I DON'T OWN A DARN THING, save from the plot and the dialogue. Character cred goes to the creator.
I'm a funny writer. I'll start one chapter, get bored, and start the next one, or the one after that. Needless to say, before I completed this chapter, I halfway finished chapter seven and completed chapter eight! Expect them soon.
AND I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU GUYS! Seriously, when I feel uninspired to write, I read my reviews and think, "Hey, people actually like my story. I can't disappoint! I must write!" I love that I'm not the only one who loves it ;3 And if you don't love it, or don't like the direction it is taking, then you can tell me! Not that I'm going to change anything, necessarily, but I like constructive criticism!
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T KNOW, I now have two other fics, both oneshots. One is Neji/Tenten and the other is one-sided cannon Sasuke/Sakura. If you would like to check them out, knock yourself out! :)
It's another long one, so ENJOY!
They were walking to the village in a silence they had not seen since their genin days. Although Tenten had seemed to regain a sense of confidence, Neji knew her, and knew that she was lying to herself. But that's what she did. Tenten would be optimistic to the point where it could be unhealthy, all to avoid feelings of nervousness and anxiety. Normally Neji would have to decency to point it out, help her to face whatever ailed her, but he felt this was one instance where she had to do it on her own.
At once, Neji began to think of all the things Tenten would have to do without him, and his mood darkened.
Not to say that she wasn't an excellent kunoichi, completely capable of handling herself in any situation, but over the years he had seen the cracks in her persona, and felt the need to fill them. Just as she had filled his cracks.
He suddenly felt his feet turn to lead.
This wasn't even the day where he was saying goodbye to her, and he was already slipping into a depression. To the untrained eye, one couldn't differentiate a depressed Neji from a normal one. Hopefully Tenten wouldn't pick up on it.
No, the real trouble was Lee. Neji glanced to his left to observe his teammate, only to find him in contented silence. If there was one person in all of creation who had to speak everything they thought, it had to be Lee. The poor taijutsu specialist didn't understand the concept of "the elephant in the room" and was often lacking in interpretation skills. He was the only man to ever ask him if he was satisfied with the size of his manhood, and later, why it was wrong to ask in the first place.
The Hyuuga prodigy would never admit that his teammate had a bit more girth than he did. It was a wonder how he was able to conceal something like that, in a green jumpsuit of all things.
Lee was most likely to let something slip. He was proving to be less socially inept, and for that, Neji held onto a little bit of faith.
It wasn't soon before they saw smoke rising from the trees, indicating signs of civilization. The slight change in Tenten's chakra didn't go unnoticed, either. He wanted to console her, but knew he shouldn't. She needed to get used to the fact that he wouldn't be there to give her his rare words of encouragement. And sadly, so did he.
Their footsteps kept up in a syncopated rhythm towards the village, and towards Tenten's prospective sensei. Over the week, his mind would wander to the test that Ishi said she was to take. It didn't take long for him to find the answer; he was a genius after all. The man said she was to take, well, more of an assessment, to fully understand what he could teach her. He made a point of saying it would not be based on skill level or abilities. Also, remembering the lecture from the Hokage, the full extent of his abilities included earth manipulation jutsus, many of which he created himself. These facts revealed a simple conclusion: chakra paper.
If Tenten's chakra had an affinity to earth, then this pairing was most definitely fated. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He wanted to tell Tenten she shouldn't be worried, that all she had to do was hold a piece of paper which had a twenty percent chance of giving her the future she most desperately wanted, but the more he thought about that, the more it seemed it would only heighten her anxiety. She had absolutely no control over the outcome, she either had it or she didn't.
Furthermore, judging from the letter, this Ishi man seemed respectable and humble enough for Neji to feel comfortable giving her away to. Not that he was comfortable in the first place, knowing he wouldn't be in contact with her for three – and who knows, maybe even seven? – years. He tried not to look at her at that moment. Truth be told, he had tried his hardest to avoid looking at her. Neji kept finding things rise to his attention.
Like her habit of forgetting where she put her favorite kunai. Neji never had to activate his Byakugan to know where it was. And the way she would slightly wince her eyes when she didn't fully comprehend something. Neji would always provide an answer, even if she didn't ask a question. Even the way her voice would slightly raise pitch when she was lying. Neji would always stare her down until he got the truth.
And it was a two way street.
He couldn't remember the last time he cleaned or sharpened his weapons himself, because she always insisted she do it. Every time there was an unfortunate conversation with the clan leaders, he would feel his curse seal itch, and the moment he went to scratch it, Tenten would ask what the matter was. Whenever they were in battle, Tenten would keep one eye on herself and one eye on his blindspot. She could no longer do that. Or any of the little things that made their relationship the way it was.
Neji knew he had to stop. All this emotion was useless. A future with Tenten was impossible, and it was foolish to dwell on feelings that made him yearn for one. Despite what the population of Konoha thought, Neji did not like brooding.
