Escort Mission: First Kills
Author's notes: Neji and his genin begin an escort mission and two get to have their first kills. There's quite a bit of gore in this chapter as I made someone's head explode. Enjoy ;)
Rated M for sexy scenes between males, swearing, drinking, and gore.
Don't own Naruto, just borrowing.
Neji tried to ignore Kuma's bouncing but it was difficult at seven in the morning. They had met at the training fields, ran laps and did a few yoga stretches before coming to the Mission Room for 7AM. Genma and Raidou were manning it as normal and Neji scanned the board for a decent C-Rank mission.
"Yay mission," Kuma said as she rocked on her feet with a grin on her face.
"Annoying," Akino muttered and yawned.
"Finally," Tora said softly.
Neji hummed at the three then found the perfect mission. He took it off the board with a little smile and approached Genma, his three students following him like shadows. Neji placed the mission on Genma's table as the shinobi yawned. Genma blinked, flicking his senbon up in his mouth and looked over the mission. He began describing it to them:
"Escorting Mukai Hajime and his new wife Nami to the Hidden in Hot Water Village for their honeymoon, they've lived here all their lives, Hajime-san is a silk merchant, Nami-san a seamstress both have done work for the Fire Lord so they're kind of VIPS but not enough to afford a chunin or jonin escort. They just got married last week. It should take you guys about a week since you'll be traveling at their pace to the Hot Water Village and taking care of luggage issues. Four days there, a day rest, two days back and that's a slow pace.
"Reward will be given upon your return, 50,000 ryo so 12500 for each of you. Plus you'll get a voucher for something free from their shop, like a custom kimono or something which is valued at about 6000 ryo, so not bad. Anyway, they'll be meeting you guys at the front gates for 10AM, three hours from now which gives you guys some time to gather supplies and such. Have fun."
Neji inclined his head in thanks and took the slender file on the couple and the details of the mission. He led his students out and they took over a briefing room. Neji went through the folder swiftly but saw nothing Genma had skipped.
"Simple escort mission to Hidden in Hot Water Village and we will get to take a rest in one of the cheaper spas when we get there. Pack like the last time: a change of clothes or two, rations, weapons, water tablets, medical kits, and sleeping bags. Do bring a bit of money with you as we will be staying at least overnight in the Hidden in Hot Water Village. Our job is to protect the couple as they make their way to their honeymoon spot.
"They will likely hire shinobi from the Hot Water Village to come back to Konoha on their return. Either that or they will tell us when they plan to return and have us escort them back so we made be doing this mission twice. All right, let's meet at the front gates for 9:30AM. Tora, you and I will go inform Sakura of our respective absences," Neji said.
All three nodded and they left easily. Neji and Tora headed toward the hospital in silence. Neji did not have to pack much once he got back to the compound as most of what he needed was all ready in his vest. He did need a sleeping bag, a bit of rations, and a change of clothes. They were in the hospital by 8AM and found Sakura standing at the front desk.
"Sakura," Neji called out as she turned to leave.
Sakura paused and smiled as they approached. Tora fiddled with her shirt and had a little frown on her face. Neji inclined his head to Sakura as they got close enough.
"Tora and I will be on a mission for about a week so tomorrow and the weekend you will not be able to train her. We'll do the sleep over whenever I get back if that's okay?" Neji questioned.
Sakura chuckled at him but nodded.
"Sure, no problem! I'll see you two when you guys get back," Sakura replied.
Tora smiled in relief and took off towards her home once they got outside. Neji went to the compound first and packed what he needed before finding Kankuro with Kiba and Choji at a small breakfast place. Kankuro instantly wrapped an arm around Neji's waist and kissed his forehead.
"Morning, I was going to come find you in half an hour or so," Kankuro said.
"Mm, well, my team and I are going on a mission for a week," Neji said.
Kankuro pouted. Neji couldn't help but chuckle before kissing Kankuro lightly on the mouth. Kankuro grinned before pulling him close: chest to chest, groin to groin. Neji flushed as Kankuro's right hand went to the back of Neji's neck and began caressing gently.
