Authors Notes: My most sincere apologies for keeping you waiting! I don't know what to say other than I am so very sorry for the delay, and I promise I won't take as long to update! I have been extremely busy with everyday life, SERIOUSLY AH LIFE!. So without further ado, I hope you enjoy this final chapter!

Pairing: Neji and Tenten

Category: Romance/Friendship

Length: 2,186 words

Disclaimer: Naruto is created by Kishimoto, I created this story.

Still There

By Inkmissives

"Your rescue party was completely unnecessary." she had said to him, but something else lingered in her eyes.

Then why did you take so long? Neji pondered, the very question burning in the back of his mind. Coming out of his silent contemplation, he focused on the flow of chakra around him. Their blue lines running along his bone and tissues like an efficient circuit.

Being a Hyuuga, the ability to observe chakra systems came as easily as breathing. However, throughout his years of observation slight patterns came to emerge, such patterns that would alter the ebb and flow of a user's chakra. The obvious change came from emotions, like the frenzied rush of delight to the icy flow that would emanate during a ninja's finishing blow. Then, there were the slightly more elusive changes, ones coming from personality, giving each person a chakra system uniquely their own. Even for a prodigy, it had taken Neji years to identify his team's signature chakra.

For Gai, his chakra hummed almost youthfully Neji noted, much to his chagrin. And yet the characteristic hum only became slightly noticeable during his matches against Kakashi, or when his voiced climbed to those heights in his quest for youth. Lee on the other hand had a more youthful burn to his chakra, emerging only when his face was pooling sweat and marked with determination.

And then there was Tenten.

Her chakra appeared to be just average at most, akin to a lingering mist in the background. But then there would be moments of time, a sliver, when the mist would morph like a soft fallen mask of moonlight and rest upon him with the lightness of a cloud. Yet those flashes were rare and came only at times like the first class of steel, and at the end of a gruelling mission with shared smiles that would follow. And lastly there were those few seconds, just as her cold steel ricochet off his kaiten that glimpses of their chakra would intertwine and simply fade away with the breeze.

Sparing a glance over at the wall that separated their rooms, and with his byakugan activated, a pleasant hue of chakra emerged. Tenten

How long had it been since their last spare?

With a deep exhale Neji eased his weary frame off the bed and towards her stopping at the wall, her chakra pulsing steadily like a firefly before him. Concentrating on her spot he placed a hesitant hand there momentarily, feeling the smooth touch of wood. Drawing back slightly to place an ear against the wooden grain, he knocked with a simple thwack, and waited.

Soon enough Tenten's blue hue hazily approached and before he knew it, the distinct blue chords appeared before him like an old friend.

Two successive thwacks was her reply, right where his had been. Placing his hand against the wall once more, a soft smile broke from his lips. Against his palm the wood felt warm by the humming of their chakras.

The putrid stench of sake, one only belonging to the residing Hokage of Konoha greeted the returning shinobi. Filling into the office they straightened into a single line facing Tsunade. The boys of Team Gai, and Team Eight flanked the girls on either side but before a formal word could be muttered, Tsunade launched into action.

"So, what do you have to say for yourselves?" Tsunade questioned, eyebrows raised and arms folded defiantly at her elbows as she directed her scrutinizing eyes on the girls.

With a tentative step forward and an accompanying bow, Tenten answered, "Please forgive me Hokage-sama, but an unforeseen circumstance had delayed our expected return." Body still folded in her bow Tenten's eyesight never left the floor. Yet bodies around her shifted from the new revelation, Tsunade on the other hand remained unfazed.

"That delay being?" She barked before settling her focused stare onto Hinata.

Sensing the curiosity in the room Hinata stepped forward, and bowed at the waist, mirroring Tenten's position before replying, "D-During our retrieval mission we were able to find the clients missing clan seal, b-but ..."

"We were also able to uncover important documents pertaining to Konoha", Tenten swiftly finished for her, eyes lifting up to gauge Tsunade's face before once again returning to the floor.

