Ch.6: Tori's Den
Once they were finished resting, Gai stood up dusting his clothes (spandex).
"Well, we are now officially team 3, and it's time to begin our first training session." He told them "First you will spar against me so I can have an overview of your skills, and then I'll test you in other areas like accuracy, ninjutsu, taijutsu, etc."
All of them stood up and stared at Gai.
"Ladies first. I'll begin with you Neji. Tenten and Lee will watch. It is necessary to know your teammate's strengths and weaknesses, so you know how to help them. Remember, you work as a unit. Understood?"
"Hai, Gai-sensei!" Lee responded. Tenten only nodded, and they proceeded to retrocede leaving enough space for Neji to be tested.
Gai looked at Neji's blank expression and wondered about why her attitude was like that. It wasn't the kind of blank bored expression her eternal rival wore; he could sense in her the calm permanent anger underneath. It was a teacher's duty to help their students, but he could ponder over it later. Right now, he had to know his team's abilities.
"I've already noticed you're very good at taijutsu, but that's natural since you're a Hyuga…however, you're too advanced for your age."
Neji's mouth curled into an arrogant smirk.
"I've actually had the fortune of working with some other Hyugas, even one was on my team so I may know one or two things about your fighting style and how to help you." Neji actually looked impressed and inwardly was excited though she didn't demonstrate it. "Hyuga Hoheto, may I say he was the second-best rookie of our generation, but he didn't reach your level until after six months of being a gennin." Gai commented "I also had the chance of being on an S-ranked mission with the most talented Hyuga I've ever met. Who trained you? Perhaps you know him."
"I've trained myself, Gai-sensei." She told him. Gai looked at her in disbelief, and her teammates who also had listened were gaping at her. "As for that other Hyuga, even if they're my family, I'm not familiar with a lot of them though I happen to know Hoheto-san by sight."
"Ah, good! When you see him send him my greetings. As for the other one, he truly was a great shinobi. Maybe you didn't know him since he passed away about 8 years ago, but perhaps you've heard of him. The best Hyuga warrior in not only my opinion."
"Perhaps." she mused disinterestedly.
"His name was Hyuga Hizashi." Gai told her after a moment.
At this Neji became petrified and her cool demeanor broke. Her eyes widened and looked up at Gai, her eyes reflecting something Gai couldn't really place a finger on exactly what it was.
"He was my father." She told him, her gaze lowering to the ground.
"No wonder you're so good. I guess it is in the genes." Gai reassured laying his hand on her shoulder. The girl nodded and an almost invisible smile appeared. 'That's a start' Gai thought pleased.
After testing each of them, Gai had already come up with their strengths and weaknesses. By the time he was finished, it was already 1:30 pm.
"Take a rest, I'm taking you to celebrate this youthfully delicious place!" Gai told them.
"Hai."
First, they went to a nearby stream to wash their faces and hands, and then followed their sensei.
The day, as the one before was hot though not as scalding. Fewer people were swarming the streets, so they arrived at their destination in no time.
"Tori's Den"
It had some pretty bird designs on the walls, and luckily there were only a few commensals though what caught Neji's attention wasn't the artwork. It was the fact that it was the same one where she had bought food the day before.
"Here we are! Tori's Den!" Gai exclaimed. Then he approached the same bored guy from the day before on the counter.
"Good morning, Seiichi-kun!" Gai greeted enthusiastically. "A table for four, please."
The boy nodded in greeting.
"Pick whichever you want…" the boy started.
"Seiichi-niisan! Obaa-san sent me to bring you your bento since you forgot it!" A voice yelled behind them.
There was a boy standing with sandy hair, panting and a ninja protector around his neck.
"Tamaki" the boy in the counter –Seiichi- replied through gritted teeth. "This is an establishment. Thanks for bringing me the bento, but you cannot just barge in here shouting. Wait for me a little longer please, I'm working."
"Sorry." Tamaki muttered sheepishly.
"Seiichi-kun, are you alone?" Gai questioned noticing the lack of staff.
Seiichi sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Unfortunately. It is Hayami's honeymoon, Shaiwase is ill, boss's is out on Yukigakure for business, and Haru is part time and just left. Hence it is only Yuri, and I, but since she's the chef, I'm here alone. Also, the rest of the Kitchen staff is absent due to family business." The boy finished with a sigh, handing them four menus.
"Oh, what a shame." Gai said accepting the menus. "And this one must be your little brother, right?" Gai asked looking at the boy, Tamaki, who was still holding the bento box.
"Hai."
"This are my new gennin." Gai said. Tamaki looked at Gai, and then at the group of children behind the man in spandex.
"Neji?" he blurted out by spotting said girl.
