A/n: Chapters 5 and 6 are here! Yay! And thanks to those who reviewed...I try not to ask because even I don't review everything I read, so thanks so much to those who reviewed anyway! Ok, hope you like it!

----------

Chapter 5: Two Months Time

"You're getting faster, Tenten," Neji said through clenched teeth, as he dodged a barrage of weapons that seemed to come incessantly from the heavens. Honestly, when the clouds darkened sometimes, he had the slight urge to run under a roof or activate his Byakugan, but he would never say that of course. Most people were used to only one kind of rain. Neji was used to two.

"Thank you," Tenten's voice rang from the trees somewhere to his left, causing him to turn in anticipation to that direction. Suddenly, though, a certain kunoichi's chakra aura came from the opposite direction, giving Neji just enough time to figure out her attack and block it. Instead of flying past Neji just left of him, like she had planned, Tenten let out a little yelp of surprise when she found herself face to face with the ground...off a good distance to the right of him. "Oh alright, Neji," she panted out, rolling over and sitting upright, "You win...this time."

To her surprise, he walked over, and then proceeded to sit down next to her. They had just ended their afternoon practice. "You have been working harder than usual, Tenten. It's noticeable. Is there a reason?"

"You mean I need a reason to work hard?" Tenten replied angrily. Then, with a sudden change of mood, she quietly began, "Well, actually, there is a reason...but...it...nevermind..." She trailed off.

"So, what is the reason?" Neji persisted.

Tenten gave him an exasperated look before reluctantly responding, her head turned down. "Well, when that little punk attacked me...he-he said I wasn't as strong as he thought...or...something along those lines...and-and I just wanted to...well...uh...-"

"I understand," Neji stated plainly. Tenten turned and looked into his achromic eyes. The great Hyuuga prodigy knew what she was going through? This was new. He tried to explain, but was cut off when a figure clad in bright green spandex called to them.

"Hey, guys!" He had stopped moving forward, and was running in place directly in front of them now. "I was just running laps around the city, and Tsunade-sama told me to get you two. She didn't sound hurried, and she even told me to take my time getting to you...so I hurried."

"Thanks, Lee. We'll head over now," replied Tenten. Then, without saying a word to each other, Neji and Tenten, both knowing already what this was about, stood and started on toward to the Hokage's office.

----------

"Damnit, Lee, I said take your time," Tsunade groaned as the two Jounin stood before her, "Well, you're both here now...so let's begin." Neji and Tenten nodded. "Okay, over the two months you both thought I was wasting, which I wasn't, I sent out numerous missions with other Jounin to help collect data about this boy who attacked you," she handed Tenten the papers with his information, and she turned so that Neji could read them as well, "His name is Reiki Imoshinai, obviously part of the Reiki Clan. The clan is stationed in the Village Hidden in the Mist. Now, this clan was definitely right to stay in the Village of Mist because they have a bloodline trait that allows them to mask or exaggerate their chakra readings or auras. This would explain why no one could sense him; he was hiding his chakra."

"Then why did I feel it at just the last second?" Tenten asked.

"It may be that he doesn't have full control over the bloodline trait yet, or it may be that on physical contact, the victim feels the chakra at an overwhelmingly magnified level. I really have no idea. This is something you both will have to figure out on your mission...You are up to the mission...right?" Tsunade said it just to annoy them. She already knew the answer because she had seen the both of them training harder than ever out on Team Gai's training grounds.

She got just the reaction she wanted: two extremely pissed off Jounin who would gladly smack her out of sheer annoyance, but couldn't because of their positions. She chuckled. "I was kidding, calm down. Be back here in 15 minutes with at least a month's supply and anyone else you would like to take with you during the journey." Both Jounins, the dagger-glares gone from their eyes, bowed and left.

"Hey, Neji, you weren't thinking of taking anyone else along, were you?" Tenten asked, after they had made it out of the bustling halls of the tower.

"No, but you can if you feel we need any help," Neji stated, devoid of all emotion, as usual.

