SPOILERS: Naruto chapter 559, beyond the current Naruto Shippūden (episode 239).

NOTES: For my entry into the deviantart ShinoxTentenFC's ShinoTenten 100 Themes contest, I picked the theme "33%." Time for lunch! And then...?

DISCLAIMERS: I don't own Naruto.

TAKING CHANCES

Chapter 4

After their quiet stroll through the park, Shino was apparently disinterested in causing another stir along the main market street. He led them down the much less crowded road that bordered the southern side of the park. They talked about favorite places outside of Konoha—he enjoyed the biodiversity and mild, moist climate of Kawa, while she appreciated the bold, sweeping landscapes of Kaminari. Surprisingly, their favorite place inside their own borders was the same. She liked the town of Tani no Mon because of its hot springs and the shinobi-friendly inns that always had wonderfully fresh, seasonal foods; he liked it because of a particularly rare, spectacular beetle that lived in the surrounding woods and the views the town offered of summer meteor showers. Plus, one of his family's favorite teas was raised on the hillsides there.

Uniquely, the entrance to Nagatani's did not face the main road but a side road, instead. This provided less-bustling access for patrons as well as an option of sitting at a table with a view of the street or in a quieter, private room that faced a small, high-fenced garden.

The hostess bowed to them. "Which would you prefer?"

Excited just to be able to eat there again, Tenten didn't care. "I'm good with whatever you'd like."

After a moment's consideration she found unexpected, considering how exhaustively detailed his mission plans tended to be, Shino nodded in the direction of the booths, and their hostess led them to a room so newly furnished you could still see and smell the fresh greenness of the tatami mats. Unlike the teashop, with its antiquated ambiance, their room was a model of slick, modern elegance while still maintaining classical architectural elements. Designed for four, the table in the center of the room was perfectly square and polished so darkly as to make the grain of the wood almost impossible to discern. The heating element for the square basin in the center of the table was apparently built in, as opposed to the way it had been before, with the burner for the yūdōfu pot brought in along with the meal. Not only that, but the power line for the table and the lights were hidden in the ceiling and floor, whereas they had once used lanterns and what electric lighting they'd had came from visible cables.

The hostess pulled a pair of cushioned, legless chairs from the corner of the room and set them opposite each other, parallel to the garden and door. Not only did it give them both a view of the garden, but it was the most tactically prudent arrangement—no shinobi in their right mind would choose to have their back to a door or opening when other options existed. This suggested she knew they were ninja, which made sense given the Aburames' apparent connection to the place.

Tenten had eaten at a few restaurants with both tatami and an opening in the floor to put your legs, but it was still a somewhat novel experience. She was just settling in when the hostess asked, "Would you like to order drinks first?"

"Oolong and sencha," Shino murmured.

Tenten mentally patted herself on the back for having guessed his preference. "And water, please." She had almost reached her caffeine quota for the day.

For some reason, Shino's cheeks colored slightly. Was he embarrassed he hadn't asked her? "If it is all right with you, shall we order two of the chef's special? It is always very good."

The only time she'd ordered a chef's special anything was at her chūnin celebration dinner, and that had been because Master Gai had insisted. The idea of ordering such a thing was too extravagant for an orphan, even one with as much work as she had. Momentarily torn between the desire to try it and the thought of having a date pay for it, she reminded herself that Shino didn't seem to think anything of it. He didn't seem to be trying to impress her, either. Was that what it was like to be in a wealthy clan?

"Sure."

Picking up on her reticence, his brow puckered and his tone grew concerned. "If you would rather order something from the menu..."

She gave him a sunny smile. "Getting the special sounds wonderful."

Shino nodded and the hostess bowed. With a "thank you for your order" she left the room and slid the door closed.

Unlike the teashop, Nagatani's was bustling and had less-spacious rooms, so even though they were alone, the muffled conversations of others around them made it feel like they weren't as isolated. As lovely as the garden was, it fell more into the pleasing spectrum of enjoyable, as opposed to the awe-inspiring view they'd had at tea. They chatted briefly about the new décor and garden, then the hostess was back with another server to deliver their order. It was one of the advantages of yūdōfu and specials—minimal prep time.

