NEJI
"I've been waiting to get a word in with you, Neji. How are you?"
She was standing in the doorway of the room they'd be sharing, her hair out of its twin buns and wet from the onsen. Like always, Tenten had donned her night gown and slippers while holding two steaming cups of tea. Gai had informed him that he intended to have him second both Tenten and Lee's Jonin nominations upon the return to the Leaf. The shock had distracted him for most of the day and he was aware that he'd been more silent than usual.
With his double promotion he'd never done the Jonin exam. It was a wake up to reality to know he didn't have to compete with his team but rather recommend them. They were all growing up. Still, since Tenten didn't know about this, she probably thought something else was on his mind.
The mission hadn't been particularly grueling yet, so they guarded the Daiymo in shifts while he wasn't out in public. The man had been irate that Kiba hadn't been sent but it couldn't be helped. Kiba was temporarily added to the village guard force and would only take on tracking missions while Kurenai was feeling ill.
As a rule, he always shared in rooms with Tenten. Gai and Lee were always a bit too much for either of them to bare with, and as the two more introverted members of the team they'd quickly formed an alliance for the sake of sanity. Having given the duo the first set of guard duty, he supposed he ought to have seen a deep conversation with Tenten coming tonight.
Tenten was his first everything. His first sparring partner. His first friend. His first kiss. His first lover. He would dare even call her his first girlfriend, despite her very stern disapproval.
He'd always half hoped to end up with her and he'd always known it would be too cruel a fate for her. Tenten had dreams and goals the Hyuuga would never date to tolerate the way they were now. She had no intentions towards marriage and children. She had love for him and he for her, but they were never quite in love.
Tenten didn't do romance. Tenten would not be a possession of his. Tenten didn't even do exclusivity.
Sure, he knew if the Hyuuga were forcing him into taking a bride and he'd asked her, she would probably have saved him from his fate. Tenten was generous like that.
Caged as he had been his whole life, he couldn't trap her.
Sitting cross legged in front of him, she gazed warmly at him as she offered him the mug.
"Guess I worried you, Tenten. I am fine. I do approve of her. She's something else honestly." There's an unworded apology in his voice that almost makes him cringe but Tenten takes no heed of the elephant in the room. Merely laughing as she sips her tea, the weapon's mistress eyes held mirth in them as she contemplated his apology.
"Well if you didn't want her, I'd tap that, " she retorts and Neji chokes on his tea at that particular image.
While Neji wanted to chastise her vile thoughts, his own were quite deep in the gutter in response. Tenten was always fairly keen on experimenting. Ayaka was fairly liberal in terms of sexuality. It wasn't implausible that the only thing standing between himself and the best night of his life was his own prudishness. And his clan of course.
"Tenten, that's my future wife, " he chastised her while shaking his head. Of course a conversation he felt would be serious would end in Tenten hitting on Ayaka. Some things never changed. Tenten gulps her tea, there's still laughter lingering on her face and he's certain she knows she'd triggered his hormones, albeit slightly. Tenten's a master at that. She doesn't flaunt her body like Ino nor does she exude raw sexuality like Ayaka. She's not innocent like Hinata nor does she pine devotedly after her beloved like Sakura.
Tenten is blunt when it comes to getting what she wants. A conversation with Tenten is as delicate as cutting a birthday cake with a baseball bat. She's not one to beat around the bush at all. So her next words, while completely inappropriate were far from surprising.
"Like it's such an unthinkable thing that a clan head would have a side piece." There's brutal honestly in her words and he grits his teeth. Nobody but Tenten would have the balls to address this with him. Even Ayaka had ignored the topic of their exclusivity.
" She isn't a clan head. " Neji retorts, already knowing the excuse is flimsy. Most shinobi didn't confide themselves to monogamy. Less so a woman like Ayaka, a woman with power and a talent to make others bend to their will.
"Yet." With that Tenten wins the arguments and he knows it. He silences his groan as he contemplates yet another difficult conversation. She leaves him to his thoughts, slipping into her futon, after placing an apologetic kiss on his cheek.
He curses her under his breath and he can here her light chuckle while he contemplates the argument she's presented.
What a terribly intuitive woman Tenten was. Through the subtle context of requesting a threesome, if not to become Ayaka's mistress, she'd reminded him that fate or not, his marriage was arranged. As such, the pair of them would need to iron out a contract for matters like infidelity. It would vs important he decides. If she were named a clan head, she could divorce him in favor of another at anytime with little consequence.
Just look at Tsume Inuzuka. Two kids and a husband she'd basically ran out the village. Not a soul had challenged her or even queried the paternity of her heir nor spare. Clan heads were notoriously unfaithful after all. He knew for a fact his uncle had a mistress or two during his late wife's pregnancies.
If gossip were to be believed the only clans that frowned upon the idea, on paper, were the Akamichi and the Yamanaka. The Nara's were more liberal but he didn't think that Shikaku would have the audacity to wrong Yoshino.
