Oh my god. I am SOOOO sorry. I took forever to update. I totally don't blame any of you if you yell at me for my slowness. I've just been sooooo busy with school. But thank you soooooo much to everyone who reviewed my first chapter.
I'm thinking about making a different account on But, i'm not sure yet. So don't be suprised if this story shows up under a different name later on! Well, ok, i'll shut and let you read this chapter.
Chapter 2-Why me?
Naruto sat at Ichiraku with his two former teammates. After everyone had become a chuunin three years before, they had stopped working together on missions. That's not to say they never went on any missions together, but it was rare when all three went on the same one. As such, they had made an agreement to meet with each other at least once a month so that they wouldn't grow too far apart.
Now, three years later, the three of them were busier than ever. Sasuke and had been an Anbu members for a year now while Naruto had just recently made it to Sasuke's level. Sakura had just made Jounin about 6 months before.
It had only been about 7:30 in the morning when they had gotten together. Normally they wouldn't meet that early due to the fact that Sakura had said she wanted her beauty sleep. Sakura smiled. She remembered the last time they had gotten together and she had told them this.
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Flashback begins"Well, I think we better go back home. It's getting pretty late."
"Aww…but Sakura-chan, we just got here," Naruto complained.
"Naruto, what are you talking about? We got together for lunch, and now it's already 11PM! We've been together practically the whole day."
"It doesn't feel like a day though."
Naruto and Sakura bickered while Sasuke just listened to them quietly in the background. The only time he spoke was when he was offering Sakura insults to use when she spoke to Naruto.
"Next time we can meet for breakfast, too! Then we would really have a whole day together!"
Sakura shook her head. "Naruto, I can't get up that early. I need my beauty sleep."
"Really? I don't think you do." He froze. He hadn't even realized he was talking until Naruto had looked at him in astonishment. He didn't know what made him do it. All he knew was that he wished he had kept quiet. The only thing that kept the blush off his face was the years of practice he had had hiding his emotions. Sasuke tried to disguise his embarrassment and real meaning behind a few words. "I mean…ninja aren't suppose to care so much about how they look." He quickly looked away from Sakura and Naruto, probably a stupid thing to do.
All Sakura could do was smile stupidly. But Naruto asked Sasuke, "Hey… dude… are you feeling okay?"
Flashback ends
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Normally, Sakura would have still slept in that morning, despite how Sasuke had told her she didn't need to. Although I'm still not completely sure why he said that… However, Sakura had had to wake up that morning when Tsunade had told her to go get Neji. After Sakura had been dismissed from Tsunade's office, she had woken up Naruto and Sasuke. The three of them had been reminiscing on days from when they were still genin when a chuunin appeared in front of them. He nodded to each of them politely and quickly said, "Message for Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura from Hyuuga Neji." He handed them the scroll and disappeared, leaving the three ninjas to themselves once more.
"Sakura-chan, read it out loud."
"Okay," Sakura replied, "For Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura. I, Hyuuga Neji, have just been assigned captain for an A-ranked mission, possibly S-ranked. The Hokage has allowed me to choose my own team and the three of you were chosen to come. Meet me at 4 PM at the front gates, today. Pack lightly as we will be traveling for a while. Bring only what you need. I will give no further details until then, in the case that this should land in the wrong hands."
Sakura looked up at Sasuke and Naruto. "Well, it looks like we're going on a mission."
"Today! Yay! Sakura-chan, Sasuke-baka, it's been forever since we went on a mission together!"
Sasuke scoffed. "There's hardly any reason to be happy that we get to spend time together on a mission. Remember, he said possibly S-rank. We're not going to have that much free time. Just don't get in my way. I don't want to have to save you every time we're attacked. And don't call me baka, you baka."
Sakura interrupted before the fight could develop any further. "There was a man here this morning in the Hokage's office. He looked rather important. Maybe that's who turned in the mission." She looked over at Naruto and saw that he was on his eighth bowl of ramen already. She shook her head and looked back at Sasuke.