Tenten quickly shook her head. "No, actually I have this - I don't know - feeling that, well, this mission might be a bit personal for me...and I'd like to keep it down to just the two of us."

Neji simply nodded.

Fifteen minutes later, both Jounins were standing in front of their Hokage's desk, backpacks set for a month. Tsunade wasn't at all surprised to see only the two of them. They were a good team, Tenten and Neji. "They also make a cute couple," she noted. "Alrighty then, the last bit of info left is that Imoshinai was last seen at the Fire Country's coast in a village. He killed the local police captain there and demanded that his deed be reported to Konohagakure. This is why I waited until now to tell you; I needed a lead as to where he was." She handed the pair a map, "The village is circled on there, as it has no set name." Tsunade looked at Tenten and Neji expectantly. "You both have my luck and a blessing for this mission, and that translates to 'you two had better come back or send a letter or something before a month.' Got it?" They both nodded. "Then, out you go."

The Jounins bowed quickly and left. Tsunade watched them head toward the East Gate through her window. "They'll be okay...Yeah, the two of them can almost read each others' minds. I think...I think...Oh, damnit, I want to run out there and scream at them to stop...but I already gave them the mission...and they would leave even if I retracted it...Oh God, you two had better come back soon!"

----------

On their way to the Eastern Gate, Tenten and Neji ran into their one and only green spandex-clad sensei, Gai. "Why hello, my youthful students!" he exclaimed, "and just where are you two headed off to in such a hurry, hm?"

"We were sent on a mission, sensei," Tenten explained as vaguely as she could, avioding eye contact as well.

"Rank," Gai commanded rather than asked. He saw his two students shift uncomfortably in front of him. "Well, out with it, or I'll tell Tsunade to recall the mi-"

"S-rank," Neji cut in. Tenten waited anxiously for her sensai's gasp of disapproval. He was proud of his team, but even he was a little surprised that Tsunade had given out an S-rank mission to them. Those were saved for Jounins with more experience.

"Well at least the Hokage has faith in them and their abilities, ne? Hm, I wonder what the mission is," Gai mused, "but I shouldn't ask. It's an S-rank after all. God, I hope Kakashi didn't put them up to this...No, even he has some sort of honor to live up to. Well then, I can only do one thing."

"Alright, you have my luck, youthful students of mine. Come," said Gai as he started toward the East Gate. All the way, the team walked in silence, each wondering what was in store for the others, except Gai. He talked on and on about such trifle things as if there were any ramen stores where they were going. Both of his students had been around him long enough to know that this was his way of showing concern and anxiety.

At the gate, Tenten said, "Gai-sensei, don't be worried about us, please. We can handle ourselves. We'll come back, okay? I promise."

Gai's façade finally cracked. "Why didn't you at least ask for help? Take Lee along. Smaller numbers doesn't always mean you're brave. It can mean the difference between life and death, Tenten. I just want you to know that. The mission...it's over that attack, isn't it?" During his talk of ramen stores, Gai had really been thinking about the mission. He continued without an answer from his pupil. "Look, I know that this mission may be a bit...deep for you, but still, both Lee and I are here. You can always ask for help, got it? Just send the word and we'll rush to your location with all the strength of a thousand youth fil-"

Tenten sighed. "Gai-sensei, you don't need to worry. I just told you that. And I know that the rest of the team is here. I promise to call for help if we need it, so...don't worry, okay?"

Gai reluctantly nodded. "Well then, you two had better get going. It's already three," he motioned to the sun's position.

Both Tenten and Neji, who was quiet during the others' conversation, bowed and thanked their sensei. And then, they started away from Konohagakure. After the two had turned away from the gate, Lee jogged up just in time to yell a hurried goodbye to his two comrades. "They'll be fine, Gai-sensei. I know they will," said Lee reassuringly, even though he was wondering the same thing his companion next to him was:

"Will we ever see them again?"

----------

A/n: Hope you liked it! Now...on to chapter 6!