Budding
Author's note: *whistles* Yes, this is all made up on the fly. ;) Also, apologies on not getting this up sooner. Work has been killing me slowly.
WARNING: Occasional exploration of a submissive (Neji) and dominate (Tenten) bondage relationship. If this bothers you then turn back now.
I don't own the Naruto-verse. I'm just borrowing for the Hell of it.
Chocho's March 20th birthday marked change. The air warmed around that time, the winter thaw was mainly gone, and even some flowers started to bloom. Hatomi enjoyed the spring and summer, even autumn to some extent. The cold winter days with training in the snow were gone and she looked forward to be able to leave her jacket behind.
According to the magazines Sarada and Chocho forced onto her, spring also meant the time of romance. Hatomi had no idea what a change in weather had to do with love or the strong emotions associated with it but gave up on deciphering the magazines her two friends loved a long while ago.
What Hatomi did know was she now looked forward to training. They would not be fighting in the snow or becoming sopping wet before the first hour was up. They would have more light on their walks to and from the field. Generally it would better overall.
The missions would not be so difficult either. Finding food and camping in the woods was atrocious in the winter but she had been excited to leave the village on c-rank missions last month. Guiding an important person home was better than finding a lost pet or doing snow removal.
Even better she could show off her figure for Metal more. He had not made a move beyond lightly brushing her hand with his every so often and Hatomi was getting impatient. Of course, she could make the first move but she wanted to be courted by someone worth her time. She hated feeling the need to be courted since she despised sexism but the feeling remained. She wanted Metal to sweep her off her feet. So far he had barely lifted her.
Hatomi sighed.
She adjusted the straps on her bra again and scowled as she looked at her reflection in the full length mirror in front of her. Thankfully the fitting room came with the mirror on the inside. Some shops had become stupid and put them outside the little room which Hatomi hated for this particular clothing shopping.
Training meant all her bras were wearing out quicker than normal. She had to throw out one yesterday then realized with some dismay she had two left. No kunoichi could survive with two bras, especially on a team with Lee-sensei. She had to change her bras every other day so she did not smell of sweat.
"Well?" Sarada asked from the other side of the door.
Hatomi pulled the strap around her chest higher but it did not make the bra any more comfortable. The material dug into her back and her breasts were popping out over the top. Her old bra, a ratty looking off white scrap of fabric, was more comfortable. The tag on the old one matched the new: D34.
It was impossible she had grown again. Hatomi bit her lip before pulling on her old bra then her shirt. Sarada and Chocho stared at her when she came out of the fitting room. She shook her head and they blinked.
"You grew more?" Chocho questioned in wonder.
Hatomi felt the heat come to her cheeks and shrugged. She could not help it. If it was up to her she would have stopped at a C cup, like mother: enough to be distracting but not overly stated and uncomfortable.
"Do you need a fitting, sweetie?"
Hatomi turned to the voice and spotted a woman wearing simple clothing and a name tag. Hatomi nodded. She was ushered back into the fitting room and instructed to take her shirt off. Hatomi did so without hesitation even though the door was left wide open so Sarada and Chocho could look in. The woman placed a measure tape around Hatomi's chest once Hatomi lifted her arms.
"Okay, your under-bust measures thirty-one inches which means your band size is thirty-six."
Hatomi kept her scowl at bay. She had likely gained more muscle in her upper body than she had realized.
"And your bust measures thirty-six inches. When we subtract the two, you get five inches which puts you into a double D."
Double D. The Hell was her body doing to her? She did not want a larger chest. She did not want to grow immense breasts like Hinata-obasan. She much preferred mother's proportioned figure or Hanabi-sama's less predominate curves.
"Do you girls need a fitting as well?"
Both nodded. Hatomi put her shirt on and sulked off into the main part of the store. She went to the racks and began combing through the bras while trying not to simply stalk off in frustration. Not even thirteen and she was in a double-d. Hatomi prayed to Kami this would be it.
"There you are," Chocho said.
Hatomi turned to see Chocho looking pleased and Sarada pouting.
"C38," Chocho said. "That's a cup-size up from last year."
"A36," Sarada said.
She had her arms crossed over her breasts and Hatomi wished she had Sarada's problem.
"If I could give you a cup-size or two I would. Then we would all be Cs," Hatomi said.
