Chapter VIII – Act and React
Hinata woke up a little late that morning. Being alone in the bed, she thought that last night was a dream, but her aching body was telling it was real.
Leaving the bedroom, she took a long shower and moved to the kitchen where Neji was.
"Good morning" – she said, uncertain if she should lay a kiss on him or leave him alone.
"Morning" – and this quick answer made her decide for option two (why he was such a shell!) – "I've just been summoned by the Godaime".
"A mission?"
"It is more like an errand, but the Hokage thinks a jounin might be necessary…"- he rose from the chair and went to the study room, speaking in the midway – "I will be back for dinner, I think".
"That is g g good."- Hinata was holding her tea mug, wondering if the last night really happened…
Neji left the study room fully dressed and equipped placed a hand on her shoulder and said:
"You should go look for Kurenai. To enter the Jounin Exams you need the recommendation of a senior jounin. I'm off. Bye"- and an unexpected kiss landed on the top of her head.
Afraid that it could be another illusion, Hinata held the hand he placed on her shoulder and kissed it.
"Goodbye and have a safe journey".
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She left the Hyuga compound in a rush. Met her father in the way, kissed his cheek and continued her run, leaving a puzzled Hiashi.
Kurenai was in the Academy entrance, talking to Kiba and Shino.
"Oi! Hinata! Good morning!" – Waved the Inuzuka boy.
"Hi" – simply said Shino.
Kurenai hugged her pupil and said:
"Hi, Hinata! How are you?"
"I'm fine. Good morning to you all!" – She said cheerfully bowing to her friends.
"So, are you going to enter the Jounin Exams, heh?" – Kiba asked.
"I I came to ask i if Kurenai-sensei c c could r r r r recommend me…."
"No need to ask. I'll recommend you three. I think you are ready to be jounin. A little polish on your techniques might be necessary, but we can work on it."
The Team 8 went up to the third floor, where the exam registrations were being done. There was some ruckus.
"I'm going to register myself!"
"But you can't, baka!"
"I CAN!"
Naruto and Sakura were the ones screaming. Kakashi was just looking at them, reading his perverted book, waiting to his students reach a conclusion or kill each other. Kurenai decided to ask what was going on:
"Hey, Kakashi, what is wrong?"
"Naruto wants to enter the Jounin Exams, but he is still a genin, so he can't"
"And he is too stubborn to understand that!" – Sakura yelled, staring her teammate in a very frightening way.
"I CAN! I'm as good as all chunnin guys, maybe even more powerful! That is unfair that I need to be chunnin first to take the Jounin Exams!" – Naruto was very disappointed. Hinata couldn't help feeling sorry for him. His words were true, he was the most powerful genin of the rookie 9.
"N N Naruto-kun… I t t think y y you s s s s should t t t try to t t talk to the H H Hokage….." – She said in an almost whispering tone.
"Annn? What did you say, Hinata?"- He leaned closer to hear her. Hinata was having her habitual blush.
"She just said you should talk to the Hokage! Maybe Tsunade can allow your entrance in the Exams!"- Kiba helped his friend, 'cause he was afraid that she might faint if Naruto come closer.
"Nah….I talked to Granny Tsunade. She just said: rules, Naruto, rules." – And he mimicked Tsunade's big boobs with the hands inside his jacket, making Kakashi muffle a laugh behind his mask. Kurenai hit her jounin friend in the stomach with her elbows, frowning.
After all that commotion, Sakura, Shino, Kiba, Hinata, Chouji, Shikamaru and a reluctant Ino were participating in the next Jounin Exams. Naruto was very disappointed but he couldn't get himself registered. The gang had lunch together in "Yakiniku Q".
"Say, you guys know why Lee and Tenten didn't register themselves in the exam?" – Ino asked.
Hinata felt a hole in her stomach the moment Tenten's name was pronounced. She had forgotten all the fight and the kiss scene, but it came back, worse, after Sakura's answer:
"Tsunade sent Team Gai in some sort of short mission in the mountains. Unfortunately they are not coming in time for the registration".
"Hehe! So I'm not going to be alone in the next Exams!" – said Naruto with his fox expression.
"B But Neji said h h he would b be b b back in the e e e evening…." – ignoring Naruto's comment, Hinata tried to remain calm and cool, but her mind was racing among all the possibilities. He lied to me? Maybe he didn't know that the mission was long. After yesterday night, how could he?
