EDITED: 4/14/17- spelling and grammar errors, as well as Hiashi and Neji's conversation about the clan's plan to marry off Neji. Also, details of Inoue's death were modified.

~~~~~~~~~~

36

Akira swung her katana, slicing the target dummy in half. She returned the sword to its scabbard just as the decapitated dummy fell to the ground with a dull "thunk". The kunoichi smiled in satisfaction.

She looked around her, appraising the target boards and the trees which bore the brunt of her morning training session. Each kunai found its target, the shuriken had done enough damage and her katana had sliced through the trees to produce kindling for fire. Akira grinned. Her training served two purposes: strengthen her body and provide enough firewood for her home.

"Perfect!" she muttered.

From the bushes, Akai emerged and the wolf barked his approval. "Wonderful, Hime-chan. Once again we'll spend the day cleaning up your training area!"

Akira ignored the sarcasm of the wolf with a roll of her eyes. "It's good exercise for you."

The red Ookami growled in protest but said nothing more as he picked up stray shuriken with his mouth. Akira plopped on the small white bench, temporarily resting her legs and easing her breathing.

The nightmares had visited her again last night. It started with random images from her past and then turning into grotesque scenes of the people she killed—Hideyoshi, those nameless shinobi she slaughtered in some missions and her grandmother. Finally, the Kageboshi itself appeared and it was scarier than ever, eyes glowing red, its chakra scorching hot that she felt like her insides were on fire.

But the grisly image changed to a peaceful one of her and him in that meadow. And same as always, in her dream, they were side by side, not talking but simply there, and for her, that was enough to calm her erratic heart.

Akira woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in cold sweat, but when she finally came to, there was only Akai with her. It was then she noticed the bite marks on her legs. Apparently, the red wolf had been rousing Akira awake but she was too deep into the nightmare. By the time she gained consciousness, her wounds had started to close, although some scratches (her own doing) lingered in various parts of her extremities.

Although it worried Akira that the intensity of her bad dreams had worsened, she tried not to think about it too much. After all, Inoue had said that the demon thrives in negative emotions and she should avoid those at all costs.

But then, Inoue had not exactly been open to her about a lot of things.

"I had to know that you are indeed worth the squabble," Danzo answered vaguely.

"What squabble?"

"Don't worry, it's something between the Council of Elders and the Hokage," replied Danzo. "I'm willing to disclose it to you only if you agree to be my subordinate."

Tomorrow's the last day for her answer. The offer was extremely enticing to Akira. Being a former member of the council, Danzo is sure to know a lot of things about her, even those that her grandmother had not told her. He would be beneficial in her pursuit of identity.

On the other hand, the man is known for his belligerent stance on a lot of things, and although Akira could care less about Konoha's political affairs, she refuses to be indebted to a man like him. Also, thinking about what Neji told her gave her second thoughts.

"What would you do if you were in my place?"

"I'd refuse."

Akira sighed. The dilemma feels like a heavy weight on her shoulders and for the nth time, she wanted to just cease to exist, if only to forget. But that's synonymous to dying and although it is true that hers is a pitiful existence, she has still so many questions to answer that she can't die yet.

She raised her arms, appraising the bruises and wounds. Several are in the late stages of healing and are quite unsightly. Akira decided to wear her haori today, or maybe a long-sleeved top. The one on her collarbone would be difficult to conceal though.

"And he'd be sure to notice," Akira grumbled inwardly, her thoughts drifting to Neji. They had plans to visit Inoue today. Even though she's not the type to be overly conscious of how she looked, Akira didn't want to draw attention to the fact that she's constantly being terrorized by a demon wolf in her sleep. She didn't want Neji to see her wounds. She didn't want him to walk away.

The kunoichi settled more comfortably on the bench, resting her head on one arm while she watched idly as Akai lumbered about. Akira's thoughts drifted back to the Hyuuga.

'I told him I love him. Was that really the right thing for me to say?'

It's not like she wants to take it back. However, she finds herself wondering if she really does love him. What does it mean to be in love anyway? In a romantic manner, specifically, because she loves her wolves but she doesn't want to be involved in any of them. Or even Naruto and Iruka-sensei. She cares for them but... more in a filial way. With Neji, however, it's different.

She closed her eyes and once again she was filled with the Hyuuga's distinct scent of pine with the clean smell of soap—a strange combination—and she felt heat creep up her face when she remembered the night before. Her actions recently towards the shinobi had been deeply puzzling but she allowed herself to be drifted by this strange current that their "relationship" is on. She had never been in such situations with members of the opposite gender before: holding hands, sharing her thoughts, hugging, kissing. It was new to her. Everything was new, even her feelings. He opened new doors for her and contrary to her personality, she had walked right in, trusting him, believing him.

"I don't want to hurt Akira."

"Akira-hime?"

Her musings were disturbed by Akai who sat in front of her, tail wagging. Akira sat up. "Hmm?"

The wolf hesitated for a while. "You and Hyuuga...I know you want to keep things between the two of you but..."

Akira waited patiently for the wolf to continue. When Akai remained hesitant, Akira leaned to scruff the Ookami behind his ear—his favorite. The wolf gave a low growl of contentment.

"Come on, Akai. What is it?"

"Well..." The wolf growled a little louder this time and determination made his stare hard. "I don't like him." Akira opened her mouth to say something but Akai cut her off. "I'm not saying you shouldn't! Sure, sure, you're free to like whoever you want but there's just something off about that kid! I mean, he's suddenly all over you just like that! And you! You're suddenly too trusting of him, like, it took Naruto months before he could even poke your nose and this Hyuuga just—could just—he---" The red wolf was growing more livid by each word. Akira knew better than to interrupt.

"He has impure intentions."

"What?!"

"IT'S TRUE! I CAN SNIFF IT OFF HIM!"