The special involved a plethora of little side dishes and three distinctive broths to simmer the two different types of tōfu in. Like Shino's grandmother, the hostess gracefully arranged the dishes and, together with the other server, carefully lowered the customized, divided, square, metal pot into the basin. Then they bowed their way out.

There was almost too much to take in. The gorgeous, little, flower-shaped dish of tōfu scrambled with vegetables was one of the most delicious things she'd ever eaten, with each flavor standing out yet blending perfectly. Then there was the grilled tōfu on small, bamboo skewers, one block with a tangy-sweet miso paste and another with a bitter-sweet spinach and sesame paste. They were served upright, with the bottoms of the skewers stuck in a brown and red lacquered box filled with little glass beads that seemed to emulate grilling fish around a sandy campfire. Three different types of pickles, each in their own tiny bowl, shared a beautiful tray with an abstract design in gold across its surface.

Lifting the lid off a dainty, blue-green, ceramic cup, she discovered a peach-colored cube in a clear broth with a single mitsuba leaf on top and a tiny, whole shrimp, no bigger than her thumbnail, on top of that. Placing it in her mouth, it practically melted as the most delicate shrimp flavor blossomed across her taste buds. When she closed her eyes, she could practically see, hear, and smell the ocean.

"The shrimp tōfu is especially good today."

Opening her eyes, she blushed, having almost forgotten Shino in her culinary bliss. "Is that what that was?"

Nodding, he took a sip of his sencha. "My understanding is that it is exceptionally difficult to catch shrimp small enough that they can be ground thoroughly enough to maintain the smooth texture."

She enjoyed a scallop that had been ground and mixed with tōfu and heavens knew what else and served in its own shell. "I'm glad we went with the special."

"I am pleased you approve."

His cultured etiquette distracted her as he smoothly plucked a ring of tōfu- and vegetable-stuffed squid no bigger around than her thumb, dipped it in the accompanying sauce, and then slipped it into his mouth. Her momentary fascination with the glide of his broad, masculine jaw as he chewed caused her to blush and him to pause.

"Is everything all right?"

Suddenly, being into Shino seemed not only appealing but also unavoidable. He was a wealthy heir, refined, considerate, easy on the eyes, and had that awesome voice. How was it no girl had chased after him? Were the bugs and the hair and his knack for intimidation really so potent as to put off every gal in town? Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing that he wore his hood and high collar all the time, since it had kept him hidden until she'd gotten this chance. "Everything is great."

For some reason, he lowered his chopsticks and blushed back at her, which made her blush all the more. How could he do that just by looking at her when she couldn't even see his eyes? It was almost as though she could feel the touch of his focused interest in her, and the color on his cheeks was evidence enough it wasn't her imagination.

The quiet spell was broken by the soft bubbling of the yūdōfu pot reaching a simmer. "The tōfu's ready."

With a nod, he picked up his wire scoop and selected a semi-firm cube from the fish broth section, poured a bit of the heated dashi-soy sauce over it, and added a sprinkling of katsuo-bushi. "It is your turn to ask a question."

After debating which to try first, she chose a block from the chicken broth and added sesame and ponzu sauce. "You were the last one. You talked about Tani no Mon."

"Prior to that, I had asked you about your teammates."

"Yeah, but then you talked about your mom..." The food demanded her attention, again. She had picked a piece of silken tōfu, and it was softer and smoother than anything she'd ever eaten. On top of that, the flavor from the broth had perfectly permeated it and was enhanced by her condiments.

Was he smiling at her reaction to the food? "But you did not ask about that, so it does not count."

The childishness of his statement almost made her laugh. Then it dawned on her he might like being asked about himself, that maybe it didn't happen very often. "Okay. How normal is this?"

He paused, his scoop hovering above the chicken broth. "Do you mean an outing with a young lady or-?"

"The fancy clothes, the fancy tea shop, the fancy restaurant."

Selecting a silken tōfu block, he placed it in his bowl and poured a diminutive drizzle of ponzu sauce on it. "It is difficult to answer simply."

She fished a semi-firm block from the beef broth and added lots of shredded green onion to it. "Then don't answer it simply."

