NejiTen Month

As promised, here is the first part of the Hyuga Showdown epilogue. But boy, is this a doozy.

If you think, Hinata winning, is impressive enough on its own, oh baby, you ain't seen NOTHIN' yet.

I couldn't just leave on a cliffhanger, with her being declared the winner, that just wouldn't do, I thought. So now, enjoy the last rollercoaster ride.

And expect Hiashi Hyuga, unlike most fanfiction work out there, to actually be a decent parent, for a change. Because he shall finally acknowledge the true depth of his crimes, especially regarding his family. Currently, he is in strict house arrest, but even so...

...Hinata won't have any kind words to share this time. And usually, she holds back, but not anymore. This Hinata died, the moment he kicked her out. No amount of verbal whipping, will bring that Hinata back.

Her innocence died, the moment he kicked her out.

AO3: The Hyuga Showdown (Epilogue) - Part 1 - Freedom, At Last

To prepare for the greatest dream of her life—opening her very own weapon shop in the Hidden Leaf Village—Tenten had gone through an incredibly grueling period. Her criteria for a new place were so high that even she felt disheartened at times. The location had to be right on a main street to easily attract customers, feature a spacious front room to display an array of weaponry, offer enough private living space in the back, and, most importantly, come with a reasonable rent that wouldn't drain her pockets.

Tenten had spent months pouring over every map of the village, walking until the soles of her feet were swollen and red, yet she still couldn't find a single suitable spot. Places with beautiful storefronts commanded astronomical rents, while affordable ones were tucked away in isolated, dead-end alleys. Just as she was about to give up and settle for a lesser option, a landlord right on the main thoroughfare unexpectedly approached her, offering a jaw-droppingly cheap rent for a perfect dual-purpose apartment. Tenten was beside herself with joy, genuinely believing that the heavens had finally taken pity on her hardships.

But naive Tenten had no way of knowing that, in this world, such fortune never simply falls from the sky into one's lap.

She didn't know that a certain Hyuga genius had silently used his Byakugan to scour every plot of land in the village for weeks, evaluating the structure and safety of every single house. Tenten knew even less of the fact that he had personally met with that very landlord, using his prestige as an elite Jounin to negotiate, and had quietly paid half of her monthly rent out of his own pocket. He did all of this simply because he couldn't bear to see his teammate looking utterly dejected, nursing her aching, exhausted feet after another hopeless day of house-hunting.

After settling most of her belongings, Tenten decided to throw a small housewarming party to celebrate this new milestone. On the day of the party, Tenten was a whirlwind of messy hair, bustling around the kitchen to prepare food for the bottomless pits that were her friends' stomachs. Right as she was scrambling, drenched in sweat, the doorbell rang.

Tenten rushed to open it, and her eyes landed on Neji. He had arrived a staggering two hours early. In his hands, he carried a few bags of fresh ingredients she was missing, along with a long wooden box packed with meticulous care.

"Neji? Why are you so early?" Tenten asked in surprise, her hands still dusted with a bit of flour.

"I came to see if you needed any help," Neji replied calmly as he stepped inside, placing the wooden box onto an empty table in the front room. "Your housewarming gift."

When curiosity prompted Tenten to open the box, she was utterly stunned. Inside lay a weapon rack, intricately carved from rare cedarwood. The warm, soothing aroma of the wood instantly diffused through the air, deftly masking the cold, metallic scent of the kunai and shuriken piled in the corner of the room. For a weapon fanatic like her, this was the most thoughtful and spot-on gift imaginable. A surge of pure joy welled up inside Tenten, and she beamed at Neji, her eyes brimming with gratitude.

When the designated hour arrived, the new home was quickly filled with a vibrant, chaotic energy. Naruto’s booming laughter practically shook the ceiling; Kiba kept pulling antics that set Akamaru off into a frenzy of barking; over in the corner, Ino and Sakura were chattering animatedly, pointing around as they discussed how to arrange the interior for the best feng shui. Meanwhile, Guy-sensei and Lee clung to each other, weeping tears of pure emotion while repeatedly roaring slogans about Tenten's "radiant youth."

Amidst that tumultuous, laughter-filled space, Tenten was busy running back and forth hosting her guests, yet her gaze would unconsciously drift toward the corner of the room. There, beneath a rising curl of tea steam, Neji sat in silence, sipping his tea. His eyes were tender and still, remaining unalterably locked onto her every step and every smile—acting like a steady anchor amidst a loud sea of people.

Late into the night, everyone finally began shuffling out, bidding their goodbyes. The moment the door clicked shut, the new house abruptly plunged into an uncommonly profound silence, leaving behind only the chaotic mountain of dishes and cups from the recent onslaught. Exhausted to the bone, Tenten placed her hands on her hips, exhaling a long sigh before turning to the only boy who hadn't made a move to leave.

"Neji, you should head back and rest too. You've worked so hard helping me all day; I'll just clean this up tomorrow."

