"…" Tenten's eyes widened. Sasuke breathed heavily as he tried to break free from the two kunai's. His eyes too widened.
"I-It can't be… Tenten…" Sakura dropped the body.
"You're next." The blood smeared her face as she licked the blood around her mouth.
"T-Tenten…" Sasuke turned to see Neji at the door. Sakura's knife dropped and as it collided with the floor… it was as if… yes… the world for Neji ended.
"Hah. So this is Neji Hyuga?" Sakura smirked. "You, tell me. Who should I kill next? Maybe I should kill you, then Hinata."
"K-Kill…?" Neji stuttered out as his gaze went back to Tenten's body. Sakura growled.
"Yes. I killed her. Do you have a problem with that?!" She shouted as a tear slid down her eye. She turned away and jumped out the window. Neji stared at Tenten's body and froze, not moving the least.
"Neji…" Sasuke whispered his name. Neji dropped to his knees.
"No…" Neji mumbled. "No… This can't be…." He whispered as he looked at the ceiling. He fell on all fours as Neji crawled over to Tenten. 'T-Ten….ten…." Neji touched her face gently. "You… weren't even healed from Sakura's last attack… and now… you once more got hit by her move. You barely survived the last one… please… don't tell me you're…" Neji bit his lip. Don't… cry. Whatever you do. But it didn't work. A tear slid down as he gathered her in his arms. "Tenten. Wake up. Please…" The blood continued to trickle from the wound in her stomach. "D-Dammit. I came… too late…" Neji held her tightly.
"…." Sasuke pulled until his whole sleeve came off. He fell and hit the ground hard as he ran over and stood, towering over Neji and Tenten. "N-Neji… I'm… sorry, I mean… captain. I couldn't…. do anything."
"It's not your fault." Neji whispered. Tsunade burst the door open.
"Shit! She got out!" Tsunade panted heavily to see blood spurted all over the bed, and blood all over the floor. "Neji. Sasuke. Where's Tenten?" She asked. They were silent. "Where's Tenten? Where's Sakura?!" She shouted angrily. Sasuke turned.
"It was my fault…" Sasuke whispered. "Why Sakura got away… and… it was my fault that Tenten die-"
"What?" Tsunade glared at Neji on his knees. "Oh…" Her eyes softened. "Tenten…" She whispered. "I'm sorry…. Neji…"
"Tsunade!!" Naruto ran down the hall and called to her. "It's Hinata-chan! She's-" Tsunade fled out the door as Naruto stared at the blood. "What… the hell happened here?" Sasuke turned and walked out the door.
It's always my fault… Sasuke stormed down the hall and into a room. And… it's going to end now. Sasuke looked up and grabbed at a scroll. Sakura. You've changed so much. I can't even recognize you anymore. You're not the same Sakura I knew… never will you be. So I'll end it. Both me and you. Sasuke turned and slammed the door shut. Never again…
….
"Neji. What happened?" Naruto walked slowly. "Where's Sakura-chan… and Tenten-san?" Naruto looked at the bleeding- "T-Tenten-san?!" He shouted loudly. Neji cursed.
"Shut up, Naruto."
"I'm sorry, captain." Naruto bent his head low. "I'm sorry… Tenten-san…." Neji shook his head.
"I couldn't save her in time…" Neji let out another tear.
"C-Captain." Naruto stuttered, this was the first time ever… that he had seen Neji cry. It almost seem unreal that tears were falling from the Hyuga prodigy's eyes.
"I… can't believe I lost her…" Neji held her tight. Naruto heard Hinata scream.
"I'm… so sorry, Neji." Naruto blinked away a tear and ran towards Hinata's voice.
Tenten… Neji thought as he continued to hold her tight. I'll get her for you. I'll kill Sakura… I'll make sure you are reveng-
"Blechh!" Neji's eyes opened.
"Tenten…." She coughed loudly and blood came spurting out of her mouth.
"Dammit!" She cursed. She gripped her stomach and started coughing again. Tenten opened her eyes quickly and looked around sitting up. "Sasuke. She got away… Damn. I thought I was a goner…. Sasuke?" She turned to the person holding her. "N… Neji…" She looked deeply to see his beautiful lavender eyes shining and glistening. "Neji? Why are you here.. And crying?" Neji pulled her in and hugged her tightly.
"Why… are you alive?" He asked. "You were dead a minute ago. I'm sure… I thought I lost you forever.." Tenten's eyes watered as tears came out.
"I thought… so too…" She cried. Neji didn't let go of her but actually held onto her tighter. He looked straight out the window.
Why didn't Sakura kill Tenten? It was as if… it was as if… Tenten died for just a couple of minutes. So it wasn't a direct blow. That means… Sakura hasn't fully been corrupted by the akatsuki's yet. There's still time to save her. On top of that, Sakura did let a tear fall. Could…. Sakura not bring herself to kill Tenten? That has to be it. I have to… tell Sasuke and Naruto. Neji picked up Tenten gently.
"I'm taking you to Tsunade now. You have to be in a safe position. Away from anything…" Neji held her tightly and ran out the door. She nodded and coughed out blood again.
"Please… hurry…" She mumbled and held onto him tightly. Neji nodded and ran quickly to Tsunade. He heard a baby's cry.
Hinata-sama? Neji quickly ran in to see one a baby, two a sleeping Hinata, three a happy Naruto… and lastly, "TSUNADE!" He shouted. "It's Tenten. She's alive. But barely! Please!" Tsunade placed the baby down as Tenten was placed on the bed next to Hinata.
"Tenten…." Tsunade whispered.
"Ts-Tsunade-sama…" Tenten whispered and cringed as the pain shot through her stomach.
"Rest." She whispered. "Naruto. Neji. Go. I think… Sasuke's planning on doing something reckless. I just feel it. Go stop him before something happens that could destroy the whole village." Neji and Naruto nodded and left.
----
"Thank god… Tenten-san's alive, huh?" Naruto grinned at Neji.
"Hinata-sama too." Neji added.
"Yeah. I'm a dad now…" Naruto smiled. "There's still one more thing left to do."
"…" Neji looked at him.
"There's something in Sakura-chan. Something inside her body that's making her like this… Something she eats, or something the akatsuki does to her that makes her so… monster like?" Naruto asked. Neji paused.
"It's… possible." Neji blinked a few times. "We have to get her this time, Naruto. She's the key to everything now. If we can capture her, we can get to the akatsuki's. I know I'm thinking far… but I'm sure we can get her this time." Neji looked at his hands. "No one.. Is in the way." Naruto shook his head.
"There is something." Naruto mumbled.
"What?" Neji asked.
"Captain. There's something that… troubles me. No. There's something that troubles everyone." Naruto responded. "Captain… The thing that is in the way of us getting to Sakura-chan is…"
"…." Neji stopped running and stared at Sasuke and Sakura up ahead. Sasuke held the scroll in front of him, as Sakura held a large sword. "Tell me, Naruto. Tell me it now." Neji glared.
"The thing in the way of us getting to Sakura-chan… is…"
"…"
"Sasuke's feelings for her."
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This chapter was shorter than my other ones, but I think this one has been one of my favorites so far though.
Please review! I was really pleased at how much favorites and alerts I got on the previous chapters. :D