"That is true. Neji and Gai shall return today. Only Tenten and Lee are going to stay in the mountains" – Sakura continued. Nobody noticed Hinata's sigh of relief….
"Funny… The Hokage must be getting senile. Why send a weapon specialist and a taijutsu master to the mountains? What kind of mission is?" – Chouji asked with his mouth full of food.
"It is frontier violation. Tsunade doesn't want to make a big noise about, thus send Team Gai – which is the most organized one – to take care of the job. Lee and Tenten are supposed to stop the trespassers, while Neji and Gai support them from Konoha. By doing that, she keeps two jounins inside the village, for protection, and gets rid of the problem with two chunnins." – Shikamaru explained the Hokage plan (it is most likely his plan…).
All the genins made a sound "Ohhhh" and continued to eat. Naruto was still babbling about how sad the 'fuzzy eyebrows' would be to lose the jounin exams, but Shikamaru said it is very hard to pass in the first time, so probably all of them will do the exam again. Shikamaru also said that Tenten and Lee most likely will be jounin in their first attempt, like Neji was, and Naruto still has to achieve the chunnin rank and he would be the last one to become jounin…..
Naruto just ignored Shikamaru…..
As Team 8 left the restaurant Kurenai said:
"We also have a mission."
"Ahhh. Come on! We have to train for the Exams!" – Kiba protested.
"I know, but it is a B rank mission, so I think it will be a good training for you all"
"When we start?"- Asked Shino.
"In two days. Tomorrow I will talk to the Hokage and our client. Meanwhile, these are the brochures from the mission. Study it, and we will meet Friday on the same meeting point."
"Ok" – answered the chunnins.
Kiba and Shino decided to spar a little and followed to Training Area 7. Kurenai and Hinata walked slowly, chatting:
"Hinata….you seem different today…."
"D D Do I?" – The girl blushed madly and started poking her index fingers.
"I think… you look more…confident, …like shinning…."- said the crimson eyed lady.
"Well….maybe it is because…" – and Hinata achieved 'red magnitude 10'.
"You and Neji finally…..did…" – asked the lady in a low tone, like telling a secret. And the young girl looked at her sensei and nodded, whispering "Last night".
Kurenai always felt like a big sister to Hinata, and hugged the girl in a loving way. And the two talked about Hinata's new experience, giggling.
"Hum…but since you two decided to consummate the marriage, it is better think about the other consequences…"
"I understand. We didn't talk about, but I'm sure he doesn't want children right now, neither do I. We are too young. I'm taking pills".
"That is right; you are both teenagers, so concentrate on your shinobi skills and career." – Kurenai looked at the sky and added –"My! It is soo late. I must meet Asuma! Bye, dear, take care!"
They hugged each other and parted.
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When Hinata arrived home, Neji was already there studying some scrolls in the living room table.
"Hi! I'm home" – she said in a timid way.
"Hi. Did you talk to Kurenai?"
"Yes. I'm already registered in the Jounin Exams."
"Good. Feel like training?"
"Ok!"
During their trainings, Neji never fought Hinata, he simply asked her to do some katas or practice Kaiten. He said that her weak point was anxiety and bad concentration. So they focused on keep cool during the fights.
That night, though, he announced that they would spar. They faced each other, Juuken stance, a long pause and only their breaths could be heard. Hinata was sure that her heart was pretty loud too.
When Neji sharpened his eyes and intensified his byakugan, unconsciously Hinata's mind recalled the Chunnin Exams and she started to sweat, breath heavily, and when he moved in an amazing speed, she barely had time to dodge the attack.
"Pay attention!"- And he moved, aiming to her chest.
"I I I'm …paying attention…"- she wasn't. She was too scared to read any of his moves, only reviewing that fight years ago, the blood, the pain, and time it took to recover…
He was fast and merciless, every blow she avoided, he had another prepared, chaining into a combo. That fight was far better than the other, but Neji knew Hinata could do much more…and he suddenly stopped.
"It is not working! You are not concentrated!"
"I I I…." – poking fingers stance….
"I know what is wrong, but you can't recall your loses every time you face the same opponent!"
"But…."
"…How can I make it easier? OK, listen, Lee and I are rivals (or so he thinks). We had more than a hundred fights and he only won a few, nevertheless, he keeps challenging me time to time. I keep beating him to a pulp most of it, but he still challenges me. And there are times that I'm the one beat."
"B B But I d d don't k k know how…"
"What did I ask you last night?" – Neji was getting that impatient expression.
