After being in the afterlife for a short while, Neji woke up one morning in a crib. He sat and then stood up, helped by the bars of the crib that he grabbed. He looked around. It was his childhood bedroom. He looked down at himself. He was a baby.

He realized very fast that he remembered everything from his past life. Neji figured out that the seal Shikamaru and his father had planned out had somehow functioned. He was pretty sure it was supposed to bring him many years older than he was now.

His father came to bring him in the kitchen and Neji immediately knew what his goal was: preventing his death. If Neji was to relive his life, he wanted his father next to him. But nothing would happen until he was four years old, so Neji didn't force his memories until then. He tried living as a toddler the best he could. He couldn't use his Byakugan, nor anything his adult-self knew. He could barely talk at first. Even when he wanted to form sentences, only small words would leave his mouth, sometimes they were changed by his brain to pass more child-like.

Everything was alright and Neji almost forgot he was from the future until Hinata's third birthday approached. Because he loved her so much, they had spent a lot of time together, more than his previous childhood. They were often playing together, watched by either one of their mothers, or Neji's father. Neji knew Hinata was also from the future. They had had secret chats occasionally, escaping from their parents to hide in what would be Hanabi's room in the future. Meet at Hanabi was now their secret code.

Neji started worrying about actions to take when his father brought him to a store to buy a gift for Hinata.

"What present do you want to give her?" Hizashi asked.

Neji thought about it. In his previous life, he had barely interacted with Hinata before she became three years old. This time, Neji had asked his father often enough about her to be allowed to be with her regularly. Which meant he had a better idea of what to give her.

"She loves looking at image books. And she loves plush toys."

"Ok, we'll go to a toy store and then the book one. I'll help you choose a nice book, since you can't read yet."

Neji nodded, a big smile on his face. He wanted Hinata to love his gifts.

They found a cat plush toy and Neji's father paid. They were on their way to the bookstore when Hizashi pulled Neji from the roadway.

"Let those ninjas pass, Neji."

Neji looked at a whole delegation walking towards them. Someone who looked familiar to Neji was guarding them. His black hair and bushy brows, and green clothes was distinguished enough for the Neji to recognize the ninja who had been his sensei for years. But Guy was a Chunin now, at this time. He probably got his promotion not too long ago. But Guy sensei had his Chunin vest on. Neji made a smile at him, before realizing it was not worth anything. Guy didn't know him. Guy was not from the future. Neji looked down, and felt his lips shaking. To hide his disappointment, he looked up to watch the delegation.

It was ninjas from another village. Neji didn't quite remember whose it was, he couldn't recall the headband. But if his memories were right, it was the village that tried kidnapping Lady Hinata, and then asked for his uncle's dead body afterwards. Neji closed his fist tight. He didn't want them here. He took his father's hand.

"What's the matter, Neji?" Hizashi asked, passing a hand behind Neji's head.

"Why are they here?" Neji asked, teeth gritted.

"They are here to discuss with the Hokage. A peace treaty could be done with Kumo if all goes well."

It was Kumo, then. The men were now passing in front of them, and Neji frowned at the leader of the group. Neji knew he couldn't trust them. He couldn't have the Hyuga affair happening.

One of them stopped in front of them and approached Neji's father.

"Are you the great Hyuga Hiashi?"

Neji looked up with a defying look. "Why do you ask?"

Hizashi immediately shushed his son. "Neji, stay polite."

Neji didn't want his father telling Hiashi was his twin. If they knew they were identical, and heard about the branch and main family, Neji didn't know how different things would be.

"It's okay, we've been at war with your village for a while, it's normal people do not trust us yet. I just came to you because we heard of the Byakugan and I thought it was fascinating."

Neji's eyes didn't quit looking at the man's eyes. He didn't like their presence here, even less that he was intrigued by the Byakugan. Neji's heart started pounding. He felt in danger. He tried keeping his feelings to himself, contained and unnoticed by his father. On the exterior, he had to seem calm. But inside, he was panicking. His chest was tightening as he recalled his father's funerals. No. Not this time. He would not let those ninjas get inside the Hyuuga compound. He could not let Hinata get kidnapped, and allow for his father to be executed. Or Hiashi, in case his father didn't ask to pretend to be his brother.

Neji had to get his father's attention before he could reply to anything, so he decided to cut the discussion off.

"Can we go to the bookstore for the present? I want to go," Neji asked. He avoided saying Hinata's name at all costs, and hoped his father wouldn't bring him up. Those Kumo ninja couldn't learn of her existence.

Hizashi looked at his son, suddenly suspicious. He apologized to the man for Neji's behavior, then turned to Neji. He first didn't say anything, just looking at him, and Neji felt his heart would explode. What did his father want, staring at him like that? Neji watched the Kumo ninjas walk further, in the direction of the Hokage's tower.

"Let's go home," his father said after a short while, taking his hand and pulling him away.

"We have to get to the bookstore first," Neji reminded him. He didn't want to go home. He didn't want those ninjas to have an idea of where the compound was.

"I know we said that, but you look pale and you're shaking, and you haven't been looking so good for the past minutes. I'd rather go home. We still have a few days to buy Lady Hinata something."

Damn. Hizashi had noticed his son's change of behavior. Neji swore to himself in his mind, knowing his father would reprimand him if he even whispered it. If his father thought he was sick, they'd go directly to the compound, and Neji didn't want that. It was too dangerous. And he didn't want to be forced to rest either. He didn't need to.

"I'm okay, father. We can go look at the books."

The man didn't look pleased by the child's insistence, and he put a hand on his son's forehead. He then shrugged. Neji didn't have a fever, he knew that.

Neji looked at the Kumo delegation in the distance, his teeth still clenched. He had to find something so that Konoha wouldn't sign a treaty with them. Neji felt his legs shaking and feared they would give out.

Hizashi took Neji in his arms and sat him on his shoulders. "The bookstore is on our way home, maybe we can stop if you insist. But if you don't feel well, please tell me."

Neji mumbled a "yes father" with a smile. He didn't want to think about Kumo right now. Hinata's birthday was more important for the time being.

Normally, he didn't like to be carried, but his legs were so shaky it was better this way. Besides, he liked the view from above his father's head. They went to the bookstore, where Neji looked at every book he found interesting, to choose one for Hinata. They then went home. Neji tried keeping himself occupied by wrapping the presents and training, so he wouldn't have to think about Kumo.