A/N: It's been awhile since my last chapter. And for some reason I thought I'd uploaded this chapter already, lol. Though thanks to a friend pointing out otherwise, I now know better *sheepish grin*.

Anyways, hope you readers enjoy this latest chapter=)

"Like I'm going to tell you that," the Rain Ninja retorted.

Sekiya ignored his frosty tone and pondered out loud. "You were searching for something. Something only Naruto or I have—or you think or were told we have; something that can fit into a drawer."

"Shows what you know," the Rain Ninja taunted with a sneer.

Again, Sekiya ignored him.

Unawarely, she began pacing as she continued voicing her thoughts aloud. "Since you'd used a transformation jutsu to look like Naruto, I'm assuming you were watching us recently. Because you couldn't have known it was me coming in."

Even with all these clues, I can't possibly figure out what he's after, Sekiya concluded to herself as she frowned.

The Rain Ninja chuckled at her expression and said, "Stuck already?"

Sekiya flashed in a deathly glare and closed in on him.

Her kunai millimeters from his neck.

"Either tell me everything or I'll shove this through your neck."

The Rain Ninja smirked. "You can't get anything out of me if I'm dead."

"Even if I killed you, the ninja of Konoha are skilled enough to find out lots," Sekiya assured him with a dark smile.

The Rain Ninja's sneer turned into a scowl. "You'll find out lots more if I'm alive and talking; but no matter what you put me through, I won't spill."

Sekiya backed away.

And with her, her kunai as well.

Yet still she grinned.

Her gleeful lips portrayed a diabolic look. "Maybe I can't make you talk. But I know someone who can. And once you're in his hands, you'll wish I was the one torturing you. I'm much more merciful than him."

"That's if you can catch me and knock me out, first," the Rain Ninja confidently challenged.

Sekiya raised an eyebrow. "Haven't I got the first part down?"

"Guess again," the Rain Ninja said as he gave her a mischievous sneer.

Before his body exploded!

And a white cloud of smoke took his place!

A shadow-clone! Sekiya thought in surprise before she scowled. I should've known it wouldn't be easy to capture him.

As the Rain Ninja had previously done, Sekiya was now the one searching the room for his next attack.

Or when he'd show himself.

Or did he flee when he knew he was no match for—?

"Water-Style: Hand of Waves!"

Though Sekiya heard the attack, she wasn't sure where it was coming from.

So a speedy jet of water plummeted her!

And the force of the water made her collide onto the wall!

Sekiya cried out on impact and attempted to move.

Yet the unyielding attack made it difficult to escape.

Much less permitted her to make any hand signs.

Nonetheless, Sekiya struggled to form hand signs.

If I can just create a shadow-clone or perform a substitution jutsu, it'll buy me enough time to counterattack!

The Rain Ninja laughed before he said, "I see you're trying to form a hand sign. But it's no use. I've got you pinned with my jutsu, and its consistent pressure is too much for you to—ack!"

As the Rain Ninja laid sprawled on the ground and groaned from being kicked from behind, a recognizable voice exclaimed, "To attack a kunoichi with such a cowardly move is unforgivable!"

With the assault on her disrupted, a drenched Sekiya, who was now in a sitting position, saw her rescuer. "L-Lee?"

"Sekiya!" Lee bellowed with his usual, youthful enthusiasm. "I am here to rescue you!"

His exclamation earned him a bonk in the head.

By TenTen, of course. "You mean we are here to rescue her."

As he rubbed his now throbbing head, Lee scolded her. "You do not have to hit me so hard. Save it for the enemy."

"Speaking of whom..." TenTen said as she gestured to the Rain Ninja's absence.

Lee frowned as he scanned the room for the Rain Ninja. "He cannot just disappear. So where did that cowardly sneak—?"

"Watch—!" Sekiya began in warning.

Only for Neji to suddenly step in with his Gentle Fist assault.

His palm hit the oncoming Rain Ninja in the chest.

With a stunned visage, the Rain Ninja coughed up blood before the force of the attack sent him colliding into the wall.

