They finished packing the last of their supplies. Neji looked everything over with a critical eye. Everything seemed to be in order. It should be. We spent an extra day here. Gaara had told them they could leave yesterday, but another small sand storm had kicked up as they were preparing to leave and lasted until the morning. Neji rolled his eyes. And I'm sure it's just a coincidence that shortly after the storm started Sai and the Sand Master disappeared for the rest of the day. Because we don't know what they were up to. Neji thought sarcastically.
Neji had spent most of the extra day in his room planning. Kia and Naruto had been training together. The pair was finished with their portion of the packing and were talking casually and laughing. Glad they're getting along. Gaara and Sai were also finished and were sharing quick kisses when they thought no one was looking. Neji caught Temari roll her eyes at the pair while she spoke with Kankuro.
Kyo was the only one who hadn't finished packing. He was currently struggling with attaching his sleeping bag to his pack. Neji wanted to help him but knew it was a bad idea. Kyo looked like hell. He had dark bags under his eyes, his black hair was messy and knotted, and his electric blue eyes seemed to have lost their gleam. The most concerning thing was the worried glances his sister kept sending the the boy's way. Neji had noticed she kept offering her brother snacks, claiming she didn't want them. He was convinced the boy still wasn't eating.
Neji looked down at his own pack and lifted it over his shoulder. He scowled at himself. Stop worrying. Kia and Sai will handle it. Once the mission is over everything will be fine. You'll probably never see him again. So stop thinking about him. Kyo finally finished with his pack and slung it over his shoulder. Neji cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. "If everyone is finished packing we should go. Thank you for you hospitality Kazekage-sama."
Gaara shook Neji's hand and made his way to Naruto. He grasped the blond's hand firmly. "Feel free to visit anytime." As they all started to leave the gate, Sai stayed back. He looked at his lover with a sad expression. As Sai opened his mouth to speak Gaara interrupted him. "We'll meet again soon. Do not forget our bond Sai." Gaara smiled. Sai hugged the red haired boy and smiled. "Never. Not when I now know what bonds are like." He leaned back and kissed the boy before running to catch up with his team.
It was going to take them half a day to get to the check point. From there they would send a report hawk and get some sleep. The real mission would start in the morning. The plan was to have Kyo go on to sneak into Orochimaru's base while Kiyami stayed and wrote everything down. Sai would bodyguard her to keep her location and the information safe while Neji and Naruto stood by to act in case of an emergency. It seemed like a fool proof plan. Seemed like.
They were half way to the check point when Neji started to really notice just how out of it Kyo was. He was struggling to keep up with the group and seemed to desperately need to stop for a rest. Neji kept an eye on him through Byakugan and Kia continuosly glanced back at him. Even Naruto, the number one knuckle head ninja, noticed just how hard of a time Kyo was having keeping up. But the boy refused to say anything. Neji was beginning to question wether he should send Kia to scout instead. Finally when they reached the edge of the dessert, Neji called a break.
"Alright guys, we have twenty minutes to stop and eat. Then we're bak towards the checkpoint." Neji didn't miss the glare Kyo shot his way, or the look of relief on Kia's face. Naruto walked past Neji stretching. "Good. I was just starting to get hungry." Three heads turned to gape at Naruto. Sai, Neji and Kia were shocked to say the least. Kyo just grumbled. "Whatever." Kia stared at the boy she'd come to be close friends with over the past few days. The blond turned and looked at her, sending her a quick wink. She smiled. Arigato Naruto.
She'd been worried about her brother since the second day in Suna. Except to show her his memories, he'd put up the barrier between there minds. She was afraid he wouldn't take it down until the mission tomorrow. He hadn't been eating and he was barely speaking. He was irritated and withdrawn. It was like he was a totally different person. She walked over to where he and Sai were sitting.
"Kyo-kun, you should eat something." Kyo looked up at Sai with dead eyes. Sai had seen those same eyes in every graduated Root member and they stirred something in him that he didn't like. He smiled gently. "Eat. We'll need our strength for tomorrow." Kyo nodded and started nibbling on the food in front of him. Kia smiled at Sai in gratitude and sat down to eat.
