Author's note:

Well, here's chapter nine! I think this is the farthest I've gotten in a fanfic. I know updates have been taking a long time, but I have an excuse. I'm lazy. See? That is perfectly reasonable.

Okay… I know. It's not.

Also! I have a challenge for you all at the bottom. It's for LeeTenten fans.

Disclaimer: Why are these things necessary? Why? Do I seem like I'd own Naruto? Do any of us seem like it? No, I don't own it…

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Losing Control: Chapter 9

By: Maiyuko-chan

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Hinata sighed and rubbed her eyes. It was morning and Neji and herself were at the table, drinking some tea. Neji refused to discuss anything about last night, and the only thing he had told her that Ino was a big liar. Hinata had only smiled and shaken her head.

"Neji-nii-san, my eyes really hurt." she said tiredly as she rubbed them. "Do we have eye drops?" Neji yawned slightly, trying not to be too obvious about it and shook his head.

"I do not know." he replied, trying and failing not to slump in his chair. The two had been woken up quite early and told to put on formal clothing. Neither of the two knew why, but they were both very tired from staying up so late and being woken up earlier than usual.

Four hours of sleep… thought Neji drowsily. He had a killer headache. Suddenly, a few elders walked in and one of them took away the tea that the Hyuuga boy had been enjoying. Neji felt a twinge of anger and looked at Hinata, who had lost her tea as well.

More elders piled in through the door, and Hinata's father came in as well. They all sat at the table without a word, surrounding Hinata and Neji and moving them around so they sat right next to each other. They looked at one another, confused, though Neji hid it better.

Soon, members of the family who were not elders came inside the room and taking places at the table. When Hanabi came in, she seemed as confused as her sister and cousin. She spotted Hinata and ran toward the seat next to her, sliding gracefully into it and grabbing Hinata's hand under the table in the process.

"What is going on?" she whispered to Hinata.

"I… I don't know. They just woke us up and… told us to dress nicely." Hanabi nodded. She herself was dressed in traditional Hyuuga robes, as Hinata and many others at the table were. Neji shifted uncomfortably, fully awake now. Something was up, he decided, and it was likely about Hinata and himself.

Hanabi gently squeezed Hinata's hand. "I have no idea what's going on. The old people won't tell me." Hinata smiled and squeezed back.

"It's probably not too important." she said, sounding more reassured than she felt.

In the past years, Hanabi had grown up. She still had the bold personality, but she was much more mature, and she and Hinata had become close. Only Neji knew this. It was discouraged for the sisters to even interact.

As soon as everyone sat down, Hyuuga Hiashi at the head of the table facing the two cousins, an uncomfortable silence commenced.

"F-Father?" stammered Hinata, trying to encourage him to get on with it. Neji only glared at everyone, trying not to seem surprised. What in Hell was going on?

"Hinata and Neji." Hiashi said as he stood up. Something in Hinata's gut clenched. "You both know that it is unacceptable for the bloodline to be tainted." Neji's eyes widened. No…

"A marriage will take place between the two of you. This will make you both leaders of the clan. You will-"

"No!" Hanabi stood up and hit the table. "This is unacceptable! I was told I would be leader of the clan! I was heir instead of Hinata!" Hinata looked up in shock. What? It wasn't that she wanted to be clan leader at all, but no one had told her this…

"I will not marry my cousin." Neji stated. He really felt no desire at all to have to be with Hinata. He should have seen this coming.

"You will marry your cousin." said Hiashi. "The Hyuuga bloodline has not been tainted, and it will not be in the future." Hinata's jaw dropped. She stood up slowly and shakily.

"F-Father." she started. "Th-this cannot-"

"Silence, Hinata." he said. "I will not have you interrupt me. You are not fit to be the head of this clan, to shoulder the responsibilities. Neji, however, is, although he is apart of the branch house. You two will have a child who will also be strong enough to be heir." Hanabi slammed her fists on the table in blind rage.

"I am strong enough to be leader! You said so yourself!"

"Hanabi, calm yourself." said Hiashi coldly. "I am merely securing the future for this cla-"

"No! No! This is what I've wanted!" she yelled angrily. Hinata backed away from her sister toward Neji. "You can't take this away from me!" Hanabi activated her Byakugan. "I will fight for this." Hiashi smirked. Several elders and family members murmured their disapproval.

"Foolish daughter. Do you think you can defeat me in battle?" Hanabi smirked.

"Yes." Hinata grabbed Hanabi.

