A/N: Please make sure you check out weaponsmistress on Instagram to see the art that accompanies this fic!

Chapter 3
"With all those secrets
We swore we'd take 'em to the grave"
- Dark Days
Pup

Neji sank to the grass and leaned back against the giant magnolia tree that overlooked the courtyard. He allowed the slightest of sighs as his back pressed into the bark. Another month meant another meeting with Hiashi to go over the lives of the citizens that Neji visited. The process, while uncomplicated, was draining. Neji prided himself in appearing calm, stoic, and cold when the situation demanded it. This standoffish demeanor was necessary when meeting with Hiashi.

Neji often spent time in the courtyard after meetings with his uncle. The gardens were lush and beautifully laid out. There was a pond with a small waterfall someone had constructed by stacking rocks and slabs of slate. Neji often liked to sit by the pond and listen to the soft trickle of water splashing while he meditated. It was easy to let the water wash away his thoughts, emotions, and earthly attachments.

But lately, Neji was finding it harder to let go, especially on inspection day. Before his role as an inspector, Neji prided himself on how easily he could slip into nothingness, how close he was to attaining something more. He now wondered if his perception of his proximity to enlightenment had been immature and egotistical.

He was beginning to doubt all of the things he thought he knew about the world around him, and taking over inspection duties had been the catalyst.

Stepping into the homes and lives of so many others rattled something inside of him. Hiashi had put Neji in his role to keep him distracted. Neji had asked a few questions about his father that had not gone unnoticed by his uncle. Hiashi had told him that it was important to learn more about the city and the people who lived there.

"I have no male heirs. It would be in your best interest to learn more about what goes on on this island."

Neji didn't think for a second that Hiashi would ever leave the fate of the colony in his hands, but he also didn't think that he would hand over the Hyuuga name to Hinata either.

If Hiashi's real mission was to distract Neji from asking about his father, he had failed miserably.

It had done the opposite.

Neji saw so many families, and each one was unique. Some were undoubtedly happy, while others were tense and uncomfortable. Neji saw love and resentment, loss giving way to new life, and every possible combination of people and emotions in between. He wondered what kind of family he and his father would have grown into. Neji often thought about how it wasn't fair that he had been robbed of that feeling.

Sometimes when Maito Gai asked him about his day over tea, Neji imagined Hizashi in his place. It was nice to talk about something other than his duties. Neji knew that Gai was trying to reach him, to make him feel welcome and at home in their crumbling and dusty compound. He was once convinced that no one, especially not Maito Gai, would crack him open. But after six months, Neji was starting to doubt the strength of the wall he'd built.

It seemed there was only one thing that Neji now knew to be true: he would find out what happened to his father.

His thoughts were interrupted by a servant clearing his throat.

Neji looked up at the man, who bowed instantly. Behind him stood Hinata, eyes cast down at her feet.

"My apologies for intruding, but the Lady has requested a trip to town. The General has suggested that you accompany her."

Neji stood up and dusted off his robes.

"I would be honored," he said, despite his absolute reluctance to do so.

The servant bowed again and backed away, leaving Neji alone in the garden with his cousin.

Neji gave a curt bow even though she had not so much as glanced at him.

"Shall we?"

Hinata mumbled something that sounded like a 'yes' and Neji led them through the compound and out into the city.

When Neji went into town, he rode a horse, but with Hinata they had to take a carriage. It slowed the journey down and with the silk curtains drawn tight there was no scenery to enjoy.

There was no conversation during the ride. Hinata spent the time looking at her hands in her lap or occasionally peaking out behind the silk curtain. The silence was broken by the sound of the horse and the creaky cart as it rolled along the bumpy road. Even the driver had nothing to say.

The sounds of the town started out as a soft hum, but grew to the bustling roar of the midday market. Neji glanced out of the window as the carriage came to a stop. Seeing nothing unusual or out of place, he climbed out first before helping Hinata down.

It was at that moment that things started to fall into place.

Time seemed to slow down when he took Hinata's hand. She looked past Neji as she disembarked. Something had caught her eye, and hear breath. Neji heard the slightest gasp, and looked up to see Hinata's face flushed and pink.

