Hey everyone!

Chapter #1 is mostly Neji&Tenten and so will over fifty percent of the chapters, however I do plan on writing a fair amount of:

TemariXShikamaruXIno,

SasukeXSakura,

NarutoXHinata,

OCXGaaraXMatsuri

Along with side lines of KakashiXAnko, AsumaXKurenai, IrukaXShizune and everyone else from the rookies XOC however I will mostly be focusing on character development and I don't plan any lemons or anything like that.

Thank you!

Updated 09/04/07

Find yourself:

Chapter one: The lost memories

'Who would have ever thought that we would have, could have succeeded?' Tenten was absolutely beaming, with a proud smile plastered to her glowing face.

Team Gai had just finished an A Rank mission to the Lightning with flying colours. Well, that is if you count Neji and Tenten defeating an S class criminal with their dual attacks, Gai informing the entire Lightning country of the 'Springtime of Youth' and Lee with his 7th 'insanity gate' open streaking through a rainbow, taking on what looked like 10 chuunin or higher level ninjas, then yeah the team was red hot. No one, except perhaps Neji could deny the bliss that was forming in the pit of their stomachs. Neji however had something else on his mind, something that troubled him greatly. It took such a toll on him as to almost slip on one of the tree branches that he was jumping on. It took a great burst of his power to make it look deliberate.

'I hope we see Kiyoshi Raikage-sama again. He is one of the most amazing people I have ever met……I guess he just has a natural ease about him...' Tenten's thoughts strayed yet again, her eyes softening with her calming thoughts, her shoulder length bangs fluttering behind her as her team leapt back to Konoha.

"What are you so peachy about Tenten? I bet your still reminiscing about your springtime of Youth!"

The brunette sighed closing her eyes in agitation at loosing her calming train of thought.

"Lee, do us all a favor and please don't say the word peachy anymore." retorted a slightly irritated Tenten.

"So……" egged on the bobbed haired ninja with his overly large trade mark smile that took up over 50 percent of his face.

Tenten sighed in defeat almost instantly, she knew better than to keep Lee waiting. "Well you couldn't really say it is 'Springtime of Youth' as you love to call it; however I am 'reminiscing' about our mission." replied Tenten, her softened gazed returned.

"Our mission or a person we encountered on the mission?" Lee said emphatically, with a knowing smirk growing larger by the second. Gai was mirroring him. It was clear they were in on it together. Neji's eyes narrowed intensely at the comment, they had his full attention.

Tenten's façade faltered oh so slightly. 'Well…it's not as though Kiyoshi-sama and I actually DID anything.' she thought trying to reassure herself of its legitimacy.

Her falter in her expression was only enough for Neji, who was right beside her to notice. "Oh Lee! Please do tell me what you're talking about?" asked Tenten offhandedly, flipping her bangs into the wind as she tried to play it off.

"I am talking about Kiyoshi-sama!! I know I am not the only person here!" he motioned to Gai. "Who noticed their proclamation of love for each other!" Lee shouted in that way that only he can as his eyes burned with the fire of youth.

She tried to hold it in. She really did, but she just couldn't Tenten burst out laughing in her high pitch sing song voice that had the entire forest echoing. "I do see Kiyoshi-kun as an amazing leader, person and comrade. However I have yet to remember when our 'proclamation of love' took place." replied a giggling Tenten with a freshly flushed face.

"I think it is you who do not remember Tenten." Gai butted in. "That night he snuck into your dorm."

Neji's face shot up like a bullet, eyeing Tenten skeptically.

"Our Tenten is finally experiencing the springtime of youth!!" Gai and Lee shouted together.

Tenten face was now fully flushed from embarrassment. "That was purely professional!!" she exclaimed.

Gai and Lee clearly weren't listening to her at all, as they kept shouting about her 'springtime of youth'.

Neji moved his way up to her until he was in stride with her as they continued to leap. "I would advise you not to get involved with him like that." he warned cryptically and quiet enough so that Gai and Lee couldn't hear. Something in Tenten snapped, Neji's words were like an invisible trigger in her mind. It was something she couldn't explain; only that she was very angry with him for making such a comment.

