Chapter Text
▵ ▹ ▿ ◃ ▴ ▸ ▾ ◂ ⸙͎𓅩❍𓅩⸙͎▵ ▹ ▿ ◃ ▴ ▸ ▾ ◂
Neji woke up on a boat. It took him a few moments to remember what had happened. He had died, he was sure so he was probably in the pure lands. He couldn't help the little upturn of his lips as he laid there, on his back, in his torn Konohagahure shinobi uniform and mesh armor.
When he sat up to inspect his surroundings he only found open sea around him with nothing in sight except him and his little traditional boat with it's little wooden dome for storage or maybe even sleep in the center.
Moving a bit to take stock of his body he discovered he was exactly the same as he was when he died, his wounds were merely replaced with smooth flawless muscle and skin. He frowned a bit as he observed how dishevel he looked, truly looking the part of someone just out of war, he was splattered with dried blood and covered in soot.
Reaching into his kunai holster he took out the small storage scroll Tenten had insisted he carry around with him. With a few hand signs he took out a clean set of clothes and some hygienic products. After all, it would hardly be appropriate to come before his ancestors looking as he did now.
Undressing his frown deepened at the hunger and thirst he felt, did spirits feel such mortal needs? He decided to pay it no mind, after all how was he supposed to know such things when he just recently died himself? After he was satisfied with his cleaner and appropriatly dressed state befitting that of an accomplished Shinobi of Konohagahure he took out a mirror to take care of his hair only too freeze at the sight of himself.
There. On his forehead. The cursed seal he loathed. It's toxic color of glowing green was stark against his smooth pale complexion. Why was it still there? Why?! It's supposed to disappear with the death of the Hyuga in question... Could it be that the cursed thing was etched into his very soul itself? No. Impossible. That would be a disgrace. No Hyuga would be brave enough to face their ancestors with it's ugly pattern permanently tattooed onto their forehead.
Neji was stuck. Stuck staring at it's morbidly beautiful sight. Eventually he placed it down with slightly shaking fingers and started brushing his long brown hair in hopes of calming down. He was unsure of what was going on. He was supposed to wake up in the pure lands, not in this boat in the ocean of an unknown place.
▵ ▹ ▿ ◃ ▴ ▸ ▾ ◂ ⸙͎𓅩❍𓅩⸙͎▵ ▹ ▿ ◃ ▴ ▸ ▾ ◂
It had been three days when he saw the first large land mass since his death. In those three days he had been thinking an awful lot and trying to figure out what was going on, but it seemed no answers would find him to cure him of his confusion.
As the boat neared the land mass it seemed the shore had a large elegant city resembling a port built on it. It would make sense if his theory of souls being brought to the pure lands via boats was correct, but then... why did the beautiful port city look so... dead?
The elegant city with it's strange large stone building was breathtakingly beautiful in the way the moon was. Beautiful and strange but lonely and cold. As the boat drew closer Neji grew more tense and on guard as he had yet too see a single soul in this fog filled city. As the boat that seemingly had a mind of it's own slowed down to a stop next to a stone dock in an empty spot Neji took his time studying his surroundings.
After a few minutes of looking at the surroundings with no response from its inhabitants- if there were any, he decided to activate his Byakugan, almost instantly spotting the large but strange chakra signals of a small group that were making their way to where he was waiting.
Neji was instantly readying himself for a battle, the chakra networks and the very chakra of these beings were foreign, strange and alien to him. He was sure that if he were to target their chakra points he would do serious harm, even more than usual, but it was still very much unnerving.
Just before they came in sight Neji shut off his Byakugan as a precaution, even going as far as to make himself look as harmless a possible, for in case... When they finally came in sight and saw him, Neji could practically feel the confusion and curiosity bubbling in their very chakra itself, Although The white haired one and brunette seemed to feel enlightenment for a strange reason. Not even civilians were this obvious with their chakra showing their emotions, this discovery made Neji blink in surprise by the onslaught of emotions he quickly identified and pushed to the back of his mind.
As the group of 4 drew near Neji could barely see these emotions in their faces and body language but he was certain of the feelings they hid behind the politely curious and friendly faces. This made Neji even more weary as he took his emotions in an iron grip and stuffed it all in a little box separate from his chakra.
If you were a trained sensor and Hyuga you would still sense the suspicion, confusion and apprehension but Neji didn't have the time to properly separate it and even now 3 of the 4 men grew suspicious of the sudden disappearance of his emotions causing Neji to narrow his eyes at their sensitivity.
As they drew near Neji decided to speak first, being mindful to keep his tone and words that of a weak lost civilian in case these alien entities were hostile. "Greetings, could I perhaps inquire of where we are? I seem to be lost and confused." Keeping it short and slightly vague he watched as the four's expressions changed to match the confusion rolling off them in waves.
