TenTen's first day - or perhaps first fifteen minutes might be a bit more accurate - in camp! Be prepared to meet NEW PEOPLEZ! 8D


It would be safe to say that TenTen caught the gaze of every man in camp as she lumbered forward. Kiba sat curled up in her collar, whispering tidbits of very helpful advice as she went on. "Ok, this is it!" Kiba whispered, grinning. "Time to show them your man-walk. Shoulders back, chest high, feet apart, head up, and strut! Two, three, break that bone, two, three, and work it!" Well, he certainly had a very interesting strategy. TenTen struggled to keep up with all this information.

It grew more and more disgusting the farther they got into camp. Tenten could barely keep herself from wrinkling her nose in disgust and tried to hide her repulse. THIS was what men lived like? They passed by men trimming their toenails and picking their noses, the snots.

"Beautiful, isn't it," Kiba commented, as if reading her mind.

"They're disgusting," Tenten retorted, every fiber of her being wanting to react on the impulse to run screaming out of the camp.

"No, they're men," Kiba pointed out matter-of-factly. "And you're gonna have to act just like them, so pay attention."

"Look! This tattoo will protect me from harm!" one recruit exclaimed enthusiastically to a bug-eyed, lanky man and one with purple facepaint all over his countenance.

"Hmm..." The one with the purple facepaint said as if thoughtfully, then punched the recruit.

The other one, the one with the bowl-cut shaped hair, gasped, fighting against amusement. "I certainly hope you can get your money back!"

"I don't think I can do this," Tenten moaned, already feeling ill at ease.

"It's all attitude!" Kiba reassured. "Be tough, like this guy here!" Tenten found herself nearly face-to-face with the facepaint one.

Kankuro scowled and spit at her feet. "What're you looking at?"

"Punch him," Kiba advised in a low voice next to TenTen's ear. "It's how men say hello." Nodding once, Tenten punched Kankuro with all the force she could muster and triumphantly watched him slam into the stomach of an obese man coming up behind them.

"So you finally made a friend, Kankuro?" Choji asked, eyes scanning over Tenten.

"Good," Kiba encouraged. "Now slap him on the behind. They like that."

Unsure of herself, Tenten did as she was told. She gave Kankuro's rear end a firm smack. He spun around defensively, already balling his fists.

"I'm gonna hit you so hard it'll make your ancestors dizzy," Kankuro threatened with a scowl. "You think I'm kidding? Watch me!"

Choji rolled his eyes. "C'mon, Kankuro, lay off. The General's not gonna handle a fight in the middle of camp well, you know. Besides, let's look for some food. I'm starving!"

Kankuro shot Tenten a meaningful look, eyes narrowing. "You're not worth my time, chicken boy," he warned before turning to leave with Choji.

Kiba's hot temper took control of him quick. "Chicken boy?" he shouted, taking offense. "Dare to say that to my face, you limp noodle!"

"Rarrrgghhh!" Kankuro shouted and spun around, grabbing Tenten and pulling his other fist back, readying himself for a nice hard punch. At the last second she ducked out of his grasp and Kankuro ended up punching Lee three times, who had been right behind her. "Oh, sorry, Lee," he apologized then caught TenTen trying to crawl away. "Hey!" Kankuro reached down to grab her forcefully, but Lee on impulse kicked him into Choji, aiming for Tenten but obviously missing the target.

"There he goes!" Lee pointed out, and the trio chased TenTen through a tent. The gang stopped abruptly at the end of a food line, resulting in Choji knocking everyone over, one by one, like a series of dominoes, and even the pot of food overturned. Everyone got up and advanced on TenTen, obviously not happy. If it's one thing you don't do to men, it's mess with their food.

"Hey, guys..." Tenten started to back away, hands held up innocently, eyes wide.

A disaster in the making...


Meanwhile, in the Captain's tent, Hizashi was going over the map and reading out the strategy as he went along. "The Huns have struck here, here, and here. I will take the main troops up to Tenshi Bridge and stop Orochimaru before he destroys this village."

"Excellent strategy, sir!" Ebisu gushed. "I do love surprises."

Hizashi turned toward a young white-eyed man seated before him, one who had remained silent up until this. "You will stay and train the new recruits. When Ebisu believes you are ready, you will join us... Captain," he added with the tiniest hint of a smile.

"Captain?" The young Hyuga repeated incredulously.

"Oh! This is an enormous responsibility, General," Ebisu pointed out hurriedly. "Perhaps a soldier with more experience?"

