Chapter 5: Leaving

Tenten looked at the picture her team for the last time before wrapping it in torn pieces of newspapers. Pushing it haphazardly in her backpack, she gave her apartment on last long look. There wasn't anything special about it. It was a one floor flat with a living room which doubled as a kitchen, one bedroom and one small bathroom. It was far from luxurious but it was the closest thing Tenten had for a home.

Resisting the urge to be sentimental, Tenten strapped on her shoes and slung her backpack securely behind her. Heading for the door, Tenten gave the place one more look, her eyes landing on three plain envelops.

Resisting the urge to walk back in, rip the letters apart and unpack her bag, Tenten turned around and shut the door with great determination. She already decided. There was no turning back.

Neji opened his eyes at the sound of the sudden onslaught of rain. He wondered where Tenten was. She was released from the hospital this day but he hadn't seen her since. Closing the windows of his room to muffle the sound of the thundering rain, he lay down on his bed unable to sleep. The unfamiliar gnawing feeling never left his chest from the last time he and Tenten met. He wasn't sure exactly what it meant but he needed to do something about it if he wanted his sleep back.

He sighed. Why did he have to feel this way? He said nothing but the truth so why did it feel like his words were eating him alive?

Bolting up in annoyance, Neji ran a hand through his hair. Watching the punishing rain did nothing to soothe him.

"Tomorrow." He whispered begrudgingly. Tomorrow he would speak to Tenten again and hopefully afterwards he'd be able to sleep in peace once again.

Tenten jumped from roof to roof in a steady pace but was still equally careful not to let anyone see her. She passed by places, monuments, and memorable corners of the village she knew she would surely miss. A nostalgic smile never left her lips.

Reaching the gate, Tenten gave Konoha one last look. Doing her best to take in all its splendor, Tenten couldn't help but feel as if she was losing a part of herself. This could be the last time she would ever set eyes on the closest thing she had to a hometown.

But there was no turning back. Willing herself to turn around she began to run. She ran like her life depended on it. She ran faster than she ever had in her life, as if trying to escape a relentless pursuer that was the past. She was leaving everything behind.

Her decision was irrevocable. She would become stronger – strong enough to not need anyone's protection, strong enough to protect all things dear to her, and most of all, strong enough to force her village to acknowledge her with brimming pride.

Tenten stared at the fire intensely as she threw in the last of her gathered firewood. She was deep in thought. She's been traveling for two hours straight now.

It was quiet. If it weren't for the different forest bugs she'd probably think she's gone deaf. She was never really used to silence. Who could blame her? Being stuck in a team with two hyperactive people who never seem to run out of energy, she'd be surprised if a serene and quiet environment didn't bother her.

She looked to her right and saw an image of Lee fixing the tents for them to sleep in. She looked at her left and saw an image of Gai-sensei giving his oh-so-famous speech about youth. Lee would occasionally stop building the tents to look at Gai-sensei with shining eyes and before you knew it they would be hugging one another with tears in their eyes. Then Neji would speak up and say that they should stop their moronic actions and grow up, only to be scolded and given a punishment of 1000 laps around Konoha, which would cause his eyes to twitch.

Tenten fell to the floor laughing her heart out. Those were the days. It was one of the survival trainings Gai-sensei planned for them. Neji always got punished every time he would make fun of Lee and Gai when they were having a moment of appreciation for youth.

Ever since that week of survival training, Neji simply ignored their theatrics. Who wouldn't? Imagine getting a punishment of 1000 laps around Konoha for every criticism he uttered. When they got back from training, Neji had to run a total of 14,000 laps. It took him a week to finish with only meals and sleep breaks to keep him sane. For a genius he was pretty stupid when it came to self-preservation.

That was basically the reason why the two of them simply ignored Lee and Gai whenever they were having their so called appreciation for youth. It was also the very reason why the two of them always stuck together.

Tenten's laughter slowly died. Those were the days indeed. Letting out a sigh, Tenten drank what was left of her water before looking back at the fire. It was nearly out. She closed her eyes. She would continue her journey when the fire finally stopped burning.

