Man, did I hurry to get this out. Well, today marks a year exactly since I started this story, and so far it's gotten 56,000ish views, 120 reviews, 206 favs, 296 follows, and is in 11 communities. Yay! Thank you all so much!

Chapter 22

Morning dew still hadn't dried as Naruto picked up a tree branch. His white jacket was tied around his waist, and his pant cuffs and feet were soaked. TenTen and Neji were beside him, a basket on all their backs and loaded with broken branches. Guy watched them from the side of the tea field they were clearing. A storm had passed through the night before and had blown over trees in the rural areas surrounding the village. They had already moved two tree trunks from the field, and branches covered every inch. Puddles were impossible to spot.

Team 9 wasn't the only Genin team helping to clear this field. Team 6 was off at the end of the field, near the tea farmer's house, and two other teams that Naruto didn't know were also there. This was the village's biggest tea field, they had been told, and it was priority to other fields.

Naruto wiped sweat from his forehead, his headband hanging around his neck for the time being. It was a cool day, but this was hard work. TenTen made startled noise as she nearly slipped, Neji catching her. She thanked him, and Naruto shot her a smirk which she flared at him for. He stooped to pick up another branch and placed it in his basket.

Slowly, they made their way around the field, and eventually the field was completely clear of debris. Naruto and TenTen high-fived each other, and Neji let out a relieved sigh. Guy smiled. "We need to meet with the other teams at the house." The smile widened. "Impromptu race. Go!" Naruto took off as soon as the words left his mouth, and Neji and TenTen were close on his tail. Guy chuckled and shunshinned to the house.

The members of Team 6 were setting down their baskets next the house's porch when Naruto whipped past, and Lee frowned in confusion. "What is happening-," Neji and TenTen whipped past, and the blonde laughed wildly as he tapped the house's wall. Lee blinked along with his team. "What has happened?"

Neji and TenTen touched the wall, and Naruto answered, "A race that I finally won, Lee! Woo! In your faces, teme, Buns!"

TenTen scowled. "Be careful, Naruto, or you might have to rearrange your face later."

Naruto grinned. "Temper, temper. Thought you were working on that." She crossed her arms with a huff but said nothing. He set his basket next to Tomitsu's. The samurai, who had taken off his kosode revealing a loose, white shirt, raised an eyebrow in question. "What, Tomitsu?"

"Is this race the only race you have won?"

"Yep."

"Yet you are as quick as the wind."

Naruto pointed at his teammates accusingly. "These two always cheat!"

Neji snorted. "I wasn't the one who caused scaffolding to collapse."

"Yeah, and you like to make those stupid clones to get our way," retorted Tenten, "This is the only time you didn't cheat." Naruto stuck out his tongue at her. "So mature of you, Blondie."

The other teams came and set down their baskets, glancing at Naruto warily as they did. He ignored them and studied the house. It was more of a cottage, with an iron, dilapidated roof and creaky wooden walls. A small porch encircled it, and an assortment of tools hung from the porch. Naruto could hear Anko muttering darkly behind him, but that was drowned out by the door squeaking open.

An old man with a thick, white beard stepped out. He squinted at them and stroked the beard contemplatively. "Well now, that was certainly faster than I expected," he said, "Always liked havin' the big field around here. People want to take of it for me." He chuckled. "Well, that's all I got for now. I hope that all the sticks and trees are gone?" Guy nodded along with the other Jonin senseis. "Good."

"Whatcha gonna do with the branches?" asked Naruto, putting his jacket back on. TenTen stepped on his foot and threw him a silencing look.

The old farmer smiled. "Probably for firewood when I run out of the good stuff. Maybe make a few more tools." He frowned as a cluster of cans hanging from a string jangled. "Hm? That's odd. Somethin's stepped on the wire." The cans jangled again. "'Nother something." The cans jangled, and Naruto felt the hairs on his neck raise. The jangling didn't stop, and the old man's eyes grew fearful.

"Thieves! Darnit, they're here for my tea stores!" The cans still hadn't stopped jangling. "And there's a lot of 'em!"

"Team 9!"

"On it!"