"Guys, we're eating here, jeez," Kiba said.
Neji felt the heat spread across his face up to his ears. It hit him he would miss Kiba's birthday in a few days but it could not be helped. He did meet Kiba's eyes and the Inuzuka smirked and gave him a wink. Neji smiled.
Kankuro gave Kiba the finger as Choji laughed then wrapped his arm back around Neji's waist. Neji wished he could push away the blush when Kankuro leaned his forehead against Neji's.
"I'll wait," Kankuro said.
"Oh," Neji muttered.
Kankuro chuckled then kissed the tip of his nose. Neji pulled away regretfully and smiled lightly at Kankuro. He heard Kiba snort. Choji had gone back to eating.
"I'll see you when you get back," Kankuro said.
Neji kissed him softly on the lips and ignored the stares from the people in the restaurant. He pulled back again and Kankuro held both his hands gently in his. Neji should say something but he didn't know what. It came to him and he smirked.
"Red and yellow tulips," Neji said.
Kankuro grinned and they parted. Kiba looked confused but Choji had a grin on his face. He likely knew what Neji meant thanks to Ino. Neji met Kiba's eyes again.
"And have a good birthday, Kiba," Neji said.
"Ha, thanks," Kiba said.
Neji offered them a wave as he turned and left. Neji strode through the streets with a smile on his face and made it to the front gates by 9AM. Within twenty minutes he was joined by Kuma. Five minutes later, Tora joined them. Akino made it by 9:29AM and Neji could not help but chuckle at his male student.
All three wore their hitai-ate and bandages like him and had black bandanas keeping their hair back out of their faces. Tora had her longer hair braided right back while Kuma left hers loose around her bandana. Neji said nothing to his students and went over the mission file with them. There was not much to go over and all four were brought to attention by the sound of horses and creaking wheels.
A man in his twenties, plump but not unpleasantly so, with dark hair tied in a top knot and dark eyes had the reigns of two brown horses in his hand. He wore a rich silk cream-colored yukata with blue birds along the hem of the bottom and sleeves. A blue obi tied it off. The band of his zori sandals was blue to match the yukata.
On one of the horses sat a woman, average in height and size wearing the same sort of silk yukata but with pink birds along the hems, a wide pink obi, and pink bands on her sandals. The woman had her hair done in a simple braid and sat sideways on the horse, one hand on her husband's arm to steady her. The horses drew a carriage filled with chests of luggage.
"Ah, hello there, you must be the team escorting us to the Hot Waters Village," the male said.
Neji gave them a bow. They smiled at him and the woman noticed his white eyes and curse seal. She gaped then grinned.
"I am Hyuuga Neji," Neji began. "These are Takenaka Kuma, Junji Tora, and Rinji Akino, my students. I am to assume you are Mukai Hajime and Mukai Nami?"
He all ready knew they were by their file and from seeing them around the village but both nodded. Nami had a flush on her cheeks to match the birds on her yukata and Neji knew it was because of his use of her new last name.
"Good, shall we?" Neji enquired.
"Yes, let's," Hajime returned.
Neji offered to take the reins of the horses but Hajime chuckled, explaining he liked to lead the horses around. They passed through the gates of Konoha and began the journey towards the Hidden Hot Water Village. Kuma kept the lead, a few feet in front of Neji while Tora stood near the horses and their clients with Neji. Akino strode a bit further back with the cart but Neji did not mind.
"Congratulations on your nuptials," Neji said.
Hajime chuckled and Nami flushed.
"Thank you very much, Neji-san," Hajime said. "If you don't mind me being so bold, I can all ready picture the proper color of silk my wife can make your yukata or kimono in once we return to the village."
Neji blinked as Nami nodded in agreement.
"The pale blue?" Nami questioned.
Her husband nodded in agreement.
"With the golden fringe," Hajime added.
Nami giggled happily and Neji kept the smile on his face as the duo began explaining their color choice. They told Kuma she would look exquisite in a navy blue, while Tora would be put in flattering gold. Akino would get bright red and he scowled. Neji tried not to laugh at the look on the boy's face and managed to keep it back.
