The Proposition
Summary: Neji has a proposition for Tenten, that leaves the whole team and the Hyuuga Household stunned.
Setting: Sometime after the Sasuke Retrieval Arc, but before Naruto leaves Konoha.
Pairings: Slight (as in very slight) NejiTen – I am more focused on their friendship; mentions of Hina-Naru – I'm more focused on Hinata's improvement.
A/N: Hello! I'm Adelle-chan and I bring a new fiction for us fans. The Naruto manga and anime have seemed to be taking a lot of flashbacks lately and I was inspired to write this one. I'd probably update more often seeing that I'm bored at home and I'm not too busy (except cleaning the house every morning). But please don't expect much. My muse comes a goes at it pleases. But no worries, I plan to abuse it before it leaves all of us confused, agitated and wanting more!
Chapter 1: The Issue in Question
After a long vigorous training session, the members of Team Gai found themselves seated amongst the stools of Ichiraku Ramen House, ordering their regular. They discussed—albeit quite loudly—on how their training had progressed that day. The vibrant Rock Lee vowed to be even better, stronger and faster with the power of Springtime of Youth. The only female, Tenten, pointed out that they were bound to be considering the number of hours they spend on training grounds. Their jounin instructor, Maito Gai, grinned as he spoke of his little students blossoming into mature and responsible ninjas of Konoha to the shop owner.
It was very noticeable that the cool and aloof Hyuuga Neji did not join in the conversation. It wasn't much of a big deal considering the fact that Neji wasn't the talkative type. But he wasn't silent because he wanted to be. He was silent because he was in deep thoughts.
Three words
He sighed, seemingly disappointed on how he was acting out-of-character as of the moment. He had no reason to be afraid. The woman in question was not even very dangerous. He doubted that Tenten would scream or even faint upon hearing those words from him like most of the kunoichis in Konoha. Tenten is strong, and she had proven that a long time ago. She's ready for everything, but he knew she's not ready to hear those three words from him.
And another thing was he didn't know how to properly say it. They were just three words. Three words that are very simple even an Academy student could say them. Three words that actually made sense once you put them in a certain order. He had been troubled by it all morning, because he knew that these three words—no matter how simple they sounded—would be the start of something new for the both of them.
"Neji?"
He was startled when his name was called. He stared directly to that person, who he was thinking about. "Yes?"
She smiled. "Don't you like your ramen?"
His gaze traveled from her to the bowl of noodles in front of him. He knew very well what that question meant. He closed his eyes and passed the bowl to her.
"Thanks," she said as she happily dug on his long-forgotten ramen.
Lee frowned as he stared at her. "You know, Tenten, it's very rude to eat someone else's food."
"Neji doesn't mind," she pointed out as she continued to slurp her ramen.
"You don't know that."
"I don't mind," came Neji's curt reply.
Lee was about to verbalize another retort but Gai cut him off as he set his chopsticks down. "Lee."
He whirled to the direction of his teacher, knowing that the next words bore wisdom and sincerity and would come important one of these days. "Yes, Gai-sensei?"
Gai dramatically fixed his eyes on his student and said, "A true gentleman would never deny a woman's desire for food, even if it costs him to sacrifice his own. If you are a true gentleman, then you should follow your beloved teammate's example of genuine gallantry and respect for a lady's craving for first-class cuisine."
"I see." Lee was writing non-stop in his handy-dandy notebook the incredible words of his beloved sensei as rivers of tears run from his eyes. His eternal rival had beaten him once again, but he assured that this would be a learning experience. "Tenten!"
She looked up from her meal.
"I have been enlightened! Therefore, I, not as a ninja, but as a man who respects your gourmet enthusiasm will pay for the next order you make!" He flashed a nice-guy pose at his teammate and teacher. Gai-sensei looked hopeful. "And Gai-sensei as well!"
Their teacher grinned and Tenten brightened. When Lee wasn't looking, the two shared mischievous glances and thumbs up. Teamwork was really something that Team Gai was working on, and obviously it was working quite smoothly.
As they munched their second serving of ramen, Lee couldn't help but ask, "By the way Tenten, have you ever considered dieting? Not to sound rude but you really do each much, you know."
"Lee," she offered her brightest smile and said the next statement with authenticity that could rival that of Maito Gai's, "Dieting is only for ninjas who don't train."
They laughed whole-heartedly at that, and continued eating. Eating is always made better by good company and conversation. Tenten was a bit dismayed that Neji was ever silent, but it was never really in his character to do so. It just seemed so un-Neji if he suddenly but in.
