Hello everyone,

last chapter Neji came back, this time we go back to the rest of the gang in Konoha.

Disclaimer: Nope, I wish I own nothing but the plot and Suzumo, Himawari and Yumi in this story.


Back in Konoha

Sasuke's POV

Finally the house is calm! For some time at least! The dobe went out with Himawari. The two are visiting some amusement park (A/N: no idea, whether they exist in that world, but I need them to be away for a day or two) outside of Konoha together with Kiba and Yumi (and some dogs I presume). Finally no nagging about me not wanting to have another child just yet and no loud girl running around the house. Really, I love my daughter with all my heart (and the dobe as well of course), don't get me wrong, but sometimes I wish she would have inherited less of Naruto's character!

Now that the two are out that leaves me and Suzumo, Shikamaru's son. He said he didn't want to go so he stayed here with me to watch over him. Luckily he is the silent type as well. Though if you ask me his character doesn't really fit Shikamaru (his looks do, yeah). He lacks the Nara's laziness. When he wants something he gets it by all means and favourably without help. He is also a bit cockier than the lazy-nin (not difficult though). His behaviour reminds me of someone, but I can't quite place it.

Right now he is playing with some (handmade) ninja toys but I have also seen him revising some stances apparently for fighting. I look at him firmly as if trying to figure out his secret. He turns his head up as he notices my gaze. His eyes meet mine. My onyx with his brown, which for some reason slightly disturbed me from the beginning.

Suddenly I feel a slight sting in my eyes. My Sharingan activated. Why? But I get the answer when I notice something strange around or rather in front of his eyes. From what I can see there is permanent chakra activity around them. Like there is some jutsu on them. I don't have a Byakugan so I am not able to recognize the chakra signature (I would need the actual person for that). I deactivate my do-jutsu to not strain my eyes and try to come up with a solution for what I saw. I would say there is a gen-jutsu working, hiding the boy's eyes or something close to them. For what reason though I can't tell. The only possibility to find out is to break the jutsu off, favourably doing it without getting suspicious to the boy.

"Suzumo!" I call him, "Can you come here for a moment?"

He gives me a quizzical look, but shrugs and stands up nonetheless. "Sure, why?"

"You've got some dirt on your face," I say (there is actually none but he can't see), "Sit on the table I will clean it off."

I earn another look but he does as I said and climbs on the coffee table in front of me. I slide from the sofa I've been sitting on and kneel in front of him. While he adjusts himself I start doing hand signs behind my back.

"Close your eyes," I order him and he complies.

My Sharingan activates again as this is quite a difficult gen-jutsu to undo. I do a last sign now in front of me and the fingers of my right hand trail a line over his closed eyelids.

"Lose!" I murmur and can see the chakra dissipating, leaving a trace of familiarity.

Nothing has changed from what I can see but his eyes are still closed so I can't really tell.

"Okay, I am finished. Open your eyes," I say to him, waiting slightly anxious for the result.

When his lids lift and reveal the irises, his real eye colour, my mouth falls slightly agape at it, I understand why it was hidden. They are white, only with a tint of lavender, and pupil less! Eyes that can only belong to one clan.

Byakugan eyes!

That means someone close in his family is a Hyuuga. Shikamaru though has no Hyuuga-blood whatsoever. Meaning it's from the mother's side. To be this dominant in the boy's eyes though the mother must actually be a Hyuuga. Wait a second! 'Mother'? Not necessarily. Could be a man, a carrier, as well. But I don't remember Shikamaru ever having anything with a Hyuuga, be it male or female, except… But he said misc…

Suddenly everything falls in place. Shit! I can't believe it! My earlier suggestion was correct! Suzumo is Neji's child! And Shikamaru is the father! Neji simply lied back then when he said the baby was dead and not from the Nara.

But I still need confirmation. I can't ask Neji himself for obvious reasons and I bet he wouldn't tell me either since he did all that to shield the truth. That leaves me with the only one other person who knows, Suzumo. Who is sitting right in front of me (currently looking at me rather strangely since I am spacing out quite a bit).

