When the last dare had been finished everyone sat still again, quiet yet awake, the night was passing slow and it felt that day was still a mile away.
No one wanted to sleep, especially now that everyone's mind were full of activity, now they were again silent, a way in which everyone is mute and had no intention of talking, other than Naruto who was feeling explosive today.
The wind made a rather peaceful sound wile passing through the forest, making the air warm up a bit while they were still awake.
Ino was trying to sleep with her eyes tight closed though sleep never really came to her mind.
Finally discarding that idea she opened her eyes again and looked mournfully at the others, you couldn't tell if Hinata was tired or not, there was no expression whatsoever, but she was tired as she sat a little farther back leaning against the tent like Sakura.
Everything seemed so peaceful at first that is before Lee burst into the tent entrance knocking Choji off his feet.
He was panting so hard that his eyes were bulging and his knees were bent low, a few Chuunins gasped as Ino scowled, and "What is it this time?"
She was clearly not pleased, beside her Tenten shuddered at her words, Hinata too stood up looking at Lee more worried than ever.
"A-Are you all r-right," She enquired looking antagonized.
Other began to close in on him, inspecting his moves, "Furry eyebrows!" Naruto shouted jumping from his seat, Kiba followed.
Lee didn't move glancing from Neji to Tenten who looked at each other sighing deeply; it was Tenten's turn to respond now.
Nodding at the Hyuuga boy she stalked up to the stunned Lee taking him by the collar and shaking him hard while Ino looked suspiciously behind her.
It look him a while to finally catch his breath and alleged, "I've got the best idea yet, I know what we can do."
Neji helped him up by one hand and thrust him into his seat next to Kiba.
"Let's all go stargazing!" Ino grinned at him while Sakura gave him a weak smile, "If anyone don't have a better idea then I guess that's it for now."
She said feebly, there wasn't much to do around here, and it was getting late, so maybe that would calm them and help them to sleep.
So one by one they traipsed across the tent to the entrance and out into the wilderness with Naruto and Lee leading.
When everyone had left slowly through the entrance, the light from the oil lamp was glowing dimmer and starlight had quickly filtered through the entrance giving the tent a faint, peaceful glow.
Eventually the footsteps of the other Chuunins faded and everything was still again.
However not everyone left, in the corners, there was a timid shadow crouched all alone in the darkness.
Her light brown bangs swaying swiftly against the breeze, and she gave a tiny tremor at the sudden chill.
Another boy was also in the tent seated in the far end, merely looking at her with his blank eyes that seemed so calm and lifeless.
After a few minutes had passed he slowly pulled himself up, now heading directly toward the entranceway without nearly a glance at his comrade, who still sat motionlessly alone.
It was hard to distinguish her shadowy face in the dark, the boy carried on walking as if not noticing her at all, his arms crossed as usual.
All of all sudden her eyes felt blurry with tears as she gave a tiny cough. The boy to her great surprise stopped abruptly still looking forward. There was an immediate pause, the girl glancing up at him in surprise.
Then he heard him say, "Tenten," Still not moving.
"We're going." The girl didn't answer looked down, sobbing rather quietly.
This time the young, teenage boy turned, now gazing down at her, arms crossed and his eyes softened when she saw Tenten crying alone.
"N-Neji-Kun." She hiccoughed looking vaguely up at her team mate, he had to admit that she looked rather cute that way with her swollen eyes.
Looking away he said in a light whisper, "Stop it," he confirmed with his usual voice, only a little softer. "I can't stand Crying." Tenten instantly sat up again, desperately wiping off her wet tears.
"I-I'm sorry, Neji-san." She apologized sadly. "I just c-can't seem to f-forget-"
Her voice trailed off, but there was no need for further explanation of who she was referring to.
Just five days ago her own parents had been killed while out on a mission, now Tenten was left alone in the village along with her nine year old brother, Ichari.
She didn't feel like telling him at all this, because the news of the accident had spread out even faster than she expected and no one wanted to bring that up, making Tenten feel even lonelier than usual.
She hated everything, including everyone around her; all that happened recently from her parents to this no good camp she had to participate.
She didn't feel like sharing her feeling or emotions anymore, she wanted things to be different, or perhaps change a little and feel a bit more welcome rather than isolated.
But things can't change, a voice rang in her ears, people are all the same, she was still young and it was hard to endure all this pain.
I hate all this suffering…I want to be happy, like everyone else.
She bit her lips hard trying not to cry and embarrass herself in front of the comrade she really cared for. Neji said nothing for a moment as if thinking about what he should do.
Should I do something, or simply go away? He however quickly discarded the idea of going away, standing beside the crying girl.
Tenten too was quiet and moved a little farther back looking away in the other direction. Neji closed his pale eyes giving a comforting sigh, then spoke after a moment, "You should know," he began. "That you're not the only one without parents."
Neji looked intensely sad for a brief moment as the young kunoichi stared up at him.
