Chapter Seven: Battle of Wits and Lives

"Let her go, now!" said Neji in a deadly calm voice. But inwardly he was panicking, worried what the man might do to Tenten if the situation got worse. He would remain calm even in this bad situation. He watched the man knock his Ninjaken that he had given Tenten to use to the ground, with bruising force; he could see already Tenten's hand beginning to bruise with Byakugan being activated.

Neji gritted his teeth, this man would pay. He then spoke in a cold and again calm voice, "You are the one called Kiran aren't you, you are the cause of all this strife, and you are also the one that kidnapped my team mate and beloved! No one ever does that and lives!" He snapped this last part to his words bitingly at Kiran, as he took a step to the side, remaining in his fighting stance, Byakugan still active.

"And what if I am? There's no way a puny Hyuuga like you can hope to manage to break his precious lover from my grasp and even hope to escape this maze of rooms that I call my base of operations…" "You might as well surrender now…there is neither hope for you or your pitiful village, once the Dark Oracle Society's shadow overhangs Konohagakure, it will be under my control…"

Neji clenched his jaw a little, as he listened to the words. The blood was rushing to his head, the rage simmering to a dull roar inside of his veins, he had to think of something to save Tenten and get them both out of here, or at least her. He turned slightly to look at Tenten who was crying, he could see fear in her eyes, and then suddenly she managed to get Kiran's hand off her mouth, "NO Neji! Don't surrender, never surrender! We can't…!" Suddenly Tenten was backhanded across the face and sent to the ground with a cry of both surprise and pain.

Neji quickly made his move, as he lunged at the man, quickly using his highly trained speed to reach Kiran in seconds flat, he then struck out with his Gentle Fist attack and knocked the man flying into a wall. Growling, he quickly grabbed Tenten and carried her to a safe corner, he felt her clutching his arm and could hear her sobs. Neji quickly tried to soothe her,

"Tenten, it's alright…I'm here, I won't let him get you…ever again." He kissed her cheeks soothingly. Tenten looked up at him and nodded a little and tried to give him a hug, "Neji…please be careful…I can't…I just can't loose you again, not like that time you went with Shikamaru and the others to save Sasuke…" Neji brushed her bangs with his hand to the side as he listened to her, his eyes held slight warmth and obviously his love for her.

He then pressed his lips gently to hers and said, "I won't die, I promise you this…stay here, I will finish him off as quickly as I can…"

"Ha, ha, ha, I like to see you try, you didn't even hit a vital spot." Shouted a demented sounding Kiran as the man had managed to get back to his feet and spat out a bit of blood. Neji cringed slightly as he heard the voice and quickly kissed Tenten on the forehead again and said, "Stay here, and stay out of the fight!"

Tenten was about to plead with him but knew she would loose the argument; she silently nodded and winced. Neji saw the wince and quickly asked, "What is it? Is…" Tenten shook her head, "Just a cramp, I've been feeling them all day, just go and kick his ass for me Neji, please…" She whispered to him, smiling at him. Neji nodded and quickly gave her another kiss on the lips and got to his feet, taking a few steps away so that he had enough room to fight and also to keep Tenten safely away from the fight that surely was to come.

Neji closed his eyes for a moment and spoke in his stoic like voice, "Let me tell you something about the Gentle Fist Kiran, it only takes a glancing blow for it to take affect, that's why its called the Gentle Fist…" A smirk played on the now calm and stoic Hyuuga. This was the man Tenten knew very well.

Tenten cheered, "GO GET HIM NEJI! KICK HIS ASS!" Neji tried to hold a bemused chuckle back at hearing Tenten cheering for him. She had never once really cheered for him, she had always been quiet it seemed when he had first faced off with Naruto in his first Chuunin Exam. He then focused his attention to Kiran as the man had managed to get in range to fight Neji at hand to hand almost.