Neji had no qualms about the easy conversation of kimonos, colors, and their best colors. Tora listened with rapt attention. Akino yawned and followed behind with slumped shoulders and a bored expression on her face. Kuma watched, walking backwards with wide eyes and popped open lips.
Neji called for a break at seventeen hundred hours. They were surrounded by woods but the path in front of them was still strong. They came off the path a little ways and Akino helped Hajime tied down the horses. Tora sat with Nami on a log while Kuma settled beside Neji who stood by the path. He consulted his maps and frowned.
"What is it Neji-sensei?" Kuma asked.
"Mm, nothing, I've never gone this way, that is all," Neji replied.
"Ah, the horses?" Hajime questioned.
Neji nodded. Normally he could take a client through more hidden paths but they would have to stay to wide open ones that would lead them exposed. It would add a day to their travel time and now Neji understood why Genma said it might take them four days to reach the Hot Water Village. The detours they had to take because of the path would do it.
"It is no matter though," Neji said. "It may take an extra day or two to get there but we will be in the Hot Water Village in four days."
Hajime smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Ah, good, I was expecting something worse," Hajime said with a laugh.
Neji returned the smile and they passed out rations. Hajime opened one trunk to show cheese, bread, and oranges. Neji thanked him profusely and they ate well. The sun would stay up another two or three hours and Neji wanted to take advantage of it. They continued on after an hour and Neji activated his Byakugan so he could find a camping site.
As the sun went fully down, Neji found a spot a little ways off the path. He led Hajime, Nami, and his students into the woods. Hajime tied down the horses, Tora helped Nami settle on a log, Kuma went off for firewood and Akino began setting up the tent for Hajime and Nami. Neji found a stream close by and filled up their canteens.
"Impressive," Hajime said once Neji returned.
Neji could not help but smile. Akino had slammed a hole into the ground to make the fire pit and filled it with sticks. Kuma had set the fire and Tora was making the stew they would eat in the morning. The tent for the duo was all ready up and their sleeping bags were laid out a few feet away from it.
"We try," Kuma said with a beaming grin.
Hajime chuckled as Akino dragged over larger logs so the couple could be comfortable in front of the fire. They had a bit more bread and cheese as it would not keep and Neji set up the rotation. He would take first watch for an hour and a half followed by Tora, Kuma and finally Akino.
"Well we're going to head to bed," Hajime said.
Neji inclined his head as the two took to the tent with giggles. Neji said nothing as his students settled. He did activate Byakugan and tried not to watch what was going on in the tent. Hajime and Nami were quiet through their activities but they were still obviously x-rated. Neji felt the heat come to his entire face and gulped.
The duo settled after an hour (damn, Hajime had taught him a few things) and Neji let out a breath. He checked on the stew and scanned the area for any obvious enemies. Nothing came into his vision field and he woke up Tora. She yawned heavily as Neji sunk into his blankets.
He woke as the sun came up thanks to Akino kicking his foot. Tora was waking up their clients who came out as elegantly dressed as yesterday, this time in pale yellow yukata. Neji said nothing as the stew was served and camp broken up. They headed back to the main path and the trip continued amicably.
Another night and another day. Neji could tell Kuma was getting bored since she had started walking on her hands. He did not reprimand her, knowing she could kick from any angle if the need came to it. Hajime and Nami were stunned to see how well Kuma could move and Neji explained her fighting style was much different than most shinobi.
The sun set on their third day and Neji was glad they had camp mostly set up. Last night's catch in the snares had included two plump rabbits which would make a good stew with the dried herbs Tora had brought and the potatoes and carrots the couple had brought and donated. Neji had never eaten so well on a mission.
"Neji-sensei, can we spar a bit?" Kuma asked once camp was set-up.
