Neji: Doomed Prodigy

[NovaSoup]

The story is from Neji's POV. Not an easy character for me, to be honest.

---

Hiashi wanted yet another demonstration between Hinata and myself. A complete waste of my time. I saw Hanabi walking as I headed to the dojo.

"Hanabi-san" I greet her. My youngest cousin offered me a tiny smile.

"Neji-san" She greets back. "Are you ready for your fight, Neji-san?" She looked up at me.

"Yes" I answered simply. There wasn't much to be ready for. Even if the impossible were to happen, I'd lose nothing from being defeated by Hinata.

We entered the dojo, where Hiashi and Hinata were waiting. The heiress of the Hyuga clan looked at me with her feeble eyes.

---

I had gone too far. I intended to inflict too much damage on Hinata, and now I was paying for it.

"AAAAH!" My screams were all I could hear, my throat ruined, but the pain from my curse seal trumped all other sensations.

---

As my eyes opened, I saw a deep fog. I look down, and there is no discernible ground, just solid fog. I rise to my feet and feel a pull towards something behind me. I turn around and see floating words.

You have been offered 3 boons. Attached to each is a Doom. You may only select one Boon. If you choose to select none of the offered Boons, you will never be asked to select a Boon again.

Below these words were the supposed offers. The one to the left was Aura.

Aura: Spiritual energy converted into an energy that is used to enhance, rejuvenate and protect the body. Having Aura means using your own soul as a shield and spear. Having Aura can lead to the awakening of a semblance, similar in uniqueness to a Kekkei Genkai. Your Aura will be unlocked. A user of Aura can unlock it in others.
Grimm: Creatures born from darkness. They will hunt based on the negative emotions coming from sentient lifeforms. Normal animal life is usually ignored. The Grimm will grow stronger and wiser with age, and are not burdened by the requirements of living beings. Grimm will be born on your world.

'What is all of this?' I thought. I waved my hands through the fog and tried to dispel a genjutsu, but I saw no signs that this was fake. Nor could my Byakugan see anything past all of this unnatural fog.

'If I assume this is real, I need to truly consider my options. Chakra is the result of spiritual and physical energy combining; would having this Aura interfere with that process? That is an unacceptable possibility. But such an outcome would not be a Boon, so it isn't wise to make up my mind yet. Regardless, it seems like these Grimm would become a far-reaching problem.'

Next, I read the middle text.

Parahuman Ability: A power that will not drain you. This ability will require the bare minimum amount of training. It will not grow stronger nor weaker, only your understanding of what can and can not be achieved with it will change. Your brain will undergo a tiny change, and you will be given a Parahuman Ability that will suit and complement you.
The Simurgh: This angelic creature has one goal: push you to your limits. Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, she will not show you any mercy. The Simurgh can analyze matter on an atomic scale, move things with her mind, and has an almost unrivaled intellect. Every day she lives, is a day she learns how to better challenge you.

'A stable boon, and a more personal doom. This Simurgh would be my problem to handle, but I have no assurance that I would actually be satisfied with whatever ability this boon would grant me.'

Finally, the right-most boon.

Magic Talent: An ability fueled by magic. Magic is a power made of the spiritual, conceptual, and the fabric of reality itself. You will be given a singular magical talent.
Belief: Your Magical Talent will be determined by the Concept of what you're capable of. Your talent will grow and shrink with the perceptions of your abilities. What your talent begins as will be determined by the current perception of what others already believe you are capable of.

'I can see the clear differences. Assuming goodwill, Aura would be like an extension to my chakra, that changes the world. The parahuman Ability would be a simpler boon that brings a creature into existence that is focused on me. This last one, would give me a power with a doom that is tied into the power itself. I would never choose a power that is limited by the conception of others, and it would be irresponsible to bring unknown wild monsters into existence. That leaves me with one choice.'

'To choose the Parahuman Ability and summon this Simurgh, or to abandon a boon altogether. This is clearly my destiny, and I don't see what anyone would gain from tricking me with this strange scenario.'

I chose the Parahuman Ability.

