AN: Last one that didn't take a while.


Minato's message had been rather simple:

Shadow Hiashi Hyuga for a few days. He was Hinata's father and the leader of the Hyuga Clan.

And currently at the center of what the village was calling the Hyuga Affair. An ill-fitting name for the continuing fallout from the attempted kidnapping of the young heiress by a Hidden Cloud Shinobi the same night a new treaty between them and the Hidden Leaf had been signed. The fact Hiashi hadn't killed the men responsible only because her Shadowkhan had been there, had saved the two from a lethal blow by taking them to the Shadow Realm.

His latest exchange with the Hokage had been…less than pleasant. Minato's fears were that the Hyuga would do something that would only further strain the tense situation between the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Cloud, that it could escalate things to a dangerous extent.

'A bit understandable he's a little upset. Those guys did try to kidnap his daughter. I'm sure Minato would be the same if they tried the same with Naruto.' Jade was currently within the shadows that dotted the massive compound the Hyuga Clan lived in, observing the man and a handful of his fellow Hyuga in the space in-between the Shadow Realm and the world at large. She was truly undetectable when she was like this, only Kushina able to tell she was around and only when she focused on the bond between the two of them.

The Byakugan didn't stand a chance of detecting her like they had detected the rest of Minato's watchers, his personal ANBU guard, etc.

Day two was proving to be just as easy, and boring, as day one.

'Lucky this isn't my first stakeout.' Jade had been on more than a few back with Section 13, even a handful before she had been officially recognized as an agent. They alternated between necessary for a mission and just a punishment because she had gotten on Captain Black's nerves one too many times in a single day. She had even brought a notepad with her, jotted down who Hiashi spoke with, sent Shadowkhan to tail anyone who left the compound.

They couldn't speak but she could have them point on a map, list a time, if they met anyone or not.

It had been a mess of trial and error to get that far but it helped. She didn't have to move between here and shadows halfway across the village, could focus her 'eyes' on Hiashi and Hiashi alone.

'Eyes' being figurative. The shadows around her, each a portal to the Shadow Realm, served as her senses.

'And another Hyuga is back and angry.' She put down another tally. She dimly recognized the man still dressed in his Shinobi gear, knew that he had been sent by Hiashi to speak with some combination of the Hidden Leaf's Elders. 'If Minato won't change his mind, they're his best bet.'

Personally, she disliked all four.

All of them were a bit too old and set in their ways, figured they knew best.

She enjoyed that not only did she not have to listen to them but Minato rarely did things their way either. He wasn't a genius for nothing, took their advice when it suited him but he was just as likely to disregard it.

Jade was happy just ignoring them and whatever they said. After all, those four were usually behind any attempts to get Kushina to show off the contract between the two of them.

'They're such pains to deal with. I still don't know how Minato can even stand them. All four of them think they know everything and are just different levels of smug about it.' Jade would be the first to tell someone that her mind was quick to drift during stakeouts, a bad habit she had never broken. 'I wonder what it would take to convince Minato to let me lock at least one of them in the Shadow Realm for a day.' Just as quickly as the thought crossed her mind, she grimaced. 'No that won't work. Shimura would probably like it.'

Something happened in the compound, drew her 'eyes' to one spot in particular.

She focused back on Hiashi.

The man was in his room, alone for the first time today. He sat on one side of an otherwise empty table.

"I know you are watching me."

Jade 'perked up', went from metaphorically lounging in the void to sitting upright. Her senses rapidly coalesced around Hiashi. His Byakugan wasn't active but his eyes were steady, focused on the shadows in front of him. A moment was all it took for Jade to notice the fact that the only light in the room came from the candle Hiashi had moved to the table.

He had left the room covered in shadow save for this one spot.

He was all but calling her out.

'Should I?' It was hardly a question really.

Stakeouts were boring after all.

Besides, it would be bad for her reputation if she didn't do something dramatic.

In the blink of an eye, Hiashi Hyuga was joined at the table by Jade Chan. Her red eyes shined in the darkness of the room, the shadows around her grew deeper and twisted to surround her. She offered a smile, her fangs on full display. She made a show of lifting her hands up from her lap, fingers splayed wide.

"Looks like you caught me." She dropped them back down, her too wide smile remaining as she met the pale eyes of the Hyuga across from her. "So, why the theatrics?"

"I did not know how to summon you without Kushina Uzumaki." Hiashi's face was unreadable, a skill Jade realized most veteran Shinobi naturally developed. Kushina's had come in far earlier than her peers, had made knowing her emotions, what she was feeling, a difficult thing at first. "I assumed you would be ordered to observe me by the Hokage."

Jade didn't answer with words or actions, merely continued to listen.

"I also assumed you would appreciate the theatrics." His attempt at a joke made her snort with laughter.

"I can't say that you're wrong." She swung out a clawed hand, gestured to the dark room at large. "You certainly know how to get a lady's attention." Her smile was back as she leaned forward. Her red eyes gleamed in the darkness, were void of any light. "So, just what are you going to do with it?"

She expected an offer, some bid to escape her watch. Maybe try to tempt her to look the other way for a night or two, let him get revenge on the two kidnappers locked away.

She even expected a threat. This wasn't the first time Minato had her watch a possible problem and it wouldn't be the first time she revealed herself to one of them during it either.

Hiashi managed to surprise her.

He reached into his robes, set a letter from within them on the table. He intentionally left his hand over it, left it be cloaked in shadows and fabric.

"My daughter has written this for you." There was a crack in the mask.

Jade held the letter her Shadowkhan had handed to her, was more than a little surprised actually.

She hadn't expected this.

Her nail easily sliced it open, read over the short message inside.

She met Hiashi's eyes over the letter when she was done.

"Do you mind if I…"

"She would appreciate it."


AN: Things are maybe less serious now.

Review/PM if you want.

Peace.