"L L Last n n night" – she couldn't help to think about the night before without blush. But then, again, what question was he referring to? They asked a lot to each other yesterday! And then, like an innocent child Hinata asked:
"What p p p part of l l l last n n n night, niisan?"
His face was positively furious! He bitted his lower lip, diverted his gaze and waited a long one minute to look back and answer her:
"The part you and I were still thinking with our brains and not with something else." – And that could be considered a nice answer from him. Hinata started to squeeze her bandanna; beat her knees, and look to everywhere except his eyes.
Neji waited another long minute, staring her, expecting an answer. But since she continued to destroy the bandanna, he slapped her hands and gave the answer.
"When I asked who you are!" – She looked at him, a bit afraid to continue that conversation and start another fight or piss him off.
"I I said I w w wanted t t to b b be l loved, to b be u u useful….."- That was her answer.
"And I said you should live your life to fulfill it, didn't I?"
"Yes…b b but I d don't s see t the c connection…."
"When you put your life on the edge, only a few things really have importance. Those things are what you praise, what you love. To fight a powerful adversary you must contact your inner self, your inner strength. In our last fight, Naruto's cheers gave you that strength, he connect you to your inner self, with the will to win, to prove yourself."
Hinata reminded of that moment, and that was so true. She really wanted to be recognized as a talented genin, by her cousin, by her teammates, by her sensei, and most of all, by Naruto. His cheers made her burn inside, forget the pain and the fear she had for Neji. But now, Naruto isn't here, Neji is her husband (not that she doesn't fear him….), how can she reach that inner force?
"I u understand w what you s say, b but the s situation is different. I c can't find t the motivation….."
Neji looked at her, frowned a little and spoke, very slowly:
"I said it before, and I'll say it again. Hinata-sama you are not fit to be a shinobi. You are a peace lover, seek only harmony and friendship. You are too naïve. Someday, you might be a good leader for the Hyuga, because your compassion is what the clan needs. But as a shinobi, you lack fighting spirit" – he was being sincere, no angry or irony in those words. Even noticing that, Hinata felt like crying, her very soul crushed by those words. And then, she stopped to shake, stared the grass below her feet, raised her head and said:
"I was wrong."
"……."
"I don't seek love or to be useful. That is not what I am."
"So, who are you?"
"Right now, I'm the peace lover that you said, but I want to be strong, I want to change myself. I'm going to change myself. That is my will, my inner strength, niisan!"- And for the second time during that marriage, Neji felt proud of that woman, whose best trait was the ability to fall and rise again. He gave her a smirk and told:
"Very well…Let's continue the fight…."
"Hai"
It was almost 11:00pm when they came back to the apartment.
They had a relaxing bath together (and now they were getting used to intimacy), and had a light meal before sleep. And for the second night, the study room remained untouched.
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Neji woke up early with Gai screaming his name from outside the apartment. He cursed all the divinities of heaven and hell for having such a loud sensei. He left without having breakfast.
Hinata woke up several hours late (ok, everybody noticed that she sleeps a lot) with Hanabi ringing the door bell like crazy. Leaving the bedroom only in her nightgown, her hair was a mess, her face with a hand printed on it (she slept with her face above her hand), and opened the front door.
Hanabi stared her sister, pressing her lips, and trying not to laugh.
"What, little sister?" – Hinata asked after a few minutes of Hanabi just looking at her.
"Neji-niisan is really messing you up, heh, big sister….." – And the laugh just came out.
"Why you came?" – Hinata asked while pouring some tea for her and her sister.
"Father asked me to"
Hinata completely woke up after the mention of "father".
"W W What d d d does h h he w w want?" – She almost bathed the kitchen table with tea.
"Nothing special. Apparently Neji asked him if I could train with you today. Father said it would be good."
"Oh…." – her relief was visible. But for the poor Hinata it only lasted until Hanabi's next sentence:
"Father will supervise our training personally!"
"Oh gods……" – she felt her whole body shake, her vision blur.
"I think niisan asked for that too." – Hanabi told while sipping her tea.
Hinata just thought that son of a…, he framed me! She was surprised by her own thoughts.
Just to make it clear, that was Neji's intention.
Both sisters went to the Hyuga dojo, where Hiashi was waiting. The very sight of her Father made her knees transform into pudding. But Hiashi was very friendly (in his way, of course).
Hanabi and Hinata trained a little Kaiten and chakra concentration. Hanabi could be more skilled, but Hinata showed more stamina. Besides, her chakra had better control than her sister's.
Hiashi decided they should fight.
