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Naruto characters x things I said

Warnings: A few swear words, mention of anxiety and ptsd, but there's no description about it, mention of death, but it's not serious nor described

Part 2 - part 3 - part4 - part5- part 6 - part 7

Masterlist and rules

Naruto: Bro, what if we are soulmates friends?

Sasuke: I'll do this assignment later, what could go wrong anyway?

Also Sasuke, two hours before the deadline, panicking: It went wrong. It went so wrong

Kakashi: Oh, thank you Karen, now that you told me to not be anxious my anxiety and ptsd are cured

Ino: My superiority complex is taking so much space lately. It makes me think that my inferiority complex will kick in and stay for as long as he can to ruin my life

Hinata: Sometimes I relax, other times I remember I have to go outside eventually and talk with people

Neji: So today I really woke up and choose pain

Itachi: I didn't think I would come this far. I thought I would die before my 18th birthday

Shikamaru: I'm 18, did you really think I would come this far and not know how to go to school without doing homework?

Tenten: So today we received a package at home and the guy asked If I was Lee. I said yes and took the pack. I FUCKING SAID YES. I didn't sleep enough for this shit

Temari, after someone called her a bitch: Well, thank you, I try my best, so it feels good to know my efforts are appreciated

Shisui: I told my father to leave my murder unsolved so I'll be on the news and everyone will be so pissed, because they just wanted to see their program and not look at another dead kid

Sakura, with wax near her: In the next hour I'm gonna rip my body hair from my face

Gaara: Since I never learned how to properly react to my feelings and most of the times I don't really show them, all my expressions are acted and overly exaggerated.

Shino, crying during a test: I'm so gonna fail this

Shino, two minutes later: turns out I know the answer if I cry enough

Masterlist and rules

Naruto characters x things I said pt.2

Warnings: a few swear words, mention of anxiety and panic attacks, but there's no description about it

Part 1 - part 3 - part4 - part5 - part 6 - part 7

Just a little note. There's a point that can be easily misunderstood. It's the sentence I gave to Sakura. I want to say that my father is a beautiful person, we just like to roast each other. I love him and he loves me with all his heart. Just wanted to clarify.

Masterlist and rules

Shikamaru: You know, I would like to have a girlfriend, but I'm too lazy to date. I mean. I should go to dates, put in efforts...

Hinata, to Sakura: You know, I have terrible taste in men, but damn, you got some real trash there

Kakashi: My anxiety today came home. It was a while and I didn't miss her

Sakura: I have a beautiful relationship with my father. I annoy him, he calls me a bitch, I thank him and the we just go on with our day

Itachi, with a straight face: I passed last year having panic attacks and cry myself to sleep, so now I just let it go

Itachi, two seconds later, in his head: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Yamato, at some point while keeping team seven: Why am I doing this? What went through my head that made me say this was a good idea? I don't even like this shit.

Iruka, while hugging a kid: Yeah, I don't like childern

Ino: Ignoring my problems is how I go on

Shisui, looking in the mirror: And I ask myself why people thinks I'm gay

Kiba, crying on his academy test: I just want to go home

Tenten, with her hair in her hands: Turns out I have amazing hairdresser skills

Kushina: Today my professor said I look like Sofia Loren. I don't know where he saw it, but that shit kept me going

Naruto: I want to go home. Please I just want to go home

Sasuke: I'm awkward, emotionally unstable and I don't like people

Gaara: It's not my fault I don't know how to display emotions. Nobody ever taught me how!

Masterlist and rules

Naruto characters x things I said pt.3

Because apparently people like to read how I try to keep myself together

Warnings: none

Part 1 - part 2 - part4 - part5 - part 6 - part 7

Masterlist and rules

Sasuke: today someone asked me who's funeral is just because I was in black clothes. So I looked at him dead in the eyes and smiled at him. He run away and I haven't saw him for the rest of the day

Sai, looking to one of his drawings: Please don't look at me with that disappointment... wait, why am I even talking to a drawing. I draw this. I decided what he needed to look like... Am I disappointed at myself?

Sai, two seconds later: And J act like I didn't know it

Ino: Apparently I am not a simp, I'm just incredibly horny

Naruto, feeling his face after a fight: It can't be that bad

Naruto, looking in the mirror: It is that bad. It is so, so bad

Kakashi:The fact that you're not the healthy friend scares me. Because I'm not the healthy friend either!