She remembered now that she was not the only one without a real family, Neji, like her had no parents either. As been a Hyuuga prodigy, his father had died and now he lived with his uncle and cousin in the Hyuuga compound. This meant that he too had once experienced the pain she now had, would she also would become cold hearted like his team mate?
She shook her head to clear the thoughts out of her mind as Neji looked blankly at her.
"I-I wasn't there, I c-couldn't save them, it was my entire fault." She hiccoughed again crying as her tears slipped silently onto her knees.
Neji could see she was trying her best to stop her following tears from flowing, he watched in silence gazing anywhere but at her, he too had cried when his father died.
He couldn't think of anything to help her at the time, and wanted to avoid it all.
"I was t-too weak, n-now everyone hates me and I'm all alone!" He watched her every move as the girl coughed looking away, her eyes were clouded with the sorrow he had once felt.
Neji is different from me, the female ninja thought reluctantly.
Ever since his father died, all he really cares about is training hard and becoming stronger so that one day he would have a chance to avenge for his father.
He never had feelings or emotions he showed but was locked up inside ever since that fateful day, he had cried like her and never did she see him smile again.
The only things she really feared for was losing people, losing people she cared for so it would feel empty and gone.
"I don't hate you," she heard Neji's cold voice say behind her, "but it's not like I like you either." He explained vacantly while Tenten suppressed awkward smile thinking rapidly to herself, thank you, but I'll never really be the same.
Neji began walking again toward the entrance this time.
"N-Neji!" Tenten blurted out, the boy didn't stop walking this time murmuring, "Hn." Tenten's eyes were now blurry again with tears crying aloud, "Don't leave me here, I still have something desperate I-I want to know!"
The young Chuunin walked a few more steps forward stopping at the entrance without glancing back.
Seeing him stop, she asked quietly in a whisper, "P-Please what do you think of me?" The Hyuuga genius stood motionlessly without answering her request. The girls stood up facing him now and crying even harder as tears trickled down her chin, and this time she didn't even bother wiping them off.
"T-This is important to m-me, so please tell me!" Neji looked out over the horizon choosing his words more carefully than usual.
"Tenten, you're a team mate, I can deny that."
The young kunoichi began to protest but before she could open her mouth Neji had already grabbed her left arm and replied icily, "We're going."
Without hesitation he pulled her along outside into the forest, Tenten had just thought she saw him smile at her, but knew it was only an imagination.
His hand was warm which felt comfortable to Tenten's own icy cold fingers drenched in wet tears, she followed him into the forest past shrubs and branches that scratched roughly against her cheek, but Tenten didn't mind she was enjoying almost every moment.
The Chuunins were sprawled on tree tops and branches all relaxing like they used to, while they both climbed higher and higher into the darkness.
He looked rather handsome when he climbed with the soft swish of his dark hair; Ino was above them now, while Shikamaru sat a few inches away.
The blonde kunoichi waved at the sight of her friend, Hinata was a little further left of them along with Kiba and Naruto shaking their fist at each other (perhaps fighting for Hinata?).
Shino watched from aside. Lee upon seeing them yelled with delight, "Here comes the bride and the groom!"
Tenten gaped at Neji who didn't react, so she scowled back, "I'll get you for this, furry eyebrows!"
She added under her breath, Lee smirked, seated next to him Choji was shaking his head in disbelief.
Sasuke was at the far side of the tree, leaning against the trunk as the pink haired girl sat a little farther off gazing toward the distance.
"So, Hyuuga what took you that long?" Choji questioned apprehensively nodding at Shikamaru and Ino.
Both Tenten and Neji exchanged glances with each other, both looking blank, before Tenten could respond, Neji began, "It was nothing."
He said coldly back glaring at the girl. Then a moment later Kiba announced sarcastically clearly enjoying the conversation, "Tell us," he declared catching Sakura's attention now, "What your 'nothing' mean?"
Oh great! Tenten thought bitterly, she frowned at Kiba's scornful remarks, but Neji however was calm, climbing to sit near Sasuke while Tenten followed. For now, he seemed to be the only one of the Chuunins that ignored their conversation, looking grim as usual.
"Interesting?" Neji smirked at the blue haired Uchiha boy, Sasuke looked away at the arrivals then affirmed with the slightest bit of acknowledgement that they were their, "The only reason I was here was because this was an order, therefore I don't have a choice."
Tenten nodded sitting by Sakura now. She could see he wasn't thinking this as a vacation at all, more like a prison.
As Shikamaru had predicted earlier it was rather a weary night, it felt quite peaceful now that they were outside.
They would now have to work together like their teachers had said; it was only the beginning, who knows what may happen tomorrow? Would they train?
Everything seemed blurry yet unclear so that none of the Chuunins could guess what would come next, all they were told that this was a mission, a mission for all the Konoha Chuunins.
It took all of them a long time to finally fall asleep in the dark, no one kept track of the passing time so it was difficult to know when it was morning.
Their minds were tire and overwhelming with unexpected questions, and eventually when the first sign of twilight settled upon the treetops, they fell into a deep uneasy sleep.