Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
A/N: Okay so I've been having about three times the normal bugs in my file system. When I save something one way it gets corrupted for some reason, so updates will be slow. Oddly enough, my new stories are fine. Bear with me please…
Chapter 6: A New Sharingan
Tenten and Lee were released from the hospital almost immediately. And almost as quickly Lee decided to challenge Neji to a spar. It was almost like the guy missed the hospital room they were in. Tenten had to leave the boys to argue about whether or not Lee was in shape to spar, as she expected Sasuke would be waiting up for her. It was strange how he almost seemed like a parental figure at times. She came in with all of her flowers in one hand and saw him waiting for her in the living room.
"About time, Neko-nee-chan," Sasuke greeted with a smirk. Tenten grinned at the 'nii-chan', mentally noting that it was the first time he'd used it.
"Thanks for the daffodils," She smiled back. He found it hard to believe but her smiles seemed more honest lately.
"Sure," He said. "So how'd you beat Lee? Sharingan?" He asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah," She raised an eyebrow. "You could've warned me about that."
"That's not how you learn it. If you expect sharingan you'll only be disappointed," Sasuke came closer and Tenten looked at him suspiciously. "Show me your sharingan."
Tenten obliged and he carefully surveyed her eyes. She had two tomoe in each eye and he scowled inwardly. He had only started with two in one eye and one in the other. Then again, he had been much younger. He nodded for her to deactivate it and she watched him once more with brown eyes.
"So, how do I use it?" She asked.
"Well, basically, you just need to watch any moves you want to duplicate. I'd recommend only doing it when absolutely needed. It eats up your chakra," He explained. Tenten nodded idly, seeming to think things over.
"That's fine, but two more things," She looked at him for confirmation before continuing. "Do you think Kakashi could help me with it some more?" Sasuke nodded and she went on. "And since this is to mimic… Could you show me those fire techniques again?"
"Now you're thinking like an Uchiha," Sasuke grinned at her and beckoned for her to follow him to the pond where he'd originally shown her.
The next day…
Tenten arrived at the training area early, wearing a pair of black capris and a dark pink tank top with the Uchiha crest on the back. Neji was surprised to see her looking so happy as he arrived. It dully reminded him of Lee on a day long ago, one where Lee had very nearly knocked him out.
"Morning, Neko," He greeted and she smiled even more.
"I have something to show you, want to spar?" She sounded like she had another ace up her sleeve and he raised an eyebrow at her.
"Maybe later, don't you need more practice with those eyes first?" He questioned.
"Nah, Sasuke helped me out a lot yesterday. I've already got a few techniques down," She said. "And there's one more I plan on learning."
"What's that?" Neji wondered.
"You'll see one of these days," She looked confident. He felt like he was finally seeing some of the old Tenten showing through after all this 'third Uchiha' business.
"Fine let's go," Neji said and they both took a defensive pose.
About 30 minutes later…
Gai approached his team's area slowly, expecting them all to be late after yesterday's occurrence. To his surprise, they were all actually there already. He saw Lee crouched in a bush, watching the clearing with interest.
"Lee, what are you-"
"Not now, sensei!" Lee abruptly pulled down Gai and made him watch through the bushes with him. "They are sparring and will likely stop if we enter. I want to see how she does against him now."
"Alright," Gai watched, noticing that Tenten had gained speed since the day before.
"He doesn't fall for that chakra string trip like I did," Lee pointed out as Neji skillfully avoided the strings attached to her weapons.
"It took him a lot of practice," Gai remembered how often Neji would get mad at Tenten for tripping him. His focus was back on the spar when Tenten began launching an arsenal of weapons at Neji and he went into the kaiten. Little did he know she'd been waiting for this.
Neji stopped spinning and suddenly saw a bright light coming from Tenten's direction.
"Oh sh-" Neji never finished as Tenten's fire technique blew past him. Gai and Lee gasped at this tactic and leaned into the bush to see how Neji had faired. There was thin column of smoke from where he had been standing and no one could really see what had happened.
"Neji?" Tenten sounded worried and stepped closer.
