He watched them through both sets of eyes, almost chuckling in glee. 

It seemed that they were quickly catching on that something was off, but going directly to the site of the switch? Now that was a risky move. Someone sighed behind him, but he didn't budge. 

"This is a waste of time," the voice from behind hissed. "We have bigger, better things to take care of. This is silly, letting a charade like this continue to exist. Wouldn't it be simpler to kill it off and let them stay trapped?" 

The former laughed, his voice sounding almost amused. "You're so quick to stop things before they start. Wouldn't it be fun to sit back for a moment and watch them run around like a punch of puppies?" he suggested. 

The latter sighed. "You do what you want," the voice snapped, "But this is indeed a waste of time." 

"Oh come now, I'd rather do something enjoyable before all hell breaks loose." The shadow sneered. "Unless you'd rather go entertain him. He did leave it up to us on what to do with this situation." 

The voice sighed. "You are a pain, Chatterbox." 

The shadow's pale mouth grinned widely. "Happy to be one," he teased, before closing his eyes to look through another's. 

It seems like if they got close enough, everyone would see another. 

'That won't do,' he thought as a sigh escaped his lips. No, one side needed a distraction. It wasn't like they knew how to stop from crossing one plane to another, but he didn't think it would be fun for them to see each other just yet. 

A distraction needed to be created. And he knew just the type of distraction one side needed.

~

Shikamaru yawned softly, watching Neji as he watched him. "Hm? Can I help you?" he asked. 

Neji blinked and shook his head. "I'm just not used to... You. Or anyone around here. It seems like everything is so different here." 

"Heh, you should've figured that out sooner than you did." He teased. 

Neji half glared. "Hey now, I had only met Tenten. I didn't think everyone else would be so different... Even Hinata. She hasn't tried to create a hole in my stomach yet, so she's certainly not..." 

Neji couldn't find the right word. 

"Harsh," Tenten added in, shuddering just a little. Hinata looked at them in confusion. Sakura smiled weakly, unable to stop a shudder creeping up her back. 

Yes, the Hinata on the other side was indeed terrifying. Even Naruto knew it. 

The blonde-headed shinobi said, "Ehe, yeah, let's not bring her up. B-Besides, this Hinata is a lot better than her." 

Hinata blushed hard at Naruto's compliment and said, "T-Thank you, Naruto-Kun..." 

Sakura smiled before saying, "I do hope we find a clue around the area. It'll bring us one step closer to bringing the other Neji home." 

Lee nodded and exclaimed, "I will give him my best Youthful Hug ever!!!" 

Tenten sweatdropped and said, "Aha, actually Lee, that may not be the best idea." 

"Why?" Lee pressed, "I'm sure he'll want a hug!! He misses us of course!!" Tenten looked at him for a moment before looking down. 

"Yeah," she said softly, "And we miss him." 

Neji looked down at Tenten and opened his mouth to comfort her, but someone had jumped in front of them. 

"Phew! I'm glad I caught up to you all!" 

"Oh, Shizune!" Sakura exclaimed, caught off guard. "What can we do for you?" The kunoichi smiled softly before frowning and saying, "Tsunade-Sama has requested your presence, Tenten." 

She blinked before practically screeching, "Mine?!"

~

Shino glanced around before sighing. "There's nothing here," he said flatly. 

Neji sighed and shook his head. "I was afraid of that," he stated. 

"What should we do now?" 

"Retreat until you or Tenten can think of what might've caused the switch," Menma replied, tapping his foot almost impatiently. 

"Wait," Tenten pleaded, "There's got to be something here. I remember seeing a white tree nearby before passing out. Neji, you remember, right?" 

Neji's eyebrows lowered for a moment. "Hmm... Yes, actually. You did point it out to me yesterday." Shino walked towards Tenten and said, "I believe the tree you're mentioning is down that way." He pointed, and Tenten followed his hand, finding that the tree was a little down the way. 

"There it is!" she exclaimed, preparing to sprint forward. However, Neji grabbed her shoulder and said, "Hold on Tenten, the last time we got too close, we switched. I'd rather not try anything reckless just yet." 

After thinking about it for a moment, she nodded and walked as the same pace as everyone else. Neji, although he wasn't looking directly, noticed Hinata was glaring at him. 

With a sigh, he asked, "Do we have a problem?" 

"Keep your hands off of Tenten," she growled. Neji clicked his tongue in annoyance. "I don't put my hands on females unless they want me to. And even then, I don't care for things like that." 

'Unless it's her.' 

Hinata's eyes narrowed. "You better fucking watch yourself, Cousin, or there will be hell to pay." 

"Hn," was all he said in response. Hinata's threats were minor to him right now. 

He was more worried about what that damned white tree had to do with any of this craziness. Just what kind of connection did it have when it came to him and the other Neji switching places? For Kami's sake, he really wished he had the Tenten he knew beside him. 

She'd probably whine or complain, but at least it was noise compared to the Tenten in front of him. 

She seemed quiet and showed just how worried she was. 

That unsettled Neji more than it should have.

~

Tenten shifted awkwardly in Lady Tsunade's office. The other shinobi were quiet, waiting for the Hokage to clear her throat and start talking. However, she just kept a stern stare at all of them. 

Sakura didn't say anything, knowing better than to be the first one to talk. 

Shikamaru rubbed the back of his neck but knew better than to say anything at all.

