This is another story idea freestyled for the NejiTen Week 2024 festivities. It's a continuation from Saudade but can be read solo as well. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: All rights owned by Masashi Kishimoto

Day 4: يقبرني Ya'aburnee (Arabic): A way to declare your hope that your loved one will outlive you, as it would be unbearable to live without them.

~ 00000 ~

That night after sending the paper plane Neji dreamed about her. A few different scenarios flashed behind his eyes but one in particular that he remembered vividly. Probably because it was a memory that he relived over and over again.

It was the day of the infamous Konohagakure Academy School Brawl. Tenten was known around town for being a hardass. Well, not really a hard ass but she liked to fight. After being bullied for years for being a gaijin. She got fed up and slapped the shit out of one of her bullies. From about 4th grade on, she fought all the time.

Not knowing what else to do with her. Tenten's parents enrolled her in martial arts classes to help mitigate some of her anger. That's where she met Neji. The winter between junior and senior year of elementary school. They became fast friends, after a few dozen confrontations. Neji was a menace back then and Tenten was the firecracker that clapped back. And he respected her for it! Eventually, they attended middle school together.

Fast forward to the third year of middle school. The brunette had calmed down a bit and it helped that Neji and Lee were there to reign her in and keep her out of trouble. For the most part, most days were uneventful and others were a tall task because Tenten was always a target! Or the target. Regardless of how you wanted to shake it, she never backed down from a challenge.

On this day in particular. It was their School Cultural Festival. The halls and schoolyard were full of people. And it was raining on and off the entire day. Neji was in the student council office retrieving some supplies. When the office door burst open.

"Ni-san, it's Tenten. Lee needs to come right now. They're out back by the tennis courts"

Neji dropped what he was doing. He brushed past Hinata and started running down the hall to head outside as fast as his feet would carry him. When he finally did make it outside, The crowd was thicker than he remembered, making getting to his friends that much harder. But the light-eyed young man moved as swiftly as he could. Squeezing by, throwing an elbow or two when need be. After what felt like forever, that's when he finally saw them. He ran over to them slightly out of breath. Lee was holding both her hands trying to keep Tenten's attention. Naruto stood behind her body blocking just in case.

"Tenten, are you okay? What's going on" Neji ran his eyes over her, checking for any injuries. There were none!

"I'm fine. I just need to go talk to someone for a second. Lee won't let me go"

Neji was confused, she sounded way too nonchalant. Naruto jumped in.

"I'm pretty sure she didn't mention it but we got into it with some of Technical Middle School kids. We found them jumping some freshmen a few days ago and got involved. Turns out they were some low-level Anbu gang members. They've been taunting us ever since"

"Okay then, let me take you home" Turning his attention back to Naruto "Maybe you should go home as well Naruto"

The blond was stubborn, Neji knew he wouldn't. But as far as Tenten goes. He wasn't asking. Tenten looked up at Lee, as he let go. Hoping he'd intervene on her behalf. But he kept quiet. The worried look on his face told Neji all he needed to know.

"Lee, can you let Iruka Sensei know that I'm taking Tenten home? If he asks why, she's not feeling well, and I'll be back as soon as I can"

"Take my bike. It's orange with blue stripes. "Yelled the blonde as he and Lee rushed to go find Iruka Sensei. Neji grabbed the brunette's hand firmly. Pulling her as close as he could while pulling her through the crowd.

"Were you planning on telling me any of this?"

"No, I didn't want you worrying about me"

"I'm always worried about you. Especially when I'm not around. You do reckless things"

Tenten scuffed, she stopped in her tracks. Yanking her hand out of his grasp.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you then if that's the case. But what was I supposed to do? Let those kids get stomped out"

"You did the right thing. But what's been happening today?"

"They have been trying to lure me into fighting all day. I'm sick of it. I'm not sure, how many members are here. But their leader Temari definitely is. Her second in command, I think his name is Kankuro also paid me a little visit but Lee scared him off"

"So what's your plan? Fight them all by yourself?"

"Yeah, if that's how it's gotta be then that's how it's gotta be"

Neji remembers how much that reveal hurt him. She meant that shit with her whole chest.

"This is a suicide mission. Are you trying to die?"

She made a point to avoid his gaze the entire time. Now reeling it in standing her ground. But she didn't answer him.

"I don't want you to die"

Tenten flinched, and fear flashed through her eyes. She took a deep breath re-centering herself before she stood really tall again.

"Of course not. I just don't want to be scared anymore"

This was a side of Tenten that he had never seen before. Neji hadn't expected those words out of her mouth, The bunhead girl always seemed so fearless. She was the swing and ask questions later type. To be on level footing with her, all he could do was have her back. If that meant, acting as her guardian or at other times her confidant. Then so be it.

After seeing this side of her, a part of her, she had never shown to anyone else. Not even her parents. Neji had vowed to always protect her. He didn't know who he was without her and he didn't want to find out!

"How does putting your life in danger fix this? I am seriously trying to understand"

She pondered his words while looking around.

"I'm not sure it does. If I give them what they want. They'll go away. I can take solace in knowing that I'm not a coward"

"You are a lot of things Tenten but a coward isn't one of them. But I think I understand what you're trying to say. However, I am still taking you home. We'll come up with a better solution together. Let's go" Neji offered her his hand.

A large crash can be heard behind them. The pair turns their heads in the direction. Just in time, to see somebody punching Naruto in the back of his head. Two other people in similar uniforms started running across the yard towards him.

As if to spite him, sometime during their conversation the crowd had disbursed. Giving Tenten the opening she needed.

Neji panicked and tried to grab Tenten but missed. She sprinted across the schoolyard, splashing through rain puddles as she went. She managed to catch one of the guys rushing Naruto and bicycle-kicked him from behind. Neji found himself running right behind her grabbing the second attacker by his shirt and judo flipping him. Flashes of lighting flickered in the sky.

Tenten helped Naruto up and a larger group of guys and girls with bats, and chains and started running at them. All hell broke was about to break loose. As if on queue, the rain got even heavier making the visibility that much harder.

Neji was sure that they were going to die that day. Neji made peace with it because at the very least they were together in the end. He wouldn't want it any other way. Through what Neji could only assume was divine intervention, they all survived.

Lee popped up at some point and ended up with a broken leg and a hairline fracture in the other. Naruto broke his left arm and a few ribs. Tenten tore her Achilles tendon, broke her right arm, and a few ribs. Loving her had brought really hard lessons and Neji had the scars to prove it. At one point or another, he shielded her with his body. He came out just as battered.

Ya'aburnee