"Ha…I barely felt it, it's time I put an end to your pitiful life, and then once I'm through with killing you…" Kiran turned and pointed a finger towards Tenten. "She's next!" Neji's anger was getting to him again, and suddenly the Hyuuga was in front of him, Neji called out, "Enough of this! Your threats mean nothing! Hakke Kusho!" He then sent Kiran flying again into the wall with the aid of Neji's Eight Trigrams Empty Palm Technique.

"You boast that you're the powerful leader of this organization, and yet you can't even get a hit on me yet…" said Neji with a smirk. Suddenly he heard Tenten cry out in pain, and immediately turned to see her clutching her stomach, 'Oh crap…it can't be her time now!' thought Neji slightly panicked, this had distracted him long enough for Kiran to suddenly come rushing head long at him, "NEJI!" Tenten shouted but was too late as Neji was suddenly head butted and sent flying into a wall with almost back breaking force.

All hell broke loose as she watched her stoic lover battle with Kiran. Tenten had thought these pains she was feeling were just muscle cramps, but she had been totally wrong. Suddenly a severe twitching sharp pain flared up across her lower abdomen.

Tenten winced and practically tried to hold back a cry of absolute pain. 'No…not now, please not now, I can't have the baby here while Neji and both I are in danger!' Why does it have to be now?!' Thought a now panicking Tenten, as she finally identified the pains as contractions, and they seemed to be coming frequently now.

She then felt another contraction come and she let out a strangled cry that did not go unnoticed by her beloved, she then saw out of the corner of her eye Kiran rushing at Neji. Tenten panted as she tried to get her breathing under control, "NEJI!" She shouted, trying to get him to pay attention to the battle and not his labouring girlfriend at the moment.

But she was too late; she knew she was too late.

Neji groaned in pain as his stomach hurt, but managed to get up, coughing up blood, he quickly wiped his mouth and glared at the man. 'I have to make this quick…Tenten is in trouble…'

Kiran smirked at Neji and said, "What's wrong little Hyuuga, worried about your precious woman? Don't worry she will join you in hell after I am through with the both of you, and that thing inside of her will also join you both."

Neji glared and attempted to regain his breath and control the pain in his stomach and back. 'I have no choice, I will have to use that jutsu…to make this fast.' 'I have to buy a little time so I can set the zone up though…' He heard another scream coming from Tenten and he knew he had to think fast.

He then saw Kiran coming at him and suddenly heard him shout, "This is the end!" "ENJOY THE AFTERLIFE YOU SACK OF GARBAGE!" Neji could see him making handseals and quickly Neji managed to get the zone ready just in the nick of time. A small smirk appeared on the stoic Hyuuga's lips as he watched the man stop in his tracks, including making his handseals.

"What's that smirk all about? You think it's funny?" shouted Kiran; a worried look appeared on the man's face. Neji then said as he took his stance, his left hand flat out and pointing downwards, his other arm up high, his body bent down. He was in the stance of the 64 Palms Jutsu; Neji spoke as he said,

"Your about to find out what's so funny in just a moment, your in the zone of my Eight Trigrams, and now, it's over!" Neji shouted angrily, and immediately as soon as the man was close enough, Neji rushed and stood bent down, "Hakke Rokujuyon Shō (Eight Trigrams 64 Palms)…" He paused to bring his hand into the striking position, "2 Palms!" shouted Neji as he struck fast, the man attempted to dodge but managed to be hit. Neji then struck four more times and called out, "4 Palms, 8 Palms!" He struck 8 more times, and then another 16 times, "16 Palms!" He then switched his position ever so slightly as the man was now frozen in his step; he could hear him grunting in pain as he was struck in certain spots, with Neji's special technique,

"32 Palms!" He struck 32 places and then Neji called out as he struck 32 more times after this, "And finally…64 PALMS!" He then pushed the man away from him. "I'm not done yet either…" Neji growled as he lifted his head from hiding his face beneath his arm, "Hakke Hyaku Nijuhachi Sho (Eight Trigrams 128 Palms)!" He then began striking at an extremely fast rate at the man's chest, arms and anywhere else he could strike at, his hands became a blur as if he had multiple hands striking at Kiran. Stopping after he finished this last move, his stance again changed as he assumed the stance of the Eight Trigrams Palms attack stance, he then called out, "And finally, my newest technique…Eight Trigrams 256 Palms Style!" He then became a blur as he finished Kiran off with another 128 strikes to his enemy's body.