Hanabi, in spite of her 11 years, displayed a good amount of Hyuga's fighting style. She performed almost all the techniques, some perfectly, some not so good. She also was fast.
Hinata was five years older, chunnin, but couldn't perform as much techniques as her sister. Although, the few she knew were perfectly cast. Her Kaiten was nearly perfect, and she also managed to do 64 hands of Hakke without fail. Besides, Hinata had field experience and was a better strategist (living with Neji require a lot of strategy).
In the end, Hinata won the fight. She had some difficulty because Hanabi had more technique options, but as Neji said 'few good attacks are more effective than firing like crazy and hit nothing'. Hiashi was very pleased with what he saw. During the lunch, he said (for all the family members):
"Hinata, you sure have grown a lot in the past months. I'm very happy with your change of attitude and posture. Neji's influence on you is very positive."
"Thanks, Father" – Hinata blushed and bowed her head. Not to hide the blush, but stop the tears for the words she expected so much to hear from that man.
"You still have to achieve more. Your technique is raw and, sometimes, clumsy, but it can be fixed with training and dedication."
"Yes, Father. I will do my best." – And finally, after years, she managed to look Hiashi in the eyes and smile. And he smiled back.
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That afternoon, Kiba and Shino were in the apartment studying with Hinata the papers for their next mission.
"I'm pretty sure that this location is near the Seven Waterfalls!" – Kiba said looking at the map they had displayed on the table.
"No. it is further south."- Shino told.
"Hum…Niisan you have been in the Ringo Village once, haven't you?"
"Yeah, few years ago…" – Neji answered from the couch, without lifting his eyes from the scroll he was studying. He came back earlier from the mountains that day.
"So, can you point us the location?"- Kiba asked, taking the map to where Neji was sat. Without saying a word, he simply marked with a pen the location of the village in the map.
"Geez. You were right Shino"
"I told you"
"You guys should take care"- all three chunnins looked at the jounin- "This place has sandstorms very frequently, it is very common people get lost during these storms"
"S s so, W w we must have a plan, in case we get separated…." – Hinata was not liking the possibility of getting lost…
"No sweat! We have your byakugan! You can spot us if we get lost, Hina-chan"- Kiba said all cheerful, without noticing that the big bad husband had frowned when he heard 'Hina-chan'.
"A a a, but my byakugan may not be helpful if the distance is too long!"
"That's true. My bugs can't fly in the storm and Akamaru won't be able to track our scents"
"Shit…" – and Akamaru followed his master's disappointment with a long 'aurrrrrr'.
"I know!" – Hinata's face shined suddenly-"Niisan, where are those communicators that your team uses?"
"In my desk, third drawer"
While Kiba and Shino exchanged puzzled eyes, Hinata rushed to the study room and some noise could be heard from there.
"Dear! They are not here! Are you sure that you keep them here?" – She shouted from the study room.
Neji let go a sound of impatience and rose from the couch, walking to the study room.
Shino and Kiba, continued staring each other, more puzzled than before: Dear?
More sounds came from the room and finally:
"I told it wasn't in that drawer…"
"I forgot to take it out of my bag after the mission. I was wrong, Ok!" – Neji sat back in the couch and resumed his study. And Team 8 decided the last issues of their upcoming mission.
That mission took ten days. As Neji said, Team 8 had a lot of trouble with the sandstorms. Shino lost himself in one of those, and could be found thanks to the communicator. That particular B rank mission required from the chunnins and their sensei a lot of work. Some bad guys from another village were using the Ringo villagers as slaves. The big problem was that the enemy was from other country, making diplomacy also needed in the task. Hinata and Shino were the ones chosen to take the diplomatic part, while Kurenai, Kiba and Akamaru got the dirty job.
In the end, Team 8 found themselves outnumbered by the enemy. Kiba and Akamaru fought well, showing their doppelganger technique improvement. Shino developed an absolute defense creating a "bug barrier" which also could attack the enemy. Hinata was the medic-nin (she worked almost exclusively for Kiba) but could perform her Juuken moves in some of the bad guys.
Kurenai made clear that she wanted to see individual talent on that mission. She knew they could work as a team, but in the Jounin Exams they would be alone, so Kiba, Shino and Hinata would have to solve their tasks by themselves. And, for their sensei, the kids did pretty well.
