Revised: 5/21/2012
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
~John Quincy Adams-
"Melted Steel"
By: FenixPhoenix (Giselle González)
Chapter 2: "Strange Thoughts"
Mission type: S-Rank, Specialist: ANBU operative—chameleon type, Codename: Black Widow, Team: Solo, Objective: Infiltration, Mission ID: 02103828.
Five days ago I left Konoha to begin my task –my chosen trail. I didn't need to be told why I was the one ordered to take this mission. It was simple, really. I was elected because I am the best. Period.
Sure, to an outsider it would not seem this way, but therein lies my strength. A book should never be judged by its cover, they say, and that is true particularly for me. You see, I do not need fancy blood traits or the support of a powerful family; I do not need the skills of a taijitsu master or the chakra control of a medic to bring even the strongest of men to their knees.
Because I have me. My body. Mi mind. My soul...
Seduction.
It is the most powerful weapon and I wield it to perfection. Like an agile and deadly black widow, I weave with words a net around my victims. And as I stand before them in all my undiminished glory, I know –as they do—that I am unconquerable.
Seduction.
It is the most complex skill. Though it looks simple, it is anything but. I use a force of raw manipulation that is applied in such a way as to appear fragile and innocent, a flirt for the playful and a prize for the arrogant. But when the time comes to move, I do so with the power of a tempestuous storm –giant, fierce and unstoppable.
Regardless of their backgrounds, all my victims fall for me eventually. And once blinded by their petty feelings, I attack. With the steel of my words, I slice them when they least expect it –crushing them, harming them, shattering them into tiny pieces. The wounds inflicted by me can never be healed by traditional means; at least, not without leaving a scar behind –my last gift to them before I vanish from their lives.
Seduction.
I am the best at using this dangerous skill, at dancing this dangerous dance, at singing this dangerous melody. I have broken countless men –young and old—like twigs under my foot, I have made them dance and sing to my tune. I've created and sustained for them the illusion of control until that last moment when I unmercifully –and without a moment of hesitation- shatter their dreams with the truth.
Because the truth is…I cannot love.
I am a seductress, a temptress, an outstanding actress that does not believe in love. For what is love if not the submission of one person to the bid and will of another? I know the power of love, I've tasted it and used it and molded it to my will. I have played with it as one plays with fire –carefully and with respect, but with excitement no less.
Slowly, as I leave the room where I have been staying for the past month, I put my mask in place. It is the mask of an elegant woman –one that yearns to be loved and protected. But underneath the mask lays the real me.
I am the black widow. The assassin that is cruel enough to feel no regret when the time to end my 'relationship' with my targets comes. The one that has examined her heart minutely in order to know how it works, how to manipulate it… and then has fortified it so that she -I may remain heartless. And I do it with paramount perfection.
I am the cruelest, the deadliest of all Kunoichis... and I like it. A lot.
As I climb upon that wooden stage that looks so old and worn, I manage to wrap myself in a cloak of exotic mystery, alluring aromas and liquid, graceful movements. I feel the eyes of all on me, and I smile inwardly with satisfaction and a tad bit of arrogance.
A vast number of men had asked me to marry them, even after they'd learned of how I've betrayed them. It's a pitiful thing, and –as I always do before a performance—I vow to myself that I shall never fall so low…
After a short eternity, I reach the center of the stage. The single ray of light falls upon me –it bathes me with a warm beam that, I am sure, is only highlighting what I already know… my beauty has captivated them.
I sweep the crowd with my sparkling, gray gaze, only to notice something both interesting and annoying. Yes. My beauty holds the attention of all… except one.
I smirk slightly, the quirking of my lips lost to the audience. Without him knowing it, he has challenged me. They'd told me he was the hardest to seduce, but for me there is no one out of my league, no one impossible, no one that can successfully resist me.
I grab the microphone and pull it close to my crimson lips, brushing against its surface a playful kiss. A pause of absolute silence and I allow my lids to fall halfway. I purse my lips, whispering to the microphone as if it were a man and I was about to make love to him with words. And then I sign.
This time, as my voice fills the room, enveloping them all in a symphony where the angel and the devil fight for control, even he is forced to look at me. Like with all his predecessors, I will bring him to his knees. And I will destroy Konoha's greatest enemies with that single action. This is my sole purpose of existence, the unchangeable destiny of a black widow…
As I lock eyes with my target –bright hazel meeting glazed silver-, I know one thing for certain. My mission has begun.