Shisui, trying to convince himself in front of the mirror: I'm so gonna fail this, but at least I look good

Hinata, with a lost gaze: I just cried for 3 hours straight, but it's fine

Hinata, few moments later, crying: it's not fine. It's not fine at all dammit

Sakura, in front of the mirror: And remember. You might failing your life but at least you'll die looking good

Also Sakura the next day: I look like I'm homeless, but I'm in my own house and no one can tell me what to do

Teacher: you'll have just nine minutes for the test. 30 seconds for every question. I made it so you won't be able to cheat

Itachi, activating his sharingan: bold of you to assume I won't be able to cheat in 30 seconds

Don't cheat on your tests kids. It wont help you

Tenten: this will probably make me cry. I better sit on my emotional chair

Neji, looking at his cat going away from his bed: The betrayal. Ok, go on, I don't need you

Also Neji when the cats returns: Hi love of my life I missed you come here, cuddle me

Gaara: I don't get all this emotion thing. You mean I can cry in front of others and not feel bad about being a burden? What kind of witchery is this?

Masterlist and rules

Neji, sipping his tea: Sometimes I wonder when he'll discover the trick. Most of the times [looks at Gai] I just enjoy

Tenten: Goodnight, Gai-sensei.

Gai: Goodnight, Tenten!

Tenten: Goodnight, evil ghost who eats jonin who are bad.

Kakashi [through a radio under Gai's bed]: Goodnight.

Naruto characters x things I said pt.5

This is why I need therapy smh

Warnings: mention of mental issues, anxiety and ptsd. None of this is described. Mention of homofobes and that's it I think

Part1 - part2 - part3- part 4 - part 6 - part 7

Masterlist and rules

Kakashi: I have a lot going on. Trust issues, abandonment issues, ptsd, anxiety, superiority complex, inferiority complex and probably a couple more. But I'm subtle about them and if I don't say anything about it no one will notice

Sasuke: my trust issues really are out there trying to ruin my life

Naruto: sometimes when I'm sad I remember two of my homophobes classmates once said they were an homosexual couple instead of saying homophobe. And it kinda makes me laugh. I still want to punch them though

Hinata: I don't need a boy to ruin my life. I am perfectly capable of ruin it myself.

Hinata, two seconds later: Ok, that's sad... do I... do I need a therapist?

Ino: I'm not saying I enjoy people arguing, but if you are yelling next to me, expect me to pick up a snack and watch you until you finish

Sai: I'm sorry I'm awkward, I don't know how to socialize

Tenten: Guess who's gonna cry herself to sleep because her mother commented on her weight. Oh that's right. Me

X: Oh, is she your daughter?

Neji: I'm his son, actually, but nice try.

Ah the time people would think I was my brother just because I had short hair

Sakura: Hi, I'm Sakura, I'm 17 and people still mistake me for a boy when I'm out with my father. I decided I don't care anymore and I'll roll with it until they are really confused by my use of pronouns

Itachi: Do I look like I'm sixteen?

Kisame: No? Why?

Itachi: A girl today said she thought I was sixteen and I'm really confused now

Shisui: I like lot of things like... Itachi, sweet things, uh... Itachi

Shino: My teacher said he expected more from me... well, guess I'm gonna cry and have a panic attack over the fact that I let down another person. Sounds good to me

Iruka: And remember kid. Another day is just another occasion to prove the world you can destroy it without efforts

Yamato, probably, at one point with team seven: So now we add stress huh? Alright. I'll cry a little about it then I'll go on like nothing ever happened until I have another breakdown

Masterlist and rules

Naruto characters x things I said pt.5

This is why I need therapy smh

Warnings: mention of mental issues, anxiety and ptsd. None of this is described. Mention of homofobes and that's it I think

Part1 - part2 - part3- part 4

Masterlist and rules

Kakashi: I have a lot going on. Trust issues, abandonment issues, ptsd, anxiety, superiority complex, inferiority complex and probably a couple more. But I'm subtle about them and if I don't say anything about it no one will notice

Sasuke: my trust issues really are out there trying to ruin my life

Naruto: sometimes when I'm sad I remember two of my homophobes classmates once said they were an homosexual couple instead of saying homophobe. And it kinda makes me laugh. I still want to punch them though

Hinata: I don't need a boy to ruin my life. I am perfectly capable of ruin it myself.

