I glance at the sunset, a vivid palette of red, orange, yellow, and purple streaking the sky. It's almost time for the festival.

Just my comrade. Is that really true? Can I trust him as a friend, yet still push him away when it comes to love? What is Neji to me? Is he my friend? My comrade? My crush? My lover? Can I be near him, but still manage to stay far away enough?

These pointless questions circle over and over around in my head. I've changed out of my kimono, wearing just my normal clothing. A black shirt lined with fishnet to protect vital organs, a purple and white jacket with a hood, and dark blue pants with matching sandals. Strapped around my waist are two pouches, one for kunai knives, and one for shuriken.

But I have more weapons concealed within my person. There are two hidden pockets on the inside of my jacket, one on each side, holding two thin, paperlike knives wrapped with ribbon. I've color-coded the ribbons, so that if I'm captured or taken, my clan members will know how to get me back. That is, if I don't escape and return first. One knife is wrapped with blue ribbon, which means stay back and plan. If my enemies are major and formidable, I'll conceal the knife within a tree. The other knife is wrapped with red ribbon, which means urgency. If my enemies are planning to kill me or harm me, or are moving fast, planning to escape Konoha undetected, then I'll conceal the red knife instead. If somehow my enemies meet both of these, then I'll drop both.

I decide to take a walk. I know that at this time of day, it's dangerous and risky, but I can do it. Even so, I check all my weapons. Heading out of the main building and into the woods near our clan, my head begins to clear up. The trees are even more vivid than I thought, luscious shades of green foliage.

Suddenly, I sense movement. Jumping and scrambling to climb, I scale a nearby tree. Settling on a branch, I freeze, still. 2 figures appear. Both men, they look like they don't belong to any group or movement, even Akatsuki.

I activate my Byakugan. No one but the two men seem to be here. however, I can sense more movement stirring. Perhaps a concealment justu? Or an invisibility one? Whatever the case, I need to be careful.

"We need to find that Hyuga girl." one of the men states. My eyes widen. They already know about me? While being known, the Hyuga clan isn't exactly dumb enough to disclose their name and heiress. However, the Hyuga Affair and my clan's high status and rank are known. Maybe that's why these fools are hunting for me. But what the other man says disturbs me even more.

"Yeah, that heiress. She'll make good money." the other agrees. My nose crinkles. I'm disgusted by these, these animals, these monsters who think that they can just buy and sell women like, like objects.

"We can sell, or maybe just keep her for that ransom." Ahh, they plan to ransom me? They should catch me when they can. Reaching into my jacket, I slip out a paper bomb. I hook it on a tree. I inhale, and exhale, preparing myself. If Neji can do this, then I can too. I position myself, not making any sound at all, if possible. Then, I zip through the trees in a blur, hooking paper bombs in a circle, then leaping away like a monkey.

"NOW!" I yell, detonating the bombs. The explosions set off in a pattern, one after the other like expected. The men are surprised. I dash in, landing a solid kick to the first one. Offensive attacks aren't my style of fighting, but I already nurture a fierce hatred for these men, or should I say animals. Man 1 crumbles to the ground, and I turn on Man 2, who's set up a barrier. I leap at him, punching him multiple times. I prepare to finish them off, as the first chokes out, "You may have defeated us, but you can't defeat them."

I'm perplexed for a split second until I realize. It's too late. Some force pins my arms behind me, and I kick their groin. But that evokes no reaction. Then, a hand reaches out, and I become dizzier...