a/n: Alrighty guys. First off I would like to apologize profusely for the uncharacteristically long time period in between updates. Fret not, it wasn't because of a lack of inspiration - no, in fact, this chapter's a bit longer than the rest - but because of the overwhelming amount of tests my teachers are deciding to spring on us. Spanish finals began yesterday and will continue to next week. Next week I have no less than four tests, including a few finals thrown into the mixture. I've been studying like crazy and doing the unfortunate homework that my teachers still found 'neccessary', even among all this stress.

Ah, but enough of my ranting in that little paragraph. If you skipped said blurb ^^ I'm not offended. I would've done the same. Haha

Anyway, I apologize but I'm sure the abundance of NejiTen moments will make up for it!

disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Only my OCs (original characters), OJs (original Jutsu), and OPs (original places)

kisses,
Iris:D

The Broken Pieces: A NejiTen Fanfic
Chapter 10

Mitsuko walked briskly through the streets, holding onto the sunflower in her hair so it wouldn't fall out in her rush. The sun was bright in the early morning, as always, but now it seemed to be urging her to hurry and find Mika and Satoru. The Council of Elders didn't specify what exactly was urgent but the tone they spoke in was enough to send Mitsuko hurrying. And as she closed the door, she heard them mention Tenten and she was propelled forward even more at the sound of her mentor's name.

"Someone's in a hurry." A girl with long turquoise hair and hazel eyes stepped in front of Mitsuko, crossing her arms over her developed chest.

"Obviously, Teruko," Mitsuko responded flatly.

Teruko flashed her eyes curiously, the speck of green in the corner of her left eye even more noticeable. "Where are you going?"

"The Hospital…I've got to find Mika and Satoru." Mitsuko tried to sidestep her friend but Teruko remained rooted in front of her. "Seriously, Ai, the Council of Elders needs to speak with them."

"But why?" Teruko insisted. "Does it have something to do with Tenten-sama?"

Mitsuko shrugged carelessly. "I heard them mention her as I left. It must be important. Maybe they received information on how to retrieve her?"

Teruko flipped her hair delicately over her shoulder. "I'm coming with you to the Hospital."

"Why?" Mitsuko blinked. "I thought you hated it there."

"Well…" Teruko coughed. "If you must know…uh…Mamoru told me he'd be there…"

Mitsuko raised an eyebrow and, in Teruko's apparent embarrassment, was able to walk around her friend. "Somehow, I don't think that's it."

"But believe it, Hana," Teruko retorted, blushing slightly.

"Alright…" Mitsuko muttered, rolling her eyes, "but I don't remember when Mamoru ever went into the Hospital. It's only Ryuu there," she added, failing to notice Teruko's blush.

"Why would Mamoru talk to you?" Teruko snapped.

"We were on the same team when we were Genin," Mitsuko pointed out as the two girls fell into step next to one another.

"That was before you decided to train under the Taiyookage," Teruko finished for her. "I don't know how it worked out, though. You specialize in Chlorokinesis while Ten-sama is a Weapons Expert."

"It's a representation between man and nature, weapons against plants," Mitsuko replied rather poetically. "I was actually studying to become a Weapons Expert but then, when I was a Genin, Mamoru showed me a few Chlorokinesis Jutsu, as that's his clan's special attack, and I decided to continue with that. Tenten agreed to train me in both, adding some weaponry on the side as she helped me to harness the power of Chlorokinesis."

"I don't know why you don't ask someone else, though," Teruko said rather suspiciously as the Hospital came into view.

"Tenten-san is a very accomplished kunoichi," Mitsuko insisted, ever defensive of her mentor, "no matter what Mamoru might think." She could help it; it irked her in countless ways when Mamoru showed disrespect towards her beloved Taiyookage.

Teruko gave a chuckle and pushed opened the double doors that led into the Hospital, ushering Mitsuko up the stairs. The Hospital had that sterile, antibacterial scent that made her skin crawl, deeming it as one of Teruko's least favorite places in Akaruigakure. But she didn't mind it much if she saw that someone…

Mitsuko walked the length of the halls, peering into each door window until she let out a cry of triumph and pushed open the door, gesturing for Teruko to follow her.

