Disclaimer: Naruto and all Naruto related stuff is (c) Masashi Kishimoto. All OCs and original storyline/plot/imagination (c) of ME!!

A/N: Still in the middle of midterms but I thought I'd update... We're getting closer and closer to the exciting part of this story… I can feel it… it's almost coming together… lol… More Oushi… enjoy!! .:.insert Oushi-fangirl squeal here.:.

THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!!

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 ACCOMPLISHING A DREAM
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"…" Neji stared cautiously at the intimidating building standing a few meters in front of him.

He had woken up early for his daily morning jog and had somehow ended up in front of ANBU headquarters. Already it been two weeks since he and Tenten had bumped into Oushi in front of the Hokage tower, and the ANBU leader had offered Neji a position in the organization. A lot had happened in those two weeks to keep Neji and Tenten busy, and the Hyuga had not been able to give the man his answer. But he had been thinking long and hard about the proposal ever since.

It was a good offer. No… it was a GREAT offer.

Taking the position would provide a great benefit for Neji's shinobi career, as well as a tremendous learning experience. It would also mean a stable and well paid job, but most importantly, it would be an achievement of a long sought after goal.

.:..:..:..:..:.:..:..:..FLASHBACK..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:.

"Neji." The thirteen year old kunoichi called out to her sparring partner.

"hn." Neji turned upward to face the girl whose lap his head was resting on.

He had just had another episode of stabbing pain caused by his curse mark. His forehead was still throbbing, but the pain had subsided enough for him to bear with it. It had already been a year since the kunoichi had discovered his most guarded secret. At first, Neji had felt humiliated and defeated, but as he looked up at the girl's tender, caring, honey-tinted eyes smiling down at him reassuringly, a wave of peace and tranquility washed over tormented prodigy.

Slowly closing his eyes, allowing the girl to continue massaging her fingers through his hair and scalp, Neji responded. "Yes?"

"Do you have a dream Neji?" The girl asked tenderly; hiding the fact that she was greatly concerned for him. She always did that; never wanting to make him feel as if he were weak in her eyes, each time he broke down from the pain.

"I serve as Hinata-sama's personal guard." Neji quickly replied. "It is my duty."

"That's not a dream." Tenten countered; ignoring the fact that Neji had specifically stated it was his duty. A dream was not something the prodigy was entitled to possess. "Well you're working to be strong right?"

"…" Neji opened his eyes to observe the girl; wondering where she was going with that.

"You'll prove to them that you're the best." Tenten continued. There was no need for her to explain who the 'them' she was referring to were. "You should become an ANBU. Only the best of the elites become ANBU."

"Hai." Neji slowly nodded; acknowledging the truth in her statement.

It was a known fact that only the very best became ANBU. Even Hyuga connections could not guarantee a position among the organization; one had to be truly remarkable to merit an invitation to join the Hokage's guards.

"You'll definitely be good enough."

.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..END FLASHBACK.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..

Since Tenten had planted the idea in his head, it had become Neji's dream to be an ANBU. At first it was to prove, as she had mentioned, that he was the best. That, despite being born to an inferior branch in the Hyuga clan, he was better then any main branch member. After a while, though, seeing Tenten support him, it became his dream to live up to the man she believed him to be. In the years that followed, he had worked tirelessly to achieve his goal. And now, it was finally within his grasp.

"Come in." A firm and authoritative voice called out from the other side of the door Neji stood in front of.

Hesitantly, Neji slowly turned the knob to Oushi's office and stepped through the large oak door.

"So you finally decided to show up." Oushi smirked at the younger man, as Neji quickly approached the desk.

"I apologize for my delay in responding to your proposal." Neji respectfully plead.

