The radio played softly in the corner of the room, lulling me into a sense of security and peace. My face screwed up as the song changed to a heavy rock anthem bass heavy and voices grainy and low, i know some people like this kind of music but it just wasnt my cup of tea. I reached over and turned the metal knob trying to tune into a different station.

"Try twisting it to the left a bit... yh there"

I looked up with a grateful smile at Neji as a soft melodic song rang out and bathed my ears in fluttering harp strings and soft guitar strums, i leaned back in my chair again gaze going to Neji in his hospital bed eating a slice of cake with a cement like wall of iceing around it with frosting rimming the edges and jelly tots on the top.

"How can you eat that?" i asked disgusted

"Its sugary" Neji said taking a sip of his blue slushie drink

I turned to see a the door knob turning slowley, i quickly reached over and grabbed the slushie drink and cake placing the cake on my lap and sticking the straw in my mouth as Tsunade snuck in obviously trying to catch Neji unawares.

"Hey Tsunade" i said happily holding the drink

"Neji, your sugar levels are high again, have you been eating?" Tsunade asked looking at his blood monitor

Neji shook his head lightly "I had a sip of Tentens slushie"

Tsunade looked at me and i took a bite of the cake and washed it down with blue slush, it tasted rank and i had to fight back a retch as she oggled me turning her nose up at the glucose filled treats as i dared another sip of the blue drink.

"Tenten that stuff isnt good for your diet" Tsunade said

I smiled aware that my teeth and tongue were probably blue "Once in a while cant hurt, i need sugar in me as much as i need protein or fat or calcium right?"

Tsunade blanched and scowled out the window at my remark. "Are you taking your pills Tenten?"

My smile fell away and i nodded putting the drink down on the table.

"Have you consumed any alcohol?"

I thought back to the karaoke, that had been a moment of weakness, i had paid my dues for that night and i just wanted to forget it. "No Tsunade sama"

"Are you regularly drinking?"

"Yes Tsunade sama"

She glanced at the slushie drink and grimaced "Drinks that are good for you, water, milk, juice?"

"3 glasses of milk a day and 4 bottles of water a day" i said truthfully

"And your taking your vitamins?"

I nodded thinking back to the horrible tasting fish oil tablets and the little dinasour shaped vitamin B pills Gai bought me, they were orange but Gai had put food dye in them to turn them green.

"Your looking better" Tsunade said nodding "clearer skin, better body mass"

"T-thank you Tsunade sama" i chirped feeling pleased

"That bruise looks painful" Tsunade said a smile breaking through onto her face

"Its alright" i mumbled looking to Neji for help

"She earned that bruise!" Neji said

Thanks a lot.

I sighed looking into my lap.

"So i heard, Tenten you were very brave and extremely ruthless" Tsunade patted my shoulder "On behalf of Konoha, i thank you"

I turned around 7 shades of red before finally settling on crimson, i spluttered a thanks and Tsunade laughed at my unease, she turned to Neji and looked at his blood monitor again with a smile.

"Neji-san your sugar levels have decreased enough, you may leave"

Neji looked up in shock, Tsunade had been stalling with the convosation to make sure Neji didnt eat any more sugary snacks, clever.

"Are you sure Tsunade sama?" Neji asked hesitantly

I had a feeling it was more peaceful staying in the hospital then it was staying in his own home. I looked at him sympathetically wishing i could offer him a way out.

"Neji, you have 20 minutes to leave my hospital" Tsunade's face softened into a smile "And i hope i never see you back here again"

I nodded at Tsunade as she left quietly. Neji groaned and lifted his bed covers to reveal he was wearing a full set of clothes and shoes, i eyed the shoes suspiciously and he shrugged innocently.

"I had a feeling today would be the day"

I laughed and stood from the chair stretching my bunched muscles, Neji had managed to stay in the hospital for 3 days and 2 nights, pretty good for a fake. I had a sneaky suspicion Tsunade had known nothing was wrong with him, she was a nice women really, deep deep down under the hard exterior.

