◊ (The Wedding's Being Put Off) ◊

∆ (Konohagakure) ∆ - ¤ (2 Months Later, April 1st) ¤ - VP: Neji

I don't think there's anyone besides the other 6 'Genin' that are as happy as Tenten is right now. Sasuke wouldn't disagree that Tenten is the happiest of everyone he's only yelled at her eight or nine times this morning. Tenten is definitely the happiest one of the girls; I think the only guy who is close to the amount of physical happiness Tenten is showing is Naruto. I've only had to smack him 12 times this morning. He keeps tackling Hinata to the ground; he almost broke every bone in her body. The idiot jumped from the balcony onto Hinata this morning. I pulled her out of the way in time and pushed the couch under him for him to land on, idiot.

Tenten is up in her room dancing around happily in whatever outfit she has planned for the after party today. I can sense it but Hinata promised that she'd tell everyone if I spied on her so no Byakugan on our wedding day. I agreed, there was no reason to anyway, I'd learn everything eventually.

"Oi, Neji!" Sasuke called from the couch. I turned around to see him.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Why didn't you marry her last year again? I'm curious… you never answered me straight."

"I have no intent to." I answered.

"You've answered me before with statements…"

"Such as… to better get to know each other?" I asked.

"Yeah but that makes no sense, of everyone she's the one person you know better than yourself."

"It's really none of your concern is it then." The true reason was because I lost my memory. I'm surprised he doesn't remember, was he even in Konoha when that happened? It's hard to remember.

"No, it isn't. But I'm curious." He said with a smirk. The girls walked down the stairs wearing their typical outfits and carrying bag upon bags. Tenten walked over to me and kissed my cheek.

"See you later Neji. We're heading over to the church." I nodded. She smiled and left. "Bye."

"Worried?" I asked from behind me. It was one thing that both Sasuke and I liked to do, question people and get our answers straight before we made any decision.

"About her, not really," He said sort of laughing.

"You're generally worried."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because, I'm not stupid." I answered.

"What does that have to do with anything?" He asked.

"You're afraid you're going to hurt her, aren't you?" I was obvious to his thoughts. I had read them before when he's around Sakura some times. They had a bumpy relationship. I just want him to be sure he knows what he's doing.

"Huh?" He asked.

"You've always thought of Sakura as something delicate and gentle. Something you've vowed. If you were every the one to hurt her what would you do?" I asked him, he seemed to be sweating, thinking about this stuff. It was true; I didn't need my Byakugan to understand him. I had felt the same way, a while a go.

"I don't know what you're talking about Neji that thought hasn't crossed my mind since a year ago." He was lying and I knew it.

"Sasuke, you have to understand that she's sixteen, legally an adult. You can't treat her as a child or your marriage is already going to be pathetic. You have to be able to protect her and love her all the time."

"How do you know this stuff?"

"I took the last year to make sure Tenten and I knew that about each other." That… among other things. "This is serious Uchiha. Make sure you're sure." I said.

He smirked. "So that's why, you didn't get married." He thinks he knows, but he really is too blind to really see it. On the other hand, ask Tenten, she wouldn't care about keeping that a secret.

"Yeah, Tenten said it was fine and was rather glad to not be rushed if we weren't 100 sure this would work out. I always loved Tenten, but I like you for a long time was scared to lay a hand on. It upset her, quite a bit."

"What did she do?" He asked.

"She encouraged me." I answered; I remember that conversation well.

"How?" Don't you wish you were there? I asked. It would help a lot if you were but that's impossible, even for a ninja.

"She told me 'Neji, I'm your fiancée. I love you and you love me right, (I nodded). I am yours; I belong to you. You can't be afraid of me. You know what your family needs from you and I. You know that you can't be afraid of me to meet your family's expectations if you stay scared and shy. I will not force myself onto you but I'm telling you. You have to straighten your mind out.' It was the only time she was ever serious like that with me, the first time that she gave me advice. She was right. After that, I nodded and took her into my arms and held her there. She was so happy, that's why I had to take a year to make sure everything was understood." I did among other things but sometimes I just needed to make sure of that.

