Chapter 52: Party Crashers

The competition went on without much fanfare, each new contestant stepping forward and throwing their weapons with varying degrees of skill, precision and flare. 

While throwing with style didn't garner any points per say, it was still a good way to show off for the crowd.

Of course even if the competition itself was entertaining, there was only so many times one could watch someone throw a weapon at a target before things began to grow stale.

While the crowd still cheered from time to time, there was a lot more chatter and conversation occurring than at the start. 

Of course to Neji and Keitaro who had been laser focused on each participant's actions, none of this really mattered. 

"Three hits for the shrunken, five for the Kunai." Muttered Neji as he closed his watering eyes. 

This was the first time that he had been using his eyes so strenuously and for such a long period of time and it was beginning to take a toll on him. 

His eyes burned from the strain and he felt like his body had been rung dry of energy as he couldn't stop himself from panting in an effort to catch his breath. 

"Four shuriken hits and five for the kunai" tutted Keitaro as he eyed the disheveled Neji.

"Are those your final answers boys?" asked an amused Hizashi as he deactivated his own Byakygon.

Both Neji and Keitaro nodded their heads and turned their attention back to the announcer as the helpers brought forward the targets that had been hit. It didn't take a genius to see that there were only three targets with a shuriken sticking out of them and Neji's face broke into a smile. 

"Ha, I was right! Better luck on the next one, Kei." Said Neji, seemingly unaware of the fact that he had at some point started to call Keitaro rather informally. 

Keitaro's eyebrow furrowed as he crossed his arms in annoyance. 

"I was sure I heard another hit, I guess I was wrong." he muttered as he kept eyeing ths three targets.

"I wouldn't be so sure about you being wrong just yet Keitaro, you two may want to keep an eye on what's happening." 

Both glanced back at Hizashi, who was simply smiling as he kept staring out onto the field.

No sooner had he said so, did another helper suddenly emerge from the competition grounds with a target in hand. Unlike the other targets, this one didn't have a shuriken or Kunai sticking out of it but instead had a clear gash across its face. 

As this was the first time something like this had occurred, the audience was intrigued and soon enough after a bit of deliberation and a nod from Hiashi, the announcer quickly made an announcement.

"It appears that our current contestant has put us in quite a bind. It has been confirmed by our esteemed Hyuga helpers through the use of their Byakugan that the participant didn't hit the target head on."

He took the strangely damaged target and held it up for all to see.

"It seems that the shuriken, instead of hitting dead on, had curved and grazed the target before falling to the ground. Which is why this target has such a strange gash on it."

"After much deliberation, it has been decided that since the gash is in the middle portion of the target that points will still be awarded as the only parameters of the competition were for the throwing weapons to hit and target."

"Since he has indeed hit the target and there is a clear indication of where he hit the target, it would be remiss of us not to award him the points. This will also occur for anyone else who happens to find themselves in a similar situation."

"As long as there is a clear, unquestionable mark showing where the target has been hit by the thrown weapon, and there is no contention with which section of the target has been hit, then the points will be allocated."

There was a wave of murmurs that broke out amongst the spectators, but in the end no one stood up to contest the decision. This was the Hyuga clan's event and they wanted to amend the rules lightly, who could really stop them?

Of course the news was much more meaningful for Keitaro and Neji, whose emotional states had done a full 180. 

"I knew I was right! Tough luck Neji, looks like I'm going to be the one to win after all." Keitaro beamed as he stuck out his tongue at Neji.

"That was just one time, don't get ahead of yourself." huffed Neji, who looked quite dejected. 

"You say that, but are you even going to be able to keep your Byakugan active for much longer? You're clearing over taxing yourself."

"I don't need your concern, I'll be fine. You just need to worry about yourself." Neji snapped as he focused on the next competitor that had already stepped forward. 

Keitaro frowned as he truly was worried about Neji's well being, but in the end he didn't say anything else. He simply glanced back at Hizashi, who had remained silent at Neji's outburst, and seeing that he didn't seem worried, Keitaro decided to just focus on himself. 

He'd already offered Nejia a way out so he couldn't be held responsible for anything that happened next. 

The two continued with the little game, with Neji's responses getting worse and worse as time went on. It was clear that he wasn't able to see as far or as clearly as before, but instead of throwing in the towel he kept pushing himself relentlessly.

Even as tears began to fall from his eyes, he kept straining himself to keep his Byakugan active. 

