Okay, so I haven't updated in a while, but I have a reason for that. I was on vacation and was way too busy traveling to actually get my hands on a computer. But now I'm back with a new chapter.

Also, the vacation gave me tons of time to think about this story. As some of you may have realized, this story basically has no plot. I don't know where all my writing is leading up to in this story of mine. But now, I have a few surprises, which will be revealed later in the story. I actually like where I'm going with it now.

Many thanks to those who reviewed, I'm sorry to keep you guys waiting for this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, blah blah, blah blah. There. :P


Neji's POV:

Well, I certainly had not expected this. A surprise if you will, but I had no idea who this girl was, yet she knew me—well, at least my name. Who was she to call me like that? To throw my name to the winds? Keeping my composure—and my dignity along with it, my genius answer was:

"Who the hell are you?" Followed by my signature stare—er, glare. She threw her head back and laughed, a silvery sound.

"Neji, Neji, Neji. Are you sure you don't recognize me?" She asked, a smile on her face.

"If I had, I wouldn't be asking," I responded coldly, ignoring the little voice in my head reminding me what Hiashi had told me the night before: 'She must be treated with the utmost respect.' 'Well, screw that now. It's too late,' I combated the voice. The black-cloak walked near her, and I was suddenly reminded of the Chuunin exams, where the Uchiha and Kakashi-sama made a dramatic appearance. Why is that nagging at the back of my head?

"Well, they certainly haven't been filling you in about me, now have they? Hmm…I'll tell you what. I'll ask Hiashi to introduce me. Oh, and I've been watching you fight in the Chuunin exams. Strong, but, not strong enough. Are you sure you haven't been training as much as you claim to be? 'Cause if you can't even beat the Kyuubi vessel, then you certainly can't beat me." She winked at me.

"You—..." I pulled back my arm, ready to punch. No one, no matter how strong they seem to be—especially not a girl—can insult me that way. How was she to know me to do that?

"NEJI! Don't …you…dare," came a voice from behind. I recognized it immediately as Hiashi. "Don't you have any respect whatsoever for ones greater than you?" he came closer, his eyes softening as he viewed the cloaked figures. I drew my arm back. They obviously recognized each other.

"Hiashi…Neji has grown up quite a bit…to actually lunge at someone he doesn't seem to know—or so he claims."

"I'm sorry. I'd rather he'd know the truth when you can tell him in person," he said and bowed. I scoffed. I didn't even know the truth about my father until a few months ago! And he's going to hold the truth from me again?! I knew the main branch members couldn't be trusted. So I did what I always do. And walked away. Why were the strongest and best women I've ever come to meet have to be so annoying?

"Wait!" I heard Chihiro's voice. I sighed and turned around. "I'll spar with you if you want, later." I just nodded.

"I'll be at the training grounds…IF you even know where it is," I said with a smirk. She smiled, walked back to Hiashi as I turned my back on them.

3rd POV:

Hiashi uttered a silent sigh of relief. Neji was NEVER to know the truth about Chihiro.

He looked over to Chihiro. Her hair was hastily put together, and she had grown from the time Hiashi had seen her last. And there was something about her ANBU companion that gave a sinister feeling to her visit.

"Well, I suppose my old room is still here, so I might as well go there and unpack what little things I have." With a smile and a look to her masked friend, they disappeared in a poof of lotus-scented smoke.

Hiashi went away, thinking. It had been ages since he had seen, or even talked to, Chihiro. He hadn't received news of her for nearly half a year. Either Tsunade hadn't bothered to send him reports on what she was doing, or how she was, unless there was absolutely nothing to report. If there was, she could have just told him. No. Tsunade was lazy, but she wasn't careless. What had happened in that time where Chihiro disappeared? The Forest of Death isn't that far away. She'd been in there a little too long, she should have been submitting reports to the Hokage if not everyday, but maybe a few times a month.

He sighed. There really was something about her. As soon as she came home after running away and pretending everything was fine, there was a suspicious air around her and the lies she weaved.

Hiashi didn't know what was going on with her suddenly deciding to come back home after 6 months in the Forest of Death either, but one thing was for sure. He was going to find out, no matter what.


Chihiro sat down on her thin mattress. Sasuke was scanning the small and plain room.

"So where am I supposed to sleep?" He asked Chihiro, gesturing to the twin-size bed. Chihiro smiled.

"That bed's for you. I have to borrow a mattress from Hiashi." She sighed. "Wow, this place brings back so many memories…it's so nostalgic, just even standing here in my old room." She set down her bag on Sasuke's bed anyway. He decided not to say anything. She sighed again. "Well, I gotta go to the training grounds now. I have to show little Neji a little something." She smiled. This was the most times in a day that Sasuke had seen her smile before. She must be glad to be back home. Sasuke watched with envy as she walked out the door, a spring in her step. At least she had a home to go back to, even if half of her family had no idea who she was.


Neji's POV:

I got to the training grounds a little early to get in some practice. But it wasn't needed. My anger had dissolved, leaving behind a core of determination and a small sense of indignity. I would beat her, and show the main branch that I wasn't to be played around with. I would show her. I'd show them all.

A while later, she showed up with another chakra signal near her—her ANBU friend. He gave me a creeping suspicion every time I sensed him in my presence. He hopped on the roof of a looming house, a mere, single person in the stands, watching the battle.

I turned to her. Her posture was relaxed, her face amused and—dare I say—bubbly.

"Alright, let's get this over with," I said, and lunged at her. She tore away at the last minute, teleported to the shelter of the trees. I realized this a little too late, as I clutched at thin air. I regained my balance and smirked. This is going to be an interesting battle.