Disclaimer: um…characters aren't mine. The only one that is mine will be appearing later. And story is mine. Story is built using bits of pieces from other stories
She was beautiful, graceful, intelligent and cheerful, he was a prodigy. She was from another country and did not know. He is a caged being to his own heritage. She loves him, He loves another, he does not know. He is Neji, She is Tenten.
She was beautiful, graceful, intelligent and cheerful. She was like the colours of the sky as it turns from night to day, and day to night. She was always there, drifting through life, backing up her teammates as she throws her weapons skillfully and accurately. She was bind down to the earth by chains as others glided through the autumn mist, reaching toward their goals. And yet, she'll stay there, until the one person who can break them, finally sees them. She is Tenten, weapon mistress of Kohona.
He was a prodigy. Cold, unemotional and caring to some extent. He sole belief was about fate, his sole goal was to show the Main house what he could do and become stronger. He was a caged bird, caged within his unique heritage. He was a bird waiting to be se free. He was Neji. And walked into his life, was the petal haired princess. The kind, intelligent, charka control master, the one that everyone would envy. She held poise, gracefulness, and was simply, beautiful. She was Sakura, apprentice of the fifth Hokage.
"I'm proud of Neji, you finally got yourself a girl!" Adding a playful whack on his arm, Tenten faked her smile. She thinks, it is selfish to hold back the one you love from loving another. Even if it means that you'll never be with them. They deserve each other anyways, Sakura is still hurting from Sasuke, and Neji just needs someone to open him up. Someone who is…not me. So I shouldn't stand in their love life, after all I'm already their friend, and…that's all to it …
"Hn. Let's train, Sakura will be here soon, and I want to practice before our…date." Neji gave a soft smile, he's been doing that a lot since he hooked up with Sakura. Neji never knew about how Tenten felt about them being together, heck, he even failed to notice how her eyes began to flicker the emotion dubbed as, pain.
Sakura looked at the mirror for the fifth time this morning. She was wonderful, and perfect, except for her abnormally huge forehead. She flicked her hair for the last and final time and left her apartment. I hope Neji will be pleased with me! Right now, I should be heading toward his training area He and Tenten should be there. I wish, he can be as close with me as he is with Tenten...Sakura never realized how close Tenten was with Neji until that thought. Tenten was happy seeing the two together, and that was that. But she didn't know how wrong she was…
Ino winced as she watched as Sakura walked into the restaurant with Neji. "Shika-kun…" she softly whispered to her companion, "Neji and Sakura look really happy…don't they?" Shikamaru nodded, wondering why on earth did this troublesome girl, whom he loved so much, started on this topic… "But what about Tenten?" she continued, "She is fine with the two? Everyone knew she loved Neji…"
"Ino…listen, that was Tenten's choice to let go, and…Neji, even if he has those eyes of his, he is to blind to see who should be with him, Tenten probably thought that, as long as they're happy, she'll be okay…" smiled Shikamaru, he didn't like the idea that Tenten was in pain. Personally, he thought Neji would have been better off with Tenten. Sakura deserved to be with Sasuke as well. He remembered that he too, had almost been as blind as Neji, He almost left with Temari, if Ino hadn't shouted her confession. Shikamaru grinned, yes, staying here with her…was all worth it.
"Shika?" he was lost in his thoughts again. Ino decided to use her method of yelling and punching him, she'll make it up to him later. As much as she cared for Sakura, she thought Neji wouldn't be good for her, she need Sasuke, and Neji needed Tenten, that's all there too it. She sighed, how did four people, not notice that, their perfect person was infront of their face all the time? And even if they did, why did they let them go…it wasn't fair…it really wasn't. She decided to yell at Shika now, "Shikaaa?" no answer…"Shika?" she tried again, no answer. That boy was too lost in his thoughts, "SHIKAMARU!" he finally turned, muttered something about a troublesome girl, and was then tackled onto the floor.
"I-I'm s-s-sorry to d-d-isturb y-you, but, H-h-okage-sama r-request for the p-presence of Neji-nii-san, Naruto-kun, Shikamaru, Sasuke, Sakura-chan, Ino and Tenten ." Stuttered the shy Hyuuga.
"Hai" was the reply.
"I'm sorry to have called on such short notice, but I need to announce something to the eight of you." Everyone was listening intently. "One of the girls here is the princess of the Snow Kingdom. Of course we know whom, but we wanted to keep that as a secret for now. The rest of you are to escort her back to her country, then, from that point on, you'll return…without her."
