Author's Note: Thank you for following the story. I promised to include Neji in the second chapter, so here it is. Canon divergence starting from this chapter.


Chapter 2 | Girls Night Out


They arrived at the Hyuuga compound at five in the afternoon, looking up, Sakura noting the directions of the shadows on the building, indicating the sun had begun to set. They used the main south gate to enter the compound.

The contemporary Japanese style architecture was a show of the clan's pride in its heritage, and it was lavish in every way. It was protected by a high white stone wall on all sides, with a guard stationed around the perimeter to keep the public out. After the war, the destroyed areas were restored and properly maintained. Given their status as one of Konoha's four noble clans, it was not surprising that the Hyuuga clan's compound was enormous, it resembled an extension district of the city in terms of size. Apart from that, their heiress wed the current Hokage was already a huge honor in itself. As a declaration of the Hyuuga being superior to, if not greater than, the Uchiha?

"Sakura-chan, come on in and take a look at the accommodations I've made for you."

Two years ago, she began making regular trips here to see an elite shinobi for follow-up medical care. The compound had been significantly expanded, to the point where she barely recognized it.

They rounded a few corners after entering and found themselves in what looked like the courtyard of a modest estate belonging to the Branch family. It was a communal area with long pavilions. She had become quite at home here.

When Sakura went outside, she smelled the crisp air of early autumn and saw fluffy orange clouds floating overhead. Beautiful trees in a vibrant palette of colors dotted the garden, and the leaves were just beginning to fall. It was both calming and relaxing. It was chilly and snowy when she last visited.

The estate was nice and well-kept despite its smaller size in comparison to the main compound in the middle, where the main family lived. As befitting a noble family, the branch family members bowed deeply as they passed the heiress of their clan and conversed quietly among themselves.

They left the long pavilions and communal housing behind as the Hyuuga heiress led the way, further into the estate. Separated from the others, a few private detached houses were located in this area.

"Do you still know the way?" With a twinkle in her eye, Hinata giggled as she side-glanced the pinkette.

Sakura gave her a disapproving look. She would never be able to forget this place. Soon after turning the corner, they were in front of a quarter.

"There you have it! Your temporary residence until you can find a place."

"Well… Neji-nii-san's room is to your right." There was an apparent lack of surprise on the pinkette's face as she paused to examine it before continuing.

It looked like nobody was home as all the lights were out.

"Nii-san h-he was away on a mission! In a few days he might come back."

"I appreciate your efforts, Hinata-chan."

While Hinata opened the shoji door and invited her inside. It was a comfortable 1DK abode, it looked like, no- it was an exact duplicate of the type found in the Hyuuga prodigy's own quarters.

Oh, dear, Hinata. This kunoichi with the indigo hair was definitely trying to set her up with her cousin. Fine, she didn't have to spend as much time figuring out the room separation.

Possibly sensing her unease, the Hyuuga Heiress grinned sheepishly, "Sakura-chan, you're most welcome. Well, it'll be simpler for the two of you to communicate about the wedding's specifics or the waltz lesson he'll be giving you soon."

A simple cream linen couch and television were set in the living area; a small open kitchen in the right corner, with an adjacent bathroom on the far left; a large king-size bed in the center of the sleeping area; a bubinga wardrobe installed opposite the bed; matching wood material with the TV cabinets; and everything being one space with no walls separating them.

Hinata casually shown her around, Sakura admired and settled in, making herself comfortable. She sighs as she leaned against the ceiling-height sliding screen door, gazing out at the garden in the backyard. The subset view was barely visible from the room.

"Thank you so much, Hinata-chan. I'm really grateful for it." She said as she ran her hand over the kitchen island.

"I'm happy that you like it! So, make yourself at home, and I'll see you tonight."

Hinata then left the quarters to give the pinkette some alone time.

After stowing her clothes away and gathering her toiletries, Sakura decided to take a shower. As her bare feet touched the tile floor, she shivered, a sure sign that the weather had turned cold. After shower, she dried her hair with a hair dryer. She lay her head on the satin sheet and went to sleep until her evening get-together with her bestie.


