CHAPTER 02

Ino followed Neji as he strode out of the shop, her usual confident smile plastered on her face. Inside, however, her nerves were a tangled mess. She was no stranger to handling tricky situations—managing emotions, navigating flirtations, and even steering herself out of danger came as naturally to her as arranging flowers. But this? This was entirely different.

She had a secret to protect.

Hinata had come to her late last night, just before slipping away from the festival. Her usually timid friend had looked unusually resolute, though her face was flushed with embarrassment.

"Ino," Hinata had whispered, her eyes darting nervously to ensure no one else was nearby. "I… I need your help."

"What's up?" Ino had asked, curious. It wasn't often that Hinata made requests like this.

"If Neji-niisan asks, tell him I went home early. Distract him if you have to. I—" She hesitated, cheeks burning red. "I need to meet someone, and he can't know about it."

Ino's curiosity flared, but she didn't press. "Meet someone? Ooh, is it—"

"Please, just don't let him look for me." Hinata had squeezed Ino's hand, her expression pleading.

It didn't take much for Ino to piece things together after that. She wasn't blind. She'd noticed the subtle glances exchanged between Hinata and Sasuke Uchiha, the rare, fleeting moments when the normally stoic Sasuke softened ever so slightly around her.

Hinata hadn't outright admitted it, but Ino had a strong suspicion her friend was meeting him. And if there was one place Hinata would be now, it was likely the Uchiha compound.

Which was exactly where Neji seemed determined to head.

She needed to stop him.

"So," Ino began, quickening her pace to match Neji's long strides, "where exactly are we looking?"

Neji didn't spare her a glance. "Everywhere she might be. If you have any suggestions, speak."

Ino winced inwardly. Of course she had suggestions—like telling him to avoid the Uchiha district at all costs. But how could she say that without raising suspicion?

"Hmm…" She tapped her chin, feigning deep thought. "Well, Hinata doesn't strike me as the type to hang around busy places. Maybe she's at a training ground? Or the riverbank? Somewhere quiet."

Neji paused mid-step, turning to her with a skeptical look. "And you think I wouldn't have already checked those places?"

Ino blinked, recovering quickly. "Fair point," she admitted, offering a sheepish grin. "But what about the Hyuuga compound? Maybe she slipped in without anyone noticing."

"I have checked. Thoroughly."

Ino bit her lip, cursing silently. She needed to steer him far, far away from the Uchiha compound, but Neji's sharp gaze was making her nervous.

"Well," she said, her voice bright, "why don't we split up? Cover more ground that way."

Neji frowned. "That would be inefficient. I'm not about to let you wander aimlessly while I search."

Ino's grin faltered, panic bubbling under the surface. Damn him and his logical, overbearing personality.

Neji stepped forward, his towering presence making her feel oddly small. "Yamanaka," he said, his tone measured but firm, "if there is something you're not telling me, I suggest you do so now."

Ino's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, she felt caught, his pale eyes boring into her as if he could see straight through her lies.

She raised her hands in mock surrender, laughing nervously. "Hey, relax, Hyuuga! I'm on your side here. If I knew anything, I'd tell you."

He didn't look convinced, but before he could press further, she spotted a potential distraction. A group of their peers—Kiba, Shino, and Choji—were gathered near a ramen stand, laughing and chatting.

"Oh, look!" she said quickly, grabbing Neji's arm and pulling him toward the group. "Maybe they've seen her!"

Neji stiffened at the unexpected contact, glaring down at her hand on his arm. "Yamanaka—"

"Come on, don't be so grumpy!" Ino chirped, her heart racing as she dragged him along. She needed to keep him occupied, buy time for Hinata to return—or at least put enough distance between Neji and the Uchiha compound.

As they approached the group, Ino plastered on her most dazzling smile. "Hey, guys!" she called out. "We're looking for Hinata. You haven't seen her, have you?"

Kiba raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Hinata? Isn't she usually with you?"

"Not last night," Neji interjected, his voice cold. "She hasn't returned home."

Choji paused mid-bite, his expression turning serious. "That doesn't sound like her."

"Exactly," Neji said, his tone clipped. "Which is why I need to find her."

Ino quickly stepped in, her voice light. "No need to panic yet! She probably just needed some alone time, you know? She's been under a lot of pressure lately."

Kiba snorted. "Hinata? Alone? That doesn't sound right either."

Neji's eyes narrowed further, his patience wearing thin. "If any of you have seen her or heard anything, speak now."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, but no one had any answers.

