So here is my newest story idea! Basically this chapter is the lead up to the party and after that is when all of the fun starts (at least for me as a writer, not so much for the characters)

Not much couple stuff in this one, but just wait until I get to the party scene! ;p

I hope y'all enjoy!

It was the party of the century, as Ino made a point of announcing every couple of minutes while the four kunoichi tried on dress after dress. Frankly, Tenten could care less what kind of party it was. She didn't care for the loud pulsing music, the sweaty bodies dancing in time to the beat, or the list of invitees, and she definitely did not care for the skin-tight dresses that all of the kunoichi of Konoha were expected to wear.

Tenten currently stood inside of a cramped dressing room that Ino had only moments before been pushing her into as Tenten held onto the outside world with the jaws of life. Each rack had at least five dresses hanging in all multitudes of color. "How troublesome; now I know how Shikamaru must feel."

A loud bang on her door alerted Tenten to the fiery blonde's presence outside. "Tenten! Stop complaining and just put the dresses on! You're the only one who hasn't found a dress yet."

She sighed, pulling the first dress, a one shoulder, sky-blue number, off of its hanger. Ino was right; the other three girls had all managed to find a dress in no time, whereas Tenten had continually put it off. Ino was going to wear a dazzling purple dress that showed of just a bit too much cleavage and had a long slit coming up the thigh. She looked beautiful in it, and there was no doubt in Tenten's mind that a group of boys would line up for the chance to dance with her. Sakura, deciding against wearing her predictable red, chose a silver dress with pink waves tactfully sewn in a slash across her chest. Always the most conservative, Hinata's dress, though tight on the curves, managed to keep everything completely left to the imagination in a dark blue dress. It managed to accentuate the girl's graceful and poignant mannerisms. (Well at least until Naruto shows up.)

Luckily, time flew by quickly as the pile of no's stacked up. Ino was convinced that that a dress was supposed to compliment the wearer. In no time at all Tenten found herself back in the store, strolling through the many variations of dresses and looking for one that "spoke" to her.

"Tenten." Turning her head to the side, Tenten was a bit surprised to see her teammate and longtime friend standing among the vast amounts of dresses.

"Neji? What are you doing in a dress shop?"

"I was sent by Lord Hiashi to retrieve Hinata. She was supposed to be back at the compound an hour ago." Neji did a quick scan of the store as he spoke.

"Sorry, that's kind of my fault. Ino has had me locked inside the changing room trying on these tight excuses for clothing." Tenten motioned around her with a groan.

Neji smirked at her obvious irritation. "It is only for one night, Tenten. As much as we both despise tight clothing, it cannot be helped."

Rolling her eyes at his irritating logic, she merely huffed in reply. "I would have bought the first thing I tried on if Ino didn't insist on the dress matching my personality, whatever that's supposed to mean."

Looking thoughtfully around, Neji walked a few steps to the side, grabbing something, before coming around to her aisle. "Try this." Tenten narrowed her gaze at the dress. It was a deep maroon color, the same as her training outfit, with a metal embroidery wrapping gracefully around from just below the breast to the floor. Like Ino's, it only had one shoulder strap, however, this one did not dip to show cleavage, and the material was obviously made for movability.

Grateful for Neji's intrusion, Tenten swept foreword, taking the outfit from his outstretched hand. "Thanks, Neji. I'll send Hinata out so just wait here for a second." Tenten waved farewell to her teammate as he made his way to the check out desk to wait for his cousin.


A week later, Tenten found herself in an even worse hell than before. Ino and Sakura, armed with makeup and gunmetal nail polish, had Tenten cornered in the bathroom. Hinata, always the one to maintain peace, quietly soothed Tenten, managing to not only get her into a chair, but to also hold still as the two loud girls began to smear her face with all kinds of artificial products.

The end product, though uncomfortable, turned out to be well with the two hours of pulling and prodding. Each girl looked magnificent from head to toe. After refusing to wear her hair down like the others, Ino had pulled her hair into a graceful bun, with strands of hair curled in the front. It wasn't as comfortable as her usual panda-look, but at least she wouldn't constantly be pushing hair out of her face.

The four gathered in front of Ino's full length mirror, and for a moment, Tenten could hardly recognize the four faces staring back at her. Tonight, there would be no life or death battles, or unyielding training; they wouldn't have to worry about being tough around their comrades or getting their ninja gear dirty; tonight it was just four regular girls ready to show the world what they're made of.

Loud squealing erupted from the blonde and pinkette. "This is going to be so much fun! Wait till the boys see us! They are totally going to pass out!"

