ANNOUNCEMENT: Excited to announce that I will be starting a youtube channel! Well, I've always had it and I used to only have those Naruto Chatrooms, and some AMVs and cosplay Vlogs…But I want to get out there and LET YOU GUYS SEE MY FACE. I want you to be a part of it! On this channel I will also hold some updates on my fics so you're not held in the dark(ness) about it if I mysteriously disappear from for a while. Feel free to ask me questions (PM only though…I'd like to keep the reviews purely reviews on the fics. In the subject box write "nobody" a code word so I know) or ask my options on some things or why I add things to my fics or whatever! Anyway, that's that.

This one shot I will be explaining my Neji Headcannon that will explain a little bit of who his mother is in the previous oneshot. I hope you will learn to love her as much as I do. This is more of a Team Gai fic instead of a NejiTen fic.~POG

SIDE NOTE: THIS IS MY HEADCANNON. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CANNON. THIS IS WHAT I GO BY. So deal with it.

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His mother.

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All of their friends knew about the tragic past that Neji had endured. His father died to protect his twin brother and his family, Neji always thought that his father was forced to do it. But there was one thing that only Hinata and Team Gai knew about. This woman was rather odd, really. She was more of a house wife and people rarely saw her in the main house.

Well, the first day they were introduced to her, Tenten and Lee nearly made a scene. Here's how that went down;

Gai looked at his students. They sat in the grass, tired out from that day's "team bonding" exercise. They have been together for a few months now, Lee had adopted his green jump suit and leg warmers, Tenten was mastering her 100% accuracy…then Neji was Neji. Last month, Gai had ordered them to go visit each other at their homes; to introduce themselves to each other's families. They had wen to Tenten's house last week. Both boys and their sensei were greeted warmly to the house. They learned that Tenten's family is originally not from Konoha, but from a small village outside of the River country. Her father was a shinobi and a black smith. Her older brother had become a Jonnin and specialized in swords. Her exotic look ran in the family, and she still had relatives in the River country. Lee's parents were very energetic; well his parents were both ninja, his mother always made sure he was well fed and did his chores around the house. This time, it was Neji's turn.

"We'll be over around one." Tenten had told him.

"Very well. I will inform my mother." The Hyuga had replied before standing and heading home.

Tenten and Lee exchanged looks. Neji had a hard shell; he barely talked about his parents or his home life. In a way they thought he didn't like his living condition. But that couldn't be true since Branch Hyuga's don't live in the main estate, so it wasn't like he was stuck socializing with his uncle all the time.

"We should bring something sweet." Lee suggested to Tenten. "Does he like sweet things?"

Tenten looked at him.

"He does….what made you think that I knew?"

Lee grinned. He noticed that They've been hanging around each other a lot. Tenten rolled her eyes. Just because she trained with him and hung out with him some times should mean that-she blinked. Er, never mind…I guess I'm some kind of friend to him now. The weaponist thought.

"I'll leave you now." Gai announced. "Please tell me about your visit. I admit I'm rather curious about Neji's home environment as well."

"Alright," Tenten said.

"Of course, sensei!" Lee explained.

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Tenten changed into her casual clothing. She had showered and was now re-twisting her hair into her two buns. She wanted to look a little presentable, so she put on some mascara and lip gloss. It was nothing major, but it was casual enough to look polished. Walking down stairs, she called out to her mother and father that she'd be gone for a few hours.

"To where?" Xiao-Lin asked looking up from her book.

"Neji's house. It's his turn to host." Tenten explained.

Xiao-Lin and Fei-Ten exchanged looks. Hyuga households were very stuffy and had a tense tone. Her father had dealings with the Hyugas before, being that he provides them with a custom arsenal.

"What?" Tenten asked noticing the looks on her parent's faces.

"Just mind yourself, Tenten. When Neji came over last time he seemed stiff. Just be prepared. Hyugas are very formal." Fei-ten told his daughter.

