[Hello again~!
So, I know I keep bringing this up but I'm super hyped for this! > < Naruto Wattys, vote for My Little bird
HERE: NarutoWattys Voting is NOW OPEN~! It's located in one of their books, the one with Rock Lee on the cover. Go to that book, then go to the Love Story section and comment your vote on this book! ^^ Thanks to Yume for being the first to vote for My Little Bird in the Love Story section~!
Alright, now onto other stuff :3 I'm actually planning a serious second arc. It'll still be in this book, so I hope you don't mind~ it might be a shorter one, but it's alright, right?
I'm so happy that we are nearing the end of this book. I appreciate everyone for sticking to this book, and I hope you'll read my other planned fanfictions! ^^
As always, thanks for reading~! :3
-Rei-chan]
~~
"D...Dead?" Neji's voice was low, but direct. "But trials take weeks, not a few days. She could still be alive-"
"Her case was a more different situation. Apparently her client, the one who wanted you dead, was some kind of big organization unknown to Konoha. And they're pissed that Kira didn't finish the job fully, or whatever. So for compensation, her boss is giving them her death, and her brother is going to tie up loose ends." Sasuke said bluntly, with narrowed eyes and and tightly crossed arms.
Dead. It hit him like a train. No... "There has to be another way. She can't just be...dead. How far did they go?"
"Pft. Neji, you really aren't thinking about hunting her down, are you?" Sasuke laughed, a sort of dry laugh that was devoid of any sign of hope. Like he had given up on Kira, on himself for not being a more convincing person.
"Well it's the only choice I have, isn't it? I'm not just going to let her die a pathetic death, Sasuke." With a dry laugh, Neji asked once more, filled with determination. "So where did they go?"
Sasuke was silent at first. He was reluctant to give out this kind of information, knowing that Kai would probably end him first. He had seen the look in his eyes, the eyes of a protective older brother. The look that Itachi once had for him. But...Neji was right. He needed to give Kira her best chance. And if her best chance was having this Hyuga come looking for her and fill her with determination, then Sasuke would cooperate. "Fine...Come inside, don't touch anything."
Neji stepped inside, a little nervous. This would be the only time he'll be inside the compound without Kira by his side to protect him from Sasuke's snarky comments. Not that he needed that protection, it was just comforting to see that she cared. The compound was slightly similar to the Hyuga compound, with the same structure and dirt courtyard. But the rooms felt far more emptier than usual, echoes of past memories and sentimental value everywhere. Something that this Uchiha won't get back...
Sasuke disappeared into the closet and reappeared, a small clean map in hand. "This was the map that Kai gave to me. He was accompanied by...someone working for Kira's client. Someone clad in back, with this weird...insignia on their back.told me he came from somewhere called the Academy for the Gifted. The guy told me if I wanted a purpose to live...I should join their organization here. A place for loners and orphans." He shuddered, remembering. The hooded cloak had attacked him beforehand, wrecking the place before handing him the map. Testing him. And it seemed as if he had passed.
"They went north of Konoha. A few hundred miles into the middle of the forest, there," Sasuke pointed at a small red dot, "and wait until nightfall. You'll meet a frog, I know it's weird, but you have to have a specific password for it. Without the password, the frog is just an ordinary frog. But after that, it'll show you the hidden entrance to Kira, or more specifically, the school she had attended."
Neji hesitantly picked up the map, questioning himself and his goal. Would it really be worth it to risk his like for this girl? Or should he just tell the Hokage, and have someone higher up deal with the situation? No...they would only dismiss her case and let the dominoes fall. "Alright. I'll leave tonight. Thank you for the map, Sasuke, I promise to-"
"Hold on. I didn't give you this map." Sasuke said dryly, a determined expression on his face. Something smug too, and Neji didn't like it. He shot Sasuke a confused glare.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm going with you." Sasuke straightened his shoulders, and crossed his arms on his chest tightly. "I want to know if this Academy has the power to make me stronger, so that I could finally take my revenge on Itachi. And to save Kira, of course, someone might need to take care of the Uchiha compound if I decide to attend the Academy." He was clearly not going to budge, and there wasn't much Neji could do to convince him at this point besides glaring and scoffing.
"...Fine. But Kira comes first. Any mission of yours is going to have to wait until she's safe." With the map gripped tightly into his hands, Neji briskly turned around and headed for the door. At the edge of the gate, he noticed something...strange. Oh god no... "Lady Hinata. What are you doing here?"
The Hyuga girl was hiding behind the wall, but knowing that she was completely vulnerable to Neji's Byakugan, she gave in. "I overheard...what happened to Kira. I-I want to help!"
