I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 5: Party
Neji had just finished fastening the katana to his back when Hinata knocked at his door.
"Come in, Hinata."
"Are you ready Neji-nii?"
"Yes, Hinata." Neji responded as he turned to face his cousin.
"Those robes fit you well, Neji."
"As does your kimono, Hinata. Shall we?" Hinata nodded and she and Neji walked through the Hyuuga compound to the main gate.
Sakura and Naruto stopped and bowed as soon as they entered the Hyuuga compound because Hyuuga Hiashi was waiting for them just inside the gate. After rising Sakura waited for Naruto to greet Hiashi, but realized that he was too nervous to say anything.
"Good evening, Hyuuga-sama, thank you for inviting me this evening." Sakura's voice snapped Naruto out of his stupor and he echoed her greeting.
"Good evening and thank you for coming. My daughter and nephew should be joining us shortly, but I wanted to give you a quick overview of the itinerary. The first hour will consist of mingling during which cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Just prior to dinner being served there will be an announcement. Haruno-san would you be willing to accompany Neji during this announcement?"
Naruto, who was still contending with his nerves and looked thoroughly confused. Sakura, however, knew exactly what Hiashi was talking about and was trying to find a reason to say no. However, nothing viable came to mind so she nodded.
"Of course, Hyuuga-sama, it would be an honor. And please, call me Sakura." She thought she saw him smirk, but it was gone so fast she couldn't be sure.
"Very well, Sakura-san, thank you. After dinner there will be an informal gathering that you are both welcome to attend." Sakura nodded and was about to reply when something, or rather someone, caught her eye.
Hinata was nervous for Naruto, but that did not stop her from noticing Neji's apprehension.
"Neji are you alright? You seem nervous." Caught off-guard by Hinata's accurate observation Neji was trying to decide what to tell his cousin.
"This announcement tonight is a big moment in my life, Hinata; it is natural that I am slightly apprehensive." Hinata narrowed her eyes at her cousin, he was lying through his teeth and she knew it. After waiting to see if he was, going to elaborate Hinata ventured a guess as to why Neji was nervous.
"Neji I am sure whoever father chose as your escort for the evening will be good company." The slight straightening of Neji's back indicated that Hinata had hit the bull's eye. Knowing he could no longer fool his cousin, Neji relented.
"There are less than a handful of women whose company I would find enjoyable, and I don't think your father would have willingly chosen one of them." Hinata smiled.
"I think you would be rather surprised at who father thinks you are compatible with."
Before Neji could accuse Hinata of knowing who his "date" was, he saw the group ahead of them. The only thing that came out of his mouth was "Sakura?"
Hinata smiled at her cousin before turning and approaching Naruto. This is going to be a very interesting evening.
Hinata greeted Naruto and he seemed to relax immensely when she did. Sakura, however, couldn't take her eyes from one Hyuuga Neji. When did he grow up?...Come on girl don't just stand here dumbstruck – say hello!
"Good evening, Neji-san." Sakura said as she bowed to her date for the evening.
As soon as his date came into view Neji knew exactly who it was – the pink hair was a dead giveaway. He begrudgingly admitted to himself that Hinata had been correct. He had not expected Hiashi to choose Sakura. To make matters worse (or better) she was one of the handful of women he could stand to be around for any length of time. Neji was still trying to get over sis shock when he felt someone nudge him in the side. Focusing he realized that Sakura was bowing to him.
Neji bowed in return as he greeted Sakura. "Good evening Sakura-san." As they both stood back up Hinata snuck a look at her father and found him smirking. So he is up to something. Hinata returned her father's smirk before urging Naruto towards the main party area.
"Neji, I have given Sakura-san a brief outline of the evening's events and she has agreed to stand with you during the announcement."
Neji's eyes widened slightly and he turned to Sakura for confirmation. Sakura nodded indicating that she had agreed. Neji turned back to his uncle inwardly wondering if she knew the implications of what she had agreed to.
"I am glad to hear that. Hiashi-sama, if you would excuse us I am going to escort Sakura-san to the party." Hiashi nodded and upon seeing this Neji turned and offered his arm to Sakura. Blushing Sakura accepted his arm and walked along side him. Neji smiled inwardly happy that something so simple brought a blush to her face.
After they had walked far enough away from Hiashi, Sakura decided to broach the "future bride" subject. However, Neji began to speak before she could.
"Sakura-san, I want to apologize for anything my uncle did to persuade you to attend this evening's dinner with me."
"Your apology is accepted, Neji. However, I should let you know that I am doing this as a favor for Naruto." Neji looked at her and raised an eyebrow for further explanation. "He told Naruto that the only way he could attend tonight's dinner with Hinata was if he provided a "suitable" date for you."
Neji sighed, that sounded like something his uncle would do.
