The Babes of Neji and Tenten Chapter 7: Emotions Run High, a naruto fanfic

I don't own Naruto…

Chapter Seven: Emotions Run High

"Naruto, I'm going to speak with him." Hinata handed baby Anni to her husband, smoothing back the little girl's blue bangs as she did. Naruto opened his mouth to speak, blue eyes wide, but the Hyuuga cut him off. "Don't offer to come with me, I need to do this alone.

"Don't worry," she added as Naruto stuck out his lower lip slightly, playing the pouting child, and anxiety flashed in his eyes. "I'll be fine. Now take the kids back to our rooms."

After a moment, Naruto nodded his agreement. "Fine." Sighing heavily, he looked around for a second. "Hey, where did Tam go?"

A blond bullet came speeding out of nowhere and hit Naruto around the knees. "Dad, Dad, Dad, can I go with Blaire pretty please, pretty please!?!?"

Before Naruto had time to breath, the five-year-old grabbed onto his father's hand and dragged the man towards Neji, Tenten, Blaire, and Hizashi.

Tenten had her arms wrapped around both of her children, her face buried in Hizashi's dark hair. Neji was talking quietly to Rakki as the people around them slowly filtered out. Tam pulled Naruto down to the aisle and stopped a few feet from the group.

"Uncle Neji, can I stay with you guys please, please, please?!?!?" Tam, who seemed to have moved on from the drama of a few minutes ago, tugged on Neji's robes and looked up at the man expectantly, beaming.

Neji turned from Rakki and looked down at Tam. There was still a vague handprint on his cheek and anger boiled deep in his pale eyes. But for Tam, a flash of amusement appeared. Looking up at Naruto, he said calmly, "I don't mind."

"ALRIGHT! Did ya hear that, Blaire? Did ya hear that?" Tam threw himself at Blaire, clinging to her like a monkey. "I get to stay with you for the whole afternoon! Isn't that great!?"

Blaire, unlike her cousin, was having a harder time letting go of her emotions. Her delicate face was darkened with anger and seemed to be stuck in a very Neji-like glower. She turned a wicked glare to Tam and said slowly, "Yeah, Tam. Great."

Hinata moved over to Neji and said quietly but firmly, "I'm going to speak to father. And no, I do not want you to come with me."

Neji smirked wryly. "Don't worry, I wasn't going to offer. One, you should do it by yourself, and two, I doubt he'd be very glad to see a Branchie right about now."

Hinata's eyes widened and she said, "Neji, don't-."

But her cousin waved dismissively, still smirking. "Go do what you need to, Hinata. We'll watch the kids…and Naruto."

"What was that?!"

"Nothing, sweetie." Hinata turned back from Naruto to Neji. She gave Neji a swift hug before turning and walking out the way Hiashi had.

"Would you like to come with us, Naruto?" Tenten asked the blond, finally standing up. As she spoke, she stroked the back of Hizashi's small head with a trembling hand. I've got to get a grip on myself. They're all safe. No harm done.

Naruto smiled at Tenten. "Sure, if you don't mind."

The woman smiled back, brown eyes warm. "Not at all."

…

I've got to calm down. Being so angry isn't going to help anything. Just like Daddy said, I can't hold on to anger. I have to let go. Blaire took a deep breath, held it, and exhaled slowly. Okay. That's better.

Blaire was, once again, seated in her favorite window seat, forehead pressed against the glass. It was becoming a sort of habit: after getting emotionally upset due to something related to the curse mark, come to the window seat and brood. But her brooding was not very successful today, due to the fact that she was not alone.

Upon arriving at Neji and Tenten's small dwelling, the adults had gone into the living room to talk. The kids had been herded into the bedroom and told to 'have fun'. Blaire had taken up her usual position. Hizashi was playing with his blocks, his tongue sticking out slightly in concentration. Anni was lying on her stomach, watching as Hizashi's tower got bigger and unstabler. Tam, after failing to entertain himself with other childish pursuits, took to bothering his cousin. Of course, he didn't actually realize that he was bothering Blaire.

"Hey, Blaire, do you know where my mommy went?"

