Sunshine Applications (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sunshineapps) wrote2014-05-08 05:03 pm
sunshineapps) wrote2014-05-08 05:03 pm
Entry tags:
Hyuuga Hizashi
Name: Hyuuga Hizashi
Canon: Naruto
Journal:withmyownwill
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Canon History: Wiki link
Canon Abilities/Powers: Very little is known about Hizashi's canon abilities, beyond the basics. He has the Byakugan, like all other members of the Hyuuga clan, a bloodline technique that gives the user great insight. This allows him to:
- See nearly 360 degrees, with the exception of a small blind spot at his upper thoracic vertebrae, to a distance that's a minimum of 50 meters in all directions.
- Track fast movement that would otherwise be impossible to follow.
- Magnify objects to see tiny details.
- See in the infrared spectrum.
- See through most barriers save for advanced jutsus with x-ray-like vision, including obstructions like smoke screens and walls, and even skin and bones.
- See chakra, including such things as chakra circulatory systems and tenketsu, barriers and seals, genjutsus, transformations, and the difference between incorporeal clones and real people.
- Extend the range of genjutsu and other vision-related techniques.
- Use Jyuuken, a style of taijutsu focusing on precisely striking at the chakra system of an opponent to disable and even cripple them.
Hizashi is noted to have exceptional prowess and personal renown in canon, capable of using Main House techniques and an equal to his brother in nearly every way, even exceeding him in strength. He is demonstrated to be able to fight on even footing with his brother in a fair fight, and to be able to literally physically incapacitate him with a single surprise blow.
Sunshineverse History: Hizashi's life began exactly as it did in canon: born mere moments after Hiashi, fate dealt him the blow of being a Branch Family member rather than a Main Family member of the Hyuuga clan, of being practically a slave rather than nobility nearing a prince. He was given his Caged Bird Seal at three years old, permanently erasing any chance he would ever have at becoming the clan head. He was raised with an excruciatingly clear awareness of his place and role in the family since he was old enough to remember, relegated to the care of his Branch Family cousins to be raised and tutored, as opposed to the personal attention Hiashi received from their father. He had been born to serve--specifically, to serve his older brother, who was destined for great things and would be groomed for them nearly from the moment his life began.
At first, it was simply The Way Things Were, an indisputable fact of life that colored every interaction he had with his brother and family. As he grew old enough to better understand the idea of fairness, it confused and upset him, trying to understand how there could be such an overwhelming difference between brothers who were nearly equals in every way; this bewilderment only grew greater as his world expanded from the compound alone to include the Academy as well, and people began to not only judge him favorably based on his own merits, but encourage him to learn and ask questions, and strive for greatness within himself. No matter how desperately he worked for his parents' attention and approval, though, let alone their love, it was never enough.
Once he and Hiashi graduated from Academy at age eight, the first signs of strain in what had been a very close relationship between the brothers began to show, as the favoritism grew ever steeper, and years of unspoken hurt began festering into the first smoldering sparks of anger and resentment. Shimura Danzo's request to train Hiashi was denied, and in his place the man was given Hizashi as a form of concession, rather than allow him to participate normally in a Genin team. One more miserable instance of never being good enough, however, soon proved to be a blessing in disguise; Danzo proved to be an excellent teacher that gave Hizashi exactly what he needed, and the boy soon grew to idolize him as the sort of shinobi he wanted to one day be, and the sort of father figure he'd never been given the chance to have, one who saw the potential within him and cared for him for who he was, not his bloodline or connection to Hiashi. He threw himself into training with the sort of single-minded, near obsessive determination that only a child starved for love and desperate to live up to the impossible perfectionistic expectations they'd built up around themselves and their precious people could muster.
