Drive Me Crazy' as a mini-series in this collection. Enjoy!

Drive Me Crazy
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Merge

'Lady Hyūga' was a title long-revered in Konoha. However, where some had worn that title as a mantle of pride, or wielded it like a club, Hinata Hyūga wore it with a gracious subtlety; an expensive and unpretentious accessory donned daily that often went unnoticed by the untrained eye. In fact, were one to encounter her at the market, or somewhere mundane, there would be nothing to indicate they had met someone with a lineage traceable in ancient and carefully inked scrolls. Her gentle grace and kindness endeared her to all who knew her.

Her pale, lavender eyes were the only tell-tale hint that she hailed from one of Konoha's oldest and most illustrious families, and they were currently studying her cousin Neji over a cup of tea.

"It sounds as though you have had quite a few adventures since we last spoke."

"Adventures might just be the word for it," he scoffed lightly. "'Near Death Experiences' might be another option."

Hinata's laugh was light. "Either way, you made Kō's day when you called for a ride. He asked me to make sure you knew he was available at any time."

"I might take him up on that," he set his cup down. "It would certainly be kinder to my nerves."

"Oh?" she hid the quirk of her lips behind her tea. "Does this woman make you nervous?"

"Terrified," he deadpanned. "At least when she drives."

"Well, I don't know that I can help you there, but I do think I can allay some of your other fears."

She handed Neji several manila folders before reaching for the teapot to refresh their cups.

"I did as you requested and asked around about Sabaku Securities. I had heard of them before, but we've always done our own security "in house" as it were. It turns out that it is a very reputable firm."

"And the younger brother is tied to the film industry?"

"That checked out as well. I was even able to learn a little about your new partner. She has done several bodyguard and security assignments in this area, and anyone that mentioned her to me was well pleased with her service and abilities. It appears her time working with Madam Shijimi is well known in certain circles, and she comes off in a positive light. I am certain I don't need to tell you that Madam Shijimi can be a very difficult client."

Neji shook his head.

"Has Tenten told you much about her work?"

"Not really," he turned the page of a file, reading through it.

"Then, you don't know how she met Kankurō?"

"No," he looked up from the folder. "Should I?"

"It isn't really a secret per se," she shrugged. "More of a 'little known fact."

Neji raised his eyebrows.

"Hinata!"

They both turned to find Hanabi hurrying toward them.

"Did you tell him yet?!"

Neji looked between them. "Tell me what?"

"That your friend is legitimately badass," Hanabi plopped down next to Hinata and helped herself to a cup of tea. "I heard all about her from Genma."

"From Genma?" Neji arched an eyebrow. "Sounds like that could be little better than gossip."

"Oh, no, it is so better than just gossip," she plucked a cookie from a tray (that Hinata kept on hand especially for her). "Besides, you know that Genma knows literally everyone. Turns out that Father went to him sometime before Hinata went abroad last year; said he wanted to hire a body guard for her."

"And he did," Neji met Hinata's eyes, and she nodded once. "What of it?"

"Well, while that Kurotsuchi was very competent, she wasn't Genma's first choice. Tenten was."

Neji's brows lifted. "I was unaware they are acquainted – although, if she is known to Gai and Lee, that isn't so surprising."

"Yeah, but that's not the best part. The best part is why she wasn't able to take the job."

"Oh?"

"She was on-set, making a movie," Hanabi said, delighted. "She's a stuntwoman, and has even done some of her own stuff under a different name. She met Kankurō when he was helping design the effects for this insane fight-scene, and he enlisted her to do some contract work for Sabaku. So your partner is famous!"

Neji looked to Hinata questioningly and teased. "Are stunt people considered famous?"

"Um, this one is," Hanabi shoved a magazine into his hands. "She grew up in the Land of Waterfalls – you know how big the movie industry is there right?! Her parents both did martial arts and were in films from the time they were kids. Their story is really great: met as kids, did few movies together as teens, fell in love, got married, had Tenten. Her mom does some directing now, and her dad runs a major dojo. They still choreograph fight scenes now and then. Tenten has worked in films off and on her whole life – as an extra, or as a double."

"Kung-fu movies and spaghetti westerns," he murmured.

"Her stuff is way cooler than that," Hanabi rolled her eyes. "But she keeps a super low profile."

"Odd, considering she introduced herself to me right off of the bat."

"Yeah, as Tenten," Hanabi huffed. "That's been her nickname since she was a kid, and not many people know it. Her real name is Tian Hoshi."

"Hoshi?" he blinked. "Like that Ryu Hoshi whose movies you used to make us watch?"

"Yes, and like Chun-Li Xiang-Hoshi, whose movies you used to make us watch."

Neji wanted to dismiss the whole thing as ridiculous, but as soon as Hanabi said that, he saw it. More importantly, he couldn't unsee it.