"Team 6, ready your asses!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Team 15?" asked one of the other senseis as Teams 9 and 6 took off. Two of the members shook in fear, but one, the oldest boy, stood proudly. The sensei nodded. "Go help them!" The other senseis ushered their Genin near the storehouse, the old man hobbling after them and shouting instructions.

With Team 9, Naruto and Neji ran just ahead of TenTen who was situated between them. Guy was behind her, and he shouted up at Neji, "Activate your Byakugan! How many are we dealing with?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Guy remembered Neji's...condition, and it earned him a scowl from the Hyuuga. "Stupid question! Pull out your tonfa!"

The thieves broke the cover of the forest, and Naruto was stunned by the sheer number. There was at least fifty, if not more. They were poorly armed with rusty machetes and splintering sledgehammers, but the look in their eyes was hungry. 'Tea must a lucrative business,' thought Naruto. Someone blurred past him and dived into the heart of the attack.

"Leaf Hurricane!" Naruto saw several thieves go flying into the air, and he hid a smile as he tied his headband back securely.

"Let's go-," A wide grin spread across his face, "-dattebayo!"

Neji was as cautious as he could be. He singled out opponents and overwhelmed them with the speed of his tonfa. His technique was better, but it was still had a way to go. A year, TenTen had given him, before he would be able to fend off Chunin-level ninja. She had hoped that he could miraculously flow with the weapon as he could with Gentle Fist and still hoped. He didn't; this weapon was crutch until he could some way to get his eyes back.

Neji blocked a uncoordinated machete swing and struck at the thief's gut with a tonfa. The thief coughed, and Neji sent him flailing into another one with a kick. Neji turned just in time to raise his tonfa to deflect a sledgehammer and drove the short ends of the tonfa into the wielder's chest. He ducked as Lee leaped over him, spiked knuckles out and already red. "Hello, Neji-san!" He did a flying kick into one of the thieves and rebounded near Neji. "A good fight, yes?"

"Depends," said Neji, sweeping the legs out from his current opponent, "I do not care for it." He bashed the opponent's head, and the thief fell and moaned. "We're outnumbered," he said, turning to talk to nothing but air. He cursed inwardly and sensed an attack from behind, rolling to dodge it. As he rose, he hit the stomach with one tonfa and spun to deliver a crashing blow to the back of the head.

One thief broke for the storehouse, and Neji tried to pursue but was caught by another one. He dodged an axe and struck at the man's hand. He howled and let go, and Neji brought one tonfa down onto his leg. There was an ominous snap, but Neji ignored it as he looked after the fleeing thief. The cowardly man had made it halfway by now, going at a decent speed. Neji could catch him, but then he would be too far from the fight. "Someone get that man!" he shouted.

Tomitsu glanced up, katana drawn and men lying around him, and nodded. He sheathed his blade, bewildering Neji, before he dashed off, nothing but a faint blur. Neji saw the flash of metal before the man went down, and Tomitsu reappeared before dashing back into battle.

Neji nodded, satisfied, before he sidestepped to evade the swing of a machete. He smashed the man's elbow and kicked him away. The man yowled but then quieted as he fell onto his own machete. Neji winced, but then suddenly his back exploded in pain. He yelled indistinctly and dropped his tonfa. Gritting his teeth, Neji turned to face a smirking thief, sledgehammer in hand. Neji momentarily felt relieved. 'That could've been worse.' He bent down to pick up his tonfa, eying the man, but his hands found nothing but grass.

They had been kicked away by a thief fighting with Naruto, and the Neji's opponent knew it. "Heh-heh, look where you are now, boy! Now let's make this easy for me!" He charged at Neji, and he shifted into Gentle Fist instinctively. The man roared and swung, and Neji moved to deflect it, but it was too late-

An arrow sprouted from the attacker's chest, and surprised expressions were on both of their faces. The man choked, and Neji turned his head to spot an unfamiliar Genin clutching a bow. The Genin gave a thumbs-up, and Neji nodded gratefully. Shame rushed through him as he did; if only he had his eyes, then he might feel like he was actually contributing to the team, but, for now, he felt like deadweight.

