Previously...

Hanabi is taking care of Sasuke and Hinata's child as well as Neji and TenTen's twins. Hanabi knows what is going on with Sasuke, the New Akatsuki and the recent threat to the village a small fraction of the New Akatsuki who slipped through Konoha security. Most of the village does not know. The mission put together by Shikamaru, Naruto and the others is a top-secret mission. Neji and Sasuke disscuss a plan put together by Shikamaru where Sasuke is acting as a double agent infiltrating the New Akatsuki to take out their leader. Neji is part of the force that goes in to the New Akatsuki bases cleaning out their hideouts. Sasuke has infiltrated the New Akatsuki pretending to be on their side. His team Taka: Suigetsu, Juugo and Karin were already in place long before Sasuke entered the organization. Karin is loyal to him and the others follow along he trusts them to watch his back knowing that the enemy wants the Sharingan.

The plan: Hinata uses her Byakugan to spot members of the New Akatsuki hideout. The plan is to make it seem that Sasuke escapes the village after fighting Naruto. Ino makes a hint at Sasuke and Hinata's relationship. As soon as Neji's team using the distraction takes on the first hideout Ino tells them their mission is a go. Sasuke sees Hinata worried look. He tells her to basically be strong in his own way. Sasuke warns an emotional Hinata not to look at him knowing what he must do concerned that the enemy will see through the plans. Naruto objects to the way Sasuke is speaking to Hinata not understanding. He realizes how bad he sounds and reminds them that he is the enemy here perhaps trying to get into character leaving his emotions behind for the sake of the mission. In order to make it seem he was on their side he fights Naruto injuring him but not in any vital spot. Sakura heals Naruto after Sasuke hurts him. Ino listens in as Sasuke infiltrates the New Akatsuki base. Suigetsu and Karin are already in place at that location making his takeover easy. He talks with the leader and Ino recognizes something about the man in her intelligence she warns Sasuke not to say much more and Sasuke uses his dojutsu on the enemy.

TenTen wasn't feeling too well the last time we saw her. Meanwhile Neji has to go back out on the battlefield once more and leave her. There are several teams from the five villages working together using the intelligence gained by Sasuke to clear out these New Akatsuki bases. The Hyuuga clan are keeping a close eye on things and as TenTen is staying with them her health worsens.

Neji returns to his wife's side finding her confused once again. The things she says to him that make no sense. The medic nin are unable to get a handle on things as they have never seen a case like this before. Meanwhile someone is messing with minds of Ino's and the other Shinobi in the village. Kakashi points out that people are not acting right. Neji is upset thinking they are neglecting TenTen's treatment.

Sakura is away from Konoha attending the Chuunin exams with Naruto at the request of the Raikage who insists they keep appearances as if nothing usual is occurring with the New Akatsuki hunt.

The investigation reveals that a forbidden jutsu like the one that took away her memories has been used on her. It's base a rare poison. Essentially they are playing with her mind and body. Investigating a solution to free her from the jutsu's effects they search for the cure to neutralize the poison and Shizune works to heal the internal damage she sustained. Shizune realizes something important and choses to keep silent about what she has figured out. Immediately she decided to move TenTen to a more secure place for treatment after stabilizing her. Shizune has limitations to her chakra control due to the fact that she is expecting a risky pregnancy for someone her age so she is concerned for her well-being choosing to bring in a group of specialists.

Tsunade is shortly informed and heads to takeover for Shizune.

Meanwhile in their search for a cure for TenTen, Ino and Sai are aware that one of the jutsu the enemy uses can trap a person's mind. Sai warns Ino not to use any jutsu on the spies until they have a better grasp at understand the jutsu.

The Results

Sai and Ino were on the case of investigating TenTen's grandmother. The old woman huffed and complained about missing her tea time. As a masked ANBU guard offered her a glass of water. The old woman waved it away and went on grumbling.

