Title : When Naruto has a Say

Series : Naruto

Character/Pairing : Hyuuga Neji x TenTen

Set : 1

Theme : #6 - Secret

Rating : PG-13

Word Count : 1, 826 words

Disclaimer : I don't own any of the characters that will be used in this story. Do I even seem or look like Masashi Kishimoto? No offense if you're blind, though.

It's... from Naruto's point of view. And you could say that this happens before "I Need It". You can put it in that order, too. Six first before five.

Lately, there's this rumor that there are ghosts in the Academy. They'd appear at around eleven in the night. I think that it's complete bull. I've heard those ghosts while walking to my apartment after a long and hard mission which was followed by some sort of Tsunade-baachan encounter to report what happened in my mission. Tell ya what, those aren't any ghosts. I'd know because I did use to be a student of both the writer of the Icha Icha series and the enormous fan of the aforementioned series. How'd I find out? Cause I'm going to be the next Hokage, that's why! And Hokages aren't supposed to be hindered by rumors like those. Yeah, well, and I never heard the rumor before I heard the ghosts. So I stayed put and decided to listen some more.

So how come this rumor's still out when I, the next Hokage, found out that it's not true? Cause I decided to keep it a secret, that's why. The identities of these ghosts, that is. It looks as if they'd worked really hard to keep their names and their faces not heard or seen or found out. Anyway, it's not threatening to Konoha.

Maybe I should go tell Sas... I mean the teme when I go visit him tomorrow. I visit him once a week. I only have one day wherein I'm free because of the demanding missions. It's hard to be a jounin after the Fourth Ninja Wars.

It's been a year since I hauled Sasuke's pretty lil'... YOU HEARD NOTHING! Yeah, so it's been a year since I hauled his ass back to Konoha. I was a bit late... But Sasuke told me when we were alone in the hospital that it was better late than never. I was supposed to... never mind. Moving on before I start to angst you to death. Whatever that means. So, um, where was I... ah, yes... I'm gonna go visit the teme. I betcha that that asshole wouldn't give a damn. Typical. But I need to get it all out before I scream what I know at someone who might spread the word. Neji and TenTen... keh... Not going there, not going there.

But I guess that you might've made the connection already. And I guess that you won't tell anyone. Cause I told you that you won't.

Mmkay. So here I go. It's been a week since I heard those ghosts. I met up with these ghosts the day after that. In my apartment. It seemed as if like it was a private thing so I made it like that. These ghosts were Neji and TenTen. Kinda surprising, huh? So then, they were at my apartment. Three more hours to go before Neji went to see his genin team which surprised me when I first heard it, too, and five hours to go before TenTen left for a mission of hers. And of course, two hours and a half before I went to the Academy to help Iruka-sensei. I couldn't go to Sasuke's cause Tsunade-baachan told me that he was acting up a bit and she said that I wouldn't want to see it and that Sasuke wouldn't want me to see it. It was the latter that made me not visit him. It's a good thing that I was able to kill Orochimaru.

Okay, okay. So it went like this...

"Why are you guys doing that?" I asked.

"Doing what?" TenTen asked, genuinely confused.

I decided to be the nice guy that I was and told them what I mean by what I said. TenTen looked a bit flustered and all while Neji looked uncomfortable. A bit only, of course, because he's Neji. When they were silent for a few minutes or something, I asked the same question again. They looked even more distressed, so I decided to become a good host and fetch them some tea that I had been planning to give to Sakura-chan for her to give to Sasuke or, if she wasn't allowed to give it to him directly, to Tsunade-baachan who would give it to Sasuke. I would've given it to Kakashi-sensei since he's always allowed to see the guy, which I am totally miffed at cause I don't have privileges like those and I think that Gaara's just as envious at me cause not even he gets to do that even though he's the Kazekage... then again, we were in Konoha and, uh, I'm straying far too away from the point. Kay. So I offered them some of the green tea and they graciously, cause they looked formal and stuff and I'm not like them so I'm not used to it... though I'm used to Sasuke being like that but that's not the point, took the tea and thanked me.

The silence was kinda creepin' me out so I decided to talk once again. I talked about the new Academy students and the silly things that I saw that they did. Soon enough, they were all talking with me. Well, TenTen was, but that was kinda expected since Neji had never been the talkative one. The atmosphere was lighter. Then...

"I guess you deserve an explanation, Naruto-kun," TenTen said.

"We're also thankful that you haven't told anyone," Neji said.