Far more than combat training, though, Danzo instilled in him many of the values he carried with him for his whole life, and helped not only intensify, but also temper and harness his anger and disgust towards the Main House, turning a hatred that easily could have poisoned and corroded him from within into a useful tool and weapon. Only that intervention salvaged his relationship with Hiashi, which grew progressively rockier as Hiashi's grooming under their father began in earnest. He learned the arts of reconnaissance and subterfuge, of political maneuvering and subtle manipulation, of turning his whole life and identity, his very body and bearing into tools to exploit the circumstances he found himself in. It might not be the same as being the heir himself, but it was a good enough consolation prize--and as he learned, in some cases, it was even better. He took to the discipline like a bird to flight, putting it to good use as he was trained to step into his role as Hiashi's protector and advisor. As they grew older and spent more time together in their new positions, the twins grew closer once again, and Hizashi quietly leveraged his standing with his brother to help guide the clan's politics from the shadows.
Given teaching he thrived under, outlets to vent his budding ambitions, and a way to make--even if only partial and tenuous--peace with his fate, Hizashi steadily climbed the ranks, making quite a name and reputation for himself with his prowess in combat as he was promoted to Chuunin, then to Jounin. He fell in love with and married a fellow Branch Family Hyuuga, and they had a child together, Neji. Unfortunately, she died in the line of duty little more than a year after his birth, and Hizashi was forced to check his own momentum for the sake of caring for his young son on his own, taking a period of paternity leave and drastically reducing the scope and rank of the missions he took.
This was only furthered by Hinata's birth around the same time; he was busier than ever, looking after Neji and helping Hiashi. Things looked bleak at first, seeing that Neji would never have a chance at the headship in spite of his budding genius, while Hinata looked to be a weak and unsuitable heir. There was no stopping Neji being branded with the same Caged Bird Seal he had been, at age four; a year before this, Hizashi joined ANBU as part of his reentry into being a fully-active shinobi, and to help expand his influence once more, now that Neji could safely be left with cousins for brief stretches.
The further things continued, though, the more sympathy Hizashi developed for Hinata, as she proved to be a sweet girl suffering under Hiashi's parenting and training styles. Seeing something of himself in her struggles, and fearing the loss of such a kind heart--especially once Hanabi was born, and proved to be much more like her father--and what it could mean for the clan, Hizashi subtly intervened innumerable times to help soften Hiashi's attitudes and methods, ensuring that Hinata would remain firmly in line as the proper heiress and that she would receive training more appropriate to her needs and temperament. He took on a more fatherly, supportive, emotionally available role to Hinata as his bitterness towards her faded, offering her something of a safe haven compared to Hiashi's harshness, and strategically allowing Hinata and Neji to grow closer in the process.
Thus has his life continues, even to this day. Hizashi continues to exert a shadowy influence over Hyuuga politics through having his brother's ear, and Hinata's favor, gently guiding their clan towards a better future. Between this, his duties as a shinobi, and devoting himself wholeheartedly to giving Neji the best possible training and support he can offer to succeed in life, Hizashi is kept quite busy. His family is very nearly his whole life, and what they don't eclipse, his village overtakes. Tied up in his duties, he lets the years tick by, and does the best he can to keep pace with them. He's not growing any younger, but the future is racing closer by the day, and he's watching all he's worked so hard for grow up and come into his own right before his eyes. With any luck, it will hopefully be a better one than any he's ever gotten the opportunity to experience.
Sunshineverse Abilities/Powers:
Weapons: Typically, Hizashi fights bare-handed, in the Jyuuken style. In the field while on his ANBU missions, however, Hizashi fights with nekode and/or sai.
Jutsu: As noted above, the full range of Byakugan still remains in effect or Hizashi in this game. He knows Main House-level Jyuuken techniques, and is proficient in Wind and Water elemental ninjutsu. Hizashi also has a summoning contract with chameleons, and an excellent grasp on the Hiding with Camouflage Technique, allowing him to almost completely erase his presence from detection.
Bloodline: See "Canon Abilities and Powers", above.
