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Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View
Chapter Five: Gaining Knowledge

"It is beyond a doubt that all our knowledge begins with experience."
― Immanuel Kant

It turned out that bonfires were a weekly affair at Konoha west - at least during the regular football season. Neji didn't go to all of them, but he had gone to several.

"You've come to enough to get a fan club," Ino told him as he sat with Hinata, having a cup of tea at Konoha East.

"Fan club?" he arched an eyebrow.

"You mean you hadn't noticed?"

"Not particularly, no."

"I can't tell you how many people have asked me about the serious and seriously gorgeous preppy guy that has started coming to parties."

Neji frowned.

"Preppy?"

"Yeah, sorry, Neji," Ino shrugged. "You are definitely preppy. Gorgeous, too. Runs in your family," she grinned at Hinata, who flushed prettily with the compliment.

"Hinata, I'll grant you," he agreed. "I can't say I agree with the rest."

"Please," Ino snorted, "You know how good looking you are - I'm not going to elaborate. Just beware - the natives get bolder as the days roll by."

Her warning was forgotten until later that month. He'd just finished a massive project and an equally massive exam, and had no classes the following Monday. Feeling strangely adrift with no looming deadlines (and a rare lack of drive) he welcomed Hinata's invitation to join them that evening. He decided he would spend some time with his cousin - who, he had to admit, was adjusting to life at Konoha East beautifully - and then go home for a good night's rest.

At least, that had been the plan.

Neji had forgotten that Konoha played Suna that week.

The Konoha/Suna rivalry was longstanding, and was arguably the biggest game of the season. So many alumni traveled for that game, that it was the unofficial homecoming event of the year. Neji had been so embroiled in his project and exam, he'd essentially lost contact with the outside world. It hadn't even dawned on him when he noticed the higher-than normal traffic and decided to take the metro rather than drive. (Given his fatigue, he thought it best he not be in charge of a motor vehicle.)

The line he took from his quiet neighborhood to Hidden Leaf wasn't the same as the one going to the game, so he'd had no tip-off on his journey.

His first clue had been when he walked the fifteen minutes from the metro stop toward Hidden Leaf, and saw the cars lining the streets.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. The message from Hinata was short and sweet.

'Come down to East - have a surprise!'

Neji wound his way down the path to Konoha East, mildly alarmed by how many people were there.

"There you are!" Hinata beamed, looping her arm through his. "Come with me!"

He followed blindly, allowing his fatigue to blur the cacophony of too many unfamiliar people into white noise. It took him a moment to realize Hinata was leading him toward the stairs, but was immediately grateful at the drop off in sound as they made their way to her room on the second floor.

"Naruto is on his way up, too," her cheeks were flushed with excitement.

She pushed open the door and motioned for him to enter ahead of her. There, sitting crosslegged on Hinata's bed, and proudly sporting a "Konoha University" hoodie, was Hanabi.

"Surprise!" she waved.

"Hanabi? What are you doing here?"

"Well, since I'm going to be going here next year, Dad said it was alright if I came to tonight's party as Hinata's guest."

"Your father?" he blinked. "Agreed to let you come here?!"

"Well, agreed might be an over-exaggeration," Hanabi grinned. "I might've conned him into letting me spend a weekend with Hinata without explicitly reminding him what weekend it was. And he might've been still been in a good mood from my scholarship letters."

Neji's grin was proud and sudden.

"Letters?"

"Several," her grin matched his. "Full ride. Honors program, and student athlete. I'll be in the honors dorm, and I'm being recruited for the taijutsu program."

"Well done, Hanabi," Neji said warmly, making his cousin flush with pleasure.

The knock on Hinata's door was quick and low.

"'Nata?"

Hinata hurried to open the door, smiling up at Naruto.

"Hey," he gave a sheepish wave. "Sorry it took a minute to get over here; his ride got delayed."

"Yeah, sorry," a young man stepped in behind Naruto. "My fault. I'm Konohamaru," he extended a hand to Hinata. "Hinata, right?"

"Right," she shook his hand, surprised when he handed her a small, wrapped box. "What is this?"

"Just something small," he gave a shy grin. "I visited my Uncle earlier today, and it turns out his wife knows you. She asked me to bring that by."

Hinata's smile broadened as she read the card. "I didn't know Kurenai was your aunt," she beamed. "Small world."

"Yeah," he chuckled.

