A lone man stood outside the gates of the hidden leaf village known as Konoha. His brown eyes were fixed on the town's entrance, knowing he would be under scrutiny as soon as he passed through the gates. After all, he was no ordinary visitor. He was a shinobi from a distant land; his village's symbol was a flame-carved into the metal of his headband, a clear mark of his shinobi status. As he walked forward, his black trench coat trailing behind, a smile tugged at his lips. He couldn't help but think about the letter tucked in his coat pocket. Once I deliver this, I can return home.

Team GAI

The team, a tightly-knit group formed many years ago, stood in the vast and eerily silent training ground. The area had been meticulously constructed around a dense forest, creating an environment that closely replicated the conditions of some of their actual missions. Hinata, who had forged strong connections with each team member over the years, arrived to join them as they assembled. The heiress of her family clan had grown close to the team through numerous practice sessions and accompanying them on missions.

"Can we make this quick? Some of us have a busy schedule," the weapon master complained. She released an exasperated sigh as she raised her arms above her head, feeling the tightness in her muscles as she stretched her back, trying to alleviate some of the tension training had caused over the last few days. "This could have waited until our next training session."

Neji shrugged thoughtfully and said, "Hmm, Tenten, this won't take long. You've gained a new ability. The sooner we test it, the easier it will be to incorporate it into our tactics and adapt our fighting style. This could give us an edge in future battles and help us anticipate our opponents' moves more effectively." Neji reasoned with the brunette girl, emphasizing the importance of testing their new strategy. "Plus, there are other concerns we need to consider, such as how this new ability will impact your health and overall combat effectiveness."

"What do you mean?" Tenten turned her attention to the older man. Her eyebrows creased, revealing confusion, concern, and curiosity as she tried to decipher his words.

Hinata's gentle voice reassured Tenten, "I wouldn't worry. Your specific abilities could potentially disrupt your chakra network." Hinata's soft smile offered comfort to the older woman.

"So, could she use this all the time?" Rock Lee asked curiously.

"It would depend on the effects it has on the user; it could be similar to the 8 gates, functioning as an ace card, or like the Byakugan, where there is little issue using it," Neji informed, his tone serious. The potential risks of Tenten's new ability were not to be taken lightly, a fact that hung heavily in the air.

"Yes, the ability is concerning, as we know little to nothing about it," Gai-sensei said, folding his arms as he examined the weapon master. "Especially when it began under a stressful situation." Hinata did not miss Gai-sensei's words' effects on the team. From untrained eyes, they might have missed the stiff shoulders of the group and how the mood had dropped. The team exchanged worried glances, their concern for Tenten's well-being evident in their eyes. The uncertainty about Tenten's new ability weighed heavily on their minds.

"Let's just get on with this," Neji's voice turned cold as he tried to shift the focus back to the purpose of their gathering. Everyone nodded in agreement, thankful for the change of topic. "Tenten, are you prepared?" Neji's eyes bore into Tenten's.

"Hmm," She stood before the weathered trunk of the majestic oak, its gnarled bark telling the story of years gone by. The tree had become her steadfast companion, witnessing her countless rounds of target practice. The sunlight filtered through the leaves as she approached, casting a dappled glow on the ground. Her fingers deftly located the leather pouch secured at her waist, the worn texture a testament to its frequent use. With practiced precision, she retrieved a kunai, its cool steel handle fitting snugly in her grip. The weight of the weapon felt familiar, reassuring in her hand. With a determined focus, she held the Kunai in front of her, the glint of its sharp edge catching the sunlight. Stepping several yards in front of the wooden trunk, she steadied herself, the anticipation building as she prepared for another round of precise throws.

"Byakugan," She heard Neji's voice activating his family's ability. This was the cue she had been waiting for. With determination in her eyes, she took a deep breath, bringing the weapon to her face. Closing her eyes, she focused on breathing and channeled a small amount of chakra into the blade. The weapon began to glow with an unusual, vibrant orange tint. With a sudden burst of energy, she opened her eyes and swiftly launched the Kunai at the target. As it made contact, the Kunai burst into flames, leaving a trail of fiery brilliance in its wake. Tenten repeated this process, her senses heightened as she awaited Neji's signal to stop.

"How can this be?" The clear-eyed boy stared at his teammate in confusion as he watched her rapidly repeat her action. He noted that her chakra network had become more potent. "Tenten, stop," he commanded. The sole female member of Team Gai complied, halting her motion in the middle of her throw. Despite the flames engulfing the Kunai, she remained unfazed as the fire flickered within her grasp.