Sarada put a little smile on her face and they began the hunt. Hatomi found it difficult to find a bra in her size, never mind trying to find four like Chocho and Sarada had. Hatomi wanted to hit something.
"Oh, sweetie, you'll have to come over here for larger sizes," the sales woman said.
Hatomi stared. There was an entire section dedicated to those with bigger breasts. Hatomi noted right away it did not have the same sort of variety as the other, much larger section of the store. Hatomi strode into the proper area of the store and sighed.
"Woah, G? That's insane," Chocho said.
"Hn," Hatomi remarked.
"This is cute," Sarada tried.
She held up a white lacy bra and Hatomi had to admit, it was cute. It was her new size too. Hatomi found some other neutral colored bras then checked the price tags. She balked. They were easily more expensive than her old bras. Unless all prices had gone up...
"How much are yours?" Hatomi questioned.
"Two hundred ryo, why?" Chocho remarked.
Damn it all.
"Mine are three hundred ryo," Hatomi muttered.
Both gaped at her and Hatomi tried to stop from pouting but it did not work. Her four new bras would cost 1,200 ryo, as much as she made on a single d-rank mission. She loathed it but had no choice. She needed the new undergarments as running without would be much worse.
"Stupid hormones," Hatomi mumbled.
She headed towards the counter with her friends in tow but they said nothing. Hatomi would not know what to say either if the positions were reversed. She paid her exuberant fee and left with her friends once they were finished. At least her shirts had not gotten too much tighter.
"Maybe you're done now, you know? Didn't your mom say she basically stopped puberty around your age?" Sarada enquired.
"Hn,"
"I mean they can't get any bigger," Chocho said.
Hinata-obasan wore an F cup. Hatomi's breasts could get bigger. How in the world she would be able to fight would be a mystery. Her breasts all ready made her have to modify some of her techniques, never mind the fact she had to wear a sports bra and a regular bra during training or run with her hands cupping her breasts. Binding hurt too much to even attempt once she got into a D cup. Perhaps she could cut them off.
Hatomi followed her friends down the street and into a store they liked to frequent. Spring fashions were out which meant short sleeved shirts, skirts, and shorts. Hatomi lost count of how many of her shirts and leggings had been thrown out thanks to simple over-washing and over-use. Thankfully she had been saving all her money for this shopping trip.
Hatomi grabbed a basket and placed six pairs of tights in her size in it. At least her going out clothing had not sustained the same damage as her mission clothing. Hatomi put in a few more tights, all in black bringing her up to ten pairs. Better to be prepared.
Shirts would prove to be difficult. The tunic style she favored seemed to be going out but she did find two potentials: one in white and one in light pink. Hatomi found her size then walked with Chocho and Sarada to the fitting rooms. Hatomi tugged the white shirt over her head and blinked at her reflection in the mirror.
It was too tight across the chest. Well, not too tight but there were the straining lines beginning to happen. The shirt was a medium. A large would be too long and would not cling properly to her waist like she wanted. It could be remedied by her obi but there would be a lot of extra fabric around her waist she would not need.
"Hatomi?"
"I believe I need a large," Hatomi said.
"I'll be right back," Sarada said.
Hatomi took off the ill-fitting white shirt and tried on the pink one. It took came with the same straining lines across her bust. Hatomi spotted white fabric over the top of her fitting room and took it down. The large fit well in the breast but as expected it was too lose around her waist. Father would be happy it was a bit longer at least. Hatomi sighed.
"What's wrong?" Chocho questioned.
"A medium is too tight in the chest but a large is, well," Hatomi said.
She opened the door and her friends blinked. Sarada went around to her back and pulled the extra few inches of fabric at the waist so the shirt looked as it should. Stupid awkwardly shaped body. No wonder Hinata-obasan wore baggy clothing or had to get clothing either custom made or in stretchy fabric.
"And now I'm glad I have my figure," Chocho said.
"Hn,"
"We just need to find some in a clingy fabric, that's all," Sarada said.
Hatomi felt odd leaving the store with nothing. The next store proved no better nor did the next. By the fourth store Hatomi found a single shirt to her liking in rose. The sixth store had one in white and another in gray. Store ten had a medium purple one. She had never taken this long to find four shirts.
Hatomi sat on the bench beside Sarada and tried not to let her shoulders slump or her eyes to go too damp. She kept her grip tight on her bags and bit the inside of her lip to keep from crying out in annoyance. At least the tights all fit. She still needed another shirt as all of her old ones had something wrong.
