Chapter Eight

During the Sixth Hokage's era, the Konoha's hidden village had stopped being hidden and instead become the first metropolitan area in the Land of Fire. Stores that had been in business since the village's founding grew into 24-hour businesses, and due to condos housing hundreds of people, it brought in more immigrants. The number of tourists visiting had also increased considerably so it was now customary to see restaurants and food shops with long queues especially during the busiest hours.

It was almost midday and Tenten strolled with Takao across Konoha's crowded streets. They had been since early in the morning studying and testing the sacred tools and making plans for Tenten's shop opening. Their energy levels were rather low.

"I'm so tired and hungry" Tenten said, stretching. "I could eat a whole cow."

Takao's lips curled.

"Let's go lunch – my treat." He reached for his money pouch. "After all, I have to repay you for letting me study the sacred tools."

They walked past by the Chinese restaurant from which a furtive thread of smoke twisted. Her nose sniffed the tasty wisp of air.

"Mmm, it smells so good!" Tenten's mouth started watering and she stopped in her tracks. "I really want a bowl of wonton noodle soup right now."

"Then let's join the queue."

But it was not to be. In a wink Takao was being dragged across the street in the direction of Konoha's hot springs by a strong greenish figure on a wheelchair.

"Gai-sensei!" Tenten screamed, running after him.

Suddenly another greenish figure zoomed past her at high speed.

"Gai-sensei!" He called, catching his breath. "Let's not do th-" He stopped his words at the glimpse of two round brown eyes squinting at him. "Oh, Tenten!" Lee scratched his neck.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Taking a relaxing bath, of course," Gai replied promptly. "And I'm taking this man with me." He pulled Takao's arm and went inside the hot springs.

"What?" She gave him a dazed look of bewilderment. "With whose consent?"

It was not the first time Tenten doubted her sensei's sense of good judgment but since Takao arrived it was becoming harder and harder for her to deal with his crazy shenanigans. He was insupportable.

"Don't worry Tenten," Lee said. "I won't let Gai-sensei go overboard." And so, he went after Gai leaving Tenten unsettled in the middle of the street.

000

They sat in silence inside the steaming water that trickled out a bamboo stick stuck in the hot spring's rock and pouring down like a waterfall on the bath. The sound of it running was loud, but pleasant and relaxing, and the little water stream made ripples on its surface.

Lee looked at Gai-sensei with tented eyebrows but couldn't get a clue what he was ruminating about. He sighed, defeated. The situation was actually pretty awkward even for him to take it. Takao glanced at Lee, and Lee was unsure of what to say to break the ice. He was opening his mouth to speak when suddenly Maito Gai stood up, with only the water steam covering his private parts.

"Now that we are all gathered here this is the proper way to have a man talk, au naturel!" He exclaimed, placing his hands on his hips.

Takao sweat-dropped, closing his eyes.

OK now I'm going to teach this guy he can't just flirt openly with my daught-, I mean student, in front of me! Thought Gai, mentally preparing to lash-out on the Takumi village weapon developer merciless, but Lee expressed himself first.

"Please, take care of Tenten well." He begun, with a serious look while bowing his head down. "That's the only thing I ask of you, Takao-san."

Gai-sensei looked down at him with a huge frown.

"Lee, what are you doing?" He protested. "You can't give up on our lotus flower!"

"Gai-sensei, I just want Tenten to be happy."

"But-"

Takao lifted his hand, "I have no romantic interest in Tenten." He declared.

Both Gai and Lee looked back at him with bulging eyes.

Gai felt like he had just prepared for a battle that blew up before it started.

"O-oh, I see..." he hesitated. "That's good..." He sat down again, slowly.

An uncomfortable silence settled in.

Suddenly he heard Kakashi's voice inside his mind: "You're the one who decided to hate the poor guy from the very start, just admit you're overreacting Gai."

Perhaps my rival was right… He thought, self-reflecting.

"She is a person I respect very much, but this is where it ends, that's where it stops." Takao was now speaking directly to Lee. "I know you're worried about that." He continued.

