The Path of Destruction

Chapter 1

By: Aireonna

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any of the characters from the show. I do own this story and the plot.

A/N: This is purely AU. Set in Feudal Japan for the most part. The main pairing will be Neji/Tenten and some Sasuke/Sakura and Naruto/Hinata later, others maybe as I go along. I don't really want to give anything away though but this is going to be a lot of fiction and fantasy type characters and powers added in. Please enjoy!

CRASH!

I jumped back just in time before the large pail of water I had just fetched from the well fell forward from the gate ledge that I had set it upon. As my hard work spilled its existence at my bare feet, I groaned to myself loudly.

I'm not one for chores. They never seem to work out quit right. I've never been coordinated enough for luck to be by my side watching me carefully as I do such things as fetch water from a well.

Exhaling quietly, I brushed my damp hands against the lower half of my yukata, not caring if I soiled it any further. Knowing me, it was already filthy from the day's activities.

Glancing around to make sure no one witnessed my little accident, I leaned forward slightly to grab the pail. Grasping the metal handle in my small hand, I turned around to head back towards the well once more. A whole twenty minutes gone to complete waste.

Welcome to my life.

"Tenten-chan! Have you fetched the water yet?" I could hear Shizune's high-pitched voice coming from somewhere inside the place we call home.

Biting back a growl, I closed my eyes basking in the suns heat.

"I'll be right there!"

Scurrying back through the yard and towards the well beside our little shack that held a chicken or two, I tried not to trip over my own two feet.

Fetching some more water in Satan's pail, I managed not to make a mess this time as I headed back towards where Shizune had called me.

My eyes darted around before entering through the doorway as the crash of the village gong rattled in my ears. I could hear our small village slowly coming to life as the day was beginning. From children screaming, chickens clucking, and mothers and fathers starting yet another day of chores and hard work, I knew I wasn't the only one suffering.

"There you are Tenten-chan. I wanted to get the water boiling before your Oji-san roused from his deep slumber." Shizune managed with a small giggle.

Flashing a small smile, I plopped down to watch Shizune work.

"You look like you need a bath already my dear, and the day has not even yet fully begun." Shizune was always good at observing everything down to the smallest detail.

Glancing down at myself, I shrugged my shoulders lightly, which caused my brown hair that I was wearing up in my custom buns, to bounce with my movement.

I could feel Shizune's eyes on me without even having to bring my sight up to notice.

"Tenten-chan, your birthday is in two weeks. You are over working yourself." Shizune dropped the pail of water lightly to the ground and turned to face me.

"Let's keep this between you and me darling…" I could always tell when she was plotting against my dear uncle, her eyebrows would twitch in a way that I've never seen and she had this tone that just sang mischievous.

"Oba-san…"

She threw her hands up in a cut off motion before I could breath another word.

"Take the rest of the morning off. I can manage around here until otherwise. Besides, your Oji-san won't be gracing us with his presence for another few hours. You know how he is about his sleep. He needs it to train."

I tried to block out what she was saying by counting the small rocks on the ground below me, but her hands on my shoulders suddenly made it rather difficult.

"Tenten-chan…"

Sighing, I brought my gaze to meet hers.

"Alright Oba-san, but this wasn't my idea." Smiling, I stood slowly and brushed my yukata of the dust.

Nodding, Shizune turned me around and pushed me softly towards the exit.

Stepping out our front gate, I turned to see Shizune still waving at me, making sure I didn't decide to change my mind.

Putting one foot in front of the other, my brown eyes scanned my surrounding area as my brain tried to manifest an idea on what I should be doing.

I know what I "should" be doing, but that was already out of the question.

What does one do for a break of sorts?

Walking down the main path of the village I headed towards the center, which was normally already lined with people shopping. The center of our village consists of small venders to fill our market place.

The morning is always the best time to shop, first come first serve in our community. You never know when it'll be the end of the supply for the day.

Side stepping around people, I pardoned myself as I bumped into a few here and there. Flashing a smirk, I bowed my head not to meet any gazes. The market place always made me nervous. Too many people arguing over the simplest of things, in turn made it really noisy.

"Tenten-chan!"

My head shot up at the use of my name and I tried to search for the cause.

I found the culprit a few steps ahead of me. A bowl of black hair and a flashy grin met my stare as I made my way towards him.

"Lee what are you doing here?" I asked.

He only threw up his thumb at me and winked.

"We don't speak of such youthful ways at a time like this Tenten-chan."

My eyebrow perked up at his statement. Lee always confused me with such random words and sayings. He was mysterious in a way that made you not want to know what he meant. Like if he tried to explain I would lose consciousness in his explanation.

"I'm not going to even bother today."

His grin grew and he put his hand gently on my shoulder.

"What are you doing here my youthful friend?"

Pondering that exact question, I only came up with a shrug.

"I have nothing better to do as of now. Oba-san relieved me of my morning duties. She told me to take a break." I chewed on the inside of my lip as I said this.

My eyes continued to dart around watching as everyone galloped by. It seemed by us standing here, it only had gotten busier in the mere minute of chatter.

"Ah, well if you don't mind, I must be off." He flashed another thumb with a toothy grin and pulled his dark green cape tighter around him as he disappeared into the blob of people without another word.

"Yes, of course…" I muttered to myself.

"Tenten-san, are you talking to yourself?"

I turned swiftly to answer my new inquirer and bit back a cough at the sight of Naruto.

Naruto was someone I didn't really know that entirely well. I've seen him around over the years and he seems to be a oddball but friendly to others. His bright blonde hair standing out in our village and his amount of energy that gave Lee a run for his money, didn't make him all that popular with the others.

