AN
*Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Nejiten*
This story is in Neji's perspective. He basically drabbles on about Tenten and what she's not (according to society and Ino). There are some not-so-nice remarks about Ino. Take in heed that I don't have anything against her. It just fit in the story.
Enjoy!
Beauty
Tenten was never beautiful.
She never had beautiful hair. Sure the colour was nice: a deep brown, just like cocoa. Sure it was soft. And sure it was naturally straight. But Ino insisted it would look so much "prettier" if Tenten actually cared for it. If she highlighted her hair, it would look "just so fabulous". If she shampooed on a regular basis, her hair would be so much silkier and shinier. And if she ever pulled her hair out of those ridiculous buns, maybe people would actually see how straight it was. But Tenten never complied. She always reasoned that she was a shinobi. Not a kunoichi. Shinobi shouldn't have to care whether their hair was pretty or not. Though Neji would never admit this aloud, he always respected Tenten for saying this.
Tenten never had beautiful eyes. Sure they were pretty but they weren't beautiful. They just don't "pop" without fuckloads of eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, or any of the other crap Ino insists of wearing every day. Tenten refused to even touch those 'toxic crayons'. She didn't want to look like a drug addict. Neji had to agree. With all that make-up, Ino did look like a druggie.
Tenten never had a beautiful smile. It was always cute. Just cute. And very childish. When she smiled, she showed all her teeth. Her smile was wide and because of her cheeks (God forbid she have a bit of meat on her) her face looked round. Not thin. Thin was in. Anything else is unacceptable, Ino would reason. Ino also suggested taking smiling lessons. Tenten, annoyed, would retort that only idiots, yes idiots, would pay good money to learn to smile. Neji had to agree. Ino was an idiot.
Tenten never had beautiful skin. It was always just decent. Tenten didn't have acne. She prided herself because of this. Proof that water is all one really needs. However, Tenten had many scars. Many scars. Ino always insisted that Tenten cover her scars with foundation or at the least go down to the hospital and heal them. But Tenten always refused. She actually liked her scars. They were remainders of her accomplishments, proof she worked damn hard to get where she was today. And Neji admired her for this. But he would never admit it.
But…
According to society, Tenten never had beautiful hair. She never had beautiful eyes. She never had a beautiful smile. She never had beautiful skin.
And according to Neji, Tenten was never beautiful.
She was always so much more.