Rock Lee blushed. The Takumi village ninja had seen through him.

"Well…" He didn't know what to reply.

"You should tell her, if you like her." Takao smiled. "Tenten is a wonderful girl, I'm sure many men would fancy her."

Gai-sensei nodded. It was the first time he was in steady agreement with the foreign ninja.

"I-I know…" Lee replied, somehow embarrassed.

"So, go talk to her. Because she likes you too." Takao picked up his towel and stood up, wrapping it around his waist. "I'll take my leave then."

Lee and Gai were left alone in silence.

000

It was the anniversary of Neji's death and as usual Lee and Tenten arranged to meet in front of Yamanaka's flower shop, where they used to buy white chrysanthemums to decorate their teammate's grave.

The entire journey to the cemetery was made in silence, one could only hear their footsteps touching the ground. Once there Tenten summoned several cleaning tools from her scrolls: two buckets, some cloths and a broom. The tomb, filled with dirt and moss, was scrubbed. The sides of the tomb were swept, and the weeds removed. After the grave was cleaned Lee and Tenten offered incense sticks and placed the flowers in the containers.

"Hi Neji," Lee begun putting his hands together. "How are you? I just beat a new record today. I could tell you all about it but I'm sure you manage to watch me from above." Tenten glanced at him. Afterall, you seem to be my guardian angel. He thought, remembering his last encounter with his teammate in dreams.

"Hi Neji, we miss you." Tenten summoned a steaming bowl from her wrist scrolls and put it on the gravestone. "We brought your favourite herring soba." She put her hands together and started praying. "I'm opening a weaponry shop in Konoha. Please guide me and assist me."

Lee looked at her from the corner of his eye. He was now aware that Takao was assisting her in opening a shop for ninja weapons. Somehow it made him feel dejected that she had never shared her dream with him before, and that the first person she shared it with was another man. He shook his head. No, he should be glad she had someone to help her accomplish her goals, even if that someone wasn't him. He shouldn't feel sad about it. That was very self-centred of him.

Lee wondered if what Takao said to him in the hot springs was indeed true, but the time was not right to talk about his concerns, so he waited until they were leaving.

They cleaned the incense sticks and Tenten summoned back into her scrolls the food bowl. They said their final goodbyes and it was time to go. Once Tenten started walking Lee grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. She looked back at him surprised.

"Tenten, do you like me?" Lee asked.

Her face instantly became red, and she turned away trying to escape but the grip on her wrist was like iron. "W-what are you asking?"

"I need you to say it clearly. I need you to be honest with me, Tenten." He flipped her around.

"Stop it!" Tenten tried to release her hand, but she couldn't break his tight grip on her wrist.

"Tenten" he pleaded in a serious tone, "please."

Suddenly Tenten stopped struggling and an awkward silence settled over them.

Her friends' words echoed inside her mind:

"He was probably just very surprised." She remarked. "I think you should talk with him once he comes back and set the record straight."

"I agree with Sakura." Ino insisted. "You guys should get everything out in the open about your feelings."

Tenten lifted her head and looked him straight in the eyes. She would have to stop being stubborn if she wanted to have closure. Yes, it was better to confess once and for all and bury her feelings completely than to keep prolonging the inevitable.

"That's right. I like you." Suddenly he lost his grip on her hand and she took advantage of it to take it back. "But don't worry, I'll move on."

She turned and ran down the hill before burning tears welled up in her eyes.

Lee's heart tightened in his chest. Why was she trying to move on? Had he done something wrong? He was so confused he turned and faced the tomb.

"Neji, what should I do?" He run his fingers through his hair overwhelmed. "Why is she trying to move on?" Lee gave a sad smile and sat in front of the tombstone. "I wish you were here to enlighten me, Neji."

000

"Hey, isn't that Lee?" Asked a man with messy brown hair, sharp black eyes with vertical slit-like pupils and red fang markings on his cheeks. "What the hell is he doing?" He pointed at the green beast sitting down in front of a tombstone. It seemed like he was having an imaginary conversation with himself.

