Chapter 1: The Eye's are Watching
It was an early morning in Konoha. The first rays of sunlight were just beginning to creep over the roof tops. Proud buildings stood, ready to be dressed in their usual attire of golds and shadows. It was a quiet morning. Only the faint melody of birds could be heard from the nearby forests. If There was only one word to describe this sight, it was…
"Peaceful." A figure murmured.
Pearl eyes flashed in admiration of the quickly approaching dawn. The boy stood alone and he was glade. For him, another's presence would just be a smudge on the master that was laid out before him. The Boy smiled to himself. At that moment, the village was his, and only his, and that was exactly how Neji liked it.
After taking one last glance at the mural before him, the brunette preceded in exiting his family estate. It was barely five, yet the young genius was already up and on his way for some early morning training.
It had become a ritual to Neji to train early. He couldn't remember how long he had been following this ritual, but it had become so engraved in him that Neji didn't think he could ever give it up.
As Neji continued his walk towards the training grounds, he found it more difficult to concentrate then usual. Instead of inwardly dissecting some jujutsu or developing a new fighting strategy, the pearl eyed boy found himself lost in the rare beauty of the spring morning. He would never tell anyone, but his favorite season was spring. He just couldn't get enough of the feeling that the season evoked in him.
But by far, what Neji liked best about spring was the variety of greens that came with it. He never could keep track of all the different shades he saw, there seemed to be several new ones every year.
By the time the young genius reached the forest he decided to spend just a couple of minutes admiring the trees before he started training. He slowly wove his way through the forest, paying careful attention to how each tree varied: the shape of the leafs, the trunks' unique curves, the different colors of the leaves; not any two trees were similar.
Neji was almost too consumed in his observations that he didn't notice a non-organic yet, familiar green figure drop right in front of him.
"Good morning, Neji-san! What a fine day it is to be in one's youth. Our bodies are now in tune with the youth of the earth."
"Yes, Lee, spring can be quite energizing." Neji answered.
Another reason why Neji chose to keep the identity of his favorite season a secret was because he didn't what it to slip out that green was his favorite color. The brunette could only imagine what would happen if Lee or their Sensei discovered his secret...
"Gai-Sensei, Gai-Sensei!"
"Yes, Lee?"
"Neji has just confided in me that his favorite color is green!"
"Really?"
"Hai, Gai-Sensei!"
"That is wonderful news, Neji! Why didn't you say so earlier? Here I have an extra-special green training suit with me right here. Here, put it on! It is wonderful that you have finally realized your preference in clothing! The Spirit of youth is indeed within you!"
…
Neji shuttered as he came out of his daydream like trance.
As much as he admired the color green, he did not want to go around looking like a green bean. If Lee and his Sensei wanted to parade around in green spandex, well, that was their choice, but he didn't. Neji could still remember when Gai had once tried to persuade him of the many "advantages" of wearing a green spandex suit. Thankfully, Hinata had arrived at the time, interrupting their little conversation. Neji was never so grateful to be bothered by his little cousin in his life!
"Stupid spandex." Neji muttered
"Sorry, what did you say? I couldn't hear you." Lee piped.
"I said, I wonder what Gai-Sensei has in plan for our training today."
"Oh... Yes, I know. I'm excited, too! Gai-Sensei always has the most fun and unique forms of training planned for us!"
'Yeah, like walking ten laps around the village on our hands "fun".' Neji inwardly groaned.
"Hey, why are you here so early today?" Neji asked.
"Hmm? What do you mean? I get here everyday at this time, it's 6:00."
"What?" Neji was shocked. 'Was I really walking around for an hours?' Neji scolded himself for so carelessly losing track of time.
Before either boy could speak another word, a katana came flying right at them. Both boys quickly dodged the attack and the thrown katana lodged itself in a target the two boys were previously standing in front of.
"Nice aim, Tenten-san!"
"Thanks, Lee." came a high-pitched voice from a nearby tree. The skilled kunoichi then preceded to jump down from the tree she was perched in.
"Morning." Neji stated.
"Good Morning, Lee-san," Tenten smiled at the Green beast, "and Neji-san." she turned toward the Byakugan user.
Neji caught a glimps of something in the kunoichi's hand.
"What is the scroll for?" Neji questioned.
"Hmm...?" Tenten looked lost for a moment. "Oh right! I ran into Gai-Sensei this morning and he told me to bring you two to an important meeting this morning. See, It's all written down here." Tentan pulled out the scroll and continued to speak. "From what I have read, some sand ninjas have arrived at Konoha. I don't know all of the details, but Gai-Sensei believes that their presence has something to do with strengthening ties between Leaf and Sand."
