Artheph's Note: I felt kinda hypocritical when I wrote this drabble-ish thing because I think Tenten is one of the stronger female ninjas...but it just fit so perfectly with her team. Sigh. Anyway, it's SUMMER (for our part of the world). Enjoy!


She breathed in the air of victory and accomplishment.

She had done it.

So this is what it feels like. To feel invincible, to feel as if you were one step away from the all-powerful gods.

She turned around to look at her fellow teammates.

It wasn't just another kunai-throwing routine or an improvement of an already perfect sword manipulation. This was to be her secret weapon, her trump card.

Her achievement was well received. Lee was dancing and singing praises, while Gai held back his infamous tears, broadly smiling in her glory. Neji nodded, acknowledging that yeah, she was pretty good.

This was her moment. Right here and now, she was no longer the frail spring flower of the team. No, she was a strong woman, worthy of the name "ninja."

But the next day, Lee surpassed the third gate with his stubborn perseverance, and Neji mastered yet another secret clan technique, fueled by hatred and wanting.

Her moment was gone. Again, she was forgotten in the shadows of her genius teammates, both who had earned the name in his own way.

Ironically, though her name meant the sky or the heavens, Tenten would always stay rooted to the lowly levels of mediocrity, unable to follow Neji and Lee to the immortality of greatness.