Hi guys! This is a new GaaTen fic, and is a request from one of my best friends on FF, Jasmineflowr19876. I really hope you enjoy it, Jasmine, and I hope the rest of you do as well.

Chapter One: Evacuation

With the new day came changes. And sometimes changes are good, other times they are bad. And right now, Tenten could feel only the strains of bad bearing down upon her, despite the fact that she knew it was for her greater good.

She gazed around her room, hoping she had everything ready. All her possessions were packed professionally, all her weapons, scrolls and other tools, all prepared. Tenten seemed ready to go, but there was still one thing not prepared.

Herself.

She was horrified when her name had been read out on the official list. Who had done that? And why?

With the Fourth Shinobi World War on the horizon, the threat of an Akatsuki invasion of Konoha was constant, haunting many residents who still remembered the Sound Invasion and the Invasion of Pain, and the death a destruction they had caused…

Tsunade quickly organised an emigration list, and allowed anyone to sign up in order to flee the nearby countries and other hidden villages. However, so many ninja of all ages were determined to stay and protect the village, that Tsunade had to organise another emigration list – one where people wrote down who they felt should leave the village, regardless of what the person in question believed. They were kept anonymously, so Tenten had no idea who had written her name down.

But now she had to leave. Today she was heading out towards the Hidden Sand Village, and she wasn't sure if she would ever come back.

She gazed out of the window, hoping for…she wasn't sure really. Maybe a sign. A sign that this was a mistake. That she could remain where she lived.

No.

That, Tenten told herself firmly, was wishful thinking.

Rain was hammering upon her window and her roof, seemingly echoing her mood. Already she could see many other people, nominated for this evacuation, filing down towards the great gates of Konoha, leaving it for perhaps the last time…

Resisting the urge to shatter the window, Tenten turned her back on this dismal scene, and picked up her professionally packed belongings.

Taking a firm look back at what was once her room, she nodded, and, not wanting to loiter any more lest she burst into floods of tears, she turned and strode out.

A work of art was certainly the word the leaf villagers would use.

A huge wooden coach, at least thirty metres long and powered by pure chakra, it was something to behold. A modern piece of architecture, specially designed to get the evacuees to Suna in less than five hours. Careful, efficient…what more could they ask for?

Even the rain didn't perturb this mighty travel machine as it stood there, seemingly proud of what it would achieve.

A large crowd was gathered near the gate, held back by ANBU. Tsunade stood in front of them, and raised her head to make herself heard.

"This is the brand new form of transport that shall get you to Suna," she declared. "It may look bizarre – but believe me, this is cheaper and easier than a whole mass of people travelling on foot. We can monitor the progress of this transport as well, so you will be in safe hands. So…any questions?"

A hand stuck up from the crowd.

"It doesn't look big enough…" the person began.

"It is designed the carry the first hundred people who were nominated for this," she replied. "But more are under production. In time, everybody nominated for evacuation will be evacuated to Suna."

Tenten, who had just joined the muttering crowd, saw a glimmer of hope. What if she wasn't among the first hundred? Then she may be able to find a way to avoid evacuation when it was her turn!

Tsunade was then handed a list by Shizune.

"The first hundred are…"

And so she began. To her dismay, Tenten's name was almost the first one read out. She felt her heart sink, and a great chasm in it opened, allowing all feelings of icy, cold despair drain in in torrents.

However, she was determined not to let these bleak emotions show. For what reason, she wasn't sure. But it felt good to believe that she had some dignity left in her being.

As the crowd moved forward under the rain, she looked around the grey foreboding street, hoping for a sign of some kind, or maybe just to look at the place she once called home one last time. Though, she would never want to remember a cheerless, drizzly day such as this one. Even if…

She smiled in spite of herself as she turned around, for jogging towards her through the rain was her friend and team-mate, the wild handsome green wild beast of battle, Rock Lee.

"Hi Tenten!" he cried cheerfully, bounding next to her and looking like an inflated cartoon character compared to all the stony-faced evacuees.