He smirked but nodded. Hajime and Nami watched in awe as Kuma attacked him, legs swinging through the air at speeds neither could imagine. Neji easily deflected Kuma's attacks, tossing her to and fro but she easily rebounded and came back at him with a smile on her face. Later Neji would thank the gods Kuma had asked him to spar or he would not have had his Byakugan activated.
Neji tossed Kuma to a side but saw something shift at the edge of his vision field. He held up a hand to Kuma who had flipped onto her hands to kick him. Instead she flipped backwards and ended up on her feet with a confused tilt to her head.
"What is it?" Hajime asked.
His body had tensed and Nami began biting her lip. Tora looked back and squinted but she knew she couldn't see what he could. Akino had gotten to his feet and was tugging on the hem of his gloves to make sure they were in place.
Neji shook his head. The movement had not come into his vision field yet, staying beyond his eight hundred meter distance by inches. He could not tell what was going on just beyond his field so he took three large steps back to see. Neji scowled.
"Shinobi from the Hidden Sound," Neji said.
"Oh god," Nami said.
She had gone pale. Neji took another step back. The Hidden Sound Village Shinobi were speaking but he could not make out what they were saying because of the masks they wore. All that told him they were speaking were the slight movements of their mouths under their masks and the way their eyes met. They were facing the direction of the camp but Neji knew the Sound Nins could not see them.
"I do not think they are after us," Neji said.
He did not know for sure. It was odd to see two Sound Nins and he scanned for the third. Nothing came to his sight and Neji frowned.
"Neji-sensei? Sound we break up camp?" Tora questioned.
"No, not yet," Neji said. "They are not making a motion towards us."
Tora nodded. Neji strode to the edge of their camp which gave him two precious yards. The third Sound Nin still did not come into view. Perhaps it was the two of them. They moved, taking to the trees but going backwards out of his vision field. Neji felt his stomach coil into a knot and scowled. He did not like the look of this.
Neji walked to the other side of the clearing but saw nothing. His heart had begun to pick up pace, not by much but by enough. Neji wished he had a bigger vision field but wishing did nothing. Everyone knew how far he could see. It worked to his disadvantage at times. Neji licked his lips and scanned the area. Nothing.
The hairs rising at the back of his neck, the sweat gathering at his lower back, and the knot in his stomach told him he was not being paranoid. Something was going to happen. Neji did not know what but he did not want to be caught in the crosshairs, one day from the boarder of the Hidden Hot Water Village and a day from completing their mission.
"Pack it up," Neji said.
Tora, Kuma, and Akino leaped into action: taking down the tent, packing up the stew, putting out the fire, and gathering the supplies that had been taken out. They stopped when they got to taking care of Hajime and Nami.
"Akino, you're going to be in charge of the cart. Hajime-san, Nami-san, you will ride the horses alongside us. If anything goes wrong, Akino and Tora, it will be up to you to get Hajime-san and Nami-san away from any battle safely. Understood?"
They nodded. Nami needed assistance onto her horse but assured everyone she could ride, even with her yukata pulled up high on her thighs. Hajime did not look as embarrassed as his wife but did gape when Akino lifted the bars of the cart into his hands effortlessly.
"We'll continue through the forest, this way," Neji said. "Tora, Kuma, stay to the back. Akino stay with me, you as well Hajime-san and Nami-san."
They fell into formation. No one spoke as Neji led them through the woods in a direct path to the village he had stayed at for vacation. They kept a quicker speed than the clients were used to but Neji easily took the reins of the horses and guided them through the forest.
He could see Nami fiddling nervously, her brow was furrowed and her eyes kept darting back and forth. Hajime sat tall in his seat, tense and eyes wide as if he could help in any coming battle.
Akino, Tora, and Kuma kept scanning the forest, faces serious but moving fluidly with confidence. Neji felt a burst of pride and kept his smile down. He would hug them later. All thoughts of hugging stopped when a kunai burst out of the trees to his right.
Neji easily blocked it but spotted no one. He called a stop to the train and scowled. Impossible. The kunai could not have come from nowhere. Neji shifted his vision from wide field to detailed closely around him and huffed.
