Yugito looked at Neji, confusion evident in her gaze. "Why the long face?" she asked softly.
A person's values and worldview were often shaped within the first few years of entering society. They could not be changed by a few casual words. Neji, aware of this, rubbed his temples and said with a hint of frustration, "I'm not in a good mood today. Let's postpone this for another day."
Even without looking directly at him, Yugito sensed the subtle weight in his voice. There was a cold detachment, a kind of emotional armor behind his words. She frowned, annoyed but not entirely angry. She stepped closer and asked more directly, "Neji, why are you worried? Don't you want this?"
Neji's body tensed. He paused, considering how to respond. Finally, he said simply, "Of course I want it. There's nothing to lose anyway."
He was thinking about the Byakugan bloodline. Ay, the Fourth Raikage, would never need to sacrifice Yugito for the sake of an individual mission. Yet the methods employed by the Raikage, so ruthless and pragmatic, reminded him uncomfortably of Konoha's own political machinations. Yugito, a young and beautiful heroine of Hidden Cloud Village, did not deserve to be treated like a mere tool.
The thought of her completing the mission, potentially angry at him or silently resentful, made Neji uneasy. This was not a situation he wished to see unfold.
Yugito, noticing the tension, chuckled lightly at the latter half of Neji's thought. Then, still surprised, she asked, "Then… why do you—"
Neji made a hesitant gesture, looked away, and struggled to find the words. "My Captain… Yugito… what you're talking about and what I actually want are completely different things, okay?"
"That… doesn't seem to make much difference. Isn't it all the same thing?" Yugito asked, genuinely curious.
Neji closed his eyes in mild pain. "If you only consider the result, yes, there is no difference. But the process… the journey… it matters immensely. If it's purely transactional or just for procreation, there's no foreplay, no care, no thought for the other person. Men especially often skip everything that matters emotionally and go straight to the final stage."
Yugito stared at him, her mind blank at first. Though the words were unexpected, they resonated with logic. She was not usually concerned with such abstract notions, yet she understood the practical wisdom behind his argument. The mission was crucial, yes, but forcing completion without cooperation could have made it impossible.
"Alright," she said finally, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "Let's forget it this time."
Neji felt as though he had received a reprieve, a rare and precious one. "Then hurry up and come down."
Yugito smiled faintly. "Neji, let's meet halfway. We can share a room, but not a bed."
"Hmm," Neji replied, finding the compromise reasonable. Refusing again would have been impolite.
---
The next morning, Neji awoke groggily. Yugito was already dressed in her black, short-sleeved, form-fitting battlesuit, still with traces of breakfast sauce at the corners of her mouth. Rather than looking messy, she exuded an endearing charm that seemed effortless.
Neji glanced at the clock—6:10. They had overslept slightly.
"Your share of breakfast is on the table. Hurry up. There's a mission after lunch," Yugito said, her tone teasing.
"A mission?" Neji asked, pausing mid-motion as he put on his clothes. "Wasn't the previous mission over?"
Yugito smirked, her expression mischievous. "Neji, you are a precious Byakugan and I am the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. Do you think it's worth traveling thousands of miles for a C-rank mission?"
Neji froze, considering her words. She was right. The task they were about to undertake was not ordinary; it had been assigned secretly by the Raikage himself.
After breakfast, Yugito produced a scroll and handed it to Neji. He unfurled it, revealing a detailed map of Hidden Grass Village. A bold red line divided the village into north and south sectors, each containing clusters of buildings marked with red circles.
Yugito crossed her arms, her tone serious. "Do you know the history of Hidden Grass Village?"
Neji shook his head, feigning ignorance. "Not very well."
"Good. From now on, you must remember every word I say," she said, assuming the authoritative posture of a Jonin team leader.
"Thousands of years ago, a divine tool known as the Box of Paradise appeared in the Ninja World. It was said to be left behind by the legendary Six Paths Sage, capable of granting any wish to those who opened it. Hidden Grass Village once possessed the Box of Paradise and nearly dominated the Ninja World."
Neji interjected, skeptical. "The Box of Paradise… really exists? After all, the Six Paths Sage is just a figure of legend, right?"
"Legends are often embellished versions of true history," Yugito replied. "Our Hidden Cloud Village inherited many divine tools from the Six Paths Sage. That's why we believe the Box of Paradise exists, most likely hidden somewhere in Hidden Grass Village."
Their mission was clear: locate the Box of Paradise. Yugito pointed with a slender finger to the buildings in the north sector marked with red circles. "I will explore the south sector. Your task is to infiltrate the north sector and gather intelligence."
Neji raised an eyebrow. "What makes these two sectors special?"
"Years ago, Hidden Grass Village split into two factions: 'Grass Root,' which sought to revive the village's former glory, and 'Grass Flower,' which advocated for peace. The buildings we've marked are their respective strongholds. If the Box of Paradise is here, it's most likely hidden within one of them."
Neji inhaled deeply, his mind racing with strategy. He did not ask what would happen if the Box wasn't there; instead, he focused on the operational timeline.
Yugito checked the clock. "We have a full day for reconnaissance. At midnight, we strike simultaneously. Our operational window is only thirty minutes. Whether we find the Box or not, we must withdraw immediately from Hidden Grass Village afterward."
Neji considered her words carefully before suggesting, "I recommend we withdraw to the hana sector. By morning, we can exit Hidden Grass Village with minimal risk."
Yugito's eyes gleamed, a rare spark of approval. "The most dangerous place can also be the safest. Agreed. We will use that location."
With the mission parameters set, both shinobi felt a heightened sense of anticipation. Hidden Grass Village, steeped in history and political intrigue, was about to reveal its secrets. Yet the true test lay not just in finding the Box of Paradise but in navigating the treacherous landscape of factional loyalty, hidden traps, and unpredictable human nature.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the village seemed almost serene, masking the tension and danger beneath. The quiet streets, clusters of buildings, and surrounding forests all held secrets—secrets that could change the balance of power in the Ninja World if discovered.
Neji studied the map carefully, tracing the red-marked buildings with his fingers. "Preparation and patience," he murmured. "That will be the key to success. Haste will only lead to mistakes."
Yugito, standing beside him, nodded silently. Both knew that the mission required not only skill and strategy but also the delicate balance of trust, timing, and intuition.
In the ninja world, missions were often about survival, manipulation, and calculated risk. But in this mission, the stakes were even higher—the legendary Box of Paradise, a tool of unimaginable power, could tip the scales of destiny itself.
As the day unfolded, the two prepared for what lay ahead. Weapons were checked, tactics rehearsed, and contingency plans reviewed. Every moment, every decision mattered.
And so, as the first shadows of evening stretched across Hidden Grass Village, Neji and Yugito braced themselves for the operation. The Box of Paradise awaited, its location hidden, its mysteries tantalizing. And beyond it all, the unseen forces of fate and history were ready to test them in ways neither could yet imagine.
The night promised danger, revelation, and perhaps a glimpse of true happiness in the form of a single, legendary treasure.
---