A Naruto Shipuuden fanfic.

ChapterOne
Troublesome
ByAzooozi

A/N: Hello all! Welcome to my second Nejiten fanfic. I've started this one up becaue I didn't like the way my first one ended out. Tenten, miserable and whiny, desperate for love. Not my thing. Anyway, I hope that you'll enjoy this. I'll try to update as soon as possible because I'm really enjoying the plot of this story atm. R&R! :)

Bringing the edge of her blade nearer to her upper thigh, the woman swabbed the sword onto her raven-tinted slacks, removing the last traces of blood that had been shed during the pinnacle of her assignment. S-Rank missions were her expertise. Being a kunoichi of her level, the only missions she received were S-Ranked. But this mission; this was a mission that would change her life forever.

The air still carried the stench of battle and the ground homed countless piles of corpses; man, woman and child. And in the center of it all stood the disconsolate, confused and heartbroken Tenten; her katana slipping through the tips of her fingers, plunging into the ground. Tenten fell to her knees and ran her fingers through the brittle dirt; In an attempt push all her emotions to the back of her head, she tilted her head up and gazed into the sky. She had killed them, every last man, woman and child. Drop by drop; rain trickled onto her face, causing her to squint when making contact with her eyes. She didn't know if it was rain or tears that descended down her grazed cheeks; all she knew was at that very day, justice had not been served.

-x-

"Tsunade-sama," said the crestfallen woman, her head tilted down in respect to those that had fallen that day.

"Tenten."

The elderly woman glimpsed up at the willowy figure before her; emissions of the suns light beaming against the ANBU mask that she bore on her face. She then pulled the stray strands of hair from her eyes and continued; her expression grim. "I'll assume that you've accomplished your assigned mission. But your reaction to the endeavor is rather, unexpected. I'd expect a much more composed return from you, Tenten. You're barely keeping yourself together at the moment."

The woman cleared her throat. She then replied, her voice hoarse and her mouth dry, "Tsunade-Sama… Why didn't you tell me what the assignment was? Why didn't you tell me what I had to do… before I left?"

"Tenten," she started, her voice firm, yet assuring. "When you chose to join ANBU, do you remember the vows you swore? The Code of ANBU?"

Tenten inclined her head downwards, staring blankly at the floor. She didn't reply she only situated herself a respectful position. With her back upright and her arms placed stiffly behind her back, Tenten took a deep breath. Whilst exhaling, she brought her hands to the mask fastened around her face. She then moved her fingers up to the two strips of material that held the mask on. Pulling on the red fabric with one hand, she held the front of her mask with another. Slowly, she slid the mask off her face and placed it on the Hokages desk; her expression one of grimace and pain.

"ANBU, never really was my thing," she said, an oddly cheerful smile painted on her visage. "Returning to just being Jonin would have to be the best alternative for me right now."

The Fifth-Hokage bore an understanding look in her eyes. "I guess you're right," she sighed. "You never really wanted to join ANBU did you? I guess the village really needed more kunoichi out on the field. It is probably best for you to lay off ANBU for now… But during that time you could definitely get some of our newest Genin in shape for the Chunin Exams."

"It'd probably be for the best," she agreed.

Tsunade stood herself up and folded her arms snugly. "Go talk to Shikamaru. He's assigned the teams this year. It's good you decided to go back," she said with a smile. "We were running low on Jonin teachers. Now, Dismissed."

With that, Tenten began to make her way over to the door. As she gripped her hand onto the handle, she turned back to the elderly woman standing at the desk. "Before I leave ANBU, I want to ask one thing," she said, peering back at the woman behind her. "Why did I have to kill that village…? Why did I have to slaughter the people of the Mist?"

Her only response was silence; complete and utter silence. "I see. I didn't expect you to give a straightforward answer… but not saying anything at all…?"

"Shikamaru's on a tight schedule. You should go see him early tomorrow morning. At the moment you need to rest. We'll talk about this subject when the time is right. Now go."

-x-

"Well if it isn't Konoha's favourite little ANBU," teased the spiky-haired man. "You need something?"

Standing in front of the Hokage's headquarters stood Shikamaru, his face scrunched up in a mocking expression. As the wind waft through the young woman's hair, she brought her hand up and bushed it to the side. She too wore a contemptuous look, looking at him from the corners of her eyes. She then pointed to her face, poking her tongue at him. Glaring at Tenten, Shikamaru brought a sarcastic smile to his lips. "Hmm. Where's the mask? Give up already?"

The woman scoffed. "Don't be jealous Shikamaru. It's not my fault I actually have the skills for the job," she spat back mockingly.

"Yeah, I know. But I actually have brains. I don't just mindlessly kill people with scrolls of ridiculous clusters of knives."

Tenten rolled her eyes. "You take rejection way too hard…"

Tenten and Shikamaru had a friend-rival relationship; All of it concerning the time they had spent in ANBU together. Both having the personalities needed for the job, Tsunade chose Tenten, Shikamaru in addition Kiba, Shino and Neji. Many of them had left over the three year period, mostly relating to family issues. As for Shikamaru, he was relinquished of his position as ANBU. The reason being was him and his father's alone. Even so, he always held a small grudge against his former ANBU squad members. That left only Tenten and Neji, but even he left, mentioning something about his new position in the Hyuuga clan. Then there was only Tenten.

Shikamaru ignored her last comment and continued. "There must be a reason you're here though. I'd spit it out now before my day begins to get hectic. I have an important job you know," said the man, rolling his eyes at the woman before him.

