Neji had not always been so cold toward Hinata.
When he was very young, he had been told that he belonged to the Branch Family, and that his sole purpose was to protect the Main Family.
His father had always lived that way. Unless something unexpected happened, he was supposed to do the same, protecting that adorable little sister from the Main Family.
But after the Caged Bird Seal was carved onto him, his attitude changed.
The blue-green mark represented his status. Even his tall, imposing father could not escape it. Living among the Branch Family, he inevitably began to resent the Main Family.
Why did there have to be a distinction between the Main Family and the Branch Family?
Why could Little Sister Hinata, with her weak personality, become a member of the Main Family and lead the entire clan in the future?
He understood that he was destined never to become that exception within the clan. There would never be another exception like Big Brother Zou.
Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, Neji walked toward the training ground without looking back.
Watching him go, Hinata felt a little lost. She knew there was a rift between them, but she did not understand what that rift truly meant.
She wandered aimlessly down the streets, unknowingly arriving at the village's shopping street.
Hinata decided to buy some flowers from Ino's family, but spotted a familiar figure nearby: Sasuke Uchiha, the top student in her year and the object of the girls' affection in her class.
Sasuke was following a young man dressed in the Military Police Force's uniform. His usual cold expression was long gone, and he looked very happy.
Judging by his appearance, the young man must have been Sasuke's much-talked-about older brother, a legend at the Ninja Academy.