Anotherrambling story arch from the fevered brain of Ecrire. This time it features another favourite pairing Tenten and Neji. Yes, yes I know this is one the least liking pairings in the manga, after all there is very little proof given that the genius even knows that Tenten is female let alone attractive and probably very willing. But, that's like the challenge! Can I make it work? Can I make it believable? Only the god of all unwritten, unplotted story lines knows! So join me for a running leap at turning Neji into a normal hormone driven lad. Well maybe not hormone driven, but the point is he will fall in love with Tenten, eventually, because I am the author, and I say so. I just have to figure out how. Hey not even I am completely all powerful, I refuse the temptation to just wave my magic digital wand and make him fall in love, there's no fun in that!

Disclaimer: All characters borrowed from a mind much more fevered than mine.

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Meditation

Hyuuga Compound, Konoha

Neji Hyuuga sat in a kneeling position on the porch where he had a habit of kneeling. His face showed only calm concentration. His hands rested without stress on his knees, his arm relaxed but ready to spring into action at the slightest need. His white eyes rested easily on the gently moving leaves of the tree, without seeing them at all.

He was the picture of perfect concentration and relaxation. He neither blinked, nor appeared to breath. Even the birds did not disturb this picture of serenity. A serenity that was often mistaken for coldness or distance. Some said it was because he was the genius who bowed before fate, some said it was because of the history of hate between the main and branch houses. They were wrong.

Ever since he'd fought Naruto Uzumaki, he'd found a new source for his inner serenity. It was no longer the cowardly fatalistic belief of fate than calmed him, it was the peace that came from lacking fear. He no longer feared what the future would bring him, because he no longer felt himself incapable of changing it. And he knew that even if he failed to change it, it didn't matter because in his heart he was already free.

Neji Hyuuga had learned the secret of self control. Not the common ability to stop his fist a millimetre from its target, nor the necessary ability to swallow his emotions to react with clarity and precision. He had learned the secret that Naruto and Lee, and even Gai Sensei had learned years before. That as long as in your heart you never believed in your defeat, so long as you always believed in the next challenge, so long as you believed the rule that effort would overcome all, he would never fail.

He felt no fear when he contemplated the future, for he was Neji Hyuuga, the unstoppable genius of the Hyuuga Clan.

Even now when his team was out on mission without him, he felt no fear for their return. Gai sensei was one of the top ranked shinobi in Konoha, even with his ridiculous behaviour Neji reconised the force that pushed Gai to be the best. Above even the natural genius' of Konoha, Gai sensei had fought his way amoungst them, and he worked harder than all of them to stay there.

Lee, mini Gai sensei in every way, from his lack of natural talent to his bushy eyebrows. Yet there were few shinobi who could best him in hand to hand combat, and he had trained tirelessly to compensate for his other weaknesses. Another who battled endlessly against the handicaps given to him at birth to live the dream he'd decided on. He would battle until he was too old to lift his fist, and he would find a way to battle on even then. Neji bowed before Lee's determination, feeling his own determination weak before the fire burning in Lee.

And that left Tenten. Some tended to overlook the kunoichi, between the three males on her team she tended to blend into the background. Which considering that she prefered to fight from a distance suited her just fine. She was the quiet acheiver of the team. Always just there, keeping up with the others. Noone ever praised her but she worked on none the less, the infatigable support member of the team. Always there to help with training, with life, with everything, smiling never asking anything in return. Untiringly in the background, unfailing.

She was the lone kunai that flew by to nail that last opponant before they nailed you. She was the rain of senbon that gave you the chance to catch your breath before starting the next Kaiten Spin. She was the whipping swordspear reaching out to protect your back when you were pressed by too many attackers and too little chakra. She was the slicing shuriken that cut the trap wires before you ran blindly into them. She was the flying arrow that brought down the other long range specialist currently trying to pick off her teammates. She was Tenten, and he feared not for her.

So when under his activated Byukyugan he saw Gai sensei and Lee land before the gates of Konoha he felt no need to sigh in relief. And when moments later the following Tenten landed beside them having played defense for her team right until the last moment, only the faintest of smiles touched his serene lips.

Gai sensei gave his trademark pose and Lee copied him before rushing back into Konoha. Gai sensei took a moment to say something to Tenten and Neji wished that his Byukyugan gave him the ability to hear at a distance as well. Tenten smiled and said something back, saluting. Gai sensei left with another Jounin and Tenten took a moment to stretch looking up at the sun through the leaves.

"Welcome home." Was all he whispered, before disactivating his Byukyugan and reentering the serenity of his meditation.

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Really trying to stay in character here, so if you notice any OOC please tell me!