be given an opportunity to escape my fate.

"And my sister is... affectionate. Affectionate in a way that I cannot refuse. And at present, she is trying to emotionally break me. If I continue to live, I am destined for a life of humiliation and subjugation. All things considered, I would like to get it over with before I start to enjoy it."

"I see," Lee paused. "You make a remarkably good case for the indefensible." His voice went lower. "...Have you considered running away?"

"What?" asked Lee.

"Well, you did survive for years in the wild," said Lee. "And you have some skill at arms. You might make a living as a mercenary if you can get far enough away. I don't mean to say it as a good option, but... well, I don't think your life is going to get any better here."

Neji considered that angle. He was quite talented at evasion if he could just clear things. "...Yes, I think that may be for the best, Lee. Thank you.

"I'll have to make some kind of plan, but..."

"Shh," said Lee. "Lady Hinata is coming with the guests."

Hinata came with Hashirama and Madara accidentally on purpose to Neji's work station. One more attempt at humiliation that somewhat worked. Neji tried not to let it get to him. Emphasis on tried.

"So, did you two find the meal to your liking?" asked Hinata.

"It was excellent, of course," said Hashirama. "I am more interested in how you have managed to learn so much about us."

"Well, the Hyuga Clan has some very talented observers," said Hinata.

"Oh, are any of them around?" asked Madara.

"Shh, that's a secret," said Hinata in a whisper.

"You keep a lot of secrets, don't you, Hinata?" asked Hashirama with a laugh.

"Well, that is part of my ninja way," said Hinata with a demure smile before looking up as though only noticing. "Oh, Neji, I had wondered where you'd gotten to. I guess they assigned you to wash up. Not too much trouble, I hope?"

"I assure you, Lady Hinata, I did my share of just this in the wilds," said Neji simply.

Hinata had a flicker of disappointment across her face. No doubt she had thought this would be prime humiliation material. "Oh, I see.

"Well, I'm pleased you are settling in so well. Perhaps later, I can give you access to the training grounds."

"Thank you, milady," said Neji.

"Who is this person that you concern yourself with them?" asked Madara.

Neji suspected Madara already knew. He had to have heard about the succession, and, unlike Hashirama, Madara was not an idiot. So he had an Uchiha also trying to twist the knife.

"A former member of the Main Branch, he lost in succession and has thus been demoted," said Hinata. "I'm concerned the others don't like him very much, and so I wanted to check on him as long as we are out here."

"Your concern for a defeated member of your family is admirable," said Hashirama.

Hinata blinked. "Oh, you saw through it, then."

"He's a good actor, but the emotions in his eyes are too raw to hide his hatred," said Madara. "Be careful around this one, Hinata."

Madara was next.

If Neji had to plot revenge, it would go to Hinata, then Madara.

"Madara, perhaps we should move away before we embarrass him any further," said Hashirama. "There is no need to rub salt in the wound."

And they went off.

"...That was surprisingly well done, Neji," said Lee.

"Among servants who hate me, I'll say as I'll like. But I will not embarrass my clan," said Neji. "As soon as we finish here, I'll need to make plans for an escape. Hashirama and Madara are both together, so it is inevitable that they will eventually spar. When that happens, it will draw an extensive crowd.

"I cannot remain here."

Neji finished his work and reported to one of the housekeepers; he did not remember his name. Either way, she was obviously enjoying his discomfort. "So you've finished with the washing up, have you? Well, fine, we've got other duties for you."

Neji was given another errand, washing dishes. He performed it flawlessly, saying nothing to anyone. When one person tried to trip him, he expertly evaded them. He then memorized their face and made a mental note to pay them back. Every person who made jeering commentary, he memorized.

"Finished with that, fine. Take these and get water to fill these for the baths," said the housekeeper.

Neji did as he was told.

When he returned, he found the servants had finished a meal that looked very nice.

"You're late," said one. "Lady Hinata provided us with a feast of our own, but it's all gone."

Neji ignored them and proceeded to wash their dishes for them. Yes, it was demeaning, but it also pricked their self-righteous bubble. Doing a good deed for one who had been horrible to you could elicit guilt. Besides, they had probably planned to leave him with the dishes anyway.

As he did it, he considered everything that had happened.

"...Why do they hate me?" mused Neji. "What did I do to deserve this kind of treatment?"

"To an extent, this is um, known as hazing," said Lee. "The Branch Clan often does it to those who become part of the group. It is, sometimes, an initiation right."

"Well, they have wasted their time," said Neji, finishing his dishes. Looking out, he saw the others had been drinking heavily. "Time to go."

"Should you not get supplies?" asked Lee.

"I'll forage on my own if I have to. I have to get out of this place and fast," said Neji. "If I stay any longer, I'll probably start looking for revenge.

"For my sake, and... and the others. If they really hate me so much, I won't burden them with my presence. Goodbye, Lee, and thank you."

Lee nodded, and Neji headed out. He got out of the house and saw no one around. Quickly he slipped up over the wall and landed on the other side. Then he shot into the wilderness. "I must be swift and stop for nothing.

"I'll go by forest paths and get as far away from this place as I can. No one will miss me anyway, so I doubt they'll pursue me far. If I can just get far enough away that no one will recognize the Caged Bird Seal...

"Yes, I can do this."

Neji had evaded the Senju and Uchiha for years. He could likewise evade his own clan.

The bird had fled its cage.