Akira blushed up to her hairline and she was sure her hair matched the color of her face and neck. She stared incredulously at Akai.

"Akai!" she scolded the wolf. She looked around, sensing for any other person in mortification. Thank the gods her genjutsu still held and she could not feel any foreign presence nearby. "Akai! What the hell are you talking about!" She grabbed the wolf by the ears, tugging a little harder and shaking its head. "How could—you're impossible! It's not like that!" She clutched at her collar, suddenly conscious, suddenly remembering said Hyuuga's stares that seemed to penetrate through her. She blushed even more.

"Hime-chan, come on, it's not as if you were born yesterday."

"I know! But...he's not...I mean, I don't... it's not like that!" She took several deep breaths, trying to ease the heat that crept up her face and the unsteady beating of her heart at the remembrance of her intense exchange with Neji at her doorstep last night.

Okay if she was honest with herself, her thoughts weren't too innocent about the Hyuuga, especially last night and the night of the festival. Both times he had kissed her rather intensely and she had returned his passion. But she's perfectly sure that she's not ready to cross the line yet. And to Neji's defense, he hadn't and doesn't force her to do anything. He's the perfect gentleman and his self-restraint is commendable, considering the circumstances.

And these she relayed to Akai.

"I know it's not just the physical stuff," said Akira, holding up a hand to stop the wolf from interfering. "But think, did he really give us a reason not to trust him? Were there any circumstances, other than there's something "off" about him?"

Akai looked away from Akira and a few minutes of silence passed between them. The wolf then sighed audibly before murmuring, "None."

"That's what I think too." Akira sighed, leaning back and closing her eyes briefly. "You know Akai, I can't keep my walls up forever. We can't trust everybody, that's true, but we could trust some. And you Ookami said it yourself. Neji's good for me." She opened her eyes and smiled at the wolf. "I don't get much nightmares when he's around. Last night, I dreamt of him and the nightmare went away. It's easier for me to deal with the Kageboshi because... he makes me happy."

Akai growled softly. "It's just too fast for us, is all." He sat on his haunches. "I mean, you shouldn't trust him too much. I understand that you're probably tired of being alone all the time with nothing but us runts to keep you company so maybe that's why you like being with Hyuuga but...I guess what I'm saying is you have to pull back a little."

Akira stared back into the wolf's eyes and nodded in understanding. "I know Akai." She said gently. "Thank you for your concern."

The red Ookami growled in resignation. "Well...if he makes you happy. But, do you really love him?"

Akira blushed. She's nearing that conclusion but she still has her doubts. She shrugged. "Let's just say I like him very much. And I'd appreciate it if you won't snap your jaws at him."

Just then Sachiko arrived in a veil of smoke, pure white fur glistening under the sun. "I like him too Hime!" The white wolf sauntered towards the kunoichi, tail wagging excitedly. "And I have a message from him!"

"Wait, what are you doing here Sachiko?" Akai said, barking at the newcomer. "And what do you mean you have a message—since when have you become a lap hound?"

"Hey!" Sachiko retorted at the insult. She glared at Akai. "I just happened to run into the Hyuuga kid! Besides, what was that I heard that you were threatening him and telling all sorts of nasty things?! He's done nothing but kindness towards Hime-chan! Don't you remember when he and Naruto saved Hime from Fujiwara! He could've left her but he didn't!"

"Easy, easy you two!" Akira said, standing up and getting between her two wolves. She pulled Sachiko aside to put distance from Akai. She turned to the red wolf first and spoke to him. "Akai, don't call Sachiko names." She then looked at Sachiko. "And Snowball, please don't just interrupt conversations like that. Granny will turn in her grave if she learned about your manners."

Both wolves barked in understanding, although Akai still made a face. Akira ignored the crimson wolf for a while and turned her attention to Sachiko.

"Now, Sachiko, what were you saying? About having a message from Neji?"

"Hai, hai! I met him back at the house. He was looking for you. He said he can't meet with you for lunch today, he had some business to take care of."

Akira's smile faded a little, for she was looking forward to meeting with the said shinobi. It was the longest they'd be together after their failed escort mission. Since then, they only had sporadic meetings because he's always summoned for missions while she's occupied with her duties in the Academy. There isn't really much time for them to get to know each other better.

Sachiko noticed the slight change in her mistress' affect and the wolf grinned conspiratorially. "BUT! He said he'd be available tomorrow and maybe you and him could go visit Inoue-sama!"

At this, Akira brightened up. She remembered mentioning to Neji about visiting her grandmother, and the Hyuuga signified his intention to formally be introduced to the Satsuna matriarch. It meant a great deal to Akira that Neji had wanted to gain Inoue's "favor".

"Would you like to meet my grandmother?"

"I'd be honored."

"I think my granny will like you. She likes uppity, rich people with excellent manners."

"That leaves four then."

"Four?"

"Yes, four. I figured Sachiko-san has approved of me and if you say that Satsuna-Obaa-sama is okay with me being 'uppity, rich and with excellent manners' then that leaves Yuudai, Akai and Kuroi-san's approval."

"Approval for what?"

Neji took a deep breath. "To be with you."

The fact that he seeks the approval of those closest to her sent a warm, fuzzy feeling in her Akira's chest. She smiled softly. "That would be great," she murmured.

"What?! Why does he want to visit Baa-sama?" Akai exclaimed. He turned to Sachiko. "Did you tell him— "

"No, Akai, it was I who initiated it!" Akira interrupted, running a hand through her side fringe in exasperation. "I asked him if he wanted to meet Baa-chan, you know, to formalize stuff or something and he agreed! Look, fetch the pack for me, will ya? I think we have to talk about this."

As Akai returned to Shizukana Yama to gather the rest of the Musha Ookami, Akira slumped back on her bench and let out a long, heavy sigh. If she knew that the Hyuuga would cause this much of a commotion in their lives, she wouldn't have allowed herself to fall for him.

But who knew, right? None of this was planned and even if it was... she wasn't sure if she'd be able to stop herself from falling for Hyuuga Neji.

