AUTHOR'S NOTES:

WOW! I got so many reviews! SUGOI!

nikki-14angel: Grabe! Na-miss kita! Buti binasa mo yung fic ko, thanks talaga! Long time no talk tayo, ah!

FireDragonBL: Thanks for the reviews! Tenten had a nanny since birth. Her parents hired Anya. ANYA IS AN ORIGINAL CHARACTER FROM ME, SO DON'T GET CONFUSED, K? Hehe, nothing personal, just making a point!

What is OOC? Please tell me what's the meaning of that! That would be very nice of you! Anyway, I'm not really familiar with fanfic acronyms such as OOC and R&R. All I know are AU and OC. Hey; I'm only a homosapien just like everyone else! TT

Well, not everyone is trying to save her. Just Neji, that's all. Well, like what I always say: This is fanfiction, anything can happen! Just like the change of heart of Neji!

Strange? What is… strange?

Yeah, Hinata also changed. You know, I really didn't want Hinata to be straightforward to Neji (oh, especially NEJI), but I had to because the plot won't be complete without her being straightforward. You'll know why later on.

Well actually, Neji and Sasuke are trying to piss each other off. So, that's that! ;

Yep, I used Shape of My Heart by the Backstreet Boys. Well, when I heard the song and when I absorbed the meaning of the lyrics, I was like, "Damn! It's good! Gotta write a fic immediately!" So when that came into my mind, I asked myself what kind of pairing am I going to set up, so I chose between a NejiTen fic or a SasuSaku fic. When I thought of the plot, I chose NejiTen as the main pairing because the song suits them completely. Don't worry, SasuSaku won't go down the drain, wait for the sequel, Homebound.

THANKS A LOT, FireDragonBL! I hope you enjoy!

Ayuka-chan: Short? Well yeah, it may not look short but it may be short (?) Anyway, the following chapter IS what I consider SHORT. Thanks for the review!

THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS, PEOPLE! I REALLY APPRECIATE THE REVIEWS AND I HOPE I GET MORE! YOU JUST DON'T KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM TO RECEIVE REVIEWS! LIKE WHAT I SAY, REVIEWS ARE HIGHLY APPRECIATED!

SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, I PRESENT TO YOU A short CHAPTER 8!

(From the last chapter…)

"Tenten I want you to know that a secret can be exposed slowly." Tsunade comforted, giving Tenten a handkerchief, "And even if you don't want people to worry about you, there are people who will always be worrying about you, whether you like it or not. Take for example Hyuga Neji."

"But it's not like him to worry about me!" the brown-haired lady cried, "He said he's a Hyuga and a Hyuga like him is not softhearted…"

(Chapter 8 – Secret of the Mountain)

"There, there." Tsunade said, "If Neji was to see you like that, do you think he will not worry? Now, stop your crying and get plenty of rest."

Tenten wiped her tears and nodded.

"I heard Anya already left." Tsunade changed the topic, "She made sure she locked the doors. She wished your good health, by the way."

Tenten just drank her tea and thought about things for a while...

The next day…

"Sheesh, why can't they just build a train station that goes up this mountain and goes down to the village of the Sand!" Sasuke complained.

The train dropped them off to the foot of the mountain. They asked why and the train driver can only say, 'That's the only way you can go to the village of the Sand!'

"Hey Uchiha," Neji insisted, "if you want to back out, be my guest."

"Hell no!" Sasuke yelled.

"There's no way around this mountain. There's a forest at the left and there's a high possibility that we might get lost. And there's the Ocean of Lost Souls at our right, sirens are wandering all over that ocean, want to go sail a boat yourself, Uchiha? Or just climb the darn mountain?"

"If you want to take a boat, do it yourself, I'll climb this mountain."

"Good then." Neji said, leading the way as they started climbing the mountain.

"Darn Hyuga." Sasuke thought.

In Tsunade's hut…

Tenten has been detached to the now, empty blood bag and was now absent-mindedly throwing shurikens at an old pine tree.

"Is something bothering you, Tenten?" Tsunade asked.

"I wonder…" Tenten replied, "Where is Neji?"

"Like I said, he's away for a while." Tsunade replied, "Why do you ask?"

"N-nothing…" Tenten slightly blushed, "J-just w-wondering…"

Tsunade smirked and said, "You like Neji, huh?"

Tenten fell silent for a while and faced Tsunade, "Tsunade-sama, please tell me if it's a mistake that I fell for a friend."

"Not at all." Tsunade eased, "You have every right to love a fine young man like him."

"I don't understand how exactly did I develop my feelings for him but…" Tenten asked, "Do you think I have to tell him?"

"That's up to you, dear child." Tsunade said, entering her small hut, "Love is very complicated, but I tell you Tenten, you just have to simply show him how you feel in simple ways."

"Like?"

"Oh, I don't know." The elder woman replied, "But maybe if he's injured, you can help him out."

"I doubt he would get an injury." Tenten replied, "Neji rarely gets one because he's too strong…"

"In this world?" Tsunade added, "Sometimes we have to take an insight of a possibility even to the impossible."

Tenten looked puzzled and looked at the skies, "Should I tell him or not?"

At sunset, the two jounins reached the peak of the mountain.

"We should call it a day now." Neji insisted, sitting on the ground.

"What!" Sasuke shouted, "C'mon, we still have to climb down this mountain!"

"You want to tumble in the dirt, Uchiha? If we are to climb down in the dark, expect cuts and wounds with a pair of bruised legs when we reach the ground. The darn mountain is a slope if we are to go down. And besides, Sand ninjas inhabit that side of the mountain after sunset to protect the village's territory." Neji explained, "Fighting the Sand ninjas in the dark is a bad idea. So if you want your fiancée to marry you alive, better call it a day, Uchiha."

Sasuke grumbled as he laid down his things but Neji eyed him, "Got a problem, Uchiha?"

"None."

The next day…

It was daybreak. Neji and Sasuke were once again ready for the terrain.

Meanwhile…

"Tenten." Tsunade called, "I think we have to wait for Neji and Sasuke to return. Please stay here for a while until they come here."

"But why?" Tenten asked, cleaning up the dishes after they ate their breakfast.

"Just wait, okay?" Tsunade said, "Just think of it as making a promise to Neji."

"Oh, alright…" Tenten replied.