Monday, December 23rd, 2013.

Hey guys! Sorry I'm late (again)!

I planned on updating yesterday, but my mom took us to a family friend's house to say hi, but ended up staying for 3.5 hours. Right after that, I had to sleep because of a bad headache I had and didn't wake up until late this morning.

This chapter's also shorter than usual. I was wondering on adding another POV to make it longer, but deciding against it b/c I didn't have time (I also wrote the chapter late).

Next chapter, I plan on it being Ino, Karin, and Temari's turn. Right now, it's Tenten's and Kiba's (with their respective partners') turn.

News/Facts: I finished The Fault in Our Stars. Loved it. Definitely reading more John Green (The next book of his I plan to read is Looking for Alaska). Though I didn't cry in TFiOS, I definitely teared up. For whatever reason, they just didn't fall. And I cannot love the title of the book any more than I already do. It's- just- so- GAH!
I watched Thor: The Dark World last weekend, as a late birthday thing. I love you Loki.
Did I already tell you I'm an AruAni (AoT/SnK) shipper? (even if it won't happen in canon) I just like the couple. Recommend me some fics!
Psycho-Pass is getting dubbed! And it looks good! Kyaa~!

AotW: #2... Uh... I can't think of many by others from the top of my head, but please check out A Couple Moments by me! Okay? (It's a Journey is okay-ish, too, but I like ACM better).

Disclaimer: IDNON.

Dedication: Friends, family, and you all because I love you guys. Happy Holidays!

GRR:

Chloe: I will and thank you. :) Thanks again, Chloe. :D

Osiria Rose: Thank you. :) I'm still sorry, though. :( And I was late again this time. DX *virtual hugs back* Thank you, thank you, and thank you. :) I do my best. :D Her CM is a bit different, and she also has a very weak Voice, which only appeared when she first got it over 10 years ago. So yeah, even though she does have a strong will, her experience of the CM is vastly different from Sasuke's. His is unique.
He just might as well have them. I'm positive he was actually clinically insane back when he tried to kill Karin and Sakura, but I think he's just more stubborn and a blind-hater rather than totally delusional. Almost, but not quite. But that's just me. :)
BTW, you were the 225th reviewer of DoOver, so I owe you a one-shot. Once you get an account, PM me and tell me what you want in it. Is it safe to assume that it will be SasuSaku? ;D

Warnings: Spiders and creepy powers. *shudder* Oh, and some language. That's about it.

Content: Tenten & Neji and Kiba, Akamaru & Kankuro vs. their respective SN4 opponents.

Romantic Content: NejiTen. That's it.

Length:

No AN: ~3.4k.

AN: 4.46k exactly.


Chapter 27: Arachnophobia and Kicking Ass


Tenten POV

"Watch out!" I yelled as I tackled Neji down to the ground and behind a large tree, just avoiding an arrow over our heads.

We landed harshly on the ground, but we quickly got back up, running as fast as we could farther into the forest before resting against a large tree and setting up a genjutsu.

Huffing, Neji thanked me. "Th-thanks."

I nodded in response, catching my breath but trying to be as quiet as possible.

"What else…" Neji asked between pants. "Do you know about this guy?"

"Well, uh…" I stopped for a moment to completely catch my breath, as Neji caught his.

We leaned in close to each other, not at all deterred from the proximity, having been so close for so many years.

"His name is Kidoumaru, is about our age(1), and one of Oreo's favorite minions, from the group the Sound Ninja 4/5,"(2) I whispered into his ear.

Neji nodded. "More?" He murmured into mine.

"You know about the whole Curse-Mark-stages thing, right? Remember when Karin told all of us about it after Sasuke got bitten?"

He nodded.

"His second-level form is spider-like, and I hear he often uses spiders he controls in his fights. He has a bow and arrow, and I think he shoots spikes from his body, often from his mouth. He creates this über-strong web that can't be cut by things. It might work if we used chakra, though…"

When I was done and pulled away from Neji's ear, I found him giving me an annoyed look.

"What?" What's his problem?

"You knew about this."

"Yeah. I told you, the girls and I planned this with Karin and Temari beforehand."

"Did you pick who would fight whom?"