Inside, Mika and Ryuu were examining Satoru, who had been forced back into the Hospital for a checkup to make sure he had fully healed from his risky rescue mission. Mika was currently having a heated debate with Satoru, who wanted to leave while Mika was insisting that she wasn't quite done yet. On the sidelines, Ryuu was quietly mixing an herbal solution and was the only one noticed the two girls enter.

"Hey, Mitsuko," Ryuu greeted, putting on a carefree grin and continuing to crush the leaves of a tangy-smelling herb.

Teruko brightened considerably at the sight of Ryuu and batted her eyelashes coyly while Mitsuko returned Ryuu's greeting. "Hi, Ryuu-kun," she breathed.

Ryuu blinked for a moment, as if he were trying to register who was currently speaking to him. "Oh, hello." He didn't address Teruko by her name as he had forgotten it and didn't bother hurting her feelings by asking her what it was.

Teruko was unabashed, all the same.

Mika finally looked up, quieting Satoru with a wave of her hand, and smiled earnestly at the Taiyookage's apprentice. "Hello, Mitsuko, Teruko, what can I do for you two?"

"The Council of Elders requests your presence," Mitsuko announced and turned to glance at Satoru, "you, too."

Satoru furrowed his eyebrows questioningly and brushed some silvery hair out of his face. "What for?"

"Because…" began a man's voice from behind Mitsuko and Teruko. They whirled around, surprised, and looked up into the handsome face of Izumi's brother, Aoi. His clan-inherited silver eyes shone out seriously from behind a curtain of raven hair.

"Aoi…why?" Mika pressed.

"It's urgent, of course." Aoi shrugged. "Come on, then, you two. Tenten's ransom note has arrived."

Naruto accepted the mission report that Hinata had handed to him and flipped through it briefly, scanning the pages and aware of Hinata's gentle gaze. "Why do you choose to hang around this stuffy Hokage Tower when there are so many other places to be?" Naruto questioned teasingly, looking up into Hinata's pale eyes.

"Nowhere else holds as much interest for me," Hinata answered subtly.

"Hm…" Naruto closed the folder and stood up, stretching. "Alright, let's do a trade. You leave the Tower for once and find Neji, telling him to report to me, and I'll treat you to ramen at Ichiraku's later."

Hinata nodded vigorously and left, closing the door softly behind her.

With a sigh, Naruto stood by the window, gazing out into Konoha. The town was still peaceful in the mid-morning sunlight, no signs of suspicious movement. His sight rested on the ANBU Headquarters and his mind whooshed to think of the Taiyookage.

She wanted revenge and justice for what she had suffered through in life; the pain, the losses, the grief, the hurt. And she wanted it so badly that she would provoke a war just to see it done. 'I won't stop until every Konoha civilian understands my pain. Through pain we can seek understanding and only then can true peace come.'

It wasn't as if Naruto himself hadn't suffered losses. Death was a common word for a shinobi, used carelessly and dealt with everyday. It didn't have to be twisted into a gun and pointed at anyone who opposed you.

"What she's doing isn't right," Naruto murmured to himself as if he needed reassurance.

She seemed a strong kunoichi, proud and determined, never wanting to be the cause of failure. Her people would know that and wouldn't agree to the ransom, stating that their pride was holding them in place. Naruto rested his head in his hands. It should've occurred to him earlier that Akaruigakure wouldn't give in because of a few words scribbled on a piece of paper. What with all of the bloody ambushes and brutal attacks, that much should've been clear.

They had seemed to be toying with Konoha, taunting them and nipping at the heels of their feet. Akarui was obviously the holder of the upper hand in the war but decided to act as if Konoha actually had a chance.

"Konoha's shinobi are strong, undeserving of their pity," Naruto muttered darkly.

It was obvious that they were proud; Tenten had been enough proof. But as much as she was his enemy, he couldn't help feeling slightly compassionate. She might be a captured prisoner, a Kage brought to shame, but she was still a girl and needed to keep sanitary. The thought of the dirty holding cell made Naruto's nose wrinkle in disgust.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Neji entered with Hinata behind him, who closed the door.

Naruto nodded. "It's concerning the Taiyookage. From my observations ad your reports, she seems to be a rather proud kunoichi…"

"Extremely so," Neji muttered, inwardly scowling at the twisted-gut feeling that he was starting to experience every time he thought of Tenten.