The white-eyed jounin came to a sudden and almost brilliant idea. When it was time to say their parting words, Neji would do so as if it were the last time he would see her. Though he had no doubt that they would meet up again down the road, he had to make himself believe it. He had to leave every feeling of love he had for Tenten, with Tenten. Alone, up in the mountains. It was irrational and weakening, and it must be disposed of, so that when she did return, he could continue on as if nothing had happened; as if the love of his life hadn't left for three years to return again and stir up unresolved feelings. No, he would resolve them, and the sooner the better.
Tenten tried not to let her mind race as her feet took her closer and closer down a most ominous path. Path of life, that is. She knew her heart rate was up, and that the faint churning in her stomach was acute nausea. Trying to push all of it aside, she focused on something simple, like her footing.
Left, right, left, right, test, left, right, uncertainty, right, left, right, first impression, left, right, left, right, probably the most important day she'll ever have in determining her future as a shinobi… Damn! She let out a small and shaky breath, hoping it went unnoticed by Neji. He for sure would say something if he thought she was nervous. It was one of the things she was going to miss.
As if she could be any more torn by her emotions! On one hand, she had the opportunity to expand her abilities and become the best shinobi she could ever dream to be, and on the other, she was leaving her closest friend and first love. A love which had only been doomed since the moment it was conceived…
Ok, so her emotions were completely ridiculous! She was a woman, she was allowed! But it didn't make it any easier.
Life without Neji was just incomprehensible. Tenten could hardly remember her life before the academy, before being placed next to Neji in class. Days had consisted of reading books on ninjas and weapons, sneaking near the training grounds to watch the older kids practice, making and throwing crude weapons from sticks and old cans. Come to think of it, she couldn't recall a time where she didn't want to be a kunoichi.
To her relief, Lee began talking to her about simple things, just this and that. But it did wonders for her nerves. Lee was being a good friend, and he wasn't even trying. She loved that about him. They continued on like that, with alternating moments of chit chat and silence.
She suddenly sensed her comrades' movements come to a halt. When Tenten looked up, her mind went blank. Right there, above them all, was the entrance to the village. Just beyond, she could see a quaint community bustling with late morning activities. They were simple townsfolk, going about their lives without complications, able to live free from the shadows of violence and warfare. The sudden thought of living and growing up in a town like this presented itself, and it was totally laughable. It was so… boring…
Neji and Lee eyed their female teammate warily, waiting for her to make the first move. This was after all, her mission.
Five seconds into the initial shock of the realization that the key to her future was nearly within her grasp, she took a deep breath and passed under the threshold. It wasn't hard to find the market, as it was a relatively small village. Tenten knew what she had to do, but all she could muster at the moment was walking. Any activity that required a higher level of brain function seemed out of the question. Her nerves were nearly fried with anticipation, and she wanted to laugh at how absurd it all was.
She could stand in the face of imminent death for the sake of Konoha, without a single hesitation. Brutalized men covered in blood and immorality, wielding fierce arsenals of the most unimaginable kind, did not scare Tenten. An old man who offered her the life and skills she wanted, however, had her mind turned to mush.
What the hell was up with that?
After a few minutes of walking around the town, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to see Lee staring back with a look that could only be described as one of reassurance. Kami, she would miss him. Neji was busy surveying the crowd with his Byakugan, making sure nothing looked out of place. Their primary mission was to escort the man across the Fire Country, and although he had been living reclusively for some time now, another kidnapping was entirely probable.
Before Tenten had a chance to ask, a rather gruff man presented himself in front of her. This man had a good foot and two hundred pounds on her, complete with a scruffy beard and a rather poor attempt at finding clothes that were clean. In order to make the girl before him intimidated, he threw his hand out towards Tenten roughly.
"I am Masao, and I'm the leader of this here establishment! What can I do for you… Leaf ninja?" There was a connotation to the term "Leaf ninja" and the gleam in his eye said he didn't approve of their profession. Most small villages didn't. Tenten had half the mind to point out that Leaf ninja saved their asses time and time again from being eaten alive by other, more dastardly, countries. What arrogance…
With a force he was not expecting, she took his hand in hers and shook it sternly. Needless to say, the man was taken aback. This woman didn't play games.
"Hello, Masao, my name is Tenten. You're just the man I was looking for," she said with a mischievous smirk.
He immediately looked her up and down, and glanced back at her teammates. Distrust was obvious in his gaze.
"Oh, and why is that, little lady?"
Tenten blinked slowly, ignoring the comment, and when her eyes reopened, she stared back with purpose.
"We're looking for a man named Shinichiro Ishihara. Surely, being the leader of this establishment, you know where he resides."
The man crossed his arms.
"What's your business with him?" He asked cautiously.
It took all of Neji's willpower not to sigh. This goat of a man was most likely in his position because of his stature, not for his intelligence. Villages like these preferred the strong men in charge rather than the political ones. The jounin took a step forward. He knew exactly how to handle these types of people.
"This is a classified matter, Masao-san." Showing respect: check.
