Disclaimer: Amazingly enough, I still don't own Naruto

Author's Note: I've inserted some original characters into the story so if you were curious as to who they were, you won't be able to find them in either the manga or anime. I had a bit of writer's block getting this chapter out, but I'm very excited by it. Please R&R! If you find anything you think is out of order or needs to be changed, let me know :).

Just because you grow up, doesn't mean that you grow out of nightmares. Even as a twenty year old man now, Hyuuga Neji could attest to that. Not even his position of Branch Family leader saved him from the restless dreams that he'd have from time to time. They were always the same, and always real enough to believe in. A showcase of his failures, played back only for him.

Yes, even jounins could be haunted.

But that was almost natural. No ninja would ever remember the time they saved their village. No ninja would ever reminisce about the time they shined in a high class mission. Ninjas, as a practice, never thought of themselves as heroes. And yet, no ninja would ever be capable of forgetting the time when they weren't as strong as they needed to be, when they failed their mission and their teammates, when they almost died.

With each and every step that Neji took out of the Hyuuga Estate, he hardened himself. Tenten followed and watched, as usual, as Neji's demeanor steeled itself to shut off any emotion or weakness. It was like watching a man become a machine, and it was the reason that she came over each day to wake him up. Not because she was in awe of his transformation into an impenetrable fortress, though that was impressive, but because it allowed her to see him before he'd turn his heart stone cold. Tenten came over daily to watch the man that was Neji.

Neither of them spoke a word as they made their way through the streets of Konoha. Tenten learned long ago that she'd just have to live with the awkward silence if she was going to accompany him early in the morning. She knew it wasn't that Neji didn't have anything to talk about, it was just his way. Many people saw him as a cold, calculating beast of a ninja, but Tenten knew the truth: Neji wasn't a mean or distant person, he simply wasn't skilled at being happy.

Tenten understood him perhaps better than anyone. Even without the Byakugan, she could observe and know what he was thinking; a side-benefit of working with him closely over the years. It was a small thing that she had a silent pride in; something that would bring a crack of a smile to her face, and the one thing that Neji himself couldn't "see".

As they walked through the village Neji was deep in thought. Instead of mentally preparing himself for his next mission, he was stuck on his last dream. Something he remembered seeing didn't add up. Sure, he had fought the sound-nin, and Uchiha Sasuke. He'd gone through that scene with his father. Those were all real; those had happened. But the stranger with the black eyes...

"So we finally meet..."

The voice rang in his ears and echoed like the peals of a large bell in a cave. The words repeated and tumbled over themselves like a chorus of a song. It was beginning to be all he could hear. Who was he? Neji had never seen a man like him before. His eyes shined like obsidian shards; his eyes that were as dark as a demon's heart. From what Neji remembered of his dream, the man's actions were calm, and collected. There wasn't rage or anger in the man's attack, just disinterest. If anything, he thought, the only thing that interested the nightmare man was seeing Neji; it was as if he was actually surprised to see Neji in his own dream.

The few miles walk seemed to be a marathon for the thought-filled Neji.

The Hokage sat in her usual seat at the table. On her left and right were village workers sitting behind mounds of scrolls. The office where missions were passed out was a fairly plain room, the only thing really of note in the room where the dozens of mission scrolls that were passed out each day. Missions that ranged from grocery shopping that the rookie genins did, to high class assasinations that jounins completed were all handed to the appropriate skill leveled ninja as daily routines. Sometimes missions that required the Hokage's presence would come down the pipeline, and on those days Tsunade would have her seat filled by high ranking village counsel members. The days Tsunade was not behind the desk, everyone would know that something huge was happening.

"There have been reports of battles just over the border into Waterfall Country. Our intelligence points to a band of Waterfall ninja going rogue. We have received a request to help dispatch the new missing-nin. Normally this wouldn't sound like a job for a group of our special jounin, but since we don't know the size or the strength of the enemy, and since we share a border with Waterfall Country, if the enemy's are strong the fighting could spill into Fire country. Your mission is to go scout out the enemy, if they are small in numbers, take them out. If there are too many, send one of your members back and we will send out extra squads. The rest of you are to strengthen our border while waiting for back up."

Tsunade turned slightly and spoke directly towards Neji, "You and Tenten will pick two chuunin to fill out the rest of your group and head out tonight. Dismissed."

Neji, blank faced, turned away towards the door after being handed the B rank scroll. Tenten noticed his "business as usual" gaze and followed casually after him. As they stepped outside, Neji began giving out the basic orders. "Gather that female medical ninja that trained under you, the one with the needles."

"Hanawa Akiko," Tenten inserted.

"Yes, her. And also the boy from the Morikage family. We could use his genjistu and special techniques. We'll all meet at the north village gate at dusk." Neji was familiar with being a squad leader and so continued putting out orders in a calm voice. "Bring everything you'll need for a week."

"And Tenten, the answer is 'no'," Neji added as he started to walk away.

Tenten realized she'd just been read; while waiting for a break in Neji's vocal leadership she had been waiting to ask a question, and Neji, seeing it, responded preemptively. In mock frustration she played back at him, "You don't know what I was going to ask."

"Yes, I do." Neji shot.

"Maybe I was going to ask something completely different then what you thought, are you sure you want to be saying 'no' right away? What if I was going to ask you for a really important favor?"

Neji finally turned to face her. He was several paces away and the expression on his face showed Tenten that he felt like he almost got away. She flashed a smile of victory at being able to insert the idea into his head that he could have been wrong. "Fine. What did you want to ask?" groaned Neji.

Making Neji second guess himself wasn't just a game to her, it was her way of breaking down the "perfect defense" he had around his personality. Not only did she enjoy it, but she was good at it. "Want to go get something to eat before the mission?"

Neji stared blankly at her as his suspicions were found true; to him it was just another meaningless request, just like all the other times. He paused, not to consider it, but to exhale a soundless sigh before responding, "No." Slowly, he turned and continued down the road he was originally heading.

"Are you sure? I won't make you pay this time!" Tenten's smile wouldn't leave her face as she yelled.

"I'm sure." Neji yelled in response over his shoulder. "I'll see you tonight."

By his tone and the direction he was heading, Tenten was sure that he was going to train alone. Usually Neji would allow her to come along and help with his workout, but there were other times, she knew, that Neji wanted to be by himself. Solo training is when the Hyuuga did a lot of his heavy thinking. Something was going on his head; Tenten knew it, and backed off.. "Okay, tonight then. Later."