A/N: Hello! Okay, so I will finish up the plot in this chapter. And I will kinda-ish start a new one in this chapter. And Gaara will come out of rehab in this chapter as well. Although it was extremely fun writing him like a 5-year-old.
Time to answer reviews!
Hasabusa, yes, Neji has been vomiting over everything. Sorry, but once my friends and I started on that, I couldn't pass up the chance to use it. Haha.
Kaede Higuchi, I told you in the author's note at the end that Gaara would be back to normal in this chapter. Relax. Though the way it happens may a bit…odd.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed.
Enjoy!
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"Hey! They're back!" Naruto cheered when he saw the four shinobi approach. Everyone looked up from the cleaning and smiled and waved.
"Looks like they missed you, eh, Neji?" Tenten smiled mischievously. "I can't wait to tell them about our adventure," she added in a teasing tone.
"Go ahead then. We'll see what happens during our sessions if you do," Neji responded coldly, his eyes smirking at the kunoichi. Tenten paled and, turning to the other shinobis, waved wildly.
Neji shook his head; he didn't think he could get to the weapons mistress that quickly.
"You're back!" Gaara cheered.
"Oi, where'd you go, Neji?"
"If you have to ask, you don't need to know," replied the prodigy.
"WHY YOU-!"
"You guys did a great job cleaning the window," Tenten cut in.
"Believe me, it wasn't a fun job," Sakura shuddered.
"Hinata, do you mind if I go wash my hands thoroughly?" Ino asked, holding her hands as far away from her as possible.
"Not at all. In fact, you should all wash off and then we all should sleep. It's-" Hinata peered at the clock through the spotless window, "5:15 already."
At hearing the time, everyone yawned. They trudged back into the house silently and, taking turns, everyone but Sasuke, Tenten, Neji and Hinata went to the bathroom to scrub their hands.
By the time everyone was settled in their beds, Gaara was fast asleep and Kiba, Naruto and Chouji were snoring loudly. Hinata, exhausted from the day's events, and Sakura and Ino fell asleep soon afterward.
At 5:30, everyone but Tenten, Sasuke and Neji were asleep.
"You two tired?" Tenten whispered softly. They shook their heads. "Me neither. I'm exhausted alright, but I can't sleep."
"Whatever. But you still have to be up bright and early for our deal," Neji reminded. Tenten made a face.
"What deal?" Sasuke's interest seemed to spark.
"…Nothing," Tenten looked down at her fingers.
"Gotta ask her," Neji yawned lazily.
"Hey, we told you about our sessions," Sasuke pointed out.
"Point?" Neji wanted to know.
"Why you little-"
"I'll tell you in the morning, Sasuke," Tenten jumped in before the fight.
"It is morning." Sasuke stated simply.
"You know what I mean," Tenten replied crossly, then yawned. "I'm going to sleep now. If the house is destroyed when I wake up, I'll blame you," she pointed at the Uchiha. Sasuke cursed and flipped onto his back. Neji smirked and settled on his side.
"Just don't sleepwalk again, Hyuuga," Sasuke whispered in a mocking tone.
"Well, Uchiha, if I do, I'll know who to hit first," Neji retorted.
"And I'll know who to hunt down and-"
"Good night," Tenten cut in.
Throughout the time she wasn't sleeping, she could hear the threats going back and forth between the two shinobis.
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The first thing Tenten did when she woke up was check on the two. They were sleeping, with their fists clenched, and the house was still in one piece. The weapons mistress let out a sigh of relief and checked the time. It was 7:30. No one else was up and she was still feeling pretty tired herself, but she forced herself to get out of her bedroll. She shivered; the fire had gone out during the night and the power was still out, meaning no heater. She threw on her red robe and wandered into the bathroom. Once inside, she splashed her face with water. She was going to have to be wide awake for the day in store for her.
When Tenten returned to the living room, she found Neji and Sasuke awake and continuing their threats from last night.
"Give it a rest, won't you?" Tenten complained as she sat down on her bedroll.
"Never," the shinobis both hissed at the same time without breaking their glares. The kunoichi shook her head and proceeded to rummage through her bag for her mp3 player which was miraculously saved from the storm.
