Poking the Embers
The next day, however, was really too busy to accomplish much of anything. In the early morning, when they broke camp, there was really too much commotion to do more than simply watch the girl. Only when camp was finally broken, and the army leaping along at breakneck speed, did Neji manage to follow Karui more closely.
Despite all his care, apparently the girl noticed, for she dropped back and glared at him. "You can stop tailing me, White-Eyes." She growled. "I told you already, I'm not going to try anything. Your precious princess is safe."
"Of course she is." Neji snorted. "If I actually considered you a threat to her safety, I would dispatch you myself, alliance or not. You need not flatter yourself, miss Karui, I actually have better things to do than tail common soldiers with petty grudges against my family."
"Oh yeah? Then how is it you suddenly know the name of this 'common soldier?'" There was a surly gleam of triumph in her eyes.
Sighing, Neji rolled his eyes. "I am, actually, curious in how you knew about the Caged Bird Seal. Until recently it was a closely kept secret."
"I told you." She gave her head a little toss. "Kumo has lots of files on you Hyuugas, and I've read all of them. And that Caged Bird Seal of yours isn't as secret as all that."
"You've read all about them, then?" Neji raised an eyebrow. "You are either very devoted or very obsessed."
"Passionate." Karui sniffed.
"Of course. But that begs the question of where this obsession comes from."
Glancing at him quizzically, Karui asked, "And you care, why, exactly?"
"Let us say I am disturbed by your interest in my clan, given your apparent antagonism." Neji's eyes narrowed.
"'Apparent antagonism…'" snorted Karui, looking away. "No, I get that. I just… you're one of their little Branch toadies, why should you care about this sort of thing?"
Neji glanced at her sharply. "I might as well ask why you should care about my family status. Surely my position in the Hyuuga clan is irrelevant."
"Never said it was relevant," answered Karui, shrugging. "Just curious. You expect me to give you answers, you're going to have to give some of your own."
For a moment the two leapt along in silence. About five hundred feet back, Neji could see Hinata jumping along, a seemingly random collection of Hyuuga nins around her.
"Well? What is it? You just doing your duty as a good Branch Family member?"
"This isn't about the Branch Family protecting the Main Family." Neji answered, a trifle sharply. "This is about me protecting my family and friends."
"Really." A short silence. "Yeah, I don't buy that. How do you just… forget about that whole servitude thing?"
Neji sighed. "A number of years ago I experienced a… change of perspective. Someone helped me to see my life for what it was. I no longer resent the Main Family for their status." His mouth twisted. "Especially my cousin. As you have observed, it takes a great deal of energy to hate her."
"Hmph," grunted Karui, looking away. "So what was this 'change in perspective?' I take it you weren't always so hunky-dory with the position."
"I have answered your question, it is time for you to answer mine." Neji answer. "Why are you so obsessed with the Hyuuga clan?" His eyes narrowed. "Particularly, as it seems, the Branch Family?"
"None of your friggin' business." Karui put on a burst of speed to pull away, but Neji matched her, leap for leap.
"You owe me an answer." He insisted, leaping alongside her, giving her as intimidating a look as he could manage, while leaping through the air.
Though silent, she slowed some, and Neji took that as a sign. They leapt along in silence for a while, and then she cleared her throat.
"My father…"
And that was when the attack hit.
The attack wasn't really a surprise to anyone. In fact, as Neji later heard, technically they attacked the Zetsus more than the Zetsus attacked them. The clones had been burrowing underground, heading straight past them for the base camp, when two of the higher-ranking Iwa shinobi had essentially erupted them out of the earth. So really, Neji's division had the element of surprise on their side.
Unfortunately, Neji himself did not.
To his everlasting shame, Neji, who had not been watching the perimeter very closely, did not see the oncoming Zetsus and did not see the intervention of the two Iwa nins. His focus on Karui had distracted him from the main event, which meant that when the entire army roared and charged at the erupting column of enemies, Neji (and Karui) found themselves swept up in the onslaught. Neji barely even understood what was going on before a grinning white face leered up at him and reached out with a long claw.
Instinctively, Neji's hand flashed forward and planted a solid blow in the creatures face. It practically blew apart.
Curious. Neji mused, glancing at his hand. A construct of some kind? Definitely not very stable. Was…
"Hey, whitey!"
A dark fist whizzed past his face to bury itself in an oncoming enemy. "Wake up!" Karui yelled. "We've got a situation here!"
Neji resisted the urge to say "I know." He could see ALL of the battlefield, the thousands of enemies attacking, the thousands more still burrowing up from the ground.
Most importantly, he could see the hundred or so falling toward him and Karui.
With lightning speed, Neji leapt forward and seized Karui by the waist, ignoring her outraged "Hey!" He rushed at the creatures, bringing up his free hand in preparation for the famed Hyuuga Celestial Spin. Karui's arms latched onto him, whether because she realized the plan or because of something more involuntary, Neji never knew.
"HAI!" He shouted, leaping at them, feet flying, hands whipping about in familiar rhythm. Desperately he struggled to maintain his balance—there was an extra weight hanging onto his back, a weight that he was not used to spinning with—and focused all his attention on the spin. Zetsus pounded into his glowing sphere, shredding apart on contact.
Finally Neji slowed to a stop, letting Karui slip off his back. She faltered and nearly fell, escaping it only by virtue of Neji's quick arm. "Wh-what…" She moaned, putting a hand to her head. "What the heck was all… that… about…" Her eyes widened as they took in the surroundings.
The grass was thick with White Zetsu innards.
"Whoah." She breathed. "So that's what you're famous for."
Neji repressed the urge to smirk triumphantly. "Among other things."
"Yeah?" She looked at him, and through the dizzy haze of her eyes, there was a spark of defiance. "Well do me a favor next time. Warn me before you try something like that. My brain feels like a mess of oatmeal right now." Her eyes moved down. "And get your hands off me."
Starting, Neji slipped away from her. "Apologies."
"Hmph." Karui made a few unsteady steps and shook her head. "Honestly, was it strictly necessary to grab me like that?
Neji blinked once, twice.
"Of… course it was."
A/N:This was initially supposed to be two chapters, but they were such short blurbs I decided to join them together to make one. I'm not sure it works. But either way, some fun development.
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