~crying~ My computer went bye-bye, but luckily my good friend had a backup, so here it is for you, chapter EIGHT. GOODIES!!!!!!!!!!!
Chapter Eight
"Tsunade-sama, we found a body."
At Anko's interruption, Tsunade, Izumo, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma, and Kotetsu looked up at her. "Details."
"A genin named Honda. He was seventeen, six feet tall. Right now the cause of death is unknown, but he does have kunai wounds and burns all over his body."
Izumo and Kotetsu shot worried looks at each other. "Tsunade-sama."
She didn't even look at them. "I don't have time for your biased theories."
Anko continued. "Gai's student Lee found him in the clearing where his squad usually practices."
Kotetsu flew up from his seat. "You have to listen to me Tsunade-sama! Those kids have killed one of the village's genin. What are you waiting for?"
"Proof Hagane. We need solid proof before we take disciplinary action against them."
"TenTen has better aim with projectiles than almost any other ninja in this village, and don't forget that she just recently added that boy to her clan." Kotetsu protested.
"I wasn't aware that TenTen was a member of a clan." Kakashi remarked.
"That's because her clan has been dead to Konoha for over one hundred years." Izumo replied. "The two of them are now the last of the Fire Clan."
Kurenai's red eyes widened. "The clan that sacrificed their children to the Legendary Phoenix?"
"The Uchiha clan's fire techniques are nothing compared to theirs." Asuma stated, his cigarette dangling from his lips. "It's hard to compete for supremacy when your opponents are living fire."
"I thought they were all dead." Kurenai sounded confused.
"My sister was the last survivor." Kotetsu replied. "Instead of killing her and ending the clan, my parents adopted her, bent on finding a way to get rid of the phoenix and prolong her life."
"She added Neji to her clan a few days ago." Izumo picked up the story where his friend had left off. "Alone the phoenix could've been neutralized, but with Neji at her side we're going to have our hands full with them."
"We still need proof Hagane." Jiraiya responded. "The boy is a Hyuuga. We can't risk his clan's anger over speculation. He is probably the most talented ninja they've produced in years. They won't be pleased with the prospect of losing him."
"We have a responsibility to the entire village."
"This is your sister you're so adamant on killing." Kakashi reminded him.
"I know that." Kotetsu looked pained and suddenly lost most of his confidence. "I love her very much, but it's still better to lose her than the whole village."
"I wonder how your parents would feel about that." Kakashi murmured.
"My parents are gone. I make the decisions for the family now."
"And I make the decisions for our village." Tsunade reminded him.
"I understand." Kotetsu and Izumo stood.
"Where are you two going?"
"To find the proof you're so desperate to have." The only chuunin in the room excused themselves.
Kotetsu set a fast pace, causing Izumo to have to quicken his steps to keep up with him. "Where are we going?"
"To see Hyuuga Hiashi."
"The clan head?" Izumo questioned. "He adores his nephew. He won't listen to us."
"He'll listen. I'll just remind him of the last time Konoha had a super genius kid with too much power." Kotetsu stared hard at Izumo. "The entire Uchiha clan was destroyed save one worthless child."
"Sasuke is a talented ninja."
"But he's nothing compared to Neji or to his brother." Kotetsu had a crazed glint in his eyes. "The only difference between them is, we're going to stop Neji from becoming the next Uchiha Itachi."
~~~
"Hiashi-sama will see you now." The servant opened the door.
"Thank you." The two chuunin entered the room and approached the clan leader.
The servant exited the room and closed the doors behind him.
"You gentlemen said you had information for me?"
"Yes sir." Kotetsu stepped forward. "Have you ever heard of the Fire Clan?"
"When they existed they were more numerous and powerful than our clan."
"They still exist." Izumo corrected the older man.
"Not possible. The last of the clan perished in a blaze not too far from Konoha thirteen years ago."
He shook his head. "Their newborn daughter survived and was adopted and raised by my parents. When she became a genin she was assigned to your nephew's cell."
"Neji?"
"Several days ago they both learned that she was born the last of the Fire Clan. I told him and she read it in our parents' scrolls." He paused for dramatic effect. "Neji is a power hungry child and we're not exactly sure how it happened, but he has the phoenix's powers as well."
"I don't see how this concerns me. My nephew is a smart kid. He's making himself stronger in time for the chuunin exams."
Izumo shook his head. "The girl was raped two weeks ago and Neji is still very angry about it. We're afraid that one day soon his anger and the phoenix will overwhelm him and he'll lash out at the closest people to him, his family, spelling the end of the Hyuuga clan. One person is already dead."
"Have you gone to the Hokage with your concerns?"
"She refuses to act as we've advised."
"I see."
"We know we can take the girl out, but as long as she has Neji on her side it'll be nearly impossible to defeat them."
"Don't worry about my nephew. We have a plan in place just for occasions like this."
"Thank you for listening."
"I'm grateful that you came to me."
The servant opened the door again and the two chuunin departed.
Hiashi called his servant over. "Call my daughter."
"Sir, Hanabi-sama is off the premises with her mother."
"Not her. My other daughter."
"Hinata-sama?" The servant sounded surprised. "I thought you had no more use for her?"
"Well, I just found one."
"I'll locate her right away."
Hiashi cursed inwardly. Now that he and the boy were on good terms he had such great plans for his nephew. Ending his life early would set the clan back a few years, but it was a small price to pay to save the whole clan. He didn't doubt that the boy had violent tendencies or was prone to anger, he had seen the manifestation of Neji's hatred firsthand. For a man to want to kill his only sister so badly she had to pose a tangible threat to him and the village.
His elder daughter appeared in the doorway of his study. "You wanted to see me Father?" There was a bit of hope in her voice. He had shunned her some time ago after he realized how weak she was. To actually be summoned by him was somewhat of a cause to rejoice.
"Hinata, how would you like to be fully reinstated in the family?"
The girl brightened. "Do you mean it Father?"
"Of course." He wrapped an arm around his daughter's shoulders. "You'd just have to do a small favor for me."