"Yeah; who we thought would be a good patch + a partner for them. We went over this, already, Neji-kun." I sighed. What is he getting at?

His eyes widened slightly at the re-added suffix to his name, due to the fact that if we didn't have to fight together, I'd be giving him the silent treatment; forget the suffix.

However, that did not at all deter him from blowing up at me.

"You purposely chose to fight a man that was spider-like?! Are you out of your mind!?" he whisper-yelled, getting right in my face.

I scowled. So that's his problem!

"You were the best match for him, and Lee and I work best with you! But Lee's injured, so I have to fight this guy with you, you arrogant jerk!" I replied, also whisper-yelling.

"I ought to just fight this guy myself! You'd just be useless anyway! I could take care of him just fine on my own without you!" His face was red and he was practically snarling. "Just what were you thinking Tenten?! You are such a dumbass!"

I was hurt and angry, but him saying he'd fight Kidoumaru on his own terrified me. My body froze and my anger dissipated, the memory of his terrible state after fighting the Sound nin the last time taking over my thoughts. He's not even as strong now as he was then! Forget critical injuries, he'd get killed! It happened in the future anyway! Itachi said we couldn't prevent every death? What if Neji's is one of them?!

"No!" I grabbed his arm, hugging it to myself. Fear and desperation from it had taken over my actions and thoughts; it was overwhelming. Our previous argument was quickly forgotten. "You're not fighting on your own! I won't let you!"

I forgot to lower my voice, and before I could say anything else, Neji covered my mouth with his free hand. "Shh!"

I didn't try to struggle as tears ran down my cheeks. I was so terrified of him dying again, I didn't even care that I was crying. Even though I'm still just a bit angry with him right now, the thought of him dying just-…

When he noticed my tears Neji's gaze softened.

"You're really that scared?" He asked, his voice low and soft.

I nodded, my heart rate slowing to a normal pace, the haze from my mind beginning to lift.

He sighed and removed his hand from my mouth, instead going to stroke my head and move my bangs from my eyes.

He can be gentle when he wants to be, part of me thought offhandedly.

I was slowly calming down, and his actions calmed me sooner.

"I don't really understand why, but what you're doing is still foolish, Tenten." He gave me a stern look and I held the gaze levelly. "You're going to fight this Kidoumaru, expecting all-things arachnid, while you have terrible arachnophobia. It is easily the stupidest thing you've done; and that says quite a bit. 'Spider' is in his name,(3) Tenten."

He freed the arm I held captive (Against my breasts – holy shit! I can't believe I did that!) and raised it to hold my cheek.

I sighed and leaned into its warmth.

Neji was right – I did have bad arachnophobia. It was easily my top fear.

That is, until "Neji Dying" bumped it down a step.

Spiders are so terrifying to me, that seeing one, even a small one (but even more so the larger ones) can render my mental state to that of a frightened little child:

I (at least, for the first half hour or so) tremble; cling to those close to me for a few days up to almost 3 weeks; am silent, but when I did speak, it was minimal, simple, child-like sentences; and of course, I had nightmares. Even hallucinations of spiders have happened.

I can be reduced to that state for minutes to two weeks. I usually steel myself on missions, so all that's noticeable is my limited speech as well as my preference to constantly be near my teammates.

One time, I think I hallucinated a spider crawling on my torso and up to my chest on an outdoor party that Team Gai had infiltrated on a mission. I screamed and flailed and told everyone, but not even Neji could find the spider I spoke of. No one in the party found it. No other women screamed about a spider other than the few around me when it happened, in reaction to my own screaming and fear of the spider coming near them.

I spent the next (and final) hour of the party walking around the pool in my heals and dress, holding my clutch and Gai's satchel tightly in my hands – it was beside me that time I saw the spider, and I held it for him (after inspecting it thoroughly) so a spider couldn't get inside. I did my best to act calm, but I never went near the tent (where I saw the spider) again, didn't sit down when asked if I was tired (which I was but I couldn't stop), didn't eat, rarely spoke, and just kept walking around the pool and hot tub until we had to leave (none of us were allowed to leave early when requested). During my first few rounds, I asked Neji and Lee about my back to make sure there wasn't anything crawling up it, and neither of the two boys could accompany me while I walked because the two targets refused to let them go.

