Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. I only own the plot.

Omg, this chapter is so freaking long--13 pages! It took me so long to write and I just keep on modifying it too. I'd gone through it for so many times that if I do it again I'm going to die.

Ah hell…This chapter provides the insight to the two main characters; it's difficult to write since it involves Neji changing his point of view as time progresses. I'm about to finish this fic, a chapter more before the epilogue. Then I can get back onto my other stories lol.

Also Iriqui, about your review, I understand what you are getting at. It's unfortunate that you and I don't have the same perspective as to how Neji and Tenten should react under certain circumstances. It is true that Neji has a strong belief regarding fate, that everything is already predetermined. However, keep in mind that after the fight with Naruto during the Chuunin Exam, his beliefs changed. After all, Naruto is a 'dead last' while he is a 'Hyuuga prodigy', the logical result in everyone's mind should be Neji kicking Naruto's ass without any problem. Yet at the end, it was Naruto who defeated him. To me, it seems to be good enough justification to change his mind about life…and about destiny—that although he has no power in choosing which family he is born in, he has power to do something about the life he is living. This, of course, is my personal opinion; you don't have to agree with me.

One little correction though, Neji didn't break into Tenten's house. Tenten had given him (and Lee) a set of her house keys so that they can take care of her house when she's away on a mission. Also, he went there because he wanted to give her some healing ointment. To me, it's his way of apologizing to Tenten about striking her.

However, I agree with you about the grammar. I know that it sucks and I apologize. It's just that I'd not been using English for the past two months other than reading or writing fanfiction (I'm in Hong Kong, on vacation). It seems that I have gotten the past, present, future tense all confused again. Also, I admit, I am rushing this fic. It is because I want to get this fic over with so that I can continue my Some Kind of Fairytale. I'm getting a writer's block in that one and every time I thought about Neji and Tenten, my mind goes back to this fic instead. Not to mention I can't update my Operation one because I feel guilty for leaving readers hanging in the Fairytale one (I tend to rotate my updates) lol.

Even so, I'm going to slow my pace down and take time to proofread this story. I thank you for your review. I hope that in the stories I publish in the future, we can come to a common ground about the characterization of Neji and Tenten.

Note: Was Neji 19 or 18…I forgot…if I didn't specify then he's 19 now.

Just A Mission-ch4 (version 2)

Hyuuga Neji was not a man of words.

Not having a father or mother to lean on when he was young meant he had to mature before everyone else did at his age. The misunderstanding between the main and branch house made revenge to become his sole motivation in his earlier life. In fact, Neji had started making plans to get back at the Main House ever since his father died, which happened not long after he reached the age of five.

He was an avenger, like Sasuke.

Both of them were trying to kill a member of their clan.

Yet in his case, he wasn't sure who he was going to kill. Should it be Hinata, since she was the one at fault? If only she weren't so weak, she would've prevented the kidnapping from taking place (the thought of her being merely a child had never occurred to him). Or should it be Hiashi? After all, Hiashi was the one who approved the idea of getting Neji's father to take on the responsibility of the blunder which his daughter has made (Neji didn't know of the truth yet at that time). Or should it the whole damn Main House since it was the people there who decided that Neji's father was to be a Branch member simply because he was born a few minutes later?

During his genin years, Neji had spent nights; even years trying to figure out what he would do once he was strong enough. There was a time when he had considered forgiving Hinata, he understood her gentle nature. She was someone who does a better job in healing and mending than breaking and destroying.

Despite that, it didn't mean she could get away with murder. She might not be the one who killed his father; his father died because of her. She was unforgivable, just like everyone else in the Main House. Every Hyuuga had participated in the death of his father…if only there was someone who objected the preposition…the situation would've been totally different.

However, Neji also understood that he would never be able to do anything without knowing how to fight. Therefore, he trained and trained. He had to learn all the things he needed from the Hyuugas, only then could he use those very techniques to defeat them. That will be his ultimate revenge. Therefore, getting kicked out of the Hyuuga Household before then was not an option. He would hide his emotions; act as if he still respects the Main house so that no one would have an idea as what he was planning. In the end, that was what he did. In fact, he hid his emotions too well, to the point where he couldn't express them correctly anymore.