So it was a complete surprise when he suddenly spoke her name. She didn't bother to hide it, but she brushed it off easily. She looked at him but didn't stop eating. "Hmm?"
Neji decided to throw all caution to the wind. He was bound to do it eventually. With deliberate calculation, he extended his hand to hers, and with so much passion he said the three words, "I need you."
Gai and Lee, who were both consuming their ramen, sputter simultaneously. They looked at each other then gawked at Neji. Even the store owner stopped his activities, obviously interested.
Lee whispered, "Gai-sensei, is that also what a gentleman is suppose to do?" Gai shushed him and watched how the power of Springtime of Youth moved his students. They were really growing up so fast. Neji, his young prodigy…
Oblivious to his team's way of thinking, Neji continued to gaze intently at her, his hand still reaching. Neji visualized this situation with every possible reaction ranging from profound delight to gut-wrenching anger. He never did expect her to stare at him with such deadpan expression while noodles hanging from her lips. His message seemed to have sunken into her as she blinked a couple of times and swallowed.
Carefully, she replied, "Excuse me?" Neji's sudden statement left her hanging and she really needed to confirm if what she heard was true.
"I need you," he repeated, this time much more slowly.
Her eyes were rounding into saucers. Tenten was looking at him as though he crawled out from her ramen bowl and dived back in, only to have crawled out again. It made no sense at all. "Uh-huh…" She mumbled under her breath. Setting her ramen bowl aside, she gazed back at him directly. "Neji if you want another training session, all you have to do–"
"It's not about another training session," came his firm reply.
She heard Gai and Lee gasped, but she didn't pay them any attention. "What is it about then?"
"I…" Neji took back his hand and looked a way, clearly uncomfortable. Something warm, bubbly, fuzzy and slightly creepy was crawling from her intestines to her chest. She wished it wasn't the ramen. She could eat another bowl. But as she continued to study him, all thoughts of noodles in specially flavored broth dissolved in her mind. The usual stoic teammate was – dare she think of it? – appearing to be flustered. From Tenten's view, a slight red tinge was marring his cheeks. She felt her own cheeks reddening as well. What was happening?
"Neji…"
But whatever Tenten was to say was cut off by Maito Gai's extreme exclamation for the power of the his student's Springtime of Youth, complete with waterfalls, sunset backgrounds, and shiny gliterry multi-colored confetti that appeared out of nowhere. Tenten gawked. Neji looked at him warily. Lee joined their sensei.
"Rejoice, Lee," Gai proclaimed, sending out sparkles and gold dusts as he did so, "for your teammates are basking on the greatness of the ignited flames of their hearts! Rejoice, for the Springtime of Youth is upon them!"
"It has?" Tenten cocked her head at one side.
"It has!" Lee pumped his fists to the air for emphasis.
"It has not," said Neji firmly, and then turning his attention back to the only female of the group. "There is something I need you to help me with, something only you can do."
A manly gasp escaped their sensei's mouth as Neji's words reverberated to the core of his being. "He yearns for her, and yet he denies," he announced.
"I deny?" asked Neji, beginning to be confused.
"You deny!" cried Lee, staring at his male teammate with an uncharacteristic emotion that Neji had no intention of naming.
"Wait, I'm confused," blurted Tenten, "what exactly is he denying?"
Gai fiery disposition was suddenly focused on Tenten, and she watched as her sensei posed theatrically for his little speech. "His admiration for you, for the beautiful buttercup that is and only is you!" he replied passionately, a myriad of rose petals fluttering about to prove his point.
Tenten watched the scene with wide-eyed with fright. Lee watched with utmost admiration. Neji just glared. The shop owner was worried about the cleaning.
"Behold! Your long hours of zealous training had captured the eyes of our young prodigy! He is awed, transfixed, by the sheer simplicity you possess, my little sunflower—"
"I thought she's a buttercup…" muttered Lee.
Gai paused for a moment. "Point taken…" There was a proverbial ping as he flashed his signature thumbs-up to his attentive student, who returned the gesture. The shop owner did not know what to think anymore.
"Moving on! He is awed, transfixed, by the sheer simplicity you possess, my little buttercup slash sunflower – a creature unlike any other, the rose in the garden of thorns, the oasis in the desert, the dog in the manger, the needle in the hay stack! Your warmth and sunshiny smiles have melted the carefully placed icebergs of his heart and turned it to an ocean of pure Hyuuga goop over the flaming heat of the Springtime of Youth!"
Translation: Neji is in love with Tenten.
There was a sharp intake of breath coming from Lee. Frankly, he appeared to be scandalized.
On the other hand, Neji frowned. "I can't deny those." The three, and even the shop owner, had mixed emotions of shock, surprise, and happiness. Realizing that, Neji glared at his finest. "I've never said them in the first place."
