Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Kudos to MidnightShadow101, as always.

Chapter Eight: Wrong Keys and Waivers

The chorale's melodies split through the quiet afternoon air, waking some of the sleeping students from neighbouring core classes and causing others to stop working and listen for a few moments. The song was simple enough—it only required two melodies, and had a repeating pattern for both the verses and the chorus- But that did not make it any easier for Tenten to play.

By the time the song ended, she had pressed at least seven wrong keys, and she was sure she had made more mistakes that had gone uncounted, if the look their teacher gave her at the end of the song was any indication. She bit her lip in guilt, and turned away.

Hiroki caught her eye, and Tenten was surprised to see that he was smiling at her.

"What?" she whispered, while the teacher went on giving corrections to the other students.

"You don't have to look so guilty," he chuckled.

She tried to smile in thanks, but it came out more like a grimace. "That's easy for you to say; you played the whole piece flawlessly. Thanks for that, by the way; it covered up a lot of my mistakes."

He bowed his head in pretend grace and she smiled appreciatively. "That's only because I have been playing the piano for longer than you have. I'm sure you'll find your skill in time." He assured her.

"Right," Tenten rolled her eyes mock-skeptically.

Hiroki opened his mouth to say something else, but the teacher called his name.

"Yes?" he asked, looking back up at the front of the room.

"Good job with the piano, per usual," their teacher, Ebisu, smiled, inclining his head to the boy. Hiroki grinned and nodded. He was always the teacher's favorite, due to his near perfect piano playing.

Tenten would have rolled her eyes- Teacher's pet- if Ebisu did not focus his hawk-eyed gaze on her next. "Tenten." He did not sound pleased.

"Yes?" Tenten tried to smile.

"Take note of the music sheet in front of you. It tells you what you're supposed to play. You've been practicing this piece for so a week now; I would have expected you to at least make minimal mistakes," he narrowed his eyes and Tenten shifted her feet, feeling her face color as the entire class directed their attention to her. "You're distracting everyone."

"Some of us certainly needed the distraction," Hiroki cut in, trying to save Tenten from the heat. He caused a few of the students to snigger in their seats, and Ebisu gazed at him disapprovingly but his attention was effectively stolen from Tenten.

Soon enough, he was snapping up reminders again, and prepping everyone for another rehearsal of the last song they had finished. Tenten tentatively walked sideways towards Hiroki, until their arms were barely touching each other. When she looked up at the boy, he was again smiling at her. "Thanks," Tenten whispered.

Hiroki shrugged as he positioned his fingers on the piano. Before the teacher gave the mark to finally start the song, he turned to Tenten. "For what?" he grinned.

"Still studying that song?" Neji whispered beside her, sounding mildly surprised.

She sighed before shifting to her left, effectively blocking the paper from his sight. She shot him a glare before going back to studying the small sheet, eyes scanning the notes. "If you don't like looking at it, then don't. No one's forcing you to."

"I told you not to take that course." he said, matter-of-factly.

She pursed her lips, knowing that he was right. He had predicted the very same predicament she was in now almost two months ago, but stubbornly, of course she refused to stop. "I like a bit of a challenge every now and then."

"Well this is definitely a challenge you won't be able to overcome," he deadpanned.

Tenten swerved in her chair. "Gee, thank you for being so supportive," she rolled her eyes, placing the crumpled paper back in her bag. She kicked the bag under her chair then squirmed at the lack of space. All the students were gathered in the school gym for an announcement. It was a little past lunch, and although the gym was well conditioned to battle the heat, she could still see the swell of the sunlight from the windows. "Besides," she said, turning to face him. "I wouldn't have been so hard up if you only taught me."

His eyes were kept on the stage, where the teachers were still taking their places on the chairs awaiting them. He did not react to her comment, but she knew he was listening.

"I saw the piano," she challenged.

He remained impassive but the subtle shift in his eyes betrayed his emotions.

"You really don't think I wouldn't see it?" she laughed.

Finally, he met her eyes. "I told you not to go there," he narrowed his eyes at her.

"You tell me not to do a lot of things, but I do them anyway," she shrugged, then laughed again as he turned away. "Oh come on, Neji. It was your old room, you know I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to look into it. And that's not the issue—," she reached out her hand to touch his arm, but immediately pulled away when she felt his body freeze. "I..." she hesitated, but dismissed his reaction. "Please? You'd be helping a friend," she grinned.

"It isn't my piano," he denied, as he looked downwards.

She smiled warmly, they had been best friends for too long for her to know whether or not he was lying. "I don't know why it's such an issue. I know it's yours," she stared at him curiously, then like him, adjusted in her seat to face the stage. "But fine, I can learn it myself. Just don't laugh at my reviewers again," she glared at him.

He gave her an amused look. "I'll see."

Tenten was about to protest again but her reaction was cut short when the speakers blazed with the principal's voice. Although many of the students still continued to speak, Tenten's attention, instead, was completely stolen by the woman who was shouting to the microphone.

"—and to my fellow teachers," the voice boomed, a bit louder this time. The students stopped chatting in their seats. "So how are all the students? I hope everyone is enjoying their studies, even the freshmen," she commented, her gaze flickering across the gym and resting every now and then when her eyes landed on the freshmen. "I can't believe time flies so fast and it's already been two months since school began, but that's just how it is when you're having fun. Right?"

Tenten glared when Neji rolled his eyes. "Shhh," she hissed at him.

"Now as everyone knows, Christmas is coming near, and who here knows what this school's tradition is during Christmas?"