All eyes fell on her.
"Hn. Sekonda-san." She answered crossing her arms and closing her eyes.
Seiichi's mouth curled into an evil smirk.
"Your girlfriend, otouto? Oh, how fast they grow!" The boy feigned hurt by making a dramatic pose with his hand on his forehead.
Neji scorned and her frown deepened, while Tamaki got beat red. Lee and Tenten let out a snicker, and the boy began reproaching his brother.
"Seiichi-baka! T-that's not true!" Tamaki argued, getting redder.
"Oh, you can't lie to your Aniki…" Tamaki was about to retort until he noticed the Hyuga girl's intense death glare and stopped abruptly.
"Ehem, if you wish to take a seat I'll take your order in a moment." Seiichi said with a nervous smile.
Neji's glare did not lessen until the boy was out of sight, but, even if she convinced herself that it was not eavesdropping, she overheard with her well-trained hearing the conversation between Tamaki and Seiichi.
"Nii-san, that wasn't necessary." She heard Tamaki say with a tinge of annoyance in his voice.
"She's Gai's student. Geez, I thought they all'd be more like him all bumbly and stuff." The other said. "But…aren't you supposed to be training?"
"Sachihiro-sensei is on his honeymoon with Hayami-san. You should know it, she's your co-worker." The boy replied. "And… Granny asked me to tell you that you should not forget your responsibilities." She heard Tamaki add softly.
"Tamaki, Gran should not involve you in this. This is between me and her. Besides, what responsibilities? The ones of a clan almost extinct and spread throughout the world? I already made chunin like she forced me to. I'll just live like a civilian from now on." Seiichi answered sternly. "Now, shoo. As you've already noticed I'm busy, though thanks for the lunch."
"No problem, niisan. See you later." A few seconds after that, she heard the bell indicating that Tamaki had already exited the place. Just afterward she sensed Seiichi's presence approaching.
"Are you ready to order?" he asked them.
"Yes! A curry with extra spicy sauce…"
"Two!" Lee shouted.
"That's my boy! Two curries with extra spicy sauce." Gai said, his eyes threatening to spill tears of joy at how 'youthful' Lee's tastes were.
"Sesame dumplings, please with green tea." Tenten order.
"…Herring soba, please. Also, with green tea." She required. Though herring soba was her favorite food she had only eaten it in counted occasions since it was only served in some events of the main family when chefs were the ones who prepared the food and not oneself.
Seiichi finished writing their order in his block and nodded at them before leaving towards the kitchen to deliver their order to the chef.
"So…" Gai began in a conversation attempt. "Is Seiichi's otouto a friend of yours, Neji?"
"Not at all. He asked my name yesterday when I was buying some groceries." She answered hoping to set the topic as closed.
"Don't Hyugas have their supplies delivered?" Tenten asked. "A neighbor of mine works at the market, and once in a conversation he told us that that week had been his turn to deliver to the Hyuga's."
"What my family or I do is none of anybody's concern." Neji stated icily.
"There's no need to be like that, you know! From now on we're a team, geez. You shouldn't be that rude." He responded a little mad by his teammate's behavior.
Neji only frowned and crossed her arms (at this point the rest of the team had concluded it was her trademark pose).
"How about we change of subject?" Gai suggested trying to calm the waters. "Err-…for example, tomorrow I have some very special gifts for you, guys. They are the secret of becoming a super-elite shinobi." Gai assured them with a wink.
Tenten, Neji, and Lee's attention got caught.
"What is that Gai-sensei?!" Lee asked, his eyes shining.
Gai hummed and added with a mysterious tone. "It's a secret. Tomorrow you'll find out. I promise."
"I wonder what that special gift might be." Tenten muttered to Neji as if the argument they had had some seconds ago hadn't happened. "I can't deny I also feel curious." The girl answered glancing warily at her new sensei.
They finished their food and chatted a little among themselves, neither of them revealing personal information.
They thanked Seiichi and Yuri, who had gone out the kitchen, for the food and took their leave, heading to the training grounds. Before they could exit the place, a voice stopped them.
"Gai-san!" Seiichi called. "I was wondering if you perhaps could train my little brother. You see, his jounin'll be out for two weeks, and I do not wish for him to stay behind. I know he's a year older than your students, but any kind of exercise will be fine. Please" The boy blurted out a bit too fast.
Gai answered with a chuckle. "Of course! There's no problem at all. In fact, I'll be more than happy to teach a new young mind! Perhaps it would also help my students with their training since they've only begun."
Seiichi's face brightened. "Thank you, Gai-san!"
"Don't forget to tell him training begins at 7:00 am, and we'll be at training grounds number 3."
The boy only nodded and thanked Gai again.