"Sister, this is foolish. Don't do it." Hanabi gently pushed Hinata out of the way.

"I have to do this. This secures the future for the clan. I will lead it. I've dreamed about this. And I won't let this old man tell me I can't have it!"

The morning sun had not yet risen. The skies were painted soft, lavender-red colors. In Hanabi's opinion… perfect day for a good fight.

Hanabi stood in front of her father outside. The whole family surrounded the two, waiting for a fight that they were sure was already lost for Hanabi. They were outside of the front door to the mansion.

I can save you, Hinata, like you saved me. I can do it. You won't have to marry Neji-nii-san. I will be the leader of this clan, I can change everything.

"Father." said Hanabi smoothly. "I will not lose to you. You said I would be leader of this clan in place of Hinata. That's a promise you will keep." Hiashi stood stoic as Hanabi took an offensive stance. "Activate your Byakugan." she ordered simply.

Hiashi did no such thing. Hanabi narrowed her eyes. Was she not a formidable enough opponent for him? Fine. His loss.

She ran towards him, reaching her right arm outward. She grabbed Hiashi's arm and ducked down to kick one of his legs. he jumped up and she felt herself slammed to the ground.

She jumped up and backed off immediately, pulling a kunai out of a pouch. Okay, she would have to play this with weapons instead of Taijustu. She threw two Kunai, one with a bell attached and one without. Hiashi simply stood there, not even readying himself to dodge. As soon as the kunai hit the ground, he was about three feet right of the spot he had been before.

"Let's… stop playing games!" cried Hanabi, running to her father. "Hakke Rokujuuyon Shou - Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Her hands went out in front of her, and the Hyuuga family watched in amazement. How could that little girl have the nerve to attack her own father?

Hiashi took each hit in stride, seeming unaffected. After the attack was done, he grabbed Hanabi's arm and flipped her to the ground. She looked up at him angrily.

"It's best not to fight and let your emotions get in the way." he said coldly.

"Shut up." was the simple answer he received before Hanabi grabbed his arm and used her own momentum to fling him around and to the ground.

Hyuuga Hiashi stood up and dusted himself off. He glared at his youngest daughter and activated his Byakugan.

"It seems, little Hanabi, that you are a good enough opponent for me use the bloodline limit."

"That's enough!" yelled Hinata, running in between the two. "Stop it, Father!" she said angrily, taking her sister's side. She barely noticed that she felt so much less confident than she sounded. She activated her Byakugan as several family members blatantly pointed out what a disgrace this was. Neji looked around angrily, unable to do a thing about it. He was merely a branch member, it wasn't his 'place'.

"Father, if what Hanabi has said is true; that you promised her she would be leader of this clan, then you must let her. Otherwise, I will be forced to take Hanabi's side-" She stopped as soon as she saw her father making different hand seals.

"Aaahh!" Neji cried, holding his head and falling to his knees.

"If you continue this, your cousin will suffer." he said.

"Make it stop!" yelled Hanabi. Hiashi did so, and looked her in the eyes. Neji breathed deeply and slowly.

"Hinata and Neji will be married soon. When this happens, I will step down and they will become the leaders of this clan. I will not have you interfere, Hanabi." Hanabi's eyes widened and her mouth opened as if to say something, but she stopped. She turned on her heel and left. Hinata ran after her and Neji followed, stumbling at first and then steadying himself.

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"Shino-san…" Tenten whispered against his lips as he held her, as she caressed his cheek softly. "Please…"

He smirked against her lips. She was his, for now.

He took his sunglasses off carefully and set them down on the stand next to his bed. He took his jacket off all the way. She pressed her lips against his and she began to take off her own clothes while whispering his name and

And he woke up in a cold sweat. Kuso! What the hell? He could feel his kikai jumping under his skin… That… was an… odd dream.

He shook his head. He didn't feel that way about her. It was just a dream. And it was all Kiba's fault for the whole 'wedding night' thing. He didn't need to think about this right now.

God, he needed some tea…

He pulled his sunglasses and jacket by habit. He wandered into the kitchen, not expecting anyone to be awake at this time. Unfortunately, someone was… and it was Tenten. Well, of course it was. That's how things went for him these days.

She looked up at him and gave a small smile. She was sipping tea too.

"Hi, Shino-san," she said, keeping her voice down as not to wake the other occupants of the house. "What are you doing up so early?"

"… couldn't sleep." he said simply. Tenten nodded.