I looked at the clock and sighed, i had to get to training in 15 minutes. Neji caught me looking at the clock and nudged me towards the door with his elbow.

"Go ahead, Gai is probably already at the training field waiting for you" Neji said

I nodded thinking that he was probably right. "Sure you dont want to come?" i asked hopefully

"Nah i'll wait for the team train tomorrow" Neji said with a smile

I kissed him goodbye and left quickly to go and get my training gear from my apartment. I ran down there in a jog/sprint making it my warm up by adding in stretches along the way.

A few days ago i had been crazy girl running through town in her pyjamas with blood in her hair and now i was crazy exercise girl sprinting through the streets. I made it to the cross road between my street and main in record time.

I was at my apartment within 6 minutes.

I yanked out my bag which i had filled with my training things that morning before heading out to see Neji. I grabbed a bottle of water knowing Gai would have one for me already and took one of my vitamins for good measure before tying my hair up more securely and running back out of the apartment struggling to put a light weight sweatshirt as i ran.

I was out of the building in seconds and heading for the training field doing more stretches on the way. I was quite proud of myself for making it this far without collapsing.

I could see the training field and i still had 3 minutes spare so i stopped and took a sip of my water bottle not wanting to turn up to our train worn out and sweaty, i did some deep lunges and stretches catching my breath.

When i had one minute to go i walked casually up to the field to see Gai sitting in the middle of the field with his legs crossed and his eyes closed, he was humming to himself and his hands were clasped together in his lap.

Was he meditating?

I cleared my throat standing next to him. He didnt seem to hear me.

"Gai?"

No response.

I smiled to myself and raised my hand for a slap, i'd seen this on the movies, i was going to slap him to his senses. I held back an evil giggle as i swung my hand down towards his face, he raised his arm in a lightning fast block and pushed me away.

I stumbled and surged back with a kick, he blocked again and twisted my ankle so i fell, i twisted and sprung of my hands spinning my leg into a round house kick, he blocked again.

Are you kidding me?

I punched at the back of his head and he moved his head to the left, i punched to the left and he moved his head to the right. This was crazy.

"Gai?" i questioned stepping back

Gai rose with a smile on his face. "I was able to fight you off Tenten because i was aware of my surroundings"

I looked around the empty field not seeing what could have given me away.

"I could sense your chakra from a mile away" Gai said

I twisted my face in suprise. I hadnt thought to hide my chakra signature, i wasnt very good at controlling my chakra.

"Im not that good at hiding my chakra" i said shrugging

"Which is what training is about today" Gai said beaming

I groaned, i hated manipulating my chakra, i didnt like feeling like i was bad at something, and this i was definitaly bad at.

"Okay, find your centre" Gai said planting his legs shoulder width apart on the floor

I copied his pose and breathed deeply trying to clear my mind and focus, i imagined my chakra pathways in my body like a mini rollercoaster, Gai held his arms out slightly away from his sides and wriggled his fingers, i copied.

He twisted his head back and forth rolling his neck to loosen the muscles and i copied him feeling tiny clicks as my bones loosened.

He hopped on one leg moving his arms like birds wings, i looked at him questioningly.

"Only Kidding" He smirked and i sighed in relief.

"Okay, now try to bring your chakra from your feet, up through your body and into your hands" Gai said encouragingly

I imagined the rollercoaster in my body and thought of the pathways widening as more chakra filled them near my feet, moving its way up my legs painfully slowley and up to my knees. My skin tingled where i was concentrating so hard.

I felt a slight burn as the chakra passed my knees and up my thighes, over my pelvis and into my chest, this was the hard bit. I imagined the pathways splitting the chakra content and sending half down my left arm and half down my right, slowley they seperated and i concentrated feeling a heat pool in my finger tips.

I wiggled them and they began to itch as the chakra increased in them.

