◊ (Splitting Up Wasn't a Good Idea) ◊
∆ (Middle of the City) ∆ - ¤ (Night Fall) ¤ - VP: Neji
"So this is bye." Tenten asked sadly.
"Yeah, for now. Don't look so depressed Tenten. I'll be back as soon ask I can." I brought her close to me and I kissed her cheek. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I know you will." She said. "Star Transport Jutsu." She said and I was back at the gates of Konohagakure with her parents.
"Neji, how was your mission? Where is Tenten?" The guard asked.
"Tenten is taking over as Hoshikage for a while. She told me to return her parents and fill the paperwork and take care of the country until we set up government." I explained.
"They allowed a girl to take over so many countries?" He asked.
"She a Jounin, kunoichi and their heir and was Kazekage for a few weeks. She's highly qualified." I said.
"Well then you should talk to Tsunade." They said.
"I'm going," I said tying her parents hands together and guiding them into the city.
I walked into Tsunade's office. "Neji, where is Tenten? Didn't everything go well?"
"Everything went fair, her father is Hoshikage and to keep the peace and on goings in the country she placed herself in power. We need someone to take over a position there for a while until a real person can be put in place."
"Can't she do it for a while?" Tsunade asked.
"If you say so, she will." I answered.
"Well for a while, I have a few missions for you that need to be taken care of promptly and we'll send Hinata with you and Naruto to protect Tenten."
"What." I said as calmly as I could.
"Our defenses are very low Neji; we need you and Hinata to run a watch of the outer walls all the time, on two watches. She has already been informed of this duty and she accepts. Naruto demands a mission as well so I'll send him to guard the Hoshikage, Tenten as a mission to train him for his forthcoming duties."
"Isn't there any other way, any other Hyuugas who could help?" She smirked.
"Are you saying that you and Hinata are not the very best Hyuugas that you have to offer, if that's the case then I want your two best because Konoha's safety is a top concern. Or are you saying that Konoha isn't important."
"I didn't say that." I said quietly.
"I thought so. Neji, you need to think farther through what you're saying and implying. You usually do but something's bothering you. That's why I figured I'd sent Naruto to watch her. She'll be safe. You're in charge of watching Hinata while on guard as he is with Tenten. It's safety so agree."
"Fine." I said.
"Good, Shizune, call Naruto and Hinata here." She nodded and walked out.
"Hokage-sama, we're here." Hinata said quietly.
"Yeah Tsunade, we're here and what not." Naruto said loudly.
"Naruto quiet!" She yelled.
"Hey Neji's here, where's Tenten?" Naruto asked looking around.
"That is what this is about Naruto." Tsunade said rubbing her head.
"Is Tenten-chan, alright?" Hinata asked.
"Tenten is fine for the time being." I said.
"Tenten has taken over the position of Hoshikage in Hoshigakure. Naruto, you will be guarding Tenten with your life until Neji and Hinata are free from their mission in a few days. If nothing suspicious is found by then Naruto, you will switch with Neji and we'll keep things running on a more basic level, understood."
"So Tenten's Hoshikage and I'm watching her?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, Hinata and Neji you are to search within 50 mile radius of the walls of the village, if you have examined every inch of the radius then you guys can switch back by then. Understood, now go."
We all walked out of her office. "Naruto, this is also a mission for training to become Hokage so pay attention to what Tenten's doing. She's run Sunagakure as well so she knows what she's doing. Also, give her this for me. She'll know why and the occasions and such." I said.
"Neji-nii-san, what is it?" Hinata asked.
"I want to know too Neji." Naruto said.
"If you must know it's an engagement ring. I don't recall in my memory giving her one even though this is close to a year we've been engaged so for her birthday tomorrow I figured that it's a good time and gift but since I can't I trust you with it Naruto."
"I'll make sure I give it to Tenten Neji, no problem." Naruto said.
"Good, come on Hinata."
"Hai, nii-san." Hinata replied.
"Stop!" Naruto said.
"Yes?" I asked turning around.
