endless_scrolls (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
endless_scrolls) wrote2009-12-11 01:47 pm
endless_scrolls) wrote2009-12-11 01:47 pm
Seasons of Love, Part 2
Title: Seasons of Love, Part 2
Type: Fanfic
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: Summer [ Wordcount: 2108 ]
Character(s): Tenten, Aburame Shino; brief mentions of Hyuuga Neji, Rock Lee, Maito Gai
Pairing(s): Extremely light Shino/Tenten... if you squint a little.
Warning(s): None.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Part two of four. Written for the ShinoTen FC fanfic contest held over at NarutoForums.
Dedicated to: All you ShinoTen fans out there! ♥
The first time they were chosen to lead a mission together, the kunoichi had believed it a mistake. Although she would never have said so to the Hokage's face. The kunoichi had seen what happened to those who questioned the Sannin's sound decisions. Especially on matters that directly effected the village. -- The woman was proud just as any other loyal agent of the Leaf. Any question against her skill and judgment was like poking a sleeping tigress. -- Still, Tenten was only eighteen and a newly appointed Tokubetsu Jounin specializing in Weaponry and Tactics. Impressive, given her age, perhaps. But it was hardly enough accreditation to be given joint leadership with Shino on a diplomatic campaign.
As long as the Land of Fire had been at war with those of Earth, this was not a time to throw caution to the win and hope that Tenten would not drown in her attempt to test the waters of diplomacy. Granted, she had been assigned to more missions than him in the past that were of higher in rank. And his social skills left plenty to be desired in comparison. However, with his seat as the intended next heir to the Aburame clan, he held more experience in politics as well as leading a squad to success.
"This is more Neji's department, not mine," the kunoichi mumbled quietly to no one in particular. And with a soft sigh, she continued to watch the world slowly pass them by.
As much as a month's time was set aside for the treaty summit, giving all parties involved plenty of time to speak of their concerns and present their conditions for negotiation. More if necessary. Varying and self-serving opinions would be involved after all, from each party that were to be represented there. And if experience had shown her anything, it was that shinobi were stubborn when it came to compromising their benefits to placate another's concerns. So speed was not necessarily a top priority for this assignment. Because of that, rather than allow the two to travel quickly by foot like usual, they had been given a small envoy instead as an escort. An odd change from what she was accustomed to, but nothing all too unwelcomed. After all, there was always a chance of spies hiding out along the route, laying in wait to ambush their caravan and ensure that they never made it to the meeting. Not to mention the physical challenges between Gai-sensei and Lee had always been a bit tiring despite their training benefits.
It was normal. It was routine. It was what made her team who they were today. But it was also another mark against her qualifications. Team Gai , for all its eccentricities, was known for completing their missions in an expedient manner to almost near perfection, if not withconstant the occasional recklessness. Everything that was not needed for this assignment. And everything that Shino was not.
The perfect balance of yin and yang, she thought with a light scoff. But quickly brushed the thought aside. Now was not the time for off-handed jokes of other issues plaguing her mind. This was a delicate matter, after all. Lives would be effected by this treaty. The Fire Country's economy was directly linked with how negotiations would go during this meeting. To rush through it would be to give greater opportunity for mistakes to occur. There were formalities. Traditions. And a need for professionalism.
But the Hokage must have had a good reason to pair them together on this assignment... right?
"I asked her to."
From the other side of the carriage, she turned from looking out the window and simply quirked a curious brow in his direction. "...Excuse me?"
They had been placed on the same team on several occasions already, with him as captain and her there to take second post should he be unable to give command. So to a certain level, it made some semblance of sense that he would have enough founding in his knowledge of the kunoichi and her abilities to request that she be there as his partner in this endeavour. And while the fail-pass rate of their missions was not perfect, it was close enough to be the envy of all others. Still, Tenten knew her strengths and weaknesses. She knew her limitations and range of growth. She knew where she excelled and where she failed.
