Another World | NejiTen

Chapter 19 | Murder Mystery Part 2

Tenten couldn't be too sure about anything at this point. Shino didn't seem like the type to play games, just silently eliminate, but the murderer in this case was definitely finding some way to entertain themself. Could it possibly be Ino? She went over the possibilities of her best friend being the murderer in her head. Ino wasn't one for playing sneaky games unless it involved shipping, and Tenten doubted that anyone would be having a noisy argument or laughing their heads off in this matter. Shikamaru wouldn't be making out with Temari, since he was monitoring them all. She wasn't with Neji either, so Ino probably wouldn't be playing some game with her victims, like the murderer of this round was most likely doing. The platinum blonde was pretty smart; she would probably be hiding or sneaking around.

She then went over the possibilities of Sakura being murderer. She didn't seem like the game playing type either, just someone who would quickly kill and move on to the next victim. Sweet Hinata had claimed to be innocent, and Tenten just couldn't find it in her heart to distrust her words. Plus, wouldn't she have shot if she was the murderer? Instead, she just moved on. No, it couldn't be Hinata, she would have killed more people by now. 

Gaara? Tenten didn't know him that well, but he seemed serious, almost like Shino. He wouldn't miss a chance to kill and just simply walk away from a victim like the murderer had done to her. It didn't make much sense, so she passed on that thought and wondered who could possibly be the next suspect. Kankuro didn't seem like the type, and Chouji didn't seem like it either. He probably snuck a bag of chips into the game and was currently snacking on it while she pondered the suspects. 

Tenten wondered if Naruto could be the murderer, but she mentally scoffed at the thought. The goofy, hyperactive blonde wouldn't play such a game. He would take a chance to kill someone and aim for the kill. That left her last victim of contemplation, Temari. She immediately denied the fact that it could be Temari. She wouldn't play with her victims, just shoot, kill, and move on so that she could finish the game faster and go back to Shikamaru. 

Neji and Sasuke were the only suspects, which made her frown in worry. They wouldn't be easy to take down, let alone discover and ambush. She suddenly regretted being sheriff, wondering if she would ever complete the task of her role. No, you're not weak, she told herself, taking a deep breath. If you die trying, you won't be considered weak either. You'll be strong for attempting it, at least. She continued to mentally reassure herself as she tiptoed down the hall. A sudden gunshot made her jump and she quickly yet quietly hurried towards the noise. It led her to a railing that overlooked a floor below the one she currently stood on. A figure had another figure pinned to the ground, and from the position, it seemed as though the attacker had their knee on the victim's back while one hand pinned both arms of the victim down against their back as well. 

Tenten wanted to move and do something, but she was afraid she would shoot the victim by accident. Their proximity was too close, plus, her hands were frozen as they clutched the railing. The attacker's figure moved, pressing the end of the gun against the victim's head. The victim began attempting to shout, but their whole face pressed against the floor didn't help. Tenten could only figure out that the victim's gender seemed female from the screams that were muffled. Come on Tenten, move your arm, she told herself, but she couldn't. She simply felt immobilized as the first gunshot sounded, echoing through the mansion as far as the ear could hear. The second gunshot happened seconds later, causing the silence that followed to roar in Tenten's ears. I've failed. Again.

This time, the murderer pointing the shining beam of light straight at Tenten, causing her to gasp. It lasted for a few seconds before they shut it off, leaving the brunette completely blinded from the sudden direct exposure to light. Dammit, she thought, growling. She let them get away again. Hell, it felt impossible to even find out the gender of the murderer. Their senses were excellent, and they knew she was spying. She wasn't that concealed from view, after all. Tenten rubbed her eyes, feeling them adjust to the darkness once again. On the bright side, she knew that the event which just occurred confirmed her suspicions. It had to be either Sasuke or Neji. No one else could possibly do such things.

Feeling the need to check who was eliminated this time, she quickly headed down the stairs, hurrying to the body lying on the floor. "Ouch, my back," A feminine voice muttered, which Tenten immediately recognized as Ino. 

She remembered Shikamaru's rule about not communicating with the dead, so she couldn't talk to Ino, unfortunately. In front of her, she saw Hinata scurrying towards the scene, gun pointing at her.

"It wasn't me," Tenten swore, holding up her hands. "I came to investigate, just like you."

"You can trust that it wasn't me either," Hinata replied truthfully, her voice soft as always.

"I know. My suspects are either Neji or Sasuke-"

Hinata grabbed the brunette's arm and pulled her towards and room, opening the door and shutting it once both of them were inside. "We couldn't talk out there, out in the open," Hinata explained apologetically.

"Time ranging the sound of the first two gunshots, I'd say that they were towards two seperate people," Tenten guessed as she sat down on a chair in the room. Her legs were tired from sneaking around, and besides, she was absolutely sure Hinata wasn't the murderer.

The midnight haired lady nodded, saying, "I was the one that got shot the second time, although it wasn't close up like Ino's obviously was, considering the position she was in."

Tenten frowned. "Did you see any features on the murderer?"

"No, the mansion is too dark. The murderer seems like a completely silent person. Like you said, it is either Sasuke or Neji. I doubt anyone else would be doing this," Hinata answered. "I have one shot stacked up. I don't think anyone but the murderer has shot yet, this game is harder than any of us anticipated."

The brunette nodded in agreement. "I saw the murderer's figure twice. I saw them kill twice too. Let's just call them he from now on. Have you encountered any of the other girls?"

"I saw Sakura once, and we just went our own separate ways. That was during the beginning of the game," Hinata glanced down at a wristwatch on her wrist. "Right now, it's 9:13 at night. We came at 8:00, I remember."

"So, we've been here for more than an hour, and we're sure that the murderer only killed two people. I wonder what game he's playing," Tenten murmured. "By the way, I'm sheriff."

Hinata's mouth formed a small "o", but she nodded in understanding. 

"I know I'm supposed to shoot and stuff, but the murderer does something before I get a chance and I'm just like ahh, I don't know what to do!" Tenten sighed, frustrated. "I don't want to seem like some weakling, scared against some powerful murderer like Neji or Sasuke. I don't want to make it look like I'm inferior to anyone, because I'm not."

"I know how you feel," Hinata reassured the brunette, walking over to a drawer and opening it. She beamed when she found a card. "Just two more..."

"I have two more," Tenten offered as she stood up, pulling the cards out of her pouch. "Don't worry, I can still use them afterwards. I haven't swiped yet, I've just kept it in my pouch."

Hinata gratefully took the cards, swiping them against the gun before tucking it back into the holster, handing Tenten the cards. The brunette placed them back into her pouch before taking a seat again, frowning. 

"We should get going," Hinata suggested. 

Tenten nodded, getting up. The two of them quietly slipped out of the room, Hinata silently shutting the door behind them. After a few moments of silence, a gunshot echoed, causing both of them to jump. Both of them hurried towards the sound. The scene was happening through a double doorway, inside some massive room. They peeked through the crack in one of the doors. The figure of the murderer was once again pinning someone against a wall, pressing a gun to their head. In a flash, the gunshot sounded, and the victim was eliminated. The murderer's figure now headed their way.

Fear flashed in both their eyes. Run, Tenten mouthed to Hinata, pulling out her gun. She nodded in reply, knowing what the brunette needed to do. Hinata fled, the scene while Tenten waited for the right moment to shoot.

"Tenten." 

One word. The murderer said one word, and it made her whole body turn rigid. Neji...