"Take care of Hinata for me."
"Same goes with Tenten."
"I'll watch over Tenten for you Neji," I nodded.
"I'll take care of Hinata." I replied.
"Bye Naruto-kun, see you when we finish." Hinata said.
"Yeah Hinata, finish up soon so that everything can go back to normal." Naruto said.
"Hai, bye." She said.
"Bye," Naruto said disappearing. He most likely transported himself nearby there. I heard from Tenten we've been to the village before, I only remember it faintly but he can transport himself there regardless.
"Come on Hinata, it should only take a few days to run a premises of the building twice a day completely."
"If we split up and take half and half then either of us won't miss anything and it will take less then that."
"No, because it takes a long time to distance the whole 50 miles then move over a bit, it would still take a while." I said.
"Alright, I'll begin."
"No, I still have plenty of chakra, you've been doing this all morning, and you should rest." I said.
"Hai Neji-nii-san," She went to the tent in the outskirts of the village and I jumped up onto the wall.
I ran a close level around the whole entire perimeter which took in hour then I doubled the length taking two hours and so on until my time was up and I returned to base. "I will continue on." I nodded and went to rest for a while.
∆ (Hoshi Complex) ∆ - ¤ (Tenten's Birthday, March 9th) ¤ - VP: Tenten
I awoke to a loud pounding on my door and I opened it. Who ever it was, they randomly hugged me. I knew it wasn't Neji, because I'd know Neji's chakra signature anywhere. I flipped the person onto the ground, pulled a kunai out of my hair, and held it in front of me.
"Man Tenten, you're mean." Naruto said. I sighed. It's only Naruto. I took a deep breath and sighed.
"Sorry Naruto, this last day without Neji has been crazy. So where is he? I haven't sensed his chakra." I said sitting on my bed.
"Neji's on a mission with my fiancée." He said pouting. I could tell he wanted to do it.
"Don't worry Naruto. Neji won't harm Hinata."
"I know but I want to switch places with him, but that may be a while. Well since you're up I want to give you this." He handed me a little white box. I opened it. I smacked him down to the floor again and set the box on the table.
"Naruto, I'm engaged to Neji stupid!" I yelled and sighed.
"I know, of course I know. Neji wouldn't let me forget it ever. That's Neji's birthday present for you. I should have said that shouldn't I?" He asked. I sighed and smiled putting my hand behind my head.
"Yeah, that would have done better." I smiled happily and once again picked up the little white package of my bed. It was a beautiful ring and I smiled.
"He said that since you guys have been engaged awhile and he doesn't recall getting you and engagement ring he decided that you birthday would be the perfect time to give it to you. Though it would have been smarter to give it to you early in person."
"I agree but Neji is one who is traditional. So they sent to you cover as Hoshikage, eh?" He shook his head.
"Neji said that you've taken care of this stuff before. He said I'd learn a lot. It was Neji's concern for your well being that caused Tsunade to send me to protect you." I smiled, Neji.
"So we've got work to do Naruto, rise early work hard sleep early makes for a wonderful pattern." I said smiling.
"You're more cheerful then normal. You alright?" I nodded. Honestly, I was using my happiness from hearing about Neji and this ring to hide my depression but he's only been gone what, a night already. It's not that much. Though, we haven't been apart in what, a lot of months, the last time we went separate ways was before he lost his memory since then he's stuck to me. I sighed and frowned. "Now you're frowning, are you alright?" I smiled and nodded.
"Sorry, I was thinking too much again. We have work to do." I said getting off of my bed and walking into the city.
My close friend was walking by and I walked over to him. His name is Milo. " Milo, how are you?" I asked.
"Hoshikage-dono, what are you doing in the city alone? With Neji-sama gone you should be safe back in the complex." He said worried.
"I'm not alone; this is my friend Naruto from Konohagakure. Naruto, this is Milo." I said introducing them.
"Wasn't Neji supposed to come back though?" I sighed and looked down at my feet then I smiled again.