"Alas, my youthful lad," said Gai. "You don't need words to speak. You don't need eyes to see. You don't need ears to hear etc etc. Senses make the world easier, but they do not make the world go 'round."
Lee whirled about, and beamed at his sensei, profoundly inspired by the words of wisdom related to them moments just by. "Gai-sensei!"
"Lee!"
Tenten rubbed her forehead, readied herself by burying her face in her cupped hands. "Oh god, here we go again…"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
And thus, the hug fest ensued complete with sunset, waterworks and all those jazz. Tenten briefly heard Neji explaining to the shop owner that it was all genjutsu work so he does not have to worry about cleaning. Meanwhile, Tenten just contemplated on her little misery. Being assigned to Team Gai had its perks – she had the opportunity to be grouped with three tough taijutsu specialist, she got to train with a clan genius, she got to use her precious weapons to the fullest in order to achieve her dreams, to name a few – but sometimes, it was just too much drama.
Speaking about drama, she inclined her head towards their resident genius. "So, what exactly do you want me to do?"
Said resident genius looked away and suddenly became fixated at studying the salt and pepper containers in front of him. Deliberately taking a deep, long breath, he finally answered, "It's about Hinata-sama."
Softly, he spoke to her about his younger cousin. He narrated how well he had been doing with his training with Hiashi, their clan leader, how well the results were, and how hopeless the heiress was with hers.
"It's not as if Hiashi-sama is not guiding her," he told Tenten, eyes still downcast. "And it's not as if she's not trying hard enough. It's just that…"
"She's weak," she supplied. Glumly, and almost reluctantly, Neji nodded. Tenten strayed her eyes away from his profile. Almost the whole Konoha had heard of Hinata's potential, and very few were impressed by it, particularly the members of her clan. Tenten allowed a pang of pity wash through her. It wasn't fair, really. Hinata tried her very best. If only someone could spend more time with her honing her skills. If only someone cared enough. If only… She let that thought carry along until she finally realized what Neji was intending for her to do.
"You want me to train with her, don't you?" Tenten watched as an uncharacteristic red stain Neji's face. He was also trying very hard to remain stone-face. She emitted a laugh. "You, my friend, are one very sweet cousin. That Naruto knock you up real good."
His blush deepened. "Tenten," he growled under his breath. Said teammate disregarded his half-meant warning and happily slurped her noodles. "So will you do it?" he asked, desperately wanting to know.
Tenten considered it for a while, before nodding. "Sure I guess. I'm not busy. Lee's with Gai-sensei, that's for sure. You're with your clan head. Speaking of which, how did you manage to get Hiashi-sama's approval?" Ten seconds went by and no answer. "Neji?" She shifted her gaze to him and found yet again that he was studying intently the salt and pepper containers before him.
And then, it clicked.
"You haven't asked him, haven't you?" Tenten guessed. She took his deepening frown and trademark 'Hn.' as a yes. Tenten could not control the tone of her voice from raising a few decibels. She puffed her breath indignantly. "Neji! You know we need his approval!"
At the sound of we, his and approval, Gai broke from his sunset trance and grabbed her by the shoulders. "My little flower, how very thoughtful of you! Of course your sensei approves!" He gave her a thumbs-up, white teeth flashing to add to the dramatic effect.
Tenten could only roll her eyes. With as much gentleness as she could muster, she removed his hand from her shoulder and looked at him squarely. "Gai-sensei, remove the fields of flowers, green meadows, butterflies, sparkling water and what not from your head. Neji needs me to train his cousin."
"Oh?" Gai did not bother to hide his disappointment. The comical background behind him wilted, as well. The birds stopped chirping. The flowers lost their glow. The beautiful sunset exploded to a supernova of epic proportions that destroyed the fluttering rose petals.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes again. "Yes. And he hasn't asked his uncle's permission for it."
Hearing that tone of annoyance in her voice, Neji rose from his seat. He drew several bills from his wallet and tossed them on the counter unceremoniously. "You could always say no." Without a backward glance, he left the ramen stall leaving three very surprised individuals and one very happy shop owner for the tip.
"Now, what did I do?" Tenten grumbled, stabbing her chopsticks on her bowl, angry that their little talk left her noodles sodden and broth cold.
Gai shuddered, but answered her nonetheless. "Tenten, understand your teammate. Our little Neji is shy." His comment earned questioning glances, even from himself. "Er… Socially inept. And you know about his estranged relations with his family."
