Disclaimer: If you really think I would really be writing stories about these characters if I already owned them? -.-

The anime/manga series 'Naruto' along with all of its characters belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing.


Prologue:

The first time I saw him it was around three years ago. Or was it four? I don't really keep track of the days or weeks like most people do... too troublesome. But I distinctly remember on this particular day it was very hot...and muggy. Don't you hate that? I mean, especially when you've got something to do right? Like oh, I don't know, being a ninja..

Well anyway, besides the weather conditions, that day was not going particularly well. We, as in Ino, Chouji and I, weren't even into our first hour of being in the Forest of Death for the Chunin exams when we got ''busted''by the all powerful... I'm sure you know who I mean. I still remember what he said to this day, and the way he said it too..

''Alright. Stop hiding and come out'' he had commanded with the same cold tone that you could catch him using today.

''Shoot!'' Ino had exclaimed beside me. ''How could he have seen us? We hid so fast!''

'God' I thought, pinching the bridge of my nose with my eyes closed. 'Now I guess we're gonna have to fight this guy. Man, I am so not up for that. What a drag..'

''It's no big deal.'' Ino whispered, ''our hide and hang out strategy didn't work. So, we'll just use Stratedy #2!''

''Whaaaaat!'' Chouji exclaimed in a whisper beside our blonde teammate. ''Are you SERIOUS Ino?''

''You got a problem with that?'' She sassed quietly. She's always been such a know-it-all. ''Trust me, this plan can't fail.''

There she goes again, so high and mighty, always sure of herself. Ever since we've become a squad its always been about what SHE wants to do. I wonder what stupid ''fail safe'' strategy she came up with this time. She most likely explained it earlier, I'm sure, but I was most likely too annoyed to listen due to the fact that this happened early this morning. I hate waking up early..such a drag. Oh well, just go with the flow I guess.

All of a sudden, Ino rushed us out of the bushes we were hiding in, casting us out into the open field in front of us.

And there he was.

The first time I saw him, I wasn't like I am now, you know...gay. By that time, I had known that I didn't prefer girls that much. Always complaining and wanting something from you, my mom being a prime example. But I guess you could suppose that I was in denial at this stage in life. I wasn't sure I wanted to like guys. So that's what led me to not quite analyze him like I might do now. But the first thing I noticed about him was his long hair. I also noticed that his skin was very pale, almost like a sickly kind of pale, but not quite. His face was angular and defined, yet had a certain softness to it. He also had this refined, calm look upon his face, resembling that of a cat's.

But what really captivated me were his large, lavender hued eyes. They passed over us as if with just one look, he knew every single detail about our lives. Our strategies, our weaknesses, everything. Yet at the same time they held a carelessness in them that suggested that he thought nothing of us. Like he was wasting his time...

Before I could think any further, Ino let out an ear splitting cackle, snapping me out of my little daze.

''Oh! Aha ha! Wow! Imagine running into last year's number one rookie, Neji Hyuuga all the way out here!''

Silence.. Nothing was happening...Okay, I told myself, time to improvise...say something!

''….Can I have you autograph?'' I asked, only realizing after I said it how much of an idiot I must have sounded like. You should have seen the look on his face. To put it simply, it just screamed ''Bitch, no.''

He quickly regained his composure and struck us with a bored look ''Oh, its you guys..'' he groaned.

Both Couji and I were silent as Ino reached up for her hair, lacing her fingernail underneath the elastic holding her blonde locks up before pulling it out slowly, a small gust of wind coming from nowhere, blowing her hair alluringly in the wind.

Man, is it me or do girls always seem to have control over nature at the rights moments.

''Hi there. I've been wanting to meet you for a very long time, Neji'' my teammate said, bodaciously flaunting her body as she eyed him up and down...gross..

''So, hi-''

''Get lost.'' Neji said curtly, quickly turning around, not at all interested in Ino's little display.

I blinked. This was unexpected. Either this guy was gay or he had some serious issues. It still amused me though, seeing Ino cut down a size.

I heard a grunt to my right. My eyes flicked over to Ino, who had her balls fisted in anger, thrusting them in Neji's general direction. A look of pure hatred on her face as she did so.

I inwardly smirked. Yep, definitely feels good to see her ego take a hit. I immediately stopped my mental bashing of my teammate when Neji stopped suddenly, keeping his back to us as he asked, ''Did you just raise your fist to me? Does that mean you want to fight?''

I could sense from the way he said this that he was smirking. I shifted my right foot back before stopping myself. 'Intimidating us is what he wants..' I thought.

I kept an uninterested look on my face as Ino immediately put her hands down, grinning as she quickly reassured him that a fight was not what we wanted. Neji looked over at us, an irritated look on his face as he responded, ''Tch, go away. Even if I were to steal a scroll from you cowardly wimps,.. everybody would just laugh at me for it.''

The three of us immediately turned around and headed over to the bushes, jumping back into the foliage as soon as we reached it, Ino calling back ''Sounds good to me!''

As we were fleeing, I swear to this day that Neji spat out something along the line of ''coach roaches'' before finally taking his leave.

When we had finally reached a spot that we found safe, I placed my hands on my knees, leaning forward as I breathed harshly 'Just as I thought,' I thought to myself 'someone like him wouldn't take a scroll from people like us..unless we turned on him and attacked.'

''Alright!'' Ino piped up in front of me, putting her hair up as she laughed ''Lets see if we can find some weaklings! Ha ha ha ha..'' I gave her a weird look

''Well..I doubt we'll find anyone weaker than us..'' I replied, not at all surprised when she just ignored me, continuing on with her laughter.

I didn't see Neji again until after we had helped Sakura fend off those sound village guys. He had showed up in the nick of time it seemed, appearing with his brunette teammate in the tree behind us. He had seemed genuinely angry about the fact that the sound ninja literally used his teammate for a punching bag. It was at that moment that I knew NEVER to mess with him or get involved with him. EVER. My theory was proven right when I witnessed this said genin beat his own cousin into a bloody pulp. However, despite my previous decision to avoid him, things turned out quite unexpectedly..