Gaara left Tenten's room heartbroken but convinced it was for the best. He would forever cherish his memories with Tenten. Tenten waited for Gaara to leave the room so she could cry. She was expecting that conversation to be different. She thought she would tell him about the baby, and he was going to be so happy about it. She knew that eventually, she needed to tell him about the baby, but she did not want to do it then, because he could think it was a tactic to manipulate his decision.
At night time, she was already feeling better. She was able to walk, so it was time for her to leave. She could not travel in her condition since she was not fully healed and did not want to put the baby in danger, so she was going to try to get a room at an inn. When she left her room, the guards asked her to please stay per doctor's orders. "I am a guest here, not a prisoner. I can leave whenever I like". The guards could not stop her. Shinki showed up to check on the commotion. "Miss Tenten, you need to rest. Please let me help you to your room".
Shinki's legitimate concern touched her. Over the last few days, they grew closer. "Thank you, Shinki, but it is time for me to go home."
"You cannot travel in this condition. If you don't want to stay here, please let me escort you to a hotel".
Tenten could not decline Shinki's offer. She saw the worry in his eyes and could not bear to make him feel that way.
Shinki took her luggage and offered his arm to assist her with her walking. She was struggling while moving, but she would have felt worse if she stayed. Shinki made sure Tenten got to her hotel room and had everything she needed to heal.
Back in his office, Gaara could not believe how things could change so quickly. Two nights before, he was sleeping next to the woman he loved and planning to propose to her. But today, he broke her heart to the point that she left barely being able to walk. He wished he could have kissed her at least one more time. His thoughts were interrupted when Shinki entered his office.
"Father, what happened with Miss Tenten? She was in bad shape but insisted on leaving. I took her to a hotel so she could rest".
Gaara felt proud to have such a caring boy as his son. "Thank you, son. You are such a good boy".
The lack of his father's answer to his questions frustrated Shinki. "I am not a boy anymore, father. You can trust me".
Although it was hard for Gaara to talk about what happened, he owned honesty to his son. "Tenten and I are no longer together."
That answer did not make sense to Shinki. "Why?" He thought about the great time they spent together during the holiday festivities and knew how Gaara and Tenten felt about each other.
"Because she was the assassination's target for being associated with me. I don't want to put her safety in jeopardy".
"Father, I know you make decisions carefully considering all the outcomes, but I think you and I are powerful shinobi that can protect Miss Tenten. She is powerful herself".
Gaara explained, "We don't know what the person who ordered the assassination is capable of doing. I care too much about Tenten to risk her safety."
That answer was not enough for Shinki. He always respected his father's decisions, but this one he could not get behind. "Father, do you know that she is in love with you?"
The comment was surprising, "How do you know that, son?"
"She told me. Do you love her?"
Gaara looked at his son's eyes. "With all my heart. That is why I have to protect her".
Shinki excused himself and left the office unsatisfied with his father's answer, but as always, he was going to support his father unconditionally.
Tenten went back to the Leaf after staying three days in a hotel in the Sand Village. As she was getting to the Hokage's office to report, she ran into Temari.
"Tenten! I am so happy to see you are well. Gaara told me about the incident. Gaara was so upset."
Tenten did not look her usual self. She looked pale and tired. She thanked Temari for her concern but did not engage in conversation as she usually did.
"You should have stayed longer with Gaara. I am sure he would have been happy to have you there until you were perfect shape".
Although she did not want to talk, Tenten figured it was better to let Temari know so she would not bring up Gaara that much. "He broke up with me. Of course, he offered to let me stay there while I recover, but I was more comfortable coming home".
The news took Temari by surprise. They were so in love that she could have never imagined that they would separate. "I am so sorry. I didn't know".
"It is okay, but I'd prefer not to talk about it. I have to report to Naruto".
Temari was still concerned and wanted to support Tenten in any way possible. "I understand. You are looking a little pale. Would you like me to walk with you? I am sure Naruto would understand if you report to him tomorrow".
"I am okay. I won't go on a mission for a couple of days. It is just a report. Thank you anyway."
Naruto had called Tenten and Lee to discuss a potential mission where they would be teaming up. As Shikamaru was explaining the details, they all noticed that Tenten was getting paler and paler. She excused herself and ran to the bathroom.
