NessieGG's Fanfiction - [Naruto, NejiTen] "An Everlasting Vow" - Chapter 8

Title: An Everlasting Vow (Chapter 8)
Author: NessieGG
Genre: Romance/Fantasy/AU
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing/Characters: NejiTen, Tsunade, Hiashi, Shizune, Lee, Gai, Hinata, Orochimaru, Anko, Shikamaru, SasuSaku.
Rated: PG

Neji woke later than he would have liked, meaning he woke too late to avoid crossing paths with his uncle in the corridor leading to the entrance hall of the palace.

“Neji,” came the king's expected interruption, “where are you hurrying to?”

The younger Hyuuga detected suspicion in Hiashi's tone and quickly decided that lying would not currently be in his best interest. “I am investigating the source of the green flash Shizune spoke of.” He carefully omitted Queen Tsunade's cryptic words as he had not told anyone of his exchange with her on the road.

Hiashi did not overlook the filled quiver and stringed bow slung over Neji's broad back, nor the sword strapped to his hip. He weighed Neji with a measuring stare as he contemplated Shizune's earlier advice. “Very well,” said King Hiashi. Not ready to surrender his own plan, he added, “Just make sure you return by tomorrow night.”

His nephew's face, already devoid of most expression, now went completely blank. “What happens tomorrow night, uncle?”

“I have arranged for a gathering; a ball intended for the royals of the surrounding realms. It is time I stopped hiding you from the world.” What Hiashi did not say was, Now that Tenten is gone, there is no need.

Neji began, “I am uncertain of how long I will—”

“Be here, Neji,” Hiashi sternly interjected. “You are my successor.”

The strict reminder kept Neji frozen in place until Hiashi was down the hall and out of sight. His uncle's words were unnecessary. He had not forgotten his duties as crown prince.

But, he thought as he strode purposefully out of the palace, first things first.

---

The dawn brought a realization upon Tenten. As a swan, she was deprived of conversation with Sakura, who had hidden Sasuke well from her knowledge. In the same way Tenten transformed on the lake, Sasuke transformed in the ash tree, opposite in direction from where Tenten had previously taken the meals Sakura brought, so that she had never seen the Uchiha at night.

In the day, when both Sasuke and Tenten occupied the bodies of winged creatures, they could understand each other as clearly as they have in communication with human speech, not the clicking and trumpeting of a raptor and swan. They concluded that Orochimaru knew nothing of the magic's loophole as the spell was designed to induce loneliness.

Why do you stay here? asked Tenten after Anko had come and gone with crumbs for her and seeds for Sasuke.

My situation is identical to yours. Sakura chose to remain with me. The raptor's head turned to the small shelter where his lover slept. If I want to change, I must be in the tree. Human only at night is better than not human at all.

Tenten's thoughts turned to Neji. I failed to stay with the man who wants me, and now... She fluttered her wings in agitation. If not for this spell, I would fly to him as fast as I flew away.

Sasuke nodded, a bobbing of a small head, then paused. In the next instant, he soared down from the branches of the ash to the dirt at the lake's edge where she floated. The dark eyes of the raptor met those of the swan.

Why don't you, Tenten?

What?

His mind whirred. True, you can't be recognized, but the spell enables us to travel even so. By flight.

In her surprise, Tenten splashed the surrounding water. Fly? But I haven't—

Try, Sasuke encouraged her. It's easier than you think.

Obediently (for who was she to trust, if not this kindred victim of sorcery?), Tenten lifted her wings and flapped. And flapped again, and again, until the breeze caught the underside of her feathers, and suddenly she was lifted, water dripping from her webbed swan feet. It felt...natural, in this body.

Sasuke joined her in the air. Are you steady?

This is wonderful! She ignored his question, elation giving way to dejection as she trumpeted, But it won't help! I've no idea where we are or how to find Neji.

He blinked at her, eyes shining with intelligence. I am in this position because I tracked my brother here from East Fire. Do you doubt that I can find the country in between?

Tenten curved her long neck in embarrassment and made no reply.

Admittedly, it would be simpler if I could at least find a map of the shortest route to the main roads. We could look over trees, but that is time consuming, especially since you aren't used to flying and will be slow at first. Sasuke peered toward the highest turret of Orochimaru's castle. Certainly, he must have one. He would not have been able to locate you for an attack otherwise. Come!

Tenten went winging behind her new friend toward the ivy-wrapped turret, blinking rapidly to peer through the window and see into the dark room. It is open on the other side, she commented when she saw a burst of light across from them. They flew around the perimeter together, and Sasuke waited for her to enter first.

