52. Tenten is hard-working

"Neji, wake up!" I pushed him off of the bed, we didn't have time to sleep. I took Owen and Kimiko to the formal dining room. Neji came afterward. "There you are, finally!"

"What is the rush?"

"After breakfast we have a meeting with Lady Tsunade!" I reminded him. The message had came in the middle of the night and it was urgent she said, but she didn't want us until we ate. I had called Hinata to come over get them at breakfast. She was across the table with Hiroka and Ramen. Ramen reminds me so much of Naruto. I can't believe she accepted that name, poor kid.

After that Neji and I rushed to her office. "Morning Lady Tsunade," she picked up her head from off the table.

"Morning, I'm glad. The others should be here soon."

"Others?"

"Yes. Sasuke, Lee, and Naruto. Although I told them a little later… so I have a mission for you."

Neji was surprised. "Hokage-sama, there is much to work…"

"Not you Neji, I'm aware you have to care for the clan, it is for Tenten. That is if that's alright with you. I know that you're concerned because she just had a kid… almost years ago. I asked everyone else and they all told me no, I figured you Neji, would be more reasonable."

"What is this mission?"

"In Hoshigakure there is a stand that sells precious herbs, but they won't let you take them out, you have to take someone from their country back with you. I need those so your job is to escort the person back."

"So why do you need me?" There are tons of other people who could.

"The reason I need you is you're the one who knows hoshigakure the best and I need you to protect the kid. He's 8 or 9 but people have been trying to kill him. Your job is to act like his parents to make sure that they can't pick him out."

"Wait, I and who is supposed to act like his parents?" I asked.

"Well Sasuke, Lee and Naruto are going so one of them. I don't care which. The others ones will keep out of the picture and act as sureilance and backup in case something happens. We need those herbs Tenten."

"I don't like this." Neji said, crossing his arms.

"I'll do it." I told her. Neji was surprised. "Neji, if I'm the only one who can and the one who is best for the job why wouldn't I? I mean lately it's just been taking care of the kids, a mission doesn't hurt."

"She'll have two people backing her up and whoever is the 'father' of the kid. It's going to be very secure and very simple."

At that time Naruto, Sasuke and Lee came in. "Alright guys, Neji you're dismissed," Neji shook his head and left to go back. "So here's the mission. One of you and Tenten are going to pretend to be this kid's parents. He's the messenger boy to Hoshigakure's herb shop. We need those herbs. You will go there, get him, bring him back to here, then another set of ninjas will return him." They nodded. "Any questions?"

"Why are there 4 of us here?" Sasuke asked.

"Because the other two will keep close but hidden to protect them, we want this to look like a normal family traveling." He nodded.

"So which one of us stays with Tenten and the kid?" Naruto asked.

Tsunade looked at all of them. "I will. I will!" Lee said. I sighed, I don't think that would go well. I think he'd annoy the kid to death.

"Sasuke," she said.

"Me?" He asked.

"Lee and Naruto can handle normal bandits trying to kill them. We need you to personally defend them." She told him. "Don't mess this up or I'll let Neji have your head."

"See you tonight then, sundown you leave." We all nodded. I left the room and Neji was waiting outside.

"Tsunade said that you can have Sasuke's head if he messes up," I told him smiling. "I'm leaving out sundown I want to play with Owen and Kimiko before that.

"Wait for me!" Naruto called after. "Hinata's at the compound right?" I nodded and he followed along.

"How's Kimiko? She talking yet."

"No Naruto, and I doubt she will for a while. We're going to start taking her to therapy."

We arrived there and Hinata ran up to me. "Kimiko talked! You missed it!" I looked to Neji and we ran out back to the training clearing. Ramen was sitting there next to Kimiko and Owen held up a ball.

"Sphere," Kimiko answered.

"Ball!" Ramen yelled at the same time. Hiroka held up a can.

"Cylinder.""Can!" Kimiko and Ramen answered respectfully.

