Think About It

...

"Ready to show us what you've got?"

Rosy hues of sunrise rode across the golden desert sand, illuminating the quartet that had gathered in those early hours. Tenten stood at the head of the group holding her gun face down to the sand and eyes set on the ten empty glass bottles she had brought - now her unfortunate targets. Neji, Naruto and Lee stood a few feet behind. Despite Lee just finishing the nightshift he still held a brightness that never seemed to dull. Though he didn't meet the current trends in terms of appearance, fashioning a peculiar green shirt, an orange waistcoat, and a red bandana along with boots he filled with sand to keep himself in 'top form', he was a dedicated member who wanted nothing more than to protect his town.

"Do you think she can do it?" Lee whispered to Neji, keeping his hand close to his lips to block her from overhearing. Neji stood with arms folded as he begged the question himself.

"Lee." Blue eyes stared him down until Lee resumed his original position. Before turning back to the anticipated show Naruto took a sneak peek at his deputy for any signs of doubt. There were none. Only an aura of curiosity emanating as his gaze locked on her from behind.

Gone were the foreign clothes that Hinata had lent her. Now she wore an attire that, though thrown together from the lost and found from visitors long gone, much better suited her person. A sandy brown skirt that levelled at her calves whipped freely in the early morning breeze, revealing traditional boots that were worn down but sturdy enough for another round. Her slender waist hugged a gun holster that was made for someone twice her size, but she had gotten creative and crafted rough holes at the belt buckle to make it much more wearable for her. Dancing above that was a deep cherry red poncho that dipped in a v-shape at her waist and retracted at her elbows to reveal a simple white long-sleeved shirt with some ruffles around the wrists. Topping it all off was a dark brown cowboy hat with a gold trim which partially hid the two braids that fell over her shoulders. Whilst her look did invite a sense of truth to her statement, Neji held out before diving right in - it wouldn't be the first time someone had distorted reality for their own benefit.

As though reading his thoughts and ready to show him otherwise she turned with brunette eyes brimming with determination. "Of course."

Turning back, she carefully eyed each of the bottles that were all spaced on top of the peaks in the fence about 20 yards ahead. She closed her eyes as she felt the wind lash at her cheeks. The world around her closed in and faded until she was filled with calculations but, most importantly, an innate feeling to pull the trigger.

The instant there was a lag in the wind she took aim. Six deafening shots sounded one after the other without mercy and with each followed a pop as the bottles shattered in accordance. Her free hand hit the hot barrel of the gun making the cylinder unclasp from its position as she brought it into her person, catching it in a cradle as she reloaded. Just as the ringing from the first load resided, four more bullets fired. The rest of the targets fell to her attack. When silence fell, Tenten's eyes closed once more. She revelled in the peace that came after, like chasing the same thrill she had felt the very first time she had used one as a child. It had also been the only essence of control in light of drunken spats, bruising blows, and apologies without meaning a past not so far behind her…she hoped at least. Before she fell in too deep, she willed for her eyes to open as she turned to view the spectators. As she'd predicted, it was a silent ovation.

"W-Woah.." The mouth of the blonde kept slightly ajar as he looked again for the bottles that no longer remained. To his left, Lee also had his mouth hung in awe without sound as he too searched the horizon. Neji was the only one to remain somewhat in control of his reaction. Rather than be distracted by the absent bottles, his gaze locked onto hers with an intensity that made her cease her gloat. Of all the people she wanted to rub her talent in their face it was most definitely him. But this wasn't his usual piercing look she had come to expect from him. It was even deeper than shock. It seemed more like…respect.

A sudden fire emanated from her cheeks. Never before had she felt embarrassed at giving a show - then again, it's not like she showed people without the need to defend herself. She reasoned with herself that that must have been why she felt that way. Her gaze unhooked from his as she attempted to regain her composure. Besides, there were much bigger things to deal with.

"What?" The still smoking revolver spun effortlessly around her index finger. "Need more convincing? Or am I in?"

…

"Sasori of the Red Sand?" Tenten said breathlessly. Though she couldn't place the name in her memory, she recalled how he had slipped so effortlessly through her fingers just yesterday. His name suited him irritably well.

"Yes. At least, that's the name he goes by. Like I said, he's just one of the group of bandits known as The Famous Ten, and one of six members who we actually know something about. The other four members, we have next to no idea about them."

