A/N:Another chapter of The Mission here!This one has some serious action,and it's where the plot starts falling into place.Thank you,all of my reviewers!

Minoko-chan:Thank you!I'm glad you thought that.I know,I'm trying to improve.

Carsiness:I'll make sure I will!

susakuru:I'm glad you enjoyed it!

The image of the sun could just be seen in the distant horizon,dipping lower and lower with each moment.Its light,which was so lively and full of light in the day,now slowly died down over the countries.This gavethe day a melancholy feel.The sky,which was once an endless blue canvas,was now streaked with crimson like the strokes of a painter.

The colour of blood...,Neji mused thoughtfully from his place in the trees.His body was crouched upon a thick branch,surrounded by leafy underbrush.He could not be seen from the outside,but to be sure,he had casted a simple genjutsu over him and Tenten.His silvery eyes scanned the scene before them,smirking.

The shrine in question was in the middle of a heavily forested area.It was a large,sprawling wooden building that was obviously built by the very wealthy.Every single piece of framework had been ornmentally carved,and the roof's shingles were made of fine pottery.The shrine was virtually alone,the next place habitated by human was a long way from here.Two large,burning wood torches gave some light to replace the dying sun.The shrine looked unguarded,except for two men standing at attention.Their bodies were crouched in tension,and they held kunais clutched in their hands.

Neji scoffed at this."Yours,or mine?"he quietly asked Tenten.Beside him,the kunoichi grinned evilly."Mine."she answered,and then immediately sprang into action.

In a split second,she released chakra strings from her fingertips.Tenten felt the queer sensation of forcing her chakra into thin strips,and then having them fire out of her fingers.The strings snaked slowly down the tree,and onto the ground,sneaking up behind one man at Tenten's direction.Quickly,they looped themselves around his neck,and in fifteen seconds,the man was strangled,his body slumped softly onto the ground.Tenten chose three senbon,and threw them with great accuracy at the second shinobi.They whistled only slightlythrough the air before puncturing his skin at his neck,his heart,and his lungs.All three vital organs,he was dead in an instant.

Neji gave his nod of approval at her efficiency and her silence.His rough hands formed quick seals,and his voice whispered the familiar word,one that he used often:

"Byakugan!"

Neji felt the pressure applied to his face.He felt his skin ripple,and soon,his eyes began to sting.This was the usual sensation,as their powerful bloodline had a price.He peered through the foliage,and through the walls of the shrine.Inside it was empty,though just as lavishly furnished as the outside.Neji frowned.This almost seemed TOO easy.The lack of guards was one things,but having the inside of the shrine completely empty was another.He decided to go ahead with the plan,but to be extra cautious.

"Alright."he said softly,leaping off the branch and onto the ground with only the lightest noise.Tenten did the same."Is something wrong,Neji?"she asked,almost tentatively.She'd seen his brows furrow ,seen his mouth contract into a thin line.Sure signs he was upset,or worried.He shook his head."No,nothing.Now,you know what to do."

They both sprang from the branch,Neji slowly opened the door,a kunai close at hand,Tenten following suit.Inside,it seemed strangely normal.Tenten noted,though that the decorations of this shrine could have paid for an entire army,AND new weapons.What a waste,she thought,noting that the room was strangely empty.

Neji narrowed his eyes.Something wasn't right.The room was supposed to be a perfect sqaure.But one wall was shorter than the others.He did a quick calculation,that confirmed this.The builders had obviously taken great care with this building.They surely would have noted something like this!Realization slowly entered his mind.

"Tenten!It's a genjutsu!"

And then suddenly,the entire room seemed to shake,as the illusion undid itself.The room itself looked the same,the only difference-they were surrounded by twenty or so jounins.Half of which made a dart to him,half went for Tenten.Neji cursed under his breath,activating his Byakugan.How could he not have sensed this?

He made short work of one,plunging his hand straight to his heart,forcing his chakra into his body.An easy kill.The rest were not so easy.He dodged various kunai's an shurikens with absurd ease,but there were too many of them.He had to find a way to get them all at once.Neji grinned.He knew just the technique to do that.

His hands formed the seals."Hakkeshou Kaiten!"and soon,Neji's body was a whirl of blue-green chakra.Many ninja were thrown away from the tornado,but others still came back at him.Tenten was also having difficulties.It had seemed that they had been ordered to specially attack Tenten.

A horde of ten jounin or so clustered around her.Tenten never had a chance.A sharp blow to the head blacked her out,her tired body fell with a thunk on the floor.One of the ninja grabbed the unconscious body,and the team quickly leaped out,before Neji could do anything.They were gone.He stood there,an empty feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Why did they want Tenten for?In all the past missions,it had been him that the ninja always went for.The Hyuuga prodigy was well-known.What use could they have with a plain Konoha kunoichi with no bloodline?

---

Pain was the first thing she felt when she awoke.Her head was throbbing,and her eyes were closed.The lids of her eyes weakly fluttered open,to reveal a darkened room.Where am I?,she thought,as memories came flying back to her.

A feeling of shame fell on her like a stone.She'd failed Neji,she'd let herself be abducted.But what use did they have with her?She felt no fear,only shame,as a figure entered the room.A figure she immediately recognized,and hated with all her heart.He stepped in front of her,a gloating smile on his face.

"It's been a long time."

A voice she hated.