WEAPONS & WONDER

Victory is in my veins . . . [ INDEPENDENT & PRIVATE ] TENTEN UZUMAKI

[hersteel]

TENTEN HAS BEEN MOVED TO FOREAFT.  THIS ACCOUNT SOON TO BE DELETED.

[hersteel]

"Will you slice it?" Lee asks with bright eyes as he sets down the watermelon on a log on the training fields. As a weapon specialist, Lee could only imagine the hundreds of ways Tenten could slice the melon perfectly. Or.. Would that be unsanitary? Or would it offend Tenten? He wanted to spend time with her; Not just see her train. "Er.. You do not have to. I do not want you to feel like I must turn everything into a training exercise. I'm sorry. I just want to spend time with you."

CHOCOLATE - CHESTNUT EYES DROP : landing upon the plump watermelon he has sat beside her, though her gaze rises soon after to rest upon his.  She studies him for a brief moment, watching, listening, noting the liveliness & luster in his eyes, yet his tone falters.  It softens her, drawing forth a swell of compassion and empathy : so she offers a smile, fanning herself, “ I’d be happy to; some watermelon sounds great right now !  It’s way too hot out. ”  Then she eases herself up, with fingers laced & arms stretching above her head; and with one stride, she’s beside him, a hand on her hip, the other under her chin.  There are many ways that she could go about slicing a watermelon, so many choices of utensil or weaponry : a kitchen knife .  .  . a tanto?  Or even a katana, but where is the fun in those?  SO, she sets her mind on something more .  .  . interesting .  .  . something with a bit more flair !  A BATTLEAXE !  That’s exciting, right?  She goes with it, hoping so : Now this is how to practice precision, she muses to herself as she summons one of her favorite pieces of weaponry.  Within moments of lifting the weapon, she springs in to action !  One swing and the melon is cleaved into halves, and with another, and another, the melon is cut into manageable pieces, ready to be savored.  And with a sigh of satisfaction, she relaxes against her axe, using its height to lean on as she reaches for a piece of the juicy watermelon.  “ Y’know, ” she says through thoughtful mouthfuls, “ training exercise or not, ” — she swallows, turning her gaze upon him — “ I like spending time with you, Lee. ”  I always have, and I always will; and she gives him another smile, gentle & genuine.

[hersteel]

👅 - make a silly face at my muse!

meme.   accepting.   [ @yinseal​ ] !

👅 — MAKE A SILLY FACE AT MY MUSE !

CHEEKS ROSE : smile mingling with her chuckle, soft & sheepish, as she shakes her head gingerly.  Tenten had once thought as adults, speaking upon childhood crushes wouldn’t yield such bashfulness.  Yet here she is, blushing & beginning to wonder as to why.  She surely isn’t ashamed, she loves Lee, there’s nothing shameful about that, so .  .  . why does her face feel HOT.  “ Oh, please, that’s never going to happen, ” she chides playfully, waving a hand as to dismiss the notion.  “ Lee and I, y’know, dating?  It’s unlikely! ” .  .  . He’s in love with you, Sakura; and then she knows why : she still feels something for him, and she does feel shame.  It’s left her vulnerable; susceptible to being wounded, and it does hurt.  The vulnerability in love HURTS and she wants to torch it, douse it, KILL it, run from it, anything, but she can’t .  .  . she’s tried.

[hersteel]

CHUYA HOZUKI — UZUMAKI ( SUIKA ) ft. @biteheir !

[hersteel]

[ MOONESCENT — HINATA ] :

        Heat blasts Hinata’s face when she enters the smithy of Ozora Kai.  She squeezes her eyes shut as she adjusts to the heat, nose crinkling and lips lifting into a smile of amusement.  Despite the many times she’d journeyed into the fiery area to visit her close friend, she’d never got used to that first blast of heat!

                 “Tenten?” She calls, taking one timid step in.  It was too hot to go farther! “I— I brought lunch! Dumplings.” Dumplings, soup, and vegetables— A gift from the kind villagers of Ozora Kai.  Hinata’s mouth watered at the thought of sipping rich miso soup.  “Everyone is so kind here; They wouldn’t let me pay for lunch.  I felt kind of guilty, but. .” A soft giggle emits her.  “My stomach was really happy, eheh.”

           Her wallet was happy, too.  Though she’d learned to money manage, she wasn’t able to have as many delicious take-out meals as she had when she was a teen living at home.  Staying in Ozora Kai, even on business, was like a vacation for Hinata!