Neji and I were shocked. "This is the only way she'll talk, it's a competition to identify the object. I was doing it with Owen and Hiroka with things in a book. Kimiko wondered over and got hexagon before either of them." Hinata explained. "At first I was surprised but when I did the next page, she did it again."

"Hiroka come here." I called to her. She came over. "Ten-chan!"

"Hey Hiroka, when I walk over I want you and Owen to point to me alright. I want to see if Kimiko identifies me." I was excited to see if she would say mother or mom, tenten, or something. I was so curious.

Hiroka went back over to Owen and told him what to do. I walked over and they pointed to me. "Human," Kimiko said. Ramen was confused, not knowing what to do. "Woman?"

"I'm a human, that's right Kimiko. I'm also a woman, good job Ramen." I looked over my shoulder to Neji and shrugged, if I was human that was better than nothing. I had another idea.

I pointed to Naruto. "Human." "Dad!" Ramen shouted. I looked to Hiroka, she didn't get it. I pointed to Hinata. "Human." "Mom." I shrugged, it was not what I expected. I pointed to Owen. "Owen." They both answered. Bingo!

I was so happy I could have cried. "That's right guys, that's Owen." I pointed to Hiroka. "Hiroka!" "Nee-chan!" This time Ramen got Nee-chan which confused Kimiko.

Neji walked over and I pointed to him. Hiroka had told Ramen not to answer. "Come on Kimiko, go ahead."

She was in deep thought, well as deep as an 18 month old could which as time passed we all waited. "Neji?" I hugged her; that was close enough.

"I'm Tenten. Mommy." I told her. "That's Neji. Daddy." I explained. "Tenten is mommy. Neji is daddy. Come on Kimiko."

I pointed to me. "Tenten mommy," I smiled and hugged her. I pointed to Neji. "Neji daddy." Neji came over and I kept doing that, after a while she stopped. I suppose she figured that we were stupid, having her repeat it. I would get annoyed after a while. Practice makes perfect though.

I didn't know what happened that she could pick things up like that so fast. I had never heard her talk or make sounds but yet she could say and pronounce words like an adult. It was amazing. We had a way to get her to talk, a way to teach her. I don't know why she hadn't done it before. When she was a kid we'd read to her and point out things and ask her what they were, she never responded. Why now?

It was about two when Hinata, Naruto and their kids went home. Ramen was a cute kid, his name was rather unfortunate but it was fitting for the guy. He had his Naruto's blonde hair and Hinata's byakugan eyes. He is a troublemaker but he listens to Hinata. Hiroka is like Hinata, quiet and smart. Her eyes look extremely blue for having the byakugan but are perfectly strong Neji says. She has Hinata's hair as well.

I'd have to say Owen is more like me but looks like Neji. His eyes are a shade of light brown even though he has the byakugan, stronger than Neji's was even. Kimiko has my hair and Neji's eyes but is more like Neji in that she is quiet and self-absorbed.

It was time for the kids to take a nap. Owen would complain but I didn't listen to him. He wanted to go to the ninja academy but first he had to get through his regular schooling and that required sleep. Today was Saturday and thankfully I could relax.

I had to wake up extra early to make sure Owen had a lunch to go to school with. Kimiko woke up at the same time so I had to make sure she was taken care of as well. Then I would wonder about the Hyuuga Clan making sure everything was right there.

I went into my room and checked the calender. The mission should only take a few days I figured I would be back by… the 25th… Christmas! Neji had gone to his office but would be on break soon. I ran in. "Watch the kids. Christmas shopping." He nodded and I ran out the door.

My first stop was the toy store. I got lots of random toys that I thought they would like. Shopping for Kimiko was shopping for Owen because anything he had she would like. They enjoyed playing with blocks and stuffed animals. Kimiko is extremely attacked to this bear I named "Beary" and kept in her crib when she was younger.

I got flashcards with math and such for Owen to help him on the drills and ones with pictures, words and letters for Kimiko which might get her talking. I was excited to see how much she would say, could say and knew. She was smart there was no doubt, how smart was unsure.

