The Naruto franchise is the property of Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 14: Sanguine Fields

"Hyūga-san."

"Kazekage-sama," the ANBU captain acknowledged.

"The area you are to patrol is here," Gaara of the Desert said, indicating a section of the map, "A day and a half southwest from Suna. I'll assign you an escort, in case you run into any trouble."

Neji arched an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Is it expected?"

The Godaime Kazekage closed his pale jade eyes as something between worry and frustration made itself known in them. He did not allow any of it to show through in his voice.

"We've been hearing reports of trouble in the region. Civilians and shinobi alike going missing. Some never return. Some come back, changed," he said, "But we are a desert country and winter has made importing enough supplies for the people that much harder. I have not had shinobi enough to safely deal with the threat, so the area has merely been declared off-limits for now."

"I see," Neji said.

The red-headed Kazekage opened his eyes once more.

"Temari will accompany you to the area, as backup."

Neji remembered watching the Kazekage's older sister fight. Years ago, she had effortlessly defeated his teammate, Tenten and fought Shikamaru to a near-standstill. Sending her meant the problem weighed quite heavily on the Kazekage's mind.

"You may leave whenever you are ready," the Kazekage said, then paused.

"Be careful."

The prodigy nodded.

"There is also someone in town who has been inquiring about you. He's currently dealing with a bandit problem out at the northern border but..."

~o x o~

"Neji! My eternal rival!"

Rock Lee's blinding grin put the desert sun to shame.

"Lee," Neji acknowledged, politely. He had grown to develop a grudging sort of respect for his former teammate, who was so like their sensei in every way. The thick black eyebrows, the painfully bright teeth, the green suit and...

Lee noticed Neji's pale eyes linger on his hair. Rather than being shaped into his usual helmet of a bowl cut, it had been grown out in choppy waves. Neji had not seen it worn like that since his academy days.

"Ah, that is... I have been so busy fighting with the full power of my springtime of youth in this country that... that..."

Konoha's Beautiful Green Wild Beast seemed on the verge of tears.

"I have neglected my youthful hair! Oh Gai-sensei! Please forgive me!"

The waterworks began to flow.

Neji closed his eyes, waiting for the display to end.

"You've changed, my eternal rival," Rock Lee said, having suddenly recovered in the interval.

The ANBU captain raised an eyebrow.

"My eyes are not as good as yours," he postulated, then flashed a thumbs-up, "But I think you have finally found your springtime of youth!"

Neji was without words.

"Yosh!" Lee thundered, "If I don't clear out the next group of bandits in one day, I'll do four thousand push-ups! Please leave it to me, citizens of Suna!"

He took off like a shot.

"What a weird guy. He is right, though," came an easy drawl.

The Hyūga prodigy turned to see the sandy-blonde kunoichi make her way through the crowd. They cleared a path for her, recognizing her by the massive iron war fan strapped to her back.

"You have changed," Temari said, then, "Let's get moving."

~o x o~

"What has changed about me?" Neji asked that night.

Temari took a long swig of water, considering it thoughtfully, before pitching her canteen at Neji, perhaps a bit harder than necessary. He caught it without looking and took a small sip to be polite, then capped it.

"I grew up seeing the eyes of a monster every day," she said, wiping her mouth carelessly with her sleeve, "You used to have those same eyes. Lonely. Full of hate."

"But," she continued, "Gaara has changed. I don't know how to explain it but... I can see that he's found something to care about in his eyes. Something he fights for. Seems like you've got the same. Or starting to, anyway. You should ask that Uzumaki brat. He's an idiot, but he's got good instincts."

"When you know what you are fighting for..."

"Who knows," Temari grinned wolfishly, "Maybe you have found your springtime of youth."

"Hn. Ridiculous."

The kunoichi gave an unrestrained bark of laughter and tugged her rough hair free of the four ponytails she kept it styled up in.

"So, how's that Nara bastard these days?"

~o x o~

"This is it," Temari said, leaning down to indicate a rather plain-looking blue flower, "That's the flower you're looking for. Pretty worthless plant, if you ask me. Doesn't even taste good."

"Byakugan!"

Neji scanned the area. There was nothing but desert as far as the eye could see.

"No one really comes out here. It's a pretty desolate area, even for Wind Co–"

The Hyūga slammed his palm into Temari's shoulder, sending her skidding sideways several feet just in time to avoid decapitation from the whirring fūma shuriken that thrummed by. A glint behind it caught the prodigy's eye.

Wire! The shuriken was rigged!

Neji dodged to the side as the shuriken exploded into four slashing blades, two of them narrowly missing him. His expanded field of vision noted that Temari had drawn her fan and deflected the segments which had whirled perilously at her.

Whoever had ambushed them was fast. Even with his Byakugan active, Neji had only just managed to detect the fūma shuriken in time.

"Temari."

"Ready!"

"Scythes of shadow, fields of blood."

A figure moved in toward them, temporarily obscured by the billowing sands. It was a male with massive chakra, darker than anything Neji had ever seen.

"Beware."

The sands cleared as their attacker drew close and Neji's eyes widened in shock.

Uchiha Sasuke.

~o TBC o~

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