Part 5

The next morning, Hinata stood in the center of the training grounds, her hands clasped together, focusing on her breathing. Despite her calm exterior, her mind was anything but quiet.

Neji's words from the previous night lingered, haunting her thoughts. His delicate touch, his intensity, his lips on hers...

She had spent so many years yearning for Naruto to see her, truly see her. Yet, even after finally having her wish come true and dating him, it still felt like he didn't.

And now… now it was Neji's voice that echoed in her mind, his unwavering gaze that made her pulse quicken. It was him who made her heart beat faster.

And she wondered that deep inside, if she had always known. If he had always been the reason Naruto's companionship had stopped satisfying her like the flick of a switch.

"You're distracted again."

It was like she had summoned him. Startled, she turned quickly to see Neji standing at the edge of the training grounds, his arms crossed. He tilted his head slightly, the faintest smirk playing on his lips.

"Neji-niisan," she squeaked. "I didn't... You... here...?"

"I was asked to look for you here," he replied, stepping closer. "You did not tell anyone before leaving, and your father was concerned when you did not come for breakfast."

Hinata looked down, embarrassed. "I just… I still needed to clear my head. I... I thought training may help... Your-your meditation and breathing exercises..."

"Did it work?" he asked, his tone teasing yet gentle.

She hesitated, then shook her head. "Not really."

Neji's smirk softened into something more genuine as he came to stand before her. "Perhaps I can assist." He gestured to her stance. "Let us start."

Hinata nodded, though her hands trembled slightly as she reset her position. Neji moved behind her, his presence warm and steady, and gently placed his hands on her shoulders.

The touch was firm, careful, guiding her into a more balanced stance. His touch though, was like liquid fire.

"Relax," he murmured, his voice low and close to her ear. The deep timbre sent another shiver down her spine.

"I-I'm trying," she stammered, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.

Neji stepped even closer, his hands adjusting the angle of her arms. "You're too tense," he said. "Let go of whatever is weighing on you. Focus on the present moment."

Hinata tried to follow his advice, but the proximity of his body to hers made it nearly impossible.

His steady breath, the quiet strength in his hands, the way his voice seemed to envelop her - it was overwhelming.

"Like this," he said, moving to her side. His hand slid from her shoulder down to her wrist, guiding her arm into a perfect arc. His fingers lingered for just a moment too long, and when he looked at her, their eyes met.

The roar in her ears was there again when he looked at her like that. Her breath hitched, and her heart pounded in her chest. She could see the flicker of that unspoken something in his gaze again - something that mirrored the storm of emotions swirling within her.

"Neji-niisan…" she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes?" he asked, his tone softer than she'd ever heard it.

"I… I don't understand you," she admitted, her voice trembling. "Why do you… why do you say the things you do? Why do you…"

Neji smiled faintly, a bittersweet expression that seemed to carry the weight of everything he couldn't say. "Why, Hinata-sama..." he said softly, shrugging. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Hinata's breath caught in her throat once more. Her vision blurred with unshed tears and she tried to blink them away quickly. What was happening to her? She knew she had been the one to request that they forget all about what had happened, but...

For years, she had longed for someone to see her in this light. And yet, it wasn't Naruto who stood before her now - it was Neji.

She tried opening her mouth to speak. "About-about last night... I-I know I said we should pretend that nothing happened-"

Neji slowly brought up his finger and placed it on her lips, silencing her.

"And you need not worry. For what it's worth... It was just the animal inside of me… you awakened something in me that night under the tree. I had grown quite adept at controlling it, and I apologize for crossing the line last night."

He bowed his head solemnly. "I have been doing a lot of thinking myself, and you're absolutely right. I understand the repercussions. It won't happen again."

Did this mean he was going to ignore her now too? Had he not told her he could no longer pretend that there wasn't anytthing between them anymore?

Before she could respond, they heard Tenten and Lee make their way towards them, bickering as always.

"If you wake me up at dawn again with that racket..." Tenten was threatening Lee.

"I was merely doing my morning rounds!" Lee raised his hands, defending himself.

Neji released her wrist and took a small step back. "You're stronger than you realize, Hinata-sama," he said, his voice steady. "And I'll be here, whenever you're ready to see it."