His friends, a man with a set of sunglasses and a forehead protector bandanna-style, and a pearled eyed woman with long dark blue hair, followed the direction of his pointed finger.

"Indeed, it's Lee-san." Said Hinata, who was holding a bouquet of white chrysanthemums on her arms. "It seems he also came to visit Neji-nii-san."

They approached the bowl-haired man, but he didn't seem to notice their presence. He kept talking to the tombstone nonstop.

"Yo!" Kiba placed a firm hand on Lee's shoulder, startling him. "Why are you talking to a tombstone? You have us bro."

"K-kiba-kun!" He stood up immediately. "Oh, Hinata-san, Shino-kun."

Hinata looked down at the tombstone.

"It seems we are late," she said checking how clean everything was. "Thank you for taking care of Neji-nii-san." Hinata smiled in Lee's direction and proceeded to place the flowers in the vases on the grave.

"Oh, I didn't do it alone. Tenten helped. She just…" He stopped himself for a second, "left."

Shino and Hinata glanced at him suspiciously, the way he said the last word didn't leave them indifferent.

"Oh, I see." Hinata said. "Why did she leave?"

"Erm, she probably had something to do." He made up, scraping a hand through his hair.

"You're a terrible liar." Shino remarked, in a calm, collected voice. Everyone looked at him. "Why you ask? Because your speech is irregular, you paused before answering and you're not making eye contact."

Kiba rubbed his chin and his eyebrows tented.

"Heh, I don't know what's going on, but I'm always up for dialogue." He declared wrapping his arm around Lee's shoulders.

"You have a point." Lee said, with a weak smile. "You're reading me like an open book. Neji knew how to do that too…" He sighed, nostalgic. If only Neji was there, he was sure he would find a solution for his problems.

Suddenly Hinata grabbed his hand. Unlike Kiba or Shino she was aware of Tenten and Lee's situation, so she wanted to impart some support.

"If you have something to say to her you should do it." Hinata assured, staring into his eyes deeply.

"Her?" Kiba asked, with curiosity creeping up on him. "Oooh, so we're talking about girls? Why didn't you say so before?" He smirked.

"No girls Kiba," Shino corrected, "Tenten."

"Tenten, I see." Kiba clicked his tongue, "I always knew you two were made for each other. Yeah, Tenten is a tsundere but she loves your guts."

Lee blushed surprised at his remark. What? Kiba always knew about it? He knew Tenten liked him? Even Kiba knew? Lee eyes enlarged slowly. That meant him alone wasn't aware of the fact, and he saw Tenten almost every day of his life. Was he stupid or just blind?

"Is she playing hard to get?" Kiba asked, still clearly enjoying the situation. "Don't worry, it's a common strategy among women in love."

Hinata sweat-dropped at Kiba's remark. He always went a little overboard.

"I don't think Tenten is the type to play hard to get." Shino observed. "But something could be distressing her." He crossed his arms over his chest.

Lee frowned.

"Maybe she is mad about what happened that night..." He muttered absentmindedly.

Either way, he couldn't figure out why she liked him but wanted to forget about him. It made no sense.

Kiba's eyes bulged, and he grabbed Lee by the jacket.

"That night? What do you mean? Have you two-?!"

Shino shoved him and he released his grip on Lee.

"Don't interfere with people's intimate affairs Kiba. Why you ask? Because that's rude."

"What!" He exclaimed. "I mean, we're all friends. Friends talk about these things. It's not like I'm doing anything wrong." Kiba huffed annoyed.

"Lee is within his own right to remain silent about his private life." The bug user pointed out.

"Stop being such a boring pain in the ass Shino! You never know how to have fun!" He crossed his arms and looked away.

Hinata force smiled and sweat-dropped.

"Well, Lee-san, thanks again for taking care of Neji-nii-san. We will take it from here."

"Oh, yes. Of course!" Lee stood up shaking the dirt off his jumpsuit as he had been sitting on the floor for quite some time. "Then, I'll see you around."

000

It was morning and one could already feel the heat of summer and the humidity on the atmosphere. Team Gai gathered at Konoha's gate to pay their goodbyes to the weapon developer from Takumi village. He had stayed for almost two months studying the sacred tools and it was now time to go home and analyse the data he had collected.

