Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Though I would run around in a chicken suit
mooing like a cow if I did. Aw what the heck, I'll do it anyway.
A/N: Here it is. Next chapter. I hope its good. I'll try to make it long enough to hold people over for the next few days, since the schools frantic right now all about graduation and too many other leaving school events going on. So yeah, but thats only for this week so don't worry. and pleeeeeease review....enjoy.
-
It was getting late. Neji and Sakura had been walking in silence for quite some time now. She tried to spark up a conversation but it was snubbed out quickly by Neji's curt responses. He was starting to feel annoyed with her for some reason, or maybe he was annoyed at himself. He drowned in his own thoughts until Sakura brought him back into reality.
"Hey look! We're here!" Sakura cried.
"Shh.." Neji said in a hushed tone.
"Oh...Gomen." Sakura held her head down in regret. She angered Neji.
"You should'nt get to loud, this is a secretive mission you know. We can't afford to attract attention."
Sakura nodded slowly. They walked up to the gate of the Hidden Village of Sand. Neji showed his and Sakura's diplomatic passes to one of the guards, and they quickly opened the gates for the Konoha Shinobis. The streets were pretty lively for ten o'clock at night. They even spotted some kids playing in the street. A round ball rolled over and bounced on Neji's foot.
"Hey, can you throw us back the ball!" one kid called out.
Neji picked it up and threw it over to the kid who had short messy brown hair, and dark eyes. He wasn't too tall, and Neji would have guessed the kid to be 11.
"Thanks Konoha loser!" All four kids snickered and ran down a dark and empty street.
"Wow...I guess we're really not welcome here." said Sakura. Neji nodded. The sand village was very bitter to any person that came from Konoha, and especially shinobi.
Forgetting the event that just occured, Sakura and Neji wandered carefully around for hotel. They were in luck. The last hotel in town had a single room left. They were hoping to get two rooms, one for each, but they had to make due. Neji payed the man at the counter and looked at the key he was handed.
"Room 214.." he muttered. They climbed a few sets of creaky stairs, and finally found the room labeled 214. Opening the door, a musty smell emerged from the room. It wasn't a very flashy room, but it did have a sort of quaint charm to it. Looking at a clock on one of the dressers, Neji realized it was already eleven thirty; and they needed to get to sleep soon if they wanted to leave early.
Unfortunately, being a small room, it only had one bed. They both had noticed when they walked in but failed to bring it up vocally. Before Sakura could voice these problems, Neji had disappeared.
"Neji..?"
"I'm down here Sakura." Neji's voice shot her gaze down to the floor, on the side of the bed.
"What're you doing down there? There is a bed you know."
"Yes, but there's only one. I'd rather you have it." With that Neji turned on his side preparing to sleep. But before he could slumber off, a hand lifted him up by the collar.
"What the..?"
Sakura pulled his body up onto the bed and forced him down on one side.
"I'm not letting you sleep on the ground like a dog. We're both just gonna have to make due with this one bed."
"But Sakura..it's not right for us to share a bed."
"I don't care..I know you used to sleep on the ground in my room but this time you need to sleep, and you need to get the best of it."
Neji was about to protest, but thought better of it. He would take this offer of a comfortable bed but would try to stay as far away from her on it.
She noticed Neji moving his body over to the edge and turning on his side. Sighing, she also laid down on the other side, but facing his back. She let her thoughts roam for a second, and she briefly thought about who this Saito person was. [And what the hell does he want with me anyway?] She would have to think about these things tomorrow, when they start out their mission. But for now she needed sleep.
Dream
She was wandering down dark and forgotten streets. Buildings old and rotting on all sides of her. A faint smell of blood in the air. She looked to her left. Nothing. To her right. Nothing. She was completely alone. She recognized this place to what seems to be the sand village. But it was utterly desolate, and nothing but a ghost town. All of the sudden, she could see faint signs of light in the field over there. No..that wasn't just any light. That was...chakra! She ran as fast as she could towards it. Her mind flooded with thousands of thoughts and questions that would go unanswered. Finally reaching the chakra, she could make out two figures no more than 10 meters from her in the dark haze.
"..Byakugan!"
She raced closer, and made out the figure who had just said those words. It was Neji..but who and why is he fighting. She strained her eyes in the darkness until she made him out. He wasn't too tall, but he had a muscular build and tan skin. Black hair that was cut extremely short, and a monstrous expression on his face. She gasped seeing the killer intent in this mans eyes.