That night, though, Neji and Lee slept on either side of me on the floor of our hotel and held me tight, Gai stroking my hair as I fell asleep on Neji's chest, exhausted from crying, which I almost never do.

That happened in both time lines.

For the next couple days, I spoke very little and clung to my boys, had nightmares, and swept at my chest for weeks afterward whenever I remembered what happened. The ferocity of my swiping lessened as the days past, but I didn't actually stop doing it and only really moved past what happened 3 weeks later.

The Lee and Neji slept at my place to keep an eye on me and put my mind to rest for the first week and a half.

It was around then that I also realized I must have hallucinated the spider. I never felt it, only saw it, and I only looked down in at my torso because instinct told me to. But I still didn't feel it and never saw it again. I couldn't even sense it.

Not even Neji was able to find it.

Anyway, it's absolutely terrible, and I've had this horrible fear for as long as I could remember. Could be safe to say that I was born terrified of hating spiders.

The fear grew worse in the orphanage, I believe, where I found many in my room. But, far fewer were found in other rooms. And I couldn't move.

I resorted to sneaking into Naruto's or Lee's rooms for the night.

But the weird thing is that I have little problem with animated spiders – as I grow older, the less it bothers me. I mean, watching the kid's anime Spider Riders(4) when I was little made me wince a little, and made my skin crawl just a bit, but not enough to deter me from watching it, even when Neji asked why I was.

Spiders on TV and picture bother me a lot, but not nearly as much as real ones.

Also, thankfully, I have no problem with Spiderman – I love American comics nearly as much as Japanese manga. The only thing that creeps me out is when the spider the bit Peter shows up on print or on TV. I had to turn away a couple times during that scene in any of the movies.

Even though he wasn't in the orphanage with me, Neji grew up knowing this very, as did Hinata later on.

Whenever we go on a mission where we have to sleep, the whole team (including Gai) inspects the hotel room for spiders, and we always have a spray just in case and to use when we sleep in the woods. I like the woods, I just don't like spiders.

Neji and Lee are always killing nearly every spider I may find in my apartment, (I think they're attracted to me) and I love them both for caring for me so much and knowing me so well.

He knew just how badly spiders affected me, and that was why Neji was so angry right now.

"I know," I said in response to Neji's earlier words, in a small voice. "But I can't let you fight him alone."

He's not going to die again if I have any say in it.

I love him more than enough to stay and protect him to the best of my ability. I've loved him for years…

In both the original timeline and this one, I grew a crush on Neji when we were around 7, and it grew pretty strong until I tried to discard it (because I felt it wouldn't lead to anything favorable and ruin our friendship if I voiced it, because he knew almost the whole time and didn't really treat me any different and I didn't want that to change) when I was 11 or twelve.

It didn't work, and it came back full-force within a year. It was then that I was falling in love with him.

Right now, I have a strong feeling that Neji may like me back right now, but I only wanted to do something about it once Neji made up with Hinata; once our argument was over.

I blushed lightly, but succeeded in keeping my expression the same as Neji readjusted his hold on my jaw and leaned in, shaking his head.

"You still insist on fighting…" He sighed, smiling softly and flicking my nose. "You're so stubborn."

I squeaked in surprise before pouting. He chuckled lightly.

Then, he gave me his trademark smirk and I knew everything was going to be okay. "Just don't hold me back, alright?" He joked.

I grinned. "'Course not! Who do you take me for, Hyuuga?"

The two of us began to lean in more, faces warming and eyelids beginning to close. Are we... going to kiss again?

As I saw Neji tilt his head to the side and part his lips lsightly, I found my answer. Yes.

I leaned in more and closed my eyes, tilting my own head to the other side. We could feel each other's warm breaths on our lips, which were just about to meet when-

"Personally, I take you to be a person that's about to be dead soon," Came a voice behind us. Neji and I, startled, jumped apart slightly and turned towards the interruption.

There stood Kidoumaru half-way in his transformation process, kunai and shuriken in each of his six arms(5).

"You did well to deceive me for a bit with that genjutsu and hiding here, but I'm afraid this is the end for you guys." He smirked darkly. "As much as I liked this game, I'm getting bored. Once I'm done transforming, it's game over for you two lovebirds."

