Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Chapter 4

The night was still and quiet, an ideal condition for a good night rest. But something was just not right, Hyuuga Hinata couldn't close her eyes peacefully, her instinct told her to keep alert on her surrounding. She was laying safely in her bedroom, in her huge room, which located inside the Hyuuga mansion that mean no one could be stupid enough to perform an attack on her in a building full of highly skilled Hyuuga ninjas, right? But with that in mind she still wasn't convinced, changing different sleep position every now and then didn't do much help either. She only wanted to close her eyes and had a good sleep.

"Sleep…sleep…sleep…sleep now," she knew that was plain stupid and useless but she said that anyway, maybe it worked. She sighed, turning to the left now, facing the wall.

Then she heard it. A faint sound came from just outside her room. But maybe it was only a cat or a wind blowing on the trees on the garden. However, there was no cat kept in the main house and certainly no cat wandering around in her garden. Then she did all ninja or any curious person would do, she got up from the bed slowly and as quietly as possible, then walks to her bedroom window and was about to open it when she heard another distinctive noise. Someone was out there, she was sure of it. Braving herself, she opened the curtain a slight that when she felt the wind blow to her face, she barely able to dodge the sudden attack directed to her neck. That was close.

She moved back to grab her weapon couch on table bedside table, taking her kunai, preparing and also braving herself to strike at the mysterious attacker. The attacker was fast, she could only dodge their assaults, didn't have the chance to strike back. He was good, she could tell it was a guy, even if it was dark now in the room she could saw the outline of the attacker. But what is this, another attempt to kidnap her. If that the case then…

Before she could finish her trailing thoughts, she saw fingers directed to her right hand, aimed at a specific point there. Jyuuken. Someone from the clan.

"Byakugan" she activated the Hyuuga clan bloodline limit and got a clear look on the attacker face. "Neji-niisan…what are you…doing…here?"

But the person he called Neji keep on attacking her with his excellent techniques. Hinata, felt a little taken a back finding out her attacker identity could only avoid the attack to her tanketsus.

"Neji-nii… what are you… stop it…" the plea was evident in her voice.

But the attacker kept on going, until one moment she move to attack this Neji guy but he moved faster and got a hold of her hand which was about to land a blow on his chest.

"Ahh…" she felt a hard tug on her hand and was pulled to his direction. She got a clear look on the attacker face. She could see him smirk, smugly.

"You should have recognized me earlier, Hinata-sama." His voice was smooth and firm.

"So it's really you, Neji-niisan. Why… what are you doing here?"

"Why are you surprised, Hinata-sama?" he spoke firmly and moved closer to her. "You should have guessed why I attack you. I'm a bit surprised actually that you didn't activate my cursed seal after knowing that it was me. Or are you forgetting the hand seal?"

"Of…c-course not. But I… think that you wouldn't endanger my life as you are assigned to be my sensei by father. And I… also believe you have your reason to do that" she said simply. "Is that right?"

"Yes, I have my own reason. But it disappoint me to see how much you slacking off in all these days when I'm not around to check on you, Hinata-sama. You could have been killed if I were intended to kill you or what if it was an enemy ninja who's aiming for the Hyuuga heir. So I beg of you to live up the Hyuuga name and stop being sloppy. Use Byakugan the moment you start a fight don't use it as your last resort." He told her, matter of factly. "If you keep on going like this you be easily killed."

Her eyes widen. Was this another weird dream she had, hallucination because of the lack of sleep? Her cousin, who came out of nowhere, attacked her and was now lecturing her for not being good enough. He just came back after a long mission, shouldn't they be greeting each other first, changing how are you, maybe have a cup of tea while sharing stories, and definitely not this kind of situation she was now in.

The said cousin was here, standing in her room, still grasping her hand and scolding her like a third year old kid. She tried to snatch her hand but his hold was firm.

"Neji-niisan, you… said that you have a long term mission and won't come back to Konoha for a month or more? But it's only been two weeks since you've been gone."

"I didn't go to Suna." He said simply. "I got replaced in the last minutes and assigned to a short term mission. That's why I can come home early. And when I got here I am curious about your training result for the last two weeks."

"Is this another kind of training or you get bored coming home and not finding a merry welcoming ceremony for you?" never had she felt this upset and angry at her cousin, or at anyone in particular that Hinata was surprised she could speak so fluently in front of him.

"It's training, of course. What do you expect, Hinata-sama?" if he was surprised by her way of non-stuttering-speaking, he didn't show it. "Say Hinata-sama, if I hit your tanketsu here (AN: he pressed to one spot on her hand a little bit harder). What would you do to prevent that?"

"Neji-niisan…you…" she didn't finish her sentence, glared angrily at Neji, as angry as a Hinata could get, then moved her right foot to kick at his shin, bold move actually. He evaded it of course, easily. She continued to attack with her free hand, sending countless hit to his direction, but he was able to nullify all her effort to land a punch or two on him, on his smug face, to be exact.

"Is that all you got Hinata-sama?"

"Please don't be so sure of yourself, Neji-niisan." Attacking with fury visible in her eyes, Hinata still wasn't able to free her hand and the fact that it was now hurting because Neji pulled it here and there to avoid getting hit by her.

"You look more lively now, Hinata-sama. Maybe I should tease you more often." He told her casually while dodging her attack.

Her breath was ragged. And yet, he was still standing in front of her, not a single sweat adorned his forehead.