"Neji!" she called. "What's going on!?"
He didn't answer. But in his place, she heard an unnerving laugh. It wasn't coming from Neji though..it was coming from that man.
"Oh my dear Sakura..how nice to see you." he chuckled. "You've come to make things easier on yourself."
"What..who are you? What do you want?"
"I want you Sakura..and I want your advanced blood lineage. And noone will stop me from taking it from you!"
With that, the man made a few seals with his hands. "Ember Inferno!"
A ball of dark fire came from the man's hands and headed directly to Sakura. She couldn't move. Fear rooted her feet to the ground. The ball seemed to move in slow motion as her life seemed to be at the end of it's rope. She was really gonna die here.
After what seemed like hours, she could hear Neji's voice.
"Sakura! No!"
Neji frantically jumped to Sakura and pushed her out of the way. Flying backwards in mid-air Neji and Sakura caught the look on each others faces. Sakura had a tear running down her face and a look of pure horror. While Neji's eyes were considerably widened. They both screamed each others names at the exact same moment before the fire finally reached it's target and engulfed Neji's body. Sakura was pushed back even farther when suddenly the fire exploded Neji's body.
Dream End
She sat straight up in cold sweat. She was gasping for air madly. Sakura looked to her right, and was relieved intensely to see that Neji was sleeping peacefully and was unharmed. She needed a glass of water, so she got up out of bed slowly and walked over to a little kitchen area. Pouring herself a glass of water, she walked back over to the bed. Before she laid back down, she looked at Neji's sleeping body. She stood over him, gazing longily at his beautiful face and gorgeous hair. On impulse, she leaned over him. Sakura brushed a few stray strands of hair away from his face and sighed. Thankfully he was asleep, and she prayed to god that she would'nt wake him. After seeing that he was definitely staying asleep, she bent down over him and placed a sweet kiss on his lips. Before she could stop herself, she was whispering to him.
"Please don't leave me Neji..not like Sasuke. I wouldn't be able to bear it if you left my side." with that she got up and moved back over to her side. Laying down, she finally got back to sleeping.
Neji's eyes opened up. She hadn't known it, but when she first got up, it woke him up. He couldn't believe what just happened. Half of him was angered at her trying to take advantage of his body while he was sleeping. But the other half..the other half was confused. It was a strange mix of longingness and another feeling. He wasn't exactly sure, but it made him want to sing to her. It made him want to stay by her side at all times of every day. It made him want to grow up with her, and be with her. Neji's eyes widened at his new found realization. He..Hyuuga Neji...was..in love?
-
Daylight was pressing through the windows. It roamed over their bed, until it finally fell upon both of the faces. Neji had woken then, but Sakura was still out. He got up and took a nice refreshing shower. It felt good, considering they've been out in the forest for the last 48 hours. He quickly changed and got out of the bathroom to meet a half awake Sakura.
"Good morning, Sakura."
The formal greetings came more and more often, and she had gotten used to them by now.
"Mornin' Neji. Did you sleep ok?"
"Hai."
After Sakura had taken her shower and gotten ready, they both packed their stuff up and left. They decided to go out for breakfast before starting their mission, because both of their stomachs were growling angrily.
"This place looks ok." muttered Sakura.
They walked inside a small restaurant on the corner, and both ordered something to eat. After stuffing themselves, they paid the bill and left.
"Thanks for breakfast Neji."
Neji simply grunted in response. She knew his grunts by now, and knew this was his way to say 'You're welcome.' She smiled at him before turning her head.
"So, what should we do first?"
"We should try the towns people. They might have some knowledge of who this guy is, or where he might be."
While Neji was talking, Sakura's mind drifted some place else. She thought of the dream she had last night, and who that guy was. He had said he wanted her advanced blood line..but she didn't have one. Did she..? Nah.. It was just a dream. It all was just a manifestation of random thoughts collected in my head. She smiled at her own little explanation to the happenings in the dream.
After trying a few people on the street, they got nothing from anyone about a guy named Saito. Though they did get a lead. One young man said that he wasn't sure, but he heard about a really powerful shinobi that hangs around a pub near there. He didn't know the mans name, but he gave them directions to where this pub is at. After thanking the man for his tip, they decided not to go there at once. First, incase it was actually Saito, they should'nt rush into battle. Next, even if it wasn't, they should atleast have a nice battle plan devised. So they decided to keep asking some villagers, finding out all and any information they can get about this guy.
-
"They're getting close..they've even found out where I am. It's smart of them to try and gather more information on me but it's useless, they can never beat me. Noone ever has."
Saito's murder count was now at 415. Though none of them were amazingly strong, they still counted.
"I'll get rid of that boy quick. I doubt he's too strong. Plus I have the home field advantage. I know this place much more than he does. And that girl. She's nothing. She doesn't know how to unlock her blood limit technique yet so I don't have to worry about anything."
-
"Saito..you want to know about Saito?"
"Yes Mister, we're going after him."
"Do you two have a death wish or what? You can never beat him. He's too evil."
"I don't care, he tried to kill me, and I want revenge. Plus we're on a mission anyway."
The man looked around once or twice then said "Follow me"
Neji nodded, and Sakura started after the man. They followed him to his house. They both refused something to drink and took seats in his living room. The old man walked into the room and sat down in a chair infront of them.
"Ok..you two want to know about Saito?"
They nodded eagerly.
"Ok...well first, Saito was born in the cloud country. His parents we're assassinated because they were both very powerful, and everyone feared them. Before anyone knew it, the boy had disappeared. Noone knows what happened, but he reappeared ten years later in the wind country. People say he always had a murderous glint in his eye. They say he was captured by enemy ninja and tortured for all of those ten years, but after he came out, he was intensely strong. He sometimes went on killing sprees for the fun of it, and raped women because he just felt like it. He wouldn't even spare the lives of young ones, younger than yourselves." Neji and Sakura both stared at the man clearly in shock.
"Then one day...he started talking to himself outloud. He said that he found an ancient bloodline, that would bring him surpreme power. Everyone thought he had just gone crazy..but he wouldn't stop talking about it. He claims that this bloodline was lost a long time ago, and that if he had it he would be stronger that all of the Hokages combined. I seriously doubt these claims though."
The word "bloodline" shook something inside of Sakura. She was instantly brought back to the memory of her dream where Neji was killed by that horrifying man. She hoped that it just happened to be a coincidence though, because if it wasn't they were in a world of trouble.
"I wish you kids the best of luck fighting him, because god knows you'll need it."
The two shinobis thanked the man for his wisdom and left his house. Sakura could sense the confliction in Neji, and decided to break the silence for his own good.
"Do you think that man was lying?"
A few moments of silence had gone by before he answered.
"No..he wasn't lying." Sakura nodded, knowing that he probably wasn't.
"I hope we can beat this guy. He sounds pretty strong..and pretty terrifying. I mean killing innocent children? That's just horrible."
"I know...but this man must've had a gruesome past."
-
"Old lady...is Sakura-chan back yet?"
"No Naruto" replied the Hokage. "She won't be back for another week. So you can stop asking me everyday now ok?"
Naruto nodded sadly. He had a bad feeling something was going to happen to them. He just had to rely on Neji to take care of her, because if she came back with just one scratch on her, Naruto was going to kick the living shit out of that Hyuuga.
Tsunade somehow sensed his mental conflict.
"Don't worry Naruto. Sakura will be fine, I promise."
"But Hokage-sama, how do you know?" Whenever he talked to Tsunade properly you know he's being serious.
"Because.."
"Because why?"
"Because I know Neji would never let it happen. He would give his life for her..I know this. I've seen it in the concerned looks he gives her. In the way he acts around her, and I can just sense it in his heart."
Naruto was taken aback. Neji..loves Sakura-chan!? He decided to voice his mental question.
"You mean that..Neji loves her!!?" Naruto looked saddened a bit.
"Yes..he does. I'm sorry Naruto, I know you love her too."
Naruto shrugged off his sadness and grinned at her.
"Whoever Sakura loves is fine with me! Just aslong as that bastard treats her right." With that, Naruto left her office. Tsunade smiled at his statement, though she decided to not mention the fact that Sakura loves Neji.
-
When they got back, Neji immediately put his things down in the corner and turned to leave the hotel room.
"Where are you going?"
"..to train."
"Oh..ok then. Come back soon."
Neji grunted and left the room. Sakura understood his wanting to train, aside the fact that he always needs to keep his body in top physical shape, he has just learned that this guy Saito is pretty strong. He probably doesn't want to take any risks. She sighed and laid down on the bed.
"I wonder what's going on back in Konoha. Naruto is probably constantly wondering where I am..Ino is probably swooning over Shikamaru..and everyone is probably just living their everyday lives."
She looked down at her body, realizing it was a mess from walking. Just walking down the street kicked up massive amounts of dirt, and it was all over her and her clothes. She decided to take another shower. Sakura relished the warm and tingling feeling the water gave her. Thirty minutes later she was out and dressed. Neji hadn't come back [What a surprise..] and she had nothing to do. She wasn't tired, and the room didn't come with a TV. She didn't really want to disturb Neji while he trained..so she was stuck there, utterly bored. What fun..
-
Neji found an area covered by trees. That was the perfect place for him. He quickly walked up to a tree and started giving it a few high kicks. After a while, he started pulling some punch and kick combos. An hour passed..and he started using his byakugan. Using the Jyuuken style came naturally to him. All Hyuugas were familiar with this style, but after all the years, Neji was definitely the master at it. He was the strongest of the Hyuugas, and without a doubt the strongest one they've ever had. The last couple of years, ever since he was defeated by Naruto in his first chuunin exam, Neji has turned over a new leaf so to speak. He still holds grudges against main house members, but its not isolated to only them. He's learned to not be so cold, and to open up and make friends. Also, ever since he was defeated, he decided to become stronger. Stronger than anyone. But unlike Sasuke, it wasn't a burning desire, and he wouldn't do terrible things to get the power. He just trained his butt off. That's the only way he knew how to get power.
A few hours passed by, and Neji was tired. He looked up at the sky, and saw the sun was starting to set. He decided that it was indeed time to head back to the hotel to see Sakura.
It took a few minutes, but Neji walked in the door to his dead hotel room. Sakura was nowhere to be found. There was a pang in his heart and he looked around frantically.
"Sakura!? Where are you Sakura??!"
"Huh? Neji??"
[Phew..She's here]
"It's ok, I'm just taking a bath Neji."
Though they both couldn't see it, when she said that, they both grew a tinge of crimson on their cheeks.
"Oh...ok" Neji replied.
He was beat, so he decided to go lay down on the bed. Every muscle in his back we're killing him. Somehow, Sakura could tell this when she came out of the bathroom.
"Are you ok Neji?"
"Yes, I'm fine. My back is just aching from the training."
"Oh..ok." Sakura looked around for a moment.
"Hey, I got an idea. How about I give you one of my world famous back massages!"
"...What?" Neji was at a loss for words.
"Oh don't worry, just lay still, ...and.uh..take off your shirt." Sakura somehow found the courage to say those last words. Neji did as he was told and flung his shirt to the left.
"Ok now have no fear, this won't hurt at all."
She crept up along his legs, and leaned over his back. Her knees were on both sides of Neji's hips, and she stared at his muscular back. For a few minutes she forgot where she was and realized Neji was now looking at her as she stared at him hungrily.
"Oh um! Sorry!" Sakura blushed madly when he turned his head back around. At first she was hesitant, but then she finally managed to put her hands in his upper back, and started to rub his shoulders.
Neji groaned a bit with pleasure, and she was glad to be making him happy. She started lowering her hands down his back, and started to thoroughly massage his shoulder blades. The muscles on his back were infact very tense, though, and shone in the light. After a little while, Sakura was pleased with herself from the grunts and groans of pleasure coming from Neji. She didn't think she would ever hear a groan coming from Hyuuga Neji's lips.
After she was done, Neji thanked her. He blushed slightly when he did, and he didn't pick up that she noticed the blush spread across his cheeks like wildfire.
"You're welcome Neji...anytime." She smiled to him and was happy at the fact that even though he was still on the other side of the bed, he had turned to face her this time.
It only took a few minutes for them to pass out, and it was a beautiful sight as the full moon bathed its light around them as they slept peacefully.
-
A/N: Another chapter down. Though I'm having a poll. SHOULD I CONTINUE THIS STORY OR NOT? I'm not totally sure if I want to, and if I do drop this story I'll start a new one of course with Neji and Tenten. So tell me. Should I continue this one? or should I start a new one with Neji and TenTen. However many votes I have for one by the end of 72 hours is what I'll do. Welp, til next time.
Nalio
A/N: Here it is. Next chapter. I hope its good. I'll try to make it long enough to hold people over for the next few days, since the schools frantic right now all about graduation and too many other leaving school events going on. So yeah, but thats only for this week so don't worry. and pleeeeeease review....enjoy.
-
It was getting late. Neji and Sakura had been walking in silence for quite some time now. She tried to spark up a conversation but it was snubbed out quickly by Neji's curt responses. He was starting to feel annoyed with her for some reason, or maybe he was annoyed at himself. He drowned in his own thoughts until Sakura brought him back into reality.
"Hey look! We're here!" Sakura cried.
"Shh.." Neji said in a hushed tone.
"Oh...Gomen." Sakura held her head down in regret. She angered Neji.
"You should'nt get to loud, this is a secretive mission you know. We can't afford to attract attention."
Sakura nodded slowly. They walked up to the gate of the Hidden Village of Sand. Neji showed his and Sakura's diplomatic passes to one of the guards, and they quickly opened the gates for the Konoha Shinobis. The streets were pretty lively for ten o'clock at night. They even spotted some kids playing in the street. A round ball rolled over and bounced on Neji's foot.
"Hey, can you throw us back the ball!" one kid called out.
Neji picked it up and threw it over to the kid who had short messy brown hair, and dark eyes. He wasn't too tall, and Neji would have guessed the kid to be 11.
"Thanks Konoha loser!" All four kids snickered and ran down a dark and empty street.
"Wow...I guess we're really not welcome here." said Sakura. Neji nodded. The sand village was very bitter to any person that came from Konoha, and especially shinobi.
Forgetting the event that just occured, Sakura and Neji wandered carefully around for hotel. They were in luck. The last hotel in town had a single room left. They were hoping to get two rooms, one for each, but they had to make due. Neji payed the man at the counter and looked at the key he was handed.
"Room 214.." he muttered. They climbed a few sets of creaky stairs, and finally found the room labeled 214. Opening the door, a musty smell emerged from the room. It wasn't a very flashy room, but it did have a sort of quaint charm to it. Looking at a clock on one of the dressers, Neji realized it was already eleven thirty; and they needed to get to sleep soon if they wanted to leave early.
Unfortunately, being a small room, it only had one bed. They both had noticed when they walked in but failed to bring it up vocally. Before Sakura could voice these problems, Neji had disappeared.
"Neji..?"
"I'm down here Sakura." Neji's voice shot her gaze down to the floor, on the side of the bed.
"What're you doing down there? There is a bed you know."
"Yes, but there's only one. I'd rather you have it." With that Neji turned on his side preparing to sleep. But before he could slumber off, a hand lifted him up by the collar.
"What the..?"
Sakura pulled his body up onto the bed and forced him down on one side.
"I'm not letting you sleep on the ground like a dog. We're both just gonna have to make due with this one bed."
"But Sakura..it's not right for us to share a bed."
"I don't care..I know you used to sleep on the ground in my room but this time you need to sleep, and you need to get the best of it."
Neji was about to protest, but thought better of it. He would take this offer of a comfortable bed but would try to stay as far away from her on it.
She noticed Neji moving his body over to the edge and turning on his side. Sighing, she also laid down on the other side, but facing his back. She let her thoughts roam for a second, and she briefly thought about who this Saito person was. [And what the hell does he want with me anyway?] She would have to think about these things tomorrow, when they start out their mission. But for now she needed sleep.
Dream
She was wandering down dark and forgotten streets. Buildings old and rotting on all sides of her. A faint smell of blood in the air. She looked to her left. Nothing. To her right. Nothing. She was completely alone. She recognized this place to what seems to be the sand village. But it was utterly desolate, and nothing but a ghost town. All of the sudden, she could see faint signs of light in the field over there. No..that wasn't just any light. That was...chakra! She ran as fast as she could towards it. Her mind flooded with thousands of thoughts and questions that would go unanswered. Finally reaching the chakra, she could make out two figures no more than 10 meters from her in the dark haze.
"..Byakugan!"
She raced closer, and made out the figure who had just said those words. It was Neji..but who and why is he fighting. She strained her eyes in the darkness until she made him out. He wasn't too tall, but he had a muscular build and tan skin. Black hair that was cut extremely short, and a monstrous expression on his face. She gasped seeing the killer intent in this mans eyes.
"Neji!" she called. "What's going on!?"
He didn't answer. But in his place, she heard an unnerving laugh. It wasn't coming from Neji though..it was coming from that man.
"Oh my dear Sakura..how nice to see you." he chuckled. "You've come to make things easier on yourself."
"What..who are you? What do you want?"
"I want you Sakura..and I want your advanced blood lineage. And noone will stop me from taking it from you!"
With that, the man made a few seals with his hands. "Ember Inferno!"
A ball of dark fire came from the man's hands and headed directly to Sakura. She couldn't move. Fear rooted her feet to the ground. The ball seemed to move in slow motion as her life seemed to be at the end of it's rope. She was really gonna die here.
After what seemed like hours, she could hear Neji's voice.
"Sakura! No!"
Neji frantically jumped to Sakura and pushed her out of the way. Flying backwards in mid-air Neji and Sakura caught the look on each others faces. Sakura had a tear running down her face and a look of pure horror. While Neji's eyes were considerably widened. They both screamed each others names at the exact same moment before the fire finally reached it's target and engulfed Neji's body. Sakura was pushed back even farther when suddenly the fire exploded Neji's body.
Dream End
She sat straight up in cold sweat. She was gasping for air madly. Sakura looked to her right, and was relieved intensely to see that Neji was sleeping peacefully and was unharmed. She needed a glass of water, so she got up out of bed slowly and walked over to a little kitchen area. Pouring herself a glass of water, she walked back over to the bed. Before she laid back down, she looked at Neji's sleeping body. She stood over him, gazing longily at his beautiful face and gorgeous hair. On impulse, she leaned over him. Sakura brushed a few stray strands of hair away from his face and sighed. Thankfully he was asleep, and she prayed to god that she would'nt wake him. After seeing that he was definitely staying asleep, she bent down over him and placed a sweet kiss on his lips. Before she could stop herself, she was whispering to him.
"Please don't leave me Neji..not like Sasuke. I wouldn't be able to bear it if you left my side." with that she got up and moved back over to her side. Laying down, she finally got back to sleeping.
Neji's eyes opened up. She hadn't known it, but when she first got up, it woke him up. He couldn't believe what just happened. Half of him was angered at her trying to take advantage of his body while he was sleeping. But the other half..the other half was confused. It was a strange mix of longingness and another feeling. He wasn't exactly sure, but it made him want to sing to her. It made him want to stay by her side at all times of every day. It made him want to grow up with her, and be with her. Neji's eyes widened at his new found realization. He..Hyuuga Neji...was..in love?
-
Daylight was pressing through the windows. It roamed over their bed, until it finally fell upon both of the faces. Neji had woken then, but Sakura was still out. He got up and took a nice refreshing shower. It felt good, considering they've been out in the forest for the last 48 hours. He quickly changed and got out of the bathroom to meet a half awake Sakura.
"Good morning, Sakura."
The formal greetings came more and more often, and she had gotten used to them by now.
"Mornin' Neji. Did you sleep ok?"
"Hai."
After Sakura had taken her shower and gotten ready, they both packed their stuff up and left. They decided to go out for breakfast before starting their mission, because both of their stomachs were growling angrily.
"This place looks ok." muttered Sakura.
They walked inside a small restaurant on the corner, and both ordered something to eat. After stuffing themselves, they paid the bill and left.
"Thanks for breakfast Neji."
Neji simply grunted in response. She knew his grunts by now, and knew this was his way to say 'You're welcome.' She smiled at him before turning her head.
"So, what should we do first?"
"We should try the towns people. They might have some knowledge of who this guy is, or where he might be."
While Neji was talking, Sakura's mind drifted some place else. She thought of the dream she had last night, and who that guy was. He had said he wanted her advanced blood line..but she didn't have one. Did she..? Nah.. It was just a dream. It all was just a manifestation of random thoughts collected in my head. She smiled at her own little explanation to the happenings in the dream.
After trying a few people on the street, they got nothing from anyone about a guy named Saito. Though they did get a lead. One young man said that he wasn't sure, but he heard about a really powerful shinobi that hangs around a pub near there. He didn't know the mans name, but he gave them directions to where this pub is at. After thanking the man for his tip, they decided not to go there at once. First, incase it was actually Saito, they should'nt rush into battle. Next, even if it wasn't, they should atleast have a nice battle plan devised. So they decided to keep asking some villagers, finding out all and any information they can get about this guy.
