I thank my friend LexKixAss for letting me abscond her twins for my story. As always Naruto belongs to Kishimoto. Please review.

The sunlight struck the cool metal surface cradled like a tiny god in Neji's hands. He ran his thumb over the engraving, relishing in the coarse prickle of the newly shaved metal against his skin. It was the most amazing thing he'd ever held before and it was his. Neji didn't want to stop staring at it.

"All right everyone," his teacher announced, finally dragging Neji's attention away from the object he held, "you'll meet here tomorrow for team assignments. Don't be late, and congratulations to everyone, especially our number one rookie genin for the year, Hyuuga Neji. Congratulations."

Sure, Neji was smirking, but as far as he was concerned he earned the right to. He'd worked since he came to the academy to maintain his place as number one in his class. Besides, he really was the most talented of them all. He could just imagine how proud his parents were going to be when they heard the news. Not that they should be surprised.

Neji grasped the navy strap on either end of the forehead protector and tied it securely over the black scarf that hid the seal from the public. It felt good, so much better than the scarf. He didn't feel the same hatred of the seal that the branch family did –not after being raised in the main family with Hinata and not after the Uchiha massacre– but there was a liberation wearing the forehead protector. When outsiders looked at him they'd no longer see the scarf, no longer wonder why he wore it every day, why he refused to ever take it off. No, they'd see the mark of Konoha and know exactly why it was there.

He pushed past the others still in class and hurried out of the room and down the empty academy halls. The genin test always took longer than regular classes, and Neji wondered if that wasn't on purpose. They came in with the rest of the students, but they left alone to walk the empty halls as genin. A rite of passage that he exited with his head held high.

Outside, rocking back and forth on the lone swing beneath a nearby tree, Hinata waited and laughed happily with the boy she wasn't supposed to be friends with. Neji wasn't certain what he thought of Hinata's little crush on the Uzumaki boy. Then again, he knew Hinata didn't quite realize it was a crush yet herself, so maybe that would save her the heartache later on. He wouldn't stand for it if Naruto did anything to hurt her, but it was hard to deny her such a happy smile. Few people outside the family were able to elicit a reaction like that in her.

Plus it was nice to see her (mostly) relaxed when talking to someone. Her confidence had improved a lot since his parents had allowed them to go to the academy on their own. The more her confidence grew the calmer she was around strangers. Even her training had gotten better. But for all she'd gained, there was still so much hesitation in her with people she didn't know or trust. Neji never saw that when she talked to Naruto, and he was always careful to watch when they were together, just in case. He was her big brother, it was his prerogative to be over-protective.

"Neji-niisan!" Hinata's eyes lit up when she caught sight of Neji, and she burst from the tree swing with a grin as bright as the sun. He scooped her up into a short hug but quickly deposited her back down. He was a genin now; he was supposed to be more serious, at least while would-be teammates could still see him.

"You did it!" Hinata trilled.

"You say that as if you doubted it," he joked, readjusting his forehead protector and getting a swell of pride at the feel.

Hinata scrunched up her nose at him. "Of course not. I'm trying to congratulate you and you know it."

"You're too easy," Neji teased, and his eyes passed to the blond boy coming up behind his sister-cousin. He knew his parents had a strange issue with Naruto, but in all honesty Neji didn't understand it. Hinata could be naïve sometimes, but she knew how to identify a nasty personality when she saw it, and she obviously never did with him.

Still, a brother never fully liked anyone his sister fancied. It was just part of the course. So Neji leaned in and tapped his forehead protector, an arrogant little smirk taunting the younger boy. "Jealous?"

"We'll be getting ours next year, just you wait. Right, Hinata?" he said, though his blue gaze practically coveted the cool piece of metal.

Neji watched Hinata's smile waver for the briefest second. Not long enough for Naruto to see, but enough for Neji to catch the disappointment she refused to admit to. "You will, I'm sure, but I'm not allowed to be a genin."

