Chapter IV
Neji stood frozen, watching as Lee caressed TenTen in places he had only dreamed of touching.
He had waited and waited and respected her, doing his best to deserve her love…
…but what in hell had he done to deserve this?!
Anger.
Betrayal.
Love.
Hurt.
Shocked beyond belief he unconsciously deactivated the chakra-masking Jutsu he maintained to evade her parents.
In the bedroom two lovers stiffened, eyes widened in horror.
Lee, clad only in green boxers, got up from the bed as Tenten covered her naked chest with a pillow.
"Neji-kun, this is not what you think!"
"And what exactly, Tenten-chan, am I thinking?" His eyes were cold, voice dripping with venom.
Tenten flinched. Never in all the years, she had known the Hyuuga prodigy had she seen him like this. Despite herself, she felt slightly afraid of him. He looked ready to kill and she had no doubt he could kill them both if he wished to.
Gracefully the coffee-haired boy jumped inside the room, landing silently close to a very uncomfortable-looking Lee.
"I'm so sorry Neji. We never mean-…"
A fist connected with the green beast's jaw before he could finish speaking.
A broken wall, a female scream…
Silver orbs looked accusingly at his once best friend before setting on his ex-girlfriend.
Disappointment.
Anger.
Lost love.
Tenten lowered her eyes, ashamed. She never meant for this to happen. And his eyes, oh Kami-sama, his eyes! She would never forget the painful look of betrayal etched on those magnificent eyes for as long as she lived.
The sound of footsteps and two voices calling Tenten's name.
Three pairs of eyes set on the door. Two terrified, one sadistically amused.
The door opened as Neji vanished.
The couple of traitors were left to explain to Tenten's parents (two members of the Torture & Interrogation Squad) why they were half-naked in her bedroom.
Leaves.
Branches.
Trees.
In the middle of the dust and flying objects stood a lone jounin still clad in ANBU gear.
Another tree shook violently before falling with the force of Neji's wrath.
His hands thorn and bleeding but he ignored it. The pain was nothing compared to the pain of betrayal.
How could they do this? How could they do this to him?
He gave them all he had, his friendship, his trust, his love…
But apparently that wasn't enough.
Had it been his fault? After all, he had left when they needed him the most, when SHE needed him the most.
But such was the life of a shinobi; they knew it ever since the academy.
Did they think he wasn't affected by his sensei's death? Of course, he was! But he was a ninja of the Leaf. Duty always comes first.
Did they think he hadn't grieved? He was grieving! He did it alone, in silence, but he did it! Why couldn't they do the same?
Had his distance thrown them into each other's arms? Was it his fault?
No, damn it! It was their fault! They had betrayed him. They had no excuse!
With a final punch he let himself fall on the floor, breathing heavily with exhaustion.
The forest was destroyed but it was for the best. If he had stayed he would have certainly done something he would regret later.
He still might, the next time he found them.
His eyes darkened as he tried to push the thoughts of THEM out of his mind.
He would be civil to them, but he would keep them at a safe distance.
He would forget all thoughts of love and erase Tenten completely from his heart.
Never again would he let a woman get under his skin. Never again would he give his heart to another.
…never again…
And so he closed his heart's door on love's face.
"Neji?"
"Yes, Hiashi-sama?"
"What happened to you?"
Neji stared blankly ahead. "Mission."
His uncle nodded. "Get cleaned up. The Hokage is expecting you." Neji looked ready to protest but the oldest Hyuuga cut him off. "You WILL attend the party."
"Yes Hiashi-sama." Neji bowed and continued his path to his bedroom.
A party was definitely NOT in his plans. But a clan order was a clan order, even if it was a stupid one.
Bracing herself for the worst, Ino knocked at the Haruno's house door. Haruno Sayuri, Sakura's mother, answered.
"Haruno-sa-…"
Sayuri launched herself at Ino, hugging her like there was no tomorrow.
"Thank-you Ino-chan!"
"Er… no problem?"
The pink-haired woman released the confused teenager embarrassedly. "She joined us for dinner."
Ino smiled at her best friend's mother. "I'm so relieved…"
"Come in, she's getting dressed."
The blonde nodded and headed to her friend's room. She could hear movement inside. Definitely a good sign.
The door opened just as she was about to knock.
"Are you gonna stand there all day?"
Ino glared as she let herself in.
Sakura rolled her eyes and finished putting her hair up with hair sticks.
'No makeup, simple black dress, hidden weapons… could be worse', Ino thought.
"Ready forehead-girl?"
The pink-haired kunoichi shrugged and grabbed a jacket. "Let's go."
The blonde sighed as they left.
At least she HAD gotten out of the house.
