Here it is. Apologies are offered in advance. The upload date of new chapters will likely be inconsistent. But at the very least, there will be one every week. If God has any mercy, there would be a new one every night. Thank you for still reading.
Kurenai Yuhi went ahead of her companion and deftly navigated the pair of chuunin carrying tall stacks of paper as she came down the long stairs carved into the Hokage mountain. She assumed the tall stacks of paper that the chuunin we're carrying were for the Fifth Hokage. These days, a lot of paper could be seen moving around. Kurenai had heard Shizune tartly say that perhaps, if a certain person didn't avoid the paperwork so much, there wouldn't be so much going around. The Fifth, if Kurenai could recall, had merely glowered at Shizune-san.
But I rather think we're entitled to our quirks, Kurenai thought, smiling. This was a good thought, rather relevant to the matter at hand, but Kurenai did not voice it out loud, waiting on the Hyuuga boy to fully explain himself. He was having some difficulty.
Rather strange, Kurenai thought. Of course, he had always seemed taciturn, even as an Academy student; but that just meant that he did not waste words. He had never seemed to be the type who would stutter or seem lost in trying to explain what he wanted to say. No, the latter is more Hinata's style. "Go on," Kurenai said encouragingly.
The Hyuuga boy was staring ahead fiercely. "I realize I should have prepared better for this."
"You've made a good start," Kurenai said, her eyed twinkling. "You've told me you need me to intercede on something. To give Hinata 'sensible advice' on a particular habit of hers. And you've also told me that you hope this can be done before you leave for your mission with Team Gai. Now, if you can just tell me what particular habit of Hinata's needs intervention, you're set."
Neji looked at Kurenai-sensei uneasily, unsure if he was being made fun of. For all of his sixteen years, he still could never understand women. "It is…" unconsciously, Neji gave a sweeping glance, looking behind them for people, and then he coughed, "some of her training habits."
"Oh," Kurenai raised a brow. "Like what?"
Hinata's cousin stared at her as they walked in tandem down the stairs. Kurenai looked back, her face carefully composed, even keeping the innocent, inquiring upsweep of her eyebrows. They held the stare for a moment; he was the first to look away, his expression stony.
"I am only worried," the Hyuuga boy says under his breath.
At this, Kurenai can't help but soften. Even if it had taken three jounin and a chuunin to hold this boy from killing Hinata, even Kurenai could see the fragile start he had taken in making up for years lost as Hinata's protector, as her cousin.
"If you mean her solitary trips from time to time, well, I will do what I can to keep her closer. But I have to tell you, that I will not stop her outright. After all," Kurenai smiles, "I rather think we're entitled to our quirks."
Neji Hyuuga nodded. "That would still be helpful. Thank you very much, Kurenai-sensei."
"By the way, how did you—"
"Ah, pardon me, sensei, there are my teammates," the Hyuuga pointed at the crowd in the street, rather quickly, and walked ahead, almost accelerating.
Kurenai looked after him, bemused. Then a smile crept over her face again. She let out a little laugh. She started walking again, heading for the Hyuuga compound.
Team Gai left that night. The moon was bright. Bright enough that even without Byakugan, Neji could see well in the cast of the silver bluish light. They were just waiting for Tenten, then they could be on their way.
Neji tightened the shoulder strap of his pack and tried to look busy; he was busy, actually. He was setting out on a mission, after all. He could not afford to take every other worry in Konoha with him and have them gnaw at the edges of his concentration. Besides, he'd already spoken to Kurenai-sensei. She would protect Hinata-sama.
"Where is Tenten?!" Gai crowed. "I plan to finish this mission by tomorrow, or I'll do 500 sit-ups."
"And I will do 1000 sit-ups if we do not finish it by tonight!"
Neji was only vaguely aware of them, his eyes scanning the rooftops of Konoha. As Tenten hurried through the shadows to them, Neji could not help but check. Just to see.
He activated the Byakugan and searched for Hinata-sama. And although she was not where he expected her to be, safe at the Hyuuga compound, he still found her rather quickly. She was spinning on top of water again, her hair fanning out, her skin gleaming. He only had another moment to register the steam, the rocks and Kurenai standing a little ways away, forming hand seals without a stitch on, as well, before he hastily deactivated his Byakugan, almost as if he'd been burned.
He looked around and exhaled a little when he saw that Tenten was too busy telling off Gai and Lee for planning to finish the mission by tomorrow when it would take a day to reach the area.
He was thankful, as well, that it was dark. His face felt hot. He promised himself a talk with Kurenai-sensei upon his return. Apparently, the female jounin misunderstood him when he said to give sensible advice to his cousin. It's not at all sensible to join Hinata-sama, for goodness' sakes.
"Join Hinata-chan for what, Neji?" Tenten asked. Gai and Lee were also looking at him expectantly.
Neji looked at his teammates, unable to stop the grimace that swept across his face. He hadn't even realized he'd spoken out loud! "Nothing," he said. "We need to get going, everyone."
To his relief, his teammates did not push it. They went out of Konoha's gates, quick as the wind, because the moon was so bright after all. Bright enough to clearly see two naked women prancing around on top of steaming water.