uncagedforjustamoment | Voicemail

[Three minutes and fifty seconds after the text, he arrives with Meditite, Riolu, and Swablu in tow. The other three remain in the inn, resting. His expression is neutral when he spots her, curiosity not yet strong enough to show.]

Tenten.

Hey.

[She glances toward him without moving away from the bridge's railing, expression as close to neutral as she can manage.]

So I talked to Naruto earlier. Did he get in touch with you?

[His expression remains indifferent even as he nods.] I was near enough to the pokegear to see his announcement. It seems people were correct in believing he'd recover in the span of a week after all.

Yeah. What'd he want to tell you, anyway?

[She pushes off the railing to stand in front of him, only giving the three Pokémon a cursory glance before meeting his eyes.]

And don't you dare say war stuff. He said I have to ask you, and the look on his face means it can't be good. What's going on, in the future?

[His immediate response would have been something to the effect of 'war stuff'. With Tenten's demand, however, she receives a patient expression instead.]

He wished to update me on the war. I could explain to you what he said and the reasons why he felt it was unpleasant, but what use would the information do you without a frame of reference? If I told you the Juubi targeted nearby cities with its weighted bomb what would you respond with?

I'd ask why he couldn't tell me that himself and sent me running to you.

[One hand falls to her hip as the other flicks in the air as if to physically dismiss that explanation. Maybe she should be more concerned about the concept of a city being targeted by what sounded like a Tailed Beast, but she's still worried about the other thing.]

What's so important that only you can tell me, huh?

I would be forced to wonder why you expect me to understand the workings of Naruto's mind.

[...Sigh. Meditite looked anxious again, a sure sign of his irritation at the subject--rather at Naruto sending Tenten his way instead of dropping it, and he turned to pat the pokemon on the head gently.]

I presume he said so because the matter we discussed was a private one. There are a great number of Hyuga on the battlefield, including Hinata-sama and my uncle. There are things, therefore, which aren't relevant for others to know.

Hyuuga business, huh?

[Her arms cross tightly as her lips firm, fingers squeezing hard into her opposite bicep with her annoyance.]

You really haven't changed in the future.

Personal business.

[Guilt would not move him on this, instead it only earns a cold frown.]

You're still genin, Tenten, the war is yet to be relevant to you. Don't attempt to make it so.

Are we teammates, or aren't we?!

[Oops, now she's shouting because Naruto has her worried, and now Neji's being purposefully obtuse, which is only making her more worried.]

What happens to my comrades is still relevant to me, don't try to tell me otherwise.

You have told me you don't care what happens in the future, and therefore what Sasuke does when he returns isn't relevant, haven't you? [The coldest frown, Tenten, like ice.] Has something about that changed now?

[She flinches at the mention of Sasuke, teeth gritting as she bites back a reflexive retort. Instead she takes a moment to try to cool down before answering,] I never said I don't care. He hasn't gone back yet, so nothing's changed. But stuff's still happened for you. Is it so wrong to want to know that?

[He crossed his arms, letting Meditite's hand go.]

You're overreacting and imagining events that haven't happened, Tenten. Although it's true things have happened, they're not things you would find worth knowing given the relationship we currently maintain. Cease digging into the matter.

[Her nostrils flare as her fingernails only dig more deeply into her bicep.]

The relationship we currently maintain, [she echoes, trying for that same coldness, but failing miserably.] What, were we married in the future or something?! You'd rather me worry about what's going on than risk boring me?!

[Her hand flexes as if she might grab his collar, but she holds back; he's not Lee, she can't just shake him around and demand answers.]

The relationship we maintain in the future is friendship. A relationship which, despite my wishes, is not currently mirrored here. [He gives a light scoff and glances away from her with a frown.] Stop worrying. There's nothing about what Naruto said to me that concerns you, and worrying will only upset you without reason.

Sorry I'm not the teammate you remember, but you know? You're not the one I remember either.

[She pauses with that, fists clenching at her sides as she glares up at him.]

I don't know how much harder you want me to try to be your friend when you won't even talk to me. I saw the look on his face, Neji, he wears his heart on his sleeve.

[Her glare is met with a flat stare of indifference. He refuses to be backed into admitting the truth of the matter. Inciting her ire is better than burdening her with guilt.]

...You have heard of the use of Edo Tensei in the war? Naruto spoke to me of certain family members who were animated by Edo Tensei after the time I arrived here. I'm sure you can see why I felt there was no interest to you in it.

[That's it? She stares up at him a moment longer before relaxing slightly, the tense set to her shoulders starting to ease.]

...I'm sorry, [she murmurs, glancing up at him, though her eyes harden again as she finally feels confident enough to jab (or try, she knows he's good enough to evade her) her finger into his chest.] But if we're going to be friends, hiding stuff from me isn't the way to do it. I was worried something had happened to you, or to Lee...

[He allows the chest jab this time as an unspoken apology for his 'reluctance' and for the deception. It is a necessary deception though, one to protect her younger self from the reality of war. She will continue her life and her progression through genin and chuunin with the belief that her team will always triumph and become a fine kunoichi by the time the war arrives. One fully capable of dealing with that war and the events that transpire within it.]

...Perhaps you're right. In the future, should anyone else arrive with more news, I'll try to remember that.

You'd better.

[She pulls her hand back slowly and crouches down, finally offering her fingers toward Meditite and Riolu in the hopes that she hadn't scared them too badly by yelling earlier. Without looking up, she adds more quietly,] If you want to talk about it... with your family... I'll listen.

[He shakes his head. Meditite is still on edge, one hand clinging to Neji's leg, but at Tenten's gesture, she creeps forward, anxious. Riolu reaches out and bats at Tenten's hand, apparently interested in a spar.]

I don't. Not with anyone...at least not at the moment.

[That seems more like the Neji she's familiar with, and she just flashes him a brief smile upward before batting right back at Riolu's paws, then trying to give Meditite a reassuring pat on the head.]

Okay.

[There are some things that will never change. Neji shall always be a private person, and one who prefers to deal with personal matters on his own.

...She just may not realize how much.

He nods, as Riolu makes another, more enthusiastic swipe at her hand.] Did you still wish to accompany me the rest of the way?

[She flicks Riolu's forehead and pushes back to her feet. No spar this time, little buddy.]

Yeah, if you'll let me. We're still teammates after all, right? Now that Naruto's awake, we can figure out where we're going, too.

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