Naruto bashing and confusion. :)
Disclaimer: Duh, I don't own Naruto.
"Welcome back, Team Gai
"Welcome back, Team Gai." Tsunade said as the team screeched to a halt in front of her desk. "How was the trip back? No trouble I hope?"
"None at all! It was a breeze for us!" Gai boasted. He winked at Tsunade.
"So easy, we ran back three times faster than when we left." Lee put in. An unseen bell tinged in the background as they struck their Nice Guy pose.
"And in the process leaving your teammates to come back alone!" Tsunade snapped, causing the two to jump back in terror. It was only then they noticed that they had indeed left the remainder of their team behind…yesterday.
A day earlier…
Tenten and Neji watched with bored amusement as comrade and sensei took off to become a pair of slowly disappearing dots on the horizon amid clouds of dust.
"Ugh…how embarrassing." Tenten muttered, shaking her head.
"Forget it, Tenten." Neji said. He took her hand and pulled her closer to him. "The sooner we start walking, the sooner we get back." She smiled as he started to walk, attempting to pull her with him but getting nowhere. "Tenten, what are you—," Before he could finish his sentence, Tenten closed the space between them and jumped him, causing him to lose his balance and fall backward. He lay on his back as she straddled his hips and smiled playfully at him.
"What are you doing?" His voice came out husky, anxious.
"Just something I've wanted to do since we left the Sand." She placed her hands on both sides of his face and leaned down to kiss his lips.
"Tenten! Not—here. In—middle—road…," Neji protested but couldn't get his message across as Tenten kissed him between his words.
"I don't care." She declared. And laughed as she noticed she was in the dominant position with Neji. Hyuuga Neji!...and a jounin. Ooh, that's hot!
She smiled as warm hands wrapped around her waist and brought her closer to him. Neji's lips met hers again and she almost melted in the heat of his mouth. Her hands left his shoulders and threaded themselves in his long, silky hair. Forehead protectors bumped as their mouths clashed together. Everything forgotten in the heat of the moment.
"Hey! It's Tenten! And—and…Neji!"
They jumped a mile apart, both red in the face, and Neji wiping blood from his bottom lip where Tenten had bitten him.
They glared at the source of noise coming down the path to meet them. Naruto grinned at them, waving and totally unaware of what he'd just interrupted. However, the apologetic faces behind him were. Sasuke, Sakura, Ino, and Shikamaru lagged behind him.
"Tenten! Neji!" Sakura yelled cheerfully as she and Ino waved. The guys, being guys, just nodded to each other.
"Where's Lee? And Gai?" Ino asked as they continued to walk.
"They just ran off to race back to the village." Tenten said, rolling her eyes. "And to think we still have a day to get back. After coming from the Sand, too!"
"Hey! You saw Gaara?! How is he?! Still kazekage right?!"
"Is he all you ever think about?" Sasuke muttered.
"What?! What are you trying to say, huh?!" Naruto sputtered waving his fists in the air.
"Aww, isn't that cute? Naruto-chan, has a crush!" Ino squealed teasingly. Everyone laughed (actually, Sasuke smirked and Neji and Shikamaru slightly smiled) and continued to walk down the path together.
The sun was just setting, casting an orange purple glow over the trees. By then, the shinobi had reached the half-mile marker, an onsen run by a wealthy family.
"Hey! We should stay here for the night!" Ino suggested. "You know, for success on completing our missions. It'll be great. And relaxing."
It really was sounding like a great idea. And half an hour later, they found themselves bathing out in the steaming baths with only lamps for light. And the three kunoichi and four hormonal boys relaxed.
Tenten's POV.
"So Tenten, how are you and Neji, hm?" Sakura asked. She leaned back and stared with curious eyes. Heh? We're fine!
"Oh…well, we're alright."
"Really? What we walked in on today looked wayy better than alright." Ino said smirking. Ohmygawd! How embarrassing…
"So how far along are you two?"
"What? How far along?" What are they talking about? It's not like I'm pregnant or anything…
"Oh, come on! Don't play dumb. You know what I'm talking about." Sakura insisted.
"Has he proposed yet?" Ino asked me.
"Oh, no! Uhmm, nothing like that." Why of all things would they ask me that?
"Aww, really? What's taking him so long? I thought Hyuugas were smart." Ino tsked. "He certainly isn't being really smart right now."
"It's not like I want to get married! I mean, really, I'm happy." I smiled trying to show them that I really was.. Fat chance.
"Don't give us that!" Sakura said, exasperated. "You two have been together for so long already! I think he should propose."
"Of course you do. So now I'm wondering, why hasn't Sasuke-kun asked proposed to you?" Ino turned the tables on Sakura.
"Pch! Who said I wanted to get married?" A now red-faced Sakura asked. She turned her back on the other two as they began to laugh. "Isn't Shikamaru a genius too? Why hasn't he proposed to you?"
Soon enough, a struggle ensued between Ino and Sakura. Leaving Tenten and the other women in the baths to watch in terror and amusement.
Meanwhile…
"I'm hungry." Naruto whined. A loud growl issued from him supporting his claims. Beside him, Shikamaru leaned back resting his head against the side of the bath edge.
"You're always complaining, Naruto. Can't you just enjoy life for once?"
"Hey! What are you talking about?! You complain just as much as I do!"
"Dobe, stop being a loudmouth."
"Ah! You, shut up!"
"You're the one being a loudmouth."
"Why can't you leave me alone?!"
"Naruto, be quiet. We're trying to relax."
"Shikamaru! You're always relaxing! What's the difference with now and all those other times you're being lazy?"
"Please, be quiet. I can't think."
"Do you always have to be such a yoga guru stuff?! It's not healthy! Working out! Training! That's what we should be doing!"
