They met at the ninja academy. She was an intelligent, friendly, likable girl, made friends with ease, and was a very skilled worrier considering her age. The boy on the other hand was cold and distant. He only had one thing on his mind at all times, training. His only goal was to become stronger. To him, friends would only get in the way.

A girl with bubblegum pink hair approached her, "Hey Tenten, are you coming to my birthday party? It's next Thursday at my house."

She replied, "Of course Sakura! I wouldn't miss it for the world." She looked to a boy with long, dark brown hair, "Sakura, can you invite him?"

Sakura looked at her best friend with confusion and said, "Why?" then her lips spread into a grin and said, "Does Tenten like Neji?"

Tenten's eyes shot wide open, "No, I just think he needs some friends. He's always quiet and never talks to anyone. No one seems to care about him at all."

Sakura hugged her friend and said, "Ok. You know, you are way too nice to people." Tenten only replied with a grin.

Sakura walked over to the boy. She could see something in his eyes. They were filled with sadness and anger. Her brain tried to

figure out what had happened to make him the way he is. His cousin, Hinata, didn't talk much but she was not sad or angry. Sakura stood behind him for a second until he finally spoke up, "What do you want?"

Sakura raised an eyebrow at his rudeness and said, "I just wanted to invite you to my birthday party. It's next Thursday at my house."

"No thank you. I heard you and your friend talking before you came over here. I do not want an invitation because you feel sorry for me."

"Fine, have it your way." With that she walked back to Tenten and said, "He said he didn't want a pity invitation."

Tenten was barely listening to her. She was just looking at the boy, trying to figure out his story. She couldn't help but wonder

about him. Her mind came to a halt when he got up and started walking to her.

'Crap why is he coming over here. I wasn't looking at him for a long time was I? Oh man, yes I was. What is he going to say to me? He's going to beat me up for looking at him I just know it' Her thoughts were interrupted when he stopped in front of her.

"Come with me" he said in a relaxed voice. She did what he said and he led her to a forest near the academy.

He started the conversation with, "Why were you looking at me"

Her heart started racing from embarrassment but she spoke up anyway, "Um ... I was just curious to what made you so unhappy. I know it is none of my business but I just want to help."

He looked away from her and said, "You're right, it is none of your business. I don't need any friends; I need people to leave me alone. That is what I want."

Her eyes burned with rage, "I don't have to help you, you know! I just thought that you would at least let me talk to you."

"Whatever. I don't need anyone's help. I'm not a baby" he said glaring at her

She felt like getting up and running any second. What could have happened that made him such a jerk, or was he just born a cold

person? Tenten knew he needed someone and she would make it her job to get his spirits up again.

'Maybe if I share a little bit about myself, then he will open up too'

"Your name is Neji right?" He nodded "Well, Neji I haven't had a perfect life either. My parents died in the war that destroyed the village. I have lived with my Grandmother ever since. We don't talk much; I mean she's a nice person in all but..." She stopped and looked down trying to hold back the tears that were already starting to form "she's gonna die soon too. She's weak. She can't leave the house and can barely get around. I have to just sit back and wait for it." By now she was bawling her eyes out. She didn't have much strength to tell him anything else. She looked away in shame but before she could run away, she felt something touch her shoulder. She turned around surprised to see Neji's hand.

"Do you really want to know why I'm like this? If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone" she nodded and he continued,

"My father was killed recently. He died because he was of lower status in my clan." he said while clenching his fists and holding back tears begging to flow. He spoke with such anger that it scared Tenten at times. He told her the entire story. When he was finished, he looked up at her to see if anything he said made any sense.

She smiled at him, "Thank you for telling me." She giggled through her tears and said, "We're both just a big mess." she then looked at him for a response and received a grin.

"Come on" he said, "Someone's going to start worrying about us."

And with that they walked back to the academy. Neji went back to his usual spot under a tree while Tenten went to Sakura and smiled as a greeting.

"What happened? Where did you go? Did he beat you up?" Sakura rambled

"I think I might talk to him again tomorrow" she said with a smile