They were surrounded by chakra wires and kunai, an intricate trap that had been set up through this area of the forest. Neji noticed it was not this area alone. There were three other places not far from this one but all paths towards the Hidden Hot Water Village, paths he would have taken depending on his angle in the camp site, the only site around for miles that suited their needs.
Someone had an idea Neji would take this mission. Someone had determined his path. Someone had laid out traps for him a day away from the destination. They either had a bug in Konoha or the Mukai were not the people Neji thought they were.
The latter was quashed immediately when Neji spotted the couples' reactions to the kunai. Nami was genuinely terrified. Hajime looked worried now. No one could fake the sweat on their brows or the tremor in Nami's body unless they had been specifically trained. Plus the duo had the chakra of worried civilians. Neji scowled. It meant there was a bug in Konoha.
"Why aren't we moving?" Kuma asked softly.
"We're in the middle of trip wires attached to kunai and explosive tags," Neji told her. "This entire area is covered. Hold your positions. I'll clear it."
Neji dropped the reins and strode forward. Kunai burst out around him but Neji easily blocked them. He motioned for Kuma to lead the horses ahead and she did. Neji continued clearing the path ahead as his group inched forward. Once they were clear, Neji expanded his vision field and gritted his teeth.
Three Sound Nins were coming towards them from the back. They had determined their traps had been activated and assumed Neji had not been able to defeat it. They would find out what assuming meant.
"Akino, Tora, Hajime-san, and Nami-san, keep going straight for ten miles. At the end of this path is the Village of Hot Waters and the Azure Waters Spa and Resort. Go there and ask if Kado and Toju are still there. If so, stay with them and tell them I and Kuma will be joining them shortly," Neji said.
It was a hope the two retired jonin were still at the Azure Waters Spa and Resort after almost a month but they had said they could stay as long as they wanted. Neji watched as Tora led the Mukai couple forward at a brisk pace. Akino took off behind them, dragging the cart along as he moved.
Kuma got into her fighting stance. The three Sound Nins were three hundred meters off now and closing. Neji prayed there was no second unit to intercept Tora and Akino. Tora would see them but Akino and Tora would have to protect the Mukai couple. Neji could not have left two of his students behind to take care of these three and gone with the Mukai couple though. It would have been stupid.
"Kuma, listen to me," Neji said.
She nodded and glanced up at him, violet eyes wide in the night and her tanned skin pale. There was a slight tremor in her hands and Neji wanted so much to hug her.
"I kept you with me for a reason," Neji said.
She grinned.
"This is not training. Do not hold back, aim for killing spots if you can, the Sound are considered hostile enemies to be taken care of swiftly if possible and when in our lands. Understand?"
She nodded. The trembling left her limbs and she licked her lips. Her eyes narrowed and her entire posture tensed in anticipation. Neji let out a breath as the three Sound Nin dropped out of the trees.
Kuma launched into the air as they came down and Neji moved with her. The Sound Nins had not expected the quick attack and Neji was glad speed was on their side. Kuma's foot slammed into the top of one Sound Nin's head and he face planted. She slung three senbon needles out, aiming for the other two.
Neji had all ready taken out one with his Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four palms but the other dodged Kuma's senbon and gone after her. She did not let this detour her and shifted around him, flipping onto her hand and sinking into a spin. The Sound Nin blasted out a wave of air complete with a high pitched squealing sound that made Neji's entire body stiffen.
Kuma fell over gracelessly. Neji got his bearing and chucked a kunai at the standing Sound Nin. This disrupted the man's attack and made him miss throwing the shuriken into Kuma's chest. She was on her feet within seconds, leading with flying roundhouse kick. The Sound Nin saw her coming and caught her ankle. Neji wished he could properly see the look on the bastard's face when Kuma planted her free foot a top his head and launched her body upwards.
The Sound Nin she had taken down was getting up but Neji got in his way, delivering a Palm Bottom to the man's heart and forcing in enough chakra the prick would no longer be an issue. Kuma was coming down from her spin and she slammed both heels into the back of the Sound Nin's skull. He went down with a grunt.
