Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Also, the idea of Gai adopting Tenten and Tenten's past in general, is based off of a good friend of mine's idea.

A/N: Hey guys, sorry the update is a little late in coming, but thank you so much again for your support. It really does mean a lot to me, you guys are awesome. So here's the next part, please let me know what you thought, but most importantly, I hope you enjoy the story. For that is why writers write.

X

He had kept his eyes down and strained his ears during the entire conversation Tenten had had with Kakashi, but he hadn't been able to pick up much over the noise. Only that she hadn't thrown a fit at being his partner, and was coming over. He felt his heart starting to pound and forced himself to keep breathing normally. He wasn't sure what made him volunteer like that.

Maybe it was Kiba's constant taunts, or the fact that once summer started he wouldn't see her for at least two months, or maybe he was just hoping he could somehow impress her. Whatever the reason though, when Kakashi had announced the project and except for a few, told everyone to pick their partners, he'd gone right up to Kakashi's desk and said he wouldn't mind waiting for her. His excuse was that he had to get his notes back anyway and they were partners in another class so he could fill her in on what happened then as well.

Whether or not Kakashi believed him, he didn't know, but he doubted the man would actually have any interest in checking. And he had beaten Neji to it, so that was a plus.

Still, that left him feeling like he'd swallowed a bottle full of ants as he waited to see if she'd come and what her reaction would be.

Right now though…he wasn't exactly sure what it was as she dropped her backpack and plunked down next to him, resting her head on the table.

"Sorry I'm late." she said. "Word of advice, if you take an early entrance exam, make sure you don't stay up half the night preparing for it."

Shino nodded, trying to think of something engaging to say.

"I can't imagine that would be helpful, but at the very least you managed to finish. Most can't manage even that."

That was the wrong thing to say from how her head turned and she lightly smacked her forehead against the table, her brown hair coming loose from the two buns it was in, before she picked her head up.

"Hopefully it gets lost in the mail, but right now lets just work on this. What are we doing exactly…" she trailed off and furrowed her brow before her face turned slightly red and she tried to look over at his papers as if that would answer her.

Shino bit back a sigh. He didn't blame her for not knowing who he was since they had never really talked before, but it did make him feel slightly lower on the food chain than he had a few seconds ago.

"Aburame Shino." he offered with a slight bow of the head.

"I knew I knew that name! Just trying to match it up with the face. Maito Tenten." she grinned, returning the gesture, and for a split second Shino wanted to say that he knew that. That she was impossible to miss, at least for him, and ask if she was planning on attending Ino's 'festival' tonight.

Fortunately common sense caught up to him, and he realized just how overbearing that might sound.

"So what are we doing?" she continued.

"We have a few choices actually. One, we can make glowing water. Two, we can use these chemicals to make different colored fires and see if there's any different in the ash they leave. Or three, which of common materials make the most pollution and smoke." he said, watching her eyes for any sign of what she might prefer and hoping it wasn't the water one. He'd glanced over it, and for all the pretense and expected pain, it was relatively easy, and would take the least amount of time to actually do. They might even finish it up with the remaining class time they had, and then the lab would only take fifteen minutes to write. There went his big, and possibly only chance, of interaction then.

Maybe she knew that to though and that was why she was looking over at it.

"Making glowing water would probably be a lot of fun. Especially if you can drink it…" she shot a glaring smile over at Kakashi and he could see the wheels turning in her head. "But between fire and water, I'd rather play with the flames, and light something up. What about you?" she asked.

Shino bit his cheek to keep from grinning and looked over the other two, trying to see which one would take the most time, and beat back the nagging voice in his head that told him to let her know what one would be harder. Because out of the two fire ones, there was still one they could finish within the class itself and not need to use the workday on Monday. Still…

"The one where you burn common materials might take less time, but it's just setting things on fire. The other one looks more interesting, as you actually have to work to get the flames to change color. How often do you see a red fire? Not…"

"Hardly ever. I say we do that one." Tenten grinned as she made a move to grab the container with the needed supplies and Shino inwardly beamed. With his conscious somewhat appeased, he had a feeling that things were taking a turn for the better as they moved the other containers and began.

Twenty minutes later though, he wasn't sure that things could be going any worse. Maybe it was just the fact that chemistry wasn't her thing, or that he had purposely been trying to make things go slower and hadn't shared leadership that well, or maybe it was that she liked to argue about everything, and while never playing the 'upperclassman' card, still seemed to balk at any help or critique he offered.

"I know what I'm doing, Shino! You don't have to point out every little detail." she growled as she mixed the chemicals together.

"You're using to much though. If you keep using that amount, then the flame will get to big…"

"Have you ever done this project before?" she asked.

He shook his head as he moved his own small dish of chemicals farther away from hers.

"No, but…"

"Then you don't actually know the flame will get to big. And we need a decent amount to actually burn."

"Decent amounts vary from project to project and that's to much for this."

"I thought we agreed that we'd split the project? You work on your half and I'll work on mine!"