Intent Obfuscation:

You may be seen, heard, or even tracked, but no one can correctly predict your next willful action.

'I can immediately see the use in an ability like this. Now, I will just have to test the accuracy of this description.'

The words had completely faded.

I looked around, and the fog was growing denser, and i was becoming increasingly sluggish.

'How will this Simurgh challenge me, I wonder?' were my thoughts before the fog was so dense that everything became a mind-numbing white.

---

I awoke in my bed. I looked to my right and saw a wrapped treat on my bedside table, Hinata. I scoff and freeze.

In the middle of my room, there is a female, completely naked. Long, almost glowing blonde hair, almost white skin, dark grey eyes, and 12 wings. Angelic. The Simurgh, my doom.

I jump out of bed, preparing to fight, but she smiles and holds out her arms in a gesture of surrender.

I do not relax, remembering that this creature is supposed to be highly intelligent. Her angelic smile widens, and I feel heat in my chest and face, my eyes wandering over her form.

"Neji-sama, it's nice to meet you." She speaks, her voice heavenly. Her wings cover her body from my view, and I feel the heat in my cheeks become more intense.

"What are you playing at?" I demand. She chuckles.

"You summoned me, correct? So, you are my summoner." She says, as if this were a simple matter.

'Does she not know she is my doom? No, she has to and is trying to trick me. But her goal is to push me to my limits, not kill me. She doesn't need to be a normal enemy to accomplish that.' I figure. She seems to pick something up from my face.

"More relaxed now, Neji-sama?" She asks.

"Just Neji. What makes you believe I summoned you?" I prodded her.

"You were desperate for power after being punished by Hiashi-sama, so you…someone is watching." She speaks, but her lips did not move with those last words.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"I am sending my voice to you, in a way almost no one else can hear. You do not need to speak out loud, softly hum your words, or speak without opening your mouth and without moving your tongue; I will understand you. It is like whispering with just your throat." She explained, her voice heard clearly in both my ears, despite her closed lips.

I decided to give this throat whispering a try.

"Who is watching?" I ask.

"Multiple people now, some of them are rather concerned, you have a very nosey clan. Our story is that you summoned me after Hiashi used the seal on you. You used the summoning jutsu without a contract. You ended up in Angel territory, were deemed blessed, and now I am here, an Angel youngling who will aid you in becoming a worthy summoner for our clan." she explained.

I turned on my Byakugan and looked around, seeing Hiashi, a jonin, and 2 chunin coming this way.

'It is probably best that I go along with her story, for now.'

"Ok, I'll go along with your story." I tell her, and signal to watching Hyuga that I am fine and that she is a friendly. This does not slow down Hiashi's party. Simurgh turns to face the door.

I freeze, looking at her with my Byakugan on. I can't see through her.

"You've seen multiple Angels by now, do not be confused by the gifts of one." She reminds me, her lips still not moving.

I ready myself.

Hiashi opens the door, and I greet him with the proper bow, Simurgh does the same.

"Neji, who is she?" Hiashi asks, voice steady, eyes locked onto her.

"My summon, she is an Angel." I respond. He briefly looks to me with a raised eye.

"Since when have you had a summon?" Hiashi asks.

I hear Simurgh whisper into my ears, and I somehow don't react.

"Since after my spar with Hinata-san." I reply. He now gives me his full attention. There is silence. There is a sort of exasperation barely visible on his face, likely coming to a conclusion that matches our story without us having to say a word. He looks back to the angel.

"An Angel, yes? I suppose your clan wouldn't care much for clothing. Still, you understand enough to cover yourself. Neji, have her return to her home for now." He orders.

"My apologies, Hiashi-sama, but I am to stay relatively near Neji to help him become a worthy summoner for our clan. I can leave the room, if you wish." Simurgh says.

"Is that so? A strange arrangement. What exactly is your contract with Neji?"

"We believe Neji to be a blessed soul. He simply must achieve great things. And I must aid him."

Hiashi looked to be considering her words.

"Then I have two questions for you. What makes Neji blessed, and why can our Byakugans not see through you?" Hiashi asked, some of Simurgh's wings fluttered.