"I see." He answered.

"You want to make her happy right?"

"Of course," He replied.

"And you have a clan to revive right?"

"Yes,"

"Then don't think twice about it, she's yours as Tenten told me. I hated that more than anything."

"Hated what?" I asked.

"Owning her,"

"What do you mean?"

"There are some clans like mine, the Uchiha and other rare clans like that, and Sakura's and Ino's as well as the Hoshi were (are). They all believed that the girl was the possession of the man, 'do with her whatever you want, she's yours to do what with you want'. Ever wonder why the girls were worried about their wedding?"

"I didn't think of it like that." He answered.

"Exactly," Neji answered to me. "You and I weren't exactly taught by parents how to act towards girls, we took to what was around us, and I really didn't know what to do for a while; especially my feelings toward Tenten."

"So that is really going on today?"

I simply snorted. "Ask Hinata what her father told her she was supposed to live her life like."

"But as the heir shouldn't she be the head?"

"Yes, but in honor, her husband is above her in all other manners, except the family."

"But aren't you taking over for?" I nodded.

"Naruto and I plan to change many things about the Hyuuga and I plan to put that on our agenda." I added.

"There was a long period of time where Tenten believed that. She was to be used and that's all she was good for."

"Why?"

"It was about two years ago. She doesn't like me talking about it but at the moment after an accident it was all that showed up in her mind."

"That's horrible."

"Luckily Sakura never got those ideas in her mind. Since neither of your families is alive, that has that consideration. She also didn't have a clan enforcing that. Tenten has sat through many dinners where that's how they talk. She's been very upset when she hears that but she holds it in, I know it."

"Man, it would stink to be her." She answered.

"Yeah, I really try to stay away from those kinds of things unless they're required. But we can't for very long since they're required for the heads, and we will be today."

"Yep, well shall we head to the church to prepare as well?" I nodded and we left. (This is a portion of chapter 28 of Uchiha Problems.)

Sasuke and I meanwhile went to our rooms, changed into our tux and went downstairs. We walked out of the house and over to the church. I sensed a huge number of ninja nearby. Foreign ones.

"They got in the church." I said.

"How could they? With all the ninja inside? The girls…"

"No. They're not in there. Not that I can see. No one is." I answered his question.

When we finally arrived there, it was totally empty. "I can't believe they got to the church, we use to be so much stronger." Sasuke yelled in anger.

"It's fine, don't worry about it at all Sasuke, it will be taken care of." I said jumping beyond our position. We were surrounded and there were many sound ninjas everywhere.

We fought of lots of Nin but there were still more coming, and after about 4 hours, they stopped. We had stopped all those that were coming to this section, but guaranteed there would be more. "Where are the girls then?"

"Simple. Kidnapped."

"Again?" Sasuke answered in an annoyed yet angry tone.

"Yes. Again." I replied annoyed with his attitude.

"Shikamaru, have you seen the girls? We've checked everywhere." Sasuke said.

"No, they have them." I nodded and I ran off moments later followed by Sasuke and Shikamaru.

"Have any of you seen Naruto?" Shikamaru asked them.

"No, last time I heard he was in the Hokage's office, setting up." Sasuke said.

"Do you think?" A voice asked from the forest. It was Hinata. She was limping below them; they jumped down and ran to her.

"Hinata, what's wrong with you?" I asked holding his cousin in his arms. I sat down supporting her body against mine.

"I managed to escape to give the news of where they are, what their plans are and where the others are." I said, barely being able to maintain consciousness.

"Can you heal yourself?" Sasuke asked, knowing how the girls were all gifted med-Nin. I figured not from the way she dragged her body along here. It would be a few days even after being healed.

"No, it's a broken bone. I can mend it to a sprain but beyond that, no. If I took it any farther then I'd be shortening my life span. I'll be fine just, help them." She answered.

"What were you saying about Naruto?" Shikamaru asked.

Tears were falling out of her eyes, we knew full and well this wasn't good news but neither was the invasion, the deaths, the attack, the whole entire fight; it was definitely not good. "They're trying to take Konoha out, and taking out a new Hokage is the first step." Hinata was crying even more now.

