Disclaimer: Naruto and all Naruto related stuff is (c) Masashi Kishimoto. All OCs and original storyline/plot/imagination (c) of ME!!
WARNING: Yet ANOTHER cliff-hanger… There is an art to these cliff-hangers people… hopefully one day you will learn to appreciate them… but, I doubt today will be that day… XP
THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!!
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UNEXPECTED DISCLOSURES
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All those years apart, not knowing how she was… if she was healthy, if she was safe, if she was happy… One thing Ryoku had never doubted, however, was that she was loved.
The large ANBU diligently observed as the white-eyed shinobi tended to the girl… no, the woman, sitting beside him. Five years had passed since Ryoku has last seen his beloved daughter, but he never gave up hope that one day he would find Tenten again.
"Pardon me." The Hyuga turned to face Ryoku and the two other strange men accompanying him. "I do not mean to be impolite, but may I inquire as to why the three of you have arrived so suddenly, in this village?"
It wasn't reproach or annoyance that his voice conveyed, but rather concern. It was clear to Ryoku that the young man was worried that the three men's presence might be on account of some bad occurrence in Konoha.
That didn't surprise Ryoku.
Until very recently, no one in Konoha had known what had become of the young couple. It had been for their own protection that none of their friends or family had ever searched out for them. As a result, no one knew what kind of life Neji and Tenten had had over the years. Even with the intelligence available to ANBU forces, it had taken Ryoku months to locate the remote village, hidden in Lightning Country, where the two runaways had been staying; but aside from that, no other information concerning the pair was ever discovered.
He suspected the same was true on their end.
Ryoku was certain his daughter and the Hyuga knew nothing of what had occurred over the years in Konoha; or in the other nations involved in the conflict that had led to their current circumstances. It was unlikely they would know of how the situation had ended; or that they were no longer wanted rouge ninja.
For all the couple knew, the three men were there to tell them they needed to escape again; or worst, that something might have occurred to one of their loved ones. But of course, Ryoku knew that wasn't the case at all.
"Hn." A mischievous smirk threatened to break through the icy façade Ryoku displaced before the Hyuga; but he restrained it.
The intimating ANBU considered letting the young man tremble a little while longer, but after thinking it over, decided it was best not to. As much pleasure as he took out of making the Hyuga suffer, Ryoku was not about to worry his little girl to do so.
"There is no need to concern yourself." Ryoku plainly stated.
"We are here to bring you back to Konoha!" The overly excited young man traveling with him shouted; moments after Ryoku had made his statement.
The Hyuga looked back surprised at the three men. The gleam in his eyes informed Ryoku that the young man was attempting to process the information; trying to figure out what that meant for the two of them.
Ryoku watched as Neji turned his gaze upon his former sensei and the ANBU, as if searching their expressions for further clarification.
"That is correct." The youth-obsesses sensei began; staring directly at the white-eyed shinobi, with a look of seriousness that Ryoku had not believed the man to be capable of. "The fall out of five years ago has finally come to an end." The peculiar man explained. "The Fire Daimyo supported… although unwillingly, all of Lady Tsunade's decisions in refusing to persecute the two of you over the interruption of the marriage arrangement."
"And the Earth Daimyo's son was also very relieved not to be forced to marry." The bowl-headed boy excitedly interrupted his sensei to inform the pair. "He was in love with a lovely girl from his village, who had accompanied us during his escort to Konoha. They were both very relieved that the arranged marriage fell apart."
Neji stared back expressionlessly as he digested the information given to him. He seemed to find the whole matter difficult to believe, but Ryoku could see a ray of hope gleaming in the young man's colorless eyes.
"That is correct." The older green-beast replied. "And the Earth Daimyo relented to his son's desire not to persecute you as well, so the only trouble remaining had been the Wind Daimyo." He paused to allow the information to sink in. "As you can imagine, he was not too happy to have his plans fall apart. So he tried everything to get the Hokage to get you two back, but Lady Tsunade would not hear of it."
"But it has now been resolved?" The Hyuga cut to the chase; clearly uninterested in the background information that he was being given.
