Title: Who You Must Protect
Author: Matahari
Rating: T (just in case)
Pairing: Neji/Tenten (may include other minor pairings in the future)
Disclaimer: I don't own the Naruto anime, manga, plotlines, or any of the characters therein (translate to Japanese please). :)

Chapter Upload Date: 1/21/07

Author's Note: This took much longer than I anticipated, but I managed to get sick for about two weeks and I was on medication. Luckily, thanks to some really insightful reviews, I can hopefully give you a good chapter. Please keep the reviews coming. I really take them seriously and try my best to improve myself. The last chapter was not one of my best, but that goes to show you shouldn't write something just because you need to get another chapter up:)

Matahari

Recap from Last Chapter...

Whatever the ending would be, Fate was not finished yet.

Chapter 7: Burning Cages

The first day Tenten caught a glimpse of the cursed seal upon his head was when he had come in sick with fever. Rather than staying in the Hyuuga manor and being fussed about by the maids, he had opted to go to the Academy instead. The normal morning run took more out of him than usual and he struggled to look composed when he ran her bell to alert her to his presence.

She had observed how he had seemed a little out of breath when he had arrived at her house in the morning and the normally brisk pace they took was noticeably slower. His focus had been off all day during their lessons as she noticed his eyes blinking rapidly to stay awake when he would usually be the one to nudge her when she was daydreaming. The amount of "Hn"'s doubled the other words spoken between them as they went off to their secluded corner of the world to spar.

Today they had planned to do an intense training session in which they would both hide amongst the foliage and she would track and attack him with weapons as he tried to dodge or deflect the blows while keeping himself aware of any traps she may have set. After a "Byakugan" both of them rushed to conceal their location and Tenten delicately laid a some exploding tags and rigged a few kunai traps along the way (smoke bombs and flares would be somewhat useless) as she heard a faint rustle as a bird flew from one of the trees close to the northern end of the training area.

She wondered whether she should attack. The bird could have flown away for other reasons and to make the first move from this far would leave her vulnerable. Although Neji's long-distance aiming was not as good as hers, she was already at a disadvantage because he could see within a diameter of about 7 meters around him because of that blasted Byakugan bloodline trait of his. Also, his aim was still above average and his ability to close her chakra points at close proximity continued to improve.

In a split second decision, she raced towards where she thought him to be - silently, swiftly as a learned predator stalking its prey until she neared what would be the distance of his field of vision in which she let it all fly - the three kunai in each of her hands, the shuriken that had been prepped for the second round and finally the multitude of senbon hidden amongst her buns and clenched between her teeth. Her heart beat noisily within her chest as her pulse quickened with the thrill of the hunt. She loved these moments where the risk was the highest and the adrenaline pumped through her veins.

Not one to hide in the shadows anymore than necessary, Neji also let loose his weaponry, which were aimed at where Tenten had been when she had released her arsenal, but she had long left the location. Suddenly it was quiet again. The weapons littering the floor the only proof that anything had occurred a few seconds earlier. Tenten caught her breath and willed the beat of her heart to stop racing lest Neji was able to hear it.

Neji's chest was pounding as well as he desperately searched for Tenten. His head had started to ache and the heat from his fever had not subsided. A moment later, a rustling was heard within the bushes, yet, he could not see what had caused the disturbance. It had been very close behind him... was his Byakugan malfunctioning? Was it his fever? Fearing that he had been ambushed, Neji rushed towards the area only to find a small bird caught amongst the branches. However, before he could let the bird free, a kunai shot through the dark cutting an escape for the creature. The next second he found the kunai's twin next to his throat held by its owner as she grinned, "Match."

"Again." had been his only response.

So, they had completed another round with Neji as the victor this time. However, as he lowered the kunai he had been holding next to her throat, he had started violently coughing until he had collapsed from strain. Tenten was not completely surprised given the clues he had exhibited earlier and had quickly dragged him towards the clearing in order to get her emergency medical kit. Before they had started the spar, she had suggested they skip their training session for the day as she was concerned for his welfare, but he had stood firm - stubbornly saying she was just trying to get out of her end of the bargain as he set out their lunch on the still dewy grass.

She contemplated how someone who was so smart could also be so incredibly stupid. Indeed, the time that she had spent with the Hyuuga genius had resulted in him being placed on a pedestal just underneath the one on which the Sannin Tsunade and her mother possessed. Upon reflection, none of them were perfect, yet she supposed that their ability to be and do so much despite their inadequacies and weaknesses were what was really important in life. Upon placing the backside of her hand on his head, she realized he was burning up. She had never before asked about the bandages Neji had worn on his head since she met him.