There was something pleasing about the way he would wait a moment to consider his words. It suggested a thoughtfulness she rarely experienced with others, and it blunted the sharpness of his ubiquitous pride. "In all honesty, I have only worn clothes this...fancy for very special occasions—graduations, funerals, weddings. So it is not normal in the context of everyday scenarios, but since this is not an everyday scenario, such attire could be considered normal, given the context."

Savoring the beefy, oniony goodness of her tōfu, she gestured for him to continue.

"As for the teashop, since it is owned by relatives, it is quite normal to visit when time permits, but that is not to say I and my family tend to visit similar establishments elsewhere." His long, beautiful fingers deftly manipulated his chopsticks to divide his tōfu into precisely even sections. After taking a bite, he continued. "In regard to social interactions, I was taught from childhood to do what was comfortable for others, so long as I was also comfortable. As I am seldom with those who would seek out such a teashop, it could be said it is not normal for me to frequent them."

His multifaceted answers could almost be interpreted as indecisive, yet she knew he was anything but. "And places like this?"

"That is even more complicated." Setting his chopsticks aside, he rested his hands on the table. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter, as though he was confiding a secret or sharing something embarrassing. "Despite the fact that my family's influence is responsible for the lack of insect-borne illness within Konoha, the nature of Aburame hidden techniques is disturbing to many."

She had never known his family did that, but her astonishment was sidetracked by a supple flick of his fingers. When the movement ended, there was a kikai beetle perched on the tip of his right index finger. "No matter the larger role we play or the fact that kikai consume only chakra, not material goods, it is to be expected that shopkeepers, especially of eateries, would be leery of having Aburame patrons."

He was quiet for a moment. Then the crease between his brows deepened slightly and the kikai flew her way. Sensing this was no casual impulse on his part, she lifted her free hand, and the little bug landed on her finger much as the butterfly had landed on Shino's earlier. It was too small to touch, like a pet or a summoned animal, so all she could do was look at it. Twisting her hand this way and that, she examined it closely. One, on its own, seemed so helpless and innocuous. "It sucks that you help them but they don't want you."

The kikai returned to its master and slipped under the collar of his Tang suit. "It is vital to the survival of my clan that we not draw attention to such things. As much as our power is appreciated by the Hokage and Konoha's shinobi, it would be problematic if the civilians were discontent with us." Picking up his chopsticks, he went back to his meal. "With that in mind, we favor those establishments that are comfortable with our presence." He selected a beef-broth block and added a tiny bit of grated daikon and dash of dashi-soy. Apparently he preferred mild flavors. "So it is not that my family intentionally frequents fancy establishments but that, among the few we do frequent, this happens to be one. Actually, we do not eat out much, so as not to negatively impact the patronage of those places that welcome us. Although, if a favorite shop is having a poor month, we will intentionally visit to support their business."

The complexity of it all, how much of it was tied to people's discomfort with his clan's abilities, made the meal both more special and slightly less enjoyable. The only times she'd ever felt that sense of rejection had been when staying at certain inns. Many civilian innkeepers disliked having ninja as patrons because of the damaging and deadly trouble they could draw. But to deal with that in your own village? If the table hadn't been too wide, she would have reached for his hand. It didn't matter that he spoke of it tonelessly, as though it was no more remarkable than the changing of the seasons; dealing with that all the time had to hurt. She intentionally decided to lighten the mood.

"So you didn't bring me here just to impress me?" She added a titch of disappointment to her tone.

His hint of a smile was worth it. "To say that I did not would not be completely honest." After another sip of tea, he elaborated. "I could have taken you to several restaurants, but other, less fancy places had disadvantages. For example, Ichiraku's only has a booth, and I prefer we be able to face each other in a venue conducive to quiet conversation as we partake of our meal."

Despite his tendency to intentionally fade into the woodwork while on missions, she wouldn't have guessed he possessed a shy nature, let alone that he would vocalize it. But the almost audaciously honest words were belied by the soft uncertainty of his voice. As charmed as she was that he seemed worried about pleasing her, she didn't want to be a source of doubt for him. Dates were supposed to be fun, after all. "As a young lady on an outing with a young man, I must say, this is a much better choice than Ichiraku's."