A rip, a tear, a stain, or simple color fade combined with too thin fabric from being washed too many times. Shinobi sweat a lot with all the activity they did so clothing rarely lasted long. Her obis were made out of tougher cloth at least. She had to replace one and it would be relatively simple.
Still. She needed another shirt but she was exhausted. She was almost out of money too and hated it. The extra charge for her bras and the bit higher price tags for her shirts had almost ruined her. Well, she would have to go over her clothing again to see what she could keep using.
"You guys want to get a snack?" Chocho asked.
Hatomi nodded though she likely would not order anything. Apparently clothing became expensive the larger a person got. As if her figure were determined by her exclusively. If it were the case she would have stopped blooming a while ago. At least everything else made her content.
"Oh dearie, if you keep slouching like that you'll be hanging around your knees in no time,"
Hatomi turned to the voice to see an older civilian woman talking to her. Hatomi had no idea what to say, even when the woman sauntered over and began to get her to straighten up. As if she needed advice on how to stand properly...ah, she had been slouching a bit. It was not her fault she was berating herself.
"Thank you," Hatomi muttered and ducked out of the woman's arms.
"And smile more, sweetie, a pretty thing like you should show off. And if you frown like that too much you'll get wrinkles before your time,"
Hatomi gave the woman a smile and started power-walking away. Sarada and Chocho followed after her with their eyes wide. Chocho had a hand over her mouth to cover up a laugh while Sarada openly gaped.
"So, apparently being pretty with big boobs means everyone is allowed to talk to you whenever they want," Sarada said.
Hatomi inclined her head and was glad the older woman could not keep up. They ducked into the restaurant Hatomi and Metal had been together at and Hatomi happily sat in a chair and put her face in her hands. She did not want all this stupid attention.
"Oh, hello again! Do you want a green tea and a slice of strawberry vanilla cake?"
Hatomi nodded, still covering her hands as Sarada and Chocho got out their orders. Perhaps she was too conspicuous. She could not help it in any way which made the situation worse. She heard cups being placed down and took her hands away from her face to look up at the waitress. The waitress smiled.
"Where's your friend? The boy in the green spandex?"
Hatomi groaned and put her head on the table, encircling it with her arms so she could cover her blush. Sarada and Chocho started giggling. The waitress said something, Hatomi was no longer paying attention, and left. Hatomi did not bother to look at her friends.
"When did you come here with Metal?" Sarada asked.
Hatomi did not want to admit it had become a bi-weekly sort of meeting. Of course, they said it was to discuss training and was entirely between friends out loud and to anyone who asked but Hatomi knew the meetings were more. Metal would not admit it to her yet.
"Why do you come here with Metal?" Chocho questioned.
Hatomi did not lift her head out of her arms. She did not want to admit to the other two she liked Metal as more than a friend and saw him as a potential mate. Perhaps not a husband...Hatomi envisioned a little girl running around with her eyes and Metal's thick dark hair in a green tutu and shouting about youth. She moaned.
"Hatomi?" Sarada enquired.
Hatomi peeked over her arms to see Sarada looked as worried as she had sounded. The Uchiha was biting her lower lip, fiddling with a napkin, and had her eyebrows furrowed. Chocho had a frown on her face and was not looking at the menu.
"I may have developed a miniscule crush on him and we might meet here bi-weekly under the excuse of discussing training," Hatomi said.
Sarada fell out of her chair. Chocho face-planted. Hatomi sighed and went back to hiding.
"You? Metal? Oh my Kami," Sarada got out.
"Hn,"
Better to keep to mono-syllable sounds.
"That's, that's, he's so loud though," Chocho said.
"Hn,"
"And green," Sarada told her.
As if she did not know. Metal wore green and orange in combination. He clashed horribly most of the time but the spandex, well; Hatomi did not mind the tightness of the spandex entirely.
"Your dad is going to have a stroke," Chocho said.
Father would faint if he ever found out. Of course, father liked Metal as a nephew and god-son and he loved Lee-sensei as a friend. But to have the potential to be related to the Green Beasts, well, it would be another story entirely. Hatomi heard plates being placed down but did not lift her head.
"When did this happen?" Sarada questioned.
"I do not even know," Hatomi replied.
