Chapter 2: Explanations
The reprimand was not loud or brutal, but it had the same effect. The room fell into silence as they waited for Neji to reply.
He did so as he bowed his head in humble apology and respect. But everyone in the room could see the clenched fists at his sides. All of the occupants knew of Neji's unwavering loyalty to Konoha and it's Hokage, but sometimes there were moments where outbursts such as this one did not characterize Neji's personality; his infamous detachments were lacking.
Naruto waved Neji's apology aside, "I understand your position Neji, but we all have a duty. Your cousin is a great shinobi, under her own trials as well as yours; or do you doubt your own tutelage?"
Neji saw the amusement sparking in the Naruto's eyes, so reframed from answering the taunt.
Clearly understanding that he was not going to get a reply, Naruto turned to glance at everyone in turn.
"This scroll that Hinata brought back for us contains information on each of their movements and plans. Now, keep in mind that these things may change but I trust that all of you will be cautious."
Sasuke pushed from the wall and approached the desk. He looked stiff and impatient as he glanced down at the scroll in Naruto's hand.
Naruto peered up at him through his bangs before he rolled his eyes and handed the scroll over to Sasuke.
"The reason why I called you here is this; I want those coordinates checked. I can't spare the other ANBU teams on this mission. This is a reconnaissance only, so you both have to agree on whose team is best utilized for it."
As he spoke Neji moved towards the desk to look at the scroll that Sasuke laid out in front of him.
There were a few moments of silence before Shikarmaru sighed as he stretched in his chair. His eyes met Naruto's and he nodded when the Hokage smiled as he stood from his desk and moved back towards the windows.
"When the decision for whose taking the mission is final, I'll be debriefing you on a few minor things. Until that is decided, you guys know where to find me."
Shikamaru stood from his seat and bowed to the Hokage's back. "I'll see you in the morning Hokage-sama."
Naruto nodded without turning, and all that can be heard was a pop and hiss of smoke where Shikamaru's presence used to occupy.
Realizing that no one was paying her a mind, Hinata moved quietly towards the windows until she was standing next to Naruto. She turned to lean back against the sill of the window and studied Naruto's profile.
She smiled sadly when she saw the fatigue that illustrated across his smooth face. She reached out and pulled on his white robes. He was pulled out off his musing with a start, his lack of attention to his surrounding confirming his exhaustion. He almost fell on her before he regained his footing and frowned in disapproval down at her.
"You should have waited until morning for this meeting Naruto-kun, you're running yourself ragged. And if you keep frowning like that, you're going to have wrinkles before you turn twenty-five."
Naruto flicked the offensive lock of hair from her face and grinned down at her. Even through his laughing eyes, she could see the restless determination to prove her wrong.
"You're brassiness is starting to surprise me Hinata-chan, where was that shy and sweet girl I use to know? I'm starting to recognize what having an overbearing mother feels like."
Hinata puffed her cheeks as she tilted her chin up at him. The ongoing cheeky remarks between them always managed to bring them closer together. She considered him a best friend, maybe even like a brother.
Before she could come up with a reply she happen to glance over Naruto's shoulder to see both Sasuke and Neji staring at them.
She felt the blood moving warming to her face as she stared nervously at Neji's pale gaze. She managed to break away just as Naruto notice her inattention to their bantering. He turned and addressed the two ANBU captains.
"You both can get back to me on your decision in the morning. By then, Shikamaru will be his usual cheery self and all will be taken care of. Is that satisfactory for you both?"
When both men did not reply, Naruto grinned at them. "I'll take that as a yes. All right. You're dismissed."
They seem to awaken from their trance and Sasuke spoke first. "I'll be taking the mission Naruto. My team has been anxious to move again, so we'll be-"
"And this has nothing to do with a certain leader of Akatsuki?"
Sasuke breathe deeply, trying to regain his calm. "I'm doing this because we are the best team for this. My agenda with Itachi comes second to Konoha."
Naruto nodded his head in understanding. Both boys knew how much pain they dealt each other in the past because of their wavering trust.
"Make sure you're here 8 o'clock sharp. You'll go over the details with Shikamaru then."
Taking that as a dismissal, Sasuke bowed before disappearing in an array of smoke.
Naruto turned to glance from one Hyuga to the other. He bit his lip to keep a smile from forming on his face when he saw the discomfort the two were emitting.
"Well, I'm tired and I would like to catch a few hours of sleep. I still have a few things to sort out first, so…"
Hinata nodded in understanding. She moved closer to Naruto and squeezed his hand in farewell. She pulled away after a moment and walked towards her cousin. Neji glanced at her before he bowed to Naruto.
He turned on his heels and moved towards the doors with Hinata close by his side. With one quick look back, Hinata saw Naruto grin and wink at her with mischief of old twinkling in his eyes.
She could not help but smile back. Even now, Naruto could irritate her cousin, when no one was able to break through his façade. And he knew it too and always found ways to tease the ANBU captain.
After closing the double doors behind them, Hinata turned to see her cousin walking away with his posture stiff and formal. His cloak bellowed out behind him as he kept a brisk pace, very unlike his slow and precise footsteps that was the norm.
She was able to catch up at the foot of the stairs leading outside into the brisk night air.
"Why did you not just teleport home?"
"I prefer to walk tonight." The answer was short and clipped. She bit her lip and tried again.
"Are you alright Neji?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" She sighed as she heard the undercurrent of his anger showing through.
"Well, I can understand if you want to walk, it is a beautiful night, but Neji our compound is on the other side of the village." She tried to sound demure and not sarcastic as she felt.
