◊ (She's Strong) ◊

A/N: This is off of a one shot I read, I'm not using their exact stuff but some of the reasons are theirs. I really liked it so I used it as one of my reason why focus chapters. I'd like to thank everyone who read and reviewed and I'm telling you we're back to the traditional going ons of the story. Girl of Light Writter: Aniecä

∆ (Hoshi Complex) ∆ - ¤ (Morning) ¤ - VP: Tenten

I awoke in Neji's bed. I felt a lot stronger because all my chakra had returned through the energy of the stars out here. "You seem happy again."

"Why shouldn't I?"

"I don't know but it's too early even by my standards to wake up." Neji mumbled.

"What time is it?" He pointed to the clock. "3 am, come on we have to train."

"Go to sleep Tenten," He said.

"Neji…" I pleaded him.

"Two hours Tenten." He said rolling his eyes.

I pouted, "Fine." He grabbed my waist and pulled me back down in the bed.

"Go to sleep," He said and he went back to sleep and soon after I did as well.

¤ (5 AM) ¤

"Neji, it's five!" I yelled.

"You're starting to become annoying." I stuck my tongue out at him, sighed, and lay back down.

"Neji, do you really think I'm annoying?" I asked concerned.

"Sometimes you can be but don't worry about it, I still love you. I always will." He said sitting up. "Go get changed."

"Alright thank you Neji." I said happily kissing his cheek and running through the halls to my room. I changed my clothes and grabbed my scrolls and other weaponry stuff. I walked back calmly into Neji's room. He was sitting there in his normal training clothes.

"Ready to go?" He asked standing up.

"Sure, but they're hungry." I said sighing.

"Who?" I pointed to everyone standing behind me. That had just shown up and I figured they were hungry. "I see hungry ninja. Whatever, we've got training, tell them to feed themselves."

"Neji!" I said sighing.

"What, you and I go through plenty of missions without meals. We normally have one, two at the most. They had dinner only a few hours ago." He said.

"Don't be mean, they're protecting us." I said. I grabbed Neji's hand and pulled him into the kitchen. "Plus, we need to eat too because I want to be able to train full strength. How long has it been since we trained one on one?"

"Not long, 9 days." He said.

"Then we're over do." I said.

"I'm hungry!" Choji said.

"Alright, I'm getting it." I said. Neji smiled, he liked it better when I shut up.

"How long are you stationed here Tenten?" Shino asked.

"Until someone else comes along and takes over." I answered.

"So we could be out here a while?" Kiba asked.

"Yeah." Neji added.

"Man, this is going to boring. Watching you two train and do Hoshikage stuff." Kiba said.

"It's our mission." Shino said.

"We should be happy to defend Tenten; she is our friend and now an important diplomat." I smiled. Lee there is no use lying, watching Neji and I are boring unless you're Neji or I.

"You guys are free to do whatever you want between the hours of 9pm and 9pm." Neji stated.

"Huh?" They all asked.

"Neji and I are training until 9 and we meet up for dinner and relax for the night at 7 as well. There's no need to watch us as long as we're together. After during that time we usually head over to different districts so we aren't protected by the other. You get a lunch break at noon because that's when both head to lunch for an hour. Understood?" I said.

"Yes." Shino said.

"That sounds good so we can go our separate ways as well and continue our training." Kiba said.

"This is very generous of you two, thank you." Lee said. I laughed and Neji just rose and eyebrow.

"You're welcome Lee." I said still laughing. Same old Lee.

"I'm fine with some extra time, thanks." Choji said. I nodded and then made breakfast. I took a seat next to Neji ate. Neji were done quickly.

"We're off to train, bye." I said.

"We'll be back here at 9 to decide who's watching who for the day on our separate tasks." Neji said. They all nodded.

"Bye." I said walking out of the house with Neji.

"You back to full strength?" Neji asked.

"I should be. That's what you said."

"I estimated with the stars advanced chakra restoration ability, you should be."

"I feel ready, what do you want to do?" I asked.

"I say we work on combination attacks and defenses. After all working on one on one will only take us so far as partners and I think we've mastered it all." Neji inferred.

"Yeah that's right. So how about we go through each element and type of attack and prepare a defense." I said.

"Alright water jutsu." He said.

"Um, I don't like water jutsu." We thought for a while. "Okay this is stupid. We'd just end up doing the same thing we normally do. It that case I'd break down the attack using a kunai, leaving enough opening for you to finish him off." I complained.

