Hey, hey!

Last day of the family vacation in this chapter. Hope you enjoy the chapter!


Neji and Hinata had the kids today. It was the last day on their family vacation and the two decided to spend the morning together with their children. They decided to explore the island. See the waterfalls and everything nature would let them experience here.

Neji gave his son a piggyback ride and held his daughter in a front carrier on his chest. She had fallen asleep close to her father's chest. Enjoying the ride. Hinata and the twins were walking. Her little boys already sensing their mother was in a fragile state and couldn't carry them the whole stroll.

Neji looked at his nephews before he looked back at Hinata. "Seriously. How are they so obedient Hinata? You make my kids look spoiled compared to yours." Hinata looked at Neji like he was being silly. "That is not true? Ōchō is perfect. He has energy at the right places and times. You are so hard on him already Neji."

Neji gave Hinata a pointed look. "I am not. He's just…a lot like Tenten. With just my eyes and features."

Hinata looked over at Neji curiously. "I don't understand?" Neji wasn't one to pout, but he looked close enough right now. "Your children act how our family raised us. Minus the mental issues. My family I feel…I will be the only one to take things 'seriously'. Tenten is very free spirited. She's used to living life how she wants and accepting the consequences later. I am sure it had a lot to do with her not being raised in a family. When I'm working or on a mission, she has the kids predominately. She's very protective of not letting them around other Hyuga's that's in Amegakure. Our kids are just…different."

Hinata was silent for a moment as she took in Neji's words. Her brother loved his wife. Her caring nature. Her free spirit is what made him fall in love with her. She was everything he was afraid to be. Neji was like Hinata though, he was a micromanager. Things had to be a certain way or he'd freak out. He was the cleaner of his home, not because Tenten didn't clean, but Neji was a germophobe like Hinata. Things just had to be right, because Neji and Hinata were the type to fall apart if it wasn't. It was part of the package deal of being married to them.

Hinata's children could wear all white for the whole day, and Neji's children could not and that BOTHERED him. "If I may Neji."

He looked at her as they made their way to a rainfall. To the top of it. It was so loud and breathtaking at the same time. "Yes. Go on."

Hinata smiled at her boys as they took in the scene. Taifū, while he looked like Naruto with Hinata's eyes. He was shy and cautious like Hinata. He hid behind Hinata's leg and Taika stood in front of his brother and mother in a protective way. Hinata gently maneuvered Taifū to stand beside Taika and had the two hold hands. This seemed to give Taifū the courage he needed to look at the beautiful scene.

"Neji. I believe you love your family the way it is. Perhaps it bothers you that you cannot push yourself to be as free spirited. You think perhaps Ōchō and Hana will grow up and resent your way of living. Like you resented Hiashi."

Neji frowned at Hinata, but before he could rebuttal she continued. "We are not him. We are not our grandparents. However, we can both admit traits from them were imbedded in us. Unlike our spouses, two who had no family values to take anything from and one that didn't have a family like ours. I understand Neji. Me and you. Sometimes we just don't fit in with the other clans and society. The Hyuga clan is just different."

Neji squared his jaw and noticed Ōchō had fallen asleep on his back. He turned to look at his son. His innocent son that would never be exposed to the tainted family his father was exposed to. He did indeed want Ōchō to live a carefree life. He just didn't know how to live that life with him. "You're right Hinata. It's not too often I say that either."

Hinata smiled at Neji with annoyance. She chose to ignore that comment. Especially when she saw how conflicted Neji looked. "It would be easier with you around Hinata. Tenten is apprehensive around our clan. Which I understand, but she accepts you. I…am still lost sometimes. Everything is going good with settling some of the Hyuga family in Amegakure. The Village is thriving. We are profiting. My children are happy. I'm just…stuck."

He missed his sister.

Hinata this time had to hold herself together. It had taken a while for her to get over the fact Neji left to better himself. She missed him too. She missed him greatly, but the ordeal she put Naruto and Sasuke through was NOT okay. She couldn't backtrack. "I want to help you Neji, but I do not know how without hurting my own family or myself."

