Title: Identical Lies
Rating: T for language
Pairings: ?/Hyuuga Neji, ?/Hyuuga Hinata
Genre: A bit of everything.
Disclaimer:I do not own any of NARUTO or it's characters.
A/N: Chapter 2! A quick update, because I had already written several chapters before actually posting the story up ^^;
Anyway! Some of the mystery behind the Nagakawa will soon be revealed!
Something has changed again.
There was no doubt that Reikou was acting stranger than the day before.
Nagakawa Kai slowly lowered his cup slightly, staring at his sister over his glass. Her eyes were staring blankly at the steam emitting from her own cup of tea. Her hands were wrapped around the cup, taking in the warmth, from what Kai could tell, but she didn't lift it to her lips at all. Most of the time, Kai would be the one to take his time with his tea, while Reikou finished it off as quickly as she could without burning herself, and then taking off to run another errand or train her butt off. At the moment, she was just staring at the steam. After a minute or so, the steam began to die down, and Kai was restless - which was extremely unlike him.
This is unusual.
Kai couldn't help but feel worried. He was always concerned for his two sisters; but for Reikou - the clearest mind, especially during battle, to be worried, concerned, and lost in thought? It was a joke! Had his sister, Nagakawa Reikou, who has been one of Konoha's strongest chunin kunoichi, lost it? It was impossible, almost laughable - if the look aura and emotion she radiated didn't feel so deadly depressing. Kai's worry didn't seem to help. If he were to ask, he would only be shot down. He knew very well that Reikou would never speak her mind if something was troubling her. And whatever it was, it was probably dangerous to be even a few feet away from her, since she was…broken.
He knew quite well. What happened during the mission must have started a chain reaction.
The shinobi took note of everything that had happened so far. They were fine the day they returned home, although the distance between them in their sibling relationship had begun to fade. However, today - five days later - Reikou had totally distanced herself from him and Nukumi. Kai could only stand back and watched her try to fix whatever problem she had herself. She has been running around doing errands as usual, along with different chores, but Kai could feel the unsettling vacancy in the girl's spirit. Her fiery aura was suppose to be in place of this emptiness, and it felt uncomfortable knowing that something he was so used to was gone. As if he was missing a part of him as well. After all, they were a three-in-one package. When one was hurt, the other two could feel it. It must be triplet-telepathy or something because Kai could feel himself aching as well. It was his job to take care of his sisters, and he was doing it terribly. And Nukumi…He was sure Nukumi was avoiding Reikou at all costs, knowing her presence will probably throw Reikou off the ledge. A ledge that they wouldn't be able to save Reikou from.
An icy glare was shot at him as Kai placed the cup down, realizing he had been staring into her eyes.
"You all look at me like that," she muttered, and Kai couldn't place a finger on her tone. A bit of disappointment and maybe some anger and sadness? He could almost see the dark cloud that hung over her.
"You know, we're just trying to help," Kai said softly, his eyes glancing sideways- half lidded, so she wouldn't read into his eyes just as easily as he could read into hers. She kept silent, but soon changed the subject.
"Do you think I'm capable?"
About making jounin?
"If that is what you want, I will support you," Kai said reluctantly, but hid it well, keeping his bored expression. The jounin exams would probably - no, cross that out - the jounin exams willbreak her even more. Kai could sense her weakness, and to have her defeated? If a broken relationship could cause this much to Reikou, who knows what would happen if her pride was destroyed if she lost.
"You don't honestly think I can make it though, in the…" Reikou looked for the right words, "…state I'm in."
I wish I could.
"Neji-san,"
The Byakugan user frowned, his eyebrows furrowing as he turned to the voice. For a moment, he hadn't recognized the chakra signature. Then again, with the chunin's long absence, Neji could understand that he couldn't immediately figure out who it was.
