Yay! An update! :)
eternalsmiles: Yes. :( 'Tis sad.
Nameless: That'd just be cruel. Besides, I'm a Neji/TenTen shipper all the way!
CloudGazer15: Thank you. :)
Drea1284: Always. I love painting Genma as a player. ;D
Kunoichi-of-the-Leaf: You have been hitting up my stories like no tomorrow! Haha. Thanks a bunch. :D I'm glad you like this one. :)
SilverEyeShinobi: Fire Emblem. . . Is that a book?
Disclaimer: These are Masashi Kishimoto's places and characters. The words are strictly my own.
Chase.
"Are you sleeping with Neji?"
TenTen flinched at the bluntness of the question.
She looked at her captain out of the corner of her eye.
Vaguely, she wondered if the riding trip he'd suggested was a pretense to interrogate her.
TenTen's cheeks flushed angrily.
She tugged, securing the saddle to her horse and mounted.
Kiba was still staring at her, his eyes hard. He wanted an answer.
TenTen swiftly nipped her horse in the side, sending him out of the makeshift stable that had been constructed, depending on Kiba to follow.
She wasn't stupid enough to discuss matters like that where any ears could hear.
Kiba followed a few paces behind, studying the tenseness in TenTen's shoulders. She was wary.
TenTen waited until they were almost to the forest, several yards from the encampment to address him.
"Why do you ask?" she inquired, pulling up short so she could face him.
Kiba betrayed nothing on his face but scrutiny.
"Because I have a right to know if my lieutenant is sleeping with the Commander," he retorted in a clipped tone.
TenTen silently fumed.
"I still don't see how it's any of your business, what I do in my personal life," she responded sharply.
Kiba looked away from her suddenly, his jaw clenched in concentrated lividity.
"He's as good as married, TenTen," he murmured lowly.
TenTen twitched.
"I hardly need a reminder, Kiba," said TenTen coldly.
"Then why? Why are you sleeping with him? There are plenty of other men, why did you—?"
"I don't expect you to understand. But this is my business, and my life, and I'll ruin it any way I choose."
Kiba shook his head.
"You have no idea what Hiashi will do if he ever finds out."
TenTen blinked, surprised by the shift.
"Why do you say that?"
"Has Neji ever told you anything about Hiashi? The man lives for the succession of his clan, and anything that gets in the way of that will be destroyed."
TenTen's eyes narrowed, suspicious.
"What do you mean?" she asked, gripping the saddle horn.
Kiba stared at her, truly empathizing TenTen's situation.
"Hiashi's ruthless, TenTen. If something stands in the way of the advancement of the clan, he removes the threat. In your case, you'd probably lose your reputation and your profession."
TenTen snorted.
"You're not serious," she jeered.
Kiba gazed at her, not laughing.
"You don't know the family. I grew up with them. The Hyuga's influence in Konoha is everywhere. The leader of the clan . . . they have more ties to anything in the city than the Queen could ever hope for. That's part of the reason why Neji was made Commander over the Five Squads after Asuma died, even though Shikamaru was supposed to inherit command."
TenTen raised her eyebrows.
She had never known that Shikamaru was to succeed as Commander.
"You're saying the Queen put Neji in charge because of his family's power?"
Kiba nodded, straight-faced.
TenTen mulled this over.
"Shikamaru didn't put up much protest. He'd have hated the responsibility," Kiba stated offhandedly.
"So, then why is this something you're telling me?" TenTen queried.
Kiba glanced at her, slouching a little in his saddle.
"Because I want you to know what you're messing with. Whatever you're doing with Neji. . . Just be careful, alright? The repercussions will be brutal if you're found out. And I don't want you to be punished."
TenTen snorted coldly.
"Why, because it will fall back on you?" she snapped.
"No, because you're my friend and I care for you. I feel . . . responsible for you."
TenTen regretted her attitude suddenly.
"I'm sorry, Kiba," she muttered.
Kiba nodded, staring at her.
"Can you promise me just one thing?" he asked softly.
TenTen inclined her head, signaling for him to speak.
"Promise that you won't do anything stupid."
TenTen smiled wryly.
"I'll try," she replied.
"Good enough," Kiba gruffly responded.
Summer arrived with a dour vengeance.
The heat was practically unbearable and even worse for the soldiers, who were required to wear their full armor on the battlefield.
Casualties were grotesque and heatstroke was painfully common.
It was all anyone could do just to walk outside in the morning.
TenTen shook her head as she sat astride her horse, surveying the battlefield from a small hill.
Neji was below, commanding, the visor on his helmet leaving his face exposed as he shouted orders.
"Dreadful, isn't it?" commented a voice.
TenTen turned to identify the newcomer.
It was Genma, wearing plate armor and splattered in dirt and blood. He held his helmet in one hand.
"You've come from the battle?" TenTen prompted.
Genma gave a short nod.
"For now, we have the upper hand. Itachi's left Kisame in charge while he runs some of his errands."
TenTen rolled her eyes.
Itachi's absences were getting more and more irritable, mostly because no one was able to follow him for crossing into enemy territory. It was just too risky.
