A/N: This is for a story request from Leah Williams. I don't own Naruto. Enjoy!

---

Chapter 1: Flat Chested?

Neji rolled over in his bed nervously, sweat dripping from his face, eyes squeezed tight. He was having a dream that turned into a horrible nightmare.

"Neji, you have grown a lot stronger since our last training session!" Hizashi Hyuuga's words rang in Neji's head. My dad is proud of me, thought 7-year-old Neji happily.

They ended their training session. Neji's dad smiled at Neji and said, "Neji, I have figured out a way for you to improve!"

Neji nodded eagerly for his father to continue.

Neji's father took a deep breath before saying, "I want you…"

Neji nodded again, telling himself he would remember every single word his father said.

Hizashi smiled sinisterly and said in an evil voice, "TO DIE!"

He grabbed Neji's neck and was trying to strangle him. Neji couldn't believe it! This couldn't be his own father! His dad would never try killing him.

Neji thought harder…his dad was dead.

Neji woke up from his troubled slumber, panting hard and sweating like crazy.

Tenten, who was sleeping next to him, opened her eyes and asked sleepily, "Neji…?"

She yawned, "What's the matter?"

Neji snapped back into reality and his hard uneven breathing slowed down. He looked at Tenten and muttered to himself, "It was just a dream…"

Tenten looked at him with worried eyes. He looked into those irresistable chocolate eyes and said, "Nothing. Just go back to sleep."

She looked at him one more time before giving in and pulling the covers back up to her shoulders and falling asleep.

Neji watched his lover, her eyes closed. They were both 21 now and they still hadn't gotten officially married. Even though Neji had "proposed" to her a few years ago, they had just been living together, I guess that counts right? Living together…getting married…close enough!

Neji glanced at the sleeping kunoichi once more and fell back asleep, not having another nightmare.

Neji had been getting several nightmares these past few days. Possibly because he had "overworked" himself with too many missions according to Tenten. He felt tired and sleepy during several missions, maybe he was overworking himself.

---

The next morning, Neji felt something icy cold being laid on his forehead. He winced at whatever was causing the coldness, and opened his eyes. He saw Tenten leaning over him. She was putting a cold towel on his forehead.

He looked at the girl with curious eyes and said weakly, "Tenten…what are you doing?"

Tenten jumped a little when she heard his voice. She had not expected him to be awake. She smiled warmly at Neji and explained, "I felt your forehead this morning and you were burning up."

Tenten paused a little and scolded in an I-told-you-so voice, "I told you you were overworking yourself!"

Neji briefly rolled his eyes before muttering, "Why am I so weak?"

Tenten overheard his thoughts and said, "Just stay in bed for today, ok?"

Neji gave her a funny look and questioned, "Why don't you just heal me? You've had some training from Sakura!"

Tenten shook her head, "As a semi medical ninja, I have to make sure you rest! Even if I restore your chakra supply, nothing will really happen if you don't rest up!"

Neji scowled. Tenten gave him a forceful look and that was the end of that.

Neji gazed out of his bedroom window. He recalled the dream he had. He thought about his father, and he saw the faint image of his mother. Over the years, she had died too. The two parents of Neji rested in peace together now.

His mother had been attacked while Neji and Tenten weren't in the house. Neji still remembered that day he came back with Tenten.

FLASHBACK

Just almost a year ago, Neji opened the door to his house, Tenten right behind him. They had just gotten back from a mission together in the Sound Village. Neji stopped right in front of the doorway when he caught a glimpse of who was laying dead on the floor, kunais sticking out of her dead corpse.

It was his mother. Tenten gasped in shock and brought her hands up to cover her mouth when she saw the female Hyuuga.

Neji clenched his fists and picked her up. He carried her dead body all the way to the Hokage's office, eyes staring at him on his way. Tenten lagged behind him the whole way, looking worried.

Tsunade-sama heard a knock on her door. She quickly hid the sake in her hand.

She cleared her throat and said in a responsible voice, "Come in."

Neji pushed the door open and the Fifth immediately noticed the dead body he was carrying.

She understood what had happened and explained to him, "Your mother…has she never told you…?"

Neji looked at her blankly, "Told me what?"

