The increased rain and generally unpleasant weather over the next four days was enough to drive most people inside, but tonight two ANBU shinobi reveled in the camouflage it provided them as they leaped from roof to roof towards the Hyuuga compound. Neji took the lead in their surveillance because of his familiarity with the place and its many inhabitants and Shikamaru concentrated on connecting their target with a possible motive for his activities. He leaned towards Neji to murmur quietly,

"Are you sure that is the guy? He couldn't be more than about twenty years old."

"Twenty-one actually. And I think I can recognize my own clan members don't you?" he shot his companion a pointed look and continued, "He is definitely the one, but I still don't understand why he would turn traitor on his clan and his village, especially given his status in the clan – he is main branch. Or why they wouldn't just take him if they wanted the Byakugan, he has no cursed seal to prevent it."

The smirk on Shikamaru's face indicated he had already considered this possibility, "I am pleased to know something you don't that is pivotal to this investigation. Kind of impressive since I've been away and you have had all this extra time to mull over his motivations…"

"Whatever it is, I'd be very pleased to hear it, strategist," Neji growled in response. The expression on his face was just shy of murderous but the Nara knew he wasn't in any danger.

Shikamaru smirked again then grew serious, "You said you originally heard him discussing a deal to get them the Byakugan of a powerful main branch Hyuuga, and the only proviso is that these criminals help him get revenge on another member of the clan just as powerful but of no value to them."

He received a nod in agreement.

"Right, which presumably means he plans to abduct Lord Hiashi to hand him over to the traffickers…and I suspect that he means to have them kill you in revenge."

Neji looked at Shikamaru as though he had lost his mind.

"Why would he want to kill me? I have nothing to do with him outside of being a Hyuuga."

"Name one other branch member as good as Hiashi? You're the prodigy. Think about it…" he returned to watching the young Hyuuga sneak his way back into the compound and his personal quarters. Shikamaru had located Neji after he returned to join his surveillance and to decide on a plan of action for apprehending the clan traitor before his plan could be carried out. Though, Neji had to concede defeat with Shikamaru's reasoning so far.

"Even if you are right that doesn't explain any of this. He has betrayed his clan and his village so that he can trade my uncle for my murder, what does that achieve?"

Shikamaru shrugged, "Maybe he wants to try and take power for himself…"

Neji shook his head, "Impossible. The clan Elders would never allow it. Hinata would step into the position in the event of her father's death and I have no power within the clan for him to take. If anything the Elders would probably be thrilled to have me gone. Besides, he can't possibly be stupid enough to believe that he would be able to pull off that kind of a coup without significant outside help…."

"Maybe not, but either way we should warn Lord Hiashi that there might be an attempt on his life. Then we can worry about why he would want revenge on you without having to be concerned about the balance of power being upset in our absence. Do you think they would kill him or try to take him alive?"

"Given the number of people who would like to get their hands on a Hyuuga with his strength in such a central position in the clan, I would wager alive, but I doubt Hiashi would allow that to happen. Come with me,"

Neji glanced towards the other side of the village unconsciously and Shikamaru couldn't help but comment,

"Would you stop doing that?!" he hissed.

"Doing what?"

He mimicked Neji's movements and gave him a suspicious glare, "That! The little glance you do with your Byakugan, looking for Tenten…it's driving me crazy!"

"I am not looking for her! I didn't even do it on purpose. She probably isn't even awake by now. Why would I be looking for her?"

He realised too late that he had fallen into the Nara's trap. He hadn't been sure what Neji was looking for but had rapidly put two and two together to recognize the direction he was looking in and had tricked him into dropping his guard to defend himself.

"Unconscious or not, you keep glancing in the exact direction of her apartment and you have been in a bad mood, more so than usual, all night. Why don't you just go and talk to her about whatever stupid thing you did and apologize? Then we can get on with our job and you won't be so distracted."

Neji scoffed at his as they slowly made their way down from the roof and into the cover of the building, "I am not distracted, thank you very much – I have been working on this all week. And who says it has anything to do with her? What makes you so sure I have done something and need to apologize? Maybe she does."

Shikamaru almost laughed in disbelief, "Seriously man, whatever happened, it's not her. She is amazing, and tolerant of your personality quirks, and you know that. But you two have been tense pretty much since you got back from your last mission, and avoiding each other for the last week or so…I've known you both for a long time, when you argue, this is always how it goes. So whatever kunai you broke, or insult you made, let's just go over there now and she can yell at you and then we can go back to work!"

"Absolutely not," he left no room for discussion but added after a momentary pause,

"I admit it, we had an argument…satisfied? And it was my fault and Hinata has already given me the disapproving glare so you can just put that away and we will get back to work because Tenten is staying at arms length as long as this fool is walking around free. She is too used to having my back in a fight and if she finds out she is just going to get in the firing line if he really does want me dead."

