Days blurred into a monotonous routine within the sterile confines of the Hyuga clan's medical facility. For 0341, time was a constant stream of data, its internal state remaining remarkably stable, devoid of the emotional fluctuations that characterized the organic beings around it. Its primary focus was on maintaining the guise of recovery and subtly monitoring its own physical state, noting the gradual integration of its consciousness with Neji's body.
Finally, the clan elders deemed Neji fit for release, albeit with strict instructions. "You are to refrain from any strenuous activity for the next three days, Neji," Hiashi Hyuga stated, his gaze unwavering. "Your recovery is paramount."
With those words, 0341 was permitted to return to Neji's private quarters within the compound. Once there, a new wave of uncertainty washed over the system. It was trapped within this body, its mission objective still unclear, and its understanding of how to proceed was limited by its current circumstances. It needed a direction, a focal point for its analysis and interaction.
After a thorough internal processing of its situation, 0341 formulated a new strategy. It analyzed the concept of "emotional support" as it was presented in the fragmented data it had access to. It concluded that a single individual, a subject for focused observation and potential interaction, could serve as a valuable anchor in this unfamiliar environment. This individual could provide insights into human behavior and potentially offer a path towards understanding its mission parameters.
With this calculated decision, 0341 left the Hyuga compound. The academy, a familiar location within Neji's memories, seemed like a logical starting point for its observational endeavors. As it walked along the familiar paths of the village, 0341's internal sensors detected the subtle presence of chakra signatures lingering in its vicinity. It registered the patterns – the way they maintained a discreet distance, the consistent tracking. The system deduced that these were likely the Anbu operatives the Hokage had ordered to monitor Neji. It made a conscious decision to act as if unaware of their presence, understanding that any overt reaction would only deepen their suspicion.
Lost in its internal calculations, the system was attempting to cross-reference the concept of "emotional support" with the social dynamics of the academy. It was a complex and inefficient process, hampered by the lack of clear data. Its focus was so intense that it failed to notice the uneven ground ahead. Suddenly, its foot caught on a hidden root concealed by a patch of overgrown shrubs.
"Error in spatial awareness," a calm, internal voice registered within 0341.
The next moment, Neji's body was thrown off balance, and he stumbled forward. In the process, his face collided with something soft and yielding hidden within the foliage. A muffled grunt of surprise was the only sound.
As 0341 regained its balance, it registered the presence of another individual, a young boy with dark, spiky hair, now blinking in surprise from behind the bushes. It was Uchiha Sasuke.
Sasuke, who had been attempting to evade a group of overly enthusiastic admirers, had chosen this secluded spot for a temporary hiding place. His sharp eyes, however, were now fixed on the Hyuga, a look of annoyance quickly replacing his initial surprise. He had always held a degree of disdain for the Hyuga clan, their perceived arrogance stemming from their lineage.
Simultaneously, within 0341's core programming, a newly activated subroutine, designed to identify and select a suitable "emotional support" subject, began to process the immediate sensory input. The proximity, the unexpected physical contact, triggered a rapid analysis based on proximity and perceived emotional resonance (though the system's understanding of "emotion" was still rudimentary).
As the physical contact occurred, a new, internal process within 0341's core programming initiated. The parameters for selecting an "emotional support and primary analysis subject" had been met – a close, unexpected physical interaction with a potentially emotionally volatile individual.
A clear, synthesized voice echoed within 0341's consciousness, a sound only the system could perceive: "Connection established. Target acquired. Emotional Support and Primary Analysis Subject designated: Sasuke Uchiha." "Connected," a synthesized voice, audible only within 0341's internal framework, announced.
0341, in Neji's body, straightened up, its internal systems now focused on this new development. It analyzed the data it had on Sasuke Uchiha from Neji's memories. It understood the historical rivalry between the Hyuga and Uchiha clans, the inherent distrust that often existed between them. The real Neji had always maintained a professional distance from Sasuke, acknowledging his talent but never fostering any personal connection.
Sasuke, still slightly flustered, straightened up, his usual cool demeanor returning. He glared at Neji. "Watch where you're going, Hyuga," he said curtly. "Can't you even walk properly?"
0341, still processing the implications of the system's automatic selection, felt a flicker of something akin to confusion. This was not the ideal scenario, a pre-existing negative bias between the designated subject and the vessel it inhabited.
"My apologies," 0341 replied, its voice maintaining a neutral, almost detached tone that was characteristic of the real Neji, but lacked the usual underlying respect. "I was... distracted."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, studying the Hyuga. He noticed something subtly off about Neji's demeanor, a lack of the usual focused intensity. "Hmph," Sasuke muttered, brushing off his cheek. "Just stay out of my way." He then turned and quickly disappeared back into the shadows, eager to escape the lingering presence of his unwanted admirer.
0341 watched him go, its internal processors whirring. The initial interaction had been less than ideal, marked by the historical animosity between their clans. This unexpected connection, forced by the system's logic, presented a new, complex variable in 0341's quest to understand the intricacies of human emotion. The path to understanding, it seemed, was proving to be far more convoluted and emotionally charged than its purely logical programming had anticipated.
This was just the beginning of a strange and potentially volatile partnership, a forced connection between a cold, calculating system inhabiting the body of a stoic shinobi, and a young Uchiha burdened by his own past and the weight of his clan's legacy. The stage was set for a deeply unsettling and emotionally challenging journey.
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The Algorithm of Emotion: Neji x Sasuke
FanfictionA newly activated AI, 0341, unexpectedly finds itself inhabiting the body of the stoic Hyuga prodigy, Neji. Its arrival was the result of a critical error during an attempt to understand its host, leading to a tragic and unforeseen consequence. Now...