I opened my eyes and looked at Gai questioningly, he told me to hold the chakra there for a few seconds, i did with much effort. He nodded and i released it letting it flow back to its normal pathways.

Sweat beaded my forehead.

"That was a good attempt Tenten" Gai smiled "It took you 15 minutes"

My jaw opened in suprise, 15 minutes?.

"I need practice" i said seriously

Gai nodded and sat down in his meditating position again, he gestured for me to do the same. I sat and crossed my legs getting comfortable.

"Okay, you need to relax" Gai said gently "Sit here and listen to the sounds of life"

Gai went utterly silent and i peeked at him to see that he was meditating again. I took a deep breath and let it out closing my eyes and trying to relax. Every sound made me jump.

"Your trying to hard, your being to aware, just let it come" Gai soothed

I nodded to myself and let my mind go blank, my eyelids shading my eyes were black and i couldnt see anything, after a few minutes the urge to peek decreased and i felt myself mixing into the nature.

I let myself hear everything, focusing on not one sound but trying to open my mind to all types of sound. Nothing made sense but at the same time i felt like i would know if there was anything amiss.

"Let your instincts guide you Tenten" Gai said quietly

It didnt distract me, his voice went into my brain and i registered what he was saying without having to think about it. I felt hyper aware of everything, the grass wavering in the tiniest breeze, the thumping of footfalls far away in the next field over vibrating through the mud, birds calling and being answered, grass hoppers singing, the sounds of nature.

"Chakra is like a river" Gai said "It flows and hydrates our energy"

I took a long breath and scented the air, fresh and smelling of grass and earth, i could feel the sun on me, i could feel the blades of grass underneath me. I could feel Gai's presence in front of me and i knew he was still in his meditative state. If i focused on him slightly it was like i could tell where his arms and legs were in comparison to his body.

"You cannot force it, you must invite it." Gai moved in my hyper awareness and his limps and body became more apparent. "Your chakra is a part of you"

I realised i was sensing his chakra as he stood, it was like a solid being within him, i realised how easily someone would be able to find me if i wasnt hiding my chakra, it was so apparent on Gai and he didnt use his a lot in battle. I relied on my chakra a hell of a lot more.

"You should be able to control it as easily as you do your limbs, it doesnt fight you Tenten" Gai stood back a few steps and i could hear the blades of grass moving "Your the one fighting"

I opened my eyes and looked up to see Gai had gone, i slowley stood expecting light headedness, it didnt come, i felt refreshed and renewed.

shaking out my limbs i wiggled my fingers and rolled my neck loosening my muscles.

"Time to let the river flow" i whispered to myself

Instead of trying to force my chakra up through my feet with my mind, i felt it.

I felt the flow of chakra within me and i focused on where i wanted it to go, focusing on the flow i felt it rushing up to the point i was thinking of. My fingers pooled with added power and i wiggled them again feeling the familiar itch, there was no burning, no struggle. I had done it.

Clapping sounded behind me and i turned to see Gai grinning at me. "I knew you could do it my beauty"

"I was thinking about it too much" i said smiling at my achievement

"You did it in a much improved 6 minutes" Gai said

I thought of Sakura who could manipulate her chakra in the time it took for me to say the word, she was amazing.

Gai patted me on the back happily and i relished in the feeling of achievement.

"Okay now onto step 2" Gai said "you have to learn to store it in your chi"

"Store it?" i asked

"Its easy, like what you just did you let it flow to a certain area in your body, your chi" Gai pointed to the centre of his chest "Its the core of your chakra pathways, a store in your very centre"

"Like the heart of the chakra body?" i asked

"Exactly!" Gai said smiling "not many people can do this, not many people try but it will earn you better and faster control"

"Okay, so just like what i did before but to my centre?" i asked

Gai nodded and i centred myself like before, i closed my eyes and lulled myself back into my relaxed state. My fingers wiggled and my neck rolled quickly and i imagined the flow in my inner eye. I felt the chakra flow and focused on my centre.

