A/N: Set during Shippuuden/Part Two (I write a lot of these, don't I...)
Update: Thanks to Whispered Lies for the review. I hope it's easier to read now!
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Veritas
Out of all the ninja in Konoha, Neji is the most truthful.
Never mind that everyone assumes that he has some secret lurking behind that stoic countenance. Those are just rumors perpetuated by love-struck fangirls who like to think that there is some mysterious passage into his heart, and believe a completely different white-eyed prodigy waits for the girl who can crack the "Neji Mask" he supposedly hides behind. One who coincidentally fits their criteria for the Perfect Man: sensitive and romantic, amongst other things.
How foolish of them. After all, if he really had secrets to conceal, he would have never told the story of his past to the world during the fateful Chunnin exam in which he fought Naruto and lost. Neji is the way he is because he chooses to be. There is no gimmick to the silent, sombre attitude. If he does not rain tears (like some other shinobi in the village) when something disappoints him, it is simply because he does not see the need to. It is not a question of being an unfeeling, uncaring person. If he was truly apathetic, he would not care about becoming stronger in his father's memory, he would not worry about his village or his teammates, he would not feel proud of himself. He does. He simply does not believe in wasting energy in overt expression.
Which is why Tenten likes him so much. She need not worry about receiving false testimony from him, or gestures belying emotions. She can be straight with him and know that she will always receive the same truthfulness in return. If she tells him that he is acting like a jerk, she knows he will tell her that his behavior is his own to do with what he will. But since it is her, he will go out of his way to lighten up. She can ask him questions about anything – fighting styles, people, weaponry, himself – and she knows that the curtness in his voice is not born out of annoyance, but esteem; he honors others by being sincere with them. She can trust him not to abuse any weakness he discovers in her, but inform her of his discovery, and help her become a stronger kunoichi.
Neji does not over-express himself, she knows, but for the lucky few that are privy to his even-toned verbalizations, it is his respectful honesty that speaks of him more than his words, and Tenten admires that.
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Out of all the ninja in Konoha, Tenten is the most truthful.
Never mind that everyone assumes that she must forcefully moderate her temper because of who she works with (all three of which, she has admitted, try her patience). Those are just rumors spread by people who think they know her, and well-meaning friends that assume that working with impossible prodigies yields the same amount of stress across the board (Sakura and Ino, understandably).
How foolish of them. After all, if she really had secrets to conceal, she would not admit to lacking a last name; she would make one up, instead. Tenten is the type of person who is not shy about her opinion, nor is she obnoxious about it, and everything seems to reveal itself to her as a result of her honesty. She does not leave herself open for the world to trounce upon, but lets it be known to the world that she fears nothing, not even her weaknesses – should she have any. Tenten believes that a kunoichi who can be truthful yields unimaginable power at her disposal, simply because of the fact that if she cannot lie to herself, then nothing else can (regardless of attempt). It is for this reason that Tenten allows herself to be frank, and lets her thoughts to be known through speech, expressions, and gestures.
Which is why Neji likes her so much. Tenten's ability to communicate her thoughts through various forms of expression is an admirable trait, one he sometimes envies. It is by her genuineness that Neji can see the world in a way his Byakugan cannot – a quality he has managed to find refuge in. Her openness is refreshing, in contrast to his own cryptic family. If he suggests an idea during a mission, he can trust her to voice her opinion, even if it is negative. But since it is him, she will give him the benefit of the doubt. She reacts visibly to situations, but not in an obtrusive way. She does not cry like Sakura, who always needs a few moments before she can go on, or freak out like Hinata, who faints afterwards. These kinds of reactions can get a person killed on the battlefield, or at the very least, hurt in the soul. Not Tenten. There is no room for uncertainty or misinterpretation in Tenten's world. He knows he can rely on her to be up front about anything – fighting styles, people, weaponry, herself – and understands that her expressiveness is a sign of her sincerity; Tenten is sincere only with those she respects.
Neji counts himself amongst the lucky few Tenten deems worthy of her veracity. She is not so naïve as to believe that others are just as honest as she is, he knows, but her authenticity speaks more of her strength than others can deny, and Neji has always liked strong people.
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Out of all the ninja in Konoha, Lee is the most observant.
Never mind that people compare him to his oblivious sensei and deem him an exact replica. Those are just rumors told by shinobi not as observant as he. After all, if he really was ignorant of his surroundings, he would not know for a fact that Tenten and Neji love each other in a way that only a lucky few are able to do.
Which is why Lee likes them so much. He knows that love is a dangerous luxury when one is a ninja, and he knows that they know this, too. To love is to expose oneself, and in the world of shinobi and kunoichi, leaving yourself exposed can get you killed. It is because of this fact that they are guilty of the one falsity they each allow themselves to believe: that they are just friends. But Lee knows better. He knows that they love each other so much, they will do anything to keep each other safe, and if that means telling themselves a little white lie in order to keep the other alive, they will do so with pleasure.
Lee smiles, and continues to watch them, wondering if they will ever tell each other the truth.
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FIN
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A/N: Many thanks to the muse-lenders, NakoudoByakugan (author of "Mask") and by Quentin B. Caulfield (author of "Perceived Masquerade"). I didn't follow your theory exactly, but I hope you at least enjoyed the fic. Please review, mina-sama - let me know if the edit was a good thing.