Diplomacy was not her area of expertise.
"I wanted someone I could trust to maintain a leveled head," he clarified after a pause -- more her pause than his -- never taking his eyes from where it seemed to be focused on the rush of trees just outside of the window, "We will be discussing a treaty with Iwa and I anticipate much debate over the conditions."
There was more to it, she knew. More to his story and his reasons. And as much as the kunoichi tried to ignore the path her train of thought was going, she could not help but revert back to the main issue that was picking at the back of the young woman's mind, much to her own hesitation and reluctance. It was, after all, an ingrained rule of the shinobi that emotions should be left off of the battlefield. And normally Tenten had no problems detaching herself from the realities of the assignment. But that had been before. Before the mission where she had been forced to act as leader when he could not. Before Shino had nearly drowned and depleted most of his chakra in an attempt to protect them from constant enemy attacks. Before he had asked her... and before this ambiguous dance they were in began.
And what made it so extraordinarily frustrating was the uncertainty of his feelings concerning this.
"It will not be easy," he continued, finally casting his attention in her direction, "Grass has already shown reluctance."
"Kusa is cautious, and they should be," was Tenten's comment, her eyes darting to the window for a brief distraction, a momentary reason not to fall prey to the intimidation that tended to come with his gaze, "If this treaty between Rock and Leaf explodes in disaster, their country will be caught in the middle of our warring."
Shino gave a shallow nod in agreement, waiting until her eyes fell on him once more before doing so. To ensure that she saw his reaction. To test the waters and see if the kunoichi would avoid his eye contact and for how long. Whatever the reason, his patience rewarded him in the end and Tenten met his gaze. Or... at least she could only guess that she had. The trademark dark shades of his clan had done what they intended, doing well to hide just where his attention was centered. And the kunoichi was in no position to find out for certain. So she opted to continue with her current train of thought.
"But as a representative of the Hyuuga clan, this is usually Neji's area of expertise," Tenten pressed on, "I specialize in weaponry, not this."
"Why did I not choose him instead of you?" he inquired, using his usual manner of speech. More out of habit than anything else, she supposed. Because though Shino was not one for speaking unnecessarily, when it happened, it was with extreme and complete clarity so that there would be no need to repeat himself. And if there was anything that irritated the young man more, it was having to explain his thoughts twice. "Because as much experience as Neji has with clan politics, he has shown in the past that he is not always capable of keeping his temper in check."
"And I have?"
"...More or less."
Tenten could not help but smirk at that. At least he was being truthful, if only slightly. Selectively, rather. After all, there had been plenty of occasions where the kunoichi had let her emotions get the better of her. Granted, the situation had always allowed for the momentary break in character and resolve. But it never excused the fact that she had not done anything to fight against the impatience or anger.
"In any case, should things get out of hand, I would prefer to have you protecting my back over anyone else."
Lightly sweeping a finger across her bottom lip, the kunoichi took a moment to study the quiet young man. She was proud to admit that she had been able to pick up on his small little habits over the years, enough to tell when to push a matter and when to drop it. When to press his patience and when to leave Shino to his solitude. And that was enough to allow them to function fairly well during missions. But this time it was different. He had been careful while speaking to her, monitoring his every movements and adjusting them accordingly so that Tenten was relatively left in the dark on just what was going through the shinobi's mind during their conversation.
So it was time to stop being tactful and simply go for bluntness.
"...Why me?" she asked, point blank, "Out of everyone else you could have chosen, why pick me?"
"Because," he responded somewhat quickly. As if he had been waiting for the question this entire time. "As you said once before, 'we work well together'."
"That was when we were fighting on the battlefield," Tenten retorted, muttering the words softly as if she were speaking only to herself, "This is different."
"You think my decision a mistake."
"In a word? Yes."