Ah! And there it was again! Another reticent, tooth-revealing smile drew her gaze back to that full lower lip of his. Then it hit her, the memory of the first time they'd met. She'd found him practicing with only marginal success in her favorite lane at the Academy's thrown-weapons range and offered him some pointers. It was clear he had been less than keen about learning from another student, and his struggles had frustrated him. How she'd tried not to laugh when he'd stuck out that lower lip in a pout! By the end of their session, he had improved and even thanked her with a bow and tone that had made her feel special.

As they worked their way through the meal, she asked him about all the other restaurants his family went to, assuring him each time that Nagatani's was the better choice. She was actually glad they hadn't gone to the dim sum place he'd mentioned, since her desire to have all her favorite dishes and try new things usually resulted in more food than she could eat. How embarrassing would it be to end up needing a doggy bag, especially with him paying for it?

By the time their zenzai was served, he had perked back up...well, as perky as Shino got, and the unfortunate reality of why he'd suggested Nagatani's was left behind them.

Once the meal was over, she felt a little glum, since it meant their date would soon be coming to an end. Then again, she was also a bit relieved that they'd gotten as far as they had without further interruption from her team, though that didn't keep her from giving the area a thorough visual scan as they left.

"I believe it is your turn to ask a question."

It wasn't, by her count, but she was finally ready to ask what had been weighing on her mind since their walk in the park. "I couldn't help noting Kiba's mention of 'after all this time' in reference to our date..."

Shino sighed. "Since you hadn't brought it up, I had hoped that had slipped past you."

"Yeah, well, being a ninja and all..." She playfully nudged his shoulder. "It's kind of flattering to know someone's been into you."

A frown tugged the corners of his mouth. "I am concerned you might not appreciate the relevant anecdote."

Was it her, or was he intentionally avoiding her gaze?

"You'll have to tell me sooner or later." If letting him know she was open to another date would get him to talk, she was fine with tossing him that information. "How bad could it be?" Maybe he'd peeped on her bathing or changing or something?

Sighing again, he straightened himself a bit. "Do you remember the first time we met?"

Was he really following so closely in his father's footsteps? Her pulse picked up a notch.

In response to her nod, he continued. "Our meeting was no accident. I had been having difficulty with thrown weapons, and in an effort to enhance my social skills, my father had insisted I seek assistance from another student. It was difficult for me, acknowledging any martial lack on my part to anyone but myself, and I was disinclined to seek the aid of someone within my year." He spoke slightly faster than normal, as though he wanted to get his story out quickly and have the embarrassment end. "After observing the upperclassmen, I determined your aim was the best and spied on you until I was familiar with your habits. Then I waited at your preferred range in hopes you would share your knowledge with me as I had seen you do with others."

When his pause went on a little too long, she squeezed his arm and chuckled. "I remember how cutely determined you were, with your furrowed brow and grunts of effort." After mimicking his stiff-armed throw and huffs to let him know she wasn't upset with having been spied on, she felt him relax a little.

"At one point, you stood behind me..." His cheeks colored as his voice failed him.

She rubbed his arm, surreptitiously feeling up his firm bicep. "I stood behind you..."

Drawing in a deep breath, he exhaled slowly, but his blush remained. "What you are doing now, what you did then...it is exceedingly rare for Aburames. You reached around me and took my hands..." Lifting his free one up, he examined it as though it was somehow miraculous. "You touched me without hesitation and aided me without condescension or reluctance or revulsion. I had never had an interest in girls until that moment, and even as I knew you must not have been aware of what I was, that your kindness toward me was not unique, my emotions had been irrevocably stirred." He rested his hand on hers, and she sandwiched his fingers between hers and rubbed to warm them. At last he turned his face her way, and his brow was twisted with worry. "I had chosen you and engineered our encounter with coldly calculated deliberation for purely selfish reasons. My intent had been to use you, but you..."

While her heart wrangled with the concept this fine specimen of a man had been into her since he was a preteen—no pressure or anything—she also worried about his anxiety over this revelation. Was he feeling guilty about being a brat at the age of bratiness? Compared to how she used to deride Lee like she was Neji's parrot, that was nothing. She decided to try to tug him closer to the present. "So why did you wait so long to ask me out?"

