"What's wrong with your uncle?" Neji heard the young Uchiha ask his nephew.

Neji didn't understand why they felt the need to talk about him when he was so close. Did they want him to listen to everything they were saying?

Since Tenten had brought him back, Neji has had a hard time getting along with Boruto. Their first encounter felt like he was reliving an old memory. He was much like his father when they were kids. Boruto doesn't listen, doesn't follow orders, breaks the rules and was in need of a lot of discipline. Other than having the same name in a sense, they were nothing alike. It wasn't that he hated him. He would never hate his cousin's children, least of all Himawari. Boruto was just a lot to handle. Specially in their morning rounds.

"He's just cranky," Boruto elaborated.

"He is always cranky," Sarada murmured.

"Because he's stuck with us," Boruto explained. "And because of aunt Tenten."

"Interesting. I understand why he would be irritated at us, but what does this have to do with Tenten?"

Neji heard Boruto fake a gasp in surprise. He was about to reprimand him, but stopped when he heard him say, "You haven't heard the rumors?"

The rumors? There were rumors?

"No."

"He's spending too much time with aunt Tenten, if you know what I mean."

"I haven't heard a single thing about that."

Neji hadn't either.

"What?" Boruto sounded outraged. "That's all everybody seems to talk about. He has been spending a lot of time in her house. He leaves at well past midnight."

A surprise gasp from Sarada. "Really?"

"I even heard my mom tell my dad that she had to go to aunt Tenten's house and help her get clean. She was having a full on break down—"

"Boruto," Neji chided as he turned to the young Uzumaki.

Boruto seemed to shrink at the sound of his scolding tone. "Hai."

"Go check the north side of the village. Sarada, the south."

Neji was glad when they both dispersed, growing self-aware as he walked through the town, inspecting everything. Were people actually gossiping about him? He was just taking care of his teammate, nothing more, nothing less. Why would anyone assume anything of it? Neji was never a fan of town gossip, never liked what boredom brought out of people. He noted to himself to be more careful next time.

Despite his irritation, Boruto did have a point. He was cranky. Not only because he had awoken from a nightmare—no, a dream—last night, but because as a result of it, he was unable to sleep again. The dream had been different from the ones he had experienced before—which were just him relieving his death over and over. This one was too real, and he never did die. Well, at least not in the way he was used to. Neji had woken up feeling haunted by invisible ghosts. He was too worried about what it meant and if Tenten also experienced it. Neji hoped not. Just the thought sent him down spiral.

Since he couldn't sleep, Neji decided to go to the battle grounds a few miles away from village, where the war between the New Order Society, the Hidden Leaf and its allies was taking place. Regardless of his initial worries, it was turning out that the New Order Society lacked something Madara never did, lethalness and organization. Though Neji could tell with his Byakugan that the battle was ruthless, it was clear who was winning. The feeling of happiness was opaque by slight irritation. Naruto had been right after a while. He was not needed.

Last night, before going to bed, Neji thought of passing by Tenten's house early in the day and rescheduling their discussion of the scroll. He had looked at it countless times, confused and, now after the dream, plagued by the what it all meant. It would have not matter if they discuss it sooner or later. The scroll was either literal, with its contents meaning what they meant, or heavily encrypted. If it were the latter, it would take a while to figure out, and Neji reckoned they would have enough time for that.

When he reached her house, Neji was startled by laughter. He recognized that laughter. Neji didn't bother knocking, though he knew how rude it was and how it would be enough to fuel the neighbors and the gossip tenfold, opening the door in one swoop. There, Himawari braided Tenten's hair, her laughter dying in her throat at the sight of him.

"Uncle Neji!" Himawari said intrigued. Like someone who just found out a dirty secrete.

Neji ignored the obvious question in her tone as he asked, "Why are you here?"

"Just checking on aunt Tenten." She continued her braiding, though her smile grew all the wider. "I was dropping off something mom made for her. Why are you here?"

For a moment, Neji was speechless. He couldn't tell Himawari that he was here to discuss the scroll with Tenten if it implied that he had copied it in a piece of parchment. Neji was well aware that his niece did not know how to keep a secret, as was evident in the mission they had been assign to as consequence of. If Naruto found out what he did…

"Actually," Tenten began, noticing his struggle, "I wanted to ask you a favor, Himawari. While I am…" A pause while she searched for the right words. "Recovering I want you to look after my store."

Himawari gasped in amazement. Tenten's hair in her hands momentarily forgotten. "Really?"

"Yes," Tenten assured a little amused. "But your uncle Neji here is a little weary about it. He doesn't know if you can handle such a thing."

They both turned to Neji in expectation. Apparently, the ball was in his court now. He would decide what would happen next.

"Uh, yes," he confirmed as if on cue, not finding a reason to disagree with her. "I am still mulling it over."

"I can do it!" Himawari guaranteed. "I can handle it."

"What if someone tries to steal something?" Neji asked her suddenly, trying to end the conversation. "We were never done with your training."

