Chapter 2: Training: Lies and Betrayals

Tenten was not woken up by anyone so when she woke up she ran out. "I'm sorry I'm late." No one was around. She saw a door slide open. "What is the problem?" Nanami asked.

"I thought I was late…" Nanami laughed.

"You are your own keeper, do what you wish. When it is time, I will call. You work on your own schedule here, Aimi." Tenten went into the preparation room and tried her hair in different styles, she did her makeup and then she looked through her clothes that she had been given. She had makeup, shoes, and kimonos at her disposal. She smiled when she remembered she had weapons. She went outside and noticed there was no where to train. She returned inside.

"Nanami-sensei, is there anywhere to train?"

"This floor, Aimi. You aren't a ninja so training is very simple." She said.

"Oh is it?"

"Your first mission is retrieve information from this man. It will require a few skills I am sure you are not well practiced in."

"What is that?"

"Being a show girl," Nanami answered. Tenten was appalled. "I told you, it isn't easy and it's not pleasant either."

"Ready to back down?"

"No," Tenten answered.

"Your job is to sell yourself, not literally though… well sort of. You will be inserted into a group. It is a business and they will not sell you for… favors as I call them. They do performance only. Selling… favors, is illegal after all. It happens only on the streets but there are other… things to do."

"First thing is when you're in there, you won't wear a kimono." Nanami threw here an outfit. It consisted of what appears to be a bra, strapless and a mini-skirt. Tenten was very uncomfortable with this but she put it on anyway.

"I look like Ino!" Tenten yelled out, coming out of her room.

"Who is Ino?"

"She is some ninja. I don't know her." Tenten corrected herself.

"You have just seen her outfits…"

"… and overheard her name." Nanami smiled and nodded.

"Your target is a man who we know to go to this particular place of business often. He consistently picks the newest girl there, also the youngest."

"Is that why Tsunade-sama asked me?" Tenten asked.

"Yes, we couldn't send just anyone. You will be unexperienced enough to pass for a new recruit to their business. You're also able to pass for younger than 25." Tenten was only 19 now.

"Don't mess it up!" Tenten turned around to see a woman who looked about 30. She had jet black hair and it was straight and to her shoulders. She had piercing blue eyes.

"That's Nali. She's been trying to get this man for years now. However, she can't seem to hold her Jutsu to pass for younger. She hates the fact we brought in a new person, for HER job."

"It is my job." Nali responded.

"That's a rule, Nali. Number 13: Your mission ends when you come home." Tenten remembered that.

"I know." She crossed her arms. "So who were you?" Tenten looked at Nanami.

"I guess if you wouldn't mind, it would be nice to know your story. We all know each others. We talk of our old lives. You may as well."

"I was Tenten. I was trained to be a weapon specialist from the age of 4. My parents died when I was 8 and I was left on my own. I joined the ninja academy until 12 when I graduated and I was a ninja until I came here. I was assigned to team Guy with my teammates Neji and Lee. Neji is a Hyuuga and my closest friend. Lee, he's loud and obnoxious but he can be funny sometimes." Tenten didn't know that she was smiling. She missed them. She hadn't seen them in two days. They didn't train on Sunday and Monday she had been here, it was Tuesday now.

"Why are you here, you seemed happy?"

"I was asked, it was a mission. I want to be the greatest Kunoichi ever. I learned that being a female shinobi was not the same thing." They all nodded. "I am trying this out, if not maybe I will have to change my goals. I am determined to try this path though."

"You're an idiot." Nali said. "Giving up such a great life. You had friends and it seemed you like your ninja team."

"What's your story?" Tenten asked her.

"I was Mika Anbuki. I grew up in an orphanage, alone and I thought I'd be a ninja. I hated them all. They all worked as a team, taking care of each other. Except not me. I don't know why but they didn't like me. I went on a mission and they would have let me die. I crawled back to Konoha. I decided that day I didn't want that. I heard about this and it was my path." Tenten knew why they didn't like her. Tenten herself didn't like Nali but that was no excuse for what happened her teammates did. It was sad.

Tenten was taught the art of being a show girl. Nanami taught her how to dance like one although Nali taught her specific dances that they used at that place. "You are two stickish. Move your hips one way and your torso the other." Tenten followed obediently.

"You have to make them want you." Nanami said. "The good thing about being a show girl is that you have a bunch of show girls as protection. They stand up for their own."

