A/N This is an old piece I wrote a while ago and didn't think to publish.
Needless to say, Neji was nervous when he was called into the torture and interrogation head director's office. He didn't know what this was about but he made sure his face was a mask of indifference when he walked through the metal doorway. Ibiki saw this and smiled, though his show of pleasure did nothing to relieve the Hyuga's uneasiness.
"You wanted to see me sir?" Neji said respectfully.
The interrogator nodded. "Take a seat Hyuga."
Neji did as commanded and waited in the ensuing silence. The two were in a stare down of sorts, years of training and observation skills against raw bloodline talent. Ibiki's small black eyes assessed the boy in front of him for potential and Neji's round white eyes stared back, attempting to see beneath the underneath and discover why he was here. Ibiki eventually moved, leaning forward ever so slightly.
"I saw you take down your cousin at the chunin exams." He stated plainly.
There was a pause as Neji contemplated what to say. "Lady Hintata's condition after the match was entirely due to her own stubborn refusal to admit her incompetence. As it was, she is only alive because of the proctor's interference, which would have been unnecessary if she had given up earlier."
Ibiki shrugged in a disinterested manner. "The battle it's self is not what I was referring to. You acted according to protocol. When I said 'taking down your cousin', I did not mean it in the literal sense." Neji was silent, waiting for the man to continue. "You did very well in the exams, Hyuga. Perhaps better than any other contestant."
Neji narrowed his eyes at that. "I failed."
Ibiki chuckled. "Promotion isn't the only goal of the chunin exams, boy. It's a time to be discovered for a career. I'll get right to the point." Ibiki leaned in further like a cat on it's prey. "I saw the way you broke down your opponent's confidence and used it against them. I'm impressed. Those eyes of yours see much more than people think and a prodigy like you would make a good asset to our department. Neji Hyuga, I am offering to teach you in the ways of interrogation. Do you accept?"