Konnichi wa!

Hey – this is great! I'm glad you like this story! And I even saw some people made pennames after reading the other chapter! XD Awe – thanks guys, ya'll are sweet.

Hmm… no questions are answered in this chapter – it's the next one that everything'll be explained.

And someone else makes an appearance! O.O Oh – I wonder who!

Read on! I hope you like it!

Wingless Flight

Chapter Five – Sparkling Orbs

Neji's eyes widened. He looked at Sasuke.

"Uchiha – you KNOW this thing –?"

"Oh my goodness!"

Neji found himself pushed up against a boulder in the clearing as the huge serpent bolted forward, nose-to-nose with the Hyuuga.

"Who are you? You're a Hyuuga, correct? That's correct, yes Suzaku?" Byakkou turned to look at Sasuke, who was watching calmly, hugging his elbows and his eyes half-closed.

Neji blinked. Suzaku? WHAT?

"Yes, my dear Byakkou," Sasuke replied smoothly. "That is the protégé of the Hyuuga clan."

Byakkou blinked.

"Protégé? What? You mean this is…" Byakkou turned back to look at Neji, who was staring up at him, wondering if the serpent was going to bite his head off. "Neji Hyuuga?"

Neji blinked again, but remained silent.

After a moment, Sasuke chuckled gently.

"You're supposed to answer him, Neji," he informed warmly.

The said Hyuuga blinked once more, looking at Sasuke, and then he looked up at Byakkou. The serpent cocked its head.

"You ARE Neji Hyuuga, correct?"

Neji looked at him blankly for another moment, and then nodded. The serpent clucked.

"I see." He turned to Sasuke. "Extraordinary."

Sasuke nodded gracefully in return.

Temporarily forgetting about Neji, Byakkou left him, going instead to place himself in front of Sasuke, who looked up at him calmly.

Byakkou daintily shook his head.

"Dear, dear – it pains me to see you in such a prison, my dear Suzaku," he commented. Neji raised an eyebrow. Huh? Prison?

Sasuke laughed – a smooth, gentle, warm sound that Neji never would have expected to leave his throat.

"Dear Byakkou love, this is not a prison. I feel it not like it is." Byakkou didn't seem to understand.

"But surely you must experience SOME discomfort – mortal flesh cannot channel all of your celestial energy."

Sasuke shrugged, and even that movement held a strange regal grace.

"This body is surprisingly capable of doing just that. The 'chakra lines' running through this body are strangely accommodating," Sasuke replied smoothly. Byakkou looked taken aback.

"Does thou jest?" Sasuke laughed again.

"My dear Byakkou, I believe not."

Byakkou's entire demeanor seemed to shrink.

"In all my years… amazing. So this Uchiha you thrive in is as powerful as the mortals say?"

Who is that thing talking to? Neji asked himself. Sasuke is right there – he IS the Uchiha.

"Yes, my love," Sasuke replied. "Even without my assistance he gained enough power to become multiple levels higher than the Sannin."

Multiple levels? Neji thought frantically. Really?

Byakkou cocked his head.

"Sannin? My dear Suzaku, what is that?" He asked. Sasuke merely looked at him for a moment before he sighed, smiling softly.

"Ah – alas, I forgot. Being in this body has given me information about the mortal world that not even celestial bodies know. Sannin are the three most powerful ninja you could ever meet, to put it simple," he replied.

"Most powerful ninja?"

"Aye."

Byakkou seemed to ponder over this for a moment before sighing.

"Why?" He asked Sasuke simply. Sasuke blinked.

"Nani?" He asked.

"Why… did the Emperor of the Heavens choose you?" Byakkou asked. Sasuke smiled kindly at the serpent.

"It is not my job to analyze the Emperor's reasons," he replied gently. Byakkou shook his head.

"But my love, why you? Because you are the most powerful? The most righteous?"

Sasuke waved it away.

"Byakkou love, it isn't our place to question the Emperor. I was chosen because I was chosen. We cannot get any deeper than that," he replied simply.

"But surely there must be a reason –"

"Byakkou," Sasuke inclined his head to look up at the serpent sternly, and Neji could see something flash in those eyes that he would never be able to stand up against. He had no idea how the serpent managed to keep a blank face.

"Very well Suzaku, very well." Then the serpent looked around. "I have discovered you, so that means that Genbu knows where you are as well. Where IS that lazy turtle?"

Sasuke laughed softly.

"Relax dear Byakkou, he comes in time."

"I know that for a fact, but the question is when will he ARRIVE?"

"Ah, shut yer trap, serpent – I'm already here."

Neji jumped as the boulder he was leaning against shifted and lifted upwards, carrying him with it.

Sasuke turned to see the entire boulder rising upwards.

"Genbu!" He exclaimed.

"It's about time," Byakkou muttered.

Neji looked down to see he was on the shoulder plates of a huge turtle, the shell covered in years of moss and weeds.