~~~~~~~~

The Main Hall was abuzz with lively murmurs and of dissent and consent. Important members of the Hyuuga clan were present for the meeting: the Head of the Hyuuga Family, Hyuuga Hiashi seated at the head of the congregation; the Hyuuga elders at his immediate right; members of both Main and Branch families. The spot to Hiashi's left which was usually reserved for the Hyuuga heiress was empty. Next to it sat Neji.

Clad in his usual robes, Neji shifted a little from his position, flexing and relaxing his calves, keeping his attention to the matter at hand. Aside from the political relations that the clan is busy with, there was the rumor that some shinobi from Cloud had ambushed some shinobi team with Hyuuga members in it. The council feared that the intent behind these ambushes is to steal the much coveted Byakugan. Expectedly, this caused an uproar in the clan.

"What is the position of the Hokage about this matter?" an elder said.

"I have spoken to the Godaime and she wishes to remain neutral until this is proven to be true," Hiashi replied. "She acknowledges that our concern is worthy of alarm, but the Hokage remains firm that tangible proofs must be on hand before she passes a decision."

"Tch. As expected from a student of Sarutobi," Hiroyuki, a clan elder, scoffed. "Before she knows it, the Hidden Cloud Village had already amassed a trunk of Byakugan before she does something!"

Hiashi frowned but before he could speak, another elder of the clan spoke.

"She may not be as radical as the past Hokages but surely, the woman became Hokage for a reason," Haori, a female member of the elders said.

"And what reason, pray tell," Hiroyuki rebutted.

Before a heated argument could begin, Hiashi raised a hand and intervened. "Esteemed elders, your concerns are valid and I acknowledge them, but it isn't prudent to be squabbling over the Hokage's credentials, don't you think so? We have a more important issue at hand, and that is the safety of our clan's members."

"The solution is easy, no doubt about it," Hiroyuki was the first to speak. "The safety of the heiresses is of utmost importance and they should be granted more bodyguards." The elder man turned to Hiashi. "Make sure Hinata and Hanabi are kept safe and guarded at all times, Hiashi, better yet assign each of them a protector from the Branch House. After all, that is their purpose. To lay their lives on the line for the sake of the members of the Main House."

There was a murmur of assent from the members of the council but just as equally, there was an undertone of protest from the members of the Branch House, including Neji.

Fortunately, Hiashi wasn't keen on the proposed idea. He scoffed. "With all due respect, Hiroyuki-sama, my daughters will not be treated like porcelain cups," the patriarch declared. "Hinata is a shinobi of the village and will perform her duties accordingly. In the same vein, Hanabi is a kunoichi in training and will soon join the ranks as a proud member of Konohagakure. I am sure both of my daughters will make our clan proud."

There was a conservative murmur of approval mainly from the members of the Branch House. Hiashi glanced at his nephew who remained passive.

"Is there anything you wish to say, Neji?" he asked.

All attention turned to Neji and the jounin cleared his throat before speaking. "Thank you Hiashi-sama for the opportunity to address our clan members. As you said, Hinata-sama is a capable kunoichi and I have seen for myself her vast improvement. In fact, she is on an A-rank mission as we speak. Her prowess with the Byakuugan and the techniques of our clan are commendable—"

"Yes, but nowhere near expectations. This clan lacks a proper prodigy if you ask me," Hiroyuki interrupted.

Neji took a sharp intake of breath at the intrusion but kept his composure. A quick glance at Hiashi and he saw that the patriarch was irked too. "You are entitled to your own opinions, Hiroyuki-sama but may I just say that each shinobi is unique and progresses at a different rate than others. I believe it is unfair to judge Hinata-sama without giving her the opportunity to prove herself to the clan. And," Neji made sure his gaze remained steady at the older man across him. "My father's death proves futile if your line of argument is to be believed. What a pity."

