Chapter 5: The start of the mission

Neji walked into the hokage's office. "Yes Neji?"

"You called me here." He reminded her.

"Yes, I heard you were following village women around and using your byakugan. I wouldn't want your uncle to find out." Neji slanted his eyes.

"What do you want?"

"I want to know what's going on." She told him.

"That's it?" She nodded. "I think this girl is Tenten." He held a picture up of Aimi [Tenten].

"I don't know Neji, I don't see it."

"She's leaving tomorrow."

"Oh is she? Tenten left a while ago Neji."

"I do not think so."

"You don't think I know what I'm talking about?" She asked.

"I believe you are deceiving me."

"Don't you dare use your byakugan on me Neji."

"Of course I would not. I would be punished by my uncle with the cursed seal."

"I know, that's why I want you to leave her alone. I don't want him doing anything."

"She'll be gone soon enough."

"You want to follow her?" It was either a statement or a question either way he would answer.

"I do," she smiled.

She sighed. "You are so stubborn. Follow the girl around but be careful. If she was Tenten, and maybe you're right and maybe she is, I have no idea but she probably has her reasons for everything she is doing. I wouldn't recommend you causing problems in her mission."

"Of course I would not,"

"Why do you want to go anyway Neji?"

"I want to find out who she is." He answered.

"How want to stalk a random girl when Tenten will probably return soon?" She said. He thought she made him sound ridiculous.

"Yes, I am sure it is her."

"Why are you going?"

"I want to know what is going on. You seem unwilling to tell me one way or the other. I want to see for myself." She told him.

"Why do you care so much?"

"She is my teammate, I care for her. I don't think she should be doing this."

"So you have no faith in her, think she's going to get hurt and want to babysit her."

"I think if it was Tenten, she would have returned by now. However I have my reasons to believe this girl is Tenten. Either way I will find Tenten and make sure nothing has or will happen to her."

"You are so caring and compassionate, Neji." Tsunade said. "I'm sorry I can't allow you to watch this poor girl."

"Why not!" He demanded.

"Because I said so, now back off." She told him.

"I will go without your permission. I can leave on vacation can I not." He said smirking.

"Oh no you can't, not if I give you a mission." She responded. "You didn't do the paperwork."

"You wouldn't know if I did, I did." He smirked.

She smirked. "Then where is…" He pulled up a form that had been filled out days in advance. "You're good. Too bad I didn't sign it."

He pointed to a signature. "Stupid Hyuugas," she mumbled. She grabbed his shirt. "You mess up and do anything that requites you with being a ninja or messes with her mission and you will get it, not just from me Neji Hyuuga, but from your family as well." That was a threat, Neji hated his family and he didn't want their wrath on his head, literally.

She snatched the forehead protector off his head. "You can't wear this though, you're not a ninja if you're on vacation are you?" Neji frowned. She smiled.

"I can't let you starting a war if you misbehave. If you die at least we won't even have to worry about them stealing the secrets. You have the cursed seal." Neji glared at her but relaxed.

"Fine. I'll be going," he turned angry and steaming mad. Tsunade hoped for the best and sighed.

"I should really pay attention to the paperwork…" she shrugged and went back to sleep.

Tenten woke up and did the normal things she would. She got dressed in a villager kimono, she packed her backpack, and prepared her outfits all. She put on make up and put her hair in a ponytail. She would have done buns but she decided on this way.

When she walked out everyone was awake. "Hi everyone?" Nanami approached here. "You haven't covered all the rules, there are three yet for you to learn." Tenten smiled.

"I hate your rules and isn't it a little too late." Tenten had stared at all the rules last night, committing them to memory.

"Rule 17. Double Check All Information." Nanami handed her the file. "Be careful, here's everything we know about him and this stuff. Burn it before you get there.

"Rule 20." Nali said. "If someone is too interested, leave. The exception is your target. If someone else is paying too much attention, he's probably a guard or someone who knows what's going on. Get out of there."

"I actually think that rule is okay." Nali smiled.

"Rule 25. Personally involved, step away. You don't want to have to fight real emotions while faking others. You have to be no one, you have no identity. You are Tami, Sea Country, 19, that's all you are."

"The last rule, not last in number but the one you must know."

"Rule 28…" Nanami started.

Everyone came in, including Tenten. "Honor to my village and self."

"This is our creed, this is what we live for." Nanami said. "Nali is going to be with you when you leave, good luck. Do us well."

Tenten nodded and went with Nali to the front gate. "Goodbye, I'll miss you." Nali said hugging her. "You're surrounded by ninja." She told Tenten when they hugged.

