Tick, tock, tick, tock.
She stood there, counting for the tenth time.
Kunais, shurikens and weapon scrolls, she made sure that she had everything, because she knew what to expect.
If it was truly Neji, then it would be a tough fight, that is, if he could not recognise them.
She had her doubts - if it was Neji, then attacking villagers as a rogue just did not sound like something he would do.
She packed everything, weapons, food pills … it had been some time that she had been on a mission like this. Ever since it was peace time, she had hid herself in that weapon shop.
She felt her heart jumping out of chest, as she turned and stared at her empty apartment for one last time.
The door closed with a soft thud.
A few hops and leaps, she found herself standing at the gate; she stared at the electric clock that was installed some time ago.
The clock blinked 0500 in a flaring red as she stared.
"Tenten!" It has been a while.
The man ran up. He had not change much, the same haircut, the almost same face save for his more-defined cheekbones. His naked arms glistened in a film of sweat, Tenten smiled at him.
"You walked here on your hands again, haven't you?"
"Of course! Nothing beats youthful training in the morning!"
Tenten noticed a smaller figure behind him, she smiled at him.
"Sending your father off huh, Metal?"
The miniature version of the man nodded, his hands pressed onto the ground as his legs dangled in the air.
Tenten chuckled softly as she looked around. She folded her arms in front of her chest, glancing sideway, she saw Rock Lee bumping fists with his son, who grinned widely.
As she pondered on the sight, she could hear another approaching.
"Hey, it's been a while." The voice ended with a loud bark, Tenten turned around.
The man grinned, touching his bearded face as his other hand rubbed the head of the dog that stood next to him. It reminded her of a familiar sight, as she smiled.
"Haven't seen you for quite some time, Kiba."
"The same to you, Tenten." He petted the dog, it nudged its head affectionately against Kiba's side. Its white fur glittered under the morning sun, which was slowly crawling onto the horizon.
"This isn't Akamaru." Tenten arched an eyebrow.
Kiba sighed softly, he petted the dog's head gently. "Akamaru's gone for some time now."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, he lived a good life." Kiba shrugged with a smile. "This is Aomaru, Akamaru's kid."
The dog barked again upon hearing its name.
"No one's here to see you off?"
"Nah, Tamaki's at home, I told her not to come." Kiba grinned as he scratched his head vigorously.
Tenten nodded, trying to divert her mind to the mission as her thoughts were interrupted by a loud yawn.
"Yo," the man yawned again. Shikamaru adjusted his gloved hand and stroked his goatee.
Judging from the dark circles beneath his eyes, she guessed that the man probably had not sleep last night, probably the one before last as well.
"Three members?" Kiba asked. "Y'sure about that?"
"Should be quite sufficient, we have Kiba to sniff the target out, Rock Lee who would be sufficient to engage with close combat and finally, Tenten to capture the target." Shikamaru said, his tired eyes glinted under the rising sun.
"Newest intel stated that the target was closing in to Konoha, and annihilated a bandit group all by his own." Shikamaru said, as he folded his arms in front of his chest. "It appeared that this time he left the villages alone, he's learning, somehow."
Tenten nodded, her gloved hand sweaty.
"Well," Shikamaru shrugged. "Times are different now, we have mobile phones - but just in case I can't reach you, I will send a messenger hawk."
"Really?" Kiba arched an eyebrow as he scratched his face.
"You never know when you'll lose the signal." Shikamaru sighed. "I don't trust those damn things."
"Let's go," said Tenten, nodding at Shikamaru.
The Hokage's advisor stared as the trio stepped out of the gates, one of them on their hands, one on his pet and one on her feet.
"I hope that I've made the right decision," he muttered with a frown and yawned again. "Troublesome."
"It's been some time since we get to go on missions together," Kiba prompted as the three trudged on in an uncomfortable silence. "Y'know, I don't think I've ever seen you go on missions ever since the war…"
"Uh," Tenten said, the grip of her head tightened around the straps of her backpack.
"Come on Tenten!" Lee grinned widely, raising his thumb towards her. "The three of us would be fine! Let your youthfulness shine through!"
Tenten nodded and gave her teammate a strained smile, her steps hastened from a walk to a jog.
Kiba sighed softly. "Come on now Aomaru," he said, urging the dog to pick up the pace.
Rock Lee saw and did the same.
They travelled until the sky turned from grey to pitch black. They heard the crows calling in the forest, as Kiba started a fire.
"I'm going to keep watch for the first half of the night," said Tenten as she stood up and walked away, her silhouette disappearing into the darkness.
She made a few leaps and sat herself down on a thick tree branch.
She could hear the fire cackling beneath the tree she sat upon, the owls hooting and the distant howl of a wolf.
"Tenten," she jolted, turning around as she heard her name.
"Oh it's you, Lee," she put the kunai she hid in her hand back into the pouch behind her back. "You shouldn't jump up like that."
"I'm worried about you," he said, ever so straightforward. "Ever since…"
"I don't want to talk about it Lee," she snapped. "You should sleep, I'll wake you when it's your turn to be on watch."
"Tenten, you've been avoiding this for the past eighteen years." Lee said, pressing his hand on her shoulder. "Maybe it's time…"
She pushed his hand off her shoulder violently. "I don't want to talk about it." She spat each word with her teeth gritting. Her composure softened as she turned her head away. "I want to be alone."
Lee took one last look at her before leaping down from the tree.
Tenten pinched herself, unsure what got over her; it was not the first time that Lee tried to talk to her over this.
In fact, this was partly the reason she had avoided him for the past years. Every single time they had a conversation, it would inevitably go to this very topic.
She knew that Lee cared about her, he noticed that something had been missing ever since the war was over.
She sighed softly, looking into the moon.
The pristine, pale orb shone in the pitch darkness, accompanied by a few, stray shining stars.
It reminded her of his white eyes that see all.
She wondered if he could see her now.
Two more days until they reached the destination.