Hey people! … I was really, really slow in updating wasn't I? I'm sorry, I really am!

Hearts in love and denial chapter 10: and thus the story continues…

By Gasha Aisu

Disclaimer: I never did and I never will own Naruto….unfortunately.

Tenten groaned as she had to lift her hand 'all' the way up just to unlock their apartment. Behind her she heard a thump, and she glanced back slowly. Hinata had slit to the ground, unable to stand any longer and content with sitting on her knees, Sakura sat besides her, and slowly she lost her balance, making her slump against Hinata. Hinata sighed tiredly, and leaned into the wall.

"Ne, Tenten. I'm tired," Hinata stated for no reason. Yes, they all where tired, very tired.

Tsunade had, had no mercy and it was late in the evening when she finally announced that the training was over. They had immediately dropped to the ground exhausted, claiming that they would never rise again, but forced themselves up when Tsunade had threatened to continue if they didn't "get their lazy ass of the floor and into their home".

Tenten's hand had finally managed to get the key in the lock, and she stood still shaking slightly. Finally giving in Tenten rested her head against the door. The nice, cool, smooth door. She still felt like she was overheated, but she simply was to tired to even think about taking a shower first. They all looked like a mess, they had even got stares as they "walked" (more like stumbled) towards their home. With their half closed eyes, messed up clothes and hair, and slumped statue they looked as if they walked right out of a bar after a wild party. But one glance at their forehead protectors told the spectators enough.

"So am I, Hinata-chan," Tenten finally responded. Even though she seemed to have slightly more stamina then the other girls thanks to her extra training with Neji, she was also completely exhausted. At leasther legs where still strong enough to support her, although just barely, those of the other girls obviously couldn't.

"We should probably get inside," the sleepy voice of Sakura suddenly stated, as the girl slowly got up, obviously having trouble with it.

"Hai," mumbled Hinata who stayed still for a moment before she too slowly got up.

Tenten smiled weakly as she leaned back from the door.

"We'll get used to it. Just wait, before you know it we'll walk in here just as exhausted by three in the morning, maybe we even have enough stamina by then to actually take a shower," Tenten tried to comfort, but got no response, not that she expected one.

Finally she twisted the key and unlocked their apartment, she opened the door and stood to the side as her friends got in and kicked out their shoes.

Without a word the two girls stumbled to their bed's as Tenten locked their apartment again, yawned, and also stumbled towards her bed.

It had been a long day.

Hinata was happy. She didn't have to fight, her family accepted her, she lived with Tenten and Sakura-chan, and Naruto-kun loved her. She was as close to Neji as she used to be, and Hanabi looked up to her. Content she sighed and smiled as she snuggled closer in Naruto's arms. Jup, life was definitely looking up, and she didn't even blush! But it didn't matter, Naruto-kun told her that her blush was cute anyway.

"Who's he?" an amused female voice asked her.

Her eyes snapped open in panic as she got up.

"N-nani?" she stuttered, and when she looked down, there was no more Naruto-kun, just a couch.

"Well, you dream about him, so he obviously is important to you," the female continued, amusement clear in her voice.

Hinata looked up to study the woman more carefully. She seemed to be in her late twenties, with long black hair which had a purplish bluish tint to it, just like her own. Her hair was braided, although a few bangs marred her face much like Hinata had. When Hinata looked into her eyes which she had been avoiding, she was shocked to find that they where milky white, the woman had the byukagan as well. She was smiling kindly to her, and Hinata felt herself relaxing. Somehow, she trusted her. There was something in the woman's aura which promised to protect her, which made her trust her.

"W-who a-are you?" Hinata asked.

The woman opened her mouth, hesitated and then smiled.

"I wanted to see you in person," she stated her voice filled with affection, "But I will come back later, when your ready,"

Hinata blinked confused but then realisation dawned upon her.

"Y-you're…" she stuttered but was interrupted by the woman's kind smile.

"I'll see you later, don't worry. I must go now, they're coming,"

She placed her hand on Hinata's head, before slowly disappearing.

Hinata found her soft cushion in her face, and her blanket comfortably warm on her body. She sighed and relaxed enjoying the peace and content she felt now.