The only problems were the communicators. Kiba destroyed his in the battle; the one Shino was using was screwed by the sand; Kurenai lost hers; the only one intact was Hinata's. She came all the way back making up a good excuse for her husband…
Hinata arrived home late, completely beat, dirty and hungry. Neji was having his dinner (or something that looked like it):
"Home already?"
"Hai…." – she went to the bathroom to take a shower and clean all that dust and blood. Refreshed, Hinata decided to see what her husband was eating:
"Y You c cooked t this?" – moving the spoon in the pot, staring at the glue thing.
"It is a soup"
"A a are y you s sure?"- She said. But when he looked at her with a serious expression on his face, Hinata just thought he will scold me….
"I'm not sure, but it is edible…." – and he continued eating. A few moments later she was laughing low, and he gave her a smile.
"I'll c cook s something b better….."
She made a decent dinner for the two. During the meal Hinata was telling about the mission, avoiding the "communicator" subject. He was just listening, nodding time to time.
"The Jounin Exams will be in a month. You still have to improve your technique…"- Neji just said more to himself than to her. Hinata understood his concern, time was running fast!
"I think w we must intensify our training…."
"I don't think we will have time…"
"What do y you m mean, niisan?" – She stared Neji while doing the dishes. He had a funny expression on his face, something like a half smile and a serious face…
"I'll be out a lot now that I….was accepted in ANBU" – he said, barely hiding the smile.
"Ohhh! That… is amazing!" – She rushed, without taking the soap out of her hands, gave a bear hug on him. – "Congratulations!"
He simply hugged her back, still smiling. Neji had dreamt all his life to be an ANBU, the top elite for a shinobi (unless you whish to be Hokage). His father could never be ANBU because of his duty as Hiashi's protector. He reached his dream, something he taught all life that would be impossible because fate denied him. Now he could just think that: or destiny was playing a major trick on him, or Naruto was right and we are the ones to control our lives (even if it seems like others are controlling it).
"But…niisan, Father said that you only could be ANBU if I get jounin rank…." – Hinata slapped him out of his dream…
"Your father gave me the permission due to your training results. He is pretty sure that you will make to jounin. And since I have been appointed in the last list for ANBU, he talked to Tsunade…"
"In other words, y you are in ANBU u under a c condition…."- a shadow covered her face. Now the responsibility was in her shoulders, she HAD to become jounin or Neji would be expelled from ANBU. He read her thoughts:
"Don't worry. If your father thinks you can do it, then you can!"
"I g g guess….." – She was not so confident as her husband or father.
Trying to change the gloomy mood that installed itself between the two, Hinata asked:
"Can I see it?"
"See what?"
She was blushing and poking her fingers. Neji lifted an eyebrow and was waiting for her answer. She just pointed to his arm, whispering "the tattoo".
"Oh! That?" – He raised the sleeves of his shirt, exposing the ANBU symbol, tattooed in his arm. Hinata was staring at it, marveled, following the figure with her finger, like a small child discovering something new. Neji embraced her, pulling closer to lay a kiss on her lips.
Hinata returned the kiss, sitting on his lap, continued to run her fingers in the tattoo.
His kisses became more demanding, the hugs more tight, hands exploring all her body.
Her fingers stopped the drawing movement so her hand could hold his arm firm; the other hand was rocking his hair, taking out his bandanna, loosening that long hair; legs on each side of his body. Suddenly, she stopped and started giggling. Neji stared at her surprised:
"What?"
"Father is so conservative and yet he married me with a long haired tattooed guy, who looks more like a rock star or a rebel than a might shinobi…" – she continued giggling.
"Rock star? Rebel? Me? That is new…." – he smirked at her, who became bright red in the face. He approved the signal and said – "Ok…maybe I'm a bit rebellious…"
Neji placed his hands on her derriere, to lift her and take to their bedroom, throwing her in the bed and placing himself on the top.
She ran her hands trough his long hair, brushing it away from his face, gazing his eyes and kindly smiling. Hinata was proud of her cousin; proud of the man he became, powerful and brave. Lifting a little her head, she gave him a sweet kiss on the lips. Neji returned the kiss, adding his tongue, moving his lips through her face, ears and neck. Rejoicing at her every moan, every shiver, the movement of her hips claiming for more.
In their relationship words are like double-edged swords, could hurt both. Since they were children communication was made by body language, facial expression: eyes…white eyes, smiles, smirks, grins, fighting stance, fleeing stance, fists, caring hands, tears. They understood each other that way.
What lovemaking could mean for Neji and Hinata?