Political: Hizashi has a fair degree of skill in subtle political maneuvering, having been trained by Danzo and served as an aide to Hiashi for many years. He uses this shadow influence within the clan primarily to help gently guide Hiashi's political actions to the most advantageous course possible, and to ensure that Hinata remained squarely in the position of the Hyuuga heiress, rather than allowing Hiashi to give up on her in favor of Hanabi.
Appearance: At five feet and nine and a half inches, Hizashi cuts a rather unintimidating figure, average in height and slender of build, with muscle that's only lightly outwardly defined, and soft features that usually register little but calm, polite neutrality and pleasant interest. He wears long brown-black hair pulled back into a loose ponytail that falls to nearly the small of his back, bound near the end, and is seldom seen without his headband, to cover the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead. His most unnerving feature by far is the Byakugan, blank white eyes that seem to have neither iris nor pupil, and make it inordinately difficult to tell what he's thinking or feeling, or even what he's looking at.
He's basically identical to Hiashi in every way, save that he rarely looks quite so stern as his older brother, and rarely dresses so formally. At home and around the village, he's most likely to be found in a simple black yukata, trimmed and belted in white. While on missions, he tends to favor sleek black and mesh outfits with no indication of rank, not unlike a traditional Japanese theatre kuroko stagehand.
Personality: Perfection.
Complete, utter perfection, poised and polished. That's what Hizashi strives for, and that's what he by all appearances seems to be, a model Branch Family Hyuuga and shinobi of Konoha. He serves his clan and village with tireless dedication, utmost seriousness, and gracious modesty, the very picture of courtesy and conscientiousness. Over the years, Hizashi has developed a mastery of impression management and facade construction, and and he's built up for himself a careful persona that tries to be all things to all people..... or at least, all things that are expected of him, to all people that may be important to his life and career. He's dutifully obedient to all authority figures, respectful and diplomatic to anyone he isn't close to, and thoughtful and kind in small gestures when the situation seems to warrant it. He's amazingly good at keeping a calm and level demeanor in the face of any disruptions or obstacles, cool and decisive even in times of crisis. In the end, he's stable, unflappable, dependable, gets the job done, and is pleasant to work with while he does so--the sort of coworker any shinobi would be glad to have, even if it's somewhat difficult to get to know him on a more personal level.
It's this very difficulty in getting to know him personally that Hizashi relies on, as he has mastered the art of metaphorically seeing without being seen. Being friendly and open yet quietly professional, it's easy to form the illusion of closeness and disclosure, without really offering much of himself at all. He holds his own thoughts, opinions, and feelings close to his heart, a rigid personal boundary he clings to for the sake of maintaining what integrity and independence he has; being a Branch member of Hyuuga, a shinobi of Konoha, and a member of ANBU, he has an acute understanding of just how easy it is to lose yourself, and your individuality and heart, if you aren't careful. Holding the truth of himself in careful privacy helps ensure that he can successfully compartmentalize the different aspects of his life, and preserve the core of who he is, no matter how it may be attacked. Only those he cares about deeply get to see him as who he truly is, and even then, almost nobody is privy to everything about him; he habitually hides facets of himself, often for their sake; he doesn't want to reveal his "ugly" side to those he loves, or make them worry about him. Hizashi finds it extremely difficult to truly trust or fully relax--given the way he treats his life as a mixture of tool, weapon, shield, and disguise, he has trouble allowing himself to accept the sort of care he so readily gives others, or feeling free and safe enough to express himself authentically.
Not to say that he's always successful, or that his successes are always healthy for him. Even if he has strongly held beliefs, they don't often get expressed, and he doesn't often feel free to act on them in more than an extremely roundabout way; chances are, if he genuinely dislikes you, you may never actually realize it. Unless you're a foe on the other side of the battlefield, he swallows down all his dark and "ugly" emotions and bottles them up deep inside, hiding his heart and letting them fester inside when he can't pour them into other channels like training. He feels personal wounds deeply, even when he's able to shrug off more mild abuse and blows to his dignity, and holds grudges for a long, long time if he finds no reason to forgive someone. He tends to lack assertiveness in most situations where he could most use it; rather than being able to act on his own true thoughts and feelings, and take care of his needs and desires, he's forced to sneak around and do things indirectly, even passive-aggressively. He's willing to--and does, every day of his life--consume himself in pursuit of his goals, every day eroding a little more of his reserves and even himself if it helps him do what needs to be done.