Keitaro was feeling unnerved, the jovial competition seemingly becoming much more somber as Neji kept pushing himself to what Keitaro considered to be a dangerous degree.

His main concern of course being whether Neji was going to cause irreparable damage to himself of some sort, but since Hizashi just let him push onward, he could only watch on as a bystander. 

It was only when Neji started to sway that Hizashi finally put a stop to the madness. 

"That's enough Neji, if you strain yourself any farther you're going to end up blind for a couple days."

"I can k-keep going." Neji muttered as he tried and failed to get back to his feet."

Hizashi just shook his head and forced Neji to relax in his chair. 

"There is a fine line between being strong willed and being a fool. There is no need for you to keep pushing yourself for a simple game. While I applaud you for pushing yourself as far as you already have, it is also important to know when it is time to throw in the towel."

"If this was out in the field, you could very well have compromised your team with you decreasing visual ability, not to mention if you ended up losing your vision altogether."

"The fact that you can barely stand right now shows that it would be the smarter decision to step back and gracefully accept defeat. You'll have more chances in the future to make up for today's loss."

Neji just nodded and lowered his head. 

"Of course just because the game between you two is over doesn't mean that you two can't still learn…"

Hizashi's words faded out as he turned his head to the side. 

His eyebrows were furrowed and by the way he was clenching his fist, it seemed that something was happening that was getting to him. 

He wasn't the only one who seemed to have become agitated either as the noisy crowd was quickly growing silent and others were beginning to look in the same direction as Hizashi as well. 

Keitaro obviously looked over as well and was surprised by the sight that greeted him. 

At some point in time several figures had made an appearance and as they drew closer to the crowd their figures became clear for all to see. 

They were all dressed uniformly in combat gear, with the Konoha police force vest on full display as everyone in the group was wearing one.

From their black spiky hair, sharp eyes, and arrogant gazes it was clear to all that they were members of the Uchiha clan, and if that wasn't enough proof to show who they were, then the three leading figures served as irrefutable proof. 

Leading the small procession was Fugaku Uchiha in all his glory, flanked on either side by Itachi and Shisui Uchiha, the two rising geniuses of the Uchiha Clan. 

While the other members of the Uchiha's party crashers were looking around at the crowd of people who were eying them wearily, Fugaku's eyes were focused only on Haishi as he made his way forward.

Haishi quickly stood up and went forward to greet the Uchiha. Even though this must have been a surprising situation, he didn't appear to be visually flustered and greeted the Uchiha warmly. 

Of course by now everyone's attention was fixed on the Uchiha and everyone could hear the conversation that occurred given that neither Fugaku nor Haishi felt the need to speak quietly. 

"I am shocked that you were able to find the time to visit us. After receiving word that you most likely wouldn't be in attendance today due to your workload and not having seen you earlier, I had assumed you wouldn't have made it." Haishi said with a smile

"I admit that our duties to the village have resulted in us being a tad bit late, but there was no way I was going to miss out on such an important celebration." 

Fugaku merely lowered his head slightly in apology, though his face showed no remorse whatsoever. 

"I hope we are still welcomed in spite of our tardiness?"

"But of course!" Haishi laughed jovially as he patted Fugaku on the shoulder. "Come and watch the festivities with us. You may have missed the earlier portion of the evening but you are just in time for the entertainment and games."

Haishi led Fugaku towards the area where he had been sitting where several more seats had been quickly arranged for him and a few senior members that were following behind him to be seated with the other clan leaders.

The rest of the group soon found seats amongst the rest of the crowd, though they all stayed close to each other. Their combat gear made a few of the other patrons uneasy, but since the head of the Hyuga hadn't found it necessary to admonish them neither could they. 

Seemingly unperturbed by the sudden interruption, the announcer was quick to get the ball rolling again as he quickly got the crowd's attention back onto the competitors who continued to step forward. 

Things had seemingly settled back down as things got back on track, but Keitaro could feel the tension rising every so slowly. The hushed whispers of the crowd were practically blaring in his ear as as he focused in on a few conversations, he wasn't surprised to notice that everyone was talking about the sudden appearance of the Uchiha.

Given the rivalry between the two clans, the Uchiha not being present at the Hyuga's celebration hadn't been much of a surprise, but for them to not only appear late to the event but to actually turn up in full combat gear?

What sort of message were they trying to portray?

No matter how you looked at it, the Uchiha were being blatantly rude to the Hyuga clan, and from the smug looks on the Uchiha's in attendance that had clearly been the plan from the start.