Without a word, Neji silently approached the dining table, rolled his sleeves up past his elbows to reveal his toned forearms, and voluntarily began carrying the dirty dishes into the small kitchen. His deep, low voice cut through the sound of water rushing into the sink. "If you leave it until tomorrow, it will smell. Don't just stand there staring. Come dry the dishes."

Tenten pressed her lips together to hide a smile, feeling a warm tide wash over her heart. Grabbing a clean towel, she stood close beside him in the cramped kitchen space. The rhythm of their coordination was uncannily smooth. Looking over at his stern profile, his long lashes casting shadows over his closed Byakugan eyes beneath the golden light, Tenten felt a profound happiness swell within her chest, so intense it made her heart squeeze.

"Ah—!"

A sharp gasp escaped Tenten's lips as she reached high up to place a newly wiped porcelain plate onto the upper cabinet shelf. With her hands still slick and slippery from the water, the plate slipped from her grasp, falling freely. In a panic, Tenten lost her footing, and her momentum sent her body tumbling backward.

But the agonizing impact she had braced herself for never came.

As swift as lightning, one of Neji's hands flawlessly caught the porcelain plate mid-air, while his other arm shot out just in time, completely catching her by the back. His powerful, decisive grip anchored Tenten, preventing her from crashing onto the cold floor.

Time seemed to grind to a halt. The distance between them shrank to mere inches. With her face pressed close against Neji's firm chest, Tenten could distinctly hear a frantic, erratic thumping—was it his heartbeat, or her own? She couldn't tell. The sound only grew louder, echoing through the heavy, stagnant silence of the room. His warm breath brushed gently against the crown of her head, carrying the faint, familiar scent of cedarwood.

Realizing their position was entirely too intimate, Neji hurriedly guided her to stand upright and retracted his hand. Placing the plate on the counter, he turned his face away, the rims of his ears already flushed a violent crimson. "You... should be more careful."

Tenten was equally flustered. She hung her head low, her cheeks burning like wildfire as her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her shirt. "Yeah... right, I know. Thank you..."

Even though he had let go, Tenten could swear she could still feel the scorching heat from his large palm lingering on her skin, burning right through the fabric of her shirt. A thick, awkward tension enveloped them, prompting Tenten to mumble a breathless dismissal. "You... you should take this bag of leftovers home. It's really late."

In truth, a wildly daring thought had flashed through her mind—a yearning to ask him to stay. But looking at the messy, half-cleaned house, she lacked both the courage and a proper excuse to invite him to spend the night.

Neji took the bag of food, gave a tight nod, and turned to walk out the door. His white-clad silhouette gradually dissolved into the night, leaving Tenten standing dazed in the living room, her hand unconsciously drifting to touch the spot on her back where he had just held her.

(mine is Hogwarts!au)

___________

Not a single soul at Hogwarts was unaware of the bitter, unyielding rivalry between Tenten, the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain, and Hyuga Neji, the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain. Their animosity stemmed not only from their polar-opposite playstyles on the pitch, but also from the fact that both were the most brilliant tacticians Hogwarts had seen in a decade. Ever since the two took command, the Quidditch Cup had essentially become a private affair between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. The most legendary, breath-snatching matches always featured their respective houses, relegating the historically formidable Gryffindor and Slytherin to mere background noise.

The temperaments of the two captains were like oil and water. Tenten was a whirlwind of vivacity and unbridled energy—a Muggle-born witch raised in the serene, idyllic countryside of Bibury. Neji, conversely, was the walking definition of composure and decorum. As the prestigious scion of the Hyuga clan, one of the oldest pure-blood wizarding families in existence, he carried himself with an aura of aristocratic detachment and clinical calm.

Yet, autumn at Hogwarts always possessed a certain magic capable of thawing even the most stubborn of hearts. As the ancient castle surrendered to the haughty crimson hues of maple leaves and crisp October winds began to whip through the corridors, Tenten decided to indulge in her personal ritual for welcoming the season: buying a new body wash. It had been a tradition of hers since third year; at the turn of every season, she would venture into Hogsmeade and visit The Lavender Cauldron—a charming apothecary run by Hogwarts alumna Lavender Brown—to handpick a fitting scent. This time, Tenten’s senses were instantly subjugated by a bottle of cedarwood body wash from the shop's latest batch. It possessed a peculiar warmth and tranquility, enchanting her so thoroughly that she unsealed it that very night.

The following morning, Tenten was in high spirits, clutching a heavy stack of textbooks as she navigated the breezy corridors. Even when the autumn wind lunged straight at her face, she found it utterly refreshing. The reason was delightfully simple: she was enveloped in the warm, comforting scent of cedarwood radiating from her own skin.

Regrettably, her enjoyment was short-lived. Right at the approaching corridor junction, Hyuga Neji materialized out of nowhere.

He maintained his customary ramrod-straight posture, draped in a bespoke school cloak crafted from premium merino wool. The fabric, exquisitely soft and weightless, framed his broad shoulders and solid chest with a perfection that Tenten bet would leave any passing witch utterly spellbound. The moment her eyes registered her rival, Tenten instinctively threw her shoulders back, plastering a look of sheer indifference across her face as she prepared to ignore him. Normally, a day spent without exchanging barbs in the hallways was an anomaly, so feigning blindness was only natural.