She shook her head a little and stared at the desk in front of her, "We all knew this was coming."

Neji threw her a questioning look, "What do you mean, we?"

She looked at him, pain in her eyes, and said, "Well…Hinata's mother committed a crime before you were born, but it was an accidental crime. Mizuki, who she thought was a friend of hers, told her that the Sound Village had stolen a scroll from him and asked her to get it back for him…"

She bit her lower lip and continued, "She asked him why he didn't get it himself, and he said only an adult female Hyuuga could unlock the chamber that it was in. Little did she know that the scroll she was going after actually rightfully belonged to the Sound Village, though it was true that only a Hyuuga woman could open the chamber."

Neji questioned Tsunade, "There are Hyuugas in the Sound Village?"

Tsunade shook her head, "No, only people born in the Sound Village and Hyuuga women could open the chamber. That's why Mizuki needed Hinata's mom to do it, she's one of the few people in Konoha who possesses the power to open the chamber."

She sighed heavily and continued, "She took the scroll and gave it to Mizuki, unaware of the crime she had just committed. The Sound Village knew only two adult female Hyuugas live in Konoha, and they are your mother and Hinata's."

Neji clenched his fists, she couldn't have sacrificed herself…

Tsunade paused for a second, debating whether or not she should tell him. She reluctantly started, "Your mother…took the blame in order for the main branch to continue…and the Sound Village said they would kill your mother when her child was an adult. Since you are 21, which is considered an adult, they came and killed your mother while you and Tenten weren't around to protect her…"

Neji spoke softly, teeth gritted, "Both my parents died protecting the main branch."

Tenten hugged Neji from behind and held onto him, she could feel his heavy breathing. She reminded him softly, "It's ok…both my parents died in a burning building…"

Neji laid his mother down gently.

"ANBU will take care of her body," Tsunade assured him.

Tsunade apologized for the tragedy and the couple silently left. Right before they walked out the door, Neji told her, "Drinking is a major taboo for ninjas."

Tsunade blushed and stammered, "Wh-what are you talking about?"

Neji said blankly, "I could smell the sake you were hiding the minute I walked in."

Tsunade blushed redder but remained speechless.

Neji closed the door behind him and walked back to his home, Tenten and him had nothing to say the whole way there.

END OF FLASHBACK

Neji turned his attention to Tenten as she came out of the bathroom, dressed and ready for what the day had to offer.

She hadn't changed at all since she was 16, or maybe it was just that Neji had spent every single day of his life with her since they were that age. To him, she was still the most adorable person he had ever seen in his life.

Tenten was putting her hair up into her signature twin buns when a blonde shinobi came busting into their room.

Tenten screamed as she recognized the boy, "NARUTO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

Naruto grinned slyly and said, "The front door was open so I invited myself in."

Tenten slapped him hard across the face, making Neji smirk. She yelled at him, "Hasn't anyone taught you any manners?!"

Naruto shook his head, his face fell a little, "I've never had parents, remember?"

Tenten sighed and said, "Well, Iruka Sensei must have taught you SOMETHING about not barging into peoples' houses without knocking."

Naruto shook his head and grinned again.

Tenten sighed again and asked in a defeated tone, "What are you here for?"

Naruto's faace became serious again as he remembered why he was here. "Right," he looked at Neji, "Tsunade-sama has a mission for the three of us. We're going to the Sound Village." He looked back at Tenten again.

Neji twitched a bit when he heard 'Sound Village,' an image of his mom's dead body flashed through his mind.

Tenten's brow furrowed, "The three of us…what about Lee?"

Naruto shook his head, "Nope. Lee is on a mission with Gai Sensei."

Tenten had an irritated look on her face, why are Lee and Gai Sensei always going on missions without me and Neji? What happened to the old Team Gai?

Tenten sighed, her and Neji had already gone on several missions with Naruto instead of Lee and Gai Sensei, and things just weren't the same. Things felt out of place.

But no matter what, they didn't have a choice. It was the Fifth's choice. Tenten looked over at Neji, who was lying on the bed, watching the blonde haired boy.

"Well…" Tenten hesitated, "You'll just have to tell Tsunade-sama that Neji can't go."