As expected, Hiroyuki was livid and glared at Neji with all the anger his old eyes can muster. Before another conflict could take place, Hiashi took over the proceedings and continued with the matters at hand. Neji did not miss the approving smirk his uncle gave his way, though.

After the clan meeting was finally adjourned, Neji was already nursing a mild headache. Stiffly he stood up, gave the perfunctory bow to the elder members of the Hyuuga and made his way out. It was then he realized he was already running late for a promised training session with Team Gai.

It was one of those rare moments when the whole team was off-missions and as usual, they would train like they used to before they were Chuunin (or in his case, Jounin). Although barely a year into his promotion, Neji almost never had free time due to missions, so he rarely got to be around for these training sessions.

Also, he and Akira agreed to finally visit Inoue—and he had to cancel due to the clan meeting. That doubled his guilt, and his headache.

He walked towards the common kitchen, wanting to grab a snack before retiring in his room. Before he could walk away further, he felt a presence behind him.

"Neji, a moment."

He turned and he was face to face with Hyuuga Hiashi. Neji gave his uncle a polite bow. "Uncle."

"I just want to thank you for your contribution to the meeting earlier," Hiashi said without further preamble.

It was the first time Hiashi had thanked Neji for anything. This rendered Neji speechless temporarily.

"And for standing up to Hinata," Hiashi continued. "You helped her develop a new jutsu, correct?"

"Hai, Uncle. It only needs a little polishing but it's very effective," Neji replied. "A balance of offense and defense."

Hiashi remained impassive but there's a hint of pride in his voice. "Well, I look forward to seeing it in action myself. What about you? How has your missions been going?"

Aside from thanking Neji, it is also quite rare for his Uncle to ask about his general welfare, unless of course it has something to do with his responsibilities to the clan, so it took Neji a while before he could form a coherent thought.

"I'm doing well Uncle. Thank you for your concern," he said, bowing politely. "My mission ratings continue to improve."

"As expected. And has the Hokage spoken to you about a possible career in ANBU?"

The younger Hyuuga's eyes narrowed fractionally. "She has not mentioned anything about it. Is there...something I should know?"

Hiashi kept his stern gaze on his nephew. "I noticed that she has been summoning you a lot and sending you on solo missions. Junko had told me that the Hokage favors you among other shinobi in your batch."

Neji clenched his fist in his pocket. There simply is no way to escape the gaze of the Byakugan, especially if it belongs to Hyuuga Hiashi. As clan head, the man is privy to various affairs that may affect the Hyuuga clan, and one of those affairs include how to strengthen their position in the village's politics. He has eyes and ears on all corners of the village, carefully tracking, always watching. A fine example is Hyuuga Junko, a fellow Branch member who currently works as an administrative assistant in Tsunade's office. All mission requests for higher-ranked shinobi pass through the department she works in.

One would think that being a Branch member would make Neji exempt from this treatment. Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on how a person sees it), Neji is the celebrated genius of the clan, the first from the Branch House. Therefore, Hiashi would want that this asset of the Hyuuga family be treated in the manner he sees fit.

"I am honored by this news and I will be honored to be considered in ANBU," said Neji. "But I believe the Hokage treats all our shinobi fairly and per their abilities. If the Hokage sees it fit to include me in her elite guards, then I will accept. But," he straightened to meet his Uncle's hard gaze. "I'd rather do it out of my own efforts than receive it on a silver platter."

The message was not lost to Hiashi and the older man narrowed his eyes fractionally, assessing the younger Hyuuga. Finally, he spoke.

"I admire your steadfastness, Neji," said Hiashi. "In fact, I have spoken with the council to postpone talks about your marriage."

This caught Neji's full attention and he could feel a slight shiver in his spine. "Uncle?"

"The council sees your immense talent, and believes that it should be passed on to future generations of Hyuuga. As you know, the Hyuuga clan must produce a suitable heir—"

"Isn't that Hinata's problem?" Neji snapped.

The loss of proper honorifics and the sharpness in Neji's voice was evident. Hiashi's frown deepened. "You will address members of the Main family appropriately!"

As if suddenly remembering his place, Neji bowed repentantly although there is still an edge in his tone. "I apologize, Hiashi-sama," he muttered.

"As I've said, an heir must be produced in order to continue the legacy of the clan," Hiashi said. "While it is true that the line from Hinata is of the utmost importance, the bloodline of the Branch family must also be considered. The woman you marry must be of high importance and of course, a suitable match. However, your career should come first, and becoming ANBU will not only bring honor to this clan but also be extremely beneficial in securing the Hyuuga in the political side of things."

Neji's hard gaze met Hiashi's equally determined one. The proposition made it difficult for the younger Hyuuga to school his features into an emotionless mask, much more when he realized what the clan was trying to do.

He was a fool for believing that the Hyuuga had changed. It hasn't, and it still aims to control his life.

'So much for being free from the cage,' Neji thought bitterly.

"I am merely preparing you for your future, Neji," said Hiashi after a pause. "There is still a lot of time to consider. I expect you continue with your duties as a shinobi and fulfill your responsibilities to the village and to the clan. I want you to bear in mind that so much rests on your shoulders. I hope you bring honor to this family the same way your father did."