In the end, Hizashi is simply a good man caught up in intolerable circumstances, trying to maintain his decency and sanity while caught between a rock and a hard place. Rather than lose his heart and soul in one fell swoop early in life, he smothers it and allows itself to be eaten away at, dying within inch by inch while convinced he's doing what's best. He cares for others more than himself, and in another life, could have been a proud lion or majestic eagle, a strong, principled, and compassionate leader who would have nurtured all under his care..... instead, he's a quiet chameleon, hiding in plain sight and reflecting the world back at itself, showing it what it wants to see to keep himself as safe as possible.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths: Hizashi is a strong man, both physically and spiritually, able to hold his own on the battlefield, especially at close range and with regards to stealth and tracking, and withstand a life of tremendous stress. He's emotionally stable and resilient, highly principled and driven, and incredibly mentally sharp and perceptive. His combat prowess is such that he's garnered a reputation for himself, even aside from being part of the Hyuuga family and possessing the Byakugan and Jyuuken.
He boasts similar skill in political maneuvering and diplomacy, though he keeps that more hidden, save when employing it for the sake of his brother. He has more sway than one would imagine, given that his master and mentor, Danzo, is one of the elder advisors of Konoha, and his brother, whom he personally advises, is the head of the noble Hyuuga clan. As a Jounin and ANBU, he also has access to most of the sensitive intelligence Konoha possesses.
Weaknesses: As much shadow influence as Hizashi has, he is incredibly constrained in his overt social status, being a Hyuuga Branch family member. This means he has been branded with the Caged Bird Seal, a magical choke chain which can cause him extreme pain, blindness, and even death whenever a Main Family member wills it. The Byakugan itself has a weak spot as well, in that a small blind spot at the back of his neck mars the completeness of his vision, and his fighting style is very close range. While he's capable of fighting at longer ranges, he's not nearly as proficient at it, putting him at a severe disadvantage in the field.
He tends to be an extremely self-sacrificial, perfectionistic workaholic as well, putting others' needs before his own and sidelining himself for the sake of his goals. He holds a very low opinion of his own worth, and often fails to treat himself as a person in his own right, struggling even to relax and trust others, or express his true self at all. It's difficult to earn a place in his heart and confidence, and even more difficult to find one close enough that he's willing to share himself fully with you, rather than censor himself for your comfort. It's similarly difficult to earn his enmity, but once you do, the grudge can last forever; Hizashi doesn't let much affect him, but what manages to get through cuts impressively deep.
Village Affiliation: Konohagakure
Rank: Jounin, ANBU Chameleon
Prose sample: Sample is here!
Bracket sample: Sample is here!
Missive Sample: [It's not hard to assume that Neji would be absorbed in studying, at this point, too busy to check his communication scroll for messages. That's why Hizashi doesn't even bother with it--he sticks to the more traditional method of one of Konoha's messenger birds, with an elegantly penned note slipped into the miniature scroll case strapped to its leg. Even for a simple, informal note, everything about it is meticulously neat.....
The bird flutters down to land on the windowsill outside the room Neji is in, pecking noisily at the glass to get his attention.]
Neji,
Please forgive me for taking so long to get back to you; I had not expected another multi-day mission so soon. Everything went smoothly, save for how long the mission took, and all of us are back safe and sound. Hopefully your studies are going well, and nothing too pressing has come up?
If you have time for that visit, then I should be able to come in an hour or two; as long as I wait to go back to the compound, nobody will be expecting me. I can bring some things for dinner, too, since I doubt you have much time to cook these days.
