Picking up where we left off at the end of 'Underneath it All.' If you haven't read that story, please do before reading its sequel!

Underneath the Underneath
Chapter One

When Neji and Tenten returned to Konoha, Hanabi met them at the gate and immediately latched on to the older kunoichi with a list of weapons she wanted to order or try or ask her about ordering or trying. Tenten always had someone watching the shop, but no one could match her expertise in these matters, and Hanabi was itching to augment her own arsenal.

"You two took forever," Hanabi said, dragging Tenten toward the village. "Why were you gone so long? You aren't leaving right away, are you? You should take a break or a mission in the village. Then you won't have to leave, and you and Neji can help me train."

Tenten laughed and slung an arm around Hanabi's shoulders. "We never know what our missions will be until we are assigned. Ask me again when I've been in the village for longer than thirty seconds for the first time in ages."

"I'll walk with you to the Hokage's," she quickened her pace. "He's waiting for the two of you. Then you can come get something to eat, and we can-"

"Hanabi," Neji interrupted. "Give Tenten a chance to settle in. We've been gone a long time."

"That's why I said we'll get something to eat," she said in exasperation. "If you're smart, you'll come with us. Grandfather will be looking for you."

Neji and Tenten exchanged glances.

"Alright, Hanabi," she ruffled the girl's long hair. "Assuming we aren't given other orders, we'll catch up with you after seeing Kakashi. I'll come find-"

"I'll wait," Hanabi said firmly. "I want to go as soon as possible!"

Hanabi didn't have to wait alone. Konohamaru was hanging around waiting for Naruto to finish with Kakashi.

"Hey, Hanabi," he waved. "Naruto and Team Kurenai are in there; they just got back." He looked over to Neji. "You guys are supposed to just go in whenever you got here. Aren't Temari and Shikamaru with you?"

"They're right behind us," Tenten said. "They had to report in elsewhere first."

Konohamaru gave a nod of understanding; that meant that they had gone to see Yoshino, and he knew she'd be working in the Nara clan's forest today.

Shikamaru always made sure he saw his mother before seeing anyone else, to let her know he made it home. He had been diligent about that since his father's death, as were all members of Asuma's team. No matter who was assigned where, they looked out for their parents, Kurenai, and Mirai. It was just one more way in which the village stayed connected through the generations.

Neji and Tenten entered the Hokage's office not three minutes before Shikamaru and Temari arrived.

They took a seat while Shino finished giving his part of the report, exchanging silent greetings with their friends.

When Shino finished, he took a seat while Kakashi straightened a stack of papers on his desk and handed them to Shizune, who swapped him for another set of files. Neji felt rather than heard him sigh.

"It is good you are all here," he said as Shizune put down one stack and gathered up another to pass out to all of them. "That keeps me from having to go through this multiple times."

Neji opened his file to see the reports on their latest missions. Neji and Tenten had left Takayuki's village and gone back to the citadel within days of the raids on the mines. There, they gave their full reports, and a week later, Sai joined them to give his. They had traveled back to Konoha with Shikamaru's delegation, so Shizune had managed to get all of the reports together for everyone on arrival.

Much of the information was familiar to Neji, either because he had been the one that gathered it, or because Shikamaru had told him about the other teams' reports.

Takayuki's empire had been far more extensive than they had imagined, and extended well into the business world.

"So, what is this whole impostor thing?" Kiba asked, flicking through the pages.

"We have confirmed that the man that rescued from the mines is actually Takayuki, and that the man who was posing as him is a known criminal named Tatsuo."

"He's still alive?" Tenten looked up from her report.

"Yes," Kakashi gave a single nod. "Alive and in hiding."

"Who is he?" she frowned. "And how did he get into Takayuki's place?"

Kakashi leaned back in his seat. "Takayuki – the real one – had been out of the public eye for many years while he traveled and built up his family's holdings. He had put many of the contracts and business plans in place before Tatsuo assumed his identity. It was Tatsuo that arranged for the raids on the villages that supplied the labor for the mines. He was cruel and unscrupulous, but he was very shrewd. He kept everything in Takayuki's name, and bolstered the family's fortunes significantly."

