Neji slipped out of bed, feeling aches and pains from head to toe.

'Great,' he thought, 'Lee's going to toss me like a doll.'

He almost laid back down until he remembered that Tenten would be at the training grounds. Of course, she always did go to practice, but he truly wanted to see her that morning.

His curiosity was rising through the roof about her, and as much as he tried to sleep with a clear mind, she was the only thing on his mind all night. Maybe it was because of those pictures in the hall and room.

Or maybe it was because of how peaceful Tenten was yesterday.

'Or maybe,' he thought, 'I'm over-thinking it.'

Neji slipped back into bed with thoughts of going back to sleep, but a knock at his door forced him out of bed once more. He groaned and opened the door without thinking, and standing there were his teammates, alive and hyper as always.

"Yo!" Lee said "We were told to come and make sure you got off of bed! The day is here; it's time to train!"

Tenten was standing next to Lee, and that peaceful smile he saw yesterday was replaced by the usual energetic smile. She was blushing and giggling her head off.

Neji looked at Tenten and asked, "Tenten, what's so funny?"

She pointed at his bare chest and boxers. "It seems like you haven't got dressed yet, Neji..."

Neji almost turned a shade of red. He shook his head and said, "Well I just got of bed, and I didn't know he wanted us to start this early. So if you both will give me a moment-"

He didn't get a chance to continue, for Lee had shoved his way in the room. Tenten quickly grabbed the cuff of Lee's jumpsuit, pulling him back into the hallway. "Lee, let the man get dressed ON HIS OWN," She said, trying not to laugh.

Neji was slightly steamed and slammed the door in their faces. He could hear Tenten laughing her head out on the other side. Lee said "Tenten? What's so funny?" "I don't know Lee! You don't see Neji in boxers every day thought!!"

And with that, she continued to laugh. Neji sighed but smiled.

'That wasn't a bad wake up call,' he thought.

~

"Kyaaa!" Tenten shouted, as she lunged at Neji with a staff. He dodged her swings several times, only to deflect a kick made by Lee. The three usually went at it pretty hard, but something was intimidating all of them today to really give it their all.

After a few hours of brawling, they decide to stop for a moment, even Lee. Neji then went to his usual spot to meditate and Lee and Tenten just fell back from where they were. Less in fifteen minutes though, they all were right back at it, and stayed at it for hours.

Eventually, feeling tired and a bit irritable, Neji held both his hands up and said very firmly, "Let's stop for the day."

Tenten had heard that voice before, and stopped short. Lee, though usually unable to tell if someone was annoyed, knew that tone as well, and stopped.

Neji then nodded and said, "We'll continue tomorrow. Guy sensei said so himself, that everyday we're getting better. And though half the time I don't believe it, I've also noticed it myself. We're in no rush"

Tenten and Lee nodded before proceeding to pick up weapons and fallen dummies. Neji had almost forgotten to talk to Tenten about those pictures in the hall, so he walked to her and caught her wrist before she left.

She blushed hard at this gesture and snatched her hand back quickly. Neji said, "Sorry about that. I was just trying to catch you before you left."

"What for?" Tenten asked.

Neji hesitated, before saying, "I wanted to ask you about those pictures in the hall at your house."

Tenten looked at Neji and said "You mean my family pictures? Sure." She proceeded to sit down near Neji's meditation spot. Neji sat down and glanced at Tenten with expectancy.

She said, "Those pictures are pictures of my mom and dad before they passed away. I keep them so I don't forget their faces." Neji stared at Tenten for a moment. She nodded awkwardly and continued, "I lost my mom when I was a few months old. Then, when I was around the age of two I guess, dad passed on trying to help handle the situation when the nine tails was released. So yeah."

Tenten then shrugged and smiled a bit.

Neji was slightly dumbfounded. It wasn't too much of horrible news, considering he knew what it felt like to have no parents.

But he never thought that something like that could happen to Tenten.

Sadly, it happened, and Tenten ended up in a home with no one but her, her paintings, and her thoughts.

"How did your mom die?" he asked carefully.

Tenten sighed and said, "She died of a spreading illness. I might've got taken also, because I was infected as well. But apparently, I survived it." Neji looked at Tenten, unable to hide the pity or sadness he started to feel for her.

But Tenten was so out of it, she didn't even notice.

Tenten then stood up with a yawn and a stretch, saying, "Well I'm gonna go on home now. I'll see you later."

And with that, she walked off. This time, he let her go.

~

Tenten kept a steady pace, and wondered what his true motives were for asking those questions. But she didn't let it linger.

But what she did do was stop to look at the flying insects going past her into the forest. She followed, having a feeling she knew who it was. When she got to the location, her feeling was correct.

It was Shino Aburame, a member of Team Kurenai. He was standing still, which was usual for him, but Tenten could see his eyebrows creased low, which wasn't a really good sign.

He turned around and greeted her as flatly as possible, "Tenten. Hey."

She laughed and said, "Hey Shino, what are you up to?"