-Extract from the Black Widow's Mission Journal. Mission No. 02103828—
-o0o-
Hyuga Neji felt annoyed. There was no other way to describe the sentiment dwelling in his heart –or was it the pit of his stomach?- that gave birth to the unusual urge to growl with frustration.
What the hell was the Hokage thinking? No. Scratch that. Was the damn woman even thinking?
Another look in Tenten's direction showed that she was possibly as baffled as he was when she took note that she was the only girl. In fact, they all seemed to be at a loss as to what to say or how to proceed.
"You're late, Kunoichi," Tsunade pointed out as she spread the folders on her desk. There was no anger in her voice, but her somber expression was enough to show her displeasure –slight as it was.
Tenten was quick to mask her confusion behind a stoic mask. Neji smiled inwardly with pride. He had taught her how to do that, and he felt surprisingly pleased now that he was watching the execution of his lessons.
"I apologize, Hokage-sama. Maito Gai did not inform me of this meeting until after we finished breakfast," the weapon mistress explained calmly –but the apology in her voice belied her attempt at appearing confident before her idol.
Then, like a sudden bolt of lightning, her words registered into his brain. Neji could not help turning towards her and giving her a piercing look -especially since she had taken her rightful place by his side.
"You were with Gai?"
"You were with Gai-sensei?"
To everyone's surprise his question came in chorus with Lee's. Of course, he knew for sure that, even though they'd used the same phrasing, the meaning of it could not have been more diverse. Where his question held curiousness –and slight irritation?- in regards to Tenten's chosen partner for breakfast, Lee's was more of an accusation. The Green Beast was probably wondering why he hadn't been asked to join them by Gai, his lifetime role model.
Neji shook his head faintly and fought the urge to slap Lee on the back of the head. This was reinforcing evidence of just how strange the other members of his former team were…
"Ah… w-well, Gai-sensei and I have always had breakfast together during this date. It's kind of a… tradition…sort of…," she explained vaguely –cryptically, almost as if she was pulling at scattered straws.
Neji's eyes became slits. She was hiding something from him and he felt his annoyance increase. So that now, he had to fight the suddenly overwhelming urge to punch Lee square in the face when waterfalls of tears came out of his eyes, courtesy of the unexpected news.
Wait! Why the hell was he even angry? In fact, who was he even angry at? The only thing clear was that he was unmistakably irritated. He wasn't certain, however, if his frustration was directed at Tenten for not asking him to have breakfast with her, or towards Gai for spending time alone with his partner.
"Interesting," the Hokage murmured to herself, and before Neji could ask what she meant, she continued in a more audible voice, "Well, I'll brief you about your new assignment." She handed each a folder containing instructions, advice and information about their objective. "Now, you might be wondering why Tenten is the only girl asked to take part in this mission, correct?"
Tsunade's eyes twinkled with mischief and Neji instinctively braced himself for whatever news she was about to deliver. On his right, Lee and Naruto nodded in unison. They were the only ones that had not understood that the question had been rhetorical.
"Your mission is to infiltrate one of the strongest and cruelest clans in the Earth country. Since the members of this specific clan admire –above all—people who know how to handle weapons, I decided that Tenten would most definitely be the best for the part," the Hokage clarified, that damn smile still on her face.
"So why are the rest of us here then?" enquired Sasuke, interest, confusion and distrust evident in his voice. Neji could not blame him, though he would never accept it either.
"Ah, and here is the part where I show my brilliant thinking," Tsunade commended herself, leaning back on her seat casually. "What better way can a Kunoichi be taken seriously, than to have a bunch of strong, handsome warriors under her command –wrapped around her little finger to be precise."
What followed was only silence.
-o0o-
~Two days later~
Tenten scowled as she inspected her reflection. She hated this! She hated the fact that she had been forced –by Ino's advice, which the Hokage had readily approved—to alter her normal working clothes for… for this. Why did she admire that demon of a woman again?
She grinded her teeth and her eyes narrowed angrily. If there was one thing that had always differentiated her from the rest of the Kuniochis –apart from her superb skill at weaponry, that is- was her preference for commodity and efficiency over fashion. And though what she wore right now, she admitted begrudgingly, could be consider rather efficient clothing, she couldn't help feeling self-conscious and therefore uncomfortable.