-Behind you-
Tenten somehow instinctively knew to whip around with a kunai in her hand and block the spot where her neck had been. A very surprised Neji was pushed back and had to dodge an attack from her. He glared at her and scooped up a katana to defend himself. Tenten managed to aim a few shuriken expertly, keeping him from escaping…
… Until he used another replacement technique. She resisted the urge to sigh in frustration and began to look for him.
-Watch out below, left ankle-
She jumped up and fired a scythe at the spot, seeing it skim Neji and leave a small trail of blood in its wake. He looked shocked and annoyed and she took the time to make a final move. Tenten threw several kunai and shuriken at him and while he tried to dodge them she used a move of Lee's. She appeared behind him and pinned him to the ground. Expertly twisting an arm behind his back and pinning the other with her knee, she put a kunai to his neck.
"Got you this time," She said proudly.
"That fire technique," He smirked. "Guess Sasuke does show you something worthwhile."
"Not really," She said with a laugh and got off of Neji. He rolled over onto his back and propped himself up. She offered him a hadn up but he refused.
"What?" She was offended.
"Not done down here yet," Neji reached into his pocket and pulled out the tub of ointment that he always had to heal injuries with. Then he pulled back some of the bandages on his right arm, revealing several burns.
"Oh Neji…" Tenten went down on her knees and looked over the damage. He watched her face curiously, finding her worried expression amusing.
"This isn't any worse than the cuts you usually give me," He began to apply ointment.
"No, let me," She grabbed it away from him and began to gently apply it. Neji relaxed and allowed her to spread it over the burns. Gai and Lee chose this time to casually walk into the clearing like they hadn't seen anything. Tenten wrapped his arm and then they both got up, looking at their teammates expecting some response.
"What gave you that burn, Neji?" Lee asked, not very convincingly.
"Don't' try it, I saw both of you," Neji replied.
"Oh yeah…Sorry," Lee sweat-dropped.
"So my youthful students-" Gai sensei started but Tenten interrupted him.
"Sensei, I need to see Tsunade," She said calmly. All three of the men looked at her in surprise, like she had just announced that she hated having her hair in buns.
"Why?" Neji was the only one able to respond.
"Tsunade told me to when I began to foresee things, and I did both times you tried to come up behind me," Tenten told him clearly.
"I see. Go ahead Neko-chan," Gai looked disappointed but understood at the same time. Neji watched her leave sadly, once again feeling like he was somehow losing his teammate.
'Sasuke-kun, are you going to know to be there again?' She wondered as she left the clearing.
At the Hokage's Office…
"Tsunade-sama," Shizune poked her head in and the Hokage looked up idly. "It's the Uchihas here to see you again."
"Let them in," Tsunade rolled her eyes. Tenten and Sasuke walked in and sat in their usual chairs, waiting for Tsunade to ask the usual question. "So what this time?" The Hokage asked.
"I was sparring with Neji and I suddenly was able to know exactly what he was about to do," Tenten said plainly. "It was like a voice telling me."
"I knew this would happen," Tsunade seemed to pause to think for a moment. "It appears that you're developing both of your bloodlines rapidly now that you've passed puberty and are maturing. The Neko clan was similar to the Uchiha in the sense that they could predict an enemy's moves to a degree, but since you have both it may be even easier for you to read someone's acts."
"How did the Neko clan read attacks?" Sasuke asked.
"They were known for having a psychic ability passed down their family line, supposedly given to them by a cat god thus the name 'Neko'. It's a basic gift of foresight, unfortunately no one really understands it anymore," Tsunade looked sad. "Just out of curiosity, Neko, did you beat Neji?"
"Yes, for the first time," Tenten smiled.
"And Sasuke, how did you come here? Did she come and get you?" Tsunade asked.
"Well, no. It's just like I knew. Same with the hospital the other night, or when she had that hallucination," He said, sounding intelligent despite how vague it was.
"Here's what I think may be happening," Tsunade sighed. "Most members of the Neko clan develop a deep bond with another ninja. In most cases this other ninja becomes their standard partner. There's no real reason behind how they are selected, but it seems that the two of you have become partners."
"That doesn't mean we have to leave our teams, does it?" Tenten sounded concerned. Sasuke seemed to feel the same way.
