"Shit, we need to hide!" Mie said, frantically searching her surroundings for a hiding spot. In her search, she quickly noticed that Kugi remained frozen in his place. Mie grabbed onto both his shoulders and tried to break him out of his trance, but he did not move, his eyes looking at the file he was holding.
The door to the file room opened and Sakura quickly spotted the three genin in the room.
"There you three are. Mie, your mom dropped some papers off at the front desk and she told me you never went to see her. Do you care to tell me what's going on here?"
Mie and Jin were quiet and gave Sakura guilty looks. Kugi slowly lowered the papers in his hands and glared at Sakura in anger.
"Tell me the truth now. Is Tenten my mother?"
Sakura's eyes went wide as she gasped. She noticed the content of the file that Kugi was holding, and she gave him a sympathetic look.
"Kugiā¦" Sakura said with her voice trailing off.
"Tell me!" Kugi shouted out.
Sakura gently held her hands up. "Just calm down, Kugi. I don't know what you insinuated from looking at these files, but you really need to talk to your grandfather about all of this."
"No!" Kugi shouted once more, his voice getting louder. "I'm done with all the adults dismissing me. I deserve to know the truth, and you know something. Tenten came in for emergency surgery the same day you were working, my birthday. Now she has a condition that only pregnant shinobi can get. You can't hide the truth from me anymore. Now tell me, is Tenten my mother?"
Sakura paused for a moment before she let out a deep sigh. "I truly don't know, Kugi."
Before Kugi could respond, Sakura spoke again to explain herself. "As a medical professional, I can't make my own conclusions. I must simply rely on facts. Tenten was pregnant after the war and had to have an emergency C-section. I don't know anything for certain other than that. Tenten's story is that the baby was Lee's and that the baby didn't survive the birth. I assisted Tsunade with the C-section, but I barely even got a glance at the baby before I was shoved out the door."
Kugi stayed silent as he processed what Tenten said. Tears began to fall down his face slowly as he spoke.
"I just can't stand the secrets anymore."
Sakura walked over to Kugi and crouched down so she was at eye level with him.
"Y'know, my daughter has been feeling the exact same way that you do lately. Her father hadn't been home since she was born. He's been away on very important, yet very top-secret missions. She's very confused and asks a lot of questions that I can't answer. I might know the answers to her questions, or I might not, but regardless, it's not my story to tell. It's my husband's. I'm not going to paint a biased picture of her father in her mind, just like how I'm not going to paint a biased picture of your mother in your mind. If anyone is going to tell the whole truth, not just bits and pieces, it's your grandfather."
Tears continued to fall from Kugi's eyes. Sakura took the moment to brush a few stray hairs out of Kugi's face.
"There is one thing I know to be true. Your father would have been so proud of you."
Kugi wrapped his arms around Sakura's shoulders, and he cried even harder into her chest. Sakura held onto him and let him cry out all his tears. When he finally stopped, Sakura pulled away from him and looked at him.
"I know things are tough right now and I can't imagine what it's like to grow up without parents, but you are not alone in this world. Me, Tenten, Lee, Naruto, Hinata, Jin, Mie, we're all in your corner fighting for you. Never forget that."
Kugi nodded at Sakura as he wiped his eyes dry. Sakura smiled, stood up, and looked at the three genin.
"Now, I think that we can keep this encounter just between us. Get your butts out of here before I change my mind."
Fear flashed through Jin and Mie's eyes as they both hoisted Kugi up and pulled him out of the room and out of the hospital.
XXX
Tenten, Lee, Kiba, and Shino grouped together at the village gates and faced each other as they discuss their mission strategy before taking off.
"So," Tenten began. "These guys may seem sloppy, but they've really put a lot of thought into their plans. If I had to guess, their experimentation with the Byakugan is only the beginning. Who knows if they have plans to get the power of the Sharingan or other Kekkei Genkai."
"You got any kind of plan in mind?" Kiba asked Tenten.
"Just neutralize everyone you need to. The two top targets are the Village Leader and his right-hand man, Wanatake. Those two need to be captured and taken back to the Leaf for interrogation."