Hiashi gave Neji one last look before turning back towards the Main House's part of the estate. Meanwhile, Neji's thoughts were in turmoil.

The clan expects him to climb up the ranks and it expects him to marry a woman who can produce a strong heir. While it has never been a secret that Hyuuga marriages are arranged, Neji had hoped that with the reparations between the Branch and Main families that his fate would be different. But apparently, it has not. The Hyuuga clan is one of the oldest families in the village. One would be a fool to think that it can change overnight.

To Neji, climbing up the ranks to ANBU is not a problem. He is confident in his abilities and a career in stealth and assassination is definitely included in his plans. But marriage?

'I'm not even certain if I could return the Satsuna's affections.'

Besides, the redhead barely counts as a "woman of high importance and a suitable match", does she? Kageboshi notwithstanding.

The ache in Neji's head worsened.

~~~~~~~~~~

Third day.

Akira tried her best to ignore the nagging feeling in her chest, rather, she decided to focus on her activity for the day: visit Inoue with Neji.

Yesterday, they met after finishing their respective businesses: she, conferring with Iruka at the Academy of her return after a three-day hiatus, and he with a meeting with the Hokage. They talked only for a moment, as both had pending errands to do. They had agreed to meet for lunch before proceeding to the cemetery.

She did not tell him of her decision about Danzo's offer. He didn't ask. After talking, he gave her a chaste pat on the arm before leaving.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he had said.

It was a funny coincidence that he slated their visit to Inoue at the same time Danzo's offer was to expire.

Was it his way of discouraging her from following the devious shinobi leader?

Regardless, Akira had already made up her mind.

The kunoichi sighed deeply and again schooled her thoughts to more pleasant ones, like her visit to her Baa-chan.

She cleared the clutter off her bed, keeping the several books back to their shelves and the lesson plans in her bag. Since she was going back to work tomorrow, Akira had already prepared her things to avoid hassle in the morning. After a few minutes of keeping her room tidy, the kunoichi stepped out and called her wolf.

"Yuudai!"

From the backyard, the gray wolf appeared. "Yes Hime?"

"We'll visit Baa-chan today but we'll meet with Neji first."

At the mention of the Hyuuga, the wolf growled. Akira rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Yuudai, stop reacting that way. You should be used to him by now."

The wolf whimpered. "I don't like him."

"Why am I not surprised?" Akira sighed. "Whatever. Come on, let's go, I'm already starving."

The pair walked off towards the park where she and Neji agreed to meet. Sure enough, he was there, leaning against the wall. From afar, he was the picture of calm and Akira took a minute to admire the shinobi's peaceful countenance before approaching.

"Neji?"

He looked up and his shoulders eased slightly. He smiled lightly when she approached and gave Yuudai a curt nod.

"Where to?" he asked as they walked side by side.

"Well, I heard Ichiraku's ramen is the best."

The little joke actually made Neji crack a smile and he shrugged. "It's been a while after all. Let's go."

Fortunately, there was no line when they arrived at Ichiraku's and the store has a ramen-all-you-can promo. Akira grinned conspiratorially with Yuudai.

"You know what this means!" she said to the wolf, grinning. Meanwhile, Neji only shook his head fondly.

"You jinchuriki do have vacuums for stomachs, huh?" he remarked, casting the Satsuna a glance. The girl smiled.

"It takes a lot of calories hosting demons, you know?"

Neji rolled his eyes. "Right."

Two steaming bowls were placed in front of them at that moment, and the two paused in their exchange in order to savor the rich broth and the tasty ramen that only Ichiraku can concoct.

After a hearty lunch (and three ramen bowls for Akira), the Hyuuga suggested to stop by a flower shop to get some flowers for the Satsuna matriarch. After securing white blooms from a nearby store (the Yamanaka shop was closed), the trio made their way to the cemetery.

Neji allowed the kunoichi to lead, content with watching her ponytail swing with her strides, letting his eyes travel from the crimson locks to the long legs that walked with a purpose. Physically, there is no doubt why the Satsuna can turn heads. She's no rose, but she's no shrub either.

They passed the meters and meters of shinobi headstones before finally arriving at the Satsuna matriarch's final resting place. It was very simple, with only a cheap headstone to mark the grave. No fancy quotes to commemorate her, only her name and the dates of her birth and date. Neji noted these details, wanting to reference to them later.

Akira, Neji and Yuudai bowed in respect, each saying a silent prayer. Once done, Akira turned to Neji and he placed the flowers on the old woman's grave.

"Um, Gran?" Akira started. She cleared her throat. "Um... I brought a .... I brought a friend today. His name is Neji."

Neji took this as his cue to bow politely. "It's a pleasure and an honor to meet you, Satsuna-sama," he murmured earnestly.

Together, he and Akira sat in front of the silent headstone. He watched as Akira continued to gaze quietly at the smooth cement, gently running her hands over the carved characters. Yuudai had settled comfortably on the grass beside the kunoichi, his eyes closed. His perked ears however indicated that the wolf was awake.

Neji decided to break the silence. He reached out to touch Akira's hand. "Can you tell me about Satsuna-sama?"

Akira glanced at him before sighing. "Well, my grandmother was a kind woman," she started. "She raised me since I was a baby and strived to give me everything I needed. She taught me a lot of things too."

She took the sword from her hip. "This is hers. She said she gave it to my mom and then she gave it to me when I turned seven. I've had it since then."

The kunoichi then turned to him with a blushing smile. "I replaced the tsuba with your gift. Again, thank you."

The earnest thanks brought slight shivers from deep within him and Neji was hard-pressed not to return the girl's smile. "I'm glad it fits."

"It's perfect. It didn't alter the weight distribution of the blade. Grandma will be impressed."

Neji merely shrugged and the kunoichi laughed a little. After a while, Akira spoke again. "My grandmother taught me how to use weapons, mainly katana and its variants. She used to say that my mother was a skilled swordsman. I tried to know more about my parents, but she always insisted that I was still too young to know. Back then, it didn't really matter how little I knew of my parents because I had my grandmother, but as I grew up, that was when I realized that I was different.