"What are the odds, right?" Naruto did a palms up. "My sorta-kid brother's aunt was Hinata's teacher." He caught sight of Hanabi. "Oh, hey!" he grinned. "You must be Hanabi!"

Hanabi blinked rapidly, shaking herself out of a daze. "Yeah - and you are Naruto?"

"In person," he chuckled. "So!" he clapped his hands together. "Are you all ready for your first Suna bonfire night?"

"Second," Konohamaru corrected. "But absolutely." He gave Hanabi a mischievous grin. "He tell you about the lake?"

"Lake?" Neji frowned, flashing back to the conversation with Kaede and Amaya. "What lake?"

"The one on the edge of the property," Konohamaru's grin got wider. "There's a tradition of everyone jumping in on the night of the Suna game. It's kinda gross, but it's tradition."

"Not everyone does it," Naruto was quick to assure them. "It's something that started on campus before our parents were students, but when they renovated the campus, they got rid of the small lake. One of them moved here, and brought the tradition with them."

"Sounds fairly stupid," Neji snorted. "Not to mention unsafe."

"That's what Tsunade told them," Naruto grinned. "But one of the residents was an engineer. He basically got together with some other housemates, and they made a shallower side pond that we flood annually with their lock and dam system."

Neji's eyebrows skated upward. "That is quite the undertaking just to engage in something silly."

"Yeah," Naruto grinned. "But they did it. We filled the pond last night - it's less gross than jumping straight in the lake, but we suggest people still change clothes."

"They sell t-shirts," Konohamaru smirked. "Proceeds go to the shelter in town."

"Nothing around here is simple, is it?" Hanabi shook her head.

"Traditions almost never are," Konohamaru philosophized.

By the time they got down to the bonfires - there were several around the pond - Neji thought Konohamaru's words were particularly apt. There were large groups of people already set up - some clearly alumni - at a table with hot chocolate - another with towels, shirts, and other things.

"At least it didn't snow this year," Kiba grinned. "That wasn't nearly as fun."

"And you still jumped?"

"Sure," Kiba shrugged. "It's tradition!"

Neji was the one shaking his head that time, but Hanabi looked intrigued.

"Oh, hey!" Kiba blinked. "Hanabi, right? Hinata's little sister?"

Hanabi looked confused until the large, white dog pressed into her side affectionately. "You're Akamaru," she smiled, burying a gloved hand in his fur. "So that makes you Kiba?"

"That's me," Kiba grinned broadly, turning to Hinata. "I trust you told her I am the most awesome housemate at Konoha West?"

Hinata smiled fondly while Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Just kidding," Kiba grinned. "Akamaru is easily the most awesome. You get the tour yet?"

Hanabi blinked. "Tour?"

"Slackers," Kiba pointed to Naruto and Hinata. "You're officially relieved of duty, and Chōji was looking for you anyway, 'Nata. C'mon, Hanabi. I'll fill you in. Squirt, you come with us."

"Konohamaru," he muttered.

"House rules," Kiba shrugged. "If I ever had to babysit you or change your cousin's diapers, I get to call you Squirt."

"We'll all head to the house together," Hinata interjected, diffusing everything with kindness. And that was how Neji found himself trying to find a space not crowded by people at Konoha West. Even the library - a room Shikamaru had tipped him off to early on that was rarely frequented by others - had people just about everywhere.

"Hey!" one of the guests hissed to his friend. "Get your feet off that table. You want Tenten to see?"

"Sorry, man," he dropped his feet to the floor. "Forgot."

Neji hid a smile at that - it appeared Tenten's reputation was fearsome indeed.

"Hey there," a voice chirped at his shoulder. He turned to find several girls behind him – two behind their bolder friend, who was tucking her hair behind her ear as she spoke. "Neji, right?"

"I'm Neji," he said coolly. "Have we met?"

"Not yet," she smiled. "My name is –"

"There you are," Shikamaru appeared at his elbow. "I've been looking for you." he looked to the trio of girls. "Everyone is heading down to the lake, soon. Naho, will you make sure everyone here picks up before they go? It's troublesome to come back to a mess."

"Sure," she flicked her eyes between Shikamaru and Neji, clearly weighing her options.

"Thanks," he gave her a rare smile before directing Neji to follow him out of the library and down the hall.

"You alright, Hyūga?"