"Hinata, get out of bed, now!" the threatening voice of Tsunade made it's way to her sensitive ears. She cringed and pulled her blanket over her head. She was sleepy, her muscles still ached and she was in no mood to deal with Tsunade right now.

She heard one of her friends yawn, as the other seemed to stretch.

"Ne, Hinata-chan, you should get out before Tsunade makes you," the sleepy voice of Tenten warned her. Hinata frowned as she ignored her and snuggled comfortable in her cushion.

Suddenly it was very cold as her blanked was yanked off her. Hinata frowned but refused to open her eyes. She yawned cutely and turned away from whoever it was that pulled her comfy blanket of her.

"Hinata, this is the last time, I'm warning you. Get out of bed, now,"

Tsunade's voice was dangerously low, and if Hinata hadn't been so sleepy, she would have jumped to her feet by now. But as she was now, lying in her soft comfortable bed, she had no intention to get up.

Suddenly her steady ground shook and she fell on the floor with a loud bang. Wincing, Hinata finally opened one eye, just to see a bucked. Chilling cold water was dumped on her, and she gasped. Her eyes shot open as she sat on her knees, looking at her own soaked shaking form in disbelieve. Her wide eyes travelled to where she felt where Tenten and Sakura stood (they can feel with the seals remember?) both her friends seemed a little damp themselves.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Get moving you three, to the bathroom, now" Tsunade barked, and quickly the three scrambled on instinct.

Quickly Sakura and Tenten turned and ran out of Hinata's room and into the bathroom. Hinata followed shortly after that, almost tripping over her own feet.

Somehow they knew this day was going to be even worse then yesterday.

"Brush, brush I tell you!" Tsunade snapped. Quickly the three grabbed their toothbrush and started brushing.

"Geez…I didn't know Tsunade's training included everything," Sakura complained softly to Tenten who nodded grimly.

"I did not tell you to talk! Now hurry up cleaning, the first one done will start on breakfast," Tsunade said sternly. She got glares of Sakura and Tenten in return, but Tsunade narrowed her eyes making the two turning away hastily and continuing to brush.

"I'm done, Tsunade-sama," Hinata stated quietly, her eyes glued to the floor. Tsunade nodded approvingly.

"Good, start making breakfast," she ordered, and with a nod, Hinata was out of the bathroom. Tenten spit in the sink and wiped her mouth with the back of her arm before facing Tsunade.

"And what are we going to do?" she asked as Sakura finished also. Tsunade smirked.

"Seen the chaotic mess you call your house?" she asked before smirking evilly, "You're going to clean it,"

Tenten and Sakura blinked at her in disbelieve.

"NANI?" Sakura yelled, "That's going to take all day!" Tenten nodded, wincing as she glanced out of the bathroom and saw Hinata trip over a rubber duck.

"No, you're going to clean it, and still be in time to train," Tsunade stated. Both Tenten as Sakura's eyes widened.

"You can't be serious," Tenten stated, backing away slowly. Sakura nodded, that woman was nuts!

"Actually I am…so I suggest you start cleaning, now!"

Both Sakura as Tenten gulped as she saw the fire in the eyes of Tsunade. Both glancing at each other and silently agreeing that Tsunade was insane, but they could do nothing about it. With one raised eyebrow of Tsunade the two scrambled off.

Both stared in horror for a moment. It was true, there place did look like a mess. Some boxes had been left still not unpacked, clothes where everywhere and in between were some books, weapons which where kind of dangerous to have lying around, and some other stuff. With a gulp and a quick prayer the two set to work.

"How are we going to do this?" Sakura exclaimed desperate, direction towards the floor which was not seen by the mess lying on top of it. Tenten smiled weakly as she too stared hopelessly.

"And I though Lee was bad," she muttered to herself before turning to Sakura again, "Hope?"

Sakura chuckled but then frowned in thought.

"I guess…" she said before both cringed at a crashing sound coming from the kitchen.

Both quickly ran to the kitchen and saw a huge pile of pans, and one pale shaking arm sticking out from it. Both ran to, who they guessed was Hinata, and started digging. Finally Hinata came into view, her eyes looking dazed.

"A-arigatou," Hinata muttered before slowly standing up.