"Well, since that is the case I truly wish to thank you. Naruto makes Hinata happy."
"You are welcome, and Hinata makes Naruto happy as well." Neji nodded and then took a deep breath. He didn't want to bring up the next topic.
"Sakura there is something else I need to discuss with you." Neji said as he stopped walking, he didn't want to be close to the party because he wasn't sure how she would react. "There are certain insinuations when a woman who is of age attends a Hyuuga party with a male of the Hyuuga clan." Sakura turned fully toward him having some idea of what he was going to say. "Coming to one of these as such is the first step in the courtship ritual for the Hyuuga clan." Neji carefully studied Sakura's face trying to gauge her reaction. He narrowed his eyes = she looked like she was trying not to smile.
"Sakura what I am trying to say is that many members of my family, as well as many of the others present, will believe that you and I are courting and plan to marry." This time Sakura did smile.
"You know, Neji. I came here tonight fully intending on telling you that you could shove any wedding plans up your ass. However, since you appear to have had no prior knowledge of this situation I will let you slide. But we need to decide exactly what we are going to tell people."
Neji just stared at Sakura for a minute, which caused Sakura to giggle. Something ran down Neji's spine as she laughed at him. Recovering quickly Neji had to make sure that he understood Sakura correctly.
"Do you mean that when my uncle spoke to you you were aware of what people would think?"
"Yes, Neji, I had some idea of the complications that would occur this evening."
"Then why did you say yes to Naruto? And beyond that agree to stand with me during the announcement?"
"Well to tell the complete truth Ino told me about the whole "future bride" thing after I said yes to Naruto. But I agreed to stand with you during the announcement because it is what a friend would do."
"But you opened yourself up to so much criticism and scrutiny by everyone."
"I have been dealing with that all my life. It is nothing I can't handle." Neji stared at her for a full minute before smirking.
"Well you completely ruined my entertainment for the evening." It was Sakura's turn to quirk an eyebrow. "I had fully planned on making my date utterly miserable for the evening in order to ensure she didn't want to marry me."
"Well that surely would have been thoughtful of you."
"It wasn't anything against the female. I just never imagined my uncle would have chosen, or allowed, a kunoichi to accompany me this evening. I fully expected some spoilt, rich high clan's man's daughter."
"Well I will try not to disappoint you then." Sakura said in a breathy voice as she fluttered her eyelashes. Neji scowled at her.
"Don't you dare. I will make your night a living hell." Sakura laughed as she began to walk away.
"Do your worst Hyuuga, but you are stuck with me all night long." Neji shook his head and caught up to Sakura placing his hand at the small of her back. Sakura's step nearly faltered when she felt Neji's hand, which radiated heat from her back all the way to the tips of her fingers and toes.
Quite a ways behind the couple Hiashi allowed himself a true smile. Watching Neji and Sakura brought back memories from both his courtship and his brother's. Hiashi still wishes every night that he were making Hizashi happy by providing for his son.
"Walking down memory lane, Hiashi?" Hiashi turned his head to address the Hyuuga elder.
"I am, Hisao. How are you this evening?"
"I am fine Hiashi, but curious. What exactly are your planes for Neji and Haruno-san?"
"Are you implying that I have something up my sleeve Hisao?"
"Not at all. But they do make a rather handsome couple don't they?" Hiashi looked at Hisao intently before nodding in agreement. The silent understanding was that the Hyuuga Clan Council would approve the marriage.
"Hisao, I did promise Tsunade-sama that we would allow them to discover things on their own." It was Hisao's turn to nod before walking away. So far, Hiashi thought things were going rather well. Now let's see how poised these two young ones are.
"I cannot believe I agreed to do this."
"You are the one that wanted to see how well they got along. Now be quiet or they will spot us."
Tsunade scowled at Jiraiya. She just had to be out her mind. Okay, so she had been slightly drunk when she had asked Jiraiya to use his peeping talents, but she wanted to see things for herself.
"Okay, this is a good spot. Can you see from here, Tsunade?"
"Yea, this will work. Oh, I can't believe Hinata got Naruto out of his orange for tonight."
"He bitched all day about that." Jiraiya said with a slight chuckle. Tsunade laughed with him until she caught sight of Neji and Sakura.
"Well, at least they haven't killed each other yet."
"Huh?" Jiraiya turned to follow Tsunade's line of sight and had to prevent himself from openly gaping.
"Is that Neji with Sakura?"
"Yep."
"Oh never would have guessed."
"It wasn't exactly their choice, but I want to see how things develop." Jiraiya merely nodded.
Sakura and Neji were talking with Naruto and Hinata as the other guests began to arrive. Naruto's nervousness had essentially disappeared, but Sakura's had increased ten-fold. It was not that she was in the presence of so many high-powered individuals. No, she had been to enough political "get togethers" with Tsunade and she knew she could handle them. Rather Neji was making her nervous. Every time he looked at her or accidentally brushed against him, her breath hitched and she would have sworn she blushed and he saw it.
