A/N: I hope that you like it :)
It was a sunny day when two good friends as well as rivals were walking through Konoha.
"Did you hear that Sasuke is on a mission with Tenten?" Ino asked the kunoichi next to her.
"Of course, he told me that he is away for the whole week. I wish that I could be alone with him for a week. I'm jealous."
"I'm sure that Neji feels the same when it comes to Tenten being on a mission with someone else."
Now Sakura stopped walking only to look surprised at her friend.
"Neji? Why would he?"
"You are really stupid forehead. It's obvious that he has feelings for her."
"Don't call me that Ino-pig and I don't believe you."
"Wanna make a bet? The loser has to buy the winner something of their choice."
"Of course, I would never back down when it comes to beating you and this is a safe win."
"Well then let's prove you wrong. Here is our chance, just play along."
Sakura was about to ask what Ino meant by that when she saw Neji walk down the street, probably on his way to the training grounds.
"You know I just met Tenten and Sasuke on my way to Tsunade. They seemed to have bonded really well on their time alone. I'm really jealous."
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked, playing along.
"Well you know I saw them behind the Hokage Tower kissing. I was so jealous."
Both of them had spoken loudly to make sure that Neji heard every word. Now he was showing the reaction that Ino had hoped for. He had stopped walking for a moment and his back had stiffen even more with his hands clenching into fists at his sides. His reaction was only visible for a short moment before he regained his cool demeanor and continued walking as if nothing had happened.
When he was out of ear-shot Ino turned to Sakura grinning brightly.
"See I told you so."
"That should prove your point? That's a little lame don't you think?"
"Please, that was losing self-control the Hyuga-way. You didn't really think he would scream and run to fight Sasuke."
"Still, it wasn't enough prove."
"You are just a sore loser, come on and pay up." Ino insisted.
"No way Ino-pig."
The two continue fighting just like every other day, unaware that their little bet would have serious consequences.
Sasuke was having a good day. He just came back from a week long mission with Tenten. To his surprise she was different than the other girls he knew. During their mission she never had complained about mud getting on her clothes and she didn't look into a mirror every second to check if she looked alright. On top of that she wasn't gossiping or talking too much about things that weren't mission related. To round it up she was a great kunoichi and he had never seen someone so talented with weapons. So far she was the best female teammate he ever had for a mission, so he decided in an act of unusual cavalry to bring her to the training grounds of Team Gai after they had reported to Tsunade.
Tenten, who was walking next to him, was happy as well. To her surprise Sasuke had turned out to be almost friendly to her. They had worked well as a team, but she was excited to get back to her own team. Considering that she wanted to go straight to the team's training grounds as soon as they had left the Hokage Tower. She was once again surprised when Sasuke had offered to bring her there, but she had dismissed it as him being in a good mood.
As soon as they arrived at the training grounds both of the shinobis were in for an unexpected greeting.
"Uchiha." A cold voice said.
Sasuke and Tenten weren't surprised that Neji was the first to sense their chakra from afar, but what did surprise them was the angry look on his face.
"Hyuga." Sasuke greeted just as coldly.
It was no secret that the prodigies couldn't stand each other, but that Neji was so openly hostile to Sasuke was new. Even when they had missions with each other they worked together, not willingly but for the sake of the mission they pulled themselves together.
"So I heard that you and my teammate got closer on your mission."
Sasuke smirked. It seemed like he had found the Hyuga's weak spot. Who had thought that it was Tenten? Sure he liked her, she was a great kunoichi and good looking, but not in the way Neji thought he did. However this was an opportunity to anger the prodigy of the Hyuga clan and he wasn't going to pass it up.
"You sound jealous."
"Of you? Hardly."
"Well at least I can offer her a great future. I'm an Uchiha while you are only a branch member."
That did it. Neji activated his Byakugan and attacked Sasuke, whose eyes were already turning red. Tenten had just enough time to step back before the two prodigies began fighting.
The young kunoichi was still trying to understand what was happening. It didn't make any sense at all. Why did Neji react like this? Sasuke couldn't be right, Neji wasn't jealous because that would mean that he had feelings for her and that was impossible, right? Ignoring her fast beating heart at the thought of Neji liking her, she focused back on the situation at hand. She had to stop the fight that got more serious by the minute. The two were probably too engrossed in their fight too hear her if she screamed at them to stop and going between them now would probably be life-threatening to her, so she had to get sensei Gai to help her.