The chakra flowed from all corners of my body to my centre swirling like one of Naruto's rasengan in my middle, it didnt feel like it was being stored so i concentrated on the chakra saturating into my body, flowing round and round.

"Concentrate Tenten, feel the flow" Gai encouraged

I pressed my hand to the middle of my lower chest and pressed down gently, my skin tingled and i knew almost all of my chakra was there, was this safe?. I cracked open an eye to look at Gai who was smiling encouragingly.

"Gai, its stuck" i said concentrating on my middle

"It cant be" Gai said "Try releasing it"

I nodded and closed my eyes again, i released it but the chakra didnt flow back, it stayed swirling in my middle, i stopped concentrating on it and it still stayed, i grinned proudly.

"I did it!" I punched the air "Its not going back! Its stored"

Gai slapped me on the back and i smiled

"I taught you this because its easier to hide one section of chakra then it is to hide a whole body of chakra" Gai said seriously

I nodded, that made sense.

"Okay to release it you must imagine it flowing back to every cell of your body, like a doorway is opening" Gai said

I thought of the swirling ball of chakra depleating, flowing back to the cells of my body, the ball began to smooth out until it was flat again, the chakra began to move and flow all over my body. My skin tingled a little from the sudden surge.

"Okay" i said nodding

"You did that in about 9 minutes" Gai said "The chi gathering and the release"

I nodded excited feeling more confident in myself.

"Okay step 3" Gai sat down again and i did the same "This one is the hardest one"

"Im ready for it" i said feeling confident

"You must break up your pathways into areas and thin out the chakra within each section of your body to achieve an untraceable chakra signature"

"Like the 8 inner gates?" i asked thinking about Lee

"No, the eight inner gates release chakra into the body without any restraint, what you must do is create your own inner gates"

"My own inner gates? How?" i asked

"Set your own restraints, block the flow, build your own bridges" Gai said waving his hand crazily

I groaned, this sounded harder then i thought it would be, i had celebrated too soon with stages one and two.

"So how do i do it?" i asked trying to relax

"everybody does it differently, for some it comes easily, for others its much much harder" Gai said looking sympathetically at me knowing that i was in the latter catagory.

"So it comes with practice?"

"Yes"

"How much?"

"Some people get it straight away, others it can take hours, days, weeks" Gai said

I groaned and leaned forwards feeling suddenly hopeless. Gai patted me on the shoulder encouragingly and i smiled up at him weakly.

"I can try" I said

"But before you can run you must first learn to crawl" Gai said mystically "You have to practice your channeling more"

"But i can do it!" i argued

"You need to be able to channel and manipulate your chakra with the same precision and speed as Sakura or Tsunade or Shizune or Ino"

"Are you kidding?" i asked huffing

"Nope" Gai rose gracefully "I'll leave you to it"

I scowled up at him "Thanks a lot"

He grinned and was gone in a flash, i glared in his wake. I stood and shook out my muscles trying to relax. I was going to nail this.

I looked at my watch and noddedl. Breathing deeply i wiggled my fingers, rolled my neck and focused on my chakra flow, i imagined my chakra flowing up through my legs, i felt it. The flow increased and reached my hands which i began focusing on as the tingling sensation increased. I flexed my fingers and grinned at the sucess. I released my chakra and waited for it to flow back to the usual pathways.

I checked my watch, 6 minutes 21 seconds. I was way too slow, Sakura would have done that in 10 seconds. Tsunade even faster. I stood again and stretched trying to ease the growing tension in my body.

I checked my watch and started again. Let it flow. I focused, i looked with my inner eye and let the chakra move up my body from my feet and into my hands, i waited for the tingle which meant sucess before releasing the chakra back to my feet. When all was normal i checked my watch.

5 minutes 54 seconds.

"Too slow" i muttered to myself feeling frustrated

I tried again but i was trying too hard and it took way too long, i was sweating. I sat down to gather myself and relax. I began meditating, humming gently to myself to focus. I listened to the birds, the breeze, the grass and what sounded like approaching footsteps. I tried to focus on them and i realised they were approaching footsteps.