After that, they left the restaurant and continued training till dawn.
"Though I'm sad to depart you, my new youthful students so soon, I feel relief in my heart knowing I've planted the seed of the Flame of Youth in ypu. However, there's a long path ahead of us!" Gai told them waterfalls falling from his eyes, before bidding them goodbye.
"Neji, aren't you coming?" Tenten asked her when they were leaving.
"I'll just stay a little more." She responded waving the boy away. Tenten just shrugged and went to his home.
Neji stood there a little before taking out from her bag with supplies, which was lying on the floor, a tiny tomato.
The fruit itself wasn't anything special, in fact, it was even a little too small, and wasn't as red as the mature and juicy tomatoes.
She had sneaked it out of the Hyuga kitchen while the maids were busy washing the dishes. At the Hyuga compound, every single member had a special function. Main Branch…well, most of them were like nobility, meaning they did nothing but had any kind of privileges. But it was supposed they advised, ran the money and helped the leader with whatever he needed. Hyuga Branch were either shinobi, chefs, maids, gardeners or any other job which benefit the Hyugas in some way, or few lucky ones –in the girl's and some other's opinion, unlucky ones- were betrothed to some influential figure which would help the Hyugas to tie bonds with them.
Neji began walking through the night, with the tomato in hand. To anyone, it would've looked normal. A gennin going home back from training, but for any other Hyuga, it would have looked weird. A Bouke girl walking alone just opposite of where the compound was located.
She tried to steady her pace since she didn't want to raise suspicion, but she had to be there, at the Bouke Compound 9:00 pm sharp at the most. It was 8:47.
Once she had exited the zone where most people were congregated, Neji began speeding up until she was running till she reached her destination.
The buildings were as dusty and isolated as the day before. Since it was already dark the place gave her the creeps, a chill running down her spine. Yes, she was a stoic ninja and all, but she was at a whole, empty, old, and rusty compound where a mass murder had been held affected everyone –or almost everyone.
Finally, she reached her destination. The lights of one of the rooms were on, so she decided to stop pondering on it and quickly took out other two tomatoes that were in her pouch and laid them on a white cloth square bed before tying it. Then the girl set them on the windowsill and departed before the Uchiha detected her chakra.
They couldn't talk in public, and due to their schedules, they didn't have time. Yet that didn't mean they couldn't still be friends, and their friendship was something Neji wanted to keep. The tomatoes had been a little gesture indicating Sasuke, she still considered him her friend.
This time she took velocity and crossed the city in 10 minutes or so. Neji checked a big clock at the entrance of the Compound and a sigh of relief escaped her slightly dry lips. 8:59 pm. The guard, as every night, greeted her, and she returned the greeting with a curt nod.
Sun rays seeped through the window glass warming the boy's face. Said boy groaned and rubbed his eyes with a drowsy fisted hand and let a wide yawn escape his lips. He slowly opened his eyes and sighed. The digital clock by his nightstand read 6:45 am.
He slowly got rid of his clothes and entered the bathroom closing the door behind him. A few seconds later the water was already running, and Sasuke Uchiha was washing his oddly shaped hair. Fifteen minutes later he was already dressed, and his hair was combed. He quickly brushed his teeth and went down the stairs towards the kitchen. The boy thanked Kami-sama that some of the tomato salad from the day before was left, so he fried two eggs, accompanied them with a little bit of salad, and served himself with some lemon tea that was on the stove.
He finished breakfast and frowned. Tomatoes were only brought to him when they were in season, so it would be some months till he could taste that delicious fruit, and since he had almost finished what Neji had brought the day before, his mood became gloomy.
Sasuke went upstairs to brush his teeth and slung his backpack over his shoulder before again walking down the stairs. The Uchiha opened his refrigerator, took out the bento he had prepared the day before, and took his keys out. Once he opened the door and locked it, his onyx eyes focused on the dead flowers by his windowsill. They had been like that some weeks after the tragedy, and he suddenly remembered how much he liked the chrysanthemums his mother used to water. A sudden rush of grief crossed his features. Sasuke decided he would give those flowers life again. He was in that when he noticed a small package.
His first intuition was that it maybe was a trap. He took his distance and threw some stones at the package. Nothing happened. He slowly approached the windowsill and took it in his hand. Again, nothing happened. Finally, Sasuke slowly untied the knot that held it together, and it revealed three tiny tomatoes. At first, Sasuke didn't know how to feel and raised his head to look around searching for the mysterious person that could've left him that. Then, he spotted in a corner of that white handkerchief a small embroidery with the Hyuga Bouke emblem, and his lips instantly curved into a smile. The Uchiha tied the knot again and took them to the Academy.
The gloominess of before already gone.