Neji shook his head and smiled. "Don't worry about me. I…can sense you feel the same way. Everything in our lives is perfect, we just cannot shake off the past."

Hinata bit her bottom lip and wiped away a tear before it fell. She didn't want her boys to see that. "It's very complicated. Especially when we have people that love us so hard and little ones that depend on us. I fear every day that one of our kids will pick up the habits I had. It was passed down from our mother, to me, I do not want my children to have an addiction habit. I blame myself for having an addictive gene every day Neji. I live in over protective fear every day."

The two made their way to the bottom of the waterfall and sat on the ground near the stream. This was a better place to talk and have the kids walk around or rest as well. Hinata gave the twins some snacks she packed away and Neji laid out a blanket for Ōchō and Hana to lay on and sleep.

Neji reached for Hinata's hand when she was finished. They sat opposite from one another with their legs crossed. Hinata took Neji's hand and he leaned his forehead against hers. Both closing their eyes. "I believe, because we share the same misery from the same household, by the same people. We feel as if no one understands us but us. When in reality the people we married understands us to the fullest. We'll continue to be stuck. Sinking in the sand and they will continue to pull us out the sinking sand."

The two separated but still held hands. Both now in a meditative stance. "I cannot leave Tenten in this world without me. I fight against my demons every day for her." Hinata nodded her head at this and smiled at Neji. "I do as well for Naruto and Sasuke."

Neji looked at Hinata and she looked to be in thought. She turned to her boys and smiled as they played with the tiny fish in the water. "What is it?"

Hinata had that calculating grin on her face now. Only when she had a very Hiashi like idea. "I think with time, if I work with her. Hanabi would be an excellent leader for the clan in Amegakure."


Naruto looked out the window of the beach house because he thought he heard laughter. Sure enough Neji was playing with Ōchō. He was tossing his son in the air and Ōchō was eating it up. This was an amusing sight because Neji never really played with Ōchō. That was Tenten's thing because she let loose way more than Neji.

Not to take away from Neji as a parent. It was just Neji was more of a provider, and he was there to hold and hug his children. He just wasn't a hyper playful person.

Tenten looked out the window with Naruto to see what he was staring at for so long. Hinata and Neji were back. They were gone for about four hours. Now Neji was playing actively with Ōchō. "What the hell did Hinata say to him to get him this active and excited."

Hinata was in a lavender sundress. The dress was long and covered her feet, but she wore her ninja sandals because she knew they would be walking for a long time and she didn't want to get sore feet. Her hair was high in a bun and she was currently holding Hana as Neji played with his little boy.

Neji was in a dark, chocolate brown beach short set. He was open chest again and had his hair down this time while they went on their walk. His long hair, just like Hinata's, stopped at the beginning of his thighs.

Neji saw Taifū eyeing the fun. Too quiet to voice he wanted a turn. Uncharacteristically Neji grabbed Taifū from the back of his shirt and hiked him up in the hair as well before catching him. Now he was using both his hands to toss and catch Taifū and Ōchō. Showing his strength and accuracy.

Both the little boys laughed at this. Neji could see Ōchō was ACTUALLY getting tired out from their long day and placed his son down and took Taika up instead and tossed him. He looked indifferent to being tossed up at first, but once he looked over and saw how happy his twin was, then he started to laugh and enjoy himself.

"Well what do we have here?" Tenten walked out with Naruto and Sasuke to watch the kids have fun. She went to Hinata and happily took Hana from her aunt. Hinata smiled at Tenten, and the weapons mistress caught that gleam in Hinata's eyes. "Everything alright Hinata? You and Neji haven't looked this relaxed since we all lived together."

Neji stopped tossing the twins and now held them both in his arms. His nephews hugging him and laid their heads on his shoulders. Naruto picked up Ōchō and ruffled his hair. Ōchō rested his head on Naruto showing that he was in fact tired. He had a long adventurous day with his dad.