Before she knew it, it was 8:15 and everyone was starting to wake up. Neji and Sasuke were still at each other's throats, barely noticing anyone else. Tenten turned off the player and took out her earphones. "Morning everyone," she greeted.
"Morning," came the drowsy reply.
"YOSH! GOOD MORNING!" came Lee's reply. Tenten cringed; she was still really tired. Even Neji and Sasuke stopped for a moment to glare at the taijutsu master. For a moment. After that, they went back to their threats.
"Is it breakfast?" came a certain Akimichi clan member's voice.
"When Father wakes up, it will be," Hinata yawned. Her lavender eyes were still filled with sleep.
"Wake me up when-" Chouji's head dropped to his pillow and he was snoring peacefully before he could finish the sentence.
"Gaara? You up yet?" Temari asked. Gaara's reply was muffled by the pillow, but it was easy to tell he was only half awake, if even that.
"We never got to finish our game," Sakura threw in once she was fully conscious.
"Oh yeah. Shikamaru and Temari have to kiss!" Naruto laughed.
Shikamaru and Temari paled and looked at separate walls.
"They will not." Ino hissed, glaring at the Sand kunoichi.
"For once, I agree with her," the Nara said, not looking away from the wall.
"You do?" Ino squealed.
"Shit," grumbled Shikamaru. Ino clapped her hands and squealed.
"And this is why you're Ino-pig," Sakura muttered under her breath, hands over her ears. Tenten and Temari caught it and burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Kankuro wanted to know.
"Yes! Let us in on your youthful joke!" Lee exclaimed, eyes shining.
"Nothing, and it's not youthful, Lee," Tenten explained.
"Oh, but everything you do is youthful, Tenten! In fact, just being alive is youthful!" Lee burst out into a long lecture that no one paid attention to.
"Hinata." Everyone turned at Hiashi's voice.
"Did we wake you up, Father?" Hinata asked, trembling.
"More or less," Hiashi replied, looking at the jubilant Lee. Tenten grabbed his ear and yanked him down to the floor.
"I'm sorry, Father," Hinata bowed her head. Hiashi dismissed it with a wave of his hand.
"You may start breakfast," Hiashi said and went back upstairs.
"Yes, Father," Hinata answered and, throwing on her lavender robe, headed to the kitchen.
"I'll help," Tenten immediately volunteered, jumping up. Hinata smiled her thanks.
"You'll have to roll up the sleeves on your robe," Hinata instructed, pushing up her own. Tenten obediently followed. "Okay, so we'll be having a lot of food for breakfast. I want you to…"
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At 8:45, Hinata and Tenten yelled "BREAKFAST!" in unison. Everyone came rushing into the dining room where the two kunoichis were setting up the last of the food.
"Wow!" The group marveled at the feast before their eyes.
"Everyone pick up a plate and utensils and help yourselves!" Hinata said happily. She picked up two plates, handing one to Tenten, who smiled. Everyone flooded the table, yelling out what they wanted and placing a pile on their plates.
After they all got their food, the shinobis settled down in the living room, talking about whatever.
"If anyone wants seconds-" Hinata started. Chouji immediately stood up and went inside.
"You'd better hurry up and get it while there's food left," Naruto finished. Everyone laughed when Chouji came out with a humongous pile on his plate.
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"Thanks for the help, Tenten-san," Hinata said, drying off the dish she was working on.
"No problem, Hinata-san," Tenten smiled, handing the Hyuuga a soapy one. It was about 11; everyone had left after breakfast and they were washing the dishes.
"And thanks for helping me with the dishes," Hinata added.
"Again, no problem," Tenten laughed.
"Oh, I've been meaning to ask. What did you agree on to get Neji-san to do Kiba's dare?"
"Oh, that? I just told him that I would increase our training sessions to five days a week," Tenten shrugged.
"Then why the secret?"
"To tease everyone?" Tenten laughed. Hinata giggled.
"But don't you have sessions with Sasuke?" Hinata asked. Tenten blinked.
"How did…?"
"Uh…" Hinata stared down at the plate in her hands.
"Hinata-san, how did you know?"
"I, uh, overheard you two talking a couple days ago," Hinata blushed.
"Oh." The weapons mistress stared at the heiress. "Well, it's no problem."
