Head cannons: Tenten started realizing her feelings when they repeated the chunnin exams and they are both the jealous type (Neji more than Tenten, though).

Tenten recalled what happened during the chunnin exams as Fuu held onto Neji's hand. She had just asked the Hyuga to be her friend, so why was the bunhead feeling so uneasy? The byakugan user was a bit taken aback by the girl, unsure of what to say except to request to release his hand. Even now, with them being back in the village and they all had just been promoted…she was still thinking about it. Lee was spouting some exaggerated scene before them as they walked through the village's main street. The team had quickly gone home to shower and change, now in their civilian wear before meeting back up to spend some time together. The bunhead had fallen quiet, and her face was stoic as they walked. This was a bit unusual for the boys as they had definitely noticed her change in mannerisms. They had exchanged looks briefly before Lee had attempted to open more conversation, which resulted in blunt and not very engaging responses from the bunhead. Even when they went to have a celebratory meal with their sensei, Tenten's mood had not changed. She ate quietly as Lee and Neji relayed the events that had taken place; from their separation and Tenten handling herself incredibly well, to Neji saving the Kazekage and another kunoichi who had a tailed beast inside of her. Gai praised Neji for having been promoted to jonnin at the young age of seventeen, now no longer a subordinate to their sensei. The Hyuga was rather pleased with the promotion, and yet his eyes kept glancing back towards Tenten who also looked somewhat content with her small smile and nods as they all spoke, but she remained in her own little bubble. This was a bit concerning to the Hyuga, as he worried she was deep in her thoughts and her insecurities were dancing around in her mind with the recent promotion. He would inquire after they finished their team meal.

"What's the matter?"

Her amber eyes found his ivory ones as they walked behind Gai and Lee to head back to the main streets of Konoha. The bunhead shook her head and looked forward. This caused Neji's eyebrows to furrow and his lips pursed tightly. He wasn't about to let her brush him off as he grabbed her hand and halted her strides. Tenten turned her head to him and shot him a glare.

"What is the matter, Tenten?" he repeated.

"Nothing! Let me go, Neji." she groaned and attempted to pull her hand out of his grasp.

The prodigy held her hand firmly and pulled her closer to him. He quickly glanced ahead, watching as their sensei and teammate continued on. Clearing his throat, he called to them, stating that he and Tenten would be heading along and to not wait up for them. Gai and Lee looked behind them and nodded curiously at the two of them, watching as Neji held her hand and led her to a side street.

"Lee, what is all this about?' Gai asked.

Lee hummed and tilted his head in concern. "I…am unsure, Gai-sensei. However, Tenten has been acting strange since we have returned."

"Why?"

"I will ask Neji. I think he has noticed it as well. If he can get her to talk to him, I am sure he will tell us so we can be of support to her."

The two taijutsu specialists hummed in unison and continued on their way. Lee was rather surprised that Tenten was in her head at such a time. She seemed very happy when they were promoted and was eager to continue her career with the two of them as a permanent three man cell. They didn't want to be split up, and with Neji's promotion, it was more than likely it could happen, unless the Hyuga put a request in to not be a solo jonnin or sensei himself. Maybe that is what Tenten was worried about, he pondered as he walked with his sensei.

Neji held onto her hand, his fingers interlaced with hers as he led her to their team training grounds. Finally releasing her, he looked down and crossed his arms over his chest. Tenten's eyes went wide and she sucked her teeth. Her hands found her hips and she met his stare; he was waiting for her to start talking.

"Neji, I'm fine-"

"Tenten," he leaned in. "How long have I known you?"

"What does that-"

"Answer me." he murmured.

The bun head rolled her eyes as she answered him. It's been over ten years, she groaned knowing that he knew her very well. Hiding things from him was rather difficult since Neji made it his business to know her business. Why he did this was a mystery to Tenten, but they were best friends and she supposed this was his way to show that he cared amongst other ways. Neji held his stare, waiting for her to throw him a bone.

