cнιcнarong ғlower [ ɴejιтeɴ ғαɴғιcтιoɴ ] ✔

Chapter 15

Tenten gaped at him, shocked. "You set them free from their pens?"

Neji rolled his eyes. "No, what I meant was… we'll talk about that now. I'm giving you those pigs for free for your business… all of them."

Tenten's eyes widened. "Really? As in, for real? My gosh, Neji—"

"Under one condition…"

"I know," said Tenten, sighing. "There's always been one, in all the soaps I've watched. So what's on your mind?"

Neji turned his gaze at the evening skies. "I sent Uncle a message saying he doesn't need to bring a fertile woman anymore. I said…well, I said, I already have a fiancée, as beautiful as Helen of Troy, as graceful as a swan, and as refined as a member of the royal family from England."

Tenten felt her face redden. "A-ah… I'm really not as pretty as Helen… and I cannot personally claim that I'm a swan… and I'm not sure my roots came from England…"

Neji blinked. "What?"

"You're going to ask me to be your fiancée, right?" she laughed nervously.

Neji bellowed with laughter. "I'm still in my right mind, Tenten. Why in the world would I ask you to pretend to become my fiancée?" he asked. "You'll be the last person I'll ask of that. You're not any one of those three things I mentioned."

Tenten turned away, embarrassed. "From the way you explained things, that's the conclusion I came up with. Fine, I was mistaken. So what will be my role then?"

"You're the person who knows the population of Konoha," said Neji, "and I want you to find a girl that would fit the requirements: beautiful, graceful, refined…"

"So I would find you a girl that would meet all those requirements… check. Then I would get pigs for my business for free?"

"Yes," smiled Neji. "That'll be done. And if I am satisfied with your choice, you'll receive a bonus."

"You mean that?" Her eyes gleamed. "Oh, ok! How about if I ask for a house?"

"No problem."

"With a door and some windows, and a roof and a ceiling?"

"Ever heard of a house without those?"

"I was just being thorough," she defended herself. "And it can accommodate human-sized creatures?"

He frowned.

"What if you build a doghouse instead? In transacting business, we have to be very concrete." Tenten snapped her fingers, as if remembering something. "Oh yes, and it should have an Olympic-size swimming pool! Indoors."

Neji blinked, then shrugged. "Fine."

Tenten finally grinned and shook hands with him. "Deal!" She looked at him curiously. "By the way, why is your Uncle so impatient in having grandchildren? Don't tell me he's a frustrated father… or a frustrated mother?"