Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, and this is probably the last time I will say so for this story.
A/N: Thank you very much for the reviews. I love reviews, please don't hesitate to give me one, I even accept soaring flames as long as it is story wise and have nothing to do with the pairings.
KITSUNETSUKI SHIROGITSUNE SHIROGANE
Neji sauntered his way back to the Hyuuga estates pondering about what Sakura just said, minutes ago when they walked their separate paths.
He wasn't sure how to react to her news. He didn't know whether he should be happy or depress that the only medic he found passable to heal his wounds, with the exception of Hokage-sama and Shizune-san, would be leaving for a mission. A long one at that, he instantly wondered what the importance of the mission was to have the timid medic nin do it instead of him, an Anbu squad leader. Who would be more than capable of accomplishing the mission that a mere apprentice of the hokage.
He supposed it's none of his business what Haruno choose in her free time, but he couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed that it would have something to do with that traitor. She would, after all, go back in and out of hell if she had to. Her devotion to Sasuke was an eyesore in his eyes. Pining for a man that's not even in the slightest interested at her is a waste of her time. She should have been training to become an elite ninja, not role playing a worried teammate and busy crying and soaking on her self-pity. It was all pathetic in his views.
He didn't knew when he got back at the Japanese style house, before he knew it he was walking to his favorite tree and standing there and doing more thinking.
Though to his annoyance, his uncle choose the wrong time to disturb his peaceful putting pieces together, as he saw his body heading towards his, white kimono rippling as he moves in a sylph-like manner.
"Neji," he announced with his lord tone calling upon his nephew's attention.
"Hai, Hiashi-sama," he bowed and courtly answered back when his name was mention. He noticed that his uncle wasn't enjoying his walk alone. An albino with icy azure orbs donned in a samurai outfit walked behind his uncle.
He turned his gaze back to his uncle, silently asking permission to give some answers to his inquiries.
"Neji, I would like you to meet Kitsunetsuki, Shirogane-sama," he beckon. Shirogane gave him a courteous bow, Neji returned the courtesy.
"This is my nephew, Kitsunetsuki-sama," Hiashi finished the introductions and proceed to head at one of the many visiting rooms that the Hyuuga estates have.
Neji taking a hint follow them, though he couldn't help but let his curiosity rose; there's not that many people that Hiashi-sama adds a higher honorific to, and for this man to be held in such high esteem, he concluded he was an important man instantly.
"Hyuuga-sama, please Shirogane is fine, and please Neji-san don't you dare add –sama to my last name, it makes me feel too important," he chuckled, lighting up the tension of the room. He knew that what Hiashi would inform the young Hyuuga would be a shocker, and dare he say a mind booster.
Neji would have asked his importance if his uncle wasn't presently present at the moment, though that seemed impossible since he is in fact there. He would have to catch the man alone after this meeting as soon as possible.
"If that is your wish, Shirogane-san," Neji said. Hyuuga just nodded his head slightly in agreement.
"Hyuuga-sama, if you please," Shirogane began sheepishly knowing that the man was debating whether to tell his nephew now or tell him later.
"Neji, the council has decided that the leadership of the Hyuuga clan should be given," he paused looking at his nephew's pearl eyes searching for any emotion or movement from his form to indicate his readiness of the situation.
Neji on the other hand, didn't know the situation and his importance in the said situation. He didn't even know the point of him being informed privately, unless of course the new leader would need intense protection like someone of Hinata's caliber.
He always thought that Hinata was too weak to be a ninja and didn't have what it takes to go further into the Anbu ranks. Though it there was one thing that he was dead wrong in his life aside from pinpointing the blame of his father's death to the main branch is Hinata's strength.
"--please go on, Hiashi-sama" Shirogane urged, seeing the baffled demeanor of the young Hyuuga leader to be.
"The leadership of the Hyuuga clan will be given to you Neji," Hiashi announced, his shoulder releasing his tense muscle as he softly breath out.
Neji kept holding his breath, his eyes almost gawking like a blowfish, wide and bewildered. He couldn't believe the words that his uncle uttered. He, a branch member of the Hyuuga, is to be the head of the Hyuuga clan. But then who would be his successor in the branch house? He found himself wondering about it.
"I…"
"I'm afraid you don't get to say a word Neji-san, it's been finalize, in five years time you would take over the Hyuuga clan completely. And if possible, as one of the members of the council, I would like you to consider ending this discrimination between this household," Shirogane asserted, giving Neji no other options.
"Then, may I please asked, if this is what Hiashi-sama wanted or is this what the council wanted?" Neji asked wanted to ascertained that this was the wished of the Hyuuga clan as a whole not just a selfish nobs of high council that doesn't care how clans are running as long as their functioning properly.
"This is something that the Hyuuga main branch and Hyuuga-sama agreed to Neji san, rest assured that the council did not have much of a choice in this matter," Shirogane informed.
"That means that the council had pushed the topic in the main branch, doesn't it?" Neji asked but his question came out like an insult.
"That's way to harsh of you, Neji-san, I did not push the topic at all, you were the beginning of the topic then the question of who shall govern the Hyuuga clan came at a debate," he pretended to pout showing Neji that he was hurt.
"…"
"Though, I'll tell you one thing. It wasn't that I manipulated the Hyuuga main branch elders into agreeing that you were the right man for the job, it's just that you were the most capable. If I asked you what would happen if I let a timid shy young lady run this clan, what do you think would happen?"
