Kunoichi Tales: Tenten

Authors' notes: Hello again! We really apologize for the late update for this story, it kind of seems like we are neglecting this fic! But don't worry; we will definitely complete it… some fine day. Anyway, a big thank you to all those who have reviewed with your feedback!

By the way, could anyone tell the both of us about the chuunin exams (the one in the anime when Neji was defeated by Naruto) like, among Tenten's team, who had the first match, the moves used, what happened in the end, etc. We will really be grateful! Just send us an email (go find it in our profile) and tell us! Credits will be given and you will have our gratitude :))

This chapter is reposted thanks to some faults that Far-Fetched Imagineer pointed out. Thanks for pointing those out:)

Chapter 5

Dream sequence:

"Wow Tenten, you are really strong!" Tsunade-sama praised me as she congratulated me once more. "I admit defeat!"

"For being able to defeat me, I pronounce you the top kunoichi in the whole of Konoha!"

RING! Wham, crash.

Damn, I really hate this alarm clock. It always rings at the wrong times if you get what I mean. I was just having this really great dream of Tsunade-sama, who was my biggest idol of all time, praising me after I defeated her in a match.

Well, it will be a long time before I reach Tsunade-sama's level of skill, but hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

Since my dream has been so rudely interrupted by my wonderful alarm clock, please note the sarcasm here, I decided to get up from my comfy bed. Stretching my arms a little as I got up of my bed, I tripped over something and fell hard on my bottom.

I cursed violently at whatever that had the nerve to trip me. Thankfully, Mother wasn't in my room, she would have pinched my face and would also probably make me wash my mouth out with soap if she heard those curses just now. Picking myself up from the floor and telling myself to calm myself down, I reached over for the light switch for my room.

Blinking furiously as my eyes tried to reacquaint itself to the sudden bright light, I realised that the mystery object that had tripped me was the battered remnants of my alarm clock. Well, it couldn't exactly be called an alarm clock anymore; it was more of like, parts of what used to be an alarm clock.

I guess I have to ask Mother to buy me yet another alarm clock.

Mother would definitely scold me again; after all, this was the fifth one that she had to buy for me. I guess I was too rough on my alarm clock… I didn't mean to slam it against the wall that hard. Shame, and this clock was my most favourite clock among the five, it had a nice design, its ringing wasn't as irritating and ear piercing as the others… and it was in my favourite shade of pink. A real shame, really. I don't think the alarm clock stall will still sell this type of alarm clocks.

I sighed, what a great way to start my day.

Just then, I heard someone knocking on my bedroom door.

"Tenten? Rise and shine! You wouldn't want to be late when you meet your team and your sensei for the first time would you?" Hearing that, I jolted awake as I rushed for the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later, I came out from the bathroom, my hair wet and sticking to my shoulders. Mother smiled as she motioned to me to her as she took the hair dryer and helped me blow-dry my hair, fluffing it up gently with my towel as she directed the hair dryer along my wavy strands.

"Thanks Mother," I smiled at her as she replaced the hair dryer. I loved the way Mother would run her fingers through my hair as she blow-dried it gently. I don't know why, but it always gave me a sense of security whenever she did that, it made me feel loved. Just then, I felt sorry for Lee, whose natural parents had been killed by the Kyubi demon years ago. He's now adopted by a foster family, who I'm sure, loves him a lot too.

"Well Tenten? Breakfast's already ready downstairs, go and eat!" Mother smiled at me as she headed downstairs. Breaking out of my distracted state, I grinned back at Mother and ran downstairs for breakfast.

I stared at the clock in the dining room; it was seven in the morning. Father was as usual, already seated at the breakfast table drinking his daily cup of coffee, reading the Konoha Times.

"Morning Father!" I chirped as I made my way to my seat and plopped down hard on the cushion. Pouring cereal into my already boiled fresh milk (since Mother knows that I cannot stomach cold drinks in the mornings), I took a spoon and swirled my cereal and milk around.

"Morning Tenten. Are you nervous about today?" Father looked up from his newspaper, and finally deciding to set it aside, he placed the paper on the table. Mother had joined us by then, and chiding me gently for letting my cereal go soggy.

"A little I guess," Ok, so it wasn't a little, since just thinking about meeting my team made my heart beat faster. I am nervous, but at the same time, I feel rather relieved that Lee is in my team. At least there was someone in my team that I have already known beforehand and someone who I can trust and talk to.

