The Tale of the Dove and the Orphan (Completed 2017)

Chapter Four

Tenten sniffed as she made her way back home, tying her hair back into the typical buns.

She felt so broken and confused after the day's events. She didn't feel like herself. She felt lost, angered, even almost unloved.

Unloved by Neji, the one person she didn't want to fall for again.

Tenten looked up at the trees and watched the last of the light shine through. When she tilted her head back down she caught sight of someone standing on her porch. She carefully moved closer until the figure came to sight.

Might Guy flashed a grin and waved at Tenten.

Unable to hold back, she ran towards him and tackled him in a hug, breaking out in sobs. Guy held her gently, patting her back and asking, "What's the matter, Tenten?"
She cried out, "I don't know anymore, Guy Sensei! Everything hurts and I can't think straight!"

He simply held her and shushed gently as she continued to cry, eventually calming down to just a few whimpers and sniffles.

"It's okay Tenten. Just let it out."

She held him tight, tighter than she ever held anyone before. Tenten had never really come to her sensei about problems before, but she had no one else to turn to that could help her feel better. She looked up at him and saw he was smiling softly, but could tell that the smile wasn't reaching to his eyes.

"Sit down, Tenten, and tell me what's wrong. I heard from the other young shinobi that you were upset," he said, sitting down on one of her porch steps. She sat beside him and sighed heavily, shaking her head as she wiped her eyes.

"It's about Neji," she said shakily.

Guy rubbed her back as she tried to compose herself while talking.

"I don't know what's wrong with him," she continued, "One minute he's my enemy, the next he's treating me with kindness, and now's he's shunning me again, only this time worse. I don't know what he wants from me and he's starting to scare me."

Guy looked at her and said, "Hmm, this does sound problematic. Do you know what I think?"

She looked up at him and asked, "What?" 

He said, "I believe he's going through some hardships. You say he's been acting strange, so maybe that's because he's trying to compose himself. Has he been acting a certain way with anyone else?"

She shook her head and he responded, "I see. I know we both know that he can be troublesome but it's nothing a little tender loving care can't handle. Isn't that right, Tenten?!"

She smiled slightly and nodded, watching Might Guy as he stood up.

"I believe if you try and talk to him," he said, grinning, "you're sure to figure out the problem and make him feel better, Tenten! You know how to light up anyone's day!!"

She giggled and replied, "Yes, Guy Sensei! I'll try talking to him, okay?"

He nodded and said, "I'd hate to depart, my precious flower, but I am required to meet the Hokage. I will see you tomorrow at the Fall Festival!" Tenten nodded and smiled slightly as she watched her teacher leave. But the moment he left, she felt uncertainty once more.

She didn't know how to talk to Neji exactly since he wasn't a talkative person.

She finally decided that she would converse with him, just not right away since she was still furious with him.

Before she could even think about what to do next, someone made a noise down the road, causing Tenten to naturally reach for a kunai. However, when the noise turned out to be her female comrades, she relaxed and set the kunai down. Tenten waved and they waved back; Ino waving a bouquet of colorful flowers around.