Tenten nodded before slipping on her shoes and leaving the house. She walked down the streets, past the shops, past the Hyuga main house (which she quickly glanced at before picking up speed to the other side of the village). All of the other branch members lived somewhat close to the main house; but not Neji. She found that very weird, but never asked about it. Lee hadn't arrived yet, which meant that his mother made him do chores before leaving the house (perfectly understandable actually…). Tenten held her fist up to the door and before she could knock, Neji appeared in casual clothing. He invited her in, leading her to the living room. There were pictures on the walls of this young woman and man that was Neji's father. Neji was a baby when there were pictures with his father in it. Then after the age of four, it was just of Neji and that woman, but his expression had changed. Reaching the living room, Neji called out to the kitchen.

"Mother," he called. "One of my teammates has arrived."

That same woman in the pictures emerged from the kitchen, holding a tray of tea and snacks. She had Honey Blonde hair and green eyes. Her face was round and she was average height. Tenten glanced between her and her teammate. There wasn't any resemblance between them, she noticed. Neji touched Tenten's arm and gestured her to the white leather couch.

"So," the woman said. "You must be Tenten, right?"

The bun head nodded. So, he talks about us at home…

"And we're waiting on Rock Lee then, dear?"

"Yes, mother." Neji replied almost automatically.

Tenten sank into the couch. It was a bit awkward being in his house like this. She looked around, trying to take in her surroundings; it was Ninja 101-adapt to any situation. For some reason this was a bit difficult. Neji was sitting rather close to her for some reason. That's another thing that made her a bit uneasy since he doesn't normally do that….

"Well, I guess I'll introduce myself then; I'm Shizukana Hyuga, Neji's step-"

"Mother." Neji interrupted.

Shizukana looked at him. He held an alarmed face, as if it was evil she was spitting out at his teammate. Tenten looked at him curiously. So, this is his step-mother…. She thought.

"Anyway," the woman picked up a tea cup. "I hear your family is the Hua family."

"Uh, yes. How did you know that?" Tenten asked picking up her tea up.

"You're beautiful skin tone of course. As well as your looks over all; I only know one family in Konoha who looks like you." She replied with a smile.

Tenten's cheeks turned slightly pink at the compliment. She's so nice…why doesn't he talk about her? She glanced over at Neji.

"You've been keeping my Neji busy right? Must get tiring dealing with his temper tantrums…"

Neji huffed.

"Mother, I do not throw tantrums."

Shizukana and Tenten laughed, which caused the Hyuga prodigy to cross his arms over his chest. The conversations went on; Tenten was beginning to feel more comfortable in the house thanks to Neji's mother. She was witty, smart, and the complete opposite of the usual Hyuga. Sure she's met Hinata's mother, but Neji's was more…out spoken. She wondered how Neji was so reserved with having Shizukana as his care taker. An hour went by and Lee still hadn't shown up. But that was alright, they hadn't noticed.

Meow

Tenten looked at the back door that led outside. It was open to let in fresh air, but there were currently two small cats outside demanding attention from the humans. Neji excused himself and walked into the kitchen. He returned soon afterword with a small tray. The cats followed him to the other side of the yard. Shizukana sighed and smiled at Tenten.

"I'm guessing you caught on by now." She said.

Tenten looked at her.

"I'm not Neji's birth mother. She died when he was two years old; attacked, actually. Back when the Hyugas had issues with a gang from the Cloud village." She explained sipping her tea.

"Oh," Tenten replied.

Shizukana looked in the direction of where Neji went. His father remarried a few months after his wife died. He needed someone to care for Neji while he was serving the head branch and the village. He had married her, a civilian who was perfect house wife material. They met through Hiashi, strangely enough. Neji would never admit that Shizukana was his step mother. No matter how many times she tried to correct him, he'd refuse to give her that title. He always called her "mother". She was happy that he did, but she wished that he'd just accept that she wasn't there from the start. He knew she wasn't, but he didn't like to be reminded of it. After his father died, she was left with him. She'd be supported by Hiashi, who felt fully responsible, but was put away. She liked to think about it as the "other Hyuga".