Naruto raised an eyebrow and smirked at Neji. He said in a baby voice, "Is wittle Neji sick today?"

Naruto snickered to himself. Neji looked at Tenten and yelled, "Tenten, I'm fine!"

Tenten firmly shook her head.

Naruto looked at Tenten and said, "Tenten, if we don't take Neji, we'll be killed."

Tenten glared at Naruto, "Are you saying that I'm not capable of taking care of myself?"

Naruto quickly shook his head and said nervously, "No no no! I'm just saying…'

Tenten slapped him hard across the face again. An upset fox boy rubbed his red cheek and moaned, "Tenten! Pleeease, just let Neji come along!"

Tenten thought about it. Neji was the strongest out of the three of them. She weighed the consequences and finally sighed, "Fine. Neji can come."

Naruto hopped in that air and yelled, "YES!" He pumped his fist in the air, symbolizing a victory. Tenten just watched in irritation, beginning to lose her patience.

"Just leave us in peace to get ready, will you?" Tenten implored.

Naruto nodded and grinned widely, "I'll be in the living room waiting then!"

Tenten nodded and just watched the fox boy leave hopelessly, Neji's not gonna be strong enough to fight.

Neji walked over to the wooden drawer and pulled some fresh traditional Hyuuga robes out. He pulled off the big white T-shirt he had been wearing and revealed his muscular upper body. Tenten watched him change, a slight blush in her cheeks.

Neji turned around, revealing his muscular shoulders and back, and said blankly, "A little privacy, Tenten?"

Tenten shot at him, "If you don't want me watching, go to the bathroom to change!"

Neji smirked, but didn't budge. He just continued to change into his robes. He finished putting on the last piece of cloth when he felt something run through his hair. It was Tenten attempting to brush his long hair.

He turned his head quickly, "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Tenten replied plainly.

She ran the brush through Neji's silky hair several times before commenting, "Whoever cut your hair did a really nice job…"

Neji pushed her hand away from his head and frowned, "That's enough."

Tenten giggled and set the brush back on the table she had found it on.

Tenten walked over to the door and walked into the living room, Neji closely following her.

Naruto grinned and said cheerfully, "My my my, you two look cute today!"

Tenten giggled, but Neji scowled at this remark. Cute? Hyuugas don't look cute…although Tenten says that all the time…

Tenten asked, her mood brightening a little, "So…what are we doing?"

Naruto's facial expression was a little more serious now. He cleared his throat, "Right, the mission…we're supposed to go to the Sound Village and rescue a small girl named…darn it what's her name…"

Tenten watched in embarassment as Naruto tried to recall the girl's name.

"Let's see…Keima…no no…Mako…no…Kacie…no…"

Tenten interrupted his thoughts, "Keiko?"

Naruto smiled widely and yelled, "KEIKO! THAT'S IT! How did you know, Tenten-san?"

Tenten sighed, "Naruto…Keiko is just a really common name…"

"Oh," Naruto said, rubbing the back of his head in embarassment, "Anyways, we have no time to waste! Keiko's been trapped in the Sound Village by Aoi Rokusho."

Tenten and Neji both nodded, neither of them remembering who Aoi Rokusho was, but it didn't really matter, he was an enemy, that's all they needed to know.

Naruto ran out the door and Neji and Tenten ran behind him.

The sun was scorching outside, with a slight breeze. Tenten was already working up a sweat and they had only been sprinting for a few minutes…only two more hours of sprinting before they reach the Sound Village.

Neji looked back at the panting Tenten and lectured, "You haven't been training enough, Tenten."

Tenten hated when people pointed out her wrongs, even if it was Neji. She glared at him and said, "Focus on yourself, Hyuuga."

Neji ignored her rude remark and continued to sprint forward.

FLASHBACK

When they were only 16 years old,Tenten, Lee, and Neji were all sprinting through the forest ontop of large tree branches, Gai Sensei in the lead. They were on a mission to help the Sand Village. Tenten lagged behind and complained in her high voice, "We've been going at it for hours, can we take a break?"

The three other shinobi looked back at the complaining kunoichi, but Lee was the one who spoke up, "You haven't been training enough, Tenten."