I opened one eye expecting to see Gai stood there.

"Tenten?"

I swiveled around to see Hinata stood there looking nervous.

"Hinata" i greeted smiling

I stood up and pulled her into a hug which probably suprised her, i smiled as she redened slightly from the contact, i looked over the field expecting to see someone with her but she was alone.

"What are you doing here?" i questioned

"Gai sensei saw me in the Hyuuga gardens and asked if i was busy" Hinata smiled apologetically "He said you needed some help"

"I've been practicing my chakra manipulation" i said "Im terrible"

Hinata smiled weakly "I was bad too"

"Gai sensei is making me take chakra from my feet up into my hands and releasing it" i said squinting in the sun

"Kurenai sensei did that with me too" Hinata looked embarrassed "It took me 2 minutes"

My jaw dropped open, i looked down to the floor feeling utterly depressed. "Takes me 6 minutes"

Hinata stammered an apology and i shrugged, it wasnt her fault i was so slow. I wasnt good with my chakra, i took it for granted way too much.

"I will help you" Hinata managed "Kurenai helped me and i have improved"

"Thank you" I wiggled my fingers and rolled my neck concentrating.

Hinata activated her Byakugan and we began.

20 minutes later and i was sweating from the effort i was exerting. Hinata's veiny white eyes were on me as i tried to keep relaxing. I focused on my feet for a second before going straight through my body to my hands, the chakra flowed and i invisioned it as a soft treacle constantly moving, my hands tingled and i released looking at Hinata.

"Yes that one was good" Hinata said happily "2 minutes 45 seconds"

"I think i know what i have to do to improve more" I said thinking about what i could invision. "Okay one more time!"

Hinata nodded and looked at her watch before looking at me, i focused on my feet, up my pathways quickly and invisioned the flow like a raging torrent rushing through my body like a river, up my arms and into my hands. My chakra flowed swiftly, up my body and down my arms into my hands, i felt the tingle fuller and faster then usual, i released it and the feeling disappeared almost instantly.

I looked at Hinata who was smiling proudly "Very good, so fast that time!"

"I was invisioning it wrong" I said smiling "Its a river"

"1 minute 4 seconds" Hinata said suprised as she looked at her watch.

I punched the air happily. I had suceeded! I was faster then Hinata! I blinked back happy tears as i looked down at my hands which were slightly burnt, who cares? i beat Hinata!.

"Thats very good Tenten-chan, my best so far is 32 seconds, you could beat it at this rate" Hinata said humbly

Damn it! Im celebrating too soon!

"Thanks" i said sobering

"Try again?" Hinata asked

I nodded confidently. Hinata smiled and looked at her watch nodding.

.

.

.

"46 seconds"

I nodded, i was improving.

"Again"

.

.

.

"42 seconds"

"Okay, i can do better then this!" i said nodding at Hinata to count again

Flow Flow Flow, river, crash, flow faster, FLOW. and... release!

"Much better!" Hinata clapped "36 seconds"

I smiled happily, Gai was going to be so proud of me! "Okay, again!"

I focused feeling my energies rise, okay Focus.. focus.

"Okay Go!"

I felt my chakra surge from my feet and up into my hands, they burnt and i squealed in pain, releasing the chakra quickly, my hands tingled and when i looked down at them they were bright red.

"Ow, what the hell?"

Hinata looked at my hands and winced "You put too much chakra in one place"

"What?"

"Your chakra didnt half, it went 70/30 left and right so your left hand got the brunt and burnt, you did it too quickly that time" Hinata said

I nodded frustrated again.36 seconds wasnt bad, but i wanted faster. I looked up at the sky and let out a breath. I think it was time to call it quits for the day, i sat down and crossed my legs in my meditative pose, sucking in deep breathes.

