[[ A/N ]] I don't think I see anything really off with Chapter 3 (which could be a bad thing, as that might mean I could be missing stuff); I'll leave it alone for now. I tried to draw out that part about Karasu out in Chapter 2, but it's just a small change in wording and mention. Reviewers are awesome. I've been sort of glazing over the whole relationship things with Neji and Tenten...but I am going to zoom in more on them as this fic progresses. Lee wasn't supposed to be that big of a character in the fic, but for these couple of chapters, he is rather important. :D Okay. To this chapter.

[[ Disclaimer ]] Ah, we all wish to own Naruto. But we don't.

Chapter Four: More Confrontations

Noses pressed to the window, the entire class shoved each other for a better view of the crumpled figure of a female Shinobi sprawled on the ground. Iruka could only do the same. Why he hadn't gone out when he'd seen the first signs of a conflict he would never know. But all he could see was the effort that Tenten had put out. Having been her instructor in the academy only a couple years ago, he didn't understand what had taken over her typically dormant soul.

Iruka finally had the sense to forcefully move the class to a different room. Despite their shrieks and resistance, he was able to accomplish this, but his mind was still on what he had just witnessed. Gai had arrived, and everything should have been okay, but he could only feel ill at ease.

He submitted to the demands of the children and herded them to the play area, where they, at least, would be able to get Tenten's limp, almost pathetic form out of their young heads. It wasn't nearly as easy for him.

Those with the warmest hearts are often the ones who contemplate the most about the sadness of things.

Having deposited his only girl subordinate at the Konoha Hospital, where, of late, they all had been spending copious amounts of time, Gai returned to the scene of the incident, where his two students were heeding his order and sitting, still there, Neji's arms crossed and Lee's eyes glued to where Tenten had primarily coughed blood.

"Can someone explain to me what you two were doing? No, first, Lee---what were you doing?" Gai sensei's jovial features were now positioned in what could only be called incredulous disappointment. Something that Lee could not stand.

"I'm sorry, sensei! I just couldn't help it..."

"It's horrible enough that you decided to fight Neji, but what happened to Tenten?"

Before he had a chance to part his lips, Neji answered. His voice was as even and cool as it had always been; indestructible metal and chilly indifference. "She got in the way."

Gai's thick eyebrows bent in the most peculiar way. If one looked between them and compared, Neji's thin brows, which were sitting lightly, seemed to be hiding some internalized emotion.

" 'Got in the way,' you say. I'm very angry with both of you. I'm going to escort Lee to the hospital first. No, Lee, you aren't going to rest. You're going to apologize to Tenten. Neji, you stay here until I come back."

On the way, Lee questioned his sensei's thoughtful look. In reply, Gai merely slowed his pace to accommodate the boy and his crutches. "Lee, have you ever been in love? Not the love between a subordinate and a sensei, but true love?"

'Sakura-san...is that love, sensei?' He threw his shoulders back. "Of course, sensei!"

"No you haven't, you idiot!!" Containing himself, Gai smiled. "Love is that wonderful feeling you get when you care passionately about someone and wouldn't see them harmed at any cost. You would give up your life for them." 'But, sensei, I fought for Sakura-san in the Chuunin Exams.' "But even that isn't enough. If you would say it openly to the person without thought, then that is not love. That is merely affection or infatuation. If you feel frightened of their reaction or tense like such, that is love."

'I see.' "But what does this have to do with what you're thinking about?"

"Nothing..."

When Gai sensei had that strange glimmer in his eyes, Lee knew better than to probe deeper into the layers of subtlety. Subtlety.

"This is Tenten's room. When you're done, go out and nod to Neji, who will be out here. Then go to your room. If I hear you have gone out like that one more time, I swear that I'll---"

"If I do, sensei, then I will run a hundred laps around the hospital---"

"---No you will not!" Nodding meekly, Lee hobbled towards the door.

"Tenten?" At inspection, he realized her room was a nice one---there was a balcony outside the clear doors, on which was slightly opened to allow the wind to caress the patient in soft whispers.

Settling into the rather uncomfortable chair near the bed, he began to speak at the form of his teammate. The covers had been pulled to her neck, so that only her face, still wearing that grimace of pain and the lines of willpower, was visible. Almost like a warning.

"I'm...sorry...for what we did to you...but not for fighting Neji. All this time...I didn't want to accept that I will no longer be able to go after my goal. I can never...never...be a Shinobi. My match stripped me of my power and I'm here, weak. I tried my best to get back on my feet and live the way I used to...one of my other goals was to defeat Neji in battle. A victory for me. Something I could look back on and say that hard work does surpass genius. But I failed miserably before I could do so."

Tenten stirred. The open window brought the breeze inside, gently urging him on. "I was strong before. I knew I was. But I was arrogant. I hadn't known there was such might in the world---Gaara. If I had been more careful, maybe trained more, things would not have worked out this way. But this is what happened. My life is ruined. But I couldn't admit it. So I went after Neji, as though if I won, then I would have that goal accomplished and be able to go back to my old life..."