"It's like a pack of wild animals. They will attack their own if you try to get too high up the chain but if you play your role well and accurately, they will defend you from an attack."

Nali walked up to me. "Don't be fooled though Tenten, as a new person you will be subjected to a lot of tests by them. They won't trust you at first, you are an outsider. Also, they have rooms for as Nana over there calls them, favors. Stay away from them and pretend to be innocent and you'll be fine."

"Unless that's the test…" Nanami said.

"Could it be?" Tenten nearly freaked out.

"Don't worry Aimi, it won't be." Nanami told her.

"What if it is?"

"Rule 15. If you not willing, say no. Rule 16. If you are, be prepared." Nanami quoted.

Tenten understand what she was saying. "So…" Nanami handed her a small bottle. "I'd recommend taking them right away, just in case."

Tenten opened her mouth and took the pill. "The Jutsu is if you're sure something's going to happen. That was precautionary. You can never be too careful."

"Is that a rule?" Tenten asked.

"No, that's common sense." Nanami smiled. They worked more on her dancing skills. "These are very important for your next job. You can't be too inexperienced, you have to be good."

Tenten practiced for hours like she did on any Jutsu or technique. She took a break for lunch. "You sure are dedicated, that's for sure." A woman said.

"I was taught to be. You don't improve or get stronger from not try and pushing yourself." Tenten quickly ate and practiced.

"You're alright," Nali told her. "You act like a ninja though."

"Do I?" Tenten asked, concerned.

"You need to be more in touch with your villager side. How about I take you tomorrow? We'll make sure no one recognizes you." Tenten nodded. "I'd go to sleep, you're not going to improve without having something to go off."

"Thank you," Tenten bowed. She laughed and returned to her room.

Tenten woke up at her normal time and got ready. Nali put her hair down and got her another villager kimono. "Alright let's go."

"I love this kimono, it's so silky and beautiful. The floral print is pretty as well."

"You can keep it. It's an old relic from my past life. When I started here."

"Oh," Tenten responded.

"See that Aimi, that woman. How she walks moving her hips back and forth and almost if she's wobbling. To do it you also need to take big long strides, hard steps yet gentle." Tenten watched the girl and tried to mimic.

"Better?"

"Much. The key to acting is being realistic. Tonight we'll watch real show girls. You can see how it's done. You learn a lot from watching. You probably haven't ever seen them have you?"

"No," Nali nodded.

"Neither had I. Nanami trained me by watching them. I also watched a lot of the other girls. I can show you a lot too." Tenten nodded.

Neji showed up to the grounds again. He didn't expect her to be back yet. "Neji, would you like to join us?" Guy asked.

"No,"

"How about you and Lee fight?" Neji agreed to it. "Go!" Neji wasn't focusing but he was angry so he was more impatient and got himself beaten up well but eventually won.

"You were great today Neji," Lee said. "Your youthfulness was burning."

"It is easy to conclude that Lee but he is unwell."

"Why is that?"

"He misses our teammate, Tenten. A flower of beauty, strength and youth. He is quiet injured and will need to go to the hospital."

Neji knew that too. He had been foolish. He also couldn't rely on Tenten to heal his wounds. He was damaging his own chakra system being that careless with his chakra. He was only hurting himself, even though he had still won. It came at a cost.

Neji closed his eyes and meditated. He thought about the first time he really got to know Tenten…

He was sitting in the middle of the field, meditating in preparation for his first day of training. "Hi Neji!" He tensed, his concentration broken. He didn't open his eyes. "Neji! Hello? Anyone there?" He ignored her. "Neji!" She screamed loudly in his ear. He saw the girl's face very close to his own and he moved his head away hitting it against a tree, knocking him out.

"Neji knocked himself out on the tree, Guy-sensei." That was her.

"Should we wake him Guy-sensei?"

"It won't help but I say we keep training."

"Guy-sensei, I don't think it's… youthful to leave him here like this while we train." She said.

"Lee… why don't you?" Guy-sensei told him.

"No no, it's my fault. I'll do it." She said, knowing Neji didn't like Lee.

"Alright Tenten, good thinking taking responsibility." She nodded and sat leaning against the tree across from him. He opened his eyes.

