The Date

Headcannon: Neji struggles to keep his feelings towards Tenten in check. He's the jealous type.

Team Gai was scheduled to meet at the training grounds at four in the morning. The sixteen year old boys had arrived on time and were greeted by a very overly-energized Maito Gai who initiated the training by having them run laps around Konoha. As they ran, the bowl-cut sensei had inquired about their weapon's mistress' whereabouts. Lee had not seen her at all on his way to the training grounds, and Neji wondered if she was on a mission. He didn't recall her saying anything yesterday about a mission when they met up for their own training, but being summoned by the Hokage at a moment's notice was very common. Considering that to be an opinion, the Hyuga pursed his lips together and reconsidered; Tenten was rarely sent out on missions without him. The both of them had requested the Hokage to group them as a permanent partnership due to their abilities to work flawlessly together. If one or the other was sent without their partner, usually there would be some courtesy from the other to say something. Tenten would also usually be sent on missions with Shikamaru as the Nara would request her from time to time depending on the mission presented to him.

"Is she ill?" Lee inquired as they ran their laps.

"She was fine yesterday." Neji replied, keeping a steady pace. "Unless she was ill and did not say anything."

They jumped from rooftop to rooftop, Gai leading them towards the main streets. Konoha citizens began to wake, opening shops and restaurants, walking about to prepare for the day. There was still no sign of their bun-headed kunoichi. This made them a bit worried, where Neji actually halted in his tracks and squatted on top of a roof. Gai and Lee landed beside him in confusion.

"I'm going to check her place." Neji announced. "She's never late."

"Yes, I will come with you!" Lee nodded as he stretched his arms over his head.

"Or," Gai let out a bright grin. "You can just look down."

The boys followed their master's gaze to the streets. There stood their teammate in her shinobi gear. Her back was to them, but she wasn't alone. The bushy-browed teen let out a small gasp as he witnessed another shinobi, who looked to be about their age, hand over a bouquet of flowers to Tenten. Words were nervously exchanged between them as they stood there. A tight frown formed on the Hyuga's face as the shinobi reached for Tenten's hand and rubbed his thumb against her skin.

"Why isn't she pulling away?" Neji grumbled.

Both Lee and Gai looked at the Hyuga. It was obvious the scene before him made him uneasy, dare they say, Neji was uncomfortable with how flirtatious the ninja was being with their kunoichi counterpart. Lee and Gai knew Neji had some amorous feelings towards their teammate, but he never acted on them. Even with the guys teasing him constantly and Gai's constant encouragement and unsolicited advice, the byakugan user remained cool and awkward around her. Their ears rang as a bright laugh came from the weapons mistress below them.

"Ah," Gai hummed. "Our dear tiger lily's youth is in full form! How brave this young man is for approaching Tenten in such a way!"

"Gai-sensei, what do you mean?" Lee asked, cocking his head to the side. "They have been talking for a while now…flowers usually mean-"

"The bastard is flirting with her." Neji sucked his teeth. "He's talking her up."

Lee gasped at his teammates' use of foul language. Neji never cursed unless he was really agitated.

"Well," Gai stood straight. "It is only natural that our lovely youthful flower is attracting the eyes of many. You have noticed this by now, yes?"

Neji rolled his eyes. Yes, of course he has noticed that Tenten has been attracting attention lately. He remembered having a conversation with when they went shopping one day about why she dressed in baggy clothing. One reason was very practical; she did not want to buy clothing to be ruined. Her bright red cargo pants and long sleeved crop made it easier for her to move and feel confident. Another reason that she brought up, was that she hated being stared at and didn't have the confidence to wear clothing like Ino or Sakura. She admired them for being so comfortable with themselves that they were able to show off their bodies. There was a slight inclination that Neji caught that Tenten probably thought she wasn't good looking enough. He has seen her in a bathing suit before. She had an amazingly toned and slender figure. Her curves fit her body very well and he was surprised that she didn't see herself in such a high light. Tenten wasn't one for make-up unless there was an important event or celebration; she was naturally pretty and didn't need any in his opinion.

"Even so," Neji stood. "He's taking too much of her time."

"Neji, wait-" Gai exclaimed as he watched his jonnin student leap from the roof.

"Gai-sensei," Lee hummed. "Should I stop him?"

Konoha's great beast shook his head. It was not worth the trouble, and also, Neji needed to learn how to let things go, or to speak up and about his feelings towards their weapons mistress. All the two green spandex clad shinobi could do was watch as the Hyuga landed behind the shinobi currently talking to Tenten.

The bunhead blinked out of her blissful contentment as the Hyuga appeared within her line of sight with an annoyed frown tattooed on his lips. She cocked an eyebrow and addressed him, causing her admirer to turn his head.

"Tenten," Neji puffed out his chest. "You are late for training."

The bunhead gasped as she realized that she was indeed late for training. Neji wasn't looking at her, though as he spoke. He was busy peacocking at the shinobi before him. He was of slim build, probably a chunnin as well. Judging by his digs, he had just returned from a mission and was heading back to the Hokage's mansion to report. Tenten watched curiously as Neji's stone-cold gazed tailed the shinobi from head to toe, his chin held high.

