Performance. Part II.

A splash of seduction and intrigue. Non-massacre. Itachi. Tenten.

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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

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"I'm fine. I just need some air." Tenten exhaled a breath, raised her head and started walking towards the closest wall of the ballroom. Her step faltered slightly as she recognized the man in her path. Ueda. She recovered smoothly, standing in one spot as she held his gaze. She received a brief impression from him of restrained aggression under the surface.

She blinked, and then lowered her eyes demurely.

Ueda walked a few steps closer, taking in Tenten and her one guard. He grinned broadly and spread his hands open in welcome. "Well now, who is this? I don't quite remember inviting someone as lovely as you to my party." Though the words were said as banter, there was an undercurrent of warning. Tenten felt the hairs on her neck rise and swept into a low bow. She blinked an imperceptible glance behind Ueda as her eyes rose to meet his. There were guards stationed at the side of each pillar of the ballroom, eyes watching the proceedings. Only four guards, that means six left unaccounted for elsewhere.

"Ueda-sama. I was invited by Yamaguchi-sama and came at his behest." Tenten replied as she rose from her bow. All true really. She raised a hand to her cheek, glanced once more at the open balcony doors. "I'm afraid I need some fresh air."

Ueda picked up on her cue. "Are you heading to the balconies? Allow me to escort a beauty such as yourself." His flattery was smooth. She observed that his face was quite handsome in a roguish way. His hand lightly touched the back of her elbow to her unspoken disquiet. Itachi followed behind them, his footsteps light.

The large balcony overlooked a large garden. The moon had yet to reach its peak but there was still enough light to make out the general shapes of the hedges in the garden below. The gardens would be quite exquisite had Tenten the wherewithal to appreciate it.

Tenten breathed the crisp air in deeply and released the breath. She turned back to Ueda who had been considering her figure wordlessly.

Ueda returned to his questions, "I fear I have been lacking as a host. I missed your loveliness walking in the door, and have no clue as to who you are. You said Yamaguchi invited you?"

Tenten nodded her head in assent, "Yes, Yamaguchi-dono invited me after I told him of my … current situation." Her hand rose to her necklace, fiddling with it as if nervous. Her fingers found the slight indent in the accessory and pressed. "He was sympathetic and kind to me." Tenten dropped her hand, looking outwards towards the gardens acting upset. She felt Itachi shift closer, offering silent support.

Ueda glanced at Itachi and dismissed him as unimportant. "And your name?" He pressed.

"Tsukino Misa"

Ueda's attention sharpened in surprise, showing no other signs of recognition. "Oh? Of any relation to Tsukino Mizuki?"

"I am his youngest daughter." The man you probably gave no more thought to after you had him killed. He apparently disagreed with your trade route proposition, Tenten thought but did not say. She would honestly feel bad for Tsukino Misa if Misa were a real lady. Left with no estate or parents, Misa would be in a position where she had no option but to marry. Willing for the highest available offer as it were.

Ueda definitely made the connection. "I knew him once. He had a great deal of passion. I was very sorry to hear that he passed last year. How have you been since then?"

"I have mourned a great deal for my father." Tenten paused. "But now I must live for myself. I wanted to find someone to share my life with, now that I am of age." Her answer aspired at delicacy although it was obvious what she was trying to convey.

Ueda evaluated the girl before him before addressing Itachi. "Leave us, I have some matters to discuss with your mistress. Alone." He gave a sharp smile to Tenten who found it quite oily and repulsive herself. Itachi looked to Tenten for confirmation before leaving. Itachi walked beyond the balcony doors and closed it behind him. His shadow could be seen on the opaque glass doors. His chakra was concealed and he felt nearly identical to other ninja as a normal civilian. His closeness would have comforted her if she had been a civilian. As it were, she could eliminate anyone who posed a threat to her nearly instantly by herself.

"Very loyal," Ueda remarked of Itachi, before closing the distance to Tenten. His eyes had a light sheen to them. An indication of the effect of her poison setting in. Its main service was to confuse and to muddle the mind and secondary as an aphrodisiac.

"Yes, Ken has been my bodyguard and friend since we were young." Tenten spun to face the gardens, leaving him on her left side. Carefully now.

"Ah, but now you need a man to help take care of you. No boy would do." His wording was overly suggestive either perhaps due to his lowered inhibitions or perhaps just a part of his usual personality. Ueda raised a hand to her bare forearm and rested it there. Tenten turned to him with trusting eyes.

"Ueda-dono, are you …"

"Let me take care of you," Ueda assured. But take care of in what way? She thought darkly.