Himawari looked more determined than ever, and Neji should have guessed something bad would happen. "I can show you I am ready."

Neji had dug his grave deeper, as ironic as it sounded. He made the mistake of opening Tenten's door when he heard Himawari's laughter—in spite of knowing how treacherous his niece clutches could be. He made the mistake of continuing with the charade even though Neji was sure Tenten would never let Himawari look after the store in real life. Although, when Tenten kept going along with Himawari's plan of showing off her skills, he started doubting himself. Did she really want to help him out or not?

To appease this problem he had cause, he told his niece that he would only be able to determine if she was qualified if she showed dominance with her hand to hand combat and with her Byakugan, but since they couldn't venture far from the village because of the war, they couldn't do much. So that was that, case close. It would have to happen on another time. Then, to his horror, Himawari offered the Hyuga compound as an alternative to their training grounds, it would be safer and there were already guards stationed in case anything happened. When Neji argued against it, she assured her grandfather wouldn't mind.

By then, Neji knew he wouldn't be able to persuade his niece otherwise. She was right. Hiashi wouldn't mind. His uncle was not the same man he used to be, not since he last saw him before he died. He had grown soft at some point and was more of a pushover than he led on to be. Neji still remember when the Hyuga clan was strict about its matters. Now… he was not sure what it was now.

Neji tried to ignore the curious stares he got from his clan members as he walked over to the area he and Lady Hinata used to train in when they were young, Himawari and Tenten trailing behind him. Tenten tried to keep the look of awe on her face in check, but she was failing miserably. He was pretty sure she tagged along just to see the inside of the building.

Himawari was quick to show him how much she had improved since their last training, promising that she was keeping up with it like she told him. Neji couldn't bluntly admit that she indeed had. A lot. No, certainly not say that she was seriously gifted and, that if she kept up with her training, she would be better than Boruto. No, it would all go to her head and she would end up running Tenten's entire store. And that was not the point in all of this. So, he focused his criticism on her hand to hand combat.

"What?" Himawari shrieked, not the slightest convinced with his critique.

"Yeah, Neji," Tenten agreed. "I think you are being a little harsh. She's a prodigy."

At her words, Neji felt like his whole life had been sucked right out of him. She had said something like that to him before. In another time. He felt himself slipping and shook his head, trying to concentrate. No, she hadn't. Tenten had never said anything like that to him before. Well, not this Tenten.

Neji gave Tenten a look, making her realize that she was not helping her case at all, forcing her to take back her words. "Although, Himawari, I have to admit he is right to some degree. Your hand to hand can use a little bit of tweaking."

"Really?" Himawari said, though she still didn't sound persuaded. More like suspicious. "If that is so, then you and uncle Neji should teach me what I did wrong. Weren't you the legendary Blue Beast's students?"

Yes, indeed. Neji had made a mistake.

Neji and Tenten looked at each other sheepishly. They haven't done that sort of exercise in years, not when they were too focus on perfecting their techniques. And when he came back, they were only interested in understanding the effects of the scroll, not practicing their hand to hand combat. Of course, Himawari would see through his façade. It would have just been easier to let her take care of the store like she wanted. Let her be manager if she wanted to so bad.

If it were not for the defiant smirk Himawari wore, similar to the one Naruto use to wear in his youth when he knew he'd won an argument, he would have let her have this.

Neji nodded to Tenten. "Are you up for it?"

Tenten seemed to ponder at that for a moment. After all, she was in any shape or form ready for it. Neither was he for that matter. She and him were still recovering from what the New Order Society had done.

She shrugged. "Sure. For old times' sake."

Neji hadn't been expecting that. Well, he hadn't been expecting a lot of things lately, but it just goes to show him that there were a lot of things he needed to be wrong about. From his periphery vision, Neji could tell Himawari was ecstatic about it.

Tenten did not hesitate in her advances, disregarding her defensive stance completely. Maybe that was what she was aiming for because Neji hadn't expected her to be so forward. Well, almost. He deflected her kicks and swats easily, able to get some shots in as well. Their blows were lighthearted, nothing harsh since it didn't matter who could manage a hit, they would both have the evidence in their bodies regardless. They were also teaching Himawari, so there was no point in being aggressive. There were at it for a few minutes, until Tenten took a few steps back, arms up, panting.

"Want us to stop?" Neji offered, already feeling the echo of her extortion in his body as well.

Tenten rolled her shoulders and her neck before she returned to her stance. "Not a chance."

They began again, but this time Neji felt like he was far away, reality and fiction bleeding into one. The motions reminded him of a routine, of day to day life. Like days melting into decades. He dodged her kicks and blows instinctively, already used to the pattern she was opting for, but not because he was paying particular attention.

Neji managed to land a blow on Tenten's right shoulder, making her tumble back. Tenten seemed shock and annoyed that he was able to do that.

