Part 6: If The Shoe Fits (3)
"Tenten-san! You're safe! Thank the heavens!"
Totally caught off-guard by the bear-hug, the youth retaliated almost immediately by sending a well-placed kick to the shin of her attacker before causing him to stumble backwards clumsily with an equally effective palm thrust. A quick somersault backwards saw her unsheathe two hidden sai daggers deftly in mid-flip, and Tenten landed neatly while adopting a stance of defence coupled with readiness to pounce on her opponent, her knees unlocked, her gleaming blades raised, and her wary eyes burning right into the stricken orbs of the baffled Mugi.
The revelation that it was her comrade and not an enemy did little to rectify Tenten's composure; her brows remained knitted, while her lips stayed drawn tightly into a frown. With the ordeal under the hands of the unexpectedly skilled and resourceful Zetsu clone still fresh in her mind, just the thought of falling victim to yet another of such an execrable experience was sending a prickling sensation across the surface of her skin. Mugi now wore a look of flabbergasted confusion as he remained frozen on the ground, his earlier joy and excitement of finding his comrade safe and sound now mixed with a strange sense of fear and bewilderment.
"Tenten! It's me! Mugi! Remember how we came up with the plan to take down the Water Mask together, and we used our Earth techniques to travel underground from under the iron dome that you summoned? No one else could have witnessed that! I'm not a Zetsu clone! I even offered to wield the Bashosen, and suggested we took turns using it to ensure you wouldn't be drained of chakra! Remember?"
Mugi's relief was palpable as he broke into a smile when he saw the girl finally lower her daggers. He spent the next minute rambling nervously about how Yabuza had also been tapped for his skills in medical ninjutsu, and how at the moment, he had actually been activated to accompany shinobi that required more advanced medical aid to the Medical Corps that had briskly set up a base camp in the midst of the vast battleground due to the heavy casualties the Alliance were taking in the span of a day's battle.
"You're moving to the base camp? Where is that?"
The glint in the Chunin's eyes was accompanied by an obvious flush to her cheeks; though the Iwa youth had known the girl for less than twenty-four hours, he could tell that the gears in her head were turning like clockwork, a plan of some sort already materialising swiftly in her quick, analytical mind.
"Yeah… the Logistical and Medical Division has set up a compound behind the divisions' defensive line… here let me get the map… it's at a centralised spot where all divisions are sending their medical ninja to. The first group left an hour ago, before General Darui led you and the rest back."
Tenten felt her heart throbbing painfully in her ears as she snatched the parchment impatiently from Mugi's hands. Barely able to contain the sudden surge of adrenaline as she scanned the map, she felt the exhilaration course through her veins when she confirmed the location – it was as if the heavens were answering to her prayers and providing her this opportune moment to carry out her plan without the need to snoop around or be under the scrutiny of Ino, Shikamaru or Darui. Within seconds, she had volunteered to be in Mugi's squad, which she soon discovered was placed under Kurotsuchi's lead and that one of the patients requiring such a transfer was Takuma.
"He… he's still unconscious, and needs more advanced treatment as soon as possible," Mugi heaved a deep sigh as he spoke grimly. "Despite the efforts of the medics… like your pretty blonde friend in there..."
Lifting her eyes in mock amusement in spite of the urgency she was feeling, Tenten saw the cheeks of the tanned Iwa male redden profusely as he struggled to find the right words to refute this unexpected disclosure. As he hemmed and hawed, vainly trying to take back his words, the Konoha teen girl actually managed a wry smile despite the weight she felt in her heart. If she had any reservation about the man's true identity, this short, adorable exchange just proved that he was undoubtedly her stalwart-hearted comrade and heroic friend.
"Her name is Ino, and I promise to introduce her to you when we return from our mission, okay?" Tenten sniggered as she returned the scroll, before wrapping her arms around his brawny physique. "And it's good to see you safe and sound too, dear Mugi."
"Are you certain that's a wise idea, after what you've gone through with… that Toroi and that terrible clone? Shouldn't you be resting? From what I heard from Shikamaru, you've been fighting for quite a while now, Tenten."
Not wanting to show any sign of impatience to her well-meaning friend, Tenten gave Chouji a reassuring and goofy grin, purposely stretching her lips as wide as she could while baring her gleaming teeth, dipping her hand into his bag of chips. The Akimichi youth had been instructed by his best friend to stand guard near the medical tents and oversee the preparations of the squad departing for the Medical Unit compound.
"I'll be fine, you big oaf," Tenten felt her heart give a lurch as her conscience reminded her that she was once again lying or withholding her true intentions from yet another of her peers. "Thanks for your help with Kakuzu by the way. You've been such a hero, Chouji!"
A distance away, Mugi was informing Kurotsuchi about Tenten's intentions; the Konoha Chunin returned the Iwa Jounin's nod, slightly taken aback that her reaction seemed a little lacking in warmth and enthusiasm. Nevertheless, she turned her attention back to her friend who still wore a uncertain, worried expression on his face, telling herself that everyone was probably still on edge due to the Zetsu clones' infiltration of the forces all over the land.
"Don't change the topic, Tenten."
The sudden assertion in Chouji's voice almost wiped the smile from her face; she took in the sense of seriousness found in the male youth's beady eyes and realised that within the span of less than a day, her friend had grown tremendously, not just in terms of his hidden prowess, but in his maturity and courage as well. The tone in his usually squeaky voice now suggested a Chouji who was more confident of his views and opinions, instead of the wimpy young man who followed the temperaments of his more vocal and considerably more self-assured teammates, especially since they were either a hot-headed female or a recognised master strategist.
"I… I have to see this through, Chouji," she whispered as she let the too-salty potato chip drop to the ground, ignoring her friend's momentary intake of breath indicating the slight chagrin at the wastage of his food reserves. "Takuma… he may not pull through the night… and I feel… I feel responsible for his condition. I know it was due to the Zetsu's manipulation that he ended up this way… but… you weren't there when I was fighting alongside him and … and the rest of my friends that I'd made today, Chouji. If not for them, I might not be standing here."
The lump in her throat threatened to make her hurl, as she recognised the irony of her words; Tenten knew that she was being just as manipulative and taking advantage of the situation, for frankly, before she had encountered Mugi, she had not thought about Takuma's condition for a while. As she let her words sink in, watching Chouji nod helplessly in agreement, she felt as if she had suddenly adopted a different persona, for the sake of getting what she wanted.
"You should go, then, although based on what Shikamaru said, you'll definitely be an asset here as well, with that fan you possess," Chouji muttered and took Tenten's hands in his own, a hint of shyness clouding over his face. "Please take care, Tenten, and return as soon as possible. I'll let Shikamaru and Ino know later."
The few quick steps she took towards the direction of the squad were halted abruptly when Chouji spoke again.
"What you've gone through today… you're a hero too, Tenten. Guy Sensei, Lee and Neji would be so proud of you."
Feeling as if her heart was threatening to burst out of her chest, Tenten clenched her fists as a curious warmth enveloped her being with the mention of her teammates. While it was impossible, it was as if Chouji was reading the jarring thoughts swirling in her exhausted mind. Retracing her steps, she gave her friend a peck on his cheek and patted his chestnut-brown spiky mane, grateful for his kind words despite them not actually having gone through the trials of the day together.
"Thank you Chouji… I'll be back soon, I promise."