Twenty Truths: Hyuuga Neji

One. Contrary to popular belief, no one has ever mistaken Hyuuga Neji for a girl. Even with telltale Hyuuga long hair and delicate features, most people thought that he was certainly beautiful, but certainly male.

Two. Hyuuga Neji snored, horribly, and though he claimed that everyone in his clan snored, it simply wasn't the case.

Three. Like all members of the Hyuuga Clan, exposure to the chakra paper proved that he had an affinity for water. Unlike the rest of the Hyuuga clan, he put good use to it: creating a massive water jutsu without a water source as his entrance test for ANBU.

Four. Neji's chichiue had been a hunter-nin. His haha was a med-nin. It still surprised everyone when Neji became both.

Five. When treating the nineteen year old ANBU for a shoulder wound, Shizune was the first to discover a tattoo that Neji wore on his back. She couldn't help but trace her fingers along Neji's golden bird wings.

Six. That night, Neji lost his virginity to Shizune, his medical-ninjutsu retainer.

Seven. On nights when it was cold, Neji would feel pain in his stomach where that last arrow had pierced him all those years ago.

Eight. When he woke up that day after nearly losing his life, he nearly cried for the first time in eight years when he saw Tenten sleeping in a chair beside his bed, even in her sleep, desperately clinching his hand.

Nine. Neji never hated himself for what he did to Hinata, even after losing to Naruto. He couldn't find it within himself to hate his past mistakes. But he did make efforts to make amends.

Ten. He also decided to try to make amends with Lee, but found instead that he drifted further from his teammate who was content to follow in the footsteps of another, while Neji was determined to forge a bright new path.

Eleven. It was Tenten that changed the dynamics of Team Gai. She forcibly reminded Gai that he had three students and like it or not, one of them was a prodigy.

Twelve. Tenten has always been Neji's rock, since the very day they met. They were both at the Stone at the same time, mourning their lost parents. Tenten had asked Neji not to cry because it meant he was forgetting the strength of the person he lost. Neji swore not to cry again for sadness and Tenten swore that someway, somehow, this boy would have happiness.

Thirteen. Rumors that Hyuuga Neji was going to propose to Tenten when they were twenty three were completely unfounded. The leader of the Branch House never had romantic intentions for his best friend. He could do nothing but quietly discourage Tenten developing any such intentions towards him.

Fourteen. Hyuuga Neji, contrary to Village Legends, doesn't have a unique and superior hair care regimen that he keeps secret under pain of death. The amazing condition of his signature locks are just another aspect of his being a prodigy.

Fifteen. Hyuuga Neji was the first of the gifted Konoha Twelve to become ANBU. Ino was the second. While Ino was a Jounin, Neji had been her senpai. He gave Ino her code name "Innenwa" and she gave him a love he could not understand.

Sixteen. Yamanaka Ino made herself available to be his mistress after Neji's miai was arranged and settled. His cousin Anzu was happy to have him, but Neji knew she wouldn't feel the same in his arms as Ino did.

Seventeen. Neji never took Ino to his bed after his wedding day. He would miss that feeling of contentment until his wife announced she was with child. The feeling he received from that was much more than contentment.

Eighteen. Hikaru and Hikari were born minutes apart on the Fifth of January, the greatest day of his life. Hikaru and Hikari had screamed with all their strength until their father held them each in one arm and looked down to them with the same eyes that looked up at him.

Nineteen. The only person surprised by the talent of Hikaru and Hikari was Neji himself. He had hoped that they would be gifted, but those two together showed more talent at five than Neji had until he was sixteen.

Twenty. Neji watched his daughters train, and eventually his sons, Naoto and Hiaru, as well, amazed by how young children so small could be so full of life, promise and wonder. He had lost such feelings when he was four years old, but because the Rokudaime kept his word, his children would never lose that feeling.

End.

A/N: Innenwa means Fated Circle which is going to be a future fanfic revolving around Ino and Neji.