Chapter Fourteen
A/N: Sorry about taking so long to update, but my computer was screwing with me for a long time, and I just learned that I'm the only person it screws with, which leads me to think that I'm cursed with computers. I can't promise that updates will be quicker, mostly because it's my second year of college, and even though my parents are far away they are putting a hell of a lot of pressure on me, not that it isn't my fault to begin with, but I can tell you that there are only a couple of chapters are left, and I'll definitely have them done and posted way before I have to start cramming for finals. So here you go
TenTen did not like the way the people of Konoha looked at her now that she was a Sand Genin. There was fear in their eyes, but she could deal with that fear, what hurt her most was the clear, unmistakable hatred in the eyes of the people who'd been her friends and neighbors less than a month ago. Why did change have to be so difficult, especially when there was no other option?
"Don't concern yourself with them." Neji said.
He'd been so quiet at her side that she'd completely forgotten he was there. "I can't help it."
"Then let's not be around them." He began to walk away from the noisy square, TenTen following very closely at his heels. The boy didn't get very far before one of the very people he was trying to avoid spoke up and stopped him.
"Oi, you with the mask." The boy blocked his passage. "Where do you think you're going? I hope you're not trying to stir up trouble."
Neji ignored him and brushed past.
The boy dashed in front of him again. "You didn't answer me."
A girl's voice reached Neji's ears from behind. "Sasuke-kun, you really shouldn't challenge Sand ninja before the exam starts."
Behind his mask, Neji smiled. "I wouldn't mind fighting you."
Another boy yawned. "If we don't want to get in trouble we can't do it where everyone can see."
The sullen dark-haired boy scowled. "I know that idiot. We're going up there." He pointed to a mountain in the distance.
Neji turned to the girl behind him. "Will you be okay with this?"
TenTen nodded, but then remembered that he couldn't see her. "Just don't injure him too badly. I still want to beat his team in the exam."
The boys began to head towards the mountain, but Sakura grabbed him by the arm. "Sasuke-kun, you don't have to challenge every strong opponent you see. The Exam is only a day away, please wait until then."
Sasuke carefully pulled his arm out of her grip. "You don't understand Sakura. I have to fight him."
"Why? Because he's a ninja of the Sand?"
"No." He turned away from her. "Because it's our fate."
~~~
Hiking up a mountain blind was very difficult for Neji, but he had TenTen behind him to guide his footsteps and made it to the top uneventfully.
Sasuke turned to his teammates. "You guys be referees. If things get out of hand, feel free to try and stop me." He emphasized the word try.
TenTen held Neji's hand briefly. She understood that for him, accepting Sasuke's challenge was a chance for him to prove to himself that he could still stand up to Konoha's best genin, despite losing his sight. "Please don't get hurt."
He squeezed her hand softly before releasing it. "There's no reason for you to concern yourself with me." Neji walked towards the spot where he could hear Sasuke arguing with his female teammate. "Sasuke, right?"
The boy leveled a spiteful glare at his opponent, a glare that was completely wasted on a boy who couldn't see. "What do you want?"
"I came here for a fight, not to watch you argue with your girlfriend."
"Fine then." Sasuke's fingers slipped into the holster at his side and withdrew a fighting kunai. He charged at Neji, quickly closing the gap between them.
Sasuke's movements were way too quick for his ears to detect and for his body to react accordingly, so Neji did the only thing he could, he ducked and threw up an arm to block the attack.
TenTen winced as the tip of the kunai passed through the boy's flesh, sending a spray of blood up into the air.
Smiling beneath the mask, Neji swung his left hand under his injured right one and connected soundly with Sasuke's face, the impact pushing them ten feet apart. If the younger boy continued to fight so impulsively, he would be able to beat him without the help of the Phoenix.
Sasuke had his own suspicions about his opponent. His reaction times were slow and if he wasn't mistaken, his eyes weren't visible behind the mask, which meant that either intentionally or unintentionally, he was fighting blind. Well, he'd have to test that theory. He reached into his holster again and retrieved his shuriken. Jumping towards the brown-haired boy, he flung the weapons at him, making sure they traveled at six different speeds and six different heights.
TenTen found it very hard to resist the urge not to scream. There was no way Neji would be able to avoid all of the shuriken.
He heard the weapons whizzing towards him, and from the way they sliced cleanly through the air, he could tell they had to be shuriken. But before he could even attempt to react, a scream ripped through his mind. Neji clamped his hands over his ears and fell to his knees, trying to block out the cries.
Naruto scratched his head in confusion. "What do you think is his problem?"
Neji screamed along with the voice in his head, as he suddenly felt TenTen's emotions assaulting him, fear, trepidation, and an overwhelming concern for him. Suddenly, a clear image flashed in his head. Sasuke was standing twenty feet away, he was on his knees and six shuriken were flying between them. Just as fast as it appeared, it vanished, but he managed to catch one tiny detail. TenTen was missing from the picture, which had to mean that the vision he had just seen was from her perspective. He jumped up into the air and covered his face and chest with his arms. The pain shot through his body in waves, four distinct waves, two in his right arm, one in his left arm and one in his upper thigh. The two remaining shuriken clattered uselessly to the floor behind him.