"Whose this?" Neji asked with frost laced in his voice.

The shinobi extended his hand to the Hyuga. "Diachi Izayaki"

Neji eyed his out-stretched hand. Instead of taking it, he walked right past him and stood beside his partner. Diachi awkwardly put his hand back down to his side as he watched the Hyuga inspect the flowers in Tenten's hands.

"This is Neji Hyuga. My best friend and teammate." The bunhead leaned over to address Diachi.

"Ah, It is nice to meet you in person, Hyuga. You have a highly regarded reputation. I'm sure a refined shinobi like yourself is very lucky to have the honor to work with Konoha's most talented weapons mistress." Diachi offered a small smile and wink to the bunhead.

Tenten let out a giggle, her cheeks flushing pink at his compliment. Neji turned his head ever so slightly and grunted in response. What would he know about how talented his teammate was? He hasn't even seen this shinobi before, let alone seen Tenten interact with him.

"Allow me to accompany you home to drop those off, Tenten." He put a cool hand on her shoulder and trailed it down to her elbow. "We have training to do. I'm sure Izayaki has to return to whatever business he has."

"Oh, okay." Tenten nodded and side stepped the Hyuga to approach the chunnin in front of her.

She apologized to Diachi for the sudden intrusion of their conversion. The shinobi offered her a charming smile and shrugged.

"My teammates are…protective." Tenten explained and gestured to the rooftop by them.

Neji cocked an eyebrow at this; she had sensed their presence a while ago and continued to socialize with this guy? Diachi glanced over and let out a laugh at the sight of the two bushy-browed ninjas perched on the roof, staring at them in curiosity. He didn't mind, in fact he found it rather amerable that they cared about her enough to hover over her; not that she couldn't handle herself, but it was refreshing to see how close a cell could be. The chunnin waved at the green beasts, who smiled and waved back at him. Gai gave a thumbs up and blinding grin to him, which caused Diachi to scratch his head awkwardly.

"So," he turned back to Tenten. "I'll meet you at six?"

"Yeah, absolutely!" The bunhead chirped. "See you then!"

Diachi nodded and watched as the Hyuga called for his teammate and started heading in the opposite direction of Diachi. Gai and Lee soon followed the pair, grinning as the deep aura of righteous jealousy began to spew from the Hyuga's body. They made it to Tenten's apartment and sat in her living room as she fished out a vase from her cabinet, pruning the flowers and placing them on her dining room table.

"So, my youthful flower…" Gai leaned against the wall. "I am assuming that friend of yours has taken a brave step in asking for your youthful presence in his free time?"

Tenten blinked, registering what her sensei had just asked her. After a moment, she nodded and offered an embarrassed smile.

"Y-yeah, I mean. Diachi is nice. He was very sweet in getting me flowers on his way back from his mission."

Lee glanced over at the byakugan user looming by her dining room window. He had not made eye contact with any of them. The bowl-cut chunnin inquired on how Tenten even knew the guy. The bunhead explained that Diachi was assigned to a mission with her and Shikamaru a few times. He was a brave shinobi who was very skilled in genjustu. They worked really well together and started talking casually. When she wasn't training, she would meet up with him and they would talk, grab tea…just hang out a bit before going about their day. The Hyuga sucked his teeth loudly at this, the sound not unnoticed by his teammates. Tenten put her hands on her hips and furrowed her brows.

"What's your problem?" she asked. "You were extremely rude to him-by the way-when you butted in."

Neji rolled his eyes. "You were wasting your time talking to him for a silly date. Plus, you were incredibly late for training."

A scoff escaped from the bunhead's throat. Lee was about to stand and physically put himself between them to prevent the argument that was about to burst out, however Gai held up his hand to stop him. Lee looked at him confused, wondering why he was being stopped before his sensei shook his head; this didn't really involve them. Tenten huffed that she was on the way, and besides, it wasn't on her that Diachi just so happened to find her on her way to the training grounds. Neji shot back that it wasn't a coincidence, he was intently walking in the direction of her apartment and probably knew her training schedule due to how friendly they already were. It was rather careless of Diachi to stop her in the street, knowing she had somewhere to be and people to be with. The weapons mistress let out a groan, Neji was being such a hard-ass about this and she didn't understand why. So what if Diachi was looking for her? He was being nice and thought about her to get her flowers. He even had the courage to ask her on a date, which she hasn't been on a date before outside of getting information by going undercover during missions. This was a real date that was proposed to her and she accepted it wholeheartedly.

"Do you even like him in that way?" Neji snapped. "Or are you just saying yes to be nice?"

Tenten gasped. "This is not a pity date! And also, what's it to you? Maybe I do like him like that! That's the whole point of dating, Neji! To see if you like someone!"

Neji shook his head. "This is ridiculous, Tenten. You have better ways of spending your time than with some nobody ninja-"

"Nobody?! Neji, you're being absolutely atrocious right now!" The bunhead huffed. "What does it matter to you if I am going out with someone? It's just a date? He's not a 'nobody'!"