Blaire, eyes closed in concentration as she focused on calming herself, answered Tam with a less than enthusiastic, "Hn."

Tam's eyebrows came together in an impatient frown. "I'm serious! 'Cause she and your daddy and my daddy looked kinda sad."

Blaire thought for a moment, then turned to Tam, opening her eyes to meet his. "I heard her tell my dad that she was going to talk to Lord Hiashi, I think."

The little blond boy's eyes widened. "She's goin' to talk to grandpa? Do you think she's gonna yell at him for hitting Uncle Neji?"

A somewhat excited feeling rose up in Blaire and she leaned forward a bit, actually concentrating on their conversation. "Maybe! I hope she does; your grandpa was really mean. Daddy didn't even do anything wrong!"

Tam nodded firmly. Then a wicked glint appeared in his pale eyes. He leaned in closer to Blaire and said quietly, "You wanna go see them?"

Blaire jerked back, confused. "What? What d'you mean?"

Then she paused and thought about what she just said. I can't believe I'm asking this question to Tam. Usually he's the one asking me.

"I mean," Tam leaned in closer. "I mean we should go and watch my mommy yelling at Grandpa! We should sneak out!"

Blaire did not answer right away. She sat back against the wall, staring out the window, thinking. After a few minutes of fierce inner debate, she made a decision.

"Alright," she said slowly. "But what do we do about them?" The girl gestured to the two babies, or baby and toddler, playing on the floor. "We can't leave them here."

"We'll take them with us!" Tam jumped to his feet and did an excited little dance. "Alright, I can't wait! It's like we're gonna be spies!"

"Tam, don't yell! The grown-ups might here you!" Blaire rose to her feet and took a blanket from Hizashi's crib. "Let's hurry up and get going, or we might miss it."

…

Blaire peeped her dark head around the corner, eyes alert for any other motion. When all seemed clear, she gestured to Tam and the group walked hurriedly down the wooden walkway, looks of innocence on their faces. Blaire had taken Anni and strapped her to her back using Hizashi's blanket. It was more than a little awkward and made walking something not easily accomplished, but it was better than waiting for little Anni to try and crawl along behind them. Hizashi, who could walk reasonably well, was holding on to Blaire's hand. Tam pulled up the rear.

"Bair, where go?" Hizashi whispered up to Blaire, little hand shielding his mouth. He seemed to have understood the need for secrecy. Tam, on the other hand, had not.

"We're going to watch my mommy give Grandpa a time out!" He said loudly, jumping up and down in excitement.

"Shhhhh!" Blaire whipped around and put two hands over Tam's mouth, looking around wildly for any people. "Do you want someone to find us and take us back?!"

Tam shook his head, eyes wide.

"Then be quiet!" The six-year-old hissed. After a second, she let go of Tam's face and turned around. Then she said, "You know, Tam, I wouldn't think you'd be happy about your grandpa getting in trouble, seeing that he is your grandpa."

Tam froze. He put a finger to his chin and stared off into the distance. "Oh yeah!" He said slowly, "I guess you're right!" A look of great enlightenment dawned on his small face.

Oh god. Blaire smacked herself lightly on the forehead, shaking her head in a sad way.

"Let's keep going!" Tam snapped out of his thoughtful pose and punched a fist into the air, looking excited. All self-doubt seemed to have vanished as quickly as it had come.

Sighing, Blaire kept walking, Tam skipping along behind her. Hizashi put a hand to his mouth and whispered to Blaire, casting a nervous glance back at the boisterous blond boy behind him, "Bair, is he really gonna be leader tomeday?"

"Yes, Hizashi. Sadly, he is."

…

Neji, Tenten, and Naruto's conversation fell into silence. Naruto stared out the window, blue eyes clouded with worry. Tenten stirred her mug of tea, gazing into it's dark interior. Neji was staring at the back of his eyelids. If any of them had been in a better mood and actually been thinking about things other than Hiashi, Hinata, and the Hyuuga family in general, they would have noticed the lack of sound coming from the kids' bedroom. But they weren't, so they didn't.

