Chapter 22

Recruits

Neji runs up to Lee and Tenten. They are walking around the village.

"So yeah, I'm thinking about opening up a shop to-," Tenten says to Lee until Neji jumps in front of her and Lee. Tenten and Lee take a step back.

"Neji? Where did you even come from?" Tenten asks.

"Hello Neji!" Lee says.

"Lady 5th has just put us and others on a mission," Neji says.

"A mission?" Tenten asks. "What's the rank? What are we doing?"

Neji sighs. "Takara was kidnapped again."

"How?" Tenten asks.

"How did this happen, Neji?" Lee asks. "Let us go find her now!"

Neji lays out the map and explains to Lee and Tenten what happened. Lee and Tenten listen to Neji carefully.

Lee puts his hand in the middle of Neji and Tenten. "Let us do this! Save Takara on 3! 1, 2, 3! Save Takara!"

Neji puts his hand on Lee's just to go with it. He just wants to save Takara as quickly as possible. Tenten smiles and puts her hand on top of Neji's. She blushes.

"Save Takara!" Lee, Tenten, and Neji say and they dash away to Lady Tsunade's office.

Sakura runs quickly to Hinata. Sakura runs past Hinata at a bakery eating a cinnamon roll.

"S- Sakura?" Hinata asks.

Sakura stops running and goes to Hinata. "Hinata, this is an emergency. I need you, Kiba, and Shino for an important mission!"

"I- Important mission? W- what's going on?" Hinata asks.

"Remember Takara? Neji's girl- Neji's friend?" Sakura asks.

"Of course," Hinata says with a smile. "She's very friendly."

"Well, she was kidnapped again," Sakura says.

Hinata gasps. "Oh no! Poor Takara! Brother Neji must be so sad! Let's get Kiba and Shino."

"Good," Sakura says. "Lady Tsunade said to get Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji as well. I'll do that and you go get the rest of your teammates. Meet us at the Hokage's office."

"Okay Sakura!" Hinata says and runs off to find her team.

Sakura takes a deep breath and runs towards Ino's flower shop which is nearby. Sakura enters the shop and there are no customers.

"Hello Sakura!" Ino says with a cheerful smile. "Did you know Neji bought flowers for Takara?"

"I do," Sakura says. "I was there when it happened. They're officially dating but Neji wants to keep it a secret for now."

"Oh how exciting!" Ino says. "I'm so happy for them. Hopefully Sai will ask me out soon. Anyway, what brings you here today?"

"It's about Takara," Sakura says. "She was kidnapped from her home and Tsunade wants you, Shikamaru, and Choji to join on this rescue mission."

Ino gasps. "Oh God! Takara? Okay, I'll meet you at the Hokage's office with my team."

"Good," Sakura says.

Sakura runs out of Ino's shop and quickly runs towards Lady 5th.

"Sakura!" Hinata calls out from behind.

Sakura looks behind her and sees Team 8 behind. Hinata, Kiba, Akamaru, and Shino catch up to Sakura.

"Lady Tsunade wants us?" Kiba asks.

"Yes," Sakura says. "What did Hinata say to you all?"

"That Takara Uta got kidnapped and we must meet up with Lady Tsunade," Shino says.

Akamaru puts his head down and whines. Kiba looks down and rubs his head. "Are you worried about Takara?" Akamaru whines again to respond to Kiba. "Don't worry, we're going to find her alive."

"That's right Kiba!" Sakura says.

"What are you guys doing?!" calls out Naruto from Tsunade's office. "Come on!"

"Sorry Naruto, w- we're coming!" Hinata says while fidgeting her fingers.

Sakura and Team 8 run up to Naruto. When they get there, Neji, Lee, and Tenten arrive. Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji meet up with everyone. Sai flies in with one of his drawings.

"Am I late?" Sai asks.

"No, you're right on time," Sakura says.

"Good," Sai says. "Let's go inside and discuss how we're saving Takara."

Neji goes inside the office first and then everyone else joins.

Tsunade stands up from her desk and looks at everyone in her office. "Perfect." Tsunade shows everyone the map and points to the circle. "When Takara Uta was kidnapped the first time, she said she was held here. She said if anything ever happens to her to check there immediately. I won't waste anymore of your time. Go there now! Find Takara Uta alive!"

"Yes ma'am!" Everyone says and they leave her office.

"It's gonna take days to get there!" Tenten complains.

"Not necessarily," Sai says.

"Hm?" Tenten asks.

While everyone continues to walk, Sai goes on his knees and pulls out paper. He then draws a big bird so that he and the rest can quickly fly to Takara's location. When the bird comes to life Sai looks back at the rest of the group.

Sai closes his eyes and smiles. "We'll get there a lot quicker now!"

"Sai, you're a genius!" Ino says.

"Make sure to hang on tight!" Sai says.

Everyone then hops on the bird and they fly quickly to Takara's location. Neji sits in the back with his eyes tearing up. Sakura notices and goes closer to him.

"Neji, don't worry. We're going to find Takara alive. I know we will. She may be hurt but we're going to take care of her," Sakura says.

"But what if we're too late? What if she got killed in her apartment?" Neji asks.

"There would have been a lot more blood in her apartment," Naruto says.

"Naruto?" Neji asks. "How long have you been listening?"

Everyone else looks back at Neji and Sakura.

"The whole time," Naruto says and laughs. "If she got killed in her apartment, wouldn't there be a trail of blood? They would have dragged her body out and there would be-"

"NARUTO!" Sakura yells.

Tears start to come from Neji's eyes. He can't hide his feelings anymore.

"Neji? Are... Are you crying?" Tenten asks.

Neji quickly wipes away his tears. "Crying? N- no, of course not. T- there was... There was something in my eye, that's all."

"I don't believe that at all," Tenten says with an annoyed look.

Neji sighs. "Okay fine. I'm just worried about our friend. She was kidnapped before, and she's going through that hell again as we speak. It's not fair for her to go through that again."

Ino chuckles to herself. "Right, friend..."

Everyone looks over at Ino. Neji looks at Ino with wide eyes.

"What did you just say?" Tenten asks.

Ino realizes her mistake and her cheeks turn red. "N- Nothing."

"Do you know something we don't?" Tenten asks.

Ino looks over at Neji and he looks down and sighs.

"I'm...," Neji starts to say and takes a deep breath. "This is not how I wanted to announce this, but... I'm dating Takara."