"You haven't heard of them before?" Lee sat the wrong way on his chair at his desk in the corner of the sheriff's office, his chin resting on the backs of his hands as he asked his new comrade.

She shook her head. "I'd heard of a group of bandits that had started trouble along this side of the West, but other than that I…I didn't know." Avoiding the near miss of spilling about her past, she continued before anyone could focus on her answer. "What about the other five that we know of? What are their details?"

"Of the five that we have more details of, only one is a woman." Neji had stayed in the shadows since they had arrived back and hadn't breathed a word, so much so that Tenten began to wonder if she had been seeing things earlier. Her attention, including everyone else's, snapped to watch him as he leant his back on the wall toward her back. She searched for the same gaze he had given her before, but his lids remained closed as he continued to explain. "She goes by Konan. We know she has a strong say in what happens in the group but we don't know much else. Then there's Deidara. He's particularly crafty and has been rumoured to create the explosives that have allowed them to be so successful in their attacks. Then there's Hidan. He's been captured so many times and sentenced to death every time, yet he's somehow escaped every single time."

"Some joke that he's immortal, but at this point I'm starting to believe it's true!" Naruto piped up before Neji resumed.

"Finally there's Kakuzu and Kisame… the only thing we know about them is that they're incredibly dangerous and crave fighting."

"Tenten." Naruto said seriously. "You know the reason why we're letting you in on this, right?"

"You want me to help you out, right?"

He looked away. Hearing the truth come from someone other than himself made him think it over once more. It was only a moment's hesitation, but weighing up the possible return over the risk forced him to continue. "It is all your decision. There will be no negative consequences if you refuse. You can go on doing light work until what you owe is paid. Or, you can join us. In return, all debt will be written off and any bounty we get in reward shall be shared equally amongst us."

She'd expected the offer, but not with the bounty included on top of that. Though she got the impression that these lawmakers were actually decent, there was always a part of her that had to question the limits of humanity – this was the wild west after all where even sheriffs and criminals were all cut from the same cloth. The only difference was some wore a badge and others a reward over their heads. Tenten searched Naruto's face for any sign of deceit, but all she got was a gentle stare that didn't demand anything in return.

"Think about it." Naruto filled the hesitation on her behalf. "I'll give you until this time tomorrow. We have a plan to scout for their position tomorrow. If you're in, let us know before then."

By this point, Neji had cracked his eyes open and noticed how her head tilted to the right in deep thought. Even from behind, he could feel as fickle temptation invaded logic. She showed that she was more than capable of handling a gun, but would she really risk her life for some strangers, for money, or perhaps to trade in her former life for a new start? Depending on what she valued more would ultimately be the deciding factor.

A knock sounded from the door and Naruto called for the figure to enter. "Ah, Sasuke." He greeted as the ebony haired man came into the room. Just as Tenten had begun to intimately think about her choices, she instantly tensed up as she watched the new addition come into the middle of the room. Neji picked up the change in her person, and continued to watch from the side.

Naruto stood in welcome, flashing a brilliant smile on his face. "Neji, Lee, you know Sasuke already. Tenten, he's new to Konoha too. He arrived a couple of days ago and let us in on the recent attacks of The Famous Ten a couple of towns away from us. If it weren't for him, we may not have been prepared for Sasori's attack. He's been a huge help!" Side by side the pair couldn't have looked any different. One bright-eyed with boyish charm who had no problem with physical contact as he slapped the other's shoulder in greeting, whilst Sasuke in dark attire from head to toe leant uncomfortably away without so much as a simper of gratification.

"Really Naruto, it's nothing." He sighed. Clearly this wasn't this first time he had experienced this.

"Come on, what else do you want me to say! Drinks are on me tonight - come on, you gotta join me this time."

"I'm fine." He said stoically. As Naruto and him continued to have a comical spat, there was nothing funny about Tenten's continued distressed reaction to this encounter. Neji wished he had taken a better position to see her facial appearance, but he had wanted to escape her intense looks for a moment to gather himself. That morning he had felt humbled at how he had been shown up, and he had to figure out how best to move on. Yet, he felt that there was a bigger issue brewing at hand, something that lingered in her secrets. Whatever it was, Sasuke was a part of it, and for once he would trust her - even if she couldn't say it herself.

…