"No worries." Oushi waved it off. "I expected you to take some time with this." Gesturing for Neji to take a seat, Oushi busied himself with a stake of papers in front of him. "It's not every day someone is offered a position to work with their father-in-law." The older man stifled a snicker as he continued organizing the papers on his desk. "I never married, so I can't say I can relate." The man briefly paused as a small shadow cross his usually cheerfully features. "But I've known Ryo-san long enough to know how scary the man can be. And I'm not the one stealing his precious daughter away." This time the man didn't attempt to hide his amusement, as he watched Neji cringle at the implication.

For a moment after, the room went perfectly still as Oushi remained quiet; absent-mindedly staring off into a corner of room, as Neji sat silently in the chair, waiting for the older man to return from whatever thoughts were currently plaguing him.

"He likes you though." Oushi somberly continued; shaking his head clear of his mental musings.

"…" Neji doubtfully looked over at the older man.

He had no doubt that Ryoku didn't hate him; after all, if the intimidating ANBU did hate him, Neji would probably have died a long time ago. But in regards to whether the man actually liked him, Neji wasn't so certain. If Ryoku liked him, Neji was sure the older man wouldn't take such obvious pleasure in intimidating him.

"Ryo-san is very protective of the ones he treasures." Oushi sternly informed the younger man. "He would never allow anyone into his precious daughter's life if he didn't like them."

"Hn." That part, Neji did not find difficult to believe.

"During these last five years, Ryo-san often told me that he had great confidence in you." The ANBU leader placed his papers down to look squarely into the Hyuga's eyes. "He knew you would take care of her."

"…" Neji wasn't sure what to say to that.

"Anyway, I'm sure you two will work well together." Oushi momentarily disappeared below his desk, before resurfacing with a medium sized box. "If you could survive living a week and half under the same roof, I'm more than confident that you two won't end up killing each other on your missions." The older man smirked before handing the box to Neji.

The white-eyed shinobi looked down at the small parcel. Of course he knew what was inside, but he wondered just what the contents looked like.

"OUSHI-SEMPAI!" A loud bang rang out, as the oak door Neji had walked through earlier came crashing open.

"Ah, Ryo-san." Oushi teasingly smiled up at the looming ANBU. "Just in time to greet our new recruit."

"So it is true then." Ryoku eyed the Hyuga prodigy carefully. "I have been assigned a new partner."

"That's right." Oushi proudly smirked.

"So." Ryoku looked down at the package in Neji's hands, waiting for the younger man to reveal the contents. "What bird did he assign you?"

"How'd you know I made him a bird?" Oushi mock gasped.

"Predictable." Ryoku mumbled as watched Neji open the box to see.

"…" Lifting the contents out of the box, Neji stared questioningly at the vibrantly pattered mask in his hand.

It was unlike anything Neji would normally associate for himself. The deep shades of red, orange and yellow outlining the white porcelain mask were in complete contrast to the more subtle tones of blue and beige Neji was accustomed to using. If anything, the color sequence seemed more appropriate for someone like Tenten; who was fierce and bold, just like the swirling patterns on the mask.

"A phoenix?" Ryoku questioned; arching his left eyebrow as he looked over at the smirking ANBU leader.

"Yup." Oushi nodded proudly.

"Hyuga have an affinity for water." Ryoku pointed out.

"True." Oushi conceded. "But Furi-iki affinity is air and you were assigned a fire-breathing beast."

"You…" Ryoku glared at the man. "You merely wanted to create a mythical pair, correct?"

"…" Oushi smirked childishly. "Well, don't you think pairing a dragon off with anything other than a phoenix would be too dull?"

"…" Neji stared dumbfounded, holding his ANBU mask and uniform, as the two grown men continued bickering in front of him.

What was with them?

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TBC
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A/N: Hey… no cliff hanger… lol… and oh yeah, I wanted Neji to be a bird (for obvious reasons)… but I couldn't think of a mythological water bird that would be of the same status as a phoenix… and yes, I'm in complete agreement with Oushi… Don't you think pairing a dragon with anything other than a phoenix would be too dull? I do… lol