"I'm just in a shit mood…" she started.

His eyebrow cocked upwards, a signal for her to continue. She looked away from him.

"It's stupid. Really it's nothing…"

"Tenten, if it was nothing, you wouldn't be in a 'shit mood'. We all noticed it." Neji replied. "Well?"

Tenten captured her bottom lip into her teeth. Neji watched as she adjusted her stance, looking everywhere but at him. She was either trying to find a way to get him off o f her back, or she was trying to piece together coherent sentences to express what was going through her head. But Neji waited patiently and had already decided that he would not leave her until he was satisfied with whatever conclusion would come from whatever problem she had.

"That girl," she huffed finally. "The one that held your hand."

He hummed in confusion, but then the scene flashed before his eyes of the green haired shinobi they had saved.

"Okay…and?" he asked.

Tenten rolled her eyes, mumbling again that it was a stupid thing to be annoyed about, and yet, Neji took a step closer to her and encouraged her to speak her mind. She didn't like how that Fuu girl just grabbed his hand and didn't let go. Her chest had sunk when he didn't pull his hand away from her. The smile she had given him annoyed her as well; yes, Fuu was grateful. But she could be grateful without touching him. The Hyuga's eyes grew wide before a small smile formed on his lips. The bunhead still was not making eye contact with him; he guessed she was a bit embarrassed for being worked up over such a small thing.

"I am still a bit confused as to why you would feel so strongly about that. I told her to let me go." he stated. "So, why are you still hung up about it?"

In honesty, Tenten was unsure why this bothered her so much. She crossed her arms over her chest and hummed. She hadn't really seen him interact with other girls before in such a way, in fact, his lack of reaction is what bothered her.

"I just didn't like how forward she was with you…in front of me."

Ah, there it is. Neji held his hands out to her, his palms exposed. "Tenten, I hold your hand all the time for various reasons."

"Yeah, but that's us. That's how we are. I just didn't like how she did that, okay?"

"You are," he grabbed her hands gently. "Jealous that she held my hand without asking?"

Her cheeks puffed in silent confirmation at his assumption. This caused Neji to burst out in bright laughter. Well, Tenten did insist that it was something stupid she was thinking about. Shaking his head, he took her hands and laced their fingers together.

"You have nothing to be jealous about." he said once he had calmed down.

"Listen," she looked him in the eyes this time, a blush creeping onto her face. "I know that you know what you look like, which is attractive. I'm just not used to girls coming up to you in such a way so boldly when I'm around. I know you handled it well, it just…bothered me."

The Hyuga pressed his forehead against hers, a smile still glued to his face. He found it cute that she was jealous of the attention he was receiving. In a way, he understood where she was coming from. It had just been the two of them when Gai and Lee weren't around. And the idea of either of them being with other people was unsettling. In a way, Neji felt more uncomfortable with the idea that Tenten may be gone from his side one day; maybe with another person, or just on her own. Her brown eyes looked up at him in surprise at this thought. Neji continued that he knows exactly what she is talking about since he was dealing with it himself.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her interest peaked.

"Well, for starters," the prodigy used. "You have also been receiving a lot of attention lately from other people, especially tonight."

Cocking her head to the side, she pursed her lips together in confusion. This reaction caused Neji to look at her in surprise and after a moment he elaborated; he was around her so much that he noticed when other's eyes would shift to her. They had a mission recently in the desert where they had to attend a formal event in order to collect information for Gaara and Kankuro. Between her charisma and the incredibly fitted dress she wore where her muscular legs were on full display, she was approached by many for attention, and also to dance. Gai and Lee had to hold him back from intervening in any way. He would send glares to anyone else who had a nefarious look in their eye as they attempted to approach her. Or, when he had invited her over to the Hyuga estate for dinner, his cousins would whisper and try to steal glances from her. The prodigy was looming over there the whole time, practically attached to her while she was there. Hinata had to pull him aside and correct him on his facial expressions as his cousin and relatives attempted to interact with her.