"Well, I've relapsed back to being Jonin again. Tsunade-sama sent me here; told me you'd assign me to a team of Genin."

"Ah. So you're the replacement for Sakura," he said with an amused look. "Still can't believe she left. I'm pretty sure people would have forgiven her."

Tenten nodded her head in agreement. "She was young… and accidents happen. She'll come back eventually. But I still wonder… how in the world can no one can track her down. She's only a medial nin…"

"Jealous?" inquired the smirking Shikamaru.

Tenten rolled her eyes. She then gestured with her hands for him to move on. "Ah yes, the teams. Now… you're now in charge of Team 8," proclaimed Shikamaru. "I must say, you do have an interesting bunch there." He then raised his eyebrows and continued, "All of them soon-to-be kunoichi. You've even got Kakashi-sensei's daughter, Hatake Kuro. Can you believe he and Anko had a thing going on?"

Tenten laughed. "I ask myself that all the time!"

"Kakashi-sensei," continued Shikamaru, "Just didn't seem the type to settle, you know – Especially not with Anko. Just between me and you, she kinda of creeps me out."

Instantly a kunai soared down, slightly piercing the side of his face. Blood began to stream from his cheek as Anko, plunging down from the branch of a tree, landed unswervingly next to the man wearing her typical mischievous expression. "You stupid old hag!" roared the infuriated Shikamaru, clutching at his face with one hand, while the other was in clenched while being shook at her in a enraged manner.

"You'd better watch your mouth kid. Don't think that because you're 'all grown up', that makes you superior to me!" hissed Anko lividly.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, his arms folded casually. "You women are troublesome, you know?"

Anko then began to point at her back while looking at Shikamaru with a sassy smile. She and Tenten then stepped back, the older of the two, poking her tongue at the man. Tenten then opened her mouth in an attempt to warn him; ultimately failing. At that very moment, there came a loud bang from behind Shikamaru. Instantly the man howled in pain, his body reeking of rage. Waving goodbye, the elder of the kunoichi leapt into the distance, the sounds of her cackles echoing through the air. Shikamaru brought his fist up and shook it in an aggravated behavior. After what seemed like hours of laughing Tenten wiped the tears of amusement from her eyes. Once composed, she responded. "So, who else is on my team?"

Rubbing his back and looking down at the papers before him, Shikamaru searched. "Why are you looking for the names?" inquired Tenten with a puzzled gaze. "Weren't you the one who made these teams?"

Shikamaru shook his head. "Kakashi-sensei gave permission for Naruto to do it," replied the man rolling his eyes. "Why he'd let Naruto make the teams is beyond my knowledge. But anyway, moving on… Ah, here we are. Looks like you got her. Sasuke's little devil."

"You mean Uchiha Sayuri?" asked the interested Tenten, looking at the man before her attentively.

"Who else? Can you believe that Sasuke can actually raise a kid? Not that she was raised very well, but still," replied Shikamaru, slightly trailing off at the end.

Tenten brought her outstretched index finger to her chin. "Poor thing," said Tenten thoughtfully. "Being deprived of a mother and having to live with Sasuke. If it was me, I'd rather have no parents at all."

"Selfish much?" mocked Shikamaru.

"Shut up," was her only reply.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Shikamaru asked, "Didn't you have a dad?"

Tenten instantly facepalmed. "Shikamaru, that probably has to be one of the stupidest things you've ever said."

"Wait! No, wait! I didn't mean it like that. I didn't finish!-"

"Just continue with the teams," interrupted Tenten, rolling her eyes.

Shikamaru hastily took a look at the papers. "Hmm, here we have a strange one. Apparently the Hyuuga's are looking after her. Ever met Sukurōru Kaze? The little purple haired girl you always see in their compound?"

Tenten thought to herself intently. "Sukurōru Kaze… Oh yeah, her. Neji mentioned something about it a while ago."

Shikamaru's serious face soon changed to that of one wearing a smirk. "Speaking of Neji," started the man. "What's been happening between you two?"

Instantly her face turned into a blush. Shikamaru had always mentioned things like that when they were all in ANBU. Neji would just glare at him while Tenten pulled a whole arsenal out of her pockets and chased him around. Even though Tenten and Shikamaru never got along, it's safe to say that they were very close friends in ANBU. "I don't like him anymore, okay! It's been years now, it's pretty obvious I'm over it."

"Whatever. You know, now that I look back, I was pretty stupid. Making fun of you was really troublesome. Why did I do it again…?"

"Because you love me?"

Shikamaru stared at her blankly. "Yeah Tenten. I love you so much."

Tenten gave him a cold glare. She then made her way off, bringing her hand up in a wave. "You're not the only one that's busy today you know!" called back Tenten in a cheerful tone. "Say hi to Temari for me, will you?"

Shikamaru's face turned to a sort of blush mixed with a livid glare in Tenten's direction. "Troublesome women."

A/N: Well, that's all for today folks! Hope you enjoyed. Just want to mention that any OOC'ness that you see in this fic is only because of the relationship that Tenten, Shikamaru and Kiba developed during ANBU (because Neji and Shino weren't gonna' steal bottles of sake and go skinny dipping while on a mission :P). The only reason Kiba isn't mentioned in their conversations relates to a problem that had arisen during their time in ANBU. That'll be mentioned later, but now I hope you'll wait eagerly for the upcoming chapter! :) Reviews would be appreciated.