I'm back! A big thank you to everyone who reviewed my story, and here's the next chapter. Enjoy reading, everyone! =)

Surviving the Nobility

Chapter 6: Let Me Introduce You…

"Good job, Hinata!" Tenten praised with a smile. "You're making a lot of progress. With more time, I think you'll be able to do Neji's Kaiten! Your technique is different though."

"Th-Thank you, Tenten," Hinata replied with a bow. "A-Actually I'm trying to create a different move that similar to Neji nii-san's Kaiten."

"Good for you!" Tenten praised. "Your move is very useful. It can be used for both offense and defense."

"Th-That's what I'm trying to perfect."

"I applaud your effort, Hinata. You're a very strong girl, despite what your family says," Tenten said. Then, she continued, "I think it would be a good idea for you to rest tomorrow. I don't want to pressure you with a lot of training."

"Okay," Hinata agreed. "I need t-to attend a meeting w-with the elders as well, pertaining to my m-marriage."

Tenten's smiling face fell, immediately feeling sorry for the dark-haired girl. "Oh, I see. Well, Sakura, Ino, and I will definitely try to stop it. Don't worry."

Hinata nodded, then walked off to soak in a bath that was already prepared for her by other servants. Tenten packed her weapons and scrolls, then slowly walked back to her room with her head down, lost in thought about Hinata's arranged marriage.

"Didn't Hinata-sama's training go well?"

Tenten raised her head and found herself face to face with none other than Neji.

"What do you want?" Tenten snapped.

"Why are you so rude?" Neji retorted. "I am merely asking if Hinata-sama's training went badly."

"Sorry," Tenten apologized reluctantly. "No, Hinata's training went really well."

"Then why do you look so lost in thought?"

Tenten's mind drifted to Hinata's arranged marriage, but what she said was, "It's nothing."

"Lying will get you nowhere," Neji replied.

"Why do you care?" Tenten asked.

"Because Hinata-sama deeply cares about you, she has also requested me to be more…friendly towards you."

"Ah," was Tenten's response. "Well, thanks for asking, but I need to get back to my room."

Neji merely nodded and walked past Tenten while she rushed to back to her room.

"Hey, you're back!" greeted Sakura. The rosette and her mistress, Ino, were sitting in Tenten's room, waiting for the brunette's arrival.

"What are you two doing here?" Tenten asked.

"We need to act fast if we don't want Hinata to end up getting married to someone she doesn't love," Ino answered. "So we're here to help make you pretty."

"You know I'm sweaty from training right?" Tenten pointed out, gesturing to her whole body.

"We know," Ino replied. "That's why we're dragging you to the hot springs to relax first, then to my mansion for the next stage."

Seeing Tenten's frightened face, Sakura assured her, "Don't worry, Ino's not going to go crazy and bombard your with girly clothes."

Hearing Sakura's words, Tenten's tense shoulders relaxed a bit. Before Tenten could say anything, Sakura and Ino each grabbed one of Tenten's arms, and dragged her out.

"At least give me freedom of choice!" Tenten yelled.

"Nope, sorry. You're the only one who can get Neji's trust and attention," Ino denied.

"Sorry, Tenten, but you want to help Hinata too don't you?" Sakura asked.

"I do, but I'm sure there's another way," Tenten said.

"Are you backing out?" Ino growled. "Y'know, this is why we're dragging you. Plus, Sakura's insane strength really helps hold you in place."

"Yes, I'm sure," Tenten murmured. She let her body fall limp as Ino and Sakura kept dragging her to the hot springs.

"There, wasn't that refreshing?" Ino asked as the three girls exited the changing room.

"It was, but I'm still reluctant on going to your mansion," Tenten said. No sooner has she said it, that Ino placed a bottle of fragrant liquid under Tenten's nose. The brunette's eyelids slowly fell and she collapsed. Sakura caught her friend before she hit the floor.

"Was that really necessary?" Sakura asked.

"Well, we have to get her to my mansion somehow," Ino replied. "Carry her, Sakura."

"Why me?" Sakura questioned.

"Because I said so, and you're my lady-in-waiting." Ino smiled, and happily skipped out of the building, leaving a very annoyed Sakura with a bag slung over on one shoulder and an unconscious Tenten on Sakura's back.

"Tenten, you must not go there!" A young boy with black hair and bushy eyebrows warned as he caught up to his friend.

"But MaMa's in there, and she promised to spend the day with me," Tenten said.

