..The Spar..

"You're gonna regret your words Shino!" Tenten yelled standing beside a training post, her confidence flaring and her thirst for revenge watering her mouth.

"Let's just get this over and done with. Besides, I'm not going easy on you just because you're a female."

"Good! It wouldn't mean anything if you held back on me." Her teeth began to shine through her lips.

She was really loving this, wasn't she Shino thought to himself, unmoving and staring at her with his hands in his pockets.

"Aren't you coming at me?" she hissed.

"Don't need to. I thought you knew my ninja techniques?" No matter what he couldn't allow her to feel this was a trap.

"You leave me no choice then." She grabbed a scroll from her stash and began her hand signals before a faint poof was all that Shino could hear. He looked up to see multiple kunai and weapons coming at him from all angles.

"How is this possible! She's a Weapon's specialist?" Shino was so shocked he only barely had enough time to dodge her initial attack, as he reached an area he thought was safe, she surprised him with another attack, she called it "The hidden knife" attack.

By this time a few kids had gathered around the training grounds watching in awe. They had never seen a girl kunoichi on fire and Shino was looking very weak in their eyes.

Shino saw two kunai coming at him, and he pushed them away just in time with his right hand. Then another two lunged at him and he pushed them away with his left hand. Then he saw one coming right at him as soon as he had safely dodged her four kunais. He immediately summoned his bugs to protect his face from the kunai which they did within a second.

Tenten was incredibly skilled with her weapons and her speed was nearly unmatched. He had never seen anyone this fast with summoning anything.

How could she not be ready! She's amazing! Shino thought to himself.

Tenten figured it was time for a new strategy. She knew she had to keep Shino at a distance or his insects would suck her chakra dry. But what could she do, she was a long range fighter and by the looks of it so was Shino. This battle was going to drag on for longer than it had to which began to annoy Tenten, while she was enjoying scaring him.

"You're pretty good for a twelve year old!" she taunted giggling at him.

"Age has nothing to do skills. It's hard work and practise that pays off in the end."

Tenten didn't want to but she had no other choice. She grabbed a scroll from her stash and began her hand signs. "Twin Rising Dragons".

Weapons were flying everywhere once more and Shino kept moving away just in time before being impaled by any of the kunais he dodged. Until he couldn't move an inch.

"It's over Shino. I win."

"How did you?" Then he spotted a single kunai that was so thin it was invisible to his eyes, in addition it was hooked onto her finger, with a single pull she could easily slit his throat if she desired.

"I give up." Shino had genuinely lost, and as she released him, he was thankful for the training. He admired the fact that she hadn't tried to take advantage of his obvious weakness and that's his insects, she only aimed for his body. Easily she could have summoned fire to kill all his insects but she didn't, only cleverly cornered him until he was caught.

A little stupid, but admirable he thought to himself, inwardly hiding a smile.

"That was great Tenten, I believe you are ready to go to the next Chunin exams!"

"Gai sensei? You were watching?"

Shino turned away without another word and began to walk home. Knowing that he didn't need to spoil the moment for his friend. He had planned this and hoped for the best. He knew that Tenten wouldn't kill him but there were times when he knew that she was out to cause damage.

"Gai sensei, thank you so much!"

With a loud hearty laugh Guy pointed to nothing "It was thanks to this guy.. Eh? Where'd he go?"

"Who do you mean sensei?"

"The boy you were fighting, he asked me to make sure he wasn't killed by you."

"I see." Inwardly she thanked Shino for helping her, and hoped to one day face off with him again.

"What's his name anyway?"

"It's Shino." The dork she thought before replying a gentle blush appearing on her cheeks.

Early in the morning of the following day Shino, Kiba and Hinata had a mission that was to guard a man from a group of bandits who wanted to steal his bread recipe. Sometimes these missions seemed unbelievable and more than not a waste of time, however the Hokage Sarutobi insisted that this recipe was this man's and his family's livelihood, Kiba and himself took the mission a little more seriously. To be honest Shino was serious enough for all of them, even the client felt uneasy with him and his idea of getting to know the client.

Hinata found it amusing to see this man nearly stuttering in fear after having a few of his questions answered by Shino. All he had asked was

"What is your ninja skill?"

"Are you a confident leader?"

"Would you give up your team members for exchange of me and my recipe?"

Shino had answered.

"Beginner."

"I guess?"

"Depends."

Akamaru barked and Kiba began roaring with laughter at the sight of the client hiding behind Hinata. Hinata told Kiba to stop making noise and after everything was cleared they continued on. Shino thought back to the day before, so much had happened. Graduating, meeting his friend again, and fighting his friend for the first time and here he was on this mission the very next day. The whole team wouldn't be returning home for a whole week.

...

Tenten was overwhelmed with joy when she saw Lee and Neji the next day, although they seemed unimpressed. They were all glad that this time around they would take the chunin exams and pass them together. For the most part Tenten thought to herself, as Neji prepared to do more training and asked Tenten to train with him. As usual she couldn't say no to him and went along like a love sick puppy almost – yes it made her feel sick most of the time, but it was just training and that's all Neji saw her as, a tool.

...

A/N That's all I've gotten up to. Feedback? =) I'll keep writing I promise x~