"Hinata!"

She turned at the familiar voice, finding Naruto waving at her from across the street, his usual goofy grin in place. She tried to smile back, but it felt weak, forced.

Kiba, sitting beside her, exhaled dramatically. "Go on," he nudged. Shino continued perusing his menu silently.

Kiba had had a sudden craving for the special barbecue platter, and had insisted they dine here tonight.

She hesitated. "But... our platter..." she tried to protest meekly.

Kiba shrugged. "More for Akamaru, I guess."

His large companion wagged his tail happily at the idea.

Hinata sighed, sliding out of the booth and adjusting the strap of her bag.

As she walked toward Naruto, her chest felt heavier with each step.

"You didn't come over last night," he said as soon as she reached him, tilting his head. "I was waiting, ya know."

Her fingers tightened around the strap. "I… um… N-Neji-niisan caught me coming home," she excused, her voice unsteady.

Naruto blinked, confused. "So? I'm sure he wouldn't have ratted you out."

Hinata lowered her gaze. "It's not that," she murmured, reaching into her bag. "Here."

She pulled out the familiar scarf, holding it out to him. Naruto's confusion deepened before guilt flickered across his face.

"Oh, crap," he muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "Where did I even leave that?"

Her fingers curled slightly as she held the fabric between them. "That was with Neji-niisan," she said quietly. "Teuchi-san gave it to him because you left it there before you left for your mission."

Naruto winced. "Aw, man… I'm sorry, Hinata." He took the scarf from her, his grin turning sheepish. "Was that what he meant the other day?" He thought aloud to himself. "I can see why you'd be mad babe. I promise I'll make it up to you, okay?"

Hinata shrugged, noncommittal.

He didn't notice how distant she was, or how her fingers trembled when she let go of the scarf.

"Actually," Naruto continued, stuffing the scarf into his pocket, "I was gonna say - I've got plans with the guys tonight, but maybe soon, I'll take you out, and we'll do something special. How about that?"

He was still talking, still grinning, but she wasn't listening anymore.

Her mind was back at the compound. Back in the quiet of Neji's quarters, where the air had been thick with something unspoken. His hands on her arms. His voice, low and strained.

"Please, stop me."

Her stomach twisted.

She didn't want Naruto to make it up to her.

Because the truth - the shameful, undeniable truth - was that she wasn't mad at him at all.

She was mad at herself.

The rest of the week went by uneventfully. Now, Hinata sat with her team after training, listening to Kiba and Shino argue about one thing or the other.

But the moment she heard the laughter - light, melodic, the familiar mixed with the unfamiliar - her ears perked up.

Across the field, Neji stood surrounded by three kunoichi, their eyes bright with admiration. He had obviously been stopped. Lee and Tenten took one look at the scene and shook their heads. They caught sight of her team and waved, moving along to join them.

One of them, a tall girl with sleek black hair, clutched his arm playfully.

"Neji-senpai, you're too strict!" she giggled. "Show me again?"

Hinata's stomach twisted. She had seen Neji train others before, but something about the way these girls looked at him... How he allowed them so close, set her on edge. He had always been precise, disciplined, distant. Yet now, he smirked at them, adjusting their stances with a casual ease she had never seen before.

Her hands clenched at her sides. When had she ever been able to touch him like that? Had he ever laughed so freely with her?

Lee crossed his arms, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Again?!"

Tenten, equally unimpressed, tapped her foot against the ground, arms folded as she watched the scene unfold before them. "Every single time," she muttered.

"What happened?" Kiba asked curiously.

Tenten sighed, wiggling the takeout she held in her hand. "Trust us to think we could have a peaceful dinner after a hard day's training without Neji getting ambushed by his students. Female students."

They all looked over, and Hinata had a reason now to stare. Neji stood tall and indifferent, surrounded by gleaming-eyed kunoichi who clung to his every word, giggling at things he hadn't even said. One of them placed a hand on his arm, laughing at something another had whispered. Another tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, tilting her head as if she were trying to catch his full attention.

Lee shook his head furiously. "This is a disgrace! Women should admire a man's youthful spirit, not simply his - his aesthetic!"