After several minutes of silence, Neji stood up. "I need some air." Tenten nodded distractedly; Naruto didn't even realize Neji said anything. The prodigy stood and walked outside.

With a sigh, Neji leaned back against the outside of the house, closing his eyes wearily. Based on the conversation they had just had, Neji knew that Naruto did not have a plan for how to change the sealing tradition. The blond was against it one hundred and seventy-five percent and would do anything it took to stop the binding, but as for how to actually do it, he was clueless. Neji himself and Tenten were also in the dark about how to stop it. Of course, if Hiashi just decided to stop it than they would not need a plan.

It seemed that everything would depend on how Hinata's meeting with her father went.

Please, let Lord Hiashi see the-. Neji's silent plea was cut short as a sharp, cold voice cut through the air.

"What are you doing outside, Branchie?"

…

Lady Hinata took a deep breath to calm herself. She needed to have all her wits about her; she could not let her emotions cloud her arguments. She stood in the hall for a moment more, then turned the corner and walked toward the door to her father's rooms. Two guards stood in front of the door, one of which the woman recognized as the one who had confronted Neji in the meeting hall.

Him…Hinata felt herself getting angry all over again. No, I can't get angry. Calm down.

After taking a breath, she walked purposefully up to the door and stopped right in front of it. The guards looked at her and, realizing who she was, bowed.

In an authoritative voice, Hinata said, "Open the door and announce my presence. I wish to speak with my father."

The men exchanged a look. "Um…you see, my lady, we were told not to let anyone inside. Lord Hiashi said-."

"I said, open the doors. I am going in."

The guards started. Neither had ever heard the lady use a voice like that before. It pulsed with authority and demanded obedience. So the men obeyed.

Her face set with determination, Hinata strode into the rooms of her father.

The guards shakily closed the doors behind her. A few moments later, four little people assembled quietly around the corner.

…

Of course, it's probably not the smartest thing to go sneaking around a huge estate where everyone has a byakugan and can see pretty much everything. But we haven't gotten caught yet, so we're okay, right? Blaire hoped that she was right.

After what seemed like forever, but was in actuality only about ten minutes, the small group of byakugan bearers had made it to Lord Hiashi's rooms. They were now crouched near the entrance, around the corner so that they could see what was going on but not be seen. At least, to a normal eye they could not be seen. Blaire hoped that no one around them (mainly the guards) felt like activating their byakugan and accidentally spotted the four children. That would be bad.

"So, Tam, what do we do now?" Blaire looked at her younger cousin expectantly.

Tam looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, "I have no idea."

"What?!" Blaire put a hand to her face, thinking, Of course. Why did I think he would plan this all the way through? How could I be so naïve?

"Hey, I just come up with the ideas, you always come up with the plan!"

"Fine! Be quiet and let me think." Blaire's eyes roamed around while she thought, unconsciously taking in their surroundings. Well, we could go and listen at the door, but what if someone comes out? Or wants to go in? No, that won't work. Hmm…

Then her eyes fell on an air vent located about three feet up from the ground.

Of course. It's such an overused idea, but so efficient.

"Alright, Tam, I got an idea. But you have to be absolutely silent, or else it won't work. Got it?"

…

"What are you doing outside, Branchie?"

Neji turned, and saw Chuudou, Geretsu, and Asamashii, his first, second, and third least favorite people in the whole Hyuuga family, standing several feet away from him down the walkway. Neji gave them a glare and turned to face them. Chuudou, his long hair as white as his eyes, gave an evil smirk and stared at the young man before him.

"Should not you be inside, like everyone else?" Geretsu wore a smirk identical to Chuudou as he spoke.

Neji felt a spike of anger sprout inside him. The last thing he wanted now was a conversation with these three. Turning his nose up, Neji turned away from the three old men, leaned back against the wall, and closed his eyes, the image of self-control.

"Of course he is not inside. He feels that he is special, being Lord Hiashi's nephew. He feels he does not have to obey the rules. Are you upset about the recent events, Master Neji?" Asamashii, bent almost double over her cane, was, as always, the cruelest. Maybe they got crueler with age. Giving a wheezy cackle, the old man continued.

