Please see first chapter for disclaimer, etc.
Prompt: Ghosts
Part: 2/2
Special Thanks: goes out to KNO, NoaShi, DarkAnonymous324, rao hyuga 18, rallybabe89, SnowCharms, Crazy Kunoichi Tenten, thatCHICKyouUSEDtoKNOW, kenzinator, Franoncrack, and Kari-Kateora for your reviews! You are some of the most amazing people in the world - thank you so much for your kind words and support!
Author's Note: Part two is quite a bit longer than part one, but there were a lot of things to do, and a lot of questions to be answered. I have pretty solid ideas for the next three oneshots, so updates should come pretty quickly, if all goes according to plan. In the meantime, thank you so much for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and alerting my story, and I hope you enjoy part two!
*~Ghosts~*
"I'll give you a couple of days to think about it. I know this isn't an easy decision to make. But to be honest, you're the only person in this village that I believe can complete this mission."
Naruto's words echoed in Tenten's mind as she made her way through the lush garden the Hyuuga estate boasted. She ran her fingertips along some particularly beautiful blooms, allowing their softness to soothe her.
The Hokage was right. She'd read the mission file, knew what it would take to complete it successfully. If she accepted it, there was a possibiliy she could be away from her family - her beloved husband, her three beautiful children - for months, maybe even years. Or, worse, she might never come back home to them at all.
However, Naruto was also right when he said she was the only one who probably had a hope of completing it successfully. She was an orphan that had never known her clan name; she had no kekkei genkai; and she had kept her marriage to Neji low-key, meaning hardly anyone outside of Konoha knew she was a Hyuuga. She was not particularly beautiful, nor was she ugly. She was average, the kind of person who could be passed on the street without being noticed.
She was perfect for the mission, and both she and Naruto knew it. His saying he was giving her more time to "think about it" was really more like he was giving her time to say goodbye - though hopefully only temporarily - to her family before she had to leave.
It was an S-rank mission. All she could tell her family was that she was leaving on a mission. She couldn't tell them how long she would be gone, or exactly how dangerous it would be.
"Mama!"
The hail from behind her made her pause and turn. Her only daughter, Hanako, was running toward her, long dark ponytail bouncing from side to side with each step.
"What's wrong, Hanako?" Tenten accepted her daughter into the expected hug, which was considerably shorter than usual since the ten-year-old was vibrating with excitement.
"Do you remember how, the last time Hayato came to visit, Aunt Hinata came along?"
Tenten nodded once. Even though Hinata was Neji's cousin, Hanako, Hisoka, and Hizashi all fondly referred to her as "Aunt Hinata," just as Neji was "Uncle Neji" to Hayato. "Yes."
Hanako bounced up and down on her toes, her usually calm personality having been abandoned in favor of her excitement. "Well, she said that I could come train with her in Suna sometime, if I wanted! Please, Mama, I really want to go." Her lavender eyes sparkled with hope. "It's not that I'm not appreciative of your weapons training, or the techniques that Father is showing me. But ... my chakra control isn't as good as Hisoka's, and my techniques aren't as sharp, either. Aunt Hinata's weren't as good as Father's, but she found ways to compensate. She'll teach them to me!"
The elder kunoichi's ire flared. She was furious at the Elders for their constant scorn for Hanako, making her feel inferior to her brother, four minutes her junior. Already Hisoka was being groomed as a potential heir to the clan. Hanabi had not yet married, which meant she had produced no heir of her own. Since Neji was her closest relative in Konoha, not to mention the most powerful in the clan, one of his children was the most logical choice. "Your gift for weapons control far outshines your brother's," she said, somewhat stiffly.
Her daughter shrugged. "Maybe. But let's face it - Hisoka is better. I would really like to get better at the Hyuuga techniques, though. Please, Mama? Aunt Hinata said I would not be imposing on her, Uncle Gaara, Hayato, and Hikari."
Tenten swallowed back her desire to strangle the Hyuuga Elders. Granted, she knew it would do her daughter some good to spend with the gentle Hinata, who enjoyed spending time with her nephews, but who especially loved her niece. And Hanako loved Hikari, who, at three years younger, was like the little sister Hanako had never had. She had been quite disappointed when Hizashi was born, saying she had hoped he would be a girl. "Baby girl ... I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well right now. Please, can we discuss this later?"