"I will answer the second first," she said. "Angels predate your eyes, Hiashi-sama. Your ancestors may have once carried sight fit to pierce the heavens… but in this era?" Her smile was gentle. "I do not believe anyone in your clan can boast such reach." Simurgh's response froze the room.

'Is she trying to get me punished? Was this her ploy the whole time?' I wonder. I look to Hiashi, who doesn't react.

The jonin's face barely twitched, but the two chunin looked agitated.

"Continue" Hiashi spoke.

"We know Neji is blessed, because us angels possess our own unique sight. And Neji partially blocks this sight. Neji, why don't you demonstrate your blessing on Nobishi here? Just try to land 3 hits on him, how does that sound, Hiashi-sama?" Simurgh suggested.

"I agree to it, let us see this blessing." Hiashi nodded to one of the chunin, Nobishi, I guess.

'My Parahuman Ability, this must be what she is…. not only does she know, but Hiashi can see it! The change to my brain, I hadn't considered what that would mean!' My mind panics, but still, somehow, I don't react.

I get into stance in front of the chunin, knowing I wont win, but deciding this was a good test of my new power.

"3 rounds, first to 3 hits wins. Begin." Hiashi declares.

I decided to test my Intent Obfuscation with an immediate attack.

I lunge at Nobishi and try a feint, my strike does not land, but I can see the surprise on his face. This does not save me from a soft blow to my shoulder.

"Round! Positions, begin!"

This time, I try showing obvious signs of an attack from my left, but don't throw the attack til the last second. The chunin evades my attack, the confusion clear on his face. I see Hiashi also confused, before his eyes widen.

"Ah," Simurgh murmured, pleased. "You understand already, Hiashi-sama?". Hiashi does not turn to her but speaks.

"I can not predict him. Nobishi can still react to him and is still faster and more skilled. But despite how obvious the action, my mind can't grasp onto what Neji is about to do. This is not skill or talent. Continue, Nobishi, do not let him strike you." Hiashi finishes with a command.

Nobishi stares me down, and after dancing around each other some more, he strikes me again on the shoulder.

Hiashi calls round again, and I focus on how else to test this gift further.

This would be the last round.

I move towards Nobishi at a snail's pace.

"I think I get what you're trying to do, Neji-kun." Nobishi chuckles. "You were already a rare talent, but I doubt most genin could handle you if this is a trick you can maintain."

High praise, for an academy student, to be expected.

Nobishi did not move as I inched closer to him, before I put everything I had into an all out lunge. My right arm is aimed for his center, and Nobishi knocks my arm away, and hits me directly in the chest, sending me back.

Hiashi doesn't even bother calling round, we all knew this wasn't a real spar.

"It can't be a genjutsu. Angel, what is your name?" Hiashi spoke.

"Simurgh."

"Neji had this blessing when he presumably summoned himself to your lands?" Hiashi asked.

"Yes, given the attention you've shown towards it, I take it that spot on his brain is a new development. I don't see it on any other Hyuga." The angel responded.

Hiashi hums.

"Angels seem to be fitting summons for a Hyuga, perceptive. What are your loyalties, Simurgh?" Hiashi turned to the angel.

"I am loyal to my clan above all. It is to our benefit to see the potential of Neji realized. So Neji's growth is my second highest priority." She explained.

With a nod, Hiashi began to exit the room.

"You are responsible for your summon, Neji." And the clan head was gone, the jonin and other chunin left soon after.

"Feel free to ask for help in your training, Neji-kun." Nobishi told him, before he also left.

"Well done, Neji." Simurgh told me, her lips closed again.

My heart pounds and my face crumbles. My eyes widen and I take deep breaths for a few seconds, before a perfect physical calmness flows over me again.

can analyze matter on an atomic scale, move things with her mind…

'She's doing this. She's controlling my bodily reactions to mitigate suspicion from anyone watching us through the walls.' My body remains calm, but I'm horrified. 'I can't trust this thing. Whatever happens next, I can't trust The Simurgh.'

"Your eldest cousin is constantly looking at that treat. You should hurry and eat it, Neji!" Simurgh chirps.