"Why not just kill Takayuki then?" Temari asked. "Why risk the chance of exposure?"

"We are still figuring that out," Kakashi admitted. "Our current theory is that Tatsuo intended to fully swap their identities, and eventually blame his crimes on the real Takayuki as 'Tatsuo.' Once Takayuki was eliminated, Tatsuo would fully take over his identity and fortune, with no one the wiser."

"Seems like a lot of unnecessary work," Kiba snorted.

Neji secretly agreed. It seemed far too elaborate a scheme considering what had actually been accomplished. Then again, they did interrupt the operation…

"We are still investigating," Kakashi folded his hands in front of his mask. "All of the prisoners, including Takayuki, were subjected to a form of memory suppression. It will take time for him to be able to differentiate between what he actually remembers and what he was programmed to remember."

"What about the villagers?" Naruto's voice was unusually serious. "There is no way we can get the villages rebuilt in time for them to make it through the winter. Where will they all go?"

"The mines all had associated living facilities," Shizune explained. "The food supplies have been secured for the winter, so Takayuki offered to house all of the villagers until other arrangements can be made or the villages can be rebuilt. If they need to travel to other family, Takayuki has undertaken the cost of the transportation as well as offered a stipend for any food they might need during the winter. All in all, he has been incredibly helpful. Many of the villagers are looking to relocate to continue to work for him."

Kiba gave an irritated snort.

"So, this Tatsuo guy built up a huge illegal mining operation, but it was a well-run humanitarian illegal mining operation?"

"That isn't far from the truth," Shikamaru shrugged. "The mines were in place with legal workers before Tatsuo stepped in and broadened the operation. It made Takayuki quite a bit of money, and he feels it is only fair that he takes care of the people that made it happen."

"But the people running the mines knew this was all a racket, right?" Naruto interjected. "Who is going to keep things running now?"

"General Mifune is helping to oversee and coordinate all efforts. It is officially declared a state of emergency until the winter is over, and rebuilding can begin. Until then, while we are cooperating with the Shinobi Alliance and the General."

"How can we help?"

Shizune flicked a glance to Kakashi and then back to Tenten. "As of right now, we have no assignments in the Land of Iron, and there is no call for volunteers."

Tenten looked taken aback, and glanced at Neji before replying. "With all due respect, Neji and I have traveled that area extensively, and were very involved in this mission from start to finish. We could be of help."

"You are both excellent candidates," Kakashi agreed, "but Tatsuo is still at large. Our sources say he is still looking for Lady Tomoe, and wouldn't mind running his sword through the men that came after her."

Neji arched an eyebrow. "Does he have any idea as to our true identities?"

"Hard to say," Kakashi shrugged. "Rumors are all we have to go on right now. If he really did see your eyes, it wouldn't be a stretch for him to make the conclusion that you are a Hyūga," he nodded to Neji. "From there, he could easily look to Konoha for answers. Of course, he may do that anyway," Kakashi motioned to an open scroll on his desk. "The efforts of our village in this operation spanned across many levels. I already have had several requests for Team Kurenai to return, and Sakura has been going to the camps to set up medical outposts. The shinobi of the Leaf were well and visibly represented."

"All that being said," he glanced down to his file, "we are limiting our presence in the Land of Iron for the immediate future. As we learn more, I shall inform you. Well done, everyone," his eyes crinkled in a smile obscured by his mask. "Team Kurenai. Naruto. I already gave you your assignments. You are dismissed."

"Oh good," Naruto sighed happily. "I'm starving! Hinata – let's go get something to eat!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of Kakashi's office, leaving Kiba, Shino, and Akamaru to follow, shaking their heads.

That left Shikamaru, Temari, Neji, and Tenten.

Kakashi steepled his fingers. "I have been in contact with the General and Lady Takeko. They were impressed by all four of you, and would like you to continue to be a part of this mission."