Hanako's bright expression fell, and Tenten felt horrible for killing her daughter's excitement. "But-"
"Please, Hanako. I just want some time to think about this. I will also need to discuss this with your father, who, as you know, is not here right now."
"What's to think about, Mama? I'll only be going to Suna! It's not that far away, and it's not like it's dangerous there or anything."
She squeezed her eyes shut. Of all times for her daughter to come to her with something like this, why did it have to be now? "I will discuss it with your father later. It is not like you could leave for Suna right now, even if I did say yes. You will be the first to know if we decide you can go."
Now tears were glistening in Hanako's wide, pearlescent eyes. "Mama..."
"I'm sorry, Hanako. I just ... don't feel like doing this with you right now." On any other day, she wouldn't have minded Hanako coming to her about this. In fact, she probably would have said yes, talked Neji into the scheme that night, and helped her daughter pack the next morning. She had been meaning to visit Suna herself, meaning she could accompany her daughter there and come back a couple of days later. But right then, she wanted to cherish what little bit of time she had left with Hanako, her boys, and Neji. The thought of any of them going a great distance away before she had to leave made her feel even emptier inside than she already was.
Hanako nodded once, but Tenten could tell she was hurt. "Yes, Mama. I'm sorry to have bothered you." Without another word, she spun on her heel and walked off in the direction from which she'd come.
Tenten pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes, trying very hard not to cry. Oh, how I wish I could tell you all the truth, she thought to herself. But I can't. I know you are all going to hate me for this - especially you, Neji - but it has to be done. I have no choice.
Her decision had already been made for her, but now the formalities were through. The sooner she left, the sooner she could complete the mission and come back home.
As soon as she got packed, she would leave.
It took every last shred of Neji's patience and self-control to keep him where he was through the rest of the matches. Minato, Ryuu, and Takara all won, only sustaining minor injuries. He longed to talk with Naruto more, but he knew better than to try to hold up the chuunin exams. His son had been taken to the hospital, and his daughter stood with the other members of her team, who had also won their matches. So far, Konoha seemed to be showing the most promise of all the villages represented, though Suna wasn't too far behind.
Tenten is alive. My wife is alive. The thought just kept spinning through his mind, over and over and over again. He knew his students were staring at him, worried, but he didn't know what to do to reassure them that everything was okay. They had no idea what the Hokage had told him earlier, and he knew he couldn't tell them now.
As soon as they were all dismissed, Neji headed for the hospital. His team followed silently, supportive expressions on their faces. It didn't take long for Lee and Hisoka's teammates to start trailing along, though only Hanako came along later for her team.
Everyone in the hospital gave them furtive looks. News traveled fast in Konoha, particularly during the chuunin exams. The fact that yet another showdown between Hyuuga clan members had occurred during a match had not escaped notice, either. Neji and Hanako, particularly, got a lot of notice as they headed for Hisako's room.
Somehow, Naruto had managed to beat them there. He stood leaning against the wall, blond head bowed, blue eyes closed, looking like the entire world was resting on his shoulders, and it was taking every last bit of his strength, and more, to keep holding it up.
The small group paused before him, and at last he looked up. "He's not in the room yet," Naruto announced. Just like that, he was sharp and alert, eyes bright, expression relaxed. Neji wondered how he was able to do that - go from looking like he was ready to collapse to like he'd just woken from a good night's sleep in less than the blink of an eye. He supposed it was just one of those Naruto-things that didn't make sense to anyone, not even those who knew him best.
Next to Neji, Hanako bowed her head. "Is he still in surgery?" she whispered.
Naruto's eyes shifted to the girl, softening slightly at the expression on her face. "Yeah. But don't worry - Sakura and Lady Tsunade are the best. They'll have him patched up and back on his feet in no time at all."
Hanako nodded once, a thin smile weakly curling her lips.
Clearing her throat, Takara wrapped her arm around the taller girl and steered her toward the bench sitting against one wall. "Come on," she said. "You should sit down."
Minato and Ryuu followed silently, blue and dark eyes respectively silently watching. The remaining two members of Lee's team had already split off, murmuring quietly to each other in the corner.
Lee himself, who had remained uncharacteristically quiet, chose that moment to speak up. "How bad is he?" He had voiced the question as Hisoka's team leader that Neji had been unable to as the boy's father.
Naruto sighed, a hint of his earlier exhaustion shadowing his eyes. "Sakura sent out a nurse to talk to me since she couldn't leave the surgery. Hanako's attack just missed most of his internal organs, but his heart..." He shook his head. "It's touch and go."
