Three weeks since the last update. Wow, that's horrible. Should I be thinking of an excuse? Because, really, I had college apps. Doesn't that count for anything? It really should. But I made this chapter longer, so hopefully, that sorta makes up for it.

Alright, here we go!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, b/c if I did, Sasuke would be MINE!!!

Chapter 14

Her name sounded unfamiliar, foreign, as it left the lips of the speaker and traveled out towards the crowd. She moved naturally, up the platform, while her mind froze for a second. It was just a bit nerve-wracking to get up in front of practically the entire village and she had never been good in front of an audience anyways.

But this was no time to be thinking such hindering thoughts. This was her one moment to shine, to prove that she could be just as good as the other shinobi around her. She smiled and approached Hiashi, bowing respectfully as he announced her rise to the Chunnin level.

"Well done, Ino", he nodded approvingly. She grinned and returned to the crowd.

"And now, Kiba", Hiashi continued.

"And Akamaru", Kiba added, leading his dog onto the platform.

"Of course, and Akamaru", Hiashi smiled lightly.

As Neji watched the ceremony proceed, his eyebrow scrunched up slightly, as if he was thinking hard. Was it just him, or did Akamaru grow slightly larger?

"Hey, didn't Akamaru used to ride on his head?" Tenten asked only a second later.

"He does look bigger", Neji agreed.

Kiba stepped out in front of the crowd and sighed deeply. Chunnin, I'm a Chunnin, he thought proudly. Akamaru yapped excitedly beside him, circling behind his owner and crouching on the other side of him, then returning to his original position.

"Well done", Hiashi nodded. He allowed the younger shinobi to return to the crowd before continuing.

"Is there anything else?" Tenten whispered, looking around.

"Not that I know of", Neji replied. They turned to leave, but Hiashi continued.

"These were the members of the squad sent to retrieve my daughter, but were other courageous shinobi involved", he looked at Tenten and called her up. She looked back at him, slightly shocked and unwilling to step up when she was dressed the way she was.

"Go", Neji gave her a gentle push and she stumbled onto the stage, carefully testing out her steps. She had partially regained her ability to walk and she was sure it had to do with getting some fresh air.

"You and Sakura, who was unable to attend, as she is currently working in the hospital, were an important part of the mission", Hiashi spoke for the crowd to hear, but his gaze was firm on the young kunoichi in front of him. She bowed respectfully and grinned a little, unable to contain her excitement. Judging from the previous events that had just happened, she was sure she would become a Chunnin as well. She had to admit it was a bit disappointing to not pass the exams and become a Chunnin the "right" way, but still, it got her to where she was headed.

"Unfortunately, it is not in my power to promote you to a Chunnin, as much as I would like to. I believe you deserve the rank, but I'm afraid I have little influence on the rules of the exam". Those words hurt, but Tenten quickly recovered from her shock and managed to maintain a somewhat happy face.

"Thank you", she murmured. She was about to turn and leave the stage so she could go wallow somewhere, but Hiashi stopped her.

"However, we have prepared a gift for you as a token of appreciation", he brought forth a large, white scroll, lined with a deep red. It was possibly the most beautiful scroll Tenten had ever seen and her eyes sparkled as her "thank you's" gushed out like water from a fountain.

Probably the best thing to happen to me today, she hugged the scroll tightly as she left the stage, giving Neji the biggest smile she could muster as she approached him. His expression was one of amusement. Leave it to a girl to be bought so easily by materialism. But inside, he knew it wasn't the "prettiness" of the scroll that had made Tenten go crazy over it. He knew there was more in her. He knew of her love for weapons and her desire to improve everyday. The scroll would definitely help in this area.

"And finally, I know many of you have been wondering, where is the Godaime Hokage?"

Neji perked up upon hearing this and listened carefully. He, like most of the villagers, wondered where the Hokage could have gone during such a large event.

"When Hinata was first taken away, I immediately went to the Hokage and requested she send a squad out. I also requested that my nephew be sent for this mission. The Hokage agreed and I offered for the Hyuuga clan to sponsor the carving of her face into this great monument", he pointed at the large mountain that contained the faces of the first four Hokages, then continued, "as of this moment, the Hokage is working with a team of elite shinobi to scout out the mountain for safety measures, so that construction can be started tomorrow. Soon, we shall have our fifth Hokage watching over us as well".

The announcement was met with wild cheers, whistles, and tremendous applause. "It's about time!" Ino cheered.

