I do not own Naruto

The Babes of Neji and Tenten

Just a quick author's note. This story is kind of coming off of my other story, The Babes of Ino and Shika. That story focuses on Ino and Shikamaru and their children, and the other pairs and their children make brief appearances. But I wanted to do more with the other children, this scene in particular. I thought it would be weird to stick this in with the other story, so it became its own. So, without further ado, the story!

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The Hyuga elders had decided to do this while Neji was away on a mission. They all knew how much Neji resented the division of the main and branch families. And even though he had become much less outwardly hostile, they all guessed that what they were about to do could be enough to send him over the edge.

The elders had put it off long enough. Most children had it done when they were three. But, they had waited. And waited. Now, there were two children to do, Blaire being six and Hizashi two. If they only did Blaire, it would be nearly impossible to do Hizashi after. So, they would do both together.

The group consisted of Chuudou, Geretsu, and Asamashii, the three elders, and a reluctant Lord Hiashi. After making up with Neji at his nephew's first chunin exam, Hiashi had enjoyed being on friendly terms with him. The Head of the Hyuga household did not want to anger his nephew again. Especially since Neji had mastered most (if not all) of the Hyuga family fighting techniques. But, Hiashi had a responsibility as the head of the clan, and he knew he had to fulfill it.

The four walked purposely towards the Branch Family's wing of the house. Outside the nursery door, they stopped. Tenten, Neji's wife, could be heard, talking to the children inside. Hiashi realized that his daughter, Hinata's, children were in the room as well. This isn't going to make it any easier. He took a deep breath, then opened the door.

Tenten was sitting, cross-legged, in the middle of the floor, Hizashi and Anni, Hinata's little girl, in her lap, reading them a book. Blaire lay on her back by the window, also listening. Tam, Hinata's hyperactive blond four-year-old, was playing with action figures, also listening. Hiashi's heart twisted, knowing that he was going to break-up this peaceful scene.

Tenten looked up when he entered and her face changed from happy to worry. She stood up, putting down the babies, and bowed slightly. Four pairs of children Hyuga eyes stared at him from around the room.

"Lord Hiashi, how nice to see you." Then she noticed the men behind her husband's uncle. She bowed even lower.

Hiashi nodded his greeting. "I need to see Blaire and H-Hizashi." Just saying his brother's name was enough to make him lose some of his composure.

Tenten looked even more worried. Blaire walked up beside her mother, also bowing. Tam, however, ran and jumped up and down in front of his grandpa.

"Hey! Hey, Grandpa, what about me? Do you need to see me? Huh? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?"

Hiashi shook his head. Normally Tam was always able to make him smile, but not today. "I'm sorry, Tam. Just Blaire and Hizashi."

Tam stuck out his bottom lip and walked back to his toys, sulking. Tenten said, in a forced calm, "Can I help you with anything, Lord Hiashi? If it's something simple, maybe I could do it for you. I'd hate for you to take time out of your House Duties just for us."

"No, Tenten. There's nothing you can do." He reached out his hands for Hizashi. Tenten picked up her baby slowly, as though reluctant to give him up. Hiashi took the child in his arms and gestured to Blaire to follow. "I will send word to you when you can see the children." They turned and walked out. Hiashi paused at the door. "I am very sorry, Tenten."

As the door shut behind the group, Tenten sat down on the floor. She was in a kind of daze. She had known this was coming. But now, as it was actually happening, she couldn't take it. And she wasn't even allowed to be with them! When Neji had told her about his Cursed Seal mark, Tenten had been filled with the desire to comfort the sad, lonely three-year-old who had suffered through that. And now, it was happening to her children. Her babies. And there was no Neji here to go to. No pale, serious, reassuring eyes to make her feel secure. No cold, firmness to make her want to be stronger.

Tenten bit her lip to stop her tears. She would not cry. She would be strong for her children, who any minute now would be receiving the curse mark. And she would be strong for the two children with her now, whom she loved almost as much as her own.

"Okay, who wants to finish the story?"

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Blaire, walking next to her great uncle, felt uneasy. Some Hyuga sense inside her was telling her that whatever her uncle wanted to do, it was not going to be pleasant. She tugged on his sleeve.

"Lord Hiashi, where are we going?"

Hiashi looked down at her, Hyuga eyes looking into Hyuga eyes. "We just need to give you and your brother something. Don't worry." He was sickened with himself for deceiving his great niece. Hizashi was looking over Hiashi's shoulder at the other elders, who were all trying (and succeeding) to look cold and uncaring. Hiashi stopped in front of a door in the center of the main family wing. They opened the it and went inside. Hiashi put Hizashi in a chair and told Blaire to sit in the one next to him.

"Okay, Hiashi. No more waiting. Do it now." Chuudou said impatiently. Hiashi took a deep breath and dipped into his chakra.

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Neji Hyuga, now twenty-eight years old, stepped out of Tsunade's office and breathed a sigh of relief. This last mission, leading a rescue group deep into Waterfall, had not been easy. His team had been good, consisting of Naruto, Kiba, Sasuke, and Shikamaru. The strategist had not been on an A ranked mission for a long time. Unlike the Naruto, Kiba, Sasuke, and Neji, Shikamaru had chosen to teach a genin squad. When asked about this, the jonin had said, "It was the worst mistake of my life…" His squad, who, unfortunately for Shikamaru, had been within earshot, had then tackled him. But none of the Konoha Twelve had believed him. Shikamaru loved his team almost as much as he loved his kids. Thinking of kids…

The one thing that Neji regretted about his decision to take on missions was the fact that he was away from home so much. He missed Tenten, and Blaire and Hizashi. Neji started walking towards the Hyuga mansion at a brisk pace.