He then slid onto the ground.

His eyes wide as he laid motionless.

"And the power of our youth and teamwork prevails!" Lee exclaimed as he pumped up a fist.

With crossed arms and closed eyes, TenTen shook her head.

Neji approached Sekiya and offered his hand. "You okay?"

Sekiya gazed into Neji's face saw and noticed genuine concern reflected in his light-blue eyes.

"Yes," she assured him as she took his hand with her own.

After she'd allowed him to help her up, she said to everyone, "Thanks."

She let her appreciative word sunk in before she asked them, "But, how did you know I was being attacked?"

"That is easy," Lee replied before he explained. "We wanted to ask if you'd join us for some light training—like, jog fifty laps around the village."

"That's not 'light'!" TenTen objected as she gaped at Lee.

Lee ignored her and proceeded with his explanation. "After getting some lunch ourselves, we had come across Sakura and Naruto, heading off to meet Kakashi-sensei. Naruto said you would likely be at his place. We had arrived in time to see a window shattered. When we saw that you were being attacked by this, this cowardly shinobi. We had decided to come to your aid."

"If I was able to make the needed hand signs, I would've won easily," Sekiya said.

Her voice conveyed frustration.

Lee nodded in agreement. "I know you would have, but this sneaky shinobi was cheap."

"Speaking of said ninja," Neji began before he asked Sekiya, "Why did he attack you in the first place?"

"He was looking for something," was Sekiya's instant response. "I have no idea what it is, but he couldn't find it—or I guess I'd interrupted him before he found what he was searching for."

Like a jounin, Neji then asked, "Explain everything that'd happened between you and this ninja. Start from when you'd first encountered him, and describe as many details as possible."

~*About five minutes later...*~

Once Sekiya completed her story, she yawned.

"We'll let you rest," TenTen said as she gave her a small, concerned smile.

"But what if some other Rain Ninja comes back to continue the search, sees Sekiya, and attacks her in her sleep?" Lee brought up.

Neji frowned. "Good points."

He formed a thinking expression before he said, "Lee, since you're the fastest one out of all of us, you take this Rain Ninja to Lady Tsuande and explain the situation to her. TenTen, you go with him in case more Rain Ninja appear and attempt to either get rid of or rescue this one."

Neji gestured to the still semi-conscious Rain Ninja.

Who was in the same position as before.

"I will stay with Sekiya and watch over her," Neji concluded.

Lee looked disappointed but made no objections.

Instead, he gave Neji a salute. "I will do as you have asked, and will be back as soon as I can."

As Lee went to pick up the unmoving, seemingly brain-dead Rain Ninja, TenTen said to Neji, "I know I don't have to remind you, but be careful."

Neji nodded. "I won't underestimate our opponents."

"Ready, TenTen?" Lee questioned.

As he'd already placed the silent Rain Ninja on his back and had secured him like the Rain Ninja was piggyback-riding Lee.

"Yup," TenTen replied as she joined him by the broken window.

"See you two soon," Lee said before he leapt out of the room and, through leaps headed for the Hokage's Residence.

Wordlessly, TenTen followed suit.

Neji watched them go before he turned back to Sekiya.

He was about to tell her something.

Only she was already in her bed.

Asleep.

I was wondering why she didn't say anything, Neji thought with an amused smile before he gently placed a blanket on top of her.

He enjoyed watching her sleep.

Her slow, deep breathes.

The peace etched on her visage, and how she clutched the edge of her blanket.

Doesn't look like the image of someone who'd be having Rain Ninja break into her place to take something, Neji said to himself before the broken window shards caught his eye.

Even though Sekiya was the one who'd shattered the window, I doubt either she or Naruto would be pleased to find their bedroom this trashed.

With that thought, Neji began the process of cleaning the room.

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the brief fighting scene and the cuuuute ending where Neji went a little OOC.

Please R&R. It'd be much appreciated, as always.

For the upcoming chapter, expect something out of a (mild) soap opera!^_^