"Tonight," he murmured. "You were too deep in thought over this to notice the looks you were getting as we walked through the streets."

Tenten blinked. There was no way she was attracting that much attention. She didn't consider herself to be such a blinding beauty that people would stop in their tracks to look. But, Neji disagreed wholeheartedly. Yes, he knew he was attractive and he has been aware of it since the academy. Tenten was attractive, she just didn't see it. In fact, her maturity was the most attractive thing about her and the fact that she hadn't noticed those looks and heard those comments told him that she was so focused on him and what others were doing to him instead of herself. But in a way, she didn't have to pay attention to that because Neji was always there.

"So…what are you trying to say exactly, then?" Tenten asked.

"It is," his voice got low. "Absolutely infuriating watching these people fawn over you in my presence. Everytime we go out, every time we dress up for something…every time you are yourself, you attract eyes. It's annoying."

Tenten gasped at him. He was annoyed by the attention she got? She didn't have people flinging themselves to her like he did. But she supposed that because he was there, they wouldn't dare to think about approaching her in such a way. All it took was a look from her Hyuga partner and they would disperse instantly. In a way, she was a bit flattered at his explanation.

"You…think I'm attractive?" she asked suddenly, her eyes wide.

It was the Hyuga's turn to stare at her. He did say that, and he was hoping that wasn't the detail she would fixate on (that was supposed to remain in his head and yet he still said it out loud). The point was, he explained, that he could relate to what she was feeling and wanted to express a similar situation in order to give an example.

"With that being said," Neji cleared his throat. "If you ever feel like you like someone else. I would require a heads up, unless you're looking to be an accessory to murder."

At this the weapons mistress laughed and hugged him. "Aw, would you be jealous if I did?"

Neji didn't answer. Instead he wrapped his arms around her body and let out a sigh. He supposed he would be. In fact he would absolutely loathe the idea of Tenten being with someone other than him…in a platonic way? Mentally smacking himself, he held her tighter. No, he knew he liked her more than just a friend. In fact, the boys would tease him endlessly about how close he was with her and had even witnessed the glares he would give people and the subtle shift in how close he walked next to her, the light touches of leading her by her elbow, or when he rested a hand on her shoulder. He had it bad, Shikamaru had told him. The Hyuga was having some difficulties keeping himself together when it came to Tenten.

"Look," Neji said after a while. "You don't have to worry about that kind of thing anymore. I'll make sure to act accordingly. But be realistic, okay?"

Tenten nodded against his chest and smiled up at him. She had gotten over it pretty easily, and she repeated that she knew it was a stupid thing to get worked up over.

"I just don't like the idea of seeing you with someone else like that, is all…" the bunhead murmured.

Other than me, her mind screamed at her. At that, Tenten had snapped straight and moved to take a step back. Neji released her due to the sudden movement and asked if she was alright. I don't like the idea of seeing you with someone else…other than me.

"Tenten?"

Her eyes focused and she rubbed the back of her neck. It had just clicked in her brain why she felt so uneasy about what happened, why she felt so inferior to the others who would admire him in such a way. Her feelings had crossed the line of "best friend" and now landed in the "crush" category. It was dangerous for them, and she had no idea if he even liked her back in such a way (he did, but she didn't know that currently). Giving him a reassuring pat on his bicep, she didn't look him directly in the eye as she thanked him for listening to her and quickly pivoting on her heel to head home.

"Wait, I'll walk with y-" he took a step forward.

"No, no! It's fine. I'm fine. We are fine." she exclaimed.

Neji hadn't seen the blush that was rapidly traveling from her neck to her ears as she made haste in walking out of the training grounds. Conflicted, he wasn't sure if he was going to follow her after she insisted that she was "fine". And yet, his feet started moving out of instinct and he was able to catch up with her. They walked in silence as they made their way to Tenten's apartment. He had offered her his arm to hold as they walked, and smiled softly to himself as her fingers clung to him.