Neji looked at Tenten like she was being silly. Just like that, his serious persona was back and he acted as if he wasn't just being silly with the kids. "That is an over exaggeration. I have been relaxed far more times. Also, what is wrong with those times? When we all live together."

Tenten arched her brow at her husband. Was he being serious. "Oh I don't know. You two were in Anbu assassinating councilmen and running rogue on your free time. You two were off your rockers."

Neji walked closer to his wife and towered over her. He smirked at Tenten and stared at her intently. This caused her to blush at the smoldering attention. "You married me during those times. You seemed to like me just the same back then."

Tenten dropped her probing and grew flustered around her husband. Holding her blushing red cheeks.

Hinata smiled at the two of them. That was typically how it went when they were younger. Tenten would ask questions and Neji would charm her into changing the subject. Hinata looked over to Sasuke and Naruto and saw they were not Tenten. They looked at her with an expression that said they weren't dropping it.

Hinata smiled at the two. She approached Sasuke first and he looked down at her. He searched her eyes and saw that gleam that Tenten saw. Oh, she had something up her sleeve. Hinata went the extra mile and stood on her tiptoes and gave Sasuke a soft kiss on the lips. In return he gave her a pointed look.

That wasn't going to work.

"Love and gullible are two different lanes for me Hinata." This caused Hinata to giggle. She covered her mouth to hide how Sasuke's comment amused her. Sasuke rolled his eyes but smiled at her. Amused himself. "Just tell us what it is. You know Naruto goes into a jealous rage when you and Neji have these sibling secrets."

Naruto was in fact pouting as he held his nephew. His tail wrapped around Hinata and pulled her towards him. Hinata of course obliged. "Princess? Don't do that."

Hinata had a playful look on her face as she looked at Naruto. "You told me you were okay with Konohamaru leaving Konoha if he wanted to. So, I've decided after Hanabi's punishment is up. She will live in Amegakure…as the new leader."

Naruto eyed Hinata and a small grin started to cover his face. He looked at Neji, who was staring at Hinata with silent amusement. He was amused at how easily she folded to her husbands. "Neji. You're coming back?"

Neji shrugged his shoulders. He could see a spark of happiness enter Tenten. She liked Amegakure. It was nice, but all her friends were in Konoha. She did this for Neji. He knew that. That's why he looked at her undecisive.

"Not sure. It really depends on how Hanabi grows. If she can get her act together. I'm not coming back if she can't control her temper and show she is strong and mature. Our clan in Amegakure are not Hanabi supporters. Any sign of her treating them like they are below her and they'll revolt. Then I'd still end up having to go back to Amegakure."

Hinata nodded her head at this. "She will be ready. I will work with Hanabi. Her punishment is over when she turns 21. To run a clan she has to pass the gentle fists master test, I will train her to pass the test after her wedding."

Naruto looked at Hinata with an equally mischievous look. "You should do it before the wedding." Hinata looked at Naruto curiously and he just smiled at her. "That way she'll feel as if she can't have Konohamaru unless she passes the test. For once put some pressure on her Hinata. Even if you're bluffing. She doesn't know that."

Hinata's eyes widened and Neji grinned at the idea. "I like that Uzumaki. Nice one." Sasuke nodded his head in agreement. "You'll be a few months postpartum, but you keep in shape anyways. You'll be fine."

Neji looked at Hinata and genuinely smiled. He shook his head and looked at Tenten. "I feel bad for Hanabi. Hinata will not hold back."

Once the subject of Hanabi was laid to rest, everyone ate dinner that Tenten had prepared with Naruto's help. Naruto never knew why people outside of Hinata was so shocked that he cooked well. Either way, they ate dinner and the exhausted children finally submitted to sleep.

It was their last night and everything was packed and ready to go for tomorrow except for Neji's hookah. For tonight, they had strawberry flavor.

