A/N: God it's so nice to be back in Konoha. So many more familiar characters to play with. Short chapter (for me) this time.

Chapter 28

For Him, For Her

Tsunade healed the tears in Lee's muscles for the most part but afterwards made sure to emphasize that he had to take it easy for a few weeks for his body to heal completely back to normal. "And absolutely no physical training," she emphasized with a hard look. Tsunade knew him too well. Afterwards Lee had passed out for a few hours in a hospital bed from exhaustion, not having the strength to make the trip back home to his apartment.

Lee jolted awake hours later. The afternoon sun filtered in through the hospital windows. He had slept longer that he anticipated. Wincing at the lingering soreness, he slipped himself off the bed and stood up on shaky feet.

He had to know. Did Shino and Kiba make it back safe? Was Sakura alright?

Lee hobbled out in the hallway and nearly bumped into Hinata.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, dodging him.

"Hinata! Sorry!"

"It's fine, but are you okay?" she asked worriedly, glancing him over. "I heard about what happened."

"I am fine," Lee said hastily, more interested in the others. "Do you have any news on Shino and Kiba? Or Sakura?"

Hinata blinked. "Oh, you must have just woke up, huh? Kiba is fine. Shino just needs some extra time here for observation. And Sakura... I hear she is stable. She's just resting now, don't worry."

Lee let out a deep sigh. "Thank you, Hinata. That is a relief to hear."

Hinata smiled at him reassuringly. "I'm here to visit Shino actually. Want to come see him too?"

Lee nodded. "Yes, I would."

Lee followed Hinata to Shino's room. Hinata politely slowed down to keep pace with Lee's limping. When they entered the room Shino was sitting up in bed, Kiba next to him in a chair, and Akamaru curled up in the corner of the room.

"Hinata!" Kiba grinned. "And Lee! You're awake!"

Shino regarded them with a nod.

Hinata pulled out a chair for Lee, who gratefully took it to ease his sore legs. She scooted her own chair next to Shino's side before fretting over him, asking him ten different ways if he was okay.

"I promise I'll be okay, Hinata," Shino smiled.

"I'm glad to see you're safe, Shino," Hinata said warmly.

Lee swore Shino might have blushed, but he wasn't sure.

"I am more worried about my hive," Shino said. "It will take a month for its numbers to recover."

"Shino wouldn't've gotten so messed up if you were there, Hinata," Kiba scoffed. "Shino got sloppy without havin' your eyes there. Tell your husband to assign Team 8 on missions together so this shit doesn't happen again."

Shino's eyebrow twitched in irritation. "I resent your assumption that I was being sloppy, Kiba."

Hinata giggled. "I'll deliver your message, Kiba. I want to be able to be able protect you both next time."

Lee smiled to himself watching them. Shino was lucky to have such caring teammates.

Shino turned his head towards Lee. "Lee. Thank you for saving us. We wouldn't have survived if not for you."

"Oh. Of course!" Lee replied.

"Hey, Lee. I got a question for ya," Kiba said, brow furrowed. "Why the hell did you let that last guy go? You had him in your grip and everything. I just don't understand it."

Lee thought on the man's fierce Hyuga eyes, and how he had invoked Neji's name. Lee tightly laced his hands together in his lap. "You must have not seen. He was a Hyuga," he answered solemnly.

"What? A Hyuga?" Kiba gaped at him.

Hinata stared wide-eyed at Lee. "What was his name?" she uttered.

"P-Perhaps I should not speak any further - this mission was classified after all," Lee said hastily, glancing shamefully away from Hinata.

Kiba got up and locked the door before plopping back down in his chair. "Hinata's the Hokage's wife. I think that means she gets some special privileges," he winked. "So we're all in good company, right Akamaru?"

Akamaru let out an agreeable woof.

Hinata picked at the hem of her shirt, conflicted for a moment, before her face set hard in sudden determination. "Please tell me more, Lee. I need to know who it was that defected. There are no reported Leaf missing-nins that are Hyuga."

"I did not get his name," Lee admitted. "But I can describe him if it helps. He was about our age, with short-cropped hair. His nose was crooked, and he had a small scar on his chin."