"Hai, it would seem so." Smiling a bright smile to him I turned to walk away.

"Wait, Tenten-san. I don't normally see you here this early. Is everything alright?" I could hear a slight sense of concern in his voice.

Waving my hands in front of me, I laughed softly. "Oh yes, everything is quit alright. Just out for a small walk. But I'll be on my way back now. Thanks Naruto-san."

I didn't bother to wait for a response; I quickly darted back towards my part of the village. The sun hadn't moved much, so I only wasted a small amount of time.

Jumping over a short white wooden fence, I headed towards my favorite place inside our village. It was a short ways away from the huts, not currently inhabited by anyone other than nature. Pushing aside a few branches from a stray tree, I stopped in my clearing.

This was my clearing.

A small open area surrounded by tall trees with just enough light that you could see. A trunk from an old tree stood leaning to the right in the center of my get away. I didn't normally get to come here during the day; I normally saved this for nighttime. But seeing as I had nothing better to do, here was some place I knew I would enjoy.

Taking in a deep breath of fresh air I sat against my small stump and closed my brown eyes. I was used to not being able to see in this spot. So the darkness made it better. I didn't need to see anything. Hearing was a sense that many people took for granted. I was trained not to. Sometimes you had to rely on something else if you could not see. Sometimes your eyes would deceive you.

Humming softly to clear my mind, I laid my hands gently on my thighs. My soft red yukata now filthy for sure, but I didn't care. The earth was something that I could manage. People were difficult. Nature was something I could relate to.

I slid my way down to the ground that way my back was to the tree stump, keeping my eyes closed. The sounds of the trees and animals soothing me.

I could smell a fire nearby. The strong stench of wood burning filling my nostrils, I could almost feel the heat of the flames against my skin.

The soft chirping of birds, and the rustle of leaves, it was all so relaxing.

I must have fallen asleep because a loud thud sounded and made me jolt forward.

As my eyes adjusted to the new darkness, I could make out a small figure just before it blacked behind a tree.

Leaning forward on my palms, I noticed that the only light that remained in my clearing was that of the full moon above.

Strange, I somehow had allowed myself to sleep the whole day away. How odd. Lately I seem to be so tired, which never happens.

Rubbing my sore eyes, I swallowed hard trying to bring moisture back to my mouth.

"Hello?" My voice was raspy from lack of usage in who knows how many hours, but it sounded understandable.

I couldn't see anything else in my clearing that should be moving. Standing, I glanced around quickly.

Nothing.

I wonder what could make such a noise to wake me and yet I find no evidence of such.

RUSTLE.

Turning abruptly to face my right, I caught sight of something once more.

Squaring my gaze to try and make something out, my stomach began doing back flips.

Why did I always find myself in such situations?

Again, luck does not ever seem to be on my side.

Licking my chapped lips, I stepped off towards the sound, stupid me of course.

I never said that I was the brightest in my village.

I still couldn't see anything even as I got closer to where I had just witnessed the sound once more.

"Is anyone there?"

Okay, so maybe talking isn't the brightest thing if whatever was behind these trees and bushes was planning on eating me or something along those lines. But I am not the type of person to be played with.

Finally having enough, I grunted and stepped into the trees to follow my phantom.

Whoever said wondering through the forest barefoot was easy, lied horribly.

The hard floor hurt against my bare skin and rocks were sharp and pointy.

"Ouch." I ended up stepping on one directly in the center of my foot, causing me to jump forward.

I could hear something up head, it sounded like heavy breathing.

Good job Tenten, get lost in the woods, in the middle of the night, without telling anyone, while following something that could be your killer.

I always had the brightest ideas. Stopping, I broke off a branch from a nearby tree and surprisingly made a sharp point by running it along a rock for a little. I forgot to mention that I'm pretty nifty with any sort of sharp object or weapon. Comically, I can even handle without somehow hurting myself, so maybe luck spends all her time there.

Continuing on my journey into death zone, I tried not to let the branches hit me on my stead. Which turned out to be quit problematical. The places they did touch left behind small cuts and scrapes that burned but only for a second.

I somehow had lost track once more of how far or long I was traveling because I soon found myself almost face to face with the phantom I believe I was following.

Falling backwards hard, I landed on my back roughly, causing me to bite my lip. I could taste the iron of my blood on my tongue. Blood doesn't disgust me like most people, I actually don't mind it at all.

My eyes fell upon a very large, very hairy, very dark creature that stood before me. All I could see was black, red globes staring at me in surprise, and very white, very sharp teeth.

I gulped in the back of my throat and tried to stay conscious as the beast before me turned to face my head on.

I couldn't seem to think, breath, or move at this moment. It was like I was having an out of body experience. I could see myself on the ground, staring dumbfounded, yet not looking scared at all. I was screaming to myself "Run!" But nothing happened.

I could feel the hot breath on my skin from the beast, his form moving ever so slightly towards me. If I didn't know any better, he was sniffing me, checking me out. My eyes couldn't comprehend what I was seeing, but somehow I knew.

He looked like a very large, very beautiful, black wolf.

He? How did I know what sex this creature was?

And why am I still rambling?

A growl sounded in my ears.

And then it was like time skipped forward.

I saw a flash of flight, the black creature glaring its red eyes, and then turning and fleeing.

My breath still somehow lacked.

I couldn't feel anything. I was numb.

Breathe Tenten.

"Are you alright?"

A voice that I've never heard before sounded in my ears.

I finally managed to turn my eyes to try and find the source.

All I found was iris's the size of gems and the color of moonlight.

I found myself frozen once more.

A/N: First chapter finished!! What do you think so far? I will update ASAP! Please review!