Yours,
Hizashi
Canon: Naruto
Journal:
withmyownwillGender: Male
Age: 44
Canon History: Wiki link
Canon Abilities/Powers: Very little is known about Hizashi's canon abilities, beyond the basics. He has the Byakugan, like all other members of the Hyuuga clan, a bloodline technique that gives the user great insight. This allows him to:
- See nearly 360 degrees, with the exception of a small blind spot at his upper thoracic vertebrae, to a distance that's a minimum of 50 meters in all directions.
- Track fast movement that would otherwise be impossible to follow.
- Magnify objects to see tiny details.
- See in the infrared spectrum.
- See through most barriers save for advanced jutsus with x-ray-like vision, including obstructions like smoke screens and walls, and even skin and bones.
- See chakra, including such things as chakra circulatory systems and tenketsu, barriers and seals, genjutsus, transformations, and the difference between incorporeal clones and real people.
- Extend the range of genjutsu and other vision-related techniques.
- Use Jyuuken, a style of taijutsu focusing on precisely striking at the chakra system of an opponent to disable and even cripple them.
Hizashi is noted to have exceptional prowess and personal renown in canon, capable of using Main House techniques and an equal to his brother in nearly every way, even exceeding him in strength. He is demonstrated to be able to fight on even footing with his brother in a fair fight, and to be able to literally physically incapacitate him with a single surprise blow.
Sunshineverse History: Hizashi's life began exactly as it did in canon: born mere moments after Hiashi, fate dealt him the blow of being a Branch Family member rather than a Main Family member of the Hyuuga clan, of being practically a slave rather than nobility nearing a prince. He was given his Caged Bird Seal at three years old, permanently erasing any chance he would ever have at becoming the clan head. He was raised with an excruciatingly clear awareness of his place and role in the family since he was old enough to remember, relegated to the care of his Branch Family cousins to be raised and tutored, as opposed to the personal attention Hiashi received from their father. He had been born to serve--specifically, to serve his older brother, who was destined for great things and would be groomed for them nearly from the moment his life began.
At first, it was simply The Way Things Were, an indisputable fact of life that colored every interaction he had with his brother and family. As he grew old enough to better understand the idea of fairness, it confused and upset him, trying to understand how there could be such an overwhelming difference between brothers who were nearly equals in every way; this bewilderment only grew greater as his world expanded from the compound alone to include the Academy as well, and people began to not only judge him favorably based on his own merits, but encourage him to learn and ask questions, and strive for greatness within himself. No matter how desperately he worked for his parents' attention and approval, though, let alone their love, it was never enough.
Once he and Hiashi graduated from Academy at age eight, the first signs of strain in what had been a very close relationship between the brothers began to show, as the favoritism grew ever steeper, and years of unspoken hurt began festering into the first smoldering sparks of anger and resentment. Shimura Danzo's request to train Hiashi was denied, and in his place the man was given Hizashi as a form of concession, rather than allow him to participate normally in a Genin team. One more miserable instance of never being good enough, however, soon proved to be a blessing in disguise; Danzo proved to be an excellent teacher that gave Hizashi exactly what he needed, and the boy soon grew to idolize him as the sort of shinobi he wanted to one day be, and the sort of father figure he'd never been given the chance to have, one who saw the potential within him and cared for him for who he was, not his bloodline or connection to Hiashi. He threw himself into training with the sort of single-minded, near obsessive determination that only a child starved for love and desperate to live up to the impossible perfectionistic expectations they'd built up around themselves and their precious people could muster.