Smiling, Sasuke walked over to the turtle, completely ignoring Neji as he leaned over to be eye level with the 24-ton turtle.

"I thank you for limiting your size, my old friend," Sasuke said. "That takes great strain off the earth."

"No trouble, dear Suzaku. But…" The body under Neji shifted uncomfortably, nearly making him lose his balance. "I believe I have a hitch hiker."

Sasuke looked up at Neji for the first time since Byakkou had appeared, and Neji's eyes widened as he looked into blood red orbs, feeling like he had just been swallowed whole.

But these were different. They weren't the merciless, emotionless pinwheels of the Sharingan, and they weren't the same ruthless, crushing eyes of the nine tailed fox.

They were full of emotion – wise, calm, serene emotion – but at the same time Neji could see unbelievable power – power that made him instantly know that with one certain look, his entire being – soul and all – would instantly burst upwards into flame.

But at the same time – they gave the certain promise of protection, of safety – that one would get from a family, or a lover. For one split second, as Neji gazed at his reflection in those pure red eyes, he felt safe – something that he hadn't felt in years. The orbs sparkled with the knowledge of thousands of years.

Then Sasuke smiled, amused, and the line was snapped.

"Yes – I suppose you're right."

Neji found hands on his waist, holding him securely as he was lifted up from the turtle's shoulders.

The Hyuuga fought from blushing.

It's like I don't weigh anything!

Sasuke gently set Neji on the ground, and the Hyuuga could've sworn that the Uchiha's fingers lingered on his hips a bit longer than necessary.

"And who's the child?" Genbu asked gruffly.

"That child, Genbu, is Neji Hyuuga! Neji Hyuuga!" Byakkou replied excitedly, going to the turtle's side. "Isn't he an absolute doll?"

THAT struck Neji as offensive. Sasuke giggled softly beside him.

"Relax dear Neji," he breathed to the Hyuuga. "He knows not what he does."

Neji chose not to answer.

Both Byakkou and Genbu surveyed Neji for a moment before Genbu commented.

"He's obviously of your blood, Byakkou," he said. "I can see it in his eyes."

My eyes? Neji thought.

Sasuke laughed.

"Ah – my old friends – too long has it been since I have gazed upon you."

Both Genbu and Byakkou nodded.

"Yes, dear Suzaku," the wind serpent replied. "But… it nears that time, does it not?"

Sasuke's eyes turned dark and he sighed.

"Aye, Byakkou," he replied. "It draws closer every day."

"But perhaps we can prevent it this time!" Byakkou cooed hopefully. "You have destroyed Sieryu's warriors, correct?"

"That blasted dragon!" Genbu hissed before Sasuke had a chance to answer. "If I had the power I would –"

"But you do not, Genbu dear," Byakkou cut him off gently. "Only Suzaku could possibly stand against that awful creature."

"Yes – we find it hard to believe he's related to you," Genbu growled.

"He's related to all of us," Sasuke added quickly – smoothly. "We can do nothing to stop that. Brothers attack not each other."

"Tell that to HIM!" Genbu hissed. "The blasted dragon nearly KILLED me!"

"Yes – he did," Sasuke replied calmly. "And he was punished for it. We all felt your pain that dreadful day, my friend – even the one that caused it. Make no mistake."

"And yet the bloody creature STILL insists on causing trouble!" Genbu muttered to no one in particular. "The stupid dragon just doesn't LEARN!"

"He is cunning without having to learn," Sasuke replied. "He believes himself superior – you know that."

What on earth are they talking about? Neji asked himself.

As if sensing his thoughts, Sasuke laughed.

"My dear friends – it's wonderful to see you both after such a long while – but please remember, dear Neji knows not what of we speak."

"That's true, isn't it?" Byakkou commented. Genbu yawned.

"Very well then, I will take your blood and explain, Byakkou." In two strides he was at Neji's feet and the Hyuuga felt a powerful jaw grip his shirt front before he was tossed onto the shoulder plates. "You two have a lot of catching up to do, and the sooner the child knows what's going on, the better. Please, leave this to me," Genbu told Sasuke and the wind serpent. Sasuke cocked his head.

"Are you sure, Genbu dear?" He asked. The turtle snorted.

"Aye – that I am. I'll see you two later."

"Safe tidings, old friend!" Sasuke called at the turtle's back. "You as well, Neji!"

"Yes, my child!" Byakkou cooed enthusiastically. "And listen to Genbu – no matter how old that turtle is, he STILL knows his stuff – the old coot!"

"Aye – shut yer trap, you blasted serpent!" Genbu roared over his shoulder, making Byakkou laugh.

Neji turned his head to look at both Byakkou and Sasuke before they disappeared into the trees.

End Chapter Five – Sparkling Orbs

Hmmm… a giant turtle. Fun. XD

Well, I hope you liked it, everyone!

Please read and review! I would like 45!

Thank you for everything!

Ja ne!

DDB