Tenten sat on the rooftop of a weapons shop, absently sharpening a kunai while watching the streets below. Training was done for the day, but she preferred to keep her hands busy. That was, until she spotted Raven, Ino, and Hinata heading toward her with unmistakable intent.
Raven smirked up at her. "Hey, Tenten. Wanna go out for pizza?"
Tenten scoffed, flipping her kunai between her fingers. "Tch. No thanks. I have training to do."
Raven said nothing, just reached into her pocket and pulled out… a lollipop.
Tenten's entire focus shifted. Her eyes locked onto the candy with a sharpness that rivaled the finest steel. "Is that… cherry flavored?"
Raven twirled it between her fingers with a knowing smirk. "Limited edition. Imported straight from the Land of Honey. One-of-a-kind sweetness. All yours… if you join us."
Tenten's meatball buns wiggled. She stared at the lollipop. Then at Raven. Then at the lollipop again.
She scowled, snatched it, and hopped down from the rooftop. "I hate that this works on me."
Hinata, arms folded, smirked. "Raven, you're literally bribing her with candy."
Raven shrugged. "Hey, everyone has a price."
Ino snorted. "That's… disturbingly accurate."
Crusty Kunai, the Arata family's famous pizza shop, was a well-known hangout for shinobi. The scent of melted cheese, fresh dough, and just the right amount of seasoning filled the air as they stepped inside.
Behind the counter, a sharp-eyed woman glanced up, smirking. "Well, well. My daughter is dragging more innocent girls into her nonsense."
A groan from Raven. "Mom, don't start."
The woman—Aiko Kamizuki—tilted her head. "What? I'm just saying, first Ino, then Hinata, now Tenten? At this rate, you'll be Hokage by seduction alone."
Tenten choked. Ino turned bright red. Hinata, composed as ever, simply took a slow sip of her drink.
Raven's father, Hajime Kamizuki, peeked out from the kitchen, stroking his beard with sage-like wisdom. "Ah, the path of the pizza warrior is treacherous. One must balance toppings, heart, and strategy."
Aiko smacked him over the head with a pizza roller. "Shut up, Hajime."
Hajime dodged smoothly, laughing. "Girls, welcome! Sit, sit. I'll make something special."
Raven muttered, dragging herself to the booth. "You see why I don't bring people here often?"
The food arrived in minutes. A large pizza with extra toppings, fresh garlic knots, and cold drinks—Hajime's way of welcoming Raven's "victims."
Hinata took a delicate bite, smiling. "Your family makes excellent food."
Raven exhaled dramatically. "Yeah, that's how they trap you."
Tenten took a slice, eyeing Raven. "You know… this is starting to feel suspicious."
Ino nodded. "Yeah. First me, then Hinata, now Tenten. What exactly is your endgame, Raven?"
Raven smirked, taking a slow sip of her drink. "I just like surrounding myself with strong, beautiful women."
Aiko, passing by, casually dropped the bombshell. "She's been like this since she was a kid. You should've seen her—'Mom, when I grow up, I'm gonna have the strongest and prettiest girls at my side.'"
Hinata choked.
Tenten dropped her pizza.
Ino's brain stopped working.
Raven, horrified, slammed her forehead into the table. "I was FIVE!"
Hajime nodded sagely. "A prophet, even in childhood. Truly a visionary."
Tenten, still processing, pointed at Raven. "So, this was planned from the start?"
Raven lifted her head just enough to glare. "I'm going to launch myself into the sun."
Ino turned to Aiko. "So… what do we do with her?"
Aiko smirked. "Simple. If you're going to stick around, you need to know a few things."
Aiko crossed her arms, listing rules.
"One: Don't let her dodge questions. She loves being vague."
Ino nodded. "That tracks."
Raven groaned. "Et tu, Ino?"
"Two," Aiko continued, "If she ever does something reckless, bribe her with food."
Hajime added, "And three—tell her she's pretty. It makes her smug, but it works."
Raven groaned louder. "WHY are you like this?!"
Hinata, smirking, sipped her drink. "Noted."
Tenten leaned back in her seat. "So… what, this is a recruitment dinner?"
Raven smirked. "Officially? No. But if you're asking that, you're already halfway in."
Tenten froze. Ino and Hinata exchanged knowing glances.
Tenten, glaring at the half-eaten lollipop on the table, muttered, "I knew the damn candy was a trap."
After dinner, the group walked through the quiet streets of Konoha, full from their meal. The sky was dark, but the streets were lit with warm lanterns, casting soft glows along the buildings.
Hinata, watching Raven, finally asked, "Do you ever regret it?"
Raven blinked. "Regret what?"
Hinata hesitated. "Going against what's expected of you?"
Raven thought for a moment before smiling slightly. "Never. Freedom is worth any fight."
Tenten, surprisingly serious, murmured, "That's… not a bad way to live."
Ino exhaled. "You really don't do anything halfway, do you?"
Raven chuckled. "Nope."
And as the night stretched on, the girls realized something.
Raven wasn't just pulling them into her orbit for fun.
She was leading them toward something bigger.
And none of them were entirely opposed to it.
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