Neji knew his duty. His father had seen to that. Neji floated in calmness the simple emotions of regret and surety of purpose settling him.
He opens his lavender eyes and sees Lee and Tenten down the slope from him sparing. A slight smile cracks his face as he watches Tenten move from tonfa to sai to kunai and back in response to Lee's steady barrage from his nunchucks.
A quiet footfall behind him signals Gai sensei's arrival.
"You know, you could always go down there to them." Neji can imagine the thumbs up being given to go with the rustle of cloth above and behind him. "You might even enjoy yourself." Gai's silly grin can even be heard in his voice.
A slight pain flashes across Neji's forehead, his duty to the clan must be upheld... He stared down at the lithe form of Tenten as she dodged a flurry of blows from Lee and scored a touch to his ribs with her sai.
No... Some beautiful birds could be free. But he could never be. He sighs slowly and returns to his meditation.