"Did you think that things would get better for you and the other Branch members after the incident at the birthday feast? Did you believe that, somehow, the heiress and that demon's arguments would sway Lord Hiashi's mind set?"

Neji's shoulders tensed, but otherwise he did not react.

"Well, let me inform you of something, Branchie. Lord Hiashi has had a great revelation. He has realized that, in the years since your father's death, and then again after your first chunin exam, and then after his daughter married that thing, the line between Main family and Branch family has blurred. People, mainly you, Lady Hinata, and Lady Hanabi, have been skipping across that line. If Lord Hiashi had not acted, sooner or later there would be no more division. We would be one mass of people, gifted with the byakugan, and completely open for attack. You branch members would leave the clan, mix with other families, and soon the byakugan would be nothing but another kekkei genkai, and the Hyuuga name would be just that, another name.

"Lord Hiashi foresaw that chaos, and has acted against it. By tightening the leash on Branchies such as yourself, he secured the future of our clan. None of you can go running off, leaving us Main family members open for attack. Who would we sacrifice if there were no branch members? By making all of these changes, Master Neji, Lord Hiashi is making it possible for you to live your life just like your father lived his. Follow along behind the Main family, and then come and serve your purpose when you are called. Just like your father, Neji, just like your father."

Asamashii let out a breath, leaning more heavily on his cane. Chuudou took up the speech.

"So you see, Master Neji, we are on the brink of change. Enjoy what freedoms you have now, for after the meeting tonight, they may be gone."

The three looked at Neji, expecting—almost hoping—he would explode in rage at them. But he said not a word. He had not moved a muscle since first turning from them, he remained against the wall, eyes closed; almost like an ice sculpture.

Asamashii let out a huff and started to shuffle forward. "Act as calm as you want, boy. You sure are different than that demon. Not even a member of the clan, but feels like he can come in and change everything just because he married the heir. Hmpf. We'll just see how opinionated that thing is when-."

He froze. He moved his shriveled old gaze down to the pale hand gripping his arm, then up to the face belonging to its owner.

Neji's eyes were closed as he spoke, but his grip was firm. "He has a name. And the only reason that he has the nine tailed fox sealed within him is because he was sacrificed for the safety of this village. If the demon had not been shut inside him, this village would not be here. This clan would not be here. You three might not even be here. How bad that would have been, though, depends."

"Do not touch me, branch filth!" Asamashii jerked his arm out of Neji's grip. Neji let go and stood up straight, opening his eyes and glaring at the elders.

"Worried that my seal will rub off on you, Asamashii?"

Before the man could reply, Neji continued speaking. His voice, although still strong, wobbled ever so slightly with contained emotion. "And don't think that the Branch members will just-."

"The Branch members will always submit to the will of the Main family!"

"My father, contrary to what you say, did not die because the family willed it! He died because he wanted to protect his brother. He did not submit, and neither did-."

"No Branch member will ever fail to do the bidding of a Main member ever! Thanks to that!" Asamashii reached up and pulled away Neji's headband, revealing the caged bird beneath. The metal and cloth headband hit the floor with a dull clunk.

"All Branch members will always fall to the Main family because they are all cowards, and afraid of the death that awaits them if they do otherwise! That is what separates the Main family and the Branch family. The Branch family are simply a pack of cowards who are so afraid of dying that they will do anything we tell them to!"

A wave of hate and anger flared up inside Neji the likes of which he had not felt since before his first chunin exam. His hands began to shake. He was so tempted to attack the evil man before him, Neji was hard pressed to not simply blast the man away with pure chakra.

"The Branch members," Neji said, his voice shaking with anger, "Are braver than any Main member. They are forced to live with the constant knowledge that, at any moment, any Main family member could wipe them out completely with just a few hand movements. And yet they still manage to live their lives as best as they can, considering all the constraints put on them by the Main Family."

"The Main family binds the Branch family in order to protect the secret of the byakugan!" Asamashii's eyes were bulging and spittle flew from his mouth as he spoke.