Hinata, two seconds later: Ok, that's sad... do I... do I need a therapist?

Ino: I'm not saying I enjoy people arguing, but if you are yelling next to me, expect me to pick up a snack and watch you until you finish

Sai: I'm sorry I'm awkward, I don't know how to socialize

Tenten: Guess who's gonna cry herself to sleep because her mother commented on her weight. Oh that's right. Me

X: Oh, is she your daughter?

Neji: I'm his son, actually, but nice try.

Ah the time people would think I was my brother just because I had short hair

Sakura: Hi, I'm Sakura, I'm 17 and people still mistake me for a boy when I'm out with my father. I decided I don't care anymore and I'll roll with it until they are really confused by my use of pronouns

Itachi: Do I look like I'm sixteen?

Kisame: No? Why?

Itachi: A girl today said she thought I was sixteen and I'm really confused now

Shisui: I like lot of things like... Itachi, sweet things, uh... Itachi

Shino: My teacher said he expected more from me... well, guess I'm gonna cry and have a panic attack over the fact that I let down another person. Sounds good to me

Iruka: And remember kid. Another day is just another occasion to prove the world you can destroy it without efforts

Yamato, probably, at one point with team seven: So now we add stress huh? Alright. I'll cry a little about it then I'll go on like nothing ever happened until I have another breakdown

Masterlist and rules

Naruto characters x things I said pt.6

How did I manage 6 parts of this?!

Part 1 - part 2 -part 3 - part 4 -part 5 - part 7

Warnings: mention of panic attacks

Masterlist and rules

Itachi, after he stopped crying for a breakdown: That was actually pretty stupid if you ask me.

Kakashi: You know, cosplay is fun until it's 3 in the morning and you have to take all the make up off

Tenten: Ehy, if I were to cut my hair, what haircut should I do?

Neji: Don't.

Tenten: Why?

Neji: Because I know you and you'll just think "But maybe short hair" and you'll continue to cut

Tenten: *cuts her hair without saying anything*

Shisui: My confidence with messy, wavy hair just went *proceeds to show a printed grafic*

Gaara: It's not true that my face is always the same. I can look disappointed in myself sometimes

Shikamaru: If I say it like that it sounds like I want to kill him, but I'm too lazy to do it

Hinata, chuckling nervously: It's not like I had 2 panic attacks yesterday

X: What colour are your eyes?

Kurenai: ...Yes

Kakuzu: I have to be wise with money since I'm poor

Hidan: No one will stop me from buying this, not even me

*alarm going off*

Obito: OK, I had my five minutes daily cry. What am I supposed to do?

Obito, two seconds later: And people ask why I don't have mental health

Naruto, in his office doing paperwork and on the verge of tears: How did I manage all those years of this shit?

Shino, during a test: Sounds like the right time to panic and have a breakdown. Hopefully I'll be quiet and I won't disturb the others

Sasuke: I can't wait to graduate and insult him with everything he did

Masterlist and rules

Naruto characters x things I said pt. 7

Warnings: some swear words, mention of crying, I guess some of this could be interpreted in a bad way, but I swear I am mentally stable I'm just weird

Part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 - part 5 - part 6

Masterlist and rules

This actually seems pretty therapeutic to do, so here a seventh part

Naruto, crying over his paperwork: stop. Please stop bringing this. I just want to go home. I just want this to stop

Kakashi: I should teach you this, but I don't want to, so we're just gonna chill (this was actually my teacher, not me smh)

Sakura: why do you have such large clothes? You seem skinnier than this

Hinata: *waves hands to show she has boobs*

Lee, bouncing on his seat: I'm exited. I don't know why I'm exited, but I am.

Neji, waving the cat in the air: stinky cat

Shisui: I want a crow, then I'll name it after the first person it remind me of.

Itachi, crying: I'm fine, just give me a minute

*30 seconds later*

Itachi, looking perfectly normal: Ok, what were we saying?

Shisui, horrified: that you should show more your emotions

Itachi: Nah, I'm good.

Shikamaru: If I do this I won't need to get up again. But am I willing to do that now? I still need to set the alarm, so I should probably get up and do both

Shikamaru, in his bed after he set the alarm: Fuck I forgot to do that, now I have to get up again.