Tenten shot him a deadpan look. "Lee, that's exactly why you never get hit on."

"Why is Neji acting uncharacteristically?" Shino commented.

"I'm not surprised," Kiba replied, an obvious note of jealousy in his tone. He turned to look at Hinata. "Your cousin's quite the stud, huh? His kōhai are practically throwing themselves at him."

"They are his students, they should call him sensei," Shino was saying.

"How else would they flirt with him?" Tenten laughed. "Right, Hinata?" she nudged her.

She forced a small, polite smile.

Shino studied Hinata for a moment before finally speaking.

"Soemthing wrong? You're even more quiet than usual."

Her fingers tightened around her chopsticks. Am I? she wanted to ask, but the answer was obvious. Her mind hadn't been here for hours.

"Huh, yeah," Kiba added, rubbing the back of his head. "You're usually way more talkative when you're with us. What's up? Naruto?"

Naruto.

She wished it was Naruto. That would have made things so much easier. But her thoughts weren't tangled around the boy she had spent years chasing.

And Neji? He was pretending - again - that none of it fazed him. That her presence among them didn't bother him in the slightest. That the closeness of their bodies, the whispered laughter in his ear, didn't affect him at all.

But she knew better.

She knew because he had told her.

"It was just the animal inside of me."

Had he meant those words, or had they been an excuse? A way to make sense of something neither of them wanted to name?

What unsettled her more wasn't them - it was him. His behavior.

Because Neji had finally glanced over.

He met her eyes, just for a second, just long enough to acknowledge her presence. Something in his expression shifted. The amusement faded, replaced by something unreadable.

And when he looked away, she thought - no, she knew - that he had done it on purpose.

Hinata swallowed the lump in her throat, pretending it didn't matter.

But it did. More than it should.

How he did not push them away.

How he moved as if her existence was no more than a passing breeze, barely felt, easily ignored.

He was supposed to see her. He had told her he would wait.

Her hands curled into fists, and before she could stop herself, her breath left her in a slow, bitter whisper.

"Liar."

"Hinata?"

She blinked, snapping out of her trance to find everyone looking at her.

She realized they had been calling her for awhile and she had said the word out loud. They must've assumed that she was calling one of them a liar.

"You okay? You've been staring for a while," Tenten eyed her, brow raised.

Lee leaned in, squinting. "Wait... Do you also admire Neji's aesthetic?!"

Hinata's breath hitched. "N-no! I was just…" She trailed off, unable to explain herself.

Tenten tilted her head, looking between Hinata and Neji before something seemed to click. Her lips parted slightly in realization, but instead of pressing, she simply smirked.

"Huh."

Hinata swallowed, her heart hammering against her ribs. She did not like that look.

His voice, rough with restraint, echoed in her mind once more.

"You awakened something in me that night."

He had said it like an accusation. Like it had been her fault. But if it had all been some fleeting impulse, then why did his absence gnaw at her? Why did she feel so unseen now, when once, she had been the only thing in his focus?

She gripped the fabric of her sleeve, trying to steady her breath.

"He's my cousin," she finally said, too soft, too unconvincing.

Shino merely hummed, unconvinced. Kiba snorted. "Yeah, right."

But they let it go.

And Hinata sat there, pretending she could let it go too.

Was she becoming really that obvious?

She hadn't meant to linger after everyone else left, but now her pulse thundered in her ears as she watched Neji dismiss the kunoichi with a polite nod.

She turned to leave quickly before he could notice her, but his voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Hinata-sama."

She froze.

A moment later, he was in front of her, his expression unreadable as usual. The warmth of his presence sent a contrasting shiver through her, but she forced herself to meet his gaze.

"You wish to avoid me," he said, his voice quieter now, edged with something she couldn't quite name.

Hinata swallowed. "No, I just-"

His fingers brushed against her wrist, halting her excuse before she could finish it. The touch was barely there, but it sent a spark up her spine. She tried to step back, but his grip tightened ever so slightly, anchoring her in place.

"Then stay," he murmured.

Her breath caught further.

"You were watching." Again, it wasn't a question. His thumb grazed the inside of her wrist, slow, deliberate. "Do you disapprove?"