"Nagakawa-san," Neji returned the greeting in an unfazed tone, meeting an emerald green eye. It almost shook him, how similar those eyes looked to Reikou's, the only difference being that is eye was full of determination, will, innocence, and … love? He took that back - it was definitely very different from the female he spoke to a few days ago.
He watched the female take a small step forward; but kept the distance between them. He instantly realized the aura too. It was warm, but unlike Reikou's soothing, fiery one. Surprisingly, this aura was almost like fluid, leaking into his senses; and it peeved him. It was as if her aura and chakra were slowly diffusing into his. Creeping in like an unwanted visitor.
Very different from Reikou's.
Water. That must be her affinity. Neji nailed, watching the girl calmly, a slight flush on her cheeks as his eyes went over her. Her dark auburn bangs covered one eye, and she was dressed modestly. A grey baggy jacket with a high collar, and dark shin obi pants that ended halfway down her calves. Regular ninja sandals, two weapon pouches holster on her hip and thigh, the hitai-ate wrapped around her other thigh. Not even an inch of skin was revealed, except for the peep of her toes and calves. Whereas Reikou had worn only a black beater, revealing her toned arms and shoulders the day before.
Definitely different.
"I believe she spoke to you some days before," the sudden soft voice broke his thoughts, his eyes going back to the only visible eye. The female before her used "she" as if Neji knew who the girl in front of her was talking about - which he did. "And you must already know she wants to make jounin."
"Yes, I do know," Neji responded, "but I do not know why it's any of my concern."
Nagakawa Nukumi sighed, not in irritation, but as if she lost a bit of hope. "I think you may be the one that can fix her."
"Fix her? She's a broken tool now?" The Hyuuga said with a raise of an eyebrow, not a hint of amusement in his voice.
"No, no! Not at all!" Nukumi said desperately. Her hands were waving about, flustered. "She…after our mission, our bond isn't as strong as it used to be. And before, it wasn't that great either!"
"I still don't see why I'm a part of it," The dark brunet pivoted his body slightly, before returning to walking swiftly down the semi-crowded street. He felt Nukumi follow close behind as he entered a weapon shop.
"The thing is - I can't fix it, no matter how much I want to," the female followed behind, but not close enough to invade personal space. However, her strange aura continued to seep in - like it was clogging up his senses. "My brother can't either because, well…"
"Of what happened on the mission," Neji finished the trailed off sentence. Nukumi nodded quickly. He could feel her watch his movements, as he picked up several kunai, before stopping near a bin of shuriken, analyzing them. His eyes met Nukumi's slightly before returning to scan over other weapons as well.
He couldn't understand why he felt he'd rather have Reikou around rather than Nukumi - who was obviously more sweet, caring, and just as strong. He couldn't even understand why he was comparing this female to Reikou; they are two different people after all. It made him wonder why he suddenly felt anxiety. After what he had witnessed before he left the girl alone a few days ago, he couldn't get his mind off the break down just at the second he had disappeared. It haunted him like a nightmare, even his usual meditation routine didn't help. It troubled him to know that witnessing that one situation could have such a large impact.
"I'm not interested in being involved with your familial…affairs," Neji started, watching the shuriken he held to eye level glint from the light in the shop, "It isn't any of my business. Ask someone who'll be willing to butt in. Try Naruto, or Hinata-sama."
Just thinking about the loud blond made him shiver, and he could see Nukumi flinch slightly at the name too. When he mentioned the name of his cousin, Nukumi pursed her lips together at the thought. It made Neji question to why Nukumi hadn't gone to Hinata in the first place; after all, they seemed pretty close whenever the dark auburn haired female went to look for the even shyer kunoichi.
"Hinata-chan wouldn't be able to relate - and in the state my sister's in, she probably won't allow anyone to talk to her, she'll only tell them that they don't understand her," Nukumi said softly. Neji arched an eyebrow, not facing the female quite yet - continuing on his expedition around the shop. He didn't really picking anything up, but he had hoped something would catch his eye. He wasn't reliant on weapons, but he needed to stock up before any missions the Hokage might throw his way.
