Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Story starts at Episode 166 of Naruto Shippuden where Hinata attempted to defeat Pein.

"Hinata… Loves… Naruto…" Sakura's voice burned in his ears.

Neji's eyes widened as the truth hit him hard. He saw his vision beginning to blur with tears and felt his stomach lurch.

"I-I'm sorry, I have something to do," Neji excused himself as quickly as he could.

Neji didn't even wait for his comrades to reply. He just forced a much chakra as he could into his feet and dashed out of the battle field at an unusually high speed. Neji didn't care where he was going. He just wanted to run away from Sakura's words. He NEEDED to run away from Sakura's words.

"Hinata loves Naruto," those words rung over and over again in his head. Neji admitted that he knew this all along. But each time the topic tied to creep into his mind, Neji would force it back down with the stone-cold look he constantly wears. However, now that it was said in audible words, it was real. It was unavoidable.

Neji finally slowed when he found himself in a forest. As soon as he stopped, the wind was no longer able to blow away his tears. The Hyuuga reached up and touch his cheek. He found it cold, wet, and most of all, alone.

Hyuugas do not cry! Neji insisted upon himself. But Hinata-sama does. That makes it alright, does it not?

The thought of Hinata's face streaked with tears brought more tears to his own eyes. His head begun to hurt and his body shook from crying. His sobs weakened his legs under him. Lost in sorrow, Neji allowed himself to slide down against a tree and burry his head in his knees

In that position, Neji finally began to think. Why am I crying? I am just a worthless jerk who neglected Hinata-sama's presence for most of her childhood. For heaven's sake, I tried to kill her! Naruto had always been there as a role model for her when I was not. He makes her happy; he makes her feel needed. Just a sight of him makes Hinata-sama smile. Darn it Neji, this is reality!

Then he noticed his love for her was reality too.

-x-

As the sun was beginning to set, Neji figured he had to go back to his colleagues before they began to worry. Neji activated his Byakugan to search for them. Within seconds, they were found in a hospital tent, waiting for Hinata to awake again. Neji hesitated before opening the tent's flaps. One last time, Neji wiped his eyes. Just as he entered the tent, the patient on the stretcher began to stir.

"Hinata-sama!" Neji ran to her, sadness being pushed away by relief.

Hinata wrestled to open an eye. With her first minuet of consciousness, Hinata used great effort to squeeze out, "Is Naruto-kun safe?"

Neji felt his heart detach itself from the veins.