It was eight o'clock at night, and the four girls were at the Mint bar, a favorite hangout of shinobi in Konoha. Missions and responsibilities are part of everyday life, and so they chill. The place was bustling with shinobi and civilians enjoying their time off. The bar's music wasn't deafening like that of a pub, but it was possible to converse without being drowned out by the music. They arrived nearly simultaneously and sat at a table at the corner. Chatter filled the air as some onlookers cast admiring glances at the beautiful kunoichi who was bathed in soft light.

After leaving Konoha nearly two years ago, she expected some changes, but on this first girls' night out in ages, she found herself reuniting with the same group of old friends. It was satisfying to see them again after all that time had passed.

For two hours, they discussed every detail of Hinata's wedding, from planning the ceremony and reception flowers to deciding where to go on their honeymoon. Only after everyone had settled in for the night and had had a few drinks did Ino began to speak a little more loudly than usual.

They talked for two hours about Hinata's wedding, from preparation, to flower arrangement for the ceremony and reception, to honeymoon plans.

It wasn't until later in the night, when everyone was more relaxed and a touch drunk, by the time Ino started talking a little louder than usual.

"Sakura-san? You completely caught me off guard by showing up here today. Still looks fantastic!" The barmaid greeted, resting her hand on Sakura's shoulder.

"Greetings, Misaki-san! It has been a while."

"Without you, it just isn't the same here. Another glass?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Coming right up." She said, and walked off.

They talked about how Karin managed to marry Sasuke-kun and how this led the conversation back to Sakura. It was impressive to see her overwhelming skill at destroying large portions of Tobi's gigantic wooden figure during the Fourth Shinobi World War. Aside from brief encounters after the war, Sakura and the former Hebi member had little to no contact with one another.

"Yeah. Did Sasuke-kun look for you in the last two years?" Hinata questioned her gently.

Relaxed deeply on the couch. Sighing, "After I turned down his proposal, he came to Suna to try to make things right with me." She explained to her prodding, sipping her drink. She never imagined herself as a baby breeder.

"Do you still love him?" Tenten dared, resting her elbows on the table in a carefree manner.

"There is no denying that I am still deeply in love with him. Still to this day, he has a special place in my heart, and I consider him a member of my family."

"I always thought you'd marry him after a year of dating after the war. It began in Genin, and since then, it has continued intermittently." Said the brunette.

They dated for a year, but for some reason they broke up.

"Maybe you're right. I never imagined him coming to Suna to look for me. Maybe if I give in, we can make it work." She sighed.

"No way, Sakura, are you considering that. Do what you know is right." Said the Hyuuga.

Hugs and kisses were shared, but something was off. Nothing about being in his arms or even kissing him elicited any feelings from her. Sakura was no longer his devoted fangirl. While there was attraction, there was no love. After been through the fourth shinobi world war, she gained a newfound understanding of love and developed a deeper appreciation for it. Love was giving, altruism, sacrifice, mutual tolerance, and submission.

Sakura took a deep breath, and said, "Yeah, he seems… how do I put this? We've both come a long way since then. There was a time when I really liked him, but now I just don't. Everything has changed from how it was." She choked down an emotional clump and continued, "So, no, he's not the one I'm looking for."

"Maybe it's best if you two stay friends for now." The brown eyes of her friend were locked on hers, waiting for her to continue.

"Indeed, I consider this to be the optimal solution. It was too late to change what had happened, and even if we made amends, we could never truly be content as a couple. All this time, I've been avoiding him, and he's been able to tell that I've been avoiding him as well. My best guess is that he has already moved on from me." Sakura smiled, feeling content.

"That's good!" exclaimed Tenten.

Sakura couldn't agree more.

"Yes, g-get over it and move on. Just like me." Mumbled the blonde with a groggy tone. Ino was beginning to feel tipsy on her fifth round. She sparked things up a bit with a grin. "Come on, cheers!" She then clanked glass with the pinkette.