"Fine," he said, wincing as someone laughed too loud. "Thanks for the intervention. I do not care for crowds, and am not really in the mood to widen my circle of acquaintances."

"You picked the wrong night to be here, then. Here," he fished something out of his pocket and handed it to him. "Third floor. Last door on the right."

Neji glanced at the key in his hand and back to Shikamaru.

"Didn't think I was your type."

"Believe me, you're not," he snorted. "It's not my room - just a safe place to get away. The rest of us took a vote; you're on the okay list to use it."

"There was a vote?"

"After the first time you visited. We've been around long enough to know when there's blood in the water. Speaking of – everyone will move to the lake soon. Stay behind the last ring of heaters if you don't want to get caught up in the crowd."

Neji pocketed the key. "Then I shall stop by the kitchens to check on Hinata and go back outside. The space will help."

Shikamaru nodded and headed back into the crowd, leaving Neji to negotiate his way to the kitchen. The house was so crowded, he barely made it close enough to tell Hinata he'd see her outside before escaping outside into the cool, crisp air.

Neji took a deep breath and filled his lungs to bursting before blowing out a cleansing breath and making his way toward the lake. Kiba, Hanabi, and Konohamaru caught up with him at the pavilion with the outdoor fireplace – close enough to see the action at the lake, but far enough away to be less crowded.

"Oo, its warmer over here," Hanabi grinned. "Less crowded, too."

Neji hummed his agreement, eying the stretch of lawn between them and the growing excitement near the lake. "Those are new," he nodded to the smattering of commercial patio heaters.

"We have an alumni that provides those and sets them up," Kiba nodded. "They'll be here until the end of the season."

"That is rather generous."

"Well, you might have noticed that Tsunade and Jiraiya are pretty picky about who gets into this place. Lots of our previous tenants have done really well for themselves; it's kind of an extended family."

"So, how come Tenten isn't at Konoha East?" Hanabi asked suddenly.

"Just how it worked out," Kiba shrugged. "Good thing, too," he lowered his voice conspiratorially, forcing Hanabi to lean in. "Aside from Hinata, she's the only one that can make Naruto mind his mess."

Hanabi's smile curved wickedly.

"So. Naruto?"

Kiba's eyes glinted with mischief. "That could be a month-long tour, but I can give you the highlights."

"Hanabi," Neji warned.

"Oh, like you didn't do the same thing," she waved him off. "Let's go by the lake," she jerked her chin toward the other half of the party, "and the two of you can tell me more about the boy that is drooling over my sister."

Kiba threw back his head and laughed. "Oh, man," he grinned down at her. "I'm gonna like you. You definitely get my vote for East in a few years. Neji? You coming?"

"Is it any information I haven't heard?"

"Probably not."

"Then I am fine where I am."

"Suit yourself. C'mon, Hanabi. Konohamaru - chime in as needed."

Neji watched them go with less trepidation than he thought he might feel over the situation, and reminded himself to compare notes with Hanabi later.

More people arrived, but Neji didn't mind as long as he was outside and under an open sky. He found himself enjoying the feeling of solitude that comes with being surrounded by, yet detached from a crowd of one's own choosing - and he had to admit he chose to be here. That realization had become less begrudging over time, and although Neji was not taking up residence at either Konoha West or East, he did find himself visiting more often than he would have ever thought possible.

Deciding it would be interesting to see what the vendors were selling, Neji wandered further into the crowd, and treated himself to a hot cup of cider. He could not abide pumpkin anything, but apples he tolerated well enough.

He was just finishing his drink when he noticed Tenten a few paces away, listening as another member of her group told a story with great animation

He tipped his head to the side and considered her.

She was very much a part of the Hidden Leaf group, and yet she always seemed to stand apart.

"She knows how to be alone," he thought, and the idea resonated with him.

He started as she caught his eye, and gave a small, quick salute, the corner of her lips twitched upward in amusement. A faint smile tugging at his own mouth, Neji began to file through the crowd, intent on approaching her - and not noticing that he strayed beyond the line of the heaters. That is something he registered too late - as someone blared an airhorn, and a swarm of people hurried forward, and Neji was caught up with them, even as he saw Tenten cover her mouth (whether in horror or amusement, he couldn't say) before trying to point and yell a warning.

Instinctively he knew it was too late, and his panic slid into something grimly accepting as total strangers linked their arms in his, and jumped into the water.