What up, peeps! :D As usual, I would like to thank everyone for the reviews! I'm really glad you liked the last chappie, and that I seemed to convert so many of you to ShinoHana (as well as myself. That was a total WTF moment, let me tell you. I didn't know it was possible to convince yourself to like a pairing. XD).
Okay, a little random, but since this person decided to be cowardly and flame me anonymously, I'm going to say this here. "J" reviewed Into the Future, saying "for some retarded reason your naruto is even more retarded than pre time skip naruto, and that's saying something. You seems to be the type to watch the first part, and after all the idiotic attempt of kishimoto at comedy ends, you leave it. Plus, your vision of a relationship is at best pitiful. fail"
To which I have to say this: That fic was complete CRACK, dumbshit. Thus, I can make Naruto as stupid as I want him to be (which I only did for comedic reasons. Because the story was crack). Also, for your information, while I have not seen all of the anime episodes, I have read every single chapter of the manga, thus making me more knowledgeable than you, troll. Your attempt at a flame is at best pitiful. FAIL.
Now that that is out of the way...Let's get started!
I don't own Naruto. If I did, Naruto wouldn't be pulling all of these Jesus-jutsus from nowhere. Seriously, it's getting a little out of hand. (Also, Itachi would get loads more screen time, because I totes just noticed how awesome and hot he is...*author cowers in corner in shame*
"I apologize for this," Neji muttered, his body tense with nervousness.
Tenten winked at him. "Don't worry about it! It'll be a piece of cake."
Neji wasn't so sure. A couple nights before, he had been summoned into Hiashi's study, only to be told that the Hyuuga head wanted to invite Tenten to dinner.
As usual, Neji had followed orders, and Tenten, probably more persuaded by the thought of a free meal than by helping her teammate, agreed. Now, she stood in the Hyuuga Compound, wearing the only formal kimono she owned, and while she seemed nonplussed, Neji was filled with dread.
Nothing good could come from this dinner.
He couldn't understand why Hiashi had insisted on Tenten's attendance, as he had met both of Neji's teammates before. Neji frowned. It almost felt as if he were presenting a girlfriend to his family. He felt his cheeks warm slightly at the thought, wondering if this was the angle Hiashi was playing at. It didn't make sense, as he and Tenten were not dating.
Noticing him lost in thought, Tenten pinched one of his cheeks, grinning. "What's wrong, Snuggle Muffin? It's just dinner."
"Tenten." His pale eyes pierced into her brown ones, showing her how distressed he really was. "I need you to be serious."
"Chill out!" Her smile faded a little, indicating she wasn't as nonchalant as he thought. His nervousness was starting to weird her out. "I'll be on my best behavior."
Neji sighed. "You know I didn't mean it like that—"
"It's fine," she interrupted, smoothing out a crease in her kimono. "How do I look?"
She looked quite nice. Her hair, although still in its customary style, had jeweled barrettes pinning her bangs out of her eyes. Her kimono was ivory with pink plum blossoms, and it brought out the glow of her skin beautifully.
Instead of telling her this, however, Neji just nodded once in approval. "Acceptable."
Tenten scoffed, giving him a little shove for good measure. But she could speak Neji—and "acceptable" in Neji meant she was looking damn good. She looked at the building resolutely. "Okay. Are we going to go in or what?"
Tenten idly stirred her soup, highly uncomfortable with the silence. After she was introduced to the Hyuuga head, they had all sat down at the table. As expected, Hiashi sat at the head, with Hinata to his left and Neji to his right. Tenten sat on Neji's other side, across from Hanabi. But aside from the servants bringing in the tea and soup, the room was completely silent. Not for the first time, she wondered what the fuck she was doing there.
"Thank you for joining us for dinner, Tenten-san," Hiashi said suddenly, gracefully setting down his teacup. This prompted the younger Hyuuga to raise their gazes from their plates. "I understand it was such short notice."
"Thank you for having me, Hiashi-sama," Tenten replied politely. She cocked her head to the side curiously. "But if you don't mind me asking, why have you invited me?"
"He wants to interrogate you," Hanabi said frankly.
Hiashi sighed, resting his head on the heel of his hand. It was going to be one of those nights. "Hanabi," he said tiredly, more at her lack of tact than the fact that she had talked out of turn.
Hanabi smirked in return. "Don't worry, otou-sama. I got this." Seemingly out of nowhere, she pulled out a scroll, which she proceeded to unroll.
Tenten raised an eyebrow at this turn of events.
"Okay, first thing's first. What is your clan name?" Hanabi's pale eyes looked at her curiously.
"Hanabi-sama!" Neji hissed, looking for Hiashi to stop this madness. Unfortunately, Hiashi, interested in the answer, decided to stay silent.
"It's okay." Tenten waved Neji off. "I have no clan, nor a name."
"You don't have to talk about this if you don't want, Tenten," Hinata said softly.
Tenten shook her head, refocusing her attention on Hanabi and Hiashi. "I'm an orphan," she stated matter-of-factly. "I was born in Konoha, but I'm told my parents weren't. They were just visiting when I was born, and when they left, they left without me."
That was apparently not the answer Hanabi was expecting. "Oh."
"Yup," Tenten replied cheerfully. She felt no need to dwell on the past, and had long since stopped feeling sorry for herself.