"Well, I am going to accompany you today when you meet your team, so you need not be so nervous," Mother gave me a smile as she said it casually, as if it was just a passing remark. "As an ex-jounin, most likely, I'll know who your jounin sensei is, and tell him or her to take good care of you of you when we are not there to do so,"

I scowled, "I don't need special treatment Mother, there are too many people out there who think that kunoichis can never be as good as ninjas, and I don't want my team to treat me like a baby."

Father chuckled and winked at me, "Well, Misako, our Tenten here sure has lots of determination to prove herself."

"It reminds me so much of me last time when I was a genin,"

"Treasure your genin days Tenten; they are the most memorable ones in your ninja training,"

"Really!"

"They are; your mother and I can both testify to that."

"Quickly finish your cereal Tenten, it's already seven-thirty, don't you have to meet your team at eight?" Mother gently reminded me.

"Oh!" Quickly, I shoveled my cereal as quickly as I could, not wanting to be late. It wouldn't make a good impression on me if I was late on the first day!

"Slow down Tenten, you are going to choke at this pace!" Father chuckled as he returned to reading his paper.

After finishing my cereal and washing both my hands and the cereal bowl in the sink, I grabbed my backpack and got ready to leave. Mother was already at the doorstep waiting for me.

"Let's go Mother!" holding her hand, I dashed towards the training grounds where my team was supposed to meet me. Darn, why are there so many people on the street?

"Let's take the rooftop, shall we?" Mother grinned at me, a rather rare sight since I hardly saw her grin like this. It made her look even younger than her real age. "Hold on tight!" as she held me by the waist and gathering chakra to her legs, she sped from rooftop to rooftop.

Wow, I am so going to learn this move! It feels so great to have the breeze blowing right into your face!

Finally, about five minutes later, we both arrived at the training grounds.

"MISAKO-CHAN! HOW NICE IS IT TO SEE YOU! "

"What a coincidence," I heard Mother murmur.

I winced at the loud volume of whoever that had shouted that and turned my head towards the source of the loud noise and blinked hard. Similar bowl shaped haircut, thick back eyebrows, identical leg warmers and green spandex suit; with the equally bright toothed smile… was that an older version of Lee? Did Lee age overnight and become like this?

Mother simply raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Hello Gai, long time no see,"

"THE SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH HAS NOT LEFT YOU A SINGLE BIT EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! YOU STILL LOOK AS BEAUTIFUL AS A FAIRY DESCENDING FROM THE HEAVENS!"

Was this guy actually flirting with my mother! Hello, she's married for goodness sake and her daughter's right here standing in front of you! How thick-skinned!

Finally, the guy calmed down a little and exclaimed, "So Misako-chan, what brings you here?"

"It seems that my daughter Tenten is in your team Gai," Mother smiled at him as she continued, "Take good care of her for me, don't let her get into any mischief."

After Mother's brief statement, Gai, or should I say Gai-sensei, started to notice my presence. "Don't' worry Misako-chan; I'll take good care of Tenten-chan here!" Patting my head hard with his palm, he waved to my mother until she was out of sight.

I sighed, jeez, what a weird sensei I had. He looked exactly like Lee though… I wonder what's keeping Lee, he isn't even here yet. Neji isn't here either…

"GAI-SENSEI!"

"LEE!"

"THE SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH HAS SO KINDLY ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE INTO OUR TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP BY PLACING YOU IN MY TEAM!"

"GAI-SENSEI! I'M SO GLAD!" yelled Lee as they hugged.

Something clicked into my brain at this moment as Lee and Gai sensei hugged. The jounin that Lee has been receiving training from, the one that he always rambled about during break times, the one whom he supposedly idolized the most… was Gai sensei! Now, I finally understood why Lee looked so much like Gai-sensei… it was obvious that Lee had idolized Gai sensei so much, he decided to look exactly like him.

Just what was the world coming to! The two of them were still in their embrace as I twirled my kunai between my fingers absentmindedly as I prayed for Hyuuga Neji to arrive soon. Even though he isn't exactly company, but it would definitely help to have another sane person around… before I go ballistic.

My prayers seemed to be answered as Hyuuga Neji, with not even a strand of hair out of place from his low ponytail walked casually into the training grounds. He shot a gaze at Lee and Gai-sensei and looked rather disgusted with the fact that they were embracing.

Arching his left eyebrow, he questioned coolly, "I believe that this is the place where Team Nine is supposed to meet,"

Smiling weakly at him, I replied, "This is Team Nine. I'm Tenten, the taller one is Gai-sensei, and the other one is our other teammate, Lee,"

He snorted as he fixed his pupil less gaze on me, "Tell me when they are done," he sat down cross-legged on the ground against a tree and began to meditate. I sighed, as I went over to Lee and Gai-sensei.