I picked up Neji a new headband at the supply store, the one he currently had was the same one he has had since the beginning. I knew he was attacked so I got it a case, so he could remember it. I also got him random things for his office since he spent a lot of time there. Finally while I was at the ninja supply store I got him things I figure would be useful, he had been training a lot of young Hyuugas lately, not including our own kids. I was helping but my weapons were all the greatest of conditions.

I returned home, hid all them in a scroll for later when I choose to wrap them. I collapsed on the bed. Neji walked in. "You get everything done?"

"I did, I can't believe that next weekend is Christmas. That gives me 7 days to get back." He nodded. "I doubt it will take that long."

"Take care of yourself Tenten," I laughed.

"I will, I have you and the kids to take care of when I get back." I looked at the clock, it was time for Dinner, 7pm. I got the kids up from there long nap and we went to eat. I didn't have much longer with them.

Neji leaned against the wall as he watched me pack. "You sure you are up to this?"

"No, I think I'm going to fail." I answered in a tone that matched his exactly. I turned around. "I'm a kunoichi, I train with you every day. Sure I had two kids but I'm still as good as I ever was. Don't doubt me or I'll have to show you." I told him and smiled.

I said goodbye to them all and met Sasuke, Naruto and Lee at the gate. "You ready?" Sasuke asked.

"Of course our young blooming flower Tenten is ready." Everyone looked at me to ask if I was.

"You heard him, I'm ready. Are we spliting up on our way there?"

"No," Sasuke said. "Up until we're close to the village we'll stay in the group. When we're close we change into villager clothing and walk like everyone else. We don't want to raise suspicions." He explained. I nodded.

We traveled for a while at a slow pace, probably hours. "We're getting no where, why are we going so slowly?"

They all looked at me. "You can go faster?" I punched them all.

"Of course I can. I'm no weak, don't underestimate me or you'll all get it." Sasuke nodded learning his lesson and we picked up the pace to about as fast as I could go. I could tell they couldn't go faster. Lee and Naruto had the most stamina for this, Sasuke wouldn't hold up and neither would I at full speed but we were nearly there.

"Alright," Sasuke stopped us. He pulled out his change of clothes, I did the same and went behind a tree.

"Don't look!" I yelled at them. They all mumbled they wouldn't and I quickly changed into a light pink kimono. It was a kunoichi kimono. It was stocked with many pockets on the inside to hide weapons. I loved it.

We arrived at the store just before sunset. Naruto and Lee were hiding. Sasuke and I walked in like a married couple which meant he held the door for me. "Hi, I'm Tenten from Konohagakure."

"We've been expecting you." A woman who seemed to be about 70 responded. "This is Navi (Nah-Vee)," a little boy about 8 came. He was holding a small box which seemed to be protected by a Jutsu. "You get him there, he releases the seal once he is with Tsunade." I nodded.

"I understand," I said verbally to her.

"Good and don't you dare let my grandchild get hurt."

"I wouldn't. I will protect him with my life."

"Do you have kids Miss?"

"Two, my boy is 6, my girl is 2." I answered. She looked to Sasuke and at me.

"Him?"

"He's not my real husband if that's what you're asking. He has four kids. The eldest is a boy of 5, a girl who is 2 and a boy and a girl, twins who are one." She nodded.

"Where is your husband? How does he feel about this? You are married, right?"

"Yes, of course. He's taking care of his clan. He's reluctant to let me go, he's worried but he knows I am strong and I am important to do this."

"I suppose I will let Navi (Nah-Vee) go with you two."

"There's four of us, the other two are hiding, just in case." She smiled wider.

"I should have never underestimated your ingenious." She responded. We said our goodbyes and I went outside.

"What now?" Sasuke said. The little boy just standing there.

I bent down to his eye-level. "I'm Tenten and this is Sasuke. We're going to be your parents for this trip. Alright?"

"Yeah, I guess." He said sighing.

"What now?" He asked again.

"We visit my parents." I told him. He seemed confused. We went to the castle and the guards stopped us.

