She knew that he knew he could trust her to defend herself. He'd been there for the years of intensive training she went through to improve so vastly. However, she also knew that he felt their position as Branch and Main family deeply still. It was hard for her because she only saw him as her cousin, someone she loved deeply.

She passed over the second cup of tea and worked on making herself another. "Neji-niisan..." How could she say this? Would she sound ungrateful? Would she sound undeserving? It was difficult to approach this conversation, no matter how many times she seemed to have had it in the last few months upon her arrival. "I do not require you to sacrifice yourself for me out of a sense of obligation. I-I wish to say that now before I lose my nerve."