Summary: Years after the continuing events in the manga/anime. A young woman is left on her when her father, an ANBU ninja, dies in the line of duty. She inherited a special talent from him, but it proves more of a hinderence than anything else. The Hyuuga clan, having worked with her father on occasion, formulate their own plans for her talent. That's if she can learn how to be a ninja.
Warning: Nothing really, some barely-suggestive stuff and swearing.
Disclaimer: Don't own stuff. Do own original characters, plot, etc.
If you read this, please let me know. This is just a side story I'm working in the midst of everything, so it won't be updated very often. I do enjoy writing it, though.
My name is Iijima Taya. For twenty years, I deluded myself that I was a normal child. Sure, dad was gone a lot, but I knew he was a ninja and had a job to do. What I didn't know was that he was a member of the ANBU Black Ops – a fact I learned only after they told me of his death.
I should probably back up. My mother died in childbirth and I was raised by my single father. We live in Konohagure, which is a pretty peaceful place, all things considered. I was never given the opportunity to become a ninja – my overprotective father refused to let me be trained, so I spent the majority of my life in or around my house, seeing almost no one. I didn't mind too much since dad did teach me some basic jutsus, as well as survival skills. No special skills, no bloodline limits, kekkei genkai – nope, none of that. Lucky me. I did know a summoning jutsu, thanks to dad, which came in handy when I was alone and bored.
What I didn't know until after he was dead was that he had a good reason for hiding me. He was paranoid, even for ANBU, and was always fearful an enemy might find out his identity and seek revenge. None of this helped me though, not when they told me he was dead. I had nothing. We had a small house on the edge of the village and not many possessions; dad didn't see the point, and as a result neither did I.
Twenty years old, left alone, and with no skills to help me make my way in the world. That doesn't mean I'm stupid as to the ways of the world – I just can't find a decent job. I'm kind of screwed here, I think.
And so she sat on the small lawn – if it could be called that, yard work was never her strong point and it looked more like an overgrown jungle as a result– and tried to think what to do. Leave Konoha? She didn't think so.
"You've got a good body. Maybe you could use that?"
"Uhra!" she exclaimed, glaring at the creature. She didn't know what she was thinking, summoning him, but she had to admit she was lonely. He was irritating, but it beat the silence. Damn weasel.
"Oh, come on," he whined, and spiraled up her bent leg to sit on her knee, green eyes peering at Taya.
"Great legacy to leave me, dad – a weasel who thinks I should be a hooker," she thought with a sigh, rolling her eyes.
"You know I didn't mean it!"
"Sure," she replied wryly, raising an eyebrow. His fur was a sleek ginger color, and his body was almost three feet long, not including the tail. A stretched-out rat, she called him. "Just like you didn't mean it when you said I should try to rob that passing ninja. Idiot."
"Hey!"
"Be quiet," she ordered, suddenly hearing people approaching. She got to her feet quickly and tried to brush out the grass stains on her butt - she winced, knowing it wasn't a very good first impression. Her clothes didn't help anyway – a snug green tank-top that reached her thighs, short black shorts, and a belt.
"It looks like I was playing ninja or something," she thought with some amount of resignation.
"Are you Iijima Taya?" a man asked, followed by two others. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously – this was one of the ANBU that had told her about her father.
"Oishi, I think."
"You know that," she replied shortly. It had been over a year. Twenty-one now, she had basically wasted that year doing nothing while trying to figure out something to do, and no one had really bothered her during that time.
"This is Hyuuga Hiashi, and Hyuuga Neji," Oishi said, introducing them with a formal gesture. She nodded briefly and eyed the two men. She knew of them, obviously, but had never met them. Neji, she remembered, was in ANBU now as well and her own age. However, she knew even less about his uncle.
"Pleased to meet you," she finally said, managing a stiff bow. Neji, wearing robes in the style of the Hyuuga clan, only crossed his arms, but his uncle smiled slightly.
"I deeply regret the loss of your father. He was a talented ninja," Hiashi began calmly, and apparently expected some sort of reply. She only eyed him, so he decided to continue. "I understand you have no family left," he said, deciding there was no way to word it nicely.
