Sasuke saw Neji Hyuga standing in front of his desk, blocking the light from the window.
The Hyuga prodigy stood a little taller than the others his age. He wore a traditional white training outfit, with a Forehead Protector tied around his brow and his black hair neatly bound behind his head.
His eyelids were lowered, his pale eyes looking down at Sasuke. His face showed no expression, but he carried an unmistakable chill.
"Sasuke Uchiha." Neji's voice was calm, yet carried a hard edge that brooked no argument.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. He did not get up, remaining sprawled in his chair as the indifference in his eyes turned to open provocation. "What do you want?"
He had no particular feelings about the Hyuga, apart from that noisy Hinata. As far as he knew, Neji was a quiet guy who thought himself above everyone else.
Neji's sharp gaze swept over Sasuke's face. After a pause, he spoke quietly enough that only the two of them could hear.
"I heard you held Naruko's hand yesterday and walked her home."
Sasuke's heart skipped a beat for no reason he cared to examine, but he gave nothing away. Instead, his lips curled into an even more contemptuous sneer. "So what if I did?"
He deliberately made his tone flippant. "What's it to you?"
Neji's brows drew together almost imperceptibly, and a chill seemed to gather deep in his pale eyes. "I'm warning you."
He stepped half a pace closer. His voice dropped further, but every word rang clear with unmistakable menace. "Stay away from Naruko Uzumaki. She isn't someone you can mess with."
"Huh?" Sasuke looked at Neji properly at last, as though he had just heard a joke. Mockery filled his dark eyes.
"Warn me? You?" He drew out the words,