Title : Kunai and Shuriken

Series : Naruto

Character/Pairing : Hyuuga Neji x Tenten

Set : 1

Theme : #1 – Code Name

Rating : PG-13

Disclaimer : I don't own any of the characters that will be used in this story.


A/N: Oh, it's an AU

They were going to give gifts to each other this year for some Christian holiday Tenten forgot. She found the whole thing absurd. They weren't even Christians! Well, at least most of the school was. The teachers just said that it was to "understand other cultures even more". Bullshit! Then why weren't they joining in all of the fun.

Now, Tenten wasn't normally like this. She just had a very bad day and was beyond pissed off. She was even worse than a pregnant or PMSing or menopausal woman whenever she got angry... for today. Or on any crappy day. It's not as if she's alone or anything in that field. Everyone becomes extremely irritable every once and a while. She would definitely be in a much better mood the next day. It was always like that. Not that it happened quite often, though. It was just that she tended to be violent, much like a wild animal or wrestlers on the ring.

In fact, she was practically biting the head of their class representative off right now. That was around after the guy told them that they were going to be giving gifts somewhere in December for a whole week. They were also to hide their identities with a pseudonym or whatever they called it. A code name. At the end of that week, they were supposed to tell the receiver of the gifts their names. She thought that the whole thing was very troublesome. Then again, her mind really wasn't working that well.

Rock Lee was trying to pacify Tenten and to assure the poor class representative, who also happened to be a year younger than all of them due to being accelerated, that he was going to live to see the next period. Not that the class rep needed any assurance. He was holding up his side rather well.

Neji, the Student Council President, was reading a book and trying to ignore all of the noise and insanity around him. Sometimes, he wondered if they really were an A-section. He also wondered why Tenten got so angry, why Lee was trying so hard to calm her down, why their adviser Maito Gai still hadn't interfered and stopped the two bickering up front, and how such a gutsy and rebellious person like Sasuke ever got accelerated. Why did he think so much? Most especially, what would be in his obentou today. Please let it not be something like Saturday's unagi donburi. He had learned something that day. Never let Hanabi cook. Ever. The very life of his taste buds and stomach might just rely on that.

"That's a piece of crap, Uchiha! Who thought up of that bull this time?!" Tenten asked.

"Well, gee, I'm not the fucking school administration, Tenten. Why don't you try asking them that?" Sasuke asked coolly and most likely one of his best I'm-such-a-bastard-so-go-crawl-in-a-hole-and-die voice.

"Please stop Tenten-san, Sasuke-san. You two aren't setting good examples for the class," Lee said.

Gai was in his own little world of youthness. Perhaps if he hadn't dodged that particularly sharp pencil Tenten aimed at Sasuke, who had dodged, he would've been in his own little world of ICUs. He had one of the best reflexes in the school. An amazing feat for a Literature teacher.

"Damn being a good example!" Tenten and Sasuke exclaimed.

Neji sighed. Perhaps he should buy those two some chill pills. It sure would help them and help this class to have even the least bit semblance of order, or was that asking for far too much?

Their argument continued until after an unhealthy dose of communistic USSR history which had left Tenten very much drained. The wonders of a boring teacher and an even more boring lesson. In a way, it was traumatizing.

Anyway, it was probably for the best. Gaara, Sasuke's best friend of sorts, was the overprotective type. Not to mention he was the school homicidal psychopath. Tenten would've been skinned in a second if he saw her verbally abusing his friend.

It was around a week later when they were asked to write their names on small slips of paper that were to be put in some black top hat. Tenten wished that whoever got her name was someone who was more than well-to-do. Like Neji for instance. It was well-known around the school that he, when he gave gifts, really gave gifts. A million yen to him was like a measly cent.

Soon enough, everyone's names were in the hat and it was now being passed. The name of the person they picked would be the one they would be giving gifts to. Tenten sighed when the black top hat reached her. Now was the moment of truth. She'd finally get to see who she was going to be giving presents to. Hopefully it wasn't one of the bullies or the retards. Then again, her gift to them could be her revenge.

She put her hand inside the hat, got the first paper that a finger of hers touched, got it out for her to see, then Kakashi, who was holding the hat and was their homeroom teacher, went to her seat mate. Oh joy. She got someone rich. She got Neji. It would be hard to look for a gift for someone like him. It had to be special. It had to be full of meaning. It had to be the perfect Christmas gift. Not to mention she'd be doing this for a whole week. What were they trying to do? Empty her savings or something?