"The Emperor is busy with political matters, Tenten, and he needs the Empress by his side to help him make some decisions," Lee explained. He soon found that his words fell on deaf ears, since Tenten was already slowly opening the door to her father's room.

Lee quickly stopped her by clamping his hand down on her wrist. "Lee, why are you stopping me?" Tenten whispered.

"You cannot just barge in on the Emperor's meeting, Tenten," Lee chastised. "You're going to take over the throne someday, so please, take your mind off of having fun for one minute."

Surprised, Tenten's chocolate brown eyes drooped down. Now feeling guilty, Lee said, "I-I went too far. I'm sorry, Tenten."
"No, you're right. I'm the successor to the throne of China. I should be strong. I cannot act like normal children."

"I'm not saying you can't have fun," Lee corrected. "I just want you to consider other peoples' situations."

"Yes, I understand," Tenten replied. "Thanks for keeping me in line, Lee."

Just as the two children were about to go, Tenten overheard her father's voice accompanied by a loud bang.

"We will not just give up our land. I am sorry, but no negotiation will work."

"Emperor, I advise you not to be to stubborn," a second voice continued.

"Tenten, what are you…" Lee started, but was cut off by Tenten slapping her hand to his mouth as she kept listening intently.

"You do not know how hard we have worked, how hard our people have worked, to get this country to the way it is now?"

"We are not even asking you to give up the whole country, Emperor. We are merely asking for a portion of it."

"Our country is still our country. This conversation ends here." As the emperor sat up to leave, the empress stopped him.

"Darling, do we really want to anger their clan?" the empress whispered.

"I have nothing else to say," the emperor commented.

Tenten heard the unknown person chuckle softly. Then, he murmured a short sentence in a language that wasn't Chinese. All of a sudden, chaos ensured. Young Tenten's eyes widened as the events unfolded swiftly; burning buildings, screaming people, and most importantly, her own mother dashing out of the room and carrying Tenten away, with Lee following close behind.

"This can't be happening," young Tenten wept.

Eyelids fluttered open, revealing a pair of chocolate brown irises. Tenten sait up and held her head, thinking about the dream she just had.

"Ah, you're awake," Ino commented, and plopped down beside Tenten.

"What did you do to me?" Tenten asked.

"Ino's an expert on flowers and well-known for her aromatherapy," Sakura started. "I just didn't expect her to know how to make people unconscious with fragrances either."

"Anyway, let's get you ready for your meeting with Neji!" Ino happily announced.

"Sure," Tenten agreed, her mind still on the dream she had.

"What happened?" Sakura questioned, once Ino starting working on Tenten's hair.

"Something strange," Tenten whispered. "I think I remember something from my past. Not a very pleasant memory, though. I'll talk to you about it later."

Moments later, Ino finished styling the brunette's long hair. She smiled, proud of her work, and handed Tenten a mirror. Instead of two buns, Tenten's long hair was now neatly rolled up in one bun. Tendrils of hair fell on both sides of her head, and putting the bun in its place is a beautifully decorated hairpin.

"The hairpin's mine, so I'd like it back after today," Ino reminded.

Just as Ino was about to rummage through her clothes, the door slid open to reveal Shikamaru. Ino grabbed the nearest object, which happened to be her pillow, and flung it at Shikamaru, who caught it easily. "Knock before coming in, Shikamaru!"

"Karin wants to see you," Shikamaru stated, ignoring Ino's first comment entirely. "And Sasuke's with her."

"Ah, of course," Ino sighed. "Has she come to rub this in my face again?"

"How would I know?" Shikamaru answered. Ino was about to throw another object at him, but Shikamaru already slid the doors shut.

"Sorry Sakura, Tenten," Ino apologized. "I gotta go greet my guests."

"From your tone, she doesn't sound very welcome here," Sakura stated.

"Yeah, I don't really like her," Ino confessed. "I mean, she's fine when she's alone. Karin's a dependable woman, and she works hard."

"Then why don't you like her?" Sakura asked.

"She and I like the same person, a noble named Sasuke," Ino started.

"You don't mean the infamous Uchiha, Sasuke?" Sakura said.

"Yes, Uchiha, Sasuke," Ino admitted. "Both of us were head over heels for him. Who can blame us? He's a nobleman and he has the looks of a lady killer."

"Didn't you tell me that he has a really bad attitude?" Sakura reminded.