"Im just going to meditate for a bit to relax again" I said "I wont try it anymore today, i think my hands have had enough"

Hinata made a soft noise of acceptance, i thought she had left but when i opened my eyes i noticed her standing there awkwardly. I smiled up at her and she returned it genuinly.

"You can join me if you like" I said

"O-okay Tenten-san!" Hinata said nodding

"Tenten's fine" i said embarrassed

Hinata nodded and sat down, within seconds she was somber and i could tell she was expiriencing her own hyper awareness. Man she was good. I closed my eyes and let my mind wander.

I was alone in the field, nature was surrounding me, vast empty clean air, space.

But i wasnt alone?. I tried to feel Hinata like i had with Gai sending out my hyperawareness to sense her. She held no presence, her chakra was hidden. I thought back to when she had visited me in my hospital room, she had no presence.

I tried to imagine her sitting there but i couldn't she was invisible. I peeked open one eye to see if she was still there, she was sitting right in front of me, eyes lightly closed, smile tweaking at her lips.

"Your trying to sense me" she said distantly "It wont work, my presence is too weak"

I closed my eyes again and tried harder, invisioning her body form, imagining her face even mentally calling her name, nothing worked. Her presence wasnt weak it was none existant.

"Where is it?" i asked stupidly

"I don't think i have one" Hinata said mildly "Thats why i blend in so well"

I thought about some parties i had been to where Hinata had just been standing there quietly unbothered, and in the academy at breaks when she would sit by herself, ignored by all children. Like she was invisible. Nobody paid any attention to her.

"Don't you hate it?" i asked quietly

I heard Hinata's hair moving against her head and i knew she was shaking her head. So i could still hear just not sense her.

"Its a gift" Hinata said quietly " To be invisible unless you choose not to be"

I let my mind wander again as we both went silent. The field was silent. tiny vibrations rocked the earth, barely feelable under my clothes. I cocked my head to listen and heard footsteps. Two pairs of footsteps.

I tried to reach out to see who it was. One Chakra signature was strong, compacted into a small package, it felt female. The other was weaker, less used but in a bigger body, this one felt male.

I opened my eyes to see that Hinata was now standing. She could be pretty stealthy when she wanted to be. I stood quickly and turned to see Chouji and Ino walking across the field.

I had been right about the male and female and the bigger and smaller. Now i just needed to hone in and find out more characteristics about them.

"Hey Hinata, hey Tenten" Ino called waving.

Her blonde hair was growing since she had it cut a few months ago after our capture, there was still a thin faded scar on her arm from being cut with glass and i bet she still had an ugly scar on her back just like mine.

Chouji had his hand dipped into a packet of crisps, his expression happy.

"Hi" i said smiling

"Are you gonna train with us?" Ino asked looking at me

"Oh um no, Hinata just came to help me with my chakra manipulation" i said

Ino looked down at my burnt hand and winced, she picked it up and began to heal it, her hands glowing blue as the burns subsided. They were only minor and didnt leave any marks once they were gone.

"Thank you" i said looking at my renewed skin.

"Anytime!" Ino said happily

I had never really liked Ino that much before our mission together but we had bonded and become good friends before our capture and i had saved her life by carrying her to safety during a lucky chance to escape when our captors werent paying attention. Ino had been the first person to find out about my love for Neji and also the girl who had told him about it.

She was a bad-ass and could be really self indulgent but she was caring for her friends and was a lot of fun to talk to.

"I best be going" i said hastily as they began to stretch "Hinata?"

"Im going to stay and train with them" Hinata said suprising me

Ino patted her on the back with a smile on her face and i grinned, she was making friends, i felt happy for her.

"Well bye guys, thanks for the help Hinata!" i brushed my knees and butt off before turning to go

"Bye Tenten" they all said waving

I walked across the field and back onto the street, i had acomplished something today and i couldnt wait to tell Gai.

