◊ (She should be Hoshikage) ◊
∆ ( Northern Hoshigakure Boarders) ∆ - VP: Neji
I really didn't want to deal with foreign ninjas on Tenten's birthday. I also didn't want Tenten unconscious and dying. I wanted a calm, happy day for Tenten. I wanted to talk to Tenten and thank her for everything she's done for me. I wanted to enjoy it but we got assigned on a mission, missed Kaydin's funeral, she got attacked 2x, the third time became fatal, and I got put on a mission so that I couldn't be with her today. However, I trusted Naruto to watch her.
"So you found out our country, how pleasant!" A ninja said coming down.
"This isn't your country, this is bird and the emblem says bear. You're the greater form of government and are threatened by Tenten." I said.
"So, why should a mere girl who is underage in our country not even married yet, be Hoshikage and not even be from Hoshigakure."
"She's the heir to Hoshigakure, and apparently to the position of Hoshikage as well. She has worked hard to become a ninja, and she's only underage by a year now. Also, she's engaged to me and I'd like you to stop messing with my fiancée." I said.
"Yes, we know this but why her. Konoha has many ninja who are capable of taking the seat, why her?" He asked.
"Tenten is a Hoshi by birth and this is her country by nature. She is just like everyone in that country. She understands them and gets along with every single one. She doesn't cause problems, she makes peace between people, and in her eyes, there are little to no mistakes that she is not fully willing to forgive someone. She plans to save the Hoshi Branch Clan from their seals as well as the Hyuugas back home."
"How do you know she is telling you the truth?" I smirked and raised my headband. They gasped.
"I know because if not for her that seal would have killed me, I'd be dead and she would have had the chance to do a lot of things against the Hyuuga and destroy them from the inside out. I lost a little part of my brain but she spent all my time at my side helping repair it because she felt guilty for not saving me in time. She's one of the purest people I've met and she tries her hardest for everything to be peaceful. She sympathizes with everyone and loves everything. I love her and she loves me. If that wasn't enough I have an ability to read the signs of a person and tell if they're lying, if she was, I'd know."
"So you know everything about her. What makes her fit to run a country?" He asked.
"I've said it twice now, she's their heir, and she understands them. In addition, if that's not enough go talk to the Kazekage, she put him there. She worked with him and helped put Sunagakure back in order. She's only made one mistake I can think of."
"What's that?"
"Being selfless, up until today her life was horrible by any means possible. Nothing seemed to go good for her but everything went on for her to improve others lives. She made her first mistake truly today, she tried so hard to forget that I had left her to help another country and though she was being so selfish by wanting me back on her birthday, that she went into depression and because of that she could die."
"You mean,"
"Tenten sleeping in the middle of the day, ha. Tenten sleeps from 2 am to 5 am. 3 hours sleep the rest I know is devoted to everything else around her. No, she wasn't sleeping or skipping out on duties. She was in depression because she though it was selfish to think that I should be there on her birthday. I guess some would say it is but if you ask her, she told Naruto to no matter what keep me on the mission to keep the country safe. Naruto finished my mission as to not disobey her but her depression as punishment for her selfish thoughts, caused her punishment." I said.
"Come then, if that is the truth then our true feudal lord will want to meet with you." I nodded. Please, let you live until I can save you Tenten.
I arrived at the palace with the ninja. "What is the meaning of bringing him to me? I have no use for him."
"Everything's a puppet to you isn't it?" I asked. "Tenten has only made one mistake. She cared so much about herself that she saw it selfish to want me with her on her birthday. She went into depression where she was caught by you because she needed to stop herself from going back to Konoha and taking me from my mission to protect it. She did everything she could to stop herself from going home with her parents and me. She stayed because these were her people, they suffered and she saw it her job to save them. What did she do wrong as Hoshigakure, I ask you?"
"I have nothing against her. I just don't trust someone not of our lands to protect us." I laughed.
"Is that it? You made that division on your own didn't you? The people of Hoshigakure trusted her. She walked for hours on the roads with them about their lives trying to make it better for them. That was what she did in one day for them." I said.
"So they trust her, what do they know? You don't trust a foreigner to rule you!" He said.
"It wasn't your country to rule, not you decision from the beginning. It was her family to begin with; they trusted her to take care of them. They have no government. Everything will fall without her. I promise you that, a friend told me that about my clan. Without a strong ruler, all will fall but that doesn't mean a harsh ruler no one likes, any ruler with equal rules as long as they protect you, will keep strong." I said.