They smiled at each other and finished the dishes silently.
"Mind if I log on?" Tenten asked as she dried her hands.
"No, not at all. My computer's already on," Hinata gestured, putting away the remaining dishes.
"Okay, thanks," Tenten ran up the stairs and logged on.
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(KunaiKunoichi has signed in)
Windmaster: Hey Tenten.
CloudedShadows: What's up?
KunaiKunoichi: Hey Temari, Shikamaru. Nothing much. Just finished the dishes with Hinata-san. What about you two?
Windmaster: I'm relaxing with my music right now.
CloudedShadows: Inventing a new shougi technique.
KunaiKunoichi: Of course you are, Shikamaru. Don't you have to watch Gaara, Temari?
Windmaster: Nope! Kankuro took him to the zoo for the day, so I'm free!
KunaiKunoichi: Is that such a good idea, leaving Gaara in your brother's hands?
Windmaster: …
Windmaster: Well, it's not my problem anymore. So whatever.
KunaiKunoichi: Nice.
(Beautifulblonde has signed in)
Beautifulblonde: SHIKAMARU-KUN!!! –glomp-
CloudedShadows: …
CloudedShadows: Bye everyone.
(CloudedShadows has signed out)
Beautifulblonde: -giggle- He is so just playing hard to get.
KunaiKunoichi: …I'm sure, Ino.
Windmaster: Uh, yeah, right…
Beautifulblonde: You both just stay away from him! He's mine, got it? MINE!
(Beautifulblonde has signed out)
KunaiKunoichi: …
Windmaster: …
KunaiKunoichi: So when are Kankuro and Gaara due back from the zoo?
Windmaster: …I have no idea.
Windmaster: Whenever Gaara feels like it, I guess.
KunaiKunoichi: …Good luck with that.
Windmaster: …
Windmaster: I'll be back in a bit. I'm going to go check on them.
KunaiKunoichi: Kay then.
(Windmaster has signed out)
(KunaiKunoichi has signed out)
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"Done already?" Hinata looked up in surprise as she put away the last dish.
"Yeah. I was talking to Temari, but she had to go check on Kankuro and Gaara," Tenten explained.
"Are they fighting again?"
"No, they're at the zoo."
"Is that safe?"
"That's why Temari left," laughed Tenten. Hinata giggled. "Anyways, mind if I head home? After last night, I want to take shower and sleep till lunch tomorrow."
"Not at all. Thanks for coming and staying to help me do the dishes."
"No problem. After all the food Chouji ate, you could've used some help or you wouldn't be done until next week," Tenten joked, stooping down to pick up her bag. "Well, I'll see you later then."
"See you online!" Hinata called before closing the door.
Tenten took a deep breath and stretched out her arms. The sun was shining brightly and the sky was as blue as it could be. She smiled and broke out in a jog.
"Tenten!" The kunoichi smiled and waved at the green-clad ninja and slowed down as he ran up. "What a youthful way to enjoy such a youth-filled day! Do you mind if I jog with you? We could do 1000 laps around Konoha and follow up with 2000 push ups and do 3000 sit ups and-"
"Uh, Lee?" Tenten cut in, sweat dropping.
"Yes?"
"I'm just on my way home. I'm a bit too tired to do ALL of that after last night."
"Ah yes, last night. So full of youthful splendor…" Lee trailed off dreamily.
"Uh, right. Anyways, I'm just gonna go home and sleep. See you later, Lee," Tenten waved.
"Yosh!" Lee pumped his arm up in the air and ran off. Tenten raised an eyebrow.
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"Ugh, my arms and legs feel like lead!" Tenten complained, collapsing her bed.
"10 new messages." Tenten turned to stare at the flashing computer screen.
"You've got to be kidding me! I just checked my e-mail!"
"You've got mail."
"You've got mail."
"You've got mail."
"What the hell? Is it a virus?" Tenten dragged herself to the chair and seized the mouse. "They're all from Temari?"
TENTEN!
I CAN'T FIND GAARA OR KANKURO ANYWHERE!
TENTEN!
PLEASE HELP! GET EVERYONE TO COME TOO! I CAN'T FIND THEM!
Tenten blinked as she read through all the other mail with basically the same message. "She…lost them?" The kunoichi groaned as she typed her reply.