"Absolutely not!" Neji said sternly. "If you go, that means that this wretched curse mark of mine will get in the way. And I don't want that happening with Kira's life on the line. Besides, it would be much safer for you to stay here with your father until I get back..." His Byakugan activated, out of shock and rage. How the hell does Hinata think she could help?! "If you really want to help next time, Hinata, you'll need to train much, much...harder. And stop fainting all the time when you see Naruto! You'll keen over anytime we walk by a student you find attractive, and that would blow our cover."
"So m-maybe I can't fight, okay, but I can think! I could stay in the forest and r-radio chip you and Sasuke when there's a problem...I just can't sit at home waiting for Kira and do nothing!" Hinata pleaded, her hands clasped to her chest. "She's my best friend, Neji..."
"Give her a chance." Sasuke leaned against the doorframe of the entrance, arms crossed. "We can't overrule the whole Academy with just the two of us. We need a quick thinker to stay behind and call for help if things don't go as planned."
Neji was being overruled, all the time. And maybe it was because Sasuke was right, that the odds of escaping the guarded Academy were slim if it was just the two of them, because Neji complied. "Alright. Btu don't get in my way." He mumbled, walking passed her and heading to the Hyuga compound. "C'mon. We leave tonight, and who knows how long were need to stay there."
With an excited gasp, Hinata bowed deeply to him. "T-Thank you Neji-san!" She said happily. "I won't let you down! And, uhm...Neji? Also..."
"What, Hinata?"
"Would it be okay if Rock Lee and Tenten came along too?" Hinata said shyly, looking down as if she had done a wrong.
"More people?!" Neji widened his eyes, backing up a few steps with his hands held up in defense. "The smaller the group, the less noticeable we'll be."
"But the more brains that come along, the more power we'll have. Tenten's pretty agile with her weapons, and Rock Lee's determined and motivated..."
"But that would attract too much attention, Hinata. Don't push your luck. Besides, you know how loud and annoying Rock Lee is?"
"We need manpower, we can't take back Kira without it! You might be be strong, and Sasuke might be strong! But the Academy is filled with ninja assassins and deadly students!" Hinata said with a frown. "Tenten can go with you guys-"
"Fine. But Rock Lee is going to stay with you. Then maybe, you can see just how annoying that spandex boy can be..."
"O-Okay! Let's meet at Sasuke's place before we leave, I'll go recruit those two. Thank you...Neji!" Hinata said excitedly, giving him a bright smile that even made him blush with embarrassment.
"E-Enough. Just...we have to try hard to bring her back. We don't want her dead, or even worse, executed. We have to get there as quickly as we can."
"Agreed." Neji looked towards Sasuke. "Sasuke?"
"Fine. Be prepared with a false backstory, weaponry, and black clad uniforms. I have a feeling that we'll need it." Sasuke turned away from the two, closing the gates behind them and listening as the walked off. Funny. Neji should appreciate the company he has, with Hinata always worrying for him. And yet, he has no one.
Funny.
~~
Night fell. The moon shone brightly between the curtains of wispy clouds, shrouding Konohagakure in it's waxy white lights and moonbeams. Two shadows darted in the night, one small one and one with long dark hair. Another pair followed a few minutes after, heading to the Uchiha compound.
A dark clad Uchiha stood out in the doorway, a warm light outlining him when he opened the door. "Finally. You're late, Tenten. Rock Lee."
"Huh, and I guess that Neji and Hinata were punctual." Tenten said, sticking out her tongue teasingly. Stepping inside the compound, she was unfazed of everything until she found the Hyugas, standing above the dining table with a map spread before them. Neji's hair was tied back in a tight ponytail, his eyes glaring into the paper, while Hinata waited patiently at the sides. She was staring at the floor with a worried expression, earpieces in hand, when she spotted Tenten.
"Ah! You're here!" Hinata said brightly, giving her a little hug. "Alright, N-Neji is coming up with a fool-proof plan..."
"Right. Hey, Tenten." Neji was pretty focused on the map, no time for anything, but he managed to spare her a dismissive hand wave. "I'm done. The plan I have in mind may be a little...complicated, but there's no other choice. Hinata, Lee, you're staying on the outer boundaries of the Academy. If anyone asks, give them your aliases and backstories. Above all else, we have to blend in. Very well. This plan has no room for mistakes. We leave no one behind, including Kira. You all better dedicate your lives to this, it could possibly be the toughest mission in your lives...for Genins at least."
The other four nodded. Rock Lee furrowed his brows in a face of determination, and fiercely thrusted his hands in the center of where the five stood. "For Lady Kimiko! O-or...Lady Kira!"
Neji stared back at him with a slight look of confusion, and looked back to his fist in the circle. For...Kira. Slowly, but with a growing small smile on his face, Neji put his hand on his. "For Kira."
For you.