Hinata had changed into her bedtime wear. A black long sleeve shirt with black pajama shorts on. Neji sat beside her with a white cotton shirt on and long tan pajama pants. The two sat on the ground near the fire on a blanket.

Naruto behind Hinata. He was laying on the large blanket as well and had his tail lying around Hinata's frame in a protective manner. Kurama just had a thing for protecting her. Naruto was wearing a black cotton shirt and black sweat pants. His blonde hair making the subtle clothing pop.

Sasuke sat next to Tenten. They were on the opposite side of the Hookah. Sasuke was wearing a black shirt as well, but it was long sleeve like Hinata along with black sweatpants. Tenten a brown flannel pajama set. Her hair free from her buns and cascading a little past her shoulders.

Everyone was beside the fire and Neji looked at Hinata's cup of water she had beside her. He smirked as he raised his hand near the cup and watched as the water lifted out the cup. He was manipulating the water to move in Hinata's face.

His sister looked fascinated. Hinata was toying with Naruto's tail near her before Neji caught her attention. Being pregnant, Hinata excluded herself from the smoking portion of this relaxing session, so it was nice Neji entertained her in other ways. "When did you learn this?" Neji smirked at her. He was a prodigy, it didn't take him long to learn what Hinata trained for months to learn.

Being talented like this was a blessing and a curse.

"I live in Amegakure Hinata. I have so much supply of water to practice water elements in. I want to be a master in all elements." Neji watched Hinata take the water and start to manipulate it herself. The two facing one another as they freely manipulated the water between each other. Neji finally smiled and let out a laugh as this was actually fun and relaxing. No wonder Hinata enjoyed it.

Naruto watched the two from the back. He was comfortable lying down and watched as his wife laughed with her brother. How Neji made a Princess crown out the water and landed it above Hinata's head and then made a rose, sliding it over to Tenten.

It was amusing. They were like their boys. The twins. Inseparable. Neji realized him leaving wasn't going to help him as much as he wanted it to. Sure the time apart was needed. Neji and Hinata learned how to cope and actually depend on their spouses instead of each other. Something Naruto would have to make sure Hinata stayed doing if Neji came back.

Still, they learned and the two Hyuga's still missed one another. Naruto imagined their twins. This is exactly how they would feel if separated. That's how they feel now if separated. The usual independent Taika had a panic attack if his brother took a nap or wandered off without him.

Naruto thought back to Hinata's father. When Neji's father died. His twin. That changed him. Hiashi became dark and evil. He couldn't raise and tend to his family the right way because he lost the half of him that pushed him to do better.

Hinata and Neji were close like that. They experienced so much together. Still, Naruto wondered about the conversations Neji and Hinata shared. Especially one that would convince them to trade off Hanabi to live in Amegakure instead of Neji. Hanabi was their world. Their main objective in rebuilding and bettering the Hyuga clan. At some point it all shifted and the two started to focus on bettering themselves.

As they should.

Neji and Hinata had sacrificed the most for the Hyuga clan. They deserved to live their life how they wanted.

Neji placed the water back in the cup and proceeded to relax with some hookah smoke. He felt Naruto staring at him and looked over at the blonde. Naruto was sprawled out comfortably on his side as he laid behind Hinata. He was completely relaxed with his fox ears flopped and his tails sprawled, except for the one around Hinata. "What?"

Naruto grinned at Neji catching him staring. "It's interesting to see you two interact. You really missed each other. You two are the most in sync siblings I have ever seen that didn't share a stomach together. Sasuke and Itachi silently argue with each other all day."

Sasuke gave Naruto a pointed look. "Me and Itachi are different. You know this." Naruto shrugged his shoulders and chose not to debate with Sasuke. It didn't matter what Naruto saw, it mattered how Sasuke felt. How Sasuke handled his past and trauma.