Shino wasn't sure when he had first felt attracted to Tenten, only that it had begun at the end of last year when they moved him into one of her math classes to see how he did at that level and continued to grow throughout this year. And it was shallow, he knew, but the first thing that did draw his attention to her was her appearance. The way she moved and spoke, and how she seemed to fit like a missing puzzle piece in this world. Then the more he saw of her, he started to realize it wasn't just physical attraction, but her personality as well. How easy she was with people, and the way she cared but never seemed to enjoy showing how deeply she did. He'd watched how she interacted with others, and even those in his class, never looking down on them, and when a challenge was presented, she never shrank back from it. Nor did her world seem to revolve around trivial things as other girls her age did.

One thing he didn't enjoy now that it was unleashed on him though, was her absolute stubbornness and flaring temper.

"I don't remember ever agreeing to that. This is a group project. We're supposed to work on it together, and part of that is following the directions." whatever he felt for her, there was no way he was just going to be a pushover and let her blow them up because she felt like doing things her way.

"You know what Sh…"

"Umm…Tenten, may I borrow your scissors please?" a voice from behind cut off her tirade and they both turned to look at the boy standing behind her.

Lee's large grin seemed made to break up the battle and Shino watched as Tenten let out a sigh and nodded.

"What happened to yours?"

"I lent them to Neji. The last time his partner 'dropped' them on the ground, the centerpiece came out and they broke. Kakashi-sensei won't let them near the glue either…"

"Probably because he knows Neji would wind up with his hand glued to Natsuka's and she'd try to say they were dating."

Lee laughed.

"Well you have to admire her determination at least!" Lee smiled, and looked over at Shino before sticking out his hand instead of a standard bow. "Rock Lee! I do not think we have met before, but if you are Tenten's friend then I think we will become great ones as well!"

Shino cocked an eyebrow at the hand and then the teenager who offered it, and from behind his glasses, tried to discern if this was some kind of joke in the making. Another part waited for Tenten to correct Lee and say they weren't friends.

"Haven't you ever shaken a hand before?" she asked instead, and Shino bit back a growl as he took it.

"Aburame Shino. I'm in a few of your other classes."

"Which ones?"

"Math, history, and gym." he said.

Lee furrowed his brow and looked up to the left as he tried to remember, then shrunk down a little with a sheepish grin and shook his head.

"I am sorry…I do not remember ever seeing you there…"

"I wouldn't feel bad, Shino. Lee would forget his head if it wasn't attached." Tenten teased and Lee humphed.

"I just came over to ask if I could borrow some scissors and introduce myself, not for a lecture!"

"Don't think of it as a lecture." Tenten said as she handed him the scissors. "Just think of it as someone pointing out an area you need to improve in."

From the look on Lee's face he hadn't been expecting that and before Shino could blink a smile larger than before took over Lee's face and he tackled Tenten in a hug from behind making her jump a little.

"Thank you for your concern, Tenten! It means so much to me that you want to help me improve!"

"Ack! Lee! Let go!" Tenten growled, but there was laughter underneath as she pushed her hand against his face, and after a minute he backed off, thanking her for the scissors over his shoulder.

It wasn't until he left that Shino felt the heat of jealousy take over and actually wondered if Neji was his largest competition for her. It had seemed as if they were just friends, but with that kind of closeness…he wasn't sure.

"Before you even ask, yes, Lee is always like that. And sugar or any kind of caffeine, makes it worse." Tenten grinned after her friend.

"How long have you known him?" Shino asked, deciding that wasn't an invasive question.

"Since I was eight. We went to the same elementary school and sometimes my dad would bring him home when his mom was working late. Neji would tag along to since otherwise he'd have to had waited for an hour for someone to come get him." she shook her head, a look of fondness at the memories melting away the traces of her anger. "I think when I asked Santa for a little brother one year, I wound up getting Lee instead."

So he was just like a brother then. Shino felt some relief and his eyes softened to mere acknowledgement instead of anger after Lee. Maybe there was a way he could use this to his advantage? He knew what he told Kiba earlier but…

Any thoughts he had were cut off as an offensive odor began to tickle his nose and he and Tenten whipped around at the same time. The chemicals they had been working with had been left sitting to long, and Shino realized had been moved too close together. With the amount Tenten had made up, and the fact that they were starting to mix in the air…

Before either of them could say a word, the two dishes burst into bright blue and red flames that shot up towards the ceiling and began letting off colored smoke.

"Everyone out!" Kakashi yelled louder than anyone ever remembered as Tenten and Shino jerked back from the table and nearly stumbled to the floor. Kakashi was already moving to stop the flames and the fire alarm had started along with the sprinkler system, but this only seemed to encourage the fire.

A split second later, a piece of scorched ceiling fell, crashing onto the table, knocking over both chemicals and sending the flames over the entire tabletop.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Probably not the class Shino was hoping for, but I hope you guys enjoyed it. Please let me know what you thought, and have an awesome day.

Be Blessed

Your friend

innocent-rebel