Ten years.
That's how long it has been since that selfish bitch went and got herself killed, while killing that arrogant asshole that ruined everything. Both of them are gone now, but neither is forgotten. Not while he still wanders the village looking broken and destitute.
Ten years.
That's how long she's been watching over him, making sure he ate, getting him to train, keeping him alive, and falling in love. There's not a moment of his life for that decade that she couldn't tell you how it have killed her inside to be so close and unable to help at all.
Ten years.
That's how long it's been since that fateful encounter with the last remnant of Akatsuki, his greatest victory, and ultimate defeat. She could see it in his once dazzling blue eyes that he was a shell of the man that had won through so many battles.
Ten years.
It was ten years ago that Sakura and Sasuke killed each other, and the day of Naruto's last smile. It was ten years ago that Tenten was the one to bear him the news, and steal the smile away.
Ten years.
It has been ten years that Tenten has been trying to the smile she'd stolen. And now, ten years later she had to admit, she'd fallen in love with the broken man. Ten years of waiting, hoping for some sign that he was still alive.
Ten years.
Ten years to see a smile, to wipe away a tear, to hear a laugh, or even to hear him shout angrily. Ten years ago she hadn't even known Naruto, and now she was his shadow.
Ten years.
Ten years, and she's still failing him. Ten years and none of their age mates would talk to her. Ten years, and she refused to be acknowledged for anything. Ten years ago, she asked for the mission from her idol. And for ten long years she has died inside.
Ten years.
"Ten years is a long time to mourn Naruto," she whispered, but he couldn't hear her. After all, ten years ago, Konoha had died when Mandara exploded from his failed attempt to absorb all the chakra of the other tailed beasts, and the living can't hear the dead.
Ten years ago, Naruto became the last man alive.