Neji sighed. Tenten ... I've done such a terrible job in your absence. When she got back (how nice it was to think that, and know for sure now that it was "when" and not "if"), she was going to kill him for letting things get so bad between their twins. "Hisoka is strong."
"Yes." The enthusiasm that usually dripped from every word that left Lee's mouth was conspicuous in its abscence. "He is a Hyuuga."
As if that explained everything. That, Neji thought bitterly, might actually be the cause of this mess. If only I had been more involved. If only I had pried a little more, been a little more insistant that they tell me what was wrong. He had spent many years believing that Fate ruled everything. He had spent many more in disbelief of that same thing. But now, a part of him that had been very much active the last time the chuunin exams had been held in Konoha stirred again, whispering that perhaps Fate did have something to do with a little bit of everything. After all, what other reason would there be that his son and daughter would all but repeat the match he and his cousin had fought?
Before anyone else could speak, Hayato ran up, Temari right behind him. The other two members of his team were absent. "What's going on? How's Hisoka?"
Neji shook his head once, sharply. He wasn't sure what to tell his nephew, other than that all they could do was wait.
Lee cleared his throat, drawing the newcomers' attention to him. "Hisoka is still in surgery. Sakura and Lady Tsunade are working on him. We are all confident that he will be out soon, and will be back to himself in no time."
Hayato nodded once, then turned away to go sit with his cousin. Temari remained behind, arms crossed. "Hayato and I sent a messenger bird to Suna before we came here. Gaara and Hinata will probably be here within the next few days."
Would the same thoughts run through Hinata's mind that had plagued him? Neji wondered. "I'll send another as soon as we have word on Hisoka's condition."
There was nothing more to be said. All they really could do then was wait.
Konoha...
Hyuuga Tenten stopped at the crest of the last hill, just staring at the familiar gates waiting to greet her. She had dreamed of them so often the past two years, waking each morning to the crushing realization that yet another day had dawned to see her not going home.
But now she wasn't dreaming. Now, she was finally home!
From the looks of things, her village had not changed much since she left. The smells of fresh food from the markets still wafted through the air, the chatter from various shinobi and civilians played counterpoint to the wind's music, and even Izumo and Kotetsu were still sitting at the gate, the exact same bored expressions on their faces that they'd been wearing when she left.
Until they saw her.
Izumo sat straight up, eyes wildly scanning her up and down before he managed to stammer out a few words. "You - you're - stop right there!"
Considering Tenten had already paused in front of their post, she found this order quite easy to follow. "Hello," she said calmly. "Did I miss anything exciting while I was gone?"
Kotetsu reared back in his chair, staring at her as if he had suddenly come face-to-face with a long-departed spirit. (Come to think of it, the expression on his face seemed to indicate that the spirit was decidedly unfriendly, but Tenten decided she could forgive him. Shock did strange things to people, after all.) "You're dead!" he declared loudly.
She spread her hands out tiredly. "I feel like I should be." Still maintaining her "I'm no threat" posture, she tilted her head and offered the password Naruto had sent to her with the last messenger bird. Now that her mission was finally over and she could return home, he didn't have to worry about the message falling into the wrong hands.
Izumo and Kotetsu exchanged a wary look, conferred quietly for a few moments, then turned to nod at her. "All right," the former said. "Guess you're free to go in. Watch yourself, though. Things are a little crazy, what with the chuunin exams going on and all."
Tenten felt her heart skip a beat. Murmuring a quick thank-you, she took off for the Hokage tower, anxious to debrief so she could see her children and husband again. She couldn't wait to find out who Hisoka and Hanako's team leaders were, and if they had entered the exams this time around.
The only person around when Tenten got to the tower was Shikamaru. He sat half-slumped over his desk, head propped against his hand, eyelids at half mast. He stared at her blankly for a few seconds, then made a tsking noise in the back of his throat.
She shouldn't have been surprised that he wasn't surprised to see her alive when the entire village had been informed of her death nearly two years past. "Is the Hokage here, or is he still at the exams?"
The Nara genius shook his head. "Hospital," he said shortly. "There was an ... incident." At Tenten's stricken look, he sat up a little straighter and shook his head. "Nah, there's not another invasion or anything. Troublesome. But you'll find him at the hospital." He dismissed her by turning back to the scroll he'd been reading, half-heartedly flicking one hand toward the door.