"Sounds important!" Lee exclaimed.
"Yes, it is. Sensei says that the Hokage specifically wants our team and team seven to attend the meeting. It stars soon, we need to leave immediately!"
The other two ninja nodded, and they than they were off leaving nothing but a trail of dust in their wake.
...( Some Several Miles Away)...
Two figures stood alone on top of a tall hill starring down at the little village resting below.
"I hope little brother is right this time." one of the figures stated.
"Yes, we have been looking for so long, I hope we finally found the right place." the other figure replied.
"He has been getting pretty restless lately, I'm afraid of what might happen if this turns out to be another dea-... Wait did you hear tha- Ahg!" a firm clump of sand entwined around both of the two speakers necks.
"You know-" A raspy voice cut in. "I don't like it when people talk behind my back." The speaker slowly walked up to his two captives, his short hair burning a dangerous shade of red. The boy stared darkly at his two team mates, his green eyes flashing.
"Sorry, we-" The sand squeezed tighter. "We, cough, meant no disrespect Gaara!" Kankurou managed to choke out.
"Yes, please we did not mean to offend you!" Temari pleaded.
"I sure hope. . . for your sake." The sand slowly retreated allowing the blonde girl and the other boy some much needed air. After a few minuets of silence the blonde girl spoke.
"I have a good feeling this time, I think we picked the right place, don't you think so Gaara? . . . Gaara?" She looked fearfully toward her little brother for a reply, but got none. The redhead was too busy looking at the village down below him. However, it wasn't the actual village that caught his attention, but a brunette ninja who was running through it. Gaara's breath shortened.
"He..he's ... here..." the red head whispered.
"What? Did you say something?" Kankurou asked.
"Ahgg!" the red head grabbed his head and started to shake violently. "He's here. I finally found him." Gaara began to laugh. A sadistic grin spread over his face. "At last, I'll be able t- to", Sand started to pour out of his gored and spin around him faster and faster.
"Oh no KanKurou! He's,.. he's going to change!" Temari panicked. "Gaara, please calm your self?" Gaara appeared oblivious, the sand just continued to spin faster and faster all the while his eye's began to bleed a demonic gold.
"Gaara, Please! You must contain your self or all of our plans, all of our efforts, will be for nothing!" Kankurou shouted. Gaara's growls began to ease and the sand started to slow down. Slowly, the gold faded from the red heads eyes.
Gaara shuttered again and after taking a few shaky breaths he looked up.
"He's too excited." Gaara took another deep breath, "I can't go now."
"Yes of corse Gaara." Temari answered in a sigh of relief.
"We'll go and take care of everything then come back to get you." Kankurou assured
Gaara nodded then slowly disappeared into a million little flecks of gold. Temari and Kankurou gazed in silence at the spot were their little brother just stood.
"We better go." Kankurou murmured and with that they left.
...(Latter that evening)...
It was near dark and Neji just arrived home. It had been one of those strange days.
... (flash back)...
As soon as Neji and his team entered the office, the young genius got an eery feeling. In the room sat the Hokage, Gai sensai, team seven and their moderator, Kakashi, and two individuals he did not recognize, the representatives of Sand he presumed? One of them was a girl, she looked about sixteen years old, blonde hair and carried a huge fan. The other stranger looked like a guy, possibly seventeen, but Neji couldn't tell much else because his back was turned at the moment. Before Neji could try to move to get a better look the Hokage spoke up.
"Good you all made it." he smiled. "I'm sorry to be requesting you on such short notice, but due to some paper complications their was a misunderstanding of the date in which our Sand exchange students would arrive."
'Exchange students?' Neji quirked an eye brow. All the other young Leaf ninja looked equally as confused.
"Wait! Hokage-sama! I didn't know that exchange programed existed between Konoha and other nations." Naruto stepped forward excitement written on face.
"Naruto quiet! It's rude to interrupt someone while they're speaking, the Hokage no less!" Sakura scolded.
"Hmf, dope." Sasuke added. The Hokage chuckled at the display.
"That's quite alright Naruto. You probably never heard of the program before because it has just been created a couple of weeks ago." the Hokage paused. "That bring us to why I have called both Kakashi's and Gai's teams here today. It has been decided that one member from Kakashi's team, Sakura, and two members from Gai's team, Lee and Tenten, will be participating in the exchange program." Again the Hokage paused to let the newly released information sink in.
"We're going to Sand!" Sakura more stated then questioned. She was shocked, long hair and humidity was never a good mix.
"For how long?" asked Lee.
"For one month. During that time our three guests from Sand will reside and train in Konoha and the three of you that I just named will do the same in Sand."
"What was the purpose for the creation of such a program?" Sasuke inquired.
