Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto at all, but Hizoku is still mine.
Prompt #49: Mindreading - Her 100/100 accuracy wasn't only restricted to sharp pointy things that made people bleed and die.
Words: 930
It's an early spring morning, and Gai-sensei is trying to rile us up with his youthful lecture about the springtime of our lives.
Tenten's staring at me. She thinks I don't see her, but I do. I focus on Gai-sensei's lecture as best I can and try to ignore it.
Lee interrupts the lecture. "Gai-sensei, perhaps we should use this youthful day's beautiful weather to strengthen our youthful bonds!"
That is never going to happen.
"Snowballs stand a better chance of freezing in Hell," Tenten states.
I briefly glance at her and nod, glad that we're in agreement once more. She gives a tiny nod back.
It's a balmy summer day, and the grass is blowing in one of Konoha's northern fields.
We're on a mission with Naruto, and he's going into a long and detailed idea of how we can capture the prized racehorse that we've been ordered to recapture. It involves him dressing as a huge carrot to lure the horse back while Tenten and I swing lassos.
That is the most idiotic thing I've ever heard him utter in all my years of knowing him.
"You've seriously gone full stupid this time," Tenten says wearily.
Again I look at her and nod my agreement. Again she nods back.
It's a perfect day for meditation, and Tenten and I are taking advantage of one of our rare days away from Lee and Gai-sensei to relax.
"Hey, Neji?"
"Hm?" I murmur, opening one eye. She only bothers me when I meditate to ask an important question. I wonder what she's going to ask me.
Lying on the ground next to me, she looks up and asks, "Ever wonder what might've happened if we never met?"
Now she's got my attention. Meditation forgotten, I give her my undivided focus. "Come again?"
"Think about it." She rolls on her stomach and leans on her elbows to prop her chin up with her hands. "If we never met, we'd never be friends. You'd have nobody to vocalize your inner thoughts with my level of creativity."
I frown at her and raise a brow. You've got to be joking, I think.
"Don't think at me with that tone of voice," she scolds. "Admit it. It's easier having me do the heavy speaking."
"I can do my own speaking," I say.
Her eyes slide shut as she flops over on her back again. "The word 'Hn' is not an acceptable form of communication. It's not even a word. It's a sound effect."
"You're not a mind-reader."
"Don't have to be." She smirks. "I just have to know how to phrase what's on your mind."
I roll my eyes.
"Don't make faces."
It's weeks later, and the Konoha Eleven are celebrating the success of a multi-squad mission. I'm listening to the babble of voices and smiling at everyone's faces.
They're celebrating success. I'm celebrating that we didn't lose anyone during the mission.
"So how about that exit strategy, huh?" Kiba crows, slinging his arm around Naruto's shoulders and toasting the blonde. "Gotta admit, those bazillion Kage Bunshin coming to bail us out was pretty flippin' awesome."
"Yeah, I'm awesome like that," Naruto boasts. Suddenly he glances at Tenten, then at me, then back. I frown. What's wrong with him?
"That twitch new?" Tenten asks.
He looks at Tenten warily. "Just wondering if Neji was gonna scold me or something."
Why on earth would I do that?
"Why on earth would he do that?" Tenten asks.
"Because he always does," is his reply, still directed at Tenten.
Why is he talking to Tenten and not to me?
"What makes this my issue?" Tenten demands.
Now Naruto's the one with a puzzled frown. "Because it's just easier to talk to you. You do all of Neji's talking anyway."
That's not - I pause, then say, "That's not true."
"Actually," Hinata pipes up, defending her boyfriend, "it is. Tenten usually does most of Neji-nii's speaking."
"Because she's his mindreader," Shino states. "Why? Because she knows him the best."
"IT IS A YOUTHFUL CONNECTION OF MINDS THAT DEFYS ALL KNOWN LAWS OF SCIENCE!" crows Lee. He picks up his cup and sips its contents a half-second before we all realize -
"LEE, NO!" Tenten and I yell as the familiar drunk look settles on our teammate's face.
It's years later, and Hizoku is chattering away on his mother's lap about his drawing. For a three-year-old, he's really pretty adept at holding a paintbrush.
Painting, however, is a different thing altogether. I'm squinting at the ink-spattered paper and still can't figure out what he's drawn.
"What is it, honey?" asks Tenten, voicing my thoughts.
"Birdies!" is the exuberant answer.
Sure enough, once I tilt my head, I can see the birds. Sort of. Kind of. A little.
Hizoku's face falls slightly. "Like?" he asks, sounding worried.
Before Tenten can reply, I smile at my son. "I love it, Hizoku," I assure him. "And so does your mother." My smile gets a little wicked looking at her. "Right, honey?"
Her responding look is one of Well played. What am I thinking now?
Shoot. She's got me.
She wins. For now.
Luckily, I'm getting better at reading her mind.
Some humor to round it all out. Get ready, because next up is the last one!
Review please!
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