A/N~ Hey there everyone. Chapter 3 is here! (: well.. all I gotta say is.. enjoyy!(:


Neji's POV.

"Alright. You know what your supposed to do. Don't forget it, and be careful." Lady Tsunade said, looking at the 4 of us.

I wanted so bad to just.. not go. I was scolding at the ground. Tenten put a hand on my back, in a comforting matter. I looked at her. Her eyes were on Tsunade, but she was smiling a little. She looked at me from the corner of her eye, and smiled a little wider. I smirked. Her eyes turned to Tsunade again.

"Don't worry, Lady Tsunade! We will take care of this mission! We will not fail! The power of youth lives in all of us! We shall prevail!" Lee shouted. Tenten rolled her eyes, Gai smirked, and I sighed.

"ALRIGHT TEAM! ONWARD WITH THE POWER OF YOUTH!" he said, and readjusted his backpack. Tenten dropped her arm from my back. Gai and Lee got into their freak poses, and Tenten and I sighed in unison.

Tsunade and Shizune stood there, Tsunade had both, a concerned and annoyed look. Shizune was smiling a little.

We jumped into the forest, leaving the village behind us.


You know, Tenten's being too quiet today.

Yeah I know.. it's strange.

Wonder why she's being so thoughtful..

Hn.

Tenten narrowed her eyes.

I looked at her from the corner of my eye. She was biting her lower lip.

"Gai-sensei, how much longer until we get there?" Lee asked suddenly.

"It's a pretty long way there. About 4 more days." (A/N~ I seriously have no idea.. O_O)

"Right!"

"Neji." Gai said, looking at me.

"Hn?"

he hesitated, and then looked forward to the trail in front of us again.

"Use your Byakugan and check for-"

Clink!

Tenten threw a few more kunai and shuriken behind us.

Someone threw some of them back. Tenten's weapons countered some of them, though one got through, and cut deep into her arm. She hissed quietly, pulling the kunai out, and tossing it aside.

What? An ambush? How did I not see it coming? How did Tenten sensed them, but not me?

We all stopped, Tenten holding on to her wounded arm. Her eyebrows pulled down into a delicate frown.

"Byakugan!" I looked around, and spotted 9 chakra flow networks.

How did I not see it coming? Was I really that distracted?

"Are you alright, Tenten?" I asked, not taking my eyes away from our enemies.

"Yeah. I'm fine." she said, scanning the area for danger.

"Neji, how many?" Gai asked, getting into a defensive stance.

"9. They're very close to us. Almost as though- TENTEN LOOK OUT!" I yelled, in sudden panic, and fear for her life.

Why? We had always encountered danger, and I had never felt this horrible feeling towards the thought of losing her.

She jumped out of the way with a hiss, as soon as I told her to. 8 giant poisoned shuriken cut through the tree branch she had just been standing on.

Why are they only targeting Tenten? What is going on here?

I gritted my teeth. Then it hit me. The scrolls! Of course..

"Come out!" I yelled in sudden anger.

Tenten glanced at me for only a second, and then looked back to the trees.

"My, my. What insolence. And such impatience.." a rough, yet high voice said, from within the trees. I couldn't tell who the speaker was, but I was starting to get agitated.

We all tensed as the 9 ninja came out slowly from their hiding spots, all of them males, wearing the Hidden Stone Village headband.

Some of them looking at Tenten with suggestive eyes. That angered me. A lot.

"State your business." I spat. Gai threw a worried look in my direction. I ignored it.

"We want the scrolls you carry with you." the one in the middle said. He had been the one to speak first. He looked older than Gai. Probably in his late 40's

Tenten's eyes widened a little. Lee's eyes.. well I can't exactly say they widened.. it would impossible for them to get bigger, but you get the idea.

Gai raised a brow. I fought to keep my emotions under check. Why was it so hard to keep in control?

Calm down. Don't let them get the scrolls.

..You think I don't know that?

Alright then. Just calm down.

I'm trying. You're no help.

Just remember what Tsunade said about the scrolls. BE CAREFUL!

SHUT UP!