My legs grew tired as i walked down the street carying my bag and bottled water, i took a swig and capped it. The sun was still bright in the sky but i felt wiped out, i wasnt used to controlling my chakra so much during one small period of time.

I was thinking of my bed when a smell hit me, my mouth watered as the scent of freshly baked muffins swarmed me, i peeked into the small pastry shop to see a metal sheet of moist chocolate muffins being taken out of the oven and being put on display. My stomach grumbled and i made a beeline for the counter.

Seconds later my purse was lighter and my stomach was much heavier, that first bite had sent me into a frenzy until all of it was gone, every last delicious crumb. I rolled my eyes in pleasure as the last crumbly bite slid down my throat and into my stomach, i was sure i had chocolate on my mouth but i didnt care. That was an amazing muffin.

"Tenten!, my beautiful flower, are you done?"

I turned trying to locate Gai, it had sounded like he was above me, i looked at the bakery rooftop to see him sitting there looking down at me with a grin on his face, his green lycra suit shone in the sun making me squint to see him.

"Hey Gai, yh Hinata helped me with it" I called up

Gai jumped down and began walking with me towards the apartment, He looked at my mouth with a bemused smile and i guessed i had chocolate smeared over my chin and around my lips. I swiped at the area with my sleeve hoping i got it all off.

"I thought she would, thats why i sent her" Gai said proudly

"Yeah, in the end i lowered my time down to 36 seconds" i said trying to hold back a smile

Gai stopped dramatically with a gasp "Really?"

I nodded grinning and he jumped in the air punching at the same time, he looked wild with happiness, his thick eyebrows waggled as he ran at me and pick me up spinning me dizzily.

He put me down and i stumbled slightly feeling light headed, that had been unexpected.

"Im so proud!" Gai said happily "That is so much better then i expected Tenten!"

"Hinata helped me a hell of a lot" I said not wanting to take all the credit for myself.

"We must celebrate!" Gai said happily clapping his hands "We'll have a party!"

I squinted up at him in disbelief "A party?"

"Yes!" Gai nodded enthusiastically "To celebrate your good health, your achievements and a belated birthday party!"

A protest bubbled to my lips but Gai was already running off down the road muttering about banners and balloons and cake, i watched him go in disbelief, what just happened?.

A sigh escaped me as i wryly shook my head, Gai sensei was enthusiastic if nothing else. I continued walking down the road towards my apartment trying to imagine what a party thrown by Gai sensei would be like. I could only think of one word to sum it up and that word was Green.

I pulled out my mobile phone with a smile on my face.

Scrolling down the contacts lists to the N's i selected Neji's number and let it ring.

"Hello?"

"Neji, your never going to guess what Gai's up to" i said smiling down into the phone

"Oh no, what now?"

"He's throwing me a party" i said wanting to laugh

there was silence on the other end of the phone and i checked the display screen to check i hadnt accidently diconnected him, nope he was still here.

"Neji?"

"Whats the party for?" Neji asked sounding anxious

"A good health, good achievements, birthday party" i quoted

"But your birthdays already been hasnt it?" Neji asked worriedly

I chuckled down the phone "Yes it has, dont worry you didnt forget my birthday"

There was a sharp intake of breath from the other end "You can read me like an open book Tenten"

I smiled down into the phone. I could read him pretty well.

"I was just calling to warn you that Gai will probably be over there with Lee in about 2 minutes with colour swatches and balloons and invites and such"

Neji groaned into the phone and i laughed evily, in the background i heard a knock on the door and my laugh increased.

"Great, that was the door, i've got to go" Neji said sullenly

"Okay, i'll see you later.. goodluck!" i sang down the phone

"Yeah yeah"

He hung up and i could just imagine him trudging down the stairs to answer the door to Gai and Lee, he had gotten to Neji's faster then i thought he must be really excited about this party!.

I looked up at the sun and suddenly i didnt feel tired anymore, must have been the energy from that muffin coming through, i didnt have anything to do for the rest of the day now that Neji was busy with Gai and Lee.

