To Blindly Follow

All right, this is the second to the last chapter. I already have an idea for my next story, and I will start that as soon as I am finished with this one. I am so happy that you have stayed with me through this and I know that updates had some pretty wide spaces between. Anyway remember, feed and pat the author. I love reviews and all that. Thank you. Ja ne! Anubis!


It had been two weeks since Neji’s surgery. Two weeks since he had been cast out of his family and into a new one. Both he and Sasuke were sitting in the hospital room, waiting nervously for Tsunade to come in to remove the bandages from his eyes. Neji hated the hospital and wanted to be out as soon as possible. Tsunade walked into the room and grinned. “All right, time to see if this worked,” she said, brandishing scissors.
Sasuke nodded in approval and held onto Neji’s hand. “Wait,” Neji said, “What happens if this doesn’t work?”
Tsunade sighed. “Then, I keep looking for another way to repair your eyes and you keep going on how you have been,” she said, “Your therapy has been going quite well and you seem to have regained some movement in your arm and leg.”
Neji nodded. “I know and thank you for everything you have done.”
“All right, let’s see if this worked.”
Neji felt the scissors begin to work through the bandages on his eyes and with each snip; he could see a little more light. He closed his eyes, knowing that the light could just be his imagination. When he felt the last of the bandages fall away he cracked one eye open and was surprised to see that the room was dark. Opening his other eye, he saw his lover sitting next to him, a worried look on his face. “Sasuke, I have never seen that look on your face before,” Neji said softly.
Sasuke grinned like a madman and hugged the pale man next to him. “Gods, Neji, you can see me?”
Neji nodded and looked over at Tsunade. “It is still a little blurry,” he said, “Is that normal?”
The Hokage nodded. “Yes, your eyes will need to adjust to being able to work again,” she said, “It shouldn’t take too long.”
She stood and looked down at the two Uchihas. “Now, Neji can go home today, but he will need something to shield his eyes when you go outside, until he readjusts,” she said, “Headaches may be common for the first week or two and bouts of dizziness.”
Sasuke nodded and looked at Neji. “I have a pair of sunglasses with me if you want to try to walk home.”
Neji nodded. “Anything to get out of here,” he said, “Though, what about my seal?”
The Hokage grinned and stepped back a little. She beckoned towards the door and two people walked in. Shikamaru Nara and Hinata walked into the room, both smiling happily. The Hyuuga girl walked up first and placed her hand on the seal. Shikamaru made a few hand seals and did the same as Hinata. Neji felt the burn as the seal was taken off, but he never uttered a word. He was completely free now.
Hinata smiled at her cousin. “Well, Neji, looks like we are both free,” she said, “I no longer have to worry about sealing other members of my family and you are no longer a Hyuuga. “
“I do hope you will still come to visit me,” Neji said, “I enjoy your company, and I will still be laid up for a while.”
Shikamaru grunted a little. Neji turned to look at him. “Nara, thank you for helping me,” he said, “Your presence helped me when Sasuke was gone.”
The lazy nin shrugged and walked out of the room. Neji laughed at him and then tried to stand. He stumbled a little, but was able to hold himself up. Tsunade knelt down to examine his leg and then stood. “Your therapy will continue for a few more weeks, and no w that you are able to see again, Sasuke can go out on his missions with his team,” she said, “You have one tomorrow anyway.”
Sasuke nodded. “I will come by and get the details later,” he said and then turned to Neji, “Are you ready to go?”
Neji nodded. Tsunade held out a pair of sunglasses and smiled. “You are going to need these,” she said, “It is really bright out today.”
Taking the glasses, Neji took Sasuke’s hand and began to walk from the room. “Remember Neji, therapy tomorrow,” she said.
The pale eyed Uchiha nodded as the door closed behind him and Sasuke. Sasuke laughed as his lover tried to hurry him through the hospital. “I know you want to leave, but are you sure you should be moving at this pace with your leg still messed up?” Sasuke asked.