Neji, for his part, had fully intended to brush past her, being in a hurry to reach Professor Scamander’s office. Yet, the exact microsecond the hems of their cloaks brushed against each other, a warm, wood-scented draft drifted straight into his nose.

An alarm blared inside the Ravenclaw genius’s mind. He ground to a sudden halt. This scent... it couldn't be.

Without wasting a single breath, Neji pivoted. He leaned down, hovering just beside Tenten’s ear, which was lightly flushed from the cold. Tilting his head fractionally, he let slip a low, deep whisper:

"Smells nice. New body wash?"

Tenten startled violently, leaping backward as if she had just been struck by a hex. She clapped a hand over her ear while the other scrambled to secure her books, but the sudden panic caused her Transfiguration textbook to slide free, landing with a loud, echoing thud against the stone floor of the deserted corridor.

"W-What is it to you?!" Tenten stammered—a rare vulnerability from the otherwise fiercely straightforward Hufflepuff captain.

She was just about to bend down to retrieve it when Neji anticipated her movement. He stooped down, swept up the book, and unhurriedly placed it right back on top of the stack in her arms. The proximity, mere inches apart, froze Tenten entirely in her tracks.

Because from this distance, her olfactory senses began to operate completely independent of her pride. She detected another scent—richer, deeper, and unmistakably distinct—emanating directly from Neji. It was the absolute epitome of dry, masculine, and comforting cedarwood.

An explosion detonated inside Tenten's brain. She instantly deciphered the underlying implication of his smirk and his compliment. Why on earth would someone as notoriously tight-lipped and aloof as Hyuga Neji randomly compliment the scent of his R-I-V-A-L? Because he recognized his own signature scent on her! That arrogant Ravenclaw undoubtedly thought she detested him in public, only to secretly wash herself in his fragrance behind closed doors out of some hidden infatuation.

Watching Tenten's expression morph from utter bewilderment to mortification, and finally to sheer outrage, the corners of Neji’s eyes crinkled subtly. He couldn't suppress the absolute thrill of delight at unearthing this "secret." His gaze instantly flooded with a teasing, triumphant amusement, looking for all the world as if he had just snatched the Golden Snitch right out from under her nose.

"Just an honest compliment. You have good taste," Neji tossed back over his shoulder, walking away and leaving Tenten stranded in the empty hallway.

The autumn wind continued to howl, but it did nothing to extinguish the fire raging in Tenten’s chest. She squeezed her books, her face burning with a volatile mix of shame and fury. The absolute worst part of it all was that she could no longer lie to herself. She was forced to admit a devastating truth: the only reason she had bought that body wash yesterday at first sniff was because her subconscious was entirely too accustomed to—and inexplicably comforted by—the cedarwood aura that trailed him whenever they locked horns on the pitch. She despised him, yes, but her body remembered him perfectly.

"Damn it, I've officially lost my mind!" Tenten muttered a curse under her breath, readjusted her heavy stack of books, and bolted blindly toward the Hufflepuff common room to flee reality.

Meanwhile, in Professor Scamander’s office, the Ravenclaw prodigy sat in his chair with a rarest display of utter distraction. Not a single word from the professor registered in his ears. Neji’s mind was entirely monopolized by the image of his twin-bunned rival, her crimson-flushed face, and the warm scent of cedarwood that lingered delightfully on the fabric of his cloak. He let out a soft huff, the amused smile on his lips refusing to fade.

________

Here's my NejiTen Month 2026 Day 5 piece. The theme is "spontaneous acts"!

Title: Forever hold your peace

Rating: T

Words: 2.2k

Warnings: No happy ever after

Summary:

A new sweet shop had just opened in the Hidden Leaf Village. It was the very first place to introduce the unique soufflé pancake, brought over by a baker from a neighboring village. This fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth dessert instantly captured the attention of the young kunoichi—including, of course, Tenten, a girl who had always been completely utterly defenseless against syrupy sweets like dango.

Tenten had dropped by the shop with Sakura and Ino on its very first opening day. She had instantly fallen head over heels for the velvet, cloud-like texture and the rich, decadent cream that dissolved the moment it touched her tongue. And so, Tenten returned a second time. Then a third. She became so thoroughly obsessed with the pastry that she made it a point to buy a portion to savor immediately after their grueling training sessions.

Neji—who happened to be walking the same path home with her today—silently observed the sheer, blissful satisfaction written all over his teammate's face as she took a generously large bite. He asked softly, a hint of curiosity in his voice:

"Is it really that delicious?"

"Beyond delicious! Do you want a taste, Neji?"

Tenten turned to him enthusiastically, thrusting the golden-brown pancake topped with smooth, silky cream toward him. Neji, however, didn't spare a single glance at the pastry. His gaze had become utterly pinned to a dollop of milk-white cream accidentally smudged against the corner of her pink lips.

