Author's Note: Hi All! This is my first NejiTen story. Let me know if you like it and think I should continue by reviewing. I sort of have a plot in mind, but am still developing it. Thanks for reading!
Summary: Tenten finds out that her mother has died from a white-eyed stranger, who turns out to be Hyuuga Hizashi. Before Neji and Tenten start the Academy for the first time, Hizashi asks Neji to assist him in protecting someone important. What happens through the years as Tenten and Neji grow up?
Chapter 1: Who You Must Protect
Tenten laid down in her bed listening to the sounds of the cool night breeze made when it blew past the leaves of the sukura trees. She was going to start attending the Academy tomorrow and while she had been excited about this for the last year, it now seemed unimportant in the context of what had just happened last week. A tear silently slipped down her cheek and she did not wipe it away. Tears had long become a common occurrence since her mother had died. The warm salty liquid dried in the crisp air while she remembered the day that everything changed.
Seven Days Ago...
Somebody was knocking on the door. Was kaa-san back from her mission? She had promised that she would bring back something as she always did from her visit to the Water country.
Sometimes it was a feather from a magnificent bird or a unique wildflower found within the depths of a forest. Other times, to her greatest delight, her mother would give her a weapon that had been abandoned in the aftermath of a fight. Tenten loved these the most and would always rush to her room to admire the workmanship and compare the designs to the others in her growing collection. Her mother would even teach her how to use each item with accuracy and speed.
She glanced at the window momentarily and saw a full moon before opening the door and shouting, "Okaeri nasai!" (Welcome home!). However, she stepped back hesitantly upon seeing an unfamiliar masked figure instead of her loving mother. He was obviously ANBU as he wore the long black hooded cloaks that they did and an image of a bird's face adorned the otherwise plain mask.
"Are you Tenten-chan?", he asked. She nodded her head looking curiously up at the man. He knelt down to her level and lifted his mask. His white eyes reflected the moonlight as he paused. When he told her about her mother, she stood silent and still. The look of shock and disbelief only visible in her face and eyes. Slowly, she started to tremble, the vibrations wracking her body until she could barely stand. She collapsed into the man's arms, sobbing uncontrollably as he awkwardly held her. With all his experience with fighting and death, he still did not know what else to do for the poor little girl before him who had just lost her world.
Hizashi walked to his son's room within the complex maze of sliding doors of the Hyuuga compound. It was late, but he knew Neji would still be awake listening the sounds of the nightingale outside of his window waiting for his father to return. It was their tradition. Neji would attentively listen while Hizashi gave an account of the mission before peacefully falling asleep. Tonight, however, he dreaded telling Neji about what had happened earlier today. He went over to sit down on Neji's bed and patted the place next to him. Neji moved over to the side of the bed, his legs dangling. He was surprised when his father suddenly gave him a quick hug, saying, "Just remember, no matter what I will always love you and be here for you".
Neji was confused. "Father, what happened today?" Hizashi took a breath. "Do you remember what I told you about your mother?" Neji considered this, and replied, "Yes. You said that she wasn't able to be with me when I was born, but she loved me. You said she would help you take care of me even if I couldn't see her". Hizashi closed his eyes as he heard his son repeat his words to the letter. "Yes, Neji. That's exactly it. I want you to do something for me. A... friend of mine asked me for a favor. There is a little girl the same age as you who now has nobody to protect her or care about her like you do. I need you to assist me with something. You are a strong boy and this will help you become stronger."
Back to the Present...
Neji was walking to the Academy with his father for the first day of school. He noticed that almost everyone had a parent or two leading them in to the classrooms. However, one little girl stood apart. She had a little pink shirt on (Chinese-style) with green capri pants and her hair put up in two buns on the side of her head. She walked slowly and looked around every once and awhile when she wasn't staring at her feet. A small smile showed on her face, but this was not reflected in her eyes. Neji tugged on his father's sleeve and whispered, "That girl seems lonely." while nodding in the direction of the girl he had been watching. Hizashi looked at the girl and turned toward Neji. "Yes, that is the girl you must protect."