He didn't know how and he didn't bother to explain why he acted in a certain way.

Thus, a number of misunderstandings which could've been prevented in his later life, happened.

His genin life was based on isolation. Others considered him as arrogant, a bastard with 'a stick up his ass'. He didn't care; he was comfortable being alone for being alone meant that he wouldn't need to care about anybody other than himself. To him, he no longer wanted to get emotionally involved with anything or anyone…because it will only bring him more pain. Not to mention, as avenger who will become the enemy of the Hyuugas, he will only bring devastation to anyone who associate his or herself with him. Neji didn't want anyone not involved to get hurt because of him.

Neji supposed he was being cruel to be gentle.

He was similar to Uchiha Sasuke in more ways than one.

But then…something made him different from the Uchiha survivor later on.

He'd fought with Naruto at the Chuunin Exam…and

He had his team…His team-mates had changed him in more ways than he was willing to admit. When Lee and Gai weren't on a mission to irk him, they were someone who he could rely on…from time to time.

However, when things in life became too havoc to him, he would always turn to Tenten, who, in some twisted ways, became his sanctuary. To him, she was the reason why he hadn't gone insane or tried to massacre the Hyuuga clan during the genin days, taking up the very steps of Uchiha Itachi.

He was angry beyond reason that his father had to die. He was frustrated because of his lack of power to do anything for his father. It was like he'd become an elastic band, and those negative emotions were the forces that was pulling on the band. He wasn't able to think clearly, all he could think about was that he was living in the same house as the murderers of his father. They were so close, they were practically in front of him but he couldn't do a damn thing about.

Every time he sees one of them, especially Hinata or Hiashi, emotions that he was forced to suppress was like a dam broke out. His emotions exploded within him.

He hated them, he hated the Hyuuga.

He cursed them everyday and night.

He wished that some sort of disaster would fall upon them.

He wanted to kill them himself.

But he couldn't because he was weak.

He was about to snap.

He didn't know who he could turn to…until…

One might consider him exaggerating. After all, a prodigy of a prestigious clan builds his foundation of life based on a girl. Not just any girl, but a girl that wouldn't even be considered as female if she didn't have the anatomy of a woman.

How did this happen you ask?

It just happened.

It sounded surreal to him up till now. He couldn't find any explanation to it. It was a fact; he'd tried disproving it many times and failed miserably. It was like trying to find something to validate there is no gravity.

Compared to Sakura, Tenten was not loud. She didn't even need to make a sound yet she will be able to capture his attention immediately once she entered the same room as him. Unlike other girls, she didn't spend time reading fashion magazines, applying makeup or talking about boys. To her, sharpening a weapon, training with him or Lee and reading the newspaper for the day was more worthwhile.

Yet for some strange reason, it was her who could calm his raging emotions. Whenever he felt as if the whole would was being unjust to him, she would always be there. Neji actually felt that she's the only one who could understand him.

Maybe it was the fact that she too had lost her parents at young age (when she was seven), or the fact that her parents had died in such a horrible way when their mission went wrong. Or maybe…it was the fact that she is able to do something he couldn't do during his younger days…

When the murderer of her parents was brought out of the interrogation building, Tenten was waiting outside with a kurai in hand. The convict was sentence to death for he had killed four of Konoha's Jounins.

Everyone stopped and turned to the little girl, unsure of what to do since they recognized her being the daughter of two gifted Jounins…who were now dead because of the shinobi. She'd scrutinized the shinobi for a long time, the knuckles on her hand turned white due the strength she was gripping onto the kurai.

Then, she did something that surprised everyone.

She dropped her weapon. Looking at the man who killed her parents in the eyes, she told him that she will never be able to find peace if she kills him…and that her parents wouldn't want his blood to be on her hands.

With that, she turned away from everyone and sped away, tears were evident on her face. Therefore, she didn't see the shock look on everyone's face, hear the sound of crying as the murderer started sobbing uncontrollably, nor see him (Neji) standing at the side quietly, not far from her.

Neji couldn't comprehend why the murderer had started crying; that he would start shouting apologizes to the young girl that was already out of his view. If he is sorry, then why would he kill Tenten's parent in the first place. The damage was already done; it was too late to say something along the lines of 'he didn't mean to do it on purpose'. Neji was even more confused when he saw the nods of approval given by the adults around him, all of which were directed at the girl who had already left.