"…you do remember how we were to treat her?" Naruto prompted.

"Like an honored guest…" Neji recited. "But really, Naruto-san, I doubt throwing her into the Holding Cell hardly qualifies as 'honored-guest-treatment'. We all know how dirty it is in there."

"Exactly." Naruto nodded. "I want you to take her to the washroom on the third floor of the ANBU Headquarter so she can rinse off and get the grime removed from her body. Even though she's a great and fearsome kunoichi, she still succumbs to common woman discomforts."

"I really don't see the point," Neji argued, determined not to seem too eager to see the Akarui kunoichi again. "She'll clean herself off but she'll get dirty again."

"Hopefully, Akarui will agree to our terms by then and Ten-sama will be able to return to her village," Hinata piped up.

"I don't think they'll give up on something they've had their heart set on so easily," Neji doubted.

"Whatever the case," Naruto continued over the cousins' voices, "I still want you to take her to the washroom on the third floor. But make sure you keep an eye on her."

Neji nodded once and headed for the door. Suddenly, he stopped and turned around quickly, raising an eyebrow at Naruto. "Have you, perhaps, gone soft?" Neji questioned rather bluntly.

"What makes you say that?" Hinata snapped, suddenly defensive.

"No reason…" Neji backed out of the Office.

Naruto remained still, watching Neji with mild interest. He hadn't missed the exaggerated rigidness when he had mentioned Tenten, as if trying to deny any excitement; nor the animated glimmer in Neji's pale eyes as he handed out the orders; nor the brisk pace and eagerness that Neji left behind him in his haste to see Tenten.

"Who really appears to be going soft," Naruto murmured, earning a glance from Hinata, who couldn't clearly hear him, "is you."

Neji hesitated outside of the door to the Holding Cell, setting his lantern on the floor before haltingly unlocking the door, prepared for Tenten's inevitable pounce. It never came.

Tenten was sitting against the wall, her back leaning in the dirt and grime, allowing Neji to realize that Naruto had been right; the Taiyookage really needed a shower. And, despite himself, Neji couldn't help noticing that although her body was caked with mud and dust, it took nothing away from her naturally striking beauty.

Her hair was still styled in her pair of buns but a large portion of it had come out, hanging in arbitrary ripples around her face. Her skin was flawless, glowing like china under the glare of the lantern. The fire of determination hadn't left her eyes yet and as Neji entered, she turned them on him, seemingly staring right at the core of his soul.

The lantern at his feet flickered, elongating its tendrils to caress Tenten's face. Her head was tilted up slightly, shadowing her face, only allowing her bright chocolate eyes to sparkle in the light. One knee was drawn up close to her with the other flung carelessly in front of her, giving her a haunted but eerily calm appearance.

Neji felt his breath catch in his chest but quickly reminded himself to breathe, silently reprimanding himself for such starry-eyed foolishness.

"What?" Tenten demanded, narrowing her eyes.

"I'm taking you to the washroom," Neji reported, leaning coolly against the doorframe, his hands crossed over his chest.

Tenten scoffed quietly, looking away and directing her gaze at an unspecific speck of dust. "Really…?"

"Hokage's orders," Neji retorted, his breath flowing freely once more, questioning why it had ever been stuck in the first place.

"Why the sudden interest?" Tenten panned the quarters she was forced to reside in.

Neji smirked confidently. "Pity, perhaps…"

Tenten frowned and stood up slowly, dignifiedly wiping the dust from her dirty clothes. "In your crazed, Konoha dreams…"

He bent down to retrieve the lantern, letting it slide to rest in the crook of his elbow. "Believe what you will," Neji muttered, latching himself onto her wrist.

Tenten jerked away from the touch, her eyes wide, appalled. Neji, however, tightened his grip until she winced noticeably. Realizing that he had hurt her, Neji softened his hold but didn't let go before remembering that he shouldn't be showing the Taiyookage mercy. Wordlessly, he spun her around to face him, grabbing the other wrist and forcing them towards the ground.

She struggled to break free from Neji's iron-like grip but was unable to and was left to pant heavily, glaring up at him through a screen of brown bangs, her breath floating onto his skin. "Don't. Touch. Me." Tenten accentuated it with an extra wiggle but Neji took no notice; he was too busy trying to slow his racing his heart.

