Chapter One.
Tenten's Dilemma.
Suppose our team was practicing for an upcoming martial arts tournament, and I, the ever clumsy team captain, injured a sophomore who was standing too close. Would that make me worthy of a month's detention? Well, under these circumstances where said sophomore had her arm, I think a month is as good as it gets.
I walked over to the principal's office, a place where I am very familiar to, as I have been here countless times. Maybe 20 times back when I was a freshman, when I spent all year trying to make that horrible Math substitute resign. About 15 as a sophomore, considering the our Biology teacher was as boring as hell, while English was even worst, would you blame me for catching up on my sleep during classes? But honestly, I started trying to be "good student" when I entered my third year, a fresh start you could say, and surprisingly, I kept a clean record of no detentions that year. I never thought that a simple accident would stain my "bad-student-turned-good" image. Now everyone's going to think that I'm still that troublesome kid.
I gave the wooden door two knocks, then I heard an answer from the other side. "Come in.", the voice said in a stern voice. I opened the door and stepped inside the newly painted office. "I thought I'd never see you in here again, Tenten. I sort of missed you.", this is our Principal, Senju Tsunade.
You know, in a sense, I missed her too. She's kind of funny once you get to know her, and believe me, considering all the time I spent in her office, discussing my offenses and punishments, I definitely got to know her better than anyone else in this school. "Same here Ma'am.", I answered with a smile and her lips twitched slightly.
"Now you do know what has brought you in here right?", she walked over to the front of her desk holding a folder, her eyes never leaving mine.
"Yes Ma'am, I'm here for injuring a fellow schoolmate, but I swear, I didn't do it on purpose.", I said while fiddling with my fingers. She nodded, causing some of her blonde hair to sway. "And do you know the consequences you are going to face?". I stared at her for a while, of course, the answer was obvious after all. "At least a month's detention, Ma'am.", after I'd said that, Principal Tsunade started laughing so hard, I suddenly felt confused. If I wasn't getting detention, what was I going to suffer through then? "Under normal circumstances, a month would be enough, but it seems that you do not know who exactly you injured.", she answered, putting down her folder. "She was the basketball team's team manager."
"But what does that have to do with my punishment Ma'am?", I asked puzzled. "Does that add several days on my account?". And once again, she laughed.
"No Tenten, this means that you aren't getting detention this time.", now this confused me even more. "As you know, the inter-high basketball tournaments would be starting next week, and the team needs a manager. Like the martial arts team, you understand the situation, right? Surely, your team wouldn't function well without a manager.", I nodded and she went on. "Look, what I'm saying is, you are going to be Korin's replacement, at least until she can feel her arm again, it was already fractured during volleyball to begin with, and your kick added several weeks to her recovery time.", what? Me, the manager of the basketball team?
"But Ma'am, I'm not qualified for that job, I don't even know what to do as a manager.", I said. "You will learn.", she answered. "Captain Hyuga would show you the ropes."
Captain Hyuga, now that's a name I haven't heard in a while. "Hyuga Neji, you mean?", I asked her.
She nodded with a smile. "Hyuga Neji, I'm sure you know him, he's a fellow senior afterall.", oh yes, I do know him. In fact, everyone in school knows him. The typical campus heartthrob he is.
"I know his name Ma'am, but that's probably it.". Though we're both seniors, I never really had the chance to know more about him.
"Well, you better make an effort to get to know him then. You start tomorrow. You may leave.", Principal Tsunade gestured towards the door, and I went out right away.
After closing the door behind me, I felt as if I made a bet I knew I was going to lose. What the hell do I know about being a team manager, much less to a team I'm not familiar with? Oh Tenten, what did you get yourself into now?