"What a wonderful plan, Tenten," Lee said, giving Tenten a thumbs up.
Tenten gave Lee a small smile. "It's not really much of a plan, but whatever you say."
Tenten gave everyone in the group one last glance before she spoke again.
"Well, if you're all ready to go, let's head out."
The other three jonin gave Tenten a nod as the four ninjas took off running away from the village.
XXX
Kugi, Jin, and Mie walked together aimlessly through the village streets. They each remained silent since they exited the hospital. Jin and Mie had many questions to ask Kugi but they both felt that it was best to wait for Kugi to be the first one to speak. After some time had passed and it was clear that there was no destination for the genin, Mie addressed her teammate.
"Kugi, where are you going?"
"I really have no clue," Kugi mumbled as he continued to roam the streets.
"I'm sure that there's a lot of thoughts going through your head, but you really need to find a place to sit and relax, like at home."
"Home is the last place I want to be at right now," Kugi replied sharply.
"Then let's go to my house," Mie suggested.
Jin groaned. "Just let Kugi wonder if he wants to. I think that fresh air is just what he needs to collect his thoughts."
"He can't collect his thoughts if he's wandering aimlessly," Mie retorted. "He needs to sit down and think through everything before he suppresses himself to implosion."
Kugi ignored his teammates' bickering as he continued to walk down the street. Currently, Kugi was not ignoring his thoughts. He knew he had to bring up this newfound information to someone, but it was also important to choose the right person to talk to. He needed to talk to someone who knew a good amount about the situation, but he also needed to talk to someone who wouldn't dismiss him. When Kugi finally decided who he needed to talk to, he turned sharply and began to walk in a different direction. Kugi's turn caught Jin and Mie's attention and they went silent as they followed him, curious as to where he was going.
As Kugi traveled through the streets, it was clear that he had a destination in mind. Before Jin or Mie had a chance to ask where Kugi was going, he stopped outside the gate of a house and proceeded to open the gate. Jin and Mie did not recognize the house and they were concerned about Kugi's nonchalant actions.
"Kugi," Mie hissed. "What are you doing? Whose house is this?"
Kugi ignored his teammate and walked up to the door of the house. Jin and Mie remained behind the fence, worried about potential breaking and entering accusations.
Kugi knocked on the door of the house and waited for someone to answer. Seconds later, the door was opened, and standing in the door frame was Himawari, Lord Naruto's youngest child. When she saw who was knocking on the door, she smiled brightly and screamed in happiness.
"It's Kugi!"
Kugi laughed and patted Himawari on the head, giving her a greeting.
"It's good to see you, Himawari."
Hinata then brought her head around the corner of the kitchen so she could speak with Himawari.
"Who's at the door, Himawari?"
Hinata quickly noticed Kugi standing at the door, answering her own question.
"Kugi," Hinata said with a light gasp and a smile.
"Hello, Aunt Hinata," Kugi said bowing to her.
Hinata walked up to the door and stood next to Himawari.
"Oh, Kugi, there's no need to bow to me," Hinata replied kindly. When Kugi raised his upper body back up to its original position, Hinata spoke to him again.
"What brings you here, Kugi?" she asked the boy.
"I was just wanting to stop by for a chat, that's all."
Hinata smiled and stepped aside.
"Of course, please come in and make yourself comfortable."
Kugi smiled at Hinata and stepped inside her house. Before she followed Kugi inside, Hinata looked out past her yard and spoke.
"You two are welcome to come in as well."
Jin and Mie jumped up in shock, still hiding in the street behind the fence. They both saw Hinata smiling at them, and they hurried into the house, accepting Hinata's offer. They found Kugi sitting on the couch in the living room and Jin and Mie situated themselves in the same room. Hinata walked into the adjacent kitchen and spoke to the genin team.
"Would any of you like some tea?"
"Yes, please, Lady Hinata," Mie said to her host.
"Just Hinata is fine," Hinata said before she and Himawari began preparing a tray of tea. Kugi was casually sitting in his seat while Jin and Mie looked around in awe.
"I really didn't expect the Hokage's house to be this small. I expected something more extravagant," Jin said out loud.
