Neji's POV

I was shocked to say the least. Hinata's friend whom she had described as a boy wasn't one at all. Aside from the way she dresses and her hairstyle it's hard to believe anyone can mistake her as a guy and yet my uncle did just that. I felt Hinata's eyes on me, from my reaction alone Hinata managed to figure out how much I knew. It seemed to worry her and yet Akira seemed either unfazed or oblivious to what had happened. I soon learned Akira was staying the night.

'This will definitely be an interesting month.' I thought as we all walked to our separate rooms to get ready for dinner. Dinner itself was uneventful, Akira was introduced to Hanabi who took an immediate shine to the humorous Akira. Some branch family members who were also nearby couldn't help but laugh quietly, what amazed me most was the faint smile on Hiashi's lips as Akira told Hanabi and Hinata how she had single handedly almost become a criminal. I was appalled by her lack of respect, she told us about it in such a humorous light though that it couldn't have been true. Still she did enrapture the family.

At the end of dinner, Akira retired to her room and the rest of us remained to discuss the situation and if there were any alternatives as Hiashi didn't want a boy who is close to Hinata staying overnight for the obvious reasons. Hinata tried to speak but as usual it was stuttered and too quiet, she's weak even when standing up for a friend. What hope does she have to become the next leader to the clan.

Hiashi was about to demand that Akira be thrown out into the streets to sleep there when Hinata's voice rose above his own. "Father! Akira's not a threat to anyone here, nor will threaten our reputation. You can't throw someone into the streets just because you believe they can't be trusted. I believe in Akira and I believe Akira's trustworthy."

Not a stutter, not a single stutter. Not only that but she raised her voice. I could tell I wasn't the only one shocked, Hiashi was giving Hinata the cold stare and yet she wouldn't budge she didn't even look down. Hinabi was staring between them still recovering from the shock. She shook her head and went to kneel by her sister.

"I believe Hinata's words." Hinabi said looking up at her father.

"And what makes you believe he can be trusted. He's still a boy."

HInabi's face drifted to confusion, "But Cousin Neji's a boy too."

I held back a smirk, Hiashi was caught. I suppose I could put in my info. "Lord Hiashi," I began as all eyes turned to me. "There's no reason to be suspicious of Akira's motives towards your daughter. I can say this with confidence as Akira is a girl." Hinata looked ready to rip my eyes out, Hinabi face showed shocked understanding and Hiashi looked rather unemotional.

"So, with all due respect I think I'll retire and begin training in the morning if that's alright." I said slowly standing before getting the acknowledged nod I needed from Hiashi who was deep in thought.

As I left I heard him say the words, "She can stay." I then heard Hinabi move to give him a hug while Hinata bowed and also excused herself for earlier.

I shook my head, Akira…why do I feel I've heard that name before? Maybe someone on my team will know. I thought as I made my way silently down the corridor to my room, intending to get some answers the next day.

Sasuke's POV

I glanced over at Kakashi part way through training and noticed that he was yet again distracted by his thoughts. I slowly made my way over to him.

"Hey. If you're that worried then go check on him."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Listen, I know you and Akira live together." I watched as Kakashi's eye widened before narrowing I raised a hand to stop his next question. "I found out when you two had that argument on the C-rank. So where is Akira living while you're gone?"

"I don't know. I just left her I note on the door."

"well I'm sure h-" I froze. "Did you say 'her'? You left her a note on the door?"

Kakashi glanced at me, "No I said him."

"No you didn't." I said as all the pieces fell into place. Out of the corner of my eye I watched Kakashi hit himself and mumble something that sounded like 'I'm becoming like Gai.' "It makes sense. She never did act very guy-like."

'I just can't believe I missed something so obvious. Stupid, stupid. I need to get better but how can I when I can't even recognize a gender disguise!'

"I suppose that's true. Then again I don't think she ever actually tried to be a guy. She just acted as she normally would."

"Yeah sounds like hi- her."

"Yeah, now try hitting that rock once more before we take a small break."

"Right…" I said as he disappeared off to hunt down Akira's temporary house. It wouldn't surprise me if she was living on the streets.

Neji's POV

I waited with Tenten for Gai to show up, normally he was never late but since the accident he's been lingering around the hospital.

"Hello, my youthful students." He smiled as he walked out of the forest and into the clearing. Tenten replied with a cheery hello while I merely nodded. I needed to get information.

"Gai-sensei, have you ever mentioned an Akira by any chance?"

Gai froze in his tracks like a wanted criminal that had just been found, "Uh…why do you ask?" He said coughing in to his fist to compose himself while he avoided eye contact.

"Well, I have an Akira staying at my house whi-"

"Little Akira's staying at your house? Where's Kakashi?"

"Kakashi, the copy nin? What does he have to do with this?"

Gai seemed to be thinking but answered me anyways, forgetting who he was talking to no doubt. "Akira's his kid so he should be staying at kakashi's place. Oh that's right…He went to train the uchiha. Wait! That means he left Akira all by himself! No!" Gai screamed with tears streaming from his eyes. "It's okay Akira, Uncle Gai's coming to get you!"

Soon me and Tenten were left running after a trail of dust. This will not go well. But I've discovered a few things. Akira is known as a male in Konoha, she knows Gai, she's Kakashi Hatake's kid, and Gai seems to have grown fairly attached to the poor kid. I shook my head, she's making things complicated.

Akira's POV

I was training in the courtyard with Hinata and Hinabi, who insisted she joined us stating that she wanted to see her big sister fight, when I heard what sounded like a stampede of wild animals. The only reason I knew it wasn't animals was my name being called from it. I pulled Hinabi and Hinata off to the side as Hiashi walked by I gave them to him just as Gai rammed through the gate sobbing. He picked me up and cried into my shoulder. Needless to say I was very confused.