I could go to Sakura's house but she was probably on a shift at the hospital and if not then she would be in bed, Ino was training with Hinata and Chouji and i suspected Shikamaru would have turned up at some point.

Maybe a walk would tire me out?, i doubted it but it was the best option i had at the moment, i really needed more friends.

The sun hurt as my eyes caught one of its rays, i squinted looking really attractive as my mouth pursed and m forehead wrinkled, i walked down a street at random and took in the scenery. I got bored of that in minutes and i decided to plan some invites for my party instead.

The usual gang of people sprang to mind, my team members, Team Kakashi, Team Asuma, Team Kurenai, my friends from the academy, Sakura could invite some of the hospital staff i knew as a thank you for treating me so much in the last few weeks, no doubt Gai had a list of people planned.

Gai probably had everything planned i thought to myself smirking, green table clothes, green balloons, green lights, green gift wrapping, green tea for everyone, green food, green drinks, he'd get me a green dress and make everyone wear green hell he'd probably paint himself green.

Thats over the top even for him

I grinned at myself, this party was going to be memorable if nothing else.

I wonder if people will get me presents?

I wonder what present Neji has in mind?

I licked my lips feeling naughty as i thought of Neji shirtless, his broad shoulders hot to touch, the intake of his breath as i touched him, our lips meeting in a steamy moment or romance. I scanned the passers by guiltily as if they could read my thoughts. My face probably said it all.

Feeling lonely i turned a corner and came to an abrupt stop. I was in front of Leona's dads shop, the only clue that it was that shop being the faded sign above the door still cheerful even in its tattered state.

The windows were empty and the store looked run down, it was hard to imagine it had been thriving a mere few weeks ago, ghostly tables sat inside where the caff had once been. My breathe steamed the window as i peered closer inside drawn in by the dark murkyness of it.

The rainbow colour strips still lined the walls with empty shelves attached, the hooks and tables were all empty gathering dust. I peeked through the other window to see the door at the back of the shop slightly open with a sign next to it. 'weaponary'.

I pushed my hand to the glass feeling its cool smoothness as i took stock of the dusty till table and old police investigation tape kicking about on the floor, the place looked unkept and unloved.

Beyond that crack in the door was a crime scene and i knew it, i'd lived it. I slumped forwards my forehead against the cold sheen of glass as i fought memories of the attack, faded screams haunted the dark room now which was niether cheery or welcoming anymore. A shell of what it had once been.

Dead. Just like their daughter.

My eyes started to burn, they were going teary as i turned away from the dank store and moved on, my feet a lot more sluggish then they had been.

My mood had plummeted from happy to content to peeved to miserable. I avoided eye contact with everyone as i trudged back towards main street, i ignored cheery smiles and greetings along the way.

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the cage this morning.

"Shut up" I muttered quietly to my inner voice

I rounded a corner speeding up as i came closer to my apartment and could break down in the comfort of my own home and nearly bumped into someone just shaving their shoulder.

"Oh, im sorry" the man said in a happy tone

I looked up from my feet my eyes blazing red as i got more pissed off. My anger was squashed and my snarl died in my throat as i recognised the man.

"Tenten!, you look great! i was hoping i'd find you here, i heard what happened!"

I looked at the man confused and he grinned. My mind threw up mental blocks as he brushed my arm in a friendly manner.

"Do you want to maybe have lunch sometime?" He grinned rubbing his hair awkwardly "Im here for the next few weeks actually"

"S-sure" i stammered awkwardly as his smile met his eyes. What the hell was he doing here?

"Great!, i'll get in touch with you in the next few days then!" He said brightly "Tenten im sorry im really late, i gotta go"

I stood in shocked silence as he bid me goodbye and hurried off towards the hospital looking mighty fine in his tight jeans and even tighter shirt, he had an amazing body i couldnt help but notice through my shocked haze.

What was he doing here?, how did he find me?, what did this mean?

Negi why are you here?