A breath of air passed his lips in a manner that was very much like a sigh. Of frustration perhaps at Tenten's insistent thoughts on the matter concerning her right to be placed on such a mission. Something that he would not have shown under normal circumstances. Aburame Shino was someone who hid his emotions if at all necessary and capable. To reveal them was to give the other an opportunity to counteract his plans. Which only told of the shinobi's weariness on the topic of discussion.
She was wearing very thin on his patience.
"Very well," he said finally. And it was then that the kunoichi decided only Aburame Shino could make easing back into the carriage seat seem all too intimidating. Even when the comforting quiet of the forest slowly passing them by with each clop of the horses' feet. "Tell me, how would you handle such a union where all opinions matter? Where large influences are just as important as the small?"
Finding the situation nothing more than a challenge and a means to an end, Tenten swallowed any sort of anxiety she felt in his current presence and composed herself just enough to counter the other's inquiry. "That depends on your view of which influences are considered large and which small."
Here, Shino shifted the angle of his head a fraction towards her, an encouraging gesture by his clan standards and the only indication that he wished for the kunoichi to continue with the train of thought.
"The Lands of Fire and Earth may hold more power and influence in the shinobi world, but this treaty will mean nothing if Grass doesn't agree to cooperate," she continued, "They are the bridging territory between the two nations, and if they don't benefit from this alliance, then what reason would they have to submit to its conditions?"
For a moment, it seemed as if he were considering the thought, his head tilting the tiniest bit in the other direction. Or so it had seemed. Shino's movements were always slighted, after all. Minute and nearly inconceivable to the untrained eye unless one had spent a substantial amount of time around the young man to know his normal mannerisms. But as the seconds continued to tick on, it became more of a question of whether or not he was contemplating the idea or simply waiting for Tenten to expand further on her idea.
"Especially if the treaty is broken and avenged on their lands?" she offered further in hopes of gaining some sort of reaction.
"Hm..." he voiced, turning his attention back out the window, "And that is why you were chosen."
It was vague. And yet brought light to what it was within her abilities that initially caused Shino to pick her to accompany him to the summit. But there was something in the way he had said it -- in the soft way the young man's tone had sounded -- that gave Tenten the impression that he had been speaking of something much more than just the mission.
Type: Fanfic
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: Summer [ Wordcount: 2108 ]
Character(s): Tenten, Aburame Shino; brief mentions of Hyuuga Neji, Rock Lee, Maito Gai
Pairing(s): Extremely light Shino/Tenten... if you squint a little.
Warning(s): None.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Part two of four. Written for the ShinoTen FC fanfic contest held over at NarutoForums.
Dedicated to: All you ShinoTen fans out there! ♥
The first time they were chosen to lead a mission together, the kunoichi had believed it a mistake. Although she would never have said so to the Hokage's face. The kunoichi had seen what happened to those who questioned the Sannin's sound decisions. Especially on matters that directly effected the village. -- The woman was proud just as any other loyal agent of the Leaf. Any question against her skill and judgment was like poking a sleeping tigress. -- Still, Tenten was only eighteen and a newly appointed Tokubetsu Jounin specializing in Weaponry and Tactics. Impressive, given her age, perhaps. But it was hardly enough accreditation to be given joint leadership with Shino on a diplomatic campaign.
As long as the Land of Fire had been at war with those of Earth, this was not a time to throw caution to the win and hope that Tenten would not drown in her attempt to test the waters of diplomacy. Granted, she had been assigned to more missions than him in the past that were of higher in rank. And his social skills left plenty to be desired in comparison. However, with his seat as the intended next heir to the Aburame clan, he held more experience in politics as well as leading a squad to success.
"This is more Neji's department, not mine," the kunoichi mumbled quietly to no one in particular. And with a soft sigh, she continued to watch the world slowly pass them by.