Twenty minutes passed and it was time to go. Kyo hadn't eaten all of his ration, but it was better than nothing to the rest of the team. Naruto and Sai still didn't know what was going on, but both were worried about their new teammate. Along the way Kia continually sent the occaisional glare Neji's way. Finally they reached the checkpoint. As the others set up camp and settled in, Neji wrote up a report and sent it to the Hokage. Then he went to bed with the others.
Naruto couldn't sleep. He was nervous about tomorrow. Will I finally get to meet Sasuke again? Can I bring him home? He tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable. "Mah!" Finally he sat up. I can't sleep like this. He walked away from his tent and into the forest. He reached a small stream. Perfect. I can clear my head here. As he approached the stream he saw a lone figure sitting by the edge of the water. He approached cautiously until he recognised the person.
"Kia-chan?" The girl jumped and turn around. "Oh, Naruto you scared me." He walked over and sat beside her. "What are you doing out here so late?" She glanced over at him and chuckled before replying. "Same thing you are I suppose. Needed to clear my head." He nodded at her. "Want to talk about it?" She started at the water. "I don't know if I should." "Is it about Kyo?" This time she turned to look at him. "How did you-" "He's off. He's been slow and unresponsive since before we left Suna. And he hasn't been eating has he?" Kia's eyes filled with tears she refused to shed. "Yeah. He even put the barrier up between us. I haven't heard him in days."
Naruto looked down at the girl with gentle eyes. Something about this girl really reminded him of Sakura. It made him feel close to her. "Want to tell me what happened. I feel like the only one out of the loop." "Sai doesn't know either." He laughed. "So it's just me and Sai huh?" She nodded weakly. The action just made him more concerned. "Kia-chan" he started gently. "What happened?" Kia looked at the water with a hard gaze and practically growled her answer. "Neji happened." Naruto was confused. "What?"
Kia explained what had occured in Suna and Naruto was shocked to say the least. But at the same time he understood. Neji and Sasuke had similar clan situations after all. Similar goals holding them back. "I get it, but it probably isn't easy for Neji either." Kia turned her glare on him. "What?" He held up his hands in front of him to hold her off.
"Neji is from the branch family. He's not allowed to do anything for himself or he could be disowned or punished in a worse way. Hiashi doesn't allow anyone in his family to step out of line. He's even trying to arrange a marriage for Hinata. And since Hiashi is the only immediate family Neji has and head of the Hyuuga family, it must be really hard for Neji to disobey or dishonour him." Kia looked at him in angry confusion. "And?" Naruto shrugged. "I'm just saying, knowing Neji the feelings for your brother are there but the Hyuuga name is holding him back. That's all. It might be just as hard for him to see Kyo like this as it is for you."
Kia was shocked. Is it true. Could he really like Kyo back and just be scared of his Uncle? Kia shook her head. "Even if that is the case, there was no reason for him to react like that. He shouldn't have done it." Naruto shrugged. "Just think about it, okay? Come on. We should go back to bed. Tomorrow we have to go get Sasuke." He stood and offered her his hand and that brilliant Naruto smile. She reached up and took the help. They headed back and just before they went into their tents she turned to him. "You know if you weren't gay I would totally go for you." He smiled, used to her antics, and disappeared into his tent.
She slowly crept into her shared tent and gazed down at her brother. He was sleeping peacefully, for the first time in days. She smiled gently and curled up in her own sleeping bag. After this mission everything can go back to normal. Everything is going to be fine. With that thought she drifted off to sleep.
Kia slowly drifted awake to the comforting feeling of her and her brothers bond. She had been dreaming of the night before and Naruto's words, when she heard activity around the camp. Her eyes snapped open upon a realiztion. Nii-san opened the barrier. She shot out of the tent to see eveyone sitting in a circle around the rations. She walked up and took hers, smiling down at her brother.
