CHP2

Tenten finally allowed the tears to fall shamelessly in front of her closest female friend. She had just read the private letter to her from Neji. The man she loved with everything she was. The same man who was fighting a war for their nation, risked his life for all the greedy bastards so that they could live in peace. It wasn't fair, but it suited just fine for Neji. He was made for the military and excelled well. They had been childhood friends, until high school started and she started seriously crushing on her best friend. How could she not when they constantly sparred together in their mutual love of the martial arts, with his shirt off?

Now blushing, she wiped the streaming tears from her cheeks and eyes, sniffling once. She was so elated, and very excited for him to come back home. She couldn't wait, he told her that he had a surprise for her. If she had to guess, it was probably a new move to teach her for her tournaments! Or maybe one of his anbu-issued weapons! That would be so cool! She knew it was hard for him to express his love for her, but he did so anyway. In which that thought made her that much more grateful, she loved that man so deeply.

Peering over at her friend, she saw that Hinata had finally calmed down a little bit, but it was clear the usually shy girl was still reeling from Neji's request. Tenten found it strange itself that her usually very stoic boyfriend would bring someone home with him. He must have some sort of connection with the other shinobi, or something happened between them to make Neji want to offer shelter. Looking again at Hinata, she saw her still a little flushed in the cheeks, and giggled with a teary smile. When Tenten first arrived at the Hyuuga girl's home, she saw Hanabi poking her sister in the forehead, while Konohamaru paced the floor of the kitchen. After explaining the horrors her dear friend had to go through, Tenten quickly, after rolling her eyes, whispered in Hinata's unconscious ear. What was said will remain private between the two girls, but needless to say Hinata instantly woke up, as if by magic.

Tenten will forever keep the secret to herself on what exactly gets the girl motivated.

Sighing Hinata finally turned to her friend, after allowing the brief privacy to cry and asked, "What should I do Ten?"

"I don't think he'll be upset if you say no. This is your house Hina, your decision."

"But it's not just my house. Neji helped me buy this house too by sending us money while he was away, not to mention so did Hanabi with some of her allowance before…before."

"I know Hina, but it's your home. You and Hanabi live here, you know he trusts you. He wouldn't have asked you in the first place if he didn't trust you. He could have just brought the guy home and not have said anything."

"G-good point. I just…have s-some reserves a-about…" she started.

"About a strange man sleeping in the spare bedroom?" Tenten ventured.

Hinata mutely nodded slowly.

It was a known fact that even though this was a four bedroom home, with two already being used by Hinata and Hanabi themselves, there was only one spare bedroom. The other room was Neji's and Neji's only. Only Tenten was allowed to occasionally sleep in his room on nights she stayed over. She relished those nights, taking in the scent that was still on his pillows. Taking the liberty to sleep in an old t-shirt of his, though she didn't stay over that often, she liked to give the two sisters their privacy as well. And she knew that Hinata was swimming in all the responsibility of raising a teenager, all the while trying to not struggle in her third year of medical school and working full time. Not to mention having Hiashi Hyuuga for a father. That man was vile in her ranking opinion. He was neglectful of his strongly gifted nephew, which really didn't bode well in her mind. She was never really that close with Hinata until she moved out on her own with Hanabi. Neji asked her in a letter to look after his sweet little cousin. And that she did. She helped Hinata move in, get the house in order, and even watched Hanabi last summer while she was doing her internship with Hyuuga Corp. Luckily for Hinata, half way through that summer, her boss Ko offered a job in marketing – with a very reluctant Hiashi on board. Tenten had a job mentoring young pupils in karate and weaponry training. Why not work in a field that you love best?

"But Neji trusts him," she whispered.

Tenten looked at her, "Looks that way to me."

She sighed, again, "Then I'll write him with my permission. Hanabi said earlier she was fine with it."

Now Tenten sighed, "Let's go make dinner Hina, all this sappy crying has my appetite worked up."

Finally with a smile, she replied, "That sounds good. Then I'll start my letter. Oh, I do need to send him stamps though. It's been three months since my last package, time for another one. Do you have anything you want me to send him, Ten?"

Walking together to the kitchen, she thought it over. Hinata usually thought of everything to send him. Everything from canned goods and calling cards to stamps, playing cards, and a football to toss around with the other shinobi. Smiling over her thoughts of her dark-haired friend, she nodded and said she'd add a set of shuriken to the package.

"I'm sure he'll love that Tenten." Hinata said, knowing how her cousin enjoys his tools.

"Well, I can't think of anything else, other than myself. But I doubt I'll fit in your box!"

They laughed and both enjoyed the companionship. They both considered themselves lucky to have each other to lean on when they were sad, angry, or lonely while Neji was out fighting for them. Tenten didn't have many friends, especially girl friends, but Hinata was a best friend to her. Another thing she was grateful to her boyfriend for. The two girls knew each other growing up but never really talked to each other. It took Neji joining the armed forces to unite the two, both having a strong connection to him. Both trying to talk him out of it, but encouraging him at the same time, it was very unique. Now the two girls were the best of friends and would do just about anything for each other.