As much as a month's time was set aside for the treaty summit, giving all parties involved plenty of time to speak of their concerns and present their conditions for negotiation. More if necessary. Varying and self-serving opinions would be involved after all, from each party that were to be represented there. And if experience had shown her anything, it was that shinobi were stubborn when it came to compromising their benefits to placate another's concerns. So speed was not necessarily a top priority for this assignment. Because of that, rather than allow the two to travel quickly by foot like usual, they had been given a small envoy instead as an escort. An odd change from what she was accustomed to, but nothing all too unwelcomed. After all, there was always a chance of spies hiding out along the route, laying in wait to ambush their caravan and ensure that they never made it to the meeting. Not to mention the physical challenges between Gai-sensei and Lee had always been a bit tiring despite their training benefits.
It was normal. It was routine. It was what made her team who they were today. But it was also another mark against her qualifications. Team Gai , for all its eccentricities, was known for completing their missions in an expedient manner to almost near perfection, if not with
The perfect balance of yin and yang, she thought with a light scoff. But quickly brushed the thought aside. Now was not the time for off-handed jokes of other issues plaguing her mind. This was a delicate matter, after all. Lives would be effected by this treaty. The Fire Country's economy was directly linked with how negotiations would go during this meeting. To rush through it would be to give greater opportunity for mistakes to occur. There were formalities. Traditions. And a need for professionalism.
But the Hokage must have had a good reason to pair them together on this assignment... right?
"I asked her to."
From the other side of the carriage, she turned from looking out the window and simply quirked a curious brow in his direction. "...Excuse me?"
They had been placed on the same team on several occasions already, with him as captain and her there to take second post should he be unable to give command. So to a certain level, it made some semblance of sense that he would have enough founding in his knowledge of the kunoichi and her abilities to request that she be there as his partner in this endeavour. And while the fail-pass rate of their missions was not perfect, it was close enough to be the envy of all others. Still, Tenten knew her strengths and weaknesses. She knew her limitations and range of growth. She knew where she excelled and where she failed.
Diplomacy was not her area of expertise.
"I wanted someone I could trust to maintain a leveled head," he clarified after a pause -- more her pause than his -- never taking his eyes from where it seemed to be focused on the rush of trees just outside of the window, "We will be discussing a treaty with Iwa and I anticipate much debate over the conditions."
There was more to it, she knew. More to his story and his reasons. And as much as the kunoichi tried to ignore the path her train of thought was going, she could not help but revert back to the main issue that was picking at the back of the young woman's mind, much to her own hesitation and reluctance. It was, after all, an ingrained rule of the shinobi that emotions should be left off of the battlefield. And normally Tenten had no problems detaching herself from the realities of the assignment. But that had been before. Before the mission where she had been forced to act as leader when he could not. Before Shino had nearly drowned and depleted most of his chakra in an attempt to protect them from constant enemy attacks. Before he had asked her... and before this ambiguous dance they were in began.
And what made it so extraordinarily frustrating was the uncertainty of his feelings concerning this.
"It will not be easy," he continued, finally casting his attention in her direction, "Grass has already shown reluctance."
"Kusa is cautious, and they should be," was Tenten's comment, her eyes darting to the window for a brief distraction, a momentary reason not to fall prey to the intimidation that tended to come with his gaze, "If this treaty between Rock and Leaf explodes in disaster, their country will be caught in the middle of our warring."
Shino gave a shallow nod in agreement, waiting until her eyes fell on him once more before doing so. To ensure that she saw his reaction. To test the waters and see if the kunoichi would avoid his eye contact and for how long. Whatever the reason, his patience rewarded him in the end and Tenten met his gaze. Or... at least she could only guess that she had. The trademark dark shades of his clan had done what they intended, doing well to hide just where his attention was centered. And the kunoichi was in no position to find out for certain. So she opted to continue with her current train of thought.
"But as a representative of the Hyuuga clan, this is usually Neji's area of expertise," Tenten pressed on, "I specialize in weaponry, not this."