Tenten didn't reply, but she hated people who told her she didn't work hard enough. How would they know how hard I train? How would they understand how hard it is for a kunoichi to mold her body into the ideal figure of a shinobi? Tenten thought to herself.

END OF FLASHBACK

She was tired of hearing that she didn't train enough. She put long hours into toning her body perfectly. She put in too much sweat, blood, and tears to have someone tell her she wasn't trying hard enough.

Tenten suddenly realized Naruto and Neji were no longer in front of her. Oh no! Have I lagged that far behind? Tenten started panicking, but she looked behind her and saw two tiny figures hopping from branch to branch.

Tenten apparently had gotten so worked up from her thoughts that she had surpassed her teammates without even realizing it.

She smirked and called back to the Hyuuga that had teased her earlier, "Oi Neji! You haven't been training enough, huh?"

Neji glared at her and quickly swiftened his pace. He was sprinting right alongside her now. Naruto looked hopelessly at the two, how can those two move so fast?

Naruto called after them, "Oi! Let's take a break…please?"

Neji and Tenten both looked back at Naruto and nodded their heads. They both dropped from the branch they were on and landed gently on the ground. Naruto met them there.

Neji was leaning against a tall tree, while Tenten was sitting ontop of a big boulder. Neither of them were panting very hard, but Tenten's face was glistening slightly with perspiration. Naruto grinned, "You ok Tenten? You really worked up a sweat…"

Tenten glared at him and snapped, "Do you know how much more endurance shinobis are born with than kunoichis? My physical condition is already considered excellent for a kunoichi!"

Naruto, still grinning said, "Whatever you say Tenten…"

Tenten just continued to glare at him without saying anything, fine, I don't care if Naruto doesn't believe me.

Although Naruto didn't believe Tenten, Neji knew Tenten was honest. One of the first things he noticed about her when they were 16 was how nicely toned her arms and legs were. In addition to that, one of the nights Neji had slept with Tenten, he had seen how toned her abs were also. She didn't quite have a six pack, but she had a slender sort of muscular stomach.

Neji got off from the tree he was leaning on and said to them, "Let's go."

Naruto's jaw dropped a few inches. His eyes were extremely wide. He yelled, "WHAT?! WE'VE ONLY BEEN SITTING HERE FOR FIVE MINUTES!!!"

Neji lectured him, "We have no time to waste. Besides, we only have about an hour's worth of sprinting left."

Naruto let out a heavy sigh but hesitantly jumped onto a tree branch.

Tenten didn't whine when she jumped on the tree branch. She had made an oath to herself that she would not show her weak side during this mission. She would show them that she was even more of a shinobi than Neji and Naruto combined.

They started to sprint again, when Naruto asked Neji loudly, "So Neji…"

A grin passed the blonde boy's lips, "What's it like to sleep with Tenten every night."

Neji's cheeks flushed red with embarassment.

"Shut up Naruto!" Tenten yelled at him, taking the words out of Neji's mouth.

Naruto snickered to himself, I love it when Tenten gets mad. She pretty much freaks out.

Believe it or not, Naruto didn't like making all girls angry. He only liked making Tenten and Ino angry. It wasn't because he didn't like them, he just knew that they were pretty hard headed and could take the teasing. As for Hinata…well…she's a pretty fragile one.

Sakura's pretty hard headed too, but Naruto's seen her cry too many times to want to pick on her any farther. In addition to that, the Haruno has the strength of the Fifth Hokage, and making her mad will result in Naruto's funeral.

Sprinting was boring, so Naruto kept entertaining himself. He picked on Tenten indirectly. He would keep asking Neji questions about Tenten loudly.

"So Neji! Tell me…when do you think Tenten will start puberty? I mean it's obvious she hasn't yet even though she's 21, I mean just look at her flat chest!" Naruto laughed to himself even harder at the words that slipped out of his mouth.

He suddenly felt Tenten's foot dig hard into his back. He was sent flying into a tree. Tenten sprinted ahead of him and called, "That'll teach you!"

Tenten continued to mutter about Naruto's comments about her figure, "Flat chested…that dobe doesn't know what he's talking about…"

A/N: To be continued. Please comment/review, thanks!