But then, why was Tenten's heart beating faster and faster, more and more uncontrollably?
She had already forgotten when it was that she first started liking Neji.
Maybe it was just one calm afternoon, when she saw Neji in the training grounds, throwing punch after punch, drawn in by the seriousness and handsomeness of his movements.
Maybe it was during their days spent together, moved by Neji's care and thoughtfulness.
Maybe it was because Neji was a genius, the one she'd always been chasing after, that without realizing it she began to admire him.
In short, liking someone doesn't need a reason. So even if she already knew all of this was fake, Tenten was still willing to protect Konoha. Because of Neji.
Unconsciously, she moved her steps, squeezing out a path through the crowd, walking toward Neji.
Neji stood there, waiting specifically for her arrival.
By the time she reached Neji's side, she could barely hear the cheering of the villagers anymore.
Her eyes held only Neji.
Neji smiled at her, "What's wrong, Tenten? You don't seem very happy. Shouldn't you be celebrating with the villagers?"
"You're the one who saved Konoha, who protected everyone."
Tenten shook her head, tears in her eyes.
"But Neji, what if all of this is fake? I'm not some great hero who saved the world. I don't have the Six Paths ninja tools. I'm just an ordinary girl. All of this, it was just a bad man's fabrication."
Neji's eyes, clear as crystal, flickered with a faint light, "So, you're not happy?"
But suddenly, Tenten burst into tears, "No, it's not that. I just don't want to accept it. But I… I am happy, so happy, truly, truly happy."
"Because, you're alive, standing here right in front of me. That's more important than anything."
"Neji, I'm sorry. Maybe you don't understand what I'm saying. But that bad man, the one who created this false world. He knows me too well, far too well. I… I can hardly resist anymore!"
Neji was silent for a while before saying, "Tenten, if you feel happy, then there's no need to resist. Just follow your heart."
Tenten's whole body trembled. Then, inexplicably, she looked at Neji boldly.
"Since it's all fake anyway… Neji, can I hug you?"
Neji froze for a moment, then opened his arms.
"Of course."
Seeing Neji agree, Tenten grew bolder.
"I don't mean the kind of hug between teammates, but the kind between lovers."
"Neji, I want you to care for me, to protect me, to love me. I want to be your girlfriend. I want to marry you, to become your wife!"
The more she spoke, the shyer she became, her cheeks turning red. But since she had already realized this was her Infinite Tsukuyomi world, what was there left to fear?
Didn't Uchiha Obito say he would create a world where everyone was happy? Fine then, she would be bold, unrestrained, and chase after the happiness she wanted.
At that, Neji suddenly looked a little unnatural, "Tenten, I know you like me. Actually… I like you too. It's just, don't you think things are moving too fast?"
But to Tenten, it was as if this confirmed something. In an instant, she threw herself into Neji's arms, making his whole body stiffen.
Yet Neji did not push her away. Instead, his hands gently closed around her, holding her carefully.
Tenten greedily breathed in Neji's scent, but her tears fell even harder.
"As I thought, this really is just a dream made for me. As long as I want it, I can have anything. Even you, Neji, you won't reject me."
She hugged Neji tighter, her hands roaming all over him, bold and reckless.
Neji's face flushed slightly, "Tenten, why do you think I would reject you?"
Tenten sobbed, "Because of the caged bird. You always felt your fate was tragic, and there was always this invisible wall between us. Without words, you kept rejecting me."
"I… could never truly enter your heart!"
"Neji, you bastard. I hadn't even confessed my feelings yet, why did you have to die? Why did you have to sacrifice yourself? Do you know, I often imagined, after the war ended, I'd marry you, we'd have children, you'd hold me, use Gentle Fist to massage my shoulders, saying, 'Wife, you've worked hard'… you'd still use Gentle Fist…"
The more she spoke, the redder her face became. And the redder her face, the freer her words grew. Since the Neji in this world would accept anything, she simply blurted out all the fantasies she had hidden deep inside her heart.
Neji looked at Tenten, his expression growing stranger and stranger.
So, the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist could be used for so many bizarre things after all.
After talking endlessly and exhausting herself, Tenten finally closed her eyes, nestling into Neji's chest.
One word at a time, she said, "Neji, marry me. Even if this world is fake, even if you're fake… I'll accept it!"
Neji trembled, then said, "Tenten, have you really thought this through?"
Tenten nodded firmly.
Neji said, "Alright, I'll marry you."
Finishing, Neji gently pushed Tenten away and dropped to one knee.
"Tenten, you're the only girl I've ever had feelings for. If not for the caged bird, we might have already been together long ago, naturally married, naturally had children."
"Although it feels a little rushed now, compared to the whole world being destroyed, what does a little haste matter?"
He paused, took a deep breath, and spoke loudly, "Tenten, will you marry me?"
Tenten pressed her lips together, holding down her emotions. Finally, all her feelings reached a breaking point, and tears of joy streamed down her face.
"I will!"
In that instant, time itself seemed to stop. Around them, the celebrating villagers of Konoha cheered even louder.
Neji stood up again, pulling Tenten into his arms.
Tenten, happy and a little spoiled, said, "Neji, from now on you have to listen to me, got it?"
"This is my dream, after all. Whatever I want is what it'll be."
But then, Neji suddenly leaned close to Tenten's ear and whispered, "Tenten, how can you be so sure that I'm fake?"
Tenten froze. Then her heart began pounding wildly.
Because she realized she had overlooked a very crucial point: when she spoke of Infinite Tsukuyomi, of dreams and illusions, Neji hadn't found it strange at all.
If she had said these things to anyone else in this dream world, they would have been baffled, thought she was crazy.
Especially since, in this dream world, everyone had changed. Everyone except Neji.
'Could it be…'
At that moment, Neji said to her, "Tenten, I didn't die. The caged bird was broken. This isn't just your dream, it's mine too."
"At first, I didn't know dreams could connect. Until not long ago, the first time I touched you, because of the Six Paths chakra within me, you awakened too."
"I'm sorry. After the whole world fell into Infinite Tsukuyomi, I gained great power, but… in the end, I still couldn't save everyone. I could only, like them, fall into the dream."
"In this time, I was lost. I kept thinking about the meaning of life, about the purpose of Infinite Tsukuyomi connecting our worlds."
"Today, I finally understand."
"Maybe the world is fake, but love is real!"
[T/N: One of the less chaotic chapters. Nice.]
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