A/N: My back hurts sooo much from writing this... I literally started this two days ago...
Disclaimer: Naruto characters/original plot does not belong to me.
When Shikamaru's hand came in contact with Tenten's slightly puffy cheek, Ino fainted once again, and Tenten stood completely still. Her eyes were averted away from Shikamaru, who was now backing away slowly, wanting to avoid any blows coming his way. But none came.
Tenten fell to her knees and looked now at the carpeted floor. Her face had gone bright red and a stinging sensation had begun to spread from her cheek to the rest of her body. "Why?"
Shikamaru looked down at Tenten who was now shaking and about to cry. He frowned, now wanting more than anything to be beaten up by Tenten rather than having to comfort her. He had just made his life a whole lot more troublesome. Tenten repeated her rather vague question. "Why?!"
"I don't know what you mean…" Shikamaru trailed off as Tenten began to cry.
"Why did you hit me you bastard?!" Tenten shot up off of the ground and smashed her head against his.
Shikamaru groaned as he rubbed his forehead and noticed a lingering smell of alcohol. Shikamaru backed away from Tenten as she began throwing empty tequila bottles at him, swearing in Chinese. "How the hell do you know Chinese?!" Shikamaru shouted in a somewhat cool tone as he dodged the glass bottles easily. Tenten's aim was off since she was apparently just as tipsy as Ino.
When Tenten ran out of bottles to throw, she began throwing dirty dishes left lying about. After finally growing tired of dodging various flying objects, Shikamaru stretched his shadow out and attached it to Tenten's, stopping her in her tracks.
Shikamaru rubbed a frown onto his face and watched as Tenten copied him. "How do you know Chinese?"
Tenten groaned but answered the question. "My mum is Chinese, but I only know how to swear."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at how un-lady like Tenten's answer sounded, but shook his head, chuckling when Tenten did the same. Tenten then tried to spit at Shikamaru, but abandoned the idea when Shikamaru forced her to spit in her hand.
"Why did you hit me?" Tenten spoke calmly.
"Because you're being a very troublesome idiot." Shikamaru looked Tenten dead in the eye and dropped his arms, releasing Tenten from his jutsu. She looked away from Shikamaru. Shikamaru sighed heavily and broke the silence that had begun to settle. "Look, I'm sorry I hit you. It was unnecessary. And I hate doing unnecessary things. But you can't spend the rest of your life crying over Neji. Sure, he can treat you like crap sometimes, and now you've had enough. But if you really want to leave Neji, you have to move on and cut your losses. But that's not the case with you two. You're both crazy about each other. You have to tell Neji that you're fed up with his bull and actually work it out." Shikamaru grunted and collapsed next to the unconscious Ino, tired from his slightly exciting morning.
Tenten breathed heavily and turned back around to look out of the window, trying to think about what Shikamaru had just said. Her large, coffee brown eyes wandered over the hustle and bustle of the morning, trying to find Sakura and Suigetsu. The sight she found was quite unexpected.
"Oh, my, gosh!" Tenten's eyes turned into circles and her heart seemed jump into her throat. Shikamaru opened one eye and looked at her petite figure leaning out of the open window.
"What?"
Neji raced through the crowds of celebrating girls and fathers and mothers. His byakugan was activated, trying to locate Tenten's chakra signature. A small wedding band was held in Neji's tight, pale fist. Neji cursed himself repeatedly for drinking so early in the morning. It was affecting his sight, making it harder to see. Neji ran faster, trying to wake himself up, only to run into a large, muscular man. Neji fell to the ground and was helped up Juugo, the man he had run into.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Juugo smiled softly as he dusted Neji off. Neji tensed up at the contact. Realizing this, Juugo stuffed his in his pockets and muttered an apology.
"It's okay. Hey do you know where Tenten is?"
Juugo opened his mouth to answer, only to be cut off by the squealing of a young brunette who was leaning out of the window. It was Tenten. "Oh, my, gosh!"
Neji looked up at Tenten and followed her line of sight. His blood began to boil as he went into a hot, white rage.
Naruto had started to walk out of the forest and was passing the main gates when he saw it. The two guards were blocking a tall raven haired man who was carrying a girl on his shoulder. Naruto squinted, trying to get a better picture. "It can't be…" He gasped. Racing towards the gates his thoughts were confirmed. It was Sasuke. And on his shoulder was Hinata. Naruto clenched his fists, unsure of his feelings. He was filled with rage but his eyes held relief. "Sasuke you bastard!" Naruto roared. Sasuke noticed Naruto from the corner of his eye, but ran on ahead, away from the guards.
Grinning, Naruto gladly took chase.
After all this time… that demon comes back all by himself! And with my girl!
Sasuke ran past Lee and Kakashi, who were sat at the ramen bar. Kakashi frowned as he turned, only to see Naruto rush by. Kakashi ran after Naruto instinctively, forgetting to pay. Lee looks around in confusion as he pays for both him and Kakashi then joined the chase.
Naruto watched as Sasuke's raven hair bobbed further and further away. Exasperated, Naruto stormed on ahead, slowing down when Sasuke stopped and walked back to an alley way. Naruto saw Neji standing with Juugo looking towards Sasuke whose mouth was agape. He heard Tenten gasp from a window. Walking towards the alley way, Naruto coughed in embarrassment.