"I suppose it would fall in ruins, just like the Uchiha clan."
"That's quite a precise answer don't you think, I happen to like the abilities of the Uchiha clan myself, though I do agree that it would fall in ruins, but maybe not as harsh as that clan, Neji-san," he smiled.
"Well, then, it seems we have settle this issue," Hiashi interrupted, feeling left out in the conversation, though he knew that Shirogane didn't provide information that it was actually his idea that Neji become the next clan leader before the meeting even started, and for that he was grateful, despite the fact that they had insulted his daughters capabilities in front of him. He couldn't help but feel ashamed for not paying attention to Hinata's capabilities and spend the time ignoring her.
"Yes, it seems we have, Hyuuga-sama," he retorted giving a court nod.
"I hope your journey goes well, Shirogane, you have done a great deal to the Hyuuga household, and for that I am grateful," Hiashi bowed to him. "If there's anything that you would require assistance with, please don't hesitate to tell us."
"I hope it does too, it would seem that I will have my hands full in this journey of mine. And please Hiashi-sama, if you want to thank anyone, thanked Naruto. It's because of his banging's at the council doors that this was able to be resolve. And personally, no matter how annoying that brat was, he sure knows how to get what he wanted," he laughed and Hiashi laughed along.
"I believe you are right, the next time I see that child I would personally thank him," Hiashi said his eyes filled with glint. "I'm afraid I must attend to my duties now, Shirogane. I'll leave you two to discuss how the process would take." Hiashi stood up and bowed and made his retreat out of the room, leaving the two alone.
"If I may, can I asked where you're planning on journeying. If possible, I would like to request that you allow me to accompany you as thanks for doing this."
"I'm afraid that's not possible, Neji-san. You see, I have a mission to partake in that I requested myself to Hokage-sama, and she already agreed to give me the help I'll need."
"How long will this journey take, Shirogane-san," he asked mentally crossing his fingers while remaining passively.
"Three years at most," he said looking concern as to why Neji was suddenly interested.
At least I know I won't miss the 'hn' and the silent treatment for three years
Oh! I said THANK YOU, you arrogant jerk
oh you mean me not missing the way you are for three years.
That's right!
He could hear Sakura's words in his head. All he could think about is the man that helped give him a higher position in his household, is the same man that's going to take his medic away. He didn't even question the fact that he address Haruno as Sakura or that he called her his medic.
He didn't know how to react to the news but absorb it nonetheless, he still need to confirm that this man is going with his Sakura.
"Excuse me, but may I ask who hokage-sama had assigned to accompany you?" His voiced did not falter not showing one cry of emotion on his face. It was the normal blank Hyuuga face that he had. An arrogant jerk just as Sakura had blurted.
"It's not that it was assigned, Neji-san, I asked permission to allow Haruno, Sakura the privilege of joining me in this journey of mine, not the opposite around." He replied honestly, wondering how the Hyuuga would react. He may not have byakugan like he does to observe the smallest of gestures, but he does have his instincts, and this young man seem to be too concern about his affairs than he like to admit.
"Why would a person like you want a weak medic nin travel with him?"
"I'm afraid you can call her anything but weak Neji-san," Shirogane scolded. "Calling a female weak is the same thing as admitting you can leave without one, Neji-san. And if you are to be clan leader it's only expected that you find a wife by the second year you are leader of the household, to insure that the next clan leader will be train properly."
"What if she abandons you if she saw Uchiha?"
"That's if she abandons me, Neji."
"She will! Everyone in this village knows her devotion for Sasuke has not died in the slightest bit, you would be a fool not to suspect her for any disobedience."
"I appreciate the concern Neji, but if you want a person not to leave you, first you must put trust in them so that way they would return the same courtesy, ne," he preached, eyes in crescent moons, eyes hidden away from his view.
"…"
Shirogane bowed to Neji, disregarding that Neji didn't reply to his preaches. He supposed it is understandable; this person must not put a lot of trust in his friends. He mentally sighed as he looked at the demure face of the Hyuuga; he seems to care about his mission. He wondered if it had something to do with a certain cherry blossom.
"I'm afraid I must go now, Neji-san. The next time we meet, once my mission is finish, that is, I'll start addressing you as Neji-sama." He stated, heading out, peaking a glance back at the Hyuuga before leaving entirely. Though he didn't miss the baffled looked on the Hyuuga's in grimace.
Upon having the roof of the gates of the Hyuuga estates, he begun to wonder about the cherry blossom he's going to spend so much time with, also trying not to disregard Neji's reaction. The young Hyuuga didn't even know that he had purposely claimed Sakura was weak so that he, Shirogane, would change his mind in bringing her.
He laughed at the thought.
'It seems the genius is unaware of his affections,' He thought grinning like a Cheshire cat. 'However, my young lord, would you still stand a chance once this long years are all burned, and the woman you called weak now, was indeed not weak at all. How would you deal with a losing battle, Hyuuga Neji?
Semi-cliffy . ...It's not really. It's just this is a good place to stop it at the moment. Please don't forget to drop a review! I'm extremely sorry if this chapter is lacking on the discription department, not to mention extremely lacking in editting. Anyways if there is a gramma error that bothers you like no other, please tell me ASAP.