Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Though, if I do, I would NEVER kill Neji off the show! :( Fingers crossed for his return!
A/N: My third story on NejiTen! I am sorry about the late update on story. I hope you don't mind! Enjoy reading!
Key: Italic words are thoughts and – points out who is thinking. XXXXX means end of scene. Any other you don't understand, feel free to ask. =)
The Traitor
Chapter 1 - Defined
[TenTen's POV]
Trust.
It meant everything to me. Break my trust and it was the end of the road for anyone. So it was no surprise that I was very careful with whom I placed my trust with. While very few had truly earned it, many had, not only taken granted of it, but went and dove head-first over the cliff. I felt no remorse over them especially after one incident. I thought I was strong enough, or more importantly, independent enough. However, I was soon to be proven very wrong.
TenTen leaned again the tree in the middle of the training ground, putting the weight of her giant scroll off her. Seeing no one had arrived, she closed her eyes. She didn't mind waiting or being alone for that matter. She and solitude were strawberry to jam, peanut to butter, even toilet to water. What was the phrase again?
Ah, yes. Perfect Two.
She really had no choice. Her parents were killed in the war and her aunt took her in which was very nice of her. Too nice. Somewhere at the back of her mind, TenTen always knew it was all too good to be true. Her new house was welcoming and warm but it all changed as weeks passed. They started to ostracise her, took away her bedroom and even planned on selling her. Luckily, she managed to run away on time and had been living alone ever since. She never trusted anyone ever since.
XXXXXX
[Flashback]
"John, where are we going?" the ten-year-old TenTen asked as she followed her cousin into the dark forest outside of Konoha, her bright brown eyes reflecting the full moon.
Her cousin, John, stared at her, filled with regret and remorse.
"You're finally here," a hoarse voice came behind a tree.
TenTen immediately recognised the voice and on reflex, cowered behind John, "What's she doing here?" Her little fingers curled around the handle of the kunai sticking out of John's belt.
"Look, there must be some other way to solve our poverty! We can work harder. Go on more missions!" John said.
"This is the easiest way, John! I thought we have talked about this!" TenTen's aunt came out from the shadows. "It's too late to change your mind. They will be here shortly."
"Where is the girl?" three people landed silently in front of them. Their metallic headband glinted in the moonlight, showing the curved 4 waves, representing the Village of Mist.
TenTen gasped, horrified. This could not be happening. Words had been spreading that a certain family had been selling up-coming ninjas with potential to the Village of Mist because some diseases broke out, wiping out over half of the young ninjas at the Mist and they are now lacking warriors. So they turned to other villages and bought their ninjas for a hefty price.
"NO!" TenTen screamed as one of Mist grabbed her. "John, please. Save me!"
"John. This is the only way to say your father!"
"TenTen, I am so sorry. I have no other choice," John apologised as he push the brunette away.
For the first time in her life, TenTen felt something broke inside of her. Pain gushed through her body, her heart sank. This feeling was worse than when she was told the news of her parents.
Confusion.
Hurt.
Betrayal.
She was done.
I won't be pushed over and used again. I am a human. I deserved to be treated as one! Not just another asset. – TenTen
TenTen's body took over. Her hands moved and in one quick motion, she stabbed her captor. Everyone was taken back but she gave them no time to react. As if she had been training and handling weapons all her life, she grabbed five more kunai from the stabbed man's pockets and threw them at the other remaining Mist ninjas as well as her relatives, all hitting them right in the legs.
XXXXX
"TenTen!" Maito Guy voice rang loud, breaking TenTen's thought. "I'm sorry we're late but you don't need to take it out on the poor tree, you know."
TenTen looked down. She was gripping on a kunai so tightly that her knuckles had turned white and part of the trees bark had been chipped off.
"Sorry," she mumbled, forming a hand sign. The kunai disappeared with a puff.
"It's okay, youths all made mistake! You shall learn from them and bloom beautifully one day!" Gai said dramatically, his eyes getting teary.
After much tears, jumping and youth-ing exchanged between the two bushy eyebrows, the team finally made their way to Tsunade.
XXXXX
"I have a mission specially chosen for you," the fifth Hokage said, throwing the information files to each of them, "You are going to the Village of the Mist."
"For?" TenTen asked, trying to hide her emotions. Ever since the incident, she had never accepted any missions concerning with the Mist.
"You are to help them capture a villain."
"I'm sorry. I can't go on this mission."
TenTen bowed and turned to leave. Rock Lee grabbed her arms.
"Lee, let go," the brunette said, her jaws clutched.
"What is with you and Mist missions, TenTen?" he asked, innocently. "Tell us and we can help you."
When TenTen did not answer, Neji said, "Let her go, Lee."
Everyone said they should be together but unlike the other girls, TenTen could not afford that. She just could not find the heart to trust or even, love anyone. Neji was just her friend, her training partner. No more, no less.
TenTen walked out, not bothering to look back. She could hear Gai apologising profusely. Man, she was going to hear an earful of her action at the training ground but she didn't care. She'd rather kill herself, blew up the entire village than work with the Mist. She was going to threw the file into the bin when a picture slipped out. She picked it up and nearly toppled over.
It was a picture of John.
A/N: So, how was it? Is the story too dark? As usual, please please please pleaseeeeeeeeee do review! I love reading all of them, no matter how short or long they are! Feel free to criticise and give your true opinion. I promise I won't mind because I think they will help me with my next stories and the up-coming chapters. Thank you very much for taking your time out and reading my story! :D
