A/N: Helluuuu 83 Well, I was in the writing mood yesterday, so I spent about four hours updating this in my notebook. xDD And I really wanna finish this story as quickly as possible. Not that I dun love this story or that I'm not having fun writing this- I am. More so than I thought I would. x33 But I have other ideas for fanfics (preferrably a NejTen AU), so I wanna get it done, y'know? Just one more chapter after this one (the epilogue) and wa-la, zees story shall be fineeshed! xDD *corny French accent*

Anywhoozle, I really hope you like this chappie, everyone! I worked really hard on it. ^_^

A putrid smell followed soon after.

Coughs and hacks were heard all around the room as Naruto pulled his shirt over his nose. He caught Konohamaru's eye and flashed a thumbs-up, his blue eyes smiling. We did it!

Even in the midst of panic, the boys were overjoyed. Konohamaru grinned back, his eyes burning with tears at the sharp odor engulfing the room. Our stink bombs worked! Success! he thought truimphantly, Moegi and Udon coughing admiringly beside him.

The bomb did the trick. It distracted the Cloud ninja long enough for the Anbu Blackops to enter the scene, engaged in battle with the enemy spies. Tsunade, finding a chance to escape, removed her hands from a motionless TenTen and looked at Neji. "I've done all I can. For right now we need to focus on getting everyone out of here and the injured to the hospital as quickly as possible." She stood and turned to the black-haired woman hovering over them nervously. "Shizune. Get this medical ninja to help you retrieve Hiashi."

"Yes, m'lady." Shizune bowed and slipped out of the room with the said medical ninja.

Tsunade whipped around to face Kurenai, Iruka, Guy, Kakashi, and Asuma. "Calm down the crowd here and get them to form an orderly line. Hurry, while the Blackops hold off the enemies." The Jonins nodded and hurried to do her bidding.

"There's a secret exit not too far from this designated spot," Neji informed the Hokage, gingerly scooping Tenten into his arms and standing, holding her crumpled form protectively. "It's our best option at the moment. Possibly how the Kumogakure ninja arrived here, though.."

Tsunade nodded, determination creasing her brow. "We'll just have to risk it. Lead the way." She turned to the group of Hyugas in battle stance and addressed one of the elders. "I can't ask you to abandon your own estate. If I know your clan, you all want to stay and help defend, am I right?" The elder wordlessly nodded. "Very well, then. Leave us to the rest. We'll take Hiashi to the hospital. He suffered.. an allergy attack."

Shizune and the medical ninja returned, Hiashi in their care. Other medical ninjas posted whipped out a stretcher and placed him on it. They offered one for TenTen, but Neji stubbornly refused: "Nobody touches her."

By the time Guy, Kakashi, Iruka, Kurenai, and Asuma were ushering the guests out, Neji was leading the way toward the Hyuga exit, Tsunade and Shizune close behind. "Kakashi, my rival! We should lead the way out of this tunnel first so that if danger lurks outside these walls, we be the ones who encounter it!" Guy proposed with a sparkly smile.

"Fine by me." Kakashi rolled his eye (the one that wasn't concealed by his headband).

When they arrived, Neji had Hanabi remove the vent-like opening. Kakashi and Guy disappeared into the darkness, everyone collectively holding their breath until Kakashi's suave voice drifted back to them. "All clear."

"I was gonna say that!" Guy protested indignantly like a seven-year-old.

One by one, the residents of Konoha that had arrived slipped into the exit. Hiashi came into consciousness at all the ruckus, blinking hazily as if to contemplate his surroundings. His movements were sluggish. "Hinata," he murmured, voice slurred. "Daughter."

Hinata reached his side in no time flat, frowning in concern. "I am here, Father."

"Hiashi-sama, we really should get you to the hospital," one of the medical ninjas holding the stretcher spoke up.

"Let me speak with my firstborn," Hiashi ordered, more alert now.

Feeling special at his claiming her as her rightful place, Hinata straightened. "Wh..What happened to you, Father?" she inquired softly.

"Ugh, someone convisgated walnuts and placed them all at the refreshment table." At this Naruto whistled not-so-subtly. "I should be more careful." Hiashi shook his head, as if urging himself to get to the point. "Hinata.. I am most aware of what's happening. Shizune-san filled me in.. and I am here to tell you that surely my wrongdoings have not been lost on you. ..That much I'm sure. ..I thought I had died, daughter. And my biggest regret was.. not being an adequate father to you. And I apologize." Hiashi coughed hoarsely as Hinata's eyes shimmered with unshed, touched tears. "What this situation has come to.. I can't bear to leave that unsaid."

HInata was wordless, stunned into silence. Finally she swallowed and touched his hand, giving a slight smile, letting him know all was forgiven. He smiled back at her, a real smile. Unspoken messages passed between them. Suddenly it didn't matter that their lives were in peril...all that mattered was this moment.

"Um, Hiashi-sama.." The medical ninja inched toward the exit, obviously sheepish about interfering.

"Right, right. We're in danger." Hiashi cleared his throat and glanced earnestly up at Hinata. "Accompany me."

