A/N: So, this takes place post war, but no one died or any of that sad stuff. Tsunade is still hokage and all that stuff. Team Gai is 19.
1. We Prefer Subtlety
"I was expecting more options."
Tsunade pursed her lips behind her teacup and bit back a sharp remark. She took a sip. The tart flavor of green tea mixed with sake did little to take the edge off of her temper.
"These are the ones that I am willing to part with." She watched the woman leaf through the papers, clearly dissatisfied. "This type of mission could take weeks, even months," said Tsunade. "I'm sure you understand, Hatsu-san, that limits my options."
The Hokage looked across the table at the woman. Hatsu was about the same age as Tsunade, maybe a few years older. She was a striking woman, petite and wrapped tightly in a kimono so fine that Tsunade did not dare guess its cost. Age had been good to her, and even with all of her wrinkles, Hatsu was beautiful and determined. Negotiating the terms of this mission would not be easy by any means.
Beside Hatsu sat Umekchi, a woman about half her age. As finely dressed and beautiful as Hatsu was, Umekchi was even more so.
Tsunade briefly wondered how much of a dent she could put in her gambling debt with their kimonos. But now was the time for negotiations, not fantasies.
"All of these women are between the ages of sixteen and twenty," said Tsunade, "They are all experienced in information gathering missions ranging from surveillance to seduction. Every team is accustomed to lengthy assignments and undercover missions."
"And how many to a team?"
"Typically four; three chunnin and one jonin, but some may vary."
Hatsu nodded, her eyes scanning a page.
"Do you have any personal recommendations, Tsunade-sama?" asked Umekchi.
Tsunade stretched her arm across the desk and Hatsu handed her back the folder. She opened it and flipped through the sheets before selecting one.
"Yakomana Ino is one of the best when it comes to these types of missions. Her partner Nara Shikamaru is a brilliant strategist. Her specialty is a jutsu that allows her to enter the minds of others. Both of her partners are from prestigious clans and would be able to adapt easily to the environment."
"She is striking," said Umekchi.
Hatsu had taken the sheet back from Tsunade and the two women were skimming the details of Ino's file.
"She is," said Hatsu, "but perhaps too pretty."
"She can command the attention of any man," said Tsunade.
"I do not doubt it, but we would prefer subtly."
"I'm sure she can be subtle mother," said Umekchi, "if not she can learn."
"You make a good point Umekchi. Tell me Tsunade-sama, what of Yakomana-san's personal life?"
Tsunade's brows creased.
"I'm not sure I understand your question."
"Is she romantically involved?"
"Yes, but I don't see why that should matter."
"The woman we pick will be surrounded by men, each vying for her attention," said Hatsu. "It would be easy to become jealous of these men. Jealously causes complications."
Tsunade shook her head dismissively.
"Ino's boyfriend is ex-anbu. He is no concern."
Hatsu placed the sheet down on the table between them. Tsunade took another sip of her tea and locked eyes with the woman who was, undoubtably just as stubborn and headstrong as herself.
"You should know, Tsunade-sama, that love makes people behave unusually and take more risks. This man's past does not matter, because he did not love her then. I need a woman who comes without such a liability."
Tsunade sighed.
"Perhaps you are right," Though she knew that Sai would never let jealously jeopardize a mission, it was clear that Hatsu had no interest in Ino.
"Someone else perhaps?"
"Well, my other recommendation would be Tenten."
Umekchi flipped through the pages while Tsunade described her.
"She is nineteen and single - as far as I know - and her team has done several stealth and information gathering missions. One of her teammates is a Hyuuga. Easily recognizable, I know," Tsunade added, seeing Hatsu's skeptical look. "But the Hyuuga are one of the oldest clans in Konoha. His name comes with value, financially and politically. Her other teammate and sensei are a bit… eccentric… but they take their missions very seriously."
"She's very pretty," said Umekchi, "in a subtle way." She handed Tenten's file to Hatsu. The elder woman scanned it. She didn't look overly impressed, but not entirely unimpressed.
"It says she specializes with weapons."
"Yes. She has earned the nickname of 'weapons mistress' by her peers."