"Come on, you stubborn little girl," Neji finally muttered, forcing his heart to slow down. Goddammit, what was wrong with him?

"What, no chakra threads this time?" Tenten demanded as Neji marched her to the stairs, the lantern swinging back and forth, throwing random patches into light then dark.

"You're not worth it," Neji answered smugly, enjoying the look of fury on her face.

Tenten remained silent, drowning herself in murderous thoughts until her heel hit the first step. "Wait," she ordered.

"I don't listen to you," Neji reminded her.

"I can't walk up the stairs backwards," Tenten complained. "It's impossible."

Neji sighed exasperatedly. "Just try. It can't be that hard."

Tenten shook her head stubbornly, her pink lips contracting into a pout that Neji found hard to resist. "No, you can go first."

Sighing again, though at himself for giving in, Neji rotated on the spot and began climbing the steps backwards with exaggerated ease just to prove Tenten wrong. It was rather easy to do it backwards; much like one of Gai's training regimes. Once establishing a steady rhythm, Neji found himself going quite smoothly.

Until, halfway to the door, Tenten glanced into his eyes shyly; her cheeks tinged a light pink – from embarrassment that Neji had proven her wrong? – and Neji stumbled a little bit.

It was enough, though, to have his foot miss its beat and skim across the top of the step. Neji landed on the stairs on his rear, pulling Tenten down to rest her head on his knee. He glared at her, warning her not to say a single, gloating word.

Tenten, however, pulled her lips back into a satisfied sort of grin. "Told you…not so easy is it?"

"At least I did it…unlike some people," Neji spat out at Tenten's annoying innocent face.

"Only because you were stupid enough to," Tenten fired back.

They continued their bickering until they resurfaced from the musty underground and into the back area of the ANBU Headquarters Lobby. Thankfully, it was empty, saving both of them from piercing stares.

"Come on," Neji ordered again and began to drag Tenten to a back staircase, ignoring the streaks of dirt she left behind.

The staircase branched off at the third floor and Neji let go of one of Tenten's wrists – which she massaged, giving him a dirty face – to unlock the metal door, closing it securely behind him. A hallway extended from the door, unlit by any electrical means' instead, only by a shaft of sunlight that sneaked in through a broken slab of wood. Judging from the dust that littered the floor and the lack of inhabitant, the third floor wasn't used too frequently.

"What did this used to be?" Tenten asked, looking around warily, her previous hostility momentarily forgotten.

"Hospital ward," Neji replied flatly, dragging her along to the last door on the right, "but then they built a new Hospital and this one became abandoned."

He pulled open the door to the washroom and swung her in, closing and locking the door.

The washroom was simple. A white ceramic tub with a curtain attached to a metal rod overhead took up the width of the far wall. A sink and a toilet were nestled together to their right and a plain white rug stretched itself in front of them.

"Hospitals and their obsession with white," Tenten muttered scathingly, eyeing the white walls disapprovingly.

Neji walked around her and turned on the water in the shower, watching it splutter and drip for a few seconds before the water shot out. Tenten watched him for a moment before tugging on the elastics that kept her hair up, letting her hair spill down her back. Like a great chocolate waterfall, her hair rippled down her back and ended in the middle of her spine.

She looked different with her hair down, more innocent and angelic and girly and…beautiful. Neji couldn't help noticing. "I don't normally wear my hair down," she muttered. Tenten looked at him from the corner of her eyes, her brown hair providing some cover, and was surprised by Neji's reaction; all emotion had disappeared from his face, leaving behind a blank mask.

Unknown to her, inside, Neji was shocked. And slightly pleased. He wondered how few people were able to see Tenten looking so feminine and was honored that he was included in that group. Taiyookage had been brought into a new light and Neji's was sure that this one was more appealing.

But, to disguise these feelings, Neji had closed off his flow of emotions. And perhaps closed them too much. Before, at least, he had shown some smugness. When he had composed himself, Neji sighed. "Alright, strip down."

Tenten backed away, horrified, wrapping her hands around her body and glaring at Neji warningly. "What?"

"I hardly think you'll be taking a shower with your clothes on," Neji replied, smirking slightly.

