endless_scrolls | Whispers of the Past

Title: Whispers of the Past - Part 2
Type: Fanfic
Fandom: Naruto
Character(s): Tenten, Inuzuka Tsume; brief mentions of Haruno Sakura, Chiyo, Sasori, OC: Shirou
Pairing(s): None
Warning(s): Creative license of events and making use of unknown information in the Naruto timeline
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: A two-shot during the Gaara Rescue Arc to further develop a more solidified past, mostly for Tenten. Takes place in the same universe as 'Trapped in Your Legacy' and 'Where to Start From,' respectively, with Tenten being the Sandaime's granddaughter.
Dedicated to:

malinear, my polar and my balance. And the only one equally as dedicated to developing this theory/universe as me. ^^; Happy Birthday, sweetie~ ♥
Link to Part 1: [ HERE ]

"Explain this."

With little care or caution for the rusted condition of the forehead protector, she tossed the worn talisman and let it clatter across the kitchen counter for the world to see. The same swirling symbol that the kunoichi had seen a thousand times on her father's hitai ate stared up at her, as if mocking Tenten with the memory of his life, of a past she hardly knew anything about save for what her mother had been willing to divulge before her untimely death. And in that instance, the young woman steeled herself for the conversation that was to come with her decision to confront the one person still alive who had known her parents best.

Quirