Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and friends (and enemies and anyone else he might encounter, thus adding them to the collective, for all their base are belong to us).

Notes: No doubt you know that there has been a rather large time skip as of Part 5 of "White Dog Night." Hopefully you'll find Neji and Hanabi's side of it just as, if not more interesting (it's certainly long enough). And for those who didn't catch the revision, shinobi hunters actually are part of ANBU. My bad!

WARNING: You need to have read the second chapter of "Building Clan Uzumaki" and the first chapter of "Rise of the Rokudaime" to get one or two plot points concerning Ibiki and Sakura.

Hyuuga Secret Arts

Companion to "White Dog Night"

Part 5: The Art of Renewing Oaths

A Naruto Ficlet by

Nate Grey (XMAN0123-at-aol-dot-com)

Hyuuga Neji had woken up to find an uninvited visitor in his bedroom only so many times in his life. Oddly enough, each time it had been Hanabi, and each time he had never exactly bothered to send her away, as had been his first instinct. It would've been fair to say he'd grown somewhat accustomed to such occurrences, despite the fact that the last time had been before Hanabi joined ANBU almost ten years ago. Deep down, he probably even missed them, and more specifically, her.

Naturally, he assumed that the next occurrence would follow the general pattern Hanabi always had.

It did not.

Neji usually sensed Hanabi's presence, either as she entered the room, or when she'd been near him long enough. Never before had he... smelled her. And, strangely enough, he did not smell her this time.

It was Hinata he smelled, which jerked him awake none too gently, kunai in hand as he swiftly sat up in his bed.

"Good morning, oniisan," said a soft voice to his left. "Did I wake you?"

Neji's eyes widened as he took in the form of the half-dressed woman sitting in front of his mirror, her back facing him. Thankfully, everything he would have considered indecent was covered, either by bandages or the robes of solid back settled around her waist. But he did not lower the kunai until he noticed the white mask lying facedown on the floor next to her.

"Hanabi," he breathed in relief.

She turned her head slightly, their eyes meeting over her shoulder. "Who did you believe me to be?"

Neji didn't answer as his gaze moved from her eyes to the small, green container of herbal balm in her hand. He wondered if she actually realized just who had given it to him as he watched Hanabi smear some of the balm onto a small cut on her arm. It had been years, but he hadn't thought Hanabi could forget a smell like that.

"How long have you been here?" he asked instead.

"Not long. I came directly from my last assignment." She paused to close the container of balm and put it aside. "I am glad to see you have been well."

"I suppose you will be leaving again soon," Neji said slowly.

She nodded. "There is one more mission, before I officially retire."

That got his attention. "You're leaving ANBU?" he asked in surprise.

Hanabi slowly turned to face him. "I requested to be reassigned a year ago. I have been in training ever since."

The notion seemed so absurd to Neji that he almost laughed. "What could you possibly need additional training for, Hanabi?"

"As I said, I have chosen another area of expertise." She picked up the mask with obvious reverence, and Neji's blood ran cold as he got a good look at it.

It was not the mask of a typical ANBU soldier, as he had thought.

It was the mask of a shinobi hunter.

Hanabi noticed the expression on his face, but continued on as if she hadn't. "There were only three outstanding cases to date. I accepted the lowest ranked one, and was surprised to learn that no one else had for some time. Hinata has somehow managed to turn back every hunter-nin that was sent after her. Not one was killed, and very few suffered dog bites. One would think that she had become strong after all."

Neji frowned. "And what do you think?" he asked.

"I will reserve judgment until I am able to test her strength myself."

"You do remember the terms of our agreement, Hanabi?"

"I do, oniisan," she replied with a small nod. "I am not allowed to challenge her without your permission." Hanabi sat on the edge of the bed, plucking the kunai from his fingers. "We leave in two days."

He watched as she carefully began to engrave something in her hunter's mask with the kunai. "Why do I get the impression that you had this planned far in advance?"

"I have dreamed of this moment every night since she left," Hanabi answered quietly. "There has been more than enough time to make preparations, and to change my mind. Both are set in stone."

"Hanabi..." Neji began to say.

"You cannot change my mind," she interrupted at once.

"That's not what I was going to say." He reached out and placed a hand on her bare shoulder. "I have missed you."

"I'm aware."

"That's not quite the answer I was hoping for."

Hanabi sighed. "I did not miss you. I couldn't. You may not have seen me, but I saw you."

"You were watching me?" Neji asked, amusement in his tone.

"Only when I wasn't busy," she insisted. "I had to be sure you were making good use of our time apart. You needed to prepare for this day as well."

"True," he agreed. "But everything between Hinata and I can be settled with words. The same does not apply to your situation."

"You have no desire to test her for yourself?" Hanabi asked.

"I'll leave that to you," Neji responded. "You are by far the better opponent for her. She will be prepared for my techniques, but not for yours. And this is your fight, not mine."

"It will be as you say, oniisan," she murmured, not exactly managing to sound displeased.

Neither of them spoke for several moments, and the only sound in the room was the soft scraping of the kunai against Hanabi's mask.

Neji found himself staring at Hanabi, taking in all the changes since he had last seen her. Probably the most notable one was the solid black ANBU tattoo high on her left arm. Her hair flowed down her back like a silken waterfall, long enough that it pooled around her hips as she leaned forward slightly. For some unknown reason, Neji suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to run his fingers through her hair, to breathe in the scent of it, to lose himself completely in it, to know nothing but the silken embrace of it.

The strange, even frightening urge faded instantly as Hanabi lowered her head slightly, and Neji blinked several times to clear his thoughts. But as he gazed at her again, his eyes fell on the clean, white bandages completely covering her breasts, abdomen, and back. It was certainly not an unusual area in which to be wounded, yet he could not imagine Hanabi ever lowering her guard that much for so long.

"Were you injured?" Neji asked softly.

"No." The scraping came to an abrupt end, and Hanabi carefully placed the kunai beside her on the bed.

"Then why-"

"My... talent," Hanabi said quietly. "It... leaked out again."

He stared at her uncertainly, before finally asking, "Why?"

She turned her head to stare at him. "As near as I can tell, it was… hungry."

"You're not really going to let Hanabi kill her, are you?"

Neji did not look up, nor did he need to. He had sensed the familiar presence of his teammate minutes before she finally appeared in front of him. That he had begun to swing a kunai back and forth between two fingers was a sure sign that her approach had bothered him. It was the only thing even remotely close to a nervous habit he'd ever developed, and as he matured, he found he only did so when something was eating away at him.

"Don't you dare ignore me, Neji!" Tenten snapped, snatching the kunai away from him. That she was probably one of only two people in Konoha that could do so with such ease was not lost on him.

"I would never," Neji replied, finally raising his gaze to hers. "I was thinking of how to best answer your question."

"As if you ever needed that long to answer any question." Tenten crossed her arms over her chest, clearly still angry with him. "Well?" she asked after a few seconds had passed. "Are you?"

"I cannot even begin to imagine why this would concern you at all."

"Don't you give me that, Neji. You know why it does." When he continued to stare at her expectantly, she growled at him. "Fine! You know, the only reason I ever hated Hinata is because you hated her! And the real reason you hated her is because of what she represented! Well, guess what? She doesn't represent any of that anymore! She's not the heir, she isn't weak, and she no longer has the innocence you envied! Hell, she's not even a Hyuuga anymore! Why would you want her dead now?"

Neji sighed patiently. "I don't recall ever stating that I wanted her to die, Tenten."

"Everyone knows that Hanabi is a hunter-nin now. What other reason could she possibly have except for wanting to kill Hinata?"

"Hanabi has expressed great interest in tracking down Hinata. I have agreed to help her. Beyond that, we haven't really discussed what we would do once she was found."

"I don't see how you can be so calm about this!" Tenten suddenly kicked him in the shin, but only hard enough to get his full attention. "This is partially your fault, anyway!"

"Explain," Neji challenged at once.

"There's a million reasons why Hinata might have left, but I can guess one of them. She did it for you, Neji. Don't tell me you can't see that?"

"I don't," he insisted.

"Liar!" Tenten cried. "You know she cared for you! She left because she didn't want you to forever blame her for the sins of her father! She left because she couldn't stand the way you looked at her! She left because she thought it was the only way to free you from your responsibility! More than that, she left because she loved you like a brother, you insensitive jerk!"

Neji shook his head. "She should have considered what that would mean to her own sister, then. In leaving, she ensured that Hanabi would become the heir by default. It was the greatest insult that Hanabi ever experienced: to be chosen simply because she was the only choice left. In Hanabi's eyes, it is an unforgivable offense."

"But why are you going along with her on this?" Tenten demanded.

"I swore to Hanabi that we would find Hinata together. I will not go back on my word, Tenten."

"No one's asking you to, Neji," Tenten sighed. "Just don't stand there and let Hanabi kill her. It wouldn't be right. Hinata ran away from these things so she wouldn't have to deal with them again. It's not fair to drag her back into it just to die."

"If Hanabi wishes for her sister's death, it is not my place to interfere."

Tenten stared at him in disbelief. "Neji, you're the only one who could! Hanabi won't listen to anyone else!"

"I know that. But I cannot deny Hanabi something she may need."

"You've changed," Tenten whispered. "I thought Hanabi was the one, but it's really you. The Neji I know wouldn't just go along with this." She swallowed noisily, shaking her head. "Do what you have to. But I want you to remember something when you do find Hinata."

Neji tensed up as Tenten seized his face, and when he opened his mouth to protest, she crushed her lips against his in a rough, passionate kiss. It seemed like years since she had last done this, and yet she still possessed the elusive, magical sensation that never failed to leave him helpless. When she was done, Tenten stroked his cheek tenderly.

"The man I love would bring Hinata back alive," she whispered, staring into his eyes. "I guess we'll find out soon enough if you're still that man, Neji." With that, she left him alone with his thoughts.

Word of Hanabi's career change apparently had spread overnight, because Neji received more than a few glares as he walked through the village that day. He couldn't help but marvel at the irony, though. No one had thought it odd that the Hyuuga main house had left Hinata's fate up to the Council of Elders. No one had complained when other shinobi hunters were sent after her. And now they had the audacity to turn on Hanabi, who had suffered the most from Hinata's abandonment, and was the only one left willing to correct the situation?

Neji had to remind himself several times that public opinion really didn't matter. Hanabi hadn't concerned herself with what people would say, and neither should he. They were doing this partially for the good of the clan, and no doubt would have the firm backing of the Hyuuga elders. It was vital that Hanabi took care of any unresolved issues before she actively assumed her role as clan head.

Even now, she was meeting with the elders, formally accepting their support of the venture. Neji would have gladly accompanied her, but this was something she needed to do alone. Hanabi needed to show that she could stand alone when it was necessary. When she required his aid, he had no doubt that she would request it. Despite her pride, she knew he would always be there, and Hanabi had never been one to leave a useful tool unused.

"We have complete faith in your ability to handle this matter."

"You perform a great service for your clan in erasing this error."

"Now is the time to step forward, where others fell behind."

Hanabi heard the elders speaking, but she was not listening. All of her senses were trained firmly on her father. He was the only one in the dimly lit room who mattered to her.

His face was still strong, even regal, his hair a distinguished shade of gray. She could see the pride shining through his eyes whenever their gazes locked.

He had never looked at Hinata that way, but that realization was nowhere near as pleasing as Hanabi had once thought it would be. His approval, above all others, made her feel cold and empty, and though that was nothing new for her, it was suddenly sickening.

Finally, she had heard enough.

"Leave us. I must speak with my father."

The elders disregarded her lack of respect this time. They understood (or thought they did) that she hadn't spoken to her father in years, and that there were things that needed to be discussed before she left. Things solely for the ears of a father and his daughter. So they filed out of the room, closing the door behind them.

Though she had been the one to demand this, Hanabi merely stared at him, waiting for him to speak.

"I know you will do what must be done, Hanabi. It is both your duty, and your right."

"Shall I bring back the head?"

Hiashi did not hesitate in the least, nor did his eyes stray an inch from hers. "Your word is proof enough for me. But the elders would be happier with proof they can see."

Hanabi closed her eyes. "There is something I must share with you."

He waited for her to speak, but it was some time before she actually did. Instead, she removed the Leaf headband from her neck, and then began to methodically tie it around her forehead. There was something in the process that Hiashi found disturbingly familiar, but the memory was just beyond his reach in that moment.

Much later, he would realize that she hadn't bothered, or needed, to adjust her hair in any way to accomplish that simple task.

"Whatever her fate… whatever she would see in her last moments… they were mine to decide. They were always mine… my responsibility, and my choice. Anything that happened to her was to happen at my whim, and at my discretion." Her eyes hardened. "Not yours."

"You do not understand my position," Hiashi replied stiffly.

"You do not understand your duties," Hanabi corrected at once. "You gave up your right to decide Hinata's fate the instant you handed it to those outside of this clan. This has always been a matter for the Hyuuga. It was you who proclaimed her weak. It should have been you that settled this account. Instead, you left me with yet another burden. But one of them, I will lighten now."

Without warning, her hands raised, and Hiashi prepared himself for an attack.

But Hanabi only removed the headband, replacing it around her neck as she rose to leave.

"We will not see each other again," she murmured at the door, just before she shut it behind her.

Hiashi could only stare after her, even as a numbing sensation traveled up his spine and throughout his body. It was not quite pain, but it didn't need to be.

He would be dead within the week.

For some reason, Neji had assumed that Hanabi would want to leave the village after dark, when there would be less people to see them, and possibly try to stop them. But Hanabi had dismissed that idea immediately.

"Let them see us. Anyone foolish enough to stand in our path will be moved, one way or another."

Neji didn't dare argue with her. There was no doubt in his mind that Hanabi would readily attack anyone that kept her from reaching Hinata now. Certainly there were some people he desperately wished she wouldn't need to attack, but hopefully they would all be smart enough to stay out of the way.

Somehow, it didn't surprise him at all when they found a lone figure blocking the gates of the Hyuuga compound. What did surprise him was the person's identity.

Hanabi did not seem at all bothered, however, and Neji would soon realize why.

"Have you come to stop me, Ibiki-sensei?" she asked quietly.

Morino Ibiki smiled faintly, though on him it seemed more like a pained grimace. "No, Hyuuga. Call it a debriefing, if you want." He handed her a large manila envelope. "This came across my desk last night. Thought you might be interested."

Hanabi quickly scanned the contents of the envelope, which seemed to be a series of photos. Her eyes narrowed as she reached the last one.

Neji wanted to look, of course, but didn't. He assumed that this was ANBU business, although why one of them hadn't asked him to give them a few minutes alone was beyond him.

"Oniisan," Hanabi said abruptly, handing him one of the photos. "I am starting to think that this 'Uzumaki Curse' you spoke of may actually be real. This time, however, it has made our task somewhat simpler."

Neji slowly lowered his gaze to the photo, and only barely managed the willpower to keep himself from ripping it in half. The huge white dog sleeping in the shade of a tree was quite obviously Akamaru, the Leaf headband around his neck confirmed that much. But sitting next to the dog, stroking his side, was the last person Neji had expected to see, although it certainly explained the desert-like surroundings.

"Temari," Neji whispered angrily, gripping the photo even tighter. The only thing that stopped him from destroying it was Hanabi's hand gently closing around his wrist.

"You shouldn't run into any problems on your way out," Ibiki said. His eyes locked on Hanabi. "I know this is deeply personal for both of you, and that's fine. But don't let your feelings distort your abilities or your judgment. Remember that whatever you do, you live with for the rest of your lives."

Hanabi bowed politely. "Thank you, Ibiki-sensei. We will remember."

The older man shook his head slightly. "Somehow I doubt that, but a reminder never hurt anyone. You two look after each other, and settle your business quietly. And if you can avoid getting us dragged into another war with Suna, that would be a big help, too."

"You didn't mention that he was the one who trained you," Neji said as Ibiki walked away.

"It was not my place," Hanabi replied. "I assumed that if he wanted you to know, you would be told. Would it have made a difference?"

"Not really," he admitted. "Although... I wouldn't have worried quite as much."

"Oniisan..."

There was something in her voice that made Neji pause. She looked as if she desperately wanted to tell him something, but stopped herself for whatever reason. He decided to make it easier on her by changing the subject.

"We should go. It's a long journey to Suna, and-"

"Actually... there is one more task I must see to first," Hanabi interrupted. As an afterthought, she added, "You may wait for me here, if you wish."

"Why would I want to do that?" Neji asked.

"Because I am going to the home of Uzumaki Naruto," she answered.

Though Hanabi refused to explain why she wanted to speak to Naruto, Neji insisted on going with her. It wasn't as if Hanabi couldn't take care of herself, or that he didn't trust Naruto. The problem was that Neji trusted Naruto to treat Hanabi the same way he treated everyone else: with a marked lack of the proper respect due to someone of her status. It certainly didn't help matters that Naruto still blamed them at least partially for Hinata's leaving, while Neji just outright disliked Naruto. Hanabi had probably formed a similar opinion, her first memory of Naruto being his unconventional (not to mention scandalous) methods at the chuunin exam.

Neji simply had to accept that Hanabi had a valid reason for wanting to speak to Naruto now. Whatever the reason, it would have to be important enough to keep Naruto from slamming the door in their faces as soon as he saw them.

Fortunately, it wasn't even Naruto that answered the door at his home. And if Hanabi was at all surprised to find Haruno Sakura answering Naruto's door, she hid it much better than the pink-haired woman, who gaped at them for a few seconds before remembering her manners.

"I... can I help you with something?" Sakura asked uncertainly, as if she thought they might have come to the wrong apartment by accident.

"We need to speak to Naruto-san immediately," Hanabi replied.

Sakura opened her mouth, probably to ask if it was urgent, then caught the look on Neji's face and answered her own question. She turned around and shouted into apartment. "Naruto! You have some guests!"

"Can't they wait?" Naruto yelled back.

"No!" Sakura insisted, throwing a nervous glance over her shoulder at Neji. "They really, really can't! Just drop what you're doing and get out here right now!"

"Fine!"

A few seconds later, Naruto stomped into view, wearing only a scowl and an oversized orange towel tied around his waist. The instant he saw Neji, the blond came to an abrupt halt, then raced to the door, practically shoving Sakura out of his way.

"What the hell are you two-"

"You must realize that we would never visit you without an excellent reason, Naruto-san," Hanabi said calmly.

Naruto seemed to consider this, his gaze shifting back and forth between Neji and Hanabi rapidly. Finally, he backed up a step and crossed his arms over his chest. Unfortunately, this motion, in addition to the running he'd just done, caused his towel to loosen a bit too much.

Neji saw the towel begin to fall, and while his first instinct was to stop it from doing so, his arm suddenly snapping out towards Naruto would only be seen as an attack. So he did the next best thing and made an attempt to shield Hanabi from the sight by pushing her behind him. But Hanabi merely batted his arm away, and when he shot her a questioning look, he followed her gaze (rather reluctantly) back to Naruto's waist, only to find a hand had grabbed the towel before it could reveal anything.

And then he noticed the hand was a bit too small to be Naruto's.

For a terrifying moment, he actually thought Hanabi had hold of the towel. But the fact that Sakura's face was now crimson told him otherwise.

Amazingly, Naruto hadn't seemed to notice any of this.

"Do you have something to say to me or not?" he demanded, glaring at them expectantly.

"How important to you is the well-being of your adopted sister?" Hanabi asked.

Naruto blinked slowly, and Neji could see at once that he would take that the wrong way. Unless, of course, Hanabi had become more ruthless than he knew.

"Did... did you just threaten Temari?" Naruto asked in mild disbelief, a dangerous, protective edge to his voice.

"If you have some way of contacting her," Hanabi continued, ignoring his question, "I would strongly suggest that you warn her to stay out of affairs that are strictly Hyuuga Clan business. Otherwise, I could not guarantee her safety."

"What-" Naruto trailed off, his eyes widening in shock.

"This is not a threat, Naruto-san," Hanabi said softly. "Merely a warning. I felt I owed you both that much."

"Thank you," Sakura offered in a shaky voice. "Both of you."

Neji blinked at that; this hadn't been his idea. But he didn't feel the need to tell Sakura that, and neither did Hanabi, as she simply walked away without another word. He caught up with her quickly, trying to collect his thoughts. When they were far enough away, he could only ask, "Why warn him? What could you possibly owe Temari or Naruto?"

"Have you forgotten already, oniisan?" Hanabi murmured. "You are a jounin because of her. And before you disagree, surely you realize that passing such an exam is not always a matter of ability?"

That was true enough in his mind. By all rights, Neji should have passed the chuunin exam the first time he took it. No one but Naruto would have used such an underhanded technique, and if he hadn't, Neji was confident the outcome would have been different. He didn't really blame Naruto for using the methods available to him to defeat a clearly stronger opponent; Neji was far more upset with himself for falling for it.

"As for Naruto-san, I suspect this may not be the first time he has helped Hinata, intentionally or otherwise."

"You have proof of this?" Neji asked.

Hanabi shook her head. "Not so much. But any of Naruto-san's friends would help Hinata if he asked them to. Temari is just the first that we know of for certain. Based on his reaction, though, he had no idea that she was aiding Hinata."

Neji frowned thoughtfully. "Doesn't seem like the type of thing she'd need to keep from him."

"No. But you know how Naruto-san is. If he had any idea where Hinata was, he would probably go after her."

It took a moment for that to sink in. "But you just as good as told him that she's with Temari!" Neji protested.

"It doesn't make any difference," Hanabi answered calmly. "Either we will secure Hinata first, or Naruto-san will lead us straight to her. The only thing he can really do at this point is inadvertently help us."

True to Ibiki's word, the streets were empty as Neji and Hanabi approached. Neji, for one, was not surprised. Ibiki had always been the enforcer of the Triad, and it was his scarred face that people associated most with the punishment of Konoha's lawbreakers. Had Hinata ever returned on her own, and survived the attempt, it was him she would've been forced to deal with.

There were, however, some people brave and/or foolish enough to ignore even Ibiki's rulings, and two of them were waiting in plain view, just a few yards short of the gate.

Hanabi came to a stop as her teammates approached. "Kouji-kun, Konohamaru... why are you here?"

Konohamaru smiled at her. "We wanted to see you off, since we knew you wouldn't let us come with you. And we wanted to give you a parting gift. It's not much, but..."

She blinked as he held out a black sash of silk. In the center of it was a large Konoha leaf of the same milky lavender that made up Hanabi's eyes. Slowly, she raised her eyes to her friends, only now noticing that they wore similar black sashes: Kouji's leaf was a bright yellow, while Konohamaru's was his favorite color of bright blue.

"Since we can't be together, and haven't been in a long time," Konohamaru added softly, "we were hoping you would agree to wear it, so you'll remember us."

"For luck," Kouji chimed in.

Without a word, Hanabi reached out and took the sash, slipping it over her head so that it stretched from her shoulder to her waist. She ran her hand lightly over the leaf before looking up at them. "You do realize that this is completely unnecessary? I could never forget either of you."

"Then thank you for humoring us, Hanabi-chan," Konohamaru replied, grinning. He glanced at Kouji, and they immediately threw themselves to the ground, bowing repeatedly and chanting her name.

Hanabi scowled and swatted them both on their heads. "You are still children, even now."

"It wasn't like we could play a joke on you while you were working," Konohamaru pointed out, wincing a bit as he carefully poked the tender spot on his head.

For a moment, it looked as if Hanabi would hit him again, but that was when Kouji stepped forward and gently hugged her. "Come home soon, Hanabi-san," he murmured before letting go.