I nodded. It was their business. It was their job to spread the word if they wanted to. I hated gossip. I always have and I always will. Gossip hurts people. Words will always be more painful than broken ribs or fractured limbs. Except, of course, for some cases.

"We're in a relationship," TenTen said.

I figured that out as much. I nodded to show that I understood and yes, I didn't mind. Really. What was to mind there anyway? They were of the opposite sex and they were both pretty strong. If they had a kid, the guy or girl would be another one of those rookie of the year students.

"Please don't tell anyone," she continued.

I blinked.

"Why?" I asked.

"The Elders do not approve of our union," Neji said, "because TenTen does not come from any of the powerful ninja clans. And the Hyuuga intermarry. We aren't allowed to marry outside of our clan. In fact, the only clan that has been known to not intermarry were the Uchiha."

Well, at least I now know that Sasuke's no... incest child or whatever. Not that I care. Hey, it's their life not mine. I guess when you grow up to be some sort of demon child, you don't get a lot of inhibitions. If they want to do it, they should just do it. As long as nobody's really hurt and stuff, it's fine by me.

Yeah, and I guess that would explain why Sasuke told me that the Uchiha cared more for real power, the one that was given by chakra and ranks and all that, rather than their kekkei genkai. That and the Uchiha were honoring how they first started. When a Hyuuga married someone else that wasn't a Hyuuga. The Uchiha had always been known to be rebels. At least that's how I see it.

I'm angry at those Elders, whoever they are. I could see that Neji and TenTen were in love. Really in love. Love. Nobody was supposed to stop or suppress love. Nobody had the right to. It was inhuman. I totally thought that I got all sentimental and crap there. Sasuke would've sneered at me. Hey, I can't help it. It's love, man, love. Besides, Sasuke wasn't there. Anyway... Kyuubi was the one who filled in that role.

"What about Temari and Shikamaru?" I asked.

Yeah, Temari and Shikamaru. They were in a relationship. Shikamaru was from a clan.

"The rest of the clans are starting the change. The Elders are obstinate. They do not want to let go of our tradition," Neji said.

"So those nights... those are the only times that we can be with each other," TenTen said in a soft voice.

They were, you know, star-crossed lovers. Not that I'm trying to be sentimental or anything. Not that I'm already sentimental. I think I'm going mental...

And I want to do something to help them. I really do want to. If Lee was here, I guess he'd be saying something around the lines of how wonderful my youth was and all of that stuff. I'd say crap, but that's not crap. It has a lot of meaning if you look into it. At least that's what Sasuke said. He's turning into some sort of Sarutobi-Shikamaru-Kakashi-without-the-pervertedness. Or not too much of the pervertedness.

So since I wanted to help, I told them that I was just going out to buy something. I told them that we'd be all having lunch at my place. It's a good thing Jiraiya, Teuchi-jiichan, and Ayame-neechan taught me to cook.

I felt a lot happier when I saw that grateful smile on TenTen's face and that sparkle in Neji's eyes. When I left, I was sure that they were making good use of the time given to them. I swear that I saw them hugging and kissing when I walked out of the door. Yeah. I sure was going to help them, dattebayo! I never go back on my promises, even those that I make to myself. I may not be Hokage yet, but that doesn't mean that I can't be concerned about others!

Two years have passed since then. The whole clan thing got fixed, miraculously cause this was the Hyuuga Clan and that the Hokage and the Konoha Elders weren't supposed to butt in those clan situations, in some sort of meeting. Or meetings. This all started when I exclaimed the injustice, which was to be forced to not love someone you really did love... or something like that, to Tsunade-baachan without managing to tell her about Neji and TenTen's relationship. I also attended the meetings to make sure that my point was going to get across.

They're implementing the new Hyuuga rules right now. The sakura look pretty. Only a day to go before the last week of March ends.

When they announced it at some Main Family house, I saw the small smile in Hiashi's face, I saw that delighted look on Hinata-chan's face, I saw that look of happiness in Hanabi's face. They were obviously all happy for Neji. He was finally able to love freely. And I guess he showed that free love that day, too. It was the first time that he publicly showed real feelings.

He raised TenTen by her armpits and twirled her around the air. The two of them were laughing. Soon, he tightly hugged her and she hugged back. Then they kissed. It happened much faster than you think, but I like to take it slow. Moments like those were rare. Moments of true love being really displayed. They were really happy. They were really in love. I wish... I wish that...

Someone tapped me.

"Oi, dobe, let's go for some ramen. My treat."

I grinned and turned away from Neji and TenTen. My job there was done.