"Fine, here!" He tossed me a vile.
"You said there was no cure."
"No cure meaning there was no anti medicine. That bacterium that we have within our bodies here, carried by bears that kills the virus. It wouldn't kill her; just make her too weak to move. As long as you give it to her in another 20 hours, she'll be fine."
"Watch her rule for 2 days and I promise you, you'll be pleased." I said.
I returned and gave the bacterium to Tenten in water. After a few hours, her fever broke and she was slowly being cured. It was a hard birthday for her, a lot worst then last year, but a few years ago, that was the best. The year the Konoha 11 threw her a birthday party. She was sure happy.
"Neji, Hoshikage-dono should be fine to return to the complex. She will be back to normal in a few more hours just let her rest a while after that." I nodded and picked up Tenten. Strangely, this virus had eaten up a lot of her chakra weakening her by a lot; she was a lot lighter then normal which isn't healthy at all.
"So how'd you do it Neji-nii-san?" Hinata asked.
"I asked them simple questions and gave them a little challenge for themselves."
"Really?" Naruto asked. "What was it?"
"I said once Tenten's recovered, give her 2 days to show you how well she can do for the people and as Hoshikage."
"Tenten could have done a lot more then she did today if she wasn't poisoned." Hinata said.
"I know what gets me is the people from bear country though are the main country ruling system near Hoshigakure, they should interfere with this county's going ons."
"I know brother but if we let all countries be then we wouldn't have any wars or problems, its part of all nature. In addition, the Hoshikage is in charge of bear country and many other small countries around here." Hinata said.
"Yeah but Konoha never bothers in others business unless they ask for help."
"Naruto, every time we do a mission in another country you end up digging too deep into their problems, in the end, they take care of it themselves."
"They needed help to start helping themselves." Naruto claimed.
"They would have figured it out themselves," I said.
"This place did in the end," Tenten murmured.
"Rest Tenten," I said. She nodded and rested her head back into my chest as I carried her.
We arrived at the complex and I laid Tenten in her bed. "Neji! We got a message from Konoha!" Naruto yelled.
"Naruto-kun quiet, Tenten is resting." Hinata said sighing.
"Let me see it." I said quiet.
Neji and Tenten, I am sending a special ops division to watch over you two while you're in there in Hoshigakure. They should be arriving by the time you get this letter and after than you are to send Hinata and Naruto back to run more watches over Konoha. Tsunade.
"A special ops group is coming to protect us." I said.
"What about us?" Naruto asked.
"You have to go back to protecting and watching Konoha." I said.
"Alright Neji-nii-san, do you know who the special ops are?" I shook my head. There was a knock on the door.
"Special ops open up Neji, Tenten!" A voice said.
"Kiba?" Hinata said opening the door.
"Oh hey Hinata, where's Neji and Tenten?" I came out of Tenten's room to see our special ops division. The special ops division was made up of the Jounin grew up from the original Genin. The ones who weren't out of commission for marriages. It was Kiba, Choji, Lee and Shino.
"I'm here and Tenten's resting."
"Is she sick?" Kiba asked.
"She was poisoned." Hinata said sadly.
"What!" Lee yelled.
"Calm down and quiet." I said. "She's resting." I reminded him.
"Is she going to be alright?" Choji asked.
"Yeah, I took care of it." I said.
"That's good, seeing as she is your responsibility." Shino said. I nodded.
"So what are we supposed to do until she's back up to doing things?" Kiba asked.
"Nothing, because that's now." Tenten said walking out of the door trying to support her but she fell but I supported her weight before she fell.
"Tenten, you need to rest." I looked at her sternly. "Don't argue." I said simply.
"Help me to the couch then because I want to talk to our friends." She said. I nodded and helped her to the couch.
"Well we got to go Tenten, hope you feel better! Tsunade's orders to go." Naruto said sighing. Tenten gave a weak nod and I looked worried.
"Bye Tenten-chan, see you when your mission is finished and you return. Get better." Hinata said extremely worried.
"I will thanks and bye." Tenten said smiling.
There was a knock at the door. I put my hand on Tenten's knee and got up myself. She sighed. "Is Tenten alright?" Diana asked.
"Come on in," I said. Diana followed me in.
"Tenten…" She said speechless. Tenten looked as if she had been in the hospital for months yet whatever this poison was; it did this to her in minutes.
"I'm fine." Tenten said.
"Yeah, and you're a wonderful liar." I said looking at Tenten and sitting next to her.