Taya shrugged, not having much to say to that. "No, I don't," she told him. "A few distant cousins on my mother's side in Numa no Kuni, but I have no desire to leave Konohagure at the moment."
The Hyuuga man eyed her for a moment and she almost squirmed under the gaze of those strange eyes. Taya kept her back stiff, however, and waited for the moment to pass. Sure enough, he blinked after several long seconds.
"I have a proposition to make," he began, and she narrowed my eyes. Uhra climbed to her shoulders and she could tell the man was surprised. He only paused a moment, however, before continuing. "I do not wish to see such a disgraceful end to the family of a member of ANBU."
"Disgraceful end?" she repeated slowly, now annoyed. "In what way am I disgraced, Hyuuga-san?"
"Living in poverty, having no means to support yourself?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow. She flushed, but was too proud to back down, even from him.
"Whatever I am, I am not a charity case," she thought spitefully.
"Excuse me, Hyuuga-san, but I can take care of myself," she began, but he interrupted smoothly – without sounding slippery or false, she noticed.
"Iijima-san, I knew your father a bit. I know what kind of man he was – I know how he protected you," Hiashi told her gently. "He would not have let you learn the necessary skills to survive without him, on your own in the world – even in the village. No work skills, no ninja skills."
"I can cook," Taya blurted out, and then snapped her mouth shut. "I can too do things that are considered skills. Just because I'm not some damned super-ninja like dad was doesn't mean I'm helpless."
There it went again. Another eyebrow! "I assumed that," the man informed me. Definitely amusement in his voice, which only made her feel like a child. And Neji just remained in the background, watching them both intently.
"Kami, I hate ANBU. I really do."
"Can you please get to the point, Hyuuga-san?" she asked wearily. Uhra bit her ear lightly and was easily ignored him.
"I would like to make a proposition, out of respect for your father," he began, and she actually listened. "The Hyuuga clan generally dislikes outsiders entering our estate, much less living there. However, I believe a daughter of Iijima-san can be trusted. I would like to offer you a job, in return for room and board."
Her jaw dropped at this. Live at the Hyuuga estate? With a bunch of Hyuugas? Live there? "I didn't know the Hyuuga family was given to such generosity to strangers," Taya said, before she could check the words. She was naturally suspicious, after living with a paranoid father her entire life.
Even Neji raised an eyebrow at that remark, and she could have sworn she heard Oishi gasp. Hiashi, however, merely looked at her and it was obvious she squirmed that time. It wasn't an angry look, though – it almost seemed to be thoughtful, like he was studying her. For what, she didn't have a clue.
After a long moment, he finally said something. "Iijima-san, I respect that attitude," he said.
Wait, what?
"Your father obviously taught you pride, honor, and strength," he continued, and she reluctantly continued to listen. "However, there are times when even the best ninja needs help. This is not an act of charity towards a stranger – your father helped me during his life and I wish to repay him by helping his daughter while she needs it."
"Well, that doesn't make me feel ashamed at all."
"I apologize for my rudeness, Hyuuga-san," she said, as meekly as she could manage. "And I accept your offer with gratitude." Uhra bit her again, harder, and she broke the jutsu, making him only a little 'poof' in her ear.
She could have sworn she saw Hiashi smile a bit, but it was quickly gone. "All right, Iijima-san. I will send someone to fetch you tomorrow after dawn, if that's acceptable."
"Whatever you wish, Hyuuga-san," the young woman replied. Part of her hated being subservient to someone, but the man had a point. She had nothing going for her other than this. She only received a nod from the man before he turned and strode away, Neji following. Oishi remained behind, however, and stared at her.
"You're one lucky son-of-a-bitch," he managed, and she stared at him.
"Excuse me?"
"Moving in the Hyuuga clan!" he insisted, his brown eyes wide. They matched his hair, which always looked short and messy. He was a few years older than she was and had the especial talent of driving Taya insane.
"That's lucky how?" she demanded with a sigh, turning back to what she called a house. He smacked her on the back of the head, and received a kick in the side for it.
"You're moving up in the world!" he crowed, and met her glare with a poker face. "Admit it, Taya-chan, you didn't have a prayer until today."
"Don't call me that," she said absently, trying to shut the door on him and failing miserably.
"Admit it."
"No."
"Admit it."