Genma studied TenTen's profile for a second.
"Why aren't you down there helping, Lieutenant?"
TenTen gritted her teeth.
"I was ordered to remain here and observe the fight from above."
Genma raised his eyebrows, amused.
"And who ordered you to do that?"
TenTen sighed, frustrated.
"The Commander gave the orders to Kiba, who passed them along to me."
Genma scrutinized Neji from the distance, confused.
"And why would the Commander do that?"
TenTen clenched her jaw and held up her hands.
In them were a bow and a slew of arrows.
"I was told to shoot if any soldiers got in my range," she informed flatly. "A few other arches are spread out along the field as well."
"You must be a pretty good shot if they pulled you from battle," Genma continued, his head cocked at her.
TenTen smiled a little.
"I'm probably the best in the army, if not Squad Two."
Genma grinned and sidled his horse up to TenTen's as close as he could.
"I always liked confident women," he informed, plucking an arrow from her grip and running a finger down the tip.
TenTen tasted something sour in her mouth.
"I'm sure you do," she muttered under her breath.
"Genma!" shouted a voice from yards away.
The two knights looked down from the hill they were situated on, seeing a dark haired commander staring up that them.
"Get down here!" came the infuriated call.
Genma rolled his eyes and handed TenTen back her arrow.
"Duty calls," he grumbled, sending her a sly smile over his shoulder as he nudged his gelding into a trot.
TenTen hid her disgust as she slid her arrow back into the quiver.
"What was Genma doing up there today?" Neji inquired as he removed his heavy armor.
TenTen frowned, slightly tentative.
It was true that Genma was an annoyance, but he was certainly nothing she couldn't handle. And she wasn't sure how Neji would take the other man's advances.
TenTen settled for a shrug, untying her hair from their usual buns.
"He said that you had the upper hand. I assume he was just taking a break."
TenTen glanced at him, wary of his reaction.
Neji's eyes were narrowed and his expression was distinctly displeased.
He wrested off his belt with a little more force than necessary.
"Upper hand? If we had the upper hand we would have finished this war already. And there are no breaks in battle, which he is surely aware of."
TenTen sighed.
"He probably won't do it again, Neji. Just forget it."
Neji was silent as he removed the remainder of his armor and padding, ultimately stripping off his tunic to reveal a bare chest, flushed from the summer heat.
"It's ridiculous," he started a moment later. "That man is purposefully trying to annoy me. I should strip him of his title."
TenTen settled back against the headboard, crossing her legs in front of her.
"Don't be rash," she murmured. "Forget Genma. You have other things that require your attention right now."
In spite of his previous emotions, Neji grinned.
"You mean yourself?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
TenTen smirked but shook her head.
"No, I meant Anko."
Neji frowned, recalling the captain's departure several days before.
"She said that she would re-trace Pain's path from his sentencing to his exile. Hopefully she'll discover something and let us know."
"Where was Pain sent for his exile?"
"Anko said one of the islands in the Wave Country. But he was exiled over a decade ago. There's no telling how he came to power again."
TenTen pursed her lips, thinking.
"It's a shame we don't keep closer ties on the other countries, isn't it? We're always so concerned with our own affairs that we aren't aware of threats from others until they come to our doorstep."
Neji stared at her, surprised as he recalled Itachi's speech from almost a week before.
"Itachi said something along those lines when we met—that it would do well for the Fire Country to pay more attention to its neighbors. Do you think that's what he meant?"
TenTen mulled it over, thoughtful.
"Maybe. He wasn't more specific?"
Neji shook his head.
"You should probably write Queen Tsunade again, Neji. Ask her if any information has come through by way of the other countries lately, excluding the Wind."
Neji nodded, intending to do so at first light the following morning.
"This is unacceptable."
Shizune warily glanced at the queen, anxious.
Tsunade's hands were clenched around a few sheets of paper, her mouth a thin etched line.
Aware of her apprentice's gaze, Tsunade looked up, gesturing to the letter.
"Commander Hyuga has reason to believe that our information on the other countries is somewhat lacking. He said that Uchiha made a comment about the Fire Nation's supposed lack of knowledge about our neighbors."
Shizune's forehead wrinkled, troubled.
"What was the last information we received from Iwagakure and Kirigakure?"
Shizune turned to withdraw some folders from a bookshelf.
She rifled through them before saying, "The last information we received from Iwagakure was nine months ago. Kirigakure was three months prior to that."
Tsunade tried to smother the growing tension in her gut.
"Why has it been so long?" she queried aloud.
"We had to pull the knights from that area when the war began, milady. We needed all the help we could get," Shizune offered.
Tsunade wordlessly turned back to the young commander's letter, mulling it over.
Finally, she murmured, "We can't afford to spare anyone. . . Perhaps Jiraiya could—!"
"Perhaps Jiraiya could what?" came a voice from the door.
Tsunade knew her old friend's mannerisms well.
"If you were eavesdropping, I'm sure you already know what I want from you," Tsunade retorted primly, raising an eyebrow. "What do you say?"
The tall gray-headed man smirked.
