Chapter 8:

Operation: Desert Secret

Neji and Shizune had taken the blond back, laying him on his bed to rest. Naruto was crying and for what reason neither of them knew, but for now all they could do was wait till tomorrow morning. Neji had come to the conclusion, while sitting at the bedroom window, that there were six ANBU stationed around the particular area of the house that they were staying in. He didn't know why and he was frustrated at being watched. Shizune was watching Naruto sleep, while Neji watched the sun set.

"Shizune..." Neji said.

"Yes?" She said, looking at him.

"Did... Tsunade say anything to you? About what he said?" Neji kept his eyes on one of the ANBU on the nearby roof as he spoke.

What the hell? What was that guy doing? EW! He was taking a piss on the roof!! Neji growled.

"Hey! Get off my roof you disgusting peasant!"

Shizune sweatdropped, " Um Neji...Who are you talking to?"

"That... that idiot pissed on my roof!" He said, a vein popping from his forehead.

"Oh... Anyway... no she didn't say anything to me other than there is to be a meeting early tomorrow morning."

Neji sighed and left the room. He needed to do something. Laundry... That would work. The brunette walk to the hot spring to grab the dirty clothes from there. Picking up the basket the Hyuuga took it to the laundry room to start a load. Neji pulled Naruto's pants out and began to check his pockets to make sure he didn't wash anything important. When his finger touched something crumpled up, he pulled it out. Neji quirked a brow and uncrumpled the paper and read it.

'Neji,

Do not touch what is not your's or I will kill you. Naruto is mine and will always be mine. If I find out that you are still trying to claim him your life will end by my hand. And as you always say. It's fate right? This is your first and only warning, Hyuuga. Do not touch what is mine.

-Sasuke'

"Sasuke..." Neji growled.

So that was what Naruto was all worked up about. Sasuke had come back and tried to or even successfully claimed him. With that he took the paper and went back to tell Shizune he'd be back. He was beyond mad, but thinking logically he needed to tell Tsunade about this. Neji stompped through the manor toward the blondes room and growled lowly.

"Shizune" He said a bit harshly.

"Uh yea?"

"Watch him... I'll be back soon."

"uh! Where are you going?" She called as he turned and left with a hurry.

Neji made his way to the base of the Hokage tower and knowing their Hokage she'd still be there at this time of night. Marching right up the steps the livid Hyuuga seemed to announce his arrival to the Hokage. His chakra was flaring with rage as he pushed the Hokage's office door open.

"Neji?" Tsunade said looking at him quizically.

"Here!" He snapped tossing the crumpled paper at her.

The blond women caught it and let her eyes scan the page. Her eyes grew a bit and she looked up at Neji.

"Where did you get this?"

"In Naruto's belongings..." he said as he took a seat to settle himself.

"Then that confirms it... he was here..." Tsunade sighed and looked at Neji.

"It seems though that now you're involved too," She sighed, " I guess I can't keep it from you..."

"Hm?"

"Earlier when Naruto was here, I inspected his neck only to find a bite mark with Sasuke's Chakra signature attatched to it. According to Naruto there was in fact a battle between the two and Sasuke had almsot killed him. Though why he didn't is still a mystery. I fear that Sasuke may come back and try to kill him and now he's going to try and kill you for helping him, if I'm correct. It took me a while of thinking but I think I've finally decided on what to do"

"What are you going to do then, Hokage-sama?" Neji questioned regaining his cool.

"I'll have to inform him but you'll be heading out of here. ANBU escorts undercover. You'll be going there undercover as well. It's only temprary atleast until you get safely to Suna."

"Suna?" Neji questioned.

"That is if Gaara will take you both in. The way I see it is, if I explain he will accept," Tsunade folded her hands in thought.

"Neji... You and Naruto come here with Shizune tomorrow morning as early as you can get him awake. No doubt Naruto is having his issue with dealing with his thoughts. Make sure you come rested and packed for a long trip. I'll be sure to inform you're family of your departure. I won't give specifics though. There is however... another matter for why I am sending Naruto to Suna." She said.

"Oh?" Neji quirked a brow in intrest.

"The Akatsuki..."

"Hm? The what?"

"The Akatsuki are people who are out to get Naruto to kill him in a sense. The best thing to do is send him somewhere safe for the time being."

"So.. you've been planning this for a while and now that Sasuke is involved you have even more of a reason to push this move faster?"

"Yes, exactly. I'm going to have Kakashi, Shikamaru, Gai, and Rock Lee go with you and the escorts... We'll need all the help we can get to get you there safely and keep you safe. Once a week we'll replace the four body gaurds with four more and cycle through so that they may be able to come back here and not have to be out for so long. Though during the replacement transition, Gaara will have to have his own men gaurd you two."

Tsunade paused and waited for a reaction.

"Do as you must, though for now I must return home and take my watch over Naruto so Shizune can rest."

Tsunade nodded, " Remember... early tomorrow morning here."

Neji nodded and left for home. On his way home he was well aware of the ANBU watching his movements. He was also someone who needed top protect according to the Hokage. But now he understood. He understood why he was to be watched. Even if the Hokage was to decline him going he would argue to go with. He wanted to protect Naruto, he wanted to keep him safe. Naruto didn't belong to anyone not even himself and he was well aware of that fact. But that didn't stop him from wanting to watch the blond and protect him. Neji grumbled and took off his shoes off before entering the house. Shizune greeted him with a sigh and a deep frown.

"Gets so sleep Shizune... You're going to need it." Shizune nodded as Neji took her place beside Naruto's bed.

