one_long_mission

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If this, then, was home, then for some, it was the only thing they knew.

For one teen girl, the life of a shinobi was all she truly knew. Her mother had died not long after giving birth to her, and her uncle and rest of family did not exactly approve of her suddenly being thrust upon them. Neji was somehow less than their own flesh and blood, and chafed under her reduced station.

If there were a way out, she would take it. As long as she did not dishonor her mother's name, she would take it.

Today was an uncharacteristically peaceful day as she sat atop one of the many tree branches around Michi no Sato. Border guarding was vital, if uninteresting. At the sound of approaching footsteps, she tilted her head; the direction was from the village itself. Likely no threat.

If they wanted her attention, they would request it; if they continued walking, she would have them halt to learn their purpose.

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An undetermined length of time passed before he finally stilled and the tears stopped falling.
Had it been anyone else offering their help or their support, he would have scoffed, internally or externally depending on who. Her, however...

Neji Hyuuga... Had he not crossed her path, perhaps he would be in a much worse state.
He detached from her, reluctantly. He did not apologize. He had broken down and she had been there to support him. She was a pillar. Definitely. There was certainty around her, and she never hesitated in this world.

She was strong, and despite what he showed now, he was far from being weak.

"I feel... we could accomplish many great things together.." he murmured.

She contemplated not letting go for a moment, grip tightening around his shoulders before she finally let him draw back, hands falling to her lap as she tilted her head, turning to face where she knew he had to be from the sound of his voice.

"Perhaps," she agreed quietly, lips curving into a small, unintentional smile. "Fate can be difficult to discern."

He had felt that grip tighten, and equally contemplated halting his movement, but it loosened soon enough.
Too soon for his liking. When had he started liking people that clung to him?

Then again, when he was younger, he clung to his brother like glue, and his mother hardly had a break.... until that day.

He gave a light but long exhale. "Fate might have more in store for me, hm?"

"For you, or for me." She nodded and rose to her feet, using the sound of his voice to guide her fingers as she let the tips brush over his cheek. "Would you care for a glass of water, Sasuke?"

After crying... best to prevent dehydration, after all. And if she stayed sitting there, she might be tempted to try to hold him again.

It just as well might have something like magnetic attraction, how he turned slightly to follow her fingertips, and rising his own fingers to his cheek in an apparent attempt to try and emulate that sensation.
Such a light touch, too... How could it produce so much of a reaction within him?

"Ah.. yes. Water. thank you." it took him a few moments to respond.

"..as for who it may be that fate would hold more in store for, it... seems our destinies may be linked in some way, ever since we've met at the gates, that day"

Again, she wished she could see his face. Reading his voice wasn't enough without his expression... but she dismissed it, instead moving forward to run the tap until the water was cold enough to fill a glass. Everything was in its place, meaning it was simple enough for her to reach up and retrieve it before returning to him, placing the water on the table rather than stand there and hope he would take it.

Her cheeks flushed a hint of pink at his next statement, though, and she could only return to her kneeling position, face turned to hide that flush. "That may be so."

He claimed a deep breath and, as she placed the glass on the table, thanked her. She almost had no time to fully place it before he claimed it, fingertips brushing lightly against hers.
Even without sight she could maneuver perfectly around her home. He could only be amazed. Even if it was him inside that small house, he would most likely hesitate or shuffle around without his vision.

She was strong in so many ways...

"Had I been able to win against you.." he paused. "Then again, no. I would not have won, no matter my strength. Fate works in its own way..."

It was a large reason why she had insisted on returning to her home, after all. It restored a measure of independence, lessening her vulnerability if she could do simple tasks without assistance.

"You would not have been able to defeat me," she confirmed, lips curving into another smile. "Though fate had little to do with it. I simply outclassed you."

Past tense, because with the strange Chakra she had seen from the temple... she could no longer be sure.