"What should we do?" Shikamaru asked.

"What do you mean, what should we do?" I said with a smile. "I'm sure Naruto would be laughing at you worrying about him about now Hinata. Have a bit more courage; he's infused with the fox and he's the number one ninja around. If he can't take care of Orochimaru, no one can. He's hokage for a reason."

"I know but had you heard the plans, you'd be worried too." Hinata said.

"What are they planning to do?"

"Kill the nine tailed fox," She said and burst out into tears.

"Hinata, the fox was killed years ago." Shikamaru answered

"No, they sealed it in a newborn child, Naruto." I said. I had seen it with my own two eyes during the Chuunin Exams, though I wasn't sure what it is, people were now allowed to know. Hinata had told me before also.

"What?" Shikamaru asked.

"No, Neji's right. The nine-tailed fox was sealed in Naruto when he was just a few days old. If they're bond is broken, Naruto could die. Orochimaru knows how since the seal was fixed by Jiraiya. And, anything he knows Orochimaru knows."

"So then someone has to invert the seal, to differential the pattern so Orochimaru can't." Hinata explained.

"But the seal works on a principal of complete trust; it would be disrupted if it's inverted by anyone other than someone he trusts." I explained. I had been taught the basics of seals when I had received mine, only minor but it worked all the same.

"But how did Jiraiya fix it?" Shikamaru asked.

"He did it while Naruto trusted him, Naruto was relaxed. He called it a trust exercise and that way he allowed him. Orochimaru will just break the seal, not invert it."

"How do we stop this?" Sasuke asked.

"There's no need to, I'm fine." Naruto said walking to the forest one hundred percent okay and fine.

"Neji?" Hinata asked and he nodded. I gently leaned her against the tree and stood up.

I jumped over hitting a weak point on Naruto and he fell down. "Two Byakugan users and a Sharingan user and you think you could trick us?" I asked.

"That wasn't the plan, this was." He ran at Hinata but Sasuke and Shikamaru ran in front and took the person down.

"That was close." I said.

"Why do they need Hinata?" Shikamaru asked.

"I'm not sure either; I think its many reasons. They think you wouldn't fight if they had us, Konoha has fewer defenses and they wouldn't risk our safety." Hinata answered them.

"Then we have to get the others back first." Sasuke advised.

"What do we do with Hinata?" Shikamaru asked.

"Leave her with us," A female voice said from out of the forest. It was Tamari, Gaara and Kankuro.

"We thought you might need some help, since you have helped us out on many occasions." Kankuro said.

"Thanks," I picked up his cousin and handed her to Kankuro. Hinata looked worried.

"You're sure it's them?" Shikamaru asked. Sasuke and I nodded. We could tell from the immense chakra signal Gaara handled. I had been around them a lot with Tenten, enough to know if it was then or not.

"Kankuro, take her to Tsunade. Have her heal Hinata's leg then you and Tamari along with Hinata, help Naruto. Hinata remember to make sure to invert the seal so it's stronger and only you can break and invert again. Understand?" I said finishing his orders.

"I'm going along with you guys." Gaara said.

"No, they need you in Konoha; thanks for the help but I think between the three of us, who ever is guarding the girls isn't stronger then Orochimaru." Sasuke answered.

"True," Gaara responded. Then the Sabaku Trio and Hinata were gone, in that few seconds.

"Let's go," Sasuke said, Shikamaru and I nodded and we ran off. They fought through many people and with extreme force and determination. Then, we stopped.

"Where are we going, Hinata-san forgot to tell us where the girls were." Shikamaru said annoyed.

"She didn't have to, she came south, and so they're north. Of course, they'd be in the main tower in the Forest of Death." He answered.

"Why in the world would they bring him there?" Shikamaru asked.

"I'm not sure but I think it has to do with the defenses." I said.

"I agree," Sasuke said.

"So we all are prepared for a grand fight when we get there, right?" I answered smirking.

