I loved writing this chapter so much! I hope you guys like. The fluff will soon begin. Muhahaha

disclaimer - I still don't own Naruto

Tenten's pov

I took Nakota's dingy cloaks down to the riverbank. It was a very beautiful river. Farther upstream is was a waterfall that descends into the river in a way that actually seems gentle. The rushing water quickly unsoiled the chief's clothing. Honestly I can't imagine how those two got to be so dirty. They must have been bathing in mud. It was raining out earlier, so I would have assumed the downpour could have kept them clean. Well, they're clean now anyway, and the sun is just beginning to peak through the clouds. It feels nice. The warm rays on my skin remind me of when I was younger. All I would do was bask in the light, sprawled out on the porch like a lazy dog. So relaxed I'd fall right asleep. So peaceful that i closed my eyes and rested for the first time in a long time.

Or, at least I tried to-

Until I heard that horrible noise.

Thunder? No, it was one solid sound. One solid…shot. A gunshot? Why? What's going on? Without thinking, I left Nakota's clothes and ran up the river back to camp, but I stopped. Peering through the woods I saw what I thought was a man, not an Indian man; a white man. It was the first white man I'd seen in months. He had three other men with him; all on horses. I climbed up the tree to get a better look, quickly grasping onto each limb to pull myself higher and higher. He was talking, but I couldn't hear him over the whispers of the crowd that had gathered around him.

The deep brown orbs of the Natives were staring into him, like he was some monster. A gun was in his left hand. Was that the gunshot i'd heard earlier? Was anyone hurt, or was it just to get their attention? I climbed down and began to shuffle closer. At the edge of the woods I stopped and climbed up again into the nearest tree. I could here his loud, booming voice much more clearly now.

"Now I ain't here to start no trouble. Just tell me where you red skins have taken those little white girls." Nakota stepped up through the crowd to converse with the man.

"There are no women in this tribe besides our own. If you really do not wish to do harm then you and your men will leave us in peace." The white man stood his ground.

"Hmpf, don't lie to me. Two young girls go missing from a wagon train raid and you expect me to believe that you damn indians got nothing to do with it? Those girls were of importance you know. Both their families are mighty rich people who don't like to be played with." Nakota was trying to keep his patience but I could tell he was irritated.

"You can search the whole camp. You won't find them here."

"Well then, I think we'll take you up on that offer."

Nakota gave Neji a look, and the long-haired boy slowly backed through the crowd and ran off into the woods. They must have hidden Hinata in there, otherwise i'd hear her crying from all the way up in this tree. I was hiding and I intended to stay put, but why? This was my chance to go home and be free! So why was I sitting in this tree, fearing a white man. Not a red skinned monster; I was fearing a white man. The indians weren't monsters anymore. They were people, and right now those men had guns and they didn't.

The men searched the whole camp; neither a teepee, corner, nor animal skin was left untouched. They seemed to be satisfied with their inspection, until the loud mouth had to speak up again.

"I reckon were gonna check through the woods and make sure you ain't trying to hide nothing in there." Dammit.

"Do as you please." Nakota was very good at keeping a calm front, but right now I had to worry about getting myself out of here. I'm sure the men would find me if I stayed up in this tree. The autumn leaves had fallen off so there wasn't much coverage. I hurried down the tree and took off deeper into the woods. The men had stepped down from their horses, so I knew I wouldn't be trying to outrun a nine hundred pound beast. I traveled farther and farther into the forest as fast as my feet could carry me. I could hear the voices of the men trailing behind me. I could actually feel anxiety running throughout my body. If they caught me, what would they do to the Indians? What would happen to the kind women and their children? what would happen to Chaytan, Nakota, and even Neji? I felt like I was going to throw up, but I could't stop. I ran further and further, following the river now. I had reached the end. I stood by the beautiful waterfall, that not twenty minutes ago, I was peacefully resting next to.

The men were getting closer. They couldn't see me yet, but I could make out their figures through the clearing. There was nowhere else to go, and I was actually…scared. I didn't want them to find me. I didn't want this all to end. I didn't care about my old life anymore. I didn't want any one to get hurt.

Without realizing it, streams of water started running down my face. I was crying and everyone knows that once you start crying you just can't stop.

"Woman!" A stern whispering voice came from behind me and I thought it was the end. But for the first time ever, I was glad to hear his voice. It was Neji. The men were almost through the clearing when the indian boy quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the waterfall. I braced myself for the rushing waters, but was surprised when I was quickly pulled through into what appeared to be a cave. It was like magic. There was a cave. Thank God! There's a cave!

It didn't go back very but it was enough for us to hide.

"Where's Hinata?"

"Shhh."

"But she-"

"They can still here us. You need to be silent."

We crouched on the ground, a little to close for comfort.

"Why are you shaking?" I looked up at him. I didn't even notice I was shaking. I guess I was still scared. This was all too much. I was scared, and of coarse I had to start crying again. The tears poured down my face and I didn't even care that he was watching. Apparently, neither did he.

"Don't be afraid."

Neji's warm arms wrapped around me and brought me into his chest. He was so warm. His embrace comforted me and I eventually stopped crying. He still didn't let go, and I was fine with it. I'm pretty sure the men were gone, but now it was raining. Even though there was no rays of sunlight to hit my face, I closed my eyes and rested, for the second time in a long time.

Neji's pov

She confused me so much. This woman hated me and bickered with me, and yet now she appears so peaceful. Her skin was cold to the touch earlier. She was scared and to my surprise she actually shed tears. Tenten. That was her name if I could remember correctly. She's warm now. I never imagined that I would be in a cave with a white woman sleeping on my chest. I wonder why she was crying. I wasn't quite sure why, but it bothered me to see her cry. It bothered me to think that someone was going to take her away.