Still, if you were to ask Naruto. Itachi killed their family and tortured Sasuke mentally at the same time. Leaving him a lone survivor. Yes. Naruto got that. Naruto also got that Itachi didn't want to do those things. That Sasuke's clan was doing some bad things and Itachi was convinced this was the only way to stop them. Itachi was hurt. Naruto couldn't imagine the mental turmoil Itachi was, and probably currently still is in.

Neji. He tortured Hinata for YEARS. Helped her feed her addiction. Downright mentally, physically and verbally abused Hinata since she was eight years old. They didn't rekindle until Hinata was 14. That is a long time to torture someone. If Neji could, if he didn't have the seal, he would have surely killed Hinata's father. Their grandfather. Shit probably the whole clan. Basically, what Naruto was getting at, was Neji and Itachi was no different.

Itachi wants Sasuke's forgiveness. He accepts they might never have the brotherly bond again. They do from time to time, but Sasuke keeps Itachi at a respectful distance as they heal. Sasuke holds the cards in his hands on how he wants his relationship with his brother to be and Sasuke has chosen that right now he wants it on a close friend type level. Not a close brotherly level yet.

Hinata always saw Neji's hurt. She saw through the harsh words and abuse. She was terrified of Neji, but to be fair. Back then Hinata was terrified of her own shadow. When Neji dedicated himself to Hinata again, she fully welcomed him back in her life.

Now. This was something Sasuke and even Naruto didn't like at first. They didn't care if Neji was a changed person. The shit he did in the past was beyond fucked up, yet the cards were in Hinata's hands and this is what she decided on. She decided she wanted her brother back. Sasuke hasn't reached that point yet.

Naruto grinned as he looked at Sasuke. "Blah. Anyways. Neji, did Sasuke tell you his brother knocked up one of your cousins?" Neji's eyes widened and he turned back to look at Naruto. "What?"

Sasuke further frowned at Naruto's habit of always making something into a joke. "That's Itachi's business to tell. Not mine." One of Naruto's tails waved in the air lazily and dismissed Sasuke. "Whatever. He's your brother. You're about to be an uncle. Surely Itachi's dominating Uchiha eyes will be passed down to the kid."

Hinata frowned at this and turned around as well. "Kurama. Manners please." Neji looked at Hinata and arched his brow. She could tell when Naruto was talking and when Kurama was talking? Interesting.

The quick, demoralizing responses. Yes, that was Kurama. He liked to stir the pot just like any mischievous fox.

Naruto blinked twice before he looked back at Sasuke. His husband looked annoyed, but he understood that went with the character of Kurama. Sometimes he could be a dick and sometimes he could be quiet. "Sorry."

That was all Naruto said as he took over again. He was a little sorry and he was a little not sorry. Sasuke busted his balls all the time. Surely Sasuke could take a little picking. Sasuke rolled his eyes before he grinned at Naruto. "Hn. Itachi is marrying her anyways. They were already engaged. She's a little older than Itachi. I didn't know he liked older women."

Neji looked at Sasuke and looked down in thought. Interesting. "Uchiha and Hyuga clan really are mixing together. I'm really curious to see how these Dōjutsu's blend together, and what they will create. It'll be nice that our nature elements won't change."

Hinata smiled as she looked at Sasuke. It'll be the big clan that Sasuke wanted back. What he dreamed of.

Sasuke caught Hinata looking at him and focused his sights on her. He smoked from his hookah still and looked at her as smoke came out his nose. Sasuke had a curious look on his face before he looked back at Neji. "So. Since we're all here. You can let me know how the whole night went Neji."

Hinata and Neji looked at Sasuke confused, while Naruto was behind Hinata chuckling. "Sasuke let it go."

Sasuke grinned as he looked at the Hyuga siblings. "No. Neji. That night Sakura tried to seduce my wife. How did that night go? I've been mentally scratching my head at what the hell type of Hookah parties were you throwing back then."

Considering Sasuke has found out that Neji and Hinata were rich kids that frequented the red-light district. He could imagine they partied just as wild.