"Nightmares?" she asked. Shino looked at her and shook his head 'no' and sighed. "Oh." she said, sipping some of her own tea.

Shino looked at the pot of warm water she had heated up. "Do you mind?" he asked quietly. She shook her head and got up.

"Want me to make it for you?" she asked, reaching up into a cabinet for cups.

"I'm fine." he said, merely taking the cup from her grasp. She nodded and sat back down at the table and continued sipping her own tea.

"What are you doing awake?" Shino asked, for the sake of conversation. Since when did he do that?

"Nightmares." she said simply, and they left it at that.

The morning sun finally rose, and so did the many people of Konoha. Tenten went out that morning to meet Ino and hang out, and was surprised when the streets were completely clean--there was no evidence of a festival.

"I wonder how that happened," Tenten mused over a bowl of Miso soup for breakfast. The two kunoichi were at the same restraunt Tenten had gone to with that Kougu heir, and they sat outside enjoying the sunrise.

"Asuma-sensei told us that they were having the genin come out in the middle of the night to do it." said Ino happily. "I suppose to teach them about cleaning up evidence. Remember when we were genin?" she giggled. Tenten smiled.

"You were lucky. I had Gai-sensei." Ino whistled.

"I've heard that Gai's students always have to be somewhat overzealous. Lee does a good job of it." she said. "So… how are things going with Shino?" Tenten sighed.

"Like they always do, Ino-pig. Nothing changes, and it'll stay that way."

"That's not what I've heard…" Ino sang, taking a sip of water. "I heard you two kissed in the woods…" she whispered, a devilish gleam in her eyes.

"It was an accident," said Tenten, sipping her tea in an attempt to be dignified. "It's a long story. But there are no feelings between us. Not romantic." Ino sighed.

"But you haven't ever wondered what he might look like under his jacket? Without sunglasses? Come on." Ino smirked. Tenten blushed. She already knew about the sunglasses… "And all the training he does." said Ino persuasively. "The muscles under that shirt. Really. Hinata told me that he never takes his jacket off for training. Ever! And it gets so hot here."

"Hey, ladies." said a familiar voice. Ino blushed, knowing full well who was behind her.

"Hey Naruto!" said Tenten happily. "I heard you snitched on me." her voice darkened. "I told you not to tell!"

"Sorry, Tenten…" whined Naruto, sitting down in the extra seat at the table. "Ino's just so… persuasive.." he elbowed said girl suggestively. Ino hit him.

"Stop acting like that! I didn't do anything to 'gather info'." She used her hands to put up quotation marks. "You came and told me yourself." Naruto smirked and shook his head. "I think you've been spending way too much time with that Sannin." muttered Ino.

"You do know that you're on the cover of Icha Icha Paradise, right?" asked Naruto, waving around said dirty book. Ino stood up quickly.

"What?" she jumped for the distasteful book and grabbed it out of Naruto's hands. She turned it over and looked at the cover and sighed in relief. "It isn't me…" she sighed. Suddenly, her eyes widened. "It's Tenten!"

Tenten suddenly spit out her tea and went into a violent fit of coughs.

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Shino stuffed his hands in his pockets while listening to Kiba play with Akamaru.

"Do you want Shino, boy? Do ya? Do ya? Go get 'im!" Akamaru playfully looked at Shino for a moment, and then crashed into the poor bug-boy.

"I wonder where Hinata is," pondered Kiba as his friend got out from under Akamaru.

"Do you think she's sick?" suggested Shino, petting Akamaru silently.

"Should we go over there…?" asked Kiba, blushing. Shino scoffed.

"No. But you should. And while you're at it, just ask her out." Shino said, quite bluntly. It wasn't like him to say things like that, but in his opinion, the tension was getting old. Kiba blushed.

"Yeah, whatever, Mr. Naivety. By the way, I heard about that sensual kiss you shared with your fiancé." Shino shot Kiba a glare.

"Who said that?" he asked quietly. Kiba raised an eyebrow.

"I was kidding." said Kiba, raising one eyebrow. "What, did you really kiss her? Man, I was just kidding!"

"I didn't kiss her!" said Shino. "I was just wondering who said that. Now go and ask Hinata out or something." Kiba glared for a moment, and then he sighed.

"I'm goin'. C'mon, Akamaru." Akamaru barked and ran toward Kiba, and in one swift move, Kiba was on his loyal dog's back. "See ya, Shino! Have fun!" he winked. "On your wedding night."