It didn't matter much to him though.

At that time, Neji considered Tenten as an idiot. The killer of her parents had stood before her, defenceless (the shinobi was chained). If she were to stab the guy a couple of times, no one would say anything because she has the right to. The shinobi had killed her parents for crying out loud.

Unlike him, it was so easy for her to take revenge. It was right in front of her but she gave it up, letting the chance to slip right through her fingers. If only he could get an opportunity like that, he would kill the person without a second thought.

Later, Neji had snorted when he saw her being assigned in the same team as him. He didn't want her, in fact, in the beginning, he preferred Lee more than her. To him, a forgiving person was weak. Only those who failed to take the matter into their hands would choose something so inadequate.

He didn't think much about the event, at least not until after the Chuunin Exam. It was then did he truly understand the power of the gift Tenten had bestowed on the condemned shinobi. Neji realized that he was the idiot. She was much more matured than he'd thought her to be.

He learned that revenge could be a great motivator. However, once the person avenged himself, emptiness will fill the person's heart…because he suddenly has nothing to live on. On the other hand, forgiveness…could brighten the darkness in someone's heart. It…could change someone in a way better than revenge ever could.

However, even before he realized that fact, Tenten became someone who he depended on. Neji supposed that in the beginning, he was taking advantage of her big heart. After all, if she could forgive someone who killed her parents, then no matter how bad she was treated, she would pardon him. It was hard to have faith in Lee and Gai since they didn't act serious most of the time. Tenten, on the other hand, had incredible patience and acceptance. Whenever he wanted to stay at her house, she would swing the door wider without question, letting him through. If he wanted to pour his heart out at her, she would listen; if he didn't, it would be fine for her too.

Neji needed her in more ways than he'd like to admit.

Neji thought that his feelings by now would be obvious to her. After all, she was the only female who he actually made an effort to associate with: to treat her to dinner from time to time, to get her little things that she wanted but didn't buy during her window shopping trips, to spend time with her in the blacksmith shop as she tried to get the latest weapons available while he was a taijutsu type of fighter.

But she was ignorant, oblivious to everything.

She didn't know how endearing she looked as she flipped through the menu, as she decides whether she should have a tempura soba or a teriyaki chicken with rice. She no idea how much he wanted to be the food that she was devouring…because at least, she will give the food her undivided attention for a short time before smile sweetly as she commented on how great the meal was.

She didn't know how much he wanted to buy everything she wanted when she was at the mall. However, he couldn't do it in front of her because he knows that Tenten will get angry if he was to pay for her. Instead, he would have to wait patiently until Tenten and he parted ways before going back to the very store, buying the thing that she had wanted. Then he would have waste time, making up some stupid excuse as to why he was giving the thing to her.

She didn't know how attractive she looked when her eyes shone as she saw the latest weapons. She had no idea how his heart pounded when she dragged him around the store, holding onto his hand.

And most of all, she didn't know that he loves her.

Everything he did for her, she contributed it to the fact that they had known each other 'since the genin days', and the fact that they were 'close friends'.

Neji recalled the time during their Chuunin days when Tenten got a large wound at the front on one of the missions. A large blade had slashed diagonally across her front. Since there were only four of them on the mission (Gai, Lee, Tenten and him), he was the one who had treated her wounds while the two Proud Green Beasts of Konoha fended off the enemies. He had grabbed her right away, pulling her back from the battlefield. He found himself a deserted place, taking off his coat, he set her down. Her blood was soaking through the front of her clothes, turning her white shirt into a crimson one.

For the first time, he registered the fact that Tenten could actually die.

But he wouldn't let that happen. If the reaper was to come to collect her soul, then it would be over his dead body.

Slowly, Neji took out a kurai from his shinobi pouch. With quick precision, he gently cut away the front of her shirt, making sure that the fabric wouldn't stick to the wound as the blood began to dry. Immediately he started with the healing procedure, her wounds wouldn't be completely be mended since he wasn't a medic-nin. However, he had stopped the bleeding and that would just have to do for now. After he had finished wrapping the bandages around her chest and torso and established the fact to himself that she was no longer in a dangerous condition, he realized…

He had touched Tenten…and he saw her…

He looked at his hands and they were shaking ever so slightly, like they had done something filthy No matter how close they were as friends, as team-mates, Neji had always kept a distance between them. However, that night, he felt like he'd violated her somehow…but he also understood there was no other way to heal her…After all; he had only received a minimum level of medical training. If he was Sakura, then he might be able to just touch her wound, apply chakra at it and the wound would close…but he wasn't Sakura.

