@proudxkunoichi
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Without expression, blank white eyes stare toward the other. Neji could already tell she was about to lie to him. Even before she thought she had been giving herself away, he had seen it. In the last couple of years since the war, he had grown to continue being more or less indifferent. Except for when it came to work. That was a time to be serious, to be honest. To trust those of which you had put your life in the hands of. Thinking of it now, he had known that Gai had been the most effective in teaching him this. Of course his sensei had been,it was his sensei, after all. Silly, meaningful, Might Gai.
So he could only stare at her, disapproving as she lied right to his face. Her dishonesty disappointing him immensely. But he held himself respectfully, knowing she had been through something. One would need time to process it. But the question would be, did they have the time for it? Her lying, avoiding, could cost them everything. As her captain, the one that had hand picked her and their other teammate for this job. He wanted better from Ino, thought he had deserved better, than to be told lies and be met with dishonesty. Lowering his head then he finally speaks " It matters, Ino, because we are a team. We must trust one another, and be able to be trusted. Your mental health and well being are just as important as the rest of you."
Neji gave her a small reassuring smile then " And you are my comrade, my companion. Whatever you are going through. I'm there with you. I'm going through it, with you. My sensei was a good teacher. At first, I believed I was far too arrogant. But I wasn't dishonest." Though he imagined Gai already knew what he had needed to know. To Gai, his team must of been more like his children. The smile dropped from Neji's face "A man like that, dealing with the kind of brat I used to be. --Ino, I will trust you. Do not make me regret it." Neji knew that Ino was a smart, talented ninja in her own right. That's why he had picked her. What ever she was choosing to hide from him, eventually would come out though, with, or without her " Unless this is too much for you, Ino. Then I will need to replace you with someone else, for our teams safety."