Neji saw the one he had taken down with Sixty-Four Palms trying to reach for a weapon and hit him with a Vacuum Palm. He hit a tree, head first and stuck out of it, chakra paths slowly shutting down completely. Kuma was poking the unconscious Sound Nin with her foot. Neji let out a little breath before going to her side and bending beside the unconscious man.
Before Kuma could say a word, Neji delivered a single strike to the back of the man's head with his Tenketsu Needle attack. He cut off the chakra flow to the man's brain and within moments, the man's heart stopped beating. Neji fanned out his vision and scowled when he did not see Akino, Tora, or the Mukai.
"Neji-sensei, did you, you killed him," Kuma said, eyes wide.
"Yes," Neji told her.
She looked up at him with parted lips. Neji sighed.
"I told you the Sound are considered hostile enemies. What do we do with hostile enemies?" Neji questioned.
She gulped then nodded.
"Make sure they can't attack back ever again," Kuma whispered.
Neji put a hand on her shoulder. She let out a long breath then met his eyes. Neji saw determination there and gave her a small smile. At least she had not had to take her first kill. A scream made them both tense and they turned.
"That was—" Kuma started.
"Tora," Neji finished.
Neji took off at full speed and knew Kuma could keep up. He grinned when she ditched her leg weights in mid-air, almost laughing when both formed small craters in the earth where she dropped them. The scene entering his vision field made him stop wanting to laugh.
Akino had dropped the cart and was defending against a Sound Nin. Nami and Hajime were nowhere to be found. Tora was trying to go head to head with another Sound Nin but was failing. She had dodged many, many hits but the assault was too much. Akino was covered in cuts and bruises, one eye closed completely because of it.
As they neared, Neji saw Hajime standing in front of Nami with a sword out, trying to defend against the third Sound Nin. Neji cursed under his breath but kept moving forward.
"Kuma, keep going forward past the battle when we get there. Hajime is trying to fight a Sound Nin about two hundred meters from Tora and Akino. I will help them, you protect the Mukai," Neji said.
She nodded. Within moments Neji dropped out of the trees to help Tora while Kuma leaped forward without pause. Tora gaped when Neji unleashed the Mountain Crusher on the unaware Sound Nin, sending him into a tree.
"Neji-sensei, the Mukai—" Tora tried.
"Kuma has it," Neji told her.
Tora let out a breath but Neji saw tears in her eyes. He ignored this for now and tried not to scream when a kunai slammed into Akino's stomach. Akino disappeared and Neji almost fell over in relief. Akino slammed a fist into the back of the Sound Nin's head and Neji turned to see the results first-hand, mouth dropping in awe unintentionally.
The Sound Nin's head exploded on impact, blood, brain matter, and bone spattering out around Akino's fist and hitting the genin in his stunned face. Akino stumbled forward, almost tripping over the dead man's body but caught himself at the last moment, looking down at the corpse with wide eyes and parted lips, panting, and shivering. Neji saw two eyes roll away from the corpse and let out a breath.
"Tora, check on Akino," Neji said.
She went towards him in a dead run. Neji saw the Sound Nin he had taken down getting up but quickly put an end to the bastard with a strike to the middle of the man's head. The visual impact was not as gory as Akino's but the effect was the same. All of the man's tenketsu points in his head exploded and his brain went dead, killing him instantly.
Neji was about to comfort Akino on his first kill but stopped. Kuma had been thrown into a tree by the third Sound Nin. Neji took off towards his final student and watched as she rebounded, a determined scowl on her face and senbon in her hands. The Sound Nin laughed at her and Neji stopped dead in his tracks when Kuma threw her senbon.
All six hit their target: one in each eye and four across the man's neck: two piercing his Adam's Apple and the other two skimming over the jugular and carotid arteries, bursting them apart. The man went down with a silent scream and began to bleed out as Kuma landed on her right hand then flipped onto her feet into a fighting position.