He told himself that it was just something he had to do…if he wanted to save Tenten.

Up until now, Neji could still recall the smoothness of her skin, the warm that was radiating off her body…Oh god her body…

But no matter what, he would never forget the way she looked at him that night. She had looked at him with such trusting eyes, like he will never do anything bad to her. She told him not to worry about her because she'll be as good as new once the day was over.

She was hurt and vulnerable… yet she was comforting him. He, on the other hand…he'd took advantage of her and she didn't even realize it. She was in a worse condition than him yet she still cared about him, putting him above her wound.

Then he wondered, if she was on the mission with another man, would she allow the person treat her wound like he did?

Neji realized that if another man saw her like this he would kill the man.

He stopped himself.

Why was he getting so worked up? After all, he had been a shinobi long enough to know that everyone that is a Chuunin would received some sort of medical training. What's the point of learning it if he or she is not going to use it to treat Tenten?

But Neji didn't want anyone touching Tenten…other than…him.

He was confused. Why was he feeling this way?

He cared about her, as a team-mate of course yet because of her…he…

Unlike his usual composed self, he had been so rash when he saw Tenten got injured. It was like he was on autopilot, that his mind could no longer think rationally. He'd rushed toward the ninja immediately, pulling Tenten away from the man while leaving himself wide open, defenceless as the shinobi was about to deliver a finishing blow to Tenten. If Gai weren't there to block the fatal blow for him, there would've been two people on the ground instead of one.

Unlike his usual composed self, he was actually scared when he saw the amount of blood Tenten was losing. He treated her wounds gently, jerking and stopping himself every time he heard her grunted.

Unlike his usual composed self, his heart wasn't suppose to beat faster when he saw the trusting look Tenten was giving him. He wasn't supposed to feel the hotness on his cheek when she leaned against him to catch her breath.

Hyuuga Neji was not known for being reckless.

Hyuuga Neji was not known for being scared either.

Hyuuga Neji was not known for acting like a schoolboy in love around anybody.

And of course, Hyuuga Neji wasn't supposed to care about anyone other than himself.

Alone, Hyuuga Neji wouldn't do something like this.

Yet…together with Tenten…Hyuuga Neji would…simply because he'd fell in love with her before he even knew it. It was like an epiphany had taken place, the weight in his chest lightened. Suddenly, he could understand everything that he was feeling…and see what was happening between Tenten and him.

He loved her, loved her in a way that was beyond the love for a friend.

He was fourteen then.

In his stubborn mind, Neji was willing to wait. He told himself that he'll give Tenten time to get used to his presence…so use to it that she can no longer separate herself from him. Then maybe…she'll agree immediately when he asks her to marry him…because he's the only one who she can connect with…and that she's the only one he could stand living with.

It was for the best, he told himself, simply because he couldn't see himself in trying to woo anyone…even if the person happens to be Tenten.

However, an event happened two years ago (when he was 17) made him to reconsider if he had made the wrong decision...

Neji was coming out of his usual morning shower. He wasn't expecting anybody so he walked out of the bathroom with only a towel around his waist. He almost had a heart attack when he found Tenten asleep on his bed (apparently the Hyuugas were familiar with her enough to let her in and out of the complex). She opened her eyes and saw his half dressed state; she blinked several times.

Right then and there, Neji expected her to scream or saying something along the lines that he's an exhibitionist. Instead, she got up and walked to his closet. She threw open one of the drawers and pulled out one of his boxers. Not even having a tint of red on her cheek, she threw the thing at him. The boxer hit his chest and would've hit the ground if his hands didn't move at the last minute to catch it. Neji could only watch as Tenten pulled out other articles of clothing and threw them at him as well. As she got out of his room, she told him to hurry up or they will have to shorten their practice…

Neji blinked.