We stood slowly and turned to each other.

"Ready?", his eyes told me.

I nodded.

"Let's do this," he mouthed.

"We can do this," I mouthed back before we charged the Sound Nin.

It'll be okay! I can fight! We're gonna win this thing!


Kiba POV

I can't believe this.

"Why are you my partner?" I yelled in frustration as I dodged an in-coming kunai from Sakon.

"Hell if I know!" Kankuro yelled back, kicking Ukon (who was apparently sleeping on Sakon's back – creepy!) and moving back. At least, that's what I'm guessing from the sounds.

Then, our backs touched -all his puppets were out, so it really was his back- and I shivered, (ugh!) both of us jumping back before receiving a hit from our twin of choice (of opponents).

Akamaru barked and jumped to bite Sakon's arm.

"Ugh, we work terribly together! You're just so – stupid and brash!" Kankuro bit out as he fought Ukon.

"I know we work terribly together, smartass!" I yelled back. "And I don't trust you either! You knew about this Invasion and didn't say anything!"

"'Course I knew! Temari did, too, but she told you, that traitor! How dare she betray her own home like that!" From his tone, I got the feeling that he wished he did the same, but couldn't for whatever reason. But, I was too angry and preoccupied right now to dwell on it. He's still a bastard.

"Because she's got a heart, unlike you!" I bit back.

Just some time earlier, Hinata had dragged Kiba and I some place, explaining what was going on and what we had to do, who we were going to fight, etc., before shoving a simple, silver flare gun with an indigo stripe on it into my hand and telling me to use that as a signal when we were done.

After that, she -after hugging and kissing my and Akamaru's cheeks goodbye and good luck- headed for the hospital. She was in no condition to fight, and bringing us so far into the forest was already wearing her out. She left as soon as she felt Sakon (& Ukon's) chakra.

Why Kankuro and I were chosen to fight together was beyond me. He had all of his (freaky) puppets out but we still weren't winning. Even with that "extra help", we haven't progressed at all!

As I thought that, I received a hard kick right in my solar plexus and fell down hacking and trying to breathe. Hardest hit yet, damn!

Beside me, I heard and smelled Kankuro. He must have been hit hard, too.

On my other side laid Akamaru, who was on his side and whimpering. "Akamaru!"

I looked up angrily to find the twins coming together completing their transformation, which has been going on for a while now. Shit!

After Sasuke was bitten, and once he was healed and conscious and stuff, she arranged a meeting for all of us to tell us all she knew about the Curse Mark. Anko added her own info, too, since she also had it, being Oreo's former student.

She might have even been the first to receive it; not really sure. I wasn't really listening to that part.

Sasuke wouldn't tell us too much but the absolutely necessary about his first transformation, as well as the bare minimum of how and what he felt during, before, and after it. I'm sure everyone, especially our Human Lie Detector, Karin, knew he was lying when he said it was Sakura's words that broke him from his Curse-Mark-takeover. But no one said anything. And neither of the two said otherwise.

He, however, did tell us that Zaku was attempting to rape Sakura, which was what caused him to nearly kill him when under the call of the CM (Curse Mark). Sounds legit to me.

Anyway, long-story-now-shorter, we know about the CM now and we were told that once someone transforms, going into their "2nd stage", their power is enhanced 10x or more.

"No more playing around," Sakon said.

"You two are boring fighters, but your arguments are entertaining." Ukon commented.

They approached Kankuro and I, as began standing.

"Oh, don't bother standing,"Ukon started.

"This'll be over fast." Sakon finished.

Next thing I knew, Sakon… entered my body; Ukon did the same to Kankuro.

We screamed at the painful feeling of invasion while Akamaru whimpered and howled sadly, unable to do anything to stop my pain. What is this?!

Their transformed heads popped out of our sides.

"Once in the 2nd stage of the Curse Mark, we can enter the bodies of our opponents." Sakon explained. "Isn't that so, Brother? Tell them more."

"Shut up, I was planning on it, Sakon." Ukon groaned, but he grinned when he saw the horrified look on his new host's face. "Once inside, we can alter the cells and proteins of our opponents; we can deconstruct you and mess you up on a molecular level. Cool, huh? Kill you from the inside."(6)

I was horrified. This is easily the creepiest and maybe the more terrifying abilities I've ever heard of!

