Tenten Defends

"I don't understand what you hope to accomplish with your behavior. It does not matter if Neji-nisan returns alive or not. Your son will be branded with the curse seal in a few days time. You cannot stop the Hyuga from following tradition."

Tenten sighed but smiled at the younger woman patiently.

"Neji and Hinata-sama promised that no more children from the branch family would be branded. I would appreciate it if you would not scare my son with such talk."

Hanabi looked stunned at the woman's words and her audacity to speak to her that way. Cat-like eyes narrowed at the brown-haired kunoichi sitting calmly at the edge of the roof with her child in her lap.

"Neji-nisan is a member of the branch family and as a result of marrying you,can do nothing to change his son's fate. And Hinata is too weak to take her place as the Heir of the family. So she also is unable to spare him this pain. The sooner you accept that and teach your son his place the better it will be for him, and maybe you as well. Now cease this juvenile behavior and stop shaming our family."

Tenten's son looked up at his mother, confusion and fear in his eyes. In response, Tenten smoothed his hair down and smiled at him as if his aunt had not spoken so coldly before.

"Hanabi-san is so silly, isn't she? In spite of possessing the byakugan, she is so incredibly blind to many things. Isn't that funny?"

Hanabi's teeth clenched.

"Byakugan!" She lunged towards the other end of the roof, intent on causing lethal damage to the woman's back.

A second later, Hanabi's body stilled just in time to feel the tap of a pole at her throat. Her eyes widened slightly.

A pole? No, a staff! When...when did she call forth her weapon? Hanabi's stunned eyes took in the extended tanned arm pointing the staff at her throat and keeping Hanabi's hands a safe distance away from them.

"Do not take me lightly, Hanabi." Tenten's dark eyes gained a special light as she spoke. "I have been the sparring partner of THE Hyuga Genius for over a decade." the corner of her mouth tilted then.

"There is nothing you can do that I have not seen done ten times better."

Hanabi glared at Tenten as her body trembled with fury.

"I see now that it is impossible to converse with a fool like you who is nothing in this family. I look forward to the day you will be put in your place kunoichi." she hissed.

Tenten suddenly grinned, not moving her staff.

"And I look forward to the day Hinata-sama grows a backbown and spanks her little sister as she should have many years ago."

"You overgrown bitch! You will respect me or I will--!"

"Uh ah! I would appreciate it if you would not swear in front of my son, Hanabi."

"Your son..." Hanabi's lip curled as she looked down at the small trembling wide-eyed child who could only cling to his mother's clothes as he tried to hide himself from his furious aunt's sight. "...will not escape the curse seal. He will answer to ME as soon as he turns four in a few days time...if not sooner. NOTHING will stop that."

Tenten's gaze remained steady on Hanabi's face and only a slight tightening of her fingers on her son's shoulders indicated a reaction.

Hanabi almost smiled in triumph for provoking anger in her cousin's wife, until Tenten spoke quietly.

"As you have said once before. I am nothing." she smiled. "And I will stop you."



*yawns* Done on a whim. Have been wanting to draw this scene in my head for some time. I should've written it down when I thought it up because the dialogue was much better with more banter than this. But alas, due to flu keeping me down, I never got to. So there ya go, grown up Tenten and child...who I still have not thought up a name for. I'm thinking something to do with the heavens or dragons or I dunno, something closer to his mom than his father. We'll see. Poor kid. It's a wonder he doesn't end up traumatized by the end of all this.

Btw, Hanabi is an antagonist mostly cuz of her upbringing and pressure from her family. She does care for Hinata and Neji deep down inside, but she does not believe in Hinata and she hates Tenten for various reasons. So she is unable to connect with her sister and her cousin and actually envies the close relationship Hinata and Neji have. Currently both are away from the village, with Neji reportedly attacked. Leaving Tenten and her son to deal with scheming Hyuga and a bitter, worried Hanabi.


Enjoy!