Neji likes to consider himself an honorable man so he had not questioned his ability to be loyal to Ayaka. However, Tenten had a fair point. He liked his fiancee and had no qualms about monogamy should that be what is required. He might even be well on his way to falling in love with her. However, would they really remain exclusive? It wasn't like he'd asked her views and because of the attempts on her life she hadn't been left without guard. If she had a lover, she would not be able to fornicate with them for a while. Did he even want them to be exclusive, at the end of the day? Tenten seemed to doubt it.
Then again, if they weren't exclusive, who would he even want to seek out? Maybe Tenten but being one of her lovers meant heavy competition. While Tenten was fun and energetic in the bedroom, he wasn't sure he would be able to keep being intimate with her being on his team. A rumor he was cheating on the potential heiress with Tenten could only end badly for them all, despite the fact Ayaka may not care.
He'd been jealous when he'd heard of Ayaka's mission with the Akatsuki. However, less so for Ayaka's romance and more for the fact he'd barely known her. Was he bothered she was in love before? Not really, life for a shinobi was pretty short, one tended to love recklessly. He couldn't actually flaw Ayaka for it. The only thing he was concerned about was that, in his eyes, she'd apparently fallen for a complete psychopath.
If he were to tell Ayaka about Tenten, would his fiancee be upset he'd crossed a line with a team member? He really doubted it. He questioned if Ayaka was even capable of being jealous or if she could be impractical enough to expect her to have been his first. If he fell into bed with Tenten again, not that he had any pressing desire to do so, would he jeopardize his relationship?
The princess didn't seem clingy. Still, it would he best not to chance it despite all the evidence that supports his theory.
There was an air to her that held the kind of confidence that she didn't and couldn't give a fuck as long as he was content. He wouldn't ignore that although he was young, attractive and they had chemistry, that their relationship was political on her part.
Ayaka had goals. It was a notion Neji had to remind himself of. Like a true Nara she fixated on a problems, her actions serving a strategy to a game of chess in her head. He likened himself to a chess piece. To an extent, he was even using her. If she could become an heiress, he could do what no branch member had ever done. Sever the ties of his children and lineage from the caged bird seal.
They had mutual goals and by kami's help they even liked each other.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder how much of their affection was a result of them subtly playing the game of politics? How much of it was genuine interest?
Tenten had shattered his rose tinted goggles slightly. He had to remember what was at stake here. He had to start playing the game and play it well. He'd spent the entire time of his courtship succumbing to her whims. It was to be expected, given her skill set. However, he was willing to bet affection wasn't one-sided at this point.
Ayaka's heart was a prize to be valued if he could claim it. However freedom itself? That was a reward beyond his wildest dreams.
He wished he wasn't on a mission and she wasn't heading of towards Suna. It was time to clearly define the finer parameters of their relationship.
KIBA
"So you mean to tell me that just booking a venue costs about 8 A rank missions?" He exclaimed, distaste on his feature's. Shiho and Hana are looking at him with sympathy and amusement, respectively. Akamaru at least shared his disdain.
Apparently a clan wedding was a large affair even if the bride was civilian. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem if his mother was letting him use clan funds to pay for the event. Unfortunately Tsume had kicked him out of her office before he could fully voice his request.
"You brats need to fund it alone. Usually the brides family pays a dowry and the groom funds the rest."
Shiho had paled at Tsume's words despite him assuring her that it couldn't possibly apply to her. Shiho was orphaned after all. The bill was his entirely.
Still, she hadn't looked well at the news, despite his reassurances.
Even worse than money was the time.
He almost pitied Neji. Apparently Ayaka had dumped all the wedding planning on him. Now the man was stuck planning with Ino and Yoshino.
Hana and Hinata were far too busy helping him. The former had found a caterer and the latter had contacts for Sake. Still he and Shiho were awfully low on funds.
Planning a wedding on this scale on a chuunin salary was intense. Kiba totally needed a promotion. Guarding the village was an honor but it didn't pay much.
A Jonin salary on the other hand would've helped a lot more.
He'd have asked Kurenai to recommend him, but she'd been in a terrible mood lately. The poor woman had caught a tummy bug it seemed and hadn't left her home in days.
Shino had offered sympathies - the bug-nin been itching for a nomination too - but was currently too busy with an apprenticeship under Iruka sensei to outright request a jonin to aid him. Kiba envied Shino for the escape from wedding planning. Although, he was curious what Shino was apprenticing for.
Shino was easily Jonin level as were Team Gai. A few of the Rookie 9 were close to that level too. It was a title that felt ridiculously overdue. Hell, even Hinata could probably give the exams a fair shot.
Rumor had it there were a lot of recommendations this year. Shikamaru, was a definite possibility, if not a surety at this point. Asuma would be under pressure by the Nara head to nominate the shadow ninja. By now the dispute between the hierarchy in the Nara Clan is well known. Everyone was itching to see how it played out.
