Chapter 2: Ten-ten's Farwell

While Naruto was out and about being, well Naruto, Neji, Lee, and Ten-ten were training just outside of the village in an open field. Neji was in deep meditation, every part of his body was completely still, not even his hair moved when the wind blew. Ten-ten and Lee were practicing together, Ten-ten was throwing her weapons at Lee, who would dodge or block them. Lee was working extra hard for two reasons. One was that Gaara would be competing in the exams again, and Lee wanted to show him that last time was only a fluke. Two was that Ten-ten's aim was improving and he didn't fancy getting hit with one of the deadly objects she was chucking at him. After several hours of this and some byakugan training with Neji, they decided to rest for the day. Lee was still ready to continue, but stopped when he realized that he had more than just a few scratches thanks to Ten-ten.

The next few days went on like this, though a few times, Neji had to get Sakura because Lee missed a step and was nailed by something sharp. Lee didn't mind much because he was used to pain and it meant that Ten-ten was getting better. If anything Lee was happy.

Soon there was only one week left until the start of the chuunin exams, and the three genin starting training in overdrive, trying to get in as much training as possible. Haste, of course, leads to someone getting hurt.

The training started out normal enough, Neji was practicing his Juken, Lee was dodging and blocking Ten-ten's onslaught of weapons, and Gai was still in the hospital thanks to that no good stanine Jurioh. Then a series of things happened. They happened so fast that the event only took a matter of seconds, yet it would burn in Lee and Neji's memory forever.

First, while Lee was dodging the weapons, Neji yelled out, "Look Out!" he stepped in a hole and fell at the same time that a kunai flew past his ear. Lee immediately rolled to the right as another came speeding toward him. Apparently, all that training with Ten-ten had paid off. He didn't even have a scratch. He looked at the place the kunai was thrown from. The man who had thrown the kunai sped off. Lee was about to follow when he heard a strange sound, a sound he had never heard before in his life. Neji was crying.

Lee turned and opened his mouth to say, "What's wrong Neji?" but once he turned to Neji all words seemed to die in his throat. Neji was with Ten-ten, both were crying, Neji loudly, Ten-ten silently. Ten-ten was laying on the ground with Neji kneeling over her cradling her head in his arms. A single kunai was stuck halfway into her chest, right into her lung. Ten-ten was dying, and there was nothing they could do about it.

Lee's feet seemed to move on their own, straight toward Ten-ten. It was then that he heard they were saying something. He listened closer and picked out the words.

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you this before," said Ten-ten weakly, "but I-" she smiled slowly; "I love you Neji."

Neji smiled too, though sadness still gripped his eyes. The byakugan was still active. Lee knew Neji was only tormenting himself, watching her fade from existence. "I know," he said softly, so softly that Lee almost missed it, but it was there, just like the tears on Neji's face, on his face. "I love you too," and then they kissed, Lee felt as if he should turn away, but he couldn't, he was too shocked that this was happening to them. They broke the kiss, and Ten-ten let out one final breath. It was over, she was gone.

Lee's tears came freely now. The most unyouthful thing possible had just happened to her. She was murdered, in cold blood. That was unforgivable. Neji screamed up to the heavens, cursing them, raging at the unfairness of it all. It was futile of course, but Lee didn't blame him for a second, nor did he try to stop him. He couldn't if he wanted to. The sad truth was, Ten-ten was dead and nothing he or Neji said or did would ever change that.

Ten-ten's funeral was held the very next day. Everyone wore black and held white roses. Each laid one on Ten-ten's grave one at a time. Some would stay there weeping over the loss of Ten-ten. Ten-ten's family for example stayed so long that Tsunade had to escort them away. No shinobi cried a single tear of course, but with the amount of sadness shown on their face, they might as well have cried rivers. Then it was Lee's turn to lay down his rose.

"I'm sorry Ten-ten," he said shakily.

"Lee it's not your fault," said Tsunade gently, standing beside him.

"But it is Tsunade-sama!" shouted Lee. That kunai was meant for me. I was the target, not Ten-ten!" Lee was sobbing freely now. "If I hadn't been there," he sniffed, "she would still be alive."

"Lee," said Tsunade gently, but firm. "There was no way you or anyone could have seen this coming. It is not your fault."

