×Neji's POV×

She'll end up...being afraid of me. My thoughts clouded my mind. I wasn't able to just lose a friend because of my sudden actions.

As I entered the Hyūga residence I couldn't help but notice no one on the training grounds. Katō was the only person there and he was meditating.

--"Katō, where's lady Hinata?"-- I asked as I scanned the area.

He looked back at me and shrugged his shoulders. --"Lord Hiashi is with her, he said you won't be sparring with her today nor tomorrow. That's all I know."--

I raised an eyebrow in utter confusion. --"Tch... lecturing me about having to train my younger cousin yet she's not even here. What a waste of time."--

--"Hn...I'll be off then."-- I figured I could at least visit Tenten during my free time, I wanted to apologise for my actions.

--"Where are you going, Neji?"-- Katō asked curiously.

--"To Tenten's apartment."-- I plainly replied.

--"Remember, be here before dinner. Your uncle does not like to be kept waiting."-- Katō reminded me.

I rolled my eyes and muttered to myself. --"He doesn't like anything other than his title in this household."--

I ran off to Tenten's building, I took in a deep breath before stepping foot inside the area. --"Hope she's fast at forgiving and forgetting."--

As I went up the stairs I bumped into Naruto. Just great, the loudmouth.

--"Hey Neji! It's nice seeing ya!"-- he said cheerfully while fist bumping...with me. I've fallen so low regarding my manners...ohh well.

--"Good day, Naruto."-- I replied and looked up to the stairway. --"Have you seen Tenten by any chance?"-- I asked oblivious.

--"Ehh, nopeeee! Not today at least."-- he said, sweatdropping, scratching the back of his neck.

I simply gave him an emotionless expression. --"You both live in the same area yet you have no clue of her whereabouts?"--

He then shrugged carelessly and laughed. --"She must be home, as always. Anyways, got to go! Before they close Ichiraku!"-- he said as he ran down the stairs. I sighed and walked up to the next floor, where Tenten lived.

As I walked into the corner where her apartment was located, I found her trembling, looking at her apartment door while almost dropping the set of keys she had in her hand.

--"Tenten?"-- I called out to her with a slight frown.

No response. Is she ok? I wonder what happened to her.

She seemed frightened by something so I didn't want her screaming because of me scaring her, so I simply covered her mouth, she started to struggle.

--"Tenten, calm down, it's just me."-- she then looked up into my eyes and stopped trembling for a moment. --"N-Neji?"-- she said surprised of me being there.

--"Whatever she's afraid of is in her apartment. I'll just take her to my place instead."-- I thought as I took her hand and pulled her close to me.

--"Come on, we've got to leave."--

{Time Passed By~...}

She hasn't spoken since she's gotten to my room. I had some trouble sneaking her in though, guards seem to be everywhere these days...

I sighed as I knelt down to her level, shaking her shoulder gently --"Tenten?..."--, --"Tenten I beg of you, say something!.."--, --"Tenten please tell me what's wrong..."-- I kept repeating those same words, over and over again. But they didn't seem to get through her head, no answer, no nothing.

Time passed by and it was getting late, not to mention tommorow was Tuesday and I hadn't done any of the assignments Iruka Sensei gave out. I'm sure Tenten hasn't done anything either...

I sighed and said once more my bestfriends name --"Tenten..."-- she managed to look towards me, still with a terrified expression. --"It's late...I'll escort you home, alright?"-- I said as I smiled at her, but she started to cry...

--"N-no...N-Neji p-please d-do-don't let m-me go there again...I don't w-want t-to go home! I c-can't!"-- she said through sobs after she made her way further into my bed, hugging her knees together.

I'm so confused, I don't know how to comfort people at all. It is not a skill of mine. I carefully sat next to her, delicately placing my hand around her waist as I pulled her into a hug...she was freezing...her body temperature was abnormally wrong...

Is she that scared?

--"I'm here, I won't let you go."-- I said to try to calm her down. As I predicted, she did and fell asleep in my arms. I then heard a knock on the door and a man rushed into my room.

--"U-uhh...Neji?"-- Katō said as his eyes widened. I gently laid Tenten on my bed and covered her up with my blankets. I then looked over at Katō and sighed.

--"Lower your voice, she's sleeping."-- I whispered at him. He simply nodded and gestured me to come out of the bedroom, I did as told.

Katō took in a deep breath and narrowed his eye's at me as a worrisome expression formed onto his face.

--"Are you insane!? What if I were Lord Hiashi instead!? He would've killed you and the girl!"-- he sotto voce as he walked in circles, gripping his head.

I took a hold of his shoulders and looked at him firmly --"Listen up now, I don't need your 'what if' scenerios. It didn't happen so I need you to focus on helping me get Tenten back home safely."--

Katō gulped and nodded. --"Not weird at all, I'm being controlled by an eleven year old boy."-- he said sarcastically.

--"Adults are truly something else..."-- I internally roll my eyes.

--"You should know better than to underestimate me, out of everyone in this household, Katō."-- I whispered at him in a serious tone.

--"Yes Sir."-- he replied.

--"He can't get any more idiotic, now can he?"-- I thought while internally facepalming. --"Whatever, he's willing to do anything I wish for so I'll take my chances."--

--"I need you to go to Tenten's apartment building."-- I ordered him as I handed him the keys to her home.

--"Take backup just in case. I don't need you getting killed by whatever stupidity is in there."-- I said while sighing.

He sweatdropped and glared at me. --"I am a qualified shinobi, thank you very much. I wasn't given my place as Jōnin for not nothing."-- he said.

--"Sure, whatever. Get going already."-- I told him as I saw him walk away.

To be continued~...

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Well, another chapter done, hope you enjoy! 😅👑💖