Waiting Forever

By then, they had reached the cemetery near the Memorial Stone. Neji was buried there.

Shamu seemed to spot someone and raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop.

The others followed Shamu's gaze.

"Is that Tenten?"

Though she was far away, Naruto and Sasuke quickly identified her by her clothes, since she was someone they knew well.

"Yes, Lord Shamu. That's Tenten."

Though Shamu did not have the Byakugan, seeing clearly was still easy for him.

He activated his Sharingan, and everything immediately came into focus.

Even from a position where Tenten could not possibly see him, he could clearly make out every expression on her face.

Tenten had probably been standing before Neji's grave for a long time.

Her face was expressionless, seemingly calm, as she murmured:

"Neji, it's been so long since I dreamed about you..."

Watching Tenten's lips, Shamu read out her words one by one.

Naruto and Sasuke knew Shamu was reading lips, but neither was surprised by what Tenten had said.

"Tenten comes to see Neji every week. She always comes quietly and leaves quietly, but after all this time, everyone knows."

Naruto explained beside Shamu, "And Tenten has turned down every single suitor."

With Neji buried here, Naruto would come to pay his respects no matter what his identity was.

Naruto had been the first to learn about Tenten's actions.

Though Tenten and Neji had never crossed that final line, everyone knew what was in their hearts.

As fellow members of the Konoha 12, Naruto had always been close to Tenten.

He was worried about her too, so he had secretly watched her many times.

Tenten came at regular intervals, and every time, she stood here for a long while.

It had been like this for more than ten years.

Naruto had even asked