"Hell Ya! Sasuke, here I come!" Hinata paled at the mention of boys, allowing her head to fall to the ground. "Don't worry, Hinata." Sakura gently patted the Hyuga's back. "Once Naruto gets a look at you, he won't even remember what ramen is."

Hinata's face erupted into a deep blush. "B-but Naruto-kun loves r-ramen more than l-life itself."

Sakura gave an almost evil smirk. "Exactly." It was all the poor Hyuga could do to remain conscious.

Tenten, trying to save Hinata from any other talk of her longtime crush on Naruto, dove into the conversation. "Come on guys, the sooner we leave, the sooner I can wake up from this nightmare." Ino just rolled her eyes in exasperation before shuffling everyone down the stairs and out on the street.

Hooking the four kunoichi's arms together, Ino set the pace with the glowing intent to catch every gaze as they crossed through the city streets. Nervous about all of the stares, Tenten began sliding her arm out of Sakura's. "Hey guys, I'll see you at the party. I'm just going to go…this way!" The girls stared confusedly at Tenten as she motioned down a side street that led parallel from the ninja party.

"Why would you go that way by yourself when you could show up in style with your best friends?" Ino jutted her hip out to the side for emphasis.

Tenten scrambled her brain, trying to find an excuse that would allow her to escape the crowded streets and flee across the buildings at ninja speed. And then an image was molded in her mind, and before she could think it through, she blurted it out. "Neji!"

"W-what about Neji nii-san?"

"Oh, well I promised him that I would meet him by the gates of the compound. You go on ahead! I'll meet up with all of you when I- when we get there." Tenten flashed them all the most innocent smile she could muster, but jerked back at the evil smirks upon Sakura and Ino's faces.

"So you and Neji, huh? When did this happen?" Ino's smirk grew wider as a blush spread across Tenten's cheeks.

"W-Wha-"

"Don't deny it Tenten! I mean I knew that you and Neji were cozy, but I didn't realize that you two were THAT cozy!"

"Seriously Sakura! We are just walking together! We are friends, that doesn't mean that we are-are 'cozy'." Tenten's face darkened, and before any more thoughts popped into the two matchmakers' heads, she darted down the street, yelling see you later over her shoulder.

"Y-you two shouldn't tease her. Tenten is the kind of girl who will deny anything until she believes it herself. Even if she does like nii-san, she has probably already convinced herself that she is ill or something."

Both girls look crestfallen as what Hinata said sunk in. Tenten was the kind of girl who stayed away from parties, never opened up to anybody, and avoided 'girl talk' about boys like it was the plague.

"Okay, Hinata. You're right; we will leave her alone. But don't blame me if she accidently trips into him or something." Ino stuck her tongue out, then dragged the two girls off towards the party.


Tenten leaned back into the sturdy stone wall that surrounded the Hyuga compound. Not wanting to be a liar to her friends, Tenten had decided that she really would walk with Neji. It would be just like morning training, only with fewer weapons and tight, uncomfortable clothing.

"Tenten?" Blinking her eyes open, Tenten pushed herself away from the wall, stumbling a bit due to the heels she had been forced to wear.

"You don't mind jumping along the roofs, do you? The fewer people who see me in this outfit, the better." Tenten finally moved her gaze from her ankle the Hyuga genius' face, only to find his eyes gradually moving up her body, taking in her unfamiliar appearance. "Umm, Neji?"

She waved her hand and Neji's pure white orbs shot up to meet her hazel ones. "That color suits you." A faint blush once again adjourned Tenten's face as she realized that this was the first compliment her teammate had given her after five years of friendship.

"Thanks, you don't look so bad yourself. I especially like the new wrapping." Tenten stepped closer to Neji, tapping his forehead where he had covered the curse seal with black wrappings. If she had paid more attention to his face, she would have caught the slightest bit of pink under his pale skin. "So…the roofs?"

Neji recovered from the temporary spell that had befallen him, and gave the slightest of smiles at Tenten's antics. Here she was, glowing brighter than any star in the universe, and she couldn't care less how bewitched he was by her beauty. She didn't care if by leaping across the buildings, her hair would be ruined and her dress would be crinkled. She was beyond oblivious to it all.

Yet, despite all the thoughts running through his mind, Neji lived up to the true mannerisms of a Hyuga as he took to the roof with only a Hn.

Tenten, not one to be outdone, leapt after him, and he slowed just enough so that they could run side by side.

So like I said, not much takes place in this chapter. It will pick up at the end of the second chapter when I introduce the new enemy that our favorite twelve ninjas will have to face.

I have a couple of other Naruto stories that I never finished from last year and if anybody would like me to keep writing them just leave a comment and I'll get started on it right away!

Have a great Fourth of July!