I remember when I was around 4 years old and we didn't have decent food for like, days, Grandma would always go into the village proper looking for odd errands. I was not aware of it that time, but she would often be turned away because... because she was related to me. It was only when I was about to enter the Academy that I somehow understood the reason for the people's hatred. When I learned of it, I asked my grandmother why such a beast was placed in me. Why me? And what exactly happened that Konoha hates me?"

Akira had started to pull random grass and then dump them by her feet. "I asked my grandmother to remove the demon wolf, but obviously, she can't. She taught me instead how to "control" it. She taught me to be happy and to search for happiness. For a while I was successful, even though I was bullied a lot, was called names, lived off the waste of others...I had my grandmother, and that alone is enough reason to be happy. But then she died and...it has been difficult ever since."

Neji felt his heart beat a little faster, his shinobi sense tingling. He felt the Satsuna's chakra flare slightly, an impending sign of distress. Neji continued to listen with hidden anticipation.

"I was at the Academy, attending one of Kuzo-sensei's classes when I was summoned by an ANBU. Back then I didn't really understand what was happening but I felt like it was related to me. Suddenly I heard the wolves howling and that's when I realized that something had happened to Gran. I asked the ANBU and he said—without any hesitation, preamble or anything—he said...my grandmother is dead."

She turned to look at Neji, and while there were no tears in her eyes, there was sadness in them. "Just like that, my grandmother, my only family, is dead. I felt like I had died too...and there simply was no reason to live anymore."

It is an understatement to say that Neji can relate. He had seen his father die and it took many years before he fully understood the reason behind his death.

Tentatively he reached for Akira's hand and held it in his. When she didn't pull away, he clasped their fingers together.

"I found the house burned to the ground, barely a few posts remaining. There were several shinobi present, mostly ANBU. For some reason, I can't seem to remember every detail. The Sandaime was there. He was the one who told me everything."

Akira paused and Neji waited patiently. Meanwhile, Yuudai placed his head on the kunoichi's lap as a way of comforting the girl.

"He said... that grandma died due to a wild fire. That it was an accident." She looked up to meet Neji's eyes. "I believed him that time, because what else is there for me to do? I had no choice but to swallow everything I was told. I didn't even have time to cry because I was not allowed to approach the house, or even my grandmother's corpse. They carted her body away even before I arrived. The only thing that made it real, was the thick smoke everywhere and the stench of burned flesh."

"We weren't even there when it happened," Yuudai interjected somberly. Akira wrapped her arms around the wolf and hugged him tight.

Neji watched the pair, realizing that the reports surrounding the Satsuna had been extremely unfair. He had read the reports, read her transfer to the orphanage, read the mission stats. But he was still far from the truth.

Akira looked back at him. "They said it was an accident, that a random wild fire had caused her death. But it has been raining for days, I was just out the night before from a hunt. You'd have to be shinobi in order to cause a fire that strong. Besides, Baa-chan may not be ninja but she's no idiot either. Do you think she'd not smell smoke from a 'wild fire' that big?"

"You're saying... it was premeditated?"

The kunoichi's stare hardened. "I'm saying it wasn't an accident. That the Third Hokage himself lied right in front of my face." She shook her head. "It wasn't an accident. It was because of me. I killed my grandmother."

"Hime-chan! Don't say that!" Yuudai stood up in protest.

"It's true! I dream of it every night, and I still see how it happens!" Akira insisted. "The Kageboshi killed her! I killed her!"

By now the kunoichi's chakra had flared strong enough for Neji to worry. Even without the Byakugan, he can see the faint black energy, like ink tendrils wafting around the Satsuna's form. He reached out to hold both her shoulders.

"Akira, listen to me," he said, attempting to calm the distressed girl. He shook her lightly. "It's not your fault."

But Akira only shook her head harder. "No! It is my fault! I killed her! The Kageboshi, it was him, he caused the fire—"

"Hey, calm down...please..." But his efforts were futile, Akira only continued her frenzied speech, her chakra growing more haywire as she spoke.

"It said that I killed Baa-chan because the seal has grown weak and I had hurt her! They were correct, I am a monster and I kill people! I killed my own mother, my grandmother, Hideyoshi! This beast inside me, I am no different! I had hurt my grandmother many times and I finally killed her! I killed her!"

Strange black chakra had begun to form a cloak over Akira's stature. Yuudai stood up to try to calm the distressed girl. Meanwhile, Neji was rendered frozen for a second before ultimately recovering. He opened his Byakugan, channeled chakra to his fingertips and hit the tenketsu on the kunoichi's nape. The inky chakra dissipated as the kunoichi slumped backward. Neji caught Akira and slowly eased her against him.

Yuudai prodded Akira with his snout, placing a paw against the girl's wrist.

"I only sent her to sleep," Neji reassured the wolf. "I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do."

Yuudai growled softly but did not reply.

Neji adjusted the kunoichi, laying her comfortably against his own body. He calmed himself as well, easing his erratic heartbeat, composing back his thoughts. It was the first time he had witnessed the kunoichi's distress. True, he had seen her once in the Kageboshi's mid-possession, but that was before he had developed feelings for the girl. Back then, she was only a mission, a mere number in his file. But now she meant much more.

Her files had read that her seal is stable, but if it was then this shouldn't happen. If a mere bad memory can trigger her like this, how much more if she learned that---

Neji shook his head. No. 'I'll make sure she won't.'

"We need to get her home," Yuudai said to Neji. "Please place her on my back."

Neji knew there was no arguing with the wolf, so he lifted Akira and positioned her carefully on the wolf's broad back. Yuudai then stood up, expertly balancing the slumbering kunoichi. He then turned to the Hyuuga. "Come with us. There is something you should know."