Neji chuckled at this. He looked at Hinata and smirked before he looked back at Sasuke. "Hinata didn't do anything to encourage Sakura to do what she did. Sakura planned it perfectly. She waited for all of us to relax. She waited for Shikamaru and Ino to leave first, then she waited for me to leave with Tenten. So basically when her and Hinata were alone. Honestly Hinata thought Sakura stayed behind to help her clean. That's how lost Hinata was."

Naruto looked at the back of Hinata. His poor wife. She was so green and innocent.

Neji arched his brow amused and looked at Tenten. "I was busy, but I wasn't that busy to know Sakura was up to something. She had been giving Hinata over the top compliments for weeks before the incident. Hinata was just…well just like Naruto if you get what I mean."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and nodded his head. Naruto and Hinata were so inexperienced back then. Sometimes they thought everyone they became associated with had good intentions. As they aged, they got better at not being so trustful. Still it was rough being Sasuke and the only one with common sense out of the three when they were starting out.

Neji grinned as he looked back at Hinata. "That being said. Our social group is rather 'open' with one another. Over time our personal boundaries was nonexistent with certain people. You and Ino were really close. I was very close with Shikamaru. I suppose the whole cigarette swap between you and Shikamaru probably made Sakura think you were open to the idea."

Naruto's tail landed on Hinata's lap again. "What do you mean by that Neji?"

Neji looked at Hinata amused. He smoked out his hookah stick and smirked. "Hinata. What did you already tell them?" Naruto sat up now and glared at Neji, who was laughing now. This amused Neji a little too much.

Neji waved his hand innocently in front of Naruto. "No. I have to know what she told you two. I don't want to incriminate her." Hinata looked at Neji like he was crazy, "What? I didn't do anything. Shikamaru offered me a cigarette and asked if I wanted to try it. I tried it, and was not a fan of it. I told Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun this."

She honestly looked confused. What was so funny?

Neji still looked amused and looked at Tenten, who was glaring at Neji with a smirk on her face. "Neji. You're such a shit starter." Neji shrugged his shoulders at this. Duh.

Tenten looked at Hinata with a sympathetic smile. "Hun. Shikamaru offered you his cigarette, that was in his mouth at the time. You accepted the cigarette and he took it from his lips and put it in between your lips himself. Lit it up for you. Coached you on how to smoke it and all. That is something that you do for your significant other. Not a friend."

Sasuke turned from looking at Tenten and looked at Hinata slowly. "Oh really?" Naruto's eyes were wide and he looked at Hinata with this blank face. "That's interesting. You said he gave you a cigarette. I didn't know it was like that. He took it back too I bet. To smoke later."

Naruto was good friends with Shikamaru. Sasuke was Shikamaru's associate. Naruto hung with Shikamaru the most though on his down time. Still, Naruto never forgot about all the things Hinata and Shikamaru had in common. How much time they spent together. The list. Shikamaru was like…perfect for Hinata in Naruto's eyes. So this made him VERY jealous, if it was hinted Shikamaru flirted with her in the slightest.

Which Shikamaru didn't.

Hinata could see Naruto and Sasuke were not happy with this, she honestly didn't see the problem until Tenten broke it down to her. She pouted at the attention being on her. Like she was openly cheating on Naruto and Sasuke while they were away. This was embarrassing. "This isn't being fair."

Neji rolled his eyes as Hinata crossed her arms under her chest. Poking out her little baby bump. Hinata was still so sensitive and rarely could take a joke. "Oh Hinata. Get over it. I'm just picking with you. I said our social group was all open with each other. Shikamaru is someone that cares nothing about someone's personal space. He'd hunch over Tenten to talk to her in the kitchen. He's invaded Sakura's personal space, to whisper something in her ear. He's offered me cigarettes out his mouth. He doesn't care. To him we're all family."

Neji shrugged his shoulders and continued to inhale from his hookah stick. "You hug and touch on Tenten freely all the time. You've laid in bed with her, when he lived together. You two have taken naps together. I'm not insecure. I don't think you're trying to steal my wife. It's just how we function. Once people like me and you allow others in our life, we are hands on compared to how we handle outsiders."