Neji nodded. “The more I work it out the better it will get.”
Neji put on the glasses right before they left the hospital and was immediately surrounded by some of his friends and teammates. TenTen put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek, while Naruto had a hand on his back. He could make out Lee and Gai standing in the back, waiting for him as well. “Come on” Naruto said, “We have a surprise for you.”
Sasuke grinned and looked at his lover. “Do you fell like it?” he asked.
Neji nodded eagerly. “Yup, let’s go.”
Naruto grabbed Neji’s arm and started to pull him to the training field. Sasuke followed close behind, watching Neji carefully. They stopped right before the field. Naruto turned and looked at the former Hyuuga. “Wait right here,” he said.
Neji nodded and Sasuke moved up next to him as Naruto ran off. “What do you think he is up too?” Sasuke asked.
“Knowing Naruto, I have no idea,” Neji answered, leaning on Sasuke a little.
“Are you all right?”
“My leg is a little sore,” Neji said, “I will be fine, it is just because I have been stuck in a bed for two weeks.”
“How are your eyes?”
“Clearing up pretty quick.”
Sasuke smiled and looked behind him to see that TenTen and Lee had followed them. Lee walked up beside Neji and smiled. “He has a big surprise for you.”
Before Neji could ask what, Naruto came running back. “It is all ready,” he said, “ Come on Neji.”
Neji walked slowly behind his friend, his lover close behind. When he got into the training field, the rest of his friends were there. They had set up a little party. What surprised him the most was the fact that his uncle was also there. He was holding something in his hands.
Neji kissed Sasuke on the cheek and made his way over to his uncle. The younger Uchiha watched his lover carefully, taking in the limp, the weak arm and the fact that Neji tried to walk tall, like a true shinobi.
“Hiashi,” Neji said, nodding his head.
“Neji,” Hiashi replied, trying to smile at his nephew.
“What can I do for you, Uncle?”
“I wish to apologize,” Hiashi said, “I was wrong on so many levels and you deserve a better life than the one you were placed into.”
Neji smiled at his uncle and nodded. “That is all I wanted from you,” he said, “I know it was not you who activated my seal to that degree, I just wanted you to acknowledge me as an equal to the rest of the family.”
“Well, now you are an equal to me,” Hiashi said, “You are an Uchiha and free of the branch family.”
Sasuke walked up beside his lover and glared at Hiashi.”What are you doing here?” he said dangerously.
“I am almost done here, Sasuke,” Hiashi said, “I only want to give my nephew a gift.”
“What is that, Uncle?”
“Your father’s Leaf head band,” Hiashi said, “He would want you to have it.”
The elder man held out a box. Neji took the box in awe and looked over at Sasuke. The raven was smiling and nodded to Neji. Neji opened the box and saw the worn head band. He ran his slender fingers over the metal of the band and closed his eyes. “Thank you, uncle,” he said, “You have no idea what this means to me.”
“I think I do,” Hiashi said, “Now, I will leave you to your party, Neji Uchiha.”
The Hyuuga clan leader walked away before Neji could say anything. Sasuke looked over at his lover and saw tears in the pale eyes. “Hey, no crying,” Sasuke said, “This is a celebration.”
“Yeah, this is for your recovery,” Sakura said, walking over.
Ino and Chouji made their way over to him, followed by Shikamaru, Kiba, Shino and Hinata. Naruto and Kakashi watched from the background, Naruto’s arms around the Copy Nin’s waist. Neji smiled at Naruto and the blonde grinned. “Let’s Party!”


That night, Neji lay within Sasuke’s arms, half asleep. “You will be able to go on missions again,” Sasuke said, “You will get better and be my partner when I become ANBU.”
Neji nodded sleepily. “You have a mission tomorrow and I have therapy,” he said, “Go to sleep.”
Sasuke laughed. “I love you, Neji Uchiha.”
“I love you too, Sasuke Uchiha.”

All right, one more chapter left. I do hope that you like this one. Remember, review, please! And watch for my next story, which should be started within the next week or so. Thanks for reading. Ja Ne! Anubis