"That's why she's been missing", Neji understood. Tenten grinned excitedly beside him. There was so much positive change going on, she could hardly stand it. Her mind was in a flurry of excitement and she felt like jumping up and down like a child. But of course, in her current condition, she couldn't very well do that.

Tired and weary from the festivities, Tenten agreed to let Neji walk her back to the Konoha Hospital. She hadn't gotten in trouble for sneaking out, but karma had found its own way of getting back at her. Her legs were sore as hell and her feet hurt. She had gradually regained her ability to walk during the ceremony and was not offered to be carried back to her hospital room. But she wouldn't have agreed anyways.

The two of them had reached the front of the hospital, away from the noises of the celebration, but near a new sort of chaotic sound. The hospital was lively, filled with the sounds of nurses rushing here and there, in and out of patients' rooms. Tenten grimaced as the sound reached her ears and she stopped walking, sighing deeply.

"What?" Neji looked at her. He shifted the robes he'd received, as well as the scroll he was carrying for his teammate, to keep them from slipping. Honestly, that was one, huge scroll.

"It's just… there's so much frustration", she replied.

"You're frustrated?" he couldn't think of why she would feel that way. Even for him, it hadn't been a bad day.

"Well, no, not me. I'm not frustrated, but the mood feels frustrating, doesn't it?" she couldn't explain in words what she meant.

"I don't feel it", Neji replied blandly.

"No, of course not", Tenten began walking again, "you've probably learned to keep it all under control. But try to understand what I mean. It's so… it's so hot, so stifling. There's no air! And the bright lights in the hospital, and all that noise. I couldn't stand going back. And it's sticky. My feet are sticky and I just feel so- ugh".

"I see", Neji mused quietly. He was silent for a moment, as if contemplating deeply, then his head raised and he looked straight at her, "we'll fix that".

Tenten could only wonder what her teammate was thinking as they quickly covered the last steps into the hospital, through the lobby, ignoring the nurses' protests down the corridor, and into her hospital room.

"Where's the shower?" Neji asked, setting down the items in his arms. He began moving quickly around the room, searching cabinets until he found a roll of bandages and a fresh hospital gown.

"What?"

"The shower", he replied impatiently. The door opened and one of the nurses who had been in the lobby walked in, only to be sent back out with a fresh hospital gown, bandages, and instructions from a newly turned jounin to show the brown-haired girl, who looked just as confused, to the showers so she could refresh herself.

The poor nurse, being relatively new at her position, didn't think twice and obeyed every word, politely leading Tenten to a door at the end of the next corridor and offering her assistance.

"Uh, thanks. I've got it", Tenten smiled. The nurse nodded and scampered away.

Tenten sighed and looked around her, then dragged the sticky clothes off her body and stepped into the shower. She was unsure of what to do with the bandages around her midsection and for a fraction of a second, a horrifying image of blood leaking from her stomach filled her mind.

But she quickly pushed it away and started tugging at the bandages, gently peeling it off. The wound on her stomach was now no more than a tender layer of skin covered by the beginnings of a scar.

"Wow. That healed fast", Tenten muttered out loud. Must have been that thing Sakura made me drink.

She stepped into the shower and sighed, allowing the warm water to drizzle down her back. She feared her wounds would reopen, so she kept the water at a safe temperature and refrained from touching her stomach. After a good five minutes of just standing there, enjoying the feel of the water, Tenten reached for the tiny, single-use bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash stacked neatly in the corner of the shower. She struggled with the cap for a few seconds before the thick liquid oozed onto her palm.

It smelled really good.

She grinned, feeling like a child as she smothered it all over her hair, then ran her fingers through the thick strands. It was rare to have time to enjoy such trivial things.

Twenty minutes later, the water was reluctantly shut off and Tenten made her way out of the shower, pulling a towel tightly around her. The fuzzy fabric rubbed against the sensitive wound across her stomach and she winced, quickly pulling it away. It didn't take her too long to figure out how to re-wrap a fresh layer of bandages over herself and she grinned proudly as she slipped the white hospital gown over her head.

All set. She stepped back into the hallway, looked around cautiously, then made her way back to her room, her old bundle of clothes gripped tightly in her arms.

Neji was nowhere in sight and she wondered briefly if he'd just decided to leave. She didn't want to think that he'd be capable of such actions, but the truth was, she never knew what to expect from him.