"What are you talking about? We aren't in a relationship, however what business is it of yours??" asked Tenten harshly, as her nerves were started to get to her. 'What am I getting so upset for? Neji didn't do anything wrong. It's as though I can't control my emotions. I feel as though there is something really big missing. I don't know what but there is something that I don't know about.'

Gai and Lee ran ahead, still making obscene proclamations about the springtime of youth, thus giving the other two members of the team some privacy.

"The Raikage may seem charming to someone like you; however he is a very dangerous person. He is far more powerful than you could ever imagine-"

"What are you talking about?" Tenten cut him off. " 'Someone like you!' Don't insult me! I am sure that he is strong however what does that have to do anything!?!?" She was mad, no she was beyond mad; she was furious! She was livid! Yet she couldn't explain why. 'He should mind his own business.' She thought trying to back up her angry, uncharacteristic outbursts.

"Tenten!" shouted Neji, with an anger that matched her own. She automatically withdrew, her head bowed in shame. She had hardly ever seen Neji raise his voice, and not once had been at her. Tenten felt a sharp pain in her chest, and resisted the urge to hold herself there. Neji noticed her reaction and continued with his normal level voice.

"I most likely know more of his endeavors than you do. I have heard from reliable sources he is somewhat of a womanizer. He has pursued many women, including Sakura, and Ino who had actual relationship with him, and may still." He sighed lightly, a very un-Neji like thing to do. "Also he has been married twice already."

"What are you talking about? How do Sakura and Ino even know him? How can he possibly be married twice already? From the looks of it he is no older than his late teens?" Tenten asked helplessly in confusion. Her head bowed her eyes unfocused. She looked extremely disorient, as though any leap through the trees she took she could slip and tumble.

Neji eyed her from head to toe. 'She is not herself that much is certain just from her body language, and I have a theory as to what may have happened…I just hope I am wrong.' He shook his head slightly as to rid himself of his thoughts. "First of all don't presume to know what Sakura and Ino do in their free time. Plus Sakura is Tsunade's apprentice. Put two and two together. Even though the Raikage is a prodigy, he is no Gaara. He did not become the leader of his country as a teen. Although looks deceive, he is already 23, yet another reason why it is inappropriate to be involved with him." Neji concluded giving Tenten a slightly pitied gaze.

She refused to lift her head. She was getting dizzy from all this new information. It just didn't fit.

Neji felt like he had to continue, no matter how much he didn't want to. It was strange seeing Tenten like this and he didn't like it.

"Also as you probably don't know I have been ordered to protect you from those who wish harm upon you, in other words, predatory ninjas."

"Nani?!?!" Tenten yelled her rage back in full force. "Protection from what?? You know what I don't care! I was finally feeling like part of you actually cared about me! I guess I shouldn't get such ideas in my head!" Tenten scoffed, she was throughout offended she raised her nose in the air in protest, all doubting thought were erased. 'Neji is being an asshole, predatory ninja's I am not weak…weak like some kunoichi.' Her thoughts faltering thinking of the girl who was taken advantage of. 'She was and is still far stronger and more skilled than me…'

"Tenten!" Neji raised his voice yet again. He harshly grabbed Tenten's arm, pulling them both to a stop. "Calm down." He said smoothly, with no hint of agitation. "Have you no memory of what happened to Temari? She had a worse case scenario; she became pregnant and now has a child from a man who forced himself on her. They still haven't found Mizuika." he said seriously, trying to make her understand the severity of the problem. When Tenten didn't reply he took it upon himself to continue.

'Tenten you have made me soft.' thought Neji.

"I have never seen you in an emotional fragile state before, and I am beginning to wonder if you two really do have a serious relationship." he finished quietly; he narrowed his eyes at her, as though trying to read her mind. When she bowed her head again and didn't reply his fears were realized.

'What is happening to me…? Neji is right, I have never been so emotional before. I am always the calm, level headed person in this team. What is going on?! Why do I think that something really big is missing!?' she thought franticly.

He activated his byukagun and continued to survey her when his eyes caught a glimpse of a dark marking on her neck. Neji was all over her in a second, pulling her collar down.

"What the hell are you doing?!" she exclaimed as she tried in vain to push off the much stronger ninja.

He swatted her hands away as though they were nothing and examined the bruise.