"If she's that bad shouldn't she be taken back to Konoha for Tsunade to heal her?" Kiba asked.
"She's an important diplomatic figure here, she can't leave or many nations will fall." Shino said.
"Exactly, so no matter what I have to keep going." Tenten said.
"But what can you do Tenten; you can't even walk on your own." Kiba said. She looked at her feet.
"There's no need to remind her what she can't do, Kiba." I said.
"I know but…" Kiba said.
"I need to get better is all, train myself back to health, recover. Isn't that whatever else does when they get sick?" Tenten said.
"Hai, but you seem…" Lee stopped himself. He was obvious reminding himself what it was like when his leg was broken.
"I'll be fine. I know I will." Tenten said smiling. "I have to be." She said quietly.
"Byakugan," I said quietly. I scanned over Tenten's body and looked at her chakra systems, there's back to normal but she lost a lot of chakra during the short time I was getting the anti bacterium. "She'll be fine; her body is already returning to her normal strength and working condition. It just needs time to recover the lost chakra. She should be fine by tomorrow. It seemed that a lot of foreign chakra was in that poison as well as a disease so it killed off a lot of her chakra supply. But her body is use to foreign chakra so by tomorrow she should completely be back to normal."
"Really?" Tenten asked happily.
"Yeah, you should be back to full health by tomorrow." I said smiling at her truly happy state.
"Oh yeah, I bought you something."
"Huh why?" Tenten asked. I laughed.
"It's your birthday Tenten, remember?" I asked laughing at her forgetfulness.
"It really is, isn't it?" She said happily.
"I've never met anyone to forget their own birthday." Kiba said. "Even Akamaru is aware of his birthday."
"Where is he?" Tenten asked looking around.
"He's playing with a bunch of kids outside." Tenten smiled.
"Well I was a little caught up in things to catch the date, my mistake." Tenten said laughing. "I remember now, yeah, because Neji gave me and engagement ring. That's why." She said smacking herself.
"She's back to a cheerful mood." Shino said.
"Yeah, knowing Tenten she could be a funeral and she'd try her hardest to keep in high hopes for the future. That's who Tenten is." Tenten smiled at me and I smiled faintly back.
"Oh yes, your gift." Lee said. Handing Tenten a large box. I was surprised.
"What is it?" Tenten asked trying to open it. I sighed and pulled the ribbon and the box opened to finds a scroll. "A scroll?"
"You have to activate it in the box." Lee said. Tenten sighed, she bit her thumb, rubbed it on the scroll and millions of picture frames fell into the box causing Tenten to fall into the box. "Are you alright Tenten?" I smirked it was an unusual thing to see Tenten face down in a box for sure.
"I can't get out." She complained. Shino looked quite amused. Lee was confused as to how you get stuck in a box and Choji and Kiba broke out in laughter. I pulled Tenten out of her opponent, the box and sat her on the couch.
"Remind me not to put boxes that are bigger then your lap on my Christmas a birthday lists for you Tenten." She elbowed me and looked in the box. She pulled out lot of picture frames.
"What are they?" I asked. I remembered some of these pictures from memories but some I hadn't seen before.
"These are pictures I used from my memory and had Ino retrieve them and we had an artist draw them and frame them." I said.
"So this is an account of all our missions?" Tenten asked.
"No, a lot of them are from just normal events or your guys' practices I've watched, it's a random assortment from my memory. Ino and I worked on it. It's really from both of us. Everyone else has presents for you back home; they're forwarding them here now that they have the address." Lee said.
"That's great thanks Lee." Tenten said.
"I don't remember a lot of these." I said.
"Yeah but think about it. I could only share memorizes with you if they involved us but that was from my viewpoint. These are from Lee's viewpoint so they have more of us because I can't see you and me during a mission. It's an awesome gift for both of us." Tenten said.
"So Neji got you and engagement ring for you birthday? Can I see it?" Lee asked. Tenten held out her hand and Lee looked at it. "It's really nice and shiny isn't it?" Lee asked.
"Yeah, it's so beautiful." Tenten kissed me. "I never got to thank you for it because you sent it with Naruto. What's wrong with you?" Tenten said pouting. "Naruto gave me a heart attack."
"He messed up on how he was supposed to give it to you huh?" I asked laughing. She elbowed me.
"Yeah, I had just woken up and got dressed and I was working on my hair. I hear a knock at the door so I open it. Naruto hugs me, but I thought I was being attacked so I pin him to the ground using the kunai and shuriken I was using to do my hair and then I realize it's him."
