UNINVITED
II: Dynamic Meditation
in which Neji receives a request.
- story occurs outside of canon; it would be best if one read up until the timejump happens though, as I may be referring to incidents pertaining to those chapters. Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi, that crazy genius, and this is only a poor fanfic by a starstruck fan.
- this contains implied yaoi, which means two guys paired up with each other. While there isn't any overt action, the implications are clear, and are intended, to make the story work. Please do us both a favor and NOT read if you're squeamish with this. And I do know how rare the occurrence of the NejiSasu fanperson in the fandom today, but here's to hoping it'll reach some anyway. ;
Team Gai had spent most of the morning in what their teacher called "dynamic meditation."
Despite its rather outrageous name, it was a pretty solid system of chakra channeling that Gai had helped each one of them adapt to, in accordance to their specialties.
Lee, for example, regulated a steady flow of chakra as he bent himself into almost inhuman angles, testing the flexibility of his muscles and the versatility of his bones. It was a fascinating yoga-type exercise to watch, the concentration in the young shinobi's face apparent as he held a particular difficult pose.
Tenten, for her part, whipped about with a birch bo, perching herself precariously on singular wooden blocks. Each block measured some four to five feet off the ground, around several short inches wide. These were arranged in a circle, allowing her to focus her chakra into the simultaneous movement of the longstaff and into her feet, as she quickly switched positions from pole to pole, hopping from one to the other whilst keeping up with the exercise pace and keeping her balance.
They weren't very difficult to locate. Despite the largeness of the practice grounds, and despite the fact that they were, quite essentially, meditating, their teacher was busy cheering them on.
"That's it, Lee, twist those bones of yours and render them like rubber! Remember that is the gift of youth—adaptability and flexibility!"
Hiashi watched them quietly from where he stood, shaking his head slightly. This was probably a more rigorous sort of 'meditation' than it seemed at first, especially with Maitou Gai hollering his encouragement every so often, as the younger shinobi had to forcibly shut off the loud shouts directed at them every few minutes.
"Tenten, let the staff act as your third foot! All weapons are extensions of a weapons-master's body. As the leaves that rustle in the summer wind are one with the branch and the tree that holds them, so must you be one with your weapons!"
It was generally very difficult to take Maitou Gai seriously. However surprising as it would seem though, there was some convoluted wisdom to the man's words, often smothered in superfluous speech and an almost nonsensical gibberish that was so characteristic of Gai.
"Neji! You must feel the metal without touching it! Extend your chakra onto your object!"
From the corner of Hiashi's eye he saw his nephew. Upside-down under a high branch, Neji sat cross-legged, eyes closed in concentration. His hands faced each other, fingers splayed out and twitching ever-so-slightly. In the small distance between his palms, two very sharp kunai spun in opposing directions (rather like two frenzied hands of a clock) kept suspended and rotating by a constant flow of chakra. Only a couple of hairs' breadth separated the sharp tips from Neji's exposed fingers, so that the slightest miscalculation would nick the flesh ever so slightly.
Hiashi mentally applauded the eccentric jounin teacher; he had designed exercises that fit each of his students' specialties very well. He was quite sorry to have to interrupt what they were doing so well, but he had very important matters to attend to. Soundlessly, he approached the quartet, keeping himself hidden from view.
"Hyuuga-dono," Gai greeted, as soon as he got close enough for the jounin teacher to detect his subtle presence. "It is a lovely day in the late spring to find you walking in the practice grounds. What brings you here?" It was all a matter of formality, of course; both men knew why Hiashi was here.
"I wish to speak with Neji for a bit, if you do not mind, Gai-sensei," he requested in a low voice. Without turning his head Hiashi could see his nephew's face twitch slightly in surprise; the boy had seen him. "It is… of utmost importance."
"Of course, Hyuuga-dono," Gai intoned. Then, in his loud voice, he addressed his team. "Everyone! Your efforts for the morning merit a recess. A shinobi cannot function on an empty stomach. As it is nearing lunchtime, our mission is to keep the harmonious flow of our chakra by feasting on good, healthy food!" He posed exuberantly. "Who is up for a bowl of ramen or two?"
"That's not healthy food," Tenten pointed out, jumping down from her perch and laying her staff aside. "And I'm sure, at this hour, the Ichiraku will be full. I suggest we—"
"YES GAI-SENSEI!" Lee cried out. "And I shall finish three bowls in thirty seconds else I shall run a hundred laps around the Academy Oval on my hands!"
"Then, I must finish four bowls in twenty seconds, or I will run three hundred laps on one hand!"
"YOSH!"
"Good grief, both of you, it's just lunch you know. Neji, won't you be coming along?" Tenten called up to him.