"We have orders from our Hokage to contact this man." Power card: check.
"I assure you that this will not bring any harm or distress to your people while we are here." Reassurance: check.
"If you could kindly send us in the direction of his home?" Asking again nicely: check.
After giving them one more once-over, the burly man squinted his eyes and pointed to the southern end of the village. "He lives in a hut, just past the temple. Just follow the road. You'll know when you see it." Bingo.
Neji gave him a courtesy nod which went unreturned by Masao, who eyed them with trepidation as they walked away. Tenten shook her head. She loved Neji for being able to get an answer fast and simple, but was always enraged when she was unable to because she just so happened to be born with a vagina. Men, she thought with disgust. One would think after all this time in a male dominated career, she would get used to it. No. It still pissed her off, every time. Not that she would be unable to get an answer, but it wouldn't be fast or simple, and would most likely end with bloodshed.
Three minutes passed before they came to the temple. Simple in design, but ornate enough to be considered a holy place, Tenten felt her heart quicken its pace. She was closer, yet. Stealing a glance towards Neji, he nodded and activated his technique. After three short seconds, he motioned further down the road, and they continued in silence.
It wasn't long until they spotted the small hut, nestled on the edge of the forest. Tiny, round, and almost nondescript: ideal for an old man living alone and under the radar.
Lee was the first one to speak. "I think I am just as excited as you are, dearest Tenten! To meet a man with such a reputation is truly an honor!"
"Now, there, I don't like being held in such high regards by strangers!"
The whole of Team Ten nearly jumped. Somehow, the man they were looking for ended up right behind them undetected, startling them when he spoke. Ishi was an old man, looking to be about sixty. Scars on his arms and a deep tan said that he was a hard worker, and the lines on his face revealed that he had frowned about as many times as he had smiled. With an average stature, one would label him as a simple countryman.
But there were certain things to look for when discerning a trained ninja from an ordinary citizen, such as a person's gait, how their eyes linger on details, and the way they held themselves. From these observations, the man was clearly a retired ninja.
All in all, though, he looked frail. His muscle build had greatly deteriorated and his eyes seemed somewhat hollow. He was a man with a story, one that Tenten desperately wanted to hear. Shinichiro Ishihara was a shell of the man he used to be, but something told her there was much more to him that met her eyes. Much more.
Tenten did her best to make a good first impression. She knew that she needed to be well-grounded and direct, and most importantly, introduce herself with confidence.
Although her mouth was open, nothing came out. A moment passed before Ishi took the opportunity to talk, and Tenten experienced an urge to fling herself into a volcano. The chance was there, and she let it fly. Great, she was already screwing up!
"I'm sure you all know who I am. You must be Rock Lee," he said, bowing first to Lee, "and you, with the white eyes, have to be the Hyuga lad." The older man bowed gently to Neji as well. "I've heard great things about your skills, and of your clan, as well."
Her teammates bowed in return, respectfully.
"And of course," he started, walking closer to Tenten with his arm stretched out, "you are Tenten. I cannot explain how gracious I am that you are here." His smile was huge, and there was now a life in his eyes that had not been there before. Had she done that?
She was at loss for words. Instead, she decided to communicate with an ecstatic grin in return. The girl shook her head to clear her thoughts and get some words out. "No! Me! I'm the one who is gracious. And grateful! Very grateful!" She nodded with fervor as he smiled at her sincerity.
"That's what I like to hear! Come! I'd rather not wait another moment, the suspense is killing me," Ishi exclaimed as he pushed past them and motioned for them to follow. He may have been sixty, but he seemed to possess the heart and energy of a thirty year old.
Tenten's mind went blank again before she felt Lee tugging at her arm. This was it. Her moment of truth. Was it really happening? Should she pinch herself? What would she have to do, have to prove?
Was it all going down right behind that flimsy wooden wall?
She had no time to think as they dropped their gear at the door and sat at the table. Neji and Lee sat on either side of her, and for that, she could not thank them enough. The girl couldn't get a simple thought processed at the moment, and she loved the support they provided. Lighting was provided by the open door, which was held open by an old sheath. Tenten thought it a little odd. Upon further inspection, she found that the living space mirrored her own, save for the tools and the armor. This loosened her anxiety a great deal. They were not so unalike, her and her prospective teacher.
"What is it that you are so curious to know?" Lee asked, once Ishi settled in his seat opposite them. Unlike Neji, Lee had not read the letter, and knew nothing of the event that was to determine Tenten's ultimate fate. Not that Lee would have figured it out like Neji had.
"I'm glad you asked. I don't believe you know what this is, do you?" The older man reached into his pocket, and revealed a small sheet of paper between his fingers. Neji's assumption had been correct, and his fear had been verified. There was a twenty percent chance of this actually going the way she planned. If not, she could still learn whatever else he was going to teach her, just not everything. It could be compared to the amount of information the main branch received versus the side branch on the Byakugan and the art of Gentle Fist. Although Neji was an exception, being extremely talented for his age, he was technically not allowed to perform half of the techniques he used.