"Maybe we should start with the kitchen.." Sakura suggested, a sweat drop present on the side of her face.

Sasuke smirked as he charged at Naruto. Kakashi had suggested they spared against each other, which should train them more then any other exercise. Sasuke knew why Kakashi suggested normal sparring instead of the strange training method he usually had. Sakura was not here. Sakura wasn't here to get hurt when they finally started to warm up. Sakura wasn't here to distract them, to distract him…

Just barely he managed to dodge Naruto's fist. He gritted his teeth, forcing his thought to be on sparring and sparring only. Yet, now it was Naruto who was distracted as his blue eyes suddenly focussed on something behind Sasuke. Sasuke quickly took his change to hit his team mate, hard, before turning to see for himself what was behind him, ignoring the cussing which came from Naruto.

He was mildly surprised to see Lee and Neji there.

He lowered from the tree branch he had been standing on, landing in front of the two intruders. Lee smiled to greet him, but Neji only stared at him, glaring. Sasuke glared right back, not forgetting what had happened the past few days. Lee cleared his throat in hope of easing the tension.

"We didn't come to fight," Lee stated, and Sasuke smirked. Perhaps not, but Neji didn't seem to mind if they would. Sasuke crossed his arms arrogantly, and looked at them smirking.

"Why did you come then?" he asked, although he had a sneaky suspicion.

"Where is you teacher?" Neji asked flatly.

Sasuke frowned and shifted before responding.

"Not here,"

Neji's glare became harsher as he knew Sasuke was annoying him on purpose. And he didn't mind fighting against him, after al, there where no annoying females to stop them.

"What's going on?" Naruto asked innocently, landing besides Sasuke, in front of Lee.

"We came to talk about our team mates," Lee answered Naruto, answering Sasuke's earlier question as well. Naruto blinked at Lee but Sasuke understood.

"Aa… Sakura had been acting weird lately," he stated simply.

"So is Tenten," Lee said, frowning as he continued, "It's not like her to start fighting with anyone, let alone acting as if nothing happened afterwards."

"And missing training with us," Neji added stoically. Sasuke smirked and immediately took his chance.

"What, you miss your girlfriend Hyuuga?" Sasuke asked, mocking him on purpose.

"Just because you miss your little slave trailing after you, doesn't give you the right to take it out on me, Uchiha" Neji responded just as easily. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, but before he could respond Lee hastily jumped between.

"Yes, well so…" he stuttered and he cleared his throat, "something is going on, and we plan on finding out.."

Before Lee could continue, Kakashi popped up as if out of nowhere.

"Lee, Neji? What are you doing here? Come to spair?" Kakashi asked cheerfully.

Both Lee as Neji stiffened, but before they could answer Gai suddenlywas there as well.

"Lee? Neji? Why did you go here, you're supposed to meet me on the usual place," Gai asked confused. Yet as he shared a look with Kakashi, it was obvious the two knew what was going on.

"Problems Hyuuga?" Sasuke sneered and Neji turned to face him.

"You exist," Neji responded icily. Gai frowned and Lee smiles nervously.

"We'll just go now, see you around Naruto-kun, Sasuke," Lee said grabbing Neji's wrist and hurrying off, much to the Hyuuga's annoyance.

"What's going on?" Kakashi asked the minute they, including Gai, were out of sight.

"Aaack! This is going to kill us!" Sakura exclaimed dramatically as she just barely managed to dodge books falling of the shelf she just put them on. Tenten sighed and shook her head.

"There has to be someway to clean and still be on time to train," she said speaking her mind as she grabbed a shirt of the floor, "Why did Tsunade order us to do it now? I mean, we'll never be able to get it done before breakfast!"

Sakura muttered under her breath until she suddenly shot upright, accidentally tossing a book into the air.

"That's it!" she exclaimed happily. Tenten blinked.

"What is?" Tenten asked confused. Sakura turned to her with a look of triumph on her face.

"Why would Tsunade make us do this unless it is some kind of training?" Sakura asked, as her eyes sparkled. Tenten shrugged.

"Because she wants to make our lives hell?" Tenten offered. Sakura chuckled and shook her head.