 Naruto, however, was tired of Tsunade doing nothing but staring them down. "What's up, Granny?" he asked, gulping slightly when Tsunade looked his way. 

"What's up, huh? Is that all you have to say to me?" When no one answered, she shouted, "Tenten!!" 

"Y-Yes!" Tenten screeched, tensing up. Tsunade shook her head and asked, "When were you going to tell me about Neji switching up?" 

The young ninja looked at her in a dumbfounded manner. How could she tell?! Neji struggled to keep his comments to himself, as the Tsunade he knew didn't pack a punch, but the Tsunade in front of him was probably the opposite. 

She had a large pair, larger than Hinata's, oh but to say anything about it would only verify him a horrible, painful death. 

Tenten sighed softly. "Apologies, Lady Tsunade. I would've told you sooner, but he was just switched with me yesterday." 

"Yesterday?" Tsunade questioned, "Do you mean to tell me that something else has transpired under my nose?" Tenten winced slightly at her tone and said, "Yes Ma'am... Permission to explain?" 

The Hokage nodded swiftly. 

Tenten shifted awkwardly and said, "Well... About five days ago, something occurred. I recall walking in the words to clear my head and I remember seeing someone who almost looked like me. Not long after, I felt like someone had hit me in the back of my head. When I woke up... I found myself in another world. One like this one, but different. Completely, entirely different."

~

They studied the tree from afar. Menma sighed and said, "This isn't good. A white tree, dead instead of living, in a forest surrounded by fresh, living trees. I'm not trying to be superstitious, but I do believe that as a stretch, this tree has to do with you both switching so much." 

Choji nodded and said, "That's not really a stretch, as the tree was there every time Neji and Tenten got near it. There's something about that tree that's... Unnatural." 

Neji took a step towards it, activating his Byakugan. His eyebrows lowered as he said, "I can sense a slight chakra pulse coming from it... Strange." 

As he continued to watch the tree, he noticed the pulses only reached a certain distance. He then realized that he was standing within the ripple. It wasn't long before he started feeling faint. 

"Neji!!" Lee cried out. Menma looked at Neji in a shocked manner. His body was slowly becoming static. Tenten and Lee didn't hesitate to pull him back, causing his body to revert back to normal.

Neji gasped out, holding his head in pain. It was almost as bad as when Hiashi activated his curse mark. 

"Neji," Tenten cried out, "Are you okay?!" He nodded very faintly. "Keep away... It's a trigger. Ten feet from it triggers it. I don't know how, but stay back." 

Choji frowned. The situation was becoming more serious than he thought. "We should report to Lady Tsunade," Choji said flatly. 

Neji shook his head. "No," he said, "we need to keep this as covert as possible. Only trust your comrades. For now." 

Tenten looked at him in confusion and concern. "Neji, what's wrong?" 

Neji shuddered as he said, "I feel like we're being watched. We should retreat for now." Hinata opened her mouth to protest, but Shino said, "I agree. For now, let's take a step back and look at what we've found out." 

Menma looked at the trees behind him. Their leaves merely blew softly along with the wind. 

"Yeah," Menma said quietly. "Let's head out."

~

Tsunade sighed softly. "Dead white trees, switching shinobi. What the hell is going on here?"

 Sakura stated, "I don't know, My Lady, but we were on our way to investigate the area. We believe that if we find the source of the problems, then the rest can be figured out." 

Tsunade raised her hand, silencing Sakura before she could say anything else. 

Tsunade then said, "As much as that may help us, we don't need to cause a trip switch. Whatever switched Neji and Tenten up could be not only vulnerable, but very fragile as well. I ask that you all stay away from that area until further notice." 

Tenten opened her mouth to protest, but Neji spoke up and said, "Ah, My Lady, if I may, we don't know when the connection from my world to this one will be severed. Isn't there any chance you can allow us just a look? You can come with us if you'd like, just to make positive we don't get too close." 

Tsunade closed her eyes and looked as if she was considering it. However, the sigh that escaped her lips told everyone otherwise. "I can't risk it," was all she said. 

Tenten crossed her arms in irritation. 

What in the world were they supposed to do now? 

Sakura said, "I understand. If you will excuse us." 

The Hokage nodded, and within a minute, they all left the door. Tenten was prepared to go home until Shikamaru said, "Everyone follow me." 

Confused, she and everyone else kept close to Shikamaru, who didn't seem to be going anywhere in general. Naruto had finally exclaimed, "Shikamaru, where the hell are we going?!" The smart shinobi grinned as he said, "To meet up with the others. Shino knows what I mean." 

The kunoichi and shinobi looked to him for an answer, and all he said was, "You'll see. Just be patient." Sighing, Tenten figured it was best not to argue. 

Hinata smiled and said, "Have faith, Tenten. I'm sure good will come out of this." Tenten nodded and looked to Neji, who seemed just as nervous as she. 

What good could possibly be coming out of Tsunade forbidding them to investigate?

~~~

Yup. I did it. I'm awesome. *Dances to the song above* I did it, I did it, I made an update! 

I feel way too happy with myself, so I decided to put a link of one of the most upbeat Vocaloid songs I have heard in a long while. I listen to three other versions of this, including the original that isn't Vocaloid. 

Anyway, don't think this is me returning to make a weekly update. I don't get lucky like that. I simply hope you enjoy this update. We're getting closer and closer to the finale. You all know it. 

Until the next Update!

~ Nimo #IFanonNotCanon