"Other?" Tenten asked.

"My dear, you do know that there are Hyugas without the Byakugan right?" Shizukana asked.

"Er…no. I didn't know that."

Shizukana nodded. It was a dominate gene, the Byakugan. But sometimes some branch members get that recessive gene.

"Oh I see, so the Main branch has that pure dominate gene." Tenten said.

"Yes. Hiashi married his cousin who is also part of the main branch. Then you have Hinata and Hanabi. But it is up to Neji's uncle who becomes clan head. Then they will marry a cousin and so on and so on." Shizukana said.

"So then Neji…."

"Ah, well Neji is a pure bred Hyuga. His father married another branch member." Shizkuana said. "I may not be the first he fell in love with. But he brought Neji into this world, and for that I am grateful."

Tenten nodded. It made sense.

"I don't see any pictures of his mother anywhere." Tenten commented.

Shizukana stood and walked over to a stair case at the corner of the house. She disappeared upstairs for a moment before returning with a small picture frame. She handed it to Tenten before sitting back down. Tenten looked down. Neji's birth mother shared his family eyes. She had brown hair and pale skin. One think she noticed is that Neji had a lot of her facial features. In the photo, she was smiling. Tenten wondered if Neji would look the exact same way if he smiled.

"Mother I fed the ca-what are you doing?" Neji reached for the picture Tenten was holding.

The bun head glared at him and moved it out of his reach. He blinked at her, unsure of what to do.

"I'm learning about you, since you don't tell us anything." Tenten stated.

"It's not your business to know." He snapped.

The two teens glared at each other. Shizukana looked between the two. She remembered Neji talking about a girl with her hair in two buns that he never got along with in the academy. He had stopped talking about her after he was assigned to a cell; so she figured that she never saw her again. But now, looking at them, she realized that Tenten was that same girl that Neji didn't stop talking about back then. They had become teammates.

"It is her business to know." Shizukana replied.

"Mother-"

"She is your, teammate-your friend. You're stuck with her for the rest of your life like you're married. She should know about you; what happen. Stop being a brat and take a seat."

Neji pursed his lips together. After a moment he sat himself next to Tenten on the couch once more and didn't make eye contact with either of them. Well, this is a nice surprise. Tenten thought. He loved his step-mother, she noticed. He'd do anything she'd say-do anything for her. So, with that though, Tenten took a chance.

"It's safe to say the great Hyuga Neji a momma's boy, huh friend?"

Neji shot a cold glare at her. Tenten grinned, loving the new power she had over him. With his mother around, he can't say anything back without getting shut down….This is too good.

"Tsk," Neji had to bite his tonguw from replying.

The rest of the day was nice. Lee had shown up in time for dinner. Shizukana was a bit unprepared at the bowl cut hair's energetic personality. But at the same time he was very helpful when it came to cooking and dishes. That left Neji and Tenten on the couch together. While Lee was chatting up Shizukana, the pair was throwing stares at each other.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Tenten asked.

"Like I said, it was none of your business." He replied flatly.

"You mom had a point. You're stuck with me."

"Fate has a funny way of screwing me over." He shot back.

Tenten made a dramatic hand movement.

"Oh dear; Princess Hyuga is unhappy. What ever should I do?"

Neji poked her cheek. He sighed, unwilling to take her bait for an argument in fear of his mother interfering.

"If my destiny is to spend the rest of my life with you, then so be it. But, I refuse to answer any questions such as ones toward my family."

Tenten stuck her tongue out at him. They both knew that that wasn't going to happen. He knew her too well already. In the back of his mind, Neji actually looked forward to his future with his teammates. Even though they tried to keep prying into his life, it showed they cared and they wanted to be a part of it.

He guessed he could live with that.