"Vanu and Listo!" I said happily. "It's me Tenten, didn't recognize me huh?" I hugged them both. "Tell mom and dad I'm here alright."

I turned to Sasuke. "My parents are in charge of Hoshigakure. My dad is the hoshikage." I explained. My parents ran up to me and hugged me.

"Tenten!" My mom said smiling. "I've missed you. Who is this and who is that!" She said referring to Sasuke and Navi.

"This is my stand-in husband for the mission and good friend Sasuke Uchiha and our mission objective Navi who we have to protect and return to Konoha." I explained. Through the window came Naruto and Lee. "These are almost my good friends, Naruto Uzumaki and Lee Rock." I told her.

"You are welcome to our guest rooms and baths." She told them. "So Tenten how is Neji?"

"He is great, he's home with the kids."

"Kids? I only heard about your little boy Owen, how old is he now? 3 or 4."

"6 mom, he's not so little. He's starting training for the Byakugan. I have a little girl, her name's Kimiko. She is brilliant but she lacks social skills and until today we thought she couldn't talk."

"Do you have a picture?" She asked. I might have one. I picked up my bag and went for my identification booklet. There was a family photo in there after Kimiko was born. I pulled it out to show them. "She's two now so this picture is old."

"Owen has grown up so much, you both look very healthy." She answered. My father asked about everyone else's families.

Lee started up. "I married Layla, she is a princess. We have 4 kids, we had a fifth but he died shortly after he was born. I was very sad but all my kids are getting better. Most of them were blind, including my wife! I have my two girls and two boys. Melody is my oldest and she is just like her mother, she is 7 now! Unfortunately she is blind, and will not recover her sight. She looks like her mom as well. Taku, my eldest boy is mute however he can see. He is very smart and looks like me." I had to say the poor kid looked just like him. "Emily is my younger girl, she is 5 and she is recovering her vision. She looks and acts like her mother. Danzu is my youngest, he is healthy and strong thankfully and takes after me in the ways of my sensei Guy." He pulled out tons of shots of him and Guy, then him and his kids and his wife. I felt bad for my parents, I did.

The death of Lee's 5th child hit him hard in April of last year. They can't have anymore kids and after all the problems that they all had I'm sure that it's best that way. Shin was so sick, he was suffering and one night he didn't wake up. I didn't want to see him suffering anymore, nor did his parents.

After a little while he asked Naruto. "I married Hinata Hyuuga and we have two kids. Hiroka is 6 and super smart and beautiful like Hinata! Ramen is just like me so of course he's awesome! He's two years old!"

"I have 4 children currently. Sakura Haruno is my wife. Yoshi is my eldest boy, who takes after me appearance wise but has Sakura's behavior. I have a two year old girl who takes after Sakura in all ways as well. Ryuu is my youngest boy and his twin sister is Ren. Ryuu is very much like me." Sasuke explained very shortly.

Sakura can have more kids but that comes with a lot of risks because she has had many kids already and after the twins in increases the risks of complications with any kids after. I wanted another kid, just because I loved them. Neji wouldn't outright say that but I knew he did. He wanted a big family, he loved kids and that's why he was so worried about anything happening to me. He loved me because I gave him so much. He didn't have a real family and that's what he wanted more than anything.

"That is all very interesting. Would you like to rest?" Mom asked them.

"We should before we leave early tomorrow morning." Sasuke responded. I agreed and we all went to separate guest rooms. I laid down when there was a knock at my door. I opened it and looked to see Navi.

"How is your room?" I asked him.

"Good, it's just lonely." He said.

"Come on," I told him. My bed was huge so he took one half and I took the other. I took my hair down. "You'll be safe, don't worry. Sleep up, we have a long journey."

It had been a day since we left. We traveled one day from Konoha at ninja speed. It would take 5 days walking. We averaged twenty miles and hour over the journey. We would walk pretty fast probably 4 miles an hour. It would take us probably 3 days; we'd be home in time for Christmas. I was excited.

