Naruto looked at Tenten with hard eyes, searching for the next words he would say to her. He let out a heavy sigh before he spoke.
"Tell me exactly what happened on this mission."
Tenten took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts before she told Naruto about her team's recent events.
"The entire mission was a ploy. The only reason Wanatake was in the Leaf was to collect secret intel and research on the Hyuga Clan, not work on nation relations. While he was here, he got information on the Hyuga Clan and crafted plans to create some sort of medical device that could transfuse Hyuga blood into a non-Hyuga host, bypassing the harm Hyuga blood would typically cause on the said host. His plans allow him to do this safely with the use of blood from a Hyuga half-blood. That's why they wanted my team, Kugi specifically. I found the plans before we got to the Salt Village but they still captured Kugi and did some tests on him."
Tenten suddenly got quiet and looked down at the floor. Naruto noticed her change in mood and began to worry about Tenten.
"Tenten, what is it? Tell me what happened."
A single tear fell down Tenten's face as she spoke.
"He knows that his mother was a Hyuga. They tested his blood, and it came back that both of his parents gave him his Hyuga DNA. I heard them talk about it before I rescued Kugi. I knew being Kugi's squad leader was a mistake. Now he knows too much, and the Hyuga Clan is going to send me away."
Tenten's breathing started to get heavy, so she took a moment to catch her breath. Naruto took this moment to stand up from his desk and cross the floor of his office to wrap Tenten in a hug.
"I will never let that happen," Naruto whispered into her ear. "Right now, there are more pressing issues we need to take care of. Kugi's family remains the least of anyone's concern and if the Hyuga Council doesn't believe that I'll sure as heck make them believe that."
Naruto pulled back so he could look at Tenten's face, keeping his hands on her shoulders. She gave him a small smile and wiped away the tear that fell.
"What else can you tell me?" Naruto asked.
Tenten nodded before she spoke. "They were pretty angry that Kugi wasn't a half-blood, but they agreed that his blood will have to do, even if they need to experiment. I guess that they're going to use live test subjects and do trial and error with Kugi's blood, changing their plans so a host can withstand Hyuga blood. I imagine they're going to kill many innocent people in the process."
"They probably knew Kugi's blood isn't 100% Hyuga so they're going to try to use it anyway," Naruto thought out loud.
Tenten nodded. "That's why I think Kugi needs the curse mark. These people are after diabolical things like world domination and what have you."
"Absolutely not," Naruto quickly cut Tenten off. "I won't stand for that torture."
"It doesn't have to be torture," Tenten argued. "At the end of the day, the curse mark is important. The power that the Hyugas have can't get into the wrong hands. Giving Kugi the curse mark can stop these people from taking his blood or anything worse."
"But the curse mark doesn't stop them from simply taking Kugi's blood and using it," Naruto said.
"But it can," Tenten pressed. "The curse mark jutsu is adaptable. They could make it so the Hyuga DNA in his blood is useless once it's outside his body. The enemy knew this too and made sure Kugi didn't have a curse mark. I know giving him one can help the situation."
Naruto gave Tenten a look with wide eyes. "How could you say that Tenten? You know how much the curse mark ruined Neji's life."
"I'm sorry, Naruto," Tenten started. "As his mother, I don't ever want to see Kugi go through something like that. But according to the Hyuga Clan, and according to the whole village, I'm not his mother so I need to think about this as a Leaf shinobi, and as a Leaf shinobi I think it will save a lot of people in the long run if we give Kugi the curse mark as soon as possible."
Naruto stared at Tenten for a moment before he spoke to her. "With that logic, you should be getting the curse mark as well."
"What?" Tenten asked in confusion.
"What's to say that these Salt shinobi don't go after you? You're the half-blood that they need," Naruto said, his frustration starting to rise.
"They have no reason to believe that I'm a Hyuga."
"Just like Kugi has no reason to get that goddamn curse mark!" Naruto shouted at Tenten.
Tenten looked at Naruto, slightly frightened. She stared at him with wide eyes before he sighed and leaned against the desk that was behind him.
"I'm sorry for yelling. I know you're just trying to think rationally, but I just can't let that happen to Kugi. The village may not know that you're his mother, but they know that I'm his uncle and I'm going to use all my power, and then some to make sure Kugi never has to experience the same pain Neji did."
Tenten sighed and looked up at Naruto knowing that she wasn't going to change his mind.
"Alright, Sir. If you don't mind, I'm going to rest up at home and pack for the new mission tomorrow."
Tenten started towards the door to leave Naruto's office before he stopped her.
"Wait one second, Tenten."
Tenten turned, giving her attention to Naruto.
"I'm not sending you on the mission tomorrow. I'll have an Anbu stop at your house, and you can brief him, but you won't be going with him. I can't risk the Salt Village getting ahold of your half-blood DNA. And I'm going to have one security detail follow you and two follow Kugi until this issue is solved. You can still do missions with your team, but you will not be leaving this village."
"But, Sir," Tenten began to beg.
"I'm sorry, my decision is final," Naruto said looking at the ground, not being able to look Tenten in the eyes. "I just want to make sure you and Kugi are safe."
Tenten glared at Naruto before she mumbled a "Yes, Sir" and left Naruto's office, slamming the door behind her in the process.
XXX
Tenten knocked on the front door for the Hyuga Compound. After she left Naruto's office, she wandered the village streets for a while, not wanting to go home. The last thing she needed was to be alone with her thoughts. She decided to stop by Kugi's house and talk to him about the mission to the Salt Village. A lot has happened to the boy since then and she wanted nothing more than to talk to him and reassure him that everything would be okay.