Hinata felt heat creep up her neck, a storm of emotions swirling inside her. Jealousy, frustration, confusion.

"Why would it matter?" she whispered, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her.

He took a step closer, so close that she could feel his breath against her skin. "Because it does," he said simply.

Her chest ached, torn between everything she wanted to say and everything she couldn't.

"You let them touch you," she admitted, ashamed. Her voice was barely audible.

He exhaled slowly, his fingers moving from her wrist to her palm, tracing a line along the center as if reading something unseen. "And if I only wanted you to?"

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. The air between them was thick, charged, pulling her in like gravity.

His hand rose, fingertips brushing against the curve of her jaw, tilting her face up to him. Her pulse hammered. "Say it, Hinata-sama," he whispered.

Say what? That she had hated seeing him with them? That she had wanted to be the one in their place?

That his touch, his presence, was unraveling everything she thought she knew?

She couldn't.

So instead, she did the only thing she could.

She reached up, hesitantly, pressing her palm over his hand where it rested against her cheek. She closed her eyes, just for a moment, as if trying to memorize the warmth.

Neji's breath hitched. His fingers curled slightly against her skin.

But then, too soon, he pulled away.

Hinata opened her eyes, her heart pounding. "N-Naruto-kun... H-he's waiting for me," she stammered.

And the spell was broken.

He studied her, something unreadable in his gaze, before stepping back, his hand falling away completely. "I'll take my leave," he murmured.

Then, just like before, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, drowning in everything she couldn't say.

Hinata sat in Naruto's room, her hands folded neatly in her lap as he spoke animatedly beside her. His laughter was loud, easy, filling the space with warmth.

She should have been listening. She should have been smiling. But her mind was elsewhere, far from the bright blue eyes watching her with affection.

She barely registered his words, her thoughts lost in the ghost of a touch. The way Neji's fingers had brushed against her wrist, the quiet intensity in his voice that had sent shivers down her spine. The way he had looked at her, as if waging a battle he refused to name.

"Please, stop me."

Hinata didn't notice the shift in the air until Naruto leaned closer, his voice softening, his laughter fading into something more intimate. She caught the faint hitch in his breath just before he moved in-

And she panicked.

Her body reacted before her mind could catch up. She turned her head away sharply, a breath escaping her lips.

Naruto froze mid-motion.

"Hinata?" Confusion flickered across his face. His blue eyes, warm and open, searched hers. "Did I do something wrong?"

Her pulse pounded in her ears. "Sorry," she murmured, standing abruptly. "I'm… I'm not feeling well. I… I have to go."

Naruto frowned, sitting up straighter. "Go? But aren't we-?"

"Sorry," she repeated, softer now, almost guilty. "I can't do this, Naruto-kun."

Silence.

The room suddenly felt too small, too suffocating.

Naruto blinked, his brows furrowing. "What do you mean? Are you still mad about the scarf? Look, about that, I'm sorry-"

She opened her mouth, but no answer came. She couldn't explain, couldn't find the words. Couldn't lie.

"Later!" was all she could manage before grabbing her bag and slipping out the door.

She didn't stop running until she reached the Hyūga compound.

Until she was standing outside his quarters, breathless, heart hammering.

She hadn't thought. She hadn't planned.

She was just here.

And she didn't know why.

Her hand lifted, hesitating, but before she could knock, she saw his silhouette approaching the door, his figure framed by the dim candlelight inside.

He stopped just before opening it, pausing, easily having recognized her silhouette. He waited.

For a moment, they simply stood on either side of the thin paper screen, separated only by inches.

His palm pressed against the shoji, fingers splaying out.

She reached up, mirroring him. Her own palm rested against his, and she was sure she felt the warmth of him radiating through the barrier.

Slowly, he slid the door open.

His expression was unreadable, but his eyes - those sharp, discerning eyes, so unlike the gentle blue ones she had left behind - scanned her face, taking in her flushed cheeks, her unsteady breath.

A beat of silence.

Then, his voice, quiet and careful. "Hinata-sama… why are you here?"

She parted her lips, but no words came.

Why was she here?

She had no answer. No excuse.

Only the overwhelming, undeniable need to see him.

To hear his voice.

To be near.