Kakashi came up behind Naruto and stared at Sasuke in amazement, only for his stare of amazement to wander over to the spectacle of Sakura and Suigetsu, bright pink and wrapped in each other's arms.
"Sakura how could you?" Lee shouts, having finally arrived at the scene. No one seems to notice.
"Sakura."
"Sasuke!"
Suigetsu opened his mouth to try and speak, but only jumbled words and letters flowed out. Sakura slowly pushed Suigetsu away from her to get a good look at the man who stood before her. He looked so much older, and his deep black eyes were still the same pits she would get lost in as a child. His face was squarer, and he had dark circles under his eyes. He looked like a tired wreck, but his eyes had become the same as they were before the tragedy; so innocent and open, yet sad and hurt.
Looking over to the girl slung over his shoulder, Sakura gulped. "Is that… Hinata?"
Sasuke opened his mouth to speak, only to wheeze from being punched in the back. Sasuke fell to his knees and dropped Hinata on the ground. Naruto rushed over to Hinata and placed her head in his lap, stroking her face gently. Looking up, he saw Neji towering over Sasuke. "You took her didn't you Uchiha!?" Neji spat and pulled Sasuke up off of the ground by the collar of his dirty shirt.
Neji pulled his palm back and went to strike Sasuke in the heart. "Neji stop!" Tenten clambered out of the window and jumped. Shikamaru peered out of the window to see what the fuss was about and then raised an eyebrow at the amount of people.
Tenten walked towards Neji, whose palm was centimetres away from Sasuke's chest, but it was still enough to make him cough up some blood. Pulling him away from Sasuke, Tenten turned Neji around so he was facing her. Tenten wrapped her arms around Neji's torso and hugged him tight and whispered into his chest. "You can't do that here. Besides, you don't even know if it was him who took Hinata. It would be stupid to waste energy on a whim." Tenten felt Neji fist his hands on her back. His breathing slowed and he released Tenten from his grip.
"If I find out you had anything to with it… I will take care of you myself!" Neji hissed into Sasuke's ear and went over to Hinata to check she wasn't hurt.
After that, no one said a thing. Everyone stared at Sasuke who looking down at the small pool of blood that dripped down from his mouth. Suigetsu took hold of Sakura's hand, wanting to see if her feelings had changed. Sakura squeezed Suigetsu's hand and sighed, giving him a small smile. Kakashi cleared his throat, drawing attention to him and then started giving orders. "Naruto, Sakura. You are to take Hinata to the hospital and get her checked out. Juugo, Lee, you two will take Sasuke straight to lock up and nowhere else. Everyone else, go cool off and sort yourselves out. We are all to meet at Lady Tsunade's office in an hour. Understood?" Kakashi looked around at the small crowd. Everyone bowed and then disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Kakashi sighed and looked up at Shikamaru who was still standing at the window. "Me and you will survey the Konoha borders and make sure no one else came here with Sasuke." Shikamaru groaned, but nodded in agreement.
Tsunade frowned at Jiraiya. The documents he had placed in front of her were now scrunched up in her hands. "The evidence is all there. I'm telling you! He is back and he will try to finish what he started." Jiraiya's voice was stern. Held within his large hand was another document which he placed in front of Tsunade. "Sign this, and I will be able to track him down and-" Tsunade screamed and tipped her desk back. Jiraiya stepped to the side to avoid being hit.
"I am not letting you go on another covert mission, or any other mission that involves you disappearing underground for that matter! The last time you did you almost… you know the rest! I just don't want to go through that again…" Tsunade tried her best to send Jiraiya a threatening stare, but upon making eye contact with Jiraiya, her honey eyes softened, and it took most of Tsunade's will power to stop herself from breaking down into tears.
Jiraiya placed his hands on Tsunade's shoulders and squeezed them. "If you don't want me to go, then I respect your decision as the Hokage and as a friend." Jiraiya gave Tsunade a warm smile. Looking up, Tsunade found herself being pulled closer to Jiraiya.
Shizune burst into the room, oblivious to Tsunade's and Jiraiya's position. "What is it Shizune?!" Tsunade snapped and quickly pushed Jiraiya away from her, her cheeks slightly pink.
"Sasuke Uchiha! He's back!" Shizune gasped, unsure as to what to do.
Tsunade frowned. Jiraiya looked from Tsunade to Shizune. "Who brought him back?" Jiraiya spoke slowly, almost unsure of himself.
"No one, he came of his own free will. He also brought Hinata with him."
"What?" Tsunade burst passed Shizune and rushed down to the cells underground. Jiraiya and Shizune followed suit.
Ino fluttered her eyes open. Sitting up, she grabbed her stomach and went green. Gagging slightly, Ino swallowed hard. Looking around her apartment, she squealed and stuffed her fist in her to stop herself from screaming. Broken glass was scattered all over the floor, and small bits of food had gotten stuck to the wall.
"Shikamaru, Tenten! I'm gonna kill you!"
A/N: That last bit was kinda unnecessary, but I added it just to show Ino missed out on a lot... and I think this is the only chapter so far where Sasuke only says one word.