"I'm glad you asked. For the past few years, as I'm sure most of you know, ties between Leaf and Sand have been... rocky. It is the hope of both myself and the Hokage of Sand that this exchange program will be a step toward improving relations."
"Three?"
"Sorry?" the Hokage inquired.
"You said three guests from sand, where is the third?" Neji finished. He looked at the two Sand ninjas standing at the opposite side of the room. It was very slight, but Neji saw a hint of panic cross their features. The brunettes eye's narrowed, something funny was going on.
"I have been informed that the third of our Sand visitors is ill, he is currently resting." the Hokage replied.
"Yes." the blonde girl from Sand stepped forward. "We are sorry our little brother couldn't come to meet all of you today. I think the drastic temperature change as well as the journey took a great tole on his body. By the way, my name is Temari and this is my other brother Kankurou." As if on cue the stocky boy turned around.
'He's wears face paint.' Neji mused.
"Well if there's no further questions I believe that concludes our meeting. Tenten, Sakura, Lee; you three will report to my office this evening to leave for Sand. There will be two shinobi to escort you on you journey. Pack light and remember you will be staying in a very hot climate for a month, may I recommend that you pack plenty of water." With that the meeting ended.
... (end of flash back)...
Neji returned back to reality just as he was entering his bedroom. 'Training will sure be interesting for the next month. I wonder which two of the three Sand I'll be teamed up with?' It always took Neji time to get used to working alongside new people. He had just started to feel comfortable with his original team mates and now he had to start all over again.
'Oh well.' Neji sighed then stretched.
"Ugh" Neji grunted. His back was killing him. The day may have started irregular, but Gai made sure that their afternoon training made up for the time they missed from attending the morning meeting. Well, it wasn't so much training for the 'whole' team as much as it was training just for Neji. His other team mates were busy packing.
Neji didn't know who to feel more sorry for himself or Lee. The "little green jumping been" had been holding back tears ever since the Hokage said that he would have to be separated from his sensai, for a whole month! After the meeting Neji happened to come across both Lee and Gai saying their goodbyes. They were both bawling their eyes out while sharing a huge bare hug.
'So strange, that's the only way to describe it. That and maybe... touching ... no just plain strange.'
'Time away from Gai would probably do Lee some good anyways.' Neji reasoned. 'They are too freakishly alike, time apart will give Lee the opportunity to gain a piece of his own identity'. Neji chuckled.
"Umph!" Neji moaned. Man! He was so sore that it even hurt to laugh!
"I believe a shower is in order." the brunette stated to no one in particular. Neji began to strip off his clothing as he headed towards his bathroom. Neji bathroom was a pale white. It was rather small for a bathroom, but it got the job done, so Neji didn't complain.
After removing his last article of clothing, Neji reached in the petit shower and turned on the hot water and then preceded to step in. The warm water felt like small drops of heaven on his skin. Neji sighed as he reached for his favorite shampoo. It was lavender scented.
The brunette couldn't resist steeling a sniff before he squirted a desirable amount in the palm and preceded to wash his hair. Neji slowly massaged the purple substance in his hair. He smiled. Neji would never tell anyone, but he loved to have his head rubbed.
After finishing the task of massaging the shampoo into his hair, Neji rinsed out the soapy substance and moved on to conditioning. Then when Neji was finally satisfied that he was squeaky clean he turned off both the water faucets and grabbed a clean towel to wrap around his waist.
Neji then stepped out of the shower and walked up to his sink. The brunette stared at his reflection in the mirror in front of him. It was strange, Neji always thought he looked different when his hair was wet. It was almost as if he looked like a completly different person.
Pearl eyes slightly narrowed as Neji ran his fingers through his hair. 'It's almost like I look like a gir-,' Neji laughed, 'Well duh you do have long hair Neji," the genius criticized himself.
Neji then reached down to grab his comb. It was purple like his shampoo. Neji brought the comb to his hair and looked back up. The comb was dropped.
There in the mirror staring straight back at Neji were a pair of bright golden eyes.
"W- wha...!" Neji was shocked beyond words.
The eyes seemed to glow with an unholy light, yet they were so... captivating.
Neji could only gape and stare dumfounded at the hypnotizing orbs in front of him. But then, no sooner then the eyes had appeared they vanished.
Neji was left alone staring at his own reflection.
tbc...
Dear readers,
So what do you think so far? I'm a first time writer, so I really need some opinions/ "constructive" criticism. Do you like the way the story is going? Please drop me a review, if only just to let me know you read my fic. Also, if there are any pairings people want to see, write me, I'm going to be pretty flexible with suggestions. The more love triangles the better in my opinion! . Thanx.