"What!" Naruto yelled louder than Neji thought was necessarily appropriate.

He quirked his brow at his sister-cousin. "You never told him?"

"It never came up," she muttered unconvincingly. Neji had no doubt she was avoiding the fact. There was no way with their last year at the academy coming up becoming genin hadn't been discussed.

"Wait a minute," Naruto interrupted with all the skill and grace of a drunkard wielding a sledgehammer, "whadda you mean you aren't gonna be a genin?"

Hinata lowered her gaze to the dusty ground and shrugged. "Heir to the clan doesn't get to become a genin. It's considered too dangerous."

The disappointment she'd done so well to hide earlier now broke free and ruined her pretty smile. Neji reached out and brushed his fingers lightly against hers. Normally he didn't mind ignoring Hyuuga decorum in favor of cheering her up, but in front of Naruto the simple, understood message of that small touch would be enough to remind Hinata he was there for her. Her lips tweaked up for a moment in reply.

Compared to the subtle display between the sibling-cousins, Naruto's over-exaggerated slump was a flaming beacon of shock and crushed hopes. In a show of juvenile frustrations he kicked the barren dirt and sent a cloud of dust across to dirty Neji's sandals.

"For all the crap you can't do being an heir has to suck," he griped, though when he continued his voice had turned quieter. "I was kinda hoping we'd be on the same team."

The tiny squeak that popped from Hinata's throat when unnoticed by her sulking friend, but not Neji. Nor did the remarkable shade of red she was managing to turn. If he didn't know his sister-cousin better he might've been worried for her health. She couldn't have seeped dejection anymore if it were chakra billowing from her body and still that boy didn't realize a damn thing. Idiot.

Neji took Hinata by the shoulder and tugged her toward the street to save her from any attempt to speak. Neji knew her ability to articulate tended to be inversely proportionate to the redness of her face, and if she were any redder she'd look like a tomato with hair.

"Sorry, but that's life in the clan," he told Naruto as they walked. "And speaking of being the heir, we'd better head home before Dad sends someone out looking for you."

Hinata merely nodded with thanks in her flustered eyes. Neji winked a quick 'you're welcome' and let her wave goodbye to her friend before they started for the compound in silence. A part of him wanted to call her on what had happened, just for the enjoyment of finding out exactly how far past scarlet he could send her, but Neji couldn't bring himself to do it. Besides that tiny hint of confusion he saw in her that reminded him she was still questioning her reactions to the boy, and he didn't want to ruin the experience for her. She had enough restrictions in her life, keeping a schoolgirl crush wouldn't hurt for now.

He raised his head infinitesimally higher as the compound came into view (maybe more than infinitesimally, but he deserved it). At the gate Osamu waved Isamu out from the other side to see the proud smirk blazing on Neji's face.

The twins had been tossed around a few different assignments in the clan before finally being settled as permanent gate guards over a year ago. At fifteen they were still two of the best readers in the clan, which was proven quite often since no one could screen incoming guests (or the clan) for intention as well as them. They sometimes complained of the monotony, but never seriously. They were just happy to be assigned together.

Osamu whistled a high catcall and winked at his little brother. "Looky at the expression on Neji's face."

"If his head were any bigger he'd float away with all that hot air in him," Isamu answered in time.

"You're just jealous you didn't graduate at the top of your class, Isamu," Neji jeered back and received a double glare in return.

The twins might hate it but both Neji and Hinata had successfully figured out how to tell them apart a couple years ago. As identical as they could make their facial expressions, Neji always saw a certain difference in Osamu's eyes. He wouldn't go so far as to call it commanding or serious (he didn't think it was possible for either of them to be truly serious), but it was something Neji identified with. He liked to think of it as part of the 'older brother' prerogative, and it wasn't something Osamu realized he did. How Hinata told them apart, she never told. She swore they'd find out from him if she revealed it. He never pressed the issue since she was probably right. Keeping his secret was one thing, keeping hers . . . well, the twins were still the best.