He turned back around and said, "Guarding. Someone has made it into the village and poisoned some of the already sick and injured." Tenten looked at Shino in disbelief, and not a second later, she asked, "What? Why, h-how?"

"Sakura has already studied the poison, and it has most likely come from the very sand rebels you and your team fought yesterday. I believe one got away and brought back reinforcements," he replied.

Tenten shook her head and exclaimed, "Dammit! This is our fault; I thought we took out every member of that rebel group!"

Shino said, "Calm down, Tenten. The Kazekage and his siblings are on their way to try and help handle the situation. Last I heard," Shino's eyebrows raised a bit, "Temari wanted to talk to you as well, since she would be in town."

She looked at Shino, slightly disbelieving his words. She hadn't seen Temari since they saved Gaara. But Tenten was more than sure whatever Temarii had planned, it wasn't positive.

Shino looked at the sky and asked, "Can you do me a favor?"

~

Neji was walking back to his home with plans of relaxing when he heard his name faintly called. He turned around to see Shino walking up to him.

"What is it?" he asked. Shino said, "Your teammate is guarding the wall towards the back. You might want to help her." He then walked off without giving any extra detail. Neji wondered why Tenten wanted to guard considering all that training she just did. He just shook his head and started walking towards where Tenten was posted.

As he got closer and closer, he heard strange noises, and then, a scream that could've been heard for miles. If the scream hadn't gotten shut off seconds later.

Neji wasted no time in sprinting towards the scream.

He had heard that scream several times before, and it sent thoughts of terror through his mind.

He knew that Tenten was in trouble. Big trouble.

~

'Dammit,' Tenten thought, 'I can't die here! Crap, crap, crap!'

Sand was crawling up her body, planning to seal and suffocate her. A few rebels had caught her outnumbered, and she was in deep trouble.

She looked down in horror as the sand was moving faster, rendering her lower half unable to move about. Tenten shoved all ego and pride in her back pocket and started screaming out for help; begging and pleading for someone to save her.

As the seconds passed by, any hope of rescue faded.

Before she was covered completely, Tenten cursed, closed her eyes tight, and took a deep breath. The sand had covered her all the way up, and started to close itself in. To her horror, the sand was slowly starting to compact itself.

She knew that she had little time before she became nothing but blood, bones, and scrolls.

Just as she thought she couldn't take any more pressure, she heard men yelling and weapons being clashed, and not long after, the sand had suddenly stopped moving and dropped.

On the inside, Tenten was jumping around, grateful that she wasn't dead.

On the outside though, she fell to her knees, and was coughing and gasping for air.

Neji kneeled beside her and patted her back lightly. "Tenten, are you okay?" He asked. Tenten nodded and proceeded to get up. When she stumbled, Neji quickly placed his hands on her waist to help keep her up, and Tenten almost lost her breath again.

"Neji I'm fine. Can you please remove your hands from my waist?"

He blushed slightly and let go quickly, saying, "Sorry. I thought you were going to faint." She nodded again and quickly patted herself down. Neji noticed the slight blush coming across her cheek. But the blush disappeared when she got up, kunai in hand, and prepared to strike whatever was about to come out the woods.

"It's only me," said Shino. He walked towards the two and asked, "What happened here?" Tenten said, "A few of the rebels ambushed me. I got trapped, and Neji saved me at the last moment."

Shino looked up at the sky for a moment before saying, "Go tell Tsunade. She needs to know how quickly the sand rebels are moving. Hurry."

And with that, the two sprinted off to go inform the Hokage.

~

By the time they got to Tsunade's office, the Sand siblings were already talking with Tsunade.

Tenten didn't care. The rebels were moving faster than the few that knew anticipated.

She burst into the office and said, "Lady Tsunade, I need to speak with you! It's urgent!" Tsunade gave Tenten a scornful look and said, "Tenten, I am in the middle of a very important meeting. What is it?"

Tenten noticed Temari's silent chuckle and ignored it.

"My Lady," Tenten quickly said, "the rebels are moving faster than we thought. I was just attacked by almost a dozen."

Kankuro looked at Tenten and said, "Impossible. They couldn't have gotten here that fast."

Neji defended Tenten "Tenten was just on the verge of death. Had I not been there to help, you would've had quite a few sand rebels running around here. Not to mention, a dead kunoichi."

Tsunade held up her hand and stopped him from continuing.

"We will continue this meeting later," she said. "For now, Tenten and Neji. I need you both to rally up the young shinobi and kunoichi and meet at the gate. I'm putting you both in charge of finding a way to keep as many rebels out as you can. As of now, this is an emergency. I'm saying this now, because I believe this is a bigger threat than I thought. Prepare yourselves."

And with that, Tsunade stood up and quickly walked out the door.

Temari grinned and walked out behind her, quickly slipping Tenten a note.

Kankuro also passed by and said, "I hope you two know what you're doing."

Gaara was the last one to pass by them. He said nothing, and just gave a curious glance.

Neji looked at Tenten and said "Come on. We have a village to protect."

~

NOTE(11/22/15): Photo has been put up. Enjoy the chapter!

~ Nimo #IFanonNotCanon