She left the clothes on a vacant chair beside the door and walked over to her bed, gently flipping over the sheets. The bed had been made while she was gone and the sheets were new, fresh with the light scent of laundry powder. The window was wide open and the curtains pushed aside, so that the dark sky seemed to enter the room. It wasn't a particularly beautiful or romantic sky, as those were rare and unrealistic, but it was quite enjoyable. And there were enough stars out.

A gentle wind entered the room, flowing through her slightly damp hair. Tenten smiled at the feeling. The noisy hospital sounds were muffled by the closed door and the darkness of her room and the wind from outside seemed to increase the comfortable silence. She leaned back onto her pillow and signed, crossing her arms and looking out the window.

It was a nice sort of silence, but after a while, it became too silent. Did Neji really just leave her? Jerk.

The door creaked open, letting in the noises from the busy hospital. Then, it shut again and the noises disappeared. Tenten didn't bother to turn to see who had walked in, because she knew only one person would enter unannounced and without warning.

"Where did you go?" she asked lightly.

"A walk", Neji replied vaguely. His tone implied that he expected all girls to take too long in the shower, and he'd gone out just to kill time.

"Oh", Tenten wasn't in a mood to argue. In fact, she was feeling strangely docile at the moment. It must have been the fresh air in the room.

"Are you feeling better?" Neji's soft voice interrupted her thoughts and she turned to smile at him.

"Yeah".

He sat on the windowsill, one leg dangling outside the window, the other bent so that his knee was pressed against his chest. Tenten crawled out of bed and joined him, leaning her elbows on the windowsill and allowing her arms to hang off the edge. The wind swept into the room, causing the ends of her dress to fly up.

They both looked out into the village, the sky, the night. The sky had lightened considerably due to the increased number of stars and Tenten grinned as she took in the sight.

There wasn't one real or best way to describe the feeling. She just knew that, especially compared to the frustrated mood she'd been in earlier, this was a really relaxed, calm, serene feeling. Almost lazy.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked. Neji didn't reply at first, but turned to look at the corner of the room, where his newly acquired set of robes sat. "Is it those clothes?" Tenten was genuinely curious, wanting to know exactly what they meant.

"Receiving a set of Hyuuga robes is almost like a rite-of-passage. It's just not exactly official. They're a sign of maturity, or acceptance".

"So, you'll wear them proudly, then?" Tenten asked.

Neji shrugged.

"You won't?"

"I just have… mixed feelings. Should I be proud? Should I be angry? I don't even know what I really did to deserve all this".

"You led a successful mission", Tenten coaxed gently, "and look, I don't know how you see all this, but if you think about it simply, you did really well. You led a mission, you succeeded in it, you brought Hinata home safely, and you became a jounin. That's a huge achievement".

"You make it too simple", Neji smiled sadly, secretly enjoying the refreshing innocence of his teammate. She was naïve, but he had to admit that amidst all the complications of his clan, having a more simple-minded friend really helped. "The head branch does not usually do such things for us. It's almost suspicious".

"Somehow, I really doubt that, Neji. It's because you're different. You're special. Everyone can see that", Tenten replied.

"Really?"

It was more of a soft exclamation than a question. And she knew it to be so and did not reply. They fell into silence once again and looked out across the field of stars.

"I can smell the night", Tenten remarked softly. Neji had nothing to say to such a random comment, but he enjoyed it nevertheless. "Wouldn't it be nice if it were night all the time?"

"No". The reply was so immediate, so harsh, that for a moment, Tenten was taken aback. "I mean, think about it", Neji's voice softened, "not all nights are as nice as this one. And nighttime is more dangerous, especially for shinobi".

"I guess I wasn't thinking", Tenten agreed with a humorless laugh.

Neji responded with a grunt.

"So… what now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what's your next step? Being a jounin means having different missions and different jobs, doesn't it? I mean, look at Shikamaru. He became a Chunnin last year, and ever since, he's been hanging around the academy a lot more".

"That's because the Hokage ordered it. She thinks he has potential to be one of the Chunnin exam's examiners", Neji replied.

"That's exactly it. If he can do that, what do you think you'll be assigned to do?" Tenten asked.

"More missions", the reply was blunt.

"More- why?"

"Because I have the byakugan, and that won't be useful in anything but missions". Another blunt reply.

"Yeah, I guess", Tenten was at a loss of words. It almost felt like they were arguing, but really, she knew if they'd ever gotten into an argument, she'd lose right away. Neji just had a way of twisting words around and manipulating them so that he always sounded right.

"What about you?"

"Huh?' Tenten was surprised.

"Don't you think our team will split up afterwards? I mean, I'll be going out on a lot more dangerous missions".