"And you think I could," The Hyuuga was beginning to feel aggravated. Nukumi wanted his help, but he wasn't told any other information as to how to fix it, and why he was involved. He would be doing this request blindly, if he were to accept it. "I think that's enough, Nagakawa."
Neji heard a sigh of defeat - but when he glanced up to catch the look on her face, the bell hanging over the door jingled in the absence of her presence. The jounin felt himself calm down when he didn't feel as if his space was being violated anymore, but instantly tumbled into a hole of confusion that came rushing back into his head.
Gods, why me?
"Hokage-sama, you have requested us?"
Okamoto Shou bowed slightly to the blonde woman at the desk as he entered the room, glancing at Shizune once as a greeting. The tall raven-haired male felt Hyuuga Neji do the same too, following close behind.
"There is this mission," Tsunade help up a stroll lazily with one hand, elbow against the desk. Her eyes suddenly opened, a serious look, before she tossed it over to Shou. "It's an A-ranked one."
Shou caught the scroll, watching the Godaime Hokage before rolling the item open. His eyes scanned over the details, before passing it towards the Hyuuga beside him. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes opening fully to reveal onyx orbs, his charm even making the Hokage glance twice. "I don't quite understand; it says Kakashi-senpai is suppose to - "
"Yo, sorry I'm late," A sudden voice interrupted, cause Shou to turn his head slightly to the window, as silver haired jounin climbed in. "On the way here I had -"
"To help an elderly woman bring her groceries home," Shou completed, lips curling up into a charismatic smile. The whole room seem to stare at him for a nanosecond, the smile so perfect with the right amount of genuine laughter behind his eyes. "You haven't changed a bit."
Kakashi raised his eyebrow, the only visible eye turning upwards into a smirk, "I can say the same to you - our village misses their ladies' man."
Tsunade coughed, interrupting the small greeting exchange. Neji seemed to hang around the back, his eyebrows furrowed in thought; from what Shou could sense. Then, the Hokage laced her fingers, and placed her chin onto her hands. "Back on topic; the Takumi village has been asking for help for a while now, and as you know, they aren't a shinobi village. Recently, there has been attacks; many of their special weaponry are being stolen, and village people are getting injured. They have requested us specially - although their trust in any of the larger villages is still weak. So during this investigation and stopping the attacks, I would like you to speak to the village head and create an alliance. Our shinobi power for their weapons."
"Seems simple enough," Shou said matter-of-factly. "But the teams…"
"At first, it was to be Team Kakashi and Team Gai," Tsunade said with a purse of her lips, "But Gai and Lee are on another mission and Naruto will be training with Yamato for a while. Although they were my first choices, I assume you, Reikou and Kai will be better assets to the team. You can put your charisma to good use."
Hyuuga Neji rolled open the scroll again, reading the names. Shou could see him from his peripheral vision; the long haired jounin was staring at the names of the team. Instead of asking what Shou had thought, the quiet male rolled the scroll back up again.
"This must be important then," the male beside Shou stated the obvious. The silver haired jounin across the room near the windows nodded in agreement. "To have three jounins on this team."
"Yes," The Hokage concurred. "And if you haven't heard, I wanted Reikou on this team as a final test before allowing her to take the exam."
Shou's eyes flashed with slight concern before concealing it with his signature smile. Sometimes, Shou felt grateful to have to wear glasses - the reflection usually hid what could be read underneath. He felt the Hyuuga frown, before rolling the scroll back up and started towards Kakashi to hand the scroll over, although they all knew Kakashi had probably known about the mission already - after all, he was most capable of leading a large team.
The dark chestnut haired male was stopped, when the Hokage raised a hand slightly, waving it towards Shou. "I would like Shou to lead this mission, though I want both you and Kakashi to aid him too."
Shou tensed, before sighing, "Alright."
It was strange enough to have a team as if it were chosen out of a hat, but for Shou to lead? It was abnormal. Usually, it was the more experienced Jounin in the team...
