The question broke Gai's heart. That was Neji's struggle forever, as long as clan politics continued the way it was. Even with a member of a prominent clan as Hokage, nothing could yet be done about the complicated and often unnecessary strife that internal affairs of the clans caused its own people.

Gai wanted to promise his students their dreams. But he couldn't promise Neji the one thing he most needed: choice, freedom, the right to be himself. Gai deflected hit after hit, missing a few and being grazed by others. Neji was breaking right before his eyes. He felt so powerless. He didn't even know how to reply to Neji's question. All he could do was continue the match and try to find out what happened. Perhaps he could offer consolation, if nothing better.

"Do not let this defeat you, Neji. You are stronger than that." What had the clan done to Neji now, now when he was at the cusp of his own sort of tentative freedom? Being ANBU would have given Neji more room--what had they done to obviously tighten their hold on him? Gai had the horrible fear that Neji's only true freedom would be death; he wanted better for his precious student. Maybe their combined anger would be passion enough to drive them to find a solution.

"Tell me what they have done." Tell me what they have done this time.