Tenten sat tucked into the corner booth of a cozy Konoha café with Sakura, Hinata, and Ino. Warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden hue across the wooden table cluttered with half-finished drinks and dessert plates. The war was behind them, but the bonds it forged remained. Their laughter and conversation flowed easily—until the topic veered into more treacherous territory: romance.
"Come on, Tenten!" Ino teased, leaning forward with a mischievous smirk. "You can't tell me you're not even a little interested in finding someone. All this training, weapons, and missions—you need more balance in your life."
Tenten gave a short laugh, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm perfectly fine with my weapons and my shop. I don't need to add a man to that mix."
Sakura arched a brow, her voice softening. "We're just saying you deserve to be happy too. It's okay to want someone who cares about you beyond just being a comrade."
Hinata smiled gently, her lavender eyes warm with sincerity. "You're always so focused, Tenten. Maybe it's time to think about yourself for a change."
Tenten scratched the back of her neck, trying to mask the light blush creeping up her cheeks. "It's not that I haven't thought about it… I just don't think it's for me right now. Anyway, I've got to get back to the shop and check on some things."
Before any of them could protest, she rose quickly, offering a tight smile and wave before slipping out of the café. The crisp breeze outside greeted her as she stepped onto the sun-dappled street, the sounds of the village bustling around her.
Their words clung to her like the autumn air—gentle but persistent. Did she really need to focus more on herself? On love? A man? She sighed, shoving her hands into her pockets as she walked. 'Maybe… but who has the time?'
Tenten wandered aimlessly, her thoughts drifting until her foot struck something hard with a metallic clank. She jolted to a stop and looked down.
Lying at her feet were two blades—strange, intricately designed twin swords with ornate hilts. One burned with red accents, the other cool and blue. Both seemed to hum with an unseen energy, otherworldly and compelling.
"What the…" she murmured, crouching beside them.
Drawn in by curiosity—and her lifelong love of weapons—Tenten reached out and lifted the blades. They felt light in her hands, yet power practically vibrated through them. Her pulse quickened.
She made her way to a nearby clearing and began testing the swords. Each strike and spin flowed effortlessly; they responded to her movements as if they'd been crafted for her. With every arc and sweep, her excitement grew until she finally stopped, grinning wide.
"These are amazing.." she breathed, admiration shining in her eyes. She glanced around, then nodded to herself. 'Better to keep them safe until their owner shows up.'
Back at her shop, Tenten set the twin blades carefully on a polished wooden display table at the center of the room. She examined them again—Agni and Rudra, she'd read off faint inscriptions etched into the hilts. The swords pulsed faintly, as if acknowledging her.
"They're definitely not from here.." she muttered, sinking onto her stool.
The crimson and azure glows shimmered softly, casting long shadows across the weapon-lined walls. She leaned forward, squinting.
"Sentient swords? I must be going crazy. And what was up with that weird energy? It didn't feel like chakra…"
A sudden jingle broke her thoughts as the shop door creaked open. Tenten straightened reflexively, slipping on her professional mask.
"Welcome to Tenten's Weapon Emporium! How can I—"
She stopped.
The man who entered was tall, broad-shouldered, and walked like he owned the world. A long crimson coat trailed behind him, silver hair catching the light, and his easy smirk was annoyingly attractive. His piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, and Tenten's heart stumbled.
'Oh no. Why is he so—why does he look like that?!'
He strode in with deliberate calm, boots thudding against the floor as if this was his place. His gaze flicked straight to the swords.
"There you two are-" he said with a grin, clearly addressing the blades. "Thought I lost you."
Tenten blinked, the spell breaking just enough for her to find her voice.
"W-Wait! These swords… they're yours?" she asked, trying to sound composed, but her voice wavered.
The man—Dante—turned to her, his grin widening like he was amused by her reaction. "Yep. These beauties belong to me."
He stepped closer, placing a gloved hand on one of the hilts. The swords practically hummed in response.
"You've been treating them well, I see."
Tenten shifted, arms folding across her chest as she tried to collect herself. 'Why does he have to look so smug about it?'
"I… I just found them lying around! It's not like I stole them or anything!"
Dante chuckled, the sound low and rich. "Relax, I'm not accusing you of anything. In fact, I'm impressed. Most people would've been fried or blown away the second they touched Agni and Rudra."
Her eyes widened. "Wait, what? Fried?"
The swords suddenly stirred, voices echoing in the quiet of the shop.
"Master Dante! This woman shows promise!" Agni boomed, voice proud and fiery.
"Yes, yes! She has an excellent grip and technique. Let her keep us!" Rudra chimed in, cool and composed like the wind.
Tenten's jaw dropped. "They… talk? Oh no. Now I know I'm losing it."
Dante leaned casually against the table, laughing. "Yeah, they talk. They're pretty opinionated too. Looks like they like you."
She looked between him and the swords, flustered. "I… I was just practicing with them a little. I didn't realize they were alive. I thought they were just… special weapons."
"Special's one way to put it," Dante said with a teasing lilt. His eyes lingered on her. "But you've got skills if they let you handle them. What's your name?"
"Tenten," she replied quickly, then cleared her throat, embarrassed by how eager she'd sounded. "I mean, uh, Tenten. I run this shop."
He nodded, giving a slow look around at the gleaming racks of weapons. "Dante." He introduced. "and a weapons shop, huh? Now that's my kind of place. You've got good taste."
Tenten rubbed the back of her neck, cheeks still hot. "It's nothing special. Just a lot of hard work."
"Hard work pays off," Dante said, stepping closer and catching her gaze. "But I've got to say, Tenten, you're full of surprises. First, you wield my swords, and now I find you running a place like this. You're not just any weapons girl, are you?"
His words caught her off guard, and she stumbled for a response. 'Why is he so close? Why does he have to say things like that?!'
"I—I'm just good with weapons, that's all!" she blurted out, arms folding defensively, though it only made her look more flustered. "It's not like I'm that good of a fighter all around."
Dante's smirk deepened. "You don't give yourself enough credit. I can tell you've got fire in you."
Before she could retort, Agni and Rudra interjected again.
"Master Dante! Take this woman with you! She is worthy!"
"Yes, let her wield us in battle once more!"
Tenten nearly choked. "W-What?! No! I mean—wait—what are they even talking about?!"
Dante shrugged, clearly enjoying himself. "Hey, don't look at me. They're the ones talking about fighting together."
Groaning, she buried her face in her hands. 'Why is this happening?'
Finally, she peeked out with a glare. "Look, if you're taking these swords, then just take them! I don't want any more surprises today."
Dante's grin softened ever so slightly. He leaned in, voice low and smooth. "Don't worry, Tenten. I'll take care of Agni and Rudra. But if you ever feel like swinging them again… maybe you and I can have a little sparring match."
She froze. Did he just… invite me to spar?
"Y-Yeah, sure.." she muttered, failing miserably to sound indifferent.
With a chuckle, Dante picked up Agni and Rudra and slung them effortlessly over his shoulder. He turned toward the door, then paused, throwing her a final glance and that devilish smile.
"See you around, weapons girl."
And just like that, he was gone—leaving Tenten standing in the middle of her shop, flushed and speechless. Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind spiraling in every direction but logical.
She slowly sank back onto her stool, staring at the empty doorway.
"What… just happened?" she whispered.
For the first time in a long while, Tenten wasn't thinking about weapon designs or inventory counts. Instead, all she could think about was a silver-haired devil hunter who'd walked into her life like a storm—and somehow made her wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was room in her world for something more.