Tenten felt a little resentful and regretful. She still really liked the feeling of being with Neji.
Neji was very gentle with her, and he made her feel safe.
But now, they had less and less time like this.
Neji turned to look at Tenten. She had said something similar last time, when the Sky Ninja attacked Konoha.
That meant Tenten cared deeply about this.
Neji thought for a little too long, and Tenten noticed something was off with him.
She laughed awkwardly. "I was just joking."
Neji picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from Tenten's face. "Then after this battle, let's go do missions together."
Seeing Neji's face so close to hers, Tenten's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
She took the towel to hide it and wiped her gradually reddening face.
"Sure. Just don't think I'm holding you back."
Neji turned away and stopped looking at Tenten. "I won't."
Tenten took out her water bottle and drank two sips, then naturally handed it to Neji.
Neji's gaze paused, but he took it and drank two sips as well.
Then he softly asked, "Have you rested enough?"
Tenten jumped down from the chair. "Yep. Let's continue."
Neji stood up as well, but suddenly turned around.
Two figures had emerged from the shadows.
"Lord Fourth Hokage. Lord Natsuki."
Neji was somewhat surprised, because he could sense that they had been there for some time.
Only when they moved had they revealed their presence.
Natsuki calmly greeted him, "Little Neji has grown up. You're handsome now."
Yet from the corner of his eye, he glanced at Tenten's water bottle, then at the water bottle by Neji's feet.
Natsuki's teasing left Neji at a loss. Lord Natsuki had always seemed so unreliable.
Even now, he still remembered how, when Lord Natsuki