"You idiot," she said jokingly, not crossed or angry, but it was enough to make his mind go blank. Those were the words she had told him before—

Before Neji could comprehend what happened, he was on the floor, Tenten's knee on his neck. It took him a second to realize that Tenten decided in that moment of distracted to knock him off his feet, beating him. He would hear Himawari's surprised gasp from where he laid.

Tenten smiled embarrassed, removing her knee from his neck and extending a hand to him. "You were distracted, so I took my shot. It was cheap, I know. Want to try again?"

Neji didn't understand why she would be embarrassed if he was the one who was made a fool.

"She got you good, uncle Neji," Himawari chippered from the sidelines, amused.

Neji ignored Tenten's helping hand, getting on his feet in one sharp move. "That is alright." He realized he was moving, heading for his quarters without saying a word, until his feet touched the wooden steps. Neji patted himself, turning to them, knowing they must be confused, "I will change out of these dirty clothes. You two may continue if you like." Before they could stop him, Neji continued his march.

He reached the quarters that served as his home, finding the discarded shirt he tried to put on this morning still laying on the floor. Neji removed the one he was wearing and picked the other one up. He wasn't sure if he was able to get it on him this time around, but he managed. Then he laid on the floor and meditated, trying to reign in some of his self-control, to gather his calm.

It wasn't real, it wasn't real, it wasn't real, it wasn't real, he kept saying to himself. It didn't help, he still got flashes from his parallel life, sounds and laughter from another time and place, from people that didn't exist.

Neji tried to restraint the physiological reactions his body was having in response to the emotional ones he tried to suppress. He really did not want Tenten to think something was wrong with him and question him about it, not when she was dealing with her own issues. Nevertheless, he wouldn't want to discuss this with her. It was fleeting and illogical. It would soon disappear. He hoped.

It wasn't real, it wasn't real, it wasn't real.

Neji hadn't realized he had been holed on in his room for too long until he heard a knock on the door to his quarters.

"Are you sure this is Neji's room?" Neji heard Tenten whisper on the other side.

"Positive," Himawari answered. "Uncle Neji, you in there?"

Neji cringed, sighing as he got to his feet. He opened the door and got out quickly, sure that if we was not fast enough Himawari would bring Tenten inside and that was the least that he wanted (even if he ironically hovered around her house too much).

"Are you okay, uncle Neji?" was the first think Himawari blurted. "You aren't sour because aunt Tenten beat you, right?"

Neji shook his head, trying to emulate just how fine he was. "I am not bitter about it. That is what you should do if you are ever in battle, you never hesitate."

"Huh," Himawari said but didn't sound completely swayed.

"Anyway," Neji continued, "I must keep supervising the village. I need to head out and make my rounds. You two can stay here if you wish."

Neji started walking, hearing Himawari groan in disappointment.

"Neji," Tenten called out, but he kept on moving, pretending he didn't hear.

"Hey," Tenten shouted, sure the entire clan must have heard her. For the first time he wondered if she ever did anything in silence.

Neji sighed and turned to her. She had a confused frown painting her features.

"Will you pass by later to, uh, discuss the matter we talked about?"

The scroll, of course. He had almost forgotten, that was why he had gone to her house in the first place. He thought of telling her he could not, that he had some other things to attend to, but he knew he would require energy for that, to muster a lie convincing enough. Himawari would find a way to butt in and 'help', he could see it now in the way she curiously looked from him to Tenten. She was just itching to say something.

"Yes, but we must discuss it privately."

Neji knew his choice of words would only feed into this delusional idea Himawari seemed to have, but if Tenten could get her off her hair, it would be easier for him to convince his teammate that they needed to reschedule.

Tenten nodded in understanding and he took that as his cue to leave.

Neji took his time patrolling, obsessively going through the village as many times as he could without it being too daunting, but it ended up being that way regardless. Daunting, tiring, and tedious. Even Boruto and Sadara complained, which they never seemed to do around him. Talk about him behind his back, yes. To his face, never. Well, until this afternoon. That was a trait Boruto did not inherit from Naruto.

"You can never be too sure," he said as way of explaining his behavior, although he knew that the war was practically won and there were no immediate threats. Neji just needed time to himself and being busy was the only way to achieve that.

Surprisingly, doing his rounds helped him clear his head, he was distracted enough to feel like had control over things. A delusional thought, he knew. By then, the sun had already set. Neji assumed it must have been 7 or 8 o'clock, a perfect time. It would be too late for them to discuss the scroll in detail. Neji could also add that he was tired too when he tried to explain to Tenten why they couldn't analyze the scroll that evening. He didn't even have to lie for that one either, it was true. He was exhausted. If all went well, Neji would return to the compound and continue his meditation.

When Neji told Tenten, she just huffed in disappointment and crossed her arms. "Really? You don't know how hard it was to shake Himawari off me."

"I apologize," he said quietly, trying to wrap their conversation up. "Maybe another time. It's too late now."

"Oh, come on, Neji," Tenten whined, which in and out of its self-surprised him. Tenten never liked whining. "That hasn't stop you before."