"Well, I suppose we should congratulate him, Otouto," Osamu bemoaned.

"Must we?" Isamu asked, waiting a good long pause for Neji's mouth to twitch in irritation before sighing so very over-dramatically. "All right, then."

The two took a deep breath, mirroring smirks on their faces, and burst at the top of their lungs, "Congratulations, Neji-chan!"

Neji's mouth twitched again, which only made the mischief in their eyes glow brighter. "Why am I Neji-chan again?"

"Someone's got to keep you humble," Isamu tisked, wagging his finger dangerously close to Neji's face. Neji was highly tempted to break it for good measure.

"Go on," Osamu said as he shoved Neji away from his younger brother's wriggling extremities before he decided to act on that alluring option, "Aunt Naomi's waiting with bated breath to hear how it went. Go and gloat to your parents, they'll appreciate it more."

Neji stashed his aggravation at the return of his childhood name safely in the back of his mind so it'd be ready the next time he sparred with them. They might be good readers, but he could still kick their butts in jyuuken, three years younger and all. When another chorus of 'Congratulations, Neji-chan!' followed them into the main house, Neji was certain of it; they'd pay for that later.

Naomi was rearranging the sitting cushions in the front room when they entered, proof enough she'd been waiting for them. His mother wasn't the kind of person to idle her time away. The pride that welled in her pale eyes at the sight of Konoha's symbol brandished across his forehead was too much and sent her hand up to unconsciously cover her gentle smile to hold back the emotion.

"So?" she asked when she'd composed herself again.

"First in the class," he answered and his head rose a little higher at the fact. There had never been a question of would he make genin, the only real question had been where in the class he would be. And he was right where he'd planned.

Now it was Naomi's turn to not be able to speak. She quickly wiped away the few stray tears that escaped her control before yanking Neji into a motherly-smothering embrace and kissing him on the top of his head.

"Mom!" he fussed, twisting out of her hold and smoothing his hair back down. "Why is everyone treating me like a kid again?" Beside him Hinata was giggling profusely at his flushed cheeks. Payback wasn't nearly as fun.

Naomi pinched the bridge of her nose between her hands and took a deep, calming breath in. "Because the older you get the more I wish you were my little boy again. I don't think I'm ready for you to be a genin, and next year Hinata comes home. Oh, you're both getting far too old."

"Don't worry, you're still young, Aunt Naomi," Hinata answered his mother's unsaid conclusion and earned a playful swat on the backside for it.

"You just go off and get your uncle," she laughed, shooing Hinata off down the hall. Naomi sighed as she watched Hinata disappear around the corner and once again when her bitter-sweet gaze returned to Neji. "I'm so proud of you, Neji."

"Thanks, Mom," he said and let his mother pull him into another smothering hug. At least no one was watching now.

He managed to detach himself –his mother had an amazingly strong grip– before Hinata returned with Hizashi in quick step behind her. His father wore a satisfied smile as he looked on Neji for the first time standing as an official shinobi of Konoha.

"Congratulations," was all he said. It was all he needed to say.

The room was the same as when he left the day before, yet today the atmosphere was completely different. It was quiet, but not the strained quiet of unease. This was excitement to a degree that couldn't be spoken. It was a string wound so tightly just one little turn would snap it. It was the moment everyone was waiting for and being so close made it feel forever away. When their teacher walked through that door it wouldn't be another lesson as a student. They were journeymen embarking on a lifelong adventure to become masters, and Neji was more than ready.

The silent hum of excitement stilled to dead air when the door opened and their teacher slowly crossed the classroom, a single slip of paper in his hand. With almost painstaking glee he rested the paper on the podium and took a dreadfully long time to admire each and every student in the class. Neji's hands opened and clenched in slow succession under his desk in order to keep himself calm and cool. Why couldn't their teacher just read the teams off already?