To her was a way to please her husband, keeping a promise. But deep inside she knew that the one being pleased was she. His touches, ardent kisses, the pressure of his strength mixed with lust, it all moved her away from reality. In his arms she was noticed, caressed, possessed,….she made all the difference. During sex she released her wild side, and no one would blame or scold her for not behaving like a heiress….
To him it was a way to assure his position in that relationship as the leader, the lord. That little lady beneath him was the prize he conquered after so many battles. She was small, delicate, sweet and weak; it was his divine mission to protect her. He had to prove his virtue, satisfy the lady and himself. By making love with her, he could show his gratitude for her sacrifice and dedication, and also redeem himself for all the things he did and said….
More than a peculiar dialog, sex was a way to calm down those tortured souls, exhausting their bodies. After all, teenagers have a lot of questions in mind and energy in flesh.
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Tired from lovemaking, they were lying in the bed; Neji was lying on one side with his arm around Hinata's waist. She was facing the ceiling, but her fingers were still playing with his tattoo.
"You know, niisan…..I always wanted to have one myself………"
"Having what?" – He asked a little sleepy.
"A tattoo…"
"So make one…."
"Father would never allow…."
"Make somewhere he cannot see…."
"W W Would y y you m mind if I I m m make o o one?"
"No."
Hinata just smiled, turning to face her husband and give a peek on his lips. He partially opened his eyes, muttered the word silly and went back to his sleep. She got closer to his chest and slept too.
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In the morning after…
"YOU DID WHAT?" – Neji was threatening staring she from the other side of the table.
"I I I I'm so s s s sorry…."
"DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THOSE SHIT COST?"
"I I a a assume it is v very e expensive…but I w w will p p pay a a another!" – Hinata shrunk in the other side of the table, thinking that all the money she got from the mission would be spent in new communicators….
"Oh you will pay, for sure!"
"Let's g g go to the t t town, s so I c can b buy t the new o ones…"
And so they went to Konoha market. The poor Hinata never imagined that those communicators were so expensive, nor even in her dreams she could guess its price. And Neji was merciless; he made her buy the newest model, even more expensive. They left the store and decided to train in Area 7. In the way, Hinata saw a body piercining and tattoo shop and decided to enter.
"What for?' – Neji asked.
"Don't you remember what I said last night?"
"No….." – He was clueless…
"I w want to m make the t tattoo…."
Neji shrunk his shoulders and they got inside the shop. The attendant stared at the couple, probably wondering what those Hyuga where doing in a tattoo shop.
"A A A A I I I I w w w w w w want t to m m m m make a a a …." – And she took an eternity to say what she wanted. Neji was more practical:
"She wants to make a tattoo. Can you show her the models?" – And the poor attendant obeyed the frightening Hyuga male.
Hinata decided the drawing she wanted – a lilac heart with white wings. The guy asked where she wanted the tattoo. Uncertain of where place the tattoo, she looked at Neji. He just waved his head, signalizing that it was not his problem.
Hinata started to blush, poke her fingers; the attendant was getting impatient. She finally decided to make it on her lower back.
Neji muffled a smile when she had to take out her coat and shirt, staying only on tanks, so the guy could make the draw. He also found it funny when tears appeared on her eyes, due the pain of the tattoo making, but she bravely held them. Her tattoo was very beautiful.
"What about you, sir? Aren't you going to make one too?" – asked the attendant. Neji didn't want another tattoo, he had two already! – "Come on! The lady handed pretty well the pain!" – Now the guy was calling Hyuga Neji chicken? He wanted to meet death?
Hinata was already paying for the job when Neji pointed a figure among the models and started to take his shirt. The shop clerk was amused and just gave a smirk before start the tattoo making.
Neji decided to make his tattoo on the upper back, close to his neck base. He flipped his hair over his right shoulder. While the attendant was doing his job, Neji was staring to the left; Hinata was a little behind him, thinking how handsome her husband was. Like reading her thoughts, he looked at her, over the left shoulder, and smirked.
His (third) tattoo was a dagger which also had wings, black wings, spreading trough each side.
Later on that day, when they were bathing together at the bathtub, she asked him:
"What does your tattoo mean niisan?"
"Does it need a meaning?"
"Y yes….mine is freedom of heart, what do you think?"
"A little dull."
"Ah…I thought it was cool…..that is what I w whish t to myself…."
"Well, then, mine is freedom of will".
"Cool!"
"I still think it is stupid….."
Time was running for Hinata. The Exams were close and she had to become a jounin. But right now, her mind was somewhere else…..