"I suppose that explains the hair," he said lamely. "But how do you know all of this?'

"I dug that out of an old collection," she motioned to the magazine in his hands, and he opened it. "Its one of the only interviews she did, and it was about nine years ago when she was sixteen."

Hinata looked to Neji. "So she is your age?"

"I guess so," he flicked through the pages.

Hinata sat closer to Neji to look at the magazine over his shoulder. "How did you figure this out, Hanabi?"

"I saw her on duty a while back," she admitted, rummaging into her bag to hand Hinata a more recent magazine. "I just thought she looked familiar. I just couldn't place her, until I saw her sparring with Lee at the dojo. She really is unreal."

"I wonder what brings her to Konoha," Hinata opened the magazine and skimmed the table of contents.

"From what I hear she still does stunt work, but I think she's been picking up a few more jobs with Gaara."

"And being a Lyft driver is flexible enough for someone that can handle themselves," Neji allowed. "And it says here that she is actually a stunt driver as well?"

"Oh, yeah," Hanabi's eyes gleamed. "She's done loads of chase scenes. I hear you had a very direct sample of her work?"

"Far too direct," he grimaced.

"Hm," Hanabi hummed, and exchanged a knowing glance with her sister. "I am still planning on traveling next year; maybe I should put a request in early to have Tenten join us!"

"Perhaps," Hinata's smile was amused. "If nothing else, it seems like it would make sense to get to know her. Would you like to invite her around Neji, or shall I?"

Neji flicked the magazine shut. "I am assigned to work with Tenten, not socialize."

"Ah yes," Hinata tipped her head to the side and considered him. "I had a very nice chat with Kakashi the other evening – I hated to interrupt his conversation with Madam Shijimi, but it was a matter most urgent."

"Oh?"

"Can't recall now quite what," her smile was coy, "but at the time it required his immediate attention. He actually asked if I had met Tenten and seemed to think it would be a good idea for me to do so. I suspect he would like me to introduce her to some of the other families in the area, and to make a connection here or there to keep the social end of the case healthy."

"In other words," Hanabi leaned in, "Kakashi knows that sending you to talk to these women will be like feeding you to the wolves; they'll eat you for breakfast."

Neji didn't wholly disagree with the assessment, even if it rankled him that Hinata had been consulted in this and he had not.

"So?" Hinata asked again. "Would you like to bring her by for tea, or shall we meet on our own?"

Neji sighed.

"What days work for you?"

By the time he left, he had arranged for Tenten to meet Hinata (and Hanabi had arranged to be in attendance, even if her presence was not strictly necessary), and he couldn't decide who was helping whom. Later that night, he got a call from Lee inviting him to the dojo for a spar.

"I understand you have met our Most Youthful Lotus, Tenten!" he enthused. "I have invited her as well – I can't believe I'll finally have two of my favorite sparring partners in one place!"

Neji fell asleep with images from those articles floating in his dreams, played out against a background of a movie he wasn't certain he remembered, but whose heroine he certainly recognized. The next day when he picked up Tenten he had two challenges:

1) Deciding if and when to bring up her career.

2) Trying to pretend he hadn't spent the entirety of the previous evening dreaming about her.

Neji was counting on the the spars to delay the first and defer the second. But when she pinned him to the mat, he gave up the idea that #2 wouldn't repeat, and countered by pinning her in turn.

"Nice!" she laughed. "Since this is a fair fight, you win."

"And if it wasn't?"

Her eyes sparked in challenge, and he felt her wrists twist under his palms, testing his hold.

"Care to find out?"

Something flared under his ribs, and that strange, steadied calm slid over him - the one that marked his younger days when he competed with Lee, and had been regarded by the other fighters as unbeatable.

He adjusted his hold, pinning her securely, unable to stop the haughty twist to his lips.

Her grin became wicked as the understanding passed between them.

With moves almost too fast to follow, she went for a headbutt, forcing him to move back, and giving her that half-second of opportunity to break his hold. She scrambled to her feet, her entire body language electric and predatory.

"Alright, partner," she tossed her work-out jacket to the side. "Let's go."

Neji now had a third challenge... and he suspected he was going to love every minute of it.

Badass Tenten is canon, but Stunt-woman Tenten is one of my favorite head-canons. If the other names seem familiar, you grew up playing Street Fighter. Or maybe you read my 'Twelve Days of Christmas?' Tenten being related to Ryu/Chun-Li is one of my favorite AU concepts.

Pick your poison, friends! What do you want to read next? A) Neji suavely maneuvering Tenten out of an awkward situation. B) Neji having to get behind the wheel of a race car for a defensive driving exercise per Kakashi's order, ... and guess who is tagging along?"