Three thieves encircled him, and Neji looked warily at them as he searched for his tonfa. They sneered at him, and Neji silently hoped that his teammates could intervene before he was overwhelmed. He was unused to fighting that relied on instinct and hearing; again, the affects of his loss was beginning to show. He slid into his Gentle Fist stance. His opponents made the first move.

One stepped forward and sliced at him, but Neji was already moving and striking him in the throat. The man fell, and Neji ducked under a wild hammer blow and leaped back as a katana cut through the air. He narrowed his eyes at the katana wielder; this man was larger, much larger, than the other thieves. The man with the hammer grinned stupidly, but then his eyes glazed. Yakumo waved behind him, and Neji smirked. "It is between you and I," he said, his old confidence returning.

"Hah! As if you could hurt me, kid! Now come to papa!" The man swung, and Neji ran and slid between the man's legs, chopping at his knees. One knee buckled, but the man still stood. "You little-!" Neji got to his feet and chopped at the last knee. The man fell to his knees, and Neji deftly delivered the final strike to the back of the neck.

"Endgame."

The man's eyes bulged, and he crumpled, the spinal cord damaged. Neji released a pent up breath, and a giddy sense of power pulsed through him. He had beaten a bigger, stronger opponent with nothing but his weakened Gentle Fist. He flexed his fingers. Perhaps he didn't need a crutch after all. More thieves gathered around him, but Neji now smiled dangerously at them. They hesitated, and Neji chuckled tauntingly.

"Face the power of the Hyuuga!"

The rest of the battle was a frenzied blur to Neji, intoxicated from his victory. He was a flowing shadow to the thieves, and when that shadow passed, men fell. His teammates were faring well, but the thought of them was fleeting in Neji's mind. It was only he and any person who dared stand in his way. His tonfa laid on the ground, forgotten.

With only five remaining, the thieves vanished back into the forest, Team 6 giving chase. Naruto was out of breath, hands on his knees. TenTen was sitting down, staff beside her and hammer in her lap. Scrolls littered the ground around both of them, and their opponents were unconscious. Neji felt revitalized, but he slowly wrangled his adrenaline under control. He stumbled, but Guy caught him. With a mumbled thanks, Neji walked over to his teammates as they stood shakily.

TenTen breathed in deeply before asking, "Naruto, what was that word you said right before we fought?"

"Eh? What word?"

"After you said 'let's go.'. You said something after that."

"Oh." Naruto blushed. "Yeah...that was my catch phrase, sort of."

"What was it?"

He blushed darker. "Dattebayo. Just a habit. I haven't said it in a while."

"Aw," cooed TenTen, grabbing him and ruffling his hair, "Cute, Otouto-kun."

"Otouto-kun could deck you right about now."

"Then I'd have to spank you."

Naruto scowled at her, but he looked shiftily at Neji. A sly smile appeared on the blonde's face. Neji caught it. "Don't you dare, Uzumaki-san." The smile fell, and TenTen raised an eyebrow at Neji.

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

TenTen frowned, but then she spotted Neji's tonfa. "Hey, Neji. Forgetting something?" She picked them up. "It's a wonder they didn't get you without these." She held them out to him, and he almost didn't take them. They had been on the ground, and that's where they belonged in his eyes. He stared down at them, hands clenched. "Neji? You there?" asked TenTen, "C'mon, take 'em." She tossed the tonfa to him, and Neji caught them before he could properly react. He grudgingly sealed them away.

Guy looked to the Genin with the bow. "Go tell the others that it's safe to come out now."

The Genin saluted and ran back toward the storehouse. Guy sighed, and TenTen and Naruto put away the scrolls. "Alright, as soon as Team 6 comes back-," A thief flew out of the forest, screaming and making Guy pause. "What the-," A shadow blotted out the sun, and a snake of huge proportions snapped up the man and vanished in a cloud of smoke. Guy and his team were speechless.

"Good girl!" came Anko's voice, and the next part of the conversation was bewildering at best.

"Sensei, was that not ingenious of me?"

"Good job, Bushy Brows! Nice throw, too."

"I aided him."

"Yeah, yeah, Big'un. Brows had the best grip."

"You're all sick bastards!"

"Quit stating the obvious, Princess."

