Duck! Her right leg swept out as she dropped below her opponent. He managed to jump back before her leg connected. Back up. Her punch met his open fist and she used his grip on her fist to propel herself over his head. He followed her movements perfectly and did not give her a chance to stop. Kick, block, jump. She was panting and sweat dripped down her face, arms, chest, and back. There was no dry spot on her body. She was unsure how much longer she could keep going yet her opponent, while also sweaty, showed no sign of stopping anytime soon. Oh, if only she had had her weapons!
Tenten was quite skilled in taijutsu from all of her years training with Team Gai, but she also knew she was at her best with a weapon (or several) in her hands. Tenten also knew it is nearly impossible to defeat her opponent. She had been sparring with him for five years now and she had never won without her weapons. Even just a few months after nearly dying in the war, Neji was still almost impossible to beat. Almost.
With a deep breath, Tenten returned to the fight full force. Neji stumbled, not expecting her sudden surge in strength, but did not fall. Tenten aimed rapid kicks all over his body, leaving Neji entirely on the defensive. Tenten was not afraid to fight dirty in order to win and aimed a hard kick right at his crotch, a small grin on her face. Neji just barely dodged out of the way, a frown on his face, and Tenten rolled to control her forward momentum.
"That was not a fair move." He commented, his breathing even as he continued to move, blocking more and more hits from his sparring partner.
Tenten rolled her eyes even though he could not see it. The grin in her voice was audible and her breath was not nearly as controlled as his when she replied. "If this was a real fight, and I was fighting someone who was trying to kill me, I am not too worried about being fair."
"She's, right, Neji!" Lee shouted, observing the match. He had been sitting on the side and shouting encouragements to the two since they had started. "A kick is a kick, no matter where it is placed."
Neji muttered something about wearing a cup to the rest of their practices and Tenten couldn't help but snort. They continued their spar for several more minutes, each minute wore the pair down even more. Neji's composed breathing soon became labored.
When Tenten finally had Neji pinned to the ground it took her several seconds to realize she had actually won. He was laying flat on his back, breathing heavy as she straddled his chest. Her knees dug into his ribs. She blinked down at him, confused. His face looked equally confused and was several shades redder than she had ever seen him.
"YOSH!" Lee shouted, jumping up and down several feet away. "Tenten! You won!" Before Lee finished his sentence Neji shoves his partner off of him and onto the grass. He stood gracefully in the same movement. He instantly reached down and grabbed her upper arm to haul her to her feet. If she hadn't known any better she would have said he looked sheepish.
"Good job, Ten." Neji said, looking at her but not quite meeting her eyes. Tenten squinted at him. It had been a long time since he had reacted poorly to losing a spar. In fact, Tenten couldn't remember the last time he had.
"Thanks."
"Alright, alright." Lee clapped his hands together. "Now that you two are done we must engage in a youthful dinner! Neji, as loser and as the one of us with the most money," Tenten snorted, he wasn't wrong. "you should buy all of us dinner tonight! Ichiraku Ramen? Race you there!"
Lee had started to run off but Neji caught the back of his bright green jumpsuit before he could move. Lee paused and Neji released the spandex. It made a rather disturbing snapping sound against Lee's skin.
"I am sorry, but I have other obligations. I will not be joining you two for dinner; however, tell Teuchi I will cover the cost of your dinner." Neji nodded to each of them before leaving. The pair watched his back as he headed in the direction of the Hyuga compound.
Tenten was frowning at his retreating figure, but Lee didn't seem to notice her disappointment and was already charging ahead towards the Ramen stand.
"Tenten! Last one there must piggyback the other one home tonight!"
Obviously, Lee won the challenge, having a good head start and being ten times more interested in the challenge than Tenten had been. Still, Tenten did not look forward to carrying her teammate home. Physically she could carry Lee and probably Neji and Gai sensei all at the same time; however, she wasn't sure her pride could handle the weight of Lee riding her back and shouting, waving, and being generally unable to stay still while she carried him.
Lee ordered for the two, knowing exactly what Tenten wanted from the countless times they had gotten ramen together. He told Teuchi that Neji was treating them tonight and the man laughed and made a comment about how Neji should be happy Naruto wasn't on his team. Tenten was sure Neji was happy Naruto wasn't on their team regardless of Naruto's ramen appetite. Neji had softened a lot since his battle with Naruto and carried a true fondness in his heart for the orange boy. Neji would literally sacrifice his life for Naruto (as he proved in the war when he nearly died taking the stakes into his body to protect Hinata and Naruto) but that didn't mean Naruto didn't annoy Neji to no end.