Naruto looked at Hinata and Neji. "I'm still learning how you two operate. Some things are a little odd to me. I guess I'm not use to being intimate with people, and it not meaning something more with me. I did see how hands on you all were in your house Neji. When me and Sasuke first came back. It's different."

Sasuke was willing to accept this. Shikamaru had a whole family. With Ino of all people. She didn't strike Sasuke as a 'sharing' type. "So. That being said. Sakura wanted to be with Hinata for some time and just waited for you all to leave out the room so she could make a move."

Neji nodded his head as he looked at Hinata from the corner of his eyes. Still showing that he wasn't going to say anything that Hinata didn't want discussed. She seemed comfortable with everything though. "Yes. She laid it on pretty thick with you Hinata. Like I said, I was busy, but I cut my activities short because your chakra level spiked from being upset."

Sasuke looked at Neji and slowly nodded his head. Neji really was always there for Hinata. Clearly his 'activities' were being intimate with Tenten and Neji cut it short to check on Hinata.

Neji tapped his finger on his hookah stick in thought. "I wouldn't say she was bashing Naruto and Sasuke, but in the heat of the moment, and if you were slightly intoxicated, a lot of things Sakura was saying would have started to make a lot of sense. It was three years, and we were doing a lot. Covering up a lot. I had Tenten. Yes you had friends and family Hinata, but late nights get lonely for any ninja. The way you just buried yourself in work, our clan and Danzo. I was waiting for you to crack."

Tenten frowned and looked at Hinata as well. She knew Hinata was so lonely and hurting so badly back then. "I think Sakura just…thought you needed a little stress relief, but she shouldn't have overstepped boundaries like that. It's just back then, even before Sakura did what she did. You were just CHANGING. It was crazy. You spent more time with your father. You spent more time in Anbu. More time just detached. I thought you were on the road of burning yourself out."

Tenten paused and looked at Neji just as concerned. "You and Neji both did this. We were all worried for you two. I mean, then come to find out you two kept things from all of us. Me, Naruto and Sasuke. It was crazy because I was actually living with you two, and didn't know half the things you did until recently."

Neji slowly nodded his head in understanding his wife's frustrations. "I was wrong for that. I guess in my head, I didn't want you to get caught up in the mass illegal things we were doing. Tenten. I know you think a lot of this was on Hinata, but I pushed her to do things she didn't want to do either."

Hinata smiled as she sat cross legged and rested her hands in her lap. She looked at Neji and smiled as she shook her head. "You talk nonsense brother." Hinata looked at Tenten and still smiled. "Everything I've told Naruto and Sasuke was my truth. Aside from me almost relapsing in the apartment, everything I've said to them was from the bottom of my heart. I have nothing to hide Tenten."

Hinata held her head high and she continued to smile. "My goal was to either kill or to ruin the lives of everyone on that list. That was not Hiashi's plan, but it was mine. I pushed for their lives to be taken. I was told not to remove Neji's caged bird seal, it was still my wishes, so I did it. I was not focused on romance with other people, because I was too busy stalking everyone from the council. Danzo included. Where they lived. Where they ate. Their wives and children. If they had affairs. That is what I occupied my three and a half years doing."

Her smile faltered a little when she thought about her cherry blossom friend. "Sakura, while she is still my friend. She threw me for a loop. I was so focused on things, that I didn't know her intentions. Neji heard our conversation. I was very firm with Sakura of how I was satisfied with how my life was at the moment, because all I really cared about was avenging my clan. After the Sakura situation I deemed that maybe I was becoming too relaxed and needed to focus more on eliminating the threats against my family."

Hinata shook her head slightly to get the negative thoughts of blaming herself to leave her mind. "Please understand that seeing my grandfather associate with my sister more. It hurt me a great deal, so I felt as if I needed to speed things up. I confronted Danzo, I know…I know Neji didn't want me to kill him, but I wish I did. Hiashi would be alive. A lot of closure would have been made."

