36: Lee's Location is a Mystery

∆ (W/Neji) ∆ - ¤ (Afterward) ¤ - Φ (Neji) Φ

I figured my best bet for finding Lee was to check with Gai-sensei because usually if the information is with Naruto, the 6th Hokage then it can't be shared with the public. I went to Gai-sensei's place and knocked on the door.

"Neji! What a wonderful surprise." He hugged me.

He then let go. "Nice to see you too Gai-sensei."

"What brings you to my home?" He asked.

"I was wondering if you knew where Lee was." I asked straight up.

"Sadly, no. I have not known where my favorite student is for such a long time. I'm worried about him. And you do not?"

"No. I was hoping that you knew."

"I wish I did because it's close to his birthday and I want to throw him a party but I have no contact with him."

"Oh, well… I'll be going. I'm trying to find out where he is so I can throw him a birthday party."

"That is wonderful. I see that Tenten and your child have brought the spirit of youth back to you. It's so wonderful."

"Yes, yes it is but I must go." I said as I left.

"Good-bye, I wish you and Tenten well. As well as your little one."

"Thanks." I said as I jumped into the tree.

"Bye." He yelled.

I couldn't believe that Lee wouldn't even tell his father-figure, and sensei that he was going. He just disappeared one day; it was quite weird. Usually he bothers Tenten and I about it no matter the time of day, or what we're doing if he's going to be leaving yet one day he just up and left.

I looked at my watch, I had 10 minutes to 5:30. I sighed, I wouldn't have time to talk to Naruto or ask anyone else if they knew where he was before I had to go. It would take too much time. I'd have to resume searching at a later time.

I arrived at dinner, just barely on time where I sat next to my son. "Any news?" She asked.

"He just up and left. Gai-sensei didn't know and I didn't have time to question anyone else."

"You stay with Owen while I go ask around later. I need more exercise before our training. I'm still doing less than we used to."

"Of course we are. I have meetings and you have Owen to watch."

"I'll do it cause I need to move around."

"Alright, good luck."

"I'll leave directly after dinner."

"Alright." I said.

Dinner went by quickly and Tenten left after kissing me and Owen. She was in a rush to find out where Lee was. We had neglected to care where he had been lately. We'd see him at holidays and such things, but he only showed up for them. We couldn't get in contact with him; he'd just appear and then disappear. It was weird.

Φ (Tenten) Φ

I could hardly believe that we had once again lost the location of our teammate, Lee. He was always there, even when we didn't want him there and now, when we're looking for him. We can't find him. It was really unusual for Lee to leave without telling anyone.

Ж (Flashback) Ж

It was a bright and beautiful day in Konoha and I was resting in my bedroom, just waking up. I was at my mirror and sitting down. I turned around and screamed, soon Neji and Lee were pinned to my wall.

Neji had come after hearing me screaming from Lee who had just busted into my room, yet again. "Lee!" I yelled.

"Hi Tenten. I wanted to tell you that I'm going to be leaving on a mission."

"That's nice." I said calmly. "Will you realize please that this is my room and you can't just come in when you feel like saying good-bye!" I yelled loudly.

"Sorry again but I just had to tell you about my mission."

"Yes I know but please please please just don't come in my room. We have doorbells for a reason, you press it, I answer it, you tell me. You do not just go in through people's windows." I said as calmly as I could.

"Sorry again. I'll try to remember it next time." He said.

"Now Tenten, will you please let us go." Neji asked calmly.

"Sorry for alarming you." I apologized to him.

"I know. It is not your fault." He said as I took all the kunai and shuriken from their clothing.

"I really will try extremely hard next time to use the door." Lee said.

"I know you will Lee. See you when you return." I said.

"Right. Good-bye Tenten, and you too Neji." Neji nodded and Lee disappeared.

Ж (Flashback Over) Ж

I laughed thinking about it. Yeah, he always makes a huge point of everything, especially him leaving, even if it's for a 12 hour mission. He's been gone a while. He didn't even tell anyone about where he was going. He better show up. I'm going to be angry if he doesn't.

