The Hyuuga and I part 2
The next morning was extremely sunny. If you didn't notice the extra dew all over the plants and buildings, you wouldn't have even guessed there was a storm the previous night. Tenten's house was near the main gate, with a window that had a prime vantage point of anyone coming in. It was a good thing, too, because this is where she saw Neji stumbling in, dripping wet, with tattered robes, and near covered in blood.
"Oh my God, Neji!" called Tenten from the window. The kunoichi set the world record for getting dressed and rushed to the Hyuuga, who had just collapsed.
"Oh, man, Neji! Neji-kun! Please be alright; talk to me!" this screaming alerted other nearby homes where villagers looked to see what the matter was.
"It's the Hyuuga boy!" called one woman.
"My God, he's covered in blood!" exclaimed another man.
"Somebody get a medical team out here!" but Tenten wouldn't wait for a medical team. Despite warnings and discouragement from the other villagers, Tenten took Neji in her arms and ran at top possible speed to the hospital. She startled Sakura at the reception desk when she burst in with the battered genius.
"Holy crap! What happened to him?!" Sakura asked, rushing to get other medical nin and to retrieve a gurney.
"I don't know. It must have happened on the mission." replied Tenten.
"It was a B-rank, wasn't it?"
"I wouldn't know, but he's Neji. Even if it was an A-rank mission he wouldn't have that much trouble alone." said Tenten. By now they were rushing with Neji, who was still unconscious, to the emergency room. Sakura appeared to be deep in thought for a second, then turned to Tenten,
"You know, sometimes Naruto doesn't perform very well on missions when he can't concentrate. Maybe Neji was distracted by a thought or something, and the enemy got the better of him." Tenten shook her head.
"Nuh-uh. Even if he didn't have his Byakugan engaged he would have noticed anything coming at him. I can't understand how he could have been hit by anything." Tenten started to bawl. Sakura told her to wait outside the emergency room where Neji was under biopsy and surgery for four hours. His teammate stayed the whole time, and Lee and Gai had just joined her during the third hour of waiting.
"Tenten!" called Gai, who was rushing with Lee to where the kunoichi was sitting, "How's my second best pupil doing?"
"It's not me that's hurt Gai-sensei! Neji's in there, and who knows what went wrong!" Tenten lashed out, tears still filling her eyes.
"I was talking about Neji." said Gai. Tenten blushed.
"Oh, I'm sorry. To answer your question I don't know how he's doing. He's been in there for a good three hours, twelve minutes, and 36 seconds—not that I'm counting—with no word from Sakura or the medical team working on him." she explained. Lee put one hand on Tenten's shoulder and gave the thumbs-up sign with the other while flashing a smile.
"Neji will be alright! If it is Sakura-chan that is treating him then he will no doubt be in top condition once the procedure is over!" said Lee.
"Now that's the attitude that will win any match! Lee's right about that, Tenten. Neji's going to be ay-o-k!" Gai acknowledged his student, also giving the thumbs-up sign and flashing a smile, while Lee proceeded to kick randomly at the air. If only I had the same confidence as those two. Ignorance is bliss, I guess. Thought Tenten. Suddenly the surgery light turned off, and Sakura emerged with a somber face.
"So what's the word, Sakura? Will Neji Hyuuga still be a part of Team Gai?" asked Gai.
"The injuries were unlike anything any of us have ever seen. We found a piece of a blade made of a metal that could be infused with chakra. That one piece was slowly destroying Neji's internal organs. If we hadn't removed it when we did, Neji would be gone right now…" said Sakura.
"But will he be alright?" Tenten asked frantically.
"He won't be going on any mission soon, that's for sure. But, with about four weeks of healing and rest he'll be as good as new. Sometimes he can be as stubborn as Naruto or Lee so Tenten, make sure he doesn't do anything drastic, all right?" said Sakura. Tenten jumped at the mention of her name.
"Ah, yes. I won't let him out of my sight. Thank you for everything that you've done, Sakura. You've saved Neji." Tenten took Sakura's hand in hers and kissed it multiple times, much to Sakura's discomfort.
"Uh, yeah. You're welcome, I guess. Oh! Here's Neji now, remember to keep an eye on him!" Sakura ditched the oddity of Team Gai as fast as possible.
"Gai-sensei, Lee, Tenten. You three waited for me?" asked Neji. He was in crutches, and just like he did purposely two and a half years ago, his right half was covered in bandages, but other than that he looked fairly normal.
"But of course, Neji. Every part of Team Gai should be taken care of under the supervision of friends!" Gai posed and flashed a smile again.
"Do not worry, Neji. While you are recovering we will bring your attackers to justice! No one injures a member of Team Gai and gets away with it!" said Lee, who began punching the air now. Tenten and Neji had to get rid of these two, and fast.
"Neji, it'd probably be better if you were resting at home. Let's go, shall we?" said Tenten.
"I couldn't agree more." Neji concurred.
Even if it's under these circumstances, finally I have Neji all to myself! Sakura asked me to take care of him! On the way back to the Hyuuga complex, Neji and Tenten had a conversation.
"How ironic." Neji began.
"What are you talking about?" asked Tenten.
"Before I left for my mission two days ago I had no time to be with you. Now it seems I have no choice." Neji laughed slightly as he said this.
"Oh, so now being with me is a bad thing?" Tenten joked.
"No, it's just that… it's interesting to spend time with you when we're not on a mission or sparring with each other." Tenten looked puzzled.
"Interesting? You have an IQ of over 150 and you come up with 'interesting'?"
"I apologize, Tenten. I'm new to this boyfriend and girlfriend business." Neji looked away and blushed. Tenten was shocked. HE LIKES ME!? AND HE THINKS WE'RE BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFIREND ALREADY!? She yelled in her mind. After pondering for a minute, she decided just to roll with what was going on.
"Well you don't need to worry. I'm girlfriend Tenten extraordinaire!" Tenten assured Neji. What the hell am I saying? He's my first boyfriend! The kunoichi tried to look as calm as possible for Neji's sake. Soon they had arrived at the main courtyard of the Hyuuga complex. The sun was setting.
"Well, here we are. Did you break anything on the way?" said Tenten. Neji chuckled.
"I'll be fine. I thank you for escorting me home, Tenten-chan." said Neji. Tenten blushed at the fact that Neji bothered to use an honorific for her name. The next few weeks were going to be incredible, Tenten felt.
