From the way I see it

Authors' notes: We are so sorry for not updating for so long! It's just that we have been rather preoccupied with out other stories… anyway; we would really like to thank all those who have left a review! We hope you guys would enjoy reading this update and continue to support this story:)

Chapter 3

Round three had begun.

We walked up to both Iruka sensei and Mizuki sensei, where we would draw lots. Half of us were drawing lots, while the other half were just waiting to see who their opponent was. I was unfortunately, one of those who were standing, waiting to see who my opponent was for round three.

Standing there with a whole lot of other students, I exhaled softly. Both of my fists were unconsciously clenched so tightly that my knuckles were white. Patting my lucky kunai in my pocket (which was the first kunai that I had thrown), I told myself to relax, to stay calm.

Stay clam Tenten, stay calm. I told myself as a spun a kunai around my fingers, a method I usually use to calm myself down whenever I feel nervous.

Who was I kidding? I was nervous, heck, I think even the others standing at the same corner as me were feeling the same. When everyone had finished drawing lots, I gulped audibly as I awaited the name of my opponent, the person that I would have to beat in terms of skill in order to become a genin.

I sighed as I restrained myself not to scream at Iruka sensei aloud, since he was reading the opponents so slowly. Doesn't he understand the importance of this test to all of us here! I mean, he has taken the genin test before right? But being rude to Iruka-sensei might just get me disqualified from taking the third round of the test. I sat up straighter when Iruka sensei finally reached the 'T's.

"Tenten, your opponent will be… Takye Ayumi,"

I face faulted. "That girl… that girl's my opponent!" I exclaimed, not realizing that I had said it aloud. Oh heavens really had some thing against me, doesn't he? Great, now my opponent was the most self obsessed female to ever walk this earth. Takye Ayumi, seriously, was more interested in her looks than being a ninja. After all, she was forced into applying for one, thanks to her jounin dad.

As you all can so wonderfully see, I do not like her. Hey, don't blame me for being petty, but she insulted my hair. Well, she literally insulted my appearance, one day criticizing my hair, then my eye colour, then my dressing. I think she just doesn't like me. Seriously, people like her should understand that not everyone has nice straight strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. I glared at her, and then turned my gaze back to the first sparring match. It was that white eyed guy again, I realised as I took a closer look. His opponent was some huge hulking guy that I have never seen before. Everyone around me was whispering and talking amongst themselves about that guy… I think Neji's his name.

"I heard that he knocked out ten people in one hit!" one of them told me.

"Really?" I asked, really curious now. Knocking out ten bullies in one hit? That sounds almost… impossible. But since he was regarded as the prodigy of the year I was in, excelling more that a normal genin in combat and chakra control, I guess these rumours might be true.

"Sssh! The match's going to start soon!" I whispered, as everyone around me fell silent.

"Ready… begin!" Iruka sensei called out, giving the signal to start.

I gasped as I watched the scene of the fight unfold. It was over in about, twenty seconds? Just one jab like poke to the chest, and the guy was down. My eye nearly popped out of my sockets, I must say.

"Winner, Hyuuga Neji," Mizuki sensei announced. There was applause from all around the room, as that Neji guy simply smirked at the guy at the floor, and walked off.

"I told you earlier, you are not fated to defeat me," was his last sentence before he walked back to his seat. Talk about cockiness. I think that Hyuuga Neji needed an ego drain, have I ever seen a bigger ego than that? I guess the attitudes of prodigies are like that.

The matches went on and on, and it was soon time for my match against Ayumi. Gripping my kunai, I jumped and landed on the arena like area.

"Tenten? Did anyone tell you that your hair looks more horrible than usual?" she sneered. Yes, literally sneered. Like how rude is that? I intensified my glare on her, she did the same. I want the match to start soon; I want to get my hands on her! I'll show her!

Iruka sensei cleared his throat, as he shouted, "Begin!"

Let's see, what should I do? I think as I try to think of a quick way to defeat her. Kunai, shruiken or senbon? I haven't mastered senbon yet, shruiken were harder to throw with force as they were light. Kunai then, I decided.

Thanking myself for bringing spare kunais, I fished out about three in each hand. Turning in a way a shot-put thrower would, I turned, making sure not to lose balance as I released the kunais towards her. I had earlier calculated the distance, together with the air speed, and I was sure it would land on target.

A loud thunk was heard as I heard all my kunais nailing themselves firmly to the wall. Ayumi was nailed by the kunais. I knew that the battle was not finished, so charging up toward her, I held a kunai at her neck, making sure that she could clearly see the reflection of the sharp edge of my kunai.

"Forfeit, or else your hair gets it…" I grinned at her as I motioned to her long strawberry blonde hair. I knew that she treasured her long hair more than anything else. She looked terrified as she tried to escape, but the kunais held her there. She yelled out "I forfeit!", before I retreated to my side of the arena.

"Winner, Tenten," Mizuki sensei announced, as he smiled at me. Skipping with joy that I had passed the third round, I made my way to my seat. People around me started congratulating me, and I flushed with pride, as I answered their questions on weapon accuracy training.

I'm so glad that I passed! I was grinning all the way like a bobcat now, but who cares? I passed! I'm glad I didn't let Father and Mother down! I watched the other matches, but seriously, none of them were as spectacular as Neji's match. Everyone else thought so as well. One day, I shall be as good as my idol Tsunade-sama!

What do you mean by you haven't heard of her? She literally famous in the whole of Konoha! She was one of the Legendary Sannins, the only female inside too! I admire her because of her ninja abilities, as well as her superhuman strength! Father often tells me stories of her as bedtime stories, in the hope that I would one day be as skilled as her.

Finally the matches came to an end, as Iruka sensei called all those who have failed the third round to leave. After half of the students left, he started to tell us about the path of a ninja. We would be divided into teams of three, usually two males and one female, since the males were usually larger in number than females. Each team would then be managed by a jounin instructor…

As I listened to Iruka sensei talk more about the teams and their importance, I found myself anticipating who my teammates will be. I hope that my teammates will be nice ones, and not some anti social ice cube or some insanely hyper teammate. I mean, I'm not fussy or picky, but my future teammates will be with me on all my missions when I'm a genin, and would mostly work with them when I reach chuunin. I might have to place my life in their hands as well, so I hope my teammates are easy to get along with, trustworthy and reliable.

"Please come back to the academy tomorrow to find out about your postings," he finally ended, as he dismissed all of us. Picking up my bag and heading towards the exit of the classroom door, I walked past Hyuuga Neji.

"Hn, you're the only female that's relatively good. I hope you are in my team." was all he said as he walked away, leaving my mouth agape as I tried to pick my jaw up from the ground.

A prodigy had just praised me. Indirectly, but he still did praise me. I flushed with pride as I ran back home as fast as I could. I can't wait to tell Father and Mother the good news!

I'm an official genin!

Weehee!

Authors' notes: What will Tenten's reaction be when she finds out who her teammates and sensei are? Find out in the next update! Please review, and the next chapter will come sooner:))