"Hey you, good think you woke up. I was going to just get a mednin to check on you." She smiled. She looked young, not strong. She looked weak. Her chakra flow was strong although he doubted she did anything with it.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"My name is Tenten."

"Tenten?" She nodded. "I am Neji. Why are you so happy and perky knowing your destiny?" She looked confused.

"I don't have a destiny Neji. I forge my own path. Whatever happens happens though. I believe that. I just go with how life flows. I do all I can." He didn't agree but he wouldn't argue. She seemed happy and he didn't want to make her unhappy.

"I will train now." He said, walking off on his own.

"Want to spar?" He smirked.

"You're hardly a challenge."

"We'll see about that Neji Hyuuga. I know all about you and your Byakugan eyes. The beloved kekei genkai of your clan."

"Then this should be interesting."

Two hours later and he was exhausted. She was smart enough to not enter his divination field. She was long range and she could fly from tree to tree. Her weapon accuracy was amazing. If he hadn't blocked some of them, she would have taken out him for sure by now. He didn't have any real defense for her huge attacks. He was getting tired.

Guy-sensei showed up. "Neji, what happened to you?" Neji didn't look at him; he was focusing on taking her down. "I understand. Stop! Everyone here." She appeared out of no where, not a scratch on her.

"What's up Guy-sensei?"

"I think that is enough for today. It is noon. I think you should eat." She nodded and went to a scroll. Her food coming out of no where. Neji just sat, meditating. She sat down next to him.

"Here have some." She offered. He didn't pay her any attention. She pushed him over onto the ground.

He stood up brushing himself off. "What?" He demanded.

"I wanted to share my food with you. So here!" She held out food for him.

"Thank you?" He was cautious but the food was good and he was hungry.

"So… what do you think?" She asked smiling.

"It is good." He said spacing out his words.

"Thanks, made it myself. I have more." He continued to eat, thankful and hungry for more. "I can't believe you didn't bring food."

He didn't eat but finished eating. "Alright now Neji, let's spar!" He smirked, he liked this girl. He would need an attack to counter her attacks. Her weapons were very dangerous in that mass, and had cut and injured him a lot. For that, he would need to request her help.

Neji found although she was cheerful and that she was smart. Not his caliber of intelligence, but no where near stupid. She was calculating and planned her strategies well. She did know his byakugan as well. She helped him perfect many techniques and found that her high level of chakra allowed her to seal her scrolls, to attack chakra strings to her weapons to better control them, she was fast and even if he could use his techniques on her, it would only slow her down.

Neji missed her, he knew that much. He would get weak if he did not train with her. He was annoyed with himself that he had always assumed she would be there to train with him. What of her own ambitions and goals? He had learned that it was alright to have goals? He could fight some things in his destiny. Naruto had taught him that.

Tenten had done more for him though. She taught him kindness, compassion, understanding and sympathy. She was a true kunoichi. She had all the skill and talent of a ninja with all the fluidity of movements, speed, and flexibility of a female. She wasn't like other girls who cared about her hair, clothes or nails. No mission was too hard, or too difficult. She would take any mission a guy took, she was not going to be turned down because she was a female. She had dreams and he had a feeling she would reach them.

It left him wondering what his fate was now? Where did that leave him? Did he need a new partner? Who could it be? He thought about all the people he knew and knew training with them would be difficult as they had their own schedules and teams. He had been given his own teammates and Lee did not give him the kind of challenge that he needed to improve.

He did his techniques on trees and dummies but it wasn't the same. It did not give him the challenge and did not provide him with feedback on everything. He needed Tenten back, and that was the truth of the matter. He went Guy-sensei.

"When will Tenten return?"

"I do not know Neji, I suppose in the next few days. However, I was not given any approximation." This unnerved Neji. He took it out on another few trees. He then wondered the village.

"Nii-san," he turned around to see Hinata. "You appear lost and confused. Are you well?"

Neji realized that he was exhausted and in pain. "I am fine." He answered.

"Please, let me help you." She bandaged up his wounds and tried to fix the chakra points he himself had damaged. "I hope you shall be better."

"Thank you," he mumbled and walked off. He wondered the streets then he heard what he thought was her voice.

"I am very excited about my next mission, Nali. I haven't been on one by myself before."

"You get used to it." The taller other woman said. He stepped off to the side and looked at them.

"I'm sure I will."

Neji walked went after them. "Tenten?" He called.

