Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 2: At the Tokage Restaurant
At the Tokage restaurant, Neji and Tenten headed for the corner booth at the right side of the restaurant, the usual spot they knew Gai-sensei loved to have his meal at. They never could understand why their Sensei loved that spot only that it had something to do with a painting of a fire lizard resting near a pond of Lotuses. The fires of youth quote probably went to his head, thought Tenten as they slid into their seats and waited for Gai and Rock Lee to arrive. Neji picked up the menu and started to scan through the items that the restaurant served. The only thing he noticed had changed was the set meals section. " Bad news Tenten-san, they changed the kid's meal dessert. Now you can't beg any kids in the restaurant to trade their pudding with you," Neji said with a smirk on his face.
" Neji-san! I haven't done that in weeks! And anyway the kid agreed to trade his kid's meal pudding with me. It's not like it's bad news or anything." Tenten tried to defend herself.
Neji just smiled and carried on scanning the menu. He had no favourite meal, he was not fussy and anything featured in the menu was fine with him…except for the restaurant's speciality lizard broth. Hmm, Tenten looked so cute when she was irritated. What? When did I start thinking about that? Neji quickly brushed that thought away. Must be because it's fun to tease her a little sometimes.
Tenten spotted Gai and Lee walking into the restaurant. She waved them over and they walked over to their table. " So is the fire burning strongly in you my shinobis. Ready to tackle the first part of the mission. We need to eat enough to fuel our energy and to be ready for any enemy who dares stand in our way."
" Sensei! I feel ready to swallow ten meals and be supercharged for the mission!" Lee shouted.
" Be practical Lee-san, we don't have much money." Neji calmly said, as he shifted his bag to make way for his teammates. Tenten just giggled and passed her Sensei and Lee their menus. After everyone had decided what they wanted to eat, Gai waved a waiter over to their table. The team gave the waiter their orders and when the waiter served them their meal, they tucked into it heartily. While they ate, Neji and Tenten told Gai and Lee about Kurenai's team's mission and that two ninjas sent there had not returned.
" Well I happen to know one of the two ninjas sent there one month ago and I definitely don't think that he would betray Konoha. Something wrong must have happened and we have to find out what is going on in the Hidden Village of the Rain." Gai said in a serious tone. " When we get close to their territory, I want everyone to be on their guard. We can't afford to make any mistakes as we know nothing about their village and their strengths."
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence, with the occasional small talk in between, as they pondered over what Gai-sensei had said. When they had eaten their fill and paid the bill, they took their equipment and set off together for the Hidden Village of the Rain.
" Are you all set to tackle the mission my shinobis? The spring of youth waits for no one so you'd better be all fired up!" Gai cheered his team on.
" Sensei! We're ready!" Shouted Rock Lee, as Tenten and Neji both responded with affirmations.
Gai looked at his team. Compared to some other teams, he still had a long way to go in getting them to work together. Tenten and Neji have just started to accept Rock Lee as a good teammate and slowly as a friend. Before that, they hardly trained together and the team was mainly split into two sections, Neji and Tenten on one side with Lee and myself on the other. Tenten had started coming to watch and participate in Gai and Lee's training sessions, when Neji was busy with his one on one combat practices with his uncle. They now discuss their battle techniques with each other and get together for more group practices but is it too late? Can they really work as a true team when the need calls for it? Gai thought to himself as he watched his team travelling next to him on the mission.
" My shinobis, we will need to work as a team when we encounter any trouble so I hope that you will all remember to help each other. Teamwork is very important, so try to understand each other's movements and watch the backs of your teammates. Man, I sound like Kakashi but seriously, I need you all to work as a group. No one is to fight by himself or herself." Gai told his team.
" Don't worry sensei, I'll protect my team no matter what the cost!" Lee swore to his team.
" I will try my best to help in the team. Though my skills are not as great as you guys." Tenten told her Sensei.
" I'll help you get out of trouble if you are being pummelled by the enemy. I'm sure the trainings we had helped us get a feel of each other's battling abilities." Neji confidently replied. " I agree our teamwork is amateurish compared to teams like Kurenai's and Kakashi's teams but we are still able to put up a fierce fight. And besides, have you no faith in my abilities?"
" Well I have faith in you my shinobis. Come on, let's proceed while the fire of youth burns strongly in us!" Gai said, regaining his usual sunny disposition.
The team continue to zip past the trees as they made their way swiftly and quietly toward the Hidden Village of the Rain. A dark figure watched them from a distance. "…Hmm…" it murmured as it disappeared into the shadows once more.