"He is a nobody," Neji shot back. "You don't even know this Diachi guy to an extent to be in this situation and you are willingly going out of your way to make special time for him? Someone you just met? He is a mediocre shinobi with subpar abilities who probably can't even keep up with you on the battlefield or in a basic sparring match; a nobody."

Lee and Gai's eyebrows rose in surprise at Neji's comments. This was different from his usual cold demeanor when Tenten interacts with any other men. All it took was a glare or even just his presence next to her to cause someone to look the other way from Tenten. This time, it didn't work, and Neji was unable to prevent what he feared; Tenten with someone else.

"I can't believe you!" Tenten exclaimed, her voice shrieking in anger. "Who are you to tell me what to do with my love life?

"He's no good for you." Neji met her gaze. "You shouldn't be wasting your time on mid-level shinobi, Tenten."

"Oh, yeah?" She raised her chin at him and held his glare. "Then, who do you suggest I waste my time with, all-knowing-guru?" she spat. "It's not like anyone else has come forward with feelings for me, you know."

"Because I-" the Hyuga stopped himself, his brain halting the words that almost escaped his mouth.

The green beasts in the room stared wide-eyed at Neji, waiting for him to finish his sentence. Was this is? Was this the time that Neji Hyuga would outwardly admit what everyone else knew except the weapons mistress herself? Lee held his fists up in anticipation, silently screaming encouragement to his teammate to finally confess that he was in love with Tenten after all these years. Gai watched as the byakugan user balled his fists and tensed. His jaw clenched as he tried to find the right words to get him out of this argument.

"Well?" Tenten pointed at him. "Are you gonna answer me or not since you know everything?!"

"I.." he snarled through gritted teeth. "Fine. Go on the damn date."

And with a huff the Hyuga pivoted on his heel and stormed out of Tenten's apartment. Gai sighed heavily and kicked himself off of the wall, murmuring something about going after the Hyuga to help him simmer down. Tenten let out a yell of aggravation and her fist collided with her wall.

"Who the hell does he think he is?! Tell me who I can and cannot date?" she exclaimed. "What is he? My keeper?!"

Lee sweatdropped and walked over to her. He put a comforting hand on her shoulder and offered a small smile. He understood how she was feeling, but he also understood how Neji was feeling. Without outing his teammate, he explained to Tenten that usually when someone cares for another, they will act in such ways that push others away. Neji was incredibly kind as a person, however they both knew that if something threatens the wellbeing of someone he cares for, he will act on guard. Granted, Neji wasn't the best when it came to expressing his feelings verbally, but he promised the Hyuga had good intentions for trying to deter her from going on this date.

"Don't take it personally," Lee assured her. "Perhaps he does have a point in picking someone to get involved in that is of the same or higher level than you in terms of skill?"

"But you guys don't know him. Neji doesn't know him!" Tenten huffed. "Who is he to tell me what to do?"

Lee sighed. This was hard to do without putting Neji's feelings, but he could possibly work around it. If he were to confess to her for Neji, the Hyuga would have his head for sure. But Lee respected his rival's decision of keeping it to himself; this was a very delicate matter that only held significance if Neji did it himself.

"Well," Lee looked at her warmly. "You are his best friend. He…we all don't want to see you get hurt in any way, Tenten."

Tenten casted her gaze to the floor. She comprehended what the bowl-cut ninja was telling her, but it was still disrespectful how Neji went about it. It was true that when Neji got worked up his words cut like venom. She had witnessed his verbal attacks many times before; she was happy to not be on the receiving end of them. He would never speak to her in such a way. Lee put his hands on his hips. The Hyuga was worked up with concern, he concluded.

"And," he chuckled. "To be completely fair, Tenten. I do have to agree with Neji."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"You are out of Diachi's league. You are strong, and well established as a kunoichi. In my opinion, Neji is correct in assuming that Diachi is not a good enough match for you."

Tenten blinked at his words. If Lee also agreed that Diachi was out of her league, then maybe that was the case. However, her abilities and reputation shouldn't be a factor in her dating life; it should be about the character of the person. The taijutsu specialist hummed, he did agree on this notion.

"Neji does not want you to waste your time with someone who may not be right for you, That's all." Lee explained. "And to be fair, I do not want to see you put effort into someone who may not feel the same by the end of your date. It would be a waste of time, would it not?"

The bunhead sighed and nodded. But she wanted the experience of dressing up and going on a date. She wasn't going to cancel it just because they didn't feel that Diachi was right for her. Holding up his hands, Lee nodded. He wasn't going to stop her from going on the date. He respected her decision; he just wanted to put into simpler words what Neji was trying to tell her. Tenten rolled her eyes, Neji was being dramatic and she wanted him to apologize to her.

"I will see what I can do…" Lee smiled. "How about we run a few laps around the village and spar a bit? I'm sure Gai sensei has already tracked down our genius and is speaking to him now about letting you do as you please."

"Fine, but you have to help me pick an outfit for my date later." Tenten shot back as she walked to her door and slipped on her sandals.

"Deal."