"It's… not going to be easy, you know."

Neji didn't even spare her a glance. "What is it?"

Tenten rolled her eyes before stretching her tired legs and massaging her shoulders, secretly jealous at how her longtime partner had never had any problem with sore muscles even after a vigorous exercise. Or perhaps he was just so good at hiding; he was Neji after all. "What else? ANBU exam, of course."

"You still have doubts after all this time?"

"After going through extreme training with you for the past few months?" Tenten asked sarcastically, grabbing her water bottle near his empty one. "No, I don't."

"Good." The Hyuuga said smoothly. "Otherwise it would mean our training was fruitless."

"Whatever." The bun haired girl waved her hand in exasperation, having spent so much time with him that she knew it would be useless to throw him any negative remark. She gulped down the water and decided to keep silent while Neji continued his meditation.

As she watched him from the corner of her eyes, Tenten wondered if the fear she was feeling now was normal. If she had to be honest to herself, she was scared. She was scared even if she knew he didn't even feel the slightest of fear for himself. Hyuuga Neji was among the last people she would think of when someone mentioned "losing in a battle", if she forgot the Chuunin exam a few years ago when Uzumaki Naruto had magically beat him.

However, this was ANBU exam she was thinking about. If Chuunin exam was difficult, ANBU exam was tenfold—no, Gai had warned them it was twentyfold—harder and crueler. Not that she doubted Neji's strength. Not that she thought he wouldn't make it. There was just something that made her feel somewhat uneasy since he had asked her to help him train for the upcoming ANBU exam five months ago.

Tenten hadn't been surprised to hear he wanted to join ANBU. Hyuuga clan had high expectations of their prodigy. This even could be Neji's way to prove himself that he was worth more than those proud Main Family members. She wasn't going to let him miss the opportunity, even if that meant he wouldn't go on missions with Team Gai anymore. She had to admit, though, the fact that she was going to miss their teamwork still undeniably bothered her.

"I need to go home now," his calm voice broke her wandering thoughts. "Do you?"

Tenten shook her head. "Hokage-sama wants to see me this evening. Seems that I'll have a solo mission tomorrow."

A smooth eyebrow rose. "When will you be back?"

"I don't know." She blew her bangs out of her eyes and turned to him, offering a small smile. "I'll be here when you're promoted as an ANBU."

Pale, pearlescent eyes gazed at her for full five seconds that she wondered what he was thinking. Just as she started to open her mouth to say something, he had stood up, his back and long dark hair facing her. "I hope you will."

Tenten grinned and rose to her feet join him. "Now you'd better take a shower, have a healthy dinner and go to bed early to get enough rest for tomorrow. Alright?"

Neji turned around, lips forming the familiar smirk. "You sound like an older sister."

"Well, I'm four months older than you," she said with a faked glare, both hands on her hips. "But honestly, someone needs to act like an older sister when you and Lee—"

Neji had pushed her against the tree behind her and captured her lips with his.

Tenten instantly forgot what she was going to say.

Her heart batted against her ribs as his lips, warm and smooth, moved against hers in such a way that made her knees grow weaker by each second. She wasn't sure he had ever been this close to her before, except perhaps, that one time years ago when he'd saved her from dying in a water prison. One of her moments with him that, by the way, she secretly would never forget.

She gasped for breath after he finally broke the kiss, brown eyes wide as Neji brought his hand up to stroke her cheek, a very gentle action compared to his kiss seconds ago.

"Thank you." He whispered, voice so soft that she had trouble convincing herself that this was the real Hyuuga Neji.

Forcing her brain to work was apparently a hard task. It took her a moment to realize that he was thanking her for helping him all this time. "I, uh…" she winced and cleared her throat when her voice sounded hoarse to her own ear, "anytime."

Neji nodded and they gazed at each other for a few moments. "See you."

The weapon specialist didn't know she was just standing there like a fool until she unconsciously blinked, surprised to find him already a few steps away. Shaking her head, Tenten called him, determined to say the words she had honestly prepared since this morning.

"Neji."

He stopped walking, waiting for her to continue.

Tenten smiled. "Good luck. I believe in you."

The Hyuuga finally looked at her over his shoulder, pale eyes somehow brighter than usual as the corner of his lips lifted to form a rare, small smile. "Thank you."