"There's our answer but what about fire?"

"I don't know, you think of something." I said pouting.

"If it's a fire attack. We'd just have to use Kaiten to create a shield between use then normal stuff or us. Nothing's a challenge anymore." I nodded.

"It's true. I guess training one on one just to become stronger is our only chance."

"True." He said.

"What is strength?" I asked.

"True strength is the ability to protect those you care about no matter what." He said.

"Am I strong?" He smirked.

"Of course, you've protected me and I've protected you before. We have always been strong enough. We've protected strangers as well." He said.

"How did we become strong though?" I asked. "If we've reached where we've become strong, how did we?"

"Through training with each other, trusting each other, teamwork, missions and such." He said.

"Do you think we'll meet someone stronger then us ever again?" I asked.

"I'd hope not because when you're weak those you wish to protect get her. I use to wait for a challenge but now I don't because if they were stronger then I am the village, you and everyone could be in danger." He said.

"I want a mission." I said. "A mission that's a challenge. I haven't had a considerably good one in a while." He sighed.

"Like what? You've had missions where you've protected people, retrieved people; run governments, what other kind of missions do you want. You're never happy after a mission are you?" I asked.

"No, like you, nothing is good enough for you is it?" I asked.

"You are so clearly something is." He said.

"Neji…" I sighed. He has the weirdest sense of romance ever. However, it's good, compared to some people, I'm fine with it.

"So really what kind of mission do you want Tenten? I'm sure we can find you one."

"I want a mission that challenges me on all levels: logic, analyzing, deception, escaping, offense, and defense. I want a really hard mission but not one that in necessarily dangerous." I complained.

"I really think that you're not going to find that." I sighed and sat on a branch in a tree.

"Remember when Gai-sensei said?" I asked.

"What, he tells us a lot of things and I don't remember any of it."

"Oh yeah, sorry Neji." I said sighing. I forgot he doesn't remember that stuff. I don't think even if he did remember he would. He and I doubted what Gai-sensei said most of the time.

"Well once he told us that those who are gifted to be perfect and what we choose to be are never really happy with that. Only in a challenge are we truly happy."

"It's true; even I could have told you that."

"I never thought it was right because you always seemed happy, I mean for you."

"As long as you have something to work toward, you can satisfy yourself. Even if it's only for a little while. When you have something that you're doing that's not perfect, you can make yourself happy trying to work toward it. When you reach it you feel empty." He said.

"Why don't we feel empty if we've reached perfection on our levels?" I asked.

"Because over all, are lives aren't complete, we have things to do, things to accomplish. We don't know what a complete whole life feels like so we can't miss it. For the moment your satisfied because there's always more you can do." He explained.

"I'm glad that's I'm not unhappy." I said.

"Me too," He said jumping up into the tree and sitting next to me. We sat there for a while and then I saw on Neji's watch that it was a few minutes until 9.

"It seems it's time to go to work." I said.

"Yeah, let's go." He said jumping down and I followed as we walked in.

"How was your training?" Lee asked us.

"We couldn't think of anything we could perfect, we just talked."

"Of course," Kiba said sighing. "So how are you splitting us up?"

"Shino, Choji, you two stay and watch Tenten with her Hoshikage duties. Lee, Kiba, you come with me to train the academy students in the ninja basics."

"Wait a minute, we're teaching foreign ninja how to become ninjas?" Kiba asked.

"I agree, it sounds dangerous." Shino said.

"We're under alliance and they need their own military force. Sunagakure is allied with us and they have one too so don't worry about it, just train them in the basics." I said.

"Yeah, but I still don't like my academy days." Kiba said. "Come on Akamaru." Neji went out of the building into the academy.

"Thank you for this opportunity to teach the youth the way of the ninja Neji. Gai-sensei would be proud." Lee said. I sighed. Neji's going to regret taking Lee along but if Neji just sticks Lee with a lot of little Taijutsu beginners then Neji should be fine.

"Shino, you're use to diplomat work with foreign parts of your clan as heir right?" I asked.

"Yeah, nothing big. You walk around, meet everyone, and say high, talk with them about their problems. It's basic stuff."

"Well that's what we're doing!" I said happily.

"Alright." He said.

"Choji, understand."

"Talk to people at random around the city, easy mission." Choji said.