"What is this." it wasn't a question it was an order.

"He bruised me…he bruised me when he tried to force himself on me the nights he came into my dorm." Tenten replied with her head bowed, as memories came flooding back to her. 'I remember everything now…why do I remember it now and I couldn't before.'

Neji's blood seemed to boil. His arms tightened on Tenten and his being seemed to radiate infuriation. She winced as he subconsciously his nails dug deeply into her skin. The blood trailed thickly down her arms.

"I am supposed to protect you." he mumbled in a deathly quiet voice. "He came into your dorm more than once. Did he succeed??" he demanded, never loosening his death grip.

"No he didn't. Every time I protested he stopped immediately. However he then tried to interrogate me." Tenten replied as though remembering it for the first time.

"…You didn't remember this at all did you until I started to question you harshly, did you?" Neji asked his eyes narrowed, in concentration.

Tenten nodded her eyes unfocused. 'How did he know?'

"He put a blockage in your brain which disallowed you to recall your memories unless the block was broken by him or by someone who could counteract it." Neji told her, his eyes never left the bruise.

Tenten gave him a questioning gaze; she was surprised to see that he had activated his 'byukagun'.

"I broke the seal when I examined your bruise." explained Neji.

Tenten's face was in pure shocked before slowly softening into a genuine smile of appreciation and estimation. Neji was about to continue when she softly put a finger to his lips. He was surprised at the sudden contact, his face reddened very slightly, he wasn't used to it, nor was he expecting it. She refused to pull away or wince even when raising her hand forced Neji's nails to dig deeper into her skin.

"Arigato gozaimashita" she thanked with a huge smile on her face. She went on her tippy toes and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

She withdrew very quickly, unsure of what made it to do it. 'Tenten your so stupid what did I do that for! He's going to think I am crazy. It will probably make him angry or something.' she thought her expression faltering.

He seemed to realize his hands still held her tightly. He looked down at where he held her and saw the blood not dripping but flowing down her arms. He immediately withdrew. Again he opened his mouth to apologize but Tenten beat him to it in attempt to refocus the conversation.

"He interrogated me about you Neji. I remember now." Tenten told him, with all her seriousness back. "He asked about your strengths and weaknesses."

"What did you tell him?" byukagun eyes narrowed at her.

Tenten's face went a little red. She reached her arm back behind her head in embarrassment. "I told him that you had strength that he could never match and weaknesses that he would never be able to use to his advantage."

"Tenten, you know that's not true." Neji replied, frowning slightly.

"Yes it is!!" Tenten bit back. "You can challenge any ninja in all the five shinobi nations! You are destined to become greater than any ninja even in Konoha!" She inhaled sharply, as though just realizing that her mouth was working faster than her brain. "I-I mean you are most definitely on even playing field with Kiyoshi."

Neji shook his head in wonder. "Come on we should get back to Konoha, we don't want Gai and Lee to think we were ambushed." he said smartly.

She nodded and together they headed continued their course to their home country.

'Plus I know you want to get ready for your 16th birthday in two days.' Neji thought knowingly. 'What am I going to get her...' he wondered.

They ran the rest of the way back to Konoha in a peaceful silence. Tenten had a huge smile engraved into her face the entire way back.

Thank you so much for reading the first chapter of 'find yourself '!

Please continue on and see where the story leads, it is a story with so many twists and turns its hard to hold on. :P

I came up with that myself :D

Translations :

Arigato gozaimashita – thank you very much

Nani – What?

SEMI SPOILS!

The seal that was inside Tenten's brain was like the one that Sasori of the Red Sand (Akatsuki memeber) put on Yuura of the Sand in volume 28 of the series or for those that watch the episodes, it happens in one of the first 5 shippuden ones.

As well Gaara does become the Kazekage when Naruto goes training with Jiraiya for 2 1/2 years. In addition, all of the rookie nine and team gai improve a very large amount, however the most would most likely be Sakura. But in addition to that in my story I am making Hinata improve just as much, because I do think that she has the potential of being a great ninja, though maybe not as great as Neji, she can still be formidable and be a great leader of the Hyuuga clan.

please review, any comments, correction, suggestions, flames etc are appreciated!

much love,

temariXshikamaruluva