Tenten; 1 Year Later

Age 14

-Polar Opposites-

Neji was inside the Hokage's office getting his chuunin vest. It was really early in the morning.

I was outside jogging when I saw Neji walking towards the Hokage's office. I figured he was going to go and get his vest, but I decided to ask him anyway. He only half agreed, and mentioned that the Hokage only asked to see him and it could have absolutely nothing to do with getting his vest. We all know better.

I didn't know why, but I asked him if he wanted me to go along with him. He shrugged and said whatever, so I followed him to the Hokage's office. He asked me to wait outside found out what she wanted.

I don't know why I do it. Maybe it's because no one else does.

I knew Neji thought female ninjas could never amount to anything, so I wondered how he felt about a female Hokage? He couldn't deny that she was a good ninja, especially since she was Hokage AND she had control of whether or not he would be promoted.

He had done really well in the chuunin exam so it was no surprise to any of us that he would get promoted. And, even though he had an easy pass into the tournament because he was up against Hinata once again, he certainly proved his right to be there by winning the tournament. I would have to seriously consider the sanity of the examiners and Hokage if she hadn't promoted Neji to the chuunin level.

He has vastly surpassed any of the other genins, and I'm sure he knew it.

I watched as Aburame Shino came outside and walked past me, but I don't think he even noticed me. He was carrying a chuunin vest as well. I suppose he did deserve it as well.

Not long after, Neji came outside with his vest as well.

"See?" I said. "I told you!"

"I knew it." he said.

Of course he knew it! He just wasn't going to say it. I don't know WHY. It's not like he was being tender about it because I hadn't even gotten past the preliminaries while he and Lee did. It's just ANOTHER excuse for Neji to badmouth female ninjas.

"Aren't you going to try it on?" I asked.

"I'm sure it fits." He said. "Don't you have training to go to?"

I looked at my watch. "I guess." I replied. "Are you not coming?"

"No." he replied. "I'm a chuunin now. I don't HAVE to come."

With that, he walked away. Sometimes, I don't even know what to say about his rudeness. So I just have to ignore it most of the time.

I finished up my jog and changed my clothes. I went to the meeting spot where Gai already was. I was a little early, but I was surprised that Lee wasn't there. He's usually there before Gai is.

"Hi." I said. "Neji's a chuunin now, did you know?"

Gai nodded at me, looking rather solemn. It sure was going to be interesting training with just Lee and Gai. For some reason, I felt as though I would get lost in the background. Before, when Neji was around, he and I could train together while Lee and Gai did WHATEVER it is they do. But now that wasn't going to happen anymore.

We waited for an awfully long time until Lee finally showed up.

"LEE!!!" Gai yelled. "YOU'RE LATE!!!"

He punched Lee with all his might. No matter how many times I see it done, I still don't think it's proper punishment for anything Lee does.

"Gai!" he said. "I'm sorry I'm late!! I was just making sure that a jounin wasn't coming to my door to tell me I had passed the chuunin exam!"

"Oh Lee!" said Gai.

"Gai!!" Lee yelled as the two of them hugged. I suddenly felt very bad for him. I knew Lee aspired to be a great ninja even though he couldn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu. And I knew that he always felt that hard work would beat out geniuses as long as he kept at it. I wonder if he knew that Neji was a chuunin.

"Gai, are you going to tell him?" I asked when I noticed nothing really was happening.

"Tell me what?" Lee asked as the two of them FINALLY stopped their hugging.

"Lee, I don't know how to break it to you…" Gai started.

"What is it, Gai?" Lee asked.

"There's no EASY way to say this…"

"What?"

"This isn't something to take lightly!"

"What?"

This had to stop or it would go on all day. I let out an exasperated sigh. "Lee, NEJI'S a chuunin now!" I said FOR Gai.

Lee gasped. His face changed from happiness, to a look of pure jealousy, then sadness and then happiness again. He was trying to be happy for Neji while at the same time being sad for himself and incredibly jealous that Neji was a chuunin and he was not.

"That's why he's not here today, Lee!" said Gai. "For he is not required to train with us now that he is a chuunin!"

"Oh Gai!!" Lee wailed. I felt REALLY bad for him but then he suddenly spouted out, "Gai, I must run ten laps around Konoha!"

"Why?" I questioned.

"Because I promised myself that if I didn't pass the chuunin exam then I would do so."

I was about to slap my forehead when Gai piped in.

"Good idea!" said Gai. "I think we ALL shall do it!"

"What?" I demanded.

"TEN LAPS!!" yelled Gai.

I was annoyed because I had already gone on a run that morning. It seemed as though Gai and Lee chose the days I did morning runs to do ten laps around Konoha.

Thankfully, time passed quickly enough. I had no chance of catching up with Lee and Gai so I really only had to do three laps by the time they had finished their ten. I don't think Gai noticed though. If they did, he chose not to enforce it on me for whatever reason.

"Team!" said Gai. "Today has been an emotional day for all of you! Therefore, I will allow you to take the rest of the day off to do anything you wish! Please have a good day!"

That was probably the reason.