                “What’ve you been working on?” Hinata asks as her friend approaches, eyes sparkling.  “A new weapon, o-or more building materials for the station?”

@hersteel // sc

DINK , DINK , DINK !  Tenten’s hammer strikes against the anvil, again and again and again, her movement fluid and precise, an accuracy only known to the deft hands of a master.  Her attention does not drift when she hears an ever - so - soft jingling of the door chime between hits of her hammer; WHOEVER her visitor may be, they must wait just a few moments.  She drives the hammer down ( thrice more ) against the nail header that rests on the anvil, only to lift the header once she’s satisfied, tipping it slightly so the now - finished nail slides out and onto the stone hearth where it can cool . . .

It is only when Tenten hears a familiar voice, Hinata, calling her name softly into the HEAVY heat, that she pauses . . . a smile slowly spreads across her dry lips & dirtied features as she places her tools down upon her workbench.  A wrist is drawn across her forehead, tongue swiping against parched lips as she then wipes soot - stained hands against each other, subconsciously trying to rid herself of the soot that’s now going to blacken her hands for a day or two.  She shakes her head, sighing, with a smirk and saunters out from behind thigh - length, crimson noren separating the forge from the front area.  “ Hinata !  It’s so good to see you, ” she says, smile shifting into a rather large grin, venturing forward to give her friend an awkward hug as she tries to avoid smearing soot on Hinata’s uniform.  “ You didn’t have to bring lunch, though I definitely won’t say no to dumplings !  It all smells so good ! ”

She’s not quite sure who honored Hinata with a free lunch, though she could take a few guesses based on the packaging and smell.  If it were Mrs. Yoshida ( from just down the street ), they were in for a very, VERY tasty treat.  “ Yes, they really are !  Their kindness has made things so much easier on me too, ” she nods, motioning for Hinata to follow her out of the shop / forge . . . there was NO way that Tenten’d make her friend suffer a lunch in the heat & strong stench of smoke.  “ Don’t worry though, my stomach’ll be happy too, ” Tenten chuckles, pushing a few stray strands of hair behind her ear.  “ I was actually working on another batch of nails for the station build. ”  She takes a deep breath as they exit, inhaling what feels like the freshest air she’s breathed in HOURS.  Gaze of chocolate - chestnut drifting toward a picnic table that she frequents every day during her lunches, positioned specifically so to escape the swelter.  “ I’m excited for the station, are you ? ” Tenten muses, taking a seat at the table, and patting the spot beside her for Hinata.

[cheruib]

measuring ur hand against someone else’s is top notch romance

[hersteel]

An aura of gold fizzles at Tenten’s fingers tips, and her brows are KNIT, eyes sharp and nose scrunches as she focuses on conjuring CHAKRA STRINGS.  She is so close, or so she thinks, but the chakra barely pushes farther than the length of her nails.  Digits remain tense, flexed and stretching as far outward as possible, STIFF as she summons chakra to bend to her will, to no avail.  Her issue is not with chakra control, as that is a skill in which she is adept, but there is a difference between summoning chakra to a body part and summoning chakra to form outside the body.  Her jaw sets, teeth clenched and grinding as frustration takes over.  A GROWL escapes her, full of self-contempt, as she tries even harder, hues peering down at strained fingers; “ I just can’t seem to do this... ”  But, she doesn’t relent...  — ( @kabukv ) !!!

[hersteel]

❛ i shed my skin for everybody else . ❜

meme.  not accepting.  ( @bitecured ).

The two sit together, sharing a quilt, in the privacy of Tenten’s study.  Heat crackles within a humble hearth, a stark contrast compared to the rest of the room.  Firelight illuminates ELEGANCE of craftsman quality; bookcases of sturdy walnut, a desk of a polished mahogany, and a love seat ( of which they sit upon ) accompanied by two matching armchairs, all the way down to the black porcelain tea set, with gold and silver inlay of a long-bodied dragon, that rests upon a well-crafted walnut end table.  Though, instead of tea ( the usual tieguanyin ), its carries a warm soybean milk to pair with fresh-baked cookies, an assortment to appease both Tenten and Karin, that she had picked up from the village baker earlier that day.  A choice made after her last encounter with Karin, who looked as if she needed a little more nourishment.  Tenten hoped that the reason for milk and cookies would remain UNNOTICED, she does not mean to offend her cousin, but rather help look after her and her health, because she loves her.