Ayaka Nara, the eccentric and beautiful former Jonin level ANBU would square off against the war veteran, clan head and most importantly Jonin commander Shikaku Nara. more sensational still was the genius Nara heir's blatant support of his cousin to usurp his position and title, for reason's most of the shinobi in the villages could divine. It wasn't a secret that the only time the Nara heir could be persuaded to actually take his duties seriously was when he was an escort to a particular Suna jonin diplomat.
How said diplomat even got away with having the Nara heir 'guard' her in the visitors quarters overnight was beyond him.
Jonin sure as hell lead a privileged life. He was pretty certain if he openly disputed Hana's claim he'd be run out of the clan on principle, regardless of her feelings about it.
Jonin, he mused, were just plain awesome.
He couldn't wait to be one.
SHIKAMARU
Sparring wasn't something he neglected but usually he'd train with his team or other members of the rookie 9. He'd thought he was alright at it, all things considered.
Now? He was quite certain he was delusional.
When Kotetsu posed the idea that they spar when they'd set up camp in the evening, Genma had shrugged and cautioned them not to waste chakra. Ko opted out initially, saying that they should be on guard. However, they were in still in fire country and with a little coaxing he fell victim to Izumo and Kotetsu's nagging. Shikamaru didn't even try resisting. It had been a tiring day of running but he supposed sparring with a different set of peers would be good experience. His exam's were coming up soon anyway.
Ayaka had simply drawn her blade, indicating she was game to a few rounds, her red eyes glinting in anticipation.
Genma had grunted that he'd referee the free for all - someone had to be responsible after all.
Then, they'd gone at it. He wasn't shocked that he, a ninjutsu favoring shinobi, would fair badly in a chakraless spar. However in this kind of spar, against a kenjutsu user, two bukijutsu specialists and a Hyuuga, he was fairing worse than usual.
Ko's strikes were still powerful, even if he wasn't using the gentle fist style and a single blow from the Hyuuga had him cursing under his breath. Ayaka's katana and its sheath were both in action. She was never still, always in motion and driving her opponents back with precise strikes and flexible manoeuvres, to which he'd unsuccessfully tried to parry with a kunai. Izumo and Kotetsu never waste a movement nor give an opening. They'd switch from offense to defense in remarkable tandem and he found he couldn't quite lay a decisive blow on them either.
Shikamaru's outclassed and he knows it. Stamina wise he's spent. None of them seem to care for his presence anymore either. What had started as a free for all was quickly descending into a tag team battle which he had been graciously left out of. Ayaka is already flanking Ko. The pair of them clearly deciding that they'd take on the two problematically allied bukijutsu users together before beating the crap out of each other.
If he wasn't so sore he would have been insulted at their clear snub. they'd ignored him, as if an increase in numbers wouldn't aid either sides cause. Genma doesn't mention his shameful withdraw from the battle as he ambles over to share the log the senbon chewer sitting on. He can tell the older Jonin is on high alert- this is still a mission - despite having his eyes fixated on the spar.
Genma has trained the 3 quarters of the mock battle before him and he realized had most likely been in the academy the same time that Ko had. In the cool night air, Shikamaru can't quite help but admire the shinobi next to him for that at least. Kotetsu was volatile and chaotic. Izumo was swift and controlled. Ayaka was egotistical and strategic. It couldn't have been easy keeping them in line growing up. for the first time ever he cursed his disinterest. His dad had often checked up on Genma, Ayaka in tow when he was little. He'd valued sleeping in as a kid a bit more than shinobi skills.
"You trained them well," he compliments the older shinobi watching Izumo try to avoid Ko's strike while Ayaka and Kotetsu's blades are locked in a power play.
Genma snorts and shifts his gaze towards Shikamaru's worn form. The run and his short stint in the battle has been hard on him and it shows in his appearance. He hates excessive physical activity. This day has been full of that.
"They didn't get that way through me kid. Practice makes perfect. Those four train hard and yes, I include the Hyuuga in this. They are shinobi and not the type born with silver spoons and titles. If we fuck up - nobody is coming to save us. They'd come for you though, Nara heir," Genma pauses as if contemplating whether or not what else he wants to say is relevant and if it would get him in trouble. Shikamaru cannot help but feel unworthy.
Ino's drilled it into him time and time again that he needs to train more. Temari, for all her admiration for his skills in shoji shares Ino's sentiments. He wonders if the girls would ever become friends, if they'd team up on him and beat it into his sorry ass how lacking he was. Yoshino has tried to convince him to train more since birth but had given up when it was clear his cousin was a more willing student. Even his father and Asuma have cautioned him that genius will never quite make up for his lacking experience. Chouji with all his pacifism, was enthusiastic about learning the Akamichi jutsus and couldn't understand why Shikamaru only trained to use the jutsu most convenient in battle. Nobody quite understood Shikamaru's longing to be average and lack of incentive to success when he very clearly was not mediocre nor unsuccessful.
"You train when you want to, Shikamaru. They train because they want to survive."
There's shame in the silence as they watch the spar descend into the most contained warfare he's ever seen. He'd have to ask them, he decides, to train with him in Suna.
He will make Jonin.
He will prove himself to both the Leaf and Suna.
Only then, could he walk away from it all.