"The Flying Shuriken", a bar known to be the gathering point of the village's shinobi.
Sakura had never liked it much, it was too dark, too crowded and reeked of alcohol.
No wonder her shishou had chosen this place.
Tonight they had even put tables and chairs on the outside. There simply were too many people celebrating.
Sakura wrinkled her nose as a drunken chuunin tried to make conversation with her friend.
After a few minutes, the medic-nin realized that Ino actually intended to stay and flirt with the guy.
Sighing Sakura went inside and ordered a beer. Not the most elegant of beverages, but she liked it nonetheless. She had enough Sake with her shishou…
Looking for her friends she saw Kiba and Hanabi dancing wildly at an unknown song. Temari was also there trying to drag Shikamaru to the dance floor.
Sakura chuckled as she watched the blond sand-nin threatening the lazy boy with her fan. She could imagine him saying 'troublesome' before getting up.
At a corner, she could see Genma flirting with Shizune.
Further to the right… Tsunade…
The Godaime was drinking heavily, chatting with some members of the council. She was smiling, but it was not the same smile she used to have. There was something missing.
Sakura turned around, not bearing to look at her mentor. It was simply too painful… to remember…
Further ahead she saw Kotetsu signaling her to join them.
She waved at him and maneuvered her way to him, trying not to spill her drink as she walked.
When she got there she noticed a lot of familiar faces and among them…
…Naruto…
She greeted everyone avoiding eye contact with her blond friend. To her immense misfortune the only chair available was next to said boy.
Swallowing a lump in her throat she sat down. It was going to be a long night…
Many minutes passed by as she made small conversation with her acquaintances, never even looking to her side.
She drank glass after glass until a hand prevented her from drinking any further.
"Please Sakura-chan, stop."
Sakura looked up to find Naruto looking pleadingly at her. Their eyes finally met, both so full of pain and sorrow…
Her resolve finally crumbled and she threw herself into his arms. He embraced her tenderly, both of them doing their best to fight back the tears.
They understood then that they would heal, it would take time, but they would heal. As long as they were together everything would be alright, alone they wouldn't be able to make it.
A cough made them break their embrace. Izumo looked at them apologetically and said that Naruto was required elsewhere.
Naruto apologized to Sakura and Hinata before leaving.
Sakura looked confusedly at the shy heiress. "What was that all about?"
"N-naruto-k-kun ap-plied for the A-ANBU…"
The medic-nin palled. She could understand why the kitsune boy had done it but she couldn't help but be worried. She couldn't afford to loose him too… not now… He was all that she had left, especially since Kakashi seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a deep voice greeting the girl next to her.
Sakura looked up to find Hyuuga Neji. She hadn't seen him since… THAT day… He hadn't even been at the funerals.
Not that she could blame him. He had probably been working.
'A shinobi through and through.'
"Haruno-san."
Sakura jumped slightly as she realized she was being talked to. "Hyuuga-san."
"May I?" He was pointing at the chair Naruto had previously occupied.
"Of course."
The Hyuuga prodigy settled himself between the two young kunoichis before ordering Sake.
Something was definitely wrong. One of the few things Sakura knew about Neji was that the young prodigy NEVER drank alcohol.
'None of my business, I guess.' Shrugging she drowned another beer.
"It's not that difficult Hyuuga-san."
"You say that because you're the genjutsu type. You're one of the best genjutsu users in the village."
Sakura couldn't help but smile thankfully. It felt good to be complimented on her work, especially by someone like Hyuuga Neji, the famous Hyuuga prodigy, one of the best shinobi of his generation.
Their conversation had been going on for hours. Hinata had long since gone home. Neji had tried to leave too, but Hiashi's glare kept him in place.
They had been left alone since then, talking about anything, from combat techniques to philosophical beliefs.
They had trained together for a couple of times, but they had never stopped to talk.
Apparently, they had a lot in common…
By now they were both completely drunk, but neither seemed to care.
Sakura noticed that Neji had started drinking more after his teammates arrived at the party. She had been surprised when, after noticing Neji, the couple went to the opposite side of the room.
Neji hadn't talked about it but she knew they were the cause of his sudden change in behavior.
"I still think genjutsu is the easiest of the three."
The Hyuuga prodigy tilted his head to the side to look at her as he assessed her statement. Personally, he thought genjutsu was the most difficult of all the ninja techniques. It required great chakra control and a powerful mind to be able to subdue the opponent's mind.
"Perhaps."
Sakura rolled her eyes. Great, her companion was back to the 'one-word answers'.
Amused, Neji took the opportunity to scan the room.
Hanabi was still there, but Hiashi was nowhere to be seen. That means he could finally go.