Gai-sensei placed one hand on Takao's shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes.

"I misjudged you, you are a nice guy."

Tenten rolled her eyes. You didn't even give him a chance to begin with…

"As an apology, I want you to have this jumpsuit." He pulled out a green jumpsuit of his own clothes and handed it over to Takao who frowned. "It's the latest clothing ninja technology, it's very resistant to water and fire and it's breathability is unparalleled." Gai-sensei continued explaining all the amazing features of the jumpsuit, passionately. Takao glanced at Tenten who shrugged.

"Erm…" He force smiled and sweatdropped. "Thank you." I guess…

"In fact, I should give you three, as compensation for my rude behaviour."

"No, it's fin-" Takao begun, but was interrupted.

"No, three is not enough, five is better." He rubbed under his nose with the index finger. "A great man knows when he needs to apologize." Gai said in a prideful tone. "Right Lee?"

The green beast replied with an "Osu!"

"Yes, and he also knows how to stop when he is going clearly overboard." Tenten mumbled behind him.

Gai pretended he didn't hear what she said and started whistling.

After shoving the five jumpsuits into his backpack with difficulty – he didn't want to be rude and reject the offer - Takao approached Tenten.

"Well, I'll be going now." He stretched out his hand. "Thank you for everything, Tenten." Takao shook her hand, with a smile. "Lee-san. Gai-san." He shook their hands respectively. "I'll be back for the shop opening."

"Really?" Tenten exclaimed overjoyed. "I would be very happy!"

"Yes, I wouldn't miss it. Goodbye, see you soon!"

"Goodbye!" They replied in unison.

000

Lee took a deep breath for the fifth time and placed his hand on the wood door in front of him, pushing it open.

He had been waiting a long time for Tenten, but as much patience as he had she still seemed to not want to open up to him. She repeatedly kept running away when Lee tried to address the subject of their feelings. He thought things would get better once Takao went away – she wouldn't have the excuse of "being busy with the sacred tools research" – but Tenten was cunning and started giving him the "I need to prepare the shop for its opening" excuse now.

Well, he wasn't taking it anymore. It was now or never.

"Tenten, can we talk?" He asked, adamantly.

She was on the right corner of the shop surrounded with a pile of boxes.

"Well," she said while kneeling to unpack a cardboard box on the floor. "Now it's not the best time." She opened the box and started unpacking stuff for the shop, not sparing a look in his direction.

"Tenten," he said, raising his hands in an indignant expression. "You've been using that excuse the whole month!"

He demonstrated his frustration by moving around the room and gesturing.

Tenten stand up to face him while emitting an extremely loud sigh of exasperation.

"Well," she begun, placing her hands on her hips. "Have it crossed your ugh dense mind that maybe I don't want to talk!"

"Why wouldn't you want to talk?" His voice raised.

"Because- argh!" She groaned, running a hand down her face. "Are you that stupid?"

He pouted, and his bushy-brows tented.

"I'm lost if you don't tell me. Did I do something wrong? Is that why you won't talk to me?"

Her chest tightened at his distressed look.

"What? Where did you get such an idea?" Tenten gestured with her hand in disagreement.

"So, what other reason could there be? It's the first time you're avoiding me for such a long time."

"Seriously Lee, can't you get a clue?" She heaved a deep sigh. "I don't need to hear it again; I've registered the message. That's why I don't want to talk. There's nothing more to talk about."

"What do you mean?"

He grew more and more despondent.

"I don't need to hear you apologize twice; I get it ok?" She spoke through her teeth with forced restrain.

"Apologize for what? I can't understand a single thing you're talking about Tenten." Rock Lee rubbed the back of his neck, confused.

Oh, for god's sake! Tenten cursed under her breath.

"That you don't feel the same way, that you don't like me! I get it, just move on with it! You're making it worse!" She turned around and started moving boxes again.