Neji's blank gaze passed over the others waiting, some obviously nervous, others brimming with so much excitement they couldn't sit still, and a few more keeping their emotions in check as well as him. Who would he be teamed with? This wasn't a little stint of teamwork, this was years of working together. These people would be as much as part of his life as his family. Being able to get along to some degree would be important (the twins' return to the compound was proof of that). And –though he wasn't one to fully believe it– some in the class viewed him as arrogant and looked on him with disdain. In class he could ignore them, but if he were teamed up with them . . . well, he'd deal with it, as annoying as it would be. He wasn't about to give up his entire career because of a couple idiots in class.

"Congratulations, again, to all of you on becoming genin," his teacher finally said to an almost collective inhale of nervous anticipation. "Remember though, this is a responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly or without due regard to yourself and your new teammates. Your lives will depend on each other and all of you need to hold that in your hearts."

Yes, yes, Neji thought, get on with it!

"Now, before I read this list," –Neji rolled his eyes– "I have one last announcement to make. Though you passed the genin test, that alone does not entitle you to be genin."

That stopped Neji's frustrations in its tracks. What did he mean? They weren't genin? No one told him there was another test. (He was going to smack the twins upside their identical heads for this.)

His teacher continued on to the crowd of genin now more worried than excited, "The jounin instructors assigned to your team will be the final judge on your fitness to be genin, and it's not uncommon for much of the class to return to the academy at their instructor's determination. I hope you're all ready."

Neji relaxed back into his chair, a smug smirk playing on his lips. What chance was there of the number one rookie not being deemed worthy of becoming a genin?

"Now," his teacher started again, "I'll be listing off your teams according to the jounin instructor you'll be assigned to. Once assigned please wait here until your instructor arrives to collect you."

Neji sat a little straighter now. This was it. He wished he'd be named in the first team just to get it over with.

"I'll be starting with the team assigned to Maito Gai." His teacher looked away and muttered something to himself too low to be heard halfway up the classroom where Neji sat. He might not have heard it, but the apprehension, or maybe trepidation, or perhaps solid, unyielding dread, was clear on his face.

A hand stuck in and waved through the cracked door and Neji's teacher glared at it. "No, I'm not saying that," he hissed quietly to the invading arm.

"Come on, where's your spirit?" cried the arm from the door.

If his teacher could curse any deeper in a single glance demons would've been summoned. "No."

With the arm's apparent request refused, it retreated to the safety of the hall. Neji wasn't sure, but –after linking the 'dread' he saw before with the exasperation now dragging down his teacher's body– he had a feeling that arm belong to this Maito Gai. Whoever got that man as an instructor was sure to be in for something interesting.

At the front of the room Neji's teacher let out a meek sigh of relief. "Now then, those assigned to Mai–"

The door burst open and a tall man in a green jumpsuit, green shinobi vest, with two furry creatures above his eyes, and a thick mop of black tar that was more helmet than hair leapt into the room like a singularity of impossible energy coalesced into the gruesome center of mystical life in physical form.

"KONOHA'S GREAT GREEN BEAST, MAITO GAI!" The man –green beast was a good name for him– struck one arm out with a thumbs up and smiled teeth so white Neji had to blink to make sure he saw it right; they actually shined in the light. "WELCOME TO THE SPRINGTIME OF YOUR YOUTH!"

Neji changed his mind. He didn't need to be in the first team. He was quite okay to be in a later team. Any team. Just not his. From the mercy of whatever god would listen to him, not that team. Hyuugas were not keen on 'boisterous' people. Even the twins, for all the crap they got into, tended to keep the volume at a reasonable level. The last thing he wanted was years of whatever that man was.

Neji's teacher sighed again, but there was no longer any relief in it. Gai flashed his shining grin toward the podium, and this time Neji could have sworn he heard an audible 'Ping' when the light hit that glaring white monstrosity of a smile.