The guard sat the glass of water down on the table as Sai entered the room. She quickly updated Sai on the investigation.

Sai sat opposite the woman and pulled out the sketching that he made of the suspects they had in custody.

"Do you recognize these people at all," Sai asked.

The old woman let out an exaggerated breath and crossed her arms in defiance.

Ino tried, "please look again."

"Ino is it," the old woman asked then quickly added, "It's fine don't use that jutsu. That's right I know your clan's powers. I have been in the village long enough to remember you see. I do care about that young woman. Despite what any of you think. That girl is my granddaughter and I will not feel like a criminal any longer. I want out of this repulsive place."

"If you care about her," Ino paused for emphasis holding up the sketching, "you should know we are trying to help her. Please help us help her."

"I don't give a damn who you are or what you think you're doing. I've been here all day."

"Ma'am you said you would cooperate," Sai spoke up tiring of the woman's antics.

"I said no such thing. I simply warned that one not to use any of her tricks on me," The old woman said defiantly then added, "I practically raised her as my own. I am guilty of it all. That is my son on trial and I am guilty of following his wishes. I am sorry for that. Sorry for keeping my mouth shut about his wife's betrayal of him, sorry for so many things. That is what you can look forward to in old age. Regrets and apologies now let me go."

"There are things that I am sorry for," Sai said, "Things I can not change about the past but you can do what is now. If you care for her you can do the right thing now."

"Alright young man. I don't need to take a closer look at the sketching. Never seen them."

The investigation went cold once more. It was clear that TenTen's mother did not support her father's choices. The old woman saw this as a betrayal. They had no evidence suggesting that this woman played any role in what was going on but her words: 'I'm guilty of it all,' were enough to move her from suspect to accomplice.

Their part was over and Ino and Sai left the interrogation unit. Other methods would be necessary considering she was unwilling to give the information voluntarily. However Ino had yet to receive any orders about this.

"Thank you very much," Ino said as Sai joined her to leave.

"Nothing much there," Sai said.

"I hope she can be trusted," Ino said as they left, "for TenTen's sake perhaps one person on that side of the family could be."

"Using your jutsu is too risky. We don't know what these people are capable of. They've already fooled you once today. If the others are right we have to hurry and get to those items before anyone else," Sai said unrolling a scroll," I'm sending ahead my spies to make sure the house is empty. Stay close to me. We don't know who we can trust on this.

Ino and Sai managed to gather all the needed to undo the jutsu plaguing TenTen. The research into the clan responsible for her memory loss jutsu paid off. Investigation into the spy recovering at the hospital also led them to the location of this base house.

000

"When my team gets here we'll start the surgery." Tsunade informed TenTen who already felt a lot better.

"I feel fine are you sure I need surgery?"

"There is internal damage. I won't lie to you things got pretty bad. Your Chakra levels were low in the hospital. It was as if something had stolen Chakra from you. Now that you are here the levels have increased so you feel a lot better."

"I think I know what it is you're keeping from me. It seemed obvious a few days ago," TenTen said.

"Then you know why we moved you to this place and reasons for surrounding you with this team chosen by me," Tsunade replied.

"I hear concern in your voice so I know this is a dangerous surgery you're about to attempt. I don't need to know anymore details…I'd rather not try to think about it too much," she said.

"I'm going to leave you alone with Neji for a minute but when the team gets here we have to get started. If you wish to tell him before hand I'll leave it up to you. I'm sure if he took a close look he would see for himself," she smiled and turned to leave the room.

"I understand."

000

"I didn't mean those words at the hospital about finding the right one for you or whatever…I don't know what came over me," TenTen said.

"You didn't have your memories and you said what came to mind. What happened just a while ago was probably an echo of what happened to you before. You were being honest with the way you felt about everything. How could I fault you for that," Neji asked not really looking for any answer but doing his best to keep his thoughts focused on anything but the surgery.