Gai stood leaning on a tree, watching his students together and thinking, "How could Tenten know such a jutsu? Any fire jutsu I have seen using weapons would typically require the user to protect their skin with a separate layer of chakra to prevent the steel from melting onto the skin. Though Tenten is an excellent shinobi, her chakra control isn't her strong suit. I just don't understand where she learned this." Gai thought, "Could it be she learned it by herself? No, that can't be it. Has she found another sensei?" The mystery of Tenten's new Jutsu hung in the air, leaving Gai and the team with more questions than answers. "How could you." The man cried.

"What?" Her attention shifted as she noticed a man running toward her, tears streaming down his face.

"You've found a new sensei, haven't you? Am I not good enough? Was my training not enough? It's Lady Tsunade, isn't it?" With one quick swing, the brunette girl punched the older man on the head, causing him to fall to the ground, twitching.

"This is the last time I'll tell you: Lady Tsunade hasn't taught me anything." As she spoke, her frustration and anger were evident in her voice, and she clenched her hand into a fist. Lee, filled with concern, hurried over to his mentor, disregarding the warning glare from the girl. Hinata couldn't help but giggle at the interaction among the three shinobi. Despite the passing years, their dynamic remained unchanged.

"Lady Hinata," Neji's voice caught her attention, his clear eyes still focused on his teammate. "Please use your Byakugan to examine Tenten's Chakra network." Following Neji's instructions, the blue-haired girl activated her Byakugan, causing veins around her eyes as she carefully observed and analyzed the intricate patterns of chakra flowing within Tenten's body. The sudden realization of another pair of eyes on Tenten broke her rant, and she turned to face the Hyuga clan members. "When Gai-sensei interrupted Tenten, there should have been some sort of disruption, causing the jutsu to fail, especially for newly learned techniques. However, it's flowing as if nothing happened."

The tense girl asked, "What does that mean exactly?" She could not read the facial expressions of either of the Hyugas.

"I am not entirely sure if I am being completely honest," Neji confessed to her, his voice tinged with uncertainty."Tenten, throw the Kunai at the target; refrain from throwing anymore." The woman nodded, and without much hesitation, the Kunai gracefully left her hand, finding its mark one last time. As it struck the target, the already charred tree trunk crumbled into ash. "I don't understand how your chakra level has been slightly depleted. I expect that from someone who has mastered their ability, but you have just learned it."

"Does that mean I can use it anytime?" she exclaimed excitedly. "That's so cool." The weapon mistress eyes lit up. It was something she would never admit to, but sometimes she would get jealous of the other Team Gai members; Neji and Lee possessed abilities that made them stand out. Despite being a master of her skill at such a young age, she often struggled to distinguish herself in a crowd.

"Hmm, that seems to be the case, but we must keep monitoring this jutsu as we don't know the potential long-term complications. There could be possible side effects due to prolonged use of this technique.," he said in a matter-of-fact tone, leaving no room for further discussion.

"All I am hearing is there are no issues with it." Tenten walked over to one of the fallen Kunis that had slipped from her leather pouch and placed it back.

"Tenten, you need to take this seriously," Hinata said gently, her voice tinged with worry as she placed a comforting hand on Tenten's shoulder. "There are potential risks associated with overusing this ability. It could strain your chakra network, leading to exhaustion. And in the worst-case scenario, it could cause a dangerous backlash, potentially harming you instead of your opponent." Hinata's clear, determined eyes showed the depth of her concern as she spoke, emphasizing the importance of heeding her warning.

"Look, I understand, but you don't need to worry about me," Tenten gently removed Hinata's hand from her shoulder and held it in her own, offering a reassuring smile. Neji observed the exchange, his eyes carefully studying Tenten's face. Since their last mission, he had noticed that Tenten was concealing something from them; she had become more reserved than usual.

Gai-sensei stood before the three shinobi, addressing the group with determination, seemingly oblivious to the tender moment that had just occurred. "All right, team," he exclaimed, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "Let's start today's training and push ourselves to new limits." As he began to jog in place, the boy, filled with determination, eagerly mirrored his movements, ready to embark on the day's rigorous exercises.

The woman quickly intervened as the man attempted to disrupt her day off, pulling her hand away from Hinata's. "Wait, not a chance. I already told you I had plans. Plus, it's my day off," she asserted, annoyed by the suggestion. "Oh, Hinata, would you like to come? I told Ino and Sakura I would ask you.

"Emm.. Sure," The clan member replied with a smile.

