notes at the bottom - GL

Guardian
xix. New Hope

The next generation of Konoha is off to a promising start.

Neji watches Hinata read to Boruto, her middle already thickening with her second child. The small, blond boy is fond of Tenten, who harbors a secret soft spot for the child named to honor his Uncle. In her weapon shop, she melts down one of Neji's shuriken, long ago retired and blunted from overuse, but harbored away and always with her. As she refashions the metal, her inner light burns, flickers, and dances and she almost looks happy.

He wonders if she is refashioning her grief – her past – into hope.

She gives Hinata the necklace with the screw pendant, never once mentioning that she made it, or how.

But Neji has learned that his cousin's intuition borders on soul-reading, and when she accepts the gift, she does it as one that knows precisely what she has been given.

The other children are growing as well.

Shikadai watches the world through intelligent, disinterested eyes, while Inojin quietly takes everything in. ChōChō is a happy, playful baby who already shows signs of bossing the other two around. Ino and Karui and Temari make sure that the children have plenty of time to play together, because this generation shouldn't have to fight like the last one did.

Inoichi and Shikaku and Shin are never far from the three children, and neither is Asuma. (Who also watches over Mirai and Kurenai, but who has a strong affection for the children of his students.)

Sasuke is called away more and more from the village, so when he is in Konoha, he is never far from his wife and child. Tenten has appeared on several missions with him, and always brings him news of his daughter.

"She will be excellent at shurikenjutsu," she assures him. "You can count on me to help with her training when you are not at home."

Sasuke knows the praise is not made lightly, nor is the offer, and his thanks are sincere. He doesn't ask how she knows this about Sarada. He himself has come to the same conclusion

She fashions several weapons – they are sharper and lighter and require more control- and gives them to him to test.

They fly from his fingers as deadly birds of prey, and he is pleased with the alteration in design and construction.

"Keep them," she instructs. "When it is time," she nods to the weapons, "I will make her a set."

"When it is time," he allows.

And they both hope that the time comes with age and not necessity, for they saw too much before their childhood was spent.

The Hokage is still called to travel, and she is unfailingly his guard. Wherever she goes – no matter on what mission, even if it is solely to see Orochimaru - she always brings something back for Metal Lee. Lee's wife is gentle and kind, and quickly learned that this person was of no threat to her marriage or her child.

She knows that Tenten's love for Lee is one of unequivocal loyalty, and that she adores her son – and that is enough for her.

Neji thinks that if he had lived, he would have liked this woman, and that the four of them might have been friends.

He watches Metal Lee and wonders, would his own son or daughter have been a friend to the boy?

The year slides by and Himawari is born.

Neji is certain that this child is part sunshine, and the light in Tenten's being is always warmer when around the her.

She still cannot go to his grave, but she tells Neji of the children in whispers at the memorial.

"I will watch over them," she promises. "I cannot relpace the Uncle they lost, and I do not know that I have it left in me to be family… but I shall watch over them."

She is as good as her word and better.

And the light in her grows.

At the inauguration of the Seventh Hokage, she stands masked and in full ceremonial ANBU gear.

Naruto has finally achieved the dream once deemed impossible by so many, then later perceived as inevitable.

The porcelain mask hides the tears that trail silver down her cheeks, as she weeps to see a dream fulfilled. Neji stands beside her, and somehow he knows she senses his presence.

Her service to the Hokage has ended.

Kakashi will continue as an ambassador and liasion to the Elemental Nations, and will travel often.

His first journey as a former Hokage is diplomatic, and Gai will accompany him, as will Mirai.

And although it is Kakashi that suggests the chunin's assignment to Shikamaru, it is at Tenten's recommendation.

"She wants to leave the village," Tenten tells Kakashi one night when they are far from Konoha and camped on a hill of stars.

"How do you know?"

"I know the look," she gives a half shrug. "She will want to travel. To see things."

"She is Asuma's daughter," Kakashi sighs, amused. He lies back with his hands behind his head and looks up to the dancing pinpoints of light.

"When the time comes," Tenten keeps her eyes focused on the skies, "she should join us."

"Oh?" Kakashi asks. "Us?"

"I won't leave you," she says simply. "I will protect you, as I promised."

"And what of the Hokage?"

"I am loyal to my village," she replies. "I will do whatever I am asked."

But they know that she will not be assigned to Naruto.

And Neji knows this is Naruto's doing.

Several days before his inauguration, Naruto places flowers at Neji's grave.

"I want you to know that everyone is taken care of," he kneels and brushes his fingers across the stone. "Hinata, Hanabi, Lee, Tenten – all of them. You gave everything for us, and I will do everything I can to make sure that sacrifice is never in vain."

He never voices a reason for his decision, but Neji thinks perhaps he feels Tenten will be happier and less of a target if she is assigned to Kakashi.

Whatever the logic, it appears to be a sound decision.

The years slide by, and she is Kakashi's shadow.

But she lives less and less in the darkness.

The thin silver thread between them thickens – but it never develops into the red that binds Neji to Tenten.

And Neji knows the difference between love and solace.

Even if they are together most nights now, and their lives have become strangely intertwined – he cannot feel anything other than peace.

They travel together.

They eat together.

They take care of one another.

They do not live together, but they are alive together.

And together they have the one thing Neji and Tenten can no longer have.

A tomorrow.

"Does it bother you?"

Neji shakes his head.

"No. You know that it can't."

Asuma gives a small chuckle and folds his arms. "I know it shouldn't be able to," he shrugs, "but you appear to be an exception to many things."

Neji gives his head a small shake.

"She was always an exception. To everything."

And he patiently waits for the day to tell her that in person.

So much going on, friends. Thanks for sticking with me. Very little left to this story; Confidences, Shield, Polaris, and (maybe) twin epilogues, and that's it. I really appreciate the feedback. - gL