Hello my lovely readers :) thanks so much for your support and I'm thrilled to hear you're enjoying. I did have one reviewer ask me to make this into a Nejiten. My answer: no. This is a Sasuten. Although I'm glad you're reading and I do love Neji very much :) but I began this story with Sasuke and Tenten in mind and I intend to end it that way as well. Please enjoy this next chapter as things are about to get "Vedy Interezting" Im sorry if this chapter seems a bit thrown together. This idea literally came to me the other day and I was desperate to implement it ASAP, so forgive me I just had to hurry with it a little bit.

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO! (If I did I think he and I would be eating ramen right now lol)

Chapter 19: The big picture

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"You didn't tell her anything, did you, Neji?" Tsunade asked as she peered from her office window to look at the Anbu who was perched on the ledge.

"No. I didn't." He answered shortly.

"Just keep in mind that what you're doing is..." She began but she was cut off.

"For the good of Konoha." He repeated back, as though he had heard her say this multiple times, over and over. In fact he had. The first time he heard her say this was a few weeks before the war.

*Flashback*

Tsunade had earlier in the week been approached by a very strange elderly woman. The things the woman said to her shook her to the core, which was a very difficult thing to do to Taunade.

"The destruction of Konoha is imminent." Is what the woman warned. Tsunade spent the rest of that day asking fellow villagers about this woman. Turns out she was Konoha's most accurate and renown fortune teller. She would randomly stop people on the streets and give them a fortune. Each and every time that fortune would come true, good or bad. Now it was Tsunade's turn to get a fortune and she didn't like the news what so ever. Every person Tsunade asked warned her and told her that this woman was never wrong, even Shizune Warned Tsunade.

The next day, Tsunade had the woman brought into her office to discuss the matter. She sat anxiously in her desk until the elderly woman was escorted in, by none other then Neji Hyuga. The woman's hair was log white an scraggly, she had a long brown and flowing dress on with a tight back belt in the middle. Several necklaces hung from her neck and she smelled of thick essential oils.

"I believe this woman was looking for you, Lady Tsunade Sama." Neji said with a bow of his head.

"This young man," started the woman in a scratchy worn out tone. "Is the key." She said confidently.

Tsunade quirked an eyebrow and looked at Neji who raised his head in confusion. "Come sit. Both of you." Tsunade said gesturing with her arms to the seats in front o her desk.

The two obliged and Tsunade looked intently at the woman. "Please tell me what you meant by the destruction of Konoha is imminent." Tsunade asked curiously.

At this point, Neji was extremely confused, but he thought it may have something to do with the war. But he couldn't be further from the truth.

"Once the battle is won, he will come." The woman said ominously.

"What, who will come? And what battle?" Tsunade asked, trying not to let her temper Flare. The woman was being quite indirect and Taunade's patience was wearing thin.

"The war. What are you dumb? Konoha will experience a victory, but at hat victory will be short lived. A man will come and singlehandedly take out each and every last villager in Konoha. Except one." The woman said, fixating her eyes on Tsunade. "A very powerful man. With a sword and red eyes as bright as blood. He is capable of evil things. Very evil things, Hokage. Be aware that he is a real threat."

"Well, if we destroy this man before he gets a chance, we'll be in the clear, right?" Tsunade asked. "Who is he, and who is it he is supposedly leaving alive?"

"Uchiha, Sasuke will destroy Konoha, and the person he leaves alive is the one associated to this man." She gestured to Neji. "The female. But she is soon killed as well, but each time I dream this dream, he hesitates."

"Heaitates?" Neji asked, curiously. The last thing he wanted was for Konoha to be destroyed, especially Tenten, but he would protect her at all costs.

"He is infatuated with the girl, has been from a young age, but because she is tethered to you, her death is also imminent."

"So, we go after Sasuke, and kill him?" Tsunade asked, a little upset but more concerned for her village.

"No. There is an alternative. I had a second dream in which I was shown the answer. the answer lies with him," she pointed to Neji. "And his companion."

"What do you mean by that, ma'am?" Neji asked.

"How exactly do we stop Sasuke?" Came Tsunade.

"I have the answer." The elderly woman spoke. "The other Uchiha, Itachi, is alive, isn't he?" .

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It was there that the woman explained that Tenten and Sasuke were designed for each other. Tenten was the saving grace for Sasuke and would derail him completely from his plans to destroy Konoha. Neji was the only thing keeping that from happening, but he couldn't break it off with her just like that. It was explained to Taunade and Neji that every action had to be proceeded with great care and detail in order for their plan to work. Neji and Tenten would be on separate divisions in the war. As the war proceeded, Tenten would be protected at all costs, while a the same time keeping her oblivious to this fact. Neji would fake his death with a forbidden Jutsu that would enable him to be revived from any attack that caused his heart to stop beating, but he could only do it once. This Jutsu had been preformed once by Itachi Uchiha, who had been Tsunade's right hand man and insider for quite some time. He was now working discreetly as an anbu. He would now be used to gently guide Sasuke in the right direction with a fake letter asking for Sasuke's acceptance back into the village. He and Tenten were to meet on a fated night where Sasuke would attempt to take care of her and everything would soon fall into place.

"I have one more thing to add, I must speak to the Hokage alone." The woman insisted after they had their plan laid out. Tsunade quickly dismissed Neji.

Neji felt like his heart had been ripped from his chest. He was to hand the girl he planned to marry over to an unstable criminal based on the dreams of an elderly old woman. Needless to say he had his doubts, but Tsunade was quite superstitious. This was an order. It was for the good of Konoha, she assured him.

After Neji left, another conversation began.

"The threat is diminished, but it is very important that Sasuke and the female are protected. Keep their missions minimal. They are very vital to this village." The woman expounded.

"How so?" Tsunade asked with a little eagerness.

"Their child will be more powerful than the sage of the six paths himself."

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*End Flashback*

"Do you think this was the right thing to do?" Neji asked out of the blue.

Tsunade blinked her honey eyes a few times. She knew Neji was hurting deeply. He had given up everything in order to save Konoha, even his life. But it was such a valiant death, although he was now alive once more. Neji was dead inside, and all that he wanted was the warmth of Tenten's embrace to bring him back. When he told her Sasuke could give her the love he could not, he was honest. He saw the way Sasuke looked at Tenten. He treated her well as supported her in a way Neji could never imagine. He knew deep down that she and Sasuke really were fated to be together. It satisfied him to see her happy, but that meant he spent the rest of his days in hiding from the rest of Konoha.

"Yes. It was the right thing to do. I'll give you your freedom in a few more years, but the total truth can never be disclosed." Tsunade said.

"I know." Neji stated in a melancholy tone. He was being greatly compensated for his efforts, but it didn't matter much.

"Hey." Tsunade said, sensing his sorrow. "Since Kabuto is no longer a threat, I'm sending you out as a real Anbu captain. It's not pretend anymore."

Although it didn't compare to having Tenten back, the news thrilled Neji. At least one dream of his could be fulfilled.

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Thats all for this chapter, please review and let me know what you think and if you feel I should take Sasuke and Tenten's relationship to the next level, and how soon a possible child should be brought into the picture! I'd love to know how you feel although I don't want to rush too much :)