"So, which of these bright examples of youth will I be taking under my wing to mold into brilliant, fiery, undefeatable ninjas full of VIGOR AND GUTS AND VIGOROUS GUTS!" Neji watched in horror as Gai went from the thumbs up to arms held high in triumph and –yes, Neji wasn't imagining it now– tears flowed freely down his cheeks. For the love of all things holy, Neji did not! want to be on that team.

"If you'd let me finish, I'll tell you," his teacher said, slowly massaging his temple to relieve what must have been the latest in a long line of headaches since earlier that morning. With his free hand he picked up the list from the podium. "The genin that will be subject to Gai's tutelage will be," –Neji started silently praying– "Rock Lee, Tenten, and Hyuuga Neji."

Damn.

"What wonderfully youthful names!" Gai pronounced in a voice that echoed across the entire room like a thousand sunsets beaten into submission. "Now come! True men don't show hesitation! Let us BEGIN!"

Neji didn't want to stand up, and he definitely didn't want to go anywhere with Gai. And what did he mean 'youthful names'? Hyuuga was one of the oldest names in the village. His heart sank even further when he caught sight of the other two, who against Gai's own order were hesitantly standing and trudging their way down the steps. The girl, Tenten, he didn't know too much about personally. She seemed average in skill, not someone he'd worry too much about working with. But the other . . . Why did it have to be him? If there was anyone who didn't belong as a genin it was Rock Lee. Neji was not about to let someone who couldn't even use basic ninjutsu be the reason he didn't become a genin.

Revealing only an outward calm and detachment, Neji walked confidently to the door. No matter how much loathsome despair swirled inside him, he refused to let it show. The rest of the class all looked as if they'd just dodged a whole battalion of shuriken, while a few of the ones who'd always been jealous of Neji snickered as he passed. He'd let them laugh. This was just a small hurtle, he'd overcome it. Neither Maito Gai nor Rock Lee would be a lasting problem. Neji wouldn't let them.

Once in the hall Gai swept before them and flourished with enough excess of fancy even the twins would've gagged. "Follow me and begin your journey into manhood!" he shouted, then looking at Tenten, "And womanhood!"

Neji shook out his ears, feeling all together unnerved. Had he just heard waves crashing in the distance? Maito Gai just might drive him insane before he made chuunin.

Gai lead them not out of the academy as Neji's expected, but above it, to one of several annexes on the top floor that gave a quiet, private sitting area overlooking the village and the Hokage monument in the distance. It was actually a rather nice place. If only he had better company. Neji dropped down onto the crescent bench (silently glad Tenten chose the middle between him and Rock Lee) and avoided direct eye contact with his new instructor. He was already having auditory hallucinations thanks to Gai, no doubt if he looked him in the eyes Neji'd be trapped in a lifelong genjutsu never to be released again.

"Before we do anything else, we should get to know each other," Gai said, and for once he talked like a normal person and not a ninja hyped up on soldier pills and badly-written dramas. "Go ahead and tell me what your goals are. Neji, why don't you start?"

Neji groaned. "Do I have to?"

It wasn't that he didn't want to get to know his teammates, but what was there to say that they didn't already know about him. He was the top of his class and a Hyuuga. Anything more would just get into things he wasn't willing to deal with on the first meeting.

Gai looked underwhelmed. "Fine, we'll come back to Neji. How about–"

"Oh! I'll go!" Lee snapped to attention, arm in the air as if he were being drilled in class. He always seemed too enthusiastic in class considering his standing, but then enthusiasm was at least better than being last and not wanting to improve. Lee's eyes (which were kind of weird and creepily round now that Neji was up close) sparkled with excitement. "I want to prove I can become a powerful ninja even though I can't use ninjutsu and genjutsu. That's my ultimate goal!"

The determination in him –as hidden as it was beneath over-confidence, too much enthusiasm, and the same small furry creatures that constituted eyebrows that Gai had (how did two people manage that?)– was so familiar Neji couldn't help but chuckle under his breath.

"What's so funny? I'm serious!" Lee screamed at him, and with it came the realization he had two loud and boisterous people on his team. And if Neji had just kept quiet he wouldn't have to talk now.