"It just looks like a simple piece of paper. I'm sorry, but I don't understand." Lee responded. Neji remained quiet and all-knowing, while Tenten sat there, as confused as ever.
"Yes, yes, it appears to be simple, doesn't it? But it is much more. Tenten, I would like you to hold this piece of paper between your fingers. When you are ready, expel your chakra from your fingertips into the paper." The old man stared at her with rapture.
Taking the paper from his hand with morbid curiosity, she stared at it and tried to think about what in the world it meant.
Maybe, he was like the old, wizened senseis they depict in comedies, where they make the student catch a fly with chopsticks to prove they are ready for a final task. Or, you know, he could be completely senile. She didn't know. Looking up into Ishi's impatient gaze, he lowered his head, signaling her to continue.
She took breath, closed her eyes, and pushed the chakra into the paper.
Opening her eyes, she saw that absolutely nothing had, wait… what was this? Slowly, from the top, the paper began to disintegrate, leaving a pile of dust in her hands. What had she done? Had she failed? She had to have failed! The basic laws of the universe state that when something is able to completely destroy something else, it is most likely bad.
Ishi's face was blank, not leaving the pile of dust that had fallen into her hand. Lee gasped in shock, obviously dumbfounded, though clearly as clueless as his female comrade. Neji, however, was giving her one of his ultra-rare, wide-mouthed smile. She blinked in confusion at him.
"What?" She shouted, a little too hysterically. What was he smiling for? Was he happy she had failed?
"Tenten, you have an affinity to earth chakra. You'll be able to learn nature manipulation. Congratulations." Neji could only process his excitement for her through his smile, which she knew spoke volumes. What were the chances that she could be so lucky? He knew what this would mean for her and her future. It was everything she could ask for, and it presented itself to her perfectly, without fault. The thought occurred to him that her name meant heaven, and he determined that, as cheesy as it sounded, Tenten was meant to rise into it. Not by death, however, but by legacy.
Ishi rose from the table with a start, shaking the table and yelling, "Drinks on me! We must celebrate!" Lee joined in on the spontaneous jubilee, though they were certain he had no idea what was going on, except that people were really happy.
Tenten's head felt light and airy, only partially able to understand what this meant. For the second time that day, a man held out his hand to her. For the first time, however, the man held it out with respect. "Congratulations Tenten, my new apprentice!"
The past week had been as exciting as Gai's Super Youthful Supercharged Training Day Bonanza. Which on a scale of one to ten, is a negative three.
First of all, as a mission, it felt like the first mission they had completed as genin. Absolutely nothing had happened. As they had quite literally travelled across the entirety of the fire country, they encountered no trouble. No bandits, no rouge-nin, and definitely no one set out to sabotage their objective. Tenten wanted so badly to do something other than walk. She also wanted an opportunity for her new teacher to witness her in action!
Her teammates were feeling restless as well. Lee had taken up his silly antics of racing, and proving oneself by overcoming crazy, impossible, challenges, and blah blah blah… Neji's vein in his forehead had been visible for three days now, and she was worried that it might never go away, that it had taken permanent residence upon his face.
Ishi-sensei (she could now address him as such!) was a decidedly light packer, bringing only weapons, clothes, a few scrolls, and tools. He claimed to have no need for anything else, and that the only things of value were his weapons and his mind. She seemed to be learning about him through observations rather than conversation. They would chat lightly about different things, making small talk, nothing too serious. Tenten found that although he was kind, he was rather difficult to talk to. She prayed that it was only because of the freshness and suddenness of the relationship and the situation they found themselves in. Maybe, once they really got into the swing of things, living together and training and whatnot, she would get to know who he really was.
Other than the sheer boredom and the awkward tension between her and her new teacher, it was a rather successful mission, by any standards.
She wished she could have a moment alone with Neji, just to talk to him about the reality of their predicament. Not that she wanted to, no, but because she had to. Tenten felt that if she told him how she really felt, then it would be easier to move on and to forget about him. That made sense, right? Get everything out in the open; lay out all the cards so that you can better sort them out.
A week ago, the young kunoichi couldn't manage to greet her new sensei properly. How was she supposed to walk up to Neji and say, "By the way, I've been in love with you for years now. Since we were genin. It's nothing though, really. I'd rather be your close friend than nothing at all, so I've kept my mouth shut. Cowardly and pathetic, I know. I also know you couldn't possibly love me and your family would never accept me. Oh, and between missions, I touch myself at the thought of you. Well, have a safe trip back home!"
Yeah, that was happening.