"Neji's here,"

"SO, SHALL WE START NOW? LET US ALL START WITH INTRODUCING OURSELVES!" Gai-sensei announced. Neji had already gotten out of his meditating state and have joined us.

"WELL, I SHALL START FIRST. MY NAME IS GAI, AND YOU ALL SHALL ADDRESS ME AS GAI-SENSEI! MY AMBITION IS TO BRING THE SPIRIT AND THE FLAMES OF YOUTH TO EACH YOUTH IN KONOHA!"

Ok… that was definitely a rather interesting and loud introduction. Lee decided to go next.

"I'M LEE, ROCK LEE! ALTHOUGH I CANNOT USE GENJUTSU OR NINJUTSU, I WILL TRAIN HARD TO BE THE GREATEST TAIJUTSU SPECIALLIST IN KONOHA! I WANT TO BE AS GOOD AS GAI-SENSEI!"

By this time, my eardrums were already vibrating violently inside my ears. At this rate, I would lose my hearing even before I reach chuunin.

"NEXT!"

I eyed Neji, who gave me his emotionless expression. He wasn't going to go next, so I decided to introduce myself, twirling my kunai as I started, "My name's Tenten, and I like all sorts of weapons. Um, my ambition is to become one of the strongest kunoichis in Konoha, and be at the same level as my idol Tsunade-sama." Were they going to laugh at my aspiration since it sounded so unattainable, so far away? After all, Tsunade-sama was the only female among the three Sannins, along with Jiraya-sama and Orochimaru.

"DO NOT WORRY TENTEN! THE FLAMES OF YOUTH WILL MAKE YOUR ASPIRATIONS COME TRUE!"

"Thanks Gai-sensei," At least nobody laughed at my aspiration this time. I remember, in the Academy, many have laughed at my dream, since it was so unattainable in many people's standards. My impression and liking for my team was raised by a lot.

"NEJI! IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF!"

Neji simply arched his eyebrow at Gai-sensei before clearing his throat and saying. " I don't want to answer." He fixed his gaze on all of us, as if daring us to reply to his introduction. What a guy…

I shrugged, maybe Neji just wanted his privacy. He seemed to be an introvert, if you get what I mean. There was no warmth present in his tone, it sounded cool, if not cold. Cold on the outside, maybe he had a warm side to him that occasionally came to light… I smacked myself hard internally; I must have read too many romance books from Mother's book collection.

Gai-sensei didn't even look surprised by Neji's reply though, he merely continued on.

"ALL RIGHT STUDENTS OF MINE! AS OUR FIRST TRAINING TOGETHER, I WANT YOU THREE TO RUN FIFTEEN LAPS AROUND THE VILLAGE. YOSH, START NOW!"

WHAT! Fifteen laps around the village? Was Gai-sensei trying to kill me or something? I never even run over five laps before, and now he wants me to do fifteen! Oh kami-sama, you can just kill me now or something…

Lee had already dashed ahead, almost out of sight… and he was wearing weights on all four of his limbs too. If Lee can do it, I will try my best! I'm not going to be babied around and looked down upon just because I am a female. Making my decision and filled with determination, I started jogging at a leisurely pace, then after getting warmed up, I started to run.

I never realised how big the village of Konoha was until today.

Heaving and panting and sweating profusely after my fifteen lap run, I returned to the original spot. Neji and Lee were already there waiting for me, Lee was still bouncing around excitedly while Neji looked as if he hadn't even broken into a sweat. His hair was still perfect. While me, I was heaving and panting like a mad cow, my hair was falling out of its buns… and was that a twig in my hair?

At that time, I felt really discouraged; it was rather obvious that I was the weakest in the team. Hanging my head, my head jolted back up when I felt a warm palm resting on my head.

"It's ok Tenten, don't be discouraged, just try your best!" Gai-sensei flashed a blinding smile at me. Smiling back with my spirits lifted considerably, I smiled back gratefully and jogged over to where Lee and Neji were.

"YOSH! NOW WE SHALL START OUR EXERCISES! NOW, LET'S DO 200 SITUPS, CRUNCHES AND PUSH-UPS EACH! THE SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH AWAITS US!"

Gosh, someone just kill me now…

Authors' notes: We hope that you liked this chapter, and hopefully you won't find Tenten being to OOC in this fic! Comments and constructive criticisms are welcome, and we hope that you reading this will leave a review as well as help us with our favour! (look above!)