There was a lot of banter and laughter at the table. The blonde's cheeks were turning red, wobbled a little in her seat.

"During your two years in Sand, was anyone else in contact with you?" Hinata asked softly, while ordering more drinks and appetizers from the barmaid.

"It's only with you ladies. There must be a drink after work with Suna's coworker. There's also Shikamaru, who drops by Suna quite often. There was always a drink waiting for us when we got off work."

When TenTen and Hinata gave her a startled look, she apologized and said, "My bad, I shouldn't have mentioned his name."

Ino sighed and had three more shots of whiskey that night. Ino was not handling her alcohol well tonight. Soon after their breakup, she had a list of dates planned. Sakura wasn't shocked when Ino found a new man before they even officially ended their relationship, but she still had feelings for the shadow lord.

Silence descended as the three cast nervous glances at one another.

"Wait, what's wrong?" The pinkette had stopped talking to the other girls to look at Hinata with a curious expression on her face.

Hinata whispered Temari's pregnancy news so quickly that Ino wouldn't overhear. Temari being admitted to the hospital and monitored for morning sickness in Ino's unit was the absolute worst-case scenario. Sakura covered her mouth after hearing the news.

With her glass now empty, Ino snarled at the bartender for more liquor. Sakura gestured "no" to the bartender in order to stop the blonde from consuming any more alcohol.

"I'm not drunk yet, forehead! Hic-"

While desperately attempting to change the subject, Sakura consoled her. "You've moved on with Sai, right? Isn't it great?"

It took her ages to get over him, "I was happy to see him. Surprisingly, the blockhead seemed to be acquainted with my mood swings." She sobbed while leaning on Sakura's shoulder.

Sakura wrapped her in a bear hug and rubbed her back in soothing circles.

She never knew her best friend hadn't gone through the misery, she never mentioned. Sakura was always the first person to step in to lend her a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on. Cake, ice cream, Kleenex, and DVDs were ready, but not in these two years.

"Sorry pig, I wish I could have been there for you."

"Hinata-chan! Your escape attempts have failed this time. Hic-" The woman urged her to take a swig, and said, "Come on, drink up!"

Hinata girded herself and downed her drink in one gulp.

The girls' talk was still going strong after nearly an hour.

"I told you about Neji-niisan, right?" As they were talking, Hinata brought up her cousin and said, "His betrothed broke off their engagement only this year."

The pinkette simply listened to them while hunched over her fruit smoothie.

"Indeed, Neji and Hitomi-san dated for roughly a year. Their relationship broke down because of the excessive dominance she exerted over him." TenTen said while munching on some fries from the serving tray.

Sakura listened attentively but skeptically. "Don't assume the worst; maybe it wasn't as bad as we think."

"There might be for other causes. He won't be questioned by anyone." Tenten sipped her drink and continued, "But Anbu is a very dangerous post, as you are aware. By using her father's influence, she was able to exert pressure on him. She has an unhealthy obsession with him."

"I can actually answer that. Of course, Niisan will neglect her at some point, but he had made an effort so far." Hinata sighed good-naturedly.

"I don't see why Neji would consent to the arranged marriage, not in a million years," said the weapon mistress.

Sakura stirred the remaining liquid in her glass as she processed the new information being discussed. This man was the holy grail of shinobi, the perfect husband material. It was possible that the woman may have terminated the marriage for reasons other than incompatibility.

"The decision had been made clear by Hitomi-san. The annulment of the engagement infuriated Father."

"It didn't shock me; they just didn't seem to be a good match."

Sakura suddenly interjected, "I bet he wouldn't do any retention either, which would only make the lady more frustrated. This must have really irritated her!" Sakura laughed and offered her opinion on the story.

"How did you know, Sakura-chan?" Hinata said, taken aback.

Both Tenten and Hinata turned to her, expecting an explanation, "I was juuuust... guessing!"

"From the sounds of things, you know Neji pretty well."

When Sakura coughed up some of her drink, Hinata giggled.

Hearing that he was single again actually made her feel lighter in the chest. However, she certainly wasn't going to admit that.