Glancing over at Neji made her body instantly heat up. The idiot really was too sexy for his own damn good. Tenten knew he had no intentions on starting a family, and it was a total waste of genes. And it was a shame that he never showed anyone his good side, save for herself and Hinata. No one knew just how human he was. With a smug satisfaction, she thought about how she would probably be the only one to understand him. But with sobering realization, she knew that was where her story with him ended. And no one would know of their stories. How tragic…
It all boiled down to what this training would mean to her. If she took Neji out of the equation (all equations, now) then her motivation would come from her own desire to be stronger and her desire to better protect her village. Not to impress anyone, or to receive a certain status or title, and most definitely not to use her skills for corruption or personal gain. From now on, Tenten vowed to serve her people better than she had ever done before. There was no other life for her. And one day, when her time came, she would die a shinobi death, on the battlefield. Starting today until the day she died, her only focus, was being a weapon. This was her will of fire, so to speak.
Holding her head up a little higher and taking her steps with more meaning, she felt empowered.
She felt empowered, that is, until Ishi stopped and said, "Tenten, do you see that mountain? That'll be our home. Possibly even tonight, if we hurry."
That mountain looked awfully far away. "To-tonight?" She stuttered, apprehensive. They were scheduled to arrive in two more days! Had they been walking that long? Staring up at the mountain, she tried to envision herself living there for the next couple of years. Her stomach flipped.
"Yes, tonight. But only if we get a move on! I'm not that old!"
"Your challenge is accepted, Ishihara-sama! Let's make it there by nightfall! Or better yet, let's make it there before dinner!" Tenten couldn't berate him for simply being Lee anymore, because she knew it would be all too soon before she found herself wanting his companionship. Suddenly, she found herself doing what she had never, ever done before.
"Lee!" She screamed in her aggravated tone. The man in question lowered his head, knowing what she meant. Tenten glared back at him with a most dubious grin. "Challenge accepted," she whispered.
Before Ishi could even begin to understand what he had just witnessed, the two ninjas disappeared in a cloud of dust and took to the trees. He stood there, baffled.
"Neji, is she always so… impulsive?" He asked, with hesitation. Surely she had not just accepted the boy's challenge to make it there by late afternoon? "Reaching the mountain by nightfall was just a little motivation, on my part, to keep things moving!"
Neji shook his head gently, the tiniest of smiles on his lips. "There are two things you should know. One, Tenten is never impulsive. She shows great aptitude for thinking things through, and always understands and is ready to face the consequences of whatever decision she makes."
The older man nodded his head, understanding. "I'll just attribute this to last minute bonding, then," he stated, a knowing expression finding its way to his face. "And what is number two?"
"Never underestimate the speed of Team Gai."
A few hours later Tenten stood at the entrance of their destination, hands on her knees, raggedly forcing air into her lungs. For the life of her, she could not remember the last time she had ever run that far, that fast. A few feet beside her was Lee, in similar, if not slightly better, condition. Sweat dripped down from her bangs unattractively, and she could feel her back was drenched. She tossed her gear on the ground, and once she was cooled down enough, she fell down next to it.
Lee looked over at her, gleaming. "We managed to beat our time by thirty minutes, Tenten! Is that not a great way to arrive? By overcoming yourself through willpower alone?"
Tenten didn't need to think about it. "It is an excellent way," she replied.
All that was left was to wait for Neji and Ishi-sensei. Maybe if the old man could make it through the trees, they'd be there later that night. The sun still had another hour left in the sky. If need be, Neji would use his Byakugan to navigate. If they hurried, they could make it there around midnight.
Leaning against the entrance gate, she thought she might as well get a little rest in before they arrived. She turned her head away from the road and to the village. Few people walked the streets, from what she could tell, and no one had noticed their arrival. The last thing she wanted was another Masao. They would wait by the gate for them to arrive, and then find a nice little inn to spend the night in.
Lee sat next to her, following her example. Her eyes were only closed a few minutes before he decided to speak. "That was the first time you ever went along with me, instead of opposing me. May I ask why?"
Tenten knew what she wanted to say, but couldn't bring herself to say it. She squeezed her eyes closed and bit her lip before she found the strength to say it. "Because… because it could be the last opportunity I have…"
Lee nodded, staring at nothing in particular on the ground. "I know you and Neji find me difficult to deal with sometimes, I'm not an idiot. I know you find me to exaggerate and dramatize things, but it is who I am!" He exclaimed, a proud expression on his face. "But I am also a good friend. And because I am a good friend, and I know you hate it when I cry, I swear to you that I will do my best not to cry when we depart!" When Lee stared at her with his fierce, glossy eyes, Tenten felt like he was seeing through her.
He was being overly dramatic about trying not to be overly dramatic. Only Lee could do that. In a swift second, Tenten's arms were around him, squeezing all her love into him. She downright refused to let him see her teary eyes. "Lee, you be safe, ok?"
She didn't know how long she held him for, but she knew it wasn't long enough.
As tired as Tenten was, her body was programmed to wake up at the crack of dawn. She took a shower and got dressed; following a routine she'd done dozens of times. This time, however, there was a certain lag in her movements. Attributing it to the intense race she had with Lee yesterday, her arms and legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds.
It could be the race, or it could be that in due time she would have to say goodbye to the closest friends she'd ever had.
