Chapter 8: A choice to make:
About three days after Kilala had did what she was ordered to do, Tenten and the other two were beginning to approach the hidden sand village. On the way to the village, Tenten constantly got sand in her eyes, but she didn't complain and kept going. She had also almost ran right into multiple quicksand pits, but Itachi and Kisame saved her a few times. Since then Tenten has been following right behind Itachi. They were at the sand village gate when Itachi and Kisame suddenly stopped, causing Tenten to run into Itachi.
"Why did you stop?' Tenten asked, fixing the stupid looking hat with white ribbon.
"Listen." Itachi said. Tenten was quiet as she listened, but she couldn't hear anything, but the wind.
"We should be able to hear people's voices." Kisame said as he began to walk into the village again. Tenten and Itachi followed behind Kisame and they listened carefully to even the slightest noise. Once they all got to the plaza, they stopped again and talked about what they were going to do next.
"Let's search the town once more. Tenten, you take the north side of town. Itachi, you take the east and i'll take the west." Kisame said and the other two agreed. Then, they all split up, but Tenten didn't bother looking. Tenten walked around the north side of town, knowing that all the villagers were safe in the hidden leaf. That's when Tenten heard Kilala mew. Tenten turned around just as Kilala jumped up on her shoulder.
"Good girl." Tenten said softly to her. Kilala mewed back at her happily. Tenten scratched behind Kilala's ear and smiled when she heard her begin to purr. After awhile Tenten finally decided to return to the plaza.
"We should be going now. Kisame and Itachi might come look for us if we don't get back." Tenten said to Kilala and Kilala mewed in an agreement. She had only taken a couple of steps when Neji suddenly appeared in front of her. Tenten, then, realized that she was surrounded by Kushina, Hinata, Naruto, and Minato.
"Not good." Tenten thought to herself.
"Tenten, we're so glad you're okay." Hinata said.
"What are you doing here?" Tenten asked.
"The hokage ordered us to bring you back to the village where you belong." Neji replied. Before Tenten could say anything, Itachi and Kisame were running towards them. Neji and the others all pulled out a kunai and prepared themselves for a fight as did Itachi and Kisame.
"If you plan to take her back to the leaf village, then you have another thing coming. She's going to stay with us." Itachi said.
"She doesn't belong with the akatsuki. We're taking her back to the hidden leaf where she really belongs." Minato said. There was a tense silence between all of them and then, Kisame was the first one to attack. Tenten stood aside watching the 7 of them fight over where she belonged. Tenten looked down at the ground thinking about where she actually belongs.
"Where do I belong? I know I don't belong in the akatsuki. I don't want to hurt others just to create a war. Maybe my friends are right. Maybe I do belong in the leaf village, but I don't think I could stand being apart from Itachi. What am I going to do?" Tenten thought to herself. Then, suddenly Tenten heard a very familar voice. Tenten turned towards the voice and saw that the hokage was walking towards them.
"Stop this nonsense at once!" Lady Tsunade ordered and the leaf ninja all back away and turned towards her in suprise.
"Lady Tsunade!? What are you doing here?" Kushina asked suprised.
"I'm here because I wanted to talk to Tenten myself. I sent you ahead just in case there would be a fight. And I didn't mean for you to start the fighting." Lady Tsunade said sternly.
"Sorry, Milady." Hinata said in a soft voice.
"Anyway, Tenten. I need to talk to you. Come over here a second." Lady Tsunade said. Tenten hesitated for a moment and then followed Lady Tsunade. Lady Tsunade waited for Tenten a little ways away from the others so they were out of earshot.
"Tenten, I have a feeling that you don't want to be apart from Itachi, correct?" Lady Tsunade asked.
"Yes." Tenten said lowering her gaze to the ground.
"Maybe instead of you joining the akatsuki, Itachi can come back to the hidden leaf village with you. I will give him a second chance if it means you will come back to the leaf." Lady Tsunade said and Tenten looked up at her in suprise.
"Why don't we ask Itachi before making any decisions. Itachi, come over here a second." Lady Tsunade called out to him. Itachi walked over to them and lady Tsunade told him what she had told Tenten.
"I will give you a second chance. That is if you want to come back to the village." Lady Tsunade said and it suprised Itachi as well.
"I would love to come back to the leaf village. I know Tenten doesn't belong in the akatsuki, she belongs in the leaf village." Itachi said. Lady Tsunade pulled out a headband that didn't have a cross through it and handed it to Itachi.
"Thank you. I must tell Kisame." Itachi said walking back over to Kisame. Itachi took his coat off and the ring he had on his finger and gave them to Kisame. Kisame looked a little annoyed, but he took them without a word and left. Once Kisame had left the sand village, lady Tsunade turned back to Tenten.
"I think it's safe for the sand village people to return home. Let us return to the leaf and tell them." Lady Tsunade said as everyone walked over. Itachi took of his old headband and replaced it with the one lady Tsunade had given him. As he did that, Tenten took off her coat and threw it out. Once they all returned to the leaf village, Tenten had Kilala return the sand village people back to their village and lady Tsunade had told Shizune to inform the whole village that Itachi was allowed back into the village. Slowly after that, the days began to return to normal. Itachi lived with Tenten and helped her with her squad and went on missions to help her pay the rent on her apartment. Soon enough, everything that had happened had all been forgotten and everyone lived happily again.