"So he's now single. Hic-" This was definitely Ino. She loved a good gossip, especially one with a lot of drama and controversy. She was only partially recovered from a night of drinking, but she managed to keep up with her friend's conversation.

The drunken blonde's jarring remark startled her. "Holy shit, thought you passed out already, pig."

Ino paused for a moment while her mind processed what had just been said, "Y-You won't be coming back for Sasuke-kun or the Hyuuga, are you? Hic-" She made a strong assertion.

"No, not at all!" Sakura's cheeks reddened as she reflected on the blonde's babbling.

"When it comes to interpersonal relationships, Neji is a complete dumbass." The brunette chimed in.

"I'm not into that dumbass." She objected.

"Yeah, we trust you. Hic-"

Hinata, in the midst of their ribbing, nodded with her demure little nod and said, "I'm certain nii-san favors an intelligent woman over a princess lady." Tenten concluded to a nodding Hinata.

"That's why I think Neji and you would make a great couple, Sakura-chan." To Hinata's affirmative nod, Tenten summed up.

"Forehead! Y-You do… have a chance." The blonde mused with a pair of sleepy eyes.

"I don't."

"The second wedding engagement requested by clan council hasn't been accepted by Neji-niisan. You'd better jump on the chance, Sakura-chan!" Hinata cheered, fists clenched.

"If I remember correctly, ahh…" With a snort and a drunken grin, she twirled a strand of blonde hair with her index finger.

"Have a story to tell?" Tenten answered, waiting with interest.

A rough hand grabbed her forearm and demanded before threatening to bruise her arm, "Why don't you shut up, Yamanaka Ino!"

The blonde laughed as she put down her glass and counted with her long, manicured fingers, "You offered to help with his mission research, you shifted his medical records from other medics with your authority. You paid him a medical checkup visit in his compound, and he came to see you at work.…"

Everyone waited for the blonde to finish speaking. Sakura took a big bite out of a plate of fries and shoved it in her mouth.

She said, interrupted by Sakura, "Stop it, forehead. I'm trying to talk!"

"Y-You care about him! Hic-"

"Well yeah, but…"

"So… y-you do care. Hic-" The blonde threw herself at Sakura. "Forehead, you care a lot... B-But why, when the chance was there, and what the fuck did he do by accepting the engagement?" Drunk but sane Ino explained some things.

"Stop it, pig. Get out of here and puke somewhere else. If not, I'll throw you out!"

Everything went well on the night out. The elite kunoichi were seen having a good time and chatting amongst themselves like any other civilians. Sakura looked lovingly at her besties, one of whom was slouching by her side; this person was always the drunkest of the bunch. Since they had so little time to spend together during their missions, the girls enjoyed going out for a drink and reminiscing about their days as Genin.

There was a hint of exhaustion in Sakura's eyes, and the Hyuuga realized it was well after midnight. As soon as the call came in, Tenten's phone began to ring rather loudly. On the other line was Sai, who had just gotten a call from the brunette asking him to pick up his girlfriend.

By the time the kunoichi had delivered the blonde to her boyfriend, Sakura was totally exhausted from her travels this morning. The pinkette was getting ready to nod off at the bar when Hinata dragged her back to the Hyuuga compound. The group disbanded for the rest of the night.


It was late in the morning when they finally got home from their night out.

When Sakura woke up in the middle of the night from her slumber and found herself in the room, it was foreign to her. As an elite kunoichi, she was used to keeping vigil in the open, often at midnight, when missions were taking place. She would rather go for a walk outside and get some fresh air than remain in the room, where she was uncomfortable and felt compelled to sleep.

She got out of bed with a yawn, planted her feet on the floor, and walked out of her room. She won't object to Hinata's efforts to coerce her to stay in the compound or challenge her motives for doing so.

The temperature outside had dropped slightly. Sakura took a pair of clog sandals from a shoe rest outside her shoji door and walked into the courtyard of the branch family. She took a deep breath of the fresh fall air, which, along with the falling leaves crunching beneath her feet, heralded the arrival of a new season.