Unusual.
As they stepped out of the building, Shou watched as Kakashi went in a different direction, with his orange book in his face. The taller jounin watched the Hyuuga's back as they both went down the same street for a while.
"You want to ask me something," the Hyuuga prodigy stopped suddenly, turning around - pale eyes searching Shou's dark ones.
"You're good," Shou said with the usual upturn of his lips. "I would like to talk to you about Reikou…"
"I've already told Nukumi-san that I won't be able to help with Reikou's unstable condition. It's a surprise she's on this team too." Hyuuga butted in before Shou could even continue on.
"The Hokage put Rei-chan on this mission for a reason," Shou said, his hands in the pockets of his ninja pants. "To finalize whether or not she could make Jounin. However, even though I'm against it; I'm glad she did. I need you to help her. An unofficial request."
He spotted the faint twitch of Neji's lips, itching to turn down into a deep frown. Shou stepped to the side, allowing people to walk by, as the other did the same.
"Look, senpai," Neji sighed, finally breaking the small silence between them. "But I don't even know what situation she's in, and how I can help. With not even the slightest bit of information on her, I won't be able to help you or her with anything."
"Lets have some tea," Shou walked passed the Hyuuga, indicating the younger male to follow. "I'll give you the details on the mission Nukumi couldn't fill in."
Shou and Neji had a silent conversation within their eyes, their tea steaming before them as they sat across from each other. The older jounin lifted the steaming cup to his lips, sipping quietly before setting it down on the wooden table.
"What do you want to know?" Shou said blankly, his face full of seriousness that most of the jounin didn't think he could pull off.
"First off, I haven't accepted your request yet, but I would like to hear everything before I decide," The Hyuuga sat with a perfect posture, his hands on his lap, waiting for Shou to understand. Shou tilted his head slightly forward, in which Neji could read as a nod. "So tell me…everything you can."
"My team," Shou started, his eyes gazing off, reading back into the past, "We were to travel to Sangaku Village, a small village with very few shinobi. The purpose of this mission was for Kai, Reikou and Nukumi to train - not because the condition there was much calmer, but because that's the origin of their clan.
"I don't believe you know, since the Nagakawa clan weren't one to flaunt and make themselves known - but Kai, Reikou and Nukumi's mother, Ukiyo Masami, was a regular citizen of Konoha. Their father, Nagakawa Katsu, was a strong shinobi of the Sangaku Village, and while on a small trip to Konoha to arrange a peace treaty, he had met Masami.
"As the usual story goes - Katsu fell in love with this villager, but because they were on a long distance relationship due to his role in Sangaku, Katsu rarely had the time to visit. Unfortunately, when he was away, Masami gave birth to the triplets…but passed away doing so.
"When Katsu found out, he argued with the Hokage to allow him to bring the triplets back to Sangaku, where they should be raised as excellent ninja - the way of the Nagakawa. Katsu didn't get what he wanted and what he thought was best for the triplets, he was forced to abandon his children here.
"During their youth, Sangaku was attacked by another shinobi village. Most of the Nagakawa had died, but several remained. Katsu wasn't one of the lucky ones. His death was unknown to the triplets; and they had just learned while we were away on this "mission." If that wasn't unfortunate for them enough, what was left of the Nagakawa clan had begged the triplets to revive their clan - but in Konoha. However, the Nagakawa tradition was to have only one head family that will have the advantage of learning the secret techniques of the Nagakawa."
Shou had stopped, waiting for Neji to digest everything he had said so far. The pale younger jounin felt his eyes grow wider unconciously. Being abandoned? Having to meet the clan that abandoned them? Knowing that a possible father that could've been alive was now dead? And most of all…
"One head family…" Neji repeated quietly, almost a murmur.