God, Shino just knew he would never live that down.

Kiba smirked and rode off. He would do just what Shino said… today for sure! No backing out (or passing out)! He would be totally cool and calm. Cool and Calm. Cool… and… calm…

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"That nasty old pervert!" Tenten screamed. "Where is he? Is he in town!" she yelled at Naruto.

"Cool it, Tenten! Geez--"

"Oh, shut up!" Tenten growled. "I told you a secret and you told! And now your pervert sensei has me on the cover of his dirty book!" Naruto eyed the kunai in her hand. She currently had him by his collar, a kunai aimed at his throat. His poor, poor throat.

"Ino? Help?" he squeaked. Ino laughed in that cute little malicious way of hers.

"Why would I help you, Naruto-kun?" she asked sweetly. "You probably beat off to that book." This seemed to enrage Tenten even more, and she pulled him closer and dug the kunai in a little harder.

"I didn't! I swear! I'm not like Kakashi-sensei!"

Tenten slowly released her grip on his hideous orange jacket. "Go buy some new clothes," she muttered.

"It's laundry day!" protested Naruto. "I wear other things!"

"I'm going home." said Tenten. "And if you see that hermit again... Ugh!" Tenten sighed. "I swear I had something to do today… I'll see you later, Ino-chan. I think I'm just going to my own house and watching TV or something."

"Okay, Ten-chan. I'll see you later!" Ino waved. "Now, Naruto-kun. What… is that book about anyway?" Naruto's eyes lit up.

"You want to read it with me, Ino-chan?" Naruto asked hopefully.

"No! Idiot, did you take me seriously?"

When Tenten reached her house, the first thing she did was crawl up into her room.

Tenten sighed heavily as she flopped down on her own bed. Her old bed. She crawled underneath the sheets and hugged the pillow. How nice it felt… to just be here again… she inhaled and took in her mother's scent. It seemed to be everywhere… but it was fading. She frowned into the sheets and rolled over to her side, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

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Kiba smiled widely, holding a daisy in his hand and ringing the doorbell to the Hyuuga House. This time, nothing would go wrong. He had a good feeling. What was it-- third time's the charm?

The door opened and there stood Hinata. His eyes widened as she ran to him and hugged him and started to cry into his jacket. The daisy fell to the ground and Kiba wrapped his arms around her.

"H-Hinata?"

"K-Kiba-kun…" she sobbed. He looked up to see Hanabi standing on the doorstep, looking at him with tired and angry eyes.

"Can you take her?" she asked lowly. Kiba's eyes widened in confusion and he nodded quickly. Hanabi thanked him with a grunt and closed the door.

It was then that Kiba realized that the third time wouldn't be the charm. Not for him.

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Shino sat alone on the bank of the river, lost in thought. He closed his eyes and yawned. What was there to do? He felt the itch to go on a mission… but Tsunade wouldn't let him go on higher than a B-rank ever since the incident with that Okita bastard.

Speaking of Okita… perhaps a nice little trip to the library would prove to be informative? Maybe. There wasn't much information on him anyway.

What to do? He suddenly felt a presence above him. He looked up to see Lee.

"Hi, Shino-san." said Lee coolly. And at that moment, Shino knew something was off. Lee was… not right. Instead of questioning Lee, he stood up.

"Lee-san. How are you today?" asked Shino calmly.

"I'm feeling well. Thank you." Shino inwardly scoffed. This was not Lee, no way. It wasn't one of his friends, either, because if it were one of them, they would be acting overly-enthusiastic about being Lee. "Shino-san, I just have a question."

"Actually, Lee, I'd like to ask you a question." said Shino stiffly. "How are the Fires of Youth burning in you today?" Lee's face twisted into confusion and kikai started to crawl out of Shino's jacket.

"Get out of that henge, now." said Shino. "If you do, I might make it much less painful for you." Lee smirked and a puff of smoke surrounded him.

"What about my disguise fooled you?" asked a ninja with dark brown hair. Shino didn't recognize this boy at all, and he had a Sunagakure headband on. The kid couldn't be older than thirteen. Shino ignored the question.

"Attacking you would cause diplomatic issues." said Shino flatly.

"For who?" asked the boy with a smirk. "I'm not apart of Sand anymore, if that's what you mean. Anyway… I'm not here to fight." Shino raised an eyebrow.

"Then leave me alone."

"My name is Toshi. I'm here for Okita-sama." Shino turned to look at the ninja. "He wants you, you know. He says you have talent. Potential."