I didn't object to having a day off. Gai left and I looked at Lee. He looked like he WANTED to say something, but nothing was coming out. So, after waiting very patiently for about a minute, I decided that he was just going to stand there thinking all day so I left.

"Hey!" I heard Lee yell. "Let's go visit Neji and congratulate him!"

"I already saw him this morning." I said.

"Neat!!" Lee said enthusiastically, even though I hadn't meant for it to be a good thing. "Now you can see him TWICE! Let's go!"

Seeing Neji twice wasn't exactly 'neat' in my book. "Lee, I don't really want to visit Neji. He was kind of jerk this morning so I'd rather do something else."

"Like what?" Lee asked.

I thought for a moment. I didn't know what to do. And to be honest, I didn't really want to hang out with Lee anyway. It's not like I don't like Lee as a friend, but I didn't want to be seen in public with him when we weren't training or else people might think I'm like… dating him or something.

"What do YOU want to do?" Lee asked again.

"I don't know…" I said, hoping he'd get the message.

"Well, I'M going to go over to congratulate Neji." He said. "I would like it if you came, but you don't HAVE to!" He turned and left. I battled with myself for a little while, but something compelled me to follow Lee. As much as I didn't want to see Neji again OR be seen with Lee, I still went.

I was always nervous at Neji's house. The Hyuugas didn't seem to like Lee or me for some reason. It's not like we ever hung around the house for a long period of time, but every time I was there I felt so unwelcome that I couldn't wait to leave. Perhaps they were shooting for that since they obviously didn't want us to be there anyway.

"So ring the doorbell." I said, not wanting to be the one associated with disturbing them.

"You're closer." Lee said.

I gave Lee a look, and he seemed to take a hint. He rang the doorbell and the two of us waited.

When the door opened, Neji's uncle was standing there. I looked at Lee to say something, but he froze up completely. I figured since he rang the doorbell, I'd take care of asking if Neji was there.

"Um…hi…" I said haltingly. "Is…Neji home?"

He didn't really answer. He only shut the door on our faces.

I looked back at Lee who looked a little offended.

"That was rude." I said.

"Maybe he's not home…" Lee said with a shrug. He's always like that! Assuming people aren't INTENTIONALLY mean. But someday somebody has to explain that people are just MEAN sometimes.

We mutually decided there was no reason for us to hang around at the front door step for any longer so we turned around to leave. As soon as we did, I heard the door open and turned around. Neji was standing there wearing his vest.

"Neji!" Lee exclaimed excitedly. "I came over to congratulate you!! And Tenten came too!"

"I figured so much." Neji said.

"NOW we're going to take you out to eat!!" Lee announced as if we had previously determined that that's what we were going to do.

"What?" I said, though I didn't mean to. I wasn't too worried though because I knew he would never agree.

"Fine." Said Neji, shutting the door behind him.

Okay…that was weird. There was NO reason why Neji would agree to come out to eat with us. You'd think there would be a hundred other things he'd rather be doing.

"I'm glad at least ONE of us became a chuunin!" Lee said.

I figured he was speaking to Neji so I didn't answer.

"NEXT year Tenten and I will be chuunins!" I tried again.

He was OBVIOUSLY speaking to Neji so I, once again, stayed quiet.

"Will you come and watch us in the chuunin exam next time, Neji?" Lee asked.

That was most definitely a question directed only towards Neji so I only looked at him to hear his answer, but he didn't reply. Lee looked a little sad, but he got over it as we entered the restaurant to see Sakura sitting at one of the tables with Sasuke and Naruto!

"Sakura!!" Lee yelled, sprinting over and sliding in on one knee. "It is so nice to see you! How are you? Are you well? It's been a long time since we last met! Days, I think!"

"Lee…please…" Sakura said.

"Will you do me the honor of dining with my team and I?" I requested.

There was no way to keep Lee from saying hello to her. But he had no right to invite her to eat, especially since we were eating as a TEAM and they obviously were too.

"Lee!" I tried to explain to him. "It's a TEAM thing! And THEY'RE obviously doing a team thing too!"

"Sasuke, are you all right?" Sakura asked, not even thanking me for getting Lee away from her.

"Lee, come on." I said, trying to get us to a table before anything else happened.

"What should we order?" Lee said with a big grin. "Wow, the food smells good today! I can't wait to eat something since I'm quite hungry!"

"One thing I will certainly not miss is your mouth constantly flapping." Neji said.

I looked at Neji with a disapproving glare, but he didn't even notice or care. He went to looking at his menu and Lee sank down in his seat. I felt so sorry for him. I felt sorry for Neji too. He was completely alienating himself from the one person who ever even tried to be his friend.

But Lee seemed to be over it by the time our meal was over. Neji stood up first and then Lee did too.

"Good bye, Neji!" he said. "Feel free to stop by any time we're training!!"

Without warning, Lee grabbed Neji and hugged him. I almost burst out laughing but he quickly turned my head into my napkin and pretended to cough. I knew Neji would not appreciate that.

Lee looked awfully satisfied when he was finished.

"Lee." Neji said.

"Yes, Neji?" Lee replied.

"Don't ever do that again." Neji answered. He took that surprisingly well.