Ninja families had all sorts of rules which governed the way their hair was styled, what jewelry they had, the markings on their body, and the type of clothing they wore. Since Tenten hadn't known any other Hyuuga besides the man she had met earlier, she had just assumed that this was an example of the Hyuuga dress code. As far as she knew, it was a clan secret to keep their heads from getting sweaty or it covered a third eye.

However, third eye or not, it was getting in the way of a cold compress and she swiftly undid the bandages and reach over to get the small towel in the kit. With a small ninjutsu, "Kourimizu-supure" (ice water spray), the towel become moist and cool as she rolled it to place it on his forehead. However, before she could complete her task, she paused at the sight of a strange decoration adorning his forehead.

A tattoo of sorts with a hooked lines, one facing up and one facing down, leading to a center containing a bent cross of sorts all colored in a turquoise blue (P.S. I'm using the manga version of the design). Mopping his brow, she grazed a fingernail and saw that it was indeed imprinted onto the skin and a slight electric jolt of pain accompanied her touch. Leaving the towel, she covered him with a blanket as she heard the ring of the bell signaling the end to lunch.

When Neji came to, he sat up noting the position of the sun in the sky and realizing that it was near the end of the school day. As a cool towel landed on his lap and his hand flew to his forehead. Not paying attention to the absence of his fever, he let his emotions fly free. "Tenten..." he growled, for once loosing his cool with the future kunoichi.

However, this quickly dissipated when he saw her laying next to him next to an opened medical kit curled up in a fetal position for warmth and the blanket that should have covered her on top of him. A little more objectivity entered his mind and he concluded that she must have been taking care of him. Taking off the blanket, he laid it over Tenten's body as he took some bandages from the kit to mask his forehead once again.

Flashback
It should have been a happy day. After all, his cousin had just turned three and all the Hyuuga had stayed within the manor for the auspicious occasion instead of attending the Festival celebrating the new treaty between the Fire and Lightning countries. His father had seemed tense the entire morning and he had urged him to play all of his favorite games the day before and eat his favorite foods for dinner and breakfast. When his father had told him that he was supposed to finally meet his cousin for her birthday, he thought that this was all a part of the birthday festivities.

When the time finally came to greet his cousin, the members of the Branch family met with the Hiashi-sama and the rest of the Main family in the middle of a courtyard. He never understood the difference between the families... weren't they all related? Even his father was the twin brother of Hiashi-sama so why were they constantly separated?

His cousin, Hinata had white Hyuuga eyes and uncommonly navy blue hair which was cut short close the her neck. A pink kimono with flames licking the fringes was wrapped around her like a blanket and she stood shyly behind her father's leg holding his hand. She was a cute innocent-looking child and he told his father so, not understanding when he received a sharp glance which quickly softened.

His uncle led him towards a dark room lit up by many torches which lined the walls. In the center of the room stood a single flat circle where a lone paintbrush and inkwell were placed. and the stairs that surrounded it were decorated with designs and markings which he didn't recognize. Neji was an obedient child so when they asked for him to take off his shirt and sit still within the circle he did as he was told.

Hinata had followed her father to this place and she was instructed to put specific markings leading from his upper chest to his forehead. Her hand trembled slightly with the brush, but it steadied upon a stern reprimand from Hiashi. When the brush had again been laid aside, Hiashi placed Hinata's palm on his forehead and whispered words for her to repeat. She did as commanded and shocking light blinded him for a second accompanied by a sharp pain starting from his head and spreading throughout his body.

He found himself spread-eagled on the floor, tremors shaking through him, as he panted for breath, tears flowing from his eyes. Hinata too had experienced some pain as she collapsed on the ground, sobbing. "Cover your forehead with this." Hiashi said giving Neji a set of bandages. Before he departed, he also added, "Hyuugas do not show emotion", although his eyes bespoke a sort of pity. To whom this was directed at was uncertain. However, Hinata quickly pushed herself off the ground and hiccuped while attempting to stem her tears. She was used to dealing with this behavior. Neji too had stopped and only slight pants told of what he had just experienced.

That night, his father brought him to a mirror and helped him undo his bandages while he took off his hitai-ite revealing twin marks. "A meaning of the design on us is a revolving sun. As you know, the Hyuugas are closely tied to the sun and one of the upper-level techniques available to the main family, who we are born to protect, is the Hakkeshō Kaiten in which the user has the ability to protect themselves with chakra coming out of their hands by spinning rapidly. But another meaning is related to a comet. Do you know what a comet is?" Hizashi asked his son.

"No, father."

"It is a falling star that leaves a trail or tail of light in its wake. There was once a comet, which looked that what is in the middle of both of our foreheads. They called it the long tailed pheasant star because it looked like a bird's foot. We too are birds now, and this mark cages us. But Neji, we must do what we can within our cages. Caged birds too can become powerful. You must not be controlled by it."

