Ramen Doodles
By Andrew J. Talon
Disclaimer: I do not and probably never will own Naruto or any other copyrighted works mentioned in this story. I am not writing this for profit.
An Unexpected Villain...
This was it. What she had trained for. She now knew who was responsible for everything wrong in her life.
Tenten pointed the holy tools of the Sage of Six Paths at her nemesis.
"Today is the day you die! You're going to pay for everything you've done!"
Her rival was silent... Save for a creak that almost sounded like laughter.
"DIIIIIE!"
Naruto looked very concerned as he entered the hospital room. Tenten was lying in her bed, a concerned Lee and Gai hovering over her.
"Hey Tenten," the Seventh Hokage greeted her, "you okay?"
"I've been better," Tenten admitted. She winced. "Sorry about that... I've been awake for days on this project of mine and-"
Naruto held up his artificial hand.
"You're on leave, effective immediately," Naruto ordered sternly. Tenten's eyes dropped to her hands, as Lee and Gai tried to protest.
"And," Naruto smiled, "you're coming to dinner at my house tonight."
Tenten stared, and then beamed.
"I-Thank you Naruto!"
"YOSH! Rest is just as important as training, Tenten!" Gai cried.
"As is play! You must give it your all!" Lee declared.
"So! Next time you start on a project, you will rest properly, right?" Naruto asked, not hiding his grin. Tenten sighed fondly and nodded.
"As much as I can with these two," Tenten said, hugging her sensei and friend to her sides.
Naruto shook his head.
"Must have been some project... To make you attack that old swing at the Academy. Before passing out."
Tenten shrugged sheepishly.
"It... Made sense at the time...?"
"Ah well, they needed a new playground anyway," Naruto chuckled. "See you tonight at 6!"
Tenten accepted, and Gai and Lee cheered and danced. While she tried to wrangle them, Naruto turned to leave. He paused as he spotted something hanging off a tree just outside the hospital window.
Isn't that...?
He shook his head.
Nah.
He left, putting the strangely familiar swing out of his mind. He had work to do.
Swing-kun hasn't been featured as a villain in any Naruto fic I know of. But it might be fun.