Sometime during training, obviously, perhaps the time he had taken his shirt off and she had reciprocated. She could not deny Metal had a kind, caring, sweet, if a bit over-zealous nature. He would protect her if she needed but also knew she could take care of her wellbeing alone. He made her happy. Father would kill him.
"You didn't have a crush on anyone in the Academy," Chocho said.
She knew. No one piqued her interest during the Academy days. Odder still, Metal had always been close to her as a friend, cousin, and play-mate. Why she noticed now of all times the potential he had to be more...
Hormones. Her damned hormones were kicking in and making her want to look at boys differently. Hatomi wanted to turn back the clock by a year so she would not have to go through puberty. She heard Chocho and Sarada start on their cakes but did not lift her head. It felt better to hide.
She did enjoy the fact her friends did not ask her why she liked Metal. They either understood her or knew Metal would be a good potential boyfriend. It could even be a combination of both. Hatomi did not care so long as the two kept quiet.
"So, what are you going to do about it?" Sarada questioned.
Hatomi shrugged. She rather enjoyed waiting for Metal to react. It would make her feel nice and would keep her from over-thinking the entire situation. Plus father would not have a stroke, heart-attack, or kill anything. She could at least give him a few more years before he had to go beating boys up in her name.
She heard tapping and activated a partial Byakugan to see it was Chocho flicking her fork onto the empty plate in front of her. Chocho also stared towards Hatomi's uneaten slice of cake. Hatomi nodded and Chocho grinned before pulling the cake towards her. Sarada said nothing but did look thoughtfully towards the window.
It was easy for Hatomi to adjust her vision to look outside. Metal and Lee-sensei were walking with Yusa-sama through the street, talking as boisterously as normal while Yusa-sama smiled happily. If an elegant, refined woman like Yusa-sama could handle both Metal and Lee-sensei than certainly she would have no issue.
Hatomi deactivated her Byakugan with an inward groan. Her brain kept fast-forwarding to her and Metal being a full-fledged couple and again she cursed the chemical changes her body happened to be going through. She could do nothing to stop the changes.
"He does have a nice butt," Sarada said.
Hatomi raised her head out of her arms to see Chocho choking on cake and Sarada wordlessly smacking her friend on the back. Chocho got the cake down the stared at Sarada in wonder. Hatomi would not agree with Sarada out loud but she did enjoy when Metal bent in front of her to do toe touches.
"This is Metal we're talking about, right?" Chocho questioned.
"Yeah, and he's got a nice butt," Sarada answered.
Hatomi kept her smile back as Chocho shook her head.
"Hizashi has a nice butt," Chocho said.
"Well yeah, er," Sarada said.
Hatomi kept staring at her friends, wishing she could close her mouth or make her eyes go back to their normal shape instead of bugging out of her head. Hatomi had always known Hizashi had fan girls but had not expected her two friends to think he looked attractive. They had known him for their entire lives, long enough to see how, how, Hatomi hid again. Her brother would be a prize-catch.
"Sorry Hatomi," Sarada said.
"Ya know, beside Shikadai and Inojin, we really can't talk about any of the guys without it somehow effecting Hatomi," Chocho said.
"Yeah, you're right. Hizashi's her twin, Boruto's her cousin, and Metal's her crush," Sarada said.
Hatomi sighed but leaned her head against her arms. Chocho had finished Hatomi's slice of cake but Hatomi did not mind. She had no appetite anyway between the expense of new clothing, the fact she had gained another cup size, and the fact her friends now knew of her crush.
"Too bad Hizashi's the cutest of them," Chocho said.
Hatomi raised her eyebrow as Chocho beamed. Sarada flushed. Hatomi managed to keep from gaping like an imbecile this time.
"I mean, all that pretty long hair, his golden eyes, his squeezable butt, and he looks like he would be really well cut under his clothes, you know?" Chocho questioned.
Hatomi blinked. Sarada kept blushing. Chocho kept smiling and describing Hizashi's best features but Hatomi was not listening. She was watching Sarada who kept getting more embarrassed but not the kind of humiliated from talking to a friend about her blood relative. No, the same kind of mortified Hatomi got thinking about Metal.
"You have a crush on my brother," Hatomi said.
Chocho stopped talking as Sarada's eyes became wide behind her glasses. Her face stayed bright pink. Chocho shrugged and shook her head.