Neji nodded and followed the wolf. They left the cemetery through the woods. Once they were out of the premises of the cemetery, Yuudai began to lead them deeper into Konoha's forests, away from the population. It was not until they reached Akira's training ground that Yuudai stopped and faced Neji.

"Please don't mention to anybody what you saw and heard," said the gray wolf. "We don't need any more reason for Konoha to spite Akira-hime."

Neji clenched his fists. "You have my word."

Yuudai studied him carefully, its sharp eyes narrowing before finally nodding. "Akira-hime is very fond of you that is why she shared those intimate things. You are the very first person she told those about, not even Naruto nor Hayate-sensei. And she had not brought anyone to Inoue-sama's grave either."

Again, there was that strange pull in his heart that bothered Neji but at the same time, it felt painfully wonderful for him to know that the usually isolated kunoichi kept him at high regard.

"I understand."

"No, you don't understand, Hyuuga. This," Yuudai glanced at the sleeping girl on his back, "this is not the first time it happened. She used to have more episodes, even a simple thing that upsets her can set off the seal. The Third Hokage had strengthened it since Hideyoshi-kun's death, and Akira-hime had learned to control the beast but lately... it has been acting up again."

Neji's brows furrowed. "How often?"

"It used to happen every night, even at day. What you saw was nothing, she was still sane and conscious. But her nightmares..."

Neji remembered that night, during their mission with Fujiwara when he had sensed the strange force of the Satsuna's chakra. He had seen how pale she was, how extreme her injuries were. It shook him up inside and the image of the bloody clothing, the metallic stench that filled her room, had been imprinted in his mind forever.

Indeed, her outburst today was very minor.

"Was that the reason for her bruises?" he asked. "I saw new ones."

Yuudai sighed. "Akai had no choice. Once the Kageboshi's deep into her psyche, it's very difficult to rouse her unless..." the Ookami hesitated.

"Unless?"

"Unless she fights it back with happy memories. Memories of Naruto, Iruka-sensei...you."

"And how often is she having these nightmares?"

"It only just happens when something is deeply troubling her. But lately, it's becoming more frequent. We believe it has something to do with that Danzo."

Neji heaved a deep breath. He leaned against a tree and closed his eyes temporarily. There simply has been too much information to process lately. Akira, his clan, Danzo... he needed a breather to organize his thoughts.

Danzo would come later. His priority at the moment is the Satsuna.

Meanwhile, Yuudai had settled the kunoichi on the white bench. Neji approached them. "Tell me more about Inoue-sama. Why does Akira believe so strongly that she killed her?"

Yuudai glanced at Akira before replying. "As I said, when Inoue-sama died, Akira was at the Academy and we were in the mountain. I felt that something bad had happened to Inoue-sama but when we had arrived, the house was already aflame. We tried trying to get to her but we can't. It wasn't ordinary fire. Kishi still wasn't strong enough to douse it. It took a long time before we could summon help. By that time, it was too late." He bowed his head forlornly. "Like Akira-hime, we believe that it was no ordinary accident. There was something different about that fire. It wasn't normal. It incinerated everything, it was so fast. Even a wild fire cannot cause a damage that intense. If it was indeed a wild fire, as they had told us, then how do they explain this strange occurrence?"

This new information sparked Neji's interest. "How is the Kageboshi involved in Inoue-sama's death?"

"When Hime-chan was young, she had trouble controlling the demon. She would sometimes hurt Inoue-sama or us in the process. It wasn't that serious—only scratches, sometimes the demon's chakra can cause minor burns—and the Sandaime had instituted seals to make sure her original seal is stable. One day, he mentioned to Akira that the Kageboshi can affect those close to her, so she should be careful to keep it in check. Back then, we all believed this was just the Sandaime trying to console Akira-hime since she was very young then and could not fully grasp the power of the demon wolf. The night before her seventh birthday, that was when she had hurt Inoue-sama really bad. The Kageboshi had managed to partially break the seal and Inoue-sama herself had to perform a complicated jutsu to keep the demon in place. Up to now, Akira-hime believes that the demon had somehow hurt her grandmother in that process and it caused her to die. Her immense guilt turned inwards, and she blamed herself."

Yuudai whimpered. "She believes that because she is host to the demon, she herself had killed Inoue-sama."

Neji pondered about this new information and he remembered Sakura's account of when Naruto's own seal had partially broken. The Kyuubi manifested its four tails. Was that what happened to Akira? But if it was, shouldn't the Hokage been alerted? Why did Inoue attempt to seal the demon herself?

Again, the more he learns about the girl, the less he understands. But at least now it was clear to Neji that the records pertaining to the Satsuna matriarch's death was false. The public records lied and Akira was telling the truth. There was no accident, there is only the Kageboshi.

He turned to the sleeping girl, finally able to see the depths of the heavy burden she carries. If what the wolf said is true, then the Kageboshi had killed both her grandmother and her close friend. There is indeed merit when she said, "I am nothing but a jinchuriki, Neji. I am different. You haven't seen what I can do—what the Kageboshi can do. Leave me alone. I don't want to hurt you."

But this only strengthened his resolve. Akira is not just a jinchuriki. She is something else and something more. To him, she is so much more.

He bent towards the girl and gave her a chaste kiss on her forehead. He then turned to the wolf.

"I only injected a small amount of chakra in her tenketsu," Neji said. "Just enough to calm her and put her to sleep. She will be waking up soon. Please continue to watch over her for me."

Yuudai bowed to thank the shinobi.

"Also, I stand by on what I said. I do not want to hurt Akira." Neji sighed deeply. "She...she is important to me."

Yuudai barked in acknowledgement. Neji returned the gesture with a bow and gave the kunoichi one last look before walking away. If he were to uncover the truth about the kunoichi, then there's no better way than to start now.

