Chapter Text
Contrary to popular belief, Neji was, in fact, not Tenten's first crush.
Oh, but she got there.
Eventually.
i.
Tenten first laid eyes on the future Hyuuga prodigy on their first day in the Academy. He still had a father back then, and so appeared less bitter about life in general. Tenten, however, had already read a spark of anger, of sadness, behind Neji’s gray, almost lavender, eyes.
(She would later find out, much, much later, that it was because of the cursed mark forced upon his forehead.)
ii.
The young genius-in-the-making did not really leave an impression on the young girl. On the contrary, she completely forgot about him and his sad eyes until news spread of his father’s death, a few weeks after the opening of classes.
The next time Tenten saw the young Hyuuga, his eyes reflected only anger and resentment.
(For the Hyuuga clan, she found out a few days after their genin team was formed).
iii.
He finally left an impression on her.
(It wasn’t a very good one, though.)
iv.
Since then, Tenten was almost always aware of his presence whenever he was around, but not because she felt something for him. Or if she did, it was only a mild curiosity, coupled with a tinge of pity, because he seemed so alone.
(Later, when she mentioned this to him in passing, while they were on their way home from one of their easier missions, Neji stopped dead on his tracks, looked at her with cold, cold eyes, and said not a single word to her until they reached the village gates. Lee explained, much later, that Neji wasn’t exactly angry with her; it just didn’t sit well with him that anyone, not even Tenten, should pity him. He was a Hyuuga after all, and Hyuugas were a prideful people.)
v.
She was a late bloomer, having her first crush months after she had graduated from the Academy, while girls her age (and even those who were younger) were already proclaiming their undying love and affection for various good-looking (and not-so-good-looking) shinobi in their village. When she finally felt those weird, infamous butterflies in her stomach (it wasn’t entirely pleasant and she wanted to get rid of them at first), it wasn’t for the genius in her team.
Heck, Neji wasn’t even in the running then.
(When Tenten accidentally told Neji about this, years after they’d received their Jounin status, the Hyuuga gentle-fisted the unfortunate guy so hard during their next sparring session he had to be brought to the hospital to get his ribs checked. Which, on hindsight, probably was a well-calculated move, because said guy spent the rest of the afternoon being cared for by the beautiful flower Sakura-san!)
vi.
Who was Tenten’s first crush?
Why, it was Rock Lee, of course.