End Flashback

When Tenten woke up, it was midnight and she felt herself in her own bed. She smiled and whispered, "Arigato, Neji" before she again nodded back to sleep. Neji stepped out from the corner of the room where had had been standing and closed the lamp, leaving for the night, "Arigato, Tenten".

Note to Readers:
Thank you to all the reveiwers last time. I really do apreciate all your responses. Someday I'm going to send review replies! Anyway, I'm listing my comments to each reviewer and for others I'm listing one to two stories of theirs which I have enjoyed.

Shikyo Yaiba - Sorry for being so slow with the suspense! I'm stepping back a little bit, but I'm going to lead up to a life-changing event. :) Some recommended stories: "Bandages" & "Wind" (sequel). Let's just say the first one has Neji requesting Tenten to take her shirt off to bandage a wound (very angsty and cute, whew!) and the second one features Tenten with new and improved powers to pay him back for his defeat in the first one.

Cliff Hanger and Plui-Kun - Glad you liked the ending sentence. You are very good at the cliff-hangers if I remember correctly! Recommended story: "NEVER! Dare You're: ExGirlfriend To Do Anything!" which is a oneshot with where Neji dares Tenten (his ex-girlfriend) to kiss someone (Sasuke). Funny!

EshtarWind - Thanks for reviewing! Here's the update. Recomended story: "A Story of a Family". While this story is over with, if you haven't read it you'll enjoy the fluffy Nejiten moments as well as the strong relationship development between the other genin and Tenten proving that you don't have to be related by blood to be family.

Aireonna - I'm sorry you'll have to wait a little bit until they get older - although they are getting older, just slowly:) No Naruto stories, but I just realized you are a fellow Roswell fanatic! ;)

Alucius - More stepping into the past is going to happen, so let me know if I'm still doing ok!

writingkage231 - I love you for saying that you love the story! I agree Nejiten is the cutest! Recommended story: "How one heart turns cold" - SasukeOC starting with him at Orochimaru's place and coming back to Konoha with a changed life and a new love?

'A'lusy - I'm going to continue while they're young, but a jump forward is coming VERY soon. Recommended story: "The Only Christmas Present". This is such an utterly sweet story about when Neji comes back almost dead from the failed Sasuke mission. Distraught over Neji's condition, Lee gives her the best present she could ask for... NejiTen christmas-flavored fluffiness.

nejitenfan - Love the name. Here's the update! I saw your "Life or Death the Way of the Ninja" story, but there's only about five sentences! Good sentences though. It looks like it will become an intriguing read, especially if you make it Nejiten!

pinky - Thanks for the compliment!

elegant-shining-moon - Your wish is my command! POOF an update appears! Fic: "transformation" is a good story which centers around Neji realizing that Tenten turns into a cat from 9-12 at night. The twist is that she doesn't remember what happens in her feline form.

neji-gaara-fanatic - Thanks for the compliment!

Neji's fangirl - Thank you so much! Hope you're also happy with this chapter!

MyFallenAngel - Thank you for the nice constructive criticism. Recommended Fic: " "Dating Prodigies" where a very well-done Neji, Tenten, and Sasuke triangle is featured and "His Bride to Be" where Tenten has to learn the Hyuuga ways, e.g. never saying sorry and instead apologizing while being sabotaged by a jealous female within the Main family and subsequently being banned. Will they be able to defy the odds even with Hinata's help?

Rurouni Tyriel - Thank you for the excellent compliment, I'm really blushing here. I hope you appreciate the longer fic this time. Recommended Fic: "Uzumaki Chronicles: Hyuuga's Edge" shows a time when Neji must depend on his teammates (Tenten and Naruto) to obtain stolen artifacts from the Hyuuga manor. What will happen when they must fight against someone who has the knowledge to control Neji's curse seal? What is the importance of the legedary sword, "Hyuuga's Edge" and why can only Neji and Tenten use it?

Aventri - Thank you so much for your constructive criticism. I appreciate your going through each of the chapters and I'm sorry you had to end with dissapointment. I sincerely took your criticism to heart and realized that I was going against my usual style. Recommended fic: "White Eyes in the Darkness" in which Neji is haunted by dreams of a man who threatens to take away everything he holds dear. Great suspense and Neji POV fic.

Wise Angel192 - Thank you for reviewing the chapters:) Glad you've caught up and it's never too late to review. Recommended Fic: "Green Tea Leaves". What happens when Tenten reads Neji's tea leaves? What does the future have in store for him?

Pandapple-Chan - Thanks so much for the positive review! YOU are awesome! Recommended FIc: "Jersey Girl". Tenten comes to a new school where only boys are allowed on the sports teams. Sort of AU, but still with ninja powers. When Tenten beats Neji during a fight in gym, she inspires the girls to excel as well and shows the guys that girls can be just as good, if not better.