His brow slowly smoothed and his frown faded. "Lee is more amicable than I, and Neji is higher ranked and more attractive, if less masculine. You are openly affectionate with both. Until this last mission, during which I heard your conversations with Ino, I had had no way of knowing for certain you were not romantically interested in anyone. I had been waiting until I was confident there was a possibility you might respond positively to my invitation. Your reactions to our conversation led me to believe you might be favorably inclined."

She laughed to let him know she wasn't upset and because it was laughable that such a capable, wealthy, good-looking guy was intimidated by romance of all things. "You could have just asked."

"Had I asked before adequately assessing the situation, I would have risked a higher chance of creating an unfavorable impression and left myself more socially and emotionally vulnerable, having prematurely revealed my intentions toward you." Then again, with his father as an example, it kind of made sense he'd take the topic so seriously.

Noticing a familiar shop over his shoulder, she glanced around to find they were approaching her building. She had never successfully made it to the end of a date, and contemplating all that entailed made her feel both excited and awkward. Thank goodness she'd snagged a breath mint on the way out of Nagatani's to cover the lingering flavor of green onions! What had she been thinking eating those on a date?

Apparently he was similarly affected, since she could feel the building tension in his arm. A hush fell between them, and too soon, they were standing in front of her door. Letting his arm go, she turned to face him. "I had a really good time." Was that blushingly bashful voice really hers?

"As did I." Leaning closer, he spoke in a strained whisper. "May I-"

"Yes." She hadn't meant to cut him off, but excitement was soundly kicking awkward's ass. Reaching out, she grasped the edges of his overcoat and gently pulled him closer.

His kiss suited him perfectly—cautious, patient, and confident despite his evident inexperience. When his nose bumped hers, she briefly wondered if this was his first, but it didn't really matter because his cool lips were warming against hers with a quiet intensity that stirred her pulse and promised sublime rewards. Soon she felt the trembling of his fingers as he placed a hand lightly against her back then gradually increased the pressure in an unspoken request to draw closer, a request she happily granted. The concept that she could make the powerful heir of one of the top clans in Konoha tremble thrilled her to her toes.

Being closer threw off the angles required to keep their lips together, so she lifted her heels off the ground to give herself more height and reestablish the earlier balance. Then she felt his other hand against her back, though whether it was to offer support or because he wanted to touch her more, she didn't really care, since he was finally getting the hang of kissing. Yes, that lower lip was definitely nice to nibble on!

Letting her eyes drift close, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and admired their width. He stiffened for just a moment as she pressed against him before he fully embraced her. For some reason, the feeling of his arms around her, holding her with reverence and pleasure and an un-Aburameish lack of reserve, made her feel like the most coveted girl on the planet. Even if it wasn't true, she had never felt more wanted than in that moment—not as a reliable friend or loyal teammate or talented weapons specialist but as a woman—and it made all sorts of warm, fuzzy emotions happily percolate inside her.

Wanting more than warm fuzziness, she opened her mouth to his, but it wasn't until the third try that he accepted her invitation. When their tongues touched, they moaned in unison as the warmth transformed into heat. Then the world dissolved until all that mattered was where they touched and how it made them feel.

His upper hand slid into her hair, tangling his fingers in it as he caressed her scalp before gripping her head firmly in a possessive, commanding way that made her feel more desired than dominated. She soon became aware of his intent as he held her head still while tilting his own, eliminating the bumping nose problem and allowing them to deepen the kiss further. He let her tongue guide his, lingering in a slower, softer, more enticing imitation of her demanding movements, as though he was relishing each brush and glide or memorizing every nuance of her mouth. It astounded her how stimulating his gentle, careful responses were, making her feel satiated and hungry for more all at the same time.

At last, they had to separate for air, and they panted together. Apparently he was as breathless and witless as she was, because it had to have taken at least a full minute of staring at each other's blushing cheeks before Shino closed his kiss-swollen lips to swallow then ask, "Tenten, would you provide me the privilege of accompanying me on another outing?"