Eyes travel to and fro, once down as she retrieves a cookie, and once more as her gaze lifts and it lands upon the fire.  Fingers, of one hand, TIGHTEN around the porcelain cup in hand.  Is it to protect others, or to protect herself?  Is she afraid to show who she is?  She knows better than to withhold her truths and her CURIOSITIES, Karin has a way with knowing, and if there were to be trust between them, trust that lasts, honesty and openness is what must leave her lips ( now, and forever ); “ But do you do it for you, or for them? ”  The question rolls off her tongue, placid yet pert.  She means no harm, or criticism, but she is forward, that is what she has learned to be when interacting with Karin.  If you try to lie, she will see right through you.

[paroi]

she’s the girl with a fairytale face but her mouth screams like a wolf’s

words of the consultant, minjeong son  (via celaenawritings)

[theanimalmemes]

If a person doesn’t appreciate you the way you are, then they don’t deserve you at all.

@sexual-texts (via sexual-texts)

[papabay]

if u just ask, u too can be wall pinned by fuqboi 1010

[hersteel]

( MOONESCENT / HINATA ):

                     “Where did you learn to style your hair?”  Hinata rests her chin in her palm. “I’ve— I’ve seen you wear it so many ways.”

          Hinata’s watching her friend style her hair for the day— Tenten’s currently braiding her hair with swift fingers.  Meanwhile, Hinata was wearing hers the way she had for the past 10 years: Long, straight, down.  Everyone told her it suited her, yet she couldn’t help but feel plain.  Boring.  A frown threatens to cross her lips.  She shakes it off with a soft laugh.

                    “I’m— I’m not even sure how to put mine into a tight bun.  It’s always lopsided or loose.”  She  laughs again, recalling an embarrassing memory.  “O-Or I forget a few strands, and I have this awful looking rat tail in the back.”

@hersteel

Fingers PAUSE, Hinata’s question causing her to freeze as she maneuvers memories in her mind.  Tenten knows EXACTLY where she learned to style her hair the way she does; with such deftness, a dexterity that had to have been observed from SOMEWHERE, from someone.  A special, special someone.

Hues shift from the bundle of chocolate-auburn mane in hands toward where Hinata sits patiently, lips moving, but Tenten hearing not a WORD that escapes her friend’s mouth.  Her gaze drifts again, mindlessly, landing upon a woman she knew was not truly there, who stood just beside the renounced heiress.  The woman’s hair was of ivory, hanging down all the way to the small of her back, with a single braid that rested as a CROWN upon her head.  Caramel skin seems untouched, as flawless as the day that Tenten last saw her, and eyes of shimmering steel stare fondly at Tenten, the same eyes that had shone smiles at her in a mirror many times before.  SAYURI, a child’s voice giggles, and the weaponsmith realizes it’s hers.

Hinata’s laugh permeates Tenten’s mind, withdrawing her from her thoughts, and her eyes flicker.  Once to Hinata, and then back to Sayuri, but she is gone, and Tenten has heard every word after.  A sensation tickles her nose, tears beginning to well and brows scrunching as she tries to focus on Hinata now.  Be here, here and now, she thinks to herself, but she believes she is losing the battle against her tears, that is, until Hinata is finished speaking.

Her eyes WIDEN and Tenten finds herself overwhelmed with emotions, prompted by Hinata’s comment of a rat tail.  She doesn’t understand why she finds it so funny, but she ends up laughing herself to tears.  But, Tenten offers a smile, using a knuckle to wipe at WET cheeks as she shakes her head, “ I’d be happy to help you learn, we can start off with a single braid.  You would look lovely with one, or maybe we can even try a headband braid. ”  With Hinata’s continuance, something about buns and then a rat tail, Tenten had decided to leave her first query UNANSWERED, for the time being.

[hersteel]

❛ will your tongue still remember the taste of my lips ? ❜

meme.  accepting.   ( @cinderspewed ).

Lips part by a soft, supple swipe of her tongue just as a smile graces her features.  She knows that he savors asking her questions of such taste, ready to gobble up and DEVOUR the emotion she so easily spills forth.  But, Tenten has spent enough time with him to know that he’s just as unpredictable as he is predictable, and she LOVES it, loves him.  Though, she can’t recall a time that she’s ever said those three little words, but the things they do together can only be done by those who love each other... right?  She thinks so, anyways, and she’s willing to ride that wave all the way to her GRAVE.  Why else would she rain hell’s fire upon the world, with only him?