Only a few minutes after she'd entered the Hokage tower, she left it. Anxious to report to Naruto so she could get home sooner, Tenten took to the roofs so she could take a more direct route to the hospital.
The nurse at the front desk must have been new, because she didn't seem surprised to see Tenten when the kunoichi stopped to ask about the Hokage's whereabouts. She reported a room number, then turned back to her files, a harried expression on her face. Murmuring a soft thank you, Tenten made her way through the familiar halls until she finally caught sight of a familiar head of blond hair.
...Alongside other familiar heads of hair, not the least of which belonged to her husband, her daughter and her nephew.
Her stomach twisted painfully as she noted her elder son was not included in the group. Though she was unbelievely happy to see Neji, Hanako, and Hayato after her two-year abscence, the emotion was tempered by her fright at not seeing Hisoka.
Lee was the first to notice her standing there. His jaw dropped, eyes popping even wider than normal as he let out a strangled gasp. This drew everyone else's attention, and one by one, they all began to stare at her in utter shock.
The only ones who did not seem surprised to see her were Naruto, Neji, and Hanako. Now that her mission was over, and she was able to come home, the Hokage must have chosen to tell her family she was still alive. She hoped it would make her homecoming easier for all of them.
Hanako was the first to move. She tore away from the two people sitting on either side of her and ran for Tenten, throwing her arms around the older woman when she reached her. "I'm so sorry, Mother!" she sobbed. "I'm so sorry! I promise, I didn't mean to! B-But it's been so long, and h-he was so angry at me, and he told me it was my fault, and I didn't want it to be my fault, and-"
"Hanako." Tenten gently took her daughter's tear-streaked face in her hands and guided the girl away from her a bit. "Shh."
Sniffling, the young kunoichi wiped away the tears leaking down her cheeks. She looked like she wanted to say more, but instead remained standing silently as she'd been told.
The girl had grown a lot since Tenten left. Her dark hair hung almost to her shoulders in a messy ponytail, and a line of scrolls dangled from the belt around her waist. She wore a loose white top and blue capris, which were full of pockets to house more scrolls. If Tenten didn't know better, she'd think Hanako was older than twelve. Something had aged her, even more than most ninja were at that age.
Movement beyond her daughter's form caught her attention. Lifting her gaze, her eyes met the familiar pale ones that had kept her captivated for so many years. Even though she had promised herself a thousand times that she wouldn't cry when she finally saw her husband again, she felt her eyes fill with traitorous tears.
"Neji..."
He didn't say anything. He simply wrapped one arm around her, the other around Hanako, and pulled them both into his arms. Tenten leaned against his chest, inhaling his familiar scent as his own face burrowed into her hair to do the same. Something wet dripped onto her cheek, and she honestly wasn't sure if was her own tears, or Neji's.
Lee was waiting when Neji finally let go of her. For a long moment the younger Green Beast continued to stare at her; finally, he let out a shout and drew her into a hug that stole the air from her lungs. "Tenten, youthful flower, you have returned!" he sobbed.
Tenten awkwardly patted her friend on his shoulder. "It's good to see you, too, Lee," she managed.
When Lee finally let her go, Temari stepped up, her arms crossed, cool teal eyes narrowed. "Welcome back," she said at last. Then, without another word, she turned and went back over to where Naruto was still standing, head very obviously pointed away from the reunited family and friends to give them privacy.
Slowly, all the other kids gathered around, staring at her with curious eyes. Lee cleared his throat and introduced two of the three members of his team, then indicated the three members of Neji's.
"Hisoka is also on my team," Lee added at the end of the introductions. "But..." He looked at Neji out of the corner of his eye, obviously a signal.
Hanako stepped forward, her head bowed, hands folded in front of her properly. "He's in surgery," she whispered. Fresh tears trailed down her cheeks, dripping off her chin to land on the floor between her feet. "I-I think I might have killed my brother."
It took several minutes for Tenten to get the full story of what had happened. Finally she learned that Hanako and Hisoka had been paired against each other during the exams. Her final move had been the Gentle Fist, causing damage to her brother's heart that Sakura and Lady Tsunade were even then trying to repair. Neji had later explained that Hisoka had been bitter toward his sister, blaming her for Tenten's leaving. Hanako had gotten tired of the verbal and emotional abuse and snapped.