A clang was heard as the kunai in her hand fell to the floor. She stared at it, unwilling to pick it up. Never had she thought of herself as dependent. Kunoichis were taught not to depend on men for anything, but when the moment came, she thought about her life without Neji and Lee and just how dependent she was on them.
She had known them since before they were genin. Those two had rejoiced with her at her best, helped her at her worst, and protected her, even though she'd berate them afterwards. They hadn't truly been separated for the nine years that they had been together, not even when Neji got promoted to jounin. Of course there were weeks, even months when they were apart, but never years.
Tenten wouldn't be there waiting to talk about their missions when they returned, and she had no one to wait for her to spill-all on her latest ass-kicking. Neji's blind spot would be wide open, and there was no one that could put sense into Lee like she could.
No, they weren't just teammates, or even best friends. They were her family.
As she opened her door, packed and ready, she ran into something hard. Something that smelled exquisite. Tenten looked up to see pale eyes questioning her. She couldn't help it that a shiver ran down her spine. It was probably only a second or two that they stood in such proximity, but it felt like five minutes.
The chest she ran into breathed softly into hers, and as he bent his head to see her, his hair had made a sort of curtain around her, cocooning her. She inhaled the smell that was pure essence of Neji, and felt the vein in her neck throb. Her hand twitched, as its natural instinct was to grab his head and kiss him like those plush lips should be kissed!
But he took a step back, and coughed nervously.
Wait, Neji? Nervous?
"My apologies, I wasn't sure if this was your room, so I listened to make sure."
She cocked her head at him. "You couldn't have just used your eyes?" Tenten asked, curious.
Neji looked taken aback, "Tenten, that is completely immoral. That would be an invasion of privacy."
"Oh, and listening in on people isn't?" She quipped.
"Hn."
"Don't you 'hn' me, Hyuga! If you were listening so well, then you'd know to move when I opened the door. Or do you need to see Sakura about an ear problem?
All Neji could do was narrow his eyes, that would distract her long enough to come up with a reasonable reply. "You are a ninja, and you move like one. Take it as a compliment." There, she would like that.
She did, and she smiled up at him. It nearly killed him. "Handing out compliments like party favors, I see?"
Neji stuffed his hands in his pockets, and glanced over his shoulder. "Of which party do you speak?" Oh, that sarcasm he got from her.
Grabbing at her shoulder strap awkwardly, she took into account just how heavy her bag was. A sudden thought came to her: if she wasn't wearing it, she could've beaten Lee. She mentally cursed the Gods. There was a buzzing noise she could make out, which she discovered to be the light fixture above their heads. They had reached a silence, and she didn't know how to break it.
Tenten took a deep breath and prepared herself. Now that they were alone, it was the perfect moment.
"Neji, this may come as a shock to you but I…" She trailed off, losing herself in his eyes. Those eyes that anyone would describe as emotionless and void, but she saw so much. The man that he truly was, was in those eyes, which were now staring back at her with unfiltered confusion.
"Yes? Tenten, go on."
Opening her mouth to speak, nothing came out. No words, no audible squeak, no nothing.
She closed her eyes. It would be much, much easier to say it to him if she pretended he wasn't there. Since when had she become so cowardly? Especially in front of him?
"I'm sorry, what I mean to say is… that for the long—,"
"Tenten, Neji! What good timing! Ishi-sama and myself were waiting in the lobby, I was going to see if you were awake on this most beautiful of mornings, and it seems you are! Come, I will treat us all to a hearty, energizing breakfast!" And with that, he left in the direction he came.
Screw flinging herself over the mountain, she was flinging Lee! She had it in the bag and he went and destroyed all of her composure! Fuck!
"You were saying," he pressed on, "that for the long…?"
Improv time!
"The… the long... haul, Neji. I'm in this friendship for the long haul, so don't think you'll get rid of me that easily!" With that, she patted his arm and swiftly walked away.
She dearly hoped that sad excuse for a cover-up had worked. Too bad he heard the tone in her voice that alerted him whenever she was lying.
Tenten had to change into her boots before scaling the mountain. She felt a little wary when her sensei informed her that he had no map, and that he was guiding them on instinct alone. They were on no trail, had seen no known markers they could trace, and were being eaten alive by bugs. Was this what she had to get used to? Would it be like one prolonged camping trip?
That whole morning and early afternoon had been spent climbing, and watching the old man press his ear to the ground so he could "hear the earth". Not that she doubted him, she just didn't understand how that would work. She would ask him one day.
By sunset, Neji had found a large clearing, halfway up the mountain. He said something about a stream a mile away, but she faintly heard him say it. Tenten's mind was exhausted from thinking the whole day about what ifs and could haves. As they settled down to set up camp for the night, she noticed Neji talking to Ishi, and how the combination of the campfire and the sunset helped to create an other-worldly glow on his skin.
She sighed, and thought about how stupid her admission of love was. If he felt anything in return, she would know, she was his best friend for Kami's sake! It was pointless, and the last thing she wanted to do was make it to where when they met up years from now, he would be uncomfortable around her.