When she saw his pace soften and his face move from irritation to apathy she moved forward to walk beside him.
She watched him place his hawk mask on, she did not object, for he needed this to collect his thoughts and composure.
/A barrier to protect himself….Oh Neji./
They walked silently, both reflecting on their own thoughts when Hinata broke the silence.
"Neji, are you happy?"
"Emotions get you no where Hinata." Hinata smiled when she realized that after months of objections, Neji has learned not to use the title of Sama for Hinata anymore.
After Naruto became Hokage, one of the first things he did was address the Hyuga family of the promise he made years ago. His persistence and natural grace as a leader humbled the Hyuga family's resolve and they relented. Surprisingly they were not angered by it, for days after the official signing, Hinata felt a certain relief and happiness radiating through her clan members.
"Naruto was just teasing you cousin. He knows it irritates you easily when you're trying to be serious. You-"
Neji cut her off when he stopped in his tracks and in a soft and uncaring voice spoke, "Did you know that the Kazekage used to be Naruto's lover?"
She felt the blush bloom on her face, but she pushed it down when she realized with whom she was speaking to. Neji was never one to spread gossip, so her curiosity was evident.
"What are you-"
"It was after Uchiha decided that our village was not good enough for him anymore. Naruto left to train with Jiraiya-sama, he was able to get better acquainted with Gaara."
"Neji…how is this significant to anything we were discussing?"
Even when she could not see her cousin's eyes, she could still feel the intense emotion that he was trying to contain. She held her ground under his scrutiny without complaint. Waiting…for what…she did not know.
"It was Gaara's persistence upon Naruto for years following that event that made them lovers. The same with Sasuke."
Hinata's silver eyes widened in shock; she could not wrap her mind around what her cousin was trying to inform her.
/What? I don't….Neji, what are you saying? Sasuke and Naruto? Gaara/
"Neji, why do you spread such lies?"
Neji glanced around them before grabbing her arm and teleporting them home. She was surprised to see her room materialized before her eyes. She blinked to stop the room from spinning. All she could hear was Neji's quiet voice in the room.
"I realized that this was a conversation not spoken in the open like that."
She realized that Neji had turned on the lights as he removed his mask and turned to placed it on her table and removed his cloak to hang over the back of her chair. He closed the windows and leaned against the wall next to it.
"Seat down Hinata."
She did not argue and quietly took a seat on her bed. She folded her hands in her lap and waited for him to continue. But something in her dreaded what he was going to say. She was so confused and her erratic thoughts kept jumping around in her mind.
"We both know that Naruto is…he makes people believe in things…things they thought were impossible."
Hinata nodded, "He awakens people's spirit."
Neji's pale eyes turned to hold her gaze captive, before he nodded and continued, "Sometimes those people become obsessed."
Hinata bit her lip and tried to keep quiet. /Obsession./
"Uchiha was close to asking Naruto to be more than friends when Naruto managed to bring him back from Orochimaru's clutches. It did not start out that way, but Naruto's kindness and forgiveness, was Uchiha's balm. It would have happened if Uchiha did not impregnate Haruna."
Hinata remained speechless. Her surprise was evident in her voice. "How do you know all this Neji?"
"I've been keeping an eye on Uchiha as requested by Tsunade-sama. But I know deep down Hinata that you felt the tension back then."
Hinata did not acknowledge that statement, for they both knew that it was true.
"Both the Kazekage and Uchiha lost their hold on Naruto in different ways; Politics and marriage. Luckily, Naruto did not understand Sasuke's advances for what it was. But to our current dilemma…"
Hinata glanced at Neji with curiosity as well as a hint of dread. "Dilemma?"
"Did you not wonder why after all this time, Akatsuki is active again; after three years, they choose now to advance?"
"Uchiha Itachi.."
"has been trying for years to get his hands on Kyuubi. But just recently Naruto has finally merged with Kyuubi, becoming one entity. Accepting each other as one being means that Akatsuki should not be so interested…Naruto is beyond their grasp."
Hinata fidgeted in her seat on the bed. Neji pushed away from the wall and moved to seat on the chair facing her bed. Neji's stoic gaze affected her now. She began to frown. "Neji…tell me."
Neji leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. He held her gaze for a few painful moments before he shook his head.
"Don't you get Hinata?"
"…."
"Uchiha Itachi knew that this day would come…where he would not have to follow the Akatsuki leader's orders. Uchiha himself would lead, and he would wait patiently for Naruto to merge with Kyuubi. And when he did, he would strike. But not to kill; only to conquer."
Realization came to dawn on Hinata, and horror of fate ran down her spine in chills. She shook her head in denial.
"Hinata…Akatsuki is planning to take the Hokage. I think Naruto knew about this. Uchiha's obsession with him, that's why you were sent out before official word of their actives were common knowledge."
"Obsession?"
"Uchiha Itachi is obsessed in claiming the center of Konoha. Hinata, do you understand? Naruto-"
"Itachi is trying to get his hands on Naruto….Neji. Neji, what are we going to do? Who else knows of this?"
"Shikamaru is the only other. I'm only telling you, because you must be prepared when the Akutsuki appear."
"Why me?"
Neji glance away from her, his shoulders tensed and his jaws clenched. It was quick, but not quick enough that she saw the pain that flashed through his eyes; the strong emotion that he tried to hide from her and repress from the object of their discussion.
"You're the only person I trust to protect him if anything manages to get past me."
TBC
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