"That is a rather masculine skill," said Hatsu.
"I can see how you would have that perception, growing up with samurai, but I can assure you that is not the case with Tenten. She does not hack and slash, she is graceful and calculating."
"And she is single?"
"As far as I am aware."
"Good." Hatsu placed the sheet back on the desk and stood up. Tsunade and Umekchi rose as well. "Umekchi will meet Tenten and her team in Otafuku in two days. If she likes what she sees then they will travel with Umekchi to Takkumi. Tenten will stay with us and lodgings will be provided for her teammates."
"And if you aren't satisfied?"
"Then your team will return to Konoha and we will find another means of accomplishing our goals."
Tsunade took a slow breath before issuing a curt nod. They had not even begun to discuss the fee. She downed the rest of her "tea" and summoned Shizune for more.
Tenten had made sure there was no gap in her curtain when she went to bed. She intended to use her day off to sleep and early morning sunlight would not ruin that.
The curtains had done their job. Unfortunately, they did not block out the incessant rapping on the glass.
The sound tugged her out of sleep, groggy and annoyed. She pulled the blankets over her head and rolled over, hoping it would stop.
It was just some stupid bird.
"Tenten!"
She groaned. Resigned, she pulled the blankets back and sat up. Her head ached. She pushed her hair out of her face with the palm of her hand, much like a child would, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
She yawned and stretched then stood up. She dragged herself across the room and pulled back the curtains.
Lee beamed at her. She crossed her arms and glared back.
Lee slid open the door to her balcony and stepped into her apartment.
"I am sorry, Tenten, but Tsunade-sama has requested our presence."
"On our day off?" Tenten yawned and grumbled a string of complaints that Lee could not quite translate into any real language.
"I suspect she has a mission for us."
Tenten stretched her arms over her head, lengthening her spine and exhaled with the release, feeling more awake and relaxed.
"Probably," she quipped, "why else would she summon us? To say hi?"
Lee frowned and Tenten felt bad. She couldn't help it if she was grumpy.
"Can you go in the kitchen and make some tea? I'll get dressed and then we can head over." Tenten stifled another yawn. "Do Neji and Gai know?"
"Yes, Gai-sensei came to me earlier and we split up. I came to get you and he went to get Neji."
Tenten nodded stumbled to her dresser. She began compiling an outfit, one drawer at a time. When it came time to select her underwear Lee mumbled something about the tea and hurried out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Tenten chuckled and stripped off her pajamas. Six years with Team Gai and she could still intimidate her teammates with even the slightest hint of her femininity.
She dressed quickly and made her way to the kitchen. Lee was standing at the counter waiting for her electric tea kettle to beep. She could hear the water rumbling inside. She pulled a chair out from the table and dropped into it.
The kettle beeped and Lee poured them each a cup. He sat down across from her and they drank in silence.
The last gulp came too soon and Tenten placed the empty mug on the table with a sigh. She stretched her arms over her head one last time and stood up.
"Shall we?"
Lee nodded and stood up as well.
Together the pair navigated their way out of Tenten's apartment and through the streets of Konoha.
All around them the village was coming to life. Every Sunday the main road turned into an open air market and today was no exception. Merchants were busy with their stalls, putting out produce and flowers, hanging bolts of fabric and hand painted masks - everything placed to catch the eye. Grills sizzled and tantalizing scents wafted through the air.
"Something smells good," Tenten said.
She breathed in the scent again and tried to locate the stall.
"Let's come back here after our meeting. I want to get something to eat and maybe do some shopping."
"Sure, but I cannot stay long," said Lee, "Gai-sensei and I plan to run eight hundred laps around Konoha today."
"Jeez, Lee, don't you ever take a break?"
"But Tenten, this is a break! Usually Gai-sensei and I do one thousand laps and then we go to the training grounds for the rest of the morning, or until you come and join us. Surely you and Neji put as much passion into your training!"
They did not. Their training sessions never lasted more than a couple of hours. And Tenten would be lying if she said they headed straight to Gai and Lee. She and Neji would often sit together under a tree with a thermos of tea.