"He's on a mission, but he'll be back. After all he promised." I said walking off again.
"Oh, well I hope he gets back soon, you seem inertly depressed."
"I'll be fine, it won't be very long until he's back, right Naruto?" I asked.
"Yeah, I mean with Hinata's and Neji's Byakugan nothing will get past them. I mean how long could it take to survey the whole outside boarder?" Naruto asked.
"10 miles complete radius and hour times. The number of total miles divided by 10 gives you the hour. 50 miles complete radius, 5 hours. No mission is that quick, they have to continue doing this through all hours of the day. Each shift is 15 hours and this ensures that no one can sneak out again." I said.
"How do you know this?" Naruto asked.
"I know how long Neji zones out when checking the total distance of his Byakugan times the distance around the city by feet, and additional calculations, it's simple." I said.
"You're a genius like Neji, except more humble." I smiled.
"Thanks, I've only been called genius by one other person."
"Who?"
"Neji himself, of course." I said smiling and walking. My dad explained what the people of this small village expected out of the Hoshikage. I was to make an hour round of the city, paperwork for an hour, listen to complaints then I'm free to do whatever I want which is looking up the seal used on the Hoshi Clan Branch House.
"Tenten, shouldn't the kage of any place stay in an office and make sure no missions come in? Or fill paperwork out or something?" I shook my head.
"Naruto, that's not important to begin with. You must know those who trust you. It's important to be humble and walking with the people talking with them, listening to complains and paperwork are ways to do this. I start it out like this to show my enjoyment of their city." I said smiling.
"For a city that focuses on stars shouldn't they be asleep during the day." I smacked him on the head with the bottom of a kunai.
"That's horrible country statistics if they lived during the night. They awake at 9 and their day is until 3 am."
"That sounds tiring." Naruto complained.
"For you, you haven't trained with Neji; you should see his training hours, that's tiring." I said smiling.
"You sure talk about Neji a lot." Naruto said resting his head on his arms.
I blushed. "What am I not allowed to; I am engaged to him Naruto. Is it a crime or something?" I asked and then I fell to my feet and started crying.
"I'm sorry Tenten, I really am. I was just making an observation. Come on it's your birthday you can't cry or Neji will hurt me." I cried even more. "Sorry Tenten, please stop. I'm sorry." He said.
"What did you do to Hoshikage-Tenten-sama?" My friend Diana asked helping me to my feet. "Come on Hoshikage-Tenten-sama." She said escorting me to my room. "You stay on the couch I need to talk with Hoshikage-Tenten-sama, alone." She said angrily at Naruto.
She walked into my room and sat next to me. "Did he hurt you?" I tried to stop crying.
"No Naruto didn't do anything wrong, I miss Neji." I said crying.
"I see, but he'll be back tonight right?" She asked.
"No, he's on a mission." I said crying.
"Who put him on the mission?" She asked, I suppose she thought I had done it and could call him back.
"Tsunade, our Hokage." I said sadly.
"Oh, sorry but he's too far away for us to transport to midday Tenten. We can't go get him, sorry."
"I don't want to mess up his mission." I said crying.
"Alright, we won't bother him. Just stop crying and calm down Tenten." She said.
"Can you leave me alone? I just want to be alone." I said sadly.
"Hai, bye Hoshikage-Tenten-sama." She said sadly closing the door. "It's your fault whoever you are! Tenten didn't need to be reminded of Neji. You should have just let her be."
"What! I was given two simple orders. Neji said… give her the engagement ring. Tsunade said… watch over Tenten till Neji comes back. I was just trying to do the mission. Now I'm going to die."
"Why?"
"Because today is Tenten's birthday and I was supposed to keep her happy because Neji is on a mission, he said so." Naruto complained. Neji, told you to keep me happy but I just don't think its possible Naruto, sorry. You'll fail this one mission.