The next day, Neji was again training with the tonfa. He had almost refused to do so when Guy had ordered him, but Neji had bitten his tongue and stayed quiet. He dodged a staff strike to the legs. TenTen was a tough opponent, and Neji was hard-pressed to find an opening with the tonfa. He waited as she swung and knocked away the staff. He stepped forward to strike at her, but her staff was already coming back around. He stepped back, and she suddenly swept upward and knocked the tonfa from Neji's grip.

"You need to be faster," she said, "but that was better. Again." Neji glared at her, and he retrieved his weapons. "Begin!" She jabbed, and Neji backed away. She turned the jab into a swing, and Neji blocked it and stepped forward immediately, tonfa already rotating to clip TenTen's jaw. She moved just in time, and she brought her staff around to thwack Neji on the side. He winced, and TenTen called for a pause.

Another critique was at the ready. "Better, but you need see the way I'm moving to see what attack I'm gonna do. I've made that exact move a dozen times against you. You should know it by now." Neji snorted. "I'm serious. You're terrible when it comes to remembering people's moves." He snorted again. "Fine. Be like that. I'll just give you more bruises. Begin!"

Neji jumped back as she slammed the ground, and he rushed to exploit the opening. She deflected his attack and lashed out with a kick. Neji moved to the side and hit her leg. She grimaced, but then she jabbed with the staff. Neji managed to block by crossing his tonfa, and he swung outward. TenTen blocked and retaliated with a flurry of strikes that Neji barely matched. She stopped unexpectedly and swept Neji's legs out from under him.

He went down hard, and Neji mumbled a few curses into the ground. His tonfa clattered a few feet away. TenTen sighed. "Well, at least you're not attacking. You know that much." She held out a hand, but Neji ignored it. He seemed to not notice that he'd dropped his tonfa, and TenTen tried to hand them to him. "Neji, your tonfa." He looked down at them insolently.

"I don't need them."

"What?" said TenTen, taken aback.

"I don't need them."

"You need 'em for training-,"

"I don't need them."

"What the hell do you mean, Neji?" demanded TenTen.

"I mean that these useless wooden things are no longer needed. My own weakened Gentle Fist is far superior to this hobble of a style."

"What-why are you saying that?"

"Yesterday was proof enough for me!" snapped Neji, "I was able to best ten men with my Gentle Fist, yet only five with the blasted tonfa! I beat a stronger man using Gentle Fist! I felt exhilarated! The tonfa were only a crutch! Just. A. Crutch!" He was yelling for no reason and could see it was hurting TenTen, but he didn't care. He had to speak his mind. "Do you understand that? I don't need them!" He spun on a heel and started to walk away, TenTen hanging her head.

He was about to leave the small clearing when TenTen asked, "Just a crutch, huh?"

Neji stopped but didn't turn. "Yes, just a crutch."

"Then prove it." She lifted her head. "Prove that your damn Gentle Fist is better than your tonfa techniques."

Neji turned his head to look at her. "Why? I told you about what happened-,"

"Because actions speak louder than words." She spun her staff and held it in a ready position. "And it'll have to be really loud for your stubborn ass."

He turned fully and crossed his arms. "You want me to fight you?"

"Using your Gentle Fist, yeah. Now bring it before I get bored!"

Neji shifted into the stance. "I will prove myself correct."

"Quit talking and fight!"

He rushed forward, the old movements coming to him easily. He moved to attack with an open palm, but TenTen swept his feet from under him. Neji caught himself and flipped up, flowing back into the attack. She jumped back and swung at his chest, and he dodged. The staff came back around, and it missed Neji narrowly. He jabbed at her arm, but TenTen was already out of range. He was off-balance, and TenTen struck at his arm.

Neji tipped over meaningfully, and the staff whistled by above his head. He spun on a hand and kicked at TenTen's knees. He connected, and she went down to a knee. With a smirk, he tried to paralyze her arms, but TenTen suddenly had a matching smirk. She cracked her staff across his shins, and Neji gasped. She rose, her knee fine, and smashed the staff into Neji's chest. He grunted, the wind knocked out of him. "Give up, Neji?" she asked.

