Aspirant

 Neji Hyuuga stared at his mother as she came out of a Shunshin a few feet from him.

“Neji.” She gasped, Sharingan eyes spinning. Coming closer, she exhaled with relief and choked out

“Hizashis’ eyes, thank gods.”

“Mother?” He asked carefully. Akita nodded.

“Yes, my son. I have to leave soon, but know your father and I, we love you, even from the netherworld, baby. Talk to your Aunt Amaya, she’ll have answers about your birth for you. What she doesn’t know, or won’t talk about, your Uncle will.” Turning, she swivelled back to blow Neji a kiss before returning to her sister, who was once more choking on her own blood, her frustrated husband holding back her hair. Akita paled and bolted.

Sasuke approached his cousin and said in a low voice

“We’ll take you into the Uchiha clan, if that’s what you want, Neji.” Nodding numbly, Neji watched as his- was Biwako Sarutobi really his great grandmother?- mother and great grandmother reached the youngest woman, who looked up at them weakly and moaned

“Kai.” As they had materialized, Biwako- Akusa- and Akita fizzled out of existence. Neji was horrified when his newly discovered Aunt collapsed into the arms of the silver-haired Jounin who was apparently his Uncle.

Orochimaru barked at the medic nin 

“Assist the Hokage’s granddaughter, fools!” Kakashi rose and snorted

“I’m taking her home. Lord Orochimaru, if you wish to come, my students will guide you.” Pausing, he then called back

“Neji, if you want to come, Sasuke will take you. Naruto, you will secure the house. Sakura, guide Lord Orochimaru to the compound.” Despite the burden in his arms, Kakashi disappeared in a plume of smoke, Naruto having launched himself on his sensei’s orders.

Sasuke and Sakura worked together to take Orochimaru and Neji to the Hatake homestead, both quite shocked at the building itself. Honey coloured hardwood floors gleamed in the sunlight pouring through the window, the walls a lovely cream, pictures and weapons positioned in the best light. Among the things hanging on the walls are a six foot tall Uchiwa, painted in the Uchiha pattern of red and white, not quite disguising whirling seals woven into the fabric. A study yielding a towering bookcase flanked by scroll racks, a library dozens more of each. The kitchen, full of shining appliances, was home to a massive oak table, built in the Western style, it would seat ten easily, but a formal dining room offered a long kotatsu, glass topped to protect the pieces of a broken chakra conducting tanto. Neji stared open-mouthed at the enormous tapestries depicting ninjas and dogs. A recent one, done within the past decade showed his Baa-san, crouched on a roof, smiling contentedly. Photographs scattered artistically over the house showed Kakashi at varying ages, a man who had to be his father, similar of Amaya, if fewer in number, some with his mother and father, even. What Neji had to fight a wave of envy over was the frames on the mantel. Over it, in what was seeming to be Kakashi’s style, was a large painting of his wife laughing, this time leaning against a grown lion. Puppies and a lion cub at her feet. Obviously Summons, he’d mused, before studying the colourful array of pictures of the current incarnation of Team Seven. Kakashi, arm around Amaya on the engawa, their students at their sides- Sasuke and Sakura at least. Naruto was making a face from where he sat with Pakkun on his lap, the blond plopped on the ground. Another showed Sasuke, obviously tired, head propped on Amaya’s lap. Sakura was photobombing the Uchiha heir, while Kakashi was staring fondly at the scene, meaning Naruto had taken the photo. Kakashi and all three Genin in midst of a fight in a lovingly maintained outdoor training sale. The final one was actually three frames hinged together. In center was Naruto, grinning at the camera, posing with a fancy kunai in one hand, a roll of seals in the other. On the right was Kakashi and Amaya, back to back, Amaya in the front, facing the left, katana in hand, her expression fierce. On the right, Sasuke and Sakura mirrored the couple, down to the expression of ferocity on the females’ faces.

Over it, in what was seeming to be Kakashi’s style, was a large painting of his wife laughing, this time leaning against a grown lion. Puppies and a lion cub at her feet. Obviously Summons, he’d mused, before studying the colourful array of pictures of the current incarnation of Team Seven. Kakashi, arm around Amaya on the engawa, their students at their sides- Sasuke and Sakura at least. Naruto was making a face from where he sat with Pakkun on his lap, the blond plopped on the ground. Another showed Sasuke, obviously tired, head propped on Amaya’s lap. Sakura was photobombing the Uchiha heir, while Kakashi was staring fondly at the scene, meaning Naruto had taken the photo. Kakashi and all three Genin in midst of a fight in a lovingly maintained outdoor training sale. The final one was actually three frames hinged together. In center was Naruto, grinning at the camera, posing with a fancy kunai in one hand, a roll of seals in the other. On the right was Kakashi and Amaya, back to back, Amaya in the front, facing the left, katana in hand, her expression fierce. On the right, Sasuke and Sakura mirrored the couple, down to the expression of ferocity on the females’ faces.

Sasuke and Sakura removed their weapons, or at least the bulk of them, in the foyer after touring the house, amused at Neji’s obvious awe. But the moment Sasuke saw Neji’s envy, he tugged on the other boys’ sleeve and brought him to the bedroom Orochimaru had been ushered to by a concerned Naruto. The deep green door to the master bedroom loomed almost menacingly, it seemed, to Neji. Sasuke dragged him through to the figure on the four poster bed, sleepily reposed, head on her husband’s thigh. Orochimaru was seated at her shoulder, inspecting her eyes. The Uchiha heir bowed and said solemnly

“Hatake-sama, Uchiha-sama, Orochimaru-sama, I apologize for my intrusion, but our young Hyuuga needs his place here affirmed.’ Amaya jerked up, the sheet slipping to reveal a lacy nightgown that though it covered the important bits, did nothing to conceal the generous curves Kakashi so loved to devour.

“Neji, forgive me-” Her voice rasped, so much so that Kakashi put a finger to her lips and said firmly

“Never doubt your welcome, son of my wife’s sister.” Pausing when Amaya nestled back in his thigh, he continued

“You’ll have to bunk with Sasuke for now, but I think we’d all feel better if you were to move in sooner, rather than later.” Focusing on Sasuke, he said crisply

“Call a meeting of the Genin teams you know, including Neji’s.” Orochimaru unthreaded his hitai-ate from his hair.

“Give this to Sarutobi, tell him I’ll reclaim it when my niece successfully completes testing for the rank of Elite Jonin.” Slightly stunned to receive the hitai-ate of Konohas’ Snake Sage, Sasuke nevertheless bowed and replied “Hai, Sennin-sama, it will be done.” Turning on his heel, he called back “My room has the Uchiwa on the door, Neji.” Nodding, the young Hyuuga was still a little lost, but relieved when his Oro-jiji took his shoulder and guided him gently to the kitchen for tea, the two other occupants of the house having left with Sasuke. Kakashi and Amaya were left to recover from the day, or the shock of the events.

It was Naruto who gathered teams Eight and Nine, Sakura who secured the agreement of Team Ten, all curious about the woman Kakashi had watched with absolute pride gleaming in his eye before competently caring for the blood spitting kunoichi.

Sasuke lands on silent feet inside the window of the Hokage’s study, extending Orochimaru’s deep purple hitai-ate and saying bluntly “He only wants it back if you’ll test Uchiha-sama for a rank and she makes Elite Jonin.” Sighing, Sarutobi nods, watching disinterestedly as his students’ student, a generation or so removed, flung himself expertly over the rooftops, cackling when the boy hurtles over a ninja going slower than him, surprising the other ninja when he uses the man’s shoulder for an anchor, his vault swift and flawless.