"Why can't you stand outside?" Tenten suggested.

"I'm supposed to be watching you at all times…and that includes now." He shrugged indifferently. "Hokage's orders."

"That's your excuse every time," Tenten hissed.

Neji folded his arms across his chest irately. "It's nothing I haven't seen. Byakugan," he added, gesturing to his pale eyes, when Tenten looked puzzled for a moment.

"You," Tenten began, pointing at Neji's face, "can turn around, you freaking closet-pervert."

His face blank, Neji obliged and turned around, taking up an impatient stance and staring at the door's chipping white paint. He heard the muffled thump of cloth hitting the floor and slapping sound of bare feet against tile. The curtain was pulled closed and water began to fall in irregular splashes, indicating that someone was obstructing its path.

"Do you need any help?" Neji called, thinking about her reaction and smirking already.

"No, dammit," Tenten cursed, "and if I did, I wouldn't be getting it from you!" There was a pause. "Are you still turned around?"

"Yes," Neji replied truthfully as there was a knock on the door.

"Don't you dare open it," Tenten warned.

Ignoring her, Neji pulled open the door and wiped all of the emotions – amused, happy, smug – from his face to greet Sakura.

"Neji…" Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Why are you inside the washroom with Ten-sama?"

"I have to keep an eye on her," Neji answered, sending a glare at his pink-haired teammate, daring her to question it again.

"Hokage's orders and all, right?" Sakura had an annoying twinkle in her eye.

"Yes." Neji studied her for a moment. "What are you here for?"

"I happen to be on Hokage's orders, too," Sakura announced, bringing forth a wrapped bundle. "Naruto wants me to give these clothes to you to give to Tenten-sama."

Neji accepted the clothes wordlessly, his eyes devoid. "He really is going soft."

"He's worried you might be," contradicted Sakura.

"Pft," Neji scoffed disbelievingly.

"He wants to give you the chance to decide; either give Tenten-sama the clothes so she'll stay clean because you care or don't give them to her and let her continue wearing those dirty garments because you couldn't care less." Sakura turned to leave. "It all depends on how much you care."

Neji glanced at the bundle of cloth in his hand suspiciously, as if he were afraid that the seemingly harmless, inanimate objects would serve as his damnation. But subconsciously, he knew that he was already condemned. By now, he was subliminally sentient to the fact that, despite himself, he cared.

a/n: And that's that! Now, if you have the time, I'd love it if you'd read my following author's note as I have a bit more than a 'few' comments to make on this chapter. Haha. If not, just write me a review. ;)

First off, I've made Ryuu a Medic-nin because I'm tired of seeing girls act as healers. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there's ever been an important male Medic-nin. I'm tired of seeing girls in the Hospitals, which is another reason why I like Tenten; she's one of the few girls who arent Medic-nins.

Anyway, hope you all enjoyed the snippets of NejiTen, although everything seems to be happening on that dang staircase. Romantic, eh? I never actually planned for the staircase to be such an 'important location' but if you think about it, it's rather...metaphorical. You know, Tenten's at the bottom of the stairs and Neji's at the top and it's all about her journey to the peak with him helping her along with sprinklings of cuteness. Haha

Neji's getting feelings now. I think it would be...not strange per se, but uncharacteristic if Tenten was the one to fall for him first, considering her current view on Konoha. We gotta stick to character and that means making Neji moony-eyed but hiding it because, well, he's Neji. XD

And the hints of NaruHina? Hmm...this is a couple that I have not too much experience with, as for some reason, they're my least favorite. *cowers as NaruHina worshippers approach her with pitchforks* Don't get me wrong, I fully support NaruHina but I'm not good with writing it. Maybe that's why I like it the least? Ah, well, hopefully this story will help with it!

Andddd...last but not least, OC Name Meanings!
~Mitsuko Hana: Flower of the Shining Child
~Mamoru Kaede: Protector of the Maple
~Ryuu Saboru: Dragon Spirit of the Third Son/Sun (It's a play on words, guys. Thank God for homophones! :))
~Teruko Ai: Love of the Shining Child

Got a favorite? Review and let me know which one! Or just review for the heck of it! Remember, your review is my motivation! And sorry if the long author's note gets to you~!

kisses,
Iris:D