"Not...even close," he whispered. He breathed deeply, and TenTen shook her head at his obstinance. Neji clenched his jaw and darted toward her. She started to bring her staff down on top of him, but Neji sidestepped. She crouched low with the staff, bringing into both hands, and angled it to block a kick. She jumped and twirled, and Neji's arms were bashed several times as he struggled to keep up. She stopped, and Neji saw an opportunity, and he was about to take advantage of it when the world suddenly burst into stars and dots.

He fell to the ground, clutching his head. Pain blossomed at the back, and Neji slowly pulled a hand away. His hand came away clear of blood, but he still glared at TenTen. "That was unnecessary," he said, wincing as his head panged again.

"My ass. That last one was to prove a point: feints work against you now since you can't see 'em coming. You wouldn't been hit if you had the Byakugan."

"And I would have still been hit if I had used those tonfa!" shouted Neji, but then he winced at his own volume. "At least I held out-,"

"You would've been dead on contact if this had been real," she stated plainly, "I charge my staff to give someone an electrocution equal to a lightning bolt. Either you'd be dead or in a coma. Get it?" Neji scowled, and TenTen kicked his tonfa over to him. "Now pick 'em up, and we'll see how you do with these."

"No better than last time."

"We'll see." Neji picked up his tonfa and readied himself. "Ready?" He nodded. "Alright!" She waited for a moment, seeing if he would make the first move, but he was still. She smiled. "Doing better already."

"Hurry up. I don't want to wait all day."

TenTen raced toward him, and Neji deflected her first move and moved in with a strike to the side. She was able to step out of reach and brought the staff down. Neji raised the tonfa in a cross and caught them. He was able to get close enough to kick TenTen in the side of the knee, and it instantly went out from under her. She rolled to the side as he crashed both tonfa onto the spot she had been.

She half-swung and followed with a kick, and Neji stepped out of range of both before he jumped forward, tonfa splayed out to either side before smashing together. TenTen felt the wind it created, and she felt nervous for the first time. Whether Neji would realize it or not, he was talented with the tonfa. Not a genius, but talented enough to improve substantially with little training. She paused, and Neji seized upon her inattention.

TenTen suddenly had to be on the defensive as Neji's tonfa whistled around her, and Neji pressed forward until he sensed her starting to keep up. He abruptly stopped and leaped back to dodge a swipe. She chased after him, intending to return his attacks. She spun and sliced through the air, but Neji didn't advance after her. He had seen this sequence before, and TenTen would immediately kick out if he was close enough.

She tried to trap him in an exchange of blows, but Neji was starting to heed her advice: remember the movements. He stayed just out reach, deflecting the staff when it got too close for comfort. He could read the mix of frustration and pride on TenTen's face, and he realized that he was holding her off for the time being, a contrast to earlier.

"You're doin' good, Neji!" complimented TenTen, entering into a blindingly fast series of strikes that Neji dodged and retaliated against. He said nothing as he ducked under a swing and knocked her feet out. He tried to jab at her with the short ends of the tonfa, but she had rolled away and stood. She swung and missed, and Neji moved in. She blocked one tonfa, and the other whipped around to hit her on the arm.

Neji jumped back, and she rubbed the slowly-forming bruise. "That hurt." He kept his silence, tonfa raised. She ran toward him, and Neji prepared for another swing of the staff. Then he saw the familiar smirk. She unsealed her hammer and smashed into the ground at Neji's feet. He jumped up, startled, but then TenTen's staff caught him on the side and slammed him down roughly. "And that's what you get for that."

Neji muttered darkly, and he sat up. TenTen knelt by him. "Again, not necessary."

"No, it was. I was trying to beat you, and you made me pull out my hammer. You put pressure on me. Be proud." He stood with her. "And you lasted a helluva lot longer with tonfa than Gentle Fist." Neji kept his silence, and TenTen smiled softly. "Do you understand now? The tonfa aren't a crutch; they're a style all your own. They're a part of you." Neji couldn't meet her eyes. "Do you remember what I said to you the night after you lost your Byakugan?"

"That I would pull through this. That nothing would change because we, the team, are like the stars," he mumbled, but then he looked up at her. "But things have changed. Even when you said that, things were changing. It will never be the same. I will never be the same." He walked over to a tree and sat against it. "Even if I become proficient with the tonfa, that will not replace my eyes. I-I am not a Hyuuga without them."