My wake up call was Lee pounding on my door. I opened it up. "Have. You. Seen. The. Kid. He's missing!"

I opened the door wider so he could see the kid who was lying on the bed, still asleep. "Navi is with me everyone!" I yelled. I had them all pack up. Naruto would stay ahead to scan the area, and Lee would follow behind.

We left the house after I said goodbye to my parents and Sasuke and I started walking. "So how is Ryuu and Ren?"

"They'll be 2 in January, they're smart and cute. Ryuu doesn't like to talk to anyone but Ren but he's talk. So Kimiko talks?"

"She'll identify things like it's a game." I explained.

"That's interesting."

"It's talking, I was concerned she couldn't talk. She pronounces everything like an adult, when I heard it it was shocking."

I looked at Navi. "So are you in school?"

"Yes, I'm almost done with this school. Then I can go into a specialty school. I think I want to follow in my grandmother's path and study medicines and cures as well as herbs."

"I think she'd like that and you'd be good at it." I told him. "So why do you do the deliveries?"

"Grandma only lets our family touch the herbs until they get there, we have a special lotion on our hands to handle them. They have to be used right away once anyone else touches them or else they go bad. Grandma can't walk so I do them now. She didn't used to let me go but we would have lost our house and the greenhouse if we didn't. We had to."

"Is everything there now?"

"Yes for the most part. I get the other half of the payment from your hokage when these get there." He showed me the box.

"So once you have that money you guys will be good?"

"Yes, we didn't do anything out of the country for the last few years. My parents died when I was 5 and she let me go once I turned 8. We managed to hold in there and make it." He was happy and quiet or a while, Sasuke didn't look happy. "So you guys are ninja?"

"Since I was 12, I started at the ninja academy at 8." I told him. "When I was about your age. I'm a weapons specialist but I started out with the basics." I pulled a kunai out of my pouch. I handed it to him. "I will protect you but in case you ever need to protect yourself or your grandmother, you have that."

"Thank you…" he didn't remember my name, he put it in his pocket.

"I'm Tenten Hyuuga."

"You don't look like a Hyuuga," he was smart.

"My husband is one. I'm a Hoshi, like you." I smiled.

"Yeah, my dad is the hokage."

"That's why we stayed there?" I nodded. "So why are you in Konohagakure?"

"I was born there, raised there. I was trained as a ninja to be there for them, my family and friends are there." He nodded.

We traveled until it was many hours past night fall. I made camp and started cooking. Lee and Naruto would group together and camp out of sight. Sasuke and I would take shifts sleeping. He decided to go take the first watch, I went second.

I got about 2 hours of sleep total and then we were back to walking. Navi was going slowly, he wasn't used to it I could tell. "Hey Navi, do you want me to carry you?"

"No, I'm fine." He was determined to be strong. I would let him do that. I knew better than to force someone to show me their weakness. He could do it.

It was 400 miles between the places and so it had taken us 20 hours at 20 miles an hour on average but that was full ninja speed. It would take us 100 hours to do this. We were going about 20 hours a day. I sighed, it was going to take us 5 hours at normal foot pace. I didn't think Navi would hold up to walking at this pace 20 hours a day for 5 days.

By the end of the night, Navi stopped. Sasuke looked back so did I. I walked over to him. "Want me to carry you now?" He nodded, he looked exhausted. Sasuke took my backpack and gave him a piggy-back ride and the good thing about this was I could non-conspicuously go about 9 miles an hour and looking like a jogger with him on my back. We had covered 40 miles before I carried him and 90 miles when I did. 130 miles was fair for a day. It wasn't the 400 we did in one day on the way here, but it was good for looking like a normal family.

We stopped and followed the same schedule. I volunteered to carry Navi and we took an easier pace. After the first 10 hours we went on break. Sasuke went to check on Lee and Naruto. We were sitting on the ground eating when two ninja hopped down from the trees. I hopped up and had two of my scrolls with me, the rest went with Sasuke.

