Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I did, I would not be writing Fanfiction.

Naruto: Yeah, and most of us would be dead. What a sadist.

Proluge

Exiled. The word rang in his head, resounding off the walls. Exiled. Exiled. Exiled. His usual prompt brain didn't seem to be working just that moment. It took me a whole minute for it to register and then... bam, it hit me. Exiled – permanent removal from one's home. My internal dictionary which was my brain finally processed it.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked in a stoic voice which I had developed after my father's death.

"you will leave tonight, to Tokyo at 1800, pack now and get ready" with that, 2 shinobi from my sides grabbed my arms, fully intending to drag me out like the dramatic scenes usually seen with exile. Tch, yeah right.

"kaiten!" my 'heavenly spin' attack had hurled them across the room, knocked out and sent an intricate tapestry to the floor. Sending one cold look over my shoulder, one I had perfected over years just for an occasion as such.

I simply couldn't believe it. I was the strongest of the Hyugas, surpassing even Hiashi. All while being in the branch family. Jounin at 15, part of the Anbu as well. They are stupid. I might've expected torture or boring D class missions but not this. After what he did to my father, his brother, he still manages to banish me. When I finally managed to be totally free. He banished me.

My hand instinctively went to my forehead. I allowed myself a small smile. The jealous Hanabi, daughter of Hizashi had gotten me alone and preformed the seals that set off my 'bird in a cage' curse I had on my forehead. It was meant to kill me and it would've killed me if I hadn't fought that kitsune kid Naruto. He taught me that anyone can change and the only thing stopping me from being free are the manacles of my own mind. Armed with that knowledge, I survived the mental torture I was put through. (1) I believe Hanabi was rather surprised when I recovered from the seal. Guess I'm the first one to do so. Now I look like any main family Hyuga. Key word, 'look'.

I tossed the last of my possessions into my pack and shouldered it effortlessly. I had just walked out of my room when I heard a voice call out to me,

"Neji-niisan?" I looked back to see my cousin Hinata. In the past 2 years, she had lost a lot of her timidity, due mainly to Naruto. I gave a small smile and stated,

"guess Hiashi finally got fed up with me ne?" she rolled her eyes, at least it would've looked like that if she had pupils to show it.

"tch, he's just to scared that you will take over since he doesn't have the power of the curse seal against you now"

"aa" I replied, that was my view as well, I just wasn't as open to it. I wasn't one to complain much but this time, I couldn't help it,

"this is gonna suck. I can't be a shinobi anymore and if I come back here, I'd be considered a missing-nin and Tokyo is probably somewhere with more stuck up snobs than I can count" Hinata half-grinned,

"well, it can't be any worse than the Hyugas, ne?" I chuckled wryly,

"last time I checked, both of us were Hyugas"

"and I don't deny it" the navy haired girl shook her head sadly, "why did you have to do it?"

"you know the answer to that, I couldn't just let him get cursed, and I couldn't watch it"

"so you just had to give him the 64 hands?" she said wryly.

Grinning, I answered "well I could've stopped him without it but where's the fun in that?"

"yeah, but your moment of fun cost too much" I dropped my smile,

"well, at least I kept him in Intensive care for months"

"ya know, he hardly seems like my father anymore" I smirked a little,

"due to my bad influence"

She sighed and started to walk along the hall, I stuffed my hands into my pockets and followed. "ano, when are you leaving?"

"Hiashi said I am to leave in..." I glanced at my watch,

"30 minutes"

"..."

"let's go spread the news" she said finally. I stopped her with a hand on her arm.

"no, I don't want them to know... please" she looked at me strangely.

"look, I don't want the attention. You can tell them afterwards but I don't want some kind of big fuss" her slightly confused face fell into understanding.

Being the realistic person that she was, she informed me that

"people are going to notice when their ANBU captain is missing-"

"And that can't be helped" I cut her off. She sighed,

"ok, first I want to give you something though" I remained silent as she led me through the huge Hyuga estate, finally stopping in her room. As the heir to the Hyuga clan, it was appropriately furnished.

"Turn around" she told me.

"and no Byakugan" she added as an afterthought. I smirked, the Hyuga technique allowed me to see 360 degrees around me. Having my back turned was no different. I heard a soft rustling, then footsteps as she walked up behind me.

She lightly tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around to see her holding up a necklace. It was a silken black cord, with a silver pendant shaped like a feather, about 2 centimeters long. She made as if to put it on me and I lowered my head slightly to allow her to. It was light and the pendant seemed warm against my chest. I glanced at her in question.

"I was about to give it to you anyway, for your birthday" I examined it, it was very well made. The little ridges were fine and intricate. The silver was of good quality and the cord was strong yet thin. I smiled one of my rare smiles, a soft blush crept across her face.

"thank you, it's very nice"

Suddenly, a messenger-nin popped up in front of me, delivering his message in an a haughty voice.

"To Hyuga Neji, from the Rokudaime, he wishes you to come to the administration office immediately" with that, he was gone with a poof. I looked at Hinata with slightly apologetic eyes and was gone, without the showy poof of smoke. Hinata just shook her head and sat down on her bed to think.

"what is it Naruto?"

The new Rokudaime gave me another one of his infamous fox grins and told me,

"blunt as ever Neji-san" I rolled my eyes

"get to the point" he chuckled,

"I have a mission for you" I was confused,

"surly you have heard of my exile idiot" he looked me in the eye and replied,

"apparently I am not the idiot here, of course I've heard of it" I raised an eyebrow,

"so...how can I do a mission if I am in Tokyo?" he sobered and answered,

"In Konohagakure, we have a special organization, similar to the ANBU, but not quite. Members of this organization live in non-shinobi areas doing missions that include things like missing-nins, minor demons, and assassinations. They are called the Kage Desu, shadowed death, apparently, I've volunteered you for it. Why let a strong shinobi such as you go to waste?" I smirked and inquired,

"since when has this organization been going on?"

"uh..." he started sheepishly, scratching his head,

"when I became Hokage?"

"and how many people are already in this?" I probed.

"uh...including you...2"

"and who's the other poor sucker?" I asked.

"..."

"who is it?"

"...Uchiha Itachi"

"NANI?!"

(1) erm...i read that the curse seal is based upon mental torture or something to do with ur brain so i just kinda made this part up...the mental torture is supposed to kinda erase all traces of byakugan...uh, yea...

Hiya pplz, dis is ma first Naruto Ficcy and I'm hoping to get some positive feedback on it. I want at least 10 reviews telling me to continue or else I'll trash it. Yes I know I'm mean, bite me.

Disclaimers suck. Who cares about them. Screw disclaimers I say! Let's sign a petition like we're hippies! . but really, it's common sense that I don't own Naruto.