If it were any other girl who had seen him in the half dressed state, they would probably drool or have a nose bleed by now. But Tenten remained unfazed by him. Neji wondered if she didn't consider him as a man anymore. Maybe she thought of him as her brother, someone who she had been with since childhood; someone she could depend her life on but not someone who she could spend the rest of her life with.

Afterward, he had never display any affection toward Tenten that was beyond a love for a friend or a love for a team-mate. Maybe unconsciously he was redrawing the line between them, distancing themselves from each other and redefining what she was to him and him to her.

The relationship between him and her was difficult to explain. They were close, which was an obvious fact. However, Tenten was interpreting their relationship in a wrong direction. He wanted to be part of her family…but not as a brother. He wanted something more than that; he wanted their friendship to evolve into something else.

Neji wondered if he was being too impatient. After all, Tenten had devoted most of her life into following the footsteps of one of the legendary Sennins—Tsunade. She wanted to become one of the strongest kunoichi. The thought of getting a boyfriend probably had never came across her mind.

However, Neji didn't want to wait for her to 'come around' anymore.

He had been waiting for five years for god's sake! The time which Tenten and he had been friends were even longer. At that time, he changed his plan; he'll just have to take initiative. At the right time, he'll declare his feelings about her…then hopefully…she'll feel the same thing for him too.

However…when exactly is the right time?

During their training session, Tenten would lose her thoughts into developing strategies to improve the effectiveness of her weapons. He would feel wrong if he was to interrupt her thoughts.

During the time when they were out to dinner, Tenten would always wave to everyone and start chatting with the person who pasts by. With all the people coming toward their table, it was difficult to have a quiet moment with her.

During the time when they were in the blacksmith store…Neji just didn't think that a store full of weapons was a good place to propose…

As a result…he waited…and waited while rehearsing the words he wanted to say to her in his head for more than a million times. Yet he found it more and more difficult to start at all. He thought that writing it out would make things better, but he made it worse: This part of the speech was not perfect…that part of the speech sounded too…He kept of scraping the parts he dislike and adding in things…Then at the end, he simply tossed the damn piece of paper into the waste basket.

Neji reverted back to his old ways since he was the most comfortable with it…to wait…

Yet something snapped inside him a few days before. It was like a possessive side he had for her that was kept hidden all these years came flooding out. He hated Isamu, he hated the way Isamu looked at Tenten, he hated Isamu for touching Tenten at the thigh so overtly, and most of all, Neji hated how Isamu was able to get so close to her when he, himself, had never allowed himself to touch her more than necessary.

Maybe he was jealous and it had intervened with his mission. However, at that time, he wasn't able to think clearly anymore. The only thing in Neji's mind was to beat the shit out of him.

Love has made him a fool indeed.

It had done nothing but screw him up. After tonight, Tenten would probably be afraid of him to the point where she'll be avoiding him. Neji didn't know what had taken over him tonight. He just wanted to tell Tenten not to do something like seducing a man again…and somehow everything just turned out…

The Hyuuga sighed…as a prodigy…he was real smart tonight.

Neji took one last look at Tenten's house before walking away. He headed toward the Hyuuga complex, passing by different houses along the way. It was a quite night, with the occasional buzzing of bugs here and there. Therefore, he was surprised to see shinobis zooming by when he was about to reach the Hyuuga household.

Neji jumped up onto one of the roofs, stopping one of the oncoming shinobis.

"Neji, I was planning to get you."

The person was Lee.

The Hyuuga prodigy turned grim. Immediately he knew that something bad had happen. The only time will the headquarter get him when he was off-duty was when an emergency had occurred.

Knowing what Neji will ask next, Lee explained. "Isamu had escaped the interrogation quarter, leaving 4 Jounins injured. We are on a scale 2 alert. However, what's odd is that there's yet to have any signal that he is leaving Konoha. It doesn't make sense…why would he stay in here?"

Neji, if possible, his features darkened when realization hit.

"Tenten."

"Tenten…"

Her eyes widened, she twirled around.

There was nobody other than her here…

Tenten gave a quiet sign as she rubbed her temple with her hand. This was the third time already. After Neji had left, she went to the bathroom and washed her face. The cold water was refreshing. It was only then did Tenten dared to think back what had happen.

