Ten-ten was desperate to save Neji, but even more than that, she was burned by the injustice. The hokage, ANBU, their senseis, all had the power to stop the execution of an innocent. But, because of village politics, they wouldn't. They who had the power would sit back and let Neji be killed. Rage boiled in her heart; she'd never felt any emotion as strong. It consumed her entire being. It gave her the drive she needed to save Neji.
Her plan was horrifying. Shocking. Insane. And it was the only way. To save an innocent life, the guilty would die. She would kill the elders before they killed Neji. She would be breaking a dozen laws, betraying Konohoa. But she couldn't stand idly by while Neji was killed. She loved him; he was her moon, her sun. Her world revolved around him, and he loved her just as much. She could never live in this village with the knowledge that the village stood by and let those…those monsters…kill her Neji-bird.
&&&&&
Ten-ten stared at herself in the mirror. Yes, she had changed; from a care-free girl into a mass murderer. She was planning on following the footsteps of Uchiha Itachi, but the clan wasn't her own, and she wasn't slaughtering the entire clan. Only those who sought Neji's life.
Just taking Neji and running, the Hyugas would merely follow and kill Ten-ten and Neji both. No, Neji would only be safe once those who were after his life were dead. And Ten-ten would make them dead.
She was dressed all in black; black capris and black t-shirt, kunais, shurikens, and scrolls hidden about her person. Her body was lean and hard, her eyes cold, posture defiant. She was defying all of Konohoa, and the fiercesome Hyugas.
She was defying all she'd ever known, all she ever was. But her beliefs had been rattled, shaken to the core, when she learned no one would do anything to stop the death of an innocent. In her mind, that made the official ninja villages no better than rogue ninjas.
Ten-ten held her headband in her hand, glaring at the leaf symbol shining up at her. Her last tie to this place, her home. The home that had betrayed her. In her other, she tightly gripped a kunai. The same kunai she'd used to hack off her hair. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes as the sharp, solid metal sliced through the metal plate, scratching it. There was a slash mark through the leaf symbol. She was no longer a part of Konohoa.
In the mirror, her face had paled slightly. As she tied the headband around her forehead, a small pang twisted her heart. She'd just declared herself a missing-nin. There were no tears in her to cry. She was hollow, empty. Methodically, she double checked her weapons; she was well armed. She was ready to earn the status of an S-class criminal, and save Neji's life.