"No, you just need to spend more time training together. I'll speak to Kakashi and Gai about doing joint training sessions. It won't be long before it seems natural," She assured them. "And Neko, you will surely become a force to be reckoned with."
Tenten grinned at the compliment and Sasuke watched the two like they were a mildly interesting TV program. Tsunade explained to Tenten how to meditate in a way that would allow her to improve her skills in the Neko tradition and then they were excused. Sasuke and Tenten walked out of the office in silence, seeming to head in the general direction of the Uchiha complex.
'So if we're partners, do I do all of my missions with him?' Tenten thought.
'This can't mean no more missions with Sakura and Naruto. He'll get them both killed if I'm not there,' Sasuke thought bitterly.
"Hey Tenten, hey Sasuke!" None other than Naruto happened to see them on their way home and waved happily. Tenten waved back, barely realizing he'd called her by her old name, as Sasuke smirked at his friend. "Want to get some ramen with me? You can't eat in every night."
"Naruto, we don't need-" Sasuke started.
"We're coming," Tenten elbowed Sasuke roughly. "You need to get out more."
The two energetic ones did all but drag the reluctant Sasuke into the Ichiraku and ordered ramen from the main counter. Sasuke managed to take his bowl and shrink back to a table where he could eat alone and watch Tenten and Naruto eat energetically. From time to time one or the other would burst out laughing, apparently at the various stories of their missions.
"Sure looks like they're having a good time," A voice said and Sasuke looked up to see Neji standing there.
"Yeah, who knew they'd become friends so fast," Sasuke couldn't help but smile. There she was with his best friend, and here he was with her best friend.
"Guess it works out. Can I join you?" Neji asked and Sasuke nodded idly, toying with a noodle in his bowl. By now Tenten and Naruto had engaged in a full fledged eating contest, taunting each other with noodles hanging from their lips.
"You should come by sometime, I think she gets lonely," Sasuke said randomly.
"Really?"
"Well it doesn't take much, it's a big empty house," Sasuke put emphasis on the word big.
"I didn't think she'd care that much," Neji ate some of his ramen slowly. "She never really mentioned it before, or lately."
"Has she had a chance lately?" Sasuke looked at Neji pointedly. "And does she strike you as the type to open up right away?"
"Hn," Was Neji's response, which would confuse anyone else but Sasuke knew it had meant he won. They ate in silence, the details of their friend's conversation blocked out by the noise of other's in the restaurant.
"If you can't finish this bowl, then you like Neji," Naruto pushed a bowl of beef ramen at Tenten with a knowing grin.
"No fair! I hate beef ramen," She complained.
"So you do like him…" Naruto pretended to go into thought and laughed when she snatched up the bowl and began to dig in. Tenten slowed down about halfway and he could see how she tried not to make a face at the flavor.
"Dobe," She put down the half full bowl and wiped off her mouth. Naruto just smiled at her.
"It's not a bad thing, you've got a chance," Naruto took the bowl and finished it in record time.
"Fine, if you don't eat a pickled egg, then you have to ask Sakura to dinner," Tenten countered, pushing a jar of pickled eggs towards Naruto. (A/N: Where they came from I don't know, just pretend they have weird stuff like that for when Naruto brings a friend.) His face twisted into a frown and he reached in carefully. Tenten grinned madly as he put it in his mouth and looked horrified at what he'd done.
She applauded proudly when he swallowed it and immediately went for a glass of water.
"Not fair Tenten," Naruto glared.
"I told you, it's Neko now," She patted him on the back.
"You're Tenten to me, I won't call you Neko unless I have to," He said and gave her a foxy grin and she was oddly reminded of Lee giving her a trademark smile of his own.
"Sorry guys, but I'd say you're done," Sasuke walked up and pushed the bowls away from Naruto and Tenten.
"But I don't want to go," Naruto whined. 'All I have is an empty apartment at home"
"I guess you could just come over," Sasuke said, reading his old friend's thoughts. Naruto beamed and looked ready to tackle Sasuke with a hug.
"Neji, do you want to come too?" Tenten smiled at him. Neji was about to refuse, but then she tilted her head and made her smile look crooked. He mentally slapped himself as he accepted, realizing that she'd just beaten him twice in a single day.