Far more than combat training, though, Danzo instilled in him many of the values he carried with him for his whole life, and helped not only intensify, but also temper and harness his anger and disgust towards the Main House, turning a hatred that easily could have poisoned and corroded him from within into a useful tool and weapon. Only that intervention salvaged his relationship with Hiashi, which grew progressively rockier as Hiashi's grooming under their father began in earnest. He learned the arts of reconnaissance and subterfuge, of political maneuvering and subtle manipulation, of turning his whole life and identity, his very body and bearing into tools to exploit the circumstances he found himself in. It might not be the same as being the heir himself, but it was a good enough consolation prize--and as he learned, in some cases, it was even better. He took to the discipline like a bird to flight, putting it to good use as he was trained to step into his role as Hiashi's protector and advisor. As they grew older and spent more time together in their new positions, the twins grew closer once again, and Hizashi quietly leveraged his standing with his brother to help guide the clan's politics from the shadows.
Given teaching he thrived under, outlets to vent his budding ambitions, and a way to make--even if only partial and tenuous--peace with his fate, Hizashi steadily climbed the ranks, making quite a name and reputation for himself with his prowess in combat as he was promoted to Chuunin, then to Jounin. He fell in love with and married a fellow Branch Family Hyuuga, and they had a child together, Neji. Unfortunately, she died in the line of duty little more than a year after his birth, and Hizashi was forced to check his own momentum for the sake of caring for his young son on his own, taking a period of paternity leave and drastically reducing the scope and rank of the missions he took.
This was only furthered by Hinata's birth around the same time; he was busier than ever, looking after Neji and helping Hiashi. Things looked bleak at first, seeing that Neji would never have a chance at the headship in spite of his budding genius, while Hinata looked to be a weak and unsuitable heir. There was no stopping Neji being branded with the same Caged Bird Seal he had been, at age four; a year before this, Hizashi joined ANBU as part of his reentry into being a fully-active shinobi, and to help expand his influence once more, now that Neji could safely be left with cousins for brief stretches.
The further things continued, though, the more sympathy Hizashi developed for Hinata, as she proved to be a sweet girl suffering under Hiashi's parenting and training styles. Seeing something of himself in her struggles, and fearing the loss of such a kind heart--especially once Hanabi was born, and proved to be much more like her father--and what it could mean for the clan, Hizashi subtly intervened innumerable times to help soften Hiashi's attitudes and methods, ensuring that Hinata would remain firmly in line as the proper heiress and that she would receive training more appropriate to her needs and temperament. He took on a more fatherly, supportive, emotionally available role to Hinata as his bitterness towards her faded, offering her something of a safe haven compared to Hiashi's harshness, and strategically allowing Hinata and Neji to grow closer in the process.
Thus has his life continues, even to this day. Hizashi continues to exert a shadowy influence over Hyuuga politics through having his brother's ear, and Hinata's favor, gently guiding their clan towards a better future. Between this, his duties as a shinobi, and devoting himself wholeheartedly to giving Neji the best possible training and support he can offer to succeed in life, Hizashi is kept quite busy. His family is very nearly his whole life, and what they don't eclipse, his village overtakes. Tied up in his duties, he lets the years tick by, and does the best he can to keep pace with them. He's not growing any younger, but the future is racing closer by the day, and he's watching all he's worked so hard for grow up and come into his own right before his eyes. With any luck, it will hopefully be a better one than any he's ever gotten the opportunity to experience.
Sunshineverse Abilities/Powers:
Weapons: Typically, Hizashi fights bare-handed, in the Jyuuken style. In the field while on his ANBU missions, however, Hizashi fights with nekode and/or sai.
Jutsu: As noted above, the full range of Byakugan still remains in effect or Hizashi in this game. He knows Main House-level Jyuuken techniques, and is proficient in Wind and Water elemental ninjutsu. Hizashi also has a summoning contract with chameleons, and an excellent grasp on the Hiding with Camouflage Technique, allowing him to almost completely erase his presence from detection.
Bloodline: See "Canon Abilities and Powers", above.
