-1Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto
Well here is the beginning of the small 2nd arch. Still not pleased with some of the later stuff and trying to clean it up.
Prologue
The mess hall was decorated, a band was playing, children were screaming and running around in their childish games while those of shinobi heritage were showing off their skills in a myriad of contests including shuriken throwing, chakra control, strength, and other such contest that could be done indoors with limited space.
"Hiya." Tenten yelled as she threw her shuriken at the target before her. The result was a complex picture of the Konoha, Suna, and Seika symbols etched into the target, that was behind her.
The watchers clapped in delight at the show of marksmanship. Tenten smiled as she turned to smile at the competition, who just stared at her with mouths gapped open like fools.
"Nice work." Neji commented as he handed her a drink.
"Arigato." She smiled at him as she accepted the dink.
It was hot in the room with a fire burning merrily to keep the winter chill out. She was wearing a dress loaned to her from one of the kunoichi of Seika. It was loose yet beautiful at the same time. And judging by the slight blush Neji was giving her, he found it rather endearing as well.
Dinner was just being set by a beaming Choji and the other cooks who had spent from morning until now in the kitchen, preparing the dinner for the five hundred people living in sanctuary, most of those five hundred were children, elderly, and non-shinobi civilians.
Accepting her prize for winning the contest, a small, kunai shaped necklace made by one of the two retired blacksmiths. With a grin she joined Neji and the table they were sharing with their companions from Seika.
Hinata was blushing deeply as Naruto held her in a warm embrace and handed her a small box with a nervous fox grin on his face. Off in a corner Ino and Keiji were also exchanging gifts.
Tenten sighed as she looked over at Lee and Sakura, who were also exchanging gifts. Most of the Seika shinobi were also exchanging gifts between each other. They had been expecting to be here for this holiday and had planned for it. The Seika shinobi were far more in tune with each other than the Shinobi from Konoha, though there was no doubt they had grown far closer over the months of running, fighting, hiding and planning.
It was the midwinter festival. As much as they were having fun, she wondered how her parents were doing back in Konoha. Were they permitted to celebrate? Were they even still alive? Heck, its been over four months since they had any communication with Konoha. For all they knew Konoha could have been freed by now, or everyone could have been killed.
Tenten absently drew a kunai that was attached to her leg and calmly sliced a good gash into Niku's hand as the hentai tried to make a move on Neji for the twenty-ninth time this night.
Like her, all of the others were dressed in traditional kimono's borrowed from their host. Shikamaru, for all his attempts at looking bored, couldn't take his eyes off of the woman who claimed his hand against his will.
Temari was stunning in her kimono, and the Nara protégée had a hint of a blush on his face as he kept glancing at his 'date' out of the corner of his eye.
Ino's sudden squeal caught Tenten's attention as she looked over at the Yamanaka girl, who had flung her arms around Keiji and was kissing his cheek over and over again before taking the necklace Keiji had giving her and tying the simple jade piece on a leather thong around her neck.
Tenten sighed. Hinata had Naruto, Sakura had Lee, Ino had Keiji. And what did she have? She was the only female of their group who wasn't attached. Hell, even Temari had Shikamaru, Hanabi had Konohamaru, and Udon had Moegi. All she had was her close friendship with Neji.
She would like to think he had something more for her, she knew she had something for him. Hell, she'd had a crush on him since their first year. Neji was not someone who was open with his feelings, and she knew and respected that. But still, sometimes it was nice to hear something endearing from him, maybe receive a small gift like the others had from their partners.
Hell, even Gaara received gifts, mostly from his family, which included Naruto, and even one from Meiyo. Sure, Lee gave her one, as did Hinata, who got one for everyone, but it wasn't the same. Hell, she got him one, and Lee of course since he was her team mate and all. She even got one for Temari, they had exchanged earlier that day.
But Neji, oh no he hadn't gotten anything for anyone as far as she could see. Not that he wasn't the only one. Nori and Sasuke were only here because they had been dragged in by Naruto and Niku. Both teens found the whole event troublesome.
She knew Shikamaru got something for Temari because Ino had made her assist in getting the lazy Nara off his rear and out to find a fitting gift, which seemed to include a lot of rings before Shikamaru finally found what he was looking for and managed to purchase it without letting them see it. Sneaky bastard.
Tenten's brooding was broken by the sound of a bell ringing. Silence enveloped the finely decorated hall as Meiyo set the bell aside and all eyes turned to face her. She was rather stunning in her black kimono wreathed in silver flames that starkly reminded Tenten of the Hyuuga Kaiten.
"First, I would like to thank the volunteers who help decorate the hall for tonight festivities. They have done a marvellous job."
A round of applause and cheers.
"Secondly, I would like to thank Tori-san for organizing the events and to the many people who donated prizes for the winners of the events."
Another round of applause.
"Lastly, I would like to thank our wonderful cooks, who have been slaving away in the kitchen these last few days to prepare this wonderful meal, as well as the hunters and trappers who went out to bring in as much meat and game as they could."
A louder round of applause followed by cheering.
Meiyo waited for the cheering to end before she bowed her head and spoke again.
"As we sit here and enjoy the food Kami had graced us with and the friends we have by our side, our thoughts still remain on those who are unable to be here tonight. Our friends and family who are fighting to protect Seika from the youkai army that marches against it. Let us raise a toast to those who are fighting for our freedom and to those who have lost their lives so that we may live free. To the Honourable Dead."
"To the Honourable Dead." Everyone intoned as they downed their drink.
Sake for the adults and teens, minus Lee, and juice for the children.
Meiyo sat down as Gaara stood up.
"I would like to thank the citizens of Seika for the hospitality they have to shown to myself and my siblings. As the Kazekage of Sunakagure I can not express how much the sanctuary you have offered me means to my nation and I hope that I will one day be able to repay the hospitality you of Seika have granted my family and I."
Another round of cheers and a toast.
"That was the most I have ever heard Gaara speak." Kankurou gapped, taking another drink.
Temari nudged Shikamaru, who just looked at her blinking. Finally, Naruto stood up instead to speak for Konoha, Sakura and Hinata having helped him prepare as they knew Shikamaru would never be able to do something so troublesome. He was a strategist, not a leader.
Since their arrival at Sanctuary, Naruto had been the one taking more and more charge, though he still referred to Shikamaru's intelligence. It was easy to see Naruto as Hokage with Shikamaru being the head of intelligence many years down the road. They were already starting to work in that capacity.
"My brothers and sisters of Seika. We have fought together, laughed together, and cried together. The history and distance that separated us can not keep our family apart, and it is with great joy that we of Konoha have discovered and regained a part of our family that we never knew we had.
"Meyio and the elders referred to us 'the lost ones,' separated from each other in a History few understand. If anything, this separation from each other has made us stronger, allowing both families to adapt and grow in different directions, so that when this glorious day of our reunion came, we would be all the stronger.
"My brothers and sisters, to the reunion of our families and the continuation of our strong connections with our brothers and sisters of Suna. To family."
"To family." The entire hall responded with a cheer.
"Trust Naruto to get a party started." Temari chucked.
"He's certainly something else." Keiji agreed with a smile.
The night went by with great celebration, many couples slowly disappearing through out the night as it continued. The children were left to sleep where ever they crashed, new toys and gifts clutched in their hands. All thoughts of the wars plaguing both groups temporarily forgotten.
This arch will take place completely with this group and will not deviate back to konoha. What goes on here has no bearing on Konoha and I felt that jumping between the two would be off balancing this little arch.