"Why did I not choose him instead of you?" he inquired, using his usual manner of speech. More out of habit than anything else, she supposed. Because though Shino was not one for speaking unnecessarily, when it happened, it was with extreme and complete clarity so that there would be no need to repeat himself. And if there was anything that irritated the young man more, it was having to explain his thoughts twice. "Because as much experience as Neji has with clan politics, he has shown in the past that he is not always capable of keeping his temper in check."
"And I have?"
"...More or less."
Tenten could not help but smirk at that. At least he was being truthful, if only slightly. Selectively, rather. After all, there had been plenty of occasions where the kunoichi had let her emotions get the better of her. Granted, the situation had always allowed for the momentary break in character and resolve. But it never excused the fact that she had not done anything to fight against the impatience or anger.
"In any case, should things get out of hand, I would prefer to have you protecting my back over anyone else."
Lightly sweeping a finger across her bottom lip, the kunoichi took a moment to study the quiet young man. She was proud to admit that she had been able to pick up on his small little habits over the years, enough to tell when to push a matter and when to drop it. When to press his patience and when to leave Shino to his solitude. And that was enough to allow them to function fairly well during missions. But this time it was different. He had been careful while speaking to her, monitoring his every movements and adjusting them accordingly so that Tenten was relatively left in the dark on just what was going through the shinobi's mind during their conversation.
So it was time to stop being tactful and simply go for bluntness.
"...Why me?" she asked, point blank, "Out of everyone else you could have chosen, why pick me?"
"Because," he responded somewhat quickly. As if he had been waiting for the question this entire time. "As you said once before, 'we work well together'."
"That was when we were fighting on the battlefield," Tenten retorted, muttering the words softly as if she were speaking only to herself, "This is different."
"You think my decision a mistake."
"In a word? Yes."
A breath of air passed his lips in a manner that was very much like a sigh. Of frustration perhaps at Tenten's insistent thoughts on the matter concerning her right to be placed on such a mission. Something that he would not have shown under normal circumstances. Aburame Shino was someone who hid his emotions if at all necessary and capable. To reveal them was to give the other an opportunity to counteract his plans. Which only told of the shinobi's weariness on the topic of discussion.
She was wearing very thin on his patience.
"Very well," he said finally. And it was then that the kunoichi decided only Aburame Shino could make easing back into the carriage seat seem all too intimidating. Even when the comforting quiet of the forest slowly passing them by with each clop of the horses' feet. "Tell me, how would you handle such a union where all opinions matter? Where large influences are just as important as the small?"
Finding the situation nothing more than a challenge and a means to an end, Tenten swallowed any sort of anxiety she felt in his current presence and composed herself just enough to counter the other's inquiry. "That depends on your view of which influences are considered large and which small."
Here, Shino shifted the angle of his head a fraction towards her, an encouraging gesture by his clan standards and the only indication that he wished for the kunoichi to continue with the train of thought.
"The Lands of Fire and Earth may hold more power and influence in the shinobi world, but this treaty will mean nothing if Grass doesn't agree to cooperate," she continued, "They are the bridging territory between the two nations, and if they don't benefit from this alliance, then what reason would they have to submit to its conditions?"
For a moment, it seemed as if he were considering the thought, his head tilting the tiniest bit in the other direction. Or so it had seemed. Shino's movements were always slighted, after all. Minute and nearly inconceivable to the untrained eye unless one had spent a substantial amount of time around the young man to know his normal mannerisms. But as the seconds continued to tick on, it became more of a question of whether or not he was contemplating the idea or simply waiting for Tenten to expand further on her idea.
"Especially if the treaty is broken and avenged on their lands?" she offered further in hopes of gaining some sort of reaction.
"Hm..." he voiced, turning his attention back out the window, "And that is why you were chosen."
It was vague. And yet brought light to what it was within her abilities that initially caused Shino to pick her to accompany him to the summit. But there was something in the way he had said it -- in the soft way the young man's tone had sounded -- that gave Tenten the impression that he had been speaking of something much more than just the mission.