Temari-
Okay, okay. Take a deep breath and calm down. Send me the name of the zoo and the address and I'll talk to everyone on the chat room and tell them what's up.
I'll see you in a few.
Tenten rolled her eyes and sighed. So much for her sleep.
"You've got mail." Tenten opened the new message and printed out the information Temari had sent.
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(KunaiKunoichi has signed in)
CloudedShadows: Hey Tenten.
Beautifulblonde: Tenten.
Sasuke4evr: Hey Tenten!
Byakugangirl: Tenten-san!
KunaiKunoichi: Are any of you guys busy?
CloudedShadows: No.
Beautifulblonde: No, I'm off work today.
Sasuke4evr: Not really.
Byakugangirl: No.
KunaiKunoichi: Okay, Kankuro took Gaara to the zoo and Temari went to check on them, but she can't find them anywhere. So she needs our help.
CloudedShadows: -sigh- How troublesome. Alright, alright, I'll help.
Beautifulblonde: If Shikamaru-kun is helping, so will I!
CloudedShadows: …-bangs head against wall-
Sasuke4evr: She lost Gaara again? Alright, I'm up to it.
Byakugangirl: I'll help!
KunaiKunoichi: Great! Thanks, guys. Can you all get to everyone else and tell them?
Byakugangirl: I'll talk to Kiba-kun and Shino-kun on our usual chat and I'll tell Neji-san.
CloudedShadows: Chouji's over at my house right now.
Sasuke4evr: I can probably go find Naruto and Lee-san.
KunaiKunoichi: Let's meet at the town square, where the Cherry Blossom Festival was.
CloudedShadows: Kay. See you in a bit.
Beautifulblonde: -glomps Shikamaru- Let's get there early, hm, Shikamaru-kun?
CloudedShadows: …I wonder if Chouji will eat me too.
Sasuke4evr: Okay then.
Byakugangirl: Right.
(CloudedShadows has signed out)
(Beautifulblonde has signed out)
(Sasuke4evr has signed out)
(Byakugangirl has signed out)
(KunaiKunoichi has signed out)
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(KunaiKunoichi has signed in)
KunaiKunoichi: Sasuke?
SharinganChidori: Hn?
KunaiKunoichi: Meet at the town square where the Cherry Blossom Festival was held. Kankuro took Gaara to the zoo and now Temari can't find them.
SharinganChidori: …I'll pass.
KunaiKunoichi: Sasuke.
SharinganChidori: That'd be me.
KunaiKunoichi: Why do you have to be like that? Just come help! If not, fine, stay at home. See if I care. Everyone else will be enough to find them!
(KunaiKunoichi has signed out)
SharinganChidori: …
SharinganChidori: Seems I've made her mad.
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Tenten grabbed the directions off her printer, loudly cursing Sasuke. "Y'know what? Fine! See if I care! He can stay at home and be the freaking emo that he is!" The kunoichi stormed out the door, slamming it behind her.
"Forget him! If he doesn't want to help, he doesn't have to! We've got more than enough people to find Gaara and Kankuro! We don't need him! Who cares about the great Sasuke Uchiha!" Tenten spat as she made her way to the town square.
"Tenten-san?" The kunoichi turned around at the mention of her name.
"Hinata-san! Neji, Kiba and Shino too!"
"Who were you talking to?" Hinata asked, baffled. The three shinobi behind her asked the same question silently with their facial expressions. Well, Kiba and Neji did. Shino was stoic as always.
Tenten blushed. "Uh, no one. I was venting," she scratched the back of her head. Hinata arched an eyebrow and, though still confused, nodded. "We should hurry up. Everyone's probably there," Tenten looked toward the town square, changing the subject.
The other four shinobi nodded and they all took off.
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"Over here!" Sakura called, waving to their approaching friends. Temari, Ino, Shikamaru, Chouji, Naruto and Lee stood close by.
"Sorry we're late," Tenten panted, skidding to a stop in front of the group.
"C'mon, c'mon!" Temari urged, pulling out her fan. "Everyone, hold on tight!" She called. The shinobis all held on to each other as the gusts of wind started up.