Hinata stood straighter, a new resolve of confidence washing over her. "N-No, Father. I will stay behind. I..I am proud to fight with honor for our clan." Hiashi nodded slowly, comprehending her words. A smile passed over his face, and his eyes glinted with pride for her. Pride! He was proud of her for once! Hinata wiped her eyes with shaky hands.

"Take care of your sister," he instructed softly, touching her hand again. Then he was gone, one with the shadows of the tunnel.

Meanwhile, Tsunade nodded toward Asuma, Kurenai, and Iruka. "Help Guy and Kakashi escort the crowd to safety. Be the caboose. You know what do do if anyone should get in harm's way." Without question, the senseis nodded and bounded off.

Neji reluctantly stepped forward to Shizune, who was prepared to follow. He held out Tenten carefully. "Take care of her. I must stay as well," he said with a glance at Hinata and Hanabi. Even if his clan was to blame for the wedding, the curse mark, filling his life with burdens... they were still his family. And even if his comrade was injured, she had people who could tend to her. She would be in good hands. Neji himself couldn't abandon his home when they needed him most.

TenTen stirred suddenly before Shizune could react, coughing up blood as she shifted in Neji's hold. "No," she rasped firmly, her eyes opening to reveal persistance encased in her brown flecks. Without waiting for an answer, she kept on. "I'd rather die right here and now than have you leave me again, Neji Hyuga. So you can forget that." She winced and lifted her chin, her sign of stubbornness. "I'm not losing you again. Not this time."

Neji blinked at her, briefly surprised. The seemingly vulnerable and helpless girl in his arms still held her same attitude and surefire spunk. And now, as Tenten stared him down, almost daring him to object, Neji knew the odds were not in his favor. He was so secretly relieved that she was alive, and well enough to put herself in danger once again for his sake in all her stubborn glory, Neji would've done anything she asked.

"Not much you can say to that," Tsunade smirked knowingly. "I know that look. She's not going to take no for an answer. Lucky for you this one bounces back." Even she was aware that it would be simpler to back down to Tenten's demands than to argue further.

TenTen beamed at her role model's input and Neji sighed in defeat. "Very well, but under no circumstances can you fight," he warned her. "You've already had a rough time of it, all things considered." Tenten pulled a face at him but made no complaint, looking drained.

"Shizune, you escort the genins and little ones out," Tsunade ordered, her playfulness instantly fading to serious graveness. "Once they're safe, post Anbu Blackops all over various perimeters of the village. Goes without saying that if they snuck into the Hyuga estate, they could very well be hiding out in Konoha."

Shizune nodded. "Yes, m'lady." She urged Ino, Sakura, Konohamaru, Udon, Moegi, and all the other shinobi into the tunnel, then gave some of the others who lingered back an arched eyebrow, clearly awaiting their evacuation.

"Heh, you can forget about me ditching a chance to battle!" Kiba exclaimed, his confident facade succumbing as he placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder and smiled softly at her, his eyes searching hers knowingly. "I'm staying right here," he added, more seriously. Hinata's cheeks flamed in pleasure as Hanabi giggled perceptively.

"Believe it!" Naruto chimed in, nodding exuberantly. "They've got a lot of guts to ruin this wedding when it was our idea to begin with! We deserve the chance to kick some butt!"

"Yeah! You tell 'em, boss!" Konohamaru encouraged, inwardly a little put out that he was too young to join in on the action.

"If you wanna go to all that trouble, suit yourself," Shikamaru muttered but nodded encouragingly at the group before following Shizune and the others.

Tsunade rounded up her genin group, grinning. "All right, guys. We've got a wedding to crash!"

The plan was simple. While the ANBU and Hyugas were keeping the Cloud ninjas busy, the rest of them were to search the building in case more were hiding out. Kiba would go with Hinata and Hanabi, Naruto with Tsunade, and obviously, Neji with TenTen. While they were investigating, Neji made sure to drop in the infirmary so he could give Tenten something for her pain. As much as she assured she was fine (and apologized for getting blood on his wedding garments), it didn't take much to know that TenTen was struggling to merely keep consciousness. Once they entered, Neji searched the room thoroughly before easing her onto a makeshift pallot and rummaging through various brews and herbs.

"Neji.." TenTen hesitated. "If we don't make it out of this.." She tried to sit up and emitted a gasp, clutching her sides in a grimace as sweat poured off of her.

Neji hurried back to her side with a concocted mixture. "No sudden movements. You're in worse condition than you realize. Don't try to speak." He held out the liquid to her. "Take this. It'll help ease the pain."

Tenten eyed it before stubbornly raising her gaze to his. "I'm not taking anything until you listen to what I have to say," she declared unyieldingly.

Neji suppressed a groan. Why now? "Why must you be so difficult? This isn't a game, Tenten," he answered with forced patience.

"Don't you think I know that?" TenTen fired back angrily. "I was well aware when the jerk I blew up skewered my shoulder!"