"Aw, c'mon," scoffed TenTen, sitting beside Neji, "You don't mean that, do you?"

"I wish I didn't."

She sighed. "You really are stubborn. Yes, things have changed. Our team isn't like the stars, but we are a team. We always stick together, and we go over every bump in the road together." She tucked her knees under her chin. "I know things have been bothering you. Tell me about them." She waited, and for several minutes, Neji said nothing. "I'm patient, y'know."

"I am more so."

She laughed. "I bet you are." TenTen looked at the sky thoughtfully. "During the mission when you argued with Naruto, you-you-," She became uncertain, "-you said something about your mother's funeral. Can you tell me what happened?"

"No."

TenTen nodded concededly. More silence passed, and she asked, "Can you at least tell me what your mother was like?"

Neji was quiet for a few moments, and he looked over at her. "If-If I tell you, you swear to not tell another soul?"

She held out her hand. "Deal." Neji shook it, and he took a deep breath.

"My mother's name was Kinami Hyuuga, and she was married to Hizashi Hyuuga, my father. She was a beautiful, loving person who went too soon..." He told her about his mother, but the words wouldn't stop there. He went on about his father and his death, about his mother's death, about his ill feelings toward the Main Family, about his and Naruto's argument, about his vision, and then, finally, at the crossroads he had arrived at. He finished, "...and now, I'm at an impasse: either I ask Hiashi-sama for an audience or just accept the vision as truth." Neji drummed his fingers on his arm. "I don't know what to do. A first."

TenTen smiled and bumped into him. "There's a first for everything, even for a genius." The smile waned, and the thoughtful look returned. "You said something about a...curse mark. Could-could you draw it for me?" Neji nodded and sketched out the shape of the curse mark. She examined it closely and muttered to herself, "Manji...freedom...the two hooks...cage...hook tips-,"

"Restriction," answered Neji.

"You know fuinjutsu now?"

"No, Uzumaki-san said the same thing when he saw it. You are both remarkably similar."

"I don't know if that was a compliment or an insult," said TenTen, the smile back. She blinked as she realized the sun was low in the sky. "Wow, it's late. We've talked for a long time." She shifted against the tree. "But I guess it couldn't hurt if we talked a little longer." She looked over at Neji. "I truly feel honored, by the way. I bet this is the first time you've opened up to someone besides your mother."

Neji didn't reply, eyes staring blankly at the ground in front of him. TenTen frowned, and then she got up and sat in front of Neji, meeting his eyes. She took up her old posture, knees tucked under chin. "Neji? Are you okay?"

Neji stared back at her, noticing the light brown shade of her eyes, her heart-shaped face, soft hair that escaped her buns and just reached her eyes. Again, her beauty was evident, and he saw the tomboyish exterior she put forth. But, now, he saw through all the sweat, dirt, and blood to the benevolent, caring girl underneath, and her beauty grew. She had opened up to him just as much as he had, and both had accepted each other. "Neji?" asked TenTen again, voice worried, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Just...pondering," he answered, "Pondering about what I should do about my vision and...other things."

"Are you open to advice?"

"At this point, I'm open to anything."

"It sounds like this Hiashi-sama is the main person involved in anything bad in your life," she observed, "If he said that all of this is true, that your dad died like a hero and your mother was trying to protect you until the very end, then you wouldn't have any doubts left. All because, even though you hate him, you would believe anything that came from him." She stood and held out her hand. "C'mon. It's late, and I think training's over for today."

He looked at it curiously before taking her hand. Neji stumbled forward as he rose, and TenTen laid a hand on his chest to catch him. They ended up closer than expected, and TenTen blushed as she felt Neji's heartbeat. Her own heart fluttered, and she stuttered. Neji stopped her, and he was quiet, eyes never leaving hers. His face came closer and closer until she thought he was actually going to kiss her, and she blushed brighter.

His arms wrapped around her, and Neji rested his head on her shoulder. She blinked, but she smiled and hugged him back. The hug lasted for several moments, and then Neji pulled away, TenTen feeling slightly disappointed. He bowed suddenly, expression back to its usual blankness. "Thank you, TenTen. Today has been...refreshing."