Tenten wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, sighing softly as she finally reached the front gates of Konoha. The mission had gone longer than intended and she had left the village for literally one month. Being a new Jounin, Tenten knew one month mission was probably nothing—older Jounin like Gai had been assigned to the longer ones, but it didn't make her feel any better. She was still too used to have Team Gai around when on a mission.

Now, she and Lee were already Jounin, and Neji was going to become—

"Tenten!"

—an ANBU.

Tenten nearly had a heart attack when a blur of green jumped toward her followed by a loud voice. "Tenten! Our precious lotus!"

She pushed the green mass away with a little more force than needed and glared at him. "Lee, what on earth—"

"I'm glad you're back, Tenten! I've been waiting for you since this morning to tell you about—"

"About another squirrel you found in the forest during training with Gai-sensei? I'll see it later, Lee, I need to find Neji first!"

"But Neji is on his ANBU training, Tenten!"

Tenten couldn't believe what she had just heard. "What?"

Round, black eyes were filled with tears of joy and excitement. "He passed the ANBU exam," Lee said. "The announcement was yesterday and just this morning, he went with his new team to train somewhere! Isn't he youthful, Tenten? This really motivates me to do my best! I shall become as strong as him! I—"

The fact that Neji had passed wasn't what surprised her.

"He's already left?" The brunette asked in disbelief. "The announcement was yesterday and he had to leave this morning?"

"Neji was being unyouthful as usual, he didn't tell me the details," Lee stroked his chin, looking thoughtful. "But ANBU is always full of secrets. He just couldn't let us know! Ah, why didn't I think about that? I shall not blame him!"

"I know that," Tenten murmured. She couldn't help but wish she had arrived earlier just so she could meet him before he went. They hadn't met since their kiss that evening after all. Wasn't it just normal for her to be anxious to see him? "When will he be back?"

"Three months, if I'm not mistaken."

Tenten closed her eyes. All the words she wanted to say would have to wait until three months from now. "Did Neji leave a word for me?"

Lee blinked. "Um… no?"

"Is something wrong, Tenten-san?"

Tenten looked back at Sakura, who had eyebrows raised in confusion. "Hm?"

"We're walking faster than we should be," the pink haired kunoichi said curiously. "Are you in a hurry?"

"I'm tired," Tenten said, deciding to not tell her friend the whole truth. Her mood improved when the familiar gates finally came in sight. "I want to get home soon to take a rest. After reporting the mission, of course. Will you be needed at the hospital after this?"

Sakura let out a sigh. "Don't remind me,"she grumbled, even though Tenten could catch the pretense in her answer. If anything, she knew Sakura had always loved her job at Konoha hospital. "Still, I'll go home first to… hey, who is that?"

Tenten blinked, trying to make out a figure standing at the entrance of the village. It was already dark that she needed a few moments to realize who it was.

Hyuuga Neji, in his ANBU uniform.

And her stomach fluttered.

"Oh, hello Neji-san," Sakura greeted first as they stopped before him.

Pale eyes stared at Tenten for a moment before they turned to the pink girl. The young man, being formal as usual, nodded politely. "Sakura-san."

Tenten had obviously not expected to see Neji here. She'd been impatient to finish her five-day mission because she knew Neji was supposed to be home already, after his exclusive ANBU training for three months long. She'd been afraid he would be assigned to his first mission by the time she was back.

And her worry was confirmed. He was clean in his uniform, looking ready to go.

Sakura clearing her throat was what made both Tenten and Neji blink and break their gazes as though they hadn't realized another presence there. "I guess I'll go now," the medic-nin said cheerfully. "I'll report the mission alone. Don't worry, Tenten-san, I'll tell Tsunade-sama you have something important to do."

Before the older kunoichi could say anything, Sakura had left them.

Tenten stared at her feet, feeling strangely uncomfortable. This was Neji, she reminded herself. This was the man that had been with her for almost seven years. This was the man that had kissed her that evening.

Now the last thought only worsened the condition. Tenten groaned inwardly—what actually happened to her? It shouldn't have been this awkward.

"Are you alright?"

Her head jerked up. "Yes," she said softly. "Are you?"

Neji nodded, and for the first time her eyes caught the sight of his ANBU tattoo on his bare, toned arm. She also saw a mask in his hand—a bird mask, if her eyes were correct. Her eyes traveled to his and she was just glad there was nothing changed about the pale color of his orbs and the way he looked at her.

"I have my first mission."

Tenten cleared her throat, swallowing her disappointment. "Alone?"