For a split second, the clinical logic of the Hyuga genius was completely eclipsed by raw instinct. Deep within his subconscious, he had always yearned to touch her. And so, as swift as a natural reflex in battle, before his brain could process right from wrong, his hand moved entirely on its own. His thumb, slightly calloused from years of training, gently brushed across her skin, wiping the soft cream from her lips.

Without stopping there, in a seamless, involuntary continuation of the motion, he brought his finger to his mouth and slowly licked the cream away.

The hand Tenten used to hold the pancake froze entirely mid-air. Simultaneously, Neji’s footsteps came to an abrupt, grinding halt. The sugary sweetness melting on his tongue felt like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, snapping him awake and forcing him to realize just how scandalous of an act he had committed.

Instantly, the space between them felt as though the temperature had skyrocketed by a hundred degrees. It became burning hot, suffocating, and unbearably tense. The frantic thumping of their hearts practically echoed in the silence.

Neji was the first to break the silence. His usually calm, stern face was now flushed bright red from his cheeks to the tips of his ears. He averted his gaze, his lips moving awkwardly.

"I'm sorry... I saw you had cream on your face, so..."

Tenten was equally flustered, to the point where she nearly dropped the entire pancake onto the ground. The warm, slightly tingling sensation from Neji's thumb still seemed to linger, scorching her lips. Her ears rang, and she stared tightly at the tips of her sandals, her face burning as red as a ripe tomato.

"Oh... right, it's fine... Thank you for... wiping it for me..."

The moment the words left her mouth, Tenten wanted to bite her own tongue. For wiping it? In this kind of context? A thick, heavy layer of awkwardness enveloped them, ensuring that neither dared to utter another syllable for the remainder of the walk, until they finally stopped at the familiar crossroads to head their separate ways.

"I'll head home first!" Tenten mumbled, immediately turning her back to leave.

But after taking only a few steps, driven by an uncontrollable urge, Tenten subtly looked over her shoulder. Catching sight of his tall, straight figure clad in his pristine white robes, the embarrassment from earlier still made her heart flutter, but what truly filled her chest now was an indescribable, bubbling joy. Unable to suppress the bright smile spreading across her lips, she stole one more glance at his long, dark hair before turning back around, happily skipping all the way home.

Second entry for NejiTen Month 2026 - Day 4: Warring Clans Era

Title: Nightfall

Rating: T

Warnings: See disclaimer below*

Words: 1.7k

Summary:

Neji couldn't deny that sleeping next to Tenten sparked heat in his core that he didn't fully understand. He wasn't sure the midst of a warzone was the place to unpack those feelings.

Tenten felt like she was the luckiest person in the entire world today. It was to the point where she wondered if the heavens were gathering every ounce of good fortune just to make up for all her previous unlucky days.

In truth, Tenten’s morning had begun with an absolute nightmare. Today was the first day of her monthly cycle, and dull, aching cramps had begun to torture her since the previous night. Tenten lay tossing and turning on her bed, cold sweat drenching her body, her lower back so intensely sore it felt as though she had just lugged a massive summoning scroll through ten laps around the village. It wasn't until the faint light of dawn broke that she managed to catch a brief moment of sleep.

Thinking of Team 3’s usual grueling training session, Tenten forced herself to sit up. Looking at her exhausted reflection and pale complexion in the mirror, she had only one thought: she had to ask Guy-sensei for the day off. However, her thoroughly drained body wouldn't allow her mind to think clearly enough to concoct a proper excuse. Intending to lean back onto the bed just for a second to ease her aching back, Tenten instantly plunged back into a deep sleep before she even realized it.

She was startled awake by the persistent ringing of her doorbell. When her groggy eyes drifted over to the clock, Tenten’s heart nearly stopped: it was already 9:00 AM! I’m doomed, I’m two hours late! Tenten frantically smoothed down her messy hair, hurriedly adjusted the hem of her shirt, and rushed to open the door.

Yet, the person standing on the other side was not the Guy-Lee duo, ablaze with their usual fiery spirit of youth.

It was Neji.

He stood there beneath the morning sun, his face wearing its usual calm and quiet expression, but his hand carried a rather large bag.

"Oh, Neji? Why are you here? Is there no training today? I... I’m so sorry, I overslept..." Tenten blurted out in a single, breathless rush, her face flushing crimson with embarrassment.

Waiting for Tenten to pause and take a deep breath, Neji lightly cleared his throat and calmly cut her off.

"Training is canceled today. Guy-sensei suddenly wanted to alter the schedule, so he took Lee for a ten-lap endurance run around the outskirts." He swept a brief glance over his teammate's still-pale face, his eyes subtly darting to the side as he extended the bag toward her. "I was taking a walk and picked up some hot soup along the way. Take it and eat."

Tenten blankly took the heavy bag from him. The radiating warmth of the soup container seeped through the plastic, thawing her freezing hands.

"Oh, I'm putting you out... But how did you know I hadn't eaten yet? And what else is in this bag?"

Neji turned his face away slightly, shifting his footing backward as if eager to make a quick escape. He cleared his throat once more to mask his awkwardness.

