She gave him a small smile. "You know intimately of Naruto's kind, forgiving nature. Once he understood you, you were his friend."

She brushed her hand down his forearm before placing it back in her lap, grateful for the touch he was offering her even while refusing to soften the truth of the situation. "I can only hope so, Neji-nii-san."

She closed her eyes again, and soaked up the contact of someone who cared for her back.