"What's in it for me?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. The old geezer hadn't changed a bit.
"You forget that I am queen, Jiraiya. I can order you."
Jiraiya's smile widened.
"And you, my dear Tsunade, forget that I know all your dirty secrets. So why don't we work out an arrangement and I'll see what I can do for you."
Shizune watched the exchange with amusement.
It was just like old times.
Anko considered the empty cell in front of her with wry scorn.
The room was small and without windows, dark from the impenetrable metal that made the space. If it could have been described, Anko would have deemed it the darkest place on earth.
Despite its emptiness, the cell had obviously been lived in before.
The walls were desecrated with graffiti with prayers, names, and victims.
Anko leaned forward, noticing a slanting scribble at the corner of the opposite wall.
She moved towards it, scanning the hastily written message.
To whom it may concern:
You have successfully tracked down the source of my incarceration. Unfortunately, if you're reading this, I have already escaped. A pity for you, to have traveled so far only to be confronted with a dead end. Though, truthfully, the fault is certainly your own.
If you are looking for me (as I suppose you are), several events must have recently come to pass. No doubt war has broken out across the countries and some ultimatum has been delivered directing you to my existence. I know this because I am the cause.
Allow me to be pretentious for a moment. Somewhere, in your time and place, I am largely at power and thriving on the chaos.
I assume you have means to stop me?
Very well. I plan to return to my native land after my escape. I have groundwork to place.
I will see you very soon, my pursuer.
Until then,
PAIN
Anko almost snorted.
The whole reason for the war was laid out right in front of her, written by the hand of a prisoner, probably many years before.
She shook her head.
How stupid they had all been.
She turned around and left the cell, catching one of her companion's eyes as she exited the prison.
"Write a letter to Commander Hyuga saying that we are pursuing the war criminal Pain. He's commanding the war from his birthplace in the Land of Rain."
The envoy stared at her as she mounted her horse, wary and slightly fearful.
"Move out," Anko called loudly, nudging her horse into a gallop.
The gelding whinnied but cantered forward, sensing his master's uneasiness.
At the end of the day, Neji and TenTen started to leave camp for a few hours, going to the edge of the field for target practice against the trees.
"You've gotten a little rusty," Neji commented as TenTen missed yet another target.
TenTen shook her head, her mouth set in a deep frown.
"I know. I haven't had much time to practice lately."
Neji watched her load her bow once more and pull the string back, tension in her shoulders.
"Relax," Neji called.
TenTen loosed the arrow and it flew to the tree before bouncing off the bark, losing its momentum.
TenTen let out a sharp cry of indignation.
Neji strode over to her, leaning down to kiss her briefly on the neck.
"Don't worry. It'll come back to you."
TenTen sighed, frustrated.
She caught Neji's eye and raised an eyebrow.
"I think I've decided what to get you for your birthday," she murmured, her breath hitting him in the face.
Neji mused silently; he had all but forgotten his birthday. He would turn twenty-three tomorrow.
"And what might that be?" Neji inquired, pressing his forehead against hers.
TenTen smiled a little.
"You'll see," she teased.
Neji grinned slyly.
Dear Neji,
I wanted to pen this letter to you prior to your twenty-third birthday so it would reach you in time. It must be nice to be a year older. My next birthday won't come for another year, and even then I'll still be treated as a little girl.
How are your efforts at the front going? Are the troops progressing any? Is the enemy nearly defeated?
I must admit, ever since we began correspondence, I have been awaiting your return to Konohagakure with eagerness. I feel as if I must meet you all over again, though we have known each other our whole lives. It's funny how things like this transpire.
Father has begun discussing wedding preparations with me and the rest of the household. Everyone seems excited. I'm sure I'll become more enthusiastic upon your return. Truthfully, I wish we could spend a few months affiliating ourselves once more. I think it would make the transition easier for me, personally. But I'm sure you can recall how Father is.
Cousin, I hope you realize how attached I am becoming to you through our frequent letters. Please write back to me soon, for I will be counting each day I go without a letter.
Your future companion,
Hanabi
Itachi sneered at the letter, amused.
He waved it at his brother's face, laughing once sharply.
"Nicely done, Brother. It seems she's becoming infatuated with you."
Sasuke did not find this information as funny as his brother. He frowned, his arms crossed tightly across his chest.
"You and I both know I was the one born with the charm," Sasuke muttered drily.
Itachi rolled his eyes.
"Whatever you say, Sasuke. Keep up the good work."
Itachi handed him back the letter and stood, making to leave.
"Wait," Sasuke said.
Itachi paused, glancing at him.
"How much longer do I have to put up with this charade?" Sasuke demanded to know. "It's getting harder to avoid killing your men in battle when they don't know I'm a spy for you."
Itachi smirked his twisted smile.
"Don't bother. Kill them all, if you must."
"But they're your men—!"
"Only a few of them, dear Sasuke. Only a small few."
Itachi retreated, effectively assimilating into the trees until he disappeared from sight altogether.
Treacherous snake, Sasuke thought before turning back to camp.
Not my best, I know.
XD
Review anyway.