"You better rest now." He said, suddenly ending their not-so-sweet encounter.

"What…why… I still can fight you, Neji." She said it daringly, forgetting his name title.

"Really." He let go of her hand. She rubbed it instantly. "Rest, Hinata-sama. If you're feeling so eager to fight with me then, we'll continue in the morning."

"But, I'm not tired."

"But I am. Just back from a mission, remember? Or are you so glad to see me that my little visit today isn't enough for you?"

The desire to punch his smug face was beyond her imagination. "Wha….what are you saying?" I'm not going to beat that smug face of yours tomorrow for sure.

"Good night, Hinata-sama." He said. He walk to her window and was about to go when she said, "You could always use the door, Neji-niisan."

"It's nii-san again now, eh?"

"Wha… what… I'm sorry." She bowed her head, couldn't look him in the eyes. And a few minutes ago she was daring him to fight and acting all cool, what happen now?

"Don't be, Hinata-sama. I like it, when you fight with so much ferocity and strength like that."

"I…Neji-niisan, thank you." She bowed again. "And welcome home." She added, after realizing that he just got back from Suna.

"Thanks, Hinata-sama. Go to bed. Now!! Or you won't be able to kick my ass tomorrow." Neji said then turned to leave.

After the sudden so called training, she found it was harder to close her eyes. So she just laying around in her bed, just like before Neji came to train her. He must be tired too, but he came all the way from mission and commenced attack to her without as much as saying hello.

Did her father order him to do that? So that she always stay alert even when she feel safe and no possibility of an assault to her, the heir of the Hyuuga clan?

Then she would like to thank him, tomorrow. For all the trouble he did to make her stronger, although that wasn't an entirely an easy job.

With that thought, she felt asleep. Her hand rubbed at the place where Neji had hold during their fight.

The sound of someone knocking on her door woke her up from her much needed sleep. She wanted to just ignore the intrusion and continued to sleep, but the person was persistent. The once knocking sound now turned into banging.

"In a minute." She finally managed to voice her answer. The banging sound stopped.

She walked sleepily to the door and opened it only to find her sister, Hanabi. "Isn't too early to bang on other people door so loudly, Hanabi?"

"Neesan, it's not too early, it's 8.20 now. You should get ready now, coz father wants to speak with you." She went inside the roo m and sat on her bed. "What? You should be quick, you know." She said when she felt her gaze on her.

"Nothing. What is it that father wanted to talk to me about?"

"Like I know. Come on go clean up. Or are you going to meet him like that?"

Hinata looked at her reflection on the mirror and saw sleepy white eyes staring back at her, uncombed indigo hair and rumpled pajamas. "Of course not." Then she headed towards the bathroom.

"Okay, I'll tell father you'll come soon."

"Okay." She said before closing the bathroom door. It only take a while to wash her face, it would be nicer if she could take a bath but it took more time and her father wasn't the most patient person.

"Good morning, father." She greeted her father.

Her father nodded her head. "Sit, Hinata."

"Yes, father." She sat in front of his father.

"What took you so long, Hinata? I was expecting to see you sooner."

"I'm sorry if I'm late, father. I was just woken up when Hanabi came to my room and I need more time to get ready." She bowed her head. "And she said that you have something important to tell me father."

"Yes, Hinata. Listen to me now." He began his speech and looked at her all serious and business like. "You know that you are going to be the head of the Hyuuga clan and you I wish that you could be better than me leading this clan. We can live a peaceful life now, but one must not get reckless and never forget to always improve your skills. Both in fighting and the way of leading the clan. Do you understand that, Hinata."

Somehow she always knew that her duty to be the head of the clan wasn't going to be easy. But to be reminded about it every now and then was making her boring to. "Yes, I do father."

"Good. You know that our clan is the strongest in Konoha and we keep our loyalty to this village as well. But there are many ninja villages that have an interest in our bloodline limit as well."

She nodded her head, knowing the fact full well and saying her yes.

"Neji had given me the report about your improvement. He said that if you are determined and motivated you could do your best. So I hope you could do that."

"I'll try…no… I'll do my best father." Hopefully, she added it inwardly.

"That's exactly what I want to hear from you, Hinata. As an heir of the Hyuuga clan you'd be targeted by our clan enemies from other village. You know about the kidnap initiation towards you when you were three, we must never let something like that happen again. So for the sake of yourself and also the clan I ask you to be more cautious when you were away on mission outside Konoha. Actually I wanted to request a special permission from the Godaime so that you will be doing your ninja duty here, in Konoha. But, I also want you to enjoy your time while you still can and the chance to see the world outside this village."

"Thank you for your consideration, father." She smiled a little, feeling grateful that his father wasn't being overprotective to her.

"I believe that you have training scheduled for today. You may leave now."

"Thank you, father. Have a nice day." Her father nodded his appreciation then she bowed her head and exited the room.

"I take that was pretty much of an encouragement, don't you think?" Hiashi spoke, then the shoji door behind him opened and Neji walked in the room and sat beside Hiashi.

"Yes, Hiashi-sama. Thank you. I hope Hinata-sama will be more aware about her situation." He bowed his head. "I'll take my leave now, Hiashi-sama. I have an apprentice to train."

AN: Yosh, the fourth installment is finally here. The longest one, so far. It took me a while to write this chapter because I was distracted by Gundam Seed, Gundam Seed Destiny and Yzak Jule, yes they are that good. Thanks for reading, reviews are appreciated!