Neji knew she was right. Wasn't that why the town was gossiping about? Why would this be any different? He needed a better excuse.

Tenten took his pondering as a sign that he was considering her words. "I promise I will go over it quickly. You don't have to stay too long. If you want, I can make the tea this time."

Maybe he should learn something from today, if such a lesson could be found, from Himawari's insistence. If Tenten wanted to read it, then she should. He could get that out of the way and focus on other things. The sooner he was done with it, the better. She also told him she would be brief about it. But it wasn't this line of reasoning that convinced him to stay.

"You make awful tea," Neji told her, instantly making Tenten gap as his bluntness. "I would rather make the tea."

Tenten smiled widely, her face brightening with the sense of victory. "Then come on in."

Once in her house, Neji walked over to her cupboard and started taking out what he needed. As he prepared their tea, he tried to understand how he ended up being this habitual—he wasn't even like this in his home. Neji had never been to her place so often—not when they were younger, and she lived in an apartment—but being at her house so frequently as of late had made him feel familiar to his surroundings. Neji already knew where everything was. Even the poor ventilation didn't face him as much as it did a couple of days ago.

When Neji brought both steaming teas over, he realized Tenten was still looking at the parchment, a small frown forming in the center of her forehead, her mouth pursed in thought.

"Do you have an idea of what it means?" she asked.

"I don't." Neji placed the cup close enough for her to reach it.

"Hm." Tenten hummed as she looked at the words again. "Life tied to life. Purpose taut to purpose. Death bound to death."

Hearing the words come from her mouth made Neji feel like he had been physically punched, like being haunted by ghosts again. He had wishfully hoped she wouldn't read them out loud. Wishful thinking wasn't enough, it seemed.

"Are you okay?" she asked, concern in her eyes.

"I am," he answered so absentmindedly it came out as honest.

"Hm." Tenten place a finger on her chin as she returned her thoughts to the parchment. "I feel like it's quite literal. Life tied to life. Your life is tied to mine, just like your chakra. If I die, you die, and if you die, I die. Death bound to death. But I don't understand the purpose bit. What does it mean by that?"

Neji felt like he was falling down a rabbit hole. He sensed his body starting to fail him. He needed to stop thinking. Or rather, stop thinking about the same thing. It was pointless, he knew.

"Maybe it's an oath," he offered too quietly, despite not wanting to even say it.

"It doesn't sound like an oath to me," Tenten discarded distractedly, not even giving it a moment's thought. "Maybe it just refers to how our paths will always cross no matter where our roads take us. You know, because we are tethered to each other."

"Hm."

Tenten sighed, loudly. "I don't know why I thought this would help us. It's so vague and we hardly know the effects it has on our bodies. We only know of our shared injuries and the nightmares."

At the mention, Neji felt the need to ask, "Now that you have brought it up, did you have a nightmare last night?"

"No," Tenten answered, too enthralled with the words of the scroll. "To be honest I barely slept. If I did, it might have just been for an hour. Why are you asking? Did you have one of them last night? I didn't feel anything."

"No."

"Okay."

Tenten continued staring at the words, repeating them ever so often. Every time that she did, Neji felt like he was being crushed, torn, plagued. He just wanted to roar in frustration, to tell her to stop saying them.

"Neji," she started, gently. "Are you alright? You seem off today."

"I do?" Neji feigned innocence, but he knew he did.

"Yeah, you do. Did something happen?"

Neji had avoided looking at Tenten too intently today, he knew that if he did, he would only be reminded of another life—but this time he knew he couldn't. She had asked him a direct question.

Neji turned to her and immediately regretted it. He wasn't seeing Tenten as she was now. He was seeing her throughout the expense of her whole life. Another life in another world. He couldn't unsee it. He wished he would rip his eyes out.

"I am just surprised you beat me at hand to hand," Neji lied, hoping she believed him.

His answer made Tenten smirk. "Well, I do have 14 years over you."

"I guess you are right." Neji turned to his tea, carefully taking a sip, hoping they would focus on another thing.

From the corner of his eyes, Neji could tell Tenten was looking at him, baffled. "Don't tell me you're still pouting because I won."

Neji almost choke on his tea at her accusation. She took this as a sign of affirmation. "Really?"

"Of course not," Neji answered, coughing into his fist. This was not going as he planned. Should he just have been honest and outright?

Tenten got up, teacup in hand. She placed it in a table and turned to Neji, a stance ready. "Want a rematch?"

Neji tried to reign his shock. "I'd rather enjoy my tea."

This did not discourage her. Tenten smiled crookedly. "Don't tell me you are scared of me?"

Neji thought for a moment. He knew what had happened last time. He had let himself get overwhelmed, flustered and distracted. Perhaps if Neji tried to focus better, he could beat her—this. Whatever this mourning feeling was. He could put the events of the Hyuga compound past him. Maybe getting the frustration out would be good. Maybe that was all he needed.

