Disclaimer – I don't own Naruto
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"So," Tenten began after an awkward pause, "We've finally come to it."
"Hn," Neji replied noncommittally, the details of their recent meeting with Tsunade fresh in his mind.
They'd all been called – to some large area east of Konoha – where all the ninja nations had assembled. The field was scattered with tents and pavilions, shinobi running around sharpening weapons, practicing jutsus.
They'd just had a meeting discussing strategy and battle-formation. They were all given their vests soon after.
Neji and Tenten walked towards the edge of the site, near the woods, where the Konoha tents had been erected next to Suna's.
They recognized a few of the shinobi, though many were from other nations; still they were all united as one, new forehead protectors gleaming from pieces of cloth.
"I hadn't expected the battle formation to be – like that," Tenten finally said, addressing the very thought that had been plaguing Neji's mind.
"Neither did I," he admitted, "I thought they would keep at least the squads together."
He'd been surprised when Tsunade read out the formation and the divisions for the battle; Tenten and Lee had been as well, he could tell, along with most of the Konoha shinobi. Hinata had seemed downright terrified. They'd all been split up, on the basis of ability. Though Neji admitted it was a logical arrangement, he'd never fought a war before, and definitely not without Tenten, Lee and Gai along with him. No matter how annoying the latter two were, he had always derived a sense of comfort and security fighting alongside them. They had developed infallible teamwork, and Neji knew he could count on them to watch his back during the war. He'd be able to protect them that way as well; they worked in perfect synchronization, and that they'd been split up during the war gave him an uneasy feeling.
He knew Tenten felt the same.
She'd been assigned to the mid-range fighting squad. He didn't know anyone who was with her, expect a few of the Hyuuga. Neji reminded himself to speak to said family members a little later. He himself was in the close-range fighting squad with Hinata, most of the Hyuuga, and many others. Gai and Lee were both in the mid/close-range fighting squad along with Kakashi and Sakura.
The arrangements surprised Neji, especially because he thought if anything, Tenten should be in long-range, and Lee and Gai in close-range with him; but still, they had been split up, and it wasn't a nice feeling.
"Well, I guess it made sense to play to our strengths," Tenten said, continuing Neji's train of thought aloud, "I mean, I fight mainly with weapons, you and Lee use your taijutsu... but it'll be weird not being able to fight together you know?"
"Yes," Neji nodded, "Though why aren't you with Shikamaru and Temari in long-range?"
"Keeping my attacks and Temari's together would prove disastrous," Tenten replied, "You'll see, it makes much more sense having me attack from in front of her."
They walked through the Konoha campsite towards the woods, before Tenten stopped, suddenly, leaning against a tree.
She was biting her lip, and her eyes seemed oddly bright.
"Neji –" she began.
"Don't worry," he cut her off, "It'll be fine."
"I just – take care of yourself, Neji," Tenten said, her tone almost pleading.
"Of course I will."
"No really – this is the first time we've fought such a dangerous battle – and we won't be able to look after each others backs – I won't be there to shield you blind spot –"
"Tenten, I'll be fine," Neji said soothingly, not like the quiver in her voice, "Really."
He took a step towards her, and she fixed her eyes on his, her hands coming up to adjust his new green vest.
"Just – keep moving your head, you know. Cover all directions-"
"Yes," Neji said patiently, allowing her to fasten the button of his vest, her hands sliding over the thick fabric.
"And don't – just don't die, Neji. Please?"
Her eyes were watering now, and he couldn't help but take her calloused hands between his own.
"Stop worrying about me, and remember to take care of yourself," he admonished, his breath tickling her fingertips.
"..."
Tenten was silent, and Neji continued.
"Don't do anything rash or stupid. I'll be watching you through the ranks, and you know I'll see."
Tenten stared at him, and suddenly there was a deadly silence.
Neji then realised how close they were standing, how her bangs brushed her eyes, how there may have been the slightest tinge of pink staining her cheeks.
He stared at her, his white gaze intense, and Tenten felt her heart pound furiously.
Then suddenly, he grabbed her chin, firmly in his hand and tilted her head up, swooping down to capture her lips with his own.
It was a sudden kiss, fervent, and he pulled back almost immediately, before she had time to respond.
"Don't die on me," he muttered, echoing her words, and she stared at him, eyes wide, cheeks flushed.
"I – I won't," Tenten stuttered, and he released her, before turning around.
"I'll hold you to that, Tenten," he said, before walking away.
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That had been their last proper conversation before the battle started.
Neji had heard stories about shinobi wars, but had never dreamed how – chaotic – one would actually be.
His division was in the front, being close-range, and he'd been stationed somewhere in the middle due to his Byakugan, along with Hinata.
Tenten was quite a few rows back, at the very back of the mid-range section. Lee wasn't too far though, and Neji could see them both with his Byakugan, which was comforting.
Still, he had to focus on the fight ahead, focus on the whizzing kunai, bursts of fire, the random weapons and jutsus which came whirring through the air, moments when the ground suddenly gave way beneath them – it wasn't easy.
The retaliation was strong – Neji Jyuuken-ed and Kaiten-ed harder than he ever had before. Among the clashes of metals and shouts of jutsu he swore he could hear familiar cries of 'YOSH!' and 'LEAF WHIRLWIND!' which were oddly comforting. He thought he saw Tenten as well, a figure high in the air, barely visible, with unfurled scrolls spinning around her.
Moments later, he saw a giant spinning cyclone of jangling weapons flying over his heads and colliding with the enemy dead-on, causing massive devastation.
He then understood why Tenten had been stations in front of Temari.
Gaara's sand would weave around their heads at random moments as well, and after two hours, the ranks disintegrated almost entirely.
The fighting continued though, and Neji lost count of how many enemy shinobi he'd hit.
There had been a time, when he was surrounded – he'd spun into his Kaiten, deflecting the weapons, wondering how he'd ward off so many shinobi at once. But through the crackling blue chakra he thought he'd heard a familiar cry, and when the shield dissipated he saw a familiar looking spiked mace explode right in his enemies' faces, pushing them all back.
Neji looked up, but all he saw was a scroll fluttering down
He allowed a hint of a smile to grace his face, before turning back to the battle.
Thirty minutes later he'd leapt over a straggle of soldiers and launched himself in front of a kodachi-wielding kunoichi, pulling her in his Kaiten sphere to avoid the bombs that had been launched at her back.
When it was over, he let go of her, and she wiped her bangs away, silently thanking him, before they leapt back to their respective groups, the onslaught continuing.
Still, there were moments when Neji saw an enemy sneaking up behind him suddenly fall, a kunai embedded into his back – a kunai that had been projected from quite a distance.
And there were times when Tenten's foe would be inexplicably blasted away by a surge of air.
And they knew that no matter what division they were put into, no matter how many soldiers stood between them, they'd always find away to watch each other's backs in battle.
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A/N – just a pointless little thing I felt like writing after Naruto 515. Why did they separate them into different divisions, they're a team! A pair! =(
Oh well, NejiTen will triumph regardless =D
Please review and thank you kind reviewers for your words so far!