I walked to the house that every one of our friends was living in. I knocked on the door. "Hinata opened it."

"What bring you here Tenten-chan?"

"I need to talk to Naruto, if you don't mind?"

"No, I don't." She said opening the door and stepping clear out of the way. "Naruto-kun!" She called. He jumped over the balcony, with Hiroka in his arms.

"Naruto, that's dangerous." I yelled, you could have harmed your own child. Have you no cares for your own child?"

"It's not dangerous." If I was Hinata, he wouldn't be allowed near the poor baby, he'd trip and kill it. Who knows what would happen, if Hinata weren't around. Thank you Hinata.

"Naruto-kun, it is. You could have fallen, or dropped the baby. Please use the stairs." He looked at her. "I know you'd be careful but you must be careful with the baby."

"Oh, like you are. I got it." Naruto said. "So what you need?"

"I need to know where Lee is." I told him.

"I don't know. His trip isn't on file. I've been wondering the same things. Tsunade refused to tell me, she said it's pre-appointment objectives." Naruto said. "Whatever that means."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It means what happens before you became hokage is between Lee and Tsunade-sama." Hinata explained. "It's his personal mission, and secret, even to the Hokage."

"I'm taking this to Tsunade myself." Tenten said.

"Good-luck, obaa-chan's a hard nut to crack. She's also a crazy nut." Naruto said.

"Naruto-kun." Hinata said surprised.

"Sorry. I know, show respect." She nodded. I rolled my eyes.

"How's my favorite little niece, by the way?" I asked looking at the baby.

"She's fine, happy and healthy. No thanks to you." Naruto said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"I'm not sure." Naruto said, anime falling.

"You should not try so hard to make a comeback, those are too natural, think but don't try too hard." Sasuke said walking through.

"Hiroka is absolutely fine, Tenten-chan. She's happy and healthy as Naruto said. She's quiet and doesn't like talking but she's young and there are a lot of people, it's no wonder she doesn't." Hinata said, not worrying.

"What if she never talks… what if she's mute… what if she never talks and is mute!" Naruto said freaking out. "Talk to me, Hiroka. Talk!" He yelled.

I took the baby from his arms, and held it. "She's probably just taken to Hinata's qualities rather than Naruto's (thank goodness, I thought). She'll be fine. Hinata, just try talking to her more. She's still young; you won't expect words for a little while. It's too early to worry about that crazily." I said glaring at Naruto.

"It's my first kid. I don't know what to do. I'm sorry." Naruto yelled, sadly.

"Be quiet, stay calm and relax. You'll be fine. Man, you're annoying." I said.

"Tenten-chan, he's just a worried parent. It's normal."

"I know, but I mean, tell him to get parenting books or something, he shouldn't be this worried, he'll go insane." I helped to mention.

"I guess that would be a good idea, to help him." Hinata said.

"A very good idea." I said.

"Naruto… we're going to the library." Hinata said taking the baby from me and preparing to leave.

"I don't like that place, there are so many books." Of course he wouldn't like libraries, after what happened last time. That was before he fought Neji.

Ж (Flashback) Ж

"Naruto, where are you?" Hinata called.

"Hinata is that you?" Naruto yelled. "I'm lost, save me."

"Naruto, it's a library, how could you be lost?" She asked concerned.

"My head hurts and I can't see anything but books, help." Hinata laughed a little.

"Okay Naruto, but the Ramen may get cold by then." Naruto ran like lightning into Hinata and landed on top of her.

"You are the best, how would you know I could find my way back."

---

"So what do we do?"

"I help you study up on Hyuuga customs, fighting styles, and chakra points, a Hyuuga sees them all but can also name them all."

"It's a lot of work." Naruto complained. "I bet this will make me a better fighter. I wish there was an easy answer to defeating a Hyuuga, but I wouldn't know that."

"There is, but you have to find that yourself, I recommend a book on Kekkei Genkai."