"With my team. They're waiting…" he stopped immediately, as if realizing he had almost leaked ANBU's top secret to her. "Somewhere."

"Oh," Tenten murmured, "good luck then."

"I'm going now," Neji said again, reaching out to brush a few strands of hair out of her eyes—and her world spun with just that little action—before turning around. "I'll see you later."

Tenten blinked and he was already gone.

"How many times should I tell you, honestly?" Tenten barked, shoving Lee none too gently into his hospital bed. "There will be no any kind of training until you are released! Didn't you listen to the doctor?"

The bowl haired man wailed. "I… I just need to do something, Tenten. O-or I could get weaker and—"

"A one week rest wouldn't make you any weaker!"

"—and I have to become stronger! Please, Tenten, let me do at least fifty push-ups and—"

Tenten put her hands on her hips. "And disappoint Sakura?"

Lee's eyes became rounder than what Tenten thought would be possible. "Sakura-san will be here?"

"Yes. She wouldn't be pleased to see you doing training despite the doctor's order."

Obediently, Lee tucked himself under his blankets.

The Weapon Mistress sighed and crossed her arms. "I'm going home now," she said. "Take a nap or something and don't do anything wrong unless you want to humiliate yourself in front of Sakura."

"Yosh, Tenten," Lee replied, but his eyes lingered on her that she arched an eyebrow defensively.

"What?"

"I'm just wondering when Neji will be back," he said, frowning in deep thoughts. "It's been four months, isn't it?"

The bun haired girl inhaled deeply. Her world turned gloomier all of a sudden. "Yes. Four months and ten days."

"If only he could let us know everything."

Glad that Lee didn't seem to notice that she'd been pathetically counting the days since Neji's departure, Tenten asked. "Do you… do you think he will be fine, Lee?"

"Of course." The taijutsu master's answer came in an instant, full of certainty and optimism that she lacked. "Don't worry about him. ANBU missions are rough, Tenten, but we shall not forget that Neji is really strong! He would be back without a scratch!"

She doubted that, but chose to smile instead. "You think so?"

"Sure. He's my eternal rival after all."

Tenten laughed, a forced one. "You're right. See you later."

She exited the room and shut the door, head full of Neji and his first ANBU mission. She was lying if she said she didn't miss him right now.

It had been practically eight months since their kiss that evening. Before this, they had always spent time together—be it a mission, a training session, or just a casual lunch, that it felt strange to not have him around for so long.

She hadn't even congratulated him for passing the exam yet.

Seven months shouldn't have felt like a long time when you were a busy Jounin. Tenten remembered how Sakura had waited for Naruto to come back from his training with the legendary Sannin for almost three years—if she remembered correctly. Three years. Eight months was nothing compared to three years.

But this was different, said Tenten inwardly as she tried to defend herself. She didn't know if he would be back in one piece. ANBU missions were cruel, regardless how strong Hyuuga Neji was. Tenten could only hope she was just worrying too much.

The Weapon Mistress was too absorbed in her thoughts that when she lifted her head she was surprised to see Neji, in his Jounin attire, standing there.

He was back in one piece. Other than a few small scars on his pale hands, a faint bruise on his chin, and his long hair that was a few inches shorter than the last time she'd seen it, Tenten knew she didn't have to worry about his well-being and that he had completed his first ANBU mission successfully.

"Neji?"

Half an hour later, instead of having lunch or just sitting on a bench to talk about what had happened during the past eight months, they both were already engaged in a sparring session. That was just the way they were: training and sparring and exercising would always come first, the talk and everything could wait.

The brunette kunoichi frowned, calculating Neji's movement and noticing how he had improved greatly after his ANBU training. He had become quicker, his Hyuuga jutsu looked smoother and his stamina was nearly impossible for her to keep up with. Tenten let out a shriek when he finally trapped her, holding her arms from behind that she couldn't move. A kunai in one of his hands was five centimeters away from her neck.

She heard more than saw his smirk as he lowered the kunai and loosened his grip on her. "Enough?" she asked sarcastically, ignoring the way she could hear his breathing clearly in her ear and how she could faintly feel the beat of his heart on her back that was pressed against his chest. Ignoring but wishing at the same time that he wouldn't pull away soon.

To her dismay, Neji stepped back and Tenten had to shake herself inwardly for being distracted. "That's enough for today."

