What up, peeps? =D I know it's been a while, but it was final season...and now school's out! Yessss. XD

Okay, I don't have much to say this time. Thank you to everyone that review/faved/alerted. It means a lot.

Umm...this chappie takes place around the Shippuden timeline.

I don't own Naruto. If I did, the chapters would be hella long because it's getting SO good!

It was silent at dinner. Servants served the different courses, clearing away the sullied dishes without a sound.

Neji ate mechanically, not tasting anything. Like his cousins, he kept his eyes downcast, stoically looking at his plate.

This was the way it always was. One did not speak unless spoken to.

He took a sip of his water, mentally going over the training session he had had earlier that day. He really had to work on his speed; Lee had actually gotten some decent hits on him, and Tenten had almost broken his nose with a greatly timed kick. He had to be getting soft—

To his left, at the head of the table, Hiashi cleared his throat lightly.

Three sets of eyes raised in anticipation.

"How is your training coming, Hinata?" the Hyuuga head asked, his full attention suddenly on his daughter. "I've noticed you've been training a lot lately."

It was only through years of practice that Hinata didn't shrink under her father's scrutiny. Carefully, she set down her chopsticks. "Well, otou-sama. I have been working on improving my stamina."

Hiashi nodded once with approval. He turned his pearly eyes towards Neji. "Would you say that she has been improving, Neji?"

Inwardly, Neji winced. He knew what situation he would be putting his cousin in if he answered honestly. However, he did not like to lie, and he had been covering for Hinata long enough—plus, it was only a matter of time before the truth decided to reveal itself anyway. He glanced at his cousin apologetically. "I wouldn't know, Hiashi-sama. It is not I that trains with Hinata-sama."

Hinata's eyes widened. She was panicking.

"Hinata?" Hiashi prompted.

"N-Naruto-kun," Hinata squeaked. "I've been training with Naruto-kun. Otou-sama, he has a lot of chakra and can really help me—"

"Naruto?" An eyebrow raised, surprised. "As in Uzumaki Naruto?"

Hanabi, noticing her sister's distress, set her bowl of rice on the table loudly, effectively drawing attention to herself. "You know what I did today? I handed Konohamaru his ass."

Hiashi sighed tiredly at his rowdy youngest child. "Hanabi. Language."

"Sorry." She looked sheepish, but Neji knew better. Where her sister was shy and timid, Hanabi was outgoing and manipulative. "It's just that that boy really needs to train more. All this talk about becoming the Hokage, and I can knock him on his behind in two seconds flat. Clearly he's the dead-last on my team."

Hinata glared at her sister.

"I wouldn't speak that way, Hanabi-sama," Neji spoke up. "Dead-lasts don't always stay at the bottom."

Hanabi suppressed a gag at way her sister's face softened. Then, looking at Neji, a small, sinister smile crept on her face.

The Hyuuga prodigy felt his blood freeze. That look in her eyes—it never turned out well for the person on the receiving end of it.

"I almost forgot, Nii-san," Hanabi said sweetly, her smile broadening. "This came in the mail today. I think it belongs to you." What looked like a photo appeared in her hands, and instead of handing it directly to him over the table—which was technically considered rude—she handed it to Hinata.

Who took one look at it and snorted.

Surprised at her own rude action, Hinata slapped a hand over her mouth. But another glance at the photo, and a second snort escaped, along with a suppressed giggle. Quickly, she thrust the photo at her father.

Hiashi took the photo, curious. He looked. And kept looking.

Seriously anxious now, Neji broke etiquette, leaning over to see what was so appalling.

A pair of feet, toes painted a deep violet, stared back at him.

"Oh," Hanabi chirped, an innocent look on her face. "These might be yours too." She passed around photo after photo. The same feet, this time the toes painted bubblegum pink. Electric blue. Yellow. Forest green. Silver with blue stars. In the mud, standing under a shower stream, on a lush bed of grass, strands between the toes.

With every photo, Hinata was closer and closer to being in hysterics. With every photo, Hiashi's eyebrows got closer and closer to his hairline.

With every photo, Tenten was closer and closer to being a dead woman!

"Why are you opening my mail, Hanabi?" Neji hissed, forgetting the honorific in his rage and mortification.

Hanabi looked back at him, strategically doe-eyed. "I didn't know they were for you, Nii-san. They were addressed to 'Snuggles'."

Neji resisted the urge to smack his forehead.

Hinata, who was still trying to remain as calm and composed as a Hyuuga should, was failing at it, and looked like she was about to have an epileptic fit.

Hiashi continued to stare at the photo in his hand.

"And 'Pooh Bear'," Hanabi continued thoughtfully. She lifted a hand, beginning to count on her fingers. "'Babycakes', 'Daddy', 'Hunky Monkey'—"

"I get the idea!" Neji all but yelled at her. He glared. "Are those all the photos?"

Hanabi smirked, satisfied that havoc was successfully wreaked. She held a photo loosely between her fingers. "There's just this one left."

Hinata didn't even bother looking at it this time. She passed it quickly to her father, trying to compose herself.

Neji, still impolitely leaning over his uncle to see the photos, felt his heart stop.

This photo was different from the others. It still contained the same feet. However, these feet were now covered in a familiar pair of heels, and while the previous photos only contained feet in the frame, this photo had a pair of fishnet-clad legs as well.

Hiashi stared.

Neji stared.

Hinata was remembering how to breathe.

Hanabi looked triumphant.

Hiashi placed all of the photos, neatly stacked, on the table, sliding them slowly towards his nephew.

Just as slowly, Neji reached for them.

Hiashi sighed, mumbling something that sounded strangely like "Snuggles" under his breath. "Neji."

All eyes turned to the clan leader at his suddenly serious tone.

His face looked solemn. "You're becoming a man, now. I think it's time we had The Talk."

Neji's jaw dropped in mortification.

"Meet me in my study after dinner." Satisfied, Hiashi turned back to Hinata. "Uzumaki Naruto?"

A/N: Let me know. ;)