How could anyone with such a sexy voice say something so utterly adorable? She giggled then pressed another kiss to his obliging lips before lowering herself onto her heels. "One thing, first." She shifted her hands from his shoulders to his collar and began unbuttoning his Tang suit jacket.

"What are you doing?" Despite the nervous hitch in his voice, he didn't stop her.

"Before I get our hopes up by agreeing to a second date, there's something I need to know, for both our sakes." After the third toggle was freed, she spread his shirt apart to reveal another layer of clothing. There was no repressing her chuckle as the similarity between Aburame clothing and peeling onions came forcefully to mind. Quickly undoing the button that held his undergarment shut, she finally uncovered his skin and found it as creamy, smooth, and tempting as the unskimmed fat on a milk pail's surface.

She felt almost scandalous, touching such an important citizen of Konoha so intimately and without invitation, but she set that concern aside as she spread her fingers across the surface of his left pectoral. Distantly cognizant of his quickly indrawn breath, her first impressions were that his skin was almost impossibly soft and that it was significantly warmer than his fingers and lips. Then she felt what had prompted her into such an intrusive action. There, alongside his rising heartbeat, was the thrum of the hive that lived beneath his skin.

A part of her wanted to pull her hand away as the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end in acknowledgment of the terrifying power the vibration represented, but she resisted that urge. Boxing up her fear and shoving it into the back of her mind, she tried to focus on the actual sensation that seemed to make his whole body subtly quiver. It was rather pleasant if you didn't think about its source. "Where are they?" There was no sense of individual movement within the vibration.

"I've ordered them aside."

She looked up to find his blush gone and his lips thinned into an almost-grimace.

"You can do that?" She wanted to brain herself for asking a question she already knew the answer to, and having done it with girlish, doe-eyed wonder no less. With a nervous chuckle, she shook her head. "Of course you can, but I don't want you to. If I'm going to like you for who you are, you have to be yourself."

With evident reluctance, he let go of her head to press her hand more firmly against his chest as he gave her a grimly determined nod and a furrowed brow. Then she felt them and saw them and heard them. The thrumming grew louder, and little, moving bumps began to appear beneath his flawless skin. It was, admittedly, very creepy, reminding her of a maggot-ridden body her team had come across when she was still a genin. But unlike the cold, stiff corpse, Shino was very much warm and alive, so she did her best to think of it as just part of who Shino was, like Lee's unusual eyes and Master Gai's eardrum-shattering voice.

She had almost tamped down the last vestiges of her cringe reflexes when a hole appeared in his skin beside her hand. There was no repressing her startled gasp as a few dozen kikai erupted from it. Shino shifted his fingers so the little black beetles could run across hers. Her initial reaction was to pull away, but he held her still. Then the most remarkable thing happened. The touch of the tiny legs grew soothing, sending sparks of pleasing warmth across her skin, and just as she began to suspect why, she glanced at his goggles. "Is this...?"

The hand against her back gave a comforting rub. "Just as my kikai can take chakra, so too can they give it."

Looking back at her hand, she tried to rectify the disturbing image of the insects crawling on her fingers with the flood of reassuring strength that was bathing them. "So this is..."

"They are giving you a taste of my chakra."

She wasn't even sure how it was possible, but my oh my, did that taste good! "Wow," was all she could manage to express how it felt. Shifting her hand, she allowed the kikai access to her palm and giggled. "How is it Aburames aren't constantly laughing? These little guys tickle!"

"Years of arduous practice."

Glancing up, she tried to determine if he was joking or not and decided he was. So she smiled and spread her palm against his chest once more, fingering the resealed spot the beetles had come from. "And how is it your skin is so perfect when it should be covered with scars?"

"That is an Aburame trade secret." That he didn't say "hidden technique" brought to mind all of the expensive, remarkable oils his family produced to bolster their wealth. Were his family oil merchants out of a need to preserve their skin because of their clan's abilities? Was that why he smelled so good and was so baby-soft and delightfully touchable? Did the Aburames have something that could help with the calluses on her hands?

"Tenten." The seriousness of his voice brought her out of her musings and caused her to meet what she was becoming confident was his gaze. "Would you be amenable to spending more time with me?"