"Suzumo…" I start, unsure on how to approach this subject.

"Yes?"

"Who is really the one who gave birth to you?"

His face hardens. "I told Shikamaru (he never called him 'dad' or anything) already. I won't tell anyone! That's secret!"

I sigh. As expected from Neji's child, stubborn and a strong will. "I know and I understand. But I promise I won't tell anybody."

"I am still not saying it!"

"Okay, then I will guess!" Different strategy.

As he keeps silent, his arms crossed defiantly, I continue.

"Your mother is not a female, is it?"

He doesn't answer directly but a small shake of his head indicates I am right.

"Okay. Your full name is Suzumo Hyuuga."

He looks at me shocked now. "How do you know?"

"Your eyes," I point at them and he hurriedly tries to cover them with his hands, "I undid the jutsu covering their true colour. When you look behind it it's quite clear. These eyes can only belong to one of their clan and since Shikamaru is Nara they can't come from him."

"He said you would maybe find out…" he murmurs and I am barely able to catch it.

"So," I crouch down to be able to look him in the newly white eyes, "I think I know who your… Well, who gave birth to you. Can you please answer me truthfully if I am correct? You maybe know but I am the same, I gave birth to Himawari and I want to help every other carrier, especially when he is my friend."

"Okay," he sighs resigned, not lifting his gaze from the ground.

"The one who gave birth to you was… Neji Hyuuga."

"Yes," is his silent answer. He doesn't even look up at me or asks how I knew, he only looks sad he couldn't keep the secret.

I don't know what to say for a moment and only keep looking at Suzumo, searching in his features for something resembling Neji apart from the Byakugan. I notice his cheekbones are too high to come from Shikamaru. But still the boy looks like the Nara. It's the character which resembles Neji, now everything makes sense in his behaviour. There are so many questions I want to ask the kid that I don't know with which to start. While my musing he turned his gaze back up, his eyes pleading, and I hear his small voice.

"Please," he bids and I look into his eyes, "I beg you to not tell anyone. Especially not Shikamaru. Chichi said he should never know, only he himself is allowed to explain it to Shikamaru."

I smile sadly and take him into an embrace, "I won't tell anyone, I promise that. After all I and Neji were good friends before he left and I would never blurt out a secret of his." He looks relieved. "But I would really appreciate it if you would answer the questions I have truthfully."

He tenses but nods. "But I can't tell you everything, you know that?"

I nod.

He looks directly at me. "And I am only telling you this because chichi said I could trust you. He said if I ever need help or need to confine in anyone and he isn't there, I should come to you."

I feel happy that Neji trusts me that much. Well maybe it has something to do with us both being carriers but it still gives me a warm feeling.

"Okay, thank you very much and I have to thank your chichi as well, the next time I see him," I smile at him and he calms slightly.

So I start with the most pressing question, we all have been asking ourselves since three years.

"Where is Neji right now?"

He only sadly shrugs. "I don't really know…"

"You don't know? He didn't tell you and simply left you?"

"No, he said he had to do something important and he would come to get me back as soon as he can. He told me to go to my father because I would have a better life there than what chichi could offer me."

"You knew Shikamaru was your father? Since when?"

"Yes, Neji told me when I was around four."

"How much did he tell you about why he left?"

"Nothing, he simply had to."

"Where did you live in the past five years?"

"At different places. The first one and a half year in a house at the border."

"And after that?"

"Travelling"

"How did he get money?"

"He was a travelling healer"

Suzumo's answers are getting short, apparently he thinks he has told enough by now. And I as well want to stop talking.

"Do you know whether Neji ever plans on coming back to the village?" This one question I want to ask desperately. I would really appreciate help with the next pregnancy and Neji as another carrier is exactly what I would need to gain the confidence and give in to Naruto's begging.

"Not sure. He said he missed his friends but he also said he couldn't go back because it would hurt him too much and to protect me."

"Protect you?"

He only shrugs. Whenever I see Neji the next time we have a lot to discuss.

"Okay, thanks for telling me…" I have the sensation that I won't get anything more out of him so I end the conversation.

