I'm currently revising the story for grammatical errors. To all the people reading and reviewing this, thank you.
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Chapter 1: Replaced
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Children laughed in the warm summer breeze and Tenten couldn't help, but chuckle with them. It was their summer break, two weeks to play with friends and have the lines of shinobi and civilian blend with no stigmas stopping them. It was a time to relax. As Tenten strolled down the streets, she could see the evidence everywhere.
Kurenai and Asuma were sharing dango and Ino was carting a disgruntled Shikamaru through the shops, though the smile and soft look in his eyes betrayed any of the disdain he might have felt. Over in Ichiraku, she could see Sasuke chatting up Temari about her new home life in Suna. Sakura strolled past with groceries in her arms, carefully weaving around the running children, and Kakashi, who lounged comfortably on a tree limb in the shade of its leaves, offered a small greeting before returning to his questionable literature.
Yes, today was a day for enjoying the luxuries of a sunny summer day and a good snow cone, but that wasn't for her. No, Tenten was going to train with her team. As she tightened the hold on her bag, she strengthened her resolve. She wouldn't miss training with her friends for the world, though the heat was starting to get to her. Maybe she'd treat herself to a snow cone later.
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The sound of grass bending under sandal-covered feet and blows being exchanged were heard throughout the training ground. As Lee dodged a kick to his face and countered with a kick to his opponent's feet, he heard a feminine voice call out to him.
"Lee!"
Both fighters paused their battle as they watched their female teammate bound up the hill. Lee smiled and ran towards Tenten with open arms.
"Youthful Tenten, how the power of youth radiates from you this morning!"
Tenten giggled as she wriggled in his hold. "Okay Lee, I get it, you're happy to see me, but can you let go? You smell," she said laughingly.
Lee quickly let go and stepped back. "But that is what training does to the youthful! It helps me and Gai-sensei stay youthful!" he said stepping into his trademark pose.
"That's right, Lee!" Gai screamed as he ran towards him, the sunset backdrop behind him.
"Gai-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei!"
"Lee!"
"Gai-sensei!"
"L—"
"Would you two stop it? This is getting embarrassing."
Tenten, Lee, and Gai turned to the fourth member of their team. "Hello Neji!"
"Yosh, Neji! Greetings, this youthful morning!" Gai grinned.
Tenten simply smiled. "Ohayo Neji-kun."
Neji nodded at all of them, the sleeves of his clothing billowing as he walked. His choice of dress had changed just as he did, though, she could say the same for herself and Lee.
Lee had chosen to retain his look from when he was 16. For five years, the green spandex was still covered by his jounin vest and his bowl-cut had not changed in those years.
Tenten, on the other hand, had changed most of her wardrobe. Her traditional Chinese-style shirt had been exchanged for a Chinese-style dress with long slits in the sides for mobility and her baggy pants had been kept, but she now had some capri's and shorts in her closet, though the buns on her hair had not disappeared.
She let down her pack, strapping on her kunai holster on her pant leg. Despite her change in wardrobe, she had decided to wear one of her Chinese-style short-sleeved shirts and a pair of baggy pants. It made her feel nostalgic, when things were so much simpler.
'Simpler…' She quickly shook her head of that thought and stood. "So, who am I sparring against?"
Lee brightened. "I will, Tenten!"
She smiled brightly, something reserved for close friends. "Alright, Lee-kun. Lead the way."
"Yosh!"
Neji watched as they walked away into a clearing not far away from the one he stood in with Gai. He watched as Lee declared another undying vow of love to Sakura and Tenten gently reprimand him with a light punch to the arm.
He watched her clothing shift as she moved, the fabric doing nothing to hide the soft curves and toned muscle she had gained over the years. He clenched his fist as he watched her hug Lee. It wasn't too long ago that it was him that would be at the end of those hugs and the one training with her, but for the past few months, Lee had been filling those places. For reasons unknown to him, he couldn't help but clench his jaw.
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Tenten back-flipped away from Lee as he tried to get her with a swipe to her feet. She sent a series of senbon at him and watched as he deflected them all. She suddenly saw him as he came towards her, a kick aimed at her head.
She moved to stand, but her movement wavered, her legs slightly shaking beneath her. Lee noticed this and back-flipped away to keep from hitting her. He walked over to her. "Tenten, are you okay?" he asked, concern in his tone.
She smiled gratefully. "I'm fine, Lee," she said, getting back to her feet. "See?" Suddenly, she was hit by a wave of nausea and she fell to her knees. "Tenten!"
Footsteps sounded in the foliage and soon, Neji and Gai appeared. They frowned. "What happened?" asked Neji.
"I don't know, Neji. One minute, she was fine, the next…"
Gai nodded and held a hand out to her. "Are you feeling okay, Tenten?"
"I'm fine," Tenten said dismissively.
"Are you sure?"
She smiled. "I'm fine. Really, Lee."
Gai frowned. "Well, just in case, I'm sending you all home. You all deserve the rest, especially in this heat."
They all nodded in agreement and Gai struck his good-guy pose. "And now, I shall present my eternal rival with a youthful challenge!"
Neji and Tenten sweat-dropped and Lee looked up at Gai. "Good luck, Gai-sensei! You're the coolest!"
"Yosh!" Gai screamed as he ran from the training ground towards the village.
Lee watched him go, the sparkles of adoration having not left his eyes yet as Tenten sighed. She suddenly noticed Neji's hands holding her own steady. She quickly snatched them away, ignoring the stunned look on Neji's face. When he was about to ask her something, she smiled; knowing it was faltering.
"Well, I'm gonna go now. See ya, guys!"
The two men watched their female teammate sling her pack on her shoulder and walk away before disappearing in the green foliage. Lee turned to Neji, worry evident in his eyes. "What do you think is wrong with her, Neji?"
Neji scowled. "Probably not enough sleep," he said, dismissing the problem and himself as he walked towards the Hyuuga compound, but there was something in the back of his head that was saying that there was more to the story than he saw.