(I know some of you said the same thing one way or another. We all lazy)

Gaara: bottle up my emotions was probably the wrong choice. But I'd do it again

(For my italian people... Me ne pento? Si. Lo rifarei? Probabile. Conoscete benissimo questa meme e mi viene in mente ogni volta che ripenso a ciò che ho detto)

Gai: How can you be scared of this little, sweet ducks?

Tenten: keep those demons away from me

(No, I don't like ducks)

Shino, after being forgotten again: Don't worry, I'm used to the pain by now

Deidara, to his friend: ehy, if you want we can go to your teacher's house and burn it down

Konan, entering an akatsuki base: I haven't even stepped in and I already want to go home

X: Why do you want to be perceived like wonder woman? There's no need for you to have such high standards

Sasuke: glad you asked, it's called inferiority complex

Sasori: wish I could be a puppet. They don't have emotions. They don't have to care about anything

Temari: this hairstyle is really masculine, but do I like jt? Do I hate it? Does it suit me? What was I thinking before?

Kiba, searching for Akamaru: where are you? I want cuddles you little shit

Kankuro: Ehy, do you think someone could die from drinking water?

Garaa: dunno, why you asking?

Kankuro on his 4th litre of water of the day: No reason

(Yes, if you drink too much water in a really short time you could die and the adviced amount of water is from 1,5L to 2L)

Naruto characters x things I said pt. 7

Warnings: some swear words, mention of crying, I guess some of this could be interpreted in a bad way, but I swear I am mentally stable I'm just weird

Part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 - part 5 - part 6

Masterlist and rules

This actually seems pretty therapeutic to do, so here a seventh part

Naruto, crying over his paperwork: stop. Please stop bringing this. I just want to go home. I just want this to stop

Kakashi: I should teach you this, but I don't want to, so we're just gonna chill (this was actually my teacher, not me smh)

Sakura: why do you have such large clothes? You seem skinnier than this

Hinata: *waves hands to show she has boobs*

Lee, bouncing on his seat: I'm exited. I don't know why I'm exited, but I am.

Neji, waving the cat in the air: stinky cat

Shisui: I want a crow, then I'll name it after the first person it remind me of.

Itachi, crying: I'm fine, just give me a minute

*30 seconds later*

Itachi, looking perfectly normal: Ok, what were we saying?

Shisui, horrified: that you should show more your emotions

Itachi: Nah, I'm good.

Shikamaru: If I do this I won't need to get up again. But am I willing to do that now? I still need to set the alarm, so I should probably get up and do both

Shikamaru, in his bed after he set the alarm: Fuck I forgot to do that, now I have to get up again.

(I know some of you said the same thing one way or another. We all lazy)

Gaara: bottle up my emotions was probably the wrong choice. But I'd do it again

(For my italian people... Me ne pento? Si. Lo rifarei? Probabile. Conoscete benissimo questa meme e mi viene in mente ogni volta che ripenso a ciò che ho detto)

Gai: How can you be scared of this little, sweet ducks?

Tenten: keep those demons away from me

(No, I don't like ducks)

Shino, after being forgotten again: Don't worry, I'm used to the pain by now

Deidara, to his friend: ehy, if you want we can go to your teacher's house and burn it down

Konan, entering an akatsuki base: I haven't even stepped in and I already want to go home

X: Why do you want to be perceived like wonder woman? There's no need for you to have such high standards

Sasuke: glad you asked, it's called inferiority complex

Sasori: wish I could be a puppet. They don't have emotions. They don't have to care about anything

Temari: this hairstyle is really masculine, but do I like jt? Do I hate it? Does it suit me? What was I thinking before?

Kiba, searching for Akamaru: where are you? I want cuddles you little shit

Kankuro: Ehy, do you think someone could die from drinking water?

Garaa: dunno, why you asking?

