Neji's eyes grew sharper. I was right. Neji sighed.

Hiashi didn't notice Neji's sigh. "You have been chosen to protect Hinata with your life."

"I will protect Hinata." Neji agreed. "I will..." he hesitated for a moment. "…With my life."

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The mysterious man walked through the town towards the Hyuga compound, not looking at anyone or anything around him. He suddenly stopped walking. He spun around and saw the townspeople staring at him in curiosity and fear. He adjusted his dark wire rimmed glasses and kept walking.

Someone will realize the guards have been injured. I should probably lay low for a few days.

The man grimaced at the thought of waiting to get his power, but he knew he couldn't rush things. He snarled and walked to the inn that was at the end of the road.

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Hinata slid open the door to her home. She looked in only to see her cousin Neji sitting at the dining room table, awaiting supper.

"Neji? What are you doing here?" she was surprised to see her cousin there. They weren't exactly the closest cousins in the world.

"Hinata, Neji will stay with us for a few days. We suspect something coming, and we want you to be protected."

Something coming? Well they could've told me earlier!!

"Oh, okay." Hinata tried to hide her anger from her father because he had hid something from her. "Does that mean Neji will be with me for the next few days?"

"Exactly." Hiashi smiled at Hinata's quickness and ability to get straight to the point. "If you are to leave the house, he must be with you at all times."

Neji stood and bowed to Hinata. "I will protect you with my life, Hinata-sama."

Hinata nodded and replied "Thank you Neji. I am honored to have you protecting me." She looked over at her father, who nodded in approval.

"Now go get washed up for supper." Hiashi said cheerfully. "We're having roast pork."

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Kiba was really excited about training. He had a new move to show off to Hinata, and he was going to ask her to hang out with him and Akamaru after training was over. He walked to the training field with his head held high. Akamaru was glad his master was in such a good mood.

"Good morning Shino!" Kiba grinned at his other teammate who was already at the practice field. "Is Hinata here yet?"

"Good morning." Shino looked at him weirdly. "No, Hinata's not here yet, and would you please wipe that grin off your face? You're starting to look like Naruto."

Kiba quickly stopped grinning. "So, learned any new moves lately?"

"One or two," Shino answered while watching a beetle crawl down his arm.

Man, I wish he wouldn't act so mysterious all the time. Kiba rolled his eyes and patted Akamaru's head.

Kiba glanced up in time to see Hinata walking toward her comrades. The silly grin immediately reappeared on his face. "Hi Hinata! Ready to start train-" Kiba stopped midsentence as he noticed her companion.

"My father wants Neji with me for the next few days. Is that okay?" Hinata shyly asked her team.

"I don't see why not." Shino really didn't care if Neji was there.

"Uh…s-sure! Of course! Yeah that's fine!" Kiba's face turned pink. Geez, why did Neji have to come here? There's no way I can impress her now! Of all days, it had to be today! Now Hinata probably thinks I'm just a babbling fool!

"Uh...Kiba?" Kiba didn't realize Hinata was trying to get his attention.

"Yeah!" He blushed again. Pull it together man!

"Do you want to be my sparing partner or should Shino be?"

"Actually, I had an idea, Hinata-sama," Neji casually entered the conversation. "Since I also have the Hyuga clan's abilities, I could train with you and perfect you palm rotation." Neji's eyes seemed to glare at Kiba, challenging him.

"That's probably a good idea," Kurenai said. "What better way for a Hyuga to train than with another Hyuga?"

"Okay then." Hinata replied softly, running her fingers through her long indigo hair.

Kiba's eyes widened as he gave a look of hatred to Neji behind Hinata's back. Neji just smirked and got into the Hyuga fighting stance. Kiba continued to glare at him.

"Well are we going to ever start our training or not?" Shino impatiently questioned Kiba, startling him.

"Fine!" Kiba sulked. Shino rolled his eyes behind his shades. Akamaru growled at Neji, realizing Kiba's anger at him.

"No, Akamaru, just go rest by that tree." Akamaru frowned, but obeyed his master's command.

Don't worry buddy. I'll destroy Neji soon enough!