one_long_mission | [Open] Where do the dead go when they die?

This isn't what he expected.

Neji stands at the outskirts of a village, one he's never seen before, and tries to trace the moments that brought him here. The battlefield, Hinata's suicidal move to protect Naruto, his own moments later to protect them both... The stunning, numbing pain as his body was pierced. Naruto supporting him, holding him up, as he gasped out a few soft words...

And then darkness, and an almost-unfelt flare of pain in his eyes as the seal did its ugly work.

But now, there is no evidence of it. He wears the uniform of the allied army, and it is clean, untorn, unstained. His body is whole, with no pain or weariness.

He can see.

The seal still sits on his forehead, a quiet but tangible presence, a gentle pulse that doesn't quite match up with his heartbeat. Foreign, but for short times, forgettable. It's there, as though he's never died to trigger it.

What happened?

He gains nothing by standing here. Slowly, still feeling a floating sense of unreality as though his feet don't truly touch the ground, he steps forward.

Where am I?

Perhaps there will be answers. Or perhaps this is what death is. His fingers rise to touch his forehead, covered by his hitai-ate, manji pulsing beneath. Is even death not an escape, then?

Who knows?

He enters the village, silent and wondering.

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"Yes," she responded after a few moments of thoughtful silence. He might not like what she was going to say, but he should at least understand how things worked here.

"Tenten-san lives with Itachi-sama. Perhaps you might ask her for an introduction." There was no doubt in her mind that the Kage would accept another version of her cousin, just as he accepted the other version of herself, but she just hoped that this Neji and Tenten-san did not get into a disagreement over her romantic situation.

Lives with... The immediate implications leaped to mind, but he set them aside. This place was strange enough that he should not make any assumptions about... implication. Better to take it cautiously, to accept the surface and only subtly look underneath, not bind himself to conclusions which might well be false.

"Perhaps I will do so," he agreed gracefully, nodding.

"Then, I would gladly take you to meet both of them. Hopefully, Sasuke-san will be there as well, so that we can both be introduced to him." She gave him a bit of a smile before draining the dredges of her tea. "I have yet to meet him, but I have heard that he was one of Itachi-sama's ANBU."

*One of Itachi-sama's ANBU. *There was nothing about that sentence that wasn't strange, world-warping. But that was precisely what the situation was, Neji supposed, so there was little point in railing against it. There was an art of graceful acceptance, and it was one he would have to employ now, as he became settled in this strange new place.

"Thank you, Hinata-sama," he answered simply, dipping his head.

She understood that everything in this village would take time to get used to. It had been the same way for her. In fact, the strangeness of it all was what kept her from offering her services to the Kage in the first place.

And the way that Tenten-san had watched her that day still played over sometimes. As if she were claiming her mate. As if Hinata had any interest in the Uchiha. She would never endanger her friendship with the other girl or her relationship with Naruto-kun.

Although, Hinata was sure that Neji would acclimate soon enough. His other selves seemed to have no problem finding niches that suited them and this one would be no different, if she knew her cousin well.

"You are very welcome, Neji-niisan," she said as she set all of the tea implements on the tray in the middle of the table. She looked at her watch and sighed inwardly. "I was just heading towards the school for my afternoon work. Would you like to accompany me? I am sure that Itachi-sama will be there as well. He usually is at this time of day."

Right away, just like that? He contemplated the matter, brows furrowing just slightly. "Is it a point of etiquette, in this place?" he asked her uncertainly. "If it is, then of course, I will behave appropriately, but if not... then I believe I would prefer to take some time to settle before presenting myself to the leader of this place." Some time to come to grips with things before he faced a man he only knew as a traitor and a danger.

She could see the conflict on his face. It was probably the same she herself had gone through when she'd first arrived. Of course, most of the shinobi from Konoha had trouble with Itachi-sama at first.

"If Tenten-san had her way, it would be, but, no, it is not a requirement. Itachi-sama will not blame you for taking your time to show yourself to him. I believe that he would rather you approach him when you are comfortable and most able."

"Mm. Then I believe I would prefer to wait," Neji said, giving a slight nod. "Once I have had more time to settle..." He would feel better about meeting with the alternate of a village traitor then, he told himself -- once he'd gotten used to the idea of the alternates, once he'd had some time to process the fact of his own death, and this strange second life he'd been granted.

"If that is what you wish, then I will not pressure you to introduce yourself until you are ready, Neji-niisan." She gave him a soft smile. "However, I must make my way there shortly. Unless you would like for me to assist you in finding your way around the village? I believe that I might be able to take a day off of the record sorting to help."

"I wouldn't ask you to suspend your regular duties in favor of helping me," Neji answered easily. "But a tour of the village... perhaps when you are finished for the day, would be welcome." If he meant to integrate, he would avoid disrupting the routine that already existed.

She nods, knowing that he will be fairly set in what he's decided. Her
duties are not truly pressing, but she does not like to get behind either.
"I should be finished around five pm. The village has a clock that will
sound the hour, if you do not know what time it is." She stands and
straightens her clothes. "I will leave you now then."

She gave him a slightly lower than necessary bow before leaving the room.
She didn't want to see his reaction to that. He would never let her thank
him. It was the only way she could show her gratitude.

Such a quick exit... well. He supposed with everything they'd talked about, it was much easier for her to do that. Still, he dipped an appropriate bow to her retreating back, and offered a murmur of, "Five o'clock then, Hinata-sama."

[Open] Where do the dead go when they die?

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