But perhaps this could be used to her advantage. Maybe Neji would actually like her gifts, no matter how below they were of his standards. Or... But Tenten knew better than to arouse her hopes with someone like him. He was popular, he had his pick of women who were even more beautiful.

Yes, she was truly, madly, and deeply in love with their Student Council President. That was why it was so important to find a gift that he would appreciate. Even a small smile would be enough for her since he hardly smiled at anyone except Hinata who was his cousin, Naruto who was a very special friend of him, and, unusually enough, Uchiha who was his second cousin.

She had seen Neji smile once. Even though it had just been a Tanabata picture, she could still feel the warmth emanating from him. It was such a pretty smile that fitted his handsome face. She wanted to see it personally.

With that, not to mention her feelings, in mind, she began to think of what could be the perfect gift. Of course, she needed to do some researching.

Sasuke, who was sitting on the teacher's table, propped his elbows on the table, linked his hands together, and put his head on top of his hands. His eyes met Kakashi's briefly when the latter went to Tenten's seat mate. A smirk was on Kakashi's face. Ah, so part one had been a success. Good, good. Hopefully things would end up good. He had worked hard to get this kind of thing passed by the administration. Keh. They were all at the palm of his hand.

The much awaited week of giving gifts had finally come. When she got to her seat, Tenten found a nicely wrapped gift on top of her desk. The tag said that it came from someone who called themselves Shuriken. How odd. And how fitting for her, too. It just so happened that her code name was Kunai. Both were weapons used by ninjas.

Luckily enough, this gift was small enough to fit in her messenger bag. So she put it there before getting out Neji's gift and putting it on his table. It was odd that he wasn't there yet. He was usually the earliest in their classroom. If not him, then it would be Sasuke who was sitting on the teacher's table, as usual. Everyone knew that he was in charge of the teachers. Nobody had as much power over them as he did. The little manipulator. Not that Tenten really had anything against it. He was sometimes the cause why quizzes were postponed for another day.

The gift that she gave Neji was simple. It was a Philosophy book, seeing as he liked those kind of stuff.

When Neji came inside the classroom and sat at his chair, he placed the gift immediately inside his bag. Tenten felt slightly disappointed that he hadn't given it more than just a glance. He hadn't even read the tag.

Sasuke put a piece of his green tea-flavored Pocky in his mouth, not minding the cameras and the ogling eyes. Well, it wasn't his fault he was cute, dammit. He didn't choose to look like this. Hell, why wouldn't they all just leave him alone and go to Neji or something. The guy had long hair yet he wasn't pegged as feminine, unlike him. Just fucking androgynous. They were so unfair

Anyway... that wasn't the beginning he had in his mind, but, oh well, as long as it would end right, he didn't have any objections to that. Damn it all if he didn't. He had three thousand yen in the pool. Not to mention there was his pride. He'd never let that stupid Naruto and that idiot Kakashi win.

Lee didn't know why, but he felt so much intensity in the air. As if there was some sort of competition on going. Perhaps there was. Maybe this was a sign for him to challenge Neji during PE or some other subject. He made a mental note to act upon that thought later on. Gai-sensei might become even more proud of him if he defeated Neji, his eternal rival of youth... once again! Those rock-paper-scissors games rocked!

The day after that, Tenten found a slightly bigger gift inside her locker of sorts. She left it there. There was no use carrying that around in her messenger bag if she could leave it there. At least it would have less chances of being ruined. It was just so nicely arranged that it would be such a pity if even a small part of it got wrinkled. She could tell that the person who was giving her gifts was someone who was very neat and orderly. She also could only wonder who it was. Many of her classmates, them being an A-section and all, were neat and orderly.

On the third day, Tenten got a gift that was even bigger than the last one. This time, she found it in her mailbox when she checked it before going inside their house. This Shuriken sure was putting a lot of heart and effort in it. They even went to her house. She was excited to know who he or she was. Only two more days to go before the truth would be revealed.

She found a bigger present in her bag after lunch time the next day. Nobody had seen anyone put anything in her bag. She decided that Shuriken must be really hiding his or her identity really well.

Lee grinned at the show of youthness of Tenten's gift-giver. He would really like to know who they were and congratulate them on their sincerity and rule-following.

It was around that time when Sasuke managed to snatch a shrimp tempura from Neji's obentou. He munched on it happily. Neji's lunches were the best. Neji, on the other hand, was getting slowly irritated. A shrimp tempura, two slices of pork tonkatsu, and a sushi had already been stolen from his lunch. Just how fast could one person be? Then again, this was Sasuke. He was the brother of the star of the college track-and-field team. But did running included hands?

