Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and all that Jazz.

AN: Thanks to everyone that reviewed! I promised a re-write ages ago, so this is long overdue -. R&R and enjoy the new version of Spiralling!

For what seemed the tenth time that day, Tenten lay quite unceremoniously on the dusty ground, staring up at the emotionless face of Hyuuga Neji. She hated this, really she despised it. Ever since Lee, Neji and herself had been placed on the same genin team, she had never been able to beat him sparring, and now after eight years of convincing herself that if she trained hard enough, if she pushed herself enough she would be able to beat him she had come to the conclusion that she just couldn't.

Sure, Naruto had beaten him in the chunnin exams six and a half years ago, but unlike Naruto, Tenten didn't have endless reserves of chakra. In fact she was really quite mediocre at the whole 'chakra' thing altogether. Weapons. That was Tenten's speciality, she loved every single one of her weapons. From kunai to senbon and shuriken she could use all of them perfectly, but this meant nothing when she was sparring against Neji. Every single sharp object that she flung at him with her perfect aim, he repelled with his stupid Byakugan. It made the usually cheerful Tenten quite angry. Really it did.

With what small dignity she had left, Tenten, yet again, slowly dragged herself to her feet, but instead of stepping into her fighting stance as she had been doing for the past three hours, she sighed and walked, in pain, to the gates of the training grounds.

"Tenten" Neji's voice sounded right behind her. "Where are you going? We are nowhere near to the end of training."

Tenten gritted her teeth. "I am going home. While you may not be finished I am."

Tenten could almost feel Neji smirk.

"Then you'll definitely have no chance of beating me. You don't want to get even weaker do you?"

Right that was the last straw, she turned to the pompous, arrogant, egotistical jerk known primarily as Neji Hyuuga, and glared as hard as she could.

"Don't you think I know that?" Tenten hissed at him in a dangerously low voice. "Don't you think I know I'm weaker than you and your stupid Byakugan? Have you ever thought for even one minute about how it feels to know that no matter how hard you train you'll not even come close to beating the famous Hyuuga prodigy? No, you haven't! You haven't because you are the most selfish, arrogant, egotistical, self centred jerk I have ever had the misfortune to meet!" And with that Tenten stalked out of the training grounds, leaving a very confused Byakugan user in her wake.

As soon as Tenten reached her apartment she slammed the front door as hard as she could, ran to her room, lay on her bed and cried. It was the first time she had cried in about three years. She hated the feeling of all this hopelessness wash over her. Why of why couldn't she have been born with a Bloodline Limit like the Byakugan? she thought bitterly. She hated being so mediocre, sure she had been promoted to Chuunin, but it was likely that she was going to stay a Chuunin for the rest of her ninja life. Neji had already made it to Jonin, and that made Tenten feel even worse, if that was possible. Hell, it was likely that even Lee would make it to Jonin before her, and Tenten wasn't sure how she was going to handle that one when it came along.

Tenten was interrupted from her self-hating by a knock at the door. Vigorously wiping her eyes, trying to rid her face of any signs of tears she half walked half jogged to the entrance of her flat.

She was suprised to see Ino there.

"Ino!" Tenten greeted, smiling "I thought you were away on a mission for the next two days!"

Ino grinned back "Nah, we managed to complete it in a week. It was pretty simple." she said, stepping around Tenten and swiftly plopping down on the couch.

Tenten chuckled, and followed Ino to the couch, shutting the door behind her.

"So Tenten," Ino said" I'm here to invite you to my graduation party-"

"Oh God!" Tenten exclaimed. "You made it to Jonin!?"

Ino nodded smugly. "Yeah, I beat Sakura by three points!"

Tenten chuckled and caught her friend in an embrace. "Congratulations!"

Ino began giggling and returned the hug. "So, are you coming?"

"I'm there!" Tenten said enthusiastically "Do you want to stay for dinner?"

"Yes." Was Ino's swift reply."I've had to put up with Shika-kun's cooking for three days, I definately deserve a break. Can we invite Forehead and Hinata?"

Tenten nodded and handed the cordless phone to the blonde kunoichi. Since when had Shikamaru become Shika-kun? She mused to herself.

Half an hour later found the four friends clustered around Tenten's glass coffee table in various positions, pigging out on a take out from Ichiraku's.

"Okay!" Ino began, waving the rest of the girls silent. "I have an announcement to make!"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Yes sensei?"

"Shut it! I'm serious!" Ino threw a noodle in Sakura's direction.

"Ew!" Sakura exclaimed as it hit her on her slightly large forehead. "Gross!"

"Anyway, as I was saying." Ino sent a glare in Sakura's direction. "Something important happened on my last mission."

Everyone's attention was on Ino now.

"Shika-kun and I got together."

"WHAT!?" Sakura and Tenten screeched simultainiously.

Ino grinned.

"C-congratulations Ino-chan." Hinata gave a small smile.

"What? When? How?!" Sakura gaped.

Ino gave a tinkling laugh. "Wouldn't you like to know!"

Sakura opened and closed her mouth, apparantly speechless. Tenten snorted. She looked like a fish.

"Don't be mean!" Sakura pouted. "I thought we were best friends?"

Ino shook her head. "Fine, fine , calm down Forehead girl!We are! Well, Shika-kun and I were star gazing on the last night of the mission, and he just leaned over and kissed me!"

"How r-romantic!" Hinata sighed. "Under the s-stars!"

Sakura sighed aswell. " So romantic..."

Tenten shoved Ino "Lucky!"

Ino laughed again. "It would have been perfect, only after he kissed me I said : Hey Shikamaru, does this mean you like me then? "

Sakura nodded.

"And he goes, I though it would have been obvious, Troublesome woman!" Ino shook her head.

Sakura burst into laughter.

Hinata gave a cute giggle. "T-thats just l-like Shikamaru-kun."

Tenten wiped her streaming eyes. "In all seriousness though, Ino, your really lucky to have him."

Ino shot her a quizzical look. "What's brought this on? Have you finally admitted to yourself that you are madly in love with Neji Hyuuga, but are so very depressed as you can never be together 'cause he has some secret marrige to his cousin?"

Everyone stared at Ino.

"Wouldn't that mean he'd have to marry Hinata?" Sakura asked, the laughter just barely concealed.

Hinata paled and Ino looked slightly disgusted.

Tenten sighed and slugged Ino in the arm. " You are officially insane."

"Ow!" Ino rubbed her arm. " Don't hit me! I bruise easily! And why am I so insane? You never know!"

Tenten shook her head. "Reason one, I have never, never will and don't have a crush on Neji. Reason two, I actually have reason to believe he has no emotions. Reason three, secret marriges only happen in TV programs and reason four you can never trust the judjement of a girl that hasn't noticed she has noodles in her hair."

Everyone cracked up. Even Hinata was laughing hysterically.

"Wha-?" Ino clutched frantically at her hair.

"SAKURA!"

Here we come to the end of our newly rewritten first chapter! Please leave me some feedback, and I should be updating in the next hour or so!

Ja ne!

Natalie-chan