Neji heard him before he could turn his head to look.

Uzumaki Naruto was boisterous and wild with a stock of spiky blonde hair that shone like the sun. Neji knew him. He lived with Hatake Kakashi, a man roughly the same age as Gai, and his household was on Neji's inspection roster. Kakashi had taken in Naruto after the incident some ten years prior. A failed attempt by the citizens to take back their island. Many people had died, including Neji's father. The orphaned children found new homes with other villagers, creating rough, patchwork families.

The moment Naruto's laugh rang out across the square Hinata had frozen.

She composed herself quickly and released Neji's hand as soon as her slippered feet touched the ground.

A plan was forming quickly in Neji's head.

They walked away from the cart and towards a produce stand. When Neji was certain they wouldn't be heard by any Hyuuga servants he spoke.

"You like him."

Hinata snapped her head towards him, her eyes going wide at the accusation.

"W-what?"

"That boy, Naruto. You clearly like him."

"I-I—" Hinata stammered, her face turning an even brighter shade of red.

Neji crossed his arms, frowning. He made a light tsk tsk sound, watching as Hinata tried to ignore him, becoming fully engrossed in an apple.

"Imagine the shock on uncle's face."

Hinata dropped the apple back on the table and spun around, eyes wide.

"No! Please, Neji," she grabbed his arm, "I beg you. Don't say anything."

Neji pulled his arm from her and started walking away. Behind him, Hinata scrambled to catch up.

"Please, Neji! He… he'll be so mad."

"He would," Neji agreed, "do you think he'd punish you for loving a commoner or Naruto for catching your eye?"

He felt her grip on his sleeve again, and he knew he had Hinata exactly where he needed her.

"Promise me you won't tell!"

Neji looked over his shoulder at her.

"Make it worth my while."

Hinata, to her credit, held his gaze, her determination just as strong as his own. She really did like him.

"What do you want?" she asked softly, the undercurrent of defeat already creeping into her voice.

"My father."

Hinata's brows furrowed.

"Y-your father?"

"I want to know what happened to him."

"B-but I don't—"

"Find out."

Neji yanked his arm from her grasp again and continued on to the next stall.

"I'll give you time," he said, "to do some digging."

Hinata said nothing; she didn't need to. Her very being radiated an aura of defeat and acceptance.

What information she might obtain about Hizashi, Neji hadn't the slightest clue, but she was much less likely to be discovered than him.

Tenten laid down on the grass. She sighed with relief, her muscles already stiffening.

"Let's go again!"

Lee leaned over her, blocking the sun from her eyes.

"Give me a minute."

Tenten was sore, tired, and in desperate need of a bath. Her face was caked in sweat and dirt, and she could feel a bruise growing on her thigh from one of Lee's well-timed kicks. But every time Tenten and Lee sparred, she felt stronger. Learning to fight might be unconventional, but the Maito household was a picture-perfect example of the concept of abnormal. Her skills made her feel safe. Tenten and Lee had grown up under the shadow of loss, scarcity, and foreign rule. Learning to defend herself gave Tenten a glimmer of independence, something she could cling to and never let go. The Hyuuga could take everything from her and her people, and she would still be able to land a punch square on her enemy's jaw.

Lee would push Tenten past her limits, which she appreciated, but he often didn't know when to stop.

"Okay," she said, sitting up, "one more spar."

"Yes!" Lee jumped up with joy and grabbed Tenten's wrist, pulling her up to her feet.

They each took a moment to stretch out and slid into their starting stance when Gai's excited cheer rang out across the courtyard.

Tenten straightened up and looked towards the main gate. Gai and Kakashi emerged; Gai's arm tight around Kakashi's shoulder. Kakashi and Gai were friends. A visit typically meant nothing of consequence.

"Tenten, are you ready?"

Tenten thought back to her conversation with Naruto, watching Gai and Kakashi head towards the kitchen.

"Sorry, Lee, I've changed my mind."

She hurried after the pair, careful to go unnoticed. Just outside the kitchen, Tenten pressed herself up against the wall and peered around the corner. They had left the door open a crack. It wasn't enough to see, but Tenten could hear the soft clatter of a busy kitchen. Gai was undoubtedly preparing tea.