Eight pairs of eyes suddenly widened…
"Why? And who is she baa-chan?" exclaimed Naruto, he had always been the loud one. "I hope its not Hinata-chan" this caused the girl Hyuuga to blush so hard, she could have been mistaken as a tomato.
"Because, she will be our alliance. Snow is a strong country by itself. Their ninjas are strong and have unique skills, we need they're alliance if we are to go against Sound, and Stone. Furthermore, The girl is to leave for her country after the ceremony tomorrow. And since you are the ninjas I have chosen to escort her, you will be the first to know. But I'd give you 5 minutes to discuss this matter."
"It's probably Sakura. I mean, like...she doesn't even look like the rest of us!" Naruto had once again exclaimed. Neji twitched when he said that, and Sasuke gave him a death glare.
"Sakura..you are lucky…you have everyone here worried over you…even if it might not be you." Tenten softly smile…she knows it isn't Sakura, and she knows that even if Sakura is very princess like, it will never be her. She also knows that, no matter what, Sakura will always capture the guys' heart.
"We all agree then…the princess is Sakura!" Tenten knows. She knows exactly, how wrong they are. Although she does not know who the real princess is, she knows it will never be Sakura. Sakura can be the princess here in this village, but not anywhere else, she is too weak.
"Have you figured it out yet?" Tsunade doesn't want her to go. She thinks that she is broken enough. They think it will be someone they all will cherish. But it will not be her. It is not her apprentice. She knew that much from when they were told. She knows that, when this girl leaves for her country, she will not come back. She will miss her favorite student. She knows that…this journey will break her even more.
"Is it Sakura?" Tsunade smiled and shook her head. They were wrong. And, they will never realize that, even Sakura was perfect in their eyes, someone will surpass her.
"No. Would you like to guess again?" Of the three girls left, it is easy to tell which did not belong.
"It is Tenten." Spoked Shikamaru. All eyes turned on him, then onto Tsunade. She nodded. Then, the eight pairs of eyes settled onto the renowned weapon mistress. Neji felt something in him break he had not realize the true importance of Tenten.
"But...why Tenten, and why not Sakura, Hinata or me?" Ino does not want Tenten to leave, not before Neji figures out how much he needs her at least.
"Think about it this way. Hinata is part of the Hyuuga clan, so is Neji, so if they ask for the princess, why would they not as for Hanabi, or even a prince? And Ino, I've known her my entire life, and my father knows her parents for his entire life, he was there when they gave birth to their baby girl. And although Sakura looks different from us, she will not be from snow. Snow is full of strong ninja families, Sakura, is no match for them." Shikamaru replied bluntly. He knows he is mean. He knows that he does not want Tenten to leave. But he will make this information process in their brains. He did not agree with Sakura being a princess, she is too weak. "Tenten is strong. No one knows her origin. Not even you Neji. She has the unique ability to handle weapons of any sort. She is the one that is from snow."
"You are all to leave and prepare for your journey to snow, Neji and Tenten, would you please stay for a minute?" she will talk this over with them, He is her protector, it is easy to see, she is his precious person, only he doesn't know that. "Tenten. We will miss you. And you will always be a Kohona Ninja, good luck with you family, I hope to see you again someday. Go home and pack up, you're leaving tomorrow and get some rest, you may leave now."
"Hai. Hokage-sama" and she left.
"Neji, look at me. I have a special job for you. I want you to be the sworn protector for Tenten. There are a lot of Ninjas who want her so they can break the alliance. The rest will can handle them, but your main focus is to protect her. She is special to everyone, and I hope you will understand that one-day. Now you too go home and pack."
"Yes hokage-sama" and he left as well.
Tsunade smiled, she may never see Tenten again. But she wants her to be happy. She knows Neji is dating Sakura, and she does not oppose the two, she simply wants Neji to realize that Tenten is his special person, not Sakura. She knows that Tenten is broken right now, and she hopes Neji will mend and fix her. Tsunade can only hope. She thinks this is for the best.
Chapter Preview:
They are being attacked. Sakura is almost stabbed, but Tenten blocks her and kills the enemy. She turns and smiles at Sakura. Sakura's eyes widen, she sees a weapon being thrown at her. Tenten sees this too, she knows though, she will not die, she knows this as well. Neji will save her, no, Neji will save Sakura so will Sasuke. And they do. The attacker has died, now they flee to the safety of Snow.