That is until he speaks up again, his voice sounds sad. "Can I tell you something…?"

"Sure," I look up, but he doesn't meet my eyes.

"I… I really miss him… Chichi…" there are tears on his cheeks and I pull him into my arms. Even though he always does his best to appear older than he is, he is still only a five year old who has been thrown in a situation where he knows no one.

"I know… I miss Neji as well," I smile softly over his head while he fists my shirt and lets his tears flow.

"He… He said… that I would have a better live with Shikamaru, my father,… And he is doing his best, I know. But… but… I miss chichi, Neji… Even though we were always living on the flight he was always there and I love him and I want to go back to him, back to our previous life no matter how hard it was…"

"I know… It's okay… It's okay…" I rub his back until he calmed down. After he stops I clean his face with a tissue.

"That will be our secret. That Neji is your parent," he smiles up at me thankfully. "I won't tell Naruto either, he would just blurt it out. And I will put the jutsu back on your eyes."

"Thank you," he says with a small smile.

"Good, then…"

I start but am suddenly interrupted by a loud voice echoing through the building, followed by a loud bang of the front door.

"Sasuke! Teme! Sasuke!"

Naruto! His voice sounds frantic. Shocked I notice that Suzumo's eyes are still uncovered.

"Shit!" I curse and shove the boy behind my back, out of the blonde's line of sight if he comes into the room. I hurriedly form some hand signs, producing with the help of my Sharingan a simple yet powerful gen-jutsu to hide his Byakugan.

Just as I am finished, my husband bursts through the door dishevelled and panting like he ran the whole way from the amusement park.

"Teme!" he puts one hand on the door for support. I am still kneeling on the floor, Suzumo behind me.

"Naruto?! What happened? Something wrong?"

"It's… It's Neji!" he manages to get out and I feel Suzumo stiffen behind my back and squeeze his arm as reassurance.

"He's back!" Naruto finally shouts.

Okay that shocked even me. "Really? He's back in Konoha? Where is he? I have to see him!" I stand up fast.

"No, it's not that simple. He's back but he's not here."

My forehead wrinkles. What's that supposed to mean?

"He is in Suna!"

"Suna? Why is he there?"

"That's what happened! Neji is going to marry Gaara!"

"What?!" Even I can't stop myself from shouting this time. Now it makes sense. That 'important' thing he had to do was helping Gaara out in his situation. But why? He doesn't love the red head, does he?

"It's true. Tsunade called me today and showed me the document about the Kazekage's engagement to Neji from the Hyuuga clan!"

"We have to go to Suna immediately!" I shout and he looks at me slightly bewildered.

"I know but Tsunade said we can't. At least not all of us. The marriage is in one month and for that we will all get free, but until that we are told to leave Neji time to settle back in."

I turn my gaze resigned. Suddenly something comes into my mind. "Wait! Shikamaru is in Suna! He was there to take part of the negotiations around Gaara."

"Well, I guess then he received quite a shock…" Naruto mutters as his breathing is finally down on a normal level again.

I let myself fall down on the sofa, Naruto sits down next to me, embracing me. I see that Suzumo has gone out somewhere while our discussion without either of us noticing. I guess it was a shock for him as well. Naruto and I keep sitting there for some time, holding each other.

Before going to sleep I visit Suzumo. He is unsure.

"I am pretty sure Neji did that because he had to. And I am sure he misses you as well. He will take you back when he can, I promise. The next time we go to Suna we take you with us so you can see him, okay?"

I say to him, holding him in my arms, letting him cry again. When he has calmed down I tug him into his bed and sing for him, like I did for Himawari when she was sad or ill.

I go out of his room and meet with Naruto. We talk a bit about the news and then go to bed. This night I finally give in to his biddings.


That's it for today. Thanks for reading.

Now it's official what most of you already suspected. Neji is Suzumo's parent (I refuse to call him or Sasuke mother).

So somewhere in the next chapters he will meet up with the whole group again.

Thank you for the reviews and keep it up.

And I hope to see you all on monday for the next chapter.