-
"They're getting close..they've even found out where I am. It's smart of them to try and gather more information on me but it's useless, they can never beat me. Noone ever has."
Saito's murder count was now at 415. Though none of them were amazingly strong, they still counted.
"I'll get rid of that boy quick. I doubt he's too strong. Plus I have the home field advantage. I know this place much more than he does. And that girl. She's nothing. She doesn't know how to unlock her blood limit technique yet so I don't have to worry about anything."
-
"Saito..you want to know about Saito?"
"Yes Mister, we're going after him."
"Do you two have a death wish or what? You can never beat him. He's too evil."
"I don't care, he tried to kill me, and I want revenge. Plus we're on a mission anyway."
The man looked around once or twice then said "Follow me"
Neji nodded, and Sakura started after the man. They followed him to his house. They both refused something to drink and took seats in his living room. The old man walked into the room and sat down in a chair infront of them.
"Ok..you two want to know about Saito?"
They nodded eagerly.
"Ok...well first, Saito was born in the cloud country. His parents we're assassinated because they were both very powerful, and everyone feared them. Before anyone knew it, the boy had disappeared. Noone knows what happened, but he reappeared ten years later in the wind country. People say he always had a murderous glint in his eye. They say he was captured by enemy ninja and tortured for all of those ten years, but after he came out, he was intensely strong. He sometimes went on killing sprees for the fun of it, and raped women because he just felt like it. He wouldn't even spare the lives of young ones, younger than yourselves." Neji and Sakura both stared at the man clearly in shock.
"Then one day...he started talking to himself outloud. He said that he found an ancient bloodline, that would bring him surpreme power. Everyone thought he had just gone crazy..but he wouldn't stop talking about it. He claims that this bloodline was lost a long time ago, and that if he had it he would be stronger that all of the Hokages combined. I seriously doubt these claims though."
The word "bloodline" shook something inside of Sakura. She was instantly brought back to the memory of her dream where Neji was killed by that horrifying man. She hoped that it just happened to be a coincidence though, because if it wasn't they were in a world of trouble.
"I wish you kids the best of luck fighting him, because god knows you'll need it."
The two shinobis thanked the man for his wisdom and left his house. Sakura could sense the confliction in Neji, and decided to break the silence for his own good.
"Do you think that man was lying?"
A few moments of silence had gone by before he answered.
"No..he wasn't lying." Sakura nodded, knowing that he probably wasn't.
"I hope we can beat this guy. He sounds pretty strong..and pretty terrifying. I mean killing innocent children? That's just horrible."
"I know...but this man must've had a gruesome past."
-
"Old lady...is Sakura-chan back yet?"
"No Naruto" replied the Hokage. "She won't be back for another week. So you can stop asking me everyday now ok?"
Naruto nodded sadly. He had a bad feeling something was going to happen to them. He just had to rely on Neji to take care of her, because if she came back with just one scratch on her, Naruto was going to kick the living shit out of that Hyuuga.
Tsunade somehow sensed his mental conflict.
"Don't worry Naruto. Sakura will be fine, I promise."
"But Hokage-sama, how do you know?" Whenever he talked to Tsunade properly you know he's being serious.
"Because.."
"Because why?"
"Because I know Neji would never let it happen. He would give his life for her..I know this. I've seen it in the concerned looks he gives her. In the way he acts around her, and I can just sense it in his heart."
Naruto was taken aback. Neji..loves Sakura-chan!? He decided to voice his mental question.
"You mean that..Neji loves her!!?" Naruto looked saddened a bit.
"Yes..he does. I'm sorry Naruto, I know you love her too."
Naruto shrugged off his sadness and grinned at her.
"Whoever Sakura loves is fine with me! Just aslong as that bastard treats her right." With that, Naruto left her office. Tsunade smiled at his statement, though she decided to not mention the fact that Sakura loves Neji.
-
When they got back, Neji immediately put his things down in the corner and turned to leave the hotel room.
"Where are you going?"
"..to train."
"Oh..ok then. Come back soon."
Neji grunted and left the room. Sakura understood his wanting to train, aside the fact that he always needs to keep his body in top physical shape, he has just learned that this guy Saito is pretty strong. He probably doesn't want to take any risks. She sighed and laid down on the bed.