Neji then panted as he kicked Kiran away from him, "Your through Kiran…" hissed Neji between his teeth. He wasn't paying attention to Tenten who had become quiet for a moment. An obvious awe stricken look was on the kunoichi's face. Neji listened to Kiran's words for a moment. "The Dark Oracle Society…" The man began coughing and spitting up blood as he tried to struggle to move, he was paralyzed from Neji's constant striking at his arms and legs and every where else.

"The Dark Oracle Society will never…die…not as long as my ambitions…continue on…" croaked Kiran as his body began to spasm before the man took his last remaining breath and died. Neji felt slight anger yet relief wash over him. He had killed Kiran at last. But something was worrying Neji as he stared at Kiran's corpse for a few moments. Suddenly another pain filled cry could be heard shattering the silence and all of Neji's thoughts as well.

"Neji! If it's not too much…problems for you…I COULD USE YOUR FUCKING HELP!" shouted Tenten as she tried to keep her breathing steady while also attempting not to go insane from pain. Neji blinked and quickly realized who else was here, and the situation as well. "Tenten!" He quickly ran over towards her, "It's time, isn't it? Talk to me." Said Neji as he managed to get to her side as fast as he could, seeing the puddle of fluid that was soaking at Tenten's feet, he knew she was in labour.

"No you see I'm just breathing hard, YES I'm fucking in labour Neji!" shouted Tenten, Neji knew she didn't mean those words; she was just in a lot of pain. Neji began to panic, he didn't know how to deliver a baby, but he might have no choice in the matter. "Fuck…where the fuck is Haruno when you need her…" Muttered Neji. He tried to think and then remembered something in a book he had been reading when Tenten had not been around, he had wanted to figure out about this whole child birth process and much to the horror of Neji he had managed to read most of the book, but had been too disgusted to finish it.

'Don't panic Neji, don't fucking panic, she needs your help, and the best thing you can do is be cool headed in a situation like this. One false move or something could put her and the child in jeopardy' said his Inner self to him.

'Oh yeah like that's really helping me…geez thanks!' thought Neji back angrily to his Inner self. He then quickly removed his backpack he had been wearing and fiddled inside of it for a moment, trying to find something to help her be more comfortable, managing to have a black shirt he quickly made a pillow out of it, and went to lift Tenten's head, "Here, lay your head on this…" He tried to say softly, trying to keep her calm and himself also.

Tenten sobbed and laid her head on the makeshift pillow that he used his shirt for and grabbed Neji's hand tightly and said, "Neji…don't leave my side, please…ever again…" She whimpered as she felt another pain coursing through her body before it lessened.

"Never…" He whispered to her soothingly as he squeezed her hand back, not caring if she broke his hand with how strong she was gripping his hand. He would pretty much soon have to check on her progress, "Tenten…I...I have to check how far the baby is coming along…" He said with a slight stutter, wishing to the gods Sakura would be here instead to help Tenten. He wasn't very good at this sort of thing. 'Life has its twists and turns it seems.' He thought as he went to remove her soaked pants she had been wearing and quickly fiddled into his pack to grab a blanket and cover her once he checked.

Tenten whimpered in pain as Neji spoke to her, holding her hand once again, "So far I don't see the head, but it's probably not that long until we do…just concentrate on your breathing okay?" said Neji as he stroked Tenten's sweat dampened hair. Tenten nodded and suddenly she had an urge to push as another contraction came,

"Oh god, Neji I have to push, I have to…!" she shouted as the pain became extremely intense. Neji frowned and quickly got to the business end, bending her legs at the knees, he would have to do this alone then. He had no choice, "Alright, on the count of three, push as hard as you can until I tell you to stop, okay my koi?" He then knew this certainly would be a life altering experience for him, he was going to help in the birth of his own child for crying out loud, "One…two…three…"

The others had managed to defeat their opponents, though the one that Lee had fought managed to some how escape before he could use his Primary Lotus Technique on them. Sasuke spoke up as he attempted to hold his bleeding shoulder and stop the bleeding, while Sakura healed Lee's injured arm with her Mystical Healing Palm Jutsu,

"We have to catch up with Neji and Tenten, Neji should have her by now…" Suddenly his ears perked up when he heard a scream coming from down a corridor as they managed to reach the starting point of where they had come.

