A/N: This life lesson was ridiculously hard, hence the delay. Hope you enjoy. Reviews are welcome. One more chapter to go!
TWENTY: Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
The branch member handed little Neji the radio smiling gently, "Your father wants to speak with you."
Neji's eyes widened with delight as he reached eagerly for the radio. The branch member showed him how to press the button to speak and to release it to hear his father's voice. The little boy caught on quickly. "Father?"
There was static for a moment before he heard his father's voice. "Hi, Neji! How's my little boy?"
The reception quality was very poor but the man was insistent upon talking to his son and the members of the Branch House did their best to accommodate their leader's request. Hizashi had been away on a mission for almost a month and everyone knew how close Hizashi was to his son. So it was really no surprise that he would take the first opportunity to speak with his child, no matter the difficulty.
Neji had felt his father's absence keenly and was clearly overjoyed to have this opportunity. "I've been very good, just like you told me," he reported eagerly. "I've been practicing my stances all by myself!"
He could hear his father laugh but it sounded shaky through the bad reception. "That is wonderful! I can't wait to see how far along you've come."
"Father, when are you coming home?"
"Soon, son, I promise."
"How soon?" Neji persisted, his voice starting to sound a little petulant.
There was a hesitation on the other end and the static almost drowned out his father's reply. "Neji, remember what we talked about before I left? You have to be brave. We both have to be very brave."
The little boy pouted, not quite understanding why he had to be brave in this way. He could be brave in other ways, like when he didn't cry after falling and skinning his knee, but this was hard. "I want you to come home," he said sadly in a rare show of uncooperativeness.
"I know, son," Hizashi said quietly with a sigh. "I'll do my very best, ok?"
Neji nodded before realizing that his father couldn't see him. He pressed the button. "Okay."
"That's my boy..." There was more static and sounds of a commotion before his father's voice came back through more urgently. "Neji, I have to go now but I'll talk to you again soon. I love you."
"Bye, Father," Neji said hurriedly but there was only static on the other end.
0
A month after speaking with his son, the mission goes from bad to worse. His team had sustained heavy causalities and he was the lone survivor. Hizashi was bleeding profusely from deep cuts on his torso and he strongly suspected the last senbon that grazed him was laced with poison because he was now running a high fever.
With great difficulty, he activated his Byakugan and saw five enemy nin waiting for him. Five enemy nin standing between him and his son.
Hizashi closed his eyes briefly as he refocused. He couldn't allow his emotions to run amuck but he was frustrated and in a lot of pain. All reports indicated that it was only suppose to be a B-rank mission but it wasn't until they actually engaged the enemy that they realized the true breadth of what they were contending with. Hizashi currently possessed the enemy's plans for an invasion and they were fighting like hell to get them back. With rapidly depleting chakra reserves and severe injuries, Hizashi began to wonder if he was going to survive this mission.
But he made a promise to Neji, he thought with renewed determination as he methodically went through his supplies, and he really didn't like disappointing his boy.
Four senbon and a kunai. One of the kills would have to be at close range. Not ideal but he'll make do. He'll have to make the kills quick; otherwise he'll be at the disadvantage.
With one more passing thought for his son, Hizashi turned his attention resolutely to the task at hand.
"We know you're out there, Leaf nin," one of the enemy nin taunted, clearly enjoying the advantage they had over him. "Come on out and play!"
Hizashi couldn't help but smirk even as his breath labored. They had no idea who they were dealing with and he was not in the mood for being polite. He'll start with the idiot who gave away his position.
He activated his Byakugan one last time and flickered out of sight to engage the enemy.