A/N: hi! It's me again! Sorry if this chap. Took a little longer to do. looks down at floor sadly it may seem that writer's block has struck again. sighs anyway, I'm gonna b gone 4 the next week/so, (w/out internet) so, hopefully by the time I get back, this stupid writer's block will b gone. enjoy the 8th chappie! (wow! 8 already! I really don't have a life!)
Tenten's POV-
I made my way back to the battle grounds, trying to locate Neji's chakra. Thankfully, before too long, I sensed it. It led into the woods, and did not lead away. I looked to the west, seeing the sun beginning to set. I didn't have much more light, so I decided to start my search before it got too dark to even see. Trees blurred past me as I followed his chakra signature. Sometimes, I saw glints of sunlight pierce through the trees, lighting my way, but before long, it got dark. Now, going back was no longer an option.
I had to find Neji, not only because I promised Kohaku, Matt, and Kari, but also because… the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Neji wasn't just a sparring partner to me anymore, maybe even something more than a friend… before I could let my mind delve further into this subject, I saw a tiny glint of thread in the trees. Working with weapons gave me a lot of experience when it came to locating and dodging traps. I looked at them, and decided that it must have been the Akatsuki that laid them. So, if they had laid them here, I thought, then they must not be far.
I traveled as stealthily as I could, trying not to make any noise. Suddenly I saw a flash of light, and realized that the two Akatsuki people must have made camp here, and the light was coming from their fire. I looked around, and saw, to my surprise, that neither Akatsuki people were there. I hid myself behind a tree as I scanned the area for Neji.
My eyes fell on a bloody mass lying on the ground- Neji! Without thinking, I ran toward him, and gingerly lifted him up so I could see his face.Neji, what did they do to you? I thought as I put a hand to his chest, and tried to find his pulse. My heart rate calmed down a bit after I felt a pulse- it wasn't strong, but I thought he was going to be okay. As my hands moved across his chest, I found a very small shuriken embedded almost all the way in.
Looking around once to make sure that the two Akatsuki ninja weren't coming back, I grasped the small weapon, and pulled. It came out after a few minutes. I looked at the edges, and saw that they were covered in a thin coating of a very lethal poison that, if injected into a person, would make them bleed to death. That would explain why Neji was bleeding so badly. I tossed the shuriken aside, and put Neji's arm over my shoulder so I could carry him more easily back to Konoha. My eyes widened in horror and suprise as I saw a small shuriken shoot past me.
"Where do you think you're going?" a snide voice hissed behind me.
A/N: hi! i know, u probably think i'm totally evil 4 leaving u w/ this cliffie when i'm not gonna b updating till next week, but hopefully, by the time i get back, my writer's block will b gone. so, until next Sun., Ja ne!