Puberty

It happened to Lee first.

"You have something on your face," Neji said matter-of-factly. TenTen raised a finely tweaked eyebrow.

"It looks about ready to pop," she said in awe. "You know, I could always—"

"Don't touch it!" Lee wailed. "It's throbbing. And this morning, there was this gooey white pus that started coming out, and so I used some of that anti-acne stuff, but that seemed to irritate it more and…" His eyes welled up. "What horrible misfortune!"

"It's just a pimple," Neji said.

---

"Neji, what did you say?"

Neji growled at TenTen, who batted her eyelashes at him, and he then glared at Lee, daring him to say anything. Lee, however, was too preoccupied with hiding his bulging pimple that gushed white fluid down his cheek.

"I said—"

TenTen began to giggle.

"You women are insufferable," Neji glowered, his voice cracking unmercifully.

---

TenTen seemed to be the only one unaffected. Her face was clear as usual and her voice seemed the same. The two boys sulked in their misfortune as they waited for the girl to start their training.

"Women get it so damned easy," Neji grumbled to Lee, who sighed and gave up trying to salvage whatever good lucks he had left.

"Well, except for…" Lee said, looking uncomfortable.

"Yeah, well," Neji said, shrugging, "They deserve it."

"What do women deserve?"

TenTen walked towards them. Suddenly, both boys sat up straighter. Their eyes bulged as TenTen walked, no, swayed towards them. She placed a hand on her hip, and Neji and Lee struggled to keep their eyes straight.

"Um," Lee said nervously. "What happened to you?"

"What?" TenTen said irritably. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Lee blushed. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"Boys," she muttered. "And stop staring at my breasts. They won't grow larger if you look at them."

"Right," Neji said, shaking his head. TenTen gave him a level look that he couldn't seem to interpret—something else that was new.

"Right. Let's find Gai-sensei now. …And ask him a few questions."