CHAPTER 04

Ino stood there, staring into Neji's piercing, unrelenting gaze, her heart hammering in her chest. Think, think, think! she screamed internally, but her mind was a complete blank.

Then, without fully realizing what she was saying, she blurted out, "I-I couldn't help it!"

Neji's brow twitched, his suspicious expression unwavering. "Couldn't help what, Yamanaka?"

She was in too deep now to back out. Forcing a nervous laugh, she clasped her hands behind her back, rocking on her heels. "You, uh… you just… looked so…" Her words trailed off, and she waved a hand vaguely in his direction.

"So?" he repeated, his voice sharp, his expression cold.

Ino closed her eyes for a moment, trying to muster every ounce of her confidence. She opened them again, meeting his intense stare with what she hoped was a convincing look of sincerity. "So strong. And… handsome," she said, her voice faltering slightly.

Neji blinked, his stoic mask cracking ever so slightly as confusion flickered across his face. "What?"

"I mean, look at you!" she babbled, the words tumbling out faster than her brain could process them. "You're—you're Neji Hyuuga! The strongest guy in the whole Hyuuga clan! You're practically otherworldly with your whole 'mysterious warrior' vibe and those intense eyes and that hair and…"

She trailed off, realizing she was digging herself into a deeper hole with every word. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she forced herself to keep going.

"And I've just… I've been holding it in for so long!" she said dramatically, throwing her hands up. "You're always so composed and serious, and it's like… ugh! I couldn't take it anymore! So, yeah, I kissed you, okay? I kissed you because I had to!"

Her chest heaved as she finished, her nerves stretched to their breaking point. She couldn't believe the nonsense she was spewing, but it was the only thing she could come up with on the spot.

Neji stared at her, his expression unreadable, his pale eyes studying her with an intensity that made her squirm. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.

"That," he said slowly, his voice as cold as ever, "might be the most absurd thing I've ever heard."

Ino felt like her soul had left her body. Oh no. Oh no no no.

She threw her hands on her hips, her default defense mechanism kicking in. "Oh, come on!" she said, her voice rising. "You're telling me no one's ever kissed you before because of how ridiculously good-looking you are?"

Neji's eyebrow twitched again, and Ino could swear she saw the faintest hint of color on his usually pale cheeks. "That is irrelevant," he said stiffly.

"Oh, it's totally relevant," she shot back, pointing at him. "Because if it hasn't happened before, then consider this a reality check. People notice, Hyuuga. You're not as untouchable as you think."

He opened his mouth to respond but then closed it again, seemingly at a loss for words.

Ino smirked, folding her arms. Well, if nothing else, I managed to throw him off his game.

Neji stood there, utterly bewildered by the whirlwind of words spilling out of Ino's mouth. His mind was still reeling from the unexpected kiss, and now, she was babbling at him like a storm.

What in the world is going on?

He had always known Yamanaka Ino to be loud, brash, and a bit… overbearing, but this? This was beyond anything he could have expected. He had never in his life been kissed like that, and especially not by someone like her.

His mind was still processing the strange sensation of her lips on his—soft, yet firm, and... in a way, demanding. I should've stopped her. I should've pushed her away, Neji thought, his face betraying none of his internal turmoil. But I didn't.

Ino was still talking, her words almost a blur as she tried to explain herself. She was saying something about him being strong, handsome, and—otherworldly? That stopped him in his tracks. He never thought of himself that way. He had always been the reserved, calculating Hyuga, and certainly, never someone who would invoke such reactions from others.

And yet, here she was, talking about him like he was some kind of mythical creature.

He could feel a tension growing in his chest. What's her game?

He looked at her, really looked at her for the first time in years. He had always thought of her as just another one of the village's many loud, attention-grabbing people—someone who could easily manipulate others with her looks and charm. But now, standing before him, flushed with excitement and probably embarrassment, her usual self-confidence seemed to slip. She was trying too hard, her voice too high-pitched, her gestures exaggerated.

Was she really being sincere?

"No one's ever kissed you before because of how ridiculously good-looking you are?" she had said, and it made his pulse quicken. Why does it matter? he thought. Why does she think I should be flattered by this?

His eyes narrowed as he regarded her, trying to untangle her words, trying to understand her motives. Ino Yamanaka had always been the center of attention—unavoidable, captivating, and completely aware of her allure. She was used to people, especially men, falling all over themselves for her. But he was different.

Neji had seen right through her antics when they were young, and he had never been taken in by her charm. But now? After she'd kissed him so impulsively, there was an undeniable shift. The air around them seemed charged with something more than just tension.

His gaze flickered down to her lips again, and for the briefest moment, his mind replayed the kiss. It was an odd sensation—intense, confusing, and utterly foreign.

"I see."

His voice came out low and controlled, betraying none of the disarray inside him. He wanted to maintain his composure, but there was a part of him that was just… curious. Why did she kiss him? Was it truly because she found him otherworldly? Or was there something else she wasn't saying?

"You're not as untouchable as you think," she had said with a smirk, and for the first time, Neji realized she might actually believe it.

He had never let anyone get close to him. Not like this. Not emotionally. Not in the way that others had so easily done. And yet, Ino—despite all her overconfidence—had somehow breached that wall.

Why does this feel different?

Neji stood there for a moment longer, his sharp eyes locking with hers. He couldn't afford to let his guard down. He couldn't afford to be swayed by a momentary lapse in his control. He had a duty, a role to play, and the last thing he needed was to be caught up in something like this—especially with someone like her.

"Yamanaka," he said finally, his voice back to its usual cold, detached tone. "This conversation is over."

He turned his back to her, forcing his thoughts to realign. His heart raced, but he refused to let it show. Neji was in control, as he always had been. He would remain untouchable—no matter what games Ino tried to play.