Her breath caught slightly, "I'm honored but I…"

"I could provide for your expenses if that's what you're worried about. Beautiful flowers like yourself should not have to worry about such things."

"I have something to confess Ueda-dono. I am honored of your attention. But I have been warned of the dangers in a relationship that grows too quickly without a stable base," She demurred. Her hint to marriage was light but no one of their station would miss it.

Ueda's expression smoothed but he persisted, "would you like a place by my side?" it was delivered lightly and with multiple possible connotations.

"I have never dared to presume such an outcome when I came here. Ueda-dono you flatter me," Tenten sank into a bow, wondering how she could rebuff his immediate grubby hands on her. She rose and continued, her voice smooth and wondering, "As a child, I dreamt of having a romance that would see me through the end of my days. I know it is not the most popular of sentiments among our court, but I wondered if you would walk this road with me." She stared at him hopefully, looking every bit the young naïve woman who wanted to be courted.

Ueda's eyes flashed briefly with annoyance before it was hidden under his smooth charm, "But of course Misa-chan. Shall we?" He gestured to the ballroom behind him in invitation.

Tenten smiled brilliantly in assent.

They danced five consecutive slow songs. Ueda cut a figure by sheer virtue of his wealthy custom-tailored clothing. Itachi watched with unreadable eyes.

She was beautiful.

….

Tenten washed her hands in the cold basin water. She removed her necklace, dipping the pendant into the water and rinsing it clear. She felt proud of her newest concoction. It worked perfectly. She dried drop necklace with paper towels and let the water drain away. She could hear sounds of the party outside still with murmurs and light laughter. She took in a breath and exhaled feeling extremely comfortable with the fact that the mission success rate shot up to nearly 90 percent now.

Tenten sensed a chakra signature flicker behind her. A familiar one. Tenten's eyes darted upwards in the mirror as her hands moving almost immediately to a more defensible position.

She relaxed when saw Itachi standing behind her through the reflection of the mirror. The warm light cast few shadows across his face. She could see why Ino and Sakura were so crazy over Sasuke. The classic Uchiha features were indeed attractive.

"Do you often frequent girl's bathrooms?" Tenten proposed facetiously. Her heart rate had already settled down.

He walked closer and stopped to rest nary a hairs width away. She could almost feel his jacket against her back. Her dress was thin enough that if he brushed against her she would feel it. Tenten lost her smile. This distance was too close and he was in her personal space. It was a threat. She prevented herself from tensing and cocked her head in question as to what he wanted. She could, with a simple flick of her wrist, throw out her concealed senbon which would make him back off without aiming to injure.

If he wanted her full attention, he definitely had it now.

"Uchiha?"

"Itachi," he corrected.

Through the mirror, she darted a quick look up to his eyes before averting them to his hands. Never look Uchiha in the eyes if you mean to fight them.

She then berated herself for the thought. He was not an enemy. Not an enemy but he needed to stand down. Tenten scowled. Itachi may technically have rank on her but she was in charge of this mission. He was her support secondary. Although what Tsunade-sama was thinking assigning them together on this she had no idea.

She decided on the blunt approach. "What is your problem?"

"My apologies. I merely wanted to return this for your inspection," With that Itachi withdrew the fan Amaris had be holding prior. He brought it up to her left side so she did not have to turn to observe it. It had wooden spines with dyed golden cloth forming the body. It was a pretty thing, the golden cloth had a dyed gradient going from darker to lighter from the base to tip.

Itachi moved his thumb from the base to reveal a tiny circle stamped insignia with a character in the middle. Tenten spoke without thinking, "this is of Suna make?"

Itachi made a low hum in accord.

"I see." And she did. They could probably even step up the next phase without pause.

Tenten turned around fully to face him. She was mindful of the lack of any distance between them. She didn't see any reason not to be straight-forward so she asked directly "why are you this close to me Uchiha-san?"

"Itachi" he raised an amused eyebrow.

Tenten pursued her lips together before conceding, "why are you this close to me Itachi-san?"

He shrugged, insouciant "just wanted to remind you to keep aware". That excuse was ridiculous, but Tenten had no further interest in pursuing the conversation now that he had backed up a step and so Tenten let it go. He shadowed her out of the restroom. Tenten couldn't help but feel a little hunted. Like she was a little mouse before a giant prowling tiger. You're being ridiculous Tenten thought to herself. There's no way Uchiha Itachi is interested in me.

And even if he were, there's no way he'd- Tenten cut off her own thought process right there. Down that way lies madness.

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