Neji - Hokage Rock
Ino had recently informed him of Naruto's preferred alone place. For once, she hadn't done so to gossip but simply in case they ever needed to find the blonde.
Truthfully, Neji felt somewhat conflicted as he marched forth. Naruto Uzumaki had steadfastly become one of Neji's favorite people. As such, he felt obligated to offer the blonde consoling. The only problem was that Neji wasn't precisely a personable person. He would not say he was aloof; as a Hyuga, he had been trained to hold a certain charisma, but that did not offer him any wisdom of comforting someone.
Furthermore, Neji could relate to being deemed something lesser. Naruto's situation was different. Having a demon sealed inside of him made him… different. In truth, Neji did not let his status as a jinchuriki affect his vision of the blonde significantly. Honestly, the Hyuga had been somewhat impressed to see just how significant the burden was. He had finally discovered the source of pain in his eyes. Neji felt he could offer some level of insight into that. But the villager's hatred? How was he to comfort the blonde towards that? Their hatred seemed to outshine even his own of the Main House. Neji knew better than most just how much it took to shake such a thing. Neji had a feeling, though, that just being there for the blonde could help with that. But the final problem confounded him the most.
He simply couldn't quite wrap his head around it. Ino had been quite foolish to voice what she did. Indeed, she realized letting such an idea go would affect Naruto in unique ways that may not affect others. Worse yet, Naruto somehow didn't recognize this as the ramblings of a shaken woman. No, he saw them as a painful truth finally being unleashed. Hinata often told him he had a habit of looking at the word in an incredibly logical way. In such a way, he often missed the nuances of emotion. Neji had felt insulted by such and assured her he could understand. But his lack of understanding shines here.
Neji knew it was up to him to bring this to the forefront of the blonde. To reassure him as only a friend could. Despite his misgivings, he would attempt his best. Naruto deserved no less.
He found the blonde, as Ino had predicted, seated upon the fourth head. Sadly, he gazed at his home as if it had rejected him. Neji supposed it almost had…
"Naruto," Neji said, standing a short distance behind him.
Naruto gazed back at Neji, sighed, and offered a tired nod.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like shit. One of my best friends is being shamed for associating with me; she has realized it's my fault; my own people seem to hate my guts, I have a psycho to fight in the exams, my own dad sealed the Kyuubi into me, and my own mother, and to top it all off I have TWO separate groups hunting for me. Doing just great, ya know?" Naruto answered. This was an attempt to get Neji to leave. A bit of misdirected anger, Neji knew it better than most.
"That is quite the situation. Though surely you realize you're being pessimistic." Neji countered.
Naruto laughed emptily, his face smiling, but his eyes only shined with pain. "Hilarious coming from you."
Neji frowned at this but silently counted to five to stop his more antagonistic nature. "True, that is why our team has always worked well. You are our center."
"The hell does that-" Neji suddenly, body flickered before him. Dramatic but worked in silencing the blonde.
"You care more than anyone I've ever met before. You cared about us instantly just because we were on the same team. You cared about me and my broken ideology. That version of I stood directly opposed to your ideals. I was stronger than you; anyone else likely would've given in. But you, you trained and surpassed me, forced me to see the light, and then treated me as if I was never your enemy. Ino, when the team formed, had incredibly unsure of us. You broke through to her and quickly made her change as well. Before you, she had been a half-decent kunoichi. Your spirit made her wish to become more. I haven't known Naruto Uzumaki for long, but I am grateful to have done so. So why would I, or anyone who truly knows you, fret over you holding a beast? It is merely another obstacle you will overcome. One day, you will become Hokage. I promise that until that day, I will stand by your side as not an ally but a friend. You shall be the greatest one yet, and I trust you will keep the word you gave me." Neji said with a slight smirk and a raised brow. An expression Naruto had often given him.
Neji heard Naruto sniffle slightly. He paid no mind as Naruto seemed to release some of the tension he had been holding. Slowly, he crawled to his feet and stood to face Neji. Neji gazed back at him with a smile.
"Believe it." Naruto said with his own smile, almost with his usual warmth. "Though, what am I gonna do about Ino? You heard her; she knows that as long as she associates with me, she'll be an outcast."
Neji sighed a bit; as far as Naruto had come, he would always be a bit of a knucklehead. "She didn't mean that, or at the very least, it wasn't all she meant. She will think about things and come back around. You've been here for a while; perhaps now she's ready to speak."
Naruto considered this before nodding. "Are you coming too?"
"No, it is best for you two… to discuss things."
"What does that mean?" Naruto asked.
"Just a theory, Blondie." Neji answered casually; he ignored as Naruto roared in disapproval. "Best for you two to discuss things."
Naruto raised a brow but prepared to launch himself off. Before he could, suddenly, Jiraiya appeared on the roof after his usual brand of foolishness. He informed them of the crowd of rioters being finally suppressed by the Konoha Police and the Secret Anbu. Scores of those who could be proven to be involved in the violence had even been apprehended. He told them of the decisions of the council. How Naruto would be limited to the ground of the Forest of Death. How Jiraiya would go with him and take his training to the next level. Neji had expected Naruto to rebel against this, but he instead nodded his head gravely.
"Can I do one thing before we go?" Naruto asked.
"Sure thing, brat. I'll grab some supplies from Kushina and smooth things over. You have an hour." Jiraiya replied with ease.
Naruto thanked them both before he body flickered away.
Jiraiya nodded at Neji before his body flickered away.
Neji sighed before sitting on top of the Fourth's head himself. Being supportive was exhausting.