"Yes, yes, but that was after I snapped out of my little dreamland," Ino retorted. "Anyway, both of us were crazy about Sasuke, and we ended up treating him like an object, having competitions to who would eventually get Sasuke."

"I'm guessing she won?" the rosette said.

"She did not win!" Ino snapped. "Sasuke's family thought it was time for him to get married, and at that time, the clan Karin was in was closest to their family. Orochimaru, one of the most influential people in this town, is somewhat like her surrogate father. He and the Uchihas had very close ties, so when he heard that the Uchihas were trying to find a bride for Sasuke, Orochimaru introduced Karin."

Just as Ino finished talking, the doors slammed open again, but this time, instead of Shikamaru, a smiling redhead stood outside. "Hello again, Ino."

"How many people are gonna come in my room without knocking?" yelled an exasperated Ino.

"Oh, who are they?" Karin asked, gesturing to Sakura and Tenten.

"My friends," Ino quickly answered.

"They don't seem to be nobles," Karin commented. "Are you friends with servants?"

"They are not servants, they're my friends," Ino retorted.

Right when Karin was about to reply, a deeper and smoother voice interrupted, "Karin, why did you bring me here?"

Behind Karin, a tall man with spiky black hair and onyx colored eyes appeared. Karin's expression immediately softened and she wrapped her arms around the man's torso. "Sasuke-kun, I just wanted Ino to know about our engagement."

"I've heard about it from you more times than I can count," Ino muttered.

"Ino why don't you tell your maids to prepare something to drink for Sasuke and me?" Karin said.

"They…" Ino started, but was quickly interrupted by both Tenten and Sakura.

"We are not servants!"

"You two aren't wearing clothes that noblewomen usually wear," Karin pointed out.

"Okay, Karin, I think you and I should go talk somewhere else," Ino interrupted, immediately getting between the redhead and the two ladies-in-waiting. "Sakura, can you take care of Sasuke?" Without waiting for Sakura's answer and ignoring Karin's protests, Ino pushed Karin out of her room.

"Go on, I'll be fine," Tenten assured her friend. Sakura nodded slowly, walked over to Sasuke, and closed the door. Tenten lied back down, thinking about her dream.

"That person was definitely Japanese," Tenten thought. "'Then, let it be war' was what he said. So he initiated the attack on my home." Plagued by her thoughts, Tenten closed her eyes and let herself drift back to sleep.

Meanwhile, Sakura, who was walking side by side with Sasuke, was also trying not to keep glancing at him. "Ino, I really with you would've told me how attractive the infamous Sasuke Uchiha is."

Wanting to break the awkward silence, Sakura started, "Uh, I've heard Ino talk about you." Seeing his ice cold stare made Sakura immediately wish that she hadn't said anything. So, she immediately changed the subject. "My name's Sakura. Haruno, Sakura."

The Uchiha said nothing, and even sent another glare at the rosette. Now Sakura was slowly getting angry. "I'm trying to be nice here. The least you can do is to say something back." Sakura immediately put both hands on her mouth, realizing that she just raised her voice to a nobleman.

"I have no obligation to talk to you, servant," was Sasuke's reply.

"I am not a servant!" Sakura yelled, not caring that she was talking to a nobleman anymore. "I am Ino's lady-in-waiting, and her close friend."

"Does Ino always take her girls off of the streets and make them her ladies-in-waiting?" Sasuke said.

Sakura felt herself turn red, not from embarrassment, but from anger. Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed the front of Sasuke's clothing. "Listen, you may be a nobleman, but I will not tolerate you trash talking me or Tenten!"

Indifferent to her yelling, Sasuke merely grabbed Sakura's wrist and ripped her hand away from his clothes. Even when she had let go of his clothes, he still had a tight grip on her wrist. "Do not talk back to me, girl." He then forcefully released Sakura wrist and walked away.

"Such a jerk," Sakura muttered, while rubbing her wrist. Although she already knew about his rotten personality, she still couldn't help staring at the young Uchiha's back. Realizing her actions, Sakura slapped her cheeks and muttered to herself, "Come on, Sakura. He may be really, really, really attractive, but a rotten personality's going to get him nowhere."

Even then, Sakura's eyes still wandered to Sasuke's retreating figure. She took in a huge breath, breathed out, and ran to Sasuke. "Ino gave me a job to do, and I'm going to finish it."

