A Meaning In Life

By Natsumi Mizuki

Chapter 11: Home

"I'm back in Konoha again..." Tenten whispered taking a long look at the Konoha gates. Confirming their identity the jounin opened the doors and granted them entry. The three took their first steps in Konoha grounds, where they were instantly met Hyuuga Hinata, Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura. The pinkette kunoichi just stood there about to burst into tears. Everyone else... just seemed shocked about her current attire. Sakura's emerald eyes shed a tear as she ran over to the weapons mistress and gave her a good slap to the face. Everyone was pulled of their thoughts and into reality... why did Sakura do that?

"I can't believe you... don't you ever worry us like that again!" her eyes shut tightly as her body moved on her own and hugged Tenten. Relief swept over them.

"We were worried about you Tenten, dattebayo... and for you teme, only Sakura was worried for your well being. I still dunno what she sees in you, dattebayo..." Inner Sakura comes yet again to reveal her dark head.

"Excuse me...?"

"... nothing!! S-sumimasen..." nothing was worse than dealing with Sakura's anger, that's for sure.

"Hmph... anyway, Tenten..." Sakura took one good look at her. She really tried to change herself... black chinese-like attire and her hair actually not in two panda buns. Her hair was... silky and dark and long... "Tenten... you look... so pretty!!" O.O She glomped her like a little chibi. Tenten almost died.

"S-sa... ku... I c-can't b-breathe..." She let go immediately and shook of her little fangirl moment.

"Gomen, gomen." She walked up to her once more and whispered in her ear. "Neji really missed you." Her eyes widened and her cheeks colored light pink.

'Neji missed me?' Her thoughts were interupted by a loud and annoying voice.

"TENTENNNN!!" That voice was that annoying green jumpsuited guy yet again, Lee. He ran over to her with tears in his eyes and glomped her... hard. Wow, everyone really wants a piece of Tenten today... that or they want her killed by painful gigantic bear hugs.

"N-not... again..."

"Oi, dude in green, you realize you're killing her, right?" Haruka spoke up. Lee blinked and let go instantly.

"Eheh... sumimasen! ... and may I ask, who are you?"

"Someone not important. I've got some business to take care of here so I'll see you all later. Ja ne." In a millisecond she went off on her own.

'I still have a bad feeling about her...' Sasuke thought as he watched her every move.

"Anou... T-tenten chan..." A shy voice spoke.

"Yes, Hinata?"

"I... here..." She outstretched her arms and had something in her hands... it was her hitai-ate. "Neji nii san found it... and he went searching for you for days... Sakura Chan had made him come back by Tsunade sama's orders and kept it. He won't admit it but he really misses you." After hearing her words she took her hitai-ate from the shy heiress's hands and an empty smile tried to creep at her pink lips.

"... Arigatou Hinata Chan." she spoke softly and went off on her own into the rustling busy town. Sasuke mysteriously disappeared, leaving Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, and Lee.

"Hinata, wanna go for some ramen?"

"S-sure..."

"I WILL BE OUT YOUTHFULLY TRAINING, YOSH!"

"I guess I'll go back to Tsunade..." and the four split.

Knock knock.

"... Who's there?" Tsunade spoke up. The guest let herself in with an annoyed look.

"... Welcome back Haruka. I take it that Tenten and Uchiha Sasuke are back in Konoha?"

"Hai. It appears the original mission would be easier to accomplish than I thought... they did it on their own. I saw it with my own eyes."

"Oh ho ho! Hmm... Haruka chan how old are you?" She raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"... 18, why?"

"... You're close to Uchiha Itachi's age. Have you met him?"

"No but I've heard of him before... the whole Uchiha massacre. It would be interesting to fight him though... Mangekyou Sharingan versus Jagan. The two are very similar considering both are ocular genjutsu..."

"You're the only one in this nation that has this 'Jagan', so it isn't considered genjutsu just yet. It is illusionary, but it could be stronger than Tsukiyomi..."

"I know that and would like to keep it hidden that way. Why did you mention him?"