Lee looked up at her. Her face was stony hard, and yet her eyes showed the tiniest bit of softness. To Ten-ten Tsunade was an idol, Ten-ten wanted to follow in her footsteps and become great. Tsunade had been proud of Ten-ten, for following her dreams. Tsunade must be devastated now.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," said Lee, his lips almost making a smile, but failing. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Tsunade replied, and Lee left. It was now Neji's turn.

At first Lee wasn't sure he could reach Ten-ten's grave. He was staggering and acting dizzy, as if drunk, but he made it. He bore no rose; he simply kneeled at the grave and waited, as if in prayer. No one made a move, and that's when Neji made his.

First, he took off his forehead protector and laid it on Ten-ten's grave. Then he took out a kunai and held it out at arms length, with the point aimed at his chest. Everyone's eyes opened wide, most people gasped. Lee stood stock still, his brain not accepting what his eyes were seeing. No one seemed able to move, except Neji. He brought the knife into his chest, just above his heart. At that moment everyone rushed forward, but Neji stood up and starting spinning. A huge amount of chakra formed a dome around Neji and Ten-ten, forcing everyone back. While still spinning Neji took blood from his new wound and said, "With this blood, the blood of the Hyuuga clan, the blood of Konoha, I swear on blood oath, that-" he stopped spinning, "that I will find your killer and avenge you Ten-ten!" he shouted. Then he smeared the blood on forehead protector.

No one moved, they were shocked at what had just happened. Lee had heard of a blood oath, it was the most powerful oath you could have, to break it would mean village exile or even death. Now Neji held that burden. He seemed, however, calm. He made a hand sign, and shouted, "Byakugan!" immediately his eyes became strained yet focused, veins showed to either side of the corners of his eyes. "I will avenge you Ten-ten," he said quietly, "or spend an eternity in hell. And with that he disappeared into the woods.

The funeral ended quickly afterwards, with the ceremonial lowering of the casket, and Neji's forehead protector. Once Ten-ten's burial was complete, Tsunade called a meeting with the Jounin, with the exception of Gai of course. But Asuma, Kurenai, and Kakashi were all there. Kakashi was late, as usual, but once he showed up Tsunade officially started the meeting, Shizune right next to her as always.

"Well, you all probably know why we're here," Tsunade said. Her voice seemed full of both sadness and fatigue.

"Am I to assume it's about the chuunin exams?" said Kakashi, looking bored, and sounding it as well.

"Naturally," said Tsunade. "Now the question is, should it continue on as planned, or be delayed?"

"Well, of course it should be delayed," said Kurenai, acting surprised. "A student has just died, and there is no reason to continue through at normal times."

"Actually," said Shizune, "there is one reason." Everyone turned to her, she cleared her throat. "You recall the new Academy student, Jamus, right?" They nodded, "Now you may, or may not know this, but he graduated the academy in one week."

"What?" asked Kurenai, her mouth falling open. Asuma's did the same and he dropped the cigarette he was currently smoking.

"Yes," continued Kakashi, "Iruka recognized that his skills were far too great to not be at least a genin. He even estimated that a full Jounin may have trouble winning."

"That's impossible!" said Kurenai loudly. "There's no way a child can be that strong. He isn't even fully developed yet."

"Exactly!" said Tsunade, taking hold of the conversation once more. "That is what the exams will be for, to test this new genin. To see what he can do. That is what this year's chuunin exams will be all about."

"All right!" said Kurenai, "I'll vote yes to keeping the exams where they are. You've made me curious enough."

"As am I," said Asuma right behind her. "I vote yes."

"I would," said Kakashi, "but I don't have a full team."

"Lee can fill in as your third member since he no longer has a team," said Tsunade.

"Ah!" said Asuma, but my team is handicapped as well. Since Shikamaru is already a chuunin he won't be in the exams, which leaves Chouji and Ino alone."

"Don't worry," said Tsunade, "I already have someone on their way to fill in for Shikamaru as we speak." A knock sounded on the door. "That must be him." Shizune opened the door to reveal…Gaara!

"Him?" questioned both Kurenai and Asuma.

"Yes," said Tsunade. "Kankuro and Temari were…not cooperative with it so they are only here sightseeing. However, Gaara has agreed to help."

Asuma frowned, not an angry frown, but a confused one. "Why?" he questioned.

"Because I own a debt," said Gaara solemnly, "to Uzumaki Naruto."

The chuunin exams were on!