"Harsh, I think Neji-sama gave you and impossible mission. Tenten and Neji are inseparable and then all she needed was to get through a few days without him but with the ring and your talking, it was just too impossible. Tell Neji-sama that this is one mission that anyone would say is impossible." I didn't want to listen anymore. She was right through. Neji, this is one impossible Mission.
¤ (Few Minutes Later) ¤ - VP: Free
"Tsunade, I'm back. I need to talk to Neji. It's about Tenten. Where is he?" Naruto asked.
"Neji's outside the city somewhere. He should have spotted you on the way in, but it's a huge city so it may be beyond his sight or he could be on the opposite side so who knows." Tsunade said.
"I need to talk to him about Tenten."
"Did I send you to protect her?"
"Yeah but I can't because she's all depressed and sad and he's going to kill me and I don't know how to make her happy!" I said.
"Fine but if Tenten is hurt in this little escape of yours, Neji and I will have you kicked out of all privileges for a while. Naruto gulped.
"Alright, I'll hurry." Naruto ran to the edge of the city.
Naruto crashed into a tent and tripped of a fragile girl. "Ow, who's on top of me?" A voice said.
"I know that voice Hinata-chan!" Naruto hugged the girl covered in a tent.
"Dobe, your suffocating her." Neji said jumping into a nearby tree.
"Sorry Hinata-chan, its Neji!"
"Aren't you supposed to be watching Tenten?" He asked.
"Yeah but I can't because she's locked herself in her room and crying."
"What did you do to her?" Neji asked sighing.
"You hurt her feelings didn't you Naruto-kun?" Hinata said sadly.
"It was impossible not to, it's your fault Neji. A girl named Diana said that by giving her the ring that reminded her of how much she missed you, it's your fault." Naruto said.
"I can't do anything for her now Naruto. Even if this mission was over I don't have enough chakra saved up to go over there." He said.
"But you have to Neji, she's crying and sad."
"Naruto, just go back and watch Tenten. Hinata, it's your turn. I need to finish up talking to Naruto. This should be some of our last few rounds."
"Hai," Hinata said and ran off.
"I'll ask Tsunade if you can finish off until night then I'll have someone else from the Hyuuga Clan and me help Hinata but I really don't want to ruin Tenten's birthday. She's really sad." Naruto said.
"I know, she looked very sad when I left her last night too. But I have to know that Konoha is safe before I can run off Naruto."
"So you're saying if I scout all these areas you'll go take care of Tenten?"
"Naruto…" Neji sighed.
"Kage Bunshin no jutsu!" Naruto said performing the seals, millions upon millions of Narutos showed up. More then either Hinata or Neji had ever seen him make. "Protect Konoha." They yelled.
"We might as well help him finish up." Hinata said.
"With so many Naruto, searching for signs of life out in the woods is useless." Neji said. "You stay here with him, I'll talk to Tsunade."
Neji walked to Tsunade's office. "Naruto took over and made millions of kage Bunshin and scouted the area along with Hinata."
"I knew he would, he was very upset about Tenten. He feels really bad you know."
"I know but I don't have enough chakra to go for a while."
"Rest a while then go, who knows what dangers she'll fallen into." Tsunade said and Neji returned to his room in the Hyuuga Complex and slept for a while.
There was knocking on the door. "Neji wake up!" Naruto yelled.
"Naruto, what's the meaning of this!"
"Hinata sense Tenten's in danger. She knows something went on when I left. I shouldn't have left. I'm sorry." Neji clenched his fist.
"It'll be fine but what can we do, I don't have enough chakra."
"I do, I can transport all of us." Naruto used all of his chakra and transported them into the inner realm of the city.
"Naruto, Neji! Tenten!" Diana said pointing toward the complex.
"I'm Hinata, nice to meet you bye." Hinata said then they all ran quickly toward the complex and crashed into a shield.
"Nice!" Naruto yelled.
"Calm down Naruto." Neji said. "Byakugan!" Neji searched the chakra enriches shield.
"Nii-san, what?" Hinata asked.
"It has to be attacked on all four sides and the top to break." Hinata sighed.
"So, we can do it?"