"Fieldtrip!" a loud voice echoed from three rows in front of them. Tenten recognized the movement from the lightning blonde hair.

"Correct, Naruto," Tsunade nodded, as the buzz in the gym grew louder again. This time, it was Tenten who rolled her eyes. With the way the students were reacting, you'd think Santa fell from the sky. "This time, we'll be going to the Kumogakure prefecture. Who's heard of their magnificent hot springs and wine?"

"...and gorgeous men," a whisper said from behind her. Tenten laughed, but waved Ino away. She could sense the disapproval from the Hyuga beside her.

The murmurs in the gym were getting louder, and now, even Tenten was listening intently. The past school field trips had only been to the neighbouring towns. It was the first time the trip actually involved travelling more than two hours. But more than that, Tenten was looking forward to the Chuunin games. It was what they had called a series of games that are held in every school trip. They were team building activities that were designed both to "foster camaraderie" among students and at the same time allow them to have "friendly competition." But really, it was all just an excuse to leave the students to survive on their own and give the teachers an opportunity to enjoy their wine and have fun.

"The resort we'll be staying in is by one of the most famous beaches, and has various hot springs, and beside it is a thick bunch of forest that will be perfect for your nature walks and of course, for the Chuunin games. It will be a week-long trip, so make sure to have your waivers signed—," she gave a nod and a stack of papers were passed on to the front rows. "—before the end of the month. That is all. Have a good day everyone!"

"It sounds exciting," Tenten said, amused, as she turned to Neji.

He raised a brow. "What's so exciting with a beach and a bunch of trees?" he asked.

She groaned as she shook her head disapprovingly, "Only you would say that. What's exciting is water, and volleyball, and fireworks, and forest strolls, and owls, and bonfires, and truth or dares—," she stopped, remembering what had happened in the last truth or dare she had been to. Again, the pang in her chest, which had become rather familiar, returned. His answer that night...she hated that it still had such an effect on her. "—anyway," she cleared her throat. "The point is we get a break from our classrooms and piano lessons. Besides, we have to reclaim our throne," she grinned.

"Throne?" Ino whispered from behind them.

Tenten turned to raise a brow at the blonde. Apparently, Neji wasn't the only she had been talking to. Before she could express her observation, Sakura who had been sitting beside Ino, spoke.

"They won the Chuunin last year. Together with Lee."

"Oh. Tsunade-sensei mentioned that earlier. What's the Chuunin?" Ino asked.

"It's a set of tasks that the students have to go through... kind of like a race with obstacles," Sakura explained.

"It sounds exciting!" Ino practically bounced in her chair. "Tell me more about it."

Sakura seemed more than happy to oblige. "The students will be grouped into three. Together they have to go through a set of challenges until they reach the final challenge. The first team who finishes the last challenge will be declared the winners and gets the prize."

Ino clapped her hands. "What kind of prize? I'm hoping it's tickets to the shops in—,"

"It's actually a one month supply of ramen," Tenten cut in before Ino could delve into her imaginary fantasies of free clothes and endless shopping. She glared at the smirk on Neji's face however, he had always found their prize amusing. "But it's not the prize you fight for, but the right to be the reigning champions of the Chuunin Games. Plus, you get to light the very first firework for Christmas," she grinned.

"That's the only thing you're after," Neji commented beside her. His brow was raised, but his lips turned upwards so subtly.

Tenten punched him playfully in the arm. "Not true," she denied, then turned back to the two girls behind her. "Anyway you guys should consider joining. It's optional, of course, but the trip won't be complete without it. Trust me," she said.

"So you're joining again this year, I trust?" Ino asked.

Neji began shaking his head but Tenten started grinning widely again. "Of course!" she exclaimed, excitedly. "Neji, Lee and I make the best team," she said. "How bout you guys?" she asked.

Sakura was the first to answer. "Yes," she nodded. "Ramen. Naruto," she said, knowing the two words would be enough of an explanation.

Tenten laughed, and then looked at Ino. "You?"

"Shikamaru and Choji can pair up with me, I guys," she smiled when Tenten looked dumfounded. "Our fathers are friends, and I think I remember now how my father mentioned something about the three of them teaming up for a game when they were the ones studying here. Maybe we'd keep the tradition."

Tenten nodded. Although they were not often together as Ino was always usually with Hinata or Sakura, she knew that the three held a very tight bond. "Well then. May the best team win!" she exclaimed, before fixing her chair. She scanned the crowds, pleased to see the waivers only a few rows away. The ream of paper got thinner and thinner with every hand that held it. "Are Hinata and the others joining?" she asked Neji.

Neji hummed in reply. "Shino and Kiba," he explained.

"It looks like this year will be fun!" she grinned excitedly.

He gave her a pointed stare. "Don't overdo it this year," he told her.

She smiled guiltily, but gave him a quick salute. "Yes, sir," she said. Although they had won the past year, she had been stuck in bed for a week after the trip due to fever. She had insisted they run under a raging rain just to be able to chase down a group that had overtaken them in the last Chuunin Games. She had already received her fair share of scolding from Lee and Neji after they had won, but Neji had always seemed to like reminding her about it.

"What do you think the challenges will be this year?" she asked him.

"Something that involves the forest and the beach, surely," he told her.

Tenten thought for a moment. "Well anyway," she shrugged when her mind failed to come up with any possible challenges. "I'm sure we'll be able to make it through them."

He gave her a half smile and nodded.

END OF CHAPTER

A/N: I feel sad that for the lack of reviews of the previous chapter, but I'm hoping you guys are still with me!

Love,

Vee