Disclaimer: Naruto and all Naruto related stuff is (c) Masashi Kishimoto. All OCs and original storyline/plot/imagination (c) of ME!!
WARNING: Return of the killer cliff-hanger… not really though… it just kind of hangs there, but it's meant to be continued…

THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!!

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HYUGA
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Tick – Tock – Tick – Tock

Tenten anxiously eyed the intricately carved grandfather clock standing in the center of the wall adjacent to where she sat with Neji and their boys. She had previously seen the antique clock many times during her frequent childhood visits to the Hyuga compound. The delicate craftsmanship that went into it's simple, yet elegant design had always mesmerized the kunoichi. It seemed strong and dignified; its presence commanding and luring. Tenten had always thought of the timepiece as a warm and inviting work of art; with the aura of a gentle, grandfatherly warmth.

But no more.

Now, the once comforting resonance of the ticking clock carried a harsh, overbearing threat as its hands swiftly spun their path around its face; counting down to the quickly approaching moment that would determine everything for them.

"Hmph." Tenten couldn't stand it anymore. "It's mocking me." She groaned quietly; fiercely glaring at the taunting time-piece.

"Tenten." Neji softly called out to his wife; wrapping his fingers around her clenched fist, he leaned in to her to whisper in her ear. "Breathe."

"Ahaa." Tenten exhaled deeply; her tight muscles relaxing, as she felt the soothing warm breath of her husband softly blowing into her ear.

"Allow me… to carry this burden." Neji calmly whispered; gently stroking her hand in a reassuring manner.

She knew he was concerned about her and their unborn child; after all, it wasn't healthy for her to stress so much. But she just could not help it. This was the only part of returning that she had not been looking forward to. It wasn't that she had anything against the Hyuga Clan; after all, she had fallen in love with a Hyuga; had even bore two Hyuga children, with a third on the way. But there were many issues she had with Hyuga tradition; chiefly among them being…

The Curse Mark.

.:..:..:..:..:.:..:..:..FLASHBACK..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:..:.

Tenten timidly approached the clearing where her new team was set to meet in the early morning hours. They had already been together for a few months, but still she couldn't shake the intimidating aura that her more sane teammate carried. It wasn't that she was afraid of Neji, but rather that she just didn't get him.

Unlike Lee, who was an open book, and Gai, who was rather uncomplicated and easy to understand, Neji was just wasn't the 'sharing' type. His intense glare and cold demeanor kept the rest of them at a distance. Tenten, for the most part, though guilty of often trying to avoid him, was also quite taken by the white-eyed boy's talent and skill. For that reason, she often arrived early to see him train before their team was scheduled to meet.

"ARGHHH." An agonized groan pierced the quite dawn, as Tenten watched the white-eyed prodigy fall to the forest floor, gripping his head tightly.

"Neji!" Tenten ran to his side, as the Hyuga painfully moaned on the ground.

She didn't understand what was going on, as she approached the stoic genius. He had seemed fine just a few seconds earlier.

As the kunoichi knelt down to examine what could have occurred to cause her mysterious teammate to keeled over in what appeared to be excruciating pain, Tenten noticed a faint glowing behind his forehead protector…

.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..END FLASHBACK.:..:..:..:..:..:..:..

She never wanted Neji to suffer the pain of the curse mark again. All those years, Tenten been by his side; hiding his secret. No one knew the deeper pain of the Hyuga leash. It didn't just serve as a protection against enemy nations stealing the Byakugan. It was a constant reminder of their subservience; their inferiority to the main house was ever present as shooting pain ran through the bodies of its bearers.

Hyuga's were skilled at concealing their emotions, not because they needed to be for their shinobi duties, but rather because they needed to remain unexpressive to hide the pain they suffered through on a daily basis. But everyone has their limits; and as much as one could get used to a consistent sensation, it didn't mean that the pain did not become unbearable at times. And Tenten had been there on many occasions, when the pain spiked, and Neji could no longer hold in his agonizing screams.

She never wanted to see that again; and absolutely did not want her boys to have to live through that either.

"It will never happen." Neji reassuringly squeezed his wife's hand; knowing exactly the thoughts that were tormenting her. "I will not allow it."

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.Neji's POV.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

"The Elder's will see you now." An elderly woman in a maid uniform quietly informed them as she silently opened the door she had just walked out of, to allow for Neji and Tenten to step through with their children.

"Thank you." Tenten weakly nodded, taking hold of the boy's hands, as she followed Neji into the other room.

