A breeze rolled across the rooftop of the Hokage Mansion as Neji and Hinata stood before Tsunade. They met her amber colored eyes and patiently waited for her to speak. Shikamaru was now at Kakashi's side assisting him toward the entrance of the mansion. Neji was unsure how much the other Shinobi had known about the incident of Hinata's kidnapping those years ago, but Shikamaru probably had figured most of it out on his own with even the slightest information. Kakashi would surely have had some knowledge of it as well. Although clan matters were generally kept from outsiders, as one of the most powerful in Konoha, the Hyuuga clan's internal affairs often had influence over the very politics of the village at large. For generations, major village decisions were often made with consultation of elders from the different noble families. Although final decree lay solely with the Hokage, important clans could definitely have influence.

"Hinata. Neji. First I would like to tell you that I have read all the documents left by the Third regarding the attempted kidnapping of Hinata. I know you were both very young when this happened, but I need to go to the Land of Lightning as prepared as I can be. Is there anything that has been told to you that may help me when I travel to the Cloud?"

"Tsunade-sama, " Neji began evenly, "after the matter was decided, the elders forbade all persons involved to discuss it, and, even now, most of the Branch families know nothing of it. It has been a carefully guarded secret that the Main Family has wished to protect."

At this, Hinata involuntarily looked down at her feet. She knew that she was only three years old, not much beyond a baby. However, this incident was the catalyst event that had shaped Neji's former loathing of her and of the entire Main Family. Although Neji had changed and was now one of her staunchest allies, she thought it still must pain him a little to have to explain the workings of the Main and Branch families. He was, by far, the most gifted in their clan. Even Father had taken time from her sister to nurture his talent. But even so, he could never inherit. No matter how much her father respected him, he still was the son of Father's younger twin. So often in her own heart she had wished that Neji could take her place somehow. But she would not want anyone to have the burden she carried as the true heir.

She hated to see suffering of any kind. Hinata had tried so hard over the last few years to change herself for the better, to become more assertive. Shino and Kiba always encouraged her to strive and improve, and to be confident. She knew they wanted her to make her own decisions and live her life for herself. She couldn't help but think that's what Naruto would want for her. After all, she thought, he had always done things in a way that was true to himself, no matter how often he was told he was a fool for it. However, being a Hyuuga, things always seemed to be a bit more complicated. Hinata had often wondered why other clans didn't seem to have such a rigid structure to them. Even with the desire to live by her own heart, she couldn't help but think she would one day have to resign herself to a duty she wasn't sure she could carry out.

As usual, Neji seemed to read her mind. "Hinata-sama," he said, "do not look down. No one faults you for that time."

'So he really is at peace after all,' thought Tsunade. "Hinata," she said softly, "I have a fair understanding of the Hyuuga clan. My family has been a companion to them in this village ever since my Grandfather was installed as its First Hokage. There has always been an underlying threat that the secret of the Byakugan would enter into the wrong hands, though, thankfully, it has never occurred in all these many years."

Hinata seemed to relax a little. "T-thank you, Tsunade-sama. Even though I was the target, I still do not have much of a memory of the man who infiltrated our compound. I know he was a highly skilled Jounin from the Cloud, but little else was ever told to me. As Neji-niisan has said, discussion of it was forbidden, even among the Main Family itself." Oh how she disliked referring to herself as part of the "Main Family."

"I see," said Tsunade thoughtfully. "Very well. Time is of the essence. Neji. Hinata. I am going to make a formal request for an immediate audience with Hyuuga Hiashi. Is he currently here in Konoha?"

"He should be in the temple of the elders within the compound," said Neji.

"Understood. I'll send a message to him right away. Thank you. You may go."

"Hai."

The two young Hyuuga bowed and turned to take their leave. Hinata wondered if her father would be open with the Hokage. If Tsunade couched her words carefully enough, he may indeed disclose some information that might be useful if he thought it would help the Village. Hyuuga Hiashi may not be an affectionate Father, but he did have a love for the Village his family had called home for many generations. She hoped he would understand the importance of the summit the Hokage would attend, despite it being held at the Village Hidden in the Cloud.

As they walked, Hinata was silently glad they had again taken the route which passed the hospital. When they neared the structure, she found herself stealing a glance toward a window on one of the upper floors.

"Shall I see you at home in a short while then, Hinata-sama?" Once again, Neji had sensed her thoughts perfectly.

"Niisan..."

"I will tell Hanabi-sama that you'll be home this afternoon then when she asks."

"T-thank you, Neji-niisan."

With that, Hinata and Neji parted. Neji watched as Hinata made her way inside the hospital. He found his own eyes drifting toward the same upstairs window his cousin-sister had looked upon a moment before. "Recover soon, Naruto. Your Village needs you."

Neji continued to walk toward the Hyuuga compound, his thoughts occupied with the content of the briefing. Things were definitely delicate. Even Hiashi couldn't simply refuse a formal request from the Hokage. Information is always a critical tool for a Shinobi, and Tsunade was trying to get any and all information before heading to that foreign land. He was confident Tsunade could find something useful to her, no matter how tight lipped his Uncle may want to be.