"It’s nothing. Just some dango if you want something sweet, and some warm ginger tea. There’s also... a hot water bottle. I saw them on display along the street, so I just bought it at random. Remember to drink the tea while it's hot. I'm leaving now. See you tomorrow."

Neji’s tall, slender figure departed so quickly that Tenten’s words of thanks and goodbye were swept away by the wind the moment they left her lips. She stood dazed at the threshold for a few seconds, watching the white-clad silhouette of her teammate grow distant.

Tenten hugged the bag tightly against her chest. The fragrant aroma of the soup mingled with the sharp, comforting warmth of the ginger tea, drifting into her nose and straight into her heart. A smug smile graced her lips as she thought to herself that she truly was blessed. Out of nowhere, Guy-sensei changed the training schedule, out of nowhere Neji felt like taking a stroll down her street, and out of nowhere he happened to buy the exact things that could "save her life" today. The heavens really knew how to please a girl!

Tenten went back inside, happily enjoying her incredibly lucky day off, completely unaware that... there were never truly that many "out-of-nowhere" coincidences in this world.

She didn't know that Neji was a genius observer. His Byakugan was not meant solely for combat; rather, his gaze had long since silently settled upon her figure. He remembered the exact timeline of Tenten's monthly cycle even better than she did. He had noticed a few days prior that she had begun to wince slightly when lifting heavy objects, her footsteps had grown a bit heavy, and she would unconsciously thud her fist against her lower back after every physical conditioning hour.

She knew even less of the fact that Neji had arrived at the training ground exceptionally early that morning. Waiting but never seeing that familiar, vivacious figure appear, he knew the reason instantly. Neji had to employ every ounce of his serious demeanor to "fabricate" a reason along the lines of, "Tenten’s physical condition isn't optimal today; it would be more beneficial for you to take Lee for specialized training in the outskirts, Sensei," successfully convincing the overly enthusiastic Guy-sensei to postpone the team's practice.

And that bag, claimed to be "bought at random during a stroll," was actually the result of a proud, seventeen-year-old Hyuga teenager standing hesitantly in front of a general store for the longest time, his face and ears burning red as he asked the shopkeeper which ginger tea was the least spicy, and which hot water bottle retained heat the longest for a girl. Even the soup wasn't a matter of convenience; he had stood waiting for them to ladle it out the moment the shop opened its doors and lit its stoves, then cradled it securely within his robes as he sprinted all the way here, solely to ensure that when it reached her hands, its warmth remained entirely intact.

Neji was at lost for words. With how arrogant he was at times. That was saying alot. But today gai sensei was on one. He, Lee and Tenten always bickered. At times, he even encouraged it. It wasn't lost on Neji , that during their genin days. They gave sensei hell. The wildest part about this whole things. Neji was now a grown ass man. A decorated war hero. Feared by many. But still, he knew not to play in Gai's face. Wheelchair or not. But Academy' duty was cruel.

As the giant rain drops pummeled over his head. He wonders between he and Tenten who was having the worst time. Him in his weapon collecting or tenten and her paperwork. Knowing Lee, he'd find enjoyment in whatever was in front of him. The green beast was most certainly having the time of his life.

"you know, that probably go a lot faster if you used your eyes"

"It would but Sensei would consider it cheating. And I've had enough of him today. Somehow he always knows"

Tenten couldn't help but smirk. He was right. Sensei could smell the truth a mile away. But that never stopped her from trying.

"So what if he finds out. We're shinobi. As long as the job gets done. The means doesn't really matter. Besides you can reason it's more efficient"

She circles around him plucking whatever weapons she can find. The look on his face said he'd pass

"how were you able finish up so fast"

"I didn't"

"Tenten"

"Don't give me that Hyuuga. I'm starving. Sensei woke me up at an ungodly hour and I haven't eaten since yesterday. So just a quick bite and I'll go finish up. Do you wanna go grab something with me. It'll be like old times"

She dropped more kunai in the bucket just as he did.

"One of us might be able to sneak under the radar but someone will notice if both of us go."

She rolled her eyes

"I left a clone. They're not going too" not liking the smug look he gave her. "Fine, I'll place an order at Warriors and just go pick it up. Do you want something? They got your favorite. This feels just like old times. "'

Posted my first fic for NejiTen Month 2026 - Day 1: Intimacy. Please give it a read!

Title: Follow you into the dark

Rating: T

Warnings: Discussion of disability/blindness

Summary below:

This Hyuga curse wasn't one of Hiashi Hyuga's gifts - and that almost made it worse. His enemy wasn't the main clan's foot on his throat, but the very gift he'd mastered to exacting precision. His Byakugan.

Neji was not used to celebrating his birthday. Part of it was because he had no desire to celebrate an occasion that lacked the presence of his parents; the other part was his inherent dislike for noise and fuss. However, ever since he joined Team Guy—living alongside two eternally energetic souls and one vibrant girl—everyone’s birthday in the team had become a momentous occasion. Naturally, Neji’s was no exception.