Teeth bite down against her lower lip, a chuckle escaping her; hues EXPLORE his face, grazing over his eyes of a cliche sky blue, but she knows better.  His are a set of clear skies that she’s seen the most beautiful reflections of reds and oranges, and blacks and grays, the color of ash that settles around them, DEVASTATION painted in his visage.  But, her eyes move on, memorizing the way his brows arch, and how they arch when they are raised in speculation, and very rarely, concern for her.  But, once again, her eyes move on, drifting downward delicately to dance upon his lips.  Always, your lips taste of flesh and ash and everything that will destroy me, she muses to herself, with an ever GREATER smile, but different words leave her.  “ Would you like it to remember their taste?, ” she whispers, having leaned in so close to his face that their lips brush ever-so-slightly.  I will remember ALL of you...

[hersteel]

❛ i just wanna sleep forever . ❜

meme.  accepting.   ( @karukv ).

Her fingers brush against Temari’s cheek, the blonde’s head nestled SNUG in her lap.  “ I know, sweetie, I know. ”  Normally, such vulnerability is scarce between the two women, but times are different, and Temari is PREGNANT with her first child.  Tenten had become someone Temari could turn to, if she wanted, and thankfully, on this particular evening, she had done just that.  Though, Tenten has never been pregnant before, and she doesn’t quite know the struggles of an expecting mother, but she tries, and perhaps that is what TRULY counts.  She hasn’t told her friend, but she’s purchased many books about pregnancy and what expecting mothers, and families, could… EXPECT.

RESTLESSNESS and sleepless nights, among an array of other things, could be ailments to be anticipated.  Sure enough, the bags under Temari’s eyes and her demeanor were indicators that her sleep was either NON-EXISTENT or of very poor quality.  Tenten could imagine so, with such a plump tummy, how COULD an expecting mother sleep?  SOS, on the left side, she thinks to herself as fingers maneuver gently through Temari’s hair.  Maybe she DOES know a little something of pregnancy now, thanks to those books.

Hues dart to the clock ticking away, not that she was eager to leave.  She just had not asked where Shikamaru was or what time he might be back, but she knew he was out doing something important.  And, that’s why she had chosen this evening to offer to make dinner for Temari, and Shikamaru if he had been present.  The two had been run ragged by their work schedules, Temari’s pregnancy, doctor visits, all kinds of things; the LEAST Tenten could do was offer to take one thing off of their plates for an evening.  She had boxed up what was left of the dinner, so Shikamaru could simply heat the contents up when he arrived home, while Temari had finished up her second ( or maybe third ) portion, claiming it was her last.  The books had NOT lied, pregnant women could eat an elephant and not bat an eyelash.

It wasn’t until AFTER they had eaten, with leftovers stored away and all the dishes done, that they’d sat down to relax and chit chat.  Laughing over this or that, poking FUN at simple things, and Temari even asking what Tenten’s thoughts were about this name or that name, or what she might name her children if and when she had any.  But, it wasn’t long until Temari’s eyelids began to droop, the toll of sleepless nights creeping up on the expecting mother.  She doesn’t ask, and wouldn’t have needed too, but Temari sets herself down across the couch, her head ending up right in Tenten’s lap.  “ I will wake you when Shikamaru gets home, ” she whispers, offering a smile just as gentle as her touch, and without another word, her dear friend’s eyes are closed and her breathing even.

[hersteel]

[ HEADCANON — SOSAS ] TENTEN’S FAMILY

IZO YUKI — Born 2 BNB.  He is Tenten’s husband, married in 22 ANB.  Izo is a full - blooded member of the Yuki clan of the Land of Water; he hails from an immigrant family of three, who successfully survived the genocide that took place in the Land of Water, escaping by boat and sailing to the eastern coast of the Land of Fire.  He is trained from the wee ages as a carpenter by his parents, residing with his mother and father in the south - eastern forested land of the Land of Fire.  They are a hard-working family who make an honest living as tree farmers and carpenters, and overall odd jobbers should opportunity arise.  Izo, and his parents, keep their shinobi skills sharpened out of fear that they will one day be tracked down, but they keep their skills secret, even from their clients / community in order to protect themselves.  Izo is capable of producing the fabled ice techniques / release ( HYOTON ) of the Yuki clan.  He is a lithe, yet well - built and capable, man with short black hair, purple eyes, a baritone voice, pale peach - toned skin, and a beauty mark located underneath his left eye on the peak of his cheekbone.