She had expected that her going on the mission would cause unwanted strife in her family. She had never dreamed that things would get so bad that her son and daughter would attempt to kill each other.
As soon as Neji finished getting her updated, he bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Tenten," he whispered. "I ... have failed."
Ignoring the many pairs of eyes still watching them, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Neji's waist. Resting her head on his chest, she sighed. "I knew leaving would hurt you all so much," she whispered. "I ... never knew it would make things this bad."
"Why did you leave?" Neji's question was asked so softly she almost didn't hear it.
Because I had to. She really wasn't sure if that was the best thing to say, but she wasn't sure what else to tell him. Drawing in a deep breath, she looked up into his face and told him the truth. "Because I had to. The Hokage gave me some time to 'think about it,' but in truth ... I was the only one who could do the mission." She was almost glad that she wasn't allowed to give him the details, because she had to live with what she'd had to do. There was no point in Neji having to live with it, too. Even for a ninja, killing was never easy. "I wasn't angry at you or our children when I left. I was angry at myself, and perhaps even a little with the Hokage, for placing me in that position. I know it wasn't Naruto's fault, but..." She shook her head.
The murmur of conversations to their left suddenly stopped, drawing their attention in that direction. Sakura appeared around the corner, her pink hair tied up at the back of her head, her surgical scrubs dotted with blood, her features incredibly tired. "He survived the surgery," she announced.
An audible sigh of relief swept through those gathered.
Sakura held up one hand. "Yes, he made it through surgery, and Lady Tsunade and I managed to repair the damage to his heart. But, there was a lot of internal bleeding, which means he did lose a lot of blood. If he survives the night, though, I'm confident he'll be fine." Lifting her hand, she made a shooing motion. "Now everyone except for family needs to clear out of here. We need to bring Hisoka to his room, and we won't be able to get him here with the hall congested like this."
One by one, almost everyone left. Soon only Neji, Tenten, Hanako, Hayato, Naruto, Lee, and Hisoka's two teammates were left. The Hokage and Team Lee stayed for obvious reasons.
When she returned, Sakura seemed unhappy at the number of people who stayed, but she didn't protest. Once she got Hisoka settled into the room, she allowed visitors two-by-two, with only his parents allowed to stay longer.
While everyone else was taking their turns, Naruto drew Tenten to the side. "I just told them the truth earlier. Or, anyway, as much of the truth as I could." His blue eyes flickered downward, pain appearing on his face. "I'm sorry, Tenten. Most of this is my fault."
Even though Tenten wanted to blame Naruto for what had happened, she knew she couldn't. "I don't blame any of this on you," she said. "I did what had to be done. It's as simple as that. What is done is done, and the best we can all do is keep moving forward."
Naruto smiled thinly at that. "I'm sure there are many who would disagree with that assessment, Tenten, but thank you." He turned his head when the door to Hisoka's room opened and Hayato and Hanako exited. "I'll let you and Neji go see your son now. We'll ... work out a mission debrief later. For now ... just know I'm sorry." They wound up bowing at each other at the same time, then the Hokage walked off, hands in his pockets, shoulders slouched, head bowed in a posture similar to that of his sensei.
Tenten slowly turned and walked back to her husband. This was not how she had imagined her homecoming at all. Granted, she'd also not expected them to run to her with open arms and accept her back into their lives as if she hadn't left them for two long years, but ... at the same time, she had not expected to come home to her family teetering on the edge of destruction.
It wasn't until the two of them were sitting side-by-side next to Hisoka's bed that Tenten spoke. "How is Hizashi?" she whispered.
Neji's lips twitched in a ghost of a smile. "He's grown up so much. He's started at the Academy, now. Already he's showing an affinity for weapons, though it's still too soon to tell how well he'll do with the Hyuuga techniques."
A brief soft, warm glow of pride ignited in her chest. That made two of their children that had picked up her natural gift with weapons. She just hoped that Hizashi was also good with the Hyuuga techniques, as well.
As uncomfortable silence welled up between them, Tenten found herself longing for the familiarity they used to share. Before she left, they could hold entire conversations in just one look, say a thousand things to each other with just the briefest brush of their hands. But now ... somehow, she felt like at least she was a completely different person. Even if Neji hadn't changed, she wondered if she had to a point where they were no longer compatible, as impossible and painful as that thought was to contemplate.
