Summary: Neji's hates being second best.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

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Second best.

That's what he'd always be.

That's all he ever could be.

His fate had been decided the day he'd been born.

He'd always wanted to be the best. Fate had made that impossible.

'Try your best and you'll succeed." That's what his father had said.

His father had lied.

Because no matter how hard you fought or how fast you ran, fate would stop you and you and you'd still…

Be….

…Second best.

It didn't matter that he was stronger than her, or that he was a better ninja, or that he was older than her.

He still had to take orders from her.

Still only second best.

He supposed he didn't actually hate Hinata. It was what she symbolized.

That even a pathetic ninja like her was higher than him.

Second best even to her.

He hated it. But he'd been resigned to it though, resigned to being…

Then that kid had come, with his ideas that you could change fate.

As if.

Neji knew better, fate was a ruthless opponent.

He can still feel the burning pain that came with the placing of the curse seal, still feel the humiliation of knowing he would forever have to bow to someone else.

Forever be second best.

Fate couldn't be fought. He had tried and failed.

But this kid refused to understand that.

Neji waited for fate to rear its head.

It didn't.

As Neji laid on his back on the chunnin exam arena, too stunned to move, he allowed himself to dream again for the first time since he was young.

Maybe he could be the best….and not just…

Second best.

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