~Flashback~

"Alright everyone. The risks of this mission include, being ambushed in the middle of the delivering, losing the scrolls, and possibly, getting the scrolls opened. Now, you have to make sure this DOES NOT, and I shall repeat that, DOES NOT happen. Those things have.. immense power. If you open them lose them, or get them stolen, it would be disastrous. Even if it's an accident, the whole mission will be a failure, and you guys would die. Do you understand this?"

We all nodded.

"Good. Now, Tenten," she turned to look at Tenten, who was standing next to me.

"Yes?"

"You will be caring the scrolls."

Tenten looked a little confused, but nodded slowly.

"Lady Tsunade.." I started.

"What?" she turned to look at me.

I looked at her and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Why Tenten?" I asked her, raising an eyebrow.

She looked very annoyed.

"Because I said so."

"Is there a specific reason for your choosing her?" I narrowed my eyes.

Tenten looked at me, a sad frown on her face.

"Do.. do you think I'm not capable of keeping the scrolls safe, Neji?"
she asked me, concern and sadness thick on her voice.

My eyes widened a little.

"No, that's not it. I was.. I was just wondering.." I trailed off.

"Alright, alright. Enough chit chat. You have a mission in front of you. Fulfill it. Be careful, and DON'T. OPEN. THE. SCROLLS. Got it?" Tsunade said, looking at each one of us.

"Right! Do not worry! We will carry on this mission with perfectness!" Lee shouted.

Tenten sighed and I rolled my eyes.

"Alright. You are all dismissed." Tsunade said, with a wave of her hand.

~End of flashback~

Tenten pulled out one of her scrolls slowly from the rug sack on her back, getting ready to fight if necessary.

I got ready myself, closing my eyes, (for concentration and for my nerves' sake) getting the chakra flow to my palms. After reopening my eyes, I slipped into my fighting stance.

Gai and Lee did the same.

I searched for more danger around the forest.

There was no one but them, and us.

"Such fighting spirits... It's too bad we have to kill you." the guy said. He looked at Tenten. "Much too bad." he smiled at her. I had to stop myself from tackling him and killing him on the spot.

She made a gagging sound. I almost smiled.

He looked at me, and raised an eyebrow. "Well, well, well. What do we have here? None other than a Hyuga." he breathed, and smiled again. I narrowed my eyes.

"Those eyes of yours.. containing the all seeing Byakugan." he said, sounding amused.

"We said it once, and we'll say it again. STATE YOUR BUSINESS." I spat.

He smirked. "Well, I said it once, and I'll say it again. Hand over the scrolls." he turned to Tenten. "Now."

She didn't react in the slightest. She just stood there, waiting for the fighting to start, I would suppose.

"C'mon, sweet cheeks. Hand over the scrolls, and I'll spare your life." he smirked at her.

She didn't say anything again.

"Do it now.. I don't want to have to kill you.. but if you don't do as I say, I'll have no choice." he said, caution in his voice.

She narrowed her eyes. "Screw you." she said, loud and clear. I tried to hold back a chuckle.

His face turned grave. "You asked for it, babe." he growled.

Tenten smirked. "Bring it on, pops."

He didn't like that very much.

"Hang on, Hisao! We have to get the scrolls, and leave! We don't have time to stop and play with these kids." another one said. His hair was spiky and brown. The bottom of his face covered by a mask. His eyes were black.

Hisao sighed. "You think I don't know that, Katsuo? But we have no other choice. We have to get the scrolls. You heard Naoki's instructions." Hisao tensed. Katsuo narrowed his eyes, and then sighed.

"Yeah. Your right.." he sighed again.

"So, do we take 'em down?" another one with silvery blond hair asked. His blue eyes on Tenten as well.

Hisao sighed. "Well, I guess we have no choice." he said sadly. "Try not to hurt her too much.. yet." he smirked.

Tenten growled. Her hand balled up in a tight fist.

"ALRIGHT, YOUTHFUL TEAMMATES, LET US BEGIN!"


A/N~ Booyaa! (: How'd you like that, ne? A little fluff.. but just a little bit.. and some action. Yeah! (: 'Cause I know you all like fights, and all that. I'm gonna do my best to not mess the next chapter up O_O no promises though.. I suck at writing action scenes. Anyways, please, please, review. Please.. seriously though, guys.. my self-esteem is in the toilet right now ): I need some joy in my life again.. so, pleasee, I beg of you.. review! :D Until next time,

~AliceOtaku