Author's Note: Sorry that this Chapter is so short! Maybe I will post Ch. 3 later today. Hope you enjoy! R&R! :)
Chapter 2
Hinata was in her room, restocking her mission supplies, and making shopping lists of things she needed to get. After a while, Hinata noticed the sounds of battle coming from the middle of the house—Neji's training arena. From the sounds of it, it was being used. Hinata remembered Sasuke from a few hours ago, asking for Neji to train with him. They must be fighting really hard, Hinata thought. She knew her cousin Neji would fight no less than full on, even while training. She rose, giving into the burning curiosity. She just wanted to see how they were doing. That was all. Then she'd go back to her work.
She walked silently through the house, her footsteps making no noise at all. She walked past many empty rooms, and many rooms with servants bustling about. She also passed a room with the door closed. She knew without using her byakugan that her father was inside. She was almost to the door, which would allow her to view the training grounds from above. The training arena was on the ground floor, while she was a story above. She remembered that she could have used her byakugan to see her cousin and Sasuke…but she was already at the door. She opened it and stepped outside, feeling the outside air caress her hair. She immediately spotted Neji in his white robes, and Sasuke in his black ones. But one ninja's outfit was impossible to miss…because it was bright orange. Hinata felt a wave of heat (more accurately, a tsunami) rush to her face. She was about to run back inside, but tripped over her own feet. She didn't completely faceplant, but her hasty and clumsy recovery involved much too loud steps as she staggered sideways. Her awkward recovery was noticed by all. Sasuke was blocking Lee's kick, but Lee held Sasuke's hand (which held a kunai) away from his own face. Neji and Naruto had kunais to each other's throats.
"HELLO, QUINTESSENSE OF YOUTH!" Lee greeted her. "WHY DON'T YOU JOIN OUR YOUTHFUL ACTIVITIES?"
"Yeah, Hinata, you could train with us!" Naruto called out.
"Uh…uh…" Hinata was sure that her face was completely red by now. (And it was. It would be described as "tomato red" or "apple red" or "brick red". Basically, think of anything EXTREMELY red.) Think of something fast! Hinata thought to herself. She was in red (haha)-alert panic mode. "I-I have to m-meet Tenten s-soon," Hinata said. "M-maybe l-later…" She ran inside the house, turning, so that he couldn't see her through the door she had left open.
Neji watched his cousin flee the training room. He saw her bright red cheeks and wide worried lavender eyes. He felt a flash of elder-brotherly protection. Even though Hinata wasn't his real sister, she was just as good as. He wanted to leave the fight and make sure she was okay. He turned back to his opponent, who was now flailing about, orange sleeved arms attacking Neji like crazy. Neji easily (okay, maybe not SO easily) dodged them, but was being forced backwards. He knew he couldn't leave the fight—it would definitely come back to haunt him later, with Naruto and Lee boasting about beating him. Neji would definitely make sure his younger cousin was okay after the fight. She was never so gauche as he had just seen her. She was always graceful, elegant, beautiful. Except when…he studied his opponent more closely. His blue eyes were wild as he continued to jab at Neji. His three whisker marks on each cheek were angled up with his smile and his spiky yellow hair was striking. Neji vowed to drill Hinata about him later—but not scarily of course. He would never get anything out of her that way. Neji turned his full attention back onto his opponent. Naruto was now back to back with Sasuke, their hair colors contrasting greatly against each other. Neji narrowed his byakugan-empowered eyes. Let's finish this, he thought.