"Well," Ino said, clasping her hands together, "looks like we're back to square one! Maybe we should check the forest path next—"

Neji cut her off. "Or the Uchiha compound."

Ino's breath hitched. She fought to keep her expression neutral, her mind racing for a way to dissuade him.

"No way," she said quickly, laughing. "Why would Hinata go there?"

Neji's gaze was sharp. "I could ask the same about your insistence on avoiding it."

Crap. She needed to think fast. "Oh, come on, Hyuuga. The Uchiha compound is practically abandoned these days. You really think she'd go somewhere so gloomy?"

"Hinata has been...unpredictable as of late," Neji replied, his tone flat. "And I will not overlook any possibility."

Ino forced a laugh, stepping in front of him to block his path. "Well, if you're going to waste time chasing shadows, I'm coming with you!"

"Yamanaka—"

"Nope, no arguments!" she said, her voice overly chipper. "As I have said—two heads are better than one!"

Inside, her nerves were screaming. She had no idea how she was going to handle this, but one thing was certain. She couldn't let Neji get anywhere near the Uchiha compound.

Not if she wanted to keep Hinata's secret safe.

Ino kept her brightest smile plastered on her face, but inside, she was screaming. That's it. I have no choice. It's time to turn my seductive self on.

She took a deep breath, her inner confidence rising to the surface like a well-honed weapon. She wasn't known as the most alluring kunoichi in Konoha for nothing, and if it meant keeping Neji from discovering Hinata's secret, she would use every tool at her disposal.

Neji turned toward the path that led to the Uchiha compound, his strides purposeful. Ino knew she couldn't let him take another step in that direction.

"Wait," she said, her tone soft, almost coaxing. She stepped in front of him again, placing herself squarely in his path.

Neji sighed, clearly annoyed. "Yamanaka, if you're planning to stall me further, save your breath."

"Oh, I'm not stalling," she said, tilting her head slightly, her blonde hair catching the sunlight. "I just think you're being a little too tense about this whole situation."

Neji's pale eyes narrowed, his expression impassive. "Tense? My cousin is missing, and you call my concern tension?"

Ino placed a hand on her hip, leaning slightly toward him, her voice dropping to a sultry purr. "What I mean is… maybe you should relax a little. You're so serious all the time, Neji. It can't be good for you."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "And you think now is the appropriate time for this conversation?"

Undeterred, Ino took a step closer, her alluring smile in full effect. She tilted her chin up to look at him, her blue eyes sparkling. "Why not? You're always so focused on duty and honor. Don't you ever think about taking a break? Loosening up?"

"I don't see how this is relevant."

Ino sighed dramatically, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Of course you wouldn't. You're so… rigid." She let her gaze sweep over him, a playful glint in her eyes. "Though I'll admit, it suits you."

Neji's expression didn't change, but she noticed the slight twitch in his jaw. "If you're done with whatever this is, I have more important matters to attend to."

"Neji," she said, her voice softening as she stepped even closer, her fingers lightly brushing his arm. "You don't need to do this alone. Let me help you."

He glanced down at her hand, his brows furrowing slightly. "You're already assisting, albeit ineffectively."

Ino smirked, leaning in just enough to invade his personal space. "Ineffective? I'd argue I'm quite effective when I want to be."

There was a flicker of something in Neji's eyes—confusion, perhaps, or irritation. But he didn't step back.

"You're wasting time," he said finally, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness.

"Am I?" Ino asked, her tone playful. She tilted her head again, her golden hair brushing against his arm as she gazed up at him. "Or are you just afraid to admit you might actually enjoy my company?"

Neji's lips pressed into a thin line, his composure clearly wavering.

Inside, Ino was a whirlwind of nerves and determination. This better work, she thought. Hinata owes me big time for this.

She let out a soft laugh, stepping back slightly but keeping her smile intact. "Fine, fine," she said breezily. "If you're so set on running yourself ragged, who am I to stop you? But don't come crying to me when you realize I was right all along."

Neji's eyes narrowed again, his gaze sharp as ever. "If you truly wish to help, stop playing games."

Ino shrugged, her smile turning sly. "Games? Oh, Neji, you haven't seen anything yet."

With that, she turned and started walking in the opposite direction, her hips swaying ever so slightly. She glanced back over her shoulder, her voice light and teasing. "Come on, Hyuuga. If you're so determined, let's get going. Together."

For a moment, Neji hesitated, his pale eyes watching her with an unreadable expression. Then, with a resigned sigh, he followed.

Ino couldn't help but grin to herself. Step one: distract him. Step two: keep him far, far away from the Uchiha compound. Let's see how long I can keep this up.