"I think you and Gai-sensei have enough passion for the whole village."
A response to her statement came from behind them.
"You can never have too much passion!"
Tenten and Lee paused and turned around. Lee jumped in excitement.
"Gai-sensei!"
"Lee!"
Gai stretched out his arms and Lee ran to him, as if they had been separated for weeks, not half an hour.
They embraced loudly and dramatically. Tenten massaged her forehead and sighed.
"They make it seem like finding us was an ordeal," said Tenten. She looked over to Neji, who was now at her side.
"Perhaps they were worried that Lee wouldn't survive waking you up."
Tenten crossed her arms and Neji chuckled.
Neji raised his voice, so that Lee and Gai could hear him.
"Tsunade-sama is waiting."
The pair parted, their motivation refreshed.
"Right," said Gai, "Let's go!"
"Yosh!"
They took off, leaving Neji and Tenten behind, as they always did.
No one minded. When they were younger Tenten would have complained and even tried to catch up. When she couldn't keep up she tried chiding them; telling them it was rude to leave of them to run off like that. Neji once told her not to waste her time, that it was useless to try and change the pair.
But Tenten had deduced that for Neji, everything in life was considered to be an absolute and she had found that just as irritating as being left behind for a foot race. She'd always ignored him and redoubled her efforts to try and change Lee and Gai.
After another month on Team Gai she'd begrudgingly accepted that perhaps Neji had been right. She didn't like it, but she accepted it.
Tenten quickly learned that the upside to staying behind was that Neji was always there. Instead of trying to be part of the perfect team, she focused on cultivating a friendship. It had paid off.
Today they saw no need to run. They set a comfortable pace towards the Hokage's tower and discussed the open air market.
Tenten squirmed. Everyone was looking at her, she knew. She kept her eyes down and chewed her lip. She had stopped listening to the mission briefing when Tsunade had told Tenten her assignment.
The word had rolled off the Hokage's tongue easily but it sat strangely in Tenten's ears.
Geisha.
She didn't realize that geisha were still prominent enough to go undercover as one. There was political conflict in the Land of Rivers and the daimyo was worried about an uprising and overthrow.
But none of that mattered to Tenten. She was preoccupied by the thought of her body being wrapped in silk and her face hidden under layers of makeup.
She glanced over at Lee who was bubbling with excitement and curiosity. When Tsunade had explained Tenten's roll, he and Gai had fired back with a dozen questions about seeing her in a kimono and makeup (all directed at Tsunade, of course) and tossing in words like 'youth' and 'beauty' and 'flower.'
Neji remained mostly silent, only asking relevant questions when appropriate, but she caught him glancing over her once, as if trying to picture her all dolled up.
It wasn't as if Tenten never dressed up. Just not very often. She would dress up for festivals and special occasions but never quite so lavishly. And never for the purpose of entertaining men.
She thought it was a mission better suited for someone else, but Tsunade had summoned them and Tenten could not say no.
Tenten would stay at an okiya with other geisha. The daimyo had told the okiya that - in addition to the stipend she came with - they could keep any money that she earned as a geisha.
Gai would pose as her dresser. Apparently the kimonos were a bit more complicated to put on than the average yukata that she was used to, and she would need someone else to help tie the elaborate obi.
Neji and Lee would pose as patrons to the teahouses that she visited and try to gather information from a business standpoint. Tenten's job was not to talk business, but to pour sake and try to soften their tongues so they might whisper something to her and think nothing wrong with that.
It sounded both boring and nerve-wracking.
"There is a teahouse in Otafuku City," said Tsunade.
Tenten's interest perked. Otafuku was about 12km outside of Konoha and could be reached quickly.
"I have arranged for you all to undergo training there. While Neji and Lee learn how to behave as patrons, Tenten and Gai will learn about the geisha."
Tenten felt the Hokage's eyes on her and she looked up.
"Tenten, you have the most to learn. In order to be convincing you must learn a bit of music, dance and conversation. The geisha who will train you is named Umekichi. She has agreed to teach you the basics so that when you arrive in Takkumi you can be taken in immediately as a new maiko."
