Hello everyone! Thank you for reading my story! I just want to let you know that it IS already finished. So no worries about me abandoning it. . But I can make changes if you find anything that seems 'off' or a typo or anything. Thanks! And enjoy!

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CHAPTER ONE

"Kaiten!"

"Damnit Neji!" Tenten complained as she jumped down from her perch on a tree branch. "Your ultimate defense is too…ultimate!" She huffed while she began picking up her weapons scattered around. Neji chuckled slightly as he also began to pick up weapons.

"That's why it is called the ultimate defense Tenten…" Neji explained logically. Tenten scoffed

"How am I supposed to defeat you when long, middle, and short range attacks are useless?" She pondered out loud. They had collected all of the kunoichi's weapons and sat in the middle of the training grounds.

"I suggest you find a different range of attack then," Neji smirked as he sat in his meditating pose with his eyes closed. Tenten rolled onto her stomach on the grass.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny Neji, but your blatant egoism is ceasing to amuse me," She countered with a smile.

"Who said I was trying to amuse you? I do not amuse people," He spoke with a frown. Tenten laughed.

"Well, I have to agree there. Most of the time you don't amuse people, you scare them," Tenten said as she took the opportunity to admire Neji's silky hair while his eyes were closed.

"Scare people?" He cracked an eye open, Tenten held back a blush at the possibility of being caught staring.

"Yup, you can be quite intimidating" Tenten giggled at how she was annoying the prodigy.

"Intimidating and scaring have two very different meanings," Neji said very 'matter-of-factly'.

"Okay, but you do both. You terrify some people too. Did you know that?" Tenten started with a new adjective.

"I don't believe I terrify people, not commonly," He continued to frown.

"Oh, quite often," The girl teased.

"I do not," He emphasized.

"Frightening" She stated airily.

"That's absurd,"

"Like a big scary monster!"

"I disagr-"

"ROAR!" Tenten yelled as she jumped up. Neji's eye twitched and a vein showed in his forehead. She went into a fit of giggles.

"That was childish," Neji said as Tenten tried to control her laughter.

"You should have seen your face Neji! I really got you!" Tenten beamed at her accomplishment.

"Congratulations" Neji said simply. Tenten raised an eyebrow.

"You're…congratulating me?" She spoke suspiciously.

"…For lowering your age to that of a toddler," Neji stated with a brief smile on his face. Tenten smiled back.

"Well thank you Neji!" She laughed.

"YOSH! Our youthful teammates are already here!" Maito Gai yelled out as he and Lee approached at top speed. Neji smile dissipated instantly. "So! Youthful students! Are you all ready to train!" Their sensei yelled once more when he and Lee arrived.

"YES! Gai-sensei!" Lee yelled back. As enthusiastic as ever. Neji and Tenten had stood up and were now completing the circle with their team.

"YOSH! Wonderful! So today, Lee and Neji will spar using all of their youth!" Gai grinned. Lee nearly squealed, Neji looked pissed off.

"What about me?" Tenten asked.

"You! Our youthful flower, have been called to the Hokage's office! So off you go!" Gai grinned some more as he began to cheer her in the right direction.

"Really! Okay, see you guys later!" Tenten smiled before she took off.

"Goodbye our youthful flower!" Gai yelled.

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Tenten was excited but took her time walking to the Hokage's town. It was a nice day and she wanted to enjoy that. Ever since getting to know Neji all those years ago she learned that the little things can be the most important. The briefest hint of a smirk for Neji is a smile. Not getting insults is a complement, and a twitch of an eyebrow either means he is really angry or laughing on the inside.

Of course, all of this is only in public. Tenten happily thought about her and her best friends' progression from acquaintances to teammates to friends. She giggled at how she used to think he was a complete asshole. As she now knows that he is only mostly an asshole. Lee his is still mean to, and Gai, and most all of the population of Konoha. Tenten frowned as she realized that she couldn't think of anyone he isn't an asshole to…but still, he had come a long way.

She thought about how Naruto was the biggest catalyst in his ways, as Temari was in hers. After the Chunin exams she and Neji had bonded more. It was that, that really started their friendship. Tenten thought about how she still needed to thank Temari for that.

Temari would be easy to find sometime next week, Tenten decided. She was in town to make some more wedding arrangements with Shikamaru. They were so weird.