Lee bolted himself up in a sitting position in annoyance. For some strange reason he felt restless and uneasy. He had that horrible feeling at the pit of his stomach, like something bad was about to happen. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong. He just couldn't stay calm. He looked out of the window and saw the star-filled sky. He calmed himself down a bit by breathing in and out slowly.

"Goodbye…"

Lee ran a hand through his hair. There really was something about the way she said goodbye. Or maybe he was just being incredibly paranoid. Lee clicked his tongue in annoyance. He hated this feeling. He couldn't rationalize it but he just felt something was going to happen to Tenten. Her goodbye felt… final. Like she was leaving. For good.

Lee laughed at this. Tenten would never disappear. It's not like her and besides, there was no reason for her to leave. He was just being his paranoid self, reading into things too much.

"When she visits tomorrow I swear I'll give her a bone-crushing bear hug!"

"I can't believe this! Where the hell are we?!" A woman gruffly yelled.

"I thought you knew where it was?" A teasing cheerful voice followed suit.

"It's a popular battle field. Shouldn't it be easy enough to find?" A baritone voice replied interlaced with growing annoyance.

"What if she gets there before we do?" Another woman replied, her voice calm and soothing.

"Just trust him to pick a meeting place that he doesn't even know! I bet you just chose that because it had a really cool name didn't you?!" The woman's gruff voice came again.

"Let's just split up. Whoever finds it first, just inform the others through the wireless radio." The woman with the gentle voice replied. "I'll head south."

"It's not like we have a choice. North." The other woman said irritated before burying herself underground.

"Well we never learn. We know he has no sense of direction so why leave the navigation to him at all?" Came the saccharine yet sarcastic cheerful voice of a man who leaped up in the sky and headed east.

A long sigh for composure was the only reply the object of the ridicule provided.

Tenten leaped from tree to tree. She was already half way there. If she continued her pace for two to three more hours, she'd reach the Valley of the End by midnight. She sighed at the thought of traveling for three hours straight without rest but she was already lucky enough to get a break a few minutes ago. She would just have to go a little faster if she wanted to reach the valley quicker.

Tenten could feel her anxiety and apprehension build. She knew nothing about those four strangers except for the fact that they were able to enter and leave Konoha without being detected at all. She had to hand it to them. That required an insane level of skill. If this was a trick and this trip would be the death of her, for some strange reason, Tenten found solace in that thought. She would never do something as cowardly as kill herself. But being killed in battle was the highest honor a shinobi could receive. Besides, it's not like her death would have enough weight to paralyze the village. After all, she was expendable. Whether she would die weak, or she would grow strong. It was a gamble. Definitely the gamble of her life. And she was putting everything at stake.

"Has anyone found it already?" An infuriated hoarse voice came through the radio. One would have never known it was that of a woman's through sound alone.

"I'm searching through a bird's eye view and I still don't see anything." Replied the cheerful boyish tone.

"Be patient. I'm sure we'll find it." A gentle woman's voice reassured. "Wait. I see it now."

"Are you sure?" Came the rich baritone voice that tried hard to conceal enthusiasm.

"Two giant statues of men facing each with hands forming seals as if a fight would commence. A waterfall in between. I don't think I could get any more accurate."

"Good job."

"About time!"

"We wouldn't be in this mess if we just chose a rendezvous point we knew!"

Tenten sat on a tree branch to catch her breath. She was nearly there. It was just a few hundred meters away. The closer she got to the Valley of the End the harder it was for her to restrain herself. She felt torn between excitement and unease. Her heart was going a mile a minute.

Standing up, Tenten decided she already had plenty of rest. Hurling herself off one branch to another, she hurried to the Valley of the End. She was running as fast as she could. Not soon after, the majestic view of the waterfalls greeted her.

Catching her breath for a second, Tenten looked straight ahead and smiled. She was here. Walking towards the end of the cliff, she slowly glanced down to see the four strangers looking at her with satisfaction.

"You came." The woman with a gentle voice said with a smile.

"It took you long enough though…" The other woman said.

"We thought you wouldn't come." The cheerful boy added as he played with his staff.

Jumping down the cliff, Tenten saw each of the four vaguely under the moonlight. She didn't know what to make of them. All she could think of was they were a weird bunch with odd clothing and weapons she's never seen before.