Hajime and Nami gaped at the red-head in awe and Neji let out a breath. He scanned the area as he ran towards Kuma and saw nothing except his genin. Tora had pulled Akino away from the dead man and was checking over his injuries, telling him it was going to be fine. Kuma had realized she killed and went lax, staring at the bleeding man in awe. She burst into tears and fell to her knees a moment later.
Neji got to her seconds later but kept his Byakugan activated. He saw the horses a little ways off but ignored the beasts and the Mukai couple to wrap Kuma in a hug. She fell into his body, still sobbing and Neji rubbed her back, hushing her gently.
"Kuma, Kuma, it's all right. Your job was to protect the Mukai and you did so perfectly. He was trying to kill you to get to them. You saved their lives," Neji told her.
She kept sobbing. Neji let out a breath and kept her close, keeping an eye on Akino and Tora as well as the Mukai couple. Kuma began to settle and Neji held her shoulders, meeting her red-rimmed violet eyes with his own white eyes.
"Kuma, you did your job," Neji said.
She sniffled but nodded. Neji helped her to her feet and they went to the Mukai couple. Hajime had a cut across his right bicep that took out his yukata sleeve and another on his cheek but was otherwise fine. Nami's yukata was dirty and her hair was a mess but she was uninjured. The horses came when called and the group strode back to the area where Tora was bandaging up Akino's injuries.
Tora started when she heard them coming and withdrew a kunai as Akino looked up. Both relaxed when they saw it was Neji, Kuma, Hajime, Nami, and the horses. Nami gaped at the headless man and Hajime caught her as she fell. Neji stopped Kuma when she tried to follow him and gestured towards the Mukai. She nodded and stayed with the couple as Neji approached Tora and Akino.
"Akino, are you all right?" Neji asked.
"Yeah," Akino muttered.
Neji could see the boy was moments away from being sick and his hands trembled. Neji let out a breath and sat beside him.
"Tora, Hajime-san has been injured. Please tend to his injuries," Neji said.
She nodded and took off. Neji wrapped an arm around Akino's shoulders and he let out a long breath.
"You did your job," Neji said.
Akino nodded but did not meet Neji's eyes.
"The Sound Nins are hostile enemies especially in our lands and we are to kill them on sight," Neji told him.
Akino met his eyes and Neji saw fear. Neji frowned and waited for Akino to lick his lips. Finally the young boy got a hold of his emotions.
"I've come to terms with the killing, I know it's part of our job as shinobi," Akino said. "It's just, I, with one punch, I, his head,"
Akino stopped talking and stared at his hands. Neji pulled Akino into a sideways hug and the boy accepted it, eyes still glued on his hands.
"I'm some kind of monster," Akino whispered.
"No, no you're not," Neji told him. "You're a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf and you were given this strength to do exactly as you did, just as Sakura does. It does not make you a monster."
Akino let out a little breath but nodded. Neji held him close for a few more moments before pulling him to his feet. Tora stood beside Hajime, bandaged now, and was poking at a wound on Kuma's arm. Kuma said nothing at the treatment and Neji walked with Akino to the group.
"Ah, thank you so much, Neji-san, Kuma-san, Akino-san, and Tora-san. We owe you our lives," Hajime said.
Neji got a smile on his face but did not miss the way Tora frowned then began blinking rapidly. He bowed to the Mukai couple.
"It is our jobs but thank you. If you do not mind I would like to continue on this path through the night until we are safe in the Hidden Hot Waters Village and you two are in the proper establishment," Neji said.
"Not a problem," Hajime said.
"Akino, come, let's get the cart in order. Kuma, Tora, you two stay with Hajime-san and Nami-san and make sure they and the horses are fit to travel," Neji said.
The girls nodded. Neji held Akino's shoulder as they went to the over-turned cart. It was more Akino who got the cart back on its wheels but neither said a word about it. Neji found the couples' belongings in the forest and Akino helped put everything back together.
"Same formation," Neji said.
Tora and Kuma took the back while Akino, Hajime, and Nami stayed up front with Neji and the horses. It still took them hours after sun up to enter the Village Neji had stayed in for vacation. Nami had fallen asleep on her horse but Hajime looked exhausted.