"Well, we won't have to wait much longer to see him, a-and his f-f-friend."

"Like you said, just trust Neji that he wouldn't bring in some sleaze," she giggled.

"Funny. Will you help by making the rice?"

"I suppose, but yours taste better."

"It always tastes better when someone else makes it." Hinata said with a smile.

"I'm so happy Hina. I've been waiting for so long." Tenten choked up again.

"M-me too."

They hugged each other there in the middle of the kitchen.

"Anything more and I might have a nosebleed." Konohamaru interrupted.

"Say anything more and you WILL have a nosebleed. And a black eye," muttered Hanabi.

"That's one of the many reasons I'm so crazy about you Hanabi," he said wrapping his arms around her.

"Keep it rated G." threatened Tenten as Hanabi blushed.

"You did your homework?" asked Hinata.

"Yes, we both finished. Stupid Mr. Ebisu and that stupid history paper," complained Konohamaru.

"At least you got Udon for a partner, so it shouldn't be so bad," his girlfriend said.

"Who is your partner?" Hinata asked while preparing the sauce for the stir-fry.

"Senna, she's chill, though I begged for Moegi."

The four of them kept up the banter until the time came to sit around the dinner table. Each sipping their green tea and enjoying the meal, the conversation remained light and happy with the recent good news.

--

The picture in his hand was at least three years old. He knew she must have looked different by now, but he was expecting the same buns on her head. Their relationship from friends to …more… went so fast he hardly recognized the fact that he was kissing his best friend. Smirking, he gazed longingly at his girlfriend of four years. She was in an offensive fighting stance with a fierce look in her eyes.

"General Ibiki is looking for you."

Neji looked up and caught the dark eyes of his fellow shinobi anbu captain and nodded.

"What are you looking at anyway?"

Neji held his emotions in check, "Just an old picture."

"Must be some picture, oh yeah, Lee was looking for you to."

He groaned, "Not again, I refuse to acknowledge him as a rival of any sort."

Smirking, the man continued, "You just don't have the blossom of youth and are jealous."

"Hn. Whatever you say. What section is the General in?"

"Block 2, apparently their suspicions of the target are valid. They need eyes."

"Understood."

"So can I look at that picture while you're gone?"

"Shut up Uchiha."

Annoyed, the Hyuuga captain shut the door to their shared cabin on board the vessel heading for Suna. The precious cargo on board was none other than their target, the Kazekage. So they needed eyes? The Hyuuga knew what that meant, it meant awakening his Hyuuga bloodline heritage to view the target from a distance. He'd check in with the General first, and get the details.

It started out as an escort mission to prove Konoha's loyalty to Suna, that is until anonymous intel came in and tipped off the General that the Kazekage wasn't all that he seemed. Big surprise there. Overall mission for the crew of the escort was to find out where the leak was. He didn't have a good feeling about it at all. But it didn't matter. After this mission, he could rest at home with Tenten, give her the surprise he'd gotten for her in Kumo. Allowing a slight smirk on his face as he gave one knock to the door of Block 2, he was surprised when the Hokage himself answered.

What was the Hokage doing on one of the naval vessels, unplanned? This naval crew just became responsible for not one, but two kage's.

Eyes slightly widened, he looked beyond his nation's leader to the other on duty officers, looking for a signal.

"Enough of that Captain Hyuuga, there is no threat," said the Sandaime Hokage.

"Apologies Hokage-sama."

"Yet. There is no threat yet. Neji, come in and close the door," ordered Ibiki.

He did so silently and walked to the open corner. He noticed that a member of the squad he ran, Kiba Inuzuka, was in the room as well, interesting.

"Captain Hyuuga." Kiba grinned.

"Inuzuka." Neji acknowledged the tall boy with spiky brown hair and narrowed slit-like brown eyes, "There is no immediate threat?"

"Threats are always considered immediate as far as I'm concerned," answered Kiba.

"Point taken."

"Alright gentleman, we've sent Shino Aburame to the bottom deck of the vessel to set his insects up for more intel on the cargo, then work his way up. Sorry Captain Hyuuga, but he was the best man for the mission."

Neji waved them off, he knew Shino was a fine shinobi, and didn't mind him being personally requested by the General for a mission.

"When he's finished he'll join us to go over your squad's mission and plan out our action. For now though, Neji we need for you to keep an extra eye out on the cargo's main support."

"Understood General Morino."

"Good then. Kiba, how far can your senses reach?"

"5 miles outside of this ship," he answered.

Ibiki nodded, "Very well, we're expecting to find something off about the cargo. If nothing visible to the eye, then maybe it's in the scent."

"Gotcha." Kiba nodded in return.

One knock to the door, each shinobi taking position. Just in case. And like before, the Hokage himself answered the door.

"Mission complete Hokage-sama," answered the mysterious Shino Aburame.