"That's Tenten's scream…I know her voice…!" shouted a hyper Rock Lee. Sasuke wanted to hit Lee so hard for being hyper like he was but decided to let his team mates do that, "Why would she and Neji go that way? Unless…" said Sakura as she finished up healing Lee's arm and began healing Sasuke's shoulder.

Sakura had been the lucky one, and had not gotten injured or barely did against her opponent whose name had been Selafina or something or other. The woman had been an expert with using Lightning Style type of attacks that could paralyze a person if they got with in the circle that the woman had stood inside. Of course Sakura had managed to barely get out of one of the traps the woman had set up, but had sent Selafina to lala land with a few quick punches and an Earth style jutsu she had self taught herself, seeing Earth Jutsu was strong against Lightning Style attacks.

"Unless they got attacked and had to run that way…" Finished Sasuke as they stopped to hear more screams coming from the direction, "We better go and help them out, the sooner we help them, the sooner we can get out of this damn dark pit, it feels like Orochimaru's Lair a little too much."

This brought a chuckle from Sakura and also a shake of her head, and quickly the three agreed to follow the sounds, hoping their comrades were indeed alright. But when they got there they were all shocked at what they would find.

"Push Tenten! Your doing fine, one more please..!" encouraged Neji, as he watched his girlfriend lift herself up to a half sitting position and attempt to push again while holding her breath, a pained look on her face. After a moment she slumped back onto her makeshift pillow, sweating profusely and getting very cranky and tired all in the same time.

Neji continued to check on the process every so often, he was being pretty damn brave considering he had never helped a woman give birth before, nor would he after this. Next time he would make sure the medic ninja would be present to help his beloved. In other words, yes he wanted more children, other then just this one.

"The head's almost half way out, another push or two and the shoulders will be out…Tenten…" said Neji calmly. Tenten nodded her head. Tenten cursed out loud, "After this Neji! I swear I will never have another child again! I can't take all this pain!" She said between hiccupping sobs and pants as she felt another pain coming, but this time Neji wanted her to breathe this time.

Neji chuckled and leaned over to kiss her sweaty forehead, "That's if I don't want to have more in the future Tenten…" He said softly as he watched her. Tenten blinked her eyes open as she looked at him briefly before another contraction came, a very severe one which took her entire concentration away. Neji could read this and quickly snapped, "Push hard!" Tenten complied and quickly lifted herself up again and pushed with all her strength for a moment while holding her breath. She wanted to sleep but she knew she couldn't not until the baby was out of her.

Neji could probably feel for Tenten, it wasn't easy to bring new life into the world it seemed. "One more push Tenten…it's almost out…" Tenten grunted, which sounded very unlady like but she didn't care at the moment and she let out a scream to the heavens as she pushed the baby out finally after another moment or two.

She watched out of her half lidded eyes as she saw Neji's hands go beneath her legs and felt something warm between them before silence. 'Please don't let my baby be stillborn…' just as Tenten was thinking this, she heard a baby's cry, a small one but it sounded healthy enough. She opened her eyes to look at the blood covered tiny infant in Neji's arms delicately as it cried. Tears of happiness sprung and trickled down her cheeks as she saw her son in his arms. She was so happy, so happy and yet so tired all in the same time.

Neji quickly did his best to clean up the baby with what limited things he had in his backpack, and pulled out a kunai blade to cut the cord and once this was done he placed the naked child in his mother's awaiting arms. Neji looked kind of between half shocked, half surprised and yet in awe as well. And he looked so pale and ready to faint too.