"I didn't even think of that yet", Tenten admitted softly. His words felt like a stab; she really hadn't thought that far into the future, and to think that Neji would just move on and leave her was more than she could bear to think about.

"You'll still have Lee and Gai-Sensei", Neji added.

"Are you kidding?" Tenten turned to look at Neji and they both burst out laughing. The only reason they'd been able to hold on to their sanity all these years while being on team-Gai was because they had each other.

They had each other to train with, to talk to, to rely on whenever Gai and Lee came up with one of their ridiculous ideas. And they both knew it. As much as Neji believed he didn't really "need" anyone, he had to admit this was an exception. He didn't want to think he needed someone during a mission or in combat, but even he needed someone to save him from the dynamic duo.

"You're not really going to leave me with them, are you?" Tenten was still laughing.

"That might be the ultimate form of training", Neji replied sarcastically. Tenten grinned.

"Nah, you know what? I'm going to work harder than ever, Neji, so that I can catch up to you. So that I won't be left behind".

Her words were innocent, just a very normal "this is my goal!" sort of thing, but it really stuck something in Neji. Her words repeated in his head and he thought hard about them. She would work hard so she could catch up to him? So that she wouldn't be left behind? There was a strange sort of fear in her voice when she said that, almost as if she couldn't stand the thought of him leaving her behind.

He was silent, contemplating what she'd just said, but she saw the situation as awkward and forced a laugh, "heh. You know, I'm just kidding, Neji. I don't think I'll ever catch up to you".

He turned sharply to look at her, his white eyes piercing into hers, slightly illuminated against the nighttime backdrop. "Don't say that", his voice had lowered noticeably, sounding almost husky. But maybe she was just imaging that.

"Wha- what are you talking about?" Tenten couldn't hold back a gasp of surprise, "I was just saying-"

"No, work hard, Tenten. Don't doubt yourself", he knew she had potential. Granted, it didn't show yet, and he knew it probably wouldn't show for a while, but there was potential. He could tell, and he didn't need his byakugan to see it.

"Ok, ok. It's not that serious, Neji, sheesh", Tenten brushed off his gaze and turned back to look outside. The air had gotten colder and she shivered as a new gust of wind entered the room, blowing her hospital gown until it clung to her, sending chills down her spine. If she wasn't careful, she'd get sick.

"Go to bed", it was a command, spoken in a low voice. The urgency in his tone sounded like he genuinely cared. He hurried her to the bed and quickly motioned for her to get in, then stuffed the blankets over her in an attempt to keep her warm.

"I'm fine, Neji", Tenten was slightly amused and allowed Neji to treat her like a child. She knew this was rare; almost a once in a lifetime chance. Almost.

"I think you should sleep. Rest. I'll come back later", he was deliberately vague, not really sure himself when he'd next return.

"You're going home", Tenten suddenly felt reluctant.

"I need to speak with my uncle".

"Oh", Tenten understood, "bye, Neji".

"Bye", his voice had suddenly returned to his normal tone, no longer that slightly caring, slightly worried tone he'd used earlier. He abruptly left the room, newly acquired robes in one hand, clenched fist in the other.

The door shut behind him, almost sounding like it was forcefully slammed.

Neji entered his house nervously. It was dark inside, but that was expected. It was well past midnight when he'd left the hospital, but it wasn't late enough yet for dawn.

He stepped quietly down the hall, the outline of the house memorized. There was no need for lights. He walked into his own room and set the bundle on his bed, taking a moment to run his hands through the material before heaving a sigh.

Would his uncle be up at this hour? It was a strange time to be awake, about 3 or 4 in the morning, but it wasn't abnormal for Hiashi to be up. He should probably give it a try.

Neji slipped out of his room and down two long corridors, quietly approaching the head house member's living quarters. He walked past Hinata's room, Hanabi's room… a couple of elders' rooms… Hiashi's room. There was a light peaking out from the cracks where the door didn't quite meet the doorframe, a telltale sign that it was one of Hiashi's sleepless nights.

Knock.

Before Neji could register it, his knuckles had come in contact with the door and a knock, a lone sound in the otherwise silent night, echoed in his ears.

"Neji, come in", Neji could feel his uncle's byakugan burning through him. He opened the door cautiously to see a tired Hiashi leaning over his desk, dressed in night clothes and wrapped in a long robe.

"Uncle", Neji bowed.