As the mansion came into view, Neji felt that something was wrong. His first thought was that someone had attacked the house, but, upon closer inspection, nothing seemed unusual. All the same, he quickened his pace. When he reached the gate, the stout guard, who had been there for years and seemed as unshakeable as anything, didn't meet Neji's eyes. In fact, as he hurriedly made his way towards the branch wing, no one would. Everyone he passed looked away, some looking guilty, others looking pitiful.

Neji started to get angry while a new wave of panic rose inside him.

He started to run. When he came to his and Tenten's lodgings, he found them darkened and eerily quiet. He slowed and walked cautiously up to the door. The Hyuga prodigy had a bad feeling that his worst fear, the thing from his nightmares that left him in a cold sweat at night, had come to pass.

Neji pushed the door open.

The kitchen/living room was empty. Neji put down his bag and walked through the house until he came to Blaire and Hizashi's room. The door was open and he walked silently inside.

Tenten sat in the window seat, staring blankly out the window. She was holding a sleeping Hizashi in her arms while Blaire was sound asleep with her head in her mother's lap. The moonlight pouring in the window made the bandages wrapped around his children's foreheads seem as white as snow.

Tenten, realizing someone was there, turned and, seeing Neji, looked at him with a pained expression. He walked over and dropped to his knees in front of them. He touched Blaire's bandages with a slightly shaking finger.

"I'm so sorry Neji." Tenten's voice was hoarse. As she looked at her husband, she saw anger rise in his snow colored eyes.

"Neji." She reached out for his hand. "Don't be angry. We both knew this day would come from the minute I told you I was first pregnant." Neji closed his eyes. "And your uncle, he didn't want to do this. It was his responsibility as head of your clan. Please, don't be angry."

Neji opened his eyes and Tenten saw no anger. Instead, she saw a pain and sadness there that made her heart break. "I'm not mad," Neji said in a strained voice. "I just wish I'd been here for them."

Tenten squeezed his hand, a small smile on her face. He gave her a small, sad smile in return. They sat there, Neji lost in thought, Tenten stroking Hizashi's soft brown hair. Then she stood, and Hizashi stirred. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. Neji stood and the little boy saw him. "Daddy!" he smiled, but then winced and rubbed his forehead with his small hands. "Head hurt," he mumbled.

Neji reached behind his long hair and untied his headband. "I know. But look," he pulled it away to reveal his own curse mark, placed there almost twenty-five years ago. The green seal stood out on his pale skin, seeming even more eerie then usual. "Now we match." He took Hizashi in his arms and the little boy ran a finger over the mark on Neji's head. A small smile was on his lips as he fell back to sleep on Neji's shoulder.

Neji put him in the crib. From the doorway, Tenten said absently, "He'll be too big for that soon."

The little boy's father looked at the boy in the crib. It seemed like only yesterday that he had set it up for Hizashi. Just like it had only been yesterday that Tenten had come home from the hospital, carrying the little boy in her arms, while Neji and Blaire waited for them at home, Blaire jumping up and down excitedly. Where had the time gone?

Neji ended his wave of nostalgia and turned to his daughter. Blaire was already six, the oldest branch member to ever receive the curse mark, thanks to Hiashi's unwillingness to anger the nephew he only recently became friendly with. Not to mention the one Hyuga family member who was equal to Hiashi in strength and Hyuga abilities.

Neji had been very young when he received his seal. He had simply accepted it, having looked up to his father's example. But Blaire was six now. And being the curious soul that she was, would question the seal. She may have her mother's patient and caring personality, but she had the brain of her father. Blaire would bombard Neji with questions: what was the purpose of the seal? How was it conjured? How did it work?

And Neji planned on answering her. He would not let her questioning lead her to anger. Not like him. Neji had held his anger for almost eleven years before finally letting it go. He still didn't like the seal, but the anger no longer ate away at him.

He picked up Blaire and put her in bed. He wouldn't let Blaire, or Hizashi, grow up as alone and angry as he had. Neji had promised himself that as soon as Tenten had uttered the words, "I'm pregnant".

Neji closed the door behind him and went into the kitchen. He saw Tenten, standing by the sink, staring into space. The lights were still off. Her brown hair seemed almost black against the bright moonlight, and her eyes too seemed dark. Neji leaned his shoulder against the wall, looking at his wife.

"Tenten." She turned towards him, surprised. Neji took a step forward. "Are you alright?"

She stepped forward and hugged him. "Yes. I'm alright." She paused. "Are you?"

"Yes. I'll be fine. And so will they."

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That was chapter one! Wow, this was kind of a sad chapter. I promise that the next ones will be happier! I hope that Neji wasn't too out of character. If he was, it was only because of the situation. I will make him better, I swear!

Again, I had the idea for this scene while I was writing the other story, which resulted in this one. Yay! I'm thinking about eventually doing a story for Hinata and Naruto, but if I did that would be later. Right now I've gotta work on school stuff, and finishing my other stories. So, please review, and look for more stories from the Reading Maid!