They sat down under the usual tree side by side to catch breath and drink some water. Silence wasn't something new between them, yet this time Tenten couldn't help but wish he would speak first. There were so many things she wanted to ask him: his ANBU promotion, his special training, his mission and all. She also wanted to tell him about her own missions and how Lee had gotten himself being sent to hospital.

But there was something about Neji that felt slightly different. Tenten hadn't known if eight months apart could change the air between two usually-close people.

"Why were you at the hospital?"

Surprised but glad that he finally spoke first, Tenten quickly answered. "Lee was injured yesterday. Nothing fatal, but he was told to rest for a week."

"Gai-sensei?"

"He's doing well. I saw him disturbing Kakashi-sensei this morning."

Neji nodded, still not looking at her. "I haven't had a chance to thank you again."

"For what?"

"For helping me." Pearlescent orbs turned to her. "I wouldn't have made it without you."

She couldn't hold back her smile. "Well, I haven't congratulated you yet. Congratulations. I said I believed in you, didn't I?"

He gave a slight nod again. "How about lunch after this?"

Tenten shrugged, pretending she didn't notice the way he almost sounded unsure. She had a feeling it wasn't going to be the usual lunch—the thought honestly made her heart flutter a little, but more than that she was relieved, knowing he was going to talk about ANBU during their lunch, and soon everything would be normal again. "Why not?"

"Let me meditate first," he said, "you can sharpen your weapons if you want while waiting."

ANBU or not, Neji still loved meditating, she concluded. "I polished my weapons yesterday," she answered. Neji, of all people, should have known that she treated her weapons like they were her own children. "How about yours? Don't tell me you forget the last time you took care of your weapons."

He looked at her blankly. "I was going to tell you that."

"As expected," Tenten muttered. This was Neji after all, and unlike her who would be completely useless in battlefields without weapons, all he ever needed were his eyes and limbs only. "Give me those. I'll sharpen them for you."

Neji wordlessly took off his weapon pouch and handed it to her, and in an instant he had slipped into his meditation.

Tenten reached into his pouch, pulling out a few shuriken and kunai and arranging them neatly on the grass. Finding a small scroll tucked between the sharp things, she took it out as well and glanced briefly at Neji, wondering if he would mind if she took a look. Deciding that he wouldn't—or else he wouldn't have trusted his pouch to her—she unrolled the scroll.

Brown eyes widened and her fingers trembled as she scanned the words.

…secret mission in the small village near Sunagakure…

killed 13 people…

tortured the leader to collect information…

killed 3 more people involved…

Her breathing quickened and she felt cold.

"What do you think you're doing?"

The scroll was snatched from her hands and the next thing Tenten knew was that Neji standing before her with a furious look on his face. Pearly eyes looked down at her and Tenten took several deep breaths before she stood up as well.

"Sorry. I didn't know I wasn't allowed to read it."

"Of course you're not." He said, eyes narrowing as if he was trying to suppress his anger. She knew he had never been this angry with her before, making her wonder if that was really him. "It's a secret and you're not supposed to read any of it."

"I wouldn't have read it if I knew it was a secret!" Tenten said defensively. "You're the one being careless. You shouldn't have brought it here in the first place."

Neji didn't say anything in response.

"You've changed," she said quietly. "It's been eight months only and I feel like you've changed. Tell me if I'm wrong."

His eyes closed and she gathered her courage.

"What did ANBU teach you, Neji? What have you learned from them?"

"That doesn't concern you."

"Why wouldn't you tell me?"

"I'm not supposed to tell you—"

"They told you to not tell anyone that they have turned you into some kind of killing machine?"

He opened his eyes, shocked to hear her words. "Stop."

Tenten couldn't stop. The words killing 13 people, torturing, killing 3 more people swirled in her head. "That they have turned you into a heartless shinobi? And they told you to distance yourself from your non-ANBU friends?"

"Stop it!"

By now Neji was controlling his breathing, fists clenched at both sides, showing that he was trying to regain his composure.

Tenten had to admit she was a little scared. She had always known Neji would never hurt her, but at that time she was afraid he would explode. For a moment she almost regretted her words, but her heart whispered that he did need to know.

He needed to know that he had changed.

Without another word, Neji turned away and left the place.

Shutting her eyes in frustration, Tenten leaned back to the tree behind her, the tree he had pinned her against when he had kissed her eight months ago.

(A/N): Instead of updating You Know Who I Am, I suddenly had the urge to write down this idea before everything evaporated from my head. It's going to be four chapters only, though. Review?