Breath came in short gasps as the Hyuga tried to catch his breath. His Byakugan was still activated despite him being far from harms reach.

Then again, perhaps harm was closer than he thought.

He stared into the coal black eyes typical of an Uchiha. "I did it." He said, his voice almost a growl as he averted his gaze from Itachi to his blue skinned partner.

Kisame chuckled "I told you he would." he said, a sneer revealing pointed fangs that glistened in the moonlight. Neji remained silent, the slash crossing out the leaf in his forehead protector was enough proof for Itachi.

With that, the three turned and dashed down the road, no words passing between them as they traveled towards the Akatsuki hideout.

Neji let himself go into autopilot as the trio ran.

He could still remember the Uchiha speaking to him, voice smooth as he seemed to read his mind.

"You. You're Neji Hyuga." He had said bluntly after a breif scuffle that ended in Neji on the ground with Kisame's large sword resting on his chest. Neji had nodded slowly "Yes, I am." He said, voice hard as he narrowed violet eyes up at them.

With a wave of a delicate hand from Itachi, Kisame hefted his sword up and propped it against his shoulder.

"Our Leader has shown intrest in you, Hyuga Neji." Itachi said calmly as the boy pulled himself to his feet. Shifting himself into a more tensed stand Neji glared at him "What is that supposed to mean?" He asked, hands slowly forming themselves into the Gentle Fist style of combat. Itachi seemed unphased by this and continued speaking "He beleives that a caged bird can soar, just as high as one that is free."

"And?" Neji said stiffly.

"He wishes to be the one to free that bird."

Time seemed to freeze as Neji and Itachi locked gazes, black meeting purple in a moment that seemed to captivate the Hyuga "Free...Me?" He asked slowly.

Itachi nodded.

For a moment, Neji was tempted, tempted to nod his head and spread his wings, free from the cage he was trapped in. Then he remembered who he was talking to "No. Not if it means I'll become that Akatsuki's newest member." He snapped.

Itachi shook his dark head slowly, face never shifting to show any emotion what so ever "Please, Neji." He said, his voice sounding almost amused "You know you're sick of it. It's written across your face as plain as the words in a book. You know you're easily better than the Main Branches heir. That Hinata. You know that you hate them, family or not." Neji felt himself go rigid at the truth that was coming from the Uchiha before him "If only your father had been born just a few minutes earlier, you would have your rightful place as heir, and your dear father would still be alive." Itachi released a sigh almost wistful "Don't you ever just wish it could... end?"

At Neji's silence he continued

"We can offer you a way to make it all stop, and give you power unimaginable." Itachi met his gaze once more. Neji faltered before answering "This sounds like somthing Orochimaru would have said to your little brother." His voice sounded almost dazed.

Itachi smirked "Yes, but my brother went to him to gain power. We can help you unlock what you already posses." Neji nodded his head slowly.

Now Kisame spoke "Odviously Itachi's interested you. If you're willing to come with us. We'll meet you tomorrow, at sunset."

"There's got to be more to it." Neji stated bluntly.

Itachi gave somthing of a nod "You are a bright one." He glanced to Kisame before continuing "You must preform one act, that will prove to us, and the village, that you are no longer of the Leaf."

Neji frowned, as if he didn't quite beleive that statement.

Kisame sighed heavily "Kid, myself and a few 'friends' of mine, we all tried to kill the Mizekage. Itachi over here, well, you shouldn't need me to tell you what happened." Itachi continued "Even another member of ours killed the Kazekage."

Neji frowned for a long moment.

"If you don't meet us by the gate tomorrow at sundown, we're leaving, and you'll never get this chance again." Itachi turned as he finished speaking and walked through the forest. Kisame glanced down at Neji for a long moment before walking after his partner.

The next afternoon, Neji was sparring with Hiashi.

A thought struck him.

Steadily, so as to not abruptly alarm the head of the Main Branch, his hits began becoming harder, with more of a killing intent in every strike. Then, faster than Hiashi could figure out, he was on his back, blood spurting from his mouth "Neji?!" He had asked, eyes snapping wide as he lept to his feet. Neji didn't answer with words.

He shot forward with speed that would've made him a very powerful head of the Clan. His hits truck like vipers, landing hard and sharp against his uncle. Hiashi had no time to react before he was on the ground "You." Neji heard himself snarling as he walked towards him "You, are a miserable excuse of a humann being. Hizashi Hyuga should've been born first!" Hiashi looked stunned "You think so little of the Second Branch?" Neji snarled, raising a palm up, ready to strike "This is for Hizashi, you bastard!" Right as the man on the ground realized that he had the ability to make this stop and began to form the handseal that would cause severe pain for Neji, the boy slammed his palm onto his chest.

Hiashi didn't move again.

Neji pivoted, eyes narrowing as Hanabi rounded the corner. The girl was slammed into a wall by the sheer force of the shruiken that impaled her, killing her as quickly and silently as an ANBU would have.

With a killing intent he walked slowly through the halls, headed towards his cousin's room, chakra radiating from his palms in waves.

"Hinata." he barked when he got to her door.

The girl opened up, peering at him with a frown "N-Neji? What's wrong?" She aksed with her usual stutter.

Neji's reply was to slam his palms at her. She screamed and dove backwards as the wood shattered "NEJI!" She cried out as she caught her balance. He said nothing but dove foreward.

He had to say, he was impressed. She didn't go down as easily as her father and sister had. She even managed to slice his headband before he slammed her into a Sixty-Four Palms technique. He could've sworn he saw tears in her eyes.

He did the body flicker, and slammed a palm into her spinal cord. She gave a convulsive twitch, before colapsing. Neji stared down at her, chest rising and falling heavily.

He hadn't killed her, somthing in her eyes wouldn't have let him. The worst he would've done is paralyze her for the rest of her life, but that wouldn't bother him, if all went as planned, he wouldn't have to see her again.

It had taken him until the designated time to finish his work, and meet the two by the front gate.

Neji blinked, refocusing as they slowed down "We'll stop here." Itachi ordered bluntly.

The Hyuga nodded and promptly avoided the pair of them, leaning wordlessly against a nearby tree.

They left him alone, until Itachi approached and was staring almost intently at him. "What?" Neji asked slowly, a little on edge. The Uchiha was silent for a long moment "Your eyes. They've changed."

Neji frowned and dove to a stream, staring down at his reflection.

At first, he saw no difference, and then it steadily dawned on him.

His once violet eyes had faded to a crimson red.

He could feel a slow smile spread across his face.

Neji wordlessly summoned every ounce of his chakra, not at all suprised to see it the same color as his eyes, a vibrant red.

It coiled around him and seemed to reach into the sky.

"So this." He whispered, barely aware that his own voice was speaking as if on its own free will.

"Is what a freed bird looks like."