"Do you have any kekkai genkai?" Hiashi asked.
"Not that I know of." Tenten grinned. "I'm really good at throwing shit, though."
Neji's jaw dropped. You were not supposed to use profanity around Hyuuga Hiashi. Ever.
But while Hiashi raised an eyebrow in surprise, he did not seem to be scandalized.
"Well, things like kunai and shiruken," Tenten elaborated thoughtfully. "Not actual shit. Although I'm sure I would beast at throwing that too."
Hinata snorted, covering her mouth with her hand demurely. Neji was not nearly as amused.
Hanabi seemed to be taking notes on her scroll. "No kekkai genkai," she murmured, and, stopping her scribbling, she looked back up. "Okay, next question." Her pale eyes bore into Tenten's. "What are your intentions with my cousin?"
"Hanabi!" Neji snapped, once again looking at Hiashi. Unfortunately, Hiashi had been wondering this exact question, and felt no need to interfere.
Had his entire family gone mad?
Tenten looked unperturbed at this question. "He's my teammate."
Hanabi frowned, clearly expecting a more direct answer. "Is it true that—"again out of nowhere, she pulled out the pictures of painted toes—"these are your feet?"
Neji flushed. Where did she get those? He was sure he had hidden them in his room for...er...safekeeping.
A single eyebrow rose. "Those are mine."
"And why, may I ask, are you sending nii-sama pictures of your feet?" Hanabi pressed.
Tenten grinned. "Inside joke," she replied, winking at Neji. "Also, photography is kind of my hobby."
"Really?" Hinata asked, surprised.
"Yup! Wanna see?" Without waiting for an answer, Tenten plopped what looked to be her portfolio on the table, sliding it in Hiashi's direction.
The two Hyuuga women stood, eager to look at the book over their father's shoulders as he flipped through the pages.
Neji turned to Tenten questioningly. "Why were you carrying that around?"
She looked at him as if he were stupid. "I always carry it on me."
"Ooh!" Hiashi said appreciatively, pointing to a picture of an adorable kitten. The next page held a pretty sunset, the next a field of flowers, the next...a sleeping Neji.
"Whoops," Tenten giggled nervously, reaching over to flip page after page. "These are for me."
Everyone watched awkwardly as she went through picture after picture with Neji as the subject. Sleeping, training, looking into the distance.
Neji blushed again. He had never had any indication that Tenten was talking pictures of him. Clearly she was getting better at stealth.
"Why are so many of nii-sama?" Hanabi asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Tenten scoffed. "I don't know if any of you have noticed, but Neji's a total bishie."
"What?" Neji exclaimed.
"I've noticed," Hinata admitted quietly. "Sometimes, I think he's prettier than me."
Hiashi nodded sagely. "Such is the fate of the Hyuuga men."
"He makes a very good subject," Tenten said matter-of-factly, pointing at a picture of Neji in mid-Juuken. "Notice the way his hair flows in the wind."
Neji watched in horror as everyone nodded in agreement, Hiashi even mumbling, "It does have an air of mystique."
Hanabi returned to her seat, once again picking up her notes. "Finds him attractive," she said slowly as she wrote the words down.
"Hanabi!" Neji yelled, embarrassed beyond belief.
Hanabi ignored him, deciding to pull out the big guns. "Did you not, on the fifth of September, tell Hina-nee, and I quote, 'I just want to have hot monkey sex with Neji'?"
Hinata choked on the tea she was drinking, surprised that her sister had been spying on them.
If Neji had lacked the grace naturally given to the Hyuuga, he would have fallen out of his chair. But since he was Hyuuga, he settled for gaping like an idiot.
Tenten, on the other hand, did not seem surprised or embarrassed. "I did," she replied challengingly. She looked at the ceiling thoughtfully. "But it was more of an expression."
Hanabi pursed her lips. "An expression?" she repeated disbelievingly.
"Ask any girl on the street. She will undoubtedly say the same," Tenten said, nonchalantly taking a sip of her soup.
"So you don't want to jump my cousin's bones?" Hanabi pressed.
"Was it you that I saw stalking Kiba this whole week?" Tenten countered.
Hanabi smirked. "Touché," she murmured, writing more on her scroll. "Willing to make baybehs."
"Kiba-kun?" Hinata asked, surprised.
"It was research," Hanabi replied distractedly. She smiled at Tenten. "Okay! I approve."
Neji officially had no idea what was going on. "What?"
"I like her," Hanabi repeated slowly, as if he were a particularly dimwitted child. "I think you two would make a good match."
"Me too," Hinata said softly.
Neji flushed for the umpteenth time that night. "I really don't think it's up to you whether—"
"All in favor?" Hanabi interrupted, throwing her hand in the air.
"This is not a matter that can merely be voted on—Tenten, put your hand down!" he yelled, finding his teammate's hand in the air along with all of his family members'.
"Looks like you've been outvoted, pooky-bear," Tenten said cheerfully.
Clearly, Neji was the only one in the room that had all his marbles.
"Tenten," Hiashi started, holding up a photo of a puppy running through a sprinkler. "May I have a copy of this?"
Why they could never have a normal dinner, Neji would never know.
A/N: I heart me some Hyuugas. Too much fun. XD
Let me know.