Indifferent Tsunade stepped forward, forcing the girls to straighten as if waiting for a reprimand.

"Documents or not, a shinobi's task is solely on the mission, and the mission alone; especially ones funded by important clients. Am I understood?" she replied, voice stern as her gaze shifted back and forth between the pair waiting for a reply which never came.

"I said, am I understood?" Tsunade questioned, in a voice laced with authority.

"Y-Yes Hokage-sama!" Hinata piped, her frame sinking during Tsunade's verbal jabbing.

"Under these circumstances Hokage-sama, I'm sure you will be able to pardon us. Much like how you pardon Naruto for not following orders." was Tenten's defiant retort.

Intrigued Tsunade waited for Tenten to continue, which she did, but not before Tenten let her eyes slip over to her side where Neji stood. Their eyes met only briefly.

Courage welling inside, Tenten slipped her pack from her back and procured a scroll. Unfurling it without hesitation, she turned it so the dark ink faced Tsunade, its incriminating script before her.

It didn't take long for Tsunade to read the scroll in question, golden eyes flying back and forth before turning back onto Tenten with a sharp inhale, and noticeably startled with what was written inside.

Curiosity getting the best of them, Lee and Kiba made a motion to step forward and look at the scroll themselves, but it didn't take long for Neji and Shino to restrain them back into line. Their grunts of protests didn't seem to sway their captors.

Ignoring the commotion around her, Tenten exposed the contents of the scrolls out in a firm voice.

"When Hinata and I finally uncovered the room where the rouge clan had hidden the stolen Higarashi Clan seal, we also came across this scroll by accident. Its contents regarded Konoha, more specifically the Hyuuga Clan, and traced back thirteen years ago."

With the burrowing glaze of Neji upon her, she continued, "The rogue clan, containing no formal name, was led by an ex-cloud shinobi by the name of Koizumi Haku. And by these documents, was the mastermind behind Hinata's failed kidnapping all those years ago, and the resulting events that followed."

If the startled gasps and the accompanying silence was any indication to press on, Tenten did, for she simply couldn't face Neji until everything was out. And at this point in time, the enormity of their self-motivated actions was too much for her to bear any longer.

"And where is this, Koizumi Haku, now?"

"Dead Tsunade-sama. Very much dead."

Tsunade then took a swing of sake before standing to fully address the group, saying "Shino, Kiba, Lee and Neji, you are dismissed." In a tone that left no room for disobedience, the boys made their way out. But not without passing glances at the girls as Tsunade plucked the incriminating scroll from Tenten's outstretched hand.

White eyes remained fixated on the straightened backs of Hinata and Tenten, livid and demanding answers before quickly turning away as wooden doors shut behind him.

Tsunade's voice ringing only milliseconds later, "You both have a lot of explaining to do."

They do indeed, Neji thought vehemently.

Having been shooed away from Tsunade-sama's office and out of the building, Neji waited patiently for Hinata and Tenten to make their appearance. Questions that demanded answers were lodged at the tip of his tongue as he leaned against a tree planted conveniently across the building entrance.

Nearly half an hour later, the two girls in question emerged side by side and quietly talking. As if sensing his presence Tenten met his gaze before turning back to Hinata, muttering in a soft voice. Receiving a nod in response Hinata started to make her way towards the village market, offering a tentative small at Neji before departing.

Tenten's firm head shake at his direction was the only thing stopping him from calling Hinata back, he then focused his attention fully on her; leaving his comfortable spot on the tree in exchange for an explanation of what had transpired minutes before with Tsunade.

Stopping before her with arms folded Neji drilled Tenten immediately with questions, "Was this Koizumi Haku truly behind Hinata-sama's attempted kidnapping Tenten?"

"If that scroll we found holds any creditable merit, then yes Neji", she said with a sigh and a shrug, palms facing the sky. "Tsunade-sama has sent the scroll, along with a sketch of his face to your uncle for an official verification." The answer rolling off her tongue easy.