"Tell Okita-san that I'm not interested." said Shino coldly, not bothering to mention that the hokage would be immediately notified.

"I'm afraid I can't do that." said Toshi, cracking his knuckles. "I was ordered to bring you back to Okita-sama."

"Hn." grunted Shino. "So how many allies does Okita-san have, anyway?" Shino asked, silently speaking with his kikai, who were squirming excitedly under his skin.

"Why do you wanna know?" asked Toshi, a bit too relaxed. Shino watched as the brown-haired kid leaned against a tree and yawned. This guy… he must have something backing him up. No way would he be so relaxed around someone who apparently had 'a lot of potential' in a criminal's eyes.

Were there other ninja spying on then in bushes and in trees?

"Let's just say," said Shino with a smirk that showed in his voice, "that I'd like to get up in the world. Make more money."

"Okita's got the connections, baby." said Toshi. "This guy is… 'friends' with a lot of powerful people. Have you heard of the Kazekage?" Shino raised an eyebrow. The Kazekage? That was Gaara… Gaara couldn't be with Okita… this wasn't right…

"I heard that guy was psycho." said Shino, deciding to play the game and get as much info as possible. "How is Okita friends with him?"

"Oh, let's just say my sensei has great persuasion methods." His sensei? Okita was teaching ninja?

"Really?" said Shino. "So I take it Okita's rich."

"Pretty much, yeah. So are you convinced?" asked Toshi. Shino smirked.

"I don't know." he said, trying to seem as laid back as possible. Which proved kind of hard. "Maybe I'd need some time to… think about it."

"I see," replied the boy with a laugh. "You got a fiancé, don't chya?" Shino raised an eyebrow. How did Okita know?

"Yeah," said Shino, not bothering with details. It was possible Okita didn't know them, so he had to keep most information to himself.

"So you'll consider joining us?" asked Toshi, a hint of hope in his voice.

"Sure." yawned Shino. God, he hated talking like this. It made him feel stupid, even though he was only pretending.

"Great!" said Toshi. Then I'll just leave you here to decide. I'll come back for you in about… oh, three days." Shino smirked.

"Nah." he said, watching the look on Toshi's face as kikai began to crawl up his legs. "I think I'll take you with me." Toshi looked down in horror and he felt himself get lifted up and suspended in the air by a bunch of bugs.

"Hey! Hey!" he yelled, reminding Shino of Naruto. "We're being watched, ya know! Any second now, they'll--" Toshi was cut short by the 'thump' sound of two people falling out of different trees.

"I don't think you'll need to worry about that." said Shino as he started toward the hokage's office.

"What are you gonna do to me!" asked Toshi frantically. He squirmed as the bugs moved up to his middle, carrying him in the air behind Shino.

"Stuff," said Shino, a smile evident in his voice. He honestly didn't know what they did with people who had information… "I suppose they'll torture you?" he said with a smirk.

"Ahh! No! Don't torture me!" screamed the thirteen-year old. By now, the two were walking through town, and some of the citizens of Konoha were staring at the hysterical boy caught in Shino's trap. Some children even laughed. "Let me go! Please!"

Shino held back laughter. This kid was exactly like Naruto. Maybe he shouldn't laugh, though… The two reached Tsunade's office and Shino walked in through the door. Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

"Who's this?" she asked, eyeing the frantic boy caught in the bugs. Shino smirked. "What is he doing here? Isn't he from Sand?"

"Why don't you ask him?" said Shino coolly. "He was in the woods, henging as Lee." Tsunade stood up out of her chair and examined the kid with interest.

"What are you doing so far from home, eh?" asked Tsunade.

"I'm not talking to you!" yelled Toshi, making a swing at Tsunade with a free arm. The bugs that held the kid up caught his arm.

"I suggest you pay our Lady Hokage some respect." said Shino calmly. "Tsunade-sama, his name is Toshi. He is with Okita. He's a missing nin from the sand." Tsunade smiled slyly.

"Okita?" she said sweetly. "Good job, Shino… You've got us our first little info source on our good ol' pal Okita!"

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"Hinata-chan…" said Kiba softly. "What happened?" Hinata had been sobbing her eyes out for the last half hour, and Kiba wasn't sure what to do.

The two were in Kiba's empty house at a table in the kitchen. Hinata looked up at Kiba sadly and attempted to breath calmly.