"Wait a minute; you use kunai and shuriken to do your hair?" Kiba asked.
"Isn't that a little unusual?" Choji asked.
"If you think about it since that's her major way to defend herself it would always be on her since she always has her hair up, so no matter what, she has a way to defend herself." Shino said.
"Yes Tenten is always prepared 100 to defend or attack anyone." I nodded.
"I was surprised to find out myself."
"I remember that, see Ino and Sakura had decided to help me prepare to meet Neji, which I didn't know it was Neji but the insisted that they leave my hair down because it looks nicer that way."
"Which it does." I added.
"Well yeah so that's why during the engagement I jumped into a tree because I thought I was being attacked and I had no way to defend myself because they wouldn't let my take weapons?"
"On your engagement dinner?" Kiba asked. "I agree with them. That's crazy."
"Yeah it was, so I just handed a kunai to her and we continued everything because she felt safer like that." I said.
"I remember that, it was funny to see Tenten so defenseless." Lee said.
"Ahem." Tenten said pouting.
"Sorry Tenten but it was." Lee said.
"Oh yeah about Naruto… well then he remembers that he was supposed to give me something. Then he says 'here for your birthday'." Everyone smacks there head and I sigh. "So I yell at him about a bunch of things involving me being engaged to Neji, Neji would beat him up and about Hinata and then he says that it was Neji's birthday present for me. So I apologize and then we went about our day until he mentions that I have been talking about Neji a lot and then I break down in tears and run home." She says sadly. I smile and hold her closer to me.
"So why were you two separated in the first place?" Shino asked.
"Our mission was to retrieve Neji's father's body and return my parents to Konoha. However, my dad was the Hoshikage so someone had to take over the country so I agreed to meaning Neji had to return everything to Konoha by himself. It should have been a whole 24 hours we were separated and I should have been find but Naruto and reminding me of Neji, I was just so depressed." Tenten said sighing.
"Yeah, you were depressed the night to begin with." Diana said. Everyone looked at her.
"Who's she again?" Lee asked.
"I'm Hoshi Diana, I'm Tenten's distant relative somehow." Diana said.
"Wait a minute, so this whole village is related to Tenten in one way or another?" Choji asked.
"Yeah, well most are. There are some who settled in this land before the Hoshi Clan came here recently." Tenten said.
"Man, are all clans huge?" Lee asked.
"Usually, especially the Hyuuga and Hoshi. They are the two most powerful clans along with the Uchiha before Itachi came. The Hyuuga Clan is native to many countries. Most of them far away beyond the reaches of most countries we've been to though they are all branch members, only about 10 people are not Branch Members out of the whole clan." I said.
"But most families aren't that big, how do these clans get so big?"
"It's because when they marry regardless of male or female they take the name of the clan they belong to, so in the example of Milo he was to marry into the Hoshi Clan he would take the last name of his wife. This keep the clan and their traits and abilities held to the clan." Diana said.
"They Hyuuga Clan doesn't do that much anymore, they're more of traditional which is why a lot of clans like Hoshi can have a female head because she can continue her clan as well." I added.
"But I'm taking Neji's name because he's also going to be taking over his clan and because of the kekkei genkai, it's treason against the Hyuuga to have a child and take it away from the clan. Like Kaydin was to his family, though he had no choice." Tenten said.
"I figured that Hinata would take Naruto's name. I wasn't sure but I figured as much."
"It's very traditional to do that, but major clans like Hoshi, within a village of their own do that to be accepted." Diana said. "That is also why Tenten is such a good Hoshikage."
"Why?" Lee asked.
"Because she knows more about the inner workings of a clan then any head we've had for about 4 generations, her great grandparents left the clan, her grandparents stayed and her parents just came back. Tenten is the forth but she still has knowledge of a clan's inner workings."
"Because of Neji, it's not like I'm apart of it officially yet."
"So when are you going to be married Tenten?" Diana asked.
"I think we're planning to get married along side the others, wasn't that the plan Neji?" Tenten asked.
"I guess so. We really haven't picked a day but it'll probably being in spring of next year, that's what Hinata figured. They only decided spring, not an actually date."
"Because I'm sure the whole clan will be there."
"You're going to need a lot of space." Choji said.
"We knew that from the beginning because a lot of major events go along with this wedding. Naruto becoming Hokage. I become the head of the Hyuuga. The first inner marriage between the agreement of the Ino, Shika, Cho. The marriage of the Last Uchiha. Now along with the Hoshi Clan's heir marriage with the Hyuuga which hasn't' happened in like 10 generations, it's beyond huge." I figured.
