Disclaimer: Nope, the last time i checked do not own Naruto

Ch.3- You're awake, but I'm leaving

Laughter

Blood

Screaming

It was all heard as pools of thick red liquid surrounded the misty terrain ground as mixtures of green, orange and gray were collided into large trees, causing the trunks to splinter and vicious rustling from the falling leaves. Three were down, and there were two more to go.

"NARUTO!" 14-year-old Hyuuga Neji, hollered out through the misty fog of the forest as I wiped the blood running down my lip with the sleeve of my blood-covered clothing, my eyes glancing towards the fallen boy, his dirt stained jacket and pants laid motionless on the ground. Swearing under my rapid breathing as no reply was heard, my eyes fixed with anger and seething determination as I glared towards my enemy. It was only Shikamaru and me left, the rest had fallen down, unconscious from the blow.

"It's no use Neji! They're down!!"

Swearing once again, I looked over towards my partner form the corner of my eye, my gaze never fully leaving my enemy. Watching as the Shadow controller avoided the demon ninja's claws, I gritted my teeth. If Shikamru even got one swipe on him from the enemy's claws, he would be done for. The weapon had a high concentration of poison in them mixed with a slight sleep potion, and even one small prickle would mean death.

"Dammit" Glaring back towards my enemy, I clenched my fist together in rage, "Sorry Tenten, I might be able to come back," I muttered under my breath as I charged towards my enemy, glaring into his black and red eyes, the eyes of the Sharingan. Moving quickly towards the left to escape the enemy's fast fist, I grinned slightly to myself. It was game over; he was in my territory, "Hakke Rokujyu Yonshou / Jyukenhou Hakke 64 Shou!!"

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Neji's pure white eyes went wide in shock as he remembered the events that followed, and they weren't nice ones. Trying to focus his attention back upon the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, who stood beside his bed, he bit his lower lip. At least not all his muscles were unusable.

"You've been out cold for 2 years Neji" The Fifth said slowly concern in her voice as she placed herself upon the small stool that stood by his bed, "So it's quite normal that your muscles have gotten weary, but you don't have to worry, we'll have special medical treatments for you that will help you gain back control"

Neji closed his eyelids for a couple of seconds before opening them back up again, tell her that he understood. Glancing around the silent room, the branch Hyuuga member couldn't help but notice that none of his teammates were here, especially 'her'

Like she had read his mind, Tsunade answered Neji's question slowly, she had known what had been happening to Tenten this last month, "Your group members . . . Tenten . . . I'll inform them about your presence"

Catching onto the short pauses in her reply, Neji couldn't help but become suspicious. Something was different, and catching as Tsunade's eyes instantly turned away from his when they met, his suspicions were approved.

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"A mission to the Sand country?" Tenten asked in disbelief as her eyes shimmered with joy. The Sand and Leaf Country had long ago established back their trust for each other, after Orochimaru's attack a few years back; so now, shinobi's from both countries were allowed to depart back and forth.

"Yes, Hokage-sama wishes for you to deliver this letter to the Kazekage" Shizune reconfirmed the mission once again as she patted the younger girl on the head. She knew what had been going on between Tenten and the branch member of the Hyuuga clan, damn, everyone knew!

"Hokage-sama, wants me too?" Tenten asked once again, amazed. The Hokage, Tsunade, wanted her, Yumiko Tenten (I made her last name up) to deliver a message to the Sand?

"Yes Tenten"

"Are you-"

"Yes, Tsuande asked you to go and deliver the message"

The 16 year old girl squealed happily as she jumped up and down slightly. This was her very first mission by herself! And it was to the Sand also! She always did want to see how the Sand country looked like.

Shizune couldn't help but smile lightly as she examined the raven- haired beauty. Yes, from 2 years ago, she had defiantly changed, a lot. Sighing, she turned her eyes towards the nearby window that stood just behind her.

She understood why Tsunade had decided to send Tenten off; she had the same experience years ago. But wouldn't it be better if Tenten just figured out her own feelings by herself? Sending her off would only mean giving her more time to run away from her feelings, and it also meant that she wouldn't know that Neji was awake until she came back, which could be a month from now, considering what Tsunade had written in the letter. Training huh? She wanted Tenten to go get some training done in the sand. But what would that accomplish? Absolutely nothing, besides maybe a good ninja, but what about Tenten's feelings when she got back wasn't-

Shizune's thoughts were cut short by a finger tapping her shoulder, turning around, she smiled, "Is something wrong Tenten?"

"Um, Yes," Tenten couldn't help but start rocking back and forth on her heels, "When will I leave? How long will I have to be in the Sand country for?"

"You should leave by tomorrow or the day after," Shizune sighed, why was she doing this? She didn't even approve of it, "You'll most likely be staying in the Sand for a month"

"A MONTH?!"

"Tsunade wishes for you to train in the Sand Village to become a much stronger ninja than you already are right now"

Tenten cocked her eyebrows. Did she mean that Tsuande didn't think that she was qualified or strong enough to be a ninja? "I see . . ."

Shizune could tell there was doubt in the younger girl's voice, "The Fifth, wishes to have some very strong and great ninjas to become ANBU's, we have recently had a shortage of ANBU's" Okay, so maybe it wasn't all the truth, nor was it all lies, but this excuse would work . . . for now.

Tenten's chocolate brown eyes instantly shimmered as she heard the words 'very strong and great ninjas' Excusing herself from the room, Tenten instantly ran back home to pack her stuff. The sooner she got going, the better.

===

Tsunade quietly excused herself from the room, as she watched Gai and his student Lee walk into the barley lite hospital room. Closing the door behind her, she let off a small gentle smile, knowing that Neji would not be able to see Tenten until a month from now. That was, if he could control himself before then.

Why she had sent Tenten off to the Sand? She didn't know herself. All she knew was that Tenten needed more time to think and to look at the world around her before making a decision. That's what she, Tsunade, needed when she was years younger, but that peaceful time for her to think never came; no one ever gave her such time. No one cared for her, that's why. She didn't want Tenten to make rushed decisions that was the reason she had sent her off, yes . . . that was the reason.

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My 3rd chapter!! Yay! Finally finished!! I kind of have some stuff planned out for this fic, but not all.

If you're still confused as why I decided to have Tsunade sent Tenten off it was because she thought that Tenten needed more time to think about everything before making rushed decisions (like forgetting about Neji and everything). That's what Tsunade thinks, but Shizune thinks different. She thinks that Tsunade is only giving Tenten more time to run away from her problems.

Anyways, I hope everything made sense and wasn't too confusing. I hope none of the characters are OOC! Anyways, please don't forget to review!

Rikku42

Oh yes I almost forgot! I'm planning to put Gaara in my story, but is Gaara a year younger than Naruto and them? Cuz that's what I've heard, but I always thought Gaara was older . . . Hmm, if you know can you please tell me? Please and thank you!! (o-o)