Tenten's mood further sank. The Hyuuga Clan Issues: Main and Branch; Hidden Clan Jutsus, Caged Bird Cursed Seal and what not. Dimly, she played her noodles, no longer interested in them. "But they're still his family."
"So are we," Lee answered all of the sudden, with his boyish quirk. The two stopped their activities, and focused their attention on the young Green Beast of Konoha. Lee just smiled at them. "We're his family too. Families help each other. And right now he needs you, Tenten."
For the first time in a long time, Tenten looked at Lee, really looked at him. She looked passed the bowl cut and bushy eyebrows, uniquely rounded eyes with their equally unique long lashes, skimpy green jumpsuit, and youthful grin; and realize what their sensei had been seeing since Day1.
Lee had the makings of a great ninja.
She chuckled at that thought. "I should be going," she said, rising from her seat. But before she left, she drew Lee into a fierce hug. "Thanks," she whispered in his ear, and felt iron arms clamped on her back, returning the hug. And she was the one who was supposed to knock sense into him. She threw Gai a smile too, who laughed and patted her head affectionately.
She drew back while she could, curtsied to the shop owner, and left the stall in that short order.
"You three are growing up," Gai remarked when the two of them were alone, eyes gazing fondly at nothing.
"Have we gotten stronger, sensei?" Lee seemed hopeful.
Gai's laugh was rather hearty. "Not just in strength Lee." In the near future, his little kids would be renowned as the finest shinobis of the village and bring back the glory to Konoha. That he was sure of. But as of today, they were still his little kids with individual issues, armful of dreams and kick-ass training.
"Hey Neji, wait up!"
Neji slowed his pace a bit, trying to seem angry and waited for her to catch up. A small smile grazed his lips when she stubbornly reached his side. They walked in silence, sandaled feet in symphony with the humming of beetles and cicadas residing on nearby trees.
As they passed over a bend, it was Tenten who first broke their silence. "I decided to help you with your clan leader," she said it in a rather cheery tone. Neji's reply was a half-smile but he said nothing.
The Hyuuga Compound was located at the far side of the village, a careful distance from the bustling streets of Konoha or any random pedestrian that might pass by. It was said that the famous clan also owned the vast area of green meadows and forestry surrounding the compound – owning that much of property signified the power and prestige of the members of the White-eyed Clan. They are, after all, the prided race of the village.
Not that Tenten cared about their wealth. Actually, she never cared about the Hyuuga Clan at all. When she was an Academy student and found out that they would have a Hyuuga in the class, someone from her class pointed out that all Hyuugas have those distinctive white eyes and infamous taijutsu passed down from generation to generation. They were Gods of Gods, creatures of another realm.
Tenten thought they were mutants.
And then she met Hyuuga Neji, and quite frankly she was fascinated by him. Not fascinated in the stalkerish, fangirly way that every girl in her class possessed (Like a virus, she would say). She didn't notice that his hair was not black, but a dark long brown accentuated with colors of chestnut and chocolate. She did not notice that his eyes were an intriguing color of milk with a bit of lavender in the mix, nor the way his blood vessels distend as his blood line limit is activated. She did not notice the wide forehead, the patriarchal arch of the nose, or the young lines of a strong jaw.
Nope, the first thing she noticed was the fluidity of his motions, the way his hands and feet gracefully coordinated to the style and art of the Gentle Fist, the way his punch landed perfectly on his opponent's chakra points that the poor guy was rushed to the hospital, screaming in agony.
It was then – right then and there – through the midst of chaos and giggling school girls, that Tenten realized that this guy, who had an attitude of ice block on a winter night, who blamed fate on every single ill-fated moment they have ever come across, who had more issues in life than she and Lee combined, was the Gods' answer to her only prayer.
Hyuuga Neji was the one person chosen by destiny to fulfill her life-long dream in becoming a kunoichi like her idol, Tsunade-sama.
And screw destiny, she became his sparring partner!
So she made it a point to make their genin life smooth sailing. She woke up two hours before their training so she could polish her beloved weapons and be on-time, all the time, for every sparring session they have. She endured his cold personality and his ever silent attitude. She chucked several kunais, senbons, katanas, broken pieces of wood, and almost anything at his ravaging fangirls who manage to find their secluded training spot. She supported his comments, calmed Lee and Gai-sensei when they go on hyper mode, and allowed herself to become his personal punching bag all for the sake of her dream.
Eventually, her whole life revolved around Neji. She wondered how she could help his training, when was it convenient for him to train with her, what technique she could use to speed up his improvements. She briefly recalled reprimanding Lee for continuing with his one-sided rivalry with Neji. Neji was cool. He was a genius and she was very lucky to have the opportunity to train with him. Lee had no chance against him.