Kankuro on his 4th litre of water of the day: No reason

(Yes, if you drink too much water in a really short time you could die and the adviced amount of water is from 1,5L to 2L)

TENTEN SWEEEEEEEEEEP

ROUND THREE

UCHIHA SASUKE vs TENTEN

Reasons for submission under the cut

Sasuke

he is trying so hard to do what he is supposed to, even succeeding at it, only for everything to be a lie

he's authentic and driven and he doesn't care what other people think, if he believes something he will go ahead and do it, unafraid of paying the price

Sasuke was right about everything

he went through so much and never gave up, it's very inspiring and means a lot

Fortnite Sasuke

despite everything he can't help but love

his relationship with Itachi is one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful sibling relationships, genocide aside it's very relatable

he looks just like Mikoto.....

he's beautiful!

he has so much compassion for others and will do what he can for them, but still does not compromise his own beliefs and goals to do so

he's so personal to [submitter] and has been the sole reason of making it through hard times

love is stored in the Sasuke

true heroine or the Naruto series

all his outfits slay

the whole manga wouldn't even exist if it weren't for him

kind, compassionate, driven by love, fucking iconic

trans masc icon and legend

the revolutionnnn

he is an emo icon

a communist

a transgay legend

[submitters] family is generationally effected by genocide so Sasukes justice means the world to [submitter]. Sasukes love means EVERYTHING to [submitter]

he is full of love

very strong

excellent gay representation

owner of the worlds most special eyes

the most relatable Naruto character

a snarky lil bitch :)

he went thru so much & gets too much hate for someone who only wanted revenge for his murdered clan

cat boy

femme fatale

kept going despite all the trauma he went through

flawless observation skills

analytical, intelligent

never let anyone push him around or manipulate him

full of love and kindness

pacifist at heart (refuses to kill innocents)

sought to destroy Konoha

serves cunt in all his outfits

friend of animals

killed Orochimaru because he felt like it

Tenten

her main jutsu is just throw so many knives at you and I respect that

her weapons mastery/sealing jutsu had so much potential and it never got the treatment it deserved

team Gai supremacy

in a text convo between neji & tenten ˚ ༘♡

tenten: hi i have a question

neji: yes i’d still love you if you were a worm.

neji: yes i’d cry if you died.

neji: yes i still love you.

neji: no i don’t want to break up.

tenten: thank you :) <3

limerence - iterum

is this a good time to shamelessly promote my nejiten fic 😣😋

I was tagged by @tentenismybitch !!

Please share your last sentence; or, if you don't have one, share a plot bunny or idea!

this is (part of) a scene from my fic “limerence - iterum” that comes a bit later in the story but i was too excited to write it so i did :p obvi tentative (and a bit rushed oops) since im not at that part yet, so it might change as i go on, but enjoy :)

“You said it yourself, Neji.” Her voice was gentle, resigned. It held none of that anger he’d expected—hoped for. She released a short, humourless laugh, her voice lowering into a gentle whisper, as if pointing out an unmistakable truth, “We can’t be friends.” “Tenten.” His voice was pained. Desperate. Imploring. Her face softened, if infinitesimally, and those beautiful brown eyes gazed into his with so much ill-concealed longing he was ready to get on his knees and beg. Beg for her forgiveness. Plead with her to give them another chance. To forget he ever said those senseless words. He was ready to get on his knees and repent ceaselessly like he were a wicked sinner and she his altar. Her brows pulled into a soft frown, and she faintly shook her head. “I'm too much for you,” she said in a broken whisper, almost desperately. He didn't know who she was trying to convince of this—himself or her. “I don't” —she looked away, swallowed— “I don't regret you, Neji. And I can only hope you think back fondly on what we had, because—” Her voice wavered, broke, and she took a shuddering breath to compose herself, her eyes going skyward to stop the tears collecting on her waterline from flowing.

well. now you know why i included we can't be friends & don't wanna break up again by ariana grande in the fic playlist HEHE hope you likedddddd (link for the fic is pinned on my blog love you)

i have no one to tag (PLS BE MY MOOT I BEG) so if you see this & wanna do it, pls go ahead!!! pretend i tagged you HAHAHA

one of my favourite neji headcanons is that one of his primary love languages is gift giving because hes a #richBoy and he has so much money, which he enjoys spending on those he loves. like, imagine one of his friends (probably lee or tenten, mostly) (OR hinata and hanabi) mentioning needing/wanting something VERY BRIEFLY/in passing & then later opening their door to find a package on their steps with the best model/highest quality piece of said thing.

and they'd immediately know who the culprit was.

and then the exchange would go something like this:

“???”

“?”

“neji, this is insane!! why would you buy this for me ??? how much did this cost you ??? how did you even KNOW I WANTED THIS —????”

