Tenten always thought that she would be the first to go in her team.
Lee's persistence gives the impression of infallibility. He was like a bamboo, yielding, and stronger for it. Time and time again Lee rose above all expectations. He was perpetually teetering on the verge of death and somehow always manages to balance his way back.
And Neji, well, Neji was a genius.
Neji was supposed to be invincible. She expected him to turn to her after the final battle, weary but mostly alive, and smirk at her. Comment on her fighting style, criticize her for being too strung, or being too careless.
She had prepared herself to die, but she had never even thought about preparing for this.
"Lee..."
Denial. No, he can't be dead. He must be faking. Or maybe he just passed out. Or maybe it was a prank. Neji was never known for effective humor.
But Tenten dared not come closer. Dared not look into his blank white eyes. Dared not even utter his name. No. The hesitation to confirm what she already knew just served to drive the pain deeper.
From behind Lee, she was praying. Praying to gods that have long abandoned them. Praying to the fates. Praying to anyone who might be willing to listen. But Neji's forehead, bare of the mark he had shamefully hidden in the past, proved her prayers useless.
No, no tears. Not for him. He wouldn't want it. Would be angry, even. Sorry, Neji.
Tenten barely felt the surge of chakra as Naruto's hand briefly slapped hers. She would fight. She was a kunoichi. No time for wallowing. No time for crying. No time for remorse, for pain.
Goodbye, Neji.
A/N: Bit late on the Neji is dead bandwagon, I know. In my defense, I was still mourning. This little was one-shot was just a thing to make me feel better because of Neji dying and Tenten's apparent lack of reaction to it. Haha! Good day. :)