After churning out 25ish chapters, I finally got writer's block. The good thing is the Chunnin Exams are nearing, meaning the fic is almost over...the bad news is, I have no inspiration to continue at the moment. If the mood strikes me, I'll continue to add on the drabbles. Otherwise, if you've been here with me this far, thanks!

"Hyuuga Neji…I am pleased to make your acquaintance. Please take care of me."

"A-ah…yes, Neji-kun. I am pleased to meet you as well."

Hyuuga Neji slowly lifted her gaze off the floor. Her gaze was pointed and direct and met his eyes squarely. "I am not a boy, Sensei. Please correct your honorific. I do not wish to be mistaken for the opposite sex, if you will."

Her new teacher laughed, but there was something embarrassed to it. "Of course, Neji-san. It's just...well, your clothes..." She twitched, but he didn't seem to notice. "Anyways, I am your new instructor. This year at the academy, our training will become much more rigorous. If you have any problems, don't hesitate to come to me—"

"Sensei."

"Yes?"

Neji's lips were pressed tight. "I do not know how to address you."

"Oh. Oh! Yes, of course, I am Morino Iruka, but you're, ah, free to address me as you have done so far, Neji-san."

What a strange creature he was. "Yes, Sensei," she murmured. "I understand that you are supposed to meet my guardian…but he cannot come here. I am his advocate. I will do just as well. I trust there are no problems with this arrangement?"

There was sudden understanding in those eyes. His face softened and his tone was kind. "Wouldn't you rather have your parents with you? I know that first year students have not entered this part of the building and it is easy to get lost…"

"My parents are dead," she said dismissively. "This is hardly important enough for my guardian to attend. I am here in his stead. Please continue."

His features tightened minutely when he looked down—to hide it?—but she caught it anyway. She wondered what was going on in that mind of his; this orientation was going along far too slowly for her tastes. There must be a way to make this man speak to her. She was not a child, after all. "I know I am young, Sensei, but I am hardly stupid. I can handle myself easily, if that is what you are worried about. I will not get lost and I will never hurt myself in practical practice. And as I must be going soon, can we please get this over with?"

"Of course," he said. "You said you are acting as your guardian's…advocate. First off, what is it that he wants to know?"

"When school is finished for the day," she immediately said. "Unlike my future classmates, I have a…rigorous schedule to keep to daily."

Iruka pursed his lips, but not in an irate fashion. He looked thoughtful, she realized, but not in a good way. "There are other clansmen enrolled, Neji-san. You are hardly the first to have additional training," he said slowly.

"I know that, Sensei. That is not what my guardian is asking, though."

"It is different with every year, but, if you want, the times of your classes that can easily be rearranged."

"Done."

"All right. Now I have a question of my own. Who is your 'guardian'?"

She stiffened, and as her eyes narrowed he saw that she was a shrewd child. "It is not in your place to know. Who are you to demand such a thing from me?"

"Your teacher," he said shortly. "As the shinobi in charge of your welfare while you are in this building, it's in my place to know my students' business, even if they do not wish it. That is my decree as an instructor of this academy."

"That decree of yours sounds like a terrible obligation. Why would you force yourself through such a thing? There are untold burdens waiting for you. You will grow attach to your students—you already have, haven't you?" Her voice grew quiet, sharp in its accusation. "What do you do when one of them dies? All of that person's hopes and dreams were at least known by you, am I correct? Why would you want to carry such a stupid obligation like that?"

"It is my nindo, my way of a shinobi." His voice was just as sharp as hers. "Everything you've said is true, Neji-san…but you can never convince me to give up what I believe is right."

Neji deflated, slumping in her seat. "You will only get hurt," she whispered. "How can you bear it?"

"It's because I care, Neji-san. I care very much for all of my students…even my most difficult ones." Iruka looked pointedly at her.

Straightening almost immediately, she hissed, "Don't you dare care for me! It's uncalled for. Not necessary at all."

"Neji…" he hesitated, "who is your guardian."

She glared, but it was half-hearted. She seemed more tired than anything. "Still going on about that, I see."

Iruka hadn't noticed until now, but her speech had become a lot less stiff, less formal, and more natural. Her rapid, punctuated words suited her much more than the careful control and poise she held over herself before, he realized.

It was, he reflected, a nice change.

His resulting grin was broad. Ignoring her suddenly wary look, he cheerfully replied, "Why, yes. Yes, I am. Who is your guardian?"

"Why do you want to know anyway? It's not important."

Iruka closed his gaping mouth. "Of course it is," he said. "Who is taking care of you…I find that very much important."

"You are the most…fine. You want to know who my guardian is so badly? The man taking care of me is Hyuuga Hiashi."

He stared at her. "As in…"

"Yes," she bit off. "The head of my clan is taking care of me. It is not a known fact." Her glare was real this time. "Do not go spreading this around."

"You mean, as his ward…?" He still couldn't wrap his head around the idea. But at the same time, he grew angry at the thought; the Hyuuga clan head clearly hadn't even deign the academy his presence, let alone the orientation meeting of his ward.

"Yes, I am his ward."

She's lying, he realized suddenly. But why? And…how?

After all, Hyuuga Neji sounded so calm and casual and accepting of the fact. But then, that would mean she was demeaning her own person in regards to her guardian. When she said those words, she sounded, for all the world, to be telling the truth. But she was not kunoichi, and Iruka had been a shinobi for longer than she'd lived. Who was Hyuuga Hiashi to her?

He kept his thoughts in check. "Of course," he said. "What else could you be?"

And when she finally looked away, he knew that he had won. But he did not feel triumphant at all; this was child's play.

Instead, he felt the strangest sort of dread.

Who was Hyuuga Hiashi to her?

It wouldn't leave him alone.

The irony of this chapter in correlation to the last should be left unsaid. After all, Iruka knows far too well exactly who Hiashi is to her.