Sasuke snorted. "I was right. You are blind, aren't you?"
Neji didn't respond.
"You accepted my challenge, knowing that you couldn't see?"
"Blind or not, I'm still a ninja."
"But you won't be one for much longer." Sasuke put his fingers to his mouth and pursed his lips. "Phoenix Fire no Jutsu!" A giant burst of fire left the boy's lips and consumed Neji. He laughed at the silhouette of the burning boy and began to walk away. "It's over."
TenTen smiled beneath her mask. "You're not going to hurt him that way."
"Are you crazy?" Naruto questioned. "If he doesn't get out of there, he's going to die."
TenTen shook her head. "Look again."
Sasuke turned to face his opponent. By this time most of the fire had died down and only small tongues were left licking at his shirt. "What the�"
In some places patches of Neji's skin had melted away, but instead of seeing blood and bone, what appeared to be liquid fire was plainly visible. As Sasuke and the others watched, flesh began to knit itself together and covered the wounds flawlessly. "You were right Sasuke, I am blind. If I were not this way, you would not have had a chance. This way I can toy with you before I humiliate you."
"What are you?"
"Have I begun to frighten you?"
Sasuke scoffed. "I've faced worse than you."
Neji stretched a hand in TenTen's direction. "Let me borrow your eyes."
As Naruto and Sakura watched, the girl's body went limp and she fell to her knees.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" The blonde boy questioned. "You'd sacrifice your own teammate just to win a fight?"
"She's not dead." Neji clenched his fists in anger. He'd survived a long six weeks without his sight and all this time the Phoenix had held the key to regaining his vision. He uncurled his right hand, revealing a small spark. It ignited quickly until it engulfed his entire hand. "I'll never let anything happen to her. Not anymore." He charged Sasuke and the other boy thundered towards him. Neji punched at Sasuke's face, but the boy caught his fist.
The flames raced from Neji to Sasuke, covering the young Uchiha's body from head to toe.
Sasuke growled. "Don't you attack any other way?" He sprang away from Neji and the fires quickly died down. His lips drew back, exposing his teeth in a snarl. He reared back and connected with the boy's face, splitting the wooden mask down the middle. The right half slid off and clattered to the ground, revealing a black blindfold and the remains of the Hyuuga clan's curse seal.
Shocked, Sasuke froze in his steps, staring at the faded identifying mark on his forehead.
Before Neji could react, a puff of smoke came up from the ground and between them, and Jounin teacher Yuuhi Kurenai stood there, a pissed off look on her face. "If you don't want to be disqualified from the Chuunin exam, I suggest you leave right now."
"Sasuke, let's go." Sakura begged. "We need to get you to the hospital so they can take care of your wounds."
The boy scowled, but followed his teammates down the mountain.
Neji picked up the broken half of his mask and began to walk away.
"Not you." Kurenai grabbed him by the sleeve. "I'd like to ask you to come with me to see our Hokage."
He jerked his arm free of her grasp. "Why should I go with you?"
"You're wanted for murder, you fled the village and you're wanted for giving away our secrets."
"I didn't kill anyone, run away from Konoha, or share our secrets." Neji stated.
TenTen stood up, her sight having returned to her. "He was unconscious when I took him from Konoha, and like he says, he had nothing to do with any of the charges."
"We'll let the Hokage determine that. Come with me please."
Team eight raced up the path, skidding to a stop in front of their teacher. "Where were you? We've been looking all over you."
"I've been busy." Kurenai replied, not taking her eyes off the two teenagers in front of her.
Hinata stepped forward, gasping suddenly as she recognized the boy standing in front of her teacher. "Neji-niisan?"
At the sound of his cousin's voice, Neji snapped. "Come near me and I'll kill you."
Kiba stepped protectively in front of the girl. "Why is he threatening you?"
Hinata lowered her head to avoid looking into his eyes. He was trying to protect her and she'd done such a terrible thing.
Kiba looked back over his shoulder to get the girl's response, but when she raised her head, tears were running down her cheeks. "What's wrong?"
TenTen laughed dryly. "Now you feel guilty."
Kurenai defended her student. "You don't have to say anything Hinata. What you did then was what you felt was right."
"Of course." Neji muttered. "Protect her, she's not the dangerous one."
"Neji, TenTen, let's not cause any more trouble than has already occurred. Most of the Jounin already know you're in town. Even if I were to let you go, you'd only be picked up by someone else."
TenTen stepped forward. "Leave Neji out of this. I was the one who hurt that kid. I'm the one who's the danger to Konoha, not him. I ruined his life enough already, please just take me and let him go."
"He can plead his case before the Hokage."
~~~
Izumo rushed into Tsunade's office. "Neji and TenTen have been located. Kurenai is bringing them here as we speak."
Tsunade looked to the burly man at her side. "Are you truly able to carry out the plan you suggested, Hagane-san?"
The man's face was impassive. "It is my job to do what is in the best interest of my village. The Phoenix presents a terrible threat to Konoha. While the children may not realize that they have violent tendencies, the Phoenix desires revenge for every injustice done against it."
