A/N: hi everyone! wow. for some reason, it feels like a long time since i've written a nejixtenten. this one was a request from TheRainWolf. hope i did my best w/ this one. thanks for the idea! - oh, b4 i 4get, um... this might sound a little weird, but i want to dedicate this story to my great granma who passed away this Thanksgiving. it's just... she gave me so much, that i wanted to do something special for her in exchange. so, without further ado- Remember
Disclaimer: i don't own Naruto. Never have... never will. :)
Rain pelted down from the clouds like small bullets, making leaves shuddder, petals break from their stems, and the skin on the kunoichi's arms rise up in shivering bumps.
"You wanna call it quits until the rain stops, Neji?" she called to her team mate with whom she was currently sparring. He said nothing, shaking his head no. Loosing her patience, she shouted:
"What the heck, Neji? It's raining, and it's cold!" Neji looked at her coldly.
"You'll never become a great ninja with that attitude- oh that's right- you'll never become a great ninja anyways because you can't beat me." Tenten glared at him, hating him.
"You think you're so great just because of your... stupid Byakugan! I am so sick of you bossing me around! And," she said, advancing on him, kunai in hand, "I can beat you no matter what you say because you're only human! and when you screw up, I'll be there, and I'll win!!!!!!!" Neji was now staring at her with a mixed look of pity, fear, and impatience.
"Well then why don't you show me that you have that much determination, and fight me!" the kunoichi narrowed her eyes, and got into a battle stance, but was saved the necessity of pulling out a scroll and summoning her weapons by the sudden presence of a certain green clad ninja who came bounding into the training grounds.
"Neji! Tenten! My youthful comrades, you must come with me- Tsunade-sama said that she wishes to see us! If I didn't know better, I'd would think it's for yet another youthful mission!" at this, he smiled widely, his teeth sparkling and pinging. Tenten groaned inwardly. It wasn't that she didn't like going on missions, but for the past three weeks, she had been doing nothing else. She had just gotten home from her last mission only three days ago- but again, Tsunade was a very busy person, and wouldn't really know. For some reason, there were more missions then usual, so Tsunade was constantly sending a Genin (with a Jounin), Chunnin, Jounin, or ANBU squad away.
"Fine. Come on, Tenten. Let's go see what Tsunade-sama wants, then we'll finish training… hopefully," he added under his breath. Though he would rather be stripped of his overlarge ego than admit it, he too was getting a bit irked at the thought of another mission. It's to get stronger… to get stronger…he repeated it to himself mentally.
"Bossy," Tenten hissed at him under her breath. Luckily, it didn't appear as though he heard her.
I guess there really can be too much of a good thing. Tenten and Neji thought together, walking to the Hokage's Tower.
They arrived in Tsunade's office a few minutes later, and were greeted by a scene of ultimate disorder and chaos.
"Where did I put it? Is it here? Ugh, no. Shizune, help me!!" the Hokage was busily scurrying about, putting papers here and there, shifting Ton-ton, the little pig, from place to place.
"Tsunade-sama, no disrespect, but I have warned you countless times that if you don't organize your papers correctly, you will never be able to-"
"Found it!" Tsunade exclaimed happily, holding up a piece of paper. She caught sight of the three Chunnin standing in the doorway, looking dumbstruck as they gazed around the room; papers littered almost every square inch of the office, a disheveled Ton-ton was attempting to claw her way out of an overturned chair, and there was an unmistakable smell of sake wafting through the air.
"Tsunade-sama? You wanted us?" Neji addressed the Hokage solemnly after a few moments of stunned silence.
"Um… yes… oh! That's right! I have another mission for you three," she turned her chair over, freeing Ton-ton, and sat heavily in it, heaving a weary sigh. "Your mission is a C-rank one. Locate a so- called 'band' of ninja that have broken off from their village and are causing a bit of havoc among it now. I want you to bring them back here- preferably alive. The mission shouldn't take you more than a few days or so since they're not the most skilled ninja you'll come across, and because their location isn't far outside our walls."
"Hai, Tsunade-sama." Neji said while Lee smiled brightly, overjoyed at the prospect of another mission, blinding them with their pingy brightness.
"We are sure to accomplish it in no time with our youthfulness!!" Lee shouted exhuberantly as the threesome left the office. Tenten and Neji shook their heads at Lee's forwardness and excitement at such a mission.
"Well, better than doing dishes at the ramen shop, right?" Tenten said wryly to Neji who scowled at her, recounting their experience.
When they were Genin, they were assigned to wash dishes at the ramen shop. All had gone well until the ramen- eating maniac, Naruto walked in. the three were still working there about two hours after it closed due to the amount of ramen Naruto had eaten they were almost done as Tenten loaded up a pile of dishes onto her arms, and headed toward a cabinet to put them away.
"Tenten! Look out!" Lee shouted as Tenten walked onto a wet spot on the floor- Lee had shouted too late, and Tenten ended up sliding on her heel, falling backwards, the dishes being thrown up into the air. In an instant, Lee and Neji were there; Lee having caught the dishes, and Neji having caught Tenten.
"how's that for team work?" Neji said to Tenten as she smiled at him- half grateful, half embarassed.
"Not bad at all." Tenten said into his ear.
(Fades back into the present)
Together, they walked back to the entrance of the Tower, greeted by a rush of freezing rain and wind that blew in their faces. Tenten looks over to Neji, her frostiness melting. Unfortunately for her, he is the human iceburg, and looks back at her coldly.
"Let's meet back here in about an hour. Make sure you have everything you need for the mission."
"Neji, I..." Tenten began softly, but faded as Neji glared at her. Slowly, she made her way home, and began to pack, ignoring the tears that ran down her cheeks.
A/N: so how was it? i kinda got a little angsty at the end, cause i'm listening to a sad song. OMG! i almost forgot- whoever reviews for this story gets a virtual cookie:) your choices are: chocolate chip, peanut butter, thumbprints, snickerdoodles, and sugar. choose wisely- they're tasty!! (i love to cook so there's plenty!) review plz:)