Man, Kathy just won't shut up. I guess it's to make up for the time she was gone.

Sleep... I've forgotten what that feels like... Sounds like it would be nice though.

This one is in honor of everyone in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut who has been effected by the tragedy of loosing twenty-eight of their friends and family. I meant to write it earlier but...

Well, it's here now.

Tenten walked slowly and silently down the familiar hallway, her head down as she thought over everything and nothing.

Her thoughts were a senseless jumble, twisting and twining with one another, crashing into each other in a wild and deafeningly silent cacophony that she couldn't make sense of. But all thought and movement came to a halt when she found herself in front of one of the doors in the hall, the one that was covered in flower stickers and a sloppily written sign proudly declaring who the room belonged to.

Bringing up her hand she pressed it to the door, seeking the warmth that currently slept on the other side, the light and joy that the wood held at bay.

Tenten meant to continue on to her room to wait for her husband's return, meant to take her hand away and turn to leave the peace undisturbed, but instead she found herself silently pushing open the door and slipping in.

The room was so achingly perfect and untouched that Tenten felt her breath catch in her throat. The pink walls and the light wood floor, the white furniture and the flowery curtains that currently sealed the world away from this tiny slice of heaven. There was a doll house in the corner that still held a happy little family in the middle of a meal, and scribbly pictures about anything and everything were taped to the walls.

It was a girly girl's room, of that there was no doubt. Tenten sometimes wondered how her daughter had turned out the way she was when she was constantly surrounded by fighting and weapons and the other various forms of violence that came with a ninja's life, but she didn't bother questioning it too often. There was absolutely no need to question how utterly perfect the currently sleeping child was.

She was lying back on her bed covered with the white sheets, a soft knitted pink blanket –only barely big enough to cover the petite four year old- cuddled close, her thick black hair fanning over the pillow. Dolls and stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes surrounded her as if guarding her in her sleep, dozens upon dozens of them housed safely in bed with Rin.

She was the little princess, utterly spoiled by both of her doting parents so much that it was almost ridiculous. They saw something and bought it for her, just wanting to see that delighted and angelic smile light up her face and making her beautiful wide white eyes shine. Tenten supposed that they really should stop before they gave the girl the idea that she could have whatever she wanted when she wanted it, but she was their sweet little angel and she was still a baby yet. There was no need to rush things, no need to say no just yet.

Especially not with what she had just learned.

The woman silently walked over and sat in the rocking chair that she had once upon a time rocked a newly born baby in, picking up the rag doll that dug into her hip and holding it in her hands. And sitting there, she just watched her child as she slept, listening to her deep breaths the girl took as if they were the most soothing of lullabies.

She tried not to think about it but her mind was obsessed with it, insisting that she think about it. Insisting that she worry about it.

They had gotten the news in the early morning before Rin had even woken up, news of an attack. A terrible, monstrous attack. Naruto had immediately sent aid and Neji had insisted on going along with them while Tenten insisted on staying and guarding her child and her home from the evil of the backlash. The report she had gotten only minutes ago had said that there were nearly thirty dead, God knew how many others wounded both mentally and physically. She had heard that the bastard who had done it felt no remorse, gave no apologies for the lives he had stolen or for the evil that he was.

They had been children. They had only been goddamned children.

Looking at the peacefully sleeping form of her daughter Tenten couldn't even perceive the pain that the parents of those children would be going through. If it had been Rin, if her child had so viciously been taken from her like that, Tenten knew that after torturing the bastard who had done it to death she would simply want to curl up in a ball and die from the pain that would shred her soul.

God… How much longer could they continue to protect Rin from the evils that filled the world? From the dangers and the risks? And it wasn't just the ninja lifestyle either, though the thought of sending her baby out to face the same extreme dangers she faced scared her right to her core. It was the demons that shifted in people's souls and reared their ugly heads so effortlessly. It was the twisted evil of the people she saw every day –complete strangers on the street- that terrified her the most.

If something like what had happened in that other village happened in Konoha, how could she even hope to protect her?

Neji silently stepped into the room and their eyes met through the darkness, and Tenten could almost feel the knife that had appeared suddenly in her heart twist at the pained and darkened look in her husband's eyes.

So many innocents taken, so much blood spilled.

Tenten felt the tears well up and fought them with a silent curse. She had never been this emotional before being a mother, before holding her entire world in her arms and feeling the desperate need to protect it no matter the cost.

Tenten stood up and walked across the room to Neji, leaning her forehead against his as they closed their eyes and sent prayers up to whatever God would listen. They were prayers of thanks for sparing their family of this horror, prayers of sorrow for the little lost souls, prayers for the families and prayers for the other children to be spared from the nightmares that would haunt them for years.

Leaning back and brushing away the single tear that had escaped Tenten walked over to the peacefully slumbering form of her daughter, tucking in the little rag doll in beside her before pressing a light kiss to her forehead, brushing a strand of hair gently away from her face. Neji came over and did the same and Tenten was struck by a moment of panic.

Soon they wouldn't be able to do this. One day, a day that was coming increasingly closer, Rin would be taught to be alert at all times, even in her sleep, and they'd never be able to kiss her goodnight as she slept peacefully and unknowingly. That innocence, that peacefulness, would be lost forever.

Were they doing the right thing?

Closing her eyes against the doubts Tenten offered her hand to Neji so that they could make their way to their own room.

She didn't know if they were doing the right thing or not, and she certainly didn't think they'd be able to protect her for too much longer, but she knew that they had to try as hard as they could for as long as possible.

Because there was far too much evil in the world, far too much pain and tears for her to ever hope to protect Rin forever. She could only hope to make her strong, to make her tough enough to stand against it all on her own.

And hope that the fear didn't cripple her.

So, I'm saying that something similar happened in the Naruto world, just without the guns since there are no guns in the Narutoverse.

Also... we're going to get off of the serious part here and go into something else that I must share (Warning, there are spoilers for the manga ahead. If you are not caught up please do not read.)

How dare Kishimoto kill my Neji. Not that he's a favorite character of mine or anything like that, but still... Kind of pisses me off and makes me want to cry.

How could he do that to poor Hinata? And Naruto? Bad Kishimoto, bad!

But... my Fangirl heart has been sent squealing as well with the past couple chapters.

NaruHina! There's some definite NaruHina! First, when everyone shows up, Hinata's is the only name Naruto says, and then there's Kiba's teasing (Not as big, but still). And then Neji entrusted Hinata to Naruto.

Good Kishimoto, good.

Oh, and I have a new little darling!:

salemboy94- Oh, you're just so sweet you make me blush! Stop it! (Please, do not stop. My ego loves it) I'll try and get to the wedding idea as soon as possible (no promises that it will be out anytime soon though)

See you soon my darlings!