His mind then focused on the other things Tsunade had to say. She truly had a difficult afternoon ahead of her, he thought. First, an audience with the head of one of Konoha's most reserved clans, and then there was the other pressing matter: telling Naruto about Uchiha Sasuke. The words "deal with him" kept playing over and over in his mind. What exactly could be done? he wondered. If the allegations proved to be true, Sasuke had indeed committed a crime against one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. Even his former known association with Orochimaru should have been enough to classify him as "something". He knew Danzou had tried to have him killed using Sai as an operative from his ROOT division of ANBU. Although he shuddered to think it, perhaps Danzou had a point. Neji, like most of the Shinobi he knew, agreed with Tsunade that Danzou's methods were too violent and drastic, but , given the latest turn of events, he couldn't help but wonder if indeed Konoha had truly let this thing with Sasuke get out of control.

However, it was not like Danzou could really be trusted. Even now he sat in one of Konoha's secret prisons after his attempt to keep Naruto away from the latest attack was discovered. Tsunade had clearly had enough of not only him, but even the other elder advisors. But still, he thought, Sasuke was dangerous.

The clans of Konoha had each their own legacy. It would seem the Uchiha clan had a particularly violent one. From the beginnings of Konoha when Uchiha had a showdown with the Senju clan from which Tsunade was descended for the title of First Hokage, there were always hints of a menacing quality about them. Believed to be an offshoot of his own Hyuuga clan, Uchiha had been a powerful Shinobi clan, both sought after and feared during the Great Ninja Wars. Somewhere back in the mists of time, the Uchiha had developed their own bloodline trait different from the Byakugan. Although also an eye trait, the Sharingan was truly independent of its origin in Neji's clan. Though the Sharingan eye was not perceptive enough to see chakra points or to have the extra sensory insight into a person that those with the Byakugan possessed, it was a formidable bloodline trait nevertheless. It enabled the user to mirror an enemy's techniques at such speed that it seemed like it could see into the future. It was also extremely useful in creating illusions, or genjutsu, which the Byakugan was not.

Another marked difference in the two incredible eye traits of Konoha was that not all the Uchiha were born with the ability to use it. Neji knew that, unlike the Hyuuga who all could use the Byakugan to varying degrees, the Sharingan was an ability that somehow needed to be "awakened" in the user. It was said only the strongest among the Uchiha could awaken this power. The clan had held those people as geniuses among them. There was no distinction in the Uchiha of a Main or Branch family; any Sharingan user was automatically acknowledged within the clan.

It had been Uchiha Itachi, the son of the head of Konoha's police force, who had been declared by Uchiha and the Village to be the strongest Sharingan user to appear in recent generations. He was a child prodigy, and moved up the ranks at an extremely early age. He was an ANBU captain by the time he was thirteen years of age, a true phenomenon. Uchiha Sasuke was his younger brother, and had also awakened the Sharingan. Although Sasuke had his own talent, he was always in Itachi's shadow. Neji himself had been called a genius, and he knew all too well that sometimes being a genius had a heavy price.

Then it happened.

One night, when Neji was still a young child himself, Uchiha Itachi had murdered his entire clan, leaving only his brother Sasuke as the lone survivor. Neji thought about how one personal tragedy could determine destiny. It wasn't until he fought Naruto that did he realize that destiny could be changed. But Sasuke thought his destiny was an unchangeable one to avenge his clan and kill his brother. He lived and breathed for that purpose, and that had set the present circumstances in motion.

That revenge was why Sasuke first went to Orochimaru. They seemed to be cut from the same cloth: Sasuke seeking the power to kill Itachi, and Orochimaru seeking the power of the Sharingan for himself. After being refused by Itachi, Orochimaru had set his sights on the younger Uchiha to be the vessel into which Orochimaru poured his soul in a quest to be immortal and attain all the world's jutsu. He used Sasuke's desire to avenge his clan to lure him into becoming his own future body. That was when the missions to find Sasuke and return him to Konoha began. The clock was ticking. Though Neji didn't know all of the specifics, he knew that there would be almost three years until Orochimaru would transfer bodies.

Although the Akatsuki were after Naruto for the demon fox sealed within him, part of the reason Naruto had left to train with Jiraiya was Sasuke. He had wanted desperately to save his friend, but he never seemed to be strong enough. Even more recently, Naruto's team had infiltrated Orochimaru's hideout and confronted Sasuke. But, once again, he disappeared from their grasp. Then shocking news reached Konoha. Neji himself could hardly believe it, but Sasuke had killed Orochimaru. There was hope that Sasuke would return. He never did.

A plan was hatched by Konoha to locate Itachi and prevent Sasuke from eliminating him. Hinata had been on that mission. They failed to find them in time, and Itachi was dead. Yet, Sasuke still did not return. Naruto was crushed beyond belief. Neji remembered running into him shortly after the mission ended, and he saw the deep sadness behind his cheerful demeanor. Ever since the chuunin exams, Neji had seen Uzumaki Naruto in a different light. Now, as they got older, he could see even more. The unbridled passion to protect everyone was part of his very being, a destiny he had created for himself after years of being looked upon as "that" Naruto.

He was truly strong.

As Neji entered the Hyuuga compound, Hyuuga Hiashi was standing in front of the temple of the elders. The look on his face told him that he had just received the request from Tsunade.

"Good morning, Uncle."

"Neji. A word."

With that, the two Hyuuga entered the temple.