Neji was angry about the method she'd chosen to lure Isamu.

What he did to her was a demonstration of what would've happened if she wasn't powerful enough to fight off Isamu, at least that was what she'd been telling himself.

After all, if he really wanted to do something bad to her…he wouldn't have stopped…

There was no way that Neji would harm her. He wouldn't, he simply wouldn't because…he's Neji…someone she had known since a child and…

God, what was she thinking? She was trying to find an acceptable explanation to justify his actions, that he was the same Neji, her closest friend and team-mate. She began to wonder if every other girl would do this. Wasn't she supposed to be angry? After all, he did the unthinkable to her. Even if they were close friends, there is a line that he simply cannot cross.

But he did…he crossed it tonight…

She didn't know what to think anymore. So many things had happened tonight. What Neji did…something she had never felt before began to surface…No…it was something that had remained hidden in her for a long time…which she'd brushed off up until now and will continue to ignore…

Tenten grabbed a towel on the side and wiped her face dry. Looking at the mirror in front of her, she decided that she would have to talk to him. She had been living long enough to know that if they don't talk about this soon, the chasm between them would only get wider and wider. It would not benefit the situation one bit since they have a great chance of seeing each other in the future…

However, it's not just the awkwardness of the situation that motivated her. It was because…deep down…she didn't want the years of friendship to go down the drain. Neji was a good friend, someone who she considered as a family. As a woman who had lost both of her parents, she came to depend on Neji on more ways than she'd liked…She was used having him around…so used to it that she didn't want it to change.

Maybe it was because she was desperate…that she was actually starting to panic. She had always thought that Neji will be with her…well, forever. After all, they had grown up together and stuff. He trained with her always, went on the same missions as her, ate meals with her whenever she was starting to get lonely and defended her, saving her life many times…

He was always there whenever she needed him. She hadn't thought much about it until now but…

She really didn't want to lose him…

Taking a deep breath, a decision came to mind: she will talk to him…in a public place like the Konoha Park or something.

No, no. She'll talk to him alone; if she was to talk to him in public then she will never be able to get past her own fears of him…

After all, there is nothing to be scared…he's Neji! Tenten told herself once again.

He's part of her family…along with Lee and Gai of course…

He was her family.

Walking out of the bathroom, she flicked off the light as she headed down the hallway. She had only gotten this house as a celebration gift for achieving the Jounin rank. She was proud since she was the one who bought it although it was a second-hand house. It was a typical western house, with two floors. There were three rooms upstairs, one was the master bedroom that had a bathroom linking it, another room was her library where her favourite literatures and jutsu scrolls were kept neatly on different shelves, and the last room was a bedroom, just in case she had a guest over of something. There was a restroom just beside the guest bedroom. Downstairs, there was a living room, a dining room that was connected directly to the kitchen, a washroom and her training room where her weapons were placed.

Tenten was beginning to be restless for some reason, like something was about to happen. Just then, she had thought that she'd heard Neji calling her name. This ought to stop or she'll never be able to get any sleep tonight. She touched the doorknob leading to her bedroom, she was about to turn it when she sighed. Instead of going inside, she changed directions and descended the stairs.

She'll get a drink before going back to bed.

Tenten entered the kitchen and flicked on the lights. Her kitchen was a usual square shaped one—a long kitchen counter was on her left, it has a few drawers at the side and a dishwasher underneath it. On her right there was a table stove equipped with an oven. The handle of the oven had a drying towel hanging onto it. In front of her, there was a water basin while a plastic dish rack was beside it. She grabbed a glass cup from one of the wooden cabinets and opened the door of the fridge that was situated at the back, at the opposite side of the sink.

The weapon expert looked through the refrigerator, trying to decide get cold water or orange juice (her favourite drink) instead. However, since she was not in the mood to brush her teeth again, she settled for water. After filling her cup with watiter, she placed the water (glass) jug back into the fridge, along side with a carton of milk and a large glass bottle of orange juice. Taking a sip of water, she turned around so she could step away from the fridge and close the door.

However, instead of seeing nothing other than her ordinary kitchen, she saw Isamu smiling at her.

The glass cup hit the ground and shattered into many pieces.

Love it? Hate it? Please review and tell me what you think! Me need motivation! Lol