The rosette ran in front of Sasuke, blocking his path, and bowed. "I'm sorry, I was out of line. I apologize." Raising her head, Sakura continued, "Now, please follow me to the courtyard. Ino would want you to wait there."

"I can take care of myself," Sasuke replied, and walked past Sakura, even bumping her.

The rosette's hand swiftly reached out and grabbed Sasuke's clothes again, but this time, before the Uchiha had time to do anything else, Sakura dragged him with her. "Let go of me, girl."

"I'm not going to. Ino asked me to escort you, so I'm doing my job. And my name is not 'girl'. It's Sakura. Or if you prefer to call me by my last name, it's Haruno."

"Hn," was Sasuke's reply as Sakura kept dragging him to the courtyard.

Once they reached the peaceful area, Sakura released Sasuke and said, "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Hn."

"Is that your signature grunt or something?" Sakura questioned.

"What are we doing here?" Sasuke changed the subject.

"Waiting for Ino," Sakura answered.

For the next few minutes, the two of them sat in complete silence, with Sakura stealing glances at Sasuke now and then, even after she told herself to stop.

"Why do you keep looking at me?"

Sakura's head shot up and slowly turned in Sasuke's direction, meeting his dark eyes. "Uh well, you're pretty?"

"Hah?" The Uchiha's confused expression almost made Sakura giggle.

"That came out wrong," Sakura corrected. "I meant you look, uh, um, very…attractive."

"Hn."

Sakura curled up in a fetal position and mentally screamed. "What the hell did I just say?! Am I crazy? I must be out of my mind! Why did I just compliment a person who has such a rotten personality?!"

"Sasuke-kun!"

Sakura looked up from her curled position to see Karin running towards her and Sasuke, with Ino casually walking behind her. Once Karin got close enough, she pounced on Sasuke and wrapped her arms around him. The Uchiha sighed and pried the redhead off of him.

"I'll be going now," Sakura said. "Excuse me." She stood up and started to walk back to Ino's room, but her friend stopped her.

"Sakura, you're staying here and accompanying me," Ino commanded, as she pulled the rosette down to sit. "Now, I suppose you know Sakura now, Sasuke?"

"Hn. She's very persistent," Sasuke replied.

As Ino, Karin, and Sasuke talked amongst themselves, Sakura sat, not knowing a word of what they were discussing. "Politics is confusing," the rosette thought.

"Bye Ino! It was nice talking to you," Karin said as she merrily waved goodbye to the blonde with one arm while she had her other arm wrapped around Sasuke's arm.

"Yeah, bye," Ino muttered. Once Karin and Sasuke left, Ino turned to Sakura and sighed. "I feel like she sucks away my energy every time she comes here."

"You'll be fine. Usually you have too much energy anyway," Sakura teased.

"Hey girls," Tenten interrupted. She came up to Ino and Sakura and continued, "I'm going to go back to the Hyuugas now. It's already evening anyway."

Sakura and Ino looked up, only realizing now that the sky was painted in a red and orange hue with the sun setting below the horizon. "Time flies. I didn't realize it was evening until now," Ino murmured. "Oh well. I'll give you a make over some other day, then!"

"See you two," Tenten bade, then left Ino's mansion.

Once she arrived in her room, Tenten tried to sleep early. She tossed and turned in her futon but sleep never arrived. A few hours passed and she still couldn't fall asleep. So, she grabbed her weapons, changed into more comfortable clothes and headed to the training grounds. When she neared the training grounds, she heard the sound of multiple training dummies being attacked.

"Who's training at this time of night?" the brunette thought.

Tenten heard the person stop attacking, and in the next second, she was thrown against the wall. Then she felt a whoosh of air as her attacker forcefully extended his arm, but stopped, with his hand pointed directly and within mere centimeters at her throat.

"Oh, it's you."

Tenten, whose eyes were squeezed shut, opened them once she recognized the familiar masculine voice. "Neji, what are you doing?"

"I am merely defending myself."

"I didn't even do anything!" Tenten retorted.

"I cannot take any chances at night. There are still people who attempt to kidnap or murder Hinata-sama." Neji replied while lowering his defenses.

"There are actually people who want to kill Hinata?" Tenten asked. "She's such a nice girl!"

"That does not matter with them. What matters is that she is supposedly the next heir to the Hyuuga family. Many people would love to gain money, or more importantly, the secret of the Byakugan," Neji answered. "Therefore, I cannot let any intruder leave the Hyuuga compounds alive."

