EKK! Sorry about the delay. Had a job interview which I was stressing about! Fingers crossed that tomorrow I will hear good news! My phone shall stay by my side!

8. Candyland

Gai sensei had set up a day for more training. All of us were there except Gai sensei. He wasn't generally late, so we all thought it was rather strange, but instead of waiting about we started warming up. Lee and Neji were sparring and I was doing gentle laps round the field.

Twenty minutes had passed and Gai sensei still hadn't arrived. I stopped jogging and stood by my team mates.

"Don't you think it's odd that Gai sensei isn't here yet?" I asked through heavy breathing.

"It is most strange." Lee replied.

"You are with him the most, did he tell you anything?"

"Not a word."

"We will give it a few more minutes before going on a search."

"I could always use my Byakugan to see where he is." Neji asked.

"Hold on for a bit longer, he might just be running late, not gone missing. Plus it's Gai sensei." I picked up a scroll and summoned my wooden staff. I started sparring Neji and I could keep up, and managed to get the upper hand.

"Good morning my youthful team!" We all stopped to stare at Gai sensei jogging to the field holding a handful of candy in his arms.

"Gai sensei!" We all shouted in unison.

"What have you got in your hands?" I asked.

"Just some candy." He responded shoving sweets into his mouth.

"Why?"

"I found a candyland outside the village."

"You are joking."

"Would I be lying while holding all this candy?"

"Well." I paused as I was stumped. Gai sensei wouldn't lie when it came to sweets.

"So where is this candy land Gai sensei?" Lee had interrupted my thoughts.

"Well my youthful bunch, it is on the outskirts of the village." Gai replied.

"Do you think we can go after training?" I asked.

"Go now, and it is a race. The first one gets first choice of sweets and the loser has to buy the candy for the winner."

"You guys are on." I was pumped. Nothing was going to get in my way of candy.

"Oh and they have to do five hundred laps round the village."

My face dropped to the ground. There was no chance of me doing five hundred laps, let alone it being around the entire village.

"So where is it?" Neji had joined the conversation again.

"Head towards the main gate." Gai sensei instructed us.

I looked at my team mates and dashed off first. Gai sensei never said we had to wait for a fair start, so I took the first chance I got. I leapt across tree branches and heard Lee and Neji close behind me. I took out some exploding Kunai and aimed them at the branches I had just jumped off of. They exploded in their faces and I smiled when I couldn't see them. I picked up my pace and then I could see a figure either side of me. It was Neji and Lee. I knew it was too good to be true. Lee hurtled a kick in my direction so I dropped down from the branch to a lower one and Lee almost hit Neji but he blocked. The boys fought amongst themselves so I took this opportunity to throw a smoke bomb to hide and take my lead. I managed to get a hundred meters lead, but the guys turned their attention to me. Lee started throwing kunai but I managed to dodge them, it wasn't until I felt Neji's chakra next to me that I realised Lee was a decoy. I heard Neji yell 'gentle fists'. I managed to dodge out of the way, but while dodging Lee took a sneak attack from above. I quickly summoned my three part staff from my scroll and had it in one staff to absorb Lee's attack and once his leg was against it, I split it up, wrapped it around Lee's leg and flipped his leg round knocking his balance off and sending him to the ground.

We had been running for a few minutes and the gate was in sight. All I had to do was take down Neji and the candy is mine. I tried using dirty tactics. I rammed into him several times, kicking his feet and ankles, taking the back of his knee's out but nothing. He kept dodging. I plan came to mind about two hundred meters from the destination.

"Neji, there is something I need to tell you." I told him.

"This really isn't a good time Tenten." He replied in between his breathing.

"But it can't wait, I might explode."

"Really?"

I gave him a nod.

"What is it?"

"I think.. I think I like you Neji." I turned my checks red.

Neji stopped running and looked at me, panic struck his face as if he had just walked into the wrong changing room. I stood a few feet in front of him and he could hardly put a sentence together.

"Tenten, this.." He went bright red and became embarrassed. "This really isn't the time."

"I know, sorry." I walked up to him, place my right hand on his check. "But I really want that candy." I punched him straight in the face and while he cradled his face I legged it to the destination.

I was the first one to the gate and I started leaping for joy.

"The candy is mine!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"You punched me in the face!" Neji didn't look happy.

"I told you I wanted the candy." I gave him the biggest grin.

"But what about what you said? Was that a lie?"

"Oh, erm" I looked past Neji and Lee and Gai sensei were catching us up. "Oh look Gai sensei. Hey Gai sensei! I won!" I shouted and waved my hands frantically.

"Well done my youthful Tenten." He smiled and put a thumb up in my face.

"So where is this candy land?"

"Well, how about this piece?"

He handed me one that he was holding earlier.

"Is there even a candy land sensei?" I asked taking the piece of candy off him.

"Well that depends."

"Is there a candy land or not?" Neji was still rubbing his nose so his voice was muffled under his hand.

"No!" Gai sensei scratched the back of his head.

"WHAT!" I screamed. "So all this was for nothing?"

"Not necessarily, it was a training exercise." He put his stupid grin back on.

"A training exercise where she punched me in the face." Neji really wasn't happy now.

"Why did she punch you?" Lee missed what happened so he was curious.

"That doesn't matter now, Lee. But was does matter is that you lied to us. You should never lie to a girl about candy." I was slowly walking closer to Gai sensei, fist in front.

"It got you all pumped for training." Gai sensei said.

"You lied to me, now come here Sensei." I started charging at Gai sensei, but he dashed in the opposite direction. I felt a pair of hands grab my waist. I turned round to see Neji holding me still. I slowly calmed down. Lee had chased after Gai sensei so it was just Neji and I again. Neji released me from his grip. "Sorry about punching you."

"That's ok." He replied.

"Does it hurt?" I placed my hand up to his nose and as soon as I touched it he flinched. "Sorry. I shall have to make it up to you."

"Does that mean I can punch you?"

"You would seriously hit your team mate, especially when they are a girl."

"Yes." He didn't even take a second to think about it.

"Charming."

"So about what you said before you punched me." Neji started shifting his weight and staring at anything other than me.

I panicked.

"Well if you look at the time, I better get going home." I starting running away before Neji could return any words.

Why was I running away? I had never seen Neji as anything more than a friend and a team mate, so why was I getting embarrassed when he mentioned feelings I may have. Why didn't I deny it? What is wrong with you Tenten?

I really do wonder where I got these themes from hehe ^-^

Anyway, read and review if you would! Much appreciated ^-^