Turning from Neji, she settled her gaze on her son's face. He had grown a lot in two years, much as his sister had. He was wearing his hair longer, making him look more like his father than ever. Even with an expression of pain on his face, she could tell that he was growing into a very handsome young man. She wouldn't be surprised if all the genin kunoichi and half the Academy girls, too, were pining after him. (And there wasn't the least bit of motherly pride or affection coloring that assessment, not at all, she thought wryly.) Hisoka had matured so much while she was gone, she hardly recognized him.
Everything had changed so much since she was gone. How was she ever going to be able to fit in again - especially if she lost her son?
He had a feeling...
It had started out as him waiting around outside the hospital for Sakura to leave, but even after she came out, Naruto stayed. He wasn't sure why, especially since he'd gotten some pretty strange looks for his behavior. And maybe it did seem a little weird, the Hokage sitting on the steps of the hospital, looking like he was in it for the long haul, even after the sun had gone down and most normal people were at home.
Then again, Uzumaki Naruto had never claimed to be normal.
So he sat and waited for whatever was causing his instincts to tingle, watching the sky shift through a wide spectrum of colors as daytime faded into evening, then nighttime proper. Eventually he got caught up in watching the stars, picking out the few constellations he knew.
A very long time passed before a familiar chakra signature approached. Naruto sat and let her approach, waiting until she was almost upon him before he spoke. "I had a feeling you'd come here tonight."
Hyuuga Hanako stared at him for a long moment, and he was proud that she didn't seem surprised to see him sitting there. She bowed quickly, and he waved her off. "Come here and sit down." He patted the step next to him.
She eyed him warily as she did as requested, gingerly lowering herself to the ground as if expecting it to bite her. Naruto very deliberately didn't look at her, instead gazing back up at the stars as if they were the most mesmerising things in the world. "Why did you come here, Hanako?" he asked.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her look at him as if he were crazy. "You said you knew I'd be here," she said. There wasn't a hint of disrespect in her tone, just a touch of surprise, and just a hint of shrewdness.
Obligingly, Naruto chuckled. "So I did." At last he turned to face her, propping his back against the railing to get more comfortable. "You're here to see your brother, to apologize even if he can't hear you."
Hanako nodded, studying her hands, clasped together in her lap so tightly her knuckles were white. "Yes," she whispered. "I never meant to hurt him, just like I know deep down he never really meant to hurt me. It's just ... even though Mom told me the day she left that she wasn't doing it because we argued, a part of me had to wonder. Hisoka just kept triggering that part of me, and ... I couldn't take it any more." She sniffled, lifting one hand to swipe at her eyes. "I-I guess I'm a crybaby ninja. All I've done since the exam is cry. But..."
Naruto nodded once. "Do you know why I disqualified you from the exam this time around, Hanako?" he asked softly.
A brief shake of her head was the only response she gave.
Leaning forward, he tilted up his honarary niece's face until their eyes could meet. "The bond between brothers - and, in this case, brother and sister - is very strong. I've heard it said that the bond between twins is even stronger. I, personally, believe there are very few things in this world that can sever that bond." A pang of pain shot through his chest when he thought of Sasuke, but he pushed it away. This was not the time to revisit old memories, or to let old hurts haunt him. "Some say that, to be a great ninja, you have to put aside everything. You have to put aside everyone you love, everything you care for. There's only the mission, and nothing else." He paused, letting those words sink in before continuing. "But you know what I think? I think that having those bonds help you be an even better ninja. Remembering all that you care for helps you protect them to the very best of your abilities."
A spark of understanding lit Hanako's eyes, though she said nothing.
Naruto leaned back again, knowing he had the young Hyuuga's full attention now. "Sometimes triumph comes at a very high price, Hanako. Nara Shikamaru once told me that the next generation of Leaf shinobi are the most important people in this village, and I agree with him. I could have passed you on to the next level of the exams, but ... I think, in the end, you and your brother passing and becoming chuunin at the same time is the best goal you both can aim for. I've seen you supporting each other through the years, helping each other to get to where you are today. You both are fine shinobi on your own, but, together? I think, together, you guys are unbeatable."
Tears trickled down Hanako's cheeks. "That's what I've always wanted," she whispered. "For me and Hisoka to pass at the same time, to become chuunin and be the best ninja we can be."