Though he was reluctant at first and always wore a scowl, after being dragged into the routine of blowing out candles, singing, and unwrapping gifts by his three teammates, Neji gradually found that it wasn't so bad. Perhaps, celebrating a birthday was something he could come to tolerate.

Tomorrow would be Neji’s seventeenth birthday. He had already noticed Lee and Tenten huddled together, whispering for the past few days. Knowing they would definitely pull off some kind of surprise for him, Neji pretended not to care, though a flicker of curiosity and warmth stirred in his heart.

That afternoon, Guy-sensei dismissed the training session just as the sun dipped below the horizon, flashes of his trademark blinding smile accompanying a reminder to be on time the next day. After parting ways with Lee and Guy-sensei, Neji and Tenten walked home together as they usually did. Tenten chattered away about everything under the sun until they reached the crossroads, where they parted with a goodbye and headed their separate ways.

The next morning, Neji arrived at the training field ahead of schedule. He loved the tranquil air of the early dawn, especially during these rare, quiet moments before the green-suited duo arrived. He took the opportunity to meditate for a while, then went through a brief warm-up before two green blurs and a pair of booming voices broke the silence. Neji greeted Guy-sensei and Lee, politely declined Lee’s challenge for a push-up contest, and leaned against their usual tree to wait for Tenten.

Tenten was quite late—a rare occurrence, as she was hardly ever tardy. When she finally ran up, panting heavily, Neji noticed that her appearance was far more disheveled than usual. Her signature twin buns were loose, nearly falling apart from sprinting so fast, or perhaps because they hadn't been tied properly in the first place. It looked as though she had overslept; even one of her sandals was left unbuckled.

"I'm so sorry, I had... a bit of a situation..."

"Good morning, Tenten! Alright, catch your breath and we shall begin our training!" Guy-sensei replied with his usual sparkling grin. Beside him, Lee was equally enthusiastic:

"That's right! I am ready to do one hundred handstand laps around the village, Sensei!"

Neji stepped away from the tree, walking over to lift the massive summoning scroll off Tenten's back.

"Good morning, Tenten."

"G-Good morning, Neji..." Tenten managed between breaths, massaging her wrists.

Neji watched his teammate intently as she regulated her breathing and began to warm up. Once she was ready, he handed the scroll back to her, and the two plunged into the rigorous daily grind of Team 3, continuing until the orange-gold glow of twilight enveloped the grounds.

Predictably, Lee immediately suggested the team go out for barbecue. Catching the eager expressions of his three teammates, Neji nodded in agreement. A second later, Guy-sensei and Lee were already racing each other toward the restaurant, leaving Neji and Tenten to walk side-by-side as usual.

There was one thing, however, that had weighed on Neji’s mind all day: Tenten had been remarkably quiet.

Aside from her initial "Good morning," the only words she had uttered to him were "yeah," "uh-huh," and "Let's spar, Neji." These were the barest essentials of conversation—two fillers anyone could say to anyone, and one phrase just to initiate a match. Consequently, Neji hadn't been able to focus on training at all, his mind spinning various scenarios to explain her unusual behavior. Could it be related to why she was late this morning? Or was it part of the secret birthday plan she and Lee had been plotting? Or worse... had he done something to make her mad?

Of the three possibilities, the third worried Neji the most. Tenten was terrifying when she was angry; her ultimate move was to treat the offender like thin air until they apologized or until she cooled down. And Neji simply could not bear the thought of a world missing Tenten’s bright, lively voice.

Thus, when they were only a few steps away from the barbecue restaurant, Neji resolved to clear the air.

"Tenten, did I do something wrong?"

Tenten—who had been staring straight ahead at the newly lit sign of the restaurant—froze. She snapped her head toward him, her eyes wide with bewilderment.

"No. Why do you ask?"

Neji studied her face closely. There was nothing but pure confusion. Only then did he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"It’s nothing. Just... you’ve been quieter than usual today."

Tenten’s confusion quickly melted into a soft chuckle. Hearing that familiar, chiming sound, Neji allowed himself to linger on her smile just a moment longer.

"Oh, I just had some things on my mind, that’s all."

Neji nodded in response. Whatever the reason for her unusual silence, as long as she wasn't mad at him, a massive weight had been lifted from his chest.

"We're here. Let's go in," Tenten said, quickening her pace to head straight into the yakiniku parlor.

Neji watched her figure disappear past the door. Exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, a faint smile graced his lips as he followed her inside.

Neji’s birthday dinner passed in a blur of clinking glasses, sizzling meat, and the flushed faces of a thoroughly tipsy Guy-sensei, Lee, and Tenten (Neji had paced himself, so he remained relatively sober). The night concluded with a raucous round of birthday singing, blowing out candles, and a gift exchange courtesy of the green-clad duo. At an age where youth, strength, and energy were at their absolute peak, the gifts from the bowl-cut master and disciple naturally screamed "youthfulness."

