Playing Catch The Soul (NejiTen Story)

Memory 14: Final Memory Age: 15

Present TenTen's POV

I sighed, knowing that this memory had already been a few days after the last one. Which meant that I found no evidence on how to stop Neji from suiciding. Maybe I had another chance on this final memory. I inhaled deeply and opened my eyes as I looked through the next memory. I could see that everything was decorated in beautiful scenery. Cherry blossom petals on the grey tiles, a beautiful day out of all I could think of.

Of course, it was the day Neji died.

"Hey! Neji-Kun!" I heard TenTen exclaim and walked over to Neji next to him. He seemed, glum. Still sad that he lost his byakugan. It almost seemed impossible for that to happen. Neji ignored TenTen as he walked away with a glum look on his face. "Wait! Ne-" before TenTen could finish, she was cut off by Hinata putting a hand on her shoulder.

"N-Neji-Kun's upset, maybe we should leave him alone," Hinata said in a hush tone. TenTen sighed and nodded as she sat under a cherry blossom tree as a petal fell on her head. I picked it up and looked at it while feeling the smooth texture. She looked up at the blue sky and smiled.

"Spring. What a wonderful season," she said with a grin on her face. Neji had blocked her view of the sky as he stood right in front of her. Neji had a forced half-grin on his face and put a little cherry blossom in her hair. She grinned as Neji sat next to her under the tree and sighed. "I knew you would come out of that glum nutshell of yours," I said. Neji nodded as he had intertwined his fingers with hers. I smiled at the sight looking at the two. Yet I was crying on the inside at the same time.

"I could only go on C or D rank missions because of what happened," Neji said. TenTen frowned. "I would come with you if you want, so you could feel less worthless," TenTen suggested. Neji shrugged and before he could respond, a long gong sounded. The both of them stood up and went to class.

*time skip to death scene*

I watched as the scene happened. I quickly intervened as much as I could but they couldn't see me. I studied the area to see why Neji had died. Maybe he didn't commit suicide. Maybe someone had pushed him off and had one of the fourth's teleportation skills.

I saw a familiar light blue aura and the soul of Neji was there. He was frowning as he looked at the scene. "You were taught this once, TenTen-Chan. There are hidden Justus that only one of the elders can use," Neji said. I shook my head as I saw that I was on the part of the memory where Neji kissed TenTen's forehead.

I didn't have much time.

"TenTen-Chan I skimmed through the jutsu books that have been taught by Jiraya-Sensei. There's an invisible Justu that we weren't supposed to learn. Apparently someone used it and killed me," Neji said. My eyes widened as I looked at the scene where it was his death scene. "B-But I don't have time, Neji-Kun! It's only a minute away till you die again!" I exclaimed. Neji shook his head. He had stood next to me and held my hand and almost made me feel something spark inside me. I looked at Neji as he gave me a soft smile and released my hand.

"I just transferred Chakra to your eyes to see through the invisible jutsu. It's all I have left of my Byakugan. I was able to retrieve it a bit but not fully. Please use it wisely. I want to be alive for my selfish needs, TenTen-Chan. I want to be with you guys and stay happy. I really want to be with you, too," Neji said and smiled. I blushed and looked at the scene. I focused the Chakra to my eyes and was able to see a blue-like fire that was moving at the same time. I acted quick and realized that it was the person's chakra. I looked at where I was standing as I could see that the soul of Neji was there and the one about to die was standing in front of me, struggling. I was in the place of TenTen.

I got out a kunai knife from my cotton Shinobi pack as the vision of the person I saw started being visible and invisible, on and off like a light switch. I could see that Neji already had a wound on his left side already. I could see that it was another kunai knife from the enemy using the invisible jutsu. Right now, he was next to Neji in the move to try and push him off. I completely understood the situation and was able to shoot my kunai at the person with 100% accuracy. It was straight on the chest where I wanted it to be.

He fell to the ground from the top building with wide eyes in shock and his kunai dropped to the ground. Before he had completely dropped, I saw a similar hooded cloak that I saw earlier. But there was something about it that realized that I was a stupid idiot.

The symbols on his cloak were red clouds.

How could I have not known? He was a member of the Akasuki. I saw as Neji was there. He gave me a weak smile for a split second then went to an expression of pain. My eyes widened as I quickly caught Neji before he fell to his knees from the pain he was experiencing. I gave him a reassuring look as Rock Lee and the others came rushing up the stairs already. "T-TenTen-Ch-Chan..," Neji stuttered weakly and forced himself to smile as he did with a real expression.

"I-I was there the whole time. I-I time-traveled with you. I-I... A-Arigato, TenTen-Chan..," Neji said and smiled before he fell unconscious. I managed to catch him then. "Neji-Kun!" I exclaimed as Sakura came and pressed her head against his chest and looked up at me and nodded. "He's alive, don't worry," Sakura assured me. I sighed in relief as Gai and Rock Lee put him on a stretcher and put him in the nearest hospital where the medical-nin would take care of him.

I sighed and sat in the waiting area as I nervously tapped my shoes vigorously. I bit my lip and fumbled with my fingers. Hinata sat next to me and put a hand on my shoulder. I looked at her as she half smiled. "Neji-Kun is going to be okay," Hinata said. I had tended to calm down a little and plopped down on the chair and fell asleep.

It's been a long day reliving all those memories...