The two whirring kunai wobbled from their axes, and whispered against the tip of Neji's fingers. "I haven't reached my one million one thousand and one hundredth spin yet, but you all go on ahead." He kept his eyes closed, but Hiashi knew Neji was looking at him questioningly.
"Alright, but if you don't join us in thirty minutes we're bringing you food, okay?"
They watched as the three made their way out of the practice grounds and to the street towards the Ichiraku, with Lee and Gai gesticulating colorfully about the various challenges they set up against each other, and Tenten shaking her head and snickering. Stillness settled in the glade then, restful and easy.
"They are a good team," Hiashi murmured out loud. "No, don't, continue with what you are doing," he chided Neji, as the younger shinobi made to stop and to properly face the head of his clan. "It is an interesting exercise. Perhaps a modification of it will suit Hanabi and the younger children very well. It teaches excellent chakra control."
A very faint emotion flashed across Neji's face in an instant. The Hyuuga were a very stern kind, and compliments were either implied in silence, or in the most meager of words and the most indirect gestures. Even more so between different House members.
"You are all recovering very well, given the month-long tenure that has lapsed after that big fight," Hiashi began. "It has certainly resulted in a big political mess, but the Council of Five will have their last two meetings at the end of the week. We are fortunate to have powerful allies such as the Sand on our side."
He was careful to pick his words. The boy was exceptionally perceptive, and could predict conversations and small situational outcomes based on words and bodily affectations. It required subtlety that was a skill to be earned, and not inherited.
There was silence for the briefest moment. "Is Gai-sensei training you all for an upcoming mission?" Hiashi asked.
The twin kunai continued to whirr in their axis between Neji's fingers. "There will be an upcoming mission two days from now, or so I've gathered," he said carefully. "Bodyguarding the Fire Country delegates who will represent the country in the more bureaucratic meetings among non-shinobi."
"Is this the one that will be held in Tea Country?"
"Yes, uncle. A B-rank mission."
The older Hyuuga thought about it for a moment. "Is this something particularly important?"
Neji inclined his head. "I can excuse myself if you wish, uncle. They are a good team, after all." His lip twitched.
Hiashi hid a smile. Perceptive indeed, and straight to the point. "Yes, request a leave from your team. Your duty will be to the village this time, specifically to the House of Hyuuga. Both houses."
The sharp projectiles he was spinning between his hands increased their speed ever so slightly. "Is there… is there a danger?" Neji asked, brows furrowed.
He is no doubt thinking of that time, Hiashi observed, and wondered (as he did every so often) what would have become of the boy had his father not taken on such an obligatory sacrifice. "No, Neji. Nothing of the sort you are thinking," he said quietly, and the boy visibly relaxed.
Another silence announced itself. Only the humming of Neji's kunai and the occasional forest bird taking flight could be heard.
"This is," Hiashi began again, "however, something akin to a one-man mission."
A soft hissing noise. Hiashi glanced up to see Neji gritting his teeth, still intent on his exercise. His left index finger however, bled from a nick. For someone who knew the boy, it wasn't hard to guess that he was now quite excited about the proposition. Well. Let him enjoy it for the moment.
"It helps you to control your chakra fully, eh?" It was a reprimand, and Neji took it, head bowing slightly in embarrassment. "Well, keep at it, because this is precisely what will be asked of you."
He turned to leave, paused, and continued. "You are on your nine thousandth mark?"
"Eight and five hundred," Neji answered, voice edging.
Hiashi nodded. "After your five millionth turn, take your leave. I shall have all you need prepared in your room." Thus the older Hyuuga disappeared, leaving Neji vexed and alone with his slighted pride and his cut finger, ignoring lunch, ignoring the small trickle of blood, and ignoring his team, who had fussed about him the moment they returned.
Author's Notes:
(1) Neji's exercise is particularly complicated because apart from having to control his chakra, he would have to segregate part of it and make it spin in the opposite direction of his natural chakra spiral (I'm taking loosely from Jiraiya's explanation of every person's "natural chakra spiral"). There would be less than a quarter of an inch's distance between his hands and the kunai. Also, he is sitting upside down on a branch, thus forcing him to segregate yet a smaller portion of his chakra to keeping him stuck there without having all the blood rush to his face. To maintain oneself in that position (kunai and all) would mean one must achieve some sort of steady chakra outflow, and intense concentration.
(2) I would imagine it to be one great war, taking Orochimaru down. So much so that the 5 greatest Kages have to converge. And the Ichibi-Kazekage is quite all right, thank you very much. :P
(3) Comments and suggestions are welcome. ; Please leave a note if you thought it wasn't too bad (I hope XD).