"Well, I don't care what you say Sasuke-baka. I'm still happy that we get to go on a mission together. Naruto ordered his ninth bowl of ramen.
Sakura looked at her two friends as they argued. Sasuke sat there as cool, calm, and collected as ever, while Naruto was still the obnoxious, loud, ramen-loving boy he was. Years had passed since they were Genin, but she still considered them as the same Team 7 they used to be.
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Neji left the Hokage's office. After meeting the Raikage, and having the mission explained to him in a little more detail, he had asked Tsunade to send someone to tell his group of Anbus and Jounins to meet him at exactly 4 PM. Everyone that is, besides Tenten. Neji had told the Hokage that he would tell her himself.
On the way to Tenten's apartment, he passed by Ichiraku and saw the former Team 7 sitting there. The Uchiha and Naruto were arguing while Sakura spotted him and waved him over. Neji was somewhat annoyed. He didn't like to be interrupted, even if it was just while walking to someone's house.
"Yes?" Neji asked somewhat impatiently.
Sakura ignored his annoyance and took out the scroll. "We just got the message that we're going on a mission. Do you know how long it's going to be? My parents are probably going to want to know before I leave."
"Truth is, I don't know. The type of mission we're going on could last for a week, to maybe even a few months."
"Months?" interrupted Naruto. "Did you hear that Sakura-chan, Sasuke-baka? Months!"
Sasuke looked rather annoyed. I hate that nickname.
"He only said maybe, Naruto," Sakura explained.
While Team 7 had been busy talking, the Hyuuga had managed to sneak away and continue on his way to Tenten's house.
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Tenten was just about to sit down when the doorbell rang. She went to the door and opened it. "Lee, didn't you just leave aft—oh! Hi Neji. I thought it was Lee again. You… want to come in?"
"No, this will only take a minute." Neji stood by the door.
"Oh, ok. Well, what brings you here? You rarely stop by just to say hi. Wait…let me correct that. You never stop by just to say hi."
"I just came to tell you that I've been assigned as captain for an A-ranked mission, submitted by the kage of lightning village himself."
"Oh, ok. Um…so… when are you leaving?"
"I'll be leaving at 4 PM."
"Oh, um…ok. Is that all? Or is there something else you want to tell me?" Tenten asked a little hopefully.
"Well, I asked the hokage forsix certain people to accompany me on this mission. The Hokage was okay with everyone I chose. Now, all I need to know is whether you'll go.
"Of course I'll go." Tenten was slightly surprised.
Neji nodded, as if knowing that would be her answer. "We meet at 4 PM at the front gates. Pack lightly since we'll be traveling for a few days."
"Ok…uh…" Tenten gulped. She wanted to ask him a question, but was unsure if she should.
Neji looked at her. "What?"
"Well…um…"
"Tenten, whatever's on your mind, either say it or I'm leaving."
"Well, I was just wondering why you picked me to go on the mission with you?" Tenten said in a rush. She looked down, a little embarrassed, wondering if that was a stupid question to ask.
Neji was surprised by her question. "Oh…it… was an obvious choice. You're one of the strongest female Anbus in Konoha." It seemed like Neji was picking his words carefully. "I have to go talk to Lee now." Neji turned around to leave. (A/N: he didn't really have to talk to Lee, he just made it up)
Tenten sighed. Well, it's not like I was expecting anything different. You have to stop thinking about it, Tenten. Neji doesn't like guy-obsessed girls anyways. "Ok, bye"
"Bye." Neji was about to close the door behind him but hesitantly stopped. "Tenten…I… I don't know anyone that I can trust more than you." With that said, he quickly shut the door behind him and left.
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Well, that's it for this chapter. I'll try and get the next chapter up sooner, but to tell you the truth. I haven't even started writing it yet...
I've decided that i'm going to try and do what a few other writers do and reply to my reviewers. I'm not going to do it this time, but i'll try next time. Bye people, oh, please review!