For some reason, she found herself blushing again. With a nod, she smiled shyly. "Yes, Shino, I'd like to go on another date with you."

Although anyone further away than her probably wouldn't have noticed it, she felt his whole body relax in response to her words, though his brow was still creased slightly more than usual. "I must warn you, only 33 percent of non-arranged relationships with Aburame males succeed." With that whole chakra-sharing trick, she couldn't imagine why.

She knew he was talking about marriages. Her teammates and master were relentlessly serious, so his seriousness didn't faze her. While she considered mentioning the topic so soon to be putting the cart before the horse, she found she was not adverse to the prospect. Knowing he was only interested in a relationship with long-term potential, she wouldn't have accepted this first date if she had been apathetic about where it might lead.

Shifting his hand out of the way, she began buttoning up his shirt. There seemed to be resignation in the little huff of air he expelled as her fingers left his skin, so she gave him an encouraging smile. "Among kunoichi chūnin, only one in three manages to have a stable romantic relationship. The odds are even slimmer if they reach tokubetsu jōnin or jōnin, and even if they do, you know from Kiba's mother and your master's experiences how that can end." Kiba's father had been scared away by his spouse's strength, and Shino's master had been left alone and pregnant when her fiancé had been killed. "But only about one in three genin are kunoichi, and less than one in three genin become chūnin. Then there's surviving Master Gai and my team with your sanity intact." She shrugged as she traced the subtle pattern stitched into the material of his jacket, idly contemplating how the patient, enduring, unflamboyant strength of the ivy it emulated suited the man who wore it. "I figure I'm pretty good at beating the odds. And if today was a sample of what's to come..." There was no stopping the giddy grin that spread across her face. "It's more than worth taking the chance."

DETAILS

According to Narutopedia, one of the Naruto databooks says one of Shino's hobbies is bug collecting and he doesn't like strongly flavored foods. I figured yūdōfu should be right up his alley.

Tatami = mats made from the folded stalks of rice and soft rush, a traditional Japanese floor covering that are approximately 3' by 6' each

Although I do my best not to insert any cultural references into the Narutoverse that, with it being not our Earth, shouldn't exist, there was no getting around the Tang suit (named for the Tang Dynasty of China it originated from). It's what I wanted him to be wearing, and there's no other word I could find for it. Ah well!

According to Narutopedia, the third Naruto databook says one of Tenten's favorite foods is Chinese, of which dim sum is a form.

The reason I say Shino has a full lower lip is because of the little lines Kishimoto uses to define the lips of some of his characters. The two-page color illustration of the Rookies before the war, from chapter 515, is the one I'm basing my assumption on. The very effeminate Sai has an extra line above and below his mouth line, suggesting full lips, while Shino has one beneath his mouth, which suggests a full lower lip. These lines are very consistent and can be seen throughout the series.

Aburame = oil woman
Since every clan seems to have a side business besides being shinobi, I figured the Aburames make oils, which was a source of wealth in the past and remains an essential commodity today.

FOOD DETAILS

Oolong = withered tea leaves that are then rolled or twisted, the variety of nuances and oxidation results in many favors; originating in China

Sencha = unroasted, unground green tea made from fresh dried tea leaves and originating in Japan

Yūdōfu = boiled tōfu—I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's supposed to be.

Miso = fermented bean paste; a common, savory flavoring in Japan

Mitsuba = a somewhat bitter herb of the parsley family common to Japanese cuisine

Dashi = ubiquitous Japanese fish broth

Katsuo-bushi = grated or shaved dried bonito (a fish); it is an essential element of Japanese cooking and the basis, along with the seaweed konbu, for dashi

Ponzu = a small lime known outside of Japan as kalamansi; ponzu sauce mixes the juice with dashi, soy sauce, sweet sake, and katsuo-bushi

Daikon = a long, white radish that is a common element in Japanese cooking

Dim sum = a Chinese restaurant style usually involving carts of various small dishes the guests can choose from—It's so much fun; you should try it if you get the chance!

Zenzai = a thick porridge made of sweet azuki beans and usually served with mochi