Instead of Hinata killing Danzo. She did nothing. Frolicked with her lovers and during her time with Naruto and Sasuke. Danzo planned and killed her father.

"I blame myself for that day the Hyuga clan was attacked. I thought I deserved the pain Orochimaru was implementing on me. I thought I deserved to relapse. I focused over three years in avenging my clan, just to have a moment of weakness and they get attacked." Hinata looked at Neji with a sad smile, "If you weren't there. The worse would have happened Neji. You…were always what was best for the clan."

Naruto's tail wrapped around Hinata's frame and pulled her to him. He buried his face in her neck and squeezed her a little. He could feel her slipping. Her dark thoughts taking over. "Stop that."

Hinata could feel Sasuke staring at her and she looked at him to see he was giving her a disapproving stare. Telling her to cut it out as well. He would not allow her to blame herself from such a thing.

Hinata smiled at this. "Tenten. You shouldn't blame Neji for anything. My true father. Kakashi was right. I told him to join Anbu."

This was the first time Hinata has admitted this out her mouth.

Tenten eyes widened and so did Sasuke's. Naruto held Hinata closer as his face was still hidden in her neck. "I told him to join Anbu. I told him we had to be paired together. I told him I would make the first kill from the list. I told him to allow Shikamaru and Ino to be involved because it would strengthen our alliances. I told him before Ino told me about my grandfather, that I would kill him and to not stop me. I told him my desires to kill Danzo. I told him that I would stop at nothing to avenge our clan. That I would let the dark chakra consume my very SOUL if it meant my clan would prosper in spite of Konoha."

So, that's what Ino was talking about back in the apartment. How Hinata had sunk so low while Naruto and Sasuke were away. She really did turn into a cold hearted Hiashi Hyuga. "Neji, he saved me. He brought to my attention many times that I wasn't doing this for vengeance. I was doing it for our little sister. At the time. We were working so hard for her. For our children in the future, so they could have a future. So Neji could love who he wanted, and so I could love who I wanted and not have any strings attached."

Hinata was smiling again as she looked from Tenten to Sasuke. "Whenever I grew too dark. Neji would remind me of my Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun. How I couldn't leave them and be consumed by darkness. So, I do not regret my decisions Tenten. I look at our children now, and I feel as if we did the right thing. I would do it again."

And again. And again. She would kill them all, over and over again.

"Still. Something tells me Hinata is calling the shots. Either that, or she just hasn't realized the power she has over her clan just yet. It'll be a terrifying sight when she comes to realize that she is in fact Hiashi's replica."

Naruto kissed the curve of Hinata's neck and smiled into her skin. Remembering the conversation Kakashi had with him and Sasuke years ago. How he was 100% right. "Only your father would know you best Princess."

Hinata hummed and smiled at the affection and looked over at Sasuke to see he was smiling at her too. "Okay. I have no more questions about your past Hinata."

Sasuke stood up and reached over for Hinata's hand. "I hope you two are able to get Hanabi in Amegakure. I think things would be better with Neji back in Konoha anyways. Now, if you'll excuse me. I will be retiring with Hinata and Naruto."

Neji smirked as he looked up at Sasuke. Retiring? Sure.

Dark Hinata got Naruto and Sasuke excited.


End of chapter.

Ahhh, only three chapters left after this! So exciting.

I felt like the story should start with Hinata's problems being about protecting Hanabi, and ending that way. Coming full circle. You might like the ending, or it might be bittersweet.

This chapter, of course is the set up for the rest of the story, but also for the final closure that was always hinted, but not clear.

Yes, Hinata planned everything. Absolutely everything. She wasn't convinced to do anything. Just like Kakashi thought, Hinata was calling the shots. Not Hiashi.

I never intended for Neji to be away for long. I love their brother sister relationship. I enjoy writing it.

Next chapter. Hinata and Hanabi collide.

See you Wednesday!