~~~~~~~~~

When Akira finally came to, she was at her couch and Yuudai was barking. There was someone in the house with her.

Startled, she sat up, trained eyes roaming the living room until she saw the cloaked figure. Its tanto was out and aimed at the gray wolf who was baring its fangs, ready to spring.

"Yuudai!"

Akira stood up, all traces of sleep gone from her system and stood beside her wolf. "What are you doing here Badger?" she demanded.

The hooded man turned to face the kunoichi. "I came to get your answer. It's fortunate that you had awoken sooner, or else I have turned your dog into canned meat."

Yuudai barked ferociously and swiped a paw at the offender. Akira gave the Ookami a stern mental order before it could do any damage.

"Tell Danzo my answer is no," she stated firmly. "I refuse to be a part of his twisted plans."

Badger regarded her carefully. "You do realize you are wasting the perfect opportunity to uncover your past and fortify your skills?"

Akira glared at the man. "I will do those things on my own. My grandmother will turn in her grave if she learned I sought assistance from untrustworthy people like you."

She and the Root shinobi locked stares before Badger sheathed his tanto and secured it to his back. "Noted. It is rather unfortunate though, Satsuna. As I said, the Academy is a waste of your time. Additionally, your grandmother will continue turning to her grave if you do not at least try to know what really killed her. Anyway, I will let Danzo-sama know of your decision, but should your mind change, his offer still stands. Anything else?"

Akira's stony silence and the Ookami's growls were all that met him. Badger performed a seal and he was gone in a thin veil of smoke.

The kunoichi collapsed on the floor. Yuudai was immediately by her side. "Hime-chan! Are you alright?"

"Yes. How long was I asleep?"

"About two hours, roughly."

"Huh." She looked around, taking in the dim interior. "And Neji?"

"He already left, Hime."

The memory of their visit to Inoue's grave replayed in Akira's mind. She buried her face in her hands, feeling the embarrassment creep. Neji had heard, he had seen what she's able to do. Tears formed in her eyes.

"Did...did he..."

Yuudai sidled up to her, leaning his head against the side of her face. "He asked me to watch over you, Hime," the wolf whispered. "And he said...that you're important to him."

At this, Akira slowly lifted her head to meet Yuudai's earnest stare. "He... Neji said that?"

Yuudai nodded. The wolf gave a low, affectionate growl. "He cares for you, Hime-chan. I think I can see it now."

~~~~~~~~

Author's Notes:

4/14/17

First of all, thank you for your support. Your follows, favorites and reviews inspire me to continue to write and better myself. As some of you may have noticed, I've gone back to edit the chapters and modify some points in the story. I did this to correct some grammar and spelling errors, as well as possible plot holes, although I know that I may have overlooked some. If you noticed anything that can still be improved, please feel free to tell me. I welcome all constructive criticisms!

That aside,  I know that I've mentioned that I placed this story on hiatus. That is correct, but it doesn't mean that I'm completely abandoning the story. I am also not putting it up for "adoption". As of today, I continue to work on it but not as frequently as I used to since I'm quite busy with a lot of paperworks etc. I'm really sorry for doing this, but real life always gets in the way. I try my best to squeeze in a few lines every now and then, and that is why the next chapters are taking quite a while to be posted. Still, I ask for your understanding.

Oh well, this AN has been lengthy. Thank you so much for reading my story. I appreciate your support!

~Akira