No, it was best left unsaid. Tenten was better off getting over him herself.
Tenten had been staring way too long at the campfire when Neji called out to her.
"Hey, Tenten, do you by chance know what today is?"
The day? "Uh, Tuesday?" She guessed.
"Close. It's Wednesday," he replied, grinning knowingly at her.
Wednesday. Her and Neji's official, 100%, anything goes, training day. Surely, he didn't mean…?
Tearing her eyes away from the dancing fire, she took notice of his grin, and felt her stamina rise within her. He wanted a battle, here and now? That is exactly what she needed.
Ishi and Lee started cooking some food when Tenten rose from her position on the ground towards Neji.
"I'm so sorry, did you just voluntarily ask for an ass whooping?"
"I think you've misinterpreted. You see, I haven't had been involved in combat for a solid two weeks. There is a lot of fight in me that needs to be dealt with accordingly. Are you up to the challenge?"
"Challenge? Fighting you is considered a challenge? Since when?"
Neji started walking toward the field, expecting her to follow. She didn't. He yelled from his position. "Since you decided to slack off."
"Slack off? Who's slacking?" She hollered back, skillfully grabbing a single kunai, hurling it all the way across the field at Neji's face in a matter of a second. He deflected it without a second thought.
Apparently, Tenten had forgotten all about her new sensei, and how he was watching with intense concentration. For the entire three hours it lasted.
The rays of the sun had just shone down in the field in which they were sleeping. The only kunoichi knew it was time to get up, but she didn't want to. She placed her arm over her head and winced. Last night during their spar, Neji had managed to land three hits to her chakra points and she was able to cut him twice, deep enough to where it needed tending too. Not only did it help relieve every ounce of stress she had, she had fight pent up in her too, and it felt like a breath of fresh air to let it out all at once.
Once she realized her teacher witnessed the whole account, she was anxious for his feedback. To her great surprise and utter relief it had been positive, with a few slight criticisms. She supposed they stayed up till midnight, talking about tactics and maneuvers, explaining in detail what she was capable of. It was nice to finally talk to her teacher about such things, to really get the show going.
Lee and Ishi-sensei had tried not getting caught in the crossfire, but to no avail. Neither her nor Neji had actually "won", as they had fallen to a new level of exhaustion together and called it a night. Not that she could've gone on for much longer if she needed to, but she needed to be able to wake up in the morning. It was a big day, after all.
Hearing the ruffling of blankets and earth, she forced herself to find the will to get up. Upon finding it, she stored the rest deep within her being; because she had a feeling she would need it later.
Neji was up and from the looks of it, headed to the spring just a mile from where they were. Ishi had said something about examining their surroundings, and Lee was left to take care of breakfast. She watched him as he added wood to the fire and set up an area for the pot. It was now boiled down to a matter of hours. Minutes, even.
It didn't seem real at all.
By the time Lee had finished cooking, Neji had come back from his bath and Ishi was making his way from across the field. It was a silent understanding that they'd be leaving after breakfast, and with that, Tenten ate the slowest she could.
While they were eating, the group heard a rustling from the trees. Neji activated his Byakugan and stared at the trees while the others stood, ready for the unexpected.
He sighed and deactivated his bloodline limit, returning to his soup. "Only two birds fighting over some food," he stated dispassionately.
Well that was certainly exciting.
As Tenten sat back down and picked up her bowl, she could hear the birds fighting behind her. Before she knew it, they were above her, squawking and flapping in a rage, then one bird flew to her left and the other followed suit. She returned to her bowl all too quickly, because the young woman soon found herself with a lap full of soup after one of the birds decided to fly into her back, causing the other to follow. As a product of hot soup on her person and moronic birds trying to claw at her face, she lept up and screamed at them, flailing her arms until they left her alone.
Not wanting to look at anyone's expressions, she stormed off into the direction of the spring. The soft-treaded footsteps that followed could only be Neji's.
"I would like to clean up on my own, thank you," she grunted as she continued merrily on her way.
"I thought you might like to know where the spring was located, and to have a change of clothes," he indicated.
Tenten stopped abruptly and turned on him. Her bag was situated on his shoulders. Damn him for being right.
"Thanks…" She supposed, walking forward with her arm outstretched, ready to take her bag.
Neji shook his head, "No, I've got this, keep walking." Damn gentleman, she sneered. She knew she could carry her own bag, but she also knew arguing was a fruitless effort.
After a while, Neji spoke, and startled her a little. She didn't remember when he had caught up to her. He asked if her pack was this heavy throughout the whole trip, and she nodded. He asked why she was so upset about the bird incident, she shrugged. He asked about what she really meant to say the other day in the hallway, and she shook her head.
"Wait, what?" They had arrived at the stream, though she barely discerned. Neji had just thrown a curve ball, and it was her third strike. She was out.