"Hai." Ryoku directly replied. "The Daimyo's power diminished recently when it was discovered that another survivor of the former Daimyo's family had reappeared."
"What?" Tenten at last spoke up. Though from the look of her, Ryoku could tell she was still mildly lost in the daze that had been overcoming her only moments earlier.
There was something unusual about the way she appeared. Ryoku couldn't quite figure it out. At first he had assumed it was the bewildered look on face that seemed so unfamiliar; which had resulted in his heated anger toward the Hyuga for not having cared for her as Ryoku had asked of him. But upon further inspection, Ryoku realized it was something else that was different about her. He wondered what those five years away from the village may have done for her.
From the ring on her finger, Ryoku at least knew that she and the Hyuga had married. That did not surprise him, as he had already excepted; even given his approval of that. What Ryoku didn't know, however, was what else had changed in the five years since they had left.
Were they happy years? Had they struggled? Did they form new bonds?
What kind of life had they created for themselves?
Earlier, when Ryoku and his two companions had entered the village, the enormous ANBU had spotted the kunoichi looking longingly into the darkening woods beside the couple's current residence. There had been a sadness to her eyes that had seemed so unfamiliar, but at the same time, Ryoku had noticed something else. A maturity and acceptance of the world around her. Her eyes, which seemed to be filled with sorrow and nostalgia, at the same time, were full of joy and excitement.
On their way to finding the couple, Ryoku had picked up some information about the village where they had lived, for who knows how many years; but as far as what their lives had been like, there had been very little details revealed to the trio.
Looking around, Ryoku could tell that couple had done well for themselves over the years. Their house was not particularly large, but it was of a substantial size. Located in a nice part of the village outskirts, removed from the crowded noises of a village, it was still close enough that everything was within easy walking distance.
A dojo, large enough for at least fifteen to twenty students was built directly adjacent to the couple's home. And there was a nice garden surrounding the house; giving it a warm comfortable feel.
But was it a home?
"Your mother's youngest brother also survived the attack thirty years ago." Ryoku explained.
"So where was he all this time?" Tenten asked.
"He was only an infant when the coupe occurred." Ryoku elaborated; wanting to easy his daughter's mind of any lingering worries she might carry. "A new coupe was staged to return the rightful heir to power, and upon his success, the new Wind Daimyo made a declaration, allowing your mother and you to renounce your rights to the lordship, so that what occurred shall never repeat itself."
"So this means…" Tenten looked questioningly at the three men. She seemed to be at a lost for words; too shocked to say anything.
"Is this not wonderful news!" Their former teammate excitedly shouted. "It is finally safe for the two of you to return to the village. We can leave today, and be in Konoha by nightfall." The enthusiastic boy over-asserted. It would be impossible to reach the village in less than three days; though four was the usual amount.
"Hn." Neji nodded; casting a concerned look over toward his wife.
"Is there a problem?" Ryoku asked; observing the Hyuga as he watched Tenten carefully; deeply pondering something which Ryoku could not figure out.
"I am afraid Tenten is not currently in a condition in which she can travel very far distances." Neji plainly stated.
Every muscle in the large ANBU's body suddenly tensed at the disclosure. He didn't understand what the young man meant by that, but nonetheless, Ryoku was certain he had every right to be angry with the Hyuga for it.
"Clarify this." Ryoku angrily growled; barely managing to keep himself from beating the information out of the white-eyed shinobi.
"What I mean is…" Neji calmly began.
"MOMMY! DADDY!" Two tiny, yet powerful voices called out from the hall as a pair of identical toddlers came running into the room; leaving three very surprised shinobi staring into their colorless eyes.
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TBC
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A/N: You were warned… and seriously… considering the chapter before last had a cliffy where Ryoku made his entrance, did anyone really think the twin's entrance wasn't going to be a cliffy?... come on… you should all know me better then that by now. XP
Update… not sure when because again, this story seems to have taken another unexpected turn and now I have to rework my plot outline again… XP
PLEASE REMEMBER TO REVIEW!.. Now, I'm off to the gym! .:.Good-guy pose.:. "If I do not accomplish swimming 20 laps in half an hour, then I shall do 100 laps in however long it takes me to do! XP