Demon Heritage

Hang sorrow, care 'll kill a cat.- Ben Jonson

The sound of wood hitting wood echoed in the training hall accompanied by labored breathing. Tenten expertly whirled the bo staff she was practicing with in her left hand, attempted a transfer to her right, and collapsed with a hiss. Beads of sweat dripped off her brow as her rubbed her pained wrist.

It had been quite a shock when Lee had shown up at her house, face strangely solemn as flames took the village. She had never seen wide eyes so vacant. Even when the green beast in training was being pummeled he was always filled with determination and an odd sense of well-being.

Lee had walked in, ignoring their burning surroundings and her questions. "No. More like demands." Tenten murmured to herself as she thought about the day Lee snapped her wrists. The fact he had apologized and even explained his reasoning for it only made things worse. It had taken two weeks to before the hospital staff let her out. Three broken ribs, coupled with shattered wrists prompted several intense healing sessions.

She should still be wearing her right wrist brace, on account that her bones still slid out of place, but it kept messing up her spins.

Tenten sighed and applied a light ointment to her recovering wrist. It ached in protest at the rough treatment the weapons specialist forced on it, but Tenten wouldn't stop. If Lee can train through pain…so can I. Gritting her teeth, she slipped the wrist brace from her pouch and secured Velcro straps. A steady series of rapping sounds echoed as she pounded her target mercilessly.

Lee was right, in a way. I should have… if only…words hurt more than anything. The brunette girl jumped, her staff spinning at a blinding pace until it looked like one solid shield. Blood dribbled from her lips as she bit down on them in an attempt to distract her from her burning wrists. I have to be faster!

"Art of the Dragon Shield!" In a flash of yellow light, chakra rushed down her pain-wracked arms and around the wood. The energy mingled with the air, soon creating spinning vortex that started to suck in everything, spare shuriken and scythes shook as they slowly dragged toward the whirlpool of air and chakra. It needs to have more speed, I need to add more chakra. But…

She screamed as the wooden weapon went flying out of her grip, only to spear itself into the floor across the room. Chakra exhaustion was close. She almost overdid it. Luckily her damned brace had gotten in the way and tripped up the whole technique. At least now she knew it was more than theory. "Heh. Once I figure this out, that Sand bitch won't know what hit her." She tried to wipe her brow, but her arms had gone on strike. The appendages were too exhausted to lift, though her fingers still listened to her commands.

Tenten smiled faintly and shuffled to the door. She was going home, as there was no way she could train further. Her foot tapped the door open as her arms were currently immobile, and she left the hall. Someone else would clean it up if they really wanted to use it.

"Tenten? You look beat."

"What?" The brunette glanced up tiredly at the youngest Akimichi. He scanned her arms, nodded to himself and pulled out a fresh box of donuts from his back pocket. Tenten was about to shake her head no, after all she was so tired she could barely move let alone eat, when a thought occurred to her. "Wait a sec. You just pulled, a box of donuts from your ninja pouch, which is circular and at least half the size. How is that possible? I didn't see any scrolls."

Chouji shrugged. "Ancient Akimichi art of stuff-space, I don't quite know how it works but I can fit just about everything in here. You want some donuts? I recognize chakra depletion when I see it. I'd say your one bunshin away from total exhaustion."

The girl snorted at the attempt to subvert her attention. No one had questioned Chouji's ability to pull ridiculous amounts of food out of the air before and he seemed embarrassed. No matter. She'd ask again later, and again, till he told her. It looked much more efficient than scrolls. "No thanks. I can barely lift my fingers, much less eat with them."

"I could feed you."

There was a moment of tense silence as Chouji realized what he had said. Dual blushes tinted both of their cheeks and the two avoided eye contact. "I'll just, ah, go. I'm sure there's a shake or something waiting for me."

"Okay. Yeah. Have a good day."

Neither Chouji or Tenten noticed the white eyed man nodding to himself at their departure. Neji Hyuuga made a mental note. He would have never suspected his teammate to have a thing for the larger boy. Larger…Neji forcibly stopped that thought and decided his time would be better spent looking through mission requests. Ino's already left on a recon with Lee, she won't be back for at least a week so I can't get those magazines. Damn.

"Mom! I'm home!" Tenten yelled as she backed into the small house. Her mother, who had led a secluded life and rarely went out, didn't answer back. That was unusual and Tenten immediately went on alert. She mentally cursed her frozen arms while sliding against the wall listening for anything.

Would she call for help? No. That might cause more damage, besides, she could be over-reacting. But mother always answers. Tenten shifted her shoulder till it knocked against her kunai pouch and loosened one. The metal shovel/knife fell out, only to be kicked in the air by the girl's foot and caught in her mouth.

She slowly entered the room her mother picked out. Ruri was busy stuffing silks into a suitcase, her face red and eyes puffy. As the door clicked shut behind her daughter Ruri stiffened. "I-I thought you would still be practicing."

The kunai dropped to the ground, landing point down and sinking into the floorboards. "I finished early. What are you doing mother? Are we going somewhere?"

The dark haired lady held her hands in her face, shoulders heaving. "I can't do it! I just can't!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I have to go. This place…it's changed too much and so have you!" Ruri wiped away tears and resumed packing. "I can't be here. It was so peaceful. I thought he would never find us. He wouldn't dare break into Konoha, the greatest ninja village. I thought we could live here away form him."

Tenten stepped forward, her heart racing. "Mother, who's he?"

"Your FATHER!" Ruri screamed, slamming the case closed with the action. "I thought here, you would grow up free from his influence. He couldn't turn you into a weapon. I wanted you to be a good girl…" She looked up, her hand reaching out to stroke Tenten's face. "I wanted us to be safe."

"…you never gave me my last name." The kunoichi whispered scared. Long ago she came to terms with the fact the woman who gave birth to her wouldn't offer a sur-name, deciding it was better to remain nameless than a bastard. "Who was my father?"

Ruri hugged her stuffed suitcase close. "But then you saw the older children playing ninja and thought throwing things was FUN! So much like him… you loved your weapons didn't you? Who was I to say no? Where we live, it's almost law that any child who wanted to go into the ninja academy could. Parent wishes or no! JUST LIKE HIM!"

"Who was my father!" Feeling crept back into her hands as they clenched.

"Just like him. My baby. The man who sired you, was Zabuza Momochi. I knew he would come for you, to turn you to his ends. He had a talent for that. Your name is Tenten Momochi. Daughter of a demon. It fit's does it not?" Tears and laughter leaked from the woman. She trudged toward the door, her offspring protesting.

"It doesn't matter! Mother! Please, stay or take me with you."

"NO! I can't! Don't you understand? Tenten, this life is what you were meant for."

Ruri ran out the door, slamming it shut while the lock twisted into position, and rushing into the street. Tenten screamed. Her mother had all but disowned her, and she couldn't even follow. Not with her arms still useless. She collapsed on the bed, her tears staining silk sheets. The whole world had gone insane. Then let's go with it.

Sniffles soon ceased as the brown-eyed girl fell asleep, a comforting presence seeming to wrap around her. My mother may have turned her back on me, but my father didn't. He died in Wave. I should…go… and pay my…respects.

Years later, Konoha would be known for housing more than the Kyuubi no Kitsune.

END.