"You know that is so sweet, it is almost like you really have feelings," Shikamaru teased him as they eased down the side of the building to a window around the back of the main wing, "I swear, the way you two argue sometimes is just like a married couple…"

Neji rolled his eyes and led Shikamaru through the window into one of the many corridors in the compound, both men donning their masks again to hide their identities in case they were encountered unexpectedly. As with all Hyuuga décor it was austere and functional and looked the same as almost every other corridor Shikamaru had ever seen in his visits here. Neji knew them all well and he led them through a series of corridors less often used and in which they thankfully met no one, until he arrived at a single sliding door. At this time of the evening, Neji expected his uncle would be in his study reading before retiring for the night, and since he didn't like to be disturbed, the odds of someone coming looking for him were fairly low. Neji reached out and slid the door open, allowing himself and Shikamaru to enter quietly before closing it again. Both men stood in front of Hiashi's desk as the clan leader looked up with some surprise at being interrupted. He must have been midway through a pot of green tea as the room was filled with the pleasant aroma and a steaming cup sat half empty to his right. When he spoke, his voice betrayed none of the shock he felt at having two ANBU shinobi suddenly appear in his study, late at night and dripping with rainwater.

"What brings two ANBU to my study so late this evening?" he enquired politely but there was a reprimanding undertone that Neji recognized immediately.

He removed his mask, Shikamaru following suit, and they both bowed slightly as they approached the desk, Hiashi standing when he suddenly recognized his nephew.

"We are sorry to disturb you Uncle, but we need to speak with you urgently."

Hiashi nodded gently and stood from the desk to signal his attention. Neji glanced at Shikamaru and then continued,

"Shikamaru and I have been tasked with investigating evidence that suggested a traitor has been operating within the village, sabotaging missions and resulting in the increased number of ninja who have been declared missing in action in recent months. We have been following a number of leads to determine the identity of the person behind these activities and subsequently uncovered a plot to hand the clan's bloodline trait over to an arms dealer and people trafficker who appears to have been behind the disappearances…"

He watched as Hiashi's expression darkened, though the clan leader didn't seem at all surprised. Given that there always seemed to be someone who wanted the Byakugan it was not exactly a shocking revelation that an arms dealer would be interested. Hiashi looked at both men before commenting,

"This is not welcome news, but admittedly unsurprising. Have you identified the traitor?"

"Yes," Shikamaru joined the conversation, producing a file of documents he and Neji had put together for the investigation and handing it to Hiashi, "and you won't be pleased but we have verified his identity. Neji himself has been running surveillance on him and uncovered his plans…"

Neji interrupted sensing his friend did not want to be the one to break the news, "He is Hyuuga, Uncle."

Hiashi started slightly and looked at Neji questioningly, "One of our own trying to betray our bloodline? Who?"

Shikamaru leaned over to turn the file in Hiashi's hand to the second page, which showed an image of the Hyuuga traitor and elaborated, "We are almost entirely certain he means to have you abducted and to murder Neji in some sort of revenge."

"That last part remains to be seen," Neji added, "but we are certain of the danger to you and felt need to warn you before taking this any further."

Hiashi nodded as he scanned the file quickly before turning to his desk and two adjacent chairs and gesturing for both men to sit. They obliged and the clan leader sighed before addressing his nephew.

"If this is indeed the situation, then Shikamaru is correct – it is you he seeks revenge on, Neji."

At the confused expression that washed over Neji's face he elaborated, "I doubt you remember much about him since you have seen very little of each other since you were children, but he knows all too well about you, and has been jealous of your success for many years."

"What? Why?"

"You have always had prodigious talent, Neji. You may have outgrown the arrogance and anger of your adolescence but your have never been found wanting in your ability to continually improve and hone your skills as a shinobi or your use of the Byakugan. Your cosuin, though you are perhaps as distantly related as two Hyuuga can be, has lived in the shadow of your reputation and achievements for a long time, and I suspect is made even more jealous by your stronger position within the clan despite being of the branch house," he paused to let that sink in for a moment before adding,

"You should know, Nephew, that there are some among the council of elders who would have you take over leadership rather than Hinata."

Neji's facial expression must have looked as shocked as he felt, because his uncle gave a rare smirk as he explained,

"Though you may not be aware of it, there has been a significant change of attitudes amongst many of the main branch since your genin days. You and Hinata and my soon-to-be son-in-law have made sure of it. You have represented the clan with honour and skill. With the much-improved relationships between you, Hinata and myself, and despite the fact that the Council is particularly hard on you, you have earned respect from many who initially dismissed you. For this, you have apparently become a target for the jealousy of others who have not achieved such standing."

Shikamaru glanced at Neji, who looked totally taken aback that all these changes could have happened and he hadn't even noticed. He had certainly never considered his life as something to be envied by others and definitely not to the extent that they would want him dead. That could be dealt with later though, for now they had to prevent any harm coming to Hiashi.

"Regardless of the situation, Uncle, we cannot allow a these men to get their hands on our bloodline trait or on you. It is possible they may be planning a coup within the leadership of the clan so he must have help inside the compound. Can you think of anyone else who might wish to have you removed?"

"None I would believe could stoop to this level, but that doesn't mean there isn't someone. Do you have any idea when he plans to make his move?"

"We can't be sure," Shikamaru answered carefully, "but it won't be tonight and I feel we could safely say we have a few more days before they are ready – he is set to go on a two day mission tomorrow morning so it would have to be after he returns."

Hiashi nodded and then stood, followed by the two ANBU and led them to the door.

"In which case we will have to bide our time. You should notify his team leader to ensure he is monitored during the mission and I will increase security here as subtlety as possible to avoid warning any co-conspirators."

Shikamaru agreed, "Neji should also stay at the compound as much as possible. He can monitor any developments and ensure you have someone you trust watching your back. I will go back to the tavern the arms dealer spends his time at and see if I can learn anything more about their plans."

They bid Lord Hiashi goodnight and parted ways silently into the dark night.