"What is it?' Hiashi looked up, giving his nephew a weary glance. There were heavy bags under his eyes, a rare sight for someone who constantly needed to keep up an image.

"I- I was just wondering about…", Neji stuttered, unsure of how to word his question. He normally spoke smoothly, and with poise, so this was obviously something new.

"About everything?" Hiashi sighed, "I knew this would come sooner or later, especially from someone as intelligent as you, Neji".

The subtle compliment was met with a slight smile.

"Is there anywhere you'd like to start?" Hiashi continued.

"I don't know", Neji admitted truthfully. Everything was so confusing; nothing made sense. Why would he be praised in such a way for simply completing a mission? "I don't understand what I did… why it was so- why it brought about such a reward".

"What do you mean?"

"When my father died in your place, he only received acknowledgement. He gave his life for you", Neji stressed. Bitter memories swirled in his mind and he fought hard to remind himself that he and Hiashi were supposed to be on the same side.

"He chose to do so", the reply was quiet, remorseful.

"I know", Neji's tone lowered as well, "but he deserved more. Is this compensation? Are you giving me what my father deserved?"

"No. You deserve every bit of this", Hiashi replied, "My death would have resulted in the loss of a member from the head house, yes, but Hinata would have been able to continue the line. Had Hinata, being the eldest daughter, been taken away, there would be no one to succeed her".

"But Hanabi –"

"She is a member of the head family at this moment, because she is my daughter. But she is the second daughter- the one who eventually leads the branch family", Hiashi's voice had regret in it, "I've been doing all I can to change that, Neji".

"You're trying to make her part of the head family?" Neji asked, slightly shocked.

"And you, I've been trying to do the same for you as well", Hiashi continued.

"Why?"

There was a long pause, a heavy air of tense silence. Hiashi seemed to be thinking deeply, as if trying to phrase his words in the gentlest way possible.

"There is remorse, Neji. You have so much potential, so much ability. So much could be opened up to you, if you just overcame this one small obstacle. And," he took a deep breath, "I feel responsible. Your father died because he wanted to be free, to finally make a decision of his own, but he still died in my place".

"So it's guilt", Neji stated flatly. He nodded to himself, as if coming to an internal agreement.

"I'm really trying. So far, the elders have been extremely stubborn. Even with what power I have, it's not nearly enough to overcome years after years of tradition and customs. I am just one person".

"But you're trying. Thank you, Uncle", Neji's bow hinted that he was done speaking for the moment and Hiashi complied, allowing his nephew to leave so his mind could register all the information he'd acquired.

Neji stepped out into the dark hallway and shut the door with a sigh. He had to admit he felt a bit better, because now there was hope. But at the same time, he wondered why he still needed the help of others for him to move forward in life. Couldn't he reach the same success without Hiashi's backing? Did he really need – CRASH!!

A feminine squeak, followed by repeated apologizes crowded his ears and Neji froze, trying to recognize the voice.

"Hinata-sama", he managed to quickly collect himself and activated his byakugan, immediately seeing the form of his cousin crouched in front of him. It looked as if she'd been walking around, for reasons unknown to him, and had walked right into him.

"Sorry", he silently scolded himself for not being alert.

"I- I was just…" Hinata's voice trailed off and Neji detected a hint of guilt in her tone.

"Were you listening?" he guessed.

In the dark, Hinata's head bobbed up and down as she nodded, poking her fingers together and fidgeting in her nightclothes. Neji sighed. He couldn't get mad at his cousin- well, for one thing, he wasn't allowed to, but he knew that the conversation had an impact on Hianta as well.

He could tell by her movements that what Hiashi had said made Hinata felt small. She felt insignificant in her father's eyes. While her younger sister and cousin were opened less to opportunities due to chance of birth, they were actually surpassing her in skills. And to prove it all, Hiashi was trying to bend the rules for them. Where did that leave her?

"Hinata-sama", Neji began respectfully, releasing his byakugan, "there's no need to be bothered by your father's words. You have potential in your own way".

He left her to ponder upon that and swiftly walked away, heading for his own room. The walls of the hallway blurred past him and occasionally, a faint beam of light shone in through the windows. He couldn't tell if it was moonlight or street lamps, but in all honestly, he didn't give a crap.

Neji entered his room and locked the door behind him, throwing his tired body upon the bed. His head hurt from trying to think too hard, but he couldn't resist playing and re-playing Hiashi's words over and over again. Was there an underlying meaning to those words?

He groaned and rolled onto his side, staring at the blank wall. Sleep finally conquered him and his eyes closed.