"I know a lot of things have changed for you and your family," he said. "Most of it is my fault. Your mom ... the mission I sent her on was very dangerous. If she was traced back to Konoha, a lot of people could have gotten hurt, or killed. I had to pretend that she had been killed, and make everyone - even you, your brothers, and your father - believe she was dead to protect her." He sighed. "The last thing I want to do is cause people pain. I promised I'd make things better when I became Hokage, and sometimes I wonder if I am doing a good job, or if I'm just making things worse."
Hanako suddenly reached over, threw her arms around his shoulders, and hugged him tightly. "I think you're doing a great job," she said loyally. "Without your help, my father never would have been free. And Hisoka, Hizashi and I wouldn't be free right now, either."
Awkwardly, Naruto patted the back of Hanako's head. "Thank you for your confidence, Hanako. But still. I've caused so much strife in your family." This was the part he hated about being Hokage. He had to send the ninja under his command on dangerous missions, even when he didn't want to. Even though he cared for everyone in the Leaf village, he couldn't let friendships or favoritism rule him, though sometimes he wanted to. Tough decisions were all a part of his daily life, and even though Tenten had gone on the mission willingly, he still felt horrible for the result his actions, even indirectly, had caused. "I promise you I'm going to do everything I can to try to make up for it. I know I probably can't, but I am going to try."
"Thank you." Hanako's words were muffled by his jacket, but the warmth behind him was not lessened in the least.
"You're welcome, Hanako." Gently prying her off, he gave her a light push. "Now go see your brother."
"But-"
"Shh. Don't worry about Sakura and her rules. I'll take care of it."
"Thank you," Hanako repeated, then vanished through the doors.
Naruto sighed, pushing himself off the steps before turning his ambling steps toward home. Maybe he'd be lucky and Sakura would already be in bed, and he could wait until tomorrow to tell her that he'd bent the rules in her hospital, just a little bit...
As he got closer to his house, he sighed. There was still a light on in the front room.
...Or not.
Tenten woke to the sound of soft voices nearby. For a moment she stiffened, ready to defend herself against attack. Just as quickly, though, she remembered that she was home, and there was no one in Konoha who was going to try to kill her.
It took a few more seconds for her sleep-muddled brain to identify the voices she was hearing. Hanako and ... Hisoka?
She wanted to open her eyes, but something in the twins' tone warned her against it. So she continued to sit in her chair, head against her sleeping husband's shoulder, listening in on the conversation happening just a few steps away.
"I'm sorry, Hisoka."
Silence stretched for a long time, so long Tenten was tempted to give up her facade of sleep and tell Hisoka to answer his sister. But she didn't have to, because the boy finally spoke. "I'm sorry, too, Hana. I ... never should've treated you the way I did. There's no excuse for it."
Hanako's responding laugh sounded a little shaky. "You're more than forgiven, brother." There was a soft rustling, and Tenten cracked open her eyes to see Hanako carefully hugging her brother, and him responding a little stiffly, but willingly nonetheless. "I love you."
"I love you, too, sister." He was quiet for another long moment, then said, "I wish you'd still passed to chuunin, though."
This time the elder twin's laugh was full of true mirth. "Thank you, Hisoka. But I talked to Uncle Naruto earlier, and ... he said that he's giving us both a chance to pass next time. And you know what? I think we will. Together, we can do anything. And there's nothing more I want than to make it to chuunin at the same time, you and me getting our vests and taking the next step as shinobi together. I know someday we'll have to go our separate ways to a certain extent, but you've always been and you always will be my twin brother. And I want to accomplish everything together for as long as we can."
Another long moment of silence passed, and then Hisoka spoke with a true smile in his tone. "I guess I'd better get better fast, then. You and I have a lot of training to do if we're going to pass those exams when they come around again in a few months."
Even though she tried, Tenten couldn't hide her proud smile. She didn't care if her children saw it and new she was awake. She was too proud of them not to smile.
At her side, Neji's hand found hers and squeezed. She realized that he'd been awake, too, all this time.
Tenten knew there were still a lot of things the Hyuuga family had to work out before they could go back normal. But they were a family, and there was nothing that could break their bonds. Of this, she was now certain.
*~The End~*
Author's Ending Notes: I think the scene with Naruto and Hanako is one of my faavorites, ever. It's the first time I've written in Naruto's POV, so I hope it sounded okay. I think that being Hokage would mellow out his personality bit, make him grow up more, but I still tried to capture and keep that spark that makes Naruto - well, Naruto. I really hope I succeeded. Thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed part two!