For time's sake, I'm not going to go in detail of how Temari got all of them to Suna. But she did. On with the story.
The group stood outside the zoo entrance, awaiting directions. "I think we should just get into our assigned squads, since we have the most experience working with them. Temari, go with Naruto and Sakura," Tenten called and looked at a zoo map.
Finally the groups took off after being assigned where to go by the weapons mistress. Tenten looked at Lee and Neji. "Let's get to it then. Time to find Gaara and Kankuro."
"YOSH! I will find them! And if not, 1000 pushups! And if I can't do those, 2000 sit-ups! And if I can't do those, 3000 laps around BOTH Suna and Konoha! And if I can't-!" Tenten clamped her hand over the green-clad ninja's mouth.
"Much better," Neji said as he activated his Byakugan. They set out.
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"We've been searching for hours. There's no sign of Gaara or Kankuro anywhere," Tenten panted, stopping to rest by what appeared to be a koala cage.
"Fear not, Tenten! Our youthfulness will surely find them! Let us keep our youthful search going throughout this youthful night and…" Tenten and Neji let Lee keep rambling, too tired to make him stop.
"I didn't think they kept the zoo open this late," Neji said randomly, deactivating his Byakugan. He looked around; all he could see now was the koala cage and Lee's flashes of green as he ran around.
"Me neither. In fact, it's kinda creepy. It's like one of those murder mystery films, where the murderer lures the victims into a trap. And when they finally drop their guard, he jumps them! And, and, oh dude. I'm scaring myself," Tenten laughed, looking at the goose bumps crawling up and down her arms.
"It is kind of like that…And the killer's closer than we think," Neji added.
"Hey Neji?" Tenten's voice dropped to a barely audible whisper.
"Hn?" Neji's voice slowly lowered to her level, a chilling sensation going up down his spine.
"Do you feel…eyes?" At this point, even Lee had quieted down, the spooky feeling settling down on him. He returned to the bench and slowly sat down on the other side of the weapons mistress.
"Yeah." The three shinobi looked around; there was no one there except them. At least, that's what they thought. Until they heard a rustling in the bushes behind them. Frozen, the three sat there as the rustling got closer and closer until…
The shinobi heard ragged breathing behind them, getting louder and louder. Tenten's lip quivered; this was straight from a horror book she had been reading recently.
Slowly, Team Gai turned to face the shadow towering behind them. Tenten screamed. Lee almost fainted and Neji turned pale.
"Tenten?" Temari's voice was heard; Team Gai didn't move.
"It came from that way," Kiba yelled. In a few moments, the rest of the search party appeared.
"Tenten, why'd you scream? You almost gave us a heart attack!" Sakura scolded. An odd look passed over her face. "Tenten? Neji? Lee-san?"
"What's wrong with-Temari! Look!" Ino yelled, pointing to the figure.
"GAARA!" Temari tackled him, hugging him close. "You scared me! Where's Kankuro? Why didn't you come back?"
Gaara wordlessly pushed the Sand kunoichi away and glared.
"G-Gaara?" His sister asked, fear taking over.
"What."
"You're back to normal!" Temari exclaimed. "But how? And where's Kankuro?"
"That creepy puppet guy? Sorry, guys, to disappoint you, but I got rid of him a long time ago. Don't worry, though; you'll all join him soon enough." Skin-crawling laughter echoed throughout the area. Even Gaara flinched, as if it was a bad memory.
"Wh-Who's there?" Naruto called, looking around.
"Right here." A black stripe flitted across the area. The next thing anyone knew, Naruto's screams were muffled by a black thing.
Sakura and Ino screamed; Temari whacked it off the blond ninja's face with her fan. "What are you?" She screamed.
The figure twitched and drew itself up to its full height. "How dare you hit me, the great Mr. Defoebrimm?!"
The entire group stared. And stared. And stared until their eyes screamed for them to blink.
"You…You're a koala?"
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A/N: FIN! Hahaha! Okay, when Megan and I were talking, we were hyper. Thus, the crazy koala idea. Sorry for the delay! You'll find out more about Mr. Defoebrimm, where Kankuro is, and more in the next chapter!
By the way, sorry it took so long for this one. I was being totally slow and started Chapter 7 without realizing I hadn't posted this one yet. xD