Tenten nodded in understanding and took a calming breath. This mission would be easy. She was sent on countless missions that risked her life. This would be more like a vacation.
"Gai," continued Tsuande, "you will be Tenten's dresser. Umekichi will make sure you are trained in the proper methods. You will also serve as a messenger between your students, you will keep me up to date, and you will oversee their wellbeing, as per usual."
"Of course, Tsunade-sama!" Gai saluted her and grinned.
"Good. You need to be in Otafuku by evening. Shizune has reserved you a hotel room. You will find the information in your mission log." Tsunade waved them off.
Team Gai bowed and turned to leave.
"Oh! And Tenten?"
She turned back to Tsunade, hearing the others pause behind her.
"Yes Tsunade-sama?"
"If Umekichi does not think that you are up for the task then the mission will be canceled."
"W-what?"
"You will impress her or we all will have wasted our time."
Tenten understood. No mission meant no pay. She bowed.
"I will not let you down, Tsunade-sama."
"I know. You are dismissed."
They left Tsunade's office and the door clicked shut. All eyes were on Tenten.
Lee's lips parted and she held up her hand.
"Too early, Lee."
"But Tenten! You will be the most beautiful and youthful geisha!"
Tenten closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she looked to Neji - hoping for salvation. All she saw was a teasing smirk that told her she was on her own.
"Our precious flower is ready to blossom!" Added Gai.
"Stop it guys."
She gasped when Gai pulled her into a hug. She could barely breath. He began to yell about how proud he was of her, his voice quivering. Lee stood across from them, bouncing on the balls of his feet and crying.
Gai squeezed her tighter still and she shot a pleading look to Neji, but he had long ago resolved not to get involved.
It was a warm spring day. The scent of dew on grass faded as the sun rose.
Tenten and Neji walked next to each other, slowing down as the city gates grew larger. Lee and Gai had decided to race as soon as Otafuku had come into sight.
"Think they made it to the hotel yet?"
Neji shrugged.
"Probably."
"I bet they'll run back here to get us."
Neji smiled.
"And they'll want to race again."
Tenten laughed.
"At least I won't have to stay with them the whole time," she said.
The smile fell from Neji's lips.
"Don't remind me."
"I'm sure you'll get your own accommodations."
"You also assume that will provide the adequate amount of relief."
"It could be worse."
Neji glanced over at her.
"Worse than having no buffer between Lee and Gai-sensei?"
"Tsunade-sama could have made you get all dressed up to flirt with older men."
Neji narrowed his gaze at Tenten and she knew they had both briefly envisioned him in a kimono. She laughed again.
"See? It could be worse."
"And how do you feel about your assignment?" Neji asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean getting all dressed up to flirt with older men."
Tenten blushed and cleared her throat.
"At least you and Lee will be with me for most of that."
"Our presence won't distract you?"
Tenten hadn't considered that possibility. Would she be able to truly let go enough to seduce someone while Lee and Neji watched? She would have to.
Tenten hadn't been on a mission like this in a while, and it usually ended after she'd drugged her target's drink. And in the right conditions that could be done right away. There was no seduction, no long drawn out tease. There was just a bit of cleavage and a coy glance.
She'd never even been kissed before. Suffice to say, Tenten's seduction skills were akin to a rusty kunai... Discarded and forgotten.
She would need some practice.
She looked ahead of her and saw Lee and Gai headed back in their direction. Neji was still waiting for her answer.
"That depends," she said.
"On what?"
"Well, if you get jealous you might try and distract me from my clients."
She laughed at absurdity of it and Neji clicked his tongue with an air of interference.
"I'll try not to be too distracting."
"Neji! Tenten!"
She sighed. Tenten was enjoying her walk with Neji, knowing that it would be the last time that she would be alone with him for a while.
Ahead of them lay Otafuku, and beyond that… Tenten wasn't sure.
A/N: Check out this new thing I'm working on. I've got 3 chapters lined up so far. I know how I want it to go, but I'm still working out the kinks of how I'll get there. So, I'm hoping you'll come along for the ride while I figure it out! I know chapter one isn't the most exciting, but stick with it! Things start getting fun fast!