"Naruto-kun," Hinata said.
"There are four of us with Diana here."
"She's not a ninja and 4 sides plus 1 equal 5."
"Might I recommend asking the Hoshigakure also trying to get in for assistance?" Diana said.
"Right," Neji went to the ninja and found two who had enough chakra control. "1, 2, 3, Now" The shield broke and they rushed into the complex.
"Ah, Neji, Naruto and Hinata. You weren't smart to leave the girl alone especially while she's asleep." A voice said and disappeared.
"It doesn't matter, it's a feudal lord but we need to take care of Tenten." They rushed to Tenten's room and pushed the door down.
"Neji, is she?" Naruto asked concerned.
"Byakugan!" Neji said quietly. "No," He deactivated his Byakugan and walked over to her.
"Brother?" Hinata asked.
"She has a very high fever, and she's seems sick. Something heavily poisoned has entered her system." Neji said.
"It doesn't make sense, why not just kill her?" Naruto asked trying to make sense of the situation.
"Because, they aren't horrible people. They just want what's best for their country. They need her out of the way. Whatever she has it most likely won't kill her, none of their assaults would have killed her."
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.
"The first time they just sent simple ninja to take her away. If they have Tenten they don't have to worry about her. Then they sent a real feudal lord to attack her using twin rising dragons. Tenten uses that constantly beyond using chakra and requiring a tiny bit of her blood as equivalence, it can't kill anything or shed more blood then is sacrifice, mearly stuns and take downs. They don't her dead because she's the heir and that would cause a major war between all countries and their own but they don't want her in power."
"Tenten didn't do anything, she was a great Hoshikage. She walked about the village, listened to their problems and helped them out. She didn't do anything wrong!" Naruto yelled. "She didn't, I left her and she was hurt. It's my fault."
"It's no one's fault and I surely won't blame you. I won't blame her either. She knew that she shouldn't have left alone, higher guards from the Hoshigakure Ninja System we told her but she said she could handle it. They hit her while she was alone and asleep. They're weak so they only way the could get her is set her to be defenseless." Neji said.
"Tenten will be alright, right?" Hinata asked.
"I don't know what's wrong with her? Surely they have a med Nin system here too, right?"
"Why not let Hinata?" Naruto asked.
"Because it's a foreign drug or we as ninjas would be immune to it. That's what they don't teach our med Nin." Neji said.
"Man, when will stupid mistakes end?" Naruto yelled.
"Calm him down Hinata; I'm taking Tenten into the village to be cared for." Neji walked over to Tenten's spot in her bed, picked her up, and flew out the window. He then ran but a foreign ninja stopped him.
"Hear this Konohian, you will keep her out of the seat of Hoshikage or we will not hesitate any further to kill her. It will be the end of our small country but with the end of her, comes the end to many other things that would prove fatal to everything." The ninja warned and ran off.
To Neji's surprise the ninja had left something on the ground. It was a notice. "You won't find the cure anywhere Neji, for it has no cure. I warn you that this is the end to her if you don't let her be."
"You let a sleeping dog lay, not a dying girl, ninja. You never let a dying ninja die." Neji uttered and ran into the city.
"Neji, Tenten-Hoshikage, what is it?" The med Nin asked.
"Take a look at Tenten, make sure she doesn't die, protect her with your life and tell Naruto and Hinata to come here and watch her with their lives. I'll be back." Neji said and ran off.
The Reason Why… Splitting Up Wasn't a Smart Idea.
Neji was put on a mission with Hinata to watch the outer walls of Konoha Naruto was sent to watch Tenten Neji's birthday present is an engagement ring which further upsets her she's crying alone on her birthday Neji has concern for he well being even when not with her they haven't been apart in a many months, since before his memory insident Tenten is unhappy and depressed She talks about Neji a lot. She breaks down in tears Neji will hurt Naruto if Tenten is unhappy foreign ninjas attack foreign ninjas poison her she has a high fever and is dying they most likely won't kill her They won't hesitate to kill her anymore.