"The Azure Waters Resort and Spa is where we are staying," Hajime said.
Neji inclined his head and easily lead the group to the spa. People came and took the exhausted horses and Neji had no issue helping the Mukai couple with their chests, nor did his team. The two had a room in Roku's section and the man smiled softly at Neji in recognition.
"Ah, Neji?"
Neji turned at the voice to see Kado and Toju. He smiled in relief as the two jonin approached. Neji motioned for his team to keep helping the Mukai couple as he pulled the two jonin to a side.
"This time it is business. Those two, Mukai Hajime and Nami were attacked by Sound Nins. Could you keep an eye on them while they stay here?" Neji asked.
Kado grinned and patted him on the shoulder. Toju nodded.
"Not a problem, Neji. We might be near the end of our lives but we still have some tricks up our sleeves," Kado said.
Neji smiled.
"Thank you," Neji said. "Someone will be hired to get them back to Konoha safely when their honeymoon ends. I am not sure how long that will be in but I assume my team and I will be requested."
Both nodded. They looked up and Neji turned to see Hajime coming towards him with a little smile.
"You and your team will be staying here on my family's ryo for tonight and tomorrow," Hajime said.
"Ah, but," Neji tried.
Hajime shook his head.
"No butts, you saved our lives," Hajime said. He noticed the two other men and blinked.
"Hello," Hajime said.
"Hajime-san, these are friends of mine, Kado and Toju, retired jonin from this village. They will make sure nothing happens to you and your wife while you stay here," Neji said.
Hajime's eyes widened and he grinned. Kado and Toju bowed, exchanged handshakes, and Kado went on about how he would make absolutely certain to protect the couple. By this time, Kuma, Akino, and Tora had joined them.
"Nami-san's resting in the rooms," Tora offered.
"Ah, excellent. I think I will do the same. Neji-san, you will be giving us the tour later," Hajime said.
Neji heard Roku chuckle but nodded. All three of his students gaped when they and Neji were lead towards the room two down from the Mukai family. There were two large beds complete with a little desk area as in his old room and a view of the gardens.
"Let's clean up and take a nap," Neji said.
His three students agreed happily. Akino took over the bathroom first as Neji unpacked his change of clothes. Kuma and Tora fidgeted and Neji let out a breath. They were going to get nowhere slowly.
"I'm going to get into one of those bathrobes so the staff can wash these," Neji said.
Both girls went beat red. They nodded. Neji grabbed a provided robe before tugging off his vest. He ignored both girl's dropped jaws and wide eyes. Neji undid his arm wraps, putting them to a side for now then took off his gloves and his mesh shirt. He pulled off his shoes, hitai-ate, and bandages then tugged on the robe on before taking off his pants and thong.
Kuma and Tora were as red as Kuma's hair. Neji smirked at them before tugging off his bandana. Akino came out of the bathroom then dressed in a robe and carrying his dirty clothes in one hand. Both girls disappeared into the bathroom and Neji rubbed a kink out of his shoulder as Akino settled beside him.
"So, I'm guessing you and I are sharing a bed?" Akino said.
Neji inclined his head in the positive. He placed his bandages, hitai-ate, gloves, and arm wraps onto the dresser. Akino put his damp gloves beside Neji's dry ones and sat his hitai-ate near his gloves. The girls came out in robes and Neji pulled the cord.
Roku appeared, took their dirty clothes and promised they would have them back in a few hours. It was Neji who closed both blinds and pulled back the covers of one of the beds. He got into it, robe and all, and lay out with a sigh. Neji smirked when he heard the girls get into the other bed and felt Akino get in bed with him. Within moments he was asleep and Neji could not be happier.
So funny story, I completely forgot Kiba's birthday was four days after Neji's and despite the two being former lovers, Neji didn't even mention it in the original draft. This made me realize I don't have birthdays picked out for Neji's team. Ahaha.
Reviews welcome, next chapter coming soon.