After eating the grilled fish, Tenten fell asleep beneath the shade of a large tree, snoring away until afternoon before jolting awake.
"Oh no, Dad told me to go home for lunch." Tenten cried out in alarm. Seeing that it was already late, with sunset clouds spread across the sky, she finally remembered that her father had told her to come home for lunch. Now dinner was nearly here.
"Neji, I have to go home. I had fun grilling fish with you today. Let's play together again another day. Dad's going to scold me." Tenten hurriedly sprang to her feet and turned to run, only to see the lush, cool, quiet, dim forest all around her. She stopped in her tracks.
There were too many trees. She... had forgotten the way she came.
"I'll take you out." Neji Hyuga knew what was wrong the moment he saw her reaction. He rose from where he had been leaning against the trunk, walked to Tenten's side, and scooped her up in a princess carry.
"Eh... eh... eh... ah..." Tenten did not dare move around. She grabbed Neji Hyuga's clothes and lowered her head, glancing up at his profile.
Neji Hyuga leaped onto the tree trunks, carrying Tenten in his arms as he began swiftly hopping from branch to branch.
Feeling the rushing wind sweep past her, Tenten looked at Neji Hyuga's gaunt profile and could not help secretly lamenting, It would be better if Neji looked a little healthier.
As she thought about it, her cheeks flushed slightly.
Before long, Neji Hyuga brought Tenten to Konoha's residential area. Once they reached a place with people around, he set her down.
"Go home," Neji Hyuga said as he put Tenten down.
"Mm-hmm." Tenten nodded like a pecking chick. "What about you, Neji?"
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