"You reminded me of my sister is all," he replied, hoping –vainly– it would end there.

"Odd," Gai mused and for some reason stared into the air as he spoke, "your file said you're an only child."

"I thought you didn't know who we were before today," Neji commented flatly. He wasn't entirely sure why he was encouraging a conversation with this man yet. Morbid curiosity perhaps.

Gai flashed that ghastly bright smile at the three of them again. "Of course I knew who you were, but how could I deprive you of that glorious moment when you hear your name called out for the first time and discover that this is your team!"

Neji rolled his eyes and felt a headache coming on. Now he knew how his teacher felt. What'd he do to deserve this?

"No worries, Neji, I'll just update your file–"

"No!" Neji snapped as much out of instinct as necessity and drawing in everyone's attention. He just had to open his big mouth. He really didn't wanted to get into this today. "Look, my sister's actually my cousin, but she's lived with us since her parents died years ago. But you can't call her my 'sister' in front of the clan or they'll have a conniption fit."

"Why would your clan care what you called her?" Tenten asked in voice so light and high pitched it almost chirped. (Two squawking seagulls and a songbird, just great.)

"She's main family, I'm branch," Neji explained. "Just trust me on this, when you hang out with any Hyuuga for a long enough time you'll learn there are just things that aren't done in the clan and that's one of them." And with that he shoved far enough into the seat to tell even the densest out-of-claner that the conversation was over.

In another miracle, Gai finally didn't seem to know how to turn that into another 'wonderful experience of life.' Just wait till they learned the rest of the clan's secrets . . . that is if he ever felt comfortable enough to tell them.

Apparently Gai wasn't content so out of his happy youth blitz and quickly changed subjects again. "All right then, Tenten, why don't you tell us your goal."

Tenten straightened up in her seat, but unlike Lee kept to a normal human's level of enthusiasm and volume. "My goal is to become a legendary kunoichi just like Tsunade-sama."

At least she had normal aspirations too, even if they were a bit lofty. It wasn't easy to reach 'legendary' status, but how many times had he heard kids at the academy say they wanted to be like this legendary person or that. So, he might have one person on his team who wouldn't give him a headache each time they talked. Small favors.

Finished with the others, Gai's furry gaze returned dead center on Neji and didn't appear ready to leave again anytime soon. "Come now, Neji, the others told you there goals. You must have something you're working for. No one studies and works to be the number one rookie for no reason."

He could've lied, said it was tradition or duty or to make his father proud (though that last one was too sentimental even for him). But as much as he didn't want to go into things, he felt it would've been disrespectful –even to a crazy lunatic of an instructor– to not be honest when the others had. That's why he'd tried to stay silent.

Finally, after a long enough time to find the twitching rodents above Gai's eyes creepy, Neji relented. "I intend to be the sharpest sword and the strongest shield."

"What's that mean?" Lee asked, but this time Neji stayed quiet. He never said he was going to make it easy for them. His reasons were his own and if they ever understood it one day, well, they'd be closer to him than he could imagine at that moment.

Sensing the death of their conversation, Gai stole back control before it started rotting. "Since you all told me your goals, I'll tell you mine. My goal is to help all three of you become shinobi stronger than you even think you can be. I intend to succeed in my goal, and make sure you succeed in yours."

Neji'd felt many things since first seeing his new instructor –chagrin, horror, mortification– but when he wasn't expounding like an over-dramatic Noh actor and actually slowed down to speak seriously Neji almost found him . . . not inspiring, he wouldn't go that far, but somewhere between competent and inspiring. That was a good place for Gai. It made him more tolerable. Now if only he'd stay that way.

"What about the last test before we become genin that we were told about?" Neji asked, his blank gaze covertly flashing towards Lee. He still didn't like not being certain he was going remain genin.

Gai's hallucination-inducing smile returned (Neji still swore it was 'pinging'), and he turned to the side to pose in profile. There went the little of admiration Neji managed to find in him. When he began again, Gai's voice was dark, thick, and foreboded enough in one sentence to bring nightmares to life. "I have only one test for you."

