The Chain

Hyūga vs Uchiha

Orion was sweating as he walked away from the training field.  He felt almost completely drained.  It was almost like he had stepped back in time to when he had first started on his path towards being a Shinobi.  The things he could do now that he had the Sharingan was shocking, but boy did it use up a lot of Chakra.  Sasuke had told him he was going to have to learn greater Chakra control so he could do more with less Chakra.  His shoulders were sore as hell too.  He rubbed the back of his neck as he walked toward his apartment in the village.  He wished he could take a trip to the hot springs to work out some of the kinks in his neck and shoulders but he just couldn't make himself make the walk across town.

He was about to turn down his street when he saw Neo Hyūga coming out of her office building and locking the door behind her.  He frowned slightly as he saw her.  She was several years younger than him but had made quite a name for herself in the village for her success as a Literary Agent.  She irritated the shit out of him.  He wasn't sure why she did, but she always had on some level.  Right now he was irritated with her, though, because he blamed her for allowing his mother's fourth novel get released with the main character being so obviously based after Lord Sixth.  He didn't even want to know what the fifth book was going to be like if the fourth one was that obvious.

He narrowed his eyes slightly then started towards her.  He was going to give her his opinion of that little flub up.  She was very good friends with his mother and if she was reasonable, she would understand why she should think about having the fifth book yanked before more damage could happen.  She glanced up when he stepped into her path, blocking her from continuing on down the road towards her own apartment.

Neo was stunned as she looked up to see it was Orion blocking her path.  His black hair that was normally well styled was in wild disarray.  His clothes were a bit dirty; he had a fine sheen of sweat on him, but it was his eyes that startled her.  They were narrowed a bit on her, and she didn't have to be a mind reader to know he was irritated.  God, that look was the same one Sarah would get when she was riled up a bit.  That would normally have been quite humorous for her except she was in no mood today.  She had just about wilted when she finally was able to look out the window and had seen a rather large pool of water down below after Lord Sixth had sauntered out of her office.  Something had obviously gone wrong on her friend's escape.  At least she hadn't been down there injured or worse.  It was that bit that had her sending Ari home early and closing up midday.

"I want to talk to you," he said in a barely veiled tone of annoyance.

Neo sighed heavily as she looked up at him, "No offense, Orion, but I'm really not in the mood for whatever has you bent out of shape at the moment."

He lowered his voice, "It's about that last book you allowed to go to print and the one that is still waiting to go into print."

Neo shifted the strap on her bag that had started to slip down her arm before crossing her arms in front of her.  "No."

"What do you mean, no?"

"I'm not getting into this with you of all people," she muttered trying to walk around him.

He shifted, "Oh no, we're having this discussion."

Neo groaned inwardly, getting irritated.  She poked him in the chest, "You listen here, Orion Soto, you just go and mind your own business.  That book just gave your Mama enough money that she can relax from now on.  The next one will be a bonus.  So, whatever your complaint is, take it up with her, not me.  I'm worn the fuck out.  That book just gave me a heart attack today and I need to lay down."

"It's going to get out that she's the author, Neo," he hissed low. "When Lord Sixth gets wind of that, he won't stop until he knows who she is and that will get messy, I guarantee it."