"Yesterday, I the hallway, you started to tell me something. After Lee interrupted, you lied. Don't tell me you didn't. Tell me what you really wanted to say." He gave her a most uncomfortable gaze as he dropped her bag to the ground.
To her surprise, Tenten held her composure. She knew exactly what she was going to say, for once, and she did so without any hesitation. Probably because it was the truth.
"That was my sad excuse for a goodbye. A proper goodbye. Well, it wasn't really proper but… Neji…" She paused and tried to string her words together properly. "You're my best friend. I don't know how to say good bye," she admitted.
"Then let me say it."
Tenten reacted with a look of confusion.
"Let me say what I need to say, and then I'll leave. You don't need to say anything," he explained.
The young girl sported a look of uncertainty before slowly nodding her head in approval.
"It will undoubtedly be hard to adapt to life without my teammate…my, well, best friend…." He began. This was one of the few moments in his life where he felt uncomfortable, and it spoke through every muscle in his body. He averted his eyes for a fraction of a second, but it spoke volumes for Tenten. Only once had he been this awkward before.
It was the day he finally mustered up the courage to ask her to eat lunch with him, as a friend. It was shortly after the attack at the chuunin exams and after everything they had gone through, Neji had discovered a certain closeness between them. You could say that it was the day that marked their transition from teammates to friends.
She understood that this was nerve wracking, saying goodbye to someone you knew for almost half your already short life. Tenten could admit, though, that she liked to watch him squirm. It reminded her that deep down, he was no different than the common man.
"But this was meant to happen," he continued, with finality. "You will stay here and hone your skills to that of an exceptional Leaf kunoichi, and I will return and continue serving my village the best way I know how. We are ninja, and we adapt."
Of course Neji would find a way to relate their situation to that of a survival tactic, how completely logical…
"We will adapt to this situation and survive and conquer all that is thrown at us. I know, without any doubt, that you will flourish." Neji took a step closer, just close enough to reach out his hand and ever so gently place it on her cheek. His gaze softened and his voice lowered, as he said, "Please, take care of yourself, Tenten. I'd hate for you to return too changed…"
Removing his hand from her blushed cheek, he gave her a look that had, until now, never existed. A look that he had not intended, and yet was the one that had branded itself onto her brain, the one she would remember the clearest, and play back in her mind in moments of distress or hopelessness. A look that parents gave their children when they sent them off to school, a look Tenten had never been given, not that she could remember. She had been denied a family, and thus denied the gaze in which he presented to her in that moment.
A look of pure, unconditional love that left her both speechless and motionless as Neji turned and walked away from her, almost indefinitely.
Tenten vaguely recalled bathing in the cool water of the stream, or how she had gotten into her current attire. Nor could she remember how she was able to find her way back to the campsite, it had to be intuition.
Upon further inspection, she found that only Lee and Ishi-sensei remained. Brilliant really, because she didn't know what to do with herself after Neji had left on that note. How was she supposed to respond to that? There was so much that was unsaid in that look, she didn't know what to make of it. There was only one thing that was clear.
In that one stupid, horrible moment Tenten realized that she could never un-love Neji. There would never be a day where she wouldn't wonder, dream, and hope that he was safe. There were no lengths she wouldn't go to, to save him. She was spiritually bound to him, and there was nothing she could do but love and protect her village, as if it was Neji.
Fuck him for making her fall in love with him.
The nearer she got, the more excited Lee got. He said he wouldn't cry, but he didn't have to be happy about it! It wasn't until he said the impossible that she understood.
"Tenten, you wouldn't believe it! Neji has challenged me! First one to the village wins! His Byakugan is no match for my youthful instinct!"
She had to replay that sentence in her mind three times to get the full effect. Maybe Neji had eaten some bad mushrooms, ones that caused symptoms like giving people funny looks and doing things entirely out of character. Yes, she decided, it was the mushrooms. It was a simple enough answer for her brain to comprehend at the current moment.
Returning to his seated position, all the old man could do was shake his head and mumble something along the lines of "youthful bullshit". She was going to like him.
Lee stood there, waiting for her reply, but he got none. Instead, he got yet another embrace from his not-so-fragile lotus blossom.
"No words," she whispered, soft enough for his ears only, "just this."
Once he let go, he placed his hand on her head and denied her request. "Gai-sensei and I will always be proud of you. And be safe, Tenten."
As she watched his retreating form melt into the trees, a stubborn tear found its way to her smiling cheek. She sighed. It only took him nine years to grow up…
That would be chapter six! Woohoo! Only seven more! I think... I'm still working on it. Anyways, I have my playlist on my rough draft version of this, but I am way too lazy to retrieve it. Maybe next time! AND DOES ANYONE READ THESE AUTHOR NOTES? I always do with other stories, but then again, am I just typing this for myself? Eh, I'll write em anywayz. REVIEW, PREEZ AND CAWWOTS 3~~
CHAPER 7: What kind of training will Tenten undergo? Will it really last three years? Longer? Shorter? And what will we learn about Shinichiro Ishihara? Tune in next time!