"The Main family are the cowards, Asamashii." Neji clenched his fists harder, thought they still shook. "They were afraid that they would not, as a whole clan, be able to keep the secret. They could not trust their own family, so they enslaved their own people. And look what good it's done them. No one kidnaps the Branch family members, because everyone knows they have the seal. It is only the Main family who gets in trouble."

"You-," Asamashii sputtered, speechless with anger. "You ungrateful, undeserving—you will—how dare--!"

Neji opened his mouth to continue, but at that moment two of Hiashi's personal guard came around the corner.

"Hey, you four!"

The young man took one look at them, then turned his back on them. Asamashii also saw them. He glanced from them to Neji, panting slightly. Then he said to Neji, "We shall see what Lord Hiashi's opinion is, at the meeting."

He shuffled away, Geretsu and Chuudou hurrying after him. Neji watched them go. Then he looked around quickly. There. He walked briskly over to a practice dummy located in the courtyard outside his and Tenten's house. Stopping in front of it, Neji paused. Then, pulling back his fist, Neji punched the dummy as hard as he could.

"Gah!" The two guards covered their faces as little bits of the shattered dummy flew in their direction. By the time they opened their eyes, Neji and his headband were gone and his door was closing.

…

"Father, please, just listen to what I'm saying! Please!" Hinata leaned forward from her kneeling position on the floor, eyes brimming with emotion. "I'm b-."

"I have already decided, Hinata." Hiashi sat on a slightly raised section of floor, drinking tea from a low table. For Hinata's entire speech, the man had sat at the table, sipping from the steaming cup, eyes closed.

"But Father, how could you make such a decision after so-."

"I am head of this family, Hinata. I may do as I wish."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean you can act like a tyrant! Father, if you mean to change the family so that it is always like how it was in the meeting hall today-."

"And what if that is what I plan? Who will oppose me? Who can oppose me?"

Hinata took a breath. "I will, Father. I cannot stand back while you hurt people so."

"You may be next in line for this position, Hinata, but for the time being I am still in charge."

Hinata opened her mouth to reply, then closed it. She stared down at the floor. Her hands trembled and she clutched her knees harder to hide that fact. After a moment, she spoke again. "Then do you expect me to just sit back and watch as you hurt so many people? As you hurt Neji? And Blaire and Hizashi?"

"I expect you," Hiashi said slowly, "To act like what you are. You are the heir to the Main Family. You will do as I tell you and, when the time does come, I expect you to continue what I have done."

"Then I am sorry, Father. If you try and change the family in this way, I will be forced to fight you. I will not let you do what you plan. And if that means-."

"Hinata, I am not afraid to change how I treat you. If you get in the way of me completing my duties as Head of the Family, I will not hesitate to act. You will end up just like your sister-."

Hinata's head jerked up. "What do you mean? What about Hanabi?"

At that moment, the doors behind them burst open. Four of Hiashi's guard entered the room. In between them, struggling and looking very angry, was Lord Hiashi's second daughter, Hanabi.

"Hanabi!" Hinata rose to her feet, eyes wide. "Father, what are you doing?"

Hiashi put down his cup. He rose to his feet and turned to face his younger daughter, ignoring Hinata. The guards released Hanabi and pushed her to her knees several feet from her father.

Speaking to one of the guards, Hiashi said, "Do you have him as well?"

"Yes, my lord, right here." The guard snapped his fingers. Another set of doors burst open and in came another group of guards, also bearing another figure in their midst. A young man, maybe twenty-three in age, who Hinata recognized instantly as Bekko Hyuuga. Hinata had never actually interacted with Bekko, she knew from his appearance who he was, and his story.

Unlike any other person in the Hyuuga family, Bekko had bright red hair. His father had been a Branch member, one on the very outskirts of the family, and his mother was a woman from a small village outside of Konoha. His father met his mother while on a mission and, after a night together, returned to the estate. Three years later, he had returned to the village by chance. Hoping to see the woman again, he discovered she had died in childbirth. Giving birth to Bekko, his son. Seeing that Bekko had the byakugan, his father had brought him back to the estate, where the little boy was quickly caged and assigned a role in the branch family. He was treated as an outsider by all except the very edges of the Branch, and a few select others.