"He's cute but I wouldn't say crush," Chocho said.
Hatomi huffed at Chocho. She scratched the back of her head in confusion.
"Not you, Sarada," Hatomi said.
"Oh, ooooh," Chocho said.
Sarada whapped her head off the table and hid behind her arms. Hatomi did not know how to take this news. Sarada was her best friend and Hizashi was her twin brother. Any civilian girl would be excited about the news as it would mean her best friend might become a sister through marriage.
A part of Hatomi giggled happily at the same thought but the larger part glared. Sarada was Uchiha and Sasuke would become part of the Hyuuga clan. Hatomi also knew Hizashi had feelings deeper than friendship for Sarada but Hatomi would not tell Sarada this, not even if she asked.
Father might be annoyed at Metal and Hatomi wanting to date but he would be livid, literally, if Sarada and Hizashi became an item. Father hated Sasuke unconditionally and wanted nothing to do with helping the Uchiha expand the family name. No, Hizashi could not find out Sarada liked him as Sarada could not find out Hizashi liked her.
"Okay, see, I can see Sarada and Hizashi being a couple but I just can't wrap my head around you and Metal," Chocho said.
Hatomi kicked her under the table and Chocho yelped. Sarada kept her head down and Hatomi inwardly frowned. She loathed the fact she would not be telling her best friend something important but she despised the thought of her father going on some kind of insane spree to keep them apart. No, Hatomi keeping Sarada and Hizashi from dating would work better even if she hated herself for doing it.
Neji huffed when pounding came to his door but knew he could not ask someone else to get the door. Tenten, Shun, and Shi were at the shop while Hizashi was out with Shikadai and Inojin. It left Neji alone with Miruku and the cat looked at him as if he was slow for not answering the door so she could go back to her nap.
Neji tucked the corner of his book down then placed it on the table before getting to his feet and heading towards the front door. If the knock came from Metal then he would be free of the boy quickly since Metal would be asking where Hizashi was. If it came from Lee, well, he might have a bit of an issue getting rid of Lee depending what the other wanted.
For once, Neji could have an afternoon entirely to himself and he had wanted to relish in it. He loved his children and his wife but sometimes he needed to be alone to think. Apparently thinking time had been too much to ask for.
Neji opened the door to reveal Metal and stared at the mini-Lee for a few moments. Lee and Yusa stood near the gate, as if encouraging their son and Neji wondered at this. As typical with any Green Beast, he did not have to wait long.
"Hyuuga Neji, sir, may I have the express delight of asking your daughter, Hyuuga Hatomi out on a date?"
Neji kept staring at the boy, glad he had gained enough control over his facial features in the years he knew Metal's father that he did not drop his jaw, widen his eyes, or faint like his body wanted him to. He did clutch the door-jam a little hard and his heart pounded in his chest. He wanted to punch Metal until he landed on his father but the motion would hurt Yusa and he liked her.
"Why?" Neji asked.
Metal stared at him for a few moments with his shoulders sagged forward, his mouth wide, his eyes ready to fall out of his skull, and his entire posture screaming confusion. Metal straightened then turned towards his father. Neji's eyes flicked to Lee in time to see Lee give his son a nice guy pose. Neji inwardly groaned. Metal nodded.
"Hatomi is the epitome of intelligence, courage, loyalty, and beauty! She in brilliant in mind, wise beyond her years, and brighter than the noon-day sun in Suna! My heart beats in a joyful crescendo when she is near and I would like the honor of wooing her so as we may burn in youth together,"
Neji kept his groan back. He felt a light throbbing starting behind his eyes and rubbed his temples. Of course Metal would develop a crush on Hatomi. He had nothing against the boy, really, but they were twelve. Hizashi had not considered Midori a girlfriend, a fling of sorts, but Neji knew Metal would consider Hatomi a girlfriend. Hatomi would not be dating before she turned, well, sixteen if he had his way. He likely would not.
He did not mind the thought of Hizashi dating as it had not been serious for him. But for Hatomi to date a teammate, a friend, a person she had grown up with...
"No," Neji said.
He shut the door in Metal's face before Metal could entirely process Neji's word. Neji did not move away from the door but he did cross his arms over his chest and waited. He got to a count of sixty before more pounding came to his door. Neji opened it, this time to reveal Lee. Metal was sobbing in his mother's arms. Neji did not feel the least bit horrid. Ah, well, perhaps a little. He would not tell Lee.