"I'll start with chakra points, Hyuuga customs, and wait switch that then, their fighting style, then the kekkei genkai. Do you think I'll find a way to defeat Sasuke in there?"

"Maybe Naruto, but a good person doesn't seek to find the weakness of a friend in their knowledge only their enemy."

"Fine, I won't beat up Sasuke. So let's good look for books," Hinata nodded and Naruto went off with Hinata by his side to look for these rare books, these books are elusive because of their nature. The secretive Hyuuga Clan and weaknesses of famous Kekkei genkai, rare books.

"Old lady, where are you? I saw you before, now help us find books; I think it's your job since you live here." Hinata sighed.

"Librarian Naruto, she's a librarian. Helen-Chan will you please assist us?" A woman appeared and walked to Hinata with papers.

"Here you go Hinata-Chan, is he with you, loudmouthed boy?" Helen answered.

"Yeah, he's fine; this is all new to him. Where is the Hyuuga Section located by the way?"

"Studying up again, H-y Hinata?" She nodded and Hinata walked off, Naruto running behind.

"How do you know where we are going?" Naruto asked.

"H-y section, as in Hyuuga as in Hyuuga Customs would be here; the other books would be in C, J and, K."

"Why?" Naruto asked.

"Chakra Points, Jyuuken Fighting and Kekkei Genkai… Naruto,"

"Oh, sorry, I new with the whole library thing, so where would stuff on Hokage be?"

"H, right there." Hinata pointed out, to a book.

"Is it for Hokage?"

"Not exactly Naruto, it' for History of Hokage; books on Hokage Rules would be under K for Konoha Hokage Rules."

"This is hard." Naruto complained. Hinata smiled.

Ж (Flashback Over) Ж

I went to Tsunade's house. I knocked on the door, she opened it. "Hi, Tsunade-sama."

"Hello Tenten, how can I help you?"

"I'd like to know where Lee is."

"Does it look like I have him and all ninja on a tracking jutsu?"

"No, but you'd know where he went."

"Actually, I have no clue where he went." She answered.

"What do you mean?"

"He asked for permission to leave Konoha for a while, it was a few months ago. I allowed this, why I cannot share with you but I don't know where he is currently, I'm sorry but I can't help you."

"But you have to."

"Why? I can't."

"Because tomorrow is his birthday and for once, Neji and I would like to spend time with our teammate."

"Really?" I nodded. "As much as I'd love to help you. I can't. I can't share why he needed time off, or where he had his last mission."

"Aha! That's all I needed." I said. "Bye, Tsunade-sama."

"That won't help."

"Sure it will." I argued as I turned around and ran off.

I went home. Neji greeted me. "You find out anything?"

"Not really, besides the fact that he asked for permission to leave for a while, it was granted and he's been gone a while. It also has something to do with his last mission."

"I wonder what his last mission was."

"Tsunade-sama said that knowing that it had something to do with his last mission wouldn't help us." I said, upset that we were no closer.

"Yeah, now that I think of it. I haven't seen him in a while, and he hasn't had any missions." Neji said.

"Lee always tells us about his missions. I'm sure he said good-bye to us. We just need to remember when, and what he said."

Neji and I sat down and after a while I remembered, it was before the wedding. "I remember it was when I was the Hoshikage. He said that he had to go to Tea Country for a mission. He must be there. He told me he was happy to guard me, but he had to guard another girl now."

"Ah. So it's a girl in Tea Country." Neji said.

"Probably a prestigious one, or at least one that's rich, to some extent."

"Hiring a personal guard like that one, that's impressive."

"She probably needs it. Didn't something big happen in Tea Country lately."

"Yeah, the prince got married." Neji reminded me.

"Turns out we're going to Tea Country, to retrieve Lee."

There was a knock on the door. "Who would knock on our door at 10 at night?" I asked Neji.

"Lee." We said at the same time. He was at the door as we both pulled it open.

"I came in as soon as I heard you guys missed me."

"What about whatever you were doing?"

"I'm not really needed there, the extras of the mission, you know how that goes." I nodded. I hugged Lee.