..He couldn't very well argue with that. Neji reached for gauze and began wrapping her shoulder, applying pressure to stop the blood flow. "Then by all means, speak your mind."

TenTen flinched at the searing pain in her shoulder. She swallowed hard. "Neji.. stop for a minute and look at me."

The serious, tender tone in her voice made Neji look up despite himself.

Just as he started to put two and two together, the door flew off its hinges.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Several Narutos came running full speed at the incoming Cloud ninjas. Some of the clones were immediately disintegrated upon impact but several stood firm and were able to knock 'em dead. Literally.

Tsunade took care of a couple more with her amazing speed and Lightning Strike. "How could so many of them have snuck in past the Leaf's barriers?" she muttered angrily to herself.

"Maybe we're not the only ones with tricks up our sleeves," Naruto commented, walking up. "Are they all gone, ya think, Grandma Tsunade?"

"You seriously need to quit calling me that. It's degrading." Tsunade tilted her head, listening intently. "I believe so. And it sounds like the duel out in the wedding room is drawing to a close, as well."

"Awesome!" Naruto enthused, punching a fist in the air. "This is a piece of cake! Those guys didn't know what hit 'em!"

Tsunade frowned. That was just it. It seemed almost too easy.. "Don't count on it, kid."

"Byakugan!"

Hinata frowned as she probed through the walls. "Their chakra flow is diminishing," she reported, still scanning around. "Not many injured on our side.." The fight would be over soon. The Kumogakure group were just simply outnumbered. Her lilac eyes narrowed in concentration, her veins near her eyes bulging.

Kiba listened attentively by her side. Secretly, he loved it when she was like this. No hints of insecurity or anxiety at all. Hinata was in the zone, in that place where it was just her and the battle. He could see her fierce perseverance and courage.. her intelligence. That Byakugan of hers always opened her up, did something to her unlike anything else. It gave Kiba a glimpse of the person tucked away inside of her. He loved it.

As if reading his thoughts, Akamaru's tail thumped against Kiba's head excitedly. He laughed. "C'mon now, Akamaru."

"May I hold him?" Hanabi's voice was sweet, her eyes full of wonder.

"Sure thing." Kiba handed the fluffy white puppy over then continued analyzing Hinata, standing guard when necessary. Hanabi giggled and stroked Akamaru's head as he licked her.

Suddenly Hinata gasped, fists clenching, and Kiba was on full alert too, every muscle in his body tense. "What is it, Hinata?"

Without answering, Hinata took off running, leaving the duo to blink and stumble after her. Then she threw over her shoulder: "Neji and TenTen are in trouble!"

Why hadn't he kept his Byakugan activated? Why had he dropped his guard like a fool?

The Cloud ninja caught the shuriken Tenten heaved at him with two fingers. Neji could hear her sucking in a painful breath. "Leave this to me, TenTen," he ordered sternly, knowing she remembered her promise about no fighting. But then again, it had probably just been on impulse, her defensive side kicking in. And maybe not.

"This should be too easy," the Cloud ninja cackled, lunging forward.

"Is that a challenge?" Neji's hand shot out, spurting blue chakra as it made contact with its target. Gentle Fist.

"Not much of one." The ninja backed up, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. "Gotta say, kid, your moves are good. But not good enough!"

"Oh? Well, quit rambling and show me what you've got, then." Neji took on the Hyuga stance. "Eight Trigrams Air Palm!"

Tenten watched Neji duel until both of them were mere blurs going in for the kill. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest against her cracked ribs and she blocked out everything but the fight unraveling before her. She always loved watching Neji fight; his precise, fluid movements and far-reaching abilities gave for an impressive battle. The nerveracking part was holding her tongue, not being able to defend him, and not knowing who would win.

When TenTen's eyes adjusted to the fast-paced battle, she saw Neji using his "blocking the chakra points" routine. The Eight Trigrams Sixty-four Palms. Way to keep it going, Neji! Tenten inwardly cheered.

And then, just as it looked like it was down for the count and that Neji would prevail, the unthinkable happened.

The ninja phased behind him so fast Neji didn't even have time to turn around..

BAM!

Neji's eyes flickered and returned to normal as he crumpled to the ground. Just like that.

In horror and fury, TenTen put two and two together. ...The ninja had gone for Neji's one weakness.. his Achilles heel.

His blindspot.

Ignoring the sharp pain searing throughout her entire body, Tenten leapt to her feet and collapsed at Neji's side, tears blurrying her vision. "Neji," she whispered brokenly, touching his pale face. If only she'd been there to defend him in battle.. guard his blindspot like she always tried to do..

Just then a shadow towered over the both of them. Before she could even begin to comprehend what was happening, tremendous pressure cut through her skull and black dots danced across her vision.

The last thing Tenten was aware of before she gave into the darkness again was Hinata, Kiba, and Hanabi bursting through the door. Her reaching for Neji's cold, limp hand, clutching it tightly like a lifeline. If she was going to die, at least it was by Neji's side.

As TenTen succumbed to unconsciousness, the last thought that registered through her fractured head was: I was so close.. I didn't even get to tell him..

And then it was finished.