"I think Tenten has not fully recovered from the attack. We should postpone the mission for a week to give her time to rest," Shikamaru suggested.
Naruto and Lee agreed with Shikamaru. Lee went to look for her to make sure she was okay.
He waited outside of the bathroom for Tenten. He was concerned for her since she usually had a good grasp on her level of injuries. She would not have taken a meeting if she was not in a good state.
"Tenten, are you okay? Please let me take you to the medics here".
"Don't worry, Lee. I am fine. But could you please walk me home".
Lee took Tenten home. Since she did not seem to get better, Lee insisted on going to the hospital. He was getting annoying, so Tenten yelled at him, "It is not my injury. I have morning sickness because I am pregnant!"
Lee was speechless. It was not news he was not expecting to hear, but still happy for his teammate. "Congratulations, Tenten! You are going to be such a great mom." He hugged Tenten to tight but remembered that she was not feeling well, so he let her go. "I can't wait to train your baby. He or she will be a powerful shinobi, throwing ninja tools from layers of sand. Gaara must be so excited too".
"He broke up with me…"
Tenten was in too much discomfort to pay attention to Lee's face. He had an expression of indignation. He understood that Gaara broke up with her when he found out that she was pregnant. He was furious, but he knew that he could not stress a pregnant woman.
"He is a loser. Don't worry! You are like family to me. I will help you with the baby. Guy sensei and Metal will help too. Your baby will be loved and have the best taijutsu skills in the shinobi world".
Those words meant a lot to Tenten. Her old team would love her baby. Although Lee and Guy could be too intense at times, they had her back no matter what.
Abruptly, Lee left Tenten's house, running so fast that people could not even see him. He was trying to make it to the train station for the noon train to the Sand Village. Lee was furious. He was going to give a piece of his mind and fist to Gaara.
As soon as Lee made it to the Kazekage's office, he requested to speak with Gaara immediately. The guards explained to him that they could not interrupt Gaara. Lee couldn't care less about what the guards were saying. He took on all the guards and stormed into Gaara's office.
"Lee, what are you doing here?"
Furious and agitated, Lee responded, "I always thought so highly of you. I thought you were an honorable man, but you are nothing but scum. I am so mad at you. You have made me open the eighth, ninth, and tenth gate out of anger."
Lee got in his fighting stance and said, "I am going to beat you up. There are not enough guards or sand to defend you from my fist".
Gaara asked the guards to leave them alone. The guards were confused since clearly, Lee stated he was going to beat up Gaara, and it looked like he could. Gaara assumed that there was a gap in communication with Lee. He would not act in such an aggressive way otherwise.
"Lee, why are you calling me names. Why are you so upset with me?"
"Don't pretend like you don't know. What kind of man breaks up with his girlfriend when he finds out she is pregnant?"
"What?!"
"Drop the act! Tenten is like family to me, so her baby is family too. Guy sensei, Metal, and I will make sure that the baby grows up in a loving family. We don't need you. I am just here to tell you that I thought you were a good man, but you are scum."
Gaara could not make sense of what Lee was saying. He looked confused, "Lee, are you saying that Tenten is pregnant?"
Lee was confused now, but could not go back, so he continued with his accusations, "Don't pretend that you don't know just to escape my fist. She is pregnant. Isn't that why you broke up with her?"
Gaara was beyond surprised. "I didn't know she was pregnant. I broke up with her for her safety". He sat down because of the impression and continued, "The assassination attempt was because of her association with me. The person that ordered the assassination believes that my relationship with Tenten gives the Leaf influence over the Kazekage's office. I did not want to put her life in danger."
He took a pause, trying to process the new information. "Did Tenten tell you that I broke up with her because she was pregnant?"
Lee now was sure he might have made an assumption. "Not like that... She said she was sick because she was pregnant. Then I asked about you. She said you broke up with her. I just assumed… Sorry man! I take it back. You are not scum. I think you are still very honorable."
Although it was a hectic couple of minutes, Gaara was grateful for Lee's visit. "Don't worry about it. I have to go find her".
"The last train to the Leaf leaves in 10 minutes. I will make it to the station in 5 and ask them to hold the train for you".
Gaara told the guards to reschedule every meeting and ran after Lee.