"Good to see you Lee. Happy Almost Birthday."

"Nice to see you two too." Lee said.

"What were you up to?"

"Nothing much, just the mission mainly."

"What else, if the mission was main, of course you've been doing some more if you asked for more time out there."

"She's a girl who's brother got married off, and she's dealing with a lot now from her family. I'm just watching out for her, there are still a lot of people wondering into the city, and she's under special guard all the time. They requested I stay longer, to help her."

"So you're running assistant for her, and guard?" Neji asked.

"I'm really helping her do everything, she's a mess without me."

"What girl isn't?" Neji said as I elbowed him directly afterward. "Just kidding Tenten, you've always been there for me." I smiled. I always have and will.

"Yep I have."

"Yeah, I can see that it's the same around here as it is there, a new family member, the child and everything."

"The prince has a kid?" I asked. I hadn't heard that.

"Yeah, he has a newborn."

"Congrats to him, so do we and Hinata-chan and Naruto-kun." I told Lee.

"I know. It's so exciting. What are their names?" He asked.

"Our little baby boy is named Hyuuga Neji Owen, after Neji and my dad. I would have liked to name him after Neji's dad but Neji had problems with that."

"Really?"

"Yes, I did." Neji answered roughly around the edges.

"Well Hinata's girl is named Hiroka." I said, changing topics back.

"Such a beautiful girl. What does she look like?" Lee asked, interested.

"She has a bluish tinted Byakugan, and pale skin like Hinata, but that's more family related, like Owen has the same, except Owen's is lilacish. It's weird how it's bluish though."

"That's extremely interesting, will it function?" He asked again.

"Yeah, it's stronger than Hinata's is actually which makes Hinata happy since she struggled a lot with hers. Though hers is not bad at all, only like -.5 off from where it should be. Mine is just so strong it makes her seem weaker." Neji said.

"How is the Hyuuga Clan?" Lee asked.

"Things are fine Lee, Hinata and Neji have been working a lot of hours to do what's best for the Hyuuga Clan, it's becoming difficult to deal with though. There are a lot of people to go through, objections to put down. It's like a war. They're destroying the safety the main family has, from the Branch. Main sees branch as dangerous where most of them…"

"They are a danger, after being tortured and eliminated for so long, who would blame them." Neji intereupted.

"I guess I don't see it like that. I guess I see them like you. Calm, even when facing revenge, not someone willing to take down their own family because of torture."

"They're like me, I was willing to take down Hinata. Not because I hated her, only for her place, and her father's choices, and mine."

"The clan is a real mess, huh?" Lee said.

"Yes, it really is." Neji said.

"As Shikamaru said, it's troublesome."

"As troublesome as it though, it must be done. It would be easier to leave it how it is, that's what everyone has done, we're taking down it, though it's troublesome." Neji said.

"I agree, the hatred that stays in the family should end, you should be the one doing it, and you will succeed, my friend." Lee said.

"Yeah, the power of youth will explode and help them free the tortured." I said, laughing to myself. They both looked at me, as if I was sick and crazy.

"Tenten… calm down." Neji said.

"No Neji, she is right." We sighed. He then continued as we sat down and listened to his speech about how happy he is to see my spirit of youth, and Owen's, and Neji's. He must not have heard that in a while and it all came back to him because he went on for a long time.

"And let the spirit of youth guide you forever, even as you grow old Tenten. Know it still remains until the day you die." He finished.

"Yes, I will." I said.

"As will I." Neji added.

"Good then I will be on my way."

"Be at the party, 10am tomorrow. It's a big party. Don't be late."

"The…"

"Enough, go home." Neji yelled. I laughed, he was tired and annoyed, as I was.

Neji took care of Owen for a little while, while I contacted all of our friends and invited them to the big party for Lee. They were all surprised that Lee had shown up after all our work to find him. I had sure had a time finding him, just to learn he wasn't there. I wonder if his friends in Tea Country need him, or want to have a party with him.

