Naruto (Oath): Hello everyone. I am back, that I am. I hope you guys enjoy and please, be safe and well protected from this virus. *bows* I hope you all enjoy the show.


Ame Nochi: The Oath
Chapter Nine: Tainted Feelings! Welcome to Sae!

"It's been wonderful to be able to talk to you a-again Naruto-kun," Hinata said with a shy smile on her face.

It had been so long since he was able to actually talk to the girl in front of him. He was honestly stunned that she remembered him after her guardian and her family kept him and her so separated for so long but he never forgot his first best friend.

"It's been forever, I know," Naruto said with a bashful smile. "I really missed you Hina-chan. Hopefully we don't have to wait for missions to be able to talk again."

"I-I hope so too," Hinata said before she frowned a bit. "A-Ano…If Kurenai-sensei and Gai-sensei let us…Would you like to go to dinner tonight? Just y-you and m-me t-t-to talk?"

Naruto paused as a rush of nervousness filled his veins. He liked Hinata, he did but to eat alone with someone other than Tenten made him scared. What if he said or did the wrong thing that would ruin the fragile friendship he and Hinata already had thanks to her clan?

He looked to Tenten and saw that her attention was on the trees and felt himself frown.

No…

He can't keep using Tenten as a crutch against his insecurities. She had already done so much for him from saving his life, inviting him into her home and giving her a room. She always listened to his problems and fears and even tolerated his singing.

They were even on the same team for goodness sake.

He had been under her like a small kitten to a mother cat.

No wonder she didn't look at him like she had Neji…

'I've been under her so much. Maybe I should take Hina-chan up on her offer and give Ten-chan some space for a while. Let her breath without me being her shadow…' Naruto thought to himself before he looked back at the hopeful expression on Hinata's face. 'Besides…I'd like to get to know Hina-chan again…'

"I'd like that," Naruto replied with a faint smile.

"R-Really?" Hinata gasped out happily. "W-Wonderful…H-Hopefully Kurenai-sensei will allow it. I-I'd like to get to know you again…"

"Ditto," Naruto replied softly with a smile.


Tenten: Ame Nochi: The Oath


Tenten was frustrated.

She knew it was silly for her to be annoyed at the fact that the Hyūga Princess was talking to Naruto.

She knew that he needed more friends and actively encouraged Lee and Naruto's friendship but seeing him talk to someone that was obviously crushing on him was…aggravating.

It was then Tenten saw Naruto's his eyes were shining as he talked to the Hyūga and that sick feeling grew tenfold.

"You've been glaring at Hinata-san for some time now," Shino's voice entered her ear, which prompted her to turn and look at him.

"C-Can you not sneak up on me like that?" Tenten asked him with a harsh whisper.

Shino chuckled faintly and replied "Forgive me."

Tenten frowned a bit and said "I don't get it. I don't feel like this when Naruto and Lee are having fun…Why am I feeling so annoyed by her talking to him?"

"That I cannot answer without context," Shino said.

"Naruto and I have been best friends since his time in the hospital," Tenten explained, leaving out the reason why he was in the hospital. "He lives with me and my mom and we've been together since…"

Shino tilted his head in thought and said "I see…"

"But it's not like we spend all the time with each other," Tenten added. "I mean, he's made fast friends with Lee and he likes Gai-sensei and often seeks him out to talk and I have my Lee and Gai as well so why do I feel this way about her?"

She watched as Shino looked at the blond and the Hyūga princess and said "Back in the academy, they were good friends."

"Really?" Tenten asked with surprise.

"From what I know, Naruto-san saved Hinata-san from some bullies when they were younger," Shino explained. "She used to have a crush on him and but her father found out about their friendship and has done all that he could to keep them apart…"

Tenten frowned at this as guilt filled her heart.

"When we found out we were teaming with you guys, she was excited to talk to him again, especially without her protectors or Neji being around to enforce the rule of no contact," Shino finished.

"As for your issue. You say Naruto has been your best friend since whatever caused him to be in the hospital a month ago, yes?" Shino asked.

Tenten nodded.

"Perhaps you feel like she is stepping onto your territory," Shino said.

Tenten paused at this and glanced at him.

Naruto wasn't her territory.

He was her friend and someone important to her…

"That can't be…" Tenten said with a frown on her face.

"You may want to give it some thought," Shino told her with a hushed tone before he walked ahead to speak to Kiba and Lee, leaving her alone.

Despite having a little more clarity, Tenten still couldn't stop the sick feeling from settling in her heart as she watched the two smile at one another. With a scowl, she turned away from the sight of the pair.

Naruto's beautiful eyes shouldn't be looking at the Hyūga.

His smile shouldn't be given so freely to the one that left him alone. The sick feeling in Tenten's stomach cut began to spread through her body as her eyes flickered grin, a scowl slowly growing on her face as she eyed Naruto.

His smile, his laugh, his songs, his touch, his beautiful blue eyes….The Hyūga didn't deserve to have those things! No one did! No one deserved the blond Uzumaki!

No one but her!

All of Uzumaki Naruto belonged to her and she would kill anyone that-

It was then Tenten let out a gasp in horror at herself and her dark thoughts, her eyes fading back to their chocolate brown color.

'What am I doing?' Tenten thought to herself with horror as that sick feeling died away. 'Shino-san was right…I'm thinking of Naruto as my possession…As if he belongs to me…' Tenten felt her heart ache in shame.

What had happened to her?

"Alright my wonderful Genins!" Gai's boisterous voice shouted, snapping her from her thoughts. "Welcome to the Village of Sae!" Gai said.

"Village? I thought we were going after scientists? Why would we need to stop at a village?" Kiba asked.

"Because they are located somewhere in this village Kiba-kun," Kurenai answered with a calm smile. "This village is fairly large so we will want to be careful."

"Now Genins! It's been a good five hours of walking but I think we should rest our youthful souls to replenish our power and then tomorrow, we begin!" Gai exclaimed with a grin on his face.

"Yosh!" Lee and Naruto said in unison while Hinata giggled.

Tenten couldn't stop the sneer from appearing.


?: Ame Nochi: The Oath


"It seems Konoha shinobi have been spotted in Sae…"

Four figured knelt before a fifth figure, who sat on a throne. "No doubt after the scientists…I knew that they would come sooner or later but they must be very skilled to find out where we are so quickly."

"There is more," A female voice said. "There as Kunoichi with them that had a striking resemblance to the famed Hōkuai Tenrai."

Black eyes beneath the sitting figure widened in surprise before large smirk formed. "Ah, the famed Ōja no Hyoukyo Hōkō…And you say this kunoichi bears a resemblance to her?"

The hooded figure that was kneeling to the far left nodded.

The sitting figure reached into his cloak and tossed a vial at the figure who had nodded before and said "Her blood…I require it. But be discreet and do not harm her in any way."

The figure nodded and vanished in a swirl of purple smoke. The sitting figure looked at the three remaining figures and pointed to the one directly in front of him and said "You will go spy on our good little shinobi. And for you two…You two will remain with me to keep an eye on the scientist."

The three nodded and vanished immediately.

The figure on the throne licked his lips and let out a low laugh. "Oh Tenrai…If this is who I think it is…You have a terrible mistake and sending her here…" Beneath the hood, his eyes flashed green as he began to laugh.


Tenten: To be Continued


Rain: And that is the end of this chapter. So I threw out some massive hints about Tenten and this mysterious guy. What will happen next? Only one way to find out!

Tenten: *troubled expression*