Standard disclaimer apply.
Tenten frowns because she knows what Gai-sensei is about to say.
He's explaining a new mandate from the fifth Hokage that all teams must have at least one member trained in basic medic jutsus.
Neji stands silently on her right while Lee is next to Gai-sensei, in rapt attention, nodding enthusiastically.
She can't be sure, she feels like Gai-sensei has sent several blinding ping's her way. (Although she tells herself that's ridiculous. The angle of the ping depends on the angle of incidence of the sun's rays.)
Tenten had already heard about the mandate from Ino and Hinata the night before. They had both been chosen by their teams.
Hinata had volunteered, wanting to learn a new skill where she could help others. Ino was told by Shikamaru she would be best placed in their team to have medic skills as it would complement her bloodline technique, so Ino agreed.
And of course, Sakura was the fifth Hokage's apprentice and well on her way to becoming a medic nin.
As Gai-sensei explains the importance of the training, tension sets itself in Tenten's shoulders. She can't put her finger on it, but she can't help but feel put off.
It's not that she doesn't value medical skills. Life threatening injuries were an inevitable part of the job, and knowing medic jutsus could often be the difference between life and death. God knows Team Gai, with their reputation as one of Konoha's best power house units, had seen more than their fair share of life threatening injuries only to be saved by Sakura and the other medics at the hospital.
It wasn't that. As a skill, she was all for it.
After all, she had idolised Tsunade-hime her whole childhood and Tsunade was the best medic out there.
In her early days in Team Gai there was nothing Tenten wanted more than to follow Tsunade's footsteps and become the greatest medic nin the world ever saw. But after three days willing a half dead fish back to health, with little success (and much damage to her pride), it was clear to Tenten her calling lay elsewhere.
Her brows furrow slightly as Gai-sensei explains the commitment required (a fortnight).
But then again, she thinks, it's not like the mandate said they were going to be medic nins. It was just learning basic medical jutsus for emergencies. To buy time. To possibly save a life.
Strategically speaking, Tenten supposes it should be her from Team Gai. Lee can only use taijutsu so his chakra fluctuates in bursts, corresponding with the hits he lands on their enemies. Medical jutsus require a constant, precise flow of chakra.
Tenten's chakra control has improved substantially from her genin days, especially for summoning, but she is still nowhere as good as Neji.
But Neji's fighting style was exclusively close combat. He is always in the midst of the battle, along with Lee.
And whenever Gai-sensei wasn't with them, Neji naturally assumed the leadership role for the team. It would be difficult for Neji to get away from the fray to perform emergency medical jutsus. Even if he would undoubtedly be better at it.
Of course Tenten also holds her own in close combat. But the arsenal of projectiles she keeps in her scrolls means she's also long-distance fighter. Depending on the battle she can be soaring above her team mates, raining down weapons, or on the ground next to them, manriki in hand.
She can move fluidly across the battlefield. To wherever she's needed.
So Tenten supposes it should be her.
And of course she would do anything to protect her team mates. So if it was learning medical jutsus then…
With a final ping Gai-sensei ends his explanation and asks who among them will undertake the training.
Tenten pushes down her sense of displeasure and sets her resolve. Medical jutsus aren't for her, but she would be helping the team. Plus, she reasons, she will get to hang out with the other kunoichi for a fortnight.
'I can-' she starts, but doesn't finish. Neji cuts her off.
'I'll do it.'
Tenten turns to stare at Neji.
Gai-sensei shifts to his I'm-so-pround-of-my-students-number-2 pose and hits Neji with an extra bright ping.
'YOSH NEJI! Our youthful genius! I should have known you would volunteer to undertake this important role in the team. I have always known you care very deeply about your team mates, even if you refuse to wear matching green-.
'NEJI MY RIVAL! I too will learn another skill to catch up to you! I will learn how to walk with only one hand! I will do 500 laps around the village-'
'LEE! WHAT A YOUTHFUL IDEA! I will also-'
Neji grimaces and quickly turns on his heel, out of hugging range and towards the training grounds.
When Tenten doesn't immediately follow Neji shoots a questioning look back at her.
It snaps her out of it. She quickly follows Neji, and narrowly avoids being sandwiched between Gai-sensei and Lee as waterfalls stream from their eyes and flowers begin blossoming from nowhere.
Neji and Tenten walk in silence to towards their training ground.
As they enter the clearing Tenten lingers on the periphery, instead of taking to the trees as she normally does.
Sensing her hesitation Neji turns to silently regard her, an eyebrow lifting slightly.
'I can do it Neji. The medic training', she says quietly.
His brows furrow. 'I thought you hated learning medical jutsus.'
She bites down the slight pang of humiliation and shoots him a wry smile. She was hoping he wouldn't remember her last attempt. But of course he does.
After a beat she sighs and shifts her gaze to the ground.
'It's not for me, but I can learn for the team', she replies evenly.
He frowns.
'I'm better at chakra control and the byakugan makes it easier for me to perform a diagnosis. Hinata-sama will also attend for Team 8.'
'But you and Lee are always in the fray…'
'-so are you-'
'-so it's riskier for you-'
'-we all take on the same risk-'.
'-and you might need to save your chakra for later-'
'-the same goes for you-'
'-but what if-'
'Tenten.'
She stops her rambling to meet his level gaze. She can tell he knows what she's thinking, even if she can't piece it together herself.
They stand in silence for a moment, just looking at each other, before he breaks it.
'If it's not for you, you don't have to do it. But it's also an important skill for the team. So, if you want to do it, you should. No task is more or less important. We all contribute the same amount. We all work together to get the mission done.'
His tone leaves no room for argument.
As she slowly takes in his words, she exhales the breath she didn't know she was holding. For the first time since she had heard from Ino and Hinata, Tenten feels all the tension leave her body. A warm feeling takes its place. Her lips curve into a smile.
She suddenly feels silly for worrying in the first place.
Neji is still looking at her, waiting for an answer.
Eventually she replies. 'It's an important skill. But it's not for me.'
He nods in understanding, and moves to get into his fighting stance.
As she unclips her scroll, Tenten shoots him a teasing smile.
'You sounded awfully like Gai-sensei just then. I think he's really rubbing off on you'. The twinkle in her eye is back.
He rolls his eyes at her, then smirks.
'I know what happened to that fish you tried to heal. It's better this way. For the sake of the team.'
She can't help but laugh as she takes off into the trees. After today he's going to wish he learnt medical jutsus earlier.
END
A/N: Not sure if I did justice to the issue I was trying to get at. Happy for thoughts/comments.