"Neji, why did you crush my son's spirit so quickly?" Lee questioned. "I thought you cared about Metal like one of your own! I thought you loved him like I love your children! I thought—"
"Lee, they are twelve years old," Neji broke in.
Lee stopped talking, his mouth left open, one finger pointing towards the heavens to emphasize his points and his entire body stiff. He blinked. Neji raised an eyebrow at him.
"You and Tenten were,"
"Fifteen,"
"But Sakura and Sasuke,"
"Were eighteen as Sasuke never returned her feelings until after the War. No one we knew became a couple until they were fifteen or older, yes, they all had crushes long before that age but a crush is much different than love and you know it,"
Neji kept his face impassive as Lee sighed and nodded. He perked up again.
"Midori was not Hizashi's girlfriend. Yes, he took her out, yes they held hands, but he did not return her feelings and I am fairly sure she simply wanted in on the Hyuuga name. I expressed the fact he was too young to Tenten as well but she tends to win when senbon and certain parts of my anatomy are involved,"
Lee sagged. Neji let out a breath. He could not help but sigh as Metal came running up to him with tears running down his face.
"I will prove to you I am worthy of dating your precious daughter—" Metal began.
"Laps around Konoha on your hands, pinkie fingers, or any other creative way you can think of doing them will not help," Neji interrupted.
Metal fell over, would have if Lee had not been there to catch him. Neji raised his eyebrow and kept his arms crossed over his chest as Metal had some kind of mental break-down in his father's arms. Neji was not concerned. Green Beasts had a tendency to get over these types of break-downs quickly.
As expected, Metal stood by his own power a moment later. Lee cheered him on. Neji felt the throbbing in his head get stronger. He might need a nap after this.
"Then I will prove my feelings for her in a different way!"
Nice Guy pose. Neji blinked and Metal took off, shouting to the entire world he would show how worthy he was of the "perfection known as Hyuuga Hatomi." Neji could do nothing but stare. He scowled when Lee chuckled at him, patting him on the shoulder a few times.
"Ah, the joys of Youth,"
"Vacuum Palm,"
"GAH!"
"Hn,"
Tenten rubbed her eyes. Nope. It didn't make the vision of Metal bent on his knees in front of her, face almost on the ground but holding up a huge bowl of what smelled like herring soba go away. Tenten rubbed her forehead under her bangs.
"Hi Metal,"
Metal looked up enough to see her then frowned. No, no, Metal was pouting. Why Metal had decided to kneel on the doorstep of her home with an offering of herring soba was beyond her thought process at the moment.
"Ah, may I speak to Neji-sama please?" Metal asked.
Neji. Tenten turned to see her husband had frozen in mid-step going between the kitchen where he had been putting away the last of the dishes, to the living room where all four of their kids looked on in question.
"Darling?" Tenten questioned.
The fake sweetness in her voice made Neji shiver because he could hear the threat of her turning him into a pincushion if this was because of something absolutely ridiculous. With Metal involved, it might be.
"Hn,"
He said no more. He didn't need to. She'd been with him so long she knew this was his upset sound, the sound he used when he didn't want to tell her something that was annoying him. It also meant whatever the Hell was up his butt about Metal he wanted to resolve alone.
She caught his glance towards Hatomi and it hit her like a Primary Lotus. Metal had a crush on Hatomi. Metal had asked Neji if he could court Hatomi. Neji had said no. Now Metal was proving his worth. Tenten leaned against the doorframe and groaned.
"Neji, you're wanted," Tenten said.
She strode away from the open door which left Neji no choice but to walk towards Metal. Neji stepped out of the house and shut the door behind him. Tenten collapsed onto the couch but said nothing to the four sets of pupil-less eyes staring at her. She had never hated how her kids got her curiosity until today.
"Why's Metal here?" Hizashi asked.
She noticed Hatomi's cheeks had colored slightly. Tenten hardly managed to keep her gasp back. Hatomi liked Metal back! She was going to turn Neji into a pincushion. The jerk.
"Your dad will explain soon," Tenten replied.
She'd make him. Hatomi bit her lip and Hizashi caught it. He stared at his sister for a moment and a frown came to his face. Shi hummed and raised an eyebrow. Shun didn't pick up on the visual cues so blinked with a painfully confused look on his face.