"I wonder what's going on back in Konoha. Naruto is probably constantly wondering where I am..Ino is probably swooning over Shikamaru..and everyone is probably just living their everyday lives."
She looked down at her body, realizing it was a mess from walking. Just walking down the street kicked up massive amounts of dirt, and it was all over her and her clothes. She decided to take another shower. Sakura relished the warm and tingling feeling the water gave her. Thirty minutes later she was out and dressed. Neji hadn't come back [What a surprise..] and she had nothing to do. She wasn't tired, and the room didn't come with a TV. She didn't really want to disturb Neji while he trained..so she was stuck there, utterly bored. What fun..
-
Neji found an area covered by trees. That was the perfect place for him. He quickly walked up to a tree and started giving it a few high kicks. After a while, he started pulling some punch and kick combos. An hour passed..and he started using his byakugan. Using the Jyuuken style came naturally to him. All Hyuugas were familiar with this style, but after all the years, Neji was definitely the master at it. He was the strongest of the Hyuugas, and without a doubt the strongest one they've ever had. The last couple of years, ever since he was defeated by Naruto in his first chuunin exam, Neji has turned over a new leaf so to speak. He still holds grudges against main house members, but its not isolated to only them. He's learned to not be so cold, and to open up and make friends. Also, ever since he was defeated, he decided to become stronger. Stronger than anyone. But unlike Sasuke, it wasn't a burning desire, and he wouldn't do terrible things to get the power. He just trained his butt off. That's the only way he knew how to get power.
A few hours passed by, and Neji was tired. He looked up at the sky, and saw the sun was starting to set. He decided that it was indeed time to head back to the hotel to see Sakura.
It took a few minutes, but Neji walked in the door to his dead hotel room. Sakura was nowhere to be found. There was a pang in his heart and he looked around frantically.
"Sakura!? Where are you Sakura??!"
"Huh? Neji??"
[Phew..She's here]
"It's ok, I'm just taking a bath Neji."
Though they both couldn't see it, when she said that, they both grew a tinge of crimson on their cheeks.
"Oh...ok" Neji replied.
He was beat, so he decided to go lay down on the bed. Every muscle in his back we're killing him. Somehow, Sakura could tell this when she came out of the bathroom.
"Are you ok Neji?"
"Yes, I'm fine. My back is just aching from the training."
"Oh..ok." Sakura looked around for a moment.
"Hey, I got an idea. How about I give you one of my world famous back massages!"
"...What?" Neji was at a loss for words.
"Oh don't worry, just lay still, ...and.uh..take off your shirt." Sakura somehow found the courage to say those last words. Neji did as he was told and flung his shirt to the left.
"Ok now have no fear, this won't hurt at all."
She crept up along his legs, and leaned over his back. Her knees were on both sides of Neji's hips, and she stared at his muscular back. For a few minutes she forgot where she was and realized Neji was now looking at her as she stared at him hungrily.
"Oh um! Sorry!" Sakura blushed madly when he turned his head back around. At first she was hesitant, but then she finally managed to put her hands in his upper back, and started to rub his shoulders.
Neji groaned a bit with pleasure, and she was glad to be making him happy. She started lowering her hands down his back, and started to thoroughly massage his shoulder blades. The muscles on his back were infact very tense, though, and shone in the light. After a little while, Sakura was pleased with herself from the grunts and groans of pleasure coming from Neji. She didn't think she would ever hear a groan coming from Hyuuga Neji's lips.
After she was done, Neji thanked her. He blushed slightly when he did, and he didn't pick up that she noticed the blush spread across his cheeks like wildfire.
"You're welcome Neji...anytime." She smiled to him and was happy at the fact that even though he was still on the other side of the bed, he had turned to face her this time.
It only took a few minutes for them to pass out, and it was a beautiful sight as the full moon bathed its light around them as they slept peacefully.
-
A/N: Another chapter down. Though I'm having a poll. SHOULD I CONTINUE THIS STORY OR NOT? I'm not totally sure if I want to, and if I do drop this story I'll start a new one of course with Neji and Tenten. So tell me. Should I continue this one? or should I start a new one with Neji and TenTen. However many votes I have for one by the end of 72 hours is what I'll do. Welp, til next time.
Nalio