Staying Alive

A Neji x Tenten Story

Summary- AU fic. Doesn't really have a set time. NxT When Neji is hired to capture a criminal he doesn't expect what he finds. Can the thief reach her life long goals of killing the one man she utterly loathes or will her Uncle get in the way of things? More twisted than it sounds.

Disclaimer- My friends and I are plotting to steal back Naruto from Kishimoto but no luck so far.

"sup"- talking

sup- thinking

'sup'- Flashback

A.N.- My characters are OOC, deal with it.

Staying Alive

Chapter 1- Flashback To The Past

It had been another long day for Tenten and she couldn't wait for the sun to set. Tenten watched as the glowing crimson disk slowly set beyond the horizon. She had three pheasants tied together and slung over her shoulder; she needed to do some trading in town again. Tenten sighed as a soft breeze lifted the loose bits of hair around her lightly tanned face. Her hair was up in its typical braided bun that she had adopted over the past five years.

"Has it really been that long?" she whispered. Tenten's eyes glazed over as memories flashed through her head, memories of her parent's death and her life over the past five years. Tenten flinched as the painful scenes ran through her mind.

Flashback

'A twelve year old Tenten Takahashi looked up as a thunderous 'BANG!' was heard. Her personal maid quickly rushed into her room.

"Young Mistress! You must leave, now!" Tenten's large hazel eyes widened in fear and curiosity at the maid's words.

"Why?" Tenten stood up and dropped the kunai she had been playing with. The maid was frantic.

"No time to explain Young Mistress, we must leave now!" The young hand maiden grabbed Tenten's arm tightly and rushed her from the room. She was roughly pulled into the hallway. Tenten was ready to object but the maid quickly covered Tenten's mouth with her hand and bent down to her level.

"Shh…everything will be alright." Her voice wavered and Tenten knew that she must trust her personal maid right now and do as she was told. Tenten nodded to show that she understood and Ayame rose to her feet. Footsteps pounded on the stairs and a gruff voice echoed throughout the long stone hallway.

"Find her!" The maid looked around franticly trying to find a means of escape. Tenten ran with Ayame through a side door that only the servants used. Both Tenten and the maid were breathing heavily as the duo finally reached the kitchen. The maid let go of Tenten's arm and rushed around the room looking for something.

"Oh where is that girl," she whispered harshly anger growing in her voice. Tenten nervously played with the edge of her red silk kimono as the maid rushed about collecting a few things. Tenten's anxiety level began to rise and she jumped when another maid rushed through the main door.

"Suki! There you are!" Suki had beads of sweat forming at her temples and her light brown hair was falling out of its bun and sticking to her face and neck. She quickly handed a basket over to Tenten's personal maid. Suki seemed to be in a state of shock. She was shaking violently and her light blue eyes were glazed over.

"Suki what's wrong?" Suki looked blankly up at the maid.

"A…Ayame…they-they're dead." Ayame's eyes widened in horror.

"We have to get her out of here." Ayame's voice was low and filled with worry and concern. Both servants turned to look at Tenten. A few unruly strands of dark hair had fallen from Tenten's two panda buns while she and Ayame had been racing though the halls. Screams echoed though out the castle sending shivers up Tenten's spine.

" Hurry." Suki warned as she rushed out of the kitchen.

"Ayame…what's-" Tenten was cut off when Ayame shoved the basket into Tenten's small hands and threw a light brown cape around her shoulders clasping it at her throat.

"No time! You must hide, hide in the forest. The castle is being raided and I'm afraid that your parents are dead." The maid quickly explained. Tthe bluntness of the words hit Tenten like a tidal wave. She was barley able to stand on her feet. 'Dead?'

"Please Young Mistress! You must leave before you are discovered as well!" Ayame quickly grabbed Tenten's hand and rushed her from the kitchen to the garden in the back of the castle. Tenten was pulled to the large wrought iron gate. Ayame fumbled with the lock in her hurried state and her hands shook in fear. Upon unlatching the gate she pushed Tenten through.

"Run!" She shouted, and Tenten ran. She would hide in the forest and try to piece together what had happened.'

End Flashback

Tenten's breathing had become erratic and she whipped tears from her cheeks that she didn't remember crying. Tenten's face became hard and defiant, the pain of five years tempering her soul and her emotions.

"I will avenge my family…one day…," she whispered.

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A.N.- I hope you enjoyed the first addition to my story Staying Alive, I appologize for the shortness but I figured this was the best place to leave off. Anyway it gives you a slight intro to Tenten and the life she is living right now. Yes, they still use chakra and stuff. You'll live.