Neji came back in after a moment, carrying the bowl of herring soba. His face was neutral as he put the soba into the kitchen. He managed to knock away the dozen senbon she chucked at him and caught them all so they didn't leave holes in the wall. Tenten was impressed, even more so that none of her kids had jumped at her violent reaction.
"So, darling, why was Metal here offering you your favorite food?" Tenten enquired.
He winced. Silver eyes flicked to Hatomi who was staring at the ground and fiddling with her fingers. Hizashi's eyes had gone wide and his lips were parted slightly. Shi snorted but made no other motion.
"Metal would like my permission to court Hatomi," Neji said.
Tenten had never heard Hatomi groan like she did now. Tenten turned to watch as Hatomi fell onto the flat area of the couch, face down, and hid her head with her arms. Hizashi, Shi, and Shun were staring at their normally unfazable sister with looks of wonder.
"I said he could not have it so he is attempting to convince me," Neji went on.
Another un-Hatomi-like sound issued from Tenten's daughter and Tenten stared. Either Hatomi did not like the thought of dating Metal or Hatomi wanted to date Metal. Tenten sat back down on the couch and rubbed her suddenly aching head. She watched as Neji came over cautiously. He didn't offer her the senbon back. Smart man.
"Okay, so why are you okay with the fact Hizashi dated Midori but Hatomi can't date Metal?" Tenten asked.
Neji shrugged as if the answer was obvious. Tenten spotted Hatomi raise her head out of her arms and blink. A familiar frown came to Hatomi's face and Tenten wanted to laugh.
"Hizashi did not date Midori," Neji said.
"News to me," Hizashi mentioned.
Tenten kept back her giggle at Hizashi's grin. Neji deadpanned and sighed. He shook his head.
"I mean, you did not have feelings for Midori and she did not have feelings for you. Therefore the relationship of sorts was merely testing the waters and meant nothing to either of you. I am certain Metal has strong feelings for Hatomi like she for him—"
This was as far as he got. Hatomi was on her feet a moment later with her entire face beat red.
"Teammates!"
Hatomi pointed at her father as she shouted this. Shun started snickering. Hizashi coughed to hide a laugh and Shi smiled. Neji raised an eyebrow.
"Your mother and I said that many, many times," Neji said.
Hatomi made another unholy sound and fell back on the flat part of the couch. Neji crossed his arms over his chest and looked back at Hizashi who stared at his father with an amused grin.
"As I was saying, the relationship between you and Midori was inconsequential. The potential relationship between Metal and Hatomi will not be. Frankly, they are too young for any kind of serious commitment," Neji said.
Okay, so Neji had some kind of logic behind denying Metal. Tenten didn't really get it and it didn't look like Hizashi did either.
"Wait, what?" Hizashi asked.
Neji rubbed his temples, head lowered and eyes closed. He shifted his stance so the weight was mainly on his right foot and glared at the floor for a few moments.
"Your sister and Metal are not ready for a serious relationship at twelve years old. Neither are you, in case any of you get the idea I am saying this because it is Hatomi," Neji said.
Oh. Now it made sense. Tenten might hate to admit it but she agreed. The kind of relationship Metal wanted with Hatomi was way too soon for either of them. Midori had been nothing but a greedy fan girl Hizashi thought was cute. Feelings weren't involved like they would be for Metal and Hatomi. Besides, the two were teammates.
"Right, okay, plus the whole teammate thing, yeah, that might not end well," Hizashi muttered.
"Teammates," Hatomi bemoaned into the couch.
Tenten kept back her chuckles but shifted to pat her daughter's back. She spotted Hizashi shake his head but her eldest son didn't say anything to his distraught sister. Shi and Shun kept snickering but went to play a video game. She nodded to Neji who let out a little breath and sat beside her on the couch. He handed her back her senbon then yelped since she poked him with one.
"Could've told me earlier, dummy," Tenten said.
"Hn,"
His pouting sound and Tenten had to keep her laugh back. Hizashi went about sharpening his weapons and inspecting them on the ground in front of the patio doors while Hatomi continued being miserable on the couch. Neji leaned against Tenten and she massaged his scalp. He likely needed it after dealing with Metal and the fact his daughter had a crush.
"So, when are you going to give Metal permission to woo Hatomi?" Hizashi asked.