When the tall white haired one spoke Neji couldn't fully contain the alarm he felt when he couldn't understand anything they were saying. Shifting his wight slightly to a less offensive and more defensive stance just as subtle as the last, he tried again. "Apologies but I don't understand. This is the pure lands is it not?"
His tone took a slightly desperate undertone, he had been doubting and dreading his state of death for three days now and he was thinking more and more that this was not the pure lands and that he was somehow alive. Which would obviously be impossible, but he had witnessed shinobi bringing back the dead before, what's to say the same didn't happen to him?
The Brunette tried to address him in a foreign language that sounded less musical than the last but it was just that. Foreign. When Neji failed to respond or let them know he understood, the white haired one seemed thoughtful as he addressed the others in the same strangely musical language, causing Naji to tense up more, Something that the Golden haired one caught onto, if the slightest twitch of amusement and interest in his expression were anything to go by.
They spoke for a few moments when the red head rudely motioned to Neji and said something to his companions Neji would recognize anywhere. Even in a different language he could identify someone asking/assuming he was blind or had something wrong with his eyes. They were talking about his eyes. This piece of information immediately flared his guard up and made him abandon the 'lost civilian' act, opting out for a less stealthy defensive stance and a more combat oriented one that was made for quickly taking down multiple opponents.
All, except the red head seemed to notice the change and the white haired one promptly address the red head in a scolding tone causing the red head great shame. The Golden haired one seemed to choose ignoring the red and white head in favor of addressing Neji in a friendly manner.
"Mae govannen, Im Glorfindel" He said what Neji assumed was a greeting then pointed at himself at the last part. Neji could only assume he was introducing himself and wanted Neji to do the same as he pointed to Neji and looked at him expectantly.
Neji hesitated, what if these people knew his name and turned hostile? But would it really matter? He's already dead, could he really die twice? But Neji knew he could feel the pains of mortal flesh, like hunger, thirst, headache and other such mortal pains. They could torture him and he would have no escape. Not even death. Stealing himself he introduced himself with strong confidence, much to the delight and slight surprise of Glorfindel who gave him a beaming smile.
"...Neji, My name is Neji." He sort of reminded Neji of Naruto in a way, this caused a slight upwards twitch at the corner of Neji's lips as he observed Glorfindel closer, which Glorfindel seemed to do as well. Glorfindel had long golden blond hair just a shade lighter than Naruto's bright neon birds nest, his face was fair and young, but he was tall and his body strongly built, a contrast to Neji's lithe form. The large, strange and heavy looking golden armor just further emphasized his body built by years and years of intensive training. He looked like a Fearless joyful person.
When he stepped forward and held his hand out for Neji to take Neji was confused and apprehensive, did Glorfindel intend to cause him harm? or perhaps merely help Neji off the boat? Well if they meant harm they wouldn't get very far. Accepting the hand Neji held it in a way that he could easily break Glorfindel's wrist and seal off the entire arm's chakra points, rendering it useless, and seeing that the large sword strapped to Glorindel's side would need two arms, 1 of 4 unknowns would be rendered weaponless.
Luckily nothing happened and Neji let himself be helped off the boat and onto the stone dock, where he carefully let go of the larger roughened hands of someone who spent hours working with their hands. Glorfindel had a knowing look in his eye of someone who was aware that one wrong move would've resulted in violent results.
Glorfindel didn't seem bothered but it unnerved Neji nonetheless, as he shifted his weight and straightened his war uniform in a casual way, but in reality was actually checking weapons hidden on his person for a strange sort of comfort it brought, the type where 'I could easily take this sharp pointy object and jam it into your soft vulnerable throat and you wouldn't possibly be able to walk away from that without it taking a toll on you'.
They all seemed to agree on something and all acknowledged Neji in their own way, Kind smiles, polite nods and what Neji assumed were words of welcome. Glorfindel motioned for Neji to follow them when the group of 4 started walking in the direction of the large stone building, but Neji hesitated. He sensed no ill will from these people and frankly, he had no other clues, but his Shinobi training has made trusting others a nearly impossible task.
So Neji hesitated. He could vanish right this instant and they would not be able to find him again no matter how hard they would try, not unless Neji himself reveals himself. Or he could follow them and possibly find out what's going on.
The brunette seemd to notice Neji's internal battle and stopped to look back at him with a patient and unjudging look as if to say; 'So what will you choose? To run or to stay?'. Neji and the ancient seeming brunette both stood there starring each other for what seemed to be eternity until Neji took a step forward, then another and another until he was steadily walking to the brunette. When he was finally standing next to him the brunette gave him a slight smile and they both made their way after the others.