Hinata looked troubled. "I wish I could identify him on that description alone..."

"Let's be real here, that bastard Hiashi probably knows who it is," Kiba spat.

"Hiashi likely didn't report him as missing due to his prideful nature," Shino commented.

"Yeah..." Hinata agreed wistfully. "I wouldn't be surprised if the current Hyuga tensions resulted in defectors. Father wouldn't want the Hyuga to appear weak and divided right now."

"Hinata," Lee said, staring glumly down in his lap. "I need to understand one thing. The man said it was doing it for Neji. Why would he say something like that?"

A shock and then a deep pain spread across Hinata's features. She took in a deep breath and then let it out slowly to compose herself. "The tensions between the two houses... it began after Neji's death. After... After he was not buried with the main house in honor of protecting me with his life. That is supposed to be the tradition for any branch house member that gave their life to protect the main house. But... b-because I was disowned, even if I was not branded with the curse seal, it didn't count. I suspect it was done for political reasons..."

"Political reasons?" Lee prompted.

Hinata fidgeted her hands together nervously, just like she used to in her youth. "Neji was honest with his desire to change the Hyuga clan system someday. The elder Hyugas didn't like him much for that. I think... Neji's unjust burial upset the branch house and fired them up to want change as much as Neji did."

So Neji became a martyr...

The branch house was carrying on Neji's dream for him. Lee wanted to be happy about it, but it ultimately led to the attempt on Hanabi's life and defectors from the Leaf. Neji wouldn't have wanted either of those things to happen. Lee didn't know how to feel about it.

"I see..." Lee simply said.

"F-Father and the elders are scared," Hinata admitted. "They don't want change. They fear losing power and order, and the secret of the Hyuga eye to enemy-nin without the curse seal."

"Since Hanabi is the heiress, what she wants for the clan will matter someday, right? Where does she stand in all this?" Lee asked.

"I don't know," Hinata admitted. "I tried encouraging her to carry on Neji's dream when she becomes clan head. She seemed receptive to the idea, b-but I think Father caught wind of what I was doing and has been keeping her away from me so I can't influence her anymore."

"Piece of shit old man," Kiba cursed under his breath.

"And those Hyuga that attacked Hanabi...?" Lee asked.

"Imprisoned, awaiting execution in the next few days," Hinata answered quietly.

"Ah," Lee answered. He didn't know what else to say. Shino and Kiba sat silently, mouths in a hard line.

Shino spoke up first to break the silence. "The missing-nin will need to be reported to Shikamaru."

"You are right," Lee said. "I can do that after I leave. First I am going to check on Sakura and see if she is awake." Lee was feeling the itch to see her, to confirm with his own eyes that she was okay.

"Lee, before you go, I got somethin' for you," Kiba said, pulling out the scroll.

"When did you...?" Lee said, fumbling through the pockets of his flak jacket.

"While you were asleep. Dropped by and snatched it," Kiba said. "Didn't want anyone to take it from you after all the trouble we went through over it. Since all three of you were in the hospital I reported to Shikamaru on the mission results and got permission for you to hand this over to Tenten. That's who you were thinking of when you mentioned a scroll expert to Goda, right?"

"Yes. Thank you, Kiba," Lee said, taking the scroll and pocketing it.

After some goodbyes and mutual wishes to get well soon, Lee left Shino's room. He passed Kurenai and her daughter on their way to visit Shino, and Lee made sure to direct them to the right room. Afterwards Lee got directions to Sakura's room from a passing nurse. He gritted through the pain as he limped down the hallway.

Shizune caught him before reaching Sakura's door. "Lee! You're awake!" Her eyes darted to Sakura's door. "Sorry, only family are allowed to visit her today. She's still out cold and we're still doing some tests."

"Oh," Lee said, disappointed. "Do you know when she might wake? She is okay, right?"

"Yes, she's doing good. Just some lingering tissue damage from the poison before she got the antidote, but she'll make a fast recovery. We're just waiting for her to wake up on her own. She had suffered some blood loss, so her body just needs to recuperate a bit on its own. She may not wake until tomorrow or the day after."