Hinata laughed as she and Himawari brought over a tea tray and set it on a nearby table.
"The Hokage isn't the King of the village or anything. Naruto is just another person in the village, no different from you. There's no reason he should live more extravagantly than anyone in the village."
Jin's face turned red with embarrassment. He was not aware that Hinata could hear his musings and essentially hear him make fun of the size of her house. Hinata simply brushed off the tension and talked more.
"In fact, Lord Kakashi has lived in the same house since he was born. He never saw a need to get anything bigger, even when he was the Hokage."
Kugi scuffed. "Yeah, that sounds like him."
Hinata laughed and took a sip of tea. When she was finished, she set her cup down and looked at Kugi.
"Is there anything particular you wanted to talk about, Kugi?"
"There is. I'm sure that you've heard about our last mission by now, right?"
"Yes," Hinata said with a nod. "Naruto told me soon after you all returned."
"One thing was said on the mission that doesn't make sense to me," Kugi began. "The enemies needed me specifically to create their biological weapon. Apparently, my Hyuga DNA can be harnessed because I'm only half Hyuga. When they tested my blood, though, they said that my DNA shows that I am significantly more than 50% Hyuga."
Hinata instantly perked up at this information. "There's no way that can be possible."
Kugi's eyes narrowed at Hinata. "So, you must not be in on the lie then."
Hinata remained silent before she looked over to Himawari.
"Sweetie, why don't you go upstairs and see what Boruto is up to."
Himawari began to pout but when she noticed the urgency on Hinata's face she obeyed her mother's wishes and left the living room to go upstairs. Hinata then looked over at Kugi and shoes her next words carefully.
"As far as I know, no one has ever lied to you about this stuff, Kugi."
"Last time I checked, a lie of omission is still a lie."
Hinata winced at Kugi's words. "Anything that had been kept for you has been done for your own safety."
"Who do I need to be saved from? If I was told the truth from the beginning, maybe I wouldn't have been captured and tortured."
"I'm so sorry that happened, Kugi," Hinata stammered. "But you must believe me, I've always known your mother to be an outsider. This is the first I'm hearing of her potentially having Hyuga DNA."
"Is Tenten my mother?" Kugi asked quickly. Hinata went silent and looked at Kugi with wide eyes. When Kugi realized that she wasn't going to answer any time soon, Kugi spoke again.
"Based on the information I have, it can be the only explanation. That, or she was used as some sort of scapegoat. That would be sick, even for the Hyuga Clan, bringing someone else in to deal with their family drama."
"Tenten is not a scapegoat," Hinata replied quickly.
"Then what is she to me? There's no way she can just be my sensei."
"But she is your sensei, Kugi," Hinata responded. "A bond between sensei and student is one that can be stronger than parent and child. You three are her children. Maybe not by DNA, but you are the closest thing she has to biological children."
"I thought you said you'd never lie to me," Kugi said quietly.
"What?" Hinata asked in confusion.
"You just lied to me," Kugi said, getting angrier. "Tenten has a biological child, or have you and grandfather and everyone else lied about it so much for seven years that you all forgot?"
"How did you-" Hinata began to say in shock.
"I saw her medical records," Kugi said, quickly cutting Hinata off. "There is no possible way that Tenten would willingly go through an entire pregnancy and not tell us, her students, about it. Whether the baby's still alive or not, she would never keep something that important from us. That's not the kind of sensei she is. Her pregnancy has something to do with all this secrecy."
Hinata stared at Kugi, nearly on the verge of tears. She took a deep breath and she spoke once more.
"Okay, I'll tell you everything I know. No secrets and no lies."
Despite his persistence, Kugi was shocked by Hinata's response. He sat on the edge of his seat and waited eagerly for Hinata to answer all his burning questions. As Hinata was about to explain everything, there was a knock on the door. Before Hinata had the chance to open the door, the guest opened the door, knowing it was already unlocked, and sprinted into the kitchen. Hinata quickly turned around to see Kiba panting in her kitchen.
"Kiba, what's wrong?" Hinata asked, seeing the distress on Kiba's face.
"Tenten was kidnapped."