Like having heard her thoughts her sensei arrived with Lee by his side. They probably heard the loud crashing noises of the fight by now even when they had trained at the other side of the training grounds.
"Tenten, what in all youthfulness is happening here?"
"Sensei Gai you have to stop this fight. Sasuke was accusing Neji of being jealous because he was alone on a mission with me and then they started fighting."
"So they are fighting for you?" Lee spoke up for the first time.
"What for a youthful reason to fight and that for our lovely flower Tenten." Gai was near tears.
"You are right sensei Gai." Lee was crying as well now.
These were the moments Tenten wished her sensei and teammate were normal. She wouldn't trade them for the world, but right now she could have slapped them. Only they would philosophizing about the meaning of love when two very strong and angry shinobi were fighting nearby.
"Sensei Gai that's hardly the time for that, could you please stop them before someone gets hurt."
Gai, who finally seemed to realize the situation at hand, stopped crying and hugging Lee to go between the two prodigies. With difficulties he got them separated, but they were still scowling at each other, ready to fight again as soon as Gai let go of them.
"Two shinobi of the same country shouldn't fight against each other. I thought that I taught you that Neji and I'm sure my rival Kakashi did teach you that well Sasuke." Both shinobi stayed silent, still gazing at each other. "It's better if you go now Sasuke, so we can continue our training."
Gai let go of the two, but continued standing between them so they wouldn't start attacking each other again.
With an arrogant look on his face Sasuke smirked at Neji. "You should be thankful that your sensei stopped this because we both know that I would have won. Just so you know, I still think she is too good for you branch boy." Than he turned to Tenten and smiled at her. "I'm sure that I will see you around."
That was the moment Gai had to hold Neji back until Sasuke was out of sight. The moment Gai let go of him Neji walked away in the opposite direction without looking at any of his teammates. He stopped only when he arrived at the small pond in the far end of the training grounds. Normally he came here to meditate because it was silent.
The young Hyuga didn't know what got into him, but as soon as he had heard Ino and Sakura talking about Tenten and Sasuke's kiss he was blinded by anger and jealousy. Being the prodigy that he was, he had realized by now that his reaction was because of his feelings for Tenten.
Sighing he removed his Hitai-ate and his bandages around his forehead, only to see his caged bird seal reflecting in the pond. He hated to admit it but Uchiha was right, she was too good for him. His fist clenched around his headband and he stared at the reflection of his caged bird seal with hate. Even if he was now on better terms with Hiashi and his cousins this mark would stay were it was and would always brand him as a branch member.
"Neji?"
He almost flinched at her voice, not expecting her to follow him. It seemed that he had been too deep in thoughts to feel her chakra approaching him. Forgetting that his forehead was bare he turned to her, but when he saw her eyes widened he remembered and was about to tie his Hitai-ate back on.
"Don't." He was so surprised by the force of her voice that he let his hand with his headband sink and only watched as she came closer.
Tenten had already seen the seal of the caged bird at the Chunin Exam, but never this close up. She approached him slowly because she was afraid that he would change his mind and still cover it up. When she stood directly in front of him she saw for the first time since she knew him insecurity in his eyes. Maybe Sasuke had been right when he had implied that Neji had feelings for her and maybe it was finally time to confess her own feeling to him.
Neji watched how she slowly closer the distance between their faces and when she raised herself on her tiptoes he felt her soft lips on his forehead. His eyes widened and he felt his heart beat faster. When she faced him again he saw a light blush on her cheeks and he could feel his own face heating up at her next words.
"To me you were never a branch member, to me you were always just Neji. My Neji."
His heart was screaming at him to kiss her to show her what he felt for her and for the first time in his life he gave in and did what his heart told him to. The moment their lips met in a soft first kiss Neji was sure that she had never kissed anyone before and what he had heard about her and Sasuke was just a rumor. When he felt her return the kiss and pull him closer to her, he was sure that she felt the same for him. That were his last cohere thoughts before he lost himself in the feeling of having the kunoichi he loved in his arms.
A/N: Please review and tell me what you think :)