Hizashi studied Neji approvingly. "Excelled the highest in his class, extensive knowledge of training techniques, an impressive military lineage... and dare I say the best in his clan. I believe Neji will do an excellent job."

Neji lowered his head respectfully, dutifully keeping silent. The unconcealed gratitude in his eyes was enough answer.

"Very good then," Hizashi continued, nodding. "We'll toast Konoha's victory at the Imperial City. I'll expect a full report in three weeks," he addressed Ebisu.

"And believe me, I won't leave anything out," Ebisu vowed, obviously disapproving Neji's leadership.

Neji murmured under his breath in intrigue, "Captain Neji Hyuga. Leader of Konohagakure's finest troops. No, the greatest troops of all time." They all exited the tent.

"Most impressive," Ebisu commented dryly.

The camp was a mess. Food was scattered everywhere, tents had been torn down and some ripped apart, and the men were all fighting one another.

"Good luck, Captain!" Hizashi encouraged, heaving one leg over his horse. "Yah!" He rode off, followed by two lines of soldiers on horseback.

"Good luck...Father," Neji whispered, watching Hizashi's outline against the horizon.

"Day one," Ebisu noted, making his notes ready.

They approached the soldiers surrounded in a circle. "Soldiers!" Neji barked.

They separated, revealing a cowering Tenten. "HE started it!" all of them shouted, pointing at her accusingly.

Neji made his way toward TenTen, nothing short of anger etching his brow. "I don't need anyone causing trouble in my camp," he warned lowly.

"Sorry," TenTen started, then immediately cleared her throat, going for a masculine bravado. "I mean... sorry you had to see that. But you know how it is when you get those manly urges... just gotta KILL something. Fix things... a cook outdoors..." TenTen would've continued rambling in all her sheepishness if Neji hadn't cut in.

"What's your name?" he demanded, white eyes with a lilac and gray overtone narrowing.

"Uh... um... uh..." TenTen's mind drew a blank at the worst time.

"Your commanding officer just asked you a question!" Ebisu scolded.

"I've got a name," TenTen assured with a cheesy grin. "And it's a boy's name, too."

"Lee!" Kiba hissed. "What about Lee?"

"HIS name is Lee," Tenten retorted in a low voice, tilting her head toward Lee, the one with the bowl-cut shaped hair, in the crowd.

"I didn't ask for HIS name, I asked for yours," Neji snapped.

"Uh..Ah-Chu!" Kiba tried.

"Ah-Chu!" TenTen repeated, just then aware of how that sounded.

"Ah-Chu?" Neji repeated carefully, scrutinizing her.

"Gezuntite!" Kiba snickered. "I kill myself."

"Kiba," TenTen warned with a scowl.

"Kiba?" Neji inquired, overhearing.

"No."

"Then WHAT is it?"

"Asor!" Kiba brightened. "Asor was my best friend growing up!"

"It's Asor," Tenten responded, feeling her cheeks warm from the situation. She had hoped she wouldn't be the center of attention... Heh, one can dream, right?

"Asor," Neji repeated, as if contemplating the name.

"'Course, Asor did steal my shuriken-" Kiba started, but TenTen wrapped her fist tightly around his neck, cutting him off.

"Yes. My name is Asor," Tenten smiled innocently.

Neji held out his hand. "Let me see your conscription notice," he demanded, and Tenten handed him the scroll. He scanned over it, his eyes rounding in slight surprise. "Iruka Umino? THE Iruka Umino?"

"I didn't know Iruka had a son," Ebisu put in his two cents, brows raised.

"Er, he... doesn't talk about me much." TenTen tried to spit, but failed miserably.

"I can see why," Ebisu muttered to Neji, who barely nodded in agreement.

Neji turned to address the other soldiers. "Ok, gentlemen, thanks to your new friend Asor here, you'll spend tonight picking up every single grain of rice. Tomorrow, the real work begins." He turned and strode off purposefully, leaving angry recruits in his wake.

"You know, we really have to work on your people skills," Kiba said to Tenten.

'Tell me about it,' she thought with a sigh. Would she ever fit in anywhere?


*legasp* So many new characters! 83 Hm, where to start?

Kankuro is Yao, Choji is Chien Po, and Lee is Ling. x3
Neji is of course Shang, and I believe Ebisu and Hizashi have already been identified. ;3
Did I miss anyone? *doesn't think so*

Don't forget to click that little reviewing link below and submit some typed stuffz, or Taylor and I will send Ebisu to haunt you! *nodnod*