"Damn it, Ino! I might as well be naked!" she growled under her breath, already feeling heat rushing to her face. If it was prompted by anger or embarrassment, she could not tell. What she did know was that she didn't like this at all. Especially since she was supposed to prance in… in this mockery of suit in front of her team!
For Kami's sake, the ridiculously thin piece of fabric clung to her body like a second friggin' skin. If anything, she was at least happy it was black, for had Ino chosen any other color it would have been see-through. Stupid, stupid thing!
A couple of minutes later, she heaved a long and resigned sigh. Slowly, she gave her reflection another once-over, noting how curvaceous her body looked. At the moment, she was only wearing the body suite that covered her entire body, from the wrists of her hands to the ankles of her feet. A pronounced v-neck –which she was trying, in vain, to ignore- allowed a good portion of her bosom to peep through the fabric.
Despite her efforts at keeping cool and nonchalant, Tenten blushed, this time less with anger and more with embarrassment. In all honesty, she had never truly taken the time to look at her body in the mirror without the hindrance of her baggy clothes and damn! Did she really have such a slim waist and broad hips? And how come she'd never taken the time to admire her own bo-
She slapped her forehead at her musings. Hard.
Cursing both Tsunade and Ino under her breath, she proceeded to shrug into a short, dark-brown yukata. Wrapping it around her, she tied a knot at the back of her waist and was happy that at least it hindered a little the otherwise unobstructed view to her curves. Too bad there was nothing she could do to cover her bosom too. Exhaling softly, she finished by cloaking herself. The black, cape-like cloak would help in keeping the cold at bay and, in a positive note, would also keep her new outfit a secret for a little longer.
Eager for a distraction, Tenten stepped away from the mirror and approached her desk. With a sweep, she picked up the files she'd been studying scrupulously during the last couple of days. She flipped one open and stared at the picture greeting her.
"Oshiro, Ryota," she read, studying the harden expression of his tanned, old face. Bushy, graying brows were resting lightly upon brown, lightless eyes. His cheeks were sunken and his lips were so thin they seemed to have been frozen in a perpetual grimace. Well, to be honest, his wrinkled skin was so tight across his skull, that Tenten supposed that even if the man were to crack a smile, the sight would be rather haughty.
Something about the picture, about the man nagged her. She'd spent a good amount of time looking at this person's face, feeling as though she kept missing something; something important at that.
Tenten shook her head, brushing the oddity aside for the time being. She closed the file, recalling all the information she'd learn, just to make sure it was still there. Their objective was to infiltrate the Oshiro clan, known to hold the best weapon masters in the world –though she decided to judge that for herself when the time came.
On their own accord, her fingers un-strapped one of her hidden kunais and she twirled it between her fingers expertly. She allowed herself as small smile as excitement bubbled in her stomach. This was her mission. This time she was going to call the shots. This time she was going to come head to head with people who sang the melody of silver, and she could not wait!
Of course, just as she was starting to feel good about all of this, her mind brought forward the other side of the coin. The darker side. Because she would have been dumb to believe that everything would go smoothly from here on end. And Tenten was not dumb. Naïve sometimes, yes, but never dumb.
Her shoulders slumped and she brought a hand up to caress the back of her neck, rubbing at the nerves. The thing was, there was one unspoken rule when dealing with males, especially 'Alfa' males… and that was that you never ever told them they had to submit to a Kunoichi. And Tsunade –not even hiding her evil smile—had done just that.
"Well, fuck it! They'll just have to deal with it!" Tenten told the part of her that was groaning in her head. How was this fair? She had always followed orders without complains, so how could this be any different? Why would this be any different?
Intent on keeping that positive state of mind, she proceeded to gather her things before moving downstairs and towards the front door. Sparing one last glance at her Spartan house draped in shadows, for it was still too early for the sun to rise, she bade her silent goodbye to the ghosts of her parents –those she could hardly remember but which, there was no question about it, still lingered inside her heart, making themselves present whenever those odd moments of melancholy took it upon themselves to kiss her tired mind.