She still hadn't recovered from that surprise when Konohamaru seized her by the waist and briefly brushed his lips against the corner of Hanabi's mouth. "Don't die," he said simply, giving her a meaningful look as he moved aside to let her pass.

Neji was taking in the odd expression on Hanabi's face, and so he nearly missed the arrival of what he first assumed was another well-wisher. But then he sensed the familiar chakra, and turned to find Aburame Shino standing between them and the gate.

Neji's uneasiness had little to do with the fact that Shino was Hinata's only surviving teammate. There was a rumor that Shino had become tremendously powerful to make up for being the last member of Team 8, but having witnessed the insect user in action during the jounin exams a few years ago, Neji could safely say that it was no rumor. Shino had not only passed, he had thoroughly defeated everyone in his way. Neji had been glad that he'd passed his own exam a few years before, because if it had come down to he and Shino competing against each other, he wasn't positive that becoming a jounin was worth dying of poison the very next day.

"I thought I might find you here, Neji," Shino stated calmly. "I have something for you."

At the moment, Neji wasn't too worried about Shino attacking him. Even if Shino were stronger, there was no way he could defeat Hanabi at the same time. True, she was a chuunin, but Neji knew that was only because she'd just missed entering the last jounin exam by a few months.

"It's a confession, actually," Shino added. "I was the last one to see Hinata on the night she left. I knew what she was doing, and I could've stopped her, if I'd really wanted to. But I allowed her to go, because I trusted that she would survive, one way or another, and become something more."

Neji stared hard at Shino's face, but already knew that he'd told the truth. "Why tell us this now?"

"So that you understand I am interested in repaying a debt, when I request that you allow me to accompany you."

That was the last thing that Neji had been expecting, so it took him a few seconds to answer. "That makes no sense at all."

"By allowing Hinata to leave, I wronged your clan. This is the only way I can, and will, repay that grievance. If you refuse to accept my help, then I will not stop you, nor will I offer my aid again in the future." Shino glanced at Hanabi. "The choice is yours."

"How would you help us?" Hanabi asked. "I am more than capable of tracking Hinata."

"True," Shino agreed, "but I am more than capable of tracking anything, and everything."

Hanabi frowned slightly before turning to Neji. "I leave the decision in your hands, oniisan."

That put Neji in an awkward position. Shino was one of, if not the best tracker in Konoha. Assuming Hinata tried to run, they could end up regretting not bringing him along. Aside from that, Shino's presence might assure that Hinata didn't run. And if Neji had interpreted Shino's words correctly, he didn't want any bad blood with the Aburame Clan down the road.

"We will accept your offer, Shino," Neji answered. "But you must first agree that Hinata's fate is Hanabi's to decide."

Shino simply nodded. "I will look favorably on this day, should your clan request my aid again, Hanabi-san."

Hanabi nodded as well. "I am certain our pact will be mutually beneficial, Shino-san."

Neji couldn't help wondering how this would go over with the Hyuuga elders. For all their honor and power, the Aburame Clan… well, to put it simply, gave just about everyone the creeps on some level. Still, Shino would be an important ally once he and Hanabi were clan heads, and Neji would rather work with the bug users than against them.

For one thing, he wasn't sure that he could beat the new and improved Shino without being mortally wounded in the process.

What Neji did know for certain was that between the three of them, they would find Hinata soon enough.

End of Part 5.

Endnotes:

The details of Hanabi's ANBU career weren't something I wanted to get too descriptive with. As with most aspects of her life, they're meant to be shrouded in mystery. But I did feel a few things were necessary: her mentor (which tells you what division she was in for a time, and provides her with yet another influential connection), her new area, and the fact that her "talent" got out of hand at least once.

By now you're probably figuring out that the surviving members of Team 8 have undergone some rather significant changes (although I would like to think that Shino would've become a jounin regardless). And for the purposes of this story, you can assume that Shino is the Aburame heir. I understand the clans have their secrets, but that's no reason there can't be more allied clans.