His eyes bulged and the light bulb went on his head. What? She thinks I don't like her? How did she reach such a conclusion? Then he was transported back to the moment he left Konoha for his long-term mission and the words he uttered as he said his goodbyes to her.

"I didn't want to go before saying goodbye and that I'm…" He stopped himself for a second. His mobile expressions registered he was second-guessing himself. "That I'm sorry…" He stared at his hands with brooding eyes, biting his lower lip. "I'm sorry Tenten."

Was it because of his apologize? He didn't mean it in that way. No, she wasn't supposed to interpret it like that. He just wanted to convey how sorry he was for being so blind before. For not noticing her feelings. But if he really tried to put himself on her shoes it really could have come across like that. It really sounded like a rejection.

Lee lifted his chin up. He had to correct his mistake. He just needed to show her how wrong she was and how she had misunderstood his words.

Tenten was near a table, now checking stuff on a list, when two hands hold her under her arms and sat her on top of it. Tenten's eyes bulged, and she blinked confused.

"Watch me." He said.

Suddenly Lee brought his face close to hers. Tenten's face reddened, and she instinctively put the clipboard between them, embarrassed. What was he doing?! Her brain short circuited and she couldn't utter a single sound.

Lee took the clipboard away and kissed her full on the lips. He started gently, like asking for permission, but soon his kiss turned like fire. His lips were soft and worked over her mouth with passion. Her heart could barely take it anymore. It was beating so hard it bruised.

When he took his lips away Tenten covered her mouth shocked.

"I've been trying to say this for a while, but you are constantly shutting me down."

"I thought you didn't-" She begun, speechless with his actions.

"Yes, I also thought I didn't have feelings for you, Tenten. But love can be sitting right in front of you with blinking lights, signs and arrows all around it and you're still too oblivious to notice." Lee half-smiled. "Since that night everything I thought I knew about us was questioned. I thought I knew what I wanted... who I wanted. Well, I was wrong..." He took her hand on his and caressed it with his thumb. "You have always been there for me, even when I didn't have to ask. I took you for granted in my life. You always knew the right thing to say and the right way to act, so it just went unnoticed to me. I was blind towards your love. I was too blind to notice that you're perfect for me." He stroked her face with his thumb and that made hair stand up on the back of her neck.

You, you argh! This should be illegal! Tenten squirmed mentally, feeling her cheeks flush.

"How can you blurt such things out loud without batting an eye?" My heart is not ready! "Jeez, you have no shame…" She felt her eyes sting.

"Tenten, are you... crying?" He asked, blinking.

"What?" She took her fingers to her eyes and found tears. "Oh." She quickly turned away embarrassed. "I'm fine! Please don't look at me now." I'm so embarrassed I could die!

Lee just smiled.

"Hey, it's ok to be vulnerable with me." He took her face in his hands and made her look back at him. "And being vulnerable doesn't mean being weak."

"I know, but I don't like it." She put her hands over his. "Just don't look."

He chuckled and held her close. Her embarrassment only made her look cuter.

"I'm punishing you." She said, huffing.

"Punishing for what?" He frowned, tilting his head.

"For making my eyes water." Tenten threw her arms around his neck, pressing her body frame against him and kissing him on the lips. "I'm going to kiss you until your lips go numb."

He wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I can think of worse ways of getting punished." He whispered against her lips.

And with that, he pulled her in, claiming her mouth again, hungry and intense, ready to immerse himself into the real love that he's been missing his whole life.

A/N:

So, this fanfic finally reaches its end. It "only" took me 6 years (I started writing it in 2017 and published it on ) but I kept my goal of not leaving it unfinished ^^" So, yay!

I would love to have your opinion on the comments now that it's over. Please, please review! :D

Would you like to read more LeeTen? I have an AU in mind, but I'm still plotting everything.

A big thank you to everyone who stayed with me until the end! :) Also a big thanks to our LeeTen Support group who really helped motivate me. I love you girls ~~3

If you're looking for more LeeTen fanfics, I highly recommend you read BlackViper127 fanfic /works/36440092/chapters/90861322 (The Scaredy-Cat Effect), unlike myself she won't keep you waiting for years ^^"