The next day Lord Hyuga called Neji to his office. As decided during the Council meeting he could not say what was decided but he chose a simpler way to justify the decision of preparing Neji to be regent.

"As you know Neji the war with Orochimaru is forcing the Hyuga clan to be very active in Konoha's affairs and recently I have very little time to take care of clan business. I asked you here because I need your help. I need to help Konoha and therefore I need to have more time to do it. I have decided that you will take over some of my responsibilities for the time being. I already talked with the Fifth and it has been decided that your duties as a Joanin will be suspended. "stated Lord Hiashi not giving Neji a chance to dismiss the idea. As soon as he said it he realized that he should have asked Neji if he would take that responsibility on his own, but it was too late to take back his words. He saw Neji's eyes full with distance and coldness and he hoped that maybe in time other parts of the agreement will soothe the pain.

Neji felt as if all this was a bad dream. First Hinata had been happy about Naruto's return and now Lord Hyuga had destroyed all he has been working for as a Joanin. He was hoping that he would be promoted to Ambu soon – but this suspension in his duties as a Joanin would postpone that promotion. He knew it was a great honor to help Lord Hyuga and to take over some responsibilities within the clan, but that was not what he wanted, that was not his dream. He went back to his room and lay down looking at the selling. He felt numb inside. He felt empty as if someone had ripped out all his feeling and his heart at one go.

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At the same time Hinata was in her room looking at the white surface above her. Yesterday she went to see Naruto but when she saw him she lost the strength to come up and talk with him. He was with Sakura, Shikamaru and Temari and they were all having ramen. Sakura noticed her first and called her to come and join them, and then it happened Naruto looked at her and he simply, he simply did not recognize her, as if she never existed. Even when Sakura told him it was Hinata he did not say nothing more then "How nice to see you again Hinata, you have changed" and then he turned back to Sakura and talked with her.

She felt so bad, she came rushing back home and shut herself in her room. She cried all night and she stayed in bed all morning. Even Hanabi noticed something was wrong with her sister but she could not get any answer from her. She made her tea, brought her breakfast, and finally suggested they should call a doctor to take a look at her, but Hinata refused to all the propositions. She just lay there looking at the selling and thinking about how stupid she was to think that Naruto would have missed her during those two years. About how stupid she was waiting for his return and fighting so hard to be perfect for him. Her heart was broken. Her body was numb. And she had no will or strength to do anything about it.