She was confused, but then she laughed lightly. "You don't have to pretend like you're emotionless, Neji." She turned to walk away. "Bye. I'll see you tomorrow. And please listen to my advice." TenTen faded into the shadows of the forest, and Neji smiled slightly.

"I will."

Hiashi pored over the Hyuuga financial records, the window of his office showing dark outside. One of his accountants had pointed an error in the post-closing trial balance and asked if Hiashi could check the entire month's records, from the many journal pages to the general ledger. He was doing so reluctantly. There was a knock at his door, and the guard said, "Hiashi-sama, there is someone here to see you."

"Tell them I am busy."

"He is very persistent."

"Tell him I am busy."

"He-he tells me that your nephew wants to speak to you. It's about his parents." Hiashi froze. 'Neji.' He pushed the records to the side. This had priority.

"Send him in."

"Pardon?"

"Send him in, Isao."

"Yessir." The door opened, and Neji walked in. Hiashi noticed the boy's hands shaking despite his cool demeanor. He gestured for Neji to take a seat in the armchair facing the desk. Neji sat awkwardly, back ramrod-straight.

"Hiashi-sama," he said, bowing his head respectfully.

"Neji. You wanted to speak with me about your parents?"

"Yes, I wanted to ask you: what can you tell me about their deaths?"

Hiashi sighed, and he tapped a finger to the table. "I can tell you that their deaths were too soon," he said more bitterly than he meant to, "but what can I tell you?"

"I want you to tell the truth."

He nodded. "Yes, I thought you would say that." Hiashi leaned back in his chair, hands interlaced. "First, what do you believe?"

Neji struggled to keep his face clear of emotion. "I believe that you forced my father to die in your place when you killed the Cloud ambassador and that you did nothing but watched my mother's life slip away." Hiashi looked away shamefully. "Well? Is that the truth?"

"Kinami's death couldn't be prevented. She was diagnosed with Kekkei Genkai Poisoning, and there is no cure. I did nothing but watch because I could not do anything else. What you say about me is correct, and I wish that was not so." He put his head in his hands,and despite the sadness of the story, Neji felt his heart leap. "I watched her die slowly, but she was still forgiving of me for Hizashi's death. I owe her a debt. I owe all the Hyuuga a debt."

"Then start by repaying mine."

Hiashi looked forlornly at Neji, and then he nodded. "Yes, one at a time. Hizashi was a good man, but sometimes he was resentful of my status as patriarch. When the Cloud ambassador..." Hiashi went on to tell that Hizashi had been willing to die just to prove the destiny belief wrong. He looked at the lantern when he finished. The oil was dangerously low. He turned back to a blank-faced Neji. "Do you believe me?"

Neji's hands were in his lap, and they shook uncontrollably. "Yes, I do."

"That easily?" asked Hiashi in surprise.

"Yes."

"But-but how? I can understand acceptance of your mother's death, but Hizashi's...it sounds almost unbelievable even to me."

"I accept it because I've now heard it from both brothers."

Hiashi blinked. "Both...brothers?" he repeated in bemusement.

Neji rummaged in his jacket, and he pulled out two pieces of paper and placed them on the desk. "Read this first," he said, pushing one forward. Hiashi peered down at it, and he looked up questioningly.

"A death note from Kinami? How does involve my brother and me?"

Neji ignored him. "Now read the other."

Hiashi frowned as he did. He noted the lack of a shakiness in this one, and it was longer, not cut off by an abrupt line scrawling off the page. "Another death note from Kinami? I don't understand."

"The first is from her death, and the other comes after it."

"After it? I still don't-,"

"Are you aware of my last mission?"

"No."

Neji folded his hands. "Then let me tell you my own unbelievable story." He told Hiashi about his mission, about his death, about the vision. "And then, I was alive, wounds gone. Our opponent was gone." He refrained from going into detail, but he did say exactly what his parents had told him about their deaths. He kept silent about Hizashi's wise words. "In short, I was visited in death by my parents who revealed the truth behind their deaths," summed up Neji, "but I was still unsure of the validity."

"So you came to me."

Neji bowed his head. "Yes, Hiashi-sama. It took some convincing, but I came."