"He's…" Tenten tried to say as she looked at the child who had calmed down a little bit, his eyes were closed but immediately opened as the tiny boy stared intently with the same colored eyes as his father, ivory and yet slightly more paler then Neji's but that was normal it seemed, they probably would be the same shade as his father and Hinata's as he grew older and in time. She tried to form the words, "He's so beautiful…" She finally managed to whisper.

Neji nodded quietly and said, "Just like his mother…" He gave Tenten a smile and leaned over to kiss her forehead, "You did well, my heavenly one…" He whispered into her ear this last part. Tenten smiled and kissed Neji's cheek, "How did you know what to do?" asked Tenten. "Let's just say that I read a very disturbing horrifying book that helped me figure out what to do in this situation, and never again will I do this…" said a shaky Neji. He had a horrified look on his face which was very endearing to Tenten.

Tenten giggled and said, "Well, if you want more children, then you might have to help me out again." She said this teasingly and this sent a small shiver up Neji's spine, not that he wasn't happy to help bring his son into the world. Neji guessed he could claim bragging rights whenever he paraded his son around to the others.

The tiny Hyuuga boy yawned and waved a tiny hand in the air as he continued to look at his mother intently with those beautiful eyes that marked him as a Hyuuga. Tenten pondered what to name the infant and looked to Neji, "Neji, we still have to name him…" She really hadn't figured the perfect name for their child. She then waited for him to answer her as she watched him grab another spare t-shirt and took their son into his arms to wrap the child in the shirt. Neji wanted to make sure their son was covered up and warm so they could leave at a moment's notice.

Neji stared intently at his newborn son for a few minutes with his Byakugan like eyes, thinking for a moment. The name came out in a whisper, "Toshirou Hyuuga…" Tenten almost didn't catch what he had said. She allowed the name to roll on her tongue for a moment and then said,

"That's a perfect name Neji…" She smiled tiredly at him and watched as father and son attempted to bond a little. Neji traced his finger along the tiny boy's forehead and was thankful that little Toshirou would never have to face having the curse mark of the Side Branch be placed on his forehead. This brought the stoic Hyuuga to almost tears. He was so glad Hinata had vowed to keep her promise in changing the ways of the Hyuuga.

"Tenten, we won't have to worry about Toshirou having the Curse mark placed on his forehead when he reaches 4 years old…" started Neji and saw that his lover was asleep, she had worn herself out. Neji smiled and leaned over to brush his lips against her own, "Sleep well my beautiful angel…"

He then turned to look at Toshirou who had also fallen asleep and whispered to his sleeping son, "Welcome to the world Hyuuga Toshirou…" He then gently cradled his son more carefully into the crook of his arm and waited until Tenten awoke.

Suddenly he could hear the door to the room he had fought Kiran in, and aided Tenten in her birthing bust open. Neji glared and immediately activated Byakugan, ready to defend both his fiancée and his newborn son at a moment's notice. Suddenly he saw a familiar face pop in. Neji began to sweat drop as he saw Rock Lee pop in.

He was going to kill Lee when he and Tenten got back to Konohagakure, he could guarantee this. "Lee…" called Neji as softly as he could without disturbing his sleeping son and girlfriend. Neji stood up and walked over to towards the door as Sasuke and Sakura also pushed Lee into the room.

Rock Lee and the other two both froze in shock as they saw what Neji was holding. "Is…is that…?" said Lee as he pointed a shaky finger towards the sleeping infant in Neji's arms. Neji placed a free hand on his hip as he only responded with an "Hn…"

Sakura pulled her mask off and immediately took in the entire scene, "What the hell happened here? And why is Neji holding…oh my god! That's why Tenten was screaming you idiot!" Sakura then bonked Lee and Sasuke both on the head, which made Neji chuckle and both other men, wince and hold their heads and yell out, "Itai!"