At least they sort of balance each other out…Tenten pondered.

As she thought, she realized that she was the last girl in Konoha to find love…

Hinata and Naruto have been spending a lot of time together, Sai asked Ino out a month ago…and Sakura is closing in on Sasuke's whereabouts. Hmm. I guess Sakura technically doesn't have a man she will once she drags him back here.

Love is always hard in the ninja world, but it also made many a shinobi stronger. Sakura would have never trained so hard had it not been for Sasuke's influence. Hinata was always working to improve in the mindset of getting Naruto's attention. Shikamaru works his hardest when friends were on the line…and sadly, Tenten too fit into that category.

Tenten was young when her parents were killed; blacksmiths who were coming to Konoha to sell weapons. Tenten was with them when ninjas attacked their wagon. Her father managed to hide her when the ninjas ambushed them for their weapons. Hidden under a blanket, Tenten wasn't protected from the sounds of her parent's cries when they were killed. The ninjas overlooked her while digging through the storage of weapons; leaving the empty cart without a care. Tenten made it to Konoha a changed girl.

She was stuck in an orphanage for a few years, moping the first year after the loss of her only known family. She was just Tenten, no one had known her here and the experience had traumatized her into forgetting her last name.

It was after that first year that Tenten realized that she could do something for herself. She got into the academy when she was of age and started her ninja career. Tenten became strong and stayed strong in her beliefs that she would become a shinobi to protect herself, protect others, and to protect her new home.

And I will never back down, I will never be weak. That is my nindo. I will make a name for myself, I don't need a clan. I will be known as 'Tenten, the Weapons Mistress of Konoha'.

By this time Tenten had reached the Hokage's tower. Upon entering she found Sakura gearing up for a mission. This was a common sight, Sakura was sent on many medical-related solo-missions. Tenten jogged up to her friend.

"Hey Sakura, got another mission?" She started. Sakura looked up from putting her boots on and smiled.

"Hey Tenten! Yeah, just a quick one to a small village with an outbreak. I can't be long because Naruto, Kaka-sensei, Sai, Yamato-san and I are heading out sometime soon to intercept Sasuke. He sent a message asking for help. Now that he killed Orochimaru, Sound is a mess. He is taking control and going to let Konoha take over soon. Now we are just waiting for his message to head out," Sakura beamed. Tenten smiled back.

"That's great, The Orochimaru gone Konoha's only other main enemy is the Akatsuki. But…how do you know that Sasuke is telling the truth? How come he suddenly changed his mind?" The weapons mistress pried. Sakura glanced around before leaning in closer to speak.

"He has been sending letters for over a year now, planning this. He even met up with a few AnBu to choreograph it. As much as I hate it…He is one brilliant bastard," Tsunade's apprentice scowled. Tenten laughed.

"Believe me, I know how you feel. But you're not going soft on him again now are you? Don't let me down," Tenten gave a coy smile that Sakura matched.

"Oh, don't you worry, I have his ass-kicking all planned out," The girls laughed together and went about their parting ways with goodbyes; Sakura to the gates, Tenten up the stairs to Tsunade's office.

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Knock Knock

"Come in!" Tsunade's loud voice pierced through the door. Tenten walked into her hero's office and wrinkled her nose. Hero or not, she didn't like sake.

"You summoned me, Hokage-sama?" Tenten questioned. Tsunade looked up from a file with an unreadable face and gestured to a chair in front of her desk.

"Sit, Tenten," She looked into her eyes, "I have a mission for you" Tenten unconsciously leaned forward.

"What kind of mission?"

"A B-rank, solo, retrieval mission," The Hokage smiled slightly as she watched Tenten's eyes light up. Tenten contained her enthusiasm for the moment and composed herself.

"What am I retrieving?" She asked professionally.

"A scroll, from one of Orochimaru's abandoned bases," She spoke as her honey colored eyes scanned the file in her hands, "It's B-rank because there are most likely rogue ninjas hiding away in there now. You are to get in, locate the scroll, get it, and get out. Preferably unnoticed.

"The shinobi there are most likely your level or higher, so to keep yourself prepared you will have this with you," The sannin spoke as she handed Tenten a scroll half the length of her forearm. She continued her debriefing when Tenten gave her a questioning look.