"Good, let's go." We went into the city and walked around.

How did I become strong? Neji said it was from protecting those I love but honestly, before, I fell in love with him. I wasn't strong. I was weak. How did I become strong? I mean without parents and any relatives at all. I was alone. Can someone who is all alone love? I do, but how? How is the true question?

Milo ran by. "What are you thinking about; you seem in a better mood but still deep in thought."

"I'm in a better mood now that Neji's back and I have my friends watching over me as well but I'm trying to figure out how I became strong." I said sitting down.

"What do you mean, didn't you did it like all ninjas?" He asked.

"I went to the academy and learned the basics but how did I fall in love. I've never felt love so how is I sure that I'm in it?" I asked him.

"How do expect me to know. I'm only 15." Milo said.

"I was engaged when I was fifteen. Actually before then I fell in love with Neji, but how do I know what love is if I've never felt it?"

"Don't focus on what love is. Focus on what strength is. Strength is protecting those who are important to you. You were taught relationships and how you should protect them, if you can, that's strength." Shino said walking by.

"But what is love?" I asked.

"I can't answer that for you, no one can. A question can't be answered. If you make 0 shots what score of 0 did you get what percent?" He asked.

"I didn't make any cause I didn't take any." I said.

"That wasn't the question, the question was what your percent was, and it's nothing."

"I understand but it's frustrating." I answered.

"If you know that Neji is important to you, I guess that love. I won't know though. I know parents love children. But I think that a lot of people who get married young don't find love." I sighed. What if Choji was right, what if I wasn't in love either. I thought for sure I am.

"Don't be so down Tenten," Milo said. "You gain strength for those you love, to be able to protect them."

"Neji doesn't know love either, but I have parents, maybe I could ask them." I said.

"I wish I knew how to help but I was forced to be engaged this year, I'm not sure I'm in love with her either. I mean she makes me happy, I enjoy being with her. She's nice and pretty but does that make for love?" Milo asked.

"Who are you supposed to marry?"

"Diana," I smiled.

"She's a good person; at least you will be happy. Do you like anyone else?" I asked.

"I can tell you this Tenten." Choji said. "You're strong because you have to be, for Neji, for yourself, for everyone who counts on you, for Konoha, for Hoshigakure. You're strong because simply… you have no choice but to be. Beyond that… you have to judge for yourself."

"Why do I doubt my love now? I've been engaged for a year. I shouldn't doubt it." I said shaking me head.

"It's good you doubt now and not later for what if you realize that you don't want to spend your life with Neji." I laughed.

"I know that can't be it. I need Neji, he's the reason that makes me go on, and he's the reason I have to be strong like you said. I have to protect him. I have to be strong for him, to care for and protect him."

"Well then you know your first answer." Choji said.

"I may not know what love is, but I know a few things for sure. I want to be by Neji's side forever. I also know that I want to be his wife. I also know that that would make me extremely happy. I know I really couldn't go on without him. I know that he's more important to me then I am."

"Sound like love to me." Milo said.

"You over thought things and confused yourself. You love him." I smiled.

"No, I'm not sure. I was never shown love, or told what it is. How do I know what love is so I can't really know but I should find out before I can really know if I love him?"

"Whatever, it's a waste of time if you know what you said is complete true." Choji said.

"Really, you over analyze things." Milo said.

"I want to be sure." I said. "Back to work! By Milo, we have to go fill out paperwork."

"Bye Tenten," He said laughing.

I went to my office and filled out forms for hundreds of basic level missions. Missions that here are considered C-Rank that back home would be D, if you were lucky. Things like shop assistance, cleaning the lakes, telescope maintenance, and other boring stuff. No wonder Tsunade doesn't like being Hokage much.

A Shinobi walked into my office. "Bear Country officials are here to get a mission done."

"Let them in," I said sighing.

"We need a kunoichi adept at deception to take care of the feudal lord of grass." He said.

"Grass is part of my governing area isn't it?"

"No, it's foreign. It's not included in the treaty." The official said.

"Do we even have kunoichi adept at that?" I asked Shino who was looking through the paperwork.

"No Tenten, no Kunoichi were trained in that at all."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"You have to take the mission yourself." Shino said.

"What?!" I yelled.

"Calm down, it's your job to keep peace and if that's how, for the country someone has to. You're the only who can Tenten." I grimaced. Neji was not going to be happy. Yet again, neither was I.