"Thank you, Shizune. I will come back another day then."

Shizune made sure to give Lee crutches when she noticed his limp, along with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. She suggested he use the crutches for a few days until he could walk a little easier on his own and take the drugs as needed. This wasn't Lee's first time messing his body up from the Eight Gates, so he didn't need to ask her any questions on the recovery. He knew exactly what to expect. Lee thanked her and went along his way.

When he exited the hospital doors he stopped in his tracks and stared in front of him.

Sasuke Uchiha.

Sakura's husband. Only a few paces in front of him. Walking this way.

Sasuke caught Lee's gaze with his visible eye. The Rinnegan was now fully covered by Sasuke's bangs. Lee swallowed, and began to walk forward, not quite sure what to say or do, if even anything at all.

They met in the middle.

Lee's emotions churned as thoughts raced through his head. The husband of the woman he loved. The source of Sakura's troubled thoughts. The reason he felt this guilt for having feelings for her. Lee opened his mouth to say something. Anything. Just a hello would be fine.

"I heard you brought Sakura to the hospital yourself. You have my thanks," Sasuke said coolly.

"I promised her I would protect her with my life," Lee responded stiffly, mouth dry.

Sasuke let out a "Hmph." Lee couldn't tell whether it was amusement or contempt. The faintest smirk on his face made Lee guess amusement. Lee didn't know how to respond.

After a beat of silence, Sasuke continued walking past Lee towards the hospital. For a moment Lee was going to warn Sasuke that Sakura wasn't currently allowed non-family visitors, but then he remembered Sasuke was her family now. Lee did his best to quell the sudden pang of jealousy.

Frustrated at himself, Lee turned around to face Sasuke. He thought of how Sakura confessed to him that she was uncertain if Sasuke even loved her. He had to say something. Anything. For her.

"You love her, right?" Lee said.

The question lingering heavily in the air between them as Sasuke stopped and then tilted his head over his shoulder. "What kind of question is that?"

Lee didn't know what to say. Sasuke had every right to not answer such a strange question like that out of the blue. Lee swallowed. "Sakura loves you, you know. With all her heart," he said. If only he could make sure Sasuke understood, then maybe he could somehow make a positive difference in their relationship. Just to make Sakura happy in the way that Lee couldn't make her.

Sasuke paused before responding. "I know," he said simply before walking away.

Lee found himself in a dark mood on his path to the Hokage's office. It was slow, painful, and arduous on the crutches. In the middle of the journey Lee paused and swallowed one of the painkillers Shizune had given him, hoping for it to kick in fast as he continued his trek. Last time he had opened the Eight Gates it hadn't been this bad - he had only opened to the Third Gate, and his body hadn't been forced to fight against increased gravity.

He hated crutches. They reminded him too much of the darkest period of his life - where it seemed that his shinobi career would be over before it really had a chance to start. Lee sighed. He wasn't sure if it was just the crutches or recent events that put him in this mood. Neji. The Hyuga. Sakura's condition. Sasuke. Maybe it was all of the above.

He reported to Shikamaru the information of the Hyuga he had encountered. Shikamaru cursed Hiashi under his breath and then thanked Lee before dismissing him.

Lee then headed towards Tenten's apartment. It went much easier - the painkillers had kicked in and took the sharp edge off the pain. The stairs up to Tenten's apartment were the worst, incredibly slow and awkward. He hoped his body healed up soon, so at least he could ditch the crutches.

He rapped on Tenten's door, hoping she was home and not out training. He did not want to have to hunt her down on these crutches.

Tenten thankfully swung open the door, wearing some casual lounge clothes. She leaned against the door frame and nodded her head towards his crutches. "What happened to you this time?"

"Um..."

"Considering I don't see any bandages or casts or anything, I'm gonna guess the Eight Gates," she sighed. "I hope the cost was worth it, dummy. Come in." Her words were rough, but Lee knew that was how she showed care for him. She worried over him a lot more after the war. With a teammate dead and their sensei crippled for life, Lee didn't blame her.