Neji got up, setting his cup next to hers. "Well, if you insist."

They started slow, small moves and kicks at first, assessing each other in circular movements, like predators do before they pounce. At least, last time they cut to the chase.

Neji did not know why he thought this resembled a dance. It was like they were in the center of the room and everybody was watching. He shook his head, feeling how easily his mind drifted.

Soon, Neji grew inpatient and threw the first punch. It landed in Tenten's right upper arm. She looked surprised that he used so much force—he too felt the pounding in his own shoulder. He knew that he had somehow crossed the line, but by then he needed something to concentrate on.

Too quickly, their fight got heated. Tenten did not hesitate in blindly throwing punches. Almost all of them landed. He didn't mind, he would always get her back.

"What's your problem?" Tenten demanded once she realize he was being aggressive on purpose.

Neji continued regardless. He started feeling the ache in his arms and fists, his calves burning from constantly kicking and receiving kicks. He was getting blinded with the sound of noises and things that never existed. Neji's Byakugan couldn't help him now. Perhaps that was why he failed again.

"Enough!" Tenten growled, somehow slipping a foot underneath his feet, and knocking him to the ground. She had his shirt bundled up in the front with one of her fists. Neji hadn't realize Tenten's hair had gotten loose from Himawari's braid until she looked down at him, fraying around them in disarray. "What's wrong with you, Neji Hyuga?"

Her words triggered him. That was a good question. What was wrong with him?

Neji snarled as he got his leg twisted around hers and flipped her over. Now he was the one pinning her on the ground, both his hands on her shoulders.

"Neji," she said his name in a gasp. Tenten's chocolate brown eyes were wide as she stared at him.

He hadn't realized he was crying until he saw his tears land on Tenten's face. When she placed a gentle hand on his cheek, Neji instantly got on his feet, shaking his shoulders. Trying to shake everything off. Her touch was that of a phantom he once knew too well.

Neji cursed himself for being so stupid. He didn't understand why he couldn't shake off the feeling since this morning. Shouldn't it be easier to forget something if it never happened?

"Neji," he heard Tenten say his name behind them. She had not drawn nearer. He was happy that she did and sad that she didn't.

"I apologize," Neji whispered. "I went too far."

"What happened?" Tenten's voice held a tinge of empathy, like that of a mother. It just made things much worse.

Neji might have kept everything to himself if it were not for her tone. He swallowed the lump he felt in his throat. "I don't remember their names."

There was a beat of silence as Tenten tried to understand what he meant. Of course, she wouldn't. She didn't see what Neji saw. She didn't see them.

"Whose names, Neji?"

Neji might have answered if it were not for the loud boom that filled the skies and the brief quacking of the earth.

The nightmare started like it usually does, in the battle grounds. Despite being a short distance away, the all-seeing Byakugan had everything in range—including this. If he did not have the gift of the Hyuga's, a feeling of premonition would have certainly help him turn around to the source of the foreboding. He saw it. The wood projectiles. Lady Hinata putting herself in front of Naruto. Any other day, he would have thrown himself without a thought. Given his life for his cousin, for his clan, for his village. But he thought this time, trying to not let adrenaline get the best of him. Trying to think clearly.

Neji gathered enough of his chakra as he ran. He stopped just out of range, aiming Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm directly at Lady Hinata and Naruto. It might not have been as powerful as Hiashi's, but it got the work done. They dodged the projectiles as the air push them out of the way. Knowing they were out of harm's way, Neji continued battling. He was about to strike an opponent, when everything turned black and he fell through a bottomless hole.

It took a moment for Neji to come to, his head spinning. When he looked at his surroundings, he realized he was at the Hyuga compound. Perhaps the reason confusion only registered on the outskirts of his unconscious was due to the fact that he was sleeping, that this was all a dream, although he was conscious enough to know that he was battling just a few seconds ago. There wasn't much logic to the transitioning, only that it felt eerily real. What had happened?

Disoriented, Neji stood. He started walking around the manor, seeing too many people fidgeting, and hovering over tables and chairs and decorations. Everything was white. Slowly, it dawned on Neji. There was going to be a wedding, but whose?

Overwhelmed by bewilderment and an unease in his stomach, he left the compound. Neji didn't understand why he felt so unwell. Not physically, although he felt like throwing up. No, he felt jittery and nervous. Like he made a wrong decision. Like he was about to die then and there.

Neji opted to go to the training grounds, hoping he could shake off the bad feeling with a little physical exertion. He was surprised to see Tenten there. Not because it was unusual for her to be there, but because she was dressed in a deep blue kimono—so different from her usual qipao-style choice. Her brown locks were down, and her lips were colored a delicate shade of pink. Obviously, she ready for the celebration, the weeding. He couldn't help noting how bittersweet he felt realizing that Tenten had always been beautiful. Not in the artificial sexual way, where certain things were key for achieving such a thing. No, it was in a subtle way, like the chirping of birds come morning. Like a sunrise, when the first rays break the darkness. It was sad that he come to know of it now. It's too late for that, he thought but he didn't know why.