Tenten frowned in confusion, "But you just said…"

"And what is the mission now?" Temari interrupted, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

"For now?" Kakashi leaned on his elbows. "For now, we wait while other allies search for Tatsuo and gather more intelligence. I am asking you and Shikamaru to be our eyes and ears at the council. If there is useful information to be had, it is probably to be found among the delegates. As for the two you," he looked to Neji and Tenten, "Officially, your team is on the inactive list as of today. As a further precaution, neither of you are to leave the village alone or to travel beyond the boundaries we shall set."

"Neji," he leaned back in his chair. "I am told that the clan is eager for your return for a variety of reasons, so I have no doubt that you will have plenty to fill your time. Tenten, the offer to teach at the academy still stands, and will take you through the bulk of the time in the village."

Tenten slid a look at Neji before venturing "And…how long might that be?"

"Not too long," Kakashi shrugged. "Six months? No more than eight." He ignored Tenten's open-mouthed shock and straightened a stack of papers. "Your team has put in a grueling past few months," he set the papers to the side. "Take advantage of the time to relax and regroup. Start now," he said sagely. "I shall let you know the minute we hear anything else."

The meeting was dismissed before anyone had time to argue, and the four shinobi were ushered out into the hallway. Neji watched his teammate walk as if in a daze, finally looking up to him and asking incredulously:

"Six to eight months?"

"It would appear so," he said mildly, enjoying her obvious shock.

"And we can't leave the village without an escort?" she pressed, baffled.

"At least not at first," Shikamaru interjected. "Might not be an issue in a month or so."

Tenten exchanged a glance with Temari and shuddered. "I hope not," she muttered. They headed down the hall, and spotted a waiting Hanabi.

"Finally," Hanabi huffed, pushing off of her seat on the windowsill to hurry over to them. "C'mon!" she grabbed Tenten's hand. "Let's get to lunch. We have business to discuss!"

Tenten threw a helpless look over her shoulder and shrugged at Neji before being dragged off by his cousin.

Temari watched with skeptical amusement. "You sure that one's a Hyūga? Seems a bit too enthusiastic for the role."

"Watch her spar sometime," Shikamaru said dryly. "She's definitely a Hyūga."

"Well, we'd better hurry after Tenten," she adjusted the fan on her back. "We're not officially done looking after these two until they've been delivered to their respective homes."

"Normally I'd say Tenten can look after herself," a hint of something tugged at the corner of Neji's mouth. "But Hanabi can be quite determined."

"Maybe it's a Konoha thing," she muttered, leaving Neji and Shikamaru to follow after her.

Shikamaru waited a beat before offering "I'll let you know anything we find out. Winter in the Land of Iron will make it difficult to find Tatsuo, but it will also hamper his ability to travel and reorganize. It will buy us some time."

"Word tends to travel slowly in the Land of Iron," Neji mused. "The intelligence indicates that Tatsuo has expanded his holdings and influence significantly – he could be any number of places."

"He won't leave the Land of Iron," Shikamaru shook his head. "He can't risk being prevented from returning and being stranded."

"Then why are our movements restricted?"

"His underground network is extensive – that much we know. We don't know how extensive. He was obsessed with Lady Tomoe – that isn't something that is likely to go away. In fact," he met Neji's eyes seriously, "with his other pursuits so severely limited, it is likely that he will direct his energy toward his obsession."

"…And his aggression toward me."

Shikamaru nodded.

"And if he figured out we are from Konoha, he will probably not come into our sphere of influence, but he would try and act should we enter his."

"Always knew you were smart," Shikamaru shoved his hands in his pockets. "We should go after the girls," he nodded to the door. "Temari's right, after all. We are officially on duty until you both get home."

"And you're hungry."

"And I'm hungry," he agreed. "And if we don't hurry, they'll finish before we can order. And if that happens, there's no guarantee you'll finish before the elders can find you and-"

Neji held up his hands in surrender, and they headed out of the door. Because what the other man had subtly been saying was:

"Then you'll have to return to the compound, and who knows when you'll get a spare moment again."

It was good to be back in Konoha…but Neji had a feeling it was going to be complicated.

"She is safe here," he reminded himself.

And if staying in the village and putting up with elders meant that it kept her safe – especially after the near miss not that long ago – then it was something Neji would readily undertake.