Tenten guided Lee to the couch so he could get off his weary legs. He leaned his crutches against the wall. Tenten sat on the ground across from him, fiddling with the scattered throwing knives and shuriken on the coffee table between them. "So what brings you here, Lee? Shouldn't you be at home recovering?"

Lee took out the scroll and placed it on the coffee table. "This. Can you decode this scroll and figure out what it does?"

Tenten quirked an eyebrow at him. She cleared the coffee table, placing each weapon delicately on the ground beside her. She then took the scroll and unraveled it across the table. Her eyes darted across the inscriptions. It wasn't long before her eyebrows furrowed. "What the..." she mumbled, perplexed. "Where'd you get this? It doesn't make any sense."

"From my last mission. We picked it off of a missing-nin who hinted at possible hostile intentions towards the Leaf. The Steam-nin I was with could not decode it. I thought that maybe you can."

"So this is pretty important stuff." Tenten broke out in a wide grin then, seeing a worthy challenge presented to her. "So this all lies on my shoulders thanks to you, huh? I appreciate your confidence in my abilities, Lee."

It was nice to see Tenten smile like that. She didn't do it as often anymore. But it sadly wouldn't stay on her face for long.

"Tenten... there is one other thing I wanted to talk to you about."

"What? Hey, what's with the long face?"

"It is about Neji."

As expected, the smile disappeared immediately. She just stared at him. "What about him?" she asked warily. It was odd for either of them to bring up Neji outside of their visits to his grave.

Lee explained everything. From Hanabi's failed assassination, to the Hyuga missing-nin he had encountered, to the truth of Neji's burial, to Hinata's explanation of the power struggle going on within the Hyuga clan itself.

"And what's all this stuff gotta do with me?" Tenten muttered bitterly.

"Remember Neji's dream?"

"Neji's gone, Lee," Tenten snapped. "There's no point in that anymore."

"But-"

Tenten slammed a fist on the table. "The Hyuga can rot for all I care. They made it crystal clear to me that I have no place in their business when I confronted that asshole about Neji's burial." Lee knew Tenten was referring to Hiashi - she never referred to him by name anymore. "What was it they told me? Oh yeah, they said if they found me anywhere near the Hyuga compound again they would take that as a threat to that worthless piece of shit's life, arrest me, and then try me for attempted murder." Tears pricked in the corner of her eyes, betraying her furious glare.

Lee didn't respond immediately; the corner of his mouth twitched as he tried to think of the right thing to say to her.

"What?" she demanded an answer.

"I am not that naive. I know that we can do nothing for them, even for Neji's sake. I just thought you deserved to know what was going on because... you were Neji's friend too," he said softly.

A sudden tear rolled down Tenten's cheek. She hastily wiped it away. "Thanks, I guess." She rolled up the scroll and stood up and headed to the window. "Thanks for the visit, Lee, but I'm gonna need some time alone right now," she said with a shaky voice, her back to him now as she stared out her window.

"Tenten..."

"Just go. Okay?"

Lee watched Tenten for a moment, conflicted, wanting dearly to go to her and comfort her. However, he knew better than to try. Tenten did not like to be around others when she was feeling vulnerable like this, moreso after Neji. Any attempts to comfort her against her wishes would be met with harsh rebukes. Tenten would seek him out if she needed to talk about it.

"Okay." Lee took his crutches and left out the front door. "See you later, Tenten. You are welcome to visit me at any time," he emphasized before he shut the door for her.

Lee sighed. He wondered if he should visit Guy next to get some words of wisdom and comfort, but after thinking about how far he would have to travel to get to his home, Lee quickly abandoned the idea. Instead Lee began the long trek back to his own apartment.

A/N: I could have combined this chapter and what I have planned for the next chapter, but I decided a smaller faster update would be best. Also, I'm happy to have the Hyuga plot finally moving forward for Lee to focus on. Sakura has her Sasuke plot and now Lee has his Hyuga plot. (I wanted Lee to have more going on than being Sakura's doting love interest in this story.)

I also enjoyed writing a little more about the negative side-effects of the Eight Gates. Shippuden kinda hand waved the physical cost associated with it (other than the Eighth Gate) which is a shame, because it's the cost that makes it an interesting ability.