"Maybe we can use ninja techniques to clean! I mean, perhaps this is an exercise to make us come with creative solutions," Sakura said brightly, smiling at Tenten. Tenten stared at her. Since when did Sakura become so…Lee-like?

"We can at least give it a try," Sakura urged when Tenten didn't respond.

"I guess…" Tenten finally said, she seemed unconvinced.

Sakura pointedly ignored the lack of enthusiasm as she thought for a moment. Then she pulled out her chacra strings hidden in her PJ's. Tenten raised an eyebrow and Sakura smiled weakly.

"I was to tired to undress completely," Sakura explained before throwing out her strings. Each string wrapped itself around a book, and Sakura pulled. The books went flying, and Sakura took control.

The books were set neatly on alphabetic order.

Sakura turned to Tenten with a victory sign. Tenten smiled at her, and then thought for herself. She ran to her room and came back with her own pouch. Tenten took a kunai and attached a chacra string to it.

"Now it's my turn," Tenten said, and threw her kunai. With the chacra string, she could manipulate it in the air. And soon the kunai was stuck in the wall with a "clunk" and over the chacra string were clothes.

"Just as if your hanging your laundry," Sakura commented. Tenten playfully stuck her tongue out at her before wrapping the line up, securing the clothes. Humming a tune under her breath, Tenten went to was them.

Sakura attached a chacra string to a senbon. Her tongue stuck out a little as she threw her senbon, manipulating it as Tenten had donewith her kunai. The senbon went through all the rings in the weapons lying on the floor, and soon her senbon hit the wall and the line was filled with weapons dangling on it. She collected them and sorted through them, and put her own in her pouch and the others neatly lined up on the table. She noticed none of the weapons were from Hinata, but then again, the Hyuuga was the most neat of them. Tenten didn't usually concern herself with cleaning up, but normally she didn't let things just lying around. (she was still the most neat of team ten) Sakura didn't bother with cleaning until suddenly she had the urge to do so. And then everything would be spotless, no dust, spiders or anything else. While Hinata usually made a normal routine in her day to clean up a bit, between training and eating. But somehow the house was still a mess, and Sakura wondered why they hadn't cleaned. Shrugging she guessed it was just for once, and that they would actually clean the next time.

Hinata usually enjoyed cooking, since it gave her something to do while she thought. And it was nice to hear people enjoy her makings. But now she had a hard time enjoying it as Tsunade watched her every move, and she didn't know exactly where everything was. She felt like a fool every time she had to search for something she needed. Not that Tsunade made any remark, but she didn't have to as Hinata was flustered enough.

"We're finished Tsunade-sama," the two voices of her friends came from the doorway. Hinata looked up, puzzled as she absentmindedly put a egg in the frying pan.

"Impossible," Tsunade said as she stood up to look for herself.

Hinata sighed and relaxed.

Tsunade came back just as she was putting the fourth egg in. Hinata looked up at her sensei, who just sat down in her seat again.

"They're really finished," Tsunade stated, and Hinata blinked.

"Y-you don't s-sound surprised, Tsunade-sama" Hinata said softly, directing her eyes back to her cooking. Tsunade stretched in her seat and sighed before answering.

"That's because I'm not. I thought they would figure a way to be on time somehow,"

Hinata nodded and put her eggs on bread, adding salt before grabbing the plates and turning to put it on the table.

"They're changing, they'll come when they're ready," Tsunade said when Hinata looked at her. Again, Hinata just nodded. Hinata put the other stuff on the table and was just finished when the others came in.

"Looks great Hinata-chan," Sakura said to the shy girl as she sat in the seat opposite of Tsunade. Tenten nodded and smiled at her before plopping down besides Sakura. Hinata sat in the seat besides Tsunade and nodded at them to begin.

For a while everybody was silent as they all, but Tsunade, ate. Hinata looked up and turned to her sensei.

"I-I made t-that f-for you, Tsunade-sama. I f-figured you didn't eat," Hinata said quietly, eying Tsunade to see her response. Tsunade smiled and quickly dug in. She swallowed before thanking Hinata, and resumed eating after that.

They were peaceful for now.

"Ha!" Three voices echoed in the small clearing. Once again they were training, and once again Tsunade wasn't going easy on them.