"I know, I know they're my friends too. I'll be fine. They can't follow."

"I'll make sure." They separated smiled and Tenten left with only her bag and began walking at regular pace. It would be a long walk.

"That was her?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah! See, she looks nothing like Tenten."

"I must agree." Lee said. "Neji is loosing his mind."

"I doubt that." Shikamaru said. "We don't love the girl anyway."

"Woooh, what?" Sakura asked.

"Neji obviously loves Tenten to do all this for her. He obviously misses her."

Everyone laughs. "You're hillarious Shika, he just misses having someone to beat up. I feel bad for her having to train with him all the time." Ino said.

"She seems happy about it though…" Sakura said.

"It's your imagaination, who wants to work hard?" Kiba said. Shino nodded.

"That settles it, he just wants her to help him train!" Ino said.

"Yes," everyone but Shikamaru agreed. He shook his head about them all acting like idiots.

At the end of the day Tenten arrived in Sea Country, sure she had cheated and used chakra to make her a lot faster. She used the cover of trees and didn't do it anywhere near Sea Country. She was sure she was safe, no one would suspect or know.

Very far behind her was Nali. "She really is a ninja." She was out of breath, running to try to keep up, not remembering how to use chakra on her feet. Nali looked around and didn't notice anyone as she took a break. "At least I know where she is."

Neji was also following behind Tenten's trail. Far enough just to keep her on the outside of his byakugan sight so that no way she could see him. He noticed that the girl who was with Tenten as she left was also following although he was sure that Tenten was unaware. Tenten didn't leave people behind and he doubted that they would purposely separate.

Tenten arrived at the club. She waltzed in wearing a practice uniform. "I heard you needed another girl." A man came over to her.

"So what if I do. You interested? Any good?"

"You bet, I'm young and I'm great company." Tenten smiled.

"Are you? Want to prove that to me?" The owner asked. Tenten knew how it worked in these clubs.

"How about you sit on down and I'll show you?" She smiled again.

"Alright then," he sat down and Tenten walked around him. Walking just like Nali and Nanami had taught her. Long strides. She leaned over him running her nails against his face gently.

"I need a job, I'm very poor and very alone. I don't have no one in this whole world." Tenten looked sat in front of him but continued to dance.

"You've got the job."

"250 a night and tips," she asked leaning closer to him and looking innocent.

"Sure, anything for you girl." She smiled. "What's your name anyway?"

"Tami," She answered.

"Cute, how old are you?"

"19, young enough for your show."

"You're a perfect age, gorgeous to put in it."

"Know any dances,"

"It just so happened I have yours to memory," she walked up on stage, no one being there and started the entire dance. She came down and then sat on his lab.

"You are great, much better than even our best." She smiled, proud with herself.

"Thanks, so how about twice that then?"

"Sure, you do great work. I haven't wanted a girl like you in a while." Inside Tenten was grossed out but she got up. They shook hands and he got her one of their costumes.

It was midday morning and the club was closed, they did normal business in the day hours so she was sent home. She had made well over the amount she was predicting to make. Nali was right, it was easy money. She hadn't seen her target, that's what she was worried about. She also realized that the costume didn't have sleeves so she had no way to store the needles. She needed a new plan.

She laid down in the bed, she closed her eyes. She couldn't stay up a second longer. For once she would stick with rule 29 and sleep easy knowing she was a kunoichi.

Meanwhile Neji was in shock. He had watched from a nearby alley as she had done that. He thought he was loosing his mind. He thought he was crazy when she walked in, having changed her outfit into a reveling outfit. For a second he though he was in a genjutsu, that he was in some alternate dimention. He couldn't get himself out of it so he had to accept it.

He was angry. "This is what she decided to do!" He was angry at himself. He had come all the way out here chasing this girl. He was so sure it was Tenten. Any thought he had that it was Tenten was erased, it was not Tenten. Tenten would not subject herself to that. She was better than that. Selling herself for those guys, what was wrong with her?

He detested women like that. He was insulted and found they didn't deserve to be alive. People who read such books like icha icha was one thing. It was cheap and discusting that a woman would show off her body for the pleasure of men. Especially strange men in a public place. It was not acceptable.

He wanted to act like a father and go in there and drag her out. Embarassing her and yelling at her. Neji was calm instead. He didn't know who the girl was but it wasn't Tenten. He then remembered the woman who the girl had left with, he decided to find and talk to her.

Exhausted at noon, Nali collapsed in a bed in a hotel. It was not the same one that she had ever been to when she had visited, she was in a different one as Neji and Tenten were at as well. Neji and Tenten were also at different ones. Neji did not settle for the kind of place that Tenten had just cheaply picked.