She should've known it wouldn't have been over so easily, not since her son had gotten her personality traits. He even had the same coy grin on his face. Hatomi made another unhappy sound from her position while Neji sighed.
"When I damned well feel like it," Neji said.
It was in his "case closed, don't argue" tone. Too bad she was immune to the tone as was Hizashi. Her son was too much like her. She had to swallow her laugh as Hizashi kept sharpening a kunai as if he hadn't asked an embarrassing question and gotten a closed off response.
"Uh-huh, well we are going to be thirteen in a month," Hizashi mentioned casually.
Tenten coughed to hide the giggles threatening to explode. She saw Neji glare at Hizashi who, unfazed, studied his kunai to make sure he had sharpened it enough.
"Hizashi," Neji warned.
Hizashi shrugged and put his perfect kunai to a side before picking up a dull one. He met his father's eyes and smiled, understanding Neji had the power to make his life miserable. Neji hummed.
"Just sayin'," Hizashi said.
"Hn,"
Warning sound. She glanced at Hizashi and he went back to work, quietly, but had a smile on his face. He knew (like her) to stop poking at Neji when he made that sound. Kami she loved her kids.
"Training will be interesting," Shi said.
"Hn,"
Another warning sound. Shi didn't turn around as Shun kept giggling. Miruku sat by Shun, back to the couch and Tenten knew the cat was paying attention to what Shun did on the screen. After a few long minutes, Hatomi shifted to sit properly on the flat part of the couch.
Tenten saw her daughter still had a blush on her cheeks, faint but there, and her shoulders were sagged. Her eyes were damp too and Tenten wondered if it was because Hatomi was upset about not being able to date Metal or if something else bothered her.
"First I find out I gained yet another cup size which graduates me into an entirely different section of the store where bras are a hundred ryo more expensive. Then I discover this extra growth requires me to buy a larger size of shirt in a particular material so it fits me properly which by the way, took hours to do and cost more. Now everyone I care about knows about Metal and me," Hatomi said.
Her lower lip was shaking. Hizashi looked up at his sister, lips parted and eyes wide. Shi and Shun paused their game to stare at her, Shun with the same expression as Hizashi and Shi with a single raised eyebrow and a frown, the same expression Neji had on his face.
Tenten pulled Hatomi in for a hug and she came. The poor girl, no wonder she was so miserable. Tenten had no idea what to say. She'd never dealt with breasts that didn't want to stop growing and if Hatomi was in a bigger cup size it meant she was now a double d. Maybe Hinata could come have dinner with them one of these nights.
"Well, on the plus side you're not on your monthly thing," Hizashi said.
Silence until Hatomi snarled and kicked her brother in the face. Tenten rubbed her forehead and heard Neji snort (amused) at their son. Shi shook his head in embarrassment for his older brother while Shun scoffed and went back to the game. Even Miruku gave Hizashi a look which questioned Hizashi's sanity.
"Dolt," Hatomi said.
Hizashi rubbed his nose and forehead from Hatomi's kick but had a smile on his face even though Hatomi glared at him from her regal pose on the couch.
"Hey, it got you out of your funk and that's all I ask," Hizashi said.
Tenten giggled when Hatomi stared at her brother, studying him as if he was a new move she had to learn. Finally she huffed, smacked him upside the head, and strode off, the picture of grace as normal. Hizashi chuckled as Hatomi went down the hallway and towards her room. The door shut gently a moment later and a few moments after that, music began to play.
"I assume we do not go talk to her," Neji said.
"Especially not you," Tenten said.
"Hn,"
"And Hizashi, don't say a word to anyone about any of it. I'm pretty sure Metal's done enough on his own but no need to make your sister more embarrassed than she is, got it?"
"Got it. Besides, I'd like to live to see thirteen, thanks,"
"Shi and Shun, same to you two,"
"Hn,"
"No worries,"
Tenten smiled at her boys. She was proud of them, even Neji, and glad they hadn't totally flipped when Hatomi revealed her crush on Metal. It probably helped they knew Metal and liked him. Tenten decided not to mention it and went back to enjoying playing with her husband's hair. At least life would be interesting.
Hehe, poor Hatomi. And yes, I am aware Tenten's birthday is March 9 and I skipped it. I've also skipped Neji's birthday more than a few times. We're focusing on the kids now, people, with a bit of kinky stuff every now and again.
As always, reviews welcome.