Steaming bowls of ramen were placed in front of Tenten and Lee. They both thanked Teuchi and picked up their chopsticks. Tenten took a bite out of her ramen, letting the salty flavors rush over her tongue. She liked ramen although it wasn't her favorite. She'd rather be somewhere with dessert. Lee, on the other hand, was digging into his food with reckless abandon. Tenten occasionally felt splashes against her arm from his youthful, enthusiastic eating.
"What do you think that was about?" Tenten asked, chewing lightly on the end of her chopstick. "Neji," She clarified, seeing Lee's confused look. "He seemed… off after we sparred. Do you think I hurt him? Or something?"
"Oh, I did not notice! I think our Neji would tell us if something were wrong, especially if he were injured, don't you?"
"I guess… I mean he has hidden injuries in the past. Remember in the Land of Snow when he broke his ankle and didn't tell us, then nearly fell off the side of the mountain we were climbing?"
"No."
Tenten huffed, "Well that's probably because you weren't the one he was tied to. Anyways, what I'm saying is he would hide something from us if he were embarrassed."
"Well…" Lee trailed off. "Maybe you should just ask him? I'm sure it is a simple explanation, but if he really is injured you should help him! That is what teammates are for." As Lee finished his sentence, he snatched a piece of shrimp from Tenten's bowl of ramen.
"And for eating their Ramen once you finish your own?" Tenten said wryly, batting his chopstick away with her own when he went for another bite. "Here, eat the Narutomaki. I don't like eating Narutos."
"I would be honored to eat Naruto! That way I will become stronger, just like how Naruto is being stronger every day! I will eat Naruto every day!" Lee shouted, pumping his fist in the air with his words. Tenten's cheeks went red at his choice of words, and only went redder when the two other patrons looked over at them with a mix of confusion and horror on their faces.
"Uhh… thanks Bushy Brows." Naruto's voice came from behind them, and he sounded like he was trying not to laugh. Tenten and Lee turned to face him, Tenten still red and Lee still oblivious.
Naruto was wearing his signature goofy grin and standing half behind him holding his hand was Hinata. Their relationship was new, and it warmed Tenten's heart to see how right the two looked together.
"You are very welcome, Naruto! Please join us for ramen!" Lee was bouncing in his seat at the couple sat down beside him. "I am almost finished, but Tenten is still eating and we would love to talk to you!"
"Thanks Lee." Hinata smiled warmly. Being close with Neji, Tenten and Lee had become very close with Hinata, Tenten especially. Whenever Tenten visited Neji at the Hyuga compound she made sure to swing by and see Hinata. Sometimes the three of them would sit and drink tea together, but more often than not they would train together. Neji liked to watch Hinata and Tenten spar so that he could call out helpful tips to the both of them, and he also liked to have Tenten watch he and Hinata spar so she could return the favor.
Lee and Naruto chatted quickly and excitedly, too fast for Tenten to keep up with especially as she had Neji's weird behavior on her mind. Neji was not a sore loser. Something had to have been wrong. She went over in her mind their entire fight and could not remember doing anything that would have seriously injured him. Maybe if she had gotten that low blow in… but no, he had blocked that. So, something else must have been wrong. But what?
"Hinata," Tenten asked quietly, "is Neji okay? He was acting kind of strange earlier. And he didn't want to join us for dinner."
Hinata's cheeks turned pink and her face reminded Tenten of the days when she was terrified of being close to Naruto. Tenten worried for a moment that the other girl might faint. "Oh…" She coughed. "Um. He has a date. Well, kind of. More like. A marriage interview?"
Tenten inhaled sharply, and immediately began to choke on her ramen. Lee pounded her on the back to clear her airways.
"He. What?" Tenten asked, too out of breath to form full, proper sentences. "Marriage?"
All eyes were on Hinata and she started pressing her fingers together in nervousness. Naruto looked shocked at the news, but Lee was simply nodding.
"Ah yes! Neji is to meet one of his potential youthful flowers tonight so that they may have dinner and he may decide if he is interested! He told me this yesterday. I think he must have been very excited about this date because he did leave rather quickly after training today."
Tenten felt her eyes scrunch together and her lips turn down into a frown. He definitely hadn't mentioned anything like that to her. Didn't he trust her? She was sure they were closer than he and Lee. But maybe she was wrong?