Tenten was trying to appear conspicuous so she did the same kinds of things that they would expect her to do. She wore her worst clothes only bring one nice kimono and set of normal attire. She had ripped up dresses, mini-skirts and the whole deal. She had to play the role. It was rule 12.

Nali had only slept a few hours when someone knocked on her door. She opened it to see Neji. She smirked to herself. "Ahhhh, stalker!" People didn't hear. He stepped into the room closing the door behind her.

"Who are you?"

Nali wouldn't give up her cover, not for everything. "My name is Ania, don't hurt me. I'm just on vacation."

"I know you're acting." Neji said calmly.

Nali cursed. "What do you want?" She crossed her arms.

"Tell me what's going on," he demanded.

"Sorry, I don't know. I'm just watching my little sister."

"Sister?"

"Yep, I saw you chasing after her the other day. I saw you follow her so I followed you." Nali crossed her arms. "Stay away from you, she had enough horrible people in her life as it is. She has to work at those clubs all the time to get food."

"Yet you're in this nice hotel, away from her." He was smart, she'd give him that.

"We're part of a group, she has to earn her keep. We came her because they pay more for younger girls. Can't get that everywhere!"

"That's disgusting." He told her.

"You try being 30 and finding another job, there isn't much to do in this life. For a girl like her, there isn't anything either. She's so young maybe she'll get a real job. She can learn. She's bright." She tried to tell him. She was if pleading with him to believe her story, to understand.

"I don't care." He answered.

"Why are you here?" She asked him.

"I…" He stopped, he was unsure why he was anymore. That wasn't Tenten, why was he so determined to know. Did he want to find out that's the kind of person Tenten was? If she was he was ashamed to have known her.

"Will you please leave us alone?"

There was a knock at the door. Neji turned and opened it. "Get that man, he's trying to hurt me." The owner of the building made Neji leave. She was sure that he would find her. She knew he would. He had the byakugan. She knew that Neji would mess this up for Tenten, it was so predictable.

She wondered that if Tenten didn't have such obnoxious determined friends would she have stayed. Nali thought about the kind of person Tenten was and concluded that she wouldn't. Tenten would not follow the rules, she would make friends, create alliances. Tenten was not a loner.

Nali felt glad to have met Tenten and sad that she wouldn't see her again. Nali knew that if Tenten became a ninja and Nali would stay with the group they couldn't be friends, it was rule 5 afterall. Nali would miss the young girl's smiling face and unique attitude. Her determination to learn and suceed.

Nali felt glad that she had taught Tenten something to show the Hyuuga that she was better. A Hyuuga had their tricks now Tenten had her own. She was supposed to pass them on to her own kids, through her family but she wouldn't marry or have kids. She was a true-heart kunoichi. She would live and die alone, surrounded by people who only tolerated her and lived by the same stupid rules she did.

She knew that it was too late for her to return being a ninja. She had stopped when she was only 16. She was 19 herself when she did her first kunoichi mission. She had been a slower learner. She had watched so many people died and lately since Nanami came with the rules, things were better. The rules did protect them but only from stupidity.

Nali knew in her heart that Tenten could follow every rule except 4 and 5 and never risk a single life. She believed in Tenten. She had a feeling that Tenten would change how they saw everything. Nali wanted that and that is why she had taken to the young girl, she wished she could have done something.

Nanami hated ninja for some unknown reason. If anything the only friends a kunoichi should have are ninja because they can protect themselves. Nali doubted if any run of the mill guy that kunoichi typically dealt with could even touch Neji.

Nali decided that being 40, she would retired in a few years. She would have to, she had enough money saved. Nanami made sure the bills were paid and there was food, you only bought close and specialty items. Nali would leave and take care of herself for the rest of her days happy.

She wanted to see her friend Tenten get married to the Hyuuga Boy, it would be many more years but she wanted to go. If she was a kunoichi she would not be allowed, maybe she would but she figured Nanami wouldn't allow it.

The older you got the harder it was to be a kunoichi, you had to start relying on jutsus to keep you young and appealing. If you were like Nali and you couldn't use them or hold them, there was only so long until you had to stop. A failed cover is a life at stake. Don't break your cover, rule 12.

Nali laid down and worried about Tenten. She wondered how her friend was taking the new job. Tenten had not actually done any of it before, it was all theoretical but she could only know that her friend was skilled and she had faith. Tenten was the best kunoichi ever after all. There was no argument in Nali's mind. Her friend was the greatest.