Chapter 2

After their sparring match, Tenten finally managed to drag herself home. Her muscles were telling her to stop but her instincts kept her going. The first thing she did when she got home was a nice long sleep on the couch. While Tenten was sleeping, on the other side of Konoha, something was happening at the Hyuuga Manor.

Neji had arrived home but was called in to speak to Hiashi-sama about an important matter. He walked back to his room, drawing in what had happened.

Flashback

Once arriving home, one of the Branch members said that Hiashi-sama needed to speak with him urgently and with that he went off to find his uncle. When he entered his uncle's room, he could see Hiashi's pale face filled with worry but as Neji arrived, his face relaxed and replaced itself with relief.

"You called for me?" asked Neji.

"Yes, this is really important and no one else must find out about it. Understood?" Hiashi said.

"Yes," muttered Neji before turning his full attention to Hiashi.

"I think Hinata and Hanabi have been taken away because Hinata agreed to come home before sun set. But the sun set ages ago and I'm starting to worry," stated Hiashi before continuing. "I' m putting you on a mission to find them. I' ve gotten word from the Hokage. I want you to choose four others and leave first thing in the morning. The Hokage has told me she doesn't want any Chuunins or Jounins out of the village. I want to speak to you before you leave. You're dismissed."

Neji bowed before leaving, returning to his room to prepare a few things.

End of Flashback

Returning to his room, Neji started to think about who he was going to choose, he didn' t have enough time so he concluded with four people: Tenten, Lee, Naruto and Sakura. With the team composed, all he had to do was inform each one by tonight. Walking out, he quickly went to find Tenten.

Once reaching her home, he knocked on the door but no answer come from within. Standing in the rain, most utterly surprised-wondering where she could be. Fiddling with the door knob, it twisted letting him into her home. Hmmm its unlock, thought Neji before going inside to seek shelter from the rain and winds, he looked around to find her. Finding her least expected, she was still in her training clothes but none less-sleeping.

How he love seeing her sleeping form, which was also so relaxed. Her face was beautiful even with loose strands of hair coming out from her buns.

Beautiful! I can' t use that word. I' m a Hyuuga and she is nothing else more than my team mate, thought Neji, walking up to her and shaking her awake.

"Hmmm...go away, I'm sleeping," mumbled Tenten before turning back to her sleep.

Figuring that she wouldn't wake just by shaking her, Neji shouted her name instead hoping to get her the wake up, "Tenten!"

That worked because soon a confused and shocked Tenten was up and looking around, until she realised Neji was there, "Neji! When and how did you get in?"

"I merely opened the door and stepped in," muttered Neji.

"The door! I locked that, so you couldn' t have gotten in." stated Tenten.

"It was unlocked and I have to talk to you about something," Neji merely announced.

Turning to him, Tenten waited for what he had to say.

"Hinata and Hanabi have been taken by somewhere to somewhere. Hiashi-sama has asked me to conduct a mission in search for them. I've chosen you to come so I'm here to inform you about it," stated Neji.

"Ofcourse, I' ll go. When is it?" asked Tenten.

"First thing, tomorrow morning, meet the others and me at the Hyuuga Manor.

"Okay, I' ll be ready. Who else will be there?" questioned Tenten

"I haven' t asked the others but I plan on taking Naruto, Sakura and L...Lee." He said the last name so softly that Tenten had to strain so she could hear it.

"You should get going then, if you have so many others to talk to, it' s getting dark," announced Tenten.

"Bye," mumbled Neji before turning around and going back out into the rain and winds.

From there, he went to Ichiraku's where he found Naruto eating his 7th bowl of ramen.

"Naruto," said Neji.

Once seeing the white-eyed prodigy, Naruto quickly gobbled down his mouth full before turning to Neji "Hello!" he yelled, flashing Neji a wide grin.

"I'm asking you to join me on a mission," replied a stoic Neji.

"Mission...hmm...I' ll need to think about it...give me the details," questioned Naruto.

"I' ll give you the details tomorrow but I need your answer now," replied a rather annoyed Neji.

"Fine, fine...yes...I' ll go," Naruto finally stated out while flashing yet again, one of his grins at Neji.

"Tomorrow-outside the Hyuuga Manor and DON' T be late." With that he left leaving Naruto to enjoy his noodles.

Next he went to find Sakura, he choose her because they would need a medic on the team and she was one of the best, after the Hokage. Arriving at Sakura' s place, he found Lee standing there, in the rain as if something bad had happened.

"Lee," Neji hesitantly said.

"AHH, MY RIVAL HAS SPOKEN TO ME! YOU WILL NOT WIN SAKURA SAN'S HEART! IF I LOSE TO YOU, THEN I'LL RUN 200 LAPS AROUND THE VILLAGE!" exclaimed Lee.

Neji sweat dropped before speaking to Lee. "I' m not here to play your stupid games, will you grow up already. You' re a Jounin not a five year old child!" yelled Neji whose was really, really angry by that point.

"Oh...then why are you here?" asked Lee.

"I'm here to ask Sakura something and since you're here, I can talk to you both at once," replied Neji.

"OKAY, MY RIVAL NEEDS TO TALK TO ME and Sakura san. Um...let's see if she is home," And with that he walked up to her door and was about to knock when it opened with Sakura standing there.

"How did you know we were here?" asked Lee.

"You' re loud enough to be heard throughout the whole village," she stated but with no smile, just a plain facial expression. Everyone could see the difference in her. "Come in."

"NEJI, WHAT IS YOUR REASON TO SEE US!" yelled Lee showing everyone he still had those 'flaming spirits of youth'.

So Neji was there informing them about the mission.

Elsewhere, Hinata had just woken up from her blackout.
Somewhere else, Sasuke was seeking shelter in the forest away from the rain. Tomorrow, he thought, I'll destroy that little, peaceful village. His huger for power caused him to do all sorts of things but the main thing in his head was the words revenge and kill.

The nearby village was just a small one, consisting of less than 100 people. The village known as Karo was weak and its defences were low. But they had never been attacked so all were not prepared as to what might happen, tomorrow.

"Yes!" shouted Lee. "I will definitely help you!"

Neji just smirked, "And you?" he asked Sakura.

"I' ll go," was her reply.

"Tomorrow morning, outside the Hyuuga Manor," and after that he left Lee and Sakura, walking back out in the rain and wind. With his team ready, all he had to do was return home and prepare for the coming day.