I thought for a while about that before I called people deciding to finish the party at 5. Many people thought that from 9-5 were weird hours for a party, but having Naruto give all the party goers the day off for the party made it easy to get them there. I refused to explain my logic for a midday party to anyone, even Neji was curious.

"Why?"

"Just because, I have intuition about something."

"Is there going to be an attack, or mission we need to go to?" He asked.

"Nothing like that, but I had a little guess about something."

"Tell me." He said, interested.

"I think whatever Lee's doing in Tea that they may want to celebrate his birthday with him too, I was thinking he was going to fake and leave early, but this way he doesn't have to because I gave him time to get there. I'm thinking the girl he's guarding is probably going to want to have a party for him, especially for all he's done for her."

"I agree. How'd you think of that?"

"I would have done the same thing, if I were in her place."

He laughed. "You always see everything through other's viewpoints, don't you?"

"It's the best way to figure things out, and plan, and understand people. That's how I understand you. I saw through your eyes. That's how you see and understand."

"Really? Is that your trick?"

I smiled. "Maybe."

I kissed Neji and took Owen. "This is our baby boy Neji. He'll always be with us."

"Don't get ahead of yourself Tenten, he'll grow up and live on his own, maybe with his own family too, or he'll be a ninja, or lead the clan, who knows where'll he'll do. Let's not hope he'll live at home with us forever." Neji said. I laughed.

"I guess that's a little crazy to assume that he'd live with us forever. He's ours though. Our little boy." I said with a smile, holding him.

"Yes, very true. He's our own son, our flesh and blood. Part of the family we have started on our own." Neji said wrapping his arms around me.

"I have to put Owen to bed, be there later Neji." I said pulling away from him. I walked into the other room.

I carried Owen in my arms, he is still so little. He's still only 10 months but he's getting bigger every day and he's amazing. "Hi Owen. I'm your mommy. Daddy's in the other room but it's bedtime so let's go to bed."

"Ageh." He said quietly. I had no clue what he was saying but it was a funny sound for sure. I smiled.

I laid him in his crib. Then I began to sing My Guardian Angel by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

"When I see your smile
Tears run down my face I can't replace
And now that I'm strong I have figured out
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul
And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one

I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven."

© Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – My Guardian Angel

I looked at him and he was asleep. There was so much to that song, that I loved. It was all about what we as ninjas do, give our lives for everyone, sometimes for those we don't know, but more so for those who we love and wish to protect. People like my own son and Neji, and my friends who also would give their life for me.

I looked at him, "Night baby boy." I said. I walked into my room and Neji walked over to me, wiping the tears from my eyes. I hadn't noticed I was crying. He hugged me.

"These tears are of joy, don't be ashamed." He said, knowing me so well. "I can cry now too." (A/N: I made a mistake earlier writing a chapter called The Reasons Why… He can't cry even if he wanted to. I know Neji can cry, but that was just for the chapter and before I saw that episode, so give me a break; pretend what I said is there.) "Though he'll grow apart from us, we'll always be together, so I'll never be alone again, thanks to you, Tenten. I owe you so much. He'll visit us, and after all, Hyuugas don't get away with being separate for a long time, well most don't."

"Hinata does, for a while." I reminded him.

"I know, but she choose to separate herself to the extent now. We can't, and knowing our genes, he'll be just as strong and lead the clan. The clan will be strong again." I nodded.

"We should get to sleep, we've got a big party planned for tomorrow. It's going to be a lot to handle."

"Gai-sensei is invited right?" Neji asked.

"Of course he is Neji." I said sighing.

"Just making sure, because it's more troublesome as Shikamaru says when they're together. Lee didn't even mention it until you reminded him."

I laughed. "Yeah, but I just wonder if he'd be happier had we not interfere with his life." I asked Neji.

"No. He's always happy to interfere in ours without asking. He does interfere if we didn't. Though we only do it when he's gone for a while." I nodded. "Time to sleep." We kissed and the went to sleep after a while. It would be a busy day tomorrow.