Naruto looked at Sasuke and gave a menacing growl. Sasuke could only smirk, his hands on his hips.

"You're still the same dobe... and one day you'll die..."

"Sasuke... you bastard! Why did you leave? Why did you have to betray our village? You dishonor your own family! You're no Uchiha, your a punk and a coward!"

"What was that!?"

"You're pathetic... You... are... weak..." Naruto ground out.

"Die Uzamaki!"

Sasuke charged at the blond, kunai in hand.

Naruto screamed and cried. What was he dreaming that was making him act this way.

"Naruto! Wake up!"

"How could you... do this.." Naruto cried out.

"Naruto!" With that said Neji whacked Naruto causing a startled, crying blond to wake up and cling to him.

"Don't let him kill me please Neji please I don't want to die"

Neji stared down at him in pity before holding him close and running a hand through his hair.

"Don't worry... as long as I'm around no one will kill you..." Neji with those words said the blond relaxed in his arms.

"Is everything okay? I heard you both screaming!" Shizune bursted in.

"It's fine..." Neji said laying the blond down, " He had a bad dream..."

Naruto laid there looking up at Neji. He was confused about Sasuke's actions but either way he didn't want to die. He didn't want anyone he loved to die and that included Neji. Naruto sighed and closed his eyes.

"Rest, Naruto..." Neji said softly, holding his hand.

Tsunade sighed and leaned back in her chair. This was one hell of a night. She'd be here all night just writing out a perposal for Gaara.

'Kazekage,

It has come to my attention that one of our own is in danger. It has become impossible to keep said person safe here in the Leaf Village. It would seem that I am in need of your assistance. What I would require is housing and protection of two people. It is two only due to a resent discovery. There is a threat against these two by someone who, without being detected, got into the village and threatened the two to an extent to scare them first. Kazekage, I ask you to help me. From one leader to another.

The names of the dependants in the matter are Hyuuga Neji and Uzamaki Naruto. Putting personal feelings aside would be best in this matter. Naruto had more than one bounty on his head and I worry about him due to the fact that it is the Akatsuki after the boy. Neji and Naruto are involved in the second situation. If it pleases you, I'm sending my shinobi along, a few well selected shinobi, as body gaurds. Though during the switching out period I reguire full protection of the pair. Kazekage-sama I implore you, please acept them as your wards.

5th Hokage; Tsunade'

Tsunade sighed and handed the note off with a messanger. She folded her hands and rested her chin on them. This was taking a toll on her stress level and her energy level. Her patients were running thin. Laying her head onto the desk, she sighed and closed her eyes. As the Hokage she thought she would be able to keep a better eye upon the nine-tailed fox, upon Naruto. She had, after all, taken this as her duty as well as her responsibility. He ... He was after all the Leaf Villages future in Tsunade's eyes. The Hokage rested her eyes and body in this uncomfortable position.

When morning broke. Neji was without sleep and Naruto was so deep in it he could barely be woken. Neji carried the groggy blond through the quiet and dead streets. Shizune looked back at the two being lead with three ANBU on either side of them. She sighed as her eyes landed on the sleepy form of Naruto in Neji's arms. Sunkissed strands hiding his face from view and soft eye lids keeping blue oceans from sight. He was an attractive kid and she could see the way that Neji looked at the teen. With kindness. Something that she had heard that not most of the village had shown to him ever since that night. He was not viewed as the hero the 4th had intended him to be. Instead she had heard of the way they treated him all because he was a vessel.

Neji looked up, feeling Shizune's gaze in their direction. He stared at her and she smiled haphazardly and continued walking. Shizune walked up the steps to the Hokage's office and glanced back making sure that they followed her. Pushing open the door, Shizune stepped to the side allowing Neji walk in with Naruto in his arms. The brunette set the younger down in a chair and coaxed him to wake up. Naruto yawned and blinked. The Hyuuga smiled and apologized to Lady Tsunade for the manner in which they had arrived.

"It seems that most of us have arrived. We're waiting on a few others..." Tsunade said to her counsel members.

Just then Kakashi and Gai steeped into the room. Late. Tsunade glared and they both smiled innocently.

"Now that we're all here ... It's time to get down to buisness."

Tsunade explained the circumstances leaving most and all the people, other than the people who knew already, were left in shock.

"So you're saying that Sasuke tried to kill Naruto?" Shikamaru said looking at the groggy blond who sat next to the Hyuuga.

"Yes that's exactly what I'm saying. I think that Naruto failed to mention this because he was afraid it was a lie. It's a common response to something traumatic." Tsunade said, " I've already recieved a reply from the Kazekage... He will take them as soon as we are ready. THis is where you come in Kakashi, Shikamaru, Gai, Rock Lee... You are to be escort and protection along with the ANBU. In a week you will trade out for Tenten, Choji, Kiba, and Ino. Depending on who we can spare. Some of you might have to pull more weight."

"So why is Neji going?" Kakashi asked curiously.

"Neji was also threatened by Sasuke..."

" I see..." The silver-haired man said.

"Do you all understand that this is top secret?"

"Hai!" All responded.

"Baa-chan..."

"Hm? Yes Naruto?"

"I'm sorry"

"Hm? Why's that?"

"I'm too much trouble" Naruto said lookign down.

"Don't worry we're just trying to protect our hero" She smiled.

The blond looked up and smiled softly before leaning on Neji. The brunette blushed slightly and looked away.

'Not in public... sheesh' Neji thought to himself.

Kakashi chuckled, "So we're off to Suna then."

"Yes, Go as soon as possible. Dismissed."

†

Sorry for the lateness but please enjoy!

Next Chapter:

Departure