So that can explain why Hinata and especially Tenten had strictly confided between themselves till now. And like the exhaling of held breath, the thought eased the built up tension in Neji's chest into mist, but did little to stop his frustrations. They both were safe, but not in the clear yet. Far from it.

"Hiashi-sama had killed Hinata's kidnapper years ago, a picture of his face is meaningless if he has never seen him before, this proves nothing" Neji remarked, eyebrows pulled together in confusion.

"From what Tsunade-sama tells me, a formal exchange had taken place when your father's..." Tenten paused, hesitating to gauge Neji's reaction before continuing, "... body was delivered to them; a meeting in which Koizumi Haku was present."

Accepting her answer, Neji pressed forward eyes trained on Tenten's and never once looking away.

"And so you both just happened upon this scroll, containing just the right information to not only convict Koizumi of the crime, but somehow find his whereabouts and kill him?" he questioned in anger, "What personal vendetta do you have in this matter? If anything this should be strictly Hyuuga clan affairs Tenten!"

Feeling the need to diffuse the anger slowly bubbling from Neji, Tenten placed a comforting hand on his shoulder before replying, "I had a feeling you were going to say that, which is exactly why I chose not to speak to you about this till now. But Neji, in case you have forgotten I am your friend and a capable kunoichi. Good friends care about each other, especially ones that have been gravely hurt, emotionally or not. But as shinobi of the leaf we both know that true friendship can cut through even the thickest of blood."

An image of spiky blonde hair coupled by a boisterous voice flashed in his mind.

"But-" Placing fingers gently over his mouth to stop the stream of thoughts Neji was bound to say, Tenten spoke softly, "Ah, let me finish first."

Sparing a look over to where Hinata had made her disappearance, Tenten's amber eyes found Neji's once again.

"It was actually Hinata's idea to find Koizumi, and it was Hinata that killed him Neji ... I think once she found out the truth behind your father's death at the chuunin exams she wanted to make those responsible pay for what they did, ... in some way."

She offered his shoulder a gentle squeeze and a reassuring smile before removing her fingers from his mouth. Sensing the aura that had surrounded them beginning to lighten she continued, "Besides, we both know Hinata's not one to make grand speeches, but I think us finding that scroll was the universe's way of helping Hinata show that she truly cares about you Neji. You both may have had a rough start, but you're family and that's what truly matters."

"And somehow you seem to know all of Hinata's thoughts on this matter like some common oracle because?" said Neji, peering closely into her eyes, anger already dissipating from his persona as the gravity of Hinata's forgiveness for all his past wrong-doings had finally started to sink in.

With a laugh and a playful shove Tenten replied as she leaned in, "Look as closely as you like Neji, but my eyes are not a fortune teller's crystal ball, so you can stop glaring at me. Seriously, you haven't stopped since you found us on that mountain peak. I already had enough on my mind without your glaring to meddle in things."

Nodding her head towards the marketplace she remarked, "Come on let's go find Hinata, I'm sure you both have some cousin bonding to catch up on or something." She teased.

But before Tenten could turn to leave she found herself wrapped Neji's arms. A soothing warmth flooding her system, she had missed being able to talk to Neji like this, and the warmth he provided.

Oh how she truly missed him, and like a thief in the night their nonverbal standoff that had clouded over them the past couple of days vanished.

Clutching her closer with no wall separating them now, the faint murmur of her chakra beat synchronized with the pulsing of his heart. "Welcome home Tenten" he whispered.

Returning the hug she replied, "Glad to be home Neji."

Yes home, where they were safe and all was well.

The End

Authors extended note:

I hope you enjoyed my take on Hinata and Neji's budding friendship, along with the steadiness of Nejiten!

Thanks to all those who reviewed; Dreaming101, sillysammojp, Lakum, kenzinator, crestfallenfeline, darkanonymous324, Nanti, and reader; and those who will review, your words are very helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to review.

-Also for the person who asked their ages here are post time skip, but before Naruto returns so around 16 years old.

Thanks for reading!