I had to be strong for my country as well because without a strong leader, we'd fall. If they needed a mission done, it was my job to make sure we could take care of it as long as they had the money. When Sunagakure was being set up no one ever needed missions this early but they've had a few Hoshikage so they were ready for this. I wasn't.

"Fine, when?" I asked smacking my head on the table. I was just like Tsunade now. Maybe I should ask her for advice. I didn't find it safe to leave either. I needed another kunoichi, but who. Ino, Hinata, and Sakura were all technically out of duty and couldn't. I need help!

"About a week, our visitor spy just got back and said they're falling. We just kill him off and then they country is part of the treaty." I sighed, another country to take care of, great. I also get a stupid kunoichi only mission. I hated these; I've only had 3 or 4 in my life. Two, I was allowed to be accompanied by Neji on. I had one when I was new as a ninja, it was kunoichi work but I was trained in the basics of it so the 3rd sent me.

"Alright then, it's nothing hard is it? How old is he?" I asked.

"16, 17." A girl barged in. It was Diana.

"Diana, what's the meaning of this." She bowed.

"Sorry I was listening in. Allow me to do the mission. I'm training as a ninja and I want to take this. It's not a high class mission."

"No but…" I felt just as great about this as Tsunade and the 3rd had. Sending young ninja into doing dirty work was a horrible feeling. "I really don't to do this to you, trust me." I said.

"Train me then let me go." I grimaced.

"Alright, is that fine with you?" I asked the Bear Nin.

"Sure, as long as he's taken out of power. She brings him back and you get your entire fee. If not, half." I nodded. I knew how this went. They paid half now and when they had the man, we got paid the rest. I guess I knew what I was doing after all.

The Bear Nin left and I sighing. "Why did you volunteer Diana?" I asked. I really sounded like Tsunade, over burdened, tired and annoyed.

"Because, you're really nice to this country and they plan to prove that you're a horrible leader, abandoning them. They're going to trick you because of the evidence of the photos. I couldn't let that happen." I smiled.

"Thanks, I owe you a lot then. I guess you're really got my back, protecting me from being tricked. Good job, I wouldn't have caught that, you did. Well then I'm going to train you to the fullest so we'll show then what we can do."

"How do you train someone like that?"

I smirked. "A little prank and a lot of practice. We switch lives for a day; tonight we meet up switch back. Choji, Shino, you are not to tell anyone about us switching, this is a training exercise."

"Neji can..." Shino started.

"Byakugan, watch out for that Diana. If he starts to activate his Byakugan or think suspicious of you, walk out of there. Choji, Shino, help her as much as you can. She's a trainee."

"Alright." Choji said. "But I think conspiring against Neji isn't smart."

"I'm scared." Diana said.

"About what, it's fun." I said. "Being me is a change from your life."

"No, but you could get kidnapped while in my shoes. Plus, tricking two fiancés is harder then it sounds." Diana said.

"Neji is very smart but as long as you look like me and act like me he won't suspect anything. Milo is easy picking for this kind of thing. Plus, I'm experienced." I smiled. This is the kind of mission I've been waiting for. Top of the line in logic and fun.

"Alright, let's go change lives." Diana said sighing.

"I still think that it's a bad idea." Shino said.

"She needs training and this is the best way."

"How did you train?"

"We were told to go someone and trick this weird guy into loving us, we had one month. It was horrifying and disgusting. I would never put anyone in my shoes again. I liked the second test better; I switched with another girl for a day. It was easy, I won. She almost died though."

"How?" Diana asked.

"Neji went too hard on her, saying that I should stop playing around and getting serious. He almost killed her with cutting off her chakra supply." Diana laughed. I was laughing too. "Let's go." Changing me into Diana and vice versa wasn't hard because of our extreme family likeness; it was a matter of changing hairstyles and clothes and that was it. She was only a year and a half younger but she was tall because of her far back Hyuuga blood. Why she didn't have, the same Byakugan eyes always surprised me and scared me because what if the difference caused their loss, I didn't want to worry because it was better for the mission. My strength resided in trusting my people and protecting them. This mission was important to our country and alliance with Bear so I had to make her good.

The Reasons Why… She's Strong.

the stars made her stronger her chakra to protect others to protect those close to her she has to be for Neji for herself for everyone who counts on her for Konoha for Hoshigakure she has no choice but to be