Chapter 14:

Tsunade looked on with veiled interest at the bowing form before her.

"Tsunade-sama, thank you for allowing me entrance. It's an honor." Tenten kept her head down in gratitude.

Tsunade blink in contemplation. She couldn't begin to guess what was going through Tenten's mind. "I assume you have a story to tell?"

Tenten nodded.

Tsunade intertwined her fingers under her chin. "What makes you think I'll believe you?"

Tenten simply smiled knowingly. "Ibiki-san is here, is he not?"

Tsunade and Ibiki exchanged a look.

"So you are telling me you are willing to have your mind examined?" Tsunade clarified.

Tenten replied with a nod. "Words won't mean anything unless I have proof. Only my memories can serve as real evidence. With Ibiki-san here, he can inform you of my memories, as well as if they are real or tampered with. I am willing to undergo the procedure right now, if you as much as command it Hokage-sama."

Tsunade remained silent unsure of what exactly it was that Tenten wanted. "Make me understand something." Tsunade paused as she studied Tenten's seemingly genuine demeanor. "You left without a concrete reason. Then three years later you come back telling me you want to be a part of this village again."

Tenten nodded in affirmation.

"What changed?"

Tenten smiled. "Nothing changed, Tsunade-sama. My leaving was not an act of betrayal to this village. It was a personal agenda. Something I could explain to you in words right now, but you would never in your wildest imagination, even begin to believe."

Tsunade tilted her head. "So you're telling the only option I have is for you to be examined?"

Tenten nodded. "It's the only way to ease doubts."

Tsunade let out a long sigh. "Very well. Ibiki, I leave her in your care."

Ibiki nodded wordlessly.

"Genma, Anko, the two of you will be alongside Ibiki during the examination."

Tsunade gave Tenten one more glance. "You may go."

With a final nod, Tenten followed Ibiki out of the office.

"Genma, Anko. Stay."

Anko closed the door to the office and walked back to the Hokage's desk with Genma alongside her.

"During periods of intermission, you are to keep an eye on her. Just in case, understand?" Tsunade stated with authoritative sternness.

"If things get out of hand, do we have the permission to kill her?" Genma inquired for clarity.

Tsunade was in deep thought for a moment. "If the situation is dire, and no other choice presents itself, I allow it."

Griselda massaged her temples feeling a vein about to pop. "For goodness sake Mifuyu would you just sit down? You're making me feel uneasy!"

"Well I'm sorry my anxiety doesn't allow me to stay still!"

Griselda release a long sigh. "I told you Mimi, the last bird I talked to told me she was ushered into the town and was left in the care of three ninjas. But from what I understood, they had no ill intention towards her. That's all I know."

"But that was five days ago! None of your animals have seen her since then. How can you not worry?"

Griselda was silenced.

Mifuyu placed a hand over her forehead. "We're miles away from Konoha, right at the very border of the fire country! We won't be able to make it in time if something happens to her. I can't believe we sent her there on her own!"

Griselda folded her arms on her chest. "Just be thankful we were able to find a suitable shelter this close to the fire country."

Yue sighed in exasperation. "Besides, if we came along with her-"

"We would have made the situation worse. I know. I know. But I just can't help but think of all the things that could happen to her! What if the village denies her? Worse what if they decide she's a traitor and attack her! She could be injured and alone this very moment for all we know!"

"Thank you so much for your optimism and your ability to point out every possible worst case scenario, Mimi." Yue deadpanned as he rolled his eyes. "It makes all of us feel so much better."

"She is strong. Stronger than all four of us combined." Lucas stated with confidence. "No matter what happens, she won't die that easily."

Mifuyu opened her mouth only to be silenced by negative air pressure.

Yue folded his hands in front of his chest. "Not a word out of you. I'd like to keep my thoughts sane and positive, thank you very much."

Not soon after he was thrown out of his chair and onto the floor.

He scoffed. "Blood blending, how malevolent."

Mifuyu simply raised a perfectly arch eyebrow, challenging Yue to bring it on.

Griselda chuckled to herself. It was refreshing to see Yue argue with someone other than herself.

Three curt knocks echoed from the door.

"Come in."

The door opened to reveal Morino Ibiki. His large black combat boots echoed deep intimidating sounds. Stretching an arm out to hand over a thick brown envelope, Ibiki let out a sigh. "This is everything we have on her."

Tsunade nodded in understanding. "And what is your verdict?"

Ibiki seemed to contemplate for a moment. "No form of tampering was found in her mind. All the memories were genuine. But-"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "But?"