Tenten looked surprised at seeing him there and at the same time disappointed. "How does it feel to be the first one to get married of our group?"

Her words triggered Neji's memory, and everything came flashing back. After the war and reconstruction everything was slow moving and fragile. So many things changed, where put into perspective. One of those was his relationship with his teammate. He couldn't pinpoint when it started, when he noticed her longing stares and subtle touches, or how she was always at his side, waiting, expecting—but once he saw it, he couldn't unsee it.

Neji had not felt same way. Well, not at first. Not until he put distance between them, thinking this was the best for him and for Tenten, for their team. He regretted immediately and by then he wasn't sure if the kunoichi would forgive him. To his greatest relief, she did. Thus, began their relationship, if it could be called that.

No, it couldn't be called that, he thought. Neji didn't know what he would call secrete meetings, stolen touches and hidden kisses. Certainly not love. It all stemmed from the fact that although he talked big and mighty, he was too preoccupied by the talk of the people. Specially his clan. He worried too much about what Hiashi would say. Yes, Naruto and Lady Hinata were together, but if there was nothing bounding them, his uncle saw nothing to worry about. The Uzumaki's promise of change was still unmet. And Tenten had always been understanding, never complaining of being kept a secret, so he had thought that would do for now.

Neji was not surprised when Tenten broke off their entanglement once everyone in the village knew Neji was going to marry off to a distant relative—for the sake of union and as an afterthought of war. He was not surprised at all, no, not when he didn't personally tell her, too afraid of what she might say. Neji was surprised of how much it pained him when she cut him off.

"Damn it! Do you know what that makes me, Neji?" she had screamed at him right after slapping his face. He had deserved that, Neji had thought, but it didn't help his pride. "I am the other woman."

"I have just heard of the news," he had lied, desperately clinging to something that was slipping through the cracks. "I don't even know who she is."

"Does it matter?" Tenten had shouted back, quickly growing distant and small. "You didn't even mention us, you didn't even go against it."

Oh, yes, how it all came rushing back. Neji was a coward and he deserved more than what he got, and if he believed in destiny as strongly as he once did, he would think this was one last blow to his ego. Just to top things off. Having Tenten in front of him without being able to do anything.

"It feels," Neji finally answered, "uneventful."

"Well," Tenten said, unimpressed with his answer. "I wish you all the happiness in the world."

Of course, she would. Neji suddenly felt solemner, wondering for the first time what would have happened if he died in the war, if he had thrown himself at death's mercy like he had planned. If one thing could be different, would everything be different in that moment?

The words were at the tip of his tongue, something stopping them. Neji wondered at them for the moment. He had achieved so many things throughout his life, but right now he felt like he was failing at the most important one because he was too afraid to be vulnerable. And for what? What did it matter? His destiny was already sealed.

Determined, Neji swallowed and said, "You know that will never happen."

Tenten's face was a cold stone. Neji wondered when he had stopped reading her. "I hope so."

Neji swallowed again, feeling heavy with dread. He would need to meditate, he felt too off centered.

"You should go," she said. "You will be late for your own weeding."

"Tenten," Neji started.

"Stop it," Tenten warned. "Can't you let things rest?"

He sighed, feeling his hands shake at his sides, "You are aware that I will be a miserable man for the rest of my life, right, Tenten? And there is no one to blame but me. I chose this path knowing very well I loved you instead."

"Damn it, Neji," Tenten growled and he could tell she was getting all riled up. "This is your weeding day, why are you saying all of this to me now?"

Neji tried to reign the quaking he felt in his knees, knowing he had never been put on the spot like this before and specially because of his own doing. "This is my weeding day, yes, but I have nothing to celebrate. If you chose to leave with me right now, we can. I won't look back. That is, if you still hold an inkling of feeling for me. If not, it's okay. I understand if you don't. We can pretend this did not happen. I will just be forced to love the wrong person for the rest of my life, but I will accept that if it means there is nothing lingering between us after all."

Tenten looked on the verge of tears. "How can you say that? What about her?"

Neji graced her with a small smile, one he reserved for rare occasions. "I don't love her." I love you was well implied though he didn't voice it. He thought his earlier burst would be sufficient to convince her.

Tenten closed her, resigned. Then she walked over to him, tight fists clenched at her sides. Neji was hopefully—not yet trusting what was going it.

There was a slapping sound. Neji registered the stinging in his face after. The whole outcome should have been a dead give away from the start. He doesn't know why he didn't see it coming.

"You idiot!" she said but her voice wasn't angry. Tears were falling down her face. She raised her hand again and Neji prepared himself for another slap, but instead she cupped his face.

"Tenten." Neji leaned into her touch all too relieved.

"You idiot," she said one last time before she kissed him.