After a minute of Tenten knocking on the door, the door opened, Jiro standing on the other side of it.
"May I help you?" Jiro asked.
"I don't have the patience for this," Tenten said as she pushed past Jiro and made her way into the compound. She could hear Jiro shouting behind her, but she didn't bother to listen to what he was saying.
She made her way to Kugi's bedroom and knocked on the door.
"Hey Kugi, It's me. I just wanted to talk to you about everything that happened. Could I come in?"
She waited for her son's response, but after a few moments, Tenten still heard no response. She knocked again and waited once more to hear Kugi's voice. She sighed and tried to open the door. The door was unlocked so Tenten opened it the entire way and decided to go in and talk to Kugi.
"Look, Kugi, I know you're…"
Tenten's sentence trailed off when she realized that Kugi was not in his room. Tenten began to panic as she glanced around the room. She shouted Kugi's name a few times before she darted out of his room and out of the compound, worried for his safety. The first place she headed to was Mie's house. After a few quick chakra-infused steps, she made it to the front door of the Fukukima house. She knocked on the door and waited for a response. The door opened, revealing a young boy that Tenten recognized as one of Mie's younger brothers. Tenten gave a forced smile and talked to the young boy.
"Hello there. Do you know if your big sister is here?"
The young boy shook his head. "No, but I can look for her," he replied with a large smile before taking off inside the house. Tenten waited at the front door with obvious worry on her face. Mie's father passed by the front door and noticed Tenten.
"Hello, Tenten," he said with a large smile. "It's very good to see you. How was the mission?"
"I have to admit, Sir," Tenten said, looking at the ground. "The mission was a tough and scary one for me, let alone the kids. I'm very sorry that I put your child in that dangerous situation."
Tenten bowed her head in apology. She stayed quiet with her eyes closed before she felt a hand on her shoulder. Tenten looked up to see Mie's father still smiling down at her. "Please, do not blame yourself. I still remember the crazy and frightening things I had to go through back when I went on missions. You go in expecting one thing then get something completely different. But if you are anything like my Sensei was, I'm sure that Mie is safe in your hands."
"Thank you, Sir," Tenten said with a smile.
At that moment, Mie's brother returned to the doorway.
"I don't know where Mie is. I looked everywhere and she's not here."
"You're looking for Mie?" Mie's father asked.
"Yes. I was looking for Kugi and he wasn't at the compound. I thought he might have come here like my students usually do after missions."
Mie's father shook his head. "I haven't seen either of them. You might want to check the orphanage. Mie goes there often to train with Jin."
"Okay, I'll check there," Tenten said. She began to turn away from the door when she heard Mie's father speak again.
"Don't beat yourself up over what happened, Tenten. My wife begged for Mie to stay in the hospital to work but she wanted nothing more than to be a strong kunoichi, which I know she will be under your guidance. If I see her or Kugi at all, I'll make sure to get word to you."
Tenten gave the man a large smile and gave a small wave before she took off.
XXX
Tenten pounded on Shikamaru's door, shouting through the wood.
"Shikamaru, open this damn door."
Shikamaru eventually opened the door with an annoyed look on his face.
"What in God's name do you want, woman?"
Instead of answering Shikamaru's question, Tenten shoved past him and entered his house in search of her students. In the foyer of Shikamaru's house, Tenten saw Kugi and Mirai playing a game of shogi, Mie, Skikadai, and Jin watching behind them intently. Once Tenten spotted Kugi, she ran over to him and gave him a tight hug.
"Oh Kugi, I'm so glad you're safe."
A tear fell from each of Tenten's eyes as she held tight to her son. Kugi, confused by his sensei's strange behavior, tapped on Tenten's arm.
"Sensei, it's my turn. I can't move if you're crushing me."
Tenten let go of Kugi and wiped her eyes before she stomped over to where Shikamaru was, still by the front door.
"What are my students doing here?" Tenten shouted at Shikamaru. "You had direct orders from the Hokage to escort them home. I looked everywhere for them. I had to talk to Kabuto and hear him rant about weird snake things. I thought the Salt Village leader got his hand on Kugi again. What were you thinking?"
"Listen Tenten," Shikamaru started, placing his hands on Tenten's shoulder. She shrugged his hands off and took a step back but remained listening to what he had to say.
Shikamaru sighed and continued. "Look, these kids were scared out of their minds. The worst thing for them would be to send them home and leave them to their dark thoughts. They needed to be distracted so I brought them here to spend time with Mirai and Shikadai. I'm sorry I didn't tell you where they were and I'm sorry for worrying you. I just know from experience that the last place I want to be after a stressful mission is home alone."
Tenten gave Shikamaru one last glare before she sighed and relaxed her posture.
"You're right. I'm sorry for barging into your home and yelling."
Shikamaru shook his head. "S'okay. I've dealt with worse from my wife."
Tenten turned back around and walked over to where the kids were playing.
"Sorry, I hate to break up the game, but I need to talk to Kugi about something important."
Kugi looked at Mie and Jin before turning his attention back to Tenten.
"Whatever it is, I want Jin and Mie to know too. They're my teammates so this involves them too."
Tenten smiled at Kugi, admiring how far he has come since the first training her squad had.
She gave Kugi a nod with a smile then turned to look at Shikamaru.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Shikamaru said under his breath.
Tenten nodded her head in response. Shikamaru nodded back and walked over to Mirai and Skikadai and patted her head.
"Come on, Monkies. Let's go to the kitchen and make some lunch for everyone."
Mirai and Shikadai quietly stood up and followed Shikamaru into the kitchen. Tenten took Mirai's spot on the floor next to the shogi board and looked directly at Kugi.
"It's about time you learn about your family's curse mark."