"If he knows there's another ocular jutsu out there that rivals his other than the Hyuuga clan's Byakugan, it'll be most likely that he'll go after you soon enough. I just wanted to give you that warning."

"I see... I'd like to fight him anyway, see if he's really strong as other people say."

"Don't be too rash... oh, and Haruka."

"Nani?"

"... You want some sake?" O.O?!

"You do realize I'm underage... I've tried it and the taste makes me flinch." 'I'd like to see that.'

She magically wooshed right in front of her and shoved some sake down her throat.

"MMPH!"

After the brief reunion, Tenten had took a quick shower and dressed in her usual attire((shippuden)). She walked over to the mirror and took one good look at herself. Her hair was still down and slightly wavy and damp. These past few days were days unlike any other. They were unusual, yet fun. Then her thoughts transferred to the one girl she had met during all this, Sanada Haruka. She was one with a shrouded past and personality, quite unpredictable and even had the guts to call Sasuke Uchiha Chicken Butt Head. Quiet giggles escaped her voice as she thought about that last moment in Suna. Glancing over at her hitai-ate, she picked it up and sullenly stared at it... a thought struck her mind. She was blind enough to just realize that... Haruka didn't seem to have her hitai-ate with her anywhere. And she said she had business to take care of a while ago and the journey here... putting it on her forehead and wrapping it she made a mental note to confront her about that later on. Then doing her hair up in her trademark panda buns... and now, she was dead-set on one thing she just had to take care of. Hyuuga Neji. Leaving her abnormally large scroll at home, she made her way to the Hyuuga Manor.

"Anou... is Hyuuga Neji in?" A maid in the place had come out and ran over to the kunoichi.

"Ah, Tenten! Neji sama has-"

"I know, I've heard from numerous people." She smiled and let her in.

"He's in his room. He'll be quite happy to see you, but I think he won't admit it." 'Usual Neji...'

"Arigatou!" She easily navigated through the long wandering maze-like hallways and was now right in front of Neji's bedroom door. She took in a deep breath and exhaled, raising her hand to knock on the door. Closing her eyes tightly she knocked... and didn't realize he was standing infront of her.

"... Tenten?" He couldn't believe his eyes. Did she really come back? She looks exactly the same... he moved to the side and ushered her inside as he closed the door. When he turned around she embraced him from behind. Just when he was about to say something she cut him off.

"Don't speak for now. I know and heard that you missed me..." Pale white eyes widened and fought of a familiar color of pink that wanted to decorate his cheeks.

"... I did. Is that so wrong?"

"No, not at all... it's just that the Neji I know would've denied it immediately."

"People change over time, Tenten."

"I know, I know... I just want to know one thing."

"And that is...?"

"... Do you care about me?"

"... Of course, you're my teammate."

"I don't mean like that! I mean... like a friend or..." She let go of her lock on him and looked down trying to not let him know what she looked like. But nope. He turned around and took one good look at her before cupping her chin and raising her head making her look him right in the eyes.

"... Tenten, would you come to the festival with me tomorrow night? I'll answer your question then..." She hesistated, but nodded. He let go of her chin and let her see a rare sight. He smiled at her. "... and thank you for dealing with me for all these years." She smiled back and came back to her normal self.

"No problem! I'll see you then!"

CRASH! BANG! BOOOOMMM!! BROKEN HEADS.

O_____O

That was Sakura's and Shizune's face. They just stood infront of the Hokage's office doors staring blankly at the wooden doors. Many sounds can be heard all coming from inside. They were to scared to even let them know about their prescence. They both turned to each other and nodded, then blasted the doors open. Everything was a MESS. Papers flyng everywhere chairs broken to pieces... all by two women. Tsunade and Haruka. They were both drunk.

"... Not again..." Shizune complained.

"Hey, it's that one girl Tenten and Sasuke came back with!" Sakura had a little slap to the cerebellum there.

Both Shizune and Sakura realized something.

They were both drunk, yes.

But they're both violent drunks.

Oh shit.