A yellowed map was almost unseen upon the wall inside the room, crammed as it was with cracked vials and flasks, globes, and charred parchment. Sasuke went to examine the map, but Tenten perched her white body on top of an empty bird cage to look at an unrolled scroll on the center desk. Disorganized as the room was, it seemed Orochimaru often made use of it. There was no dust lingering on the parchment, and closer inspection showed the princess that the string tying it together had been snapped apart unintentionally.

When she read the scroll's contents, she would have paled if not for her form with its already snow-white plumage. Sasuke! she exclaimed. I've found the way to—

But the raptor's head suddenly twisted to face the closed door. Anko, he informed her. Quick! Out the window!

Just as they escape the tower, the saw through the glass Anko's thin, rag-dressed body emerge through the door. She dutifully glanced around for disturbances but pinpointed no problems in the room where Orochimaru stored his work.

When Anko retreated, Tenten would have sighed in relief had she been in human form. When can we leave to find Neji?

Don't rush, Sasuke told her. You must have a plan. We'll find this Prince Neji, lead him back here by sunset, and when the moon rises—

He'll see that it is me! Tenten finished for him. Brilliant, Sasuke! But what about Sakura?

The raptor was already riding an air current toward the stone outcropping from which the stream emerged. She can take care of herself, I assure you. Let's not waste time, Tenten. Follow me.

She did as beckoned, and together the two birds flew toward the wet portion of the stone wall that was the backside of the waterfall. Sasuke led her into a nosedive toward the ground and through a slim space occupied only by hanging, flowered vines instead of rock. Tenten assessed that this must have been how Orochimaru went to and from his solitary domain.

Passing through, they burst into the open, sky a mass of blue dotted by pristine clouds as miles upon miles of blooming green forest stretched beneath them. And Tenten grew stronger with every downward thrust of her wings.

---

“I hear there's to be quite an event tomorrow,” Lee said to Neji, guiding his horse alongside the prince's. “From what my father tells me, an heir to every kingdom on every continent is going to be present. That will make at least half female, you know.”

“My uncle must be thinking to distract me,” Neji replied stoically. “It won't work.”

“And what about East Fire? If Queen Tsunade is missed...”

“Shizune organized a party of servants to ride to the castle there guised as Queen Tsunade going home. The citizens of East Fire have no reason to think she is absent.”

“That was clever of Shizune. And you, Neji. You think we can find some sort of malevolent creature that stole our dear Tenten from us?” Lee swept his gaze over the area dubiously. “This forest is so dense for something large to move through it!”

“That,” said Neji, “is why I ask that we share our search. Ride south, and I shall go further west. We will meet in the palace at nightfall.”

Lee's response was no less than faithful, and he galloped off with perhaps too much energy, as Neji had evaluated him too loud as disruptive for hunting, especially if the sought creature controlled enchantment. Knowing that any southern path Lee took would inevitably lead him back to the Hyuuga grounds, Neji rode on without concern. When the path ended, he dismounted and tied his horse to a sturdy oak before continuing on foot through uncleared territory.

It unnerved him how few sounds could be heard. More common was the wind through the millions of leaves and the twigs and brush that snapped beneath his boots. Neji's eyes, however, were sharper than his ears. He spied the tracks of animals long since passed through and claw marks of beasts upon the tree trunks. What he found most odd was that almost every trail led the way Lee had gone – as though they refused to traverse uncharted land. The other man would likely encounter more game and wildlife than Neji. That meant the better chance of finding something was south.

Gaging the pair of minutes ago when Lee had started off, Neji called once after him. Lee's hearing was keener than his, and he suspected they could still rejoin before too much time was lost trying to find each other in a change of plan.

Then, turning back to where his horse was secured, Neji saw the swan.

---

The flight over the forest was smooth and warm in the sun until Tenten heard a voice call for Lee. With a start, she immediately turned her head up to where Sasuke flew above as her guard. It's Neji! she called to him, heart beating drum-like in her breast.

Sasuke predicted her reaction and swooped to block her with his entire wingspan before she could dart down to the trees. Do not be reckless! He won't know—

Tenten, however, was in no mood for warnings, and she was the longer bird. Maneuvering around Sasuke, she took her own dive for the treetops. The raptor's subsequent moment of hesitation was all she required to lose him in her eagerness.

She folded her wings to avoid the scrapings of branches on the way down and propelled herself only six feet over the forest floor. Tenten moved cautiously around trunks and untamed shrubs, seeking the prince she knew to be present.

To Be Continued...