'Why would my doom want me to eat a treat?' I can't help but ask myself.

---

2 days later

"Sim, here..here, try this ayu!" Hanabi offered to Simurgh, who was properly clothed. She made a Hyuga inspired uniform herself.

We were in Hinata's room, and I was in hell.

"You must forge strong bonds with your kin, especially Hinata."

There were two servants from the side branch helping with the…party.

"Neji is an awesome summoner, but his moping about not knowing how to apologize to his own cousin was becoming too much to bear."

'I'm going to kill her. I swear I'm going to kill the Simurgh.' I thought, this is not the kind of mental challenge I expected.

"How is the tea, Neji-san?" Hinata asked. As if it mattered.

"It's nice, Hinata-san." I responded politely. It is nice. I like it more than Hiashi's tea, which Hinata seemed to not be trying to replicate for once. Slightly surprising, since his tea is her favorite.

I don't even know how Hinata has time for this. She is the heiress and is extremely busy.

"This is delicious, Hanabi-chan." Simurgh lifted her chopsticks. "Here, Neji-kun, have some." She says, beginning her attempt to feed me.

"I am alright, Simurgh, and I told you to just call me Neji." I refuse.

"I'll stop calling you Neji-kun when you start calling me Sim, or Simmy, or even Ziz." She replied, and started moving her chopsticks in a circular motion in front of me, like I'm a child.

Hinata giggled, pouring me more tea, which I hadn't realized I had finished.

The worst part about today, is that it was fun.

---

1 week later

We were under constant surveillance. The Hyuga are a nosy clan, how could we not be? But I spent so much time silently communicating with Ziz because someone was almost always watching. No one had commented on how Ziz and I seemed to communicate without moving our lips.

I ducked under a wing, and jumped back, putting some distance between myself and my opponent.

I need to figure out how to counter Ziz. She can control the world around here with frightening precision. The first step to figuring out how to defeat her is to be able to notice her actions, no matter how small.

Dozens of rocks are sent flying towards me. I strike each rock as they approach, shifting my position to keep distance from Ziz.

The grass moves unnaturally. I grimace. Ziz winks. The grass leaps from the ground and I substitute with a rock on Ziz's 8 o'clock. She defends herself with 2 wings, and I knock the wings away with a more aggressive use of my Gentle Fist.

Against an opponent with skin as tough as Ziz's, and no discernible tenketsu, instead of using my chakra to disrupt her chakra network, I disperse chakra offensively on impact. It leads to more blunt damage and knockback. It is more draining than regular Gentle Fist use, though that is mostly because it takes a lot of power to move Ziz.

Ziz's wings flap, and she is launched away from me. I Shunshin right infront of her. I see her eyes slowly look into mine, as my right palm nears her chest. I feel a pressure on my chest, and my strike lands.

Im knocked away from her and hit the ground hard.

"Let's call it there, Neji." Ziz says. I look up, and see her also on the ground.

I rise and nod. I watch Ziz dust herself off.

I've never had a better training partner. Hiashi has taught me a fair amount, but Ziz pushes me in a way no one else can. It scares me how much I appreciate that, while also fearing what else she has in store for me. She guides me to be closer to Hinata and Hanabi, which makes my relationship with Hiashi more stable by extension. But between my ability and her spars, there is almost no enjoyment to be had in fighting my peers anymore.

Which brings to mind a tiny problem. I can not turn Intent Obfuscation off. I've had to change how I fight, because if my opponent can't reliably predict my future intent, I cannot predict them based on them reacting to my intent. By becoming harder to read, I've changed how I have to read my opponents.

---

I made 5 Boon/Doom Combos, spun the first 3 that Neji would have to choose from, and figured that a person like Neji would pick the parahuman one, amongst the 3 options he had. He will get another choice after the consequences of this one have really settled.

I made like a dozen powers, he lucked into the one he got.

I genuinely think all 5 Boons come with a horrible Doom, but for Worm fans, the downside of the Simurgh is obvious, even when you consider the adjustments I've made to it for this story.