"Get out!" she shouted and to her surprise, he 'poofed' out of the house. "I'll be damned, he actually listened. On second thought, I should probably try not to swear around the Hyuuga clan," she remarked, trying to remember that.
Taya was up before dawn, having packed the night before the few things she had. She peered at herself in a mirror, actually worried about her appearance for once. The young woman knew enough to realize she couldn't go to the Hyuuga compound in street clothes.
She also knew she wasn't much to look at. She at least had a clear complexion, and deep green eyes. Her hair was red-brown and if it was lighter, it would have matched Uhra's ginger color. She was short, only five-three, but her figure was slender from constant training.
She then asked herself a question she never asked, because she never cared.
"What am I going to wear?"
"You look fine," Uhra said, kindly putting in his two cents as she ran for something to wear.
"Yeah, yeah, what about this?" Taya demanded, before realizing she was asking for fashion advice from a weasel. She grabbed the first thing that looked halfway decent. Thin sandals, black leggings that reached just past her knees, and a snug blue-green top. One sleeve was long and loose to her wrists, while the other was a skintight sleeve above her elbow; the neck was low at an angle, like the hem, and the point of the hem hung to my knee. A black belt over her hips completed the outfit. That was fancy for her and she absolutely despised it.
"Someone's here," the weasel remarked, getting a spot on her bag and sitting down demurely.
"How do you –" she began, but stopped when someone knocked. "Damn weasel," she grumbled, striding to the door and flinging it open. She had expected some servant, or maybe even Oishi, but was greeted by the staring white eyes of the Hyuuga clan.
"At least you're punctual," Neji said calmly, examining her as if she was a specimen in the museum.
"I didn't expect you, Hyuuga-san," she managed, and could have sworn he smirked.
"That's to be expected. Hiashi-san thought it would be best if someone from our clan came to escort you. A public acceptance, if you want," the young man said wryly, and she blinked before turning to get her bag.
"If you'll excuse me a minute, Hyuuga-san, I'll just get my bags…" Taya mumbled, and noticed he didn't seem to like being called that. She wondered why, but ignored it.
"Leave them here, someone will fetch them later," he informed her shortly, folding his arms across his chest impatiently. She glanced over her shoulder in surprise and looked down as Uhra jumped into her arms smugly. It was obvious he would pitch a fit if made to leave now, so she merely sighed and stepped back to Neji's side.
"I guess I'll follow you, Hyuuga-san. An escort is supposed to lead, after all," she added, almost teasing the great Hyuuga prodigy. He looked at her, almost in surprise, before turning and striding off, leaving the young woman to follow silently.
Neji examined the young woman discreetly as he adjusted his pace, so she was slightly in front of him for a time. That weasel – it was obviously a summoning jutsu and the fact she could master it meant his uncle was right. She did have some potential.
She had talent, hopefully inherited from her father, but it wasn't her aptitude for jutsus his uncle was interested. It was her eidetic memory that would be useful to train her, possibly even consider a future in ANBU for her. His uncle and her father had apparently discussed this before, or so Neji had been told. This girl, Taya, was able to perform jutsus after seeing it done only once.
That was the problem. She could mimic the jutsu perfectly – but she was unable to see chakra control and so still had to train to master the jutsu, even knowing it perfectly. A strange handicap, but an interesting one.
"And most likely a frustrating one," Neji mused, wondering if the girl had ever wanted to become a ninja. She walked with an easy grace, although obviously self-conscious because of his presence and the looks they were receiving, while her figure hinted that perhaps she had received physical training from her father to stay fit.
"Was there something you wanted, Hyuuga-san?" she asked suddenly, turning her head to stare at him. He twitched imperceptibly, and only grimaced at her.
"There she goes again," he muttered. He knew – he knew – that the girl only called him Hyuuga-san because she realized he disliked it, and he did not like to be toyed with. She was an odd one, both respectful and a tease, unsure how much of either was acceptable.
She wondered if ANBU members went insane. It certainly seemed to her that Neji had, since he kept staring at her back. She had purposefully slowed down to be next to him, or behind him, instead of in front; only he'd somehow end up facing her back again.