Neji’s face darkened as he accepted a green jumpsuit from Guy-sensei, complete with the Hyuga clan crest subtly embroidered on the back, and a pair of 50kg ankle weights from Lee. He offered a reluctant thank-you, mentally noting to bury the jumpsuit in the deepest recess of his wardrobe as a souvenir of the night. Turning his gaze to Tenten, who was now so drowsy her eyes were barely open, resting her head against the wall to sleep after clapping for the guys' presentation, Neji had to admit he had been hoping for a gift from her. After all, her gifts were always normal, meaningful items—treasures simply because they came from her.

But looking at her current state, Neji figured whatever personal matter she was dealing with must have driven his birthday completely from her mind. Suppressing the slight pang of disappointment in his chest, he helped Tenten up. After bidding goodbye to Guy-sensei and Lee—who were currently walking arm-in-arm, singing at the top of their lungs down the street—Neji hoisted Tenten onto his back. He strapped the ankle weights Lee had given him onto his own legs, having nowhere else to put them. As they walked, Neji silently thanked Lee for this "precious" gift, which would provide him with enough strength training to last the next three days.

When they arrived at Tenten's house, just as he was about to wake her, she stirred. Neji helped his teammate stand upright. He leaned down to unstrap the ankle weights, intending to head home, when Tenten spoke up.

"Neji, could you come inside for a minute? There's something I want to show you."

Neji looked at his teammate's cheeks, flushed pink from the alcohol, and then at the slightly ajar front door. A loud gong seemed to echo in his head. W-What? What did she want to show him? What kind of item required going inside, being completely alone, and waiting until near midnight to look at? Was it... what he thought it was?

While Neji desperately tried to banish the scandalous thoughts rushing into his head, Tenten bent down to pick up his ankle weights, waiting for his answer.

"If you want me to... then alright."

As the lock clicked into place, Neji looked around the small, cozy house bathed in the warm yellow glow of Tenten’s lamps. It wasn't his first time here, but he usually visited during the day. Being in the home of a girl who lived alone at this hour of the night left Neji entirely at a loss for how to behave properly.

"Have a seat and wait for a second," Tenten said, heading into the kitchen.

Neji sat on the couch, shifting anxiously. A moment later, Tenten emerged carrying a plate. On it sat a small, slightly lopsided cake. The frosting had been smoothed on clumsily, its surface decorated with cute little strawberries, and written across the top were the words: “Happy Birthday, Neji.”

Tenten sang the birthday song as she carried the plate over. Setting it down on the table, she looked up at Neji, whose expression of shock was slowly giving way to pure joy. She beamed at him.

"I got up early this morning to make it. But I kept messing it up. In the end, this was the best I could do. By the time I looked up, I realized I was late for training. And all day today, I was just worried about whether the cake would still taste good after sitting out for so long, so I didn't get a chance to wish you a proper happy birthday."

"Happy birthday, Neji."

Neji stared at the girl before him, taking in her radiant smile and her bright, chiming voice. She had poured so much time and effort into preparing a birthday gift for him, yet he had completely misunderstood, thinking she was upset with him. A wave of emotions surged within his chest—gratitude, happiness, profound appreciation—and another feeling that had always lingered there, one he hadn't been able to name until now. Now, he knew exactly what it was: love.

Looking at the girl in front of him with absolute devotion, Neji didn't think twice. He reached out with his large, calloused hands and gently took hold of hers—the ones adorned with a few small scratches from baking. He held them close, and tenderly pressed a kiss against her slender fingers.

"Thank you, Tenten."

__________

After the Fourth Shinobi World War, peace was restored, and the once-young children of the Konoha 11 had now grown into powerful, mature Jounin. Alongside the old houses being remodeled and new ones being built, new couples also came together—among whom were Neji and Tenten.

Returning from the battlefield with a fatal wound, Neji had once fallen into a coma so deep that everyone thought he would never wake up again. Only Tenten stayed by his side day and night to care for him, telling him stories, changing the flower vase on his bedside table, opening the window to let the sunshine in, and silently holding his hand.

On the day Neji finally woke up, greeted by Tenten’s radiant yet slightly exhausted face, he knew that in this lifetime, he could only ever love one person. And that was her.

After fully recovering, Neji put on his uniform and took on Jounin missions to get back into the rhythm of daily life. Walking right by his side, as always, was Tenten.

Unless it was a mission where the Hokage specifically assigned other teammates, Neji and Tenten would always take on missions together. Sometimes Lee would join them, but most of the time, it was just the two of them.

The coordination between the pair remained flawlessly smooth. Thanks to regular training and a growing, intuitive understanding of each other, any mission Neji and Tenten accepted was quickly and neatly resolved. When they returned to the village ahead of schedule, their reward would always be a few days off that they could spend on dates together.

These dates were just ordinary activities during a peaceful, gentle passage of time. They would visit their favorite teahouse together, where Tenten would happily chatter about all sorts of things while eating dango, while Neji sipped his tea and listened to her intently. Occasionally, Tenten would drag him into a newly opened shop on the street. It could be a clothing store, a grocery shop, or sometimes an eatery with unfamiliar dishes; Neji would slowly follow behind her, smiling gently, taking in the sight of his eager girlfriend walking ahead.