"Actually, the last marriage of Hoshi and Hyuuga was around 5 generations ago. However, it has no direct effects on you guys. It was with a foreign Hyuuga and a branch member Hoshi on this side. They make absolutely no change in your wedding." Tenten and I sighed; all we needed was more bloodline issues to worry about.
"Why is the Hyuuga-Hoshi marriage a big deal?" Shino asked.
"Hyuu means sun, ga means in, as in Hoshiga meaning in the stars as in Hoshigakure or Hyuugakure which is weird because usually when a village of a clan they take of the ending of the village, gakure like Konoha meaning Leaf. There was at one time a Leaf Clan." Diana said. We all sighed, as if there weren't enough clans.
"Explanation Diana, keep on subject." Tenten said.
"Yeah well Hyuu being sun and Hoshi meaning star and sometimes night are complete opposites. Their styles and harnessing abilities are opposites as well. The harnessing ability of Hyuuga hasn't been taught in my years but it exists unnaturally within Hyuugas. Moreover, Hoshi focuses on very light many point attacks, very light and delicate which is also similar to the Hyuuga's Gentle Fist." Diana said.
"How do you know this much about Hyuuga?" I asked.
"I told you, 5 generations ago a Hyuuga and Hoshi were married, they were my great grandparents. I didn't say that but that still makes no difference because it doesn't because Tenten and I are so distantly related it's way off but Hyuuga is ground based close hand fighting. Hoshi is air based distance fighting. There are their opposites to begin but they both focus on the weak points in the body along with analyzing their moves and perfecting the form which is why you two most likely are easiest to train each other." She said.
"Everything you just said is dead on." I said.
"I know, well that's it. Hyuu meaning sun, close hand, ground based analytical pinpoint attacks. Hoshi meaning star or night, long hand, air based analytical pinpoint attacks. The amazing thing is when paired up it is the strongest combination."
"How so?" Lee asked.
"Because Lee no matter where the opponent is, how you handle it, the time of day you have someone who specializes in deals that but on a fundamental level they use the same strategies, strengths and training."
"That's amazing."
"The problem comes along with that because once in while two of them fall in love the heirs of that people can't team up. This weakens both clans, so by doing that it's a danger. However at that point if you train each of the kids one way or the other and then they find someone trained the opposite way; it should still keep the strengths brought on, without weakening." Diana said.
"Most likely the children wouldn't be able to train perfectly both ways, they'd pick one way or the other." I said.
"Yeah true, it's kind of like the clans themselves. Hyuuga Males are stronger in the base of Gentle Fist while Hoshi Females are stronger in the base of Weaponry. So most likely if we have a girl or a boy they'll take it the same way as us." Tenten said.
"Exactly." I said.
"I'm hungry; do you have anything to eat?" Choji asked.
"Choji, we fed you before we left!" Kiba complained.
"That was lunch though, it is about dinner time and eating is best when on a mission no matter what." Shino said.
"I will make us dinner." Lee said.
"No," Tenten and I yelled.
"Sorry Lee, no offense but you almost killed us last time you made food for the missions." Tenten said. "I'll take care of it, don't worry."
"Tenten you need to rest." Diana said. "I'll take care of it, no worries."
"Are you sure, I could." I said to her.
"Nai, you guys keep talking. I'll cook I mean it is a womanly thing to do. It's the woman's job to feed her guests and since Tenten is unable then as her underling and fellow clansmen and female I'll take over." Diana said.
"Alright, thank you Diana." Tenten said.
"Yeah thank you Diana." Lee said.
"Thanks Diana," I said.
"Stop it already, no big." She said smiling.
"Is it just me or does everyone here talk and act like Tenten?" Lee asked.
"She does have a resemblance to Tenten, sort of." Kiba said. Tenten laughed and smiled. She was planning something.
The Reason Why… She Should Become Hoshikage.
she gets along with everyone she doesn't cause problems she makes peace between people she plans to save the Hoshi Branch Clan from their seals in her eyes, little mistakes are not forgivable sympathizes with everything cares for everyone she's their heir she understands them she's selfless suffered on her birthday because they needed her no government without her they'd fall without her any ruler with equal rules as long as they protect you will keep strong only heir in 4 generations with knowledge on a clan's inner workings prepared 100 to defend or to attack She was Kazekage for a few weeks