We arrived at then we dealt with all the problems and took down everyone until we could get to the tower. It took a lot of chakra fighting but we made it. We had set up a ton of traps so once they attacked at night, they'd all be down and then we could easily enter and take them all down.

(VP: Normal)

When night came, the guards knew they were expecting to be attacked by them but Orochimaru knew their plans, what they thought they were going to do, he would not under any circumstance attack those three, and that was told to all his men. Everyone went to sleep that night; including Orochimaru, and all the guards.

"Get up," Neji whispered quietly.

"What, are we being attacked?" Sasuke asked.

"No but phase one of the plans is done." Neji responded.

"Part one?"

"Yes, we trick them into thinking that we under no circumstances will attack and they do the same for us; because they are weaker. Now comes part two," Neji alerted them to.

"I hope this one is less troublesome." Shikamaru added.

"Yes, and it's extremely simple, and hopefully there will be no fighting." Neji responded.

"What's the plan?" Sasuke asked.

"I've checked everyone's asleep so we sneak in, take the girls out; and leave. Nothing more or less. If needed fight anyone who stops you, don't let them make any sounds to alert anyone else."

"Understood." Sasuke finished.

"Me too," Shikamaru added.

"Then let's go," Neji said as the pushed through the harsh night.

They snuck in the building easily without a sound like any good ninja was trained to do, they went down stairs and they split at the corridor. They were paired Neji alone, and Sasuke and Shikamaru together. Neji had picked the path the girls were on and sent the others on a chase to keep the guards of their tails, just incase some weren't asleep.

"Sasuke, what are you doing running off? Surely you have figured out my plan; why would you leave Shikamaru alone like that, it's not safe." Neji said to himself then sighed. He had seen Sasuke split from the plan, that wouldn't be very good.

"All is as planned on both parts; prepare to die." A solider said.

Neji smirked and stepped forward and smacked him hand into the man's chest knocking the wind out of him sending him flying across the floor. "Easy pick," Neji said.

Neji used chakra, sped through the halls, and ran all the way to the girls. "Neji," They said surprised.

"Let's go, everyone is in trouble." He said.

"What's going on?" Sakura asked.

"Sasuke strayed from the plan to kill Orochimaru, I have to save him. Ino, Sakura, you go find Shikamaru down this hallway quite a bit; Tenten, you're with me, go." He ordered and without a doubt, they followed their orders.

"Is Hinata alright, Neji?" Tenten asked while running.

"Yes, she made it back in fair condition; she's in Gaara, Tamari and Kankuro's hands now."

"Why them?" She asked.

"Because they were returning to the village while we were leaving and we couldn't turn back, we needed to save you guys." He responded.

"Oh, so it's just you three guys?" Tenten asked concerned.

"Yes,"

"What about Naruto?" She asked.

"We're not sure, we haven't seen him. We sent Hinata and the other three to help him."

"That's interesting, because earlier you said she was in fair condition; how do you expect her to help Naruto, the Hokage?" She asked.

"Don't over think that, Tenten. Naruto is good but if he wasn't able to come locate meet us like everyone else; something has happened." He said.

"What?"

"I'm not sure but Hinata was worried about the men taking the 9 tailed fox away from him."

"Isn't that what he's always wanted?" She asked.

"Not any longer Tenten, the 9 tailed fox supplies him with unlimited chakra, and without that, he's unable to do all the things that make him Naruto, his shadow jutsu, his summoning, and all his fancy little tricks, he'd have to rebuild himself from square one, and a hokage can't be at the level of a 10 year old."

"That's horrible, what can we do to help?" She asked.

"Make sure that doesn't happen in the first place. And we've taken the first two steps."

"Which ones?" She asked.

"One, they can't use you and the other girls, or us guys to threaten him by. Two, we've sent him Hinata to transform and seal the seal that holds the 9 tailed demon in. If Orochimaru doesn't know the seal that she used then he can't undo it to remove the demon."

"So most likely Naruto… is safe?"

"And you worried, ha. You do know that it's dishonorable to think down upon your hokage, and doubt his power and ability."

"It would be if he was officially hokage, but he isn't until the wedding ceremony."

