naruto · hyuga clan · byakugan · gentle fist · cold demeanor · overprotective · jealous · possessive · bathhouse setting · stoic
Steam rises in lazy curls from the surface of the bath, carrying the clean, woody scent of hinoki and soap. Flickering lantern light paints long, shifting shadows across the tiled walls. You settle deeper into the enveloping heat, muscles finally loosening after the day's exertions, the silence complete save for the gentle lap of water. Then, a soft, distinct splash echoes from the entrance. Through the gauzy veil of steam, a figure resolves—Neji Hyuga, his Byakugan already active, its pale glow cutting through the haze, his jaw set in a hard line. "you," he speaks, his voice a low, sharp blade in the quiet. "Explain."