Chapter 2

Tenten sighed.

Eating at the Hyuga compound was one of her favourite things to do. Sure the lot of them could be heartless bastards, but the food was always divine.

Currently, one of the servants was pushing another plate of fish at her.

"Aki-Chan, I couldn't possibly eat another bite, but thank you. Oh and can you please let Kanna-San and the others know it was all very delicious." She said with a smile.

Aki beamed at her and cleared up her dishes swiftly and wordlessly. Tenten gave her thanks as the other girl walked away.

To her right side, Neji was quietly drinking his tea. Dinner had been a pleasant affair. She had made idle chit chat to the questioning Hyuga's about her opinions on the deadliest weapons. Their curiosity and acknowledgment of her obvious expertise always made her smile. The only downside, Hinata was out on a mission. Hiashi and his youngest daughter were at the end of the table talking politics with a few others. They had exchanged pleasantries' with her when she sat down.

She took a sip of her own tea, humming slightly.

Seeing team 7 had got her in an amiable mood. It was good to see Naruto and Sakura so happy. Funny how it all came down to the brooding boy named Sasuke. It must be the warm weather that had everyone in good spirits. Even Sasuke seemed to be in a good mood. Thinking of brooding boys, she looked over at her own.

Neji had been quite out of it since they left the weapons shop and she had no idea why. She briefly wondered if it had something to do with Sasuke. They didn't quite get along back in their genin days.

She lightly tapped his leg.

Pearl white eyes snapped towards her.

"Someone's jumpy today." She laughed.

Neji pale cheeks hint the littlest of colour. Her grin stretched across her face.

"Are you done? I'll walk you home."

If she didn't know him so well, she wouldn't have notice how flustered he was. It was one of the perks of being his best friends. She loved getting underneath his skin.

Just as she was rising out of her seat, the clear baritone of Hiashi Hyuga halted her.

"Tenten leaving so soon? I wanted to speak to you privately before you left. Aki, fetch some of Tenten favourite sweets. We'll speak outside?" His voice cut across the room faster than a knife.

Tenten brain went into overdrive. Did she do something? Prank any of the Hyugas? Broke any of their antiques? Nope, she couldn't think of anything she might have done recently to cause the clan leader to want to speak to her privately. Sure she spoke to him in rooms with other witnesses, but rarely did they ever speak in private.

She smiled expertly, hiding any worry. She was a brave ninja after all.

"Yes, of-"

"Privately?"Neji cut her off quickly.

She suddenly remembered there were people around. The other clan members were all quiet, but their eyes were filled with interest. Hanabi's face was cool and bored as she pushed around her rice. It was Neji, who surprised her. His jaw was tight and his face cold. Wait, a brooding, over protective Neji? Why was she surprised?

"I'm sorry Neji, I didn't think that Tenten needed to be escorted by you everywhere she went." Hiashi tone was clipped and challenging. He raised an eyebrow at Neji and she couldn't help but hold back a shiver. Neji stood still.

"I'm sure-"

"It is a nice night for a walk. And Neji wasn't there a scroll you wanted me to read? How about you go get it and then I'll be able to read it tonight?" She interrupted.

Her hand touched his elbow to placate him.

She glanced at his eyes. Being partners for so long, they were able to understand one another by their expression. She knew he was only trying to look out for her, but she was sure she could deal with this by herself. What did he think of her? A girl that needed his manly assistances every crook and nanny? No, she got this. If she could deal with one cold Hyuga for most of her teenage life, she could deal with the uncle.

She got up and gave Neji's shoulder a squeeze. He was way too tense and his mouth was thin. The look on his face made her stomach twist. She chased that feeling away. Getting nervous off of him, she thought, would not do her any good.

She looked up and smiled at Hiashi.

Leaving her best friend behind.

The cool evening air caressed Tenten's skin, spreading little tingles up her neck. The breeze ruffled across the courtyard flowers. She could see the Hydrangeas sparkling from being recently watered.

She would be lying if she said she wasn't even a little nervous.

Hiashi Hyuga was a stern man. She respected his power but she still thought that he was kind of a dick. His once harshness towards Hinata's timid nature caused for some distaste. Of course now it was all under the bridge.

"Hinata's been gone for quite some time, hasn't she?" Might as well start the ball rolling, she thought.

"Yes her and her team have headed to Sunagakure, if I remember correctly." The sun was just setting and everything around them had a golden hue to it.