Hiashi massaged his temples. "This-this is astounding, but I'm not sure about your story."

"If not, then read the back of the second note."

"The one you received during the mission?" Neji nodded, and Hiashi turned it over. His face instantly turned pale. He recognized the handwriting. It was almost his own, but less formal with a personal touch. He had seen it in childish notes long ago, and formal requests not so long ago. "This is...Hizashi's handwriting."

"I know, and that second note was not the only gift given to me by them." Neji reached up and untied his headband. It fell away, and Hiashi's disbelief grew. "They have truly blessed me," he said, the light catching his blank forehead. His eyes then became sad. "But then they have also stripped me of the Byakugan. I do not mind, however. It is the price of being free."

"The Caged Bird Seal is...gone...but-but-," Hiashi suddenly threw his hands up. "Ah, why do I question things like this when there can be no explanation?" The lantern flickered. "And now the oil is almost used up," he said. He regarded Neji musingly. "You have lost your Byakugan?"

"Yes, Hiashi-sama. The Caged Bird Seal did its job and removed it upon my death, but I am glad to not have the curse mark anymore."

Hiashi worked his jaw, trying to think of a way to restore the Byakugan back to Neji. "So you did die," he said distractedly, "This would not be the case if your story was not true." Neji nodded, and Hiashi's eyebrows rose as a person came to mind. He thought of the boy's Hyuuga sensei, Hyoto. He would surely know him; he had worked closely with that person for a number of years. That person was the only hope of Neji ever using the Byakugan in Hiashi's eyes. "It's a great loss to lose something as vital as a limb."

"I have felt it as well, but my team has been more than willing to accommodate me. I may not ever be the useful scout of the team, but they have provided me with other taijutsu options besides Gentle Fist."

"Such as?" asked Hiashi.

"I train with the tonfa now, and it is going...well."

"That is good. It shows that your team is one to last through the ages," stated Hiashi. He rubbed his chin, still pondering about the issues at hand. "
You said that Kinami and Hizashi removed the seal? Are you sure it wasn't your death?"

"Practically, I think it was my death. Sentimentally, it was my parents. The result is the same."

"And now you're essentially a Main Family member," stated Hiashi dryly, "Do you see the irony?"

"Yes, I've died and come back someone I've hated all my life."

"And your hate was well-placed," admitted Hiashi, "The Main Family had never been kind. Destiny always run amok among us. My brother probably still hates me in the afterlife. I can't blame him."

"And neither does he," said Neji, drawing an odd look from Hiashi, "My father said to me that he never hated you, but instead the ideology of destiny controlling every aspect of life. He hated what you represented, but not you as a person. My father never stopped loving you as a brother, but sometimes it was buried under the hate he associated with the head of the Main Family." Hiashi was speechless, and he blinked, his eyes watery. He stood suddenly, intending to do something that should have been done long ago.

"Let me pay you this final respect." Neji frowned, but he was astonished when Hiashi sank into a deep bow at Neji's feet. "Please, forgive me, Neji Hyuuga."

Neji stared at him, but then he smiled slightly. "You are forgiven, Hiashi Hyuuga. Now rise." Hiashi stood, and the lantern winked out. Neji stood from the chair. "It seems this conversation is at an end," he said, tone slightly crestfallen

"Indeed, this has been...enlightening, to say the least." Neji nodded, and he shuffled to the door, his eyes unadjusted to the inky darkness. Before he opened the door, Hiashi said, "I wish you luck with your hardships. If you want to talk to me again, I'm always available, and...thank you for letting me know about my brother."

Neji nodded thankfully and opened the door. "You're welcome, and I too wish you luck, Hiashi-sama," he said, "Your troubles dwarf mine by no small means." The door shut, and Hiashi stood in the darkness. 'Such a wise boy. He will be a great man.' He sighed as he headed toward the door. 'A pity he is not a heir for my position.'

Toodles! By the way, if you have ideas for omakes-random ones that are realistic-please say so. I can't really think of any off the top of my head except for some really crack ones. Also, do you think the summary is alright? One-year mark, and I can make changes. And I know that this entire chapter is devoted to Neji, but Naruto will get his own chapter with the next one. Again, thank you!