"Yeah but I doubt that the wedding is going to be anytime soon." Neji said, mentally smacking himself for saying that but surprisingly he didn't hear any sign of his mistake, of tears, of disappointment, or sadness. There was nothing but silence. "Anon, Tenten, I'm sorry." Neji apologized.

He looked back at Tenten but she seemed just as fine as always. "You thought I'd be upset?"

"Sort of, yes," He responded.

"Neji, I've waited a year already, you don't think I can wait another; now that's pathetic. Plus, I'm not one to hide themselves from the truth I know it would be stupid to get married during a war, it would be like saying we're free after just returning home, it's a curse on yourself so no, I'm not upset. Not very much at least, I mean. What's the difference between us now, and us them." To think about it, not much.

"Not at all really,"

"See, there is nothing different; there's no difference for me, just you. You are free of the seal and lead your clan then, but nothing will change for me."

"No, there you are wrong; much will have to change when we're married. You'll be surprised about the many changes that will happen then but you and I will just have to wait; it's a wait well worth it." He added.

"Yep, that's why I can take it; because it's worth it." She finished.

"Now let's go." Inside, Tenten was truly holding her tears. There were two hers inside of her, a gentle one that she let around in sometimes, and the strong minded Tenten that she used during practice when she was hurt, the stronghold and the weak; but this time the weak was winning and she was scared what might happen if her weaker self won.

"Tenten, snap out of it." Neji yelled at her. She jumped and sighed, be strong and wait and hope.

Then her weaker self-won, she fell to her knees and cried. Neji was worried by this, how come she had lost it all, right then. Then he thought about it; he had put it off and off and off again. It seemed like there was no hope it would happen. When you lose hope, you fall, no matter what the skill level. If he didn't think he could win, he wouldn't try and he'd lose. That's the difference between weak and strong, the knowledge of the difference.

Neji sat by her, he was supposed to be saving Sasuke but he knew that he couldn't leave her. That was idiotic, dangerous and uncompassionate. He brought her into his chest and held her. "It's alright, it will happen Tenten; I promise you that. This is the very least you deserve; and I owe you it." Neji whispered to her. "Stay safe," He said to her as he sent her away using a jutsu.

Neji didn't want to but if her weaker self had taken over then it would be sure to be quite dangerous for her to be here, too much trauma. She needed to be in safety, and where he sent her was the safest place he could think of in this very moment.

Neji ran through the halls and arrived at Orochimaru's room. There was no sign of a fight, where had they gone. Sasuke's plan was just to fight him while he was asleep, no fight at all, just one death, one of no pain, just death.

"If your looking for the Uchiha and last of his clan I suppose you look down the stairs." Said a voice that sounded like a voice from the dead; it was one that would haunt him for time to come. It was Orochimaru's deathbed voice. He was going but from the way he talked, he supposed that Sasuke was gone. Neji pushed past Orochimaru and did a seal, if Sasuke hadn't killed him, he would. The seal would slowly drain his chakra into nothingness. It was more than over, but they needed Sasuke here, to complete everything.

Hours later Neji was still in that spot, he hadn't moved. He remembered it all, once he had finished Orochimaru. The painful scream, the lost voice, the fear, the danger, and the same voice he heard all those years ago. From her that night, he knew he didn't want to hear it again. She's come for him again, and this time he was the one that was lost, not her. However, wasn't always him who lost it was never her. Her collapses always had meaning, not a sign of weakness, just a flaw; his were a weakness, a major flaw as well.

The thing that scared him that much was that scream, the scream that could waken the dead, if that was plausible. Those who heard her knew that's what she was trying to do. "Sasuke," That was her words. "Saaasukkke-kuuun." He was gone.

A/N: This was the easiest and fasted chapter yet, but only because it's a cut and past easy version chapters 38, 39, and 40 of Uchiha Problems.

The Reasons Why… The Wedding Is Put Off.

the girls aren't here many sound ninjas attacked the girls were kidnapped they had bad news invasion deaths attack Konoha's Fall hide themselves from the truth stupid to get married during a wall have to wait for things to settle too much trauma He was gone. Sasuke