I hate these types of days. I would say it was his time of the month but, last time I insulted his masculinity, he nearly tore my head off, and I don't need that on top of everything else going on today. It's the day it happened. The night I last saw my village heard my real name or even used any of my real skills. It's a painful to spare with mister destiny over here when the extent of your true chakra was sealed off by your oh so loving brother. So I swear if that cold-hearted bastered calls me weak one more time I just might, SHIT!
I flew to the ground as a kunai went flying by my head, kindly thrown by the Hyuga prodigy himself. It seams that he's moved form his normal insults to just plain murder. How rude.
"Tenten, get your head out of the clouds, if this was a real fight you would be dead by now." Woops, guess now he's back to his insults. What did I tell you, mood swings? PMSing is just one of his many talents.
"Sorry Neji, I guess I just have a lot on my mind." Like he would buy that. That wasn't the first time I used that excuse today. No, it was more like the fifth, but it was hard to pay attention with all the memories flying through my head. Not to mention my sparing partner has the body of a Greek god! And the fact that I've liked him for the past three months isn't helping. It's all very distracting! But luckily Neji's to dense to notice anything, him with his all seeing eyes. HA.
"What could you possibly have on your mind that would distract you from sparing? Training is over for today. Its no use trying if you're not even going to pay attention." And with that Neji left without a second glance.
The nerve. I swear if I had a dollar for every time he's insulted me today I would be able to buy every weapon in this town! Aw well, at least this gives me more time to think. Today has been a very trying day; a little time to myself should be nice…
"Hey Tenten! Tsunada wants to see you in her office right away!" an overly exited Naruto says once again interrupting my thoughts...ass hole. I just can't get a break today can I?
" Fine. I'll be right there." I start to pack up my stuff hopping that for one day I could just have a little peace and quiet.
"Hey, where's Neji? I thought you guys where training today." So much for my hopes and dreams.
"He's at home, sulking." I said picking up the last of my weapons and jumping off to go see what Tsunada wants.
"Hello Shizune, Tenten here to see lady Tsunada." I sighed tiredly.
" Oh yes, she's been expecting you. Why don't you head on in." She replied kindly. I've always liked shizune; she's always in such a good mood! She's so unlike Tsunada, you never have any idea how she is going to feel. But then again, she's either seething mad or drunk, both of which are possibly deadly. Today though I don't smell any alcohol so that means... my little corner of hell just got colder. Great. I knew this was going to be a bad day ever sense I woke up. Some would say I had gotten out on the wrong side of the bed, but not me! I either get out of bed perfectly happy or I wake up on the floor. Unfortunately, today I woke up on the floor, but hopefully my bad luck will run out and maybe this wont be to bad. Hey! I might even get a new mission!
"Tenten, take a set and shut the door. We have something very important to discuss." Tsunada said in a very serious voice. Not angry, just serious. She had her hands folded together up in front of her face. Not angry or drunk, but I have to admit, its pretty dam scary! Her eye's said that she was completely serious; there wasn't even a sake bottle in sight! I'd rather face a ragging drunk Tsunada than a serious one. But, today wasn't my day to chose.
" I have a very important mission for you and your team. S rank. It has to do with your last village, the village hidden by spirits." She looked up at me expectantly before saying the rest. Looking for reinsurance that I could handle it, but I gave her none. I just stared back calmly, because really, I wasn't sure if I could handle it. Not after last time. And I really wasn't in any mood for this right now, I wonder if she even know what this day was to me? But taking a deep breath and sighing she went on.
" As you very well know we have a war close on our hands and with Orochimaro at the front of it. We are a very strong village and have well prepared allies on our side, but we even so, I fear we may not be ready. Orochimaro has found a new jutsu, and a powerful one at that. He's creating an army out of the very ground molding each monster from the ground like he was playing with clay. Each as hideous as the last, and even worse, the latest numbers have been marked to be in the tens of thousands. There size alone would over whelm us, not to mention the other members within the group. Our sources have tracked down where Orochimaro had gotten the jutsu used to perform this task to your old village. I need you and your team to gain the alliance of the village hidden by spirits, if not, if they decline, then I need you to gain access to that jutsu and its secrets. I know you can't tell me anything but I just need to know what you know of this technique. It's called the tsuchi-no-iki jutsu."