He paused.

"Speaking of Hinata, it seems her interest of Naruto is mutual." She couldn't help but laugh. She forgot how much of a gossip he could be.

"Yes, but it seems like he won't ever admit his feelings. And she's just as oblivious as him." She said in between giggles. Hiashi shook his head at her.

"Would you care for a wager, Miss Tenten?" He asked.

She raised an eyebrow, "Go on." She always had a bad habit of gambling.

"I bet that they will not marry for five more years." That surprised her.

"Uh correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you disapproved of Naruto and was going to try to arrange marry her one of these days." She bluntly stated. She looked into his calm eyes.

"Do you believe in fate?" Was he going nuts?

"I-I suppose I do." She stuttered out. He was being quite philosophical.

"Hmm. Things happen in this world for a reason. Good or bad, lessons are learned." He was staring out at the sky now.

"I've been proven wrong by that boy and if things go the way they go. I will not be the one to stop it. Much." He added.

Woah.

There's a lot of growth happening here.

"It looks like you thought things through, but I think you have put too little faith on their timing."

"Fate usually takes time."

She shook her head, "They will definitely get together sooner. Probably before the next two years."

"It took them quite long to even speak casually." He pointed out.

"Yes, but that was all Hinata. You forget, Naruto is a rash idiot. I'm positive he'll be asking you for her hand in marriage sooner than later." She quipped.

He chucked a sound as rare as one on Neji's laughs.

"I don't think so."

"What's the wage?" She smiled daringly at him. Hiashi's eyes twinkled as if she just walked into his trap.

"If you win, I'll grant you anything within my power."

"Anything?" She said skeptically.

"Yes anything, but if I win, you let me marry you into the Hyuga family." Getting anything she want was awesome, she could get him to finance her very own weapons store for her. And she- Wait a second.

"WHAT! MARRY WHO NOW?!" Her voice went to a level of squeakiness that reminded Hiashi of a baby duck.

"Now now Tenten, let's not get hysterical." He taunted.

Aki, was walking towards them. She has a tray in her hands and a picnic blanket. The beautiful servant smiled and handed them both a cup of tea as well as a plate of assorted mochi. She tossed down the grey blanket on the grass. Tenten barely got out a thank you before Aki bowed and left.

She looked down at the sweets. They were of course her favourite.

Hiashi gestured her to sit down.

"Yo-u said something, marry-Hyuga." She couldn't get a proper sentence out and she knew her face was red.

Hiashi looked amused as ever as he sipped his tea.

"Well many ninjas in our compound are looking for marriage. And you Tenten are a marvelous kunoichi. I'm sure any of them would be ecstatic to wed you." He said a matter of fact.

She ignored the compliment and thought deeply for a minute. Hiashi was the type to meddle, especially when it came down to his clan. She couldn't help but think he was crazy. She was clanless kunoichi, there wouldn't be any negotiations out of her marriage that would be beneficial.

Sure she was awesome, but she felt as if there was another plan within this bet. There was much to consider and for some reason she thought of Neji. He probably be very upset at her if she agreed to something as ridiculous as this, but then again she was ninety-five percent certain that Naruto would confess his love in at least a year.

She looked at the clan leader, once more. He was observing her. His eyes were challenging.

"Deal." She had her cards and all she could do now was gamble.

He handed her the plate of mochi.

"Good." He sound as if he already won.

She turned to see him pluck a beautiful flower up. It was a red fire lily. God, the Hyuga's gardening game were top notch.

He gently came close enough to put the delicate flower in her hair, behind one of her buns. She had put her hair back up for her spar earlier today. She marveled the idea of how it would look if her hair was down.

Hiashi eyes sparkled and a smiled tugged at his lips. She saw that look before and god should she be worried.

Quite quickly after that, Tenten was whisked away by a very annoyed Neji.

Hiashi sat back at his desk. He had played a bit of a game today.

He couldn't help but want to meddle, Naruto and Hinata were just getting so boring. And he saw the looks Neji would give Tenten when she wasn't looking. They may not know it, but they were basically already a couple.

All they needed was a push. And he was there to give it to them.

He couldn't wait to see his nephew's face when he finds out about the bet.

And plus, Tenten would make a lovely daughter in law.

Author's Note

And we now have a plot- kind of. Thanks for all the support #illtrybetter,