That's what she knew I would understand…
He could feel Shou watch him, but Neji was already feeling the sympathetic emotions he had tried so hard to suppress over his years of becoming a shinobi and dealing with his own past problems. Neji felt himself fall back against his chair, remembering how he had felt about his father and uncle being twins, and still does, and how fate had pronounced his uncle to be the older one.
So that would mean…
"Nukumi is the eldest of the two," Shou had clarified, and Neji tensed, his posture rigid - now that what he thought had come true. "Kai's older than all three, but he doesn't mind, but he's always been the laid back type. Reikou, on the other hand, isn't…And no matter how much they trained with the scrolls of Nagakawa, Nukumi's water affinity always defeated Reikou's fire-based techniques."
Neji heard how Shou's voice shook. He knew very well how his senpai felt. Shou was forced to watch his students fight each other for the title of becoming the more privileged one. Just like how he had to watch his father die in place of his Uncle. He shouldn't even be remembering this! It was a bad idea to learn about Reikou and her family when they don't even have a mutual relationship. Heck, the only times they spoke were on the rare missions they were sent on together.
"Reikou accepted it," Shou said quietly, his eyes drawn to his tea. "She accepted defeat, but she couldn't accept her father's death, and how Nagakawa ran it's traditions. She couldn't believe that her father was forced to abandon them, forcing them to care for themselves. All she wanted was a memory, but she couldn't get one.
"As they fought each other, the Nagakawa stood back and watched. The triplets learned new techniques, and after a year, they have already mastered them. Unfortunately, during the second year, attacks against the Nagakawa clan came back, wanting to take them all out. However, because the triplets were born together, they held a special bond. Nukumi is the water, Kai's the earth, and Reikou held the fire. The bond between Nukumi and Reikou are suppose to give them an advantage, since they were identical - Kai being the fraternal third triplet. Either way, they were stronger as a whole.
"The people who attacked knew that, and tried to separate us. I was their sensei, and I was to protect them. However, even when I used shadow clones and tried to go back up all three of them, it was impossible. So I tried to lure them together, so they could combine techniques.
"Kai is the mediator between Nukumi and Reikou. He had grown up being the role that kept Nukumi and Reikou at balance. The thing is, as they were training, Reikou had gained something more than the other two, that resulted in hatred. Hatred against Konoha. The past Hokage. Her father. They were once at a balance, but after gaining this knowledge, Reikou being driven with anger, she over powered Nukumi during one of the combination attacks.
"The attackers disappeared, but Nukumi sustained third degree burns on her left limbs from the inequality of their chakra force. Kai had warned them, and even forced them to use a different attack, but to be at an advantage against the attackers, Reikou insisted to use a Boil Release technique; a combination between the two females that didn't end so well.
"Reikou seemed to gain the most power on this mission, but she lost just as much. Even though she lived, I know for a fact something had died inside of her. She wasn't the same as she used to be. Even though she wouldn't say it out loud, I believe she holds a grudge."
Nukumi was right; he did understand how Reikou felt. The grudge he held against his clan, The vulnerability he sensed earlier this week…He remembered the look in her eyes, but he hadn't quite realized what it was until now. Those emerald orbs were haunted, lost, afraid, and never wanting to turn back and remember.
He now realized what it had reminded him of - that look.
That's how he had felt after his father's death.
"She's unstable," Neji finally found his voice after a pregnant pause. His opal eyes met Shou's onyx ones. "With what had happened, she thinks everything is unfair."
"Correct," Shou said finally; the two jounins stared deeply into each others' eyes, a quiet understanding, before pulling away. The spectacled male stood, dropping money on the table. Neji followed suit, bowing to Shou for the treat. Neji watched Shou's back until he disappeared in a flash - right after turning his head slightly mouthing a word, leaving the Hyuuga to have a lot to think about.
"Please."
A/N: Yosh! Eheheh, Neji is getting bothered by so many people o 3o;
Anywho! I hope I didn't put too much information in one chapter ~ but meh, I didn't know where else to put it but at the front!
Next: Setting off on their mission!