"Hi Lee. How are you?" Tenten replied.

"Me? I am great and youthful!" Lee affirmed, unnecessarily loudly.

"I have been training since the crack of dawn! It is great to start early!"

Tenten quickly noticed the mud covering his green jumpsuit.

"In the rain?" she asked incredulously.

"Yes!"

Lee, Tenten realised, was almost never unhappy, even though he used to have the best reason to be. It was always claimed he couldn't be a ninja, and that he would never amount to as much as others. And yet…here he was, smiling in spite of everything. And now Tenten's dread was replaced by a deep sense of guilt and shame…

But there was one thing she wanted to know.

"Lee," she said, her voice quiet. "Was it…was it you who…nominated me for evacuation?"

Lee shook his head.

"No, but rest assured that I would have done." His face became more serious. "I would not want to risk you getting harmed. Remember that time a few years ago when you tried to stop me and Neji fighting and ended up breaking both your legs?"

Tenten could. How could she forget?

"Exactly," Lee continued after Tenten nodded. "I would never be able to live with myself if you were to get seriously damaged or maimed."

Those words caused Tenten's heavy heart to rip itself in two. Breaking down into fits of uncontrollable sobs, she flung her arms around the bushy browed ninja; causing his eyes to grow wide with surprise and making him stagger backwards a few steps.

"Tenten…"

"What…would…I…d-do without…friends like you?" Tenten choked, releasing him and wiping her eyes.

"And…" she paused. "I'm not going to see you…"

"Don't!" Lee advised. "Do not think like that, Tenten! You will see me again! The lotus of Konoha blooms twice! When we see each other again, we will have both become stronger ninja."

Tenten let this sink in. Here was Lee, head normally in the clouds, obsessed with his training and youth, and now, he was including her within this too – the two of them, whilst not among the great elites of the shinobi world were still at it, proving to everyone, especially themselves, that they were strong ninja too.

Tenten was about to say something to Lee, when he said,

"I am afraid I will have to leave you now. Farewell Tenten!" He then held in a brief, one-armed embrace, before sprinting off to continue with his youthful training.

As soon as he was gone, Tenten felt the insatiable urge to run after him. Her very being pined for his companionship – a companionship that she wouldn't have for years.

Great.

The crowd moved forward under the ever-increasing rain, huddling together for warmth. Tenten however, stood alone.

Eventually, she got to the front of the queue that was queuing to get into the chakra-powered coach.

The shinobi who was checking them all in had his lips set in an expression of profound boredom. He looked at Tenten with the same disdainful eye that she had so many times seen in Neji.

"Name?" he muttered, in a voice sounding as flat as his hair was becoming in the rain.

"Tenten Omoiyari," she replied, her voice as flat as his. She was determined not to let her distress show.

"Age?"

"17."

Tenten got the impression that this man had been doing this all day. However, due to her position, her sympathy was withering.

"Your seat is number 86," the shinobi told her, gesturing carelessly towards it with his head.

Tenten, dark thoughts swirling around her mind and threatening to burst from her mouth like projectile vomit, climbed into the vehicle, and sat herself down in the seat marked 86.

It may have been an efficient way to transport all the evacuees to Suna, but the architects really should have focused more on the comfort of this so-called modern miracle. There were two rows of seats set horizontally on the interior, facing each other. But these seats were tiny, wooden things, which were packed together tightly like sardines. Tenten couldn't help but rub shoulders with the large bloke who sat in seat 85 next to her. She inwardly groaned as she caught a whiff of alcohol and body odour.

As the coach filled, Tenten gloomily observed that nobody coming in was a ninja, just regular villagers. She was the only shinobi among them being packed off to a 'safe' out of the way place. So, she was considered the weakest ninja in the village now was she?

"Effin' marvellous," she muttered darkly, feeling that she would like nothing better than vandalise the seats with her kunai.

Eventually, the coach was full…one hundred people, all packed in, barely saying a sound.

The door clicked shut, and soon they began to roll slowly out of the gate, gathering speed as it went.

