Chiaki groaned in dismay as she walked beside Neji. This both amused and concerned him, it was amusing because she was displaying the same level of confusion over the situation as he had been, and it concerned him because he wondered if he had harmed their budding trust when he had claimed she was experiencing a medical episode. But in reality, what sort of person asks what a futon does and then quacks at the end of sentence?

He couldn't very well tell the clients that she wasn't really herself right then and there. Well, perhaps he could have but then the question would be how she was stable enough to be an asset to a shinobi.

"Are we okay?"

"Yeah, I get that Yuki backed you into a corner. It's fine," she agreed with a wave of her hand.

"Hmm, well you've already had my favourite dish. Why don't I treat you to yours?"

"Neji don't worry about it. That's not what's got me upset okay? I just-" She sighed a little as she stood up right and closed her eyes momentarily before continuing, "I just realized if a hollow shows up I'm more of a hindrance than anything. I don't want to do that to you. I get that you're a talented shinobi, but you shouldn't have to watch your back and mine because my stupid gikon decides to freak out and quack all over the Land of fire. Maybe I should try to find something local that'll keep me in one place."

"Hmm but that begs the main question, doesn't it? Why are you even here?"

Her eyes narrowed and her normally warm and inviting expression shifted into a blood chilling glare as she replied, "that's classified."

"Okay, no need to turn me into a smoking crater," he answered.

She laughed a little at the notion and shook her head 'no', "Oh no I wouldn't. You'd just be M.I.A for a while. Strictly speaking, Shinigami aren't allowed to attack humans unless we're under orders. It's one of our highest laws, and the order to harm a human is rarely given. I think it's something like once or twice every three centuries or so. I may have to one day, but for now I can happily say the worst I've ever done is used kido to restrain humans."

Neji nodded a little before the last two sentences fully sunk in and he inquired, "Centuries? I thought you were seventeen like me."

"Goodness no! I'm ten times your age," she answered with an amused chuckle. Neji's jaw dropped as he observed her for a moment in disbelief.

She giggled before elaborating, "we live longer than humans. The former Captain-Commander was two thousand years old."

Neji was struck speechless. There's literally nothing you can say to that one, comparing humans to shinigami was becoming more like comparing apples to oranges. They're both fruit, both are a source of vitamin c but there's a vast amount of differences.

Similarly while Shinigami may look like humans, and he would assume, bleed like humans they were immensely different. The longevity wasn't the only thing, if Chiaki was ten times his age and looked seventeen, it was reasonable to assume they aged differently as well.

Chiaki shrugged a little before asking him something she considered personal, "When is your birthday?"

"July third," Neji replied, as simply as if she'd asked about his favourite kind of weather. He gave her a glance she was becoming too familiar with. She almost rolled her eyes as she answered his silent question, "October 17th."

"Born in autumn, and your name means 'a thousand autumns'," Neji mused.

"Yeah. That was my mother's wish for me, live to see a thousand autumns," Chiaki agreed. Neji gave a small smile as they arrived at the gates to the Leaf Village, the two shinobi stationed nodded in greeting to her and welcomed Neji back. One of them reminded her a little of Shuhei Hisagi and briefly wondered if maybe they were distant relatives.

Curiosity peaked and she inquired quietly, "Neji, who is that one man? The one with the dark hair and the bandage over his nose?"

"Hmm, I don't often speak with him. I believe his name is Kotetsu Hagane," Neji answered after some consideration.

"Why does he interest you?"

"He reminds me of someone back home," Chiaki replied. Neji gained a slightly mischevious smirk as he jested, "oh? I know you don't have a boyfriend. Is this a crush?"

Her mouth made an oh shape as she playfully gave him a gentle shove, "oh as if! He's just a friend."

"Sure he is," Neji persisted.

She gave him a glance from the corner of her eye and giggled while shaking her head. "The day I crush on Shuhei Hisagi is the day the sky turns to grass. He's a nice enough guy, very skilled for his role back home. He's a talented writer and has some skill with a guitar—although sometimes he sounds like he's torturing the poor instrument and he's fully dedicated to those under his command. But I just don't find him attractive. Not like that anyway. Don't get me wrong, I like him well enough but there's nothing there," she revealed, shrugging her shoulders towards the end.

They stopped outside of Neji's apartment and she suggested, "I guess you have to check in with Tsunade."

"Yes, I would invite you along once more but as you're technically an outsider-"

Chiaki held up her hand to stop him from continuing and replied, "Say no more. I got it."

Neji gave her a relieved expression, handing her a silver key and advising her, "I'll probably be spending time with some friends for a bit after I meet with Lady Tsunade. Help yourself to whatever is in the apartment."

Chiaki accepted the key and gave a nod of acknowledgement, "stay safe but have fun."

Neji watched to see she safely made her way inside the building before he chuckled quietly. He continued on through the leaf village but stopped moving when he saw an angry face glaring at him that he hadn't anticipated being quite so upset.

Standing in front of him, feet shoulder length apart, fists on her hips, and deep scowl on her face which sharply contrasted her adorable twin bun hair style was Tenten.

"Uh—" Neji began but found himself at a loss of words.

"Not 'Uh', Who is she?"

Neji grimaced at the venom in her tone, He may be good for close combat, but Tenten was best for mid to long range combat, and furthermore she had deadly accuracy. He hadn't seen her miss a single target except in her fight against the wind style user Temari.

"Tenten, it isn't like that. I can promise you," Neji pleaded.

"Save it! I saw you," Tenten growled before she turned on her heel and walked away. Neji's eyes widened he felt conflicted in that moment, he had to give his report to Tsunade, but it was obvious that Tenten was hurting. However it took little time for him to conclude which one he should tend to first. He headed towards the Hokage's building, after all girlfriends can come and go through no fault of your own. A career however would only be lost if you neglected your responsibilities to it.

He resolved that he'd visit Tenten later and explain what she'd seen. Then he realized he'd have to find some way to do that without revealing that Chiaki is a Shinigami. Neji didn't drink, but in that moment he felt like he could've downed a bottle in a single go.