“you said you wanted it, right..? 🙁”

“HOW MUCH WAS THIS!!!!”

“it was not very expensive. please do not worry about paying me back or anything of the sort.”

“how. much.”

“...$$$$”

“WHAT TEH FUCK”

DO YOU SEE THE VISION ‼️‼️‼️‼️

tenten i will avenge you..

oh tenten you’ll never be the evil emotionless girl the naruto fandom what u to be

tenten aka #1 victim of the sassy man apocalypse. :P

insp by @lubdubu's blog post saying the exact same thing LMFAO - redraw of #THE nejiten panel/screencap/wtv

neji: im screwed.

tenten: likely thing for you to be.

neji: ...

tenten: (⁠ʃ⁠ƪ⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠）

10101010101010

never both/pragmatic - nejiten week '24

day 1 - saudade (portuguese) The feeling of longing, melancholy, or nostalgia. A yearning for happiness that has passed, or perhaps never even existed.

Tenten was surprised when she got the dinner invitation in the mail. She supposed she shouldn’t have been, though. It was just about time for the Team Gai monthly dinners—the weekend of the 15th of every month. Every month, on the fifteenth (or the weekend that corresponded or was closest to it—for practicality purposes), Gai-han would meet up at a local diner and have a meal together. They’d catch up and discuss how their weeks were, complaining about mundanities such as an annoying grocery store run or the pipes being frozen again due to the harsh Konoha winters. They might even share the details of their last mission—with Neji being a newly appointed Jōnin, it delighted Gai to listen to his student, whom he’d nurtured from a cynical little twelve year old, constantly angry at the world and stuck in his ways, to a mature, level-headed young adult who had finally begun to have faith in life. Who had finally allowed himself to dream and hope and love and laugh and everything in between.

It delighted Gai even more so when he’d notice, through the little passing details in Neji’s stories, that the Hyūga had subconsciously adopted some of Gai’s ways when leading a team of his own. It got him thinking how it would be for Neji if he were to ever lead a squad of Genins, someday. How his own experiences as a Genin and how Gai’s tutelage might subconsciously pass on to that new squad. Out of the three of them—Lee, Neji and Tenten—Neji was the least likely to verbally express affection. He wasn’t particularly good with flowery words, and he often struggled to articulate such feelings, courtesy of his upbringing, so it was much easier for him to show affection through his actions. He was always willing to go out of his way to help, even in small, almost unnoticeable ways such as filling up an extra water bottle just in case someone forgot to fill up theirs (usually Gai, ironically enough). Buying candy for Tenten if he noticed (which he always did) that her mood was down. Making time to spar with Lee despite their packed schedules, if only to indulge in that nostalgia and spend time with his friend, in their own special way.

He was dependable. Kind.

Contrary to what some might think, Hyūga Neji was so very kind. He was undeniably good, and it showed in his actions. It bled through to his morals and how he conducted himself.

So for Gai to have his legacy passed on so tangibly, subconsciously no less, and to be able to see that with his own eyes… It was a feeling of accomplishment unlike any other. No amount of successful S-Rank missions or victories could trump the feeling of knowing you made a difference in someone’s life. Of knowing your influence on someone changed the course of their life for the better, even if only by a little bit.

This would be the first Team Gai dinner since Neji had died in the Fourth Great Ninja War.

This would be the first Team Gai dinner as a squad of three, not four.

Tenten looked at the invitation again. It was from Gai-sensei, inviting her to the local yakiniku place they’d been to so often in the past. Sometimes they’d go after missions, and Gai would treat them to reward their success, or even to uplift them after a failure; to remind them that there’s always a next time. Sometimes they’d go for celebrations—birthdays and rank promotions and such. And sometimes it was simply an excuse to see each other again, amidst all the responsibilities of being older, more dependable shinobi. Sometimes it was just an excuse to enjoy each other’s company and be together, if only for a night, like they’d grown so accustomed to in their earlier years.

It had been so long since Tenten had met up with Gai-sensei and Lee, outside of formal business of some sort. It was just too painful.

Over the past year or so after the war, Tenten and Lee alternated taking care of Gai. After the many months he spent bedridden in the hospital, during which they would alternate visiting him almost everyday, it was a given that one would see Gai strolling around the village in his wheelchair, accompanied by one of his former subordinates. It was like an unspoken agreement had been signed between Lee and Tenten: always one of them, and never both. It was easier that way.

