Cough, cough, cough.
"Your Excellency, the messenger hawk confirmed that Hyūga Neji has reached the camp." The subordinate seemed faceless under the veil of the night. The eldest figure in the room gestured for him to scramble. The subordinate did as told. Only two men remained in the room.
"He is in no position to do so."
Laughter pierced through the thick atmosphere, slashing it. "That's because it isn't him." The elder man's skin folded strangely as he smirked. "I don't like any surprises – we'll find out just exactly who Hiashi sent."
The younger man nodded back, lacking vigour.
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"Bastard–" Naruto barked, fisting Sasuke's collar, blue eyes shooting daggers. "Do you want a war within our own country?"
The blonde was heaving. Sasuke felt himself being pushed against the stack of weapons, a sharp corner of a container bruising his back. But he'd let Naruto manhandle him like a puppet. The last thing Konoha needed was the two commanders of the Elite Squad being at each other's throats. Sasuke's face stayed calm. Naruto got even more riled up, as if Sasuke had poured gasoline on a fire, his features turning more feral every second.
"You have nothing to say?!" Sasuke's body got slammed again against the stack of containers. It knocked the breath out of his lungs, but he looked the blonde in the eyes steadily nonetheless. He kept his face impassive.
"Rules are meant to be enforced," Sasuke tried to say coolly, but his voice betrayed him, sounding raw with emotion.
"Would you have killed her?" Naruto's voice dropped lower to a growl and the fist around the Uchiha's collar got tighter.
"I had the intention to."
"You're scum. You're the worst of the worst. Ya' ain't supposed to kill a woman because she lives a life like us!" To Sasuke, Naruto's outburst sounded oddly personal.
"You know another woman on site," Sasuke said flatly. Blue eyes widened. He dropped Sasuke and looked to the side. He didn't deny. Oh. The tables have turned.
"Who?"
Silence followed. Naruto seemed to weigh in the weight of his revelation. "We need her."
Sasuke rubbed his face. This was getting complicated. "Just say it." Or I'll have to fucking find out on my own, was left unsaid. Instead, he decided to settle for a more diplomatic approach. "We're both in the same situation," he finally mumbled out. They were, weren't they?
"My wife. The head of the healers."
"Haru?" Sasuke's eyes widened for a second.
Naruto nodded. His eyes seemed drenched in guilt. "To be honest, when I saw the Hyūga woman I was more concerned about setting a precedent. Ya' know, if anyone were to… find out." He scratched the back of his neck. "And I'm sorry for you know…" He gestured around the mess he had made, pushing Sasuke around.
The latter was getting a headache. He was representing the Uchiha. They upheld Konoha's rules. Now he was bending them like they were paper. He was to become their Head. He carried more than his own opinions and feelings on his back. There was no way someone could ever find out about this. Why was he even accepting this anyways?
"Do you even know who the woman you stood up for is?" Sasuke found himself thinking out loud.
"No. But she's a Hyūga and if they send the actual Neji here all mad that some cousin of his died…" Naruto groaned.
"She's my fiance. Hiashi's daughter."
"Aw, shit man! Is she even a shinobi?" Probably not, Sasuke thought. "I just can't figure out why she'd replace their best fighter." He scoffed. "She is around Genin level at best, judging by her chakra levels and all."
Silence. 'What now?' was the question hanging over the room.
"Ya' think the Hyuuga are up to something?"
Sasuke grunted. "The prodigy", he said mockingly, "hasn't been seen around the compound for the past year. Something is definitely up. Couldn't figure out what during my visits. In fact, I never got to meet him."
"Aaaah, my head hurts. Too little information." He made a show out of feigning a headache. Blue eyes widened all of a sudden. "Crap, I forgot! Bastard, I just got word that we'd have to depart tomorrow–"
"We need to take matters into our own hands."
"How?"
"I'll train her. I need chakra from you. And some healing wonders from your wife."
"You don't mean…?"
"There's no other choice."
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Hanabi walked towards her cousin's room. White eyes followed her. Murmurs. Maybe she was just paranoid. After all, it would be merely a matter of time before the clan learned of her sister's departure. Father and her would do their best to delay the discovery and buy Hinata time. That meant she had to take on her sister's responsibilities.
As she slid the doors open, she felt overwhelmed. The windows were open and sunlight had already engulfed Neji's face, giving his pale boney face an unnatural glow. It was almost like looking at an overexposed photograph of still nature, laid in front of her eyes by her governess to reproduce on paper. She pulled the curtains shut to dispel the image.
On the desk next to his head, a neat set of instructions laid prepared by her sister regarding his bodily care and physical therapy. Of course she would have left this behind.
She uncovered Neji's body to see his flailing body lay bare, only a diaper covering his private parts. Hanabi felt tears pooling into her eyes at the sight of her always dignified cousin in this state.
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As the day was approaching its end, Hanabi had checked off almost every single step her sister had described. It had been physically and emotionally exhausting. Nee-sama, why have you picked up all this on your own?
The last requirement left her puzzled. 'Write him a letter at least once a week. Lay it how mother would have.' Letter? How mother would've?
Hanabi eyed the potted plants. Her fingers knocked against the first pot slowly from top to bottom. Hollow… hollow… hollow… full! Short letter-like scribbles were preserved in her sister's handwriting in a secret compartment within the planter. She smiled. What were these?
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'To Neji-nii. June 2nd.
Can you hear me when I'm talking to you, nii-san? I always imagined that you did. More recently, another thought crossed my mind that maybe you can't. Don't worry, I'll try to write down some of the developments. I don't have access to most things of interest, I imagine, but I'll do my best to capture at least some memories in writing for you. I know you've always liked to be one step ahead.'
Hanabi's trembling fingers shuffled to another one.
'To Neji-nii. June 17th.
It's now been exactly one month since the incident. I wish more than anything that you could tell us what happened to you. Hyūga doctors come and go and despite trying everything, nothing has changed. Your condition is under wraps for the protection of the clan.
They keep saying your chakra flow looks odd. It sounds so abstract to me. I imagine it's something one can see with the Byakugan. I wish I knew how to use mine.'
'To Neji-nii. July 3rd.
Happy birthday, nii-san!
Father and Hanabi visit you daily. Today he threatened her to forbid visiting if she won't stop braiding your hair. I think you look adorable. Father says it's unbecoming of our strongest warrior. And Hanabi stuck her tongue out at him!
Don't worry – we found a solution. The council deemed me of use today. Whilst I cannot defend our people in battle, I can secure a powerful allegiance. It fills me with joy knowing I can contribute, even if just a little, to the well-being of our family. I will shortly be engaged to the youngest of the Uchiha brothers.
Father was upset I wasn't betrothed to the eldest. Honestly, I much prefer not being engaged to a future clan leader. Too much scrutiny and I'll fear they'll find out my every inadequacy.'
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Hanabi's eyes were watering, her fingers trembling. She put away the letters in a haste, as if they had burned her skin, deciding to go through them over the next few days. She will finally know what her sister had been through. Hanabi didn't know if she was ready.
The room was dark and still again and Neji's silhouette looked the same, as if he were dead already. Her breathing quickened. It all was too much for tonight.