ZHENJIN YUKI — Born 24 ANB.  He is the first - born of Tenten’s twin boys, born 4 and a half minutes before his fraternal twin, Sun.  Due to the era of peace that he is born into, he does not have to hide his ability to utilize ice release, an ability and proficiency that he inherited from his father / father’s genes.  He relies heavily on his abilities in ice release, rarely using weaponry like his mother, and training more with his father.  Though, he does ask to train with his mother for close - combat training and aim proficiency, from time to time.  He has his father’s black hair and eye shape, but has his mother’s chocolate - chestnut eyes and sun - kissed skin.

SUN YUKI — Born 24 ANB.  He is the second - born of Tenten’s twin boys, born 4 and a half minutes after his fraternal twin, Zhenjin.  Neither boy has to hide their ability to utilize ice release; however, Sun is much less adept as his brother is, and chooses to rely on usage of weaponry in addition to his icy abilities.  He is much of a stereo - typical mama's boy, and spends an extensive amount of time training with her.  He takes large interest in her business adventures too, often sitting in her office during client meetings, etc.  Sun has chocolate-colored hair, and eyes just like his fathers in shape and color, with skin just as pale, if not a shade or two lighter.  He also inherited a beauty mark underneath his left eye from Izo, but they are not identical, Sun's being a smidge closer to his eye.

[hersteel-a]

she passes the other some paperwork , red nails pointed at something the other could find intentionally interesting , " see , look here. this right here says it's a uzumaki seal , so i don't understand how that kiri-nin managed to pull it off. " features darken , " i should have killed him is what i should have done. what would you have done ? "

THOUGH KIN OF A KIND, FAMILY IS FAMILY; and however broken their clan may be, Tenten often finds herself concerned, curious even, over the welfare of her clansmen, her comrades ( Naruto and Karin ).  She doesn’t see either as much as she’d like; each busy within their own lives, and even then, Karin is who she is, and that means SAVORING the select moments that she agrees to be cordially hosted.

FINGERS CURL AROUND HEATED PORCELAIN, lifting hot contents towards eager lips.  Cup lingers mere inches from pursed, smiling, lips as Tenten inhales the ASTOUNDING aroma of the tea she’s prepared for herself and Karin.  They sit, sharing stories and sipping their tea, the ambiance of sea swells and Huang Hai’s chortling filling the silence between their friendly exchanges.  With pleasantries passing, Karin produces a file, providing explanation and thoughts as she hands the paperwork to her fellow Uzumaki.  Tenten scans the documents, evaluating all of Karin’s notes; it details a FOREIGN shinobi, executing techniques that are known only to be that of the Uzumaki.

HARDENED HUES HOVER OVER FAMILIAR MOTIFS.  She’s accustom to the markings on the parchment; symbols, figures, and patterns used within sealing and unsealing techniques, many that she’s penned during her discoveries and experiments with fuinjutsu.  Though, a less formal, yet all too familiar, motif lay at the center of the sketched replica.  The symbol of their shared, but scattered, lineage, the spiral of the UZUMAKI.  Her gaze lifts, brows scrunching as she processes what she may have done in such an encounter, “ I’d like to think I would have captured him for questioning, but if he was a threat, I likely would have killed him to protect my village. ”  

PAPERS ARE PLACED UPON POLISHED MAHOGANY, and Tenten stands, moving to approach Huang Hai who sits, serene, upon a perch.  Her hand finds his head, fingers curling as she scratches gently; “ There were survivors of the attack on Uzushio, ” she muses, a glance given to Karin, “ he could be an Uzumaki, taught by parents and tradition or texts.  If we ask for the help of the Yamanaka, we could find out how he knows what he knows. ”

                                    — { @chakrabite / @bitecured }

[hersteel]

starter.   ( @babemetaru ).

Metal’s determination FALTERS as his punch lands, with a dull thwack, against his mother’s palm.  Her brows knit as concern TAINTS her once stark features, and her son notices, her face betraying her just as it always has.  But, he pushes forward with a rather sloppy onslaught, STUMBLING and fumbling through his movements hastily, landing hits with little vigor or missing her completely.  Fist and palm collide once again, but this time Tenten does not let him go, choosing to address what she recognizes as a lack of self-confidence.  An absence she has seen his father struggle with, though less of late, and a lack that even SHE has battled.  “ What are you fearful of, Metal?, ” she asks gently, voice laced with care rather than criticism.