"Even I find them hard to believe."

Tsunade blinked. Ibiki Morino, head of the ANBU Interogation and Torture unit, found something too incredulous to believe in?

"But you're absolutely sure her mind was not sealed or manipulated?"

"I'm a hundred percent sure. I even acquired Inoichi's help in this matter. Our results were similar." Ibiki stated with confidence. "I repeated the entire process five times, going through each memory with precision. All of them are genuine."

Tsunade nodded as she glanced at the thick envelop before her. "In your opinion, can she be trusted?"

Ibiki was silent. "No evidence points to her as being a spy. Her memories contain no ill intentions towards Konoha as well. No alliances with enemy villages were found."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "You didn't answer my question."

Ibiki sighed. "I do not know."

That got Tsunade's attention. Usually Ibiki always had a final verdict ready after an interrogation. "And why is that?"

Ibiki was silent, as if trying his best to find the right words to express his uncertainty. "I see nothing that merits distrust, Hokage-sama. But I feel…" He paused, feeling his next statement was too ridiculous to speak out.

"You feel?"

Ibiki cleared his throat. "I feel she is too powerful, Hokage-sama. If she becomes an ally, Konoha would no doubt benefit greatly. But should she become an enemy…" Ibiki met Tsunade in the eye to emphasize the gravity of his words. "There is a chance that Konoha would fall."

Tsunade couldn't conceal the surprise in her eyes. Someone of Ibiki's caliber fearing the power of a once missing teenage kunoichi?

"The effects of the war against Akatsuki are still felt by our people. We are still desperately trying to rebuild our nation. If an enemy of her caliber were to rise, the chance of the village completely crumbling to the ground would not be impossible."

Glancing from Ibiki to the thick brown envelope before her, Tsunade couldn't restrain her curiosity. Who exactly was Tenten from Team Gai and just what was she capable of?

Tenten was getting used to this arrangement. Being locked up in a small room somewhere deep underground, given routine meals, only leaving when tests would be conducted. It was boring as hell. But it was necessary if she wanted to come back home.

Lying down on the small single bed, Tenten looked up at the ceiling. It was worth it. She didn't get this far just to back down. She fought hard for her right to come back home even when all four of her guardians were against it.

(Flashback)

"Why? Why go back after all these years? Are you not happy with how things are? Are we not enough as your family?" Mifuyu whispered in melancholy.

"No. No. No. It's not that. I love all of you and words will never be enough to express how much I gratitude I have for what you've done for me. You are my family, and this temple has become my home. But are we just going to hide in here for the rest of our lives?"

Tenten looked out from the window of the floating temple, seeing nothing but clouds. Looking down, she could see small islands suspended in large bodies of water.

"We're alive, but we're not really living." Tenten turned around to look at all four of her guardians. "Is this the way you all want to live? Caged in a rock suspended a thousand meters in the air?"

"This rock is what helped us survive all these years." Came Yue's bitter reply.

"I know and I understand its importance and purpose. But don't you want to be able to swim in the sea again? Chase wild animals? Buy food in a market full of people? You know? Immerse yourselves in civilization again?"

"But it's not all about those, is it?" Came Lucas' knowing tone.

Tenten narrowed her eyes. "I beg your pardon?"

"More than returning to civilization, it's Konoha that you want to return to. You could choose any other village, any other nation. But it's Konoha or nothing, am I right?" He added. His red eyes never leaving hers.

Tenten was silent.

"Is that true?" Griselda asked with poorly veiled incredulity. "Is Konoha really more of a home to you than this temple?"

Tenten sighed in exhaustion. "I want to go back not because I consider it more of a home, and not because I do not consider this temple as my home. But because, there is something I want to prove." Tenten paused, a familiar feeling welling up in her chest. "I… I want to show everyone. Everyone who never acknowledged me, how much stronger I am now. I want to see it in their faces, hear it in their words. I want to prove to them that I am competent. That I am worthy."

"Oujo-sama…" Yue whispered in mixed disbelief and understanding.

"It's trivial, I know. Wanting to go back just to show off." Tenten scoffed at how pathetic she sounded. "But I wouldn't expect any of you to understand. It's something I have to do. No, it's something I absolutely want to do."

A moment of silence enveloped them when finally, a sigh cut through the stillness like a dagger. "Is that really what you wish?"

Tenten turned her head towards Lucas. His eyes were a mixture of emotions.

Tenten nodded in silent affirmation.

"Then defeat us."