"It's okay, Uncle Gai's here now. I won't abandon you like your awful father did! It's okay now."

I felt my eye twitch, "Who said you were my Uncle? And who ever said I was abandoned!" I managed to get out of his grasp by kicking him out the Hyuuga's gates over Neji and some girl's head. "Don't just assume things you should be in a mental hospital!" I yelled as I stomped to the gate pulling it closed as Gai lay on the ground still crying one arm outstretched.

"Is this normal for you?" The new girl asked.

I shrugged, "It's the first time he's called himself my Uncle and it's also the first time he acknowledged my dad as my dad. He used to think I was a victim in a pedophile case but I guess he got over that."

"Ohh is that why you said those things during the exam?"

"Hm? Oh those things, yeah I figured it could save me. It kinda worked too. I'm Akira by the way."

"I'm Tenten." She held out her hand to shake.

I sighed, "I normally don't shake hands it distances people with the formality of it."

"Oh, Sorry I didn't know."

"No, no it's fine. It's just a personal view I guess."

I turned and walked back to the center of the courtyard, "So Hinata are we going to fight or what?"

She looked up once and say the new crowd of people which wasn't many before ducking her head, "N-No thanks A-Akira."

"Aw, come one there are less people here than before and I won't hit you too hard while you're still injured. I know one wrong hit can kill you so how about we do a sort of slow practice style. Like Copeira!"

"Like what?" Tenten asked.

"Uhh…nevermind."

"I'll fight you." Neji said standing across from me.

"Okay sure." I said getting into a defensive stance.

"Ladies first." Neji whispered with a sly smile.

My eyes narrowed, "Fine."

I ran at him, he tried to hit me with an open palm , I ducked and kicked my leg out catching him off guard. He fell to the ground as I jumped back a few feet.

He was irritated easily just by that alone. "Do you know our fighting style?"

"Nope, I figure I'll learn as I go along and I haven't had the chance to watch it in action so please go easy on me." I teased.

"Don't worry, I will."

I lunged again this time aiming to punch him but his hand moved towards my shoulder, I grabbed his arm with my one hand and punched with the other. Letting go just as my fist connected with his face. He flew back into a wall and could barely move. Okay that's how I wished it went in reality it went more like, I flipped back avoiding his hand but his leg came out and hit my legs as I was in the air. This caused me to land flat on my stomach with all the air pushed out. He then took a kunai and held it to my neck saying "Dead."

I laughed, that was almost as much fun as fighting Ibiki except Neji didn't leave any giant bruises.

"Why are you laughing?" Neji glared.

"Because, fighting you was fun. I forgot how much fun fighting an ally could be when it's not about murdering." I looked down. "I killed a few people in the forest of death, it-it wasn't as easy as the jounin make it seem. They can push past their emotions while I had to go and throw up. But fighting just to train is fun. I get to see new moves and I get to know you better. I think it's better to fight like this then in a real battle."

"Hn, you're a kid. You don't understand the real world, training is to get better at killing."

"You're wrong. Training is for the body, as much as reading is for the mind. My brother said. He said training with friends is the best experience a warrior can have. I believed him and he was right. Now I have to go see the Hokage there was something I had to do but it slipped my mind. I'll be back later see ya guys." I said waving as I ran out the gates and past Gai who stood leaning against the wall.

I barely heard him whisper, "Kakashi, he's growing up."

Gai's POV

I watched Akira and Neji's fight through the gate, Neji one of course but Akira was the one laughing. It threw me and everyone else off, when you lose a fight you don't usually laugh. We all listened as Akira and Neji talked. It was different. Akira was the kid that was as immature and reckless as Naruto, if not more and yet here he was lecturing Neji on his views like some wise man. Soon Akira ran past me and I couldn't believe he was the same kid Kakashi had adopted.

"Kakashi, he's growing up."

You two have had a huge influence on each other's lives. Akira seems more mature while you seem to be less affected by the past. Akira's your family now, I hope you never have to experience a loss like you did all those years ago.

"Gai, there you are." Well speak of the devil.

"What's the matter there Kakashi."

"I need to know if Akira found a place to stay."

"Yeah he's staying at Hiashi's place." I jabbed a thumb over my shoulder to the compound.

"I see. I should go thank them for allowing him to stay there."

I nodded and went in with him, I still had to train my team. Hiashi's eyebrows raised as Kakashi walked in.

"Kakashi? What are you doing here?"

"I came to thank you for allowing my son Akira to stay here."

"Son? You mean daughter."

I froze turning my head slowly to Kakashi as I watched his eye wince as though in pain. "Akira's a girl! Your son's a daughter! Why did I not know? Shouldn't an uncle be aware of these things?"

"Who said you were her uncle?" He replied coldly. "Lord Hiashi I thank you again for taking care of her while I'm gone. I apologize for any chaos, damage, or psychological abuse may ensue during her stay. That will be all." He said before smiling his closed eye smile and disappearing in a cloud of dust.

Neji was the first to speak surprisingly, "Did he just say psychological abuse?"

Everyone in the courtyard nodded not trusting themselves to speak while I cried miserably in the dirt. But I wanted to be an uncle. Well I'll just challenge Kakashi to a duel and we'll see if I'm worthy enough to be Akira's uncle.

I stood up proud of my new plan, "Team let's move we have lots of training to do. First up 100 laps around the village." I laughed as I sped off to do my own.