"Does he think I'd attack him? As if, I'm not that crazy. Even with Uhra whispering ideas of how to escape in my ear," she thought dryly, and felt like she was marching to a prison, with Neji behind her like that.
"Was there something you wanted, Hyuuga-san?" Taya finally asked, glancing over her shoulder again. He only made a face, so she shrugged in response. She could practically hear him thinking, his silence was so loud. If something didn't happen soon, she was going to go crazy.
"Bikou no Jutsu!" After performing several quick hand seals, the young woman turned invisible and shot away. She had to do something, after all. Uhra, unfortunately, was left back with Neji.
"What was that?" he growled, grabbing the weasel by the neck and lifting him to eye level. "What did she do?"
"Escaped?" Uhra offered nervously, twitching in an effort to wiggle loose.
"Damned girl," Neji swore under his breath. Dropping the familiar, he activated the Byakugan to try to spot her. He didn't even know she could perform a technique like that, let alone move that quick to begin with. Catching sight of her chakra, he moved quickly with a jutsu of his own and pinned her down in a side alley.
"What do you think you're doing?" Neji asked her coolly, his foot on her collarbone. Taya grinned weakly at him, having been caught while scaling a fence.
"I don't know?" she managed, shrugging slightly and trying not to die. "I was bored?"
"So you run off?" he continued, causing her to wince.
"Not ran off," she corrected. "Moved faster. Like I was seriously trying to escape."
His weight lessened, so she pushed herself upright. Brushing herself off, she eyed him nervously.
"I just wanted something to do," she admitted weakly. "And I haven't had a chance to use any jutsus in a long time. It seemed like a good idea at the time."
"It wasn't," he said shortly. He stared at her for a long moment before turning his back. Before he began to walk off, he muttered something under his breath.
"What?"
"Come on, and stay with me this time," he repeated, and she blinked.
"Does that mean I'm forgiven?" she wondered. Not about to push her luck, she just ran off after him without a word.
He didn't turn around the rest of the walk, and Taya was able to guess that she had really pissed him off. She was rather surprised he didn't make sure she was still following, before remembering that he was the great Hyuuga Neji and could probably smell her chakra or something equally creepy.
"We're here," he informed her, and she jumped a bit. She had been lost in her own thoughts and he had interrupted. One glance, however, assured her that they were most definitely at the Hyuuga estate.
"Oh, I don't have to use the servant entrance or something like that?" she asked, honestly surprised as he began to lead her up to one of the front entrances.
He shot her an annoyed look, and snorted. "No."
"That's all the reply I get?" Taya pressed, and received another mean glare. To her shock, she also got another response.
"You're not a servant, you're a guest. Guests use the main entrances," he explained shortly.
"I bet he would have sealed my mouth shut with a jutsu if he could." The thought occurred to her and made her smile despite her nervousness. She kept said mouth shut as they neared the door, and tried to brace herself for whatever might be inside.
"I wonder if there's a sealing jutsu for peace and quiet?" Neji wondered, leading the girl behind him into his home. He was hardly used to people pushing his buttons and had thought the girl would show a bit more gratitude than trying to run off. At least she had gotten rid of that damn weasel.
"Wow."
"Wow what?" he asked, turning around and waiting for her to fall into step beside him.
"Just wow. It's big," Taya managed, looking around with obvious awe. Neji suppressed another irritated sigh and settled for shaking his head.
"Of course it is. It houses the entire Hyuuga clan," he said shortly. "There are quarters for servants and for relatives not directly related, but the main branch resides here."
"So I guess I don't get to stay here, do I?" she asked with a nervous laugh, and peered at him. "Do you live in the main branch building, Hyuuga-san?"
Neji's eyebrow twitched, but he nodded. "Yes, after I was made ANBU it was decided I should move into the main branch unit, even if I wasn't the heir. And no, you don't get to stay here. There's a room prepared for you in the guest house that Hiashi-san has put you in."
Taya nodded thoughtfully and to Neji's relief, shut up. It didn't last long, unfortunately, since she began asking questions as soon as they exited the main building and began to head toward the guest house, moving through the extensive gardens.
"Wow, this lawn's a lot better than mine," she said thoughtfully, before turning back to Neji. "So…what exactly am I going to be doing here?" She only received a groan in return, and frowned.