Midsummer Afterglow: Hello everyone! I have started on my new NejixHina story! Yayyy! :D I have decided to go with a couple ideas that just began to influence me as I started writing this story. As it is a work in progress I may make updates here and there. I wanted to try something a little darker this time around so if you are looking for a more sappy romantic story then this is not the one for you. Although, there will definitely be romance so don't count it out completely. As I have chapters one and two both completed I will be posting them soon. The story and characters are very loosely based on Naruto besides for the purpose of better storytelling. If I have made any errors as to things in the story which are based off of Naruto, then please send me a message and I will do my best to get back to this story and correct them. For now, here is the introduction to my new story! Remember to review if you can because every review will give me the courage to continue this! Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I MUST ADMIT TO YOU READERS AND MYSELF THAT I DO NOT OWN NARUTO IN WAY... T_T LOL!

Prologue

The branch house, those cursed by the Hyuga clan. This is where I come from.

Marked eternally by a fate I cannot escape. A destiny meant to be fulfilled the moment I was born.

This is neither the beginning nor the end of my story.

Neji looked down into his open palm. His forehead protector, the symbol of the leaf stained with her blood, felt heavier than ever before. The skin of his hands was torn and his body was trembling from head to toe. Marked by the cursed seal adorning his forehead, Neji could not bring himself to turn away from the scene before him. Hinata's body lay unmoving on the ground before his feet. Her pale eyes, staring up into his similar ones, were no longer seeing. Shortly cropped indigo hair spread like a crown around her lifeless face. If only he had come sooner, if only his pride had not gotten in the way; perhaps he could have seen her smiling once more. Neji shakily fell to his knees. Outside the Hyuga compound, shouts could be heard coming from all directions. Night had fallen and had brought great tragedy with it. A single kunai was stuck in the grip of Hinata's pale hand. Neji reached over and uncurled her cold fingers, releasing her tight grip on the familiar weapon. The steel tip of the kunai was sharp. The moonlight streaming through the open window caused its flat metal surface to gleam brightly. Neji lifted the weapon to his neck, the edge of the blade resting against his skin sent shivers down his spine. Was this what it had been like for her? Had she felt the same terror as the cool blade met with her soft skin? There was no more time to think. She was still, the life drained from her violet eyes. There was nothing more he could do now but follow her to the place she had chosen to flee to. Death was so final and yet it had been the last act of love she had chosen to perform. Neji knew why. It was simply her way. The innocence surrounding their forbidden relationship had been stripped away. Though they had made the decision to leave and defy their destinies, things were just not meant to end the way they had hoped they would. Fate had once again played its hand and once again it had won. With one last look at the girl's slain form, Neji sucked in his breath as he quickly drew the kunai across his throat.