"I don't care if your still tired from yesterday," Tsunade said, looking superior and powerful. It was in that look that they found the true hokage Tsunade was. Each hour the girls found it easier to respect their hokage and sensei.

"Ha!" the three girls yelled, trusting their fist or palm into the wood.

"I don't care if your bruised al over," Tsunade continued.

"Ha!" the three answered.

"If your bones are broken, I'll fix them and you'll continue," Tsunade said, trusting her staff down to the earth a little bit faster.

"Ha!" again the three yelled, almost perfect, almost at the same time. The three were improving fast, Tsunade had to admit, but it wasn't perfect it wasn't how it was supposed to be.

"I want you to train, I want you to surrender to your will to train. You will ignore common sense. You will be used to pain. You will give it all, and still give more if I ask you to," Tsunade said sternly, and the three yelled again. Tsunade's sharp eye saw the cuts, bruises and her medic expertise saw how their muscles ached. Tsunade's heart was filled with sadness, but her head only saw that they could give more. The three didn't know exactly how much they could give, how strong they could be.

But how could they? They only found out two days ago.

Tsunade would make them see.

"You are Konoha ninja's," Tsunade finished as she always did, "make me proud,"

Those words were important, and Tsunade had no trouble repeating them to make them see.

"Hai!" the three yelled this time, and Tsunade saw how their punches increased slightly.

"Kick!"

"Ha!"

The three girls didn't notice the day passing. They didn't notice it getting darker. They didn't notice their hunger, only the pain and training. They noticed Tsunade sitting down, but made no remark. It was getting darker as stars appeared, yet still, the girls didn't notice.

"Small break," Tsunade suddenly stated, but as she looked up the three had hardly moved. Sakura's eyes sparkled as she stared at "her" wood, Tsunade faintly recognised her stance. Her fist were raised and her knees bend, her back straight and for some reason her head slightly bend. Suddenly, as Tsunade blinked, she saw Ksijuharu instead of Sakura. Tsunade frowned and looked better, and indeed, Sakura's stance was exactly like Ksijuharu's.

Curious Tsunade looked at the others, yet was slightly disappointed to see they had their own battle stance. Hinata the traditional Hyuuga stance, exactly how it was supposed to be, and not slightly changed like Kiyone's. Tenten also stood, although a little lost without kunai's in her hands. But just as Tsunade looked away from Hinata she saw Kiyone. Frowning Tsunade studied Hinata and saw that her expression was like Kiyone had, had in battle and training. The calm look, yet slightly frowning in concentration. In fact, as Tsunade noticed, she had the same…something….which had marked Kiyone. An air around her that said that she was trustworthy, loyal.

Tsunade looked at Tenten. On first sight there was nothing that reminded her of Motsiharu. And even as she looked better, she saw nothing that reminded her off him.

Slightly disappointed she opened her mouth to repeat her break offer, but Tenten was first.

"With all due respect, Tsunade-sama, I'd like to continue," Tenten said, seemingly calm. As she suggested it the other two immediately agreed, as they wanted to continue as well.

Tenten looked calm, but there was a fire in her eyes, passion, and Tsunade immediately saw Motsiharu in her. It was that fire that had marked him. The fire that burned for his friends, family and village. A hidden fire, as he was always friendly and composed. Yet when unleashed most deadly. Tsunade smirked a little.

It was as if she was looking at their children.

But then again, she supposed they were in some sense. After al they were their family. Only Kiyone, Motsiharu and Ksijuharu were their…She thought for a moment….well, their grand fathers and mother, so it wasn't that far off anyway.

"Very well," Tsunade complied, "Then we'll continue without any more breaks, I hope you three won't regret this,"

Three determined eyes told her that they weren't going to. They were going to complain, but not regret it.

To be continued.

Tomorrow I'll be going on holiday, and I'll be away for two and a half weeks. So don't expect any updates or one shots in that time. For the ones who are curious, I'll be doing volunteer work in Romania.

Don't worry, things will be interesting in the following chapters. I finally got to train them, perhaps I'll skip a few weeks in the next chapter, but I'm not sure. If you have any suggestions, tell me, in your review or mail me.

Oh, and I have one more question. Do you think I should change the summary?

Until next time, and enjoy your holiday,

Gasha Aisu.