"Don't do it." Nali warned her too quiet for the Hyuuga to hear. "You can't look back. Ties kill."

"Rule 8…" Tenten tried to remember, ignoring Neji. It nearly killed her to do it but she had to. This was her path, what she had chosen.

"Try 4, but it's also rule 5. He's a ninja." Tenten wanted to instinctively talk about him, but she stopped herself. She kept quiet and focused on how she was walking. Neji stood in the crowd watching her walk away until she was out of sight. He was doubting himself.

They went into the club. Tenten memorized how the moved, how they walked. Anything that could help her. She did the same thing when she watched anyone's attacks and techniques. She watched their hand movements.

"Notice how they approach the men, Aimi." The woman, about 20 herself, walked up to the man. He tucked some money in her outfit she danced and got really close to him, touching him and getting more money.

"So I'm going to do this?" Tenten asked.

"You bet, you're going to be better than her though. She looks skilled but you're better at dancing. She's quick and pushy. You have to tempt them to it. Play with them. They're like little toys, your personal puppet. In addition to the huge amounts for the missions, them being S-rank in all these tips really add up. If you think a S-rank mission with your ninja team split by 4 sounds good. Think of making 10 times that." Tenten eyes lit up.

"No way!"

"You bet. You can make the same as the mission alone in tips if you're good enough."

Nali looked at her. "We don't do it for the money. If we did why wouldn't we just go here and work. It's dishonoring really. You'll feel dirty at first. Don't, Aimi. You're doing this for your country and to protect people. If it can be accomplished by ninjas, it would have been. We don't get just any missions. Usually they're ones that require secrecy, to make it look like it was an accident. Not to cause a war. Or ninjas failed and they need some new tactics."

Tenten wondered what happened when ninjas couldn't take a mission or they failed. These women lived off of the failures of ninja, and missions that no one wanted or needed the upmost security and secrecy. They risks their lives for just some money.

"Rule 21. Leave nothing behind – it's a mission rule. Rule 12. Play your role. Rule 19. Don't ask questions. You're going to be told little to nothing and you have to do it anyway. Accept it and go with it. You'll have a name and probably a location to run into him. The rest is up to you."

"I understand."

"You'll know from your first mission if it's in you Tenten. Don't worry about everything else." They observed a while longer and returned home. Nali helped Tenten as she mastered walking, talking, and acting.

It was very late when Tenten returned to her room. She couldn't get Neji calling her name out of her head. "Tenten?" He was desperate, confused. She knew why. She hadn't been there for him. She was used to him, a jounin going off on his own missions. She, a chuunin, was not used to going to go on a mission alone. She remembered the heartbreak when he was hurt during the Sasuke retrieval mission.

He was laying in a hospital bed. She sat there beside him. "Neji? Wake up, we have training to do." His eyes slowly opened. She smiled and exhaled deeply. She hugged the Hyuuga. "I was so worried that we would have lost you. I wouldn't know what I would have done."

He was as solid as a board. She smiled. "So… training?" She laughed.

"You're not leaving until later this week. It got you up though." He glared. "Don't be mean Neji. I have to go train, see you later. I'll keep visiting you."

Neji was important to her. She didn't have many people in her life. She had friends, sure. She like Hinata and Sakura and Ino weren't too bad, for Sasuke fangirls. They weren't hard core ninja like her but they were alright. She got along with Naruto, Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru. Sasuke didn't talk to anyone since he had returned.

She shook her head. Rule 5. Absolutely no ninja friends. That included every single one of them. That included Neji too. Her heart would break if she had to see him again before she left. She had a mission to do, this was her mission. She had to do this, if only for herself, for he own integrity and that of the mission.

She had learned more rules today.

12) Play your role. Don't break cover.

13) The mission ends when you come home.

14) If you aren't willing, say no.

15) If you are, be prepared.

19) Don't Ask Questions

21) Leave nothing behind.

She closed her eyes. It was not easy, Rule 10. NO, it was NEVER easy. Tenten could see how being a kunoichi would be hard work every day of her life. Tenten didn't want to die in this life. She was having her doubts about becoming a kunoichi. She would take being a great female ninja any day to this. Sure the money was good but to have to forget everyone she cared about, her ninja friends. She was a ninja at heart, teamwork and friends kept her going. She would struggle like this. It would kill her.