"Morning." She was so happy to be able to hear him again. "Morning sis." She sat beside him to eat. Neji walked around the team. Everyone was there. "Alright." he said gaining everyone's attention. "We have an hour until we start the mission. Eat breakfast quickly and then we'll discuss the game plan." Kyo glared at Neji. Didn't we already discuss this stupid plan. Kia looked at her brother. This is probably just a refresher. Calm down I'm sure he knows what he's doing. Kyo's eyes narrowed. Whatever. And with that thought he shut the barrier. She felt her heart sink.
Ten minutes went by before she noticed he hadn't started his food. She sighed. "Kyo you should eat." He glared at her. "I'm not hungry." Her eyes narrowed. "You need to eat. We have a mission." "I'll be fine." By this point everyone had noticed the boy wasn't eating, and were watching the exchange between siblings. "Nii-san. Eat." She said firmly. "Don't tell me what to do Kiyami." She looked to Naruto for help and was surprised when she recieved it. But not from the source she'd been seeking it from.
"Sano, you need to eat. Need I remind you of the importance of your role in this mission?" Kyo and Kia both glared up at their Captain. "I understand the importance of my role just fine Hyuuga. I believe I already told my sister that I'm fine. Mind your own business." Neji fixed the raven boy with a glare. "If you are going to pout about personal thing like a little child then do so on your own time. Do not jepordize my mission simply because of your stupid pettiness." With that the older boy walked back to his spot.
Kia was about to yell at him when she noticed something. Her brother had started eating. He was clealy angry, but he was eating. He was probably spewing curse words in his head about the Hyuuga, but he was actually eating. Kia glanced at Neji in shock. While Kyo was glaring at his plate and shovelling it's contents into his mouth, Neji was looking at her brother in blatant relief. Kia had to admit, while his methods were unconventional, it seemed he did care about her brother.
Neji watched Kyo finish the entire plate and sighed in relief. It wouldn't be enough to get him through the mission, but atleast he was eating again. Neji just hoped his change in plan would go over smoothly. Once everyone was finished eating he started his recap. He pulled out a map and set to work.
"Orochimaru's base is located here." He said pointing. "We are here. Naruto and I will be positioned here in case anything goes wrong. Sai you will be here with Kyo for relay while Kia infultrates the base." He let it sink in and was about to continue when a loud voice inturrupted him. "What?! I thought I was incharge of infiltration while Kia stayed back for relay." Neji sighed. "That was the plan. The plan has changed."
Kia watched the fight fold out. "What? You think I can't handle the base infiltration?" Neji seemed irritated. "Quite frankly no I don't. Kia will be in charge of that." Kyo raised his voice. "And why can't I handle it, Captain?" The venom was evident. "Because Sano, your behaviour has been detrimental. Until this morning you had barely eaten in days and I can tell you haven't been sleeping. You have very little chakra reseves right now and therefor not enough strength to defend yourself in case of confrontation. I will not-" "So what you think I'm WEAK!?" "That is not what I'm say-" "I'm not weak Hyuuga. Atleast I'm not a scared little child who lets his family name get in the way of what he wants!"
Kia's eyes widened in shock. He went through my memories while I was sleeping! Bastard!" The whole team sat shocked as the boys words registered. Kia was the first to speak. "Kyo you-" "Fine. You want to do the infiltration? See if I care if you get hurt. Do what you want." "Nej-" Neji stood and stormed away before she could finish.
Naruto looked at Kia with sad eyes while Sai sat confused. Kia glanced between her brother and the retreating back of her captain. Finally she locked her gaze on Kyo. She stood and glared down at him. "You stupid, stupid brother!" She turned and stormed away. Naruto tried to reach for her. "Kia." He looked at his other two team members and sighed. "Come on. We should go to our spots." Neji waited for Naruto at their spot. He was angry. Whatever. If he's going to be like that then let him. As far as Neji was concerned he was in captain mode. And the mission started now.