The pinkette took a quiet stroll toward the garden after reaching the bottom of the stairs. The moonlight and light from the garden lamp post illuminated the path leading to a small koi pond surrounded by white sand and small rocks, with water lilies floating on the surface and koi swimming calmly in it.

A stone bench was flanked by several bonsai plants, and she sat there for a while. The crickets chirped softly in the background as a brief breeze blew through the still night air, ruffling her cherry-pink hair and carrying the faint scent of trees and flowers.

The unmistakable shiver of a shinobi's intuitive sense that she was being watched ran down her spine. Imagining Byakugan's long-range, almost 360-degree vision penetrating objects far away gave her the chills. She made an effort to ignore it.

At that very moment, a shadowy figure leaped from the roof and landed on the porch, announcing its presence in the gloom. How long had he been there? He had done such a good job of concealing his chakra that she was completely unaware of his presence. This prompted her to heighten her defenses.

It didn't take long for her wrist to be raised and pulled backward by a magnetic force of glowing chakra that steadily lifted her body off the ground, in a flawless display of chakra control, sending her in the direction of the person. The next thing she knew, her back had collided with something solid and a strong grip on her upper arm.

Sakura cocked her head to look behind her as the smoke began to slowly clear. The tall man had his masked face tilted toward her, and as he did, her green eyes clashed with the glowing silver that shone through the mask. Any emotion was completely devoid behind the mask.

There has never been another Hyuuga with this unique ability to manipulate the force of gravity with his mind—one and only him.

He looked precisely at the stranger who wasn't a Hyuuga, under the moonlight and saw their face. Her diamond seal, perfectly christened in the center of her forehead, exuded an intangible aura of power; her long lashes stood out, as did her shoulder-length petal hair tied up in a messy bun. It was the renowned rosette hair kunoichi, Haruno Sakura.

Her intelligence, physical prowess, and beauty were the three traits that won his heart. And when it came to medicine, she was leagues ahead of her shishou, the former Hokage Tsunade Senju. She was not just a medical genius; her combat talents were unparalleled among the kunoichi her peers. She was now of much greater significance to Konoha. After Naruto became the Hokage, she became the second-in-command and head of the Konoha medical department, where she worked hard to do medical research.

He released his hold on her and created a respectable distance between them. It was the worn, oversized orange t-shirt that she was wearing drew his attention; it was obviously nicked from the boisterous Jinchuuriki. Clothed from her neck down to her upper thigh, leaving her lean but slender thighs all the way down to her ankles for him to admire. Light from the garden lamp post seeped through the thin fabric of her top, revealing her curvy silhouette. It was impossible for him to stop staring.

"Haruno?"

She recognized the deep, familiar smoothness of his voice; it belonged to the man who could send electricity through her veins simply by uttering her name. She straightened up and turned to look at the person, and gradually relaxed her guard.

He was decked out in full Anbu uniform, down to the prominent Anbu tattoo on his left upper arm and the sleeveless vest that flaunted his chiseled shoulders and toned biceps in all their glory. Long, dark chocolate locks were neatly pulled back into a low ponytail, and his white cloak indicated he was the squad leader.

Untying the porcelain hawk mask, he took it off. Several strands of chocolate hair tumbled down and casually frame his features. Sakura stares in awe and anticipation. The most sought-after Anbu commander of Konoha, Hyuuga Neji. Soon after Naruto becoming Hokage, he had served as the leader's mandated right-hand man. A man that made her heart stop. It had been almost two years since she'd last seen him, and certainly not in his proud and precise Anbu uniform. And here he was, standing before her. His Anbu mask hung casually on his tapered waist, and it complemented his physique nicely.

She cautiously took in his features and looked him over. Apparently just as handsome, if not more so, than the day she left Konoha. He was now taller, his features more defined, and his physique trim yet powerful. His handsome face was covered in bristles, probably from a few days without shaving, giving him a rugged, manly appearance that made him look even sexier. This man carried himself with the utmost grace and dignity at all times.