"Is there an alternative to killing them?" Tsunade questioned.
"There is a seal that the Fire Clan used on their children, but there is no documentation that it will continue to work after the Phoenix has been awakened."
"But it's worth a try?"
"It's a four-handed seal, so the one being sealed has to agree with it."
The door opened just then and two teenage ninjas entered the room, followed by Kurenai. The girl's eyes were staring at the ground and there was an air of disappointment and anger around her. After being nudged by Kurenai, she looked up and her eyes met those of her father's. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Daddy? What are you doing here?"
His sad eyes smiled softly. "I came here to see you." He walked towards the girl, arms extended for a hug.
TenTen took one step in her father's direction, before something else took hold of her and she backed up into Neji, both arms stretched out, as if trying to block him from coming nearer to her. "NO!" Fire shot out of her hands and would probably have burned him had he not ducked. "Why are you lying to me?"
"I am not lying. I am here to see you."
She shook her head, laughing sarcastically. "No you don't. You're here to get rid of me, just like Kotetsu wants."
"That's not true." He countered. "I'd never want to hurt you."
"The whole village wants me dead, despite the fact that I was the one who was raped and assaulted, despite the fact that those freaks attacked me and Neji, we're the ones who are prosecuted." She shook her head slowly. "This is bullshit."
Tsunade spoke up. "TenTen, we regret the things that have happened to you over the last month and a half, but we are required to act in a manner that will protect our village."
"And you think that you can protect this village, by imprisoning the victim in both situations? That's some justice."
"I've said nothing about imprisoning you. I was hoping we could settle this without jail or violence."
"Then how?" TenTen asked. "I can't get rid of the Phoenix. I'm stuck with it until I die."
The door to the office opened again and Shikamaru entered the room, Ino just behind him. "I'm sorry for interrupting Tsunade-sama, but I have something very important to tell you."
"Can it wait?" She questioned.
He glanced at the two teens, who were obviously TenTen and Neji. "You have to hear this before you pass judgment on them."
She sighed. "Very well. Go ahead."
"I know who raped TenTen. And I know who killed Shiratori Honda, and it wasn't her or Neji."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, and TenTen just stared at Shikamaru in awe. If he was going to say what she thought, then he would save them from most of their troubles.
Ino blurted out what was taking her boyfriend so very long to say. "His brothers did it. Ryoji and Kenji."
"Do you have proof?"
"We overheard them talking about raping TenTen, and we also overheard them warning Honda of what would happen if he backed out and tried to tell the authorities."
"Why did you take so long to come forward?"
Shikamaru answered the question for Ino. "They saw us clearly, we spent most of the time worrying over what would happen to us if we told anyone." He looked at TenTen. "I'm sorry for not bringing this up earlier, but even if I had, you had already left the village."
Tsunade crossed her arms over her chest. "If you weren't guilty, then why did you leave?"
"Neji's sight was taken away from him by his clan when they attempted to kill him. If we had stayed, he would've definitely been killed, and I can't see myself living on after he died."
Tsunade smiled at the look on Neji's face. "Is that how you really feel?"
She nodded. "Nothing matters to me more than him, and I'm sure he knows it."
The Hokage looked to the girl's father. "Would you like to say something?"
"TenTen, do you understand why we must do something to contain the Phoenix?"
"I know what you're thinking, but you're wrong. There's more chance of the Phoenix killing me than there is of me killing someone else. Even though I have the Phoenix, I'm still myself, just like Naruto has the Kyubi, but he's still Naruto." (A/N: I have no idea if she knows about Naruto, but for my purposes she knows.)
"I don't think Kotetsu has every looked at it that way." Izumo said. "He's wanted so badly to prevent something like the attack twelve years ago that killed so many of friends that he hasn't even realized that no matter what lives inside of you, you're still his sister."
"So what are you going to do to me?"
"I see no reason not to allow you to participate in the exam tomorrow, but there is still the issue of selling our secrets, but I will discuss this after the preliminary exam is complete. You will retire to TenTen's home where you will be supervised by both Hagane-san and Izumo and you won't be allowed to leave until it is time for the exam tomorrow. Kurenai."
The Jounin stepped forward. "Yes ma'am."
"Find everyone who saw Neji's face and warn them not to mention his and TenTen's presence to anyone."
Her father placed his large hands on TenTen's shoulders. "Come on. Let's go home."
"Wait." She broke free of his grasp and walked over to Shikamaru. "Excuse me Ino." She kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."
Ino turned slightly red from jealousy, but didn't say anything.
TenTen returned to her father's side and allowed him to usher her out of the office.
Izumo placed his hand on Neji's shoulder to lead the blind boy out.
Well, this hadn't turned out as badly as she'd dreaded. For now she would only lose her freedom and not her life, and that was a miracle in itself. And they were even letting them take the Chuunin exam. She would take this blessing from God and ask no questions. She was alive and so was Neji and she couldn't ask for anything more.
After everyone left, Tsunade walked out and motioned to a Chuunin. "Get Kotetsu for me."
