"Quite," Hiro retorted sourly, then sat back and shrugged. "I would comment on the futility of being short with Intel, but I'm actually here for your partner."

Raidou was right, of course--Hiro probably couldn't match Kotoe-san's level of skill, not without more practice. He did, however, have two distinct advantages. The first was, obviously, his white Byakugan eyes, active and able to catch every minute twitch, flinch, flicker of eyes, or racing of heartbeat. Just because Raidou knew about it--and was no doubt calling to mind every unsavory Hyuuga stereotype he could think of--didn't mean he could do anything about it.

The second advantage he had over Kotoe-san, far simpler but equally unwise to overlook, was that now Raidou was awake.

Still, there was no need to push, not on that portion of the task. He'd no doubt have plenty of opportunity to observe once Genma woke up. And really, Raidou had already told him most of what he needed to know: snarky ninja were, in general, sane ninja. That was something even Kotoe-san couldn't discern, on a subject drifting in and out of consciousness.

Which was why Genma needed to wake up soon. Because what he'd seen in those few moments, flaring in amber-brown eyes gone wild with terror and pain--

That hadn't seemed like any kind of sanity to him.