"Kiba-kun, I… I can't handle this. I…I w-wish I wasn't heir…"

"Is it your father again?" asked Kiba angrily. Hinata nodded somberly.

"S-sort of…"

Oh, as soon as he had an excuse, he would… He stopped that last thought. He wouldn't hurt anyone from her family… as much trouble they gave her, she still loved them, and she wouldn't be pleased about it. Hinata put her hands on the table and squeezed her eyes shut.

"I wish I could control my fate…" she said suddenly. "I wish I weren't a Hyuuga…" Kiba looked at her with shock. She sounded like Neji…

"Hinata…" said Kiba, suddenly putting his hand on hers. She hiccupped and looked down at their hands in surprise. Kiba's heart rate rocketed. "You can control your own destiny, can't you?" he asked. It was now or never, for real this time. He leaned toward her a bit.

"Don't cry, Hina-chan…" he whispered. He was so close now… his hand cupped her cheek gently and he looked at her intently, staring into light lavender eyes. He let his lips touch hers for just a brief second… Hinata gasped suddenly and stood up quickly, knocking the chair she was in brutally down. She covered her mouth.

"Kiba, I'm sorry." she said in a strained voice, unable to look him in the eyes. "I have to go. Goodbye."

Hinata picked her jacket up and made her way out the door, barely aware of what she was doing. She walked out the door and left Kiba behind, feeling as if she'd torn herself apart.

"Goodbye, Kiba-kun." she whimpered, hugging her jacket to her chest. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "I love you."

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Tsunade sat on her desk with her legs crossed, looking particularly classy.

"So, you don't feel like talking?" she asked. Toshi shook his head quietly. Shino sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. This was proving useless…

"Okay, then." said Tsunade with a sigh. "Shino, there is a room four doors down the hallway from here. Why don't you take our little Toshi-kun there for me? Don't worry about locking the doors; Once it's shut it can't be opened by anyone but me." She winked at Toshi. "It's a special justu," she told him. The boy remained determined and quiet.

Shino sighed and his bugs once again crawled out of him and wrapped the boy up.

"C-could you stop that!" yelled Toshi, obviously disturbed by the bugs. Shino ignored him and walked out of the office and through the hallway. Not to his surprise, the forth door down the hallway was held open by a small brick. Shino removed it and literally dumped Toshi on the floor. Ignoring the boy's protests, he closed it.

He twisted the knob a bit, just to make sure it would stay closed.

"Special justu," Tsunade reminded him from behind. Shino turned around quickly to see the lovely hokage standing behind him.

"I've got an idea, Shino-kun," said Tsunade. "I have a job for you. Send for Yamanaka Ino tomorrow, and tell her to come down at noon." Shino nodded and suddenly remembered why he admired the hokage so much. "Also, Shino…" Tsunade suddenly looked very serious. "How are things with your clan?"

"They are fine, Tsunade-sama." responded Shino.

"How are things with Tenten?"

"Fine as well."

"Did you go on a date, yet?" Shino blushed under his jacket.

"Yes…" he said, rather quietly.

"Where did you go?" asked Tsunade slyly.

"To… the festival last night."

"Oh," said the hokage, examining her nails. "Wasn't she helping out with Ino's kissing booth?" Tsunade smiled at him. "Good work, Shino." she said with a wink. Shino's eyes widened and Tsunade disappeared with a puff of smoke.

Author's note:

Aw, poor Kiba. I'm so mean. He's had it so hard… Anyway, I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. I suffered sort of a writer's block in the middle. I do apologize. This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, but not by much.

Oh, and I know it may seem irrelevant, but if anyone knows any nice and modern dance tunes, like… a song that even slightly sounds like a Salsa or Tango tune, please tell me what it is and who it's by. Hm… if anyone can get me something useful, I may just put you in this fic as one of Okita's peons… tee hee. It may not be a star appearance, but you'll have a little moment or something… and I'll make sure to credit you in an Author's Note.

Ah, bribery… I love it!

Also, about the challenge mentioned in the Author's note up there:

It must be a LeeTenten. It should be romantic and must have something to do with some of these items:

-oranges

-peaches

-clothes (any article)

-the color green

It can have something to do with one of the items, all of the items, a combination of the items--whatever. Just use them! It can be a one-shot, drabble, multi-chapter--whatever! I really hope someone does it… and if you do, tell me! You would make me so very happy! And I would absolutely recommend your fic.

Anyway, review and tell me what's crackin'! Mai-chan out!