A/N - Even though it's Thursday, I decided to update because WeaponsMistress (an authoress I admire) reviewed my story and asked for an update while the story was still early. So I did.
Their lips were only half a centimeter away from meeting and there was no way to avoid it. However, Destiny felt merciful today.
A quiet voice from the bushes was undetectable by Neji; he had far too many things on his mind right now.
'I can't hold it much longer,' one voice grunted quietly. 'You have to take over.'
'What!?!' the other voice argued trying to maintain its quiet while at the same time prove its point. 'I can't, I'm holding the camera!'
'What!?' replied the first voice, not even bothering to conceal itself anymore. The jutsu had reached its limit and Tenten stopped just in time. The girl dropped to the floor and rubbed her head in confusion
'Uggghhh…,' Tenten started normally again. 'Neji…what happened to you, and what's going on?' Neji didn't know how to explain it, but he tried to anyway.
'Well, you were trying to-'
'I guess your plan failed, as expected,' said familiar voice number two, revealing himself to the year-older genin.
'Shush!' familiar voice number one whispered loudly. 'They can still hear you!'
Tenten got up immediately; the natural thing for a ninja when a possible enemy was around. 'Alright, come out with your hands up!' Tenten ordered still getting a hold of herself, and holding her kunai around her thumb like a gun.
She's been watching too many westerns… Neji thought for a brief moment before turning his attention to the intruders. He really wanted to smirk at her, but he was in no position to make fun of the weapons mistress when he was no longer a moving target.
'Okay, okay, ya got us,' confessed Shikamaru, revealing his identity to the audience.
'What d'ya do that for?!' yelled Ino still trying to hide in the "safety" of the bushes; you could practically hear the audience laugh at her stubbornness. Naruto has some competition, thought Shikamaru, smirking on the inside.
'Come on already,' Shikamaru attempted to convince her. 'It's game over when the enemy figures out your strategy.'
Ino finally came out of her incognito moment. 'Yeah, I guess you're right,' she said, her eyes downcast making it easy to tell she was depressed for her failed plan.
'Of course I am,' Shikamaru retorted immodestly, ignoring her fake, sad state. Ino popped a nerve on the fist she raised at him.
After listening to their conversation, Tenten spotted Shikamaru holding a video camera. That lazy-ass would only be carrying a camera if he was paid to, otherwise it was for blackmail, she calculated the information slowly until…
'What did you guys do to me!?!' Tenten screamed, finally putting two and two together.
'Damn it. This is getting real troublesome. Ja ne.' Shikamaru waved to Neji while running and taking Ino by the hand with him. She blushed briefly at the touch. Tenten chased after them, ignoring the fact that Shikamaru had dropped the video cam in the escape.
Without the pressure of time on Neji; and Tenten, he thought bluntly; he easily used his chakra to break free of the kunais imbedding him in the tree.
The Hyuga picked up the video camera and watched it on his way home, hiding it as soon as he spotted Hiashi. Uncle Hiashi asked him for an afternoon spar. Right now, he didn't think about beating him to a bloody pulp that he probably would and should be now that he had permission to. He was actually contemplating over his comrade.
It was not just the prank that made him think. No, it was rather the uneasiness Tenten gave him.
There was a feeling when our hands touched that I just couldn't quite understand. It was a new perspective for me. Also this was the first time I had ever blushed since my father tried to kill Hinata. It feels good to blush. There was a calming look in Tenten today; she didn't act like Ino at all. She didn't seem like she was being played like a puppet by her. It seemed like the desire for me caused her to do this. Yes, he thought, still desperately trying to cling to logic, and apparently Destiny. What if when she caught a whiff of them that she didn't want anyone else to know about it. And then what if when they confessed she found it the perfect opportunity to deny it. Yes, maybe…
He was given a Gentle Fist uppercut by his Uncle Hiashi, relieving him of his thoughts.
'Thinking about Tenten while sparring certainly isn't the best thing to do,' Neji murmured to himself out loud. Fortunately, his uncle did not hear.
'What's wrong, Neji?' his uncle asked. 'To be caught so easily something must be wrong,' Hiashi stated with a smirk because he got a hit on the prodigy.
'I've got a lot on my mind.'
'Come on, tell Uncle Hiashi all about it,' he said reassuring him. He sat down next to a fresh platter of green tea and onigiri and whipped his head to invite him over. Neji nodded and sat down on the opposite side while both took a cup and held it formally.
'Hiashi-sama,' Neji started, then took a sip. 'What can you tell me about your first kiss?'
'First kiss? Did you get a girl to kiss you, you sly guy,' Hiashi said, elbowing him like any supporting boy would.
I should probably record this; he's acting really weird about this, Neji thought devilishly about revenge, but soon snapping out of it.
'Well, it's better if you just watch it,' Neji suggested not knowing how to explain it, or finding the dignity to.
'You got it on camera?' Hiashi asked disbelievingly, raising an eyebrow. Neji nodded and he sighed for his nephew's actions. The boy set his tea down and reached into the plain vase on his left. The prodigy pulled out Shikamaru's camera. How did I not see that? Hiashi started to question his Byakugan abilities.
He offered it to him and Hiashi thoughtfully took it. Neji stopped him for a reply right before Ino and Shikamaru interfered.
'I knew it,' Hiashi stated quietly. Neji just looked at him. 'She's always with you, it's so obvious!' he said laughing, 'but I didn't think she'd go that fast!' he said gripping his head in humor. Neji allowed himself just this one time to show an anime irritated face. (Like that time Lee mastered the Lotus Technique while he and Tenten stood there dumbfounded and annoyed.)
Neji showed him the rest of the video and waited for a response. It didn't look too good, because he just set his tea down.
'Ohhh…' said Hiashi. 'Well, you should just find a nice, peaceful place to discuss this with her. And make sure it seems like you're meeting coincidentally. Also, be certain you start out the conversation with "so, ummm…" and then you come right out and say it,' he said while waving his hands up in the air.
Glad he put his tea down, Neji thought awkwardly.
'One more thing, make sure no one is eavesdropping. You wouldn't want people to start spreading rumors,' he finally finished, picking up his cup and wetting his throat with its warm contents.
'You sure know your women,' said Neji, obviously in shock of his uncle's new side.
'Well, you're looking at the guy who won a thousand girls hearts. Yup, I know all the tricks and stops,' Hiashi said immodestly pointing a thumb to his chest.
Neji smiled inwardly. It's going to be okay.
'Of course I got into an arranged marriage with Hyuga Hanako, but that's beside the point,' he added, clearly right that it was beside the point. Neji only sweat dropped at his after comment.
'You better get going,' he said, gesturing at the near set sun. 'The best time to see a girl is at sunset; that's the number one rule,' said Hiashi finally.
'Thank you for your help.' Neji bowed, and then waved good-bye as he walked away.
'Good luck with your new girlfriend,' sang Hiashi with a tune rather loudly.
Neji stopped in his tracks for a moment to think. I don't want that…do I? But he shook the doubt away physically and ran off.
Hinata, the one who set the platter of green tea and onigiri for her father, was listening well hidden. She felt she needed to tell someone, so she told her father she was being summoned and took off in the other direction.
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A/N - Thank you for reading this far. Hinata is going to somewhat...eh, not so innocent. She'll still stutter in some areas and she will be meek and shy, but just because she's shy doesn't mean she can't be clever. Want to know who she told? Find out in this story's sequel "Four Troublesome Days: Identity Crisis" coming soon. Please read and review!