Political: Hizashi has a fair degree of skill in subtle political maneuvering, having been trained by Danzo and served as an aide to Hiashi for many years. He uses this shadow influence within the clan primarily to help gently guide Hiashi's political actions to the most advantageous course possible, and to ensure that Hinata remained squarely in the position of the Hyuuga heiress, rather than allowing Hiashi to give up on her in favor of Hanabi.
Appearance: At five feet and nine and a half inches, Hizashi cuts a rather unintimidating figure, average in height and slender of build, with muscle that's only lightly outwardly defined, and soft features that usually register little but calm, polite neutrality and pleasant interest. He wears long brown-black hair pulled back into a loose ponytail that falls to nearly the small of his back, bound near the end, and is seldom seen without his headband, to cover the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead. His most unnerving feature by far is the Byakugan, blank white eyes that seem to have neither iris nor pupil, and make it inordinately difficult to tell what he's thinking or feeling, or even what he's looking at.
He's basically identical to Hiashi in every way, save that he rarely looks quite so stern as his older brother, and rarely dresses so formally. At home and around the village, he's most likely to be found in a simple black yukata, trimmed and belted in white. While on missions, he tends to favor sleek black and mesh outfits with no indication of rank, not unlike a traditional Japanese theatre kuroko stagehand.
Personality: Perfection.
Complete, utter perfection, poised and polished. That's what Hizashi strives for, and that's what he by all appearances seems to be, a model Branch Family Hyuuga and shinobi of Konoha. He serves his clan and village with tireless dedication, utmost seriousness, and gracious modesty, the very picture of courtesy and conscientiousness. Over the years, Hizashi has developed a mastery of impression management and facade construction, and and he's built up for himself a careful persona that tries to be all things to all people..... or at least, all things that are expected of him, to all people that may be important to his life and career. He's dutifully obedient to all authority figures, respectful and diplomatic to anyone he isn't close to, and thoughtful and kind in small gestures when the situation seems to warrant it. He's amazingly good at keeping a calm and level demeanor in the face of any disruptions or obstacles, cool and decisive even in times of crisis. In the end, he's stable, unflappable, dependable, gets the job done, and is pleasant to work with while he does so--the sort of coworker any shinobi would be glad to have, even if it's somewhat difficult to get to know him on a more personal level.
It's this very difficulty in getting to know him personally that Hizashi relies on, as he has mastered the art of metaphorically seeing without being seen. Being friendly and open yet quietly professional, it's easy to form the illusion of closeness and disclosure, without really offering much of himself at all. He holds his own thoughts, opinions, and feelings close to his heart, a rigid personal boundary he clings to for the sake of maintaining what integrity and independence he has; being a Branch member of Hyuuga, a shinobi of Konoha, and a member of ANBU, he has an acute understanding of just how easy it is to lose yourself, and your individuality and heart, if you aren't careful. Holding the truth of himself in careful privacy helps ensure that he can successfully compartmentalize the different aspects of his life, and preserve the core of who he is, no matter how it may be attacked. Only those he cares about deeply get to see him as who he truly is, and even then, almost nobody is privy to everything about him; he habitually hides facets of himself, often for their sake; he doesn't want to reveal his "ugly" side to those he loves, or make them worry about him. Hizashi finds it extremely difficult to truly trust or fully relax--given the way he treats his life as a mixture of tool, weapon, shield, and disguise, he has trouble allowing himself to accept the sort of care he so readily gives others, or feeling free and safe enough to express himself authentically.
Not to say that he's always successful, or that his successes are always healthy for him. Even if he has strongly held beliefs, they don't often get expressed, and he doesn't often feel free to act on them in more than an extremely roundabout way; chances are, if he genuinely dislikes you, you may never actually realize it. Unless you're a foe on the other side of the battlefield, he swallows down all his dark and "ugly" emotions and bottles them up deep inside, hiding his heart and letting them fester inside when he can't pour them into other channels like training. He feels personal wounds deeply, even when he's able to shrug off more mild abuse and blows to his dignity, and holds grudges for a long, long time if he finds no reason to forgive someone. He tends to lack assertiveness in most situations where he could most use it; rather than being able to act on his own true thoughts and feelings, and take care of his needs and desires, he's forced to sneak around and do things indirectly, even passive-aggressively. He's willing to--and does, every day of his life--consume himself in pursuit of his goals, every day eroding a little more of his reserves and even himself if it helps him do what needs to be done.
