Neji follows the man in front of him, ignoring his cheery attempts t to make conversation. Neji shouldn't be running along behind him, let alone laughing at his bad jokes. Tobi is akatsuki, for Kami's sake. But then, Neji thinks, glancing down at the red-and-black cloak that swirls behind him, so is he.
Tobi laughs and makes bad jokes, and it's easy to mistake him for stupid or harmless. But Neji can see the sharingan under the lurid orange mask, and he knows Tobi is more than what he seems.
"Neji-san!" Tobi sings out, "Almost there." Neji winces. This is a dark day, and Tobi's gawdy colors and piercing voice clash with Neji's mood. Neji closes his eyes but all he can see is blood and white skin and pale, unseeing eyes.
Hiashi backs away, hands raised defensively. Hiashi's chakra is low, and Neji can see by the tremors that it's taking all of his energy just to keep the Byakugaan active. Hiashi is cornered, backed up against the wall, as Neji stalks toward him.
"Why now? Why not sooner, when you learned of Hizashi's death?" Hiashi tries to sound nonchalant, but the trembling in his hands get worse, and the protruding veins of his temple threaten to recede.
Neji reaches out, almost gently, and brushes the sides of Hiashi's face with the Gentle Fist. Just a touch, but Hiashi's jaw hangs useless and slack. Neji widens his eyes, making sure to carefully observe everything, so as not to miss anything. He's smiling as he cuts out his uncle's eyes.
After, Hiashi lays almost still, fingers twitching helplessly at his sides. His empty eyes sockets leak blood and vitreous fluid onto the once pristine hard wood floor.
"Please." The blocks on his jaw have worn off, so the whisper is faint but clear. Hiashi jerks toward the blood-stained kunai and Neji understands; Hiashi's plea is for a merciful death. Neji kicks the kunai out of reach, and stare down at his uncle, trying to feel something.
"You killed my mother."
"Neji-san?" The honorific seems almost sarcastic as Tobi glances back to see why Neji isn't moving. "Did you say something?"
"No." Neji keeps his voice low, biting his lip to keep his lips from quivering. He's too skilled a ninja to spit out the blood that fills his mouth, so he swallows and tastes copper and salt. Tobi lets it go, and they make camp in silence.
Tobi breaks the quiet over a fire and ungodly sweet tea. " My, you know, cool eyes, that's just between us , right?"
Neji can hear the threat that lurks behind Tobi's voice and wonders who Tobi is, exactly. "Of course."
"Okay, that's good. Wouldn't want all the other kids to get jealous." Neji snorts, sipping delicately at the cloying tea that the odd man seems to love; Tobi's third cup is already empty.
After finishing the pot, Tobi sets up his sleeping bag uncomfortably close to Neji, not removing the mask even though it must be uncomfortable to sleep in. Neji can't fathom why; he already knows Tobi's an Uchiha. "We're getting close! One more day and we'll be there, Neji. "
Neji notices the lack of honorific but doesn't mention it. His stomach flutters at the thought of being so close to leaving everything he loved behind. He wonders if he'll ever be as famous as Itachi, wonders if the destruction of Hyuuga will ever equal the Uchiha massacre. Probably not.
It takes Neji a long time to fall asleep, and when he does he dreams of Hiashi's ruined eyes, of Hinata crying and asking him why, why, Neji, Neji, Neji
"Neji, Neji!" He wakes with a start, reflexively grabbing the wrist of the shinobi shaking him awake. Tobi's impassive pumpkin-slice of a mask stares impassively back at Neji, who feels wetness on his cheeks. If Tobi notices the tears he says nothing, and Neji is grateful for small favors as he stumbles into the woods to piss.
Tobi hums to himself as they walk alongside the river. It's a beautiful day: not a cloud in the sky. Neji buttons his cloak tighter and reflects on the cruel ironies of nature.
When they reach the massive cave, Tobi makes Neji pinky-swear not to peek as he does something that makes the boulder blocking the entrance roll away. Neji could see easily if he wanted to, but he is wary of Tobi's sharingan, and lackadaisical threats.
Inside is slightly dank, water from the river leaking in through the seams. Neji does'nt what to expect, and almost cries out when the massive rocks slams back into place. There's no turning back now.
"Zetsu-sama!"
Neji jerks around to see the torso of a man protruding from the floor. He tries not stare and the leafy green appendages that frame his oddly colored face.
"Tobi. Leave us." Zetsu acknowledges and dismisses his subordinate with little more that a nod and wave. Tobi flicker and vanishes. Neji meets Zetsu's odd, golden eyes.
"Welcome to Akatsuki. We hope you survive. I don't." Neji swallows and says nothing. "You can meet the others soon. Too soon. We're all outcasts for a reason."
Zetsu doesn't say anything except to greet Kisame, who Neji is handed off to. The blue-skinned man grins widely, displaying a set of dangerously pointed teeth. Neji shivers and tells himself it's because of the damp.
Neji clears his throat. "Where is the bathroom, Kisame-san?"
"You're lucky, Hyuuga. If you'd been here a couple of years ago you would have to shit in a hole. And smell like it after. No showers, then." Kisame grimaces, leading Neji down a series of intricately crossed corridors. Neji pales slightly at the thought.
"Are there showers now?"
"Like I said, kid. Lucky. Kakuzu hooked up some sort of generator."
Neji nods and they walk in silence until they reach what he assumes is the bathroom. Kisame grins and scowls, stretching out his hand. Neji takes it, unsure of the missing-nin's intention.
"You're a bit like Itachi, you know that? Quiet. I hope you make it." Neji finds himself actually blushing to be compared to the Uchiha, and is mortified at the fact. He is still debating whether to thank Kisame when the his features melt and puddle into water on the floor. A bunshin.
Neji inspects the small bathroom, recoiling at the green mold happily thriving in the shower. The faucets are rusty and derelict; but besides that the bathroom is fairly tidy.
He steps into the shower and turns the water on; it jets out with a sharp sputter and a hallow clang. The water is almost unbearibaly hot and isn't long before Neji is bright red all over. The too-hot temperature feels good, as if the water is scouring away all the mistakes Neji has ever made.
Days later, when he receives his Akatsuki cloak and ring, Neji is reborn.