Disclaimer: I do not ownNaruto

Chapter one

Neji Hyuga had always been quiet. Even in his younger days as a genin on Team Gai, he hadn't spoken unless he deemed it necessary. Of course, he'd acknowledge his superiors, but those he thought lesser than him were lucky enough to even receive a slight grunt, a sign that he had heard fhem. He had been called many things, such as self centered, conceited, even stuck up. These names had never bothered him before, so he could help but wonder why they did now, when it was his bun haired teammate calling him them.

"You're such a stuck up snooty brat! I can't believe I'm even from the same planet as you!" She shouted angrily at him before stomping away in away fit of rage. Lee tried to stop her, but she snatched her arm away. He turned and shook His head at the Hyuga before following Tenten from the training grounds. Neji sat staring at where Tenten had stood moments ago. He hadn't intended to anger her, but she had pushed him to her limit. They had been doing their usual spar after warming up for the day. Tenten had cried out in pain as she hit the ground for the fourth time since they began. Neji definitely was not going easy on her, and she could tell something was bothering him.

Minutes Earlier

"You're not trying hard enough." He said angrily. And it was true in a way. Neji knew he was being more forceful than usual, but how could he expect to get better if he never pushed himself any farther than he already was? Isn't that what the training was for? Tenten rose to her feet, unappreciative of his tone but he didn't care. It was obvious he wasn't in the mood for games, but she did not seem to understand.

"Well maybe if you'd stop treating me like your enemy and more like your teammate, I'd actually cooperate with you." She snapped back. Neji could feel his anger rising inside of him, but he struggled to push it back down.

"If I were treating you like an enemy, you'd be dead by now, especially with the way you're fighting." He retorted, trying to keep his voice calm and even.

"Are you saying that I'm too weak to beat you?"

"No, what I'm saying is that you allow your feelings to get the best of you. You wouldn't hurt me if your life depended on it. Friendship is a valuable asset to have, but what good is it if you place it over protecting the people you love?" Neji continued on as Tenten got angrier by the second.

"It's no wonder the wouldn't let you join ANBU. You become too attached to your peers, so when you find out you have to take their life to protect those around you, you can't. You're too weak, I can't even figure out how you became around shinobi. If you continue going at this rate, you'll never be as great a kunoichi as Tsunade."

Present Time

That was when Tenten lost her own temper. Neji reflected on what he said to her. He knew it was cruel, but it was true. She needed to hear the truth so she'll grow. He thought to himself. So why was he feeling guilty? Why was he feeling like a jerk for saying that to her? He knew the answer, though he didn't want to accept it. He was wrong. He should not have been so harsh to her. Recently, whenever he snapped at her, he felt guilty afterwards. Maybe he was beginning to have feelings for the weapons mistress. Neji shook his head to rid himself of these thoughts. No, it was impossible. He thought of Tenten as a teammate, and nothing more. She was a comrade, that was it. He purged his mind of any other thoughts of Tenten as he turned to head home.

When he arrived at the Hyuga compound, he made a beeline for his room. He wasn't interested in running into any members of the Main house. After the fight he had with the elders that morning... well he didn't particularly want to be seen. His disagreement with Tenten had not been the first time he had lost his temper that day. When his uncle and the elders pulled him aside to tell him that he would be married once he turned seventeen, he lost his cool demeanor. He completely flipped out, throwing a tantrum like the ones he had not had since he was a small child. He was only angered further when he found out who he would be marrying.

Earlier that Day

"Mira?!" He questioned angrily. The female hyuga, a member of the main house, was the main source of gossip and rumors throughout the clan. She knew all the scandals, and when there weren't any, she had quite the imagination to think one up, for the sake of keeping gossip alive. Neji had suffered through many of her lies, falling subject to her cruelty because of her disdain for the prodigy. If something were to happen to Hanabi as heiress to the clan, Mira would have been the next choice. That changed when Neji achieved mastery of the gentle fist technique, as well as Rotation and the eight tri grams 64 palms, two of the most complex techniques of the clan. His skill with the byakugan had surpassed even that of Hiashi, and the only reason he was not the heir already is because he was from the side branch. Mira had become resent full towards him when he took her place, and had been out to ruin his life ever since.

"You cannot expect me to oblige to marrying such an insolent, immature pain in the neck!" He yelled at them, uncaring if he was punished.

"With Hanabi growing older, there are few young children in the clan. If reproduction does not start now, the clan will die out after your generation has ended. You and Mira are the only two who will be of age soon enough. With Himimaru having just had a child with his wife, his son will be ready to receive his seal by the time yours and Mira's child is three. By then, Hinata and the other young members will be ready to reproduce themselves, starting the new generation of hyuga. It cannot be helped and has already been decided. You have no choice Neji." Hiashi stated sternly.

The elders proceeded to tell him how much of a burden he was being and how he was bringing disgrace to the clan name. Afterwards, Neji had stormed out of the compound, seething with rage on his way to the training grounds.

Present Time

Knowing that his behavior earlier would cause tension between he and the main house, yet again, he tried to slip as a quickly and as stealthily into his room as possible. He had almost achieved his victory when none other than Mira Hyuga appeared in front of him, blocking his path.

"Can I help you?" He asked coldly, his face hardening.

"Look Neji, I know we're supposed to be getting married soon, and I'm pretty sure you know too." She stared, folding her arms across her chest. Neji narrowed his eyes and studied the woman before him.

"What's your point?" He asked cautiously.

"My point," She said quietly, shifting from one foot to the other. Her lavender eyes left his and stared at the ground instead.

"Is that maybe we should put our past behind us. You know, for the sake of the marriage."

Neji was unable to keep the shock from taking over his face. Mira was... offering a truce?

"And why should I, after all you've done to me?" He asked and gained control over his emotions and facial expressions again.

"This isn't easy for me to do, I'm sure you know that. Isn't it enough I'm offering a truce? What more do you want from me?"

Neji considered this carefully. She was offering to put the past behind them, which he was sure was the closest he was going to get to an apology.

"Fine. For the sake of the marriage. But do not expect me to love you. This is strictly for reproduction purposes only." He stated sternly. He thought he saw a flash of disappointment and hurt in her eyes, but if it was truly there, she covered it quickly.

"I wasn't expecting anything else from you." She replied bitterly before stalking away.