NEPHEW
in some ways, he was similar to his old man but when it came to his problems, he never voiced them. but there were also times he had parts of his mother also. never wanting to feel like a burden to anyone he usually kept to himself when upset only to make himself upset in the process. always a permanent scowl on his face, never a smile. selective with who he made friends with and didn’t even trust inojin! sarada was iffy but shikadai was his best friend. so why did he feel so alone?
the boy blinked out of his small daze looking up to see his uncle. the sound of his name coming from neji did he at least attempt a small grin. then the scowl was back again and he sat there glaring at the ground, left hand gripping his right, fingers digging through the bandages as if wanting that mark to be ripped off his skin. the mention of hiashi and hanabi being worried…
yet his father hadn’t said anything about his absence. did he even care? probably was too busy to give a second thought. the mere thought of that made boruto gnash his teeth together, anger flaring, reflecting through bright blue eyes. so young a child to be filled with so much hate.
‘ kaa-chan told me about your curse, neji-occhan. i-i wanted came here t-to ask — erm — ’
words he couldn’t get out. troubling wasn’t even half of the problem. he was ignoring the words of the god and continuing down his path yet he couldn’t help but feel only dread at the prophecy. the boy began unwrapping his arm with a shaking hand. lips pressed tightly together as he avoided his uncle’s eyes. why was he going to show him this mark? would he understand? he wouldn’t tell the others, would he?
‘ what…am i? ’
and so the bandages fell from his arm, his palm face up. the morning sun hitting the black diamond that was tattoo’d into his skin. there was something otherworldly about that mark that even the sight of it gave boruto the chills as if the morning could get any chillier.
‘ o-occhan…i hate to ask….but c-can you help me out? ’
a carbon copy yet so different from his father, who would rashly voice his opinions than keep it to heart. if it weren’t for naruto, he would probably continue to this day, blindly filled with hatred for the main branch. a mark that he believed to be a curse, a cage that trapped him fro spreading his wings and flying . . a life that was determined by the main branch, if the secrets of the byakugan fell in the wrong hands. neji hadn’t realized his father’s reasons until later and he had come to terms with his own destiny. while the mark meant something, it wouldn’t decided what path he should take. hearing his nephew mention the mark, he reached upward to only touch his forehead. remembering the day they branded his forehead was painful but his heart no longer felt the restriction. a slight pause in the boys words, lavender oculars glance down as he raised a question. ‘ what am i ‘ a heavy question for someone so young had left the hyuga in silence. watching as he unwrapped the bandages, he observed the black diamond on the palm of his hand and just wondered if any new information came. naruto had mentioned sasuke was looking into it and he’d do his best to aid his nephew, in any way.
taking the bandages from the floor, he just wrapped them up neatly. ❝ it’s not what am i . . it’s who are you, boruto and from what i can see ------- you are still the same child that lady hinata brought and raised in this world, ❞ setting the bandages aside, he carefully takes the marked hand in his own. his thumb lightly presses against the mark ❝ you are sometimes a troublemaker, a good friend who stands up for people, and one that suffers in silence because you don’t want people worrying. ❞ one could not simply figure a solution on his own or walk this path without support. ❝ if this mark says your destined for something, carve your own path and decided. i will help you as much as i can . . just don’t let the meaning of those words control your freedom to act. ❞