[Flash Back POV Sakura]

Her thoughts flashed back to the time of the war. His bravery left an indelible impression on those who saw it. When he gave his life to save Naruto and the heiress to his clan, he also saved her. It wasn't until much later that she understood his unwavering loyalty to his clan and Konoha. When he self-martyred, the bravery to protect someone dear to him, for the war hero Naruto to keep peace, shattering her heart.

It was a noble act. She learned to love and appreciate herself in a whole new way because of him. She viewed and admired him differently after that day.

There were dead bodies all over the battlefield. The medical team located him among the scattered bodies. His gravely wounded and bloodied body was immediately transported to the nearest emergency unit. Under Sakura's direction, the team finished the Creation Rebirth Jutsu in three days. Though she knows that using this jutsu will shorten her life, but she doesn't care. She oversaw his intensive care for several days or weeks after the surgery, until he began to show signs of regaining consciousness. This was followed by four months of healing and therapy.

[End Flash Back]

The prodigy had anticipated this moment, when their paths would once again cross. How he would behave and what he would say. As usual, he smoothly let out his simple remark, a renowned Hyuuga, who has always been skilled at concealing his feelings.

His smooth lips formed the words, "It's been a while."

Neji came home two days early after his mission was a success. As he sprinted across the roofs to his living quarters, the moonlight glowed brightly over the horizon illuminated his path. Silvery eyes stared intently at the pinkette, as if he were perplexed by her presence in the compound; perhaps she had come to stay as a house guest.

With his poker face intact, he watched as the kunoichi with the pink hair entered his field of vision. His previously suppressed memories returned in full force.

[Flash Back POV Neji]

He had never given much thought to her unusually vibrant mane of pink hair until he was in the thick of combat with her. A series of events that occurred after the war made him wonder if she was more than a casual acquaintance to him.

Pink was never his favorite color before his Byakugan transformation, but he quickly came to appreciate it in the days that followed. As his eyesight deteriorated, the throbs of his Byakugan became more excruciating, it had gotten so bad that he couldn't tell reality from illusion. His blurry vision was met by something fuzzy in pink.

Sakura, the head medic of the team, was there to stabilize his condition. There was no way to conduct an in-depth investigation into what had transpired to alleviate his suffering. It was difficult to conduct the examination due to the lack of medical center records and studies from Konoha.

The Hyuuga clan had been assisting the medic by lending her their clan's library, which contained the most vital information about Byakugan. She had been devoting her time to studying from modern medical documents to ancient secret scrolls of the clan that dated back to before the establishment of the clan in Konoha. They looked into every possibility, thinking it might be something new.

It was during the two most excruciating weeks that his fury was at its peak and his vision was at its worst. He felt safe to be with this fuzzy pink shadow around him, and he was grateful for her care when he was restless and lost.

For two months of his stay in the hospital, Sakura attended to his every need in his room, and then another two months in his quarters in the Hyuuga compound for follow-up checkups.

He had changed from being apathetic to becoming more receptive to Sakura. With each passing day, they were getting closer and closer. He began to suspect that despite being a stoic Hyuuga, whether or not his feelings for the pinkette had grown stronger. However, he had not yet displayed any interest in her.

Just as she suspected, it was the deformation of the Byakugan, activated when he self-martyred. Much like the Mangekyou Sharingan, which was activated during times of extreme emotional distress.

Once the Byakugan's evolved stage completed, his vision became clearer. He instinctively activated his Byakugan, mechanically scanning around, until his vision came across with the beautiful sight of petal pink and emerald green.

Sakura would never forget the cold, frosty tint of the new Dojutsu that pierced her soul, it was ethereal and divine.

With the new Dojutsu was finally attained, Sakura observed his pupiless Byakugan, gradually filling with an icy blue hue before a white flower-like iris pattern formed in the center of his eyes.

There, it was the ultimate form of Byakugan, Tenseigan.

[End Flash Back]

It all started two years ago, when their relationship was slowly falling apart.