Then, and only then, did she leave to meet her team. Still eagerly hoping, with all her heart, that –putting rivalry and sexism aside—all the members of her teams would behave, she arrived at the gates only to have said hope shattered mercilessly.
She scowled as she took in the image before her with something between dismay and irritation. Kiba was shouting something at Neji, who –crossed legged on the floor- was competently ignoring him. Shikamaru was languidly sleeping by the prodigy's other side, oblivious to everything. Naruto, meanwhile, was being held back by Lee as he cursed and roared and shouted at a blank-faced Sai. Sasuke, for his part, was looking at the blond wearily, but he was bright enough to keep out of the entire thing.
Boys. Boys. Stupid, stupid boys!
Cracking her neck and squaring her shoulders she marched up to them with a purpose. Without batting an eye or showing signs of hesitation, she made it known this was unacceptable. With a short sword on each hand, she threatened to maim whoever spoke next. Surprised gazes regarded her, but she also detected caution and she smiled inwardly. What? They thought that because she was a girl she would not be able to keep order? To be ruthless?
Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, guys, she chuckled in her head, making sure to keep her amusement to herself. It wouldn't serve if they thought she was having fun at their expense, now, would it? "Gather around," she ordered, nodding curtly with satisfaction when they all shuffled near her in compliance.
Sparing a glance at Neji, she was surprised to find a small smirk quirking his lips. She smirked at him in return, glad that she could at least count with his support.
Yes, you taught me well, Neji Hyuga, she allowed, knowing that there was no need for her to say it out loud for him to know her thoughts.
Though at first his silence had annoyed the hell out of her, she had soon found that his silences were words in and of themselves. As the time spent with him had lenghtened, she'd come to not only accept his silent messages, but to use them as well. Yes, he had really taught her well. But she liked to believe that she had taught him a thing or two as well.
"Alright, listen up," she began, discarding her previous train of thought and concentrating on the here and the now. She paused, sweeping them with a look that dared them to interrupt her. Nobody did. "This might be our mission, but I lead. We do things my way. I am not going to run a dictatorship here, if you have advice then I welcome it, but the decisions on what to do fall on me or –if, and only if, I am unfit for command or not around—they will fall on Shikamaru."
The men nodded in understanding and, she would like to think, in agreement as well. Unlike with other missions where the leader could choose his or her second-in-command, the Hokage had assigned Tenten hers. Tsunade's word had been final, not that she would have tried to contradict her or anything. She was sure Shikamaru would be a great asset as her second and her only concern had been Neji's pride –which could be quite bothersome sometimes. To her surprise, the Hyuga prodigy hadn't seemed affronted which had, in turn, filled her with unbound relief.
Yes. Things so far were looking, perhaps not extremely peachy, but better than expected and that was enough for her right now.
"Good, that's settled then," she concluded, turning around and pulling her hood over her head. Around her, her team did the same. "Let's go."
And so, without a word, their mission began.
-o0o-
~A week later~
Hyuga Neji sat near the fire while everyone else slept peacefully. He'd been woken up by Lee a while ago when it had been his turn to keep watch. Like he'd been doing every ten minutes, he used his byakugan to gaze around. Nothing moved. They were fine.
He deactivated his blood limit and sighed. A day ago they'd finally crossed the border into Earth country. Neji despised it here. It wasn't so much the fact that they were so far away from the Leaf what troubled him, but the realization that this country was truly a mystery unraveled. Konoha's knowledge about it was meager at best, their information only shedding some light into the Hidden Rock and nothing else.
He leaned on a particularly large and smooth stone nearby, bringing to the forefront of his mind the details of their current mission. Supposedly, past the Hidden Rock, there was another hidden village looming somewhere between steep canyons. In this village resided the Clan they needed to infiltrate. Though currently the Earth Daimyou was in an alliance with the Leaf to destroy the Akatsuki, not all of the hidden villages were happy about this.
And how could they? Before the Akatsuki, the Earth and the Fire had been in war against each other. It seemed long ago, but really it wasn't and Neji doubted some had gotten over the grudge they held towards their former enemies. Word from none other than the Earth Daimyou had gotten over to Tusnade about one of the hidden villages planning an attack on the Leaf. Whether this was a trap or not was yet to be decided, but the menace this news brought could not be ignored or discarded.