"Doesn't matter how much training you undergo. You'll never surpass my strength, Neji's skills, or Shikamaru's smarts." All three laughed—oh, excuse me, smirked as Naruto pulled his hair in frustration.
"Why do you guys have to be so damn cool all the freaking time?!"
"It just comes naturally, I think." Sasuke answered.
"Ugh! You guys suck! Shikamaru, you should join ANBU. Sasuke, go and get a job, lazy bum! Neji, just. just..,"
"Hmm, just what?" A smile came to Neji's lips awaiting the ambition giving loudmouth idea that was coming.
"hurry up and marry Tenten already!"
"I—..," Neji stopped short, slack-jawed as Naruto's words reached his ears. Shikamaru and Sasuke watched in anticipation for his reaction.
Neji's face grew red though everyone knew it wasn't from the steam.
"Hah! I knew it! You're scared!" Naruto taunted.
"I'm not..scared." He protested lamely.
"Think about it," Shikamaru suddenly spoke up. "You two have been together for a while now."
"She's proved herself strong and stable enough to marry into your clan." Sasuke added getting into the discussion. He referred to the fight between Tenten and Hinata during her previous engagement to Neji's cousin more than a year ago.
"What about Ino? And Sakura? And Tenten?" Neji retorted. He didn't need them talking about his private matters. Why was it always about him and Tenten?
"I know Ino talks tough. But she's not ready for that kind of commitment. And neither am I. Besides, it's too troublesome." Typical Shikamaru.
"And Sakura's great. But right now, I need to concentrate on reviving my clan. It's not all about starting a family. There are other matters to look into." Excuses, excuses.
"Hinata? Me? Married?" That's all the loudmouth had to say. They all nodded in agreement.
Later that night…
Neji lay on his side of the bed silently, staring out the window. It was already very late but the young group had just retired after some light consummation of alcohol and friendly bonding. Thankfully, no repetitions of that one night at Hyuuga mansion where too much drinking helped Neji make a fool of himself.
A light pressure on his bare shoulder drew his attention. Tenten had climbed into bed, hair just washed and smelling refreshingly clean. Tenten's scent overwhelmed him as she laid her head on his shoulder. He brought his arm around her pulling her close.
He loved their times like this. When it was just the two of them. They didn't have to talk, just be together. He knew he was happiest when he could just hold her. Knowing that she trusted him enough to let her guard down. Sometimes the love he felt was enough that he couldn't stop smiling and loving her.
He felt the rise and fall of her body on his. Her quiet breathing and wandering fingertips bringing warmth.
She lay her head on his chest, listening and feeling his heart as it beat and pulsed. It felt so right to her. Being in his arms, in a loving embrace. So right, so much love. She almost couldn't take it.
Both were silent as they reflected on what had been said in the baths. Both were confused. But for the moment, both were content.
"Tenten, what are you thinking?"
Fingers twined with his.
"Nothing."
Fingers stroked her long, wavy hair; unbound from their ribbons.
"I'm thinking about you."
She turned her face up to him.
Fingers began to trace his face, along the curve of his jaw, to his mouth. Slowly and gently. She ran her hand down his chest, fingertips grazing. Hands ghosted across bare skin. And not a word was spoken. Fingers fisted in her hair as he leaned down and captured her mouth with his. Hands to hips, neck to lips. And last I love you's.
Down the hall, Shikamaru and Ino were caught in a game of chess. Even though Shikamaru was slightly intoxicated, he still managed to win each game. It helped that Ino wasn't that great a player.
"Dammit, Shika-kun! Why do you always do that to me?!" Ino yelled, outraged as he checkmated her king once again.
Shikamaru smirked.
"I love doing that to you."
"And I love doing this to you!"
With an aggressive growl, Ino pounced and attacked Shikamaru over the board. They landed on the floor beside their bed in a heap of giggles and light smooching from Ino.
Once more down the hall, Sakura watched the sky and the stars, wondering when was the last time she'd actually gotten to wonder at its beauty. Arms wrapped around her from behind and held her tightly. Sakura loved how protective Sasuke could get. Even though he was stronger than her, if it was very important to her, he'd never fight her battles for her. Or save her when she felt she could do it herself. After so many years of waiting for him, it was the happiest day of her life when he'd finally admitted that her feelings were mutual. He'd told her underneath a cherry blossom tree. Corny to him but he knew it would be her ideal dream come true. To admit his love for her under a sakura tree.
"Sasuke, doesn't the moon remind you of a cherry blossom?" Sakura asked. He glanced at the moon in confusion. After staring for quite a while he gave up.
"You're weird and I have no idea why I love you."
Sakura giggled and turned in his arms to hug him closer to her. The night he'd told her, the moon had been the only source of light. It had shone in his black hair and reflected in his just as black eyes. She'd seen her reflection in his eyes, in the moon.
"I love you too."
And out on the branch of the tree nearest the onsen, a lone figure sat contemplating his private life.
"Awww, I know everyone in there's getting their goods going on. Sick! But what about me...why couldn't Hinata have come on this mission too...?" Naruto frowned as he stared out at the same full moon Sakura and Neji had been watching. He wondered how he could show his loneliness...And an idea came to him, although pointless and stupid it was.
"AAAHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH." Naruto almost unsure of how to go about it. This is it!... "AHHHHOOOOOH...no! Wait, that's a wolf...," He frowned in deflating hopes of what to do with himself. Honestly, he didn't know at the moment.
A/N:
Just a reminder. Two years have passed so everyone's about nineteen or eighteen.
So, what did you think? Good enough to want to keep reading (and reviewing)?
Can't really tell where this is going but I'm definitely thinking about it a lot.
Thanks for reading and reviewing! Keep support. :D