The fourth day. Tenten was really excited now. Tomorrow was going to be the day she'd finally see who Shuriken was. A freshman gave her, her gift for the day, telling her that some guy he didn't know gave it to him and told him to give it to her.

"Have you ever opened at least one of your gifts?" Neji asked her during lunchtime, letting Sasuke steal half of his beef misono. Poor Neji.

Tenten shook her head.

"I'll open it on the last day along with the last gift," she said with a bright smile, happy that Neji was talking with her.

Sasuke thought that they were both idiots not to notice anything. He made a mental note to bring a camera tomorrow. Something interesting might happen or his name wasn't Uchiha Sasuke. Besides, the dobe had raised the stakes. That cocky ass would learn a thing or two tomorrow. And Sasuke would gladly rub it on his face. Kakashi also wasn't going to get away lightly. That old man.

Lee could feel the competition in the air again. Maybe it was because the day of revelations was tomorrow. He wondered who Shuriken and Kutsunugi, who was his own gift-giver, were. Surely his patience would pay off tomorrow. He also hoped that Natsuko wouldn't mind that he was her gift-giver and that she had liked his gifts. He had, after all, thought that she was dearest Haruno Sakura who was from the freshmen.

Tomorrow. Today was a free day. Christmas, Tenten finally remembered what the day was when Sasuke made that announcement the other day, Partying Day, for short. In only a few minutes, they would get to find out who their gift-givers were.

Not only did she anticipate about the identity of Shuriken, she also wanted to know how Neji would react if he found out that she was Kunai. She was hoping against all hope that he would be happy. Maybe then, she could confess her feelings. And maybe, just maybe, he would also like her back.

Sasuke yawned a bit before slamming his hand on the teacher's table loudly, which, of course, silenced his classmates. A scary Sasuke in the morning wasn't what they needed. His blood type was AB and they weren't people to be messed with in the morning (Ouran Koukou Host Club reference). If he wasn't downright angry, he'd be creepy... very creepy. Creepier than the local History teacher, Kaimei Orochimaru, which would be saying a lot.

"Minna, we'll be doing this in an orderly manner. We'll start with Abe Natsuko. Her gift-giver, or whatever you want to call it, will be the next one and so on and so on. If I notice even the slightest of errors in your calling, it's a minus, got that?" he asked.

...And now, everyone still wondered why their class was the most punctual, the most quiet, the most orderly, the most neat, and, well, the best. Their class rep was a dictator.

"It's all yours, Kakashi," Sasuke said as he made himself comfortable on the teacher's chair.

"Mochiron," Kakashi said. "Abe-chan, go ahead."

Sasuke knew that Neji and Tenten wouldn't be called throughout the whole thing. After all, they did get each other's names.

"To the people who still haven't been called, please come up front," Kakashi said.

Tenten actually gasped when she saw Neji walk towards the front where she was. She couldn't believe it. No way in fucking hell!... Now she was sounding like that senior Tayuya. She blinked. When he was still standing beside her, she deemed that it was, indeed, real. What a coincidence.

Oh, if only she knew, if only she knew. Neji had a feeling that Sasuke, whom he glared at just now and had replied by smirking, was behind all of this.

"You're Shuriken?!" Tenten asked in a voice higher than her usual.

"Hai. And I safely assume that you're Kunai," Neji said. "It's a pleasure."

Tenten gawked.

"Where's your gift, Hyuuga-kun?" Kakashi asked.

Tenten blinked once again, then got her composure back. She remembered. The gift. She handed her gift to Neji who graciously accepted it. She blushed a bit.

"I hope you didn't mind any of my gifts," she said.

Neji shook his head. All that mattered was that she had given them. Then he looked at Kakashi who was looking at him expectantly.

"My gift isn't wrapped, Hatake-sensei," Neji said.

Suddenly, he hugged Tenten. Her mind temporarily shut down that moment when his arms wrapped around her waist.

"I like you. I really do," he whispered.

Kakashi sighed. There went half of his salary. Naruto was an idiot for raising the stakes, and he was a bigger idiot to have agreed to the whole thing. Sasuke sweetly smiled at him. Money.

Tenten simply fainted when Neji said that. He, on the other hand, took that as a positive answer. Nobody in their class would be forgetting this Christmas Party for a long, long time.


Woah. Another story created! Yippee! So what do you think??

Super duper excited,

Miu-chan