I felt the familiar burn at the base of my back were the curse mark was hidden. It comes up when ever my village is mention and its painful ack has already started to throb dully, as if daring me to answer Tsunada's dreadful question. Yes, I know of the jutsu, but its one of the forbidden jutsu's of the earth clan. Only the head member of the family would know it. Will, him and my brother. Unfortunately, I left that village before I learned how to perform such jutsu's, I only just learned of there existence. This jutsu in particular had been in one of my studies. In translation it meant the earth spirit technique. It brought any scrap of earth to life with any small amount of chakra. All you needed was a soul to fill it once it was done. The fact that he created so many is just as horrendous as their monstrous design. He must have killed so many, but it's no use to think about that now. Right now I had to figure out how to tell that to Tsunada with the least possible amount of words. Will I better get this over with, fast. My curse seal has already began to burn, as if in preparation for what I was about to do.
" It's a forbidden jutsu. Not know by anyone other than the earth clan leader, and my brother. I left before I could learn it." I paused to take a ragged breath. The seal was already taking over. By hole body was churning. It felt as if my insides were being ripped out from inside of me, as my skin was being burned in a never-ending fire. I know there were only a few more seconds until I was unable to continue so I had to take fast.
" It's translated to Japanese as the earth spirit technique, and the only one who would know how to stop it is either the earth clan head, or my brother. The technique itself though is gruesome. It takes a small amount of chakra combined with an earth bending jutsu. To the be combined with." The seal was so strong, I couldn't breath. My once pale skin was now glowing with a green glow. I could barley chook out the last words. "human souls."
With that I leaned forward and hurled. It was disgusting and was degrading to do in front of my ideal. But when I looked up she wasn't looking at me with a pitting glance, just a saddened one. She waited patiently while the curse started to calm down. My voice came in ragged breaths and I was still shaking, but we didn't have time for that to calm down. The green tint had left my skin and now only a painful burning was left to linger on my lower back. But I already know that, that wouldn't go away until tonight, so I looked up at here to signal that I was ready to go on.
She gave a long sigh before continuing, "I'm sorry Tenten. I never meant for it to go that far, but your information will be very useful. I only have one more question before you leave, if that's not to much." She looked at me with pity in her eyes. Pity I didn't want and didn't need. I nodded my head in preparation.
" Do you think it will be possible to stop him? To stop this? That sending you and your team there would do any good?" her voice was pleading, like she wanted me to make the decision that could save or kill us all, and it caught me completely off guard. So I thought about. I know it wouldn't be easy, but from what I know of our clan there was also an opposite to poll the two jutsu's into one. There is not one with out the other. No destruction without a cause.
So nodding I replied " Yes, I think it's possible. In our village there has always been a way of things, though it may not be so now, it was when that jutsu was made. There is not one without the other, such is the way of ying and yang. There is not one jutsu, unless there is a counter. We have a chance, but it wont be easy."
" Thank you, I know that this'll be a hard mission to complete, but that's why I'm sending all of you. I'm not going to let you do this alone, again." Tsunada finally said after taking in all of what I had to say. I know I would do this for her, for this village, I just didn't want me team to get involve. They hated outsiders almost as much as they hate me, and considering the beating I got last time I entered those gates, I don't think they'll fair much better.
" Guy isn't coming, we need all the ninja we can to stay here. I'll trust you to tell your team, you all leave tomorrow morning at 5am. Be ready." And with that Tsunada signaled for me to leave as she took out her sake bottle and a glass. Will I guess I know there would be no arguing that point. And maybe for once I wont have to do this all by my self. " Oh, and Tenten." I turned to look at her. " Yeah," I stated calmly.
" Be careful. I don't want you coming back like you did last time." And with that Tsunada was done. She took a swig of her sake and started reviewing old mission files that lay in piles on her desk. I decided to take my leave then and went on my way to Lee's house.
Like last time. That wasn't something I wanted to remember. I came back bloody and bruised, almost in a coma after Tsunada had set me on a trip to my old village. She wanted me to try and make a truce but as you have probably noticed, it didn't go over so well. It was highly classified and was never spoke of again after that day. But that didn't mean Guy and Lee weren't in hysterics that there Flower of youth was suddenly in the hospital. When they asked how it happened, all they got for an answer was " she must have been attacked by animals." After I woke up I clamed to remember nothing. Guy then felt it his duty so declare that I was never allowed to train after sunset by myself. Although I broke that rule many times, I don't think Neji ever got over it. I could tell he never bought the phony story and every time he came to confront me I always found some reason for me to leave. I wish I could tell him though, all of them, but I cant. Will, not until I kill my brother at least.
* Next chapter up soon Please R&R