"You do care about Hinata in your own way, huh," Tenten said.

"I am merely fulfilling my duty as a branch member," Neji replied.

"I don't get you, Neji. My first impression of you was not very pleasant, but for some reason I feel like you do have a softer, more understanding side to you. You don't seem to care about Hinata, but that's because you don't show it. Are you just bad at expressing yourself?" Tenten asked.

"My feelings are none of your business," Neji snapped.

"So you really are willing to go through with the marriage," Tenten muttered. When she didn't receive an answer, she continued, "Why don't you try thinking about the situation for yourself instead of for the elders?"

"Because that is what I am destined for. I will forever be a bird trapped in the cage that the elders designed," Neji answered.

"Well birds in cages long for freedom too," Tenten said. "Why don't you try grasping your own destiny with your own hands?"

"You do not understand my position," Neji murmured, his expression softening. "I do not have the power to do that."

Tenten smiled unknowingly. Because she has never seen this side of Neji before, she raised her hand instinctively and placed it lightly on Neji's head, patting it a couple of times. Neji's expression immediately changed to one of irritation. "What are you doing? Are you mocking me?"

Tenten quickly withdrew her hand and shook her head while laughing. "No, no. It's just…I'm surprised you actually have a soft side. I thought I was wrong, but I wasn't."

Neji frowned and turned his head the other way. "I feel like a fool."

"Aw come on, you just vented out your pent up feelings. It's a form of catharsis, and it's a good thing," Tenten explained. "If you coop up your negative emotions too much it can affect your physical and mental health, y'know." When she didn't receive a reply from Neji, Tenten suggested, "Hey, why don't we spar? At least some exercise will get your mind off the subject."

"I was training, until you interrupted," Neji reminded.

Tenten waved her hand and continued, "Yeah, yeah. And now I'm offering to spar with you…Unless you're scared that I've become stronger than you."

"Let's spar," Neji challenged, as he made his way to the middle of the training grounds.

"That's better," Tenten said as she took out her scrolls.

"Come on, Neji! You don't seem like you're giving it your all. Or did you really get sloppier?" Tenten provoked as she jumped in the air and unleashed a plethora of weapons at Neji.

The male brunette took his defensive stance and created a spinning dome of chakra, defending himself from Tenten's weapons. "Do not provoke me, Tenten."

"Attack me with all you've got! I can defend myself!" Tenten assured, when her feet touched the ground. Just after she finished her sentence Neji appeared right in front of her. Tenten was just about to launch her own attack as well as create a defense strategy when her brain failed to respond.

"Ma Ma…Ma Ma…" a young brunette cried softly. Images of fire, burning buildings, and screaming people filled her head as she cried. "Japanese people…are the worst!"

The next few minutes passed in slow motion for Tenten. One second Neji's face was right in front of hers. Then, instead of defending or even attacking, Tenten's body froze once the memory hit her. As a result, Neji's Jukenpo (Gentle Fist) hit her straight in her midsection, sending Tenten flying and knocking her unconscious.

After attacking, Neji suddenly realized that Tenten froze just as he was about to hit her. Feeling a pang of guilt along with worry, he walked over to Tenten's body. "I think I used too much energy," Neji thought.

Looking around and not seeing anyone in sight, the male brunette took a breath and sighed while looking down at Tenten. He then bent down and lifted Tenten. One of his hands supported her back while the other supported the back of her knees. "This…is strange," Neji thought as he silently carried the limp Tenten back to her room.

Once he got to the shoji door, one he balanced Tenten's body with one hand while he used the other to quickly slide the door open. Inside, he laid Tenten down on the ground gently while he spread out her rolled up futon. After preparing the futon, Neji picked up Tenten again and set her softly on her futon.

"I will have someone heal you tomorrow," Neji promised. After that, he silently exited the room and slid the door shut.

"Huh, he is kind after all," Tenten murmured as she lied on her futon with one eye slightly open. Satisfied with her newly discovered information, Tenten closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep, temporarily forgetting about the pain and the memory that suddenly attacked her in the middle of training.

Well, this chapter is definitely longer than my other ones…I thought that I really should update since I haven't written anything in so long. . Lol, the funny thing is, I'm writing when I really should be studying for my AP exam. xD I have one tomorrow and another one in 5 days. Yeah…my timing is great!

Again, please review and tell me your thoughts! Constructive criticism is much appreciated. ;)