Hinata seemed amused by Lee's comment. "Excited is not the word I would use. He was very nervous and dreading it, I think. He is not interested in marriage, nor is he very interested in marrying into the main branch."
"Ohhh eww aren't you guys like cousins?" Naruto asked, "It's not Hanabi is it?"
"No! Definitely not Hanabi. We are cousins, but Neji is not directly related to everyone in the main family. This is someone very distant from his side of the family. Most Hyuga marry within the family, to keep the bloodline pure. And as Neji is a strong side branch family member, Father wants Neji to marry into the main family." Hinata answered, looking mildly uncomfortable for more reasons than just the attention being on her. "Her name is Kaori. I do not know her well, but she is nice from what I have heard and very pretty. She has the byakugon and is training to combine it with medical jutsu."
Tenten made an involuntary face of annoyance. Of course, she had to be pretty much perfect. Nothing less for Neji, the prodigy.
Dinner soon finished and Tenten found herself carrying Lee on her back to his home. On the other side of the village.
Lee did in fact end up talking to everyone on the way home. He waved to the little old ladies, to the little kids trying to run home before it got dark, and to every other single person they passed on the street. When they passed by Kiba, Lee started a conversation with him and Tenten kept walking, forcing Kiba to walk with them. He didn't comment on their travel methods.
They were almost to Lee's home when they ran right into the lovely couple of the night, Kaori and Neji. Hinata was being modest, Kaori was more than just pretty. She was gorgeous. Her pale skin glowed with the sunset, her long dark hair bounced and swayed gently as she walked, and her walk was more like a dancer's than a ninja's. Even her Hyuga eyes looked pretty, whereas on most people they just looked intimidating. And, Tenten couldn't see a scar on her! Could she really be a ninja?
Tenten didn't normally compare herself to other girls, but she just couldn't help it in this moment. She thought of the thousand bobby pins and gallons of hairspray holding her buns in place and of the scars that covered almost every inch of her body. Most were faded and barely visible, but there were many that seemed to stand out like a billboard. Her arms were especially scarred from all of her years of handling sharp objects and occasionally stabbing herself when trying to get fancy. Running a hand down her arm would feel like rubbing a child's macaroni art piece.
Lee interrupted Tenten's thoughts with a cheerful greeting. He leaned over Tenten's head, nearly doubling her over with one hand pressed on her back and the other extended towards Kaori. "Hello, Neji! It is good to see you again. And you must be Kaori! We have heard so many youthful things about you! We hope you enjoy your date with our Neji. He is a fantastic shinobi and an even better man!"
Kaori smiled at Lee, but it didn't quite meet her eyes. She looked apprehensive but still reached to shake Lee's hand. "Hello, it is nice to meet you." Her voice was deeper than Tenten expected. Tenten was also pretty sure she had absolutely no idea who either of them were.
"Lee," Tenten couldn't tell if he was annoyed or amused. His voice sounded amused, but his eyebrows were pinched together. "Why are you on Tenten's back?"
"Tenten lost the challenge! She must carry me home on her back now. And if she cannot make it home, she will do 1000 laps around the village!"
"Hey," Tenten started, straightening up. Lee tightened his legs around her middle to keep from sliding off. "Why wasn't I told that was an option? I'd rather run the laps than carry you home!"
"This is better team bonding, Tenten! I see Gai Sensei and Kakashi Sensei do this training exercise often!" Lee refused to slide off of Tenten's back. Tenten muttered something about their relationship being very different from Gai Sensei and Kakashi Sensei's relationship, but Lee ignored her. "We will always be the best team in Konoha, right, Neji?"
"We will always aim to improve." Neji said smoothly, taking his dates arm into the crook of his elbow. "Now, if you will excuse us…"
Tenten watched the couple with a sick feeling in her stomach. Not only had Neji not trusted her enough to tell her about his date, but he obviously hadn't told his date anything about them. She carried Lee home and didn't say a word the entire time, even as Lee tried to engage her in conversation.
When he finally slid off her back, Lee gave her a concerned look. His two giant eyebrows joined together in a way that would have been comical under different circumstances. "Tenten, is everything alright? You have been uncharacteristically quiet tonight."
Tenten smiled at Lee. "I'll be okay, Lee. Just a lot on my mind."
Lee pulled her into a big hug, "Do not let your thoughts worry you, Tenten, everything will turn out alright. We, your teammates will always have your back. Trust me. Trust us!" Lee ended his little speech with a big thumbs up and a sparkling smile.