Ninja life is too short to waste on romance, relationships, and marriage. Securing a robust line of descendants was the primary motivation for noble clan members to engage in arranged marriages with other clans and to form strong alliances. Neji's status as the branch family's most powerful member was unavoidable given the responsibility.

"Hi, back from a mission, Hyuuga-san?"

Jade's eyes scanned the familiar face as she shuffled closer, noticing a few small scrapes on his pale stoic face, and that he had been hanging onto his right shoulder, a hint of an injury to the medic.

"Obviously, yes."

She frowned after his cold response. She shuffled closer to the familiar face, scanning it as she went. A few small scrapes marred his pale, stoic face, and the fact that he was holding onto his right shoulder gave the medic a clue that he might be hurt.

"Look at those scratches." Sakura immediately went into medic mode. "You hurt." The bruises on his arm and face prompted her to walk up to him immediately if she wanted to help.

"It's nothing more than a scratch." Rebutting, he politely declined for help.

Her expectations for his response were met exactly.

"Is that so?" She looked at him, a tinge of amusement in her eyes.

"Yes, I'm doing just fine."

She shook her head as if an obstinate patient had told her that he could live and care for himself without any assistance.

"It's fine, it's fine. Are you sure?"

"Yes, I can do some basic healing."

She had full faith in his abilities and never questioned them. The Gentle Fist has given the Hyuuga clan a strong foundation in chakra control, making their ninja techniques all the more effective. The accuracy of the Hyuuga's Byakugan was further improved by the use of the secretive Hyuuga Gentle Touch.

"Oh well, I apologize if my skills aren't on par with the Hyuuga healing jutsu."

Without missing a beat, he apologized, "Sakura, please don't take offense; you know that's not what I meant. Never once did I make light of your amazing abilities as a medic."

"Big baby," she teased the Hyuuga.

"What did you just call me?!"

The scolding was emphasized, "I said big baby!"

His handsome face creased into a frown, and his white eyes narrowed.

"Whether you're twelve or twenty-one, you're acting like a child!" Dammit… The pink-haired medic let out an audible sigh. Their relationship strained to the breaking point again. His aloofness and reserve were still there.

Sakura was fairly certain that he would have yelled at her if he was in his boyhood. The twenty-one-year-old Anbu captain appeared to have gained his wisdom and patience over time.

"I respect your tenacity, Hyuuga-san. Not even after two years."

Sakura won't leave her patient unattended, no matter how determined they were to reject treatment. She was more skilled than anyone else at handling this patient.

"I suppose, though..." She said as she approached him, "I was just as stubborn as you."

He looked at her as she extended her hand toward his forearm. She gave him a radiant smile and gave his bad shoulder a light punch, which caused him to internally grimace a little.

Pearlescent white eyes stared upon emerald unwavering. A tense standoff was suspected to be taking place.

"If you believe you can treat a laceration more effectively than I can, try it. I would adore watching you do it." Instead of being intimidated by his stare, Sakura smiled blithely in his face.

A light punch from this kunoichi can be quite lethal. With his good hand, he supported his shoulder. He was met with a great deal of determination in her eyes. Feeling a weariness from the mission that he shouldn't have, he didn't have the energy to argue with them.

After a few seconds, he curtly agreed, "Alright... I think we've wasted our time here enough," before suffering further humiliation.

As he said this, he started up the stairs and make his way towards the porch leading to his living quarters. After pushing open his shoji door, he led them inside. Having Sakura trailing behind him.

"Let's… come inside."


End Note: It means a lot that you took the time to read this. Please excuse the inaccurate description in the story; feel free to correct me if you have better input.

This chapter contained canon divergence.

Judging Sasuke implanted with Hagoromo cells to reawaken the Rinnegan. The Hyuuga prodigy could represent Hagoromo Otsutsuki's twin brother, Hamura Otsutsuki who possesses the Tenseigan. After all, Sasuke and Neji are both prodigies. So, let's make Neji unlocked his Tenseigan from his death experience after the war.

We'll have some NejiSaku moments up next.

Favorite, follow & review! Will speed me up.