Thus, here they were, a small team with a grand mission. Their objective as explained by the Hokage was, simply put, to find this rebellious village, destroy the Oshiro Clan –which was behind the whole scheme—and extinguish the threat. The Earth Daimyou, officially, was not aware of any of this, but Neji knew better. To avoid a civil war, he'd recurred to allowing the Leaf to take matters into their own hands by giving Tsuande the information needed and then turning a blind eye on their team.
Though it all sounded easy, it was everything but. Since it would be impossible for them to find the exact location of the village, the plan was to instead force an invitation. Another village –a merchant one that laid to the south of the Hidden Rock—was known for hosting a fighter's celebration every year. For a week, a huge tournament was open to anyone and everyone who wish to garner some fame and earn quick money. This was also known to be the recruiting grounds used by the Oschiros to swell its Clan with powerful warriors.
"What's on your mind?" a melodic voice spoke to his right.
Neji was startled out of his musings, but he was glad his outward expression did not show the clear slip in his vigil. Instead, he calmly turned to gaze at the warm eyes of his training partner. He noted that, perhaps unconsciously, he'd ended up positioning himself closer to her sleeping form, so that she was an arm's length away from him.
"So…?" she prodded, snuggling into her blanket as a whisper of the coming winter made its presence known through a gust of wind.
Neji realized he'd yet to answer her, but the tendril of hair that had fallen across her face as she'd rolled onto her side was proving quite distracting. Not overthinking it, he reached out and tucked it behind her ear. It was an automatic response, an instinctive action. But Neji was not one to give in to petty whims and they both knew it. Her face expressed surprise, his startling realization. Neji, however, had still enough clearance of mind to quickly retrieve his hand. Faking indifference, he tore his gaze from her and posed it on the fire instead.
What in the world had prompted him to do that? And why, oh why did it felt so… damn right!
Fishing for something to break the now awkward silence, he remembered her question and decided this was as good a time as any to answer. "I was just running over the details of the mission, trying to foresee whatever problems might arise."
There. He felt more than saw her smile. The awkwardness was gone, the silence broken and their comfort, the companionship he was unashamed to admit he'd always held dear, was restored.
"Always the optimist," she quipped.
"Embodied," he replied with a smirk, sparing her a sidelong glance.
He didn't know if it was how she'd been handling herself lately –with natural leadership and regal disposition—but he hadn't been able to stop himself from noticing –no, scratch that, admiring every little detail that he would have normally been oblivious too. Or maybe the fact that he'd more than once caught some of the other men stealing glances at her and seen a hint of lust light their eyes, had prompted him to pay more attention to her… to all of her.
Propping herself up on one elbow, she rose an inquisitive eyebrow. Damn it! This was the first time he was unabashedly caught staring, wasn't it? He returned his attention to the fire. Could he be blamed for staring, though? Kami, she really looked quite lovely…
Stop that, he told himself, or that part of his brain that was swift to revert to a more primal state, choosing instinct over everything else, mostly –or rather, especially when it came to her.
"All will be fine," Tenten assured, confidence in her tone making him focus back on her. Her brown eyes, much to his odd disappointment, were no longer on him. Instead they roamed around the sleeping frames of their -her team.
He might have been imagining it, but he could have sworn he detected pride and a sense of love swirling in her orbs. It made him somewhat uncomfortable. The idea that love and any of the other people apart from him could be in the same sentence in Tenten's lips did not sit well with him. Again, the thought did not so much annoy him, as surprise him. Since when did he even care?
"What makes you so sure?" he forced himself to ask, wishing she would stop looking at them and look at him instead. Only him. To his innermost satisfaction, she did.
"Do you even need to ask?" her low chuckle made his heart race. Then, more composed, she continued saying, "With the skill gathered, I am sure –no," She shook her head and her smirk broke into a full blown smile, "I know we can deal with whatever is thrown our way. We'll make it, Neji." She brought out from somewhere below her blanket a kunai and twirled it between her fingers effortlessly, playfully. With a wink, she added, "And we'll do it with utmost style this time."
Despite his strange thoughts and even more confusing feelings, Neji couldn't help but smile lopsidedly at that. Granted, it was almost indistinguishable from his usual smirk, but it mattered little. After all, she knew him too well and could therefore tell the difference.
Tenten's smile widened even more and, as it always did, it kind of took his breath away.
To be continued…
