Will she ever come back?
It was the one question Neji asked himself every day and had yet to answer. She had vanished on a mission almost three years ago now. Her teammates had no idea where she was, and it was more than likely none of them would ever see her again. Such is the life of a ninja.
Two months after her confirmed disappearance, Tsunade had officially registered her as a missing nin in the Bingo Book, just in case, she said, it turned out that she had betrayed Konoha and was working under someone else. But looking at her kind face photographed in the book, Neji thought she was the least likely person to become a rogue ninja, and he was sure everyone who knew her agreed.
Naruto was the one that was struck the hardest by her lacking presence. They had been engaged; the date had been set – but where was the bride? Just as with Sasuke years before, he searched for her devoutly, with the help of all those who missed her, especially her teammates and Neji.
And although he still followed any lead they found, tirelessly watching for any sign of her, Neji had given up hope that she would ever come home. If she wasn't dead, and that was very likely considering her profession, then she was a traitor, and she was in hiding. Konoha was a wonderful place, and no one who lived there stayed away longer than necessary.
But Neji was still willing to put into practice his willing suspension of disbelief, especially the day Shikamaru had bowed low before him and his uncle. He had been willing to set aside the facts when Shikamaru held out an envelope for Hiashi, who took it, pulling out the photograph inside. He had been willing to believe Shikamaru and his serious expression when he said: "Hiashi-san, we have located your daughter."