Hi all,

Blinkstated here. Its January 2019, and I can't tell you quite why I'm here writing to you. It has been over two years since I started writing this and a year since I've updated. I have this small fire in me recently to take some time and write more. I only have a few classes of university left for this last semester, so I have much more time in the coming months. In the time that this story started, I've traveled to 9 counties, I lived in Japan for a year for study abroad, and I am currently back in Japan on an internship. I know most of you don't care for these author updates, but I wanted to say I've grown a lot, and hope its reflected in my writing, the update today, January 8th, 2019 I have fixed and updated the first three chapters. I realized I needed to re-read the story to keep writing, even though I have had the plot planned out from the beginning written in a separate file. I kind of forgot what happened with the details and all. I did take the time to fix spelling, grammar, and flat-out awful mistakes, (thanks Grammarly, you should get credit for being my beta.)

Anyway, enough nonsense, I hope you enjoy the updated not so cringy mistakes, and I promise fixed chapters 4-6 and a new chapter seven in the next week or so.

-Blinkstated

Opening her eyes to see the sun shining into her room, Tenten gathered herself to her feet. Letting out a light sigh, she glanced at her bedside table, 7:30 AM. She had made plans for a light sparring session to start at 7:45 before they were off on a mission the following day.

With panic spreading through her she bounded across her room to her closet. Upon opening it, she took a look over her wardrobe, simple breathable clothes that were all equally adequate for a sparring session. She was never one to own anything girly anyway, as a kunoichi, really what was the point? She began to bind her chest in wraps, then selecting a loose-fitting pair of black cutoff pants and a simple white take top. Adjusting a small scroll to the base of her back she glanced into the full-length mirror at the foot of her bed and she was pleased with the look. Throwing her hair up into her trademark buns running down the stairs then slipping on her combat sandals, she was out the door.

The training grounds where she was headed to were on the complete opposite side of the village, so she knew she had to hurry to make it there on time. Not wanting to sprint and expel too much energy she started a light jog and thought to herself it was a good way to warm up her muscles anyhow.

Taking nice and easy strides down the street she would listen to the village begin to wake up for the day. Most days she not take the time to notice these things but today felt different. The differences that have come upon the village as well as the people of Konoha in the two years of peace that has followed the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War.

The mountainside had added another face of none other than Hatake Kakashi, even though it wasn't much of his face since he still wore that horrid mask that covered over half of it. He has been able to keep friendly negotiations with all nations but those especially of the Suna. The Kazekage Gaara has continued to show a true understanding between the nations and has gained the uttermost respect of his people from his humble beginnings.

Continuing her push for the training grounds she passes the large field outside the front of the Academy. She knows that is not the original building because the destruction to the village that was endured by Pain before the Fourth Shinobi World War, but thanks to many, the rebuilt building stood on the same ground that it had once been filled with young shinobi like her self. A simple open field with a fence surrounding it. It might not seem like much too many, but to her, this is the place that shaped her into who she is and where she met the friends that she would form unbreakable bonds with.

Nearing the exit gates she began to pick up the pace. Running at top speed through the trees of the forests that surround the village, she made a slight turn to the left, knowing she is on the last leg of the journey to the training grounds.

As the clearing comes into view, she begins to see a figure seated on the ground in the middle of mediation. Sporting a stain-free as always, pure white tunic, with long strands of straight brown hair swaying in the wind. It seems like he hasn't noticed her approaching yet. He then lifts his head, those unmistakable pale, almost purple eyes staring back at her.

"You're late" He murmured.

Before she could respond, he was gone.

Knowing his game plan, she reaches for the scroll and immediately undoes the seal on her Bo. Tenten begins to sense her surroundings. Knowing full and well that he will be difficult to detect, even after all these years of being on the same team and hours spent training together, he always seemed to have the upper hand every time they sparred.

When they were younger, she remembered how unimpressed he was at anything she did. Not that she wanted to him to be wooed by her skills by any means, she just wanted a teammate that would acknowledge her and her skills, and a little more respect would have been nice.

In the beginning when they had just been named to Team Gai along with Lee. The other two had advanced very quickly in their respective fields. Lee, was the hardest worker she had ever seen, well besides Gai. They would train with unrealistic goals, then have punishments for not reaching the goal in the first place even harder. On many occasions, she could recall them walking on their hands counting lap after lap around the village.

"If I cannot do 500 laps on my hands around the village, then I will do 1000 pushups! And if I cannot do that I will do 2000 kicks!" they would both shout in unison.

While on the other hand Neij had been a genius from the start. He easily outdid all of the others at their age as if it was an annoying game, like when you parents made you play nice with your little siblings. Graduating the academy at top of his class, he felt as if everyone with inferior skills were unnecessary and below him. Until his first Chunin exams where he got his ass handed to him in the third round by none other than Naruto Uzumaki. He learned then, that one's fate can be changed.

Neji had grown kinder in the years following the incident. It was not until the war that ended two years ago, had he truly acknowledged her for who she was. A strong kunoichi in her own right.

She heard rustling in the bushes behind her, she turns and charged towards noise with her Bo gripped tightly in her hands leading the way. Neji appeared from the dark, hands drawn into his battle stance.

Instinctively she lunged forward at his figure with Bo in hand. He easily dodged the attack, siding the Bo to the side with the use of one wrist. He responded the attack forcing a hand to her abdomen. Avoiding the attack, Tenten gracefully bent at her waist, back flipping her way to safety.

She smiled "You know you could have just said hello instead of running to hide and to then sneak up on me."

"Now how much fun would that have been?" he smirked. "You were late, you did this to yourself."

"I never do that to you when you're late, now do, I?"

"That is simply because I am never late."

Which, in all honesty, was and is true, Neji was never late. He still had to be "perfect shinobi." Even it was just with her, and Team Gai.

They continued their spar, dancing through the trees like leaves blowing in the wind. So intertwined in each other's movements, giving and taking hits, but no one was prevailing as an obvious winner. This went on for what seemed like hours.

Suddenly two green spandex flashes appeared in the opening, Lee, and Gai-sensei.

Lee yells "Tenten! Neji! We are here to train with you in all our youthful might!" Flashing a big smile with two thumbs up in the air.

Tenten nearing exhaustion after the already few hour spar with Neji, "Lee why don't you and Guy-Sensei take over for me? I have plans to get lunch with Temari before I leave tomorrow."

"Will do Tenten! Anything for you, our beautiful flower!"

With one last glance backward, she sees a smirk on Neji's face, and she heads back to the village.