The bar was still full (though not half as crowded as before), but everyone seemed to be intoxicated, some of them even completely drunk.
'Then again, so am I.'
Neji's hand froze mid-air, his glass never reaching his parted lips.
Sakura followed his gaze.
Lee and Tenten were leaving the place without so much as a word to their teammate.
'Weird…'
The medic-nin noticed how her companion's jaw seemed to tighten.
'Definitely weird…'
"They look good together."
The coffee-haired boy gave her a sadistic smirk. "They do, don't they?"
Sakura gulped before frowning. Something was clearly troubling the young shinobi.
"So they really are a couple."
Neji finished pouring another glass of Sake before answering with a far away look. "They are now."
"Talk to me Hyuuga-san."
The pearl-eyes shinobi blinked at the girl who had talked to him so softly. He had always been a very private person but the alcohol in his system made him loosen his tongue. Besides, there was something about the girl that put him at ease.
Suppressing a sigh (because Hyuuga Neji NEVER sighs) the young prodigy told the Godaime's apprentice the entire story: from the moment he had started dating Tenten, to the moment he punched the Green Beast in the face.
"You're serious?!" She looked at him, disbelief in her eyes. "In six months you barely kissed and after a week they were already naked in bed?"
"Half-naked," he corrected, "and yes, I am serious."
Sakura looked at her companion weirdly. "Why?"
"Why what?" He said with bared contained annoyance. He didn't like their new topic of conversation.
"Why didn't you two ever get past kissing?"
Neji drowned another cup of Sake to hide his discomfort. "We wanted to take things slowly since… none of us had much experience…"
Sakura gave a soft giggle that soon turned into a full laughter, but she stopped at the sight of the famous Hyuuga glare.
"That's it? You were all worked up because you didn't want to admit you're a virgin?"
The coffee-haired shinobi grunted as he questioned his sanity for even mentioning that to a girl he barely knew.
"I beat you to that Hyuuga-san." The young boy rose a perfectly shaped eyebrow as his companion blushed before admitting. "I haven't even been kissed."
Neji looked surprised. "Never?" Sakura shook her head. "Why?"
She sighed. "Well at first all I could think about was S… Sa-Sasuke-kun… I used to dream of us sharing our first kiss, but then Naruto had to ruin that…" She muttered.
"Naruto?" Sakura chuckled at the boy's puzzled expression.
"Oh, you didn't hear? Back when we were assigned our gennin teams Naruto accidentally kissed Sasuke-kun."
Neji suppressed a shudder at the though while Sakura took another sip of her beer to stifle her giggles.
"After that Sasuke-kun left and I was so engrossed in my work, thinking of a way to bring him back that I didn't even think about it. Now that he is… that he is g-gone I don't think I ever will be."
"Why not? The Uchiha isn't the only male in the world." He stated mater-of-fact-ly
"I don't know many boys my age. There's Naruto, but he's like a brother to me and I'm not into incest."
'Plus he's got Hinata.'
'I better leave that part out or Hyuuga-san is so gonna kill him.'
"Then there is Lee…" Neji drank another glass of Sake. "But I don't think he's into me anymore." A grunt escaped her companion's throat. "Then there's Chouji, but he absolutely loves Ino (she's still oblivious to it though) and Shikamaru is dating Temari. Sai is definitely out question! I'm not very acquainted with Shino and Kiba likes Hanabi."
"He what?!"
Sakura chuckled. "Relax. Hyuuga-sama knows and he's okay with it."
"Hn."
Sakura shook her head, amused with Neji's protectiveness. "Then there's Kankuro, but I'm not into guys who way wear more make-up than I do, no matter how hot he is. And finally there is Gaara, but I think he'd rather kill me than kiss me."
Neji looked amusedly at the pink-haired girl sitting next to him. "What about me?" He asked in a husky voice surprising both of them. He had meant it to come out as a joke, not an invitation.
Sakura paused to look at him, really LOOK at him for the fist time. It was easy to see why he had such a huge fan club…
'When did Hyuuga-san get so hot?'
'Probably six beer bottles ago!'
Pushing her Inner voice away from her mind she drank the rest of her beverage.
"What about you?"
Neji leaned in, clearly amused by her reaction. "What would your reasons be NOT to kiss me?"
She swallowed, hard. "I… hm, I…"
He leaned in closer, his breath tickling her ear, teasing her for an answer.
"I…" Her mind went totally blank and she gave up. "I can't think of any…"
He smirked at her words before gently raising her face to make his lips meet hers.
The kiss was short, far from romantic. It was sloppy from their drunkenness but it was enough to leave them both craving for more… much, much more…