"Please have a seat." A familiar voice greeted them in the dimly light room where six other elder's sat around a large mahogany table.

Neji paused momentarily as he allowed the sudden sight of his uncle Hiashi sitting in the center of the large rectangular table, be processed in his mind. It took him no more than a moment to realize his uncle's position could only mean one thing; he was now an elder.

"We would like to thank you for complying with our request to meet this morning." Hiashi politely spoke for the group. "The counsel has deliberated over your circumstances, and while it has been noted that your union was approved by Hyuga law prior to the unfortunate situation that resulted in both of your departure from the village," Hiashi paused; for a moment, Neji though he saw a saddened expression cross his frozen features before the head-elder continued. "Hyuga law prevents us now from allowing Neji to return to the clan." He somberly informed the couple, before directing his eyes squarely on his nephew. "Your position and rank, which were declared stripped from you upon your leaving the village, will not be reinstated. You and your family will not be permitted to live in the compound, nor will you be entitled to any of the privileges of the Hyuga name."

Neji nearly jumped to his feet at the sheer shock in the surprising turn of events. He had never expected for such a development to take place. He had known he would be punished for his deflection and defiance of Hyuga law; but he had never imagined he might be excommunicated from the clan.

"However, all that said…" Hiashi continued; calming Neji, while at the same time having the seeming to have the opposite effect on the older council members who looked upon him with a mixture of mild curiosity and concern. "Since you are no longer a member of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga law does not apply to you, nor does it to your children." Hiashi confidently stated; a glint of mischief and contentment shimmered in his eyes as his stared as his nephew.

Neji wasn't entire certain what this revelation meant; but he trusted his uncle's judgment. He knew that whatever Hiashi was planning, had to be in his and his family's favor; after all, it had been Hiashi who had first helped him conceive his escape from the compound to find Tenten and leave the village with her. What's more, it had been his uncle Hiashi, who had manipulated Hyuga law to allow for Neji to marry to woman he loved, instead of some other arrangement.

"PREPOSTEROUS!" A wide-jawed elder shouted in protest; angrily rising to his feet as he objected to what Hiashi had stated.

"THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!" Another councilman shouted in agreement as the others remained silent, but also nodding there accord on the matter.

"Was it not decided by this very counsel that my nephew and his family were to be cast out from our clan?" Hiashi calmly replied to the other elder's protests.

"That is true, however…" The eldest stiffly council member began.

"Hyuga law, is Hyuga law." Hiashi cut the elder off. "If Neji and his children are not to be recognized as members of the Hyuga clan, then this council has no authority to implement Hyuga law upon them."

"But the safety and welfare of the clan will be jeopardized…" A stout elder began to speak.

"The secret of the Byakugan must be protected." The oldest councilmen voiced in accordance.

Neji turned to his children, who were bravely facing the elders, while fearfully gripping their mother's hands under the table. He could see, though they did not understand the implications being made before them, that they were well aware of the trouble arising before them. Their terrified eyes made Neji wanted to ram his fists through the teeth of each and every council-member sitting across the large conference table in front of him, but he suppressed his urges, and instead chose to trust his uncle.

Clearly it had been his uncle Hiashi's intent to bring the meeting to this turning point. He had wanted the matter of the curse mark to be made.

"The new clan leader has already determined to break the seal that binds and serves the ties of the Hyuga clan." Hiashi proclaimed.

"But that has not yet been agreed to." The wide-jawed elder protested.

"And until that time," The stout elder asserted. "All Hyuga clansmen must comply with the pact of our forefathers."

"I agree." Hiashi nodded. "All Hyuga clansmen must." He paused. "But Neji and his sons are not clansmen; therefore the pact does not apply to them."

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TBC…
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A/N: Be grateful I cut it off here… I was actually planning on having the elder's meeting be in the next chapter, but I found both to be too short, to I lumped them together… XP

Also, I'm aware that the curse mark doesn't work this way, and I know it's sad that Neji's been excommunicated… but hey, I refused to have poor little Ryuuken and Hitori be caged!! And this was the only way I could think to do it… but no worries, uncle Hiashi and aunts Hinata and Hanabi will surely be a big part of the boys' lives… and eventually when the elder's realize how totally awesome Neji's kids are, they'll come around… either that or they'll die out… lol… oh and while they do lose their title, that doesn't mean they lose their last name… you can't take a person's name (at least not in my story!), although essentially they would have… but Neji's still Neji so … yeah…

Next chapter will probably be a flashback… gotta get this story moving!