They had stopped at Tenten's house and gathered somethings before continuing their aimless journey. Neji was aware of the uncertainty and instability this would bring. Everyone would surly think that something bad must have happened to him—maybe that he was kidnapped (though it would insult him if they did). Then, when they realized he had run away, everything would go to hell. But at that moment, he didn't care. For the first time in his life, he didn't.

They would be constantly moving and incognito for two years. They didn't want to be followed or found, and Neji certainly didn't want to face the wrath of the Hyuga clan just yet. Although, he knew he would eventually. Surprisingly, his abrupt stop as an ANBU did not affect him as much as he initially thought. Even Tenten seemed unfaced by their sudden transition from ninja to commoners.

They would never stay in a village or in a country for too long, not long enough to draw suspicion anyway. Not when there were still talks about how a man from the Leaf Village ran away with his teammate without a trace, with no other explanation or goodbye. Many thought they knew something the others didn't, a big secrete or a big ploy. Or perhaps that they had turned rogue or joined an evil group. It still surprised Neji that they still hadn't figured out that he ran away from his weeding. That he had ran way with Tenten.

"Maybe we don't make sense to other people," Tenten had offered once.

We do to me, he had thought but didn't voice.

If it were a matter of speaking, no, they weren't married. Even if they wanted to, and they wanted to, they couldn't risk exposing themselves for the sake of officiating something that was so adherently clear to them. So, technically speaking, no, they weren't married. But what is married if not an oath.

After months of traveling and hiding, they reached the Country of Cloud. It was then that Neji considered it was time. They did an oath to each other by the fire in the cave they chose as their campsite, repeating the words to one another like a prayer, sealing their fate with a kiss. The words they spoke echoing in his head for days after it was done. It wasn't a surprise that they started acting like spouses soon after. And although Neji thought it would be practically the same, he was wrong. He was just glad it was with her and not with a stranger.

Regardless, be it their recklessness or their luck running out, soon Neji and Tenten would have to return to the Leaf Village. Despite being careful with leaving trails and with each other, they would soon find out that they would be expecting.

Neji had been the first to find out, Byakugan user and whatnot. The new chakra flowing in Tenten was as clear as water. At first, he couldn't help reprimanding himself for not being diligent enough. He doesn't know why he thought something like this couldn't happen to them. Then, he was worried. A pregnancy would surly slow them down significantly. Not that but trying to go unnoticed would be hard too. A thought occurred to him suddenly. What if Tenten doesn't want this? What if she deems it too dangerous? What if she doesn't see this for herself?

Neji was surprised when, in the afternoon, as he gently told her the news, she started crying.

"I knew I felt different," she said. Tenten had placed a hand in her stomach. Her smiled faded away when he saw his face. "What's the matter? Aren't you happy?"

"I will be happy with whatever decision you make," Neji answered, trying to steel his emotions as much as he could.

"What do you mean?" All the joy was gone.

"You are the one carrying, ultimately you decide what you want to do. I will be content with whatever you decide."

Tenten seemed to realize what he was saying. She looked down as if in thought. She began gently, "I never saw myself as mother. I never felt I had that special touch, not like the others do. But when I look at you, a see a great father. I see so many things and in turn, I also see them in myself." A pause. "I am a little sad that you would think I wouldn't want to do this with you."

Neji had not allowed himself to feel happiness when he first found out, but at her words, he welcomed the feeling.

The experience was more uphill than they had initially thought. Soon, as she reached 8 months, it was clear she needed medical attention, professional attention. And though they fought about it for some time, the dreadful unknown made Neji agree with Tenten. They needed to return to the village and get professional help. Sakura's help to be exact.

The trip was long and exhausting, which Neji credited to so many things, but most of all, fear. He wasn't sure how the village would take to their return. They had left without a word and never reached out in their two years of absence. Would they think they were the enemy? Would they welcome them at all? There was also the fact that he was worried about Tenten. He was afraid for her wellbeing and their child.

To his immense wonder, when they got to the village all of the worst-case scenario didn't happen. Quite the contrary. Though, yes, they were amazed to see them back, bombarded them with a lot of questions, specially about Tenten's pregnant state, they welcomed them back. Seeing the both of them made a lot of things click into place for the village and the Konoha 11. There was a lot of gossip at first, which Neji hated, but once everybody accepted the fact, everything went back to normal. Even Lee and Might Guy's pestering had cooled down.

A lot of things had changed in the village since they left. One of the most important ones, the Hyuga clan's traditions. It seemed like Naruto had kept his word after all. When Neji asked him about it, Naruto said, "When you left, I figured I would keep good on my word." It also helped that he married Lady Hinata. All of his doubts seemed to dissipate easy. The Hyuga clan wasn't after his throat like he thought.

They had gotten back to the Leaf Village just in time. A few days after their return, Tenten's water broke. Sakura helped with the labor, like Tenten always wished. And after a few hours, their daughter was born.

Neji had hoped it would be a boy. He always wished to have the same relationship he had with his father be passed on to his child, but when he held his daughter in his arms, he couldn't help feeling how perfect it all was.