"Navi, stay close. Don't move."

"Get the boy!" I jumped behind the first guy, and knocked him out. I landed a bunch of kunai in the second guy. I grabbed Navi and went off. I wish Neji was with me so he could find the others. I couldn't risk giving off my position.

"Tenten… the plants…" His box was back there. I landed him in a tree.

"Stay here, don't move." I threw a kunai with an exploding note to the south of me. If they were still in moving condition they would go there.

I headed into the clearing and thankfully the box was still there. "I knew you'd be back." I looked to see one of them. There was a kunai in my back. I grabbed it quickly and ran off. I threw shuriken at him. I didn't have time to summon anything. I threw two kunai that landed in legs. He would have problems following me that way.

I made it far away and as I headed back to the boy I saw him first. He had jumped on the back of a guy and stabbed him in the back with the kunai I gave him. I took the guy out once Navi was clear. Sasuke, Lee and Naruto arrived then.

"You alright?" Sasuke asked. I ignored him and sat down next to Navi.

"Are you well? You were great back then. I thought I told you to stay put!" I told him.

"I know but he was going to find me." I nodded understanding his position.

"You did good."

"Tenten! You have a kunai in your back." Lee said.

"I let my guard down, I got these those." I held up the box.

"You left him undefended to get it?" Sasuke asked.

"I'm not an idiot. I sent a kunai with an exploding note to the east of our position so they'd head that way. They knew our other objective was the box so they stayed with that."

"That is brilliant!" Lee said.

"You should bandage yourself up." Sasuke said. I told them to look away. I pulled off my shirt and bandaged around it the wound after I put a pad there. Then I put another shirt on. Ordinarily I brought only a few because I trusted Neji to make sure I never got hurt so it was just a normal few sets to change. This time I knew I should bring more.

I came out. "Are you alright to go?" Sasuke asked.

"Yes, I think we should ditch the cover and go full speed to Konoha. I can't carry him though."

"I will." Naruto said.

"I shall take your bags Tenten!" Lee said.

"Thank you Lee."

We only got a few more hours of travel and we slept. Sasuke decided 8 hours was in order. They each took 2 hours shifts. It took hours to get to Konoha. I was exhausted.

"I'll take him to Tsunade." They nodded. I took his hand in mine and we walked into her office.

"You're back. 6 days, not bad." She said. "I'll take it from here." I looked at Navi.

"Behave alright. I'll see you before you leave tomorrow, promise." I told him. "Happy holidays."

"Thank you Tenten, goodbye."

"Bye Navi," I smiled. I went home and I was greeted by Owen.

"Mom!" Owen and Kimiko said together. Owen had run to the door, she was sitting against the wall in the back.

"Hi guys, how are you?"

"Good mommy!" Owen said. "Dad missed you."

"Where is he!" Neji stepped into the room.

"Dad!" Kimiko said.

"I missed you!" He hugged me. I winced. He looked at me.

"What happened to you?" He asked us.

"Stabbed in the back with a kunai," I explained. He frowned. "I'll be fine, don't worry."

At the end of the night I curled up with Neji in the bed. "I love you. I missed working with you. Who had my back? No one, that's why I was stabbed with a kunai."

"You took care of them?"

"Yeah, the guy won't be walking." I told him.

"I love you too. I was worried about you." He told me. I had two wonderful kids of my own but I left Navi a small bag with kunai just in case he ever needed them. That kunai saved his life and my mission.

Had to get Neji up Meeting with Tsunade Kids to breakfast No time to sleep Go on mission Be mother to kid Get Kimiko talking more Kids to bed Lunch for owen Time with Kimiko Make sure Hyuuga Clan was well Christmas present shopping Talk with Neji He doubts her abilities Leave for mission Travel slow for hours full speed until they get there. Traveled back many hours past night fall Made camp and cooked Took a shift to sleep Jogging while carrying Navi She takes out two assassination ninja. She protected Navi She went to get the box She got stabbed in the back She returned home Got kunai bag for Navi Slept.