Tenten leant back and closed her eyes, feeling tears form underneath her eyelids. Of all the times she had to cry, right now was when she did it? In a coach full of strangers?

Though, admittedly, the tears might have been caused by the fact that she banged the back of her head on the tiny thick window above her seat.

Rubbing her head and blinking furiously, Tenten held back, with some difficulty, the scream that was threatening to explode from her.

"Are you alright?" came a small voice. Tenten, forgetting her anguish for a moment, looked for the source.

There was a small boy, no older than seven, sitting opposite her, a look of anxiety in his deep, lavender eyes…

He was a Hyūga.

Tenten felt her anger vanish, to be replaced with mixed curiosity and concern. There were no other Hyūgas in the coach. Was a boy this young really being sent to Suna alone?

"Yes…I'll be fine," Tenten replied. "But…what's your name, and…what are you doing here?"

The little boy smiled and swung his legs, which didn't touch the floor, around.

"My name is Benjiro Hyūga, miss. I'm here because I was nominated for evacuation, like everyone else."

"He seems to have a better grip on intellect than others his age," Tenten though, warming to him already.

"But surely," she continued. "You're far too young to go on your own…"

"Don't worry, miss," Benjiro replied. "I'm sure I can manage. Lord Hiashi is always telling me how good I am with my fighting and ninja techniques."

Tenten nodded, pondering what he had said. "You…err…like Hiashi then?"

Benjiro nodded happily.

"Yes miss. He's a very good man."

"Poor deluded lad…" Tenten thought. Then, she asked,

"Do you know who nominated you?"

"Yes miss. It was Neji, from my clan."

Tenten had mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, it was nice to see Neji showing concern for others, and yet sending a seven-year-old child alone on an evacuation mission where it was every man for himself was not a guaranteed way of ensuring he survived.

"Alright," Tenten said, coming to a decision. "When we arrive, I want you to stay close to me. I'm pretty sure that this whole thing may not be as safe as it's painted. But I'll try my best to look after you, okay?"

Benjiro looked at her blankly for a few seconds, before his face cracked into a smile.

"Thanks miss!" he said enthusiastically.

Tenten nodded, and gazed out the window, which was now opaque with the torrential downpour.

The coach continued to trundle west, with the occupants making little noise.

Tenten however, began to feel restless. She supposed it was to be expected, but there was something else, something she could only describe as a ninja instinct.

"Benjiro!" she said suddenly. "Look out of the window and tell me if you see anything unusual."

"But why miss?"

"Just do it. Please!"

The boy nodded and activated his Byakugan.

He took a long sweeping, panoramic view, and then gasped.

"Miss!" he said urgently to Tenten. "There's a massive fireball jutsu attack heading straight toward us!"

Everyone in the coach immediately began to panic. Feeling the need to assert herself, Tenten stood up, and was about to tell everyone to calm down and listen to her instructions, when the entire coach was split in two by the force of the fire jutsu finally hitting home.

An explosion of wood and glass greeted Tenten as she was thrown forward along with dozens of others. Her face and arms were soon covered with cuts and scratches as she staggered to her feet. She was in a crouching position when she looked up and saw the whole perspective of the situation.

What was left of the coach was moving through desert territory, but with one of the walls almost completely gone, they could all now see that it was moving on its side, skidding through the sand due to the impact. The chakra that Tsunade had fixed it with was no longer in affect.

"Benjiro!" Tenten cried out, fearing for him greatly, and frantically searching for him. But something else caught her eye first.

Another fireball attack was coming out of the sky, straight towards the remains of the coach.

Tenten quickly reached inside her pouch – any solution was better than nothing – but before she could decide what to pull out, the fireball slammed into the debris, the wood buckled upwards and Tenten knew nothing more.

Cliffhanger!

OK. Rate&Review, as always. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you haven't checked the other fanfics on my profile, then do! I'm also telling you now, that I am open to requests, providing the idea of it does not go against everything I hold dear. Check my profile for more details.

Until next time, have a good morning/afternoon/evening/night!