"You're not the type to give up. But here I am gaining the reputation for it. I'm so sorry that I made you think that I would," TenTen said staring at their interlocking fingers.

"Everyone is here now so I should get out-of-the-way," he was impressed that she was doing so well even as she was in so much pain.

"If I don't make it I love you…I forgive you truly for what happened before with that…idiot woman and not by because I'm about to...I'm sure you know I've forgiven you a long time ago."

"You will make it and I love you." He kissed her praying it would never be the last.

Neji left the room as Tsunade's team began to make their way inside. Tsunade took him aside.

"The procedure may take a while. There is a lot of internal damage. Whoever did this designed it so that she would bleed slowly from the inside. By the time anyone noticed she would-

"You can be honest with me I can take it."

"I think you've put yourself through enough Neji. Anyhow I'll be supervising. Ino has come far especially with their level of Chakra control. I couldn't find people I trust more than those in that room. Best case she recovers fully and you two raise…," she trailed off.

"What were you going to say," Neji asked.

Mitate walked over to Tsunade saving her from having to talk much more.

"It's nothing," Tsunade said quickly. Not everyone needed to know about the expectant mother and she kept her mouth shut in the presence of the other medics. A little suprised that Neji hadn't realized what was glaringly obvious. This could only mean TenTen hadn't told him yet. Perhaps she was scared she would lose the child.

"We're ready," Mitate said.

Kakashi appeared and spoke with Neji as TenTen went into surgery.

"We have answers now. I can explain what we know. Sai should be there too. If anything happens Mitate will ask for you but I'm sure he's more than capable and can be trusted above all."

"I'm going to go ahead and begin," Mitate said then stopped to speak to Neji quickly adding, "She is like a sister to me. I will take care of her."

"Thank you," Neji said and watched the Medical nin leave.

000

Tsunade finished updating the Shinobi working on the case. They had information connecting to TenTen's father and the plot of Chise with regards to the Hyuuga clan. All loose ends about that case were closed except the recent attack which led them to believe that the criminal underground New Akatsuki were making moves of their own apart from their Konoha contacts.

"Had I known…" Neji calmly spoke up his voice didn't match the obvious anger and hurt that shown on his face. He walked closer to the desk, "if I knew any of this I would never had let anything happen to her. I don't understand what we are doing with any of this. No argument just an observation is all."

"At the same time knowing all that you know now what would you have done differently," Tsunade asked.

"It's not my place to assume anything about what the Hokage should do I will follow-

"That's not what I mean. What would you do different knowing what you know now about your wife," Tsunade asked.

At his silence she continued, "The past is the past and I know each one of you in this room wishes we could go back and change something protect someone we love. I knew that each of you would protect the ones you love with your lives. My apologizes for not assigning the mission earlier. I made a decision." Tsunade tells him about her decision in the past keeping him away from the dangerous missions fearing that he would be an easy target with his Byakugan.

"So what do we do," Neji asked.

"I want to flush Chise's accomplices out completely surely they have ties with the New Akatsuki here in the village. Sasuke's intelligence on this manner is lacking. However I still think he's capable of reaching his goal. Observe the others, report on any changes and most important prevent them from doing anything to jeopardize the safety of this village.

"Shizune we need to research several things starting with all this paperwork."

"Got it."

"That's all," Neji asked and nodded.

"Yes for you Neji that is all. Take care of her she'll need it. Congratulations baka you and all your genius missed such an obvious thing," she answered, "As for you Kakashi things have come to my attention that you think I was unaware of before. Well let me assure you that I'm well aware of these matters and my advice to you is to go and watch over your wife."

Shizune gasped out loud.

Neji and Kotetsu looked at each other and Kakashi looked dumbfounded.

"This is what you've been waiting for," Tsunade handed him a scroll smirking, "I think you'll be quite pleased with the decision and Konoha's stance about your wife."

Kakashi quickly read over the scroll it was a pardon and an agreement.