A long pale finger outstretched towards the east, where the forest lay in slumber.
"Go there. That is where the Konoha filth await you my minions. Kill them. Do not leave anyone alive. They must not reach their destination, do you understand?"
The ninja nodded their heads, and swiftly departed. Sighing, their leader sat down and stared ahead. Servants trembled under his gaze. His red eyes rolled. You'd think they know it was just his sharingan.
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Side by side, newlywed Neji and Tenten Hyuuga traveled back to their home in Konoha. They both could see the gates to the village's entrance, and both couldn't help but feel relief. Even though their honeymoon was…amazing, being back home felt wonderful. As soon as they were through the gates, literally, a message carried a note from the Hokage, asking them to meet her in exactly half an hour. Tenten growled and Neji put his arm around her waist.
"We haven't even been home yet and already we're getting missions!"
Neji smoothed the hair away from her forehead and planted his lips on hers, lightly.
"At least we'll be together, right?"
Tenten sighed in defeat.
"Yeah, I guess."
She laughed playfully as she pushed Neji away and ran to toward their home. They had thirty minutes to kill. What in the world were they going to do?
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"I need you both, along with the Nara's, to join Team Kakashi and Hinata."
Neji couldn't help but ask,
"That's a lot for just one rescue missions, isn't it?"
Tsunade rubbed the back of her head.
"It isn't quite that simple. We have received a threat from an unknown source, just a day after Team Kakashi left."
Picking up the letter, Tsunade read aloud what it said,
"If you're Konoha stench do not abandon their mission, my men will kill them all, one by one. Do not view this as an empty threat, Lady Tsunade. I'm not one to be toyed with."
Sighing, she set the note back on her desk.
"Something about this seems too indecent to be taken lightly. There's something bigger behind all of this, and I don't know what. That's why, I'm sending the four of you to aid them on this mission."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes and muttered something about a "troublesome letter" and was answered with a nudge to the ribs from Temari. She too felt that maybe Tsunade was taking this a bit too seriously, but, Temari knew to be on her best behavior, after all, Tsunade was her new Hokage, something Temari was still in the process of getting used to.
The price I pay for marrying Shikamaru.
Tsunade looked at Neji once more.
"I'm sure you are wondering why you need to join them if they have Hinata with them. Well, here's the truth. I'm not quite sure how Hinata will do on her own."
Neji eyed Tsunade.
"She's a big girl. She can take care of herself you know. Hinata has gotten stronger in the past five years."
Tsunade sighed. She was used to being defied by her people.
"Yes, but can you guarantee me she will be ready for a battle as strong as the one I am expecting?"
Neji admitted that he didn't know. Hinata and Neji weren't exactly best friends, something Neji had long felt guilty over. With a wave of her hand, Tsunade dismissed the Hyuuga's and the Nara's.
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"Good thing we haven't unpacked anything, eh Neji-kun?"
He nodded his head lightly. He was too troubled to come up with a decent response. If Tsunade felt something larger looming around the corner, how would Hinata truly fair? Neji was worried, and it wasn't something he was used to. He was used to worrying about Tenten, no doubt, but worrying about his long-distant cousin was something relatively unfamiliar. His thoughts were interrupted when Tenten came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him, thought they only reached his stomach. He twisted in her arms so that he could lift her up. Cradling her, he listened as she asked in a whisper,
"Neji, what's wrong?"
Resting his forehead against hers, he answered,
"Nothing that you can't fix."
He was rewarded with a kiss to the lips. And, as quick as they had come, all of his problems seemed to melt away.
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Shikamaru lazily packed his bag, complaining the whole time. Occasionally his whining would cease when Temari pushed him around.
"Would you quite hitting me?"
Temari laughed.
"Not until you stop whining like a little baby!"
Shikamaru sighed.
"It's just, it seems to me that ever since we got married, its been mission after mission. Just when I think we're going to actually spend time together as husband and wife, another mission is shoved at us."
Temari sighed; she knew exactly what he was feeling. Shikamaru plopped down on their couch, and he pulled Temari onto his lap. She leaned her head against his shoulder and mumbled into his chest,
"I know, but they told us it was going to be this way for awhile. I have to prove myself to Konoha."
Shikamaru whispered into her ear,
"Its been far too long, and you've proved yourself a hundred times over."
Sighing once more, Temari felt Shikamaru entwine his fingers with hers, and with his free hand, he ran his fingers lightly against her hair. She felt her eyes droop.
"Go to sleep Temari. You need the rest."
She blissfully closed her eyes and fell asleep while laying on Shikamaru. He leaned his cheek against the tope of her head and he too dozed off, still cradling her in his arms.
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Early the next morning, the two couples met out front by the gates of Konoha. Everyone had the same thought.
Deja vu.
Departing, Tenten's hand wrapped around Neji's and Temari's with Shikamaru's, the small band attempted to meet up with the larger group. They had a three day journey ahead.
"I bet we can make it in two," said Shikamaru.
Author's Note: Well, finally chapter three is up. This one was a little difficult. I've never written anything about Temari and Shikamaru before, so if I seriously let you down, sorry. Also, I know I didn't have Naruto and Hinata in this chapter, but not to fear, there's some potential romance in the next chapter D Let me know if you saw any mistakes too.