"Tenten what are you-"

"Shhh!" Tenten clapped her hand over Lee's mouth and tucked around the corner in case they'd been heard.

They waited in silence, but no one had heard them. When the muffled cadence of conversation permeated the air Tenten let go of Lee and leaned back around the corner, straining her ears to hear.

"-We need your help."

"I have made my position clear many times before, Kakashi."

"This time could be different."

"I don't see how."

"What are they talking about?" Lee whispered.

Tenten waited, listening.

"You'll be training them. We can-"

"Having a Hyuuga on our side didn't-"

"Wait," Lee said, "they're talking about the failed rebellion, aren't they?"

"I think so," said Tenten.

Lee piqued with interest now and scooted a little further around the corner to hear.

"-I can't risk it, Kakashi. We've just found our standing. We lost so much last time. Lee is happy and thriving, and Tenten… she is still healing."

"Think about it."

"I have."

"I see."

There was a weighted pause before Kakashi spoke again.

"We're meeting on the 14th. In the forest behind the Nara compound at midnight."

"I shouldn't hear this."

"Think about it."

Tenten pulled away, her head spinning. Naruto's information had been accurate. A second rebellion was in the works.

Gai and Kakashi's conversation shifted to their regular topics and Tenten scooted away from the door, no longer interested in what they had to say.

She and Lee made their way back to the courtyard, each trying to figure out what they'd just heard. Tenten was the first to break the silence.

"We have to go."

Lee was taken aback by her boldness.

"You can't be serious."

Tenten grunted in frustration.

"Don't you want to know what they're planning?"

"It's not safe, Tenten!"

"We won't get involved. We'll just listen."

"I don't think it's a good idea. Baba will be-"

"Baba won't know. I promise."

Lee frowned and fiddled with the bandages he'd wound around his hands to protect his knuckles during their spar.

"Think about it, Lee." Tenten rested her hand on his shoulder. "For your parents. And mine. We owe it to their memory."

Tenten's invocation of their parents seemed to spark something in Lee.

"And what about baba?" He pulled back from her. "He took us in, gave us a second chance. He doesn't support this."

"He doesn't even know what this meeting will be about," Tenten said, sounding more desperate and exasperated.

"You have to leave the past behind eventually Tenten."

She clenched her jaw, trying to push away the growing ache in her chest.

"I'm going, Lee. If you don't want to come, that's fine, but please don't say anything to baba."

Lee frowned, unable to meet her gaze.

"Fine. I promise."

Neji was antsy. It had been nearly a week since his trip to the market with Hinata. He had doubted her a dozen times over but exercised patience. Finally, in the morning, she found him in the courtyard, greeting him with a bow.

"Cousin," she'd said, "I would like to visit the market again. Will you join me?"

Neji had to stop himself from jumping up and dragging her into town right that moment. Instead, he'd nodded and calmly rose from his seat on the grass.

They'd made their way down to the harbor, Hinata picking out and purchasing a few items. She took her time. Neji knew that it was so their outing would be seen and activities unquestioned, but part of him wondered if she enjoyed drawing out the wait.

They walked until the merchant's stalls and unloading ships thinned. The breeze kicked up, heavy with salt and the pungent, rotting stench of low tide.

Hinata stilled and looked out at the ocean.

"It is pretty here," she said.

Neji noticed her hand dart under the silk scarf she'd used to line her basket.

"Yes," Neji agreed, "it is."

"We should take walks by the sea more often." Hinata pulled a small black book out from under the scarf. She pressed it to Neji.

He shivered, unsure if it was in anticipation or from the chill of the breeze. The book was thin, small, and fit in his pocket.

"Yes," he agreed, making sure it was tucked away securely, "we should visit more often."

There were more than one of these books, he surmised.

"Perhaps," Neji said, offering an olive branch, "we may even come across Uzumaki on one of our trips. I could introduce you."

"Thank you, cousin."

Neji swallowed and nodded. He should have returned her gratitude with his own, but he couldn't bring himself to. Hinata had not brought this as an offering of kindness, but as a desperate act of cohesion. The method didn't matter, though. All that Neji cared about were the contents of the book.