Sakura then quickly ran over to Tenten's side to check on her, making a small handseal and began healing Tenten up. This only took a few minutes. "So you did the whole thing with her Neji? That's amazing!" said Sakura after making sure Tenten was alright and also moving her to a more comfortable place, away from the blood soaked area.

Neji nodded and began to blush a little as he continued holding Toshirou in his arms, "Yes…I did, and without any of your help either, next time, when I tell you to meet me back in a certain place, do it!" he snapped, becoming the ANBU squad captain once again. He was too tired to even want to hear the excuses of his comrades. Lee was the first person to speak up,

"We were side tracked and had to fight one on one with a Dark Oracle Society Ninja!" Whined Lee, as he hopped a bit again on each foot, before he saw the tiny bundle in Neji's arms, and quickly walked over to him, "Is that my god child?" Neji just nodded and said, "Tenten had a boy…"

"Can I hold him? I promise to be gentle with him…what's his name?" asked Lee hyperly. Neji sighed, he didn't really want to deal with Lee being so hyper so Neji carefully placed Toshirou in his arms and kept his eye on Lee, and making sure Toshiro came to no harm, "His name is Toshirou Hyuuga…we both agreed that would be his name…"

"Such a very youthful name! Hyuuga Toshirou will one day burn with the same power of youth as both his mother and father once did!" Shouted Lee with glee. Neji and the others began to sweat drop and Sasuke immediately punched Lee on the head, which made Lee cry and almost drop Toshirou, then an argument ensued between the Uchiha and the once Maito Gai 'mini' me clone.

Neji growled, "Watch it!" He quickly snatched his sleeping son away from Lee before Toshirou could be dropped. Neji had become very protective of his first born son, and he wasn't going to let anyone hurt him. It had been such a struggle to bring Toshiro into the world in the first place.

Sakura glared, "Both of you chill out!!" Sakura's voice had changed slightly seeing she had released her Inner Sakura on the two fighting people. Sasuke and even Lee both froze in mid stride as the two were about to start a fist fight. Sakura then walked over to Neji and said, "Tenten's going to be fine, I'd like to make sure little Toshiro's okay, and then we should get Tenten and the two of you back to the Land of Waves and have someone go back to Konohagakure to warn Naruto-sama."

Neji nodded quietly and Sakura took Toshirou delicately into her arms and began to do a quick examination of him, making sure he had all 10 of his toes and fingers and all of his limbs as well. Neji knew this was probably just a thing medic ninja did to make sure that newborns weren't born with any abnormalities that could prove life threatening. Once Sakura seemed to be finished, she handed the sleeping Toshiro back to his father.

"Sasuke-Kun, I want you to give Neji a hand here, I want you to carry Tenten on your back to the Land of Waves, Lee I want you to go to Konohagakure and bring some back up and probably a clean up crew, and another medic ninja." Neji did not really like the idea of Sasuke touching his beloved Tenten, but knew it was only to bring her to safety, so he would let this slide just this once.

The other two had calmed down and both agreed, Sasuke quickly ran over to Tenten's side and very carefully lifted Tenten into her arms, after wrapping the blanket that was slightly covered in blood around her, and took off, followed closely by Neji and the others.

Once they were outside, Lee departed immediately for the Land of Fire, which wouldn't take too long to bring help, with Lee's speed he would be there within probably not even a day. Neji walked alongside Sasuke and kept his eye on his sleeping beautiful angel, who had carried and brought Toshirou into the world.

Neji knew though that this wasn't over with the Dark Oracle Society, but this depressing turn of events could wait. Right now he would celebrate the birth of his and Tenten's child, and put all other depressing things aside for the time being, right now he had everything he ever wanted right here. A beautiful woman that he would marry soon as she was up on her feet, and fully recovered and he had a son that would probably undoubtedly one day wish to follow in the footsteps of his father, and the Clan he had been born into.

Neji for once did something unexpected which shocked the hell out of Sasuke and even Sakura as they headed for the Village in the Land of Waves, and that was to show an actual smile in public, and also to fight the sting of tears of happiness.