"Ow.. my pride's hurt there, you know?" he gave a light huff. "The attention to tense is appreciated though." he chuckled.

Indeed, one might wonder just what was the extent of his power? Should that fire back then have been caused by some jutsu, it was certainly fearsome. Because of this, however, part of him was somewhat unwilling to find out the extent of those new powers he had gained.

"You have nothing to fear though. I'm on your side."

She only smiled briefly before letting it fade again, not bothering to comment further on that. Instead her attention focused on his latter statement, head tilted as if to weigh his words. A long moment as she considered the possibilities, the different meanings and undertones she could take from those words...

Then simply took them at face value and inclined her head.

"I am honored."

He gave a light chuckle. "You're the only Hyuuga I'll ever say that to.."

There was the lightest of hums as he pondered. "I was thinking, and going back to the subject of the impending threat of Shourisha, we might have a few days ahead of us depending on the speed they advance, if they have even finished gathering by now.. so your eyes might be healed by then." he gave a snicker. "Pretty sure you can outdo any of those other Hyuuga. After all, you took down a chakra beast singlehandedly."

She flushed a little and inclined her head again to acknowledge it. Though a part of her wanted to point out that if he were on the side of the village, he was necessarily on the side of the Hyuuga, but for now...?

Neji was alright thinking that she was special.

"Did you report it?" She tilted her head toward him with a small frown.

"I've left everything concerning my goal out, as well as what I gained. I put the emphasis on the forces we saw on our way there, those massing near an old crossroads as well as the encounter we've made with a chakra beast and its end. They are aware of the advance forces and have possibly been working on wiping them out since the second I finished my report."

He claimed a deep breath. "You can report your version as well, if you so wish."

She stayed silent for a long moment, analyzing exactly what it was he was saying before glancing to him again.

"What other version is there, Sasuke?" And her lips quirked up in a small smile of acknowledgement.

"If you want to report the real reason for leaving, or what you saw at the temple." he murmured. "...it may be old history either way."

"Two contradictory reports is grounds for an inquiry. I do not believe either of us have time for that."

"Thank you." he murmured, somehow more relieved than he thought he would be, knowing that the Uchiha secrets were all with him. "I was right to put my trust in you."

She only smiled in response and inclined her head. Whatever the circumstances, good or bad... she and Sasuke were allies now. Had been for several days, perhaps since she'd gone for that paperwork, but for now? Neji exhaled through her nose and tilted her head at him.

"That, I think, may be a first."

"You mean someone putting their trust in you?"he wouldn't doubt it. After all, their circumstances, now that he thought about it, were somewhat similar.

"The village trusts me to act in the best interests of the Hyuuga. The Hyuuga trust me to obey my station." She looked evenly to him, arching an eyebrow. "You are the first to trust me."

They truly were similar. No one trusted them for themselves... "The village might change its opinion after we win." because yes, they -were- going to win, even if the shourisha broke past their defenses. Michi had their attackers in wait, and no one would let any harm come to the village. "...we've given them enough warning so that they know what to expect, and if they caught some spies, we'll be able to find out more, too."

Not to mention she already had done quite the act of heroism and saved the last Uchiha's life. "I owe you much more... since you helped me find the truth, no matter how dark it ended up to be..."

"We will win," she agreed quietly, both hands coming up to touch the bandages on either side of her eyes with another frown. "I only wish I were able to see it. It will be a decisive victory."

She tilted her head at the mention of spies and only nodded, though she paused at his next mention. "I am... sorry, that it was not as you had hoped."

"They did have a day or more waiting to gather... so.. you may see it. I keep hope." besides, if they were upon the city, he would rush to battle as well.

He claimed a deep breath and let out a sigh. "I've only found the path blocked. There are others I can use..."

"Perhaps." She nodded again in response with a short sigh, tilting her head toward him again. "And you say there are other paths...? Was what you found in the temple not enough?"

"Tell me then. What would you do, in my place?" he asked in a low voice.

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