Lee paused. He scrutinized Tenten's face; sure that it was a trick of the lighting. A lone tear raced down her cheek longing for her neck and lunging over to the pillow. Suddenly, there was that draft again, insisting that he continue. He turned away.

"I know now that nothing will ever be the same. But sometimes change is good, eh?" In an effort to keep going, Lee faced her. "You're trying to change, aren't you? I know you think that Neji doesn't care about you, but if you were listening...he doesn't want you to get hurt. Like what Gai sensei said...what Gai sensei said..."

Lee got to his feet with the help of his trusty crutches. "He'll be in soon...Gai said...that...that if someone cared about the other person enough and didn't go straight up to them...that was..."

He slid the door shut.

She had a minute to herself before the thick, nearly tangible silence was destroyed. However, no words were exchanged at the Hyuuga walked in. The air of levity about him had yet to disappear, and he did not spare a glance at the bed. He simply went out to the balcony. Tenten weakly grasped her forehead protector and shoved it to the bedside table. Her feet were bare, and they hit the cold tiles and seemed to frost.

They stood outside; he gracefully perched on the rail, she awkwardly hovering behind him, unsure of what to say. The burning inside her had long been drained from her body, and she had absolutely no refuge from what he was to say. That is, if he was going to ever open his mouth.

"We did it because we needed to." Upon hearing this, Tenten savored the tingling in the starting of her indignation. "He was so sure that hard work could defeat genius. I was just as eager to show that it could not. We were meant to fight. I was meant to win. That is the way that fate works." It spread to her mind. "You were not meant to be hurt in the process."

He paused.

She waited for more. Her hands trembled. A sharp ache began to form within her. She had to recover from the blow...lie in bed...but she had to stay.

"There is no luxury in being of the Hyuuga Clan, especially the Branch House. You may say that no one ever expected anything of you, but it is not worse when you have the power and you cannot do anything with it? That is why I tried to fight Lee when he was already down. I've gone through more than you'd imagine."

"What do you mean?"

"There's no reason for you to know that."

"Then," she cried desperately, "what was your reason for coming in here and speaking at all?" The throbbing grew more painful.

"I was forced to."

'So that's the way that it works? You know...you know...you know I care, and yet you don't even have the decency to be kind to me about it!!'

"You are bitter about this."

"Of course I am! I tried to stop you, didn't I---"

"---That was not meant to happen."

"But it did!"

"And it was your own fault."

Her breathing stopped for several seconds. Tenten's fingers trembled once more. The pain was getting worse. Her vision was hazy. But her eyelids fell and the figure of her teammate was once again clear.

"You believe I am a heartless person who wishes only for strength. But I was not always considered powerful. Even now, I am shunned by my own family. The blood that reaches into me is tainted because I am of the Branch House. Already I know my fate. Death protecting my clan's secrets."

"You can overcome that. You're just...overreacting."

"Do you know my past, Tenten? Never stopped to wonder why I am the way I am, did you? It is of no consequence. You wouldn't understand."

"You don't know that!!"

"You think that you can change the way you were born. What you were meant to be. You say that I can prevail over being what I am. But, tell me. Can you change this?"

His hands deftly sought out the knot under his locks. With a soft swish, his forehead protector slid off.

---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

Someone fixed my computer monitor, so I'm in high spirits. Due to the circumstances which glue me to the computer, I've finished the chapter early and decided to post it up!! I've gotten the whole fic planned out, down to typing an outline, but I have a few chapters of blankness that is killing me. Got to go fill them up. Review!!!! ;D

(Coming soon) Chapter 5: Bittersweet

[[ Review Answers ]]

Mango13: Thanks so much! It makes me so cheerful to read reviews. I swear, when I see I have a new one, I spaz out because I love getting them so much. I LOVE that you anticipate my chapters. It inspired me to write another one, faster than I'd planned.

Calophi: Technically, it was meant that when Lee was "sleeping," and Tenten was visiting, she'd talk, but whatever. -bows- I think I've done that before. Anyways...I agree with you!

Mechalich: Yes, I know that it wasn't really possible for that part to happen, but I had (and wanted) to put it in because it was supposed to lead on to where she drags herself out. Thanks for your review. :D

Dark Nemesis 7: Yay! Of course I will! I promise that I will NOT delete this one like my other ones! ;D

yuji-i16: You put the whole 'approval' thing in the perfect way. And...Neji is...but that's okay. Because this fic will go on past the main matches, where Naruto beats him up. 3

Uzumaki Pryde: -frolics- You're finally on f.f.net...where are your stupid fics, anyways? -yells and throws sticks-

Ambrelic Eyes: I've never read another fic that has that storyline, but I do like the idea! However, I am not really a fan of Sasuke/Sakura...don't ask why. My reasons are weird. But thanks for the review! I will try to update faster!! wavelets

You people do not know how much I value your support. Okay, if you write, then you do. But I love you all!! You're awesome!! Reading (pleasant) reviews makes my day.