Upon seeing Bekko dragged into the room, Hanabi's eyes filled with angry tears. She turned to her father and yelled, "Father-!"

"Say nothing, Hanabi, I know everything." Hiashi turned to the little man seated in the corner of the room who, up until now, Hinata had not noticed. Staring at Hanabi, Hiashi said to the scribe, "Make an official note of this, Scribe, that from this day forward, you, Hanabi Hyuuga, and you, Bekko Hyuuga, are hereby banished from the Hyuuga family."

"Father!" Hinata and Hanabi screamed.

"But, Father, why?!" Hinata cried, tears already forming in her eyes.

Guards came forward and seized Hanabi's arms.

Hiashi glared at the two, Hanabi and Bekko, and said, "These two have been having a love affair, and both know well that relations like that between the two sides of the family are strictly forbidden."

"But I love him, Father, and he loves me! I would think that that would be enough for you, but apparently I am mistaken!" Hanabi glared up at her father with raging eyes. "I guess that falling in love is now a crime in this family, just like everything else is!"

"Silence, foolish girl. You are dead to me now."

"Father, no!" Hinata stepped toward him, but a guard reached forward and stopped her.

Hiashi glared at her and said, "This is not your concern, Hinata. Be quiet."

"She's my sister, of course it's my concern!"

"Not any longer. You have no sister."

Hanabi let out a harsh laugh. "So you're just going to erase the twenty-two years of my life out of your memory, are you Father? You'll see me in a picture and you'll think 'Hm, I wonder who that girl next to Hinata is?' Is that how it will be?"

Hiashi frowned deeply.

"Well, if things are going to continue as they have been for the past days, then I'm glad I'm leaving!" Hanabi smiled cruelly at Hiashi. "And I pity you, Father, I pity you more than I can say because you-."

"Take them away." The guards holding Hanabi dragged her out the way they had come.

"Hanabi!" Hinata watched her sister go, feeling like part of her was fading away.

Bekko, when his guards tried to drag him away, broke their hold on him. Turning to Hinata, he said, "Don't worry about her, Lady Hinata. I'll take care of her and frankly, anything would be better for her than continuing to live here with-."

"Take him out!" With renewed force, the guards pushed Bekko out. The doors slammed behind them.

An echoing silence filled the room. Hinata stood stock still, staring at the closed doors. Hiashi, after a moment, sat back down at the table, pouring himself a fresh cup of tea. Then, an odd scratching sound was heard from up above, followed by an ominous creak. Hinata looked up just in time to see the ceiling crack and break. Four figures came tumbling down towards the floor amid a cloud of wood and dust. Ninja reflexes ever sharp, Hinata caught the two smaller figures. When the dust cleared, she saw that she held her own little Anni and Hizashi. At her feet, on top of all the rubble, were Blaire and Tam. The two older children swiftly untangled themselves from each other and stood, trying to dust themselves off.

Hinata stared at them for a second, looked back up at Hiashi, then, herding Blaire and Tam in front of her, turned and walked towards the exit. Two guards flung open the door for her and out she marched, head held like a queen. Blaire and Tam cast a glance back at Hiashi who sat, staring after them, before quickly following Hinata.

The thick wood doors slammed shut behind them with a loud thunk.

………………………………….

Almost two months. Wow. But I hope the length of this chapter will make up a little bit. I have been bitten by the writing bug again, people, so hopefully I will update faster now. I know, how many times have I said that before, but now I actually have an idea of where I want to go with this story. Up until now, I've just sort of been plotting as I go. So yeah.

Kind of an intense chapter. I would love to hear what you all have to think. Oh my gosh, the last chapter had the most reviews out of any other chapter! 16 reviews! I'm so happy! So happy, I think I will thank everyone who reviewed personally again!

My eternal gratitude to: darktank, Christopher Kidwell, siny, Malfunctioning Malfoy, The Elven-Spear, yingyanglover, Toastweasl, pokeystick, Kairi Uzeniba, zzTroublesomezz, Alusy, nejitenfangirl, aly uzamaki, Pure-Rose-Kunoichi, tenten10, and Lina.

You all are amazing.

Thank you again to everyone who reads this story and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!