When one of them was alone with Gai, it was easier to pretend that the two absent teammates were off doing their own thing. It was easier for Tenten to pretend, if only for a little bit, that Lee and Neji were off training at their usual spot, and it was easier for Lee to pretend that Tenten and Neji were taking a stroll around the village, or even hanging out at a tea shop, like they’d taken to doing at some point down the line. It was easier to ignore that gaping hole Neji’s death had left behind. That missing limb that overwhelmingly hindered the movement of the body as a whole. It was easier to ignore than to try and adjust to it—to the missteps and phantom pains and jerky movements.

Too soon after the war, shinobi were forced to take on new roles and responsibilities befitting the new needs of the village and the Allied Shinobi Forces as a whole, which put their grief on the back burner, and at some point, they eventually got too caught up with their own lives (which was, as much as Tenten hated admitting it, somewhat of a coping mechanism to deal with the loss of someone so significant) that they stopped seeing each other and meeting up. In the process of ‘dealing with’ (i.e. forgetting) and moving on from the loss of Neji, they ended up moving on from their bond as a team and all the memories they’d shared. It was easier to cut each other clean off and fully move on from team Gai as a whole than it was to try and pick the pieces back up and reconstruct it, this time wholly aware of the missing member.

That’s why, over the past year or so, Team Gai had let the distance get between them. They surrendered to it. Let it cause a chasm between them and then some. It was better for them to drift apart with love and goodness and grace and well-wishes in their hearts than to let the grief overwhelm them and drive a vicious wedge between them, like it had during those days immediately after the war. The way Tenten saw it—and she felt that Lee no doubt thought the same—it was better for Team Gai to dissolve naturally and amicably.

And for a while, that worked. Terrifyingly well.

The world had already begun to move on from the War, and the village was mostly rebuilt. People—shinobi and civilians alike— were rebuilding their lives and getting used to this era of peace. It was weird. It honestly still felt surreal most days. Tenten—any shinobi in general—was so used to being on edge all the time, and constantly preparing for the worst. Her fight or flight response was always either on edge or at the forefront, waiting like a dog poised to strike. But now, there was no war anymore, and though the effects of it could still be seen and felt everywhere, people were starting to acclimate. She didn’t need to conceal knives on her person anymore when going out. She didn’t need to sleep restlessly anymore.  She would be okay. She was okay.

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At the last second, Tenten reached for her mascara again, unscrewing it and giving her lashes one last coat. She knew it was probably unneeded, but she did it anyway, and she felt better. She was still getting used to that—doing things for the sake of doing them, knowing they served no real purpose.

Tenten was… pragmatic. Very much so. And don’t get me wrong, that is a wonderful quality for a shinobi to possess, but Tenten found she no longer needed that. Well, not as much anyway. Her pragmatism had helped her solve countless problems successfully in the past, and it was one of the reasons she and Neji worked so well together. They were both sensible, if not a little hard headed at times, and they understood each other. To their friends, it always seemed like those two were moving in a rhythm inaudible to everyone but themselves. They were best friends, in every sense of the term. They somehow always knew what the other was thinking, and what to do. And part of that was because they were similar in that way—stubborn, sure, but willing to compromise when the situation called for it.

Pragmatic.

Which is why Tenten says her pragmatism helped her in the past, but she would be the first to admit that it also held her back from many things.

‘It would be too difficult,’ or, ‘Our backgrounds are too different.’ Or perhaps even the worst one, ‘We’re probably better off as friends.’

All things Tenten had said to herself in the name of being realistic. Pragmatic.

All excuses Tenten used to hold herself back from doing what she wanted to do, just for the sake of it. Shinobi fell in love. It was nothing unheard of—I mean, they were human after all. It was expected, even. Everyone was harrowingly aware of the risks being a shinobi entailed, and for most, quitting was not an option, so it was up to them to decide whether or not they would pursue a romantic relationship. 

It was up to them to decide which they were going to sacrifice: a chance at love, or their career. Because, in their world, it unfortunately had to be one or the other.

The choice was obvious. The pragmatic choice was obvious.

And both Neji and Tenten were pragmatic.

So they chose their careers.