"It's a transportation scroll, not for you, but for the scroll you will retrieve. In case of an emergency, you can send the scroll back. I will send backup as soon as I can to assist you after that. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Tenten responded automatically.

"Good," Tsunade smiled at her, "You will leave tomorrow morning, you have one month at most before you must return. But I trust you will do fine Tenten," Tsunade gave her a motherly look she reserved for all of her kunoichi, along with a smile. Tenten smiled back as she stood up and bowed.

"Thank you Hokage-sama," She voiced before nearly skipping out of the office.

My first solo mission! This is so exciting! I can't wait to tell Neji. I wonder if he will be happy for me…? Tenten thought as she ran home to pack. She needed to get plenty of rest because it was a few days travel. She had reached her apartment in no time and was still packing when there was a soft two knocks on the door. The young woman smiled, she knew exactly who that was.

Neji

She swung the door open with a bright smile. Neji raised an eyebrow at her obvious extra-excitement. Tenten wasted no time as Neji wasn't going to ask more than that.

"I got my first solo-mission!" She gave him a grand smile as she moved away from the door to continue packing, still chatting as she collected things.

"Congratulations," Neji cut in her rambling.

"Thank you!" She smiled, "I leave tomorrow morning I'm so excited!"

By then Neji had silently entered the apartment and closed the door behind him, an amused look was etched on his face as he watched his friend scamper around the small space.

"Why the rush then?" The Hyuuga asked. Tenten turned for a split second to send him an 'are you serious?' look before answering.

"Because I'm excited," She emphasized, drawing out the 'excited' just to annoy her favorite teammate, "and its a few days travel away so I'll need to sleep soon"

"Hn,"

"Have you seen my bomb tags?"

"Look under your bed,"

"…wow! So you are a genius!" Tenten exclaimed as she pulled an arm out from under her bed with bomb tags attached. She frowned when she was Neji pull a smirk at her statement. "I take that back! Maybe you're just a creeper!" She stared accusingly at the Hyuuga that made a near-chuckling sound in his throat.

"No need" was all he said, and it was all Tenten needed to comprehend her closest friend. She gasped.

"You're right! You don't even need to creep! You have the Byakugan…wait…was that a confession to creeperism Neji?" Tenten smirk this time.

"Hn," Neji grunted, Tenten took it as a 'no'.

"Do you think I have enough weapons?" She asked, eye the pile of metal she had collected that was up to her waist.

"You're obsessed," Neji stated in response, Tenten threw a kunai at him which he caught expertly. Tenten resorted to sticking her tongue at him. He sighed.

"Tenten, you have once again resorted to childish antics,"

"If you think I'm obsessed then why did you get me that awesome katana for my birthday? Huh?" Tenten pointed a finger at him, not letting him change the subject.

"Hn," He grunted once more, "You wanted it,"

Tenten's mouth flew open.

He said it so simply! I can't believe he just said that! I knew he cared about me but him indirectly admitting it was near one of the last things I would expect him to do…wait…I need to respond…

"In that case, should I send you my list for Santa?" She joked, hoping Neji hadn't caught her short delay. Neji smirked.

"Only if you've been good," He joked. Joked. Tenten laughed.

If only people knew that you aren't completely stone. Tenten wished. Then noticed the time.

"Okay Neji, you have to leave now," She said heading to the door, "I have to sleep, I'll see you after my mission, so, in a week or two. Bye!" She called as he was heading out the door.

"Bye," He replied.

Tenten shut the door and sighed.

His eyes are so pretty…

"Ack! Damnit!" She voiced as she cursed her mind. Tenten had developed a crush early on in her friendship with Neji. But she was also working damn hard to keep it down and quiet.

"Now Tenten," She spoke to herself as she started getting ready for bed, "You have done so well ignoring those thoughts…please don't betray me. Neji is from an esteemed clan, main branch or not. The Hyuugas wouldn't let you marry him even if he loved you back. So don't be ridiculous and keep it together!"

The weapons mistress settled down in her bed and drifted off to sleep as she continued her discouraging pep talk in her head.

Did you like it? I hope so! I plan to put up another chapter AT LEAST once a week. Maybe more if I get reviews…? (That's your cue!)…Or if I get too excited and just start throwing chapters up there. There will be 10 chapters. Each about this long. Thanks!

-Nexa