I don't understand what's going on with me. I have never reacted like this around Neji before. That's because he hasn't exactly looked like that around us before. What do you me, we have seen him practically naked at the hospital? Oh yeah I know but to realize how he carries himself in situations while his is conscious is great, especially because we know how he looks underneath those Hyuuga robes.
At that statement by her inner self, she looked over at Neji again. You're right he is cute. Cute? He is way beyond cute and you are definitely attracted to him. Sakura didn't answer because Neji chose that moment to look directly into her eyes.
The second his eyes met hers he stopped breathing. Her eyes held something he had never seen before and it was something he could lose himself in forever. She had acted so mature, for lack of a better term. He had long ago realized she was no longer the Uchiha chasing fan girl. She had shed that persona when she became Tsunade's apprentice. He respected her as a shinobi both for her strength and healing abilities. However, until this evening he had never noticed how much she had changed in other aspects. Her warm personality and friendly nature was evident as they conversed with the arriving guests. As he pondered these things, he felt heat blooming in his chest and then spreading through his entire body. When Sakura smiled at him and squeezed his hand that heat settled in his loins. I need a distraction.
"Hey, Shikamaru and Temari are here." Neji breathed an inaudible sigh of relief as the group turned to face the two new arrivals. Shikamaru spotted them and nodded as he steered Temari in their direction. Shikamaru's eyes lingered on Sakura slightly longer than necessary and Neji unconsciously shifted toward her silently conveying to Nara to keep his distance. Shikamaru noticed this and turned saying something to Temari who looked quite surprised at his statement. No one else noticed the subtleties and so they all proceeded to catch up with each other.
Hiashi had been discreetly observing the group of young shinobi and was happy with what he saw. Hinata and Naruto were getting along wonderfully, but that was to be expected. However, the fact that his nephew had not left the pink haired kunoichi's side the entire evening was quite a nice surprise. In fact, Hiashi was intrigued even further when his nephew sent the Nara boy a subtle but unmistakable stay away gesture. Someone clearing a throat tore him from his observations.
"I believe it is time for the announcement." Hiashi nodded at the elder and headed towards his nephew.
Neji had noticed immediately that his uncle was coming in their direction and turned to Sakura.
"Sakura, it is time for the announcement. Do you still wish to accompany me?" Sakura shook her head and sighed in exasperation.
"I told you and your uncle that I would. Besides I am enjoying spending time by your side, Neji."
"Yes, but…"
"Shhh, be quiet Neji, let's just go with your uncle." Sakura said as she placed her arm through his. They turned to face Hiashi and missed the curious looks from their friends. Hinata merely smiled and led the group towards the open area with the tables.
Once Neji, Sakura and Hiashi were in place, Hiashi turned to gather the attention of those present.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please go to your seats, the Hyuuga clan has an important announcement to make prior to dinner being served." As everyone took his or her seats, Sakura could not shake the feeling that she was being watched. Discreetly, she looked around and noticed that the Hyuuga elders that comprised the clan's council were not so discreetly staring at her. Unconsciously she shifted closer to Neji.
Neji had felt Sakura's chakra shift slightly and then as she stepped towards him. Neji turned to see what had upset her. His eyes immediately alighted upon the Hyuuga elders who were not hiding the fact that they were assessing Sakura.
"Don't worry about them. They are only a bunch of geezers trying to live vicariously through the younger generations." Sakura stifled a giggle but turned to Neji with her best smile as thanks. Neji saw Sakura's beaming face and felt his stomach flutter as his chest tightened. However, before he could contemplate his reaction his uncle began to address the crowd.
"The Hyuuga clan thank you all for attending this evening's dinner. It is my great honor and pleasure to announce that I will be stepping down as clan head and that my nephew Neji will be taking over." There was a moment of silence from the crowd but then Naruto began to clap. Soon the younger generation of shinobi and finally all present were applauding. Hiashi turned to Neji and bowed.
"Please accept my congratulations, Neji-sama." As Hiashi stood, he added something that only Neji and Sakura could here. "Your father would be proud."
Sakura felt Neji's hand tighten its grip on her own. Slightly startling her, she hadn't even realized they were holding hands. Subconsciously she realized she enjoyed how his larger hand completely engulfed her own smaller one. Sakura squeezed his hand back in silent support and then gave him a small kiss on his cheek as her sign of congratulations.
Neji felt Sakura squeeze his hand and was grateful for the support. The warm sensation of her lips on his cheek, however, caught him completely off-guard and he couldn't control how fast his head turned to look at her. Once he did, he saw the slight blush on her cheeks and smiled warmly in return. The moment was interrupted when Hiashi announced that dinner was served.