Basically, no one ever saw them apart.

And as the sunset cast its glow, they would sit together on a stone bench, Tenten resting her head on his shoulder, falling silent after a whole day of endless chattering. They would quietly watch the sunset until the darkness replaced the light. Then, Neji would walk her home, carrying a bag of food he picked up along the way. They would share one more meal of the day together, and the soft murmur of their conversation would echo on, until the lights in Tenten’s bedroom finally turned off.

_________

hi everyone, this is my first time participating in NejiTen Month. day 1 is a bit short, but I’ll try to write longer chapters from now on hehe.

At twelve years old, Neji was interested in nothing but training to become incredibly strong—strong enough to completely crush the loathsome Main House.

At twelve years old, Tenten spent her days nurturing her dream of becoming a great ninja, just like her idol, Tsunade sama.

As a young girl with no secret clan techniques, no bloodline limit, and no brilliant intellect to be hailed as a genius, Tenten had nothing but a dream and her own relentless efforts.

Back then, even though she hadn't managed to summon weapons yet, perhaps because of some invisible connection she shared with all kinds of armaments, Tenten was already exceptional at using kunai and shuriken before anyone even taught her.

Thanks to that, Tenten's test scores in every subject requiring projectile weapons always topped the class. Every time she saw her name at rank one on the score bulletin board in the hallway, Tenten wouldn't hesitate to allow herself to feel a little proud and conceited. However, Tenten's name only ever held first place in those few specific subjects. For everything else, the number one spot belonged immutably to a single name.

Hyuga Neji.

Tenten knew him. In the impression of the 12-year-old girl, Neji was the classmate from the prestigious clan who was also one of the strongest in the village. But Neji was even more special than that. He was a genius.

Neji wasn't like the others. He only needed to look at something once to do it, and do it well. While everyone else stumbled through their first and second attempts with a new lesson, Neji always delivered a flawless performance on his very first try. Naturally, he was immensely popular at the Academy. The girls would always fawn over him whenever he appeared, while the boys would pout in jealousy. As for Tenten? Tenten just found it strange because she had never seen that Hyuga boy talk to anyone.

Until one day.

That day, Tenten was paired up to spar with Neji. Leaving behind the sighs of regret and envy from the girls around her over her "good luck," Tenten straightened her back and stepped in front of Neji, looking at him with eyes full of determination.

"Don't hold back, Hyuga."

In stark contrast to Tenten's burning fire, Neji remained as silent as usual. This annoyed Tenten a little. What's his problem? Is he even too stingy to spare a single word?

And so, Tenten went all out. The moment the teacher signaled the start, Tenten leaped backward to create distance and hurled shuriken straight toward where the Byakugan boy was standing. Neji deftly evaded them all. Just as he looked up, preparing to activate his Byakugan to end the match quickly, Tenten had already lunged right in front of him—face-to-face, with two kunai in her hands. Caught off guard, Neji didn't have time to activate his Byakugan and nearly lost his footing under Tenten's sudden and relentless onslaught.

Tenten aimed her kunai at Neji's vital points, but he managed to block them all with his bare hands. Sensing that things were turning unfavorable, Tenten pulled a smoke bomb from her pouch and threw it between them. Her plan was to use the thick smoke as cover to retreat and draw another weapon. But the moment the smoke cleared, just as Tenten pulled out a pair of nunchucks, Neji was already standing behind her. He didn't waste a single second to strike her chakra points. She collapsed instantly. The match was over. Neji won.

The teacher quickly rushed over, lecturing Neji about going easy on his opponent while simultaneously praising Tenten for her clever use of weapons. He then released her chakra blocks and helped her stand up.

Tenten thanked the teacher, then went around to retrieve her kunai and shuriken. She knew her speed was still too slow, which was why Neji had caught up to her at the last second. Tenten felt a bit frustrated, because she could very well have won that.

Suddenly, a hand reached out, holding a kunai out to her. Tenten looked up. It was Neji. He hadn't left yet. And by now, they were the only two left on the training field.

"Here's yours."

Tenten took it, looking at his calm, quiet face under the glow of the sunset.

"Thanks."

She turned away, intending to pick up the rest of her gear and head home quickly, when suddenly, Neji spoke up.

"You're pretty good. You're Tenten, right?"

Tenten was a bit surprised. She looked at him once more. And this time, she noticed that the usual coldness in Neji's eyes was gone. He was looking at her intently—it was hard for Tenten to put into words what that look meant. Interest, perhaps?

"Yeah, Neji."

“Let me do it.”

Tenten’s words gave Neji pause. He looked up to find her standing at her—their, he supposed—bathroom door, steam spilling out from behind her. His hand, which had been trying to reach his back a moment prior, lowered momentarily, and he said, “I can reach, usually. It just… takes a second.”

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Calendar is here! :) Thank you to everyone who answered the interest check. Please share widely, and feel free to post to other platforms as well. @narutoverse-event-reblogs

See below the cut for a text reader friendly version!