Tenten blinked. "Come again?"

Lucas began to make his way out of the room. Without looking back, he finished his sentiment. "If you can beat all four of us together, then you can return to Konoha."

(End of Flashback)

Tenten sighed. That was definitely one battle she would never forget. And almost one she would have never lived to tell.

A sound of a lock being opened snapped her out of her reverie. Her door opened to reveal Genma and Anko.

"Rise and shine princess." Came Anko's mocking tone.

Tenten grunted. Ever since they found out about her ancestry, she and Genma had taken to calling her princess, much to her dismay. "Are we going to do the same thing all over again?" Tenten sighed in exasperation.

"Nope. Starting today you're free to go princess." Genma answered with a slight edge of cheerfulness.

"You're kidding?" Tenten whispered in disbelief and excitement.

"Tsunade-sama wants to see you for last minute briefing. After that, your status as a Konoha ninja will be successfully restored." Genma added.

Tenten couldn't help but jump for joy, hugging both Anko and Genma by the neck.

"Hey!" Anko protested as she pulled herself off the grasp.

"Sorry! I was so happy!" Tenten began walking out of her room as motioned by Genma. "It's been a while since I saw the sun and ate anything other than prison food." Tenten laughed. It wasn't all bad but the taste was bland and she was starting to miss well-cooked homemade meals. "It's also been a while since I was last out without any escorts. Though I have a feeling I will miss both of you!" Tenten joked. This got her a small smile from Genma and a raised eyebrow from Anko.

"Don't get too excited. The real world can be scarier than it seems princess." Genma stated as he played with the senbon needle in his mouth.

Tenten could only smile.

Tenten stood up awkwardly straight in front of Konoha's Godaime. Tsunade was scanning through her files nonchalantly while sipping what looked like green tea.

"I've read all your files, more than a couple of times I admit."

Tenten felt an odd sense of pride.

"Given all those information by Ibiki, I only have one question for you." Tsunade assumed a contemplative pose once again, fingers intertwined, elbows on the table, chin on her hands.

Tenten nodded.

"Why bother to come back?"

Tenten didn't bother to fight back a smile. "For me, I never really left Konoha. Never in my life did I think of abandoning it. I was always sure I would come back. It was only a matter of time. All the things that happened while I was away, I consider them a very extensive form of long distance training. I came back because, as trivial as it may sound, I want acknowledgement."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Acknowledgement from whom?"

"Everyone." Tenten answered in a heartbeat. "I was weak, Tsunade-sama. It was… disheartening. Always being a burden. Never being able to protect even myself. The frustration and self-loathing can never be put into words." She paused to recollect herself. "But I am stronger now. Stronger than ever before. Now I can protect myself and anyone I want to. I can help protect this village to the best of my abilities. So please, Tsunade-sama, give me a chance to become what I've always dreamed to be – a ninja of Konohagakure."

Tsunade looked at the bun-haired girl sternly in the eyes. She could find no malice. Only determination and sincerity. Purely genuine.

Letting out a sigh, Tsunade leaned back on her chair. "I understand. Starting today, I officially reinstate your position as a ninja of this village."

Tenten's eyes showed nothing but surprise and happiness. "I… Thank you so much Hokage-sama."

"But, I will still need to put you under surveillance."

Tenten nodded enthusiastically, voicing no contradictions.

"And as for missions, I still cannot tell when I can station you in one. It would take time. Maybe weeks or a few months."

"I understand Tsunade-sama. This is more than enough for now."

Tsunade opened a drawer on her desk. Taking a medium sized black box out, she handed it to Tenten. "Here."

Accepting the box with utmost care, Tenten slowly opened it to reveal her polished forehead protector. "I… This is… I can't thank you enough Tsunade-sama!" Tears shone at the edges of both her eyes. This feeling of happiness would last her a lifetime.

Tsunade allowed herself a small smile. "Use it with honor-"

Loud banging was heard from the door.

"Tsunade-no-baa-chan!"

"Naruto you idiot! Tsunade-sama is in a meeting! Are you trying to get us killed?!"

"I can't accept this mission! I just can't!"

The door flew open to reveal a whining Naruto, a fuming Sakura and an annoyed Kiba.

"Baa-chan! How could you do this-"

Naruto was send flying out the door and onto the wall with one flick of Tsunade's finger.

Sakura sighed. "That idiot never learns. I really apologize Tsunade-sama-" Sakura felt her breath hitch as she stared at the bun-haired girl standing a few feet away from her.

"Tenten?"