"Tenten, you should know by now that the power of youth never takes a day off," Rock Lee joined in with his sensei, trying to change the girl's mind.

"Well, my youth certainly does," she snapped at the boy. "Maybe the two of you should at least try it."

"No can do Tenten," Gai said dramatically. "How about you, Neji?"

The boy stood with Tenten by his side, his voice flat and unwavering as he addressed the two men before him. "I'm with Tenten. We came down here for one reason, and now that is done. We do not need to be here."

"Very well, then, but next time you're training, I want you to work five times as hard," he said, putting his thumb in the air and winking, a giant grin on his face.

"Why? Just because we took a day off?" Tenten yelled in utter disbelief and bewilderment.

"I wouldn't bother arguing, Tenten; it won't do any good." Neji rolled his eyes, knowing full well that Tenten's complaints would fall on deaf ears.

As Gai and Lee dashed out of the forest, she grumbled, "Damn, why did I get stuck in a team with two fitness fanatics? I better get going." She placed her hands on her head and strolled, appearing relaxed. "Are you coming, Hinata?"

"I'll be right there. Just give me a moment. I need to have a quiet conversation with Neji first," she said, flashing a gentle, reassuring smile at Tenten.

"Okay, but don't take too long. Ino can't wait forever for her food," Tenten joked. "I will catch you later, Neji." Neji bid her farewell with a fond nod as she gracefully disappeared into the woodland, effortlessly leaping onto the nearest branch.

Neji and Hinata

Neji stood with his back towards Hinata, covering her mouth with one hand, trying to figure out how to start a conversation with her cousin. "Neji?" she took a deep breath, releasing a sigh. The boy turned to face her. "If you don't want to answer this question, it's fine." Her mouth became dry as she struggled to get the words out, knowing this might be a sensitive topic for the boy. "On your last mission, what happened to Tenten? I just heard a few things, and when I asked her, she wouldn't say a word, but I can tell it's bothering her." Her words were heavy in the air as the boy looked at his feet, his nails dug into the palms of his hands as he clenched them. Hinata could tell the boy was lost in his thoughts, and the memory also troubled him.

TENTEN

Tenten leaped gracefully from the final tree branch, her feet touching the ground as she made her way onto the path leading away from the training grounds. The determined brunette began to walk but abruptly halted when a high-pitched whistle pierced the air from behind her. Instinctively, years of rigorous training kicked in, urging her to remain vigilant even within the confines of her village. She pivoted around, half-expecting to confront a hidden leaf ninja. To her surprise, it wasn't a fellow ninja awaiting her. Tenten instinctively stepped back as she scrutinized the man before her, her gaze immediately fixating on his headband. The weapons mistress felt her breath caught in her throat as a rush of memories flooded her mind.

The memory that stood out the most was of a young girl, all alone, encircled by an angry, menacing mob of adults. Their shouts and screams echoed around her, and she couldn't comprehend why their fury was aimed at her. It was a terrifying and confusing experience for the young girl.

As the haze of confusion lifted, she realized that she had been hyperventilating, her breaths coming in short, panicked bursts. The sheen of sweat on her palms was evidence of her distress. "I need to calm down. What should I do? Should I call for help? Should I seek out Gai or maybe Neji?" she pondered frantically. However, the thought of Neji bothered her the most, and she couldn't quite figure out why. "No, I don't need them; this is my problem. I will deal with it myself. Hopefully, it's just a bad joke."

An arrogant smile crossed his face as he watched the Kunoichi before him. He remembered the photo his leader had shown him before his mission; there was no mistake: This was the person of interest. His smile grew as he watched her struggle with her inner demons, her body faintly trembling. "At least I know I have the right village, but let's have fun before I finish this mission."

Her voice carried a sense of unwavering determination as she addressed the visitor, "If you're here to see the Hokage, you're on the wrong route. You need to go through the village." Despite her outward composure, her heart pounded in her chest, the memory of the scene vivid in her mind's eye.

Tenten felt a surge of tension as she heard his words. "Who said I was here to see the Hokage? Maybe I'm here for you," he said with a sly smile. A chill ran down Tenten's spine as she tried to maintain her composure. "Yeah, I got a small tip from a ninja called Yowayowash. Do you recognize the name?" The man's smile widened as Tenten gritted her teeth, trying to mask her growing unease.

Without thinking, her body moved as fear motivated her to attack. She pulled out a scroll and started producing explosive Kunai, throwing them at the man and forcing him to dodge each one as fast as he could. Her aim was sloppy and reckless, but she did not care; she needed to end this as fast as possible.