Disclaimer: Naruto and all Naruto related stuff is (c) Masashi Kishimoto. All OCs and original storyline/plot/imagination (c) of ME!!!!!
A/N: You know why reviews are awesome?... not because I'm one of those cruel authors who withhold my next chapter until I get a certain amount of reviews, so reviewing gets you more chapters… but because reviews make THIS authoress feel all warm and tingly inside… and VERY VERY encouraged… so much so, that she sits down and starts writing the next chapter just because you reviewers make her feel so happy and touched XD… so here's the new chapter… ENJOY!!!
WARNING: The return of the cliff-hanger…
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WAITING
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Neji waited impatiently for Ryoku and Oushi to return to the house where he and his uncle Hiashi, along with a large number of ANBU, were standing guard over Xiu-Juan and the boys. ANBU operatives covered every corner of the house and surrounding area. Neji hadn't seen this many ANBU in one place since the night he had snuck out of the Hyuga compound to escape the village with Tenten.
"Be patient Neji." Hiashi placed a firm grip on his nephew's tense shoulders.
ANBU had discovered there had been no struggle in the location where Tenten had last been seen playing hide-and-go-seek with everyone. There had, however, been signs of someone being carried off unconsciously; but no traces as to what direction they had carried her off to. It meant, though, that she had been taken unharmed, which made the possibility of her being held hostage somewhere more likely. But why would anyone take Tenten? For what reason?
From the reactions Oushi and Ryoku had both had upon learning of ANBU's report, Neji could tell they had come to some conclusion; but what it was, Neji wasn't completely sure about. He had managed to piece together some of the two older ANBU operative's conversation; overhearing something about a man and a woman who had belonged to a clan whose flag flew up on the monument Tenten had shown him.
Were they the ones who kidnapped Tenten?
Neji wasn't sure what was going on. Why would someone who neither he, nor Tenten, had ever known want to take the kunoichi?
He felt anxious.
Already it had been three days since Tenten's disappearance. Lee and Gai had managed to arrive in Suna; sending word that in fact the Wind Daimyo had nothing to do with the kidnapping. Shikamaru's team had also reported, as they made their way toward the Earth kingdom, that they had found no sign to indicate Tenten had gone in that direction either.
Knowing this, Ryoku and Oushi had seemed to become more certain that their assumption about who had taken Tenten. If that were the case, however, Neji wondered why they were still in the village.
The more time they wasted, the more dangerous it would become for Tenten. The situation itself was already bad enough, but with her due date quickly approaching, Neji was very concerned about her health and wellbeing. Everyone had tried to assure him that Tenten would be fine, but…. How could they be certain that whoever took her hadn't already hurt her? Moreover, because her pregnancy had been filled with more than a few complications, a very real possibility of a breech birth currently worried her doctors. If this were to occur, Tenten would need a trained medical ninja to help in the delivery. This worried Neji very much; what were the chances that someone with medical expertise would be near her? What's more, would they care? Or would she have to endure the fear and pain of a difficult, if not dangerous, childbirth all on her own?
"You will get to her on time." Hiashi tried assuring the anxious man.
"How can you be certain?" Neji asked his uncle; wanting some reassurance, because he failed to find it in himself.
"As Ryoku-san and Oushi-san had stated," Hiashi began, "She is must more valuable to her captors alive and unharmed."
"I…" Neji sighed. He wanted to believe it. Believe that Tenten really was okay. But it was difficult to feel encouraged without having her by his side. Neji had never realized until that moment, just how much Tenten meant. He loved her, and knew that he couldn't live without her, but now realized she was just the love his life, but also very reason for living. She was his hope; his everything. Without her, it was difficult to see the positive side of life.
How could they possibly find her without a clue of where she had been taken?
"Do not forget," Hiashi continued. "You will also have Kiba at your side to help guide you to her."
"…" Neji thought over, his uncle's words. "Hai." Neji nodded; trying to share in the older Hyuga's faith in new his son-in-law.
It was true, with Kiba working together with them, the chances of finding Tenten increased exponentially, but the problem was, where would they start looking?
"We're back." Oushi announced as the two men entered the well guarded house; large supply-packs mounted on their backs. Behind them, Kiba, Naruto and Sakura waited for the group to head out.
"Xiu and the boys?" Ryoku asked; quickly scanning the surrounding area, verifying to see that all ANBU were in place.
"They are in the other room." Hiashi reported.
"Good." Oushi nodded. "We're ready to leave now."
"…" Neji nodded; watching the older man carefully.
He was different from his usual self…
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"We are almost there." Oushi silently informed the small group of six, as he gestured for them to follow his lead.
"Where is 'there'?" Naruto asked, as the group came to a complete stop; dropping down to the forest floor to begin walking the rest of the way toward their destination.
"We're going to get some help." The ANBU head replied.
"From who?" The mammoth ANBU standing besides him sternly spoke for the first time in days.
"Someone we haven't seen in a very long time."
.:..:..:..:..:.:..:..:..FLASHBACK..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:.
"Welcome to the team, Rook." Oushi warmly greeted the slender kunoichi that had been assigned temporarily to his squad.
No one knew anything about this ANBU member. She was one of those secretive types; much like that White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, who always wore a mask to conceal his face. She had joined ANBU only a few months earlier, and had stayed relatively distanced from the rest of the operatives; preferring to be on her own, then associating with the others. No one knew who she was, or where she had come from, but her loyalties to Konoha were beyond question. The Hokage himself had assigned her to the special forces. That was not a recommendation to be taken lightly.
Still, Oushi would have objected more to the introduction of a new member, especially one whom he did not personally know; the only reason he didn't was because this would be the first mission he and Ryoku would have with their former teammate, Tekinai. The white-haired Raiden had not accompanied them on any assignments since the death of his sister, their beloved Crane.
"Tereya." Oushi longingly whispered the name of his beloved princess.
"Hn?" Rook crooked her head to the side; indicating her confusion.
"Nothing." Oushi shock his head; dismissing the new recruit's curiosity. "Welcome. Please be ready to leave at O-eight hundred hours tomorrow. We intend to arrive in Wind Country within three days time, so be prepared to move fast."
"Hai." The low, whispery voice of the bird-masked kunoichi replied, before departing into the forest trees.
"…" Oushi watched as his new teammate disappeared into the shadows. "Hn." He tilted his head to the side; eyeing the girl as she left.
There was something familiar about her.
.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..END FLASHBACK.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..
"I have been expecting you…"
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TBC
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A/N: And the plot thickens…dundundun…
UP NEXT: Tenten... so yeah, that means you will not find out who said those words until chapter 23... but of course, I'm sure there is plenty of you who can guess (not that hard... think about it... who led them there?)