A/N: I've been struggling a bit on which direction the story should go and how closely it should follow the original Naruto/Shippuden storyline of Masashi Kishimoto, but I think I've finally figured out the setting of the story...
Everything that'd occurred in Naruto (pre-Shippuden) happened. Sasuke still had left with Orochimaru and Kabuto to obtain the power needed to avenge his clan and get revenge on his brother. And Naruto had left with Jiraiya for two and a half years before returning. Etc.
Only Itachi and Kisame are rouge nin, and not part of Akatsuki.
In fact, I'm taking out the Akatsuki organization altogether. It's just too confusing to add them in and then have to deal with all of their various motives and backstories.
If I decide to change my mind later, on the above or any other alterations, I'll keep you readers posted.
Anyways, onward to the story...
"Die Rain Ninja!" Sekiya exclaimed as she jolted awake.
Oh wait. Team Guy took care of the trespasser…so who did I actually throw a senbon at?
Her weapon she threw when she awoke was deeply wedged in the wall,only millimeters away from Neji's Hyuga's body was frozen in place, but his eyes conveyed both surprise and a touch of annoyance.
"Sorry," Sekiya said as she flung the blanket aside and hastily went to retrieve the senbon.
As she placed the senbon back in her holster, she flashed a teasing smile and tried to explain herself, "Reflex."
"Good reflexes," Neji noted with a nod.
Before he paused and then added with mild annoyance still in his voice, "Wrong shinobi to use them on."
Sekiya winced. "Sorry."Neji didn't reply, leaving the girl slightly off-balance.
Darn, Sekiya said to herself. If anything, he's onlymoreannoyed.
Sekiya began to fidget and looked elsewhere; fearing Neji's slightly irked gaze would turn into a she did, she soon became aware of how tidier the room she had fallen asleep, she had recalled the shattered window shards were scattered across the floor and her skurikens were sticking out on the wall.
But now, the shards were absent—probably swept away into the trash, and the broken window was covered with some cutout cardboard. As for the skurikens, the walls were free of them, and the skurikens were evenly organized on top of her drawer.
Thanks..." Sekiya said in appreciation."..for cleaning up the room," she added for clarification.
She waited for some response from Neji.
After a few moments, Neji shrugged. "I just hate to see a messy room."
When it seemed Neji wouldn't say anymore, Sekiya threw out a question, "Where did Lee and TenTen go? And the Rain Nin?"
She was curious at their absence, as she'd drifted off shortly after TenTen had suggested she should relax.
"Lee and TenTen took the Rain Nin to Lady Tsunade. The Rain Nin will probably be interrogated, and so TenTen and Lee should return here after handing the Rain Nin to the ANBU," Neji answered.
Hmm, so Neji and I will be alone for awhile—or maybe not, depending on how long I've slept and how fast Lee is, she thought.
"Speaking of Lee…" Neji began, almost hesitantly.
"Lee?" Sekiya repeated, wondering where this was , the ninja then had a suspicion where Neji was headed with this.
"Lee…" he repeated, as if wondering whether to reveal something, and finally decided to anyways. "Likes you."
Sekiya pretended to play dumb and gave the Hyuga her best blank stare.
"Don't pretend you haven't noticed," Neji said with a scolding tone, as he slightly narrowed his eyes. "Only someone like Naruto would be so unobservant."
Not in this case he isn't, Sekiya wanted to say.
But instead, she casually replied, "Of course Lee likes me—as a friend, just like he views you and TenTen to be his friends."
Neji shook his head bluntly saying, "You know it's more than that. Lee likes you like…like how Sakura and Ino like Sasuke (even after all he's done…)."
"I thought Lee likes Sakura though," Sekiya brought up.
"That fact's still valid," he replied. "But as… optimistic as Lee is, I think some realism is beginning to settle in."
Sekiya's expression illustrated shock. Lee? Determined Lee, starting to give up on his crush on Sakura?! That's…almost as impossible asNarutochanging his mind!
Seeing her stunned visage, Neji explained, "I, too, find it difficult to swallow. But while Lee is still setting his sights on Sakura, still hoping to have an opportunity to date her, he's also opening himself up to the possibility that that may not occur. Lee knows that Sakura still likes Sasuke. He pities Sakura, and respects her feelings, and as Sasuke's friend, Lee also respects him and feels that it isn't right to try and 'take' Sakura from Sasuke."
That's Lee for you, Sekiya thought as she smiled.
She only stopped smiling when she noticed Neji eyeing her carefully, as if trying to see her with his byakugan—even if he hadn't activated it.
"What I don't get," Neji began, "Are your feelings for him."
Sekiya tried not to gulp. "M-my feelings?"
Inwardly, she added, What does Neji know? Does he know that—?
"You train with him often," Neji pointed out, "And whenever he flirts with you, you seem to encourage—or, at the very least... accept it."
Neji paused, as if wanting Sekiya to explain herself, but she didn't respond.
For one thing, she was too surprised that Neji assumed that about her. Not only that, but he didn't know why she really trained with Lee so often—not just him, but TenTen and Guy-sensei, too.
Finally after a long awkward silence, Sekiya opened her lips to speak.
But by that time, the Hyuga continued, "Although TenTen always tells me you're 'the village flirt.'"
Neji gave her a look then, a look that seemed either questioning or exasperated; but whether it was one in particular, Sekiya wasn't certain.
But she was certain of at least one thing, TenTen shouldn't keep saying that around Neji anymore.
"Lee's my friend and teammate," Neji admitted. "If dating you will help him get over his dead-end crush with Sakura, and if you like him back…I won't have any objections."
A pained look entered Sekiya's gaze then; something Neji didn't see because he'd briefly looked elsewhere.
When the Hyuga was about to face Sekiya again, both of them were surprised to hear a familiar voice…a voice that sounded like it was singing.
"And IIIIIIIIIIII!" a soprano voice began.
Neji blinked in surprise. "Where is that singing coming from?"
"Will always…!"
Sekiya only groaned. "Only one kunoichi can sing like that."
"Llooooovvvvee yoooooooou!"
A/N: Sooo, due to a friend's encouragement (and for one of her bday gifts), I've added her OC in the story. The next chapter will feature her character's introduction.
Anyways, hope you readers enjoyed this latest chapter (7) and please R&R. Always much appreciated. And hopefully you Oregonians are enjoying the awesome weather as much as I am this past week^_^