Enjoy!
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Tenten awoke with much anxiety overcoming her emotions. 'It was just a dream...' She silenty repeated to herself over and over again in her head. 'But... it had seemed much too real...' Her conscience protested. 'A vision maybe...? NO! What am I saying!?' She shook her head and looked around, little beads of sweat gathered at her forehead. It was pitch black in her room. With just the radiance of the moon to help her sight, she felt around for her lamp. She found the switch her first time, and turned it on. She was unprepared for the light that flooded into her room, it caught her off-gaurd. Her eyes were forced to take refuge under her hand. After her eyes adapted to the light, she lazily rose from her bed and strolled over to her wardrobe. She pulled out an outfit for the day, and got dressed. Even though it was 4:30am, she was much to attentive to return to her dreams. 6
After pulling her hair up in her usual 2 buns, she departed from her house and began to pace around Konohagakure. It was 5:00am now, and she felt that it was an OK time to be out and about. Tenten met up with Lee, who was just practicing his tai-jutsu on a defenceless stump, sticking out of the ground.
"Were you unable to sleep as well, Tenten?" Lee asked, quite exausted.
"No, not much. Yet, when I did sleep, it was just a nightmare. Do you think he's OK?"
"Tenten, this IS Neji we're talking about here! How could you doubt that he can handle himself? I'm sure he's A-Ok!" Lee said, trying to lift Tenten's spirits from it's pessimistic attitude.7
"Yeah, you're right... He's just fine." Tenten said more to herself than to Lee.8
They conversed and walked for about an hour. Then, out of pure habit, they walked over to the training grounds. They found Gai Sensei down there, sitting quietly. Both ninjas found this very odd. For one thing, Gai sensei almost never sat, he was usually up and hyper, and another thing, he was NEVER quiet. Gai sensei lifted his head and nodded, acknowledging Tenten and Lee's presence.9
"Gai Sensei, what is troubling you? Where is your youthful spirit!? You seem down today..." Lee said, his sentence drifting off as Gai got up.
"Well, I have some very astounding news..." Gai started, "of course we all know of the A-ranked solo mission Neji was assigned to." Tenten and Lee nodded, eager to hear what has happened to their comrade.
"Well, he was due back 3 days ago. When he didn't show up, Tsunade send a rescue team out to recover him. They found and brought him back alright, but.....well...he was dead..." Gai managed to choke out. Lee was too stunned to move. His rival was...dead? How could that have been? Neji was much to strong to fall victim to anyone else (but him of course)!10
Tenten collapsed. Luckily, Lee was next to her, so he caught her as she dropped. Lee helped Tenten to her feet. The news hit her like a ton of bricks. She then began to bawl. Her sobs ripping out of her chest.
"No...No...oh please no! This just can't be true!!" Tenten screamed. She was down on her knees again, her painful mourning could be heard throuhout the forest. The birds did not sing, the clouds came out as if being commanded to do so. The sun did not dare show it's face on such a day as this, for this day was sentenced to sorrow, and nothing else...or was it?
"Tenten, as depressing as this may be, you must stop your wailing. I have not yet finished my message. I said the news was astoundind, did I not? So be still and let me finish!" Gai's voice roared. Tenten silenced a bit, but tears still fell as raindrops during a storm.
"Now, as Hyuuga, Neji may be dead, the Hyuuga clan has revealed a way that he may be able to come back to life. As unlikely as that may sound, it is very true. The Hyuuga's have revealed that the curse mark of the lesser branch has special abilities that can somehow bring a clan member back. I don't know much about it, for it is a Hyuuga secret, and they didn't reveal much, but that is what I do know. So there is no need to be sad! Cheer up, Neji may be here as soon as next week!" Gai sensei said, trying to cheer his depressed students up. Tenten was very much grateful to Gai sensei for saying that, but she still was upset. 'Neji is dead, and dead is dead... but... he can still be brought back to me' Tenten thought to herself. She knew she was never one to think on the bright side, but she had to try!11
"Gai sensei, do you think you could pry some more information about the curse mark from the Hyuuga's? Um, just to be sure that Neji really can be brought back...?" Tenten questioned.12
"I am very sorry Tenten. Believe me, I have tried. It's useless. You know how Neji was when it came to his clan, he was always so secretive, and that's exactly how the rest of his clan is. If not, they might even be worse, if that's possible. Trying to get them to tell you something about their clan is like trying to get a tomato to tell you how it grows, it just can't be done." Gai sensei kind of chuckled at his own joke. Tenten, on the other hand, did not find this situation humorous, not in the least. After that Tenten excused herself and departed from the squad.13
Tenten strolled around town, trying to get her mind of the whole Neji thing. She knew that was impossible. She even went to the Hokage and requested if she could see his body. The Hokage denied that, however, saying that his body needed to be preserved for the ritual that was to be done. Tenten already knew that she wouldn't have been allowed to see Neji's body, but she just wanted to be positive, it was in her nature. 14
As Tenten was walking home, for good, a thought came to her so suddenly, she about fell over and kicked herself for not thinking of it sooner. 'HINATA!' she thought to herself, 'Hinata would tell me anything! At least I hope... yeah... I am almost positive that she would tell me a little bit more about this whole curse mark deal!' After the inspiration came to Tenten, she turned around and darted off in the opposite direction, determined to make it there before dusk.15
With the lightning speed she was racing, she made it there in a matter of minutes. Hiashi Hyuuga was settled on the lawn, meditating, when Tenten walked up and shyly asked him,16
"Um, would Hinata by chance be here?"17
"Yes, as a matter of fact I believe she is. Check upstairs." Haishi said, with his eyes closed, STILL meditating. Tenten recognized that right off the bat. It was something Neji did ALL THE TIME. She missed that about him, that's how he would always talk while meditating, with his eyes shut.18
"Oh, yes, thank you Hiashi-sama." Tenten muttered.19
"You are very welcome." Hiashi replied.20
Tenten continued on her way into the Hyuuga mansion pausing briefly, to make sure she knew the way. She had been in here but a few times, only when she was picking up Neji for training, and things like that. She knew that Hinata was upstairs somewhere, occupying one of those rooms. She proceeded walking, then stopped dead in her tracks when she came to a door, she hadn't known it, for she had been parcially oblivious from her thinking, but she had accidently walked up to Neji's room. With her heart heavy, she sighed and turned around. She found the staicase quite easily, for it was immense in size. She advanced up the stairs, and ceased when she came to a row of doors. She had only seen Hinata's room but once, she was pretty sure that it was the 3rd door on the left, so she went up to it, and knocked. There was a short pause, then a female's voice,21
"Um, Who's there?" The voice, to Tenten's relief, belonged to Hinata.22
"It's Tenten." Tenten spoke somewhat quiet, she did not want to disturb anyone.23
Hinata then opened the door. She was surprised to see Tenten, it showed on her face. She opened the door wider adn stepped aside, a gesture to invite Tenten in. Tenten then shot into explanation to why she was there, what had happened, and what she wanted clearified. Hinata's eyes widened. 'I-I know it's a secret, and no one's supposed to know...but...Tenten has every right to know...' Hinata thought to herself. In the end she gave in.24
"Tenten, what I am about to tell you is classified, please do not share this with anyone." Hinata took a deep breath, "Well... U-um...Here we go..."25
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