Forced Wedding

Decision

There, at the exit of the village while waiting for the order to leave, he spent a few seconds thinking about the situation.

He knew about the mission, he understood perfectly that he was the only person capable of affecting the outcome, he knew that a single word from him could save or sink Tenten, he knew that the decision was in his hands... and he made his choice.

The destiny of every shinobi is to fulfill the missions that are assigned to them no matter what they may imply. He always knew it and assumed it, but he was also aware that for her it wasn't so simple, and that's why he had forced her to accept the reality.

And of course his conscience reproached him.

But he always answered himself that it had been for the best.

~

The Hokage appeared next to him and gave him a silly excuse for not being able to attend, but he could read in her look that guilt was the real reason for not being able to attend, Gai and Lee were conveniently on a mission so they couldn't go either, and almost one by one he named the ninjas of the village and their reasons for not going making it clear in passing that he was going to be the only representative of the village in the place.

"You must go now or you will be late," ordered the Hokage and left without saying anything else.

And so now it was his turn to go alone to the Lightning village to witness Tenten's wedding, he couldn't be sure but a part of him felt that the Hokage was sending him alone, to see if he could stop that wedding. The Hokage was another sentimentalist who preferred to put the happiness of a shinobi before the safety of the village. Again he allowed himself to sink into his thoughts as he hopped from branch to branch.

He remembered clearly that from the very moment she accepted the mission he wanted to retract, but he was a Hyūga and his pride was stronger than anything else; besides as a faithful believer in destiny he was sure that in hers was written that it should be that way.

After a lot of jumping he finally arrived at the village and without wasting time he headed to the mansion where the wedding would take place, although it was a bit early it was already starting to fill up so he took one of the seats in the middle of the crowd and just waited. Patience wasn't part of his qualities and having to be surrounded by so many people was really annoying.

For an instant the wait was worth it, there she was walking down the aisle. Everyone around him murmured that she was beautiful and he agreed with them but only in one part, Tenten was beautiful, yes, but not at that moment. Her always lively look and her usually smiling face weren't there, instead there was a completely empty look letting him see that inside she was dead, and her face was an attempt at a mask that didn't let him see what she was really thinking. Besides he had seen her at her natural state, and she was a hell of a lot more beautiful than with that elaborate hairstyle and overloaded make-up. 

Their eyes met and he tried to convey to her what he was thinking, he wanted her to come to her senses and turn around and go back to the village no matter if they started a war, he just wanted her to come back with him. He couldn't take his eyes off of hers, but she was able to break eye contact and let him see a slight hint of anger as she did so.

The speed with which she walked towards her destination increased a little and a moment later she was face to face with her husband, well, he was a little ahead of the facts, her future husband. But that didn't matter once the paper was signed there was no turning back. It wasn't just her mask that cracked with the kiss, he couldn't help but look away, and clench his hands for the scant second that contact lasted.

After that everyone headed towards a large hall where the food was, and of course, the dance floor. He preferred to hang back and head towards a balcony, he had definitely had enough contact with people for one day. Occasionally he kept an eye on everything with his byakugan, just to make sure everything was still in order and just by doing that he noticed that the hall was starting to empty as some guests were starting to leave already. And then he was betrayed by his own body, his feet automatically went towards the hall, more exactly towards the place where she was dancing mechanically with someone.

A spark of joy reached through her mask when he asked to be the next one to dance, he also felt a gaze pierce his back from the very moment he officially started dancing with her.

"You should smile or at least try to look happy," he finally spoke. He didn't want to make a complaint but it was easier to talk to her like that than to tell her what he really thought.

"I don't see the reason to do it," she answered him hiding her eyes.

"It's your duty, you should at least fulfill correctly your mission," Tenten stopped and he could slightly feel the tension and the spasms that told him the reason, "don't you dare cry!" he whispered to her in a cutting way as he started to turn again with the melody to avoid drawing attention to them. "It's not appropriate."

"Come, it's time to leave," said a voice in front of him as the man placed a hand on her shoulder telling her to stop. He felt her freeze and his hand automatically tightened its grip on her waist so as not to let her go.

"Su-Sure, let's go," she stammered, trying to pull away but his hand refused to release her.

-"Thank you very much for coming, but me and my wife are tired, and we wish we could be in private." The man spoke looking at him with a certain arrogance, and rivalry?

"Of course," he answered in a murmur, releasing her, "I wish you much success together," and after saying that he left.

I don't like him, that was all he could say to describe Tenten's husband, there was something about that man that didn't inspire him the slightest confidence but he knew he couldn't do anything about it. Although he had authorization to stay in the village and rest that night, he decided not to do it, he needed to leave, to get away from there quickly before doing something stupid; so without thinking much he set off to return to Konoha.

~

And once back in the village he didn't want to have the time to be at home alone, he knew that he would immerse himself in his thoughts and his conscience would reproach him again and again for what he had done. Therefore, as soon as he returned he asked the Hokage for any mission that was available, anything that would take him away from his new reality.

Thus four months went by, maybe a little longer until finally Tsunade demanded him to rest. He spent two days in his room in the Clan grounds, going out to the village to the strictly necessary, he couldn't stand people. He wanted to yell at them all for not valuing their useless and pathetic existence, for continuing as if nothing without even knowing or appreciating the sacrifice Tenten had made for them, for continuing their worthless lives while his had completely collapsed. He was fed up and his mind was killing him, so he did what he knew he shouldn't do: head for the Lightning village.

When he arrived he climbed on a roof, he pondered for a moment again what he was about to do, because he was sure that she would notice his presence sooner or later. He sighed heavily and turned on his byakugan to keep watch.