In the end, Hizashi is simply a good man caught up in intolerable circumstances, trying to maintain his decency and sanity while caught between a rock and a hard place. Rather than lose his heart and soul in one fell swoop early in life, he smothers it and allows itself to be eaten away at, dying within inch by inch while convinced he's doing what's best. He cares for others more than himself, and in another life, could have been a proud lion or majestic eagle, a strong, principled, and compassionate leader who would have nurtured all under his care..... instead, he's a quiet chameleon, hiding in plain sight and reflecting the world back at itself, showing it what it wants to see to keep himself as safe as possible.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths: Hizashi is a strong man, both physically and spiritually, able to hold his own on the battlefield, especially at close range and with regards to stealth and tracking, and withstand a life of tremendous stress. He's emotionally stable and resilient, highly principled and driven, and incredibly mentally sharp and perceptive. His combat prowess is such that he's garnered a reputation for himself, even aside from being part of the Hyuuga family and possessing the Byakugan and Jyuuken.
He boasts similar skill in political maneuvering and diplomacy, though he keeps that more hidden, save when employing it for the sake of his brother. He has more sway than one would imagine, given that his master and mentor, Danzo, is one of the elder advisors of Konoha, and his brother, whom he personally advises, is the head of the noble Hyuuga clan. As a Jounin and ANBU, he also has access to most of the sensitive intelligence Konoha possesses.
Weaknesses: As much shadow influence as Hizashi has, he is incredibly constrained in his overt social status, being a Hyuuga Branch family member. This means he has been branded with the Caged Bird Seal, a magical choke chain which can cause him extreme pain, blindness, and even death whenever a Main Family member wills it. The Byakugan itself has a weak spot as well, in that a small blind spot at the back of his neck mars the completeness of his vision, and his fighting style is very close range. While he's capable of fighting at longer ranges, he's not nearly as proficient at it, putting him at a severe disadvantage in the field.
He tends to be an extremely self-sacrificial, perfectionistic workaholic as well, putting others' needs before his own and sidelining himself for the sake of his goals. He holds a very low opinion of his own worth, and often fails to treat himself as a person in his own right, struggling even to relax and trust others, or express his true self at all. It's difficult to earn a place in his heart and confidence, and even more difficult to find one close enough that he's willing to share himself fully with you, rather than censor himself for your comfort. It's similarly difficult to earn his enmity, but once you do, the grudge can last forever; Hizashi doesn't let much affect him, but what manages to get through cuts impressively deep.
Village Affiliation: Konohagakure
Rank: Jounin, ANBU Chameleon
Prose sample: Sample is here!
Bracket sample: Sample is here!
Missive Sample: [It's not hard to assume that Neji would be absorbed in studying, at this point, too busy to check his communication scroll for messages. That's why Hizashi doesn't even bother with it--he sticks to the more traditional method of one of Konoha's messenger birds, with an elegantly penned note slipped into the miniature scroll case strapped to its leg. Even for a simple, informal note, everything about it is meticulously neat.....
The bird flutters down to land on the windowsill outside the room Neji is in, pecking noisily at the glass to get his attention.]
Neji,
Please forgive me for taking so long to get back to you; I had not expected another multi-day mission so soon. Everything went smoothly, save for how long the mission took, and all of us are back safe and sound. Hopefully your studies are going well, and nothing too pressing has come up?
If you have time for that visit, then I should be able to come in an hour or two; as long as I wait to go back to the compound, nobody will be expecting me. I can bring some things for dinner, too, since I doubt you have much time to cook these days.
Yours,
Hizashi