When faced with the choice of being best friends and continuing to toe that line like they’d been doing for so long, or being lovers, and discovering an entirely new part of themselves—tasting an entirely new flavour they hadn’t even known existed—they chose the former. Because it was always one, and never both. And that was fine, for a while.

In fact, if that had been the end of it, Tenten imagined, perhaps terribly and selfishly, then maybe the aftermath of his death wouldn’t have been as hard. And maybe that made her a terrible person. Maybe she was terrible for wishing he’d never confessed and they’d never kissed. Maybe she was terrible for wishing he hadn’t given her a taste of what she longed for for so long, only to cruelly take it away before either of them were ready. And she knew it wasn’t his fault, but part of her couldn’t help but blame him. And maybe that made her a terrible person; she didn’t know.

But for now, she was content with doing small, pointless, impractical things like putting on another coat of mascara, just for the sake of it. She’d swallow the lump in her throat and put on a brave face and walk out, and she’d do things just because she wanted to. Just because it made her feel better.

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They’d both shown up.

“Hey,” she greeted, once she’d spotted the two green-clad men waiting by the entrance of the restaurant. She’d gotten there a few minutes early, but here they were, arriving even earlier. 

“Tenten!” It was Lee.

While Lee had jumped at the opportunity of this dinner, craving the nostalgia like it were a physical thing, Tenten was a bit hesitant. Still, they had both shown up. She smiled. How very predictable of Team Gai.

Maybe things weren’t that different after all.

It was awkward at first. After exchanging pleasantries, they entered the restaurant and took their seats at the reserved booth. The thought of making small talk with people that were once so engraved in each other’s very being was unbearable. The view of the vacant seat at the table was also unbearable—it had been so long since they’d met up like this for dinner that, when Gai-sensei was making the reservation, he accidentally asked for a table for four instead of three. Force of habit.

But they managed.

“How have you been, Tenten?” Gai asked, voice mellow. Him and Lee had remained pretty close through it all, partly because of Lee’s self-imposed duty to care for Gai most of the time, and partly because those two had always had a special bond that not even Neji and Tenten could get between. Tenten shrugged noncommittally, replying with that customary reassurance that made it seem like she was very busy while simultaneously downplaying whatever it is she’d been busy with since she’d last seen them. He nodded kindly, and the three of them started chatting mindlessly about nothing in particular. It was obvious that they were ignoring the elephant in the room. Neji’s loss—his absence at this table—was so palpable it was almost taking up the space of the would-be conversation.

“I miss him,” Tenten sighed, almost bluntly. Flippantly. She didn’t know what reaction she was expecting, but the willing avoidance was getting suffocating. She knew everyone was thinking that, so why didn’t anyone say it?! Why couldn’t anyone give her that relief? Why was everyone—her included, she realised belatedly—so hell-bent on forgetting him, when he had been such a core part of who they were for so long? She missed him. She missed talking to him— about him. She didn’t like that no one brought him up anymore, as if he’d never even existed. He deserved to be celebrated and remembered, for God’s sake! That was the least they could do for him.

“Me, too,” Lee murmured, uncharacteristically resigned. “It’s unbearable, most days.”

Immediately, pressure built up behind Tenten’s eyes, and she vaguely regretted putting on more mascara. “Yeah,” she whispered, almost in wonder, “it is.”

And surprisingly, that was what broke the tension.

Or maybe it wasn’t surprising or weird or unexpected. Maybe that made perfect sense. Because Team Gai was never one for stuffy formalities or beating around the bush—they knew each other too well for that.

Gradually and ever so tentatively, the dinner took on an air of normalcy, and things were almost like the old times—almost. They were able to actually speak to each other again for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, without being snappy or short-tempered, or feeling like their words weren’t reaching through to the other person. They were finally able to acknowledge their loss together, and weirdly enough, it made them feel lighter than they had in ages.

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“It’s getting late,” Tenten yawned, stretching her arms over her head. “We should probably go before we get kicked out.”

With a frown, Lee responded, “Yeah. You’re probably right.”

They, reluctantly, said their goodbyes. She’d originally thought this would be awkward, but she realised with a pang as she was walking away that she didn’t want to go. 

“Tenten!” Lee called out from a distance away, and she turned around.

“What is it?” she called back.

“Don’t be a stranger.”

Her breath hitched, and the only thing she could do was nod vigorously and hope he saw it.

She would be okay. They would be okay.