Kankuro looked like he was thinking the same thing, and Akamaru launched at Sakon, aiming to bite his head.

However, he missed as Sakon disappeared back into my body and popped out again on my back. Ugh! That feels terrible!

Instead, Akamaru ended up biting Kankuro's foot, unable to stop his direction mid-air.

Realizing he had missed and hearing Kankuro howling in pain, Akamaru quickly let go and growled at Sakon and Ukon.

"Missed me, you stupid mutt!" Sakon taunted. "It won't be so easy to…"

But I didn't pay attention to what he was saying. I had my eyes locked with Kankuro.

The moment Kankuro was bitten by Akamaru, Ukon's left eye twitched and he frowned as if in pain. But he stabilized his composure almost immediately.

But the change was long enough for both Kankuro and I to notice.

They may be able to hide in our body and be difficult to hit externally, I realized, but whatever damage we receive, they get, too.

We shared a small nod.

"What, speechless, fools?" Ukon taunted. "Are you so terrified that you haven't said a word?"

Kankuro snorted, gathering his chakra strings and taking control of his puppets again. "We haven't given up yet."

I called Akamaru to my side and relayed what I learned to him in dog-speak.

I glared at Kankuro who looked like he found our exchange amusing. Prick.

"Whatever you do," Sakon said, "it'll end up all in the same result. We'll kill you. You can't stop us from screwing with your cells. You lose."

"I'm not so sure about that," I said, taking the crouching stance that I took for the Gatsuuga.

"I've been wanting to this for forever," Kankuro said, sneering at me. He opened Scorpion and had Crow hovering above it.

"So have I," I replied, smirking. "This has been a long time coming."

"What are you talking about?" Ukon asked.

We ignored him.

"Let's go! Akamaru!" I shouted. Akamaru barked, ready.

As I shouted, "Gatsuuga!", Kankuro shouted two techniques – one to have Scorpion attack from the air while Crow was planted on the ground catch the attacker in the end: "Red Secret Technique: Machinery Triangles" and "Black Secret Technique: Machine One Shot" respectively.(7)

"Hey, hey, what are you doing?!" Both Sakon and Ukon said at the same time.

I growled as, while spinning, I charged Scoprion head-on with my and Akamaru's Gatsuuga, as the puppet fired blades with explosive balls attached to them.

If those creepy twins can only take damage that Kankuro and I receive ourselves, what better way to win but to attack each other? We get to beat the other's ass while kicking the enemies' ass at the same time – a win-win situation!

I howled as I got closer and closer to Scorpion, excited for what was to come. Woo-hoo! This is gonna be good!


(1): He was 14 in canon. Here, he's about 15.
(2):
It's 5 with Kimimaro, but Kimimaro won't be making a debut anytime soon so it'd be safe to call them the SN4 for now. In this case, Sakon & Ukon count as one unit in the group. Or you can still consider them the SN5. Whatever. I don't really care.
(3): "Kidou"=spider.
(4): An actual anime that I watched and had the same feelings about. I'm basically retelling my own arachnophobia through the one I made up for Tenten. Except for a few things here and there.
(5): If you noticed, he naturally (well, not really naturally because it's due to Oreo's experimentation) has 6 arms. He doesn't need the Curse Mark for them to show up. With his legs, he has 8 limbs. Like an arachnid. Get it?
(6): Yup. I didn't know until I read up on them on their wiki. That's some of the most scientific powers in Naruto, if not THE most science-based. Effing scary, IMO. I don't want anything messing with my proteins and cells. *shiver*
(7): I looked these up. Trust me, you'll recognize them once you see them. Here's a link: wiki/Red_Secret_Technique_Machinery_Triangles & wiki/Black_Secret_Technique_Machine_One_Shot.

Like I said before, Tenten's experience with her arachnophobia is basically mine, with some minor differences and less nightmares. It sucks.

QotW: #1: Christmas present ideas for DoOver.
#2:
What are you guys doing for the holidays? Do you celebrate any of the holidays of this season?

Happy Holidays, my lovelies!

Love,

-Cherry.