And then one day Naruto beat the crap out of Neji.
She was surprised. Neji was great. Neji was at the top of their class. Neji was a genius. Naruto was nobody, a dead last, a loser; and he won. Against Neji. The guy she put her bet on, the guy she spent numerous hours of her teenage life with training hard core to perfect his skill was beaten by another guy who was beneath her. Some months later, Neji came home with a gapping whole near his heart.
That night, Tenten had an epiphany. She realized that despite the fact she helped this person master his special move, she ultimately failed him. She should not be honing her skills to improve his. She should be honing her skills to surpass his. That was how their relationship should be. If she was his personal punching bag, then he was her personal dart board. And Hyuuga Neji had no right to comment on that.
So that night, Tenten kneeled before her bed and prayed. She prayed that Hyuuga Neji was allowed to live. She promised that if he survived, she would make it a point to not let him intimidate her ever again, that she would never put up or encourage his arrogance, and that she would only call him a genius once or twice a week. She also swore to smack his ungrateful smirk off his face and rebuke his cocky personality, and also to check on his severely deteriorating social life, which in fact was not so far from hers. That and she would be much nicer to Lee and whoever loser they might come across with.
Miraculously, Neji lived and Tenten was happy because she got to be his sparring partner again. Her happiness, however, was short lived as Hyuuga Hiashi, his uncle and clan head, took interest of his prodigious talents and willed Neji away from their little training spot so he could perfect the Gentle Fist Style. She was sad, sure, because Hiashi was taking away her destiny. But she was also happy for Neji. He was finally taken noticed by the Main House, no matter how he vehemently denies it, and it was also a baby-step towards the unification of the Hyuuga clan.
Their parting also allowed her to focus on herself and do power-ups with Gai-sensei and Lee. Even Neji noted the slight increase in her stamina and speed.
So the point was if agreeing to his little plan his was a way of thank you for all the things she realized because of him, then sure, she'd do it any day.
She owed him that at least.
"We're here." She jumped when she heard Neji's gentle voice. After quick introduction to the fellow Branch member guarding the gate, they entered and Tenten gasped at the splendor of the Hyuuga estate.
The compound was structured to be simple and elegant way. Before her was a courtyard that expanded at least ten times more than her tiny apartment. Neji promptly ignored her open-mouthed surprise and hailed her inside. The floorings were made of expensive wooden planks, smooth and polished under her feet. Shoji screens divided each room, and Tenten caught several displays of candle-lighted shadows behind those rice paper doors. The roofs were tiled with blue ceramics that would have cost more than her life savings.
Tried as she might, she could not control her wide-eyed reaction. She knew the Hyuugas were well-off but this was just plain rich. While she continued to be awed by the man-made fish pond, Neji briefly announced their presence to another Hyuuga. They were asked to stay outside while waiting for the Hyuuga Hiashi presence.
Once again, it was she who began the conversation, "Your house is very quiet," she said under her breath. "No wonder you grew up silent." Neji gave her a sideways long glance and shrugged.
She was about to say another quirky reply, when the shoji screens opened. At that moment, she felt a powerful presence on that porch, so powerful that the koi fishes swam away from her. The sense of that power was palpable, and Tenten looked up to see a tall, dark-haired man, probably somewhere in his mid-thirties, raking her squat position with sharp white eyes. She quickly scrambled to a stand and felt Neji tensed up beside her.
"Hiashi-sama," he acknowledged his uncle with a bow, eyes downcast to the floor.
Hiashi, in all his glory, offered a curt nod to his nephew. "Neji," she heard him say, in the deep baritone voice that sent her goose bumps. Tenten honestly could not tell where his eyes were pointing at. "What brings you to this side of the compound?"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Neji still did not raise his head. Jaw clenched, he carefully replied, "This is Tenten she's my… Well, we're…"
In all her time with him, Tenten had never seen Neji so tongue tied. Empathy overcoming her commonsense, she placed her best foot forward and offered her right hand to the Hyuuga clan leader with a sunshiny smile. "I'm Tenten and I'm your nephew's sparring partner."
Her sunshiny smile soon left, when the man – no, the famous leader of the most powerful clan of their village, snapped his head to her direction, eyebrows raised and eyes scrutinizing her very being from head to foot. Realizing the mistake she made, she dropped her hand, retraced her step, and bowed down.
Tenten was amazed by the effrontery of this man, and the impact of his presence to her scattered wits.
A/N: Ahaha… Didn't want to make Tenten a ditzy girl back there but I want to emphasize on the awesomeness that is Hyuuga Hiashi. If you have time, please review. Your comments are loved. ^_^