Neji had thanked Tenten for allowing him to have this. She had smiled, eyes exhausted and said, "I hope to never go through that again."

Ironically, three years later, she gave birth to their son. By then, they had officiated their marriage and lived in the quieter parts of Konoha, deciding to have a life apart from the Hyuga clan. Tenten had opened up a shop, where she sold weapons and Neji stepped down from his position as ANBU. He worked alongside Naruto, who was Hokage, helping him with the diplomatic side of the job.

The arrival of their son was unexpected, yet something he didn't knew he needed. It was like their family was finally complete.

"I am never going through that again," said Tenten surer that time.

She had been right. Tenten didn't bare more children, though Neji thought he could handle one more. In spite of all of that, Neji was glad.

They watch both their children grow, helping them train when they requested it. Neji tried to emulate all his father taught him. At the end of the day, he was pleased with the route their children took. His daughter had become a formidable kunoichi, advancing to an ANBU position quickly. Although Neji didn't like the idea too much, he didn't like to think she would be in danger, the fact that she was dating Metal Lee was much worse. His son was less troublesome, surprising both Neji and Tenten when he told them he wanted to become a medical ninja. He too would progress quickly in that field.

"What did you expect?" Tenten would tell him when he would wonder at that. "Their father is a prodigy."

After the war and their return to Konoha, life was peaceful. Their family grew once more when his daughter married his former teammate's son, and though he opposed to it at first, his grandchildren were easy to persuade him of his opinions. His son, never married, deciding to serve and give all of his time to the village. Neji didn't like that that much, but when both he and Tenten grew old and couldn't look after themselves, he was the one taking care of them.

"We have lived a good life," Tenten said, voice wavering besides him.

It did not surprise Neji, they were too old now. He suspected that his son was already grieving them. "That we have. Thank you."

"For what?" Tenten said, sounding ever so confused.

"For running away with me and giving me everything I ever wanted."

"Oh-ho," Tenten said taking his hand in his. "That's not fair. It's hard saying no to you. Either way, we took an oath. Did we not?"

"Hm." Neji already felt far away.

"Do you remember what we said?"

Neji would always remember those words.

"Life tied to life," she began. "Purpose taut to purpose. Death bound to death."

Neji wanted to tell her that didn't sound right. He never remembered saying those words, but by then she had grown stiff beside him. He had called to her, but she didn't response. Then, he knew.

Neji didn't cry, not that there was anything to mourn over. She had been right. They did have a good life and he would keep true to his oath.

Life tied to life. Purpose taut to purpose. Death bound to death. Neji recited the words in his mind before drifting, following Tenten suit.

Neji gasped, turning to his side. He was soaked in sweat, heaving, but he didn't know why. He touched his face, realizing the warm wet feeling he felt in his eyes were tears. Neji pinched himself, hoping Tenten didn't wake up by the prickle. This was real life. He had just been dreaming. But for how long? It felt like he lived an entire lifetime.

Neji stared at the clock, it was barely four in the morning. He had gotten back from Tenten's house at around one. The impossibility of it seemed to haunt him. The nightmare—no, the dream, that was the dream—felt so real. It felt like it could have happened, like an alternative timeline.

Neji shook his head, tearing himself out of bed. The hollowness feeling in his chest didn't cease. He needed to move. This would be a perfect time to go check on the war efforts. Yes. Determined, Neji started getting dressed.

Soon, he found that to be a test for his patience. Neji's hands wouldn't stop trembling and his clothes wouldn't sit long enough for him to get them on. He roared as he pulled the shirt off and threw it at the ground.

Neji knew he needed to calm down, that he was getting too worked up over nothing, but all he could think about was that he dreamed up an entire lifetime, lived decades in this other life, and yet he couldn't remember the names of his children.

What were their names?

A/N: Hey, readers. I know, it's so long :0 If you read until the end, you are the true MVP. Since August is almost upon us, I wanted to go all out. Soon, I will be too busy, though I hope to update as soon as I can. I think I can make another quick update before my schedule is full. I missed getting feedback for the last chapter. I really hoped I would surprise you guys. I hope I get some comments this time around, to get a feel of what you guys think. What do you guys think about this chapter and what will happen in next? What was that explosion? What does the scroll mean? What do you think about this alternative timeline? I wanted to explore the idea of what would have happened if Neji didn't die, if he was not a plot device for Naruhina. Anyway, very time I think of his death, I get bummed. I drew inspiration from Itachi's novel in regard to living an entire life in a few minutes. Anyway, I hope the way Neji was behaving before the dream was explained made sense in hindsight. With that being said, I think there might be a few chapters (5?) before I deem it complete. Hope you guys are safe. We are having a storm here in Puerto Rico right now and the rain is setting up the mood for me (at 2 pm as I write this, still have to edit it). See you on the next update.

P.S I just realized that in the past I have always referred to the wood projectiles as a spear. I always thought it was a spear. Oppsie.