Chapter 22 -The Plan-

This chapter as a reference to an earlier chapter, where Tenten was angry at Neji for leaving her at the hospital and told her he'll buy her a scroll as an apologize. Tenten later tell Neji not to worry about it.

All six took on their battle stance, as the masked ninja walked calmly to them.

'Who here has fought him before?' Lee asked, knowing that people who fought him before had a disadvantage.

'We all have…' Tenten referred to her team mates in a concerned voice

'I have…' Feliia followed up

'I haven't! I can fight' Hano said courageously, only to have Lee hold her back.

'That leaves me' Tsuki informed that others, Ren his wolf coming to his side

'You can't let to fight alone!' Feliia voiced her objection

'I agree!' Tenten said

Tsuki gave a smile 'Are you worried about me?' Tenten blushed, making him smile grow larger

This comment upset Neji, however he didn't let to show. 'I'll join you' Neji offered

'No! no no no! Not you Neji!' Tenten immediately said in objection

'Tenten…' he said calmly, not surprised at the objection, as Tenten didn't like them fighting while injured

'No I refuse!' she interrupted

'Let's be logical here…' Neji replied, trying to calm Tenten down

'Fine! If you go I'm coming too!' Tenten compromised

'No'

'Let's be logical here…' Tenten quoted in her best Neji impersonation

'Tenten…' at this point Neji was getting a little irritated

'You are too reckless that why you didn't get to be Chunin, that time against Naruto'

'…STOP MENTIONING THAT!'

This conversation between the two made Tsuki heart sink, her reaction to the thought of Neji fighting was much more then thought to him fighting.

'If you two are coming I am too!' Lee spoke up

'And me!' Hano followed

'NO!' Both Neji and Tenten replied to Lee

'EVERYBODY STOP!' Feliia called 'This is not helping!'

Silence fell as everyone caught their breath

Tenten lowered her head and her battle stance. 'Let's run for it'

'Huh?!' Everyone shocked about her decision

'I'm not saying run away and let him get away, I'm saying a strategic retreat. We can beat him weak and low on supplies, I personally don't have any weaponry on me'

'I have two kunai, and three smoke bombs' Lee informed

'I also have two, a smoke bomb and recovery kit' Tsuki added to the list

'Sharp objects are dangerous' Hano replied clearly having none

'Err… a mirror, lipstick, bobby pins, a compass, eye liner -' Feliia listed

'I have one kunai…' Neji said cutting off Feliia's useless input, before throwing a parcel at Tenten. Tenten open the parcel.

'A scroll?!' Tenten explained

'I owe you one' Neji replied

'It's blank' Tenten informed

'You were not very specific.' Neji replied. Tenten smiled and again to blush.

'Ummm…' Tenten said trying to hide her obvious happiness 'we can't do this with what we have and the condition we are in. It stupid to be reckless'

Silence fell over the group as reality hit

'There are a few things I want to confirm.' Neji broke the silence

'Neji?' Tenten questioned

'I don't want to voice me suspicion at present, but I would like to head towards the remains of the three scrolls'

'But their ashes now, Neji' Lee replied

'I need a successor to come with me' Neji ignored the previous comment '…preferably the one with the most knowledge about the scroll'

'That would be Tsuki' Feliia replied hesitantly, knowing the friction between the two 'I only became a successor a couple of years ago and Hano still in her studies'

'Uchuno, you're coming with me' Neji ordered

'WHAT?! DON'T YOU ORDER ME AROUND' Tsuki objected. Neji simply stared him down. Tsuki turned to Tenten. Tsuki let go of his pride and nod in agreement

'What about us?' Lee referred to the remaining four 'Do we fight and buy you time?'

'No. I agree wholeheartedly with Tenten' Neji replied 'Split into two teams, partner yourself with a successor, I need one team each to check the defeated ninjas'

'I'll go with Lee' Hano said hugging Lee, she clearly attached to him 'Piggy back rides!'

'YOSH! We'll go check-' Lee begin

'The giant…Me and Tenten will check out the female ninja' Feliia cut Lee off.

'IT WAS NOT WHAT YOU THINK!' Lee defended

'What are we looking for?' Tenten asked Neji

'Anything that you think is significant' Neji replied 'there might be nothing at all'

'But what about him?' Tenten referred the ninja, who was casually walking to them

'By the rate his going will finish our investigation and had a party' Tsuki said annoyed at the ninja rate 'Cocky bastard'

'Let him be confident, after all it working in our favor' Neji replied

'Give me your supplies' Neji collected the 5 kunai, 4 smoke bomb and recovery kit. 'Feliia your mirror, if you please' Feliia passed her mirror over; Neji receiving it smashed it on the ground.

'HEY! That's seven years of bad luck you know!' Feliia objected. Neji threw a piece of mirror, bandages, and a smoke bomb at her. 'Careful! Sharp!' Feliia complained referring to the broken mirror.

'Use the mirror to signal each other' Neji ignored Feliia, throwing a piece of mirror, kunai, some bandages and a bomb toward Lee. 'Investigate as much as you need to and tend to your wounds, but when he approaches you, use the smoke bomb and escape. Lee you got speed, Feliia and Tsuki's animals will be useful'

Neji pocketed a kunai and some bandages, and threw a smoke bomb to Tsuki. 'Once everyone done, Hano use your summon mice and get us all to a safe position'

'ROGER!' Hano accepted his orders

Neji walked up to Tenten and gave her the remaining kunai. Facing Tenten, Neji told everyone 'Be safe'

Neji threw a smoke bomb up and caught it again 'Ready?'

'HAI!' They all replied.

Neji threw down the smoke bomb at the ninja feet. The area was completely smoked and each team worked quickly. Lee, with Hano on her back ran quickly in the direction of the giant ninja. Feliia quickly placed the female ninja on Leo and rode away to have better distance. Tenten threw a kunai at the ninja to get his attention, before jumping on Leo. While, Neji and Tsuki rode Ren, passed the masked ninja towards the scrolls.

The Masked ninja was unfazed 'My, how the weak run in adversity!'

Chapter 21 -The Plan- :: COMPLETE

Ok just little sum up:

Team 1: Neji and Tsuki, with one smoke bomb and a kunai left, going to check out the scrolls

Team 2: Tenten and Feliia, with two kunai and one smoke bomb left, going to check to female ninja

Team 3: Lee and Hano, with one smoke bomb and a kunai left, going to check out the giant ninja

I just noticed that all three successors can summon animal, THAT WAS NOT INTENTIONAL! And there in the stereotypical order on pet animal too! Mice (Hano) are chased by cat (Leo, lion are the cat family, Feliia's) and chase by dog Ren (Wolf, canine family, Tsuki's) How bizarre!