The sun hung high in the sky, casting golden light across the flower field. You stood in its center, practicing the seals for Petal Mirage Clone. The petals danced in the air around you, swirling in shimmering patterns as you molded your chakra.

"Clone, Rat, Flower," you muttered, your hands moving with precision. But just as the figure began to take shape, the petals scattered prematurely, dissolving into the wind.

You groaned, letting your arms fall to your sides. "Still not perfect..."

"That's because your focus is scattered," a familiar voice called out.

You froze, turning toward the source of the interruption. At the edge of the field stood Neji Hyūga, his arms crossed, his pale lavender eyes fixed on you with quiet intensity. He looked exactly as you remembered from the picnic you shared with his team—calm, composed, and a little too self-assured.

"What are you doing here?" you asked, your voice sharper than you intended.

Neji stepped forward, his gaze scanning the field as if assessing its secrets. "I was on a reconnaissance mission in the area," he said, his tone measured. "I sensed an unusual concentration of chakra and decided to investigate. I didn't expect to find you here."

You crossed your arms, feeling a bit defensive under his scrutiny. "This is my field," you replied. "The flowers respond to my chakra. I'm training."

He nodded, but his expression didn't soften. "I see. Your control is impressive, but your execution is lacking. You're overcompensating with raw chakra instead of refining your technique."

You frowned. "Thanks for the unsolicited advice," you said, your words dripping with sarcasm.

Neji raised an eyebrow. "I assumed you'd appreciate guidance. Clearly, I was mistaken."

The tension hung in the air between you until he crouched down to examine a patch of flowers. His fingers hovered above a blossom, careful not to touch. "These flowers... they resonate with chakra. A rare phenomenon."

You watched him curiously. For all his arrogance, there was a certain reverence in the way he observed the flowers. "They're not just flowers," you said. "This field is... special."

He glanced up at you, his expression unreadable. "Special? Or merely an extension of you?"

The question caught you off guard. You hesitated, unsure how to respond. Instead, you knelt beside him, letting the silence settle between you.

"You always seem so sure of yourself," you said finally, breaking the quiet. "Do you ever question anything?"

Neji's eyes flicked to yours, and for a moment, his composure wavered. "Only when the answer is worth the effort," he said, his tone softening just enough to catch you off guard.

You smirked, deciding to challenge him. "So, am I worth the effort?"

To your surprise, his cheeks darkened ever so slightly. He looked away, standing abruptly. "Don't ask foolish questions," he said, his voice firm, though the faint blush betrayed him.

For a while, the two of you stood in companionable silence. Then, deciding to lighten the mood, you said, "You know, for someone so serious, you're surprisingly good at understanding flowers."

Neji straightened, "I'm good at understanding chakra," he said stiffly, avoiding your gaze.

You couldn't help but laugh. "Of course. How could I forget?"

He looked at you then, his pale eyes meeting yours. "You shouldn't be so careless," he said, though there was no bite in his words. "Your potential is greater than you realize."

Something in his tone made your heart skip. You offered him a warm smile. "I'll try to remember that."

Neji nodded, his composure firmly back in place. "Good," he said simply.

As he turned to leave, you called after him. "Neji?"

He paused at the edge of the field, glancing back at you.

"Good luck on your mission!" you said.

His gaze lingered on you for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a faint nod, he disappeared into the trees, leaving you alone with the flowers once more.

(668 𝘞𝘖𝘙𝘋𝘚)