"Wha– what kind of test?" Lee gulped, shrinking down in his seat.

The darkness billowed around Gai, drafting out to swirl about their feet. "It will take strength, endurance, and unwavering determination. If you're lucky, you may finish it before nightfall. It's also a matter of teamwork. If even one of you fails, none of you will be genin."

Neji straightened up and for the first time since they'd met him Gai had Neji's full attention. As crazy as he was, who knew what Gai could come up with. Beside him Tenten and Lee sat transfixed, the nervous anxiety veritably burning in the dark cloud climbing up their legs.

"Your task is," –the darkness choked the very air from their lungs– "three thousand laps around the village!"

Neji's head dropped faster than a punctured clone exploded. "You've got to be kidding me."

Shadows danced through the open windows when Neji finally slogged his way home. Fire scorched his legs in ways he didn't know his nerves could burn. He'd done plenty of lengthy training sessions before, but it was always a routine of various katas and spars that never focused on a single muscle group for more than a couple hours. Three thousand laps around the village ended up being ten hours of single-minded jogging that left Neji ready to sever his legs just so he wouldn't have to feel them anymore.

Lap 1,238 was nice. That's when his legs went numb for a couple laps before they realized he wasn't stopping and decided to punish him with sharp needle pricks every time he flexed or contracted any muscle. Neji himself probably could've finished an hour or so earlier, but he wasn't about to end before the rest only to find out one tripped and failed. So he relented and paced the others in case he needed to carry (or drag) one the last few laps. Now, he just wanted to go to bed.

He trudged over the threshold, ignoring the fact his sandals were still on in favor of not bending his knees any more than necessary until he flopped onto his futon to sleep. The house was oddly quiet. He'd expected his parents to wait up to hear who his instructor was and all about his team, but the only thing stirring through the empty halls was the cool night wind brushing the dark wood floors. Neji's feet screamed with indignation when he halted near the half-open door to the sitting room. He didn't want to stop anymore than his feet, but a hint of white made him pause.

The moonlight crossed the hall from an open window and, fading through the pale shoji paper, warmed the sleeping girl. Her lithe body was curled around a couple sitting cushions, mussing her dark hair across her slumber-white cheeks and pulling her night robe tight around her legs. The peacefulness of the scene made even Neji's aching body feel at ease. At least someone had tried to wait up for him.

Dragging his sore legs into the sitting room Neji, quite ungracefully, plopped onto the floor near the wall and gently rustled his sister-cousin awake. "Hey, Hinata."

"Niisan?" Hinata rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yawed wide enough for Neji to see every tooth in her mouth. She rolled around to find him and forced her groggy body to crawl closer.

"Be careful Grandpa doesn't hear you call me that," he chuckled. "You'll get another lecture on inter-house etiquette."

She grumbled something unintelligible and curled up against his side the way she used to when they were younger. "How's your team?"

"My instructor is certifiable," he told her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder as she fell into a semi-doze in his embrace. "He made us run three thousand laps around the village. My legs now refuse to move."

Hinata attempted to laugh but it quickly turned into a yawn that spread like a virus to Neji. He settled his chin on the top of her head and let his eyes rest, just for a moment.

"Are you going back tomorrow?" she murmured with fading consciousness.

"Yeah."

"Are you going to be gone all day again?"

"I don't know."

A sound like a growl crossed with a whine escaped her sleep-laden throat. "I'll miss you."

The first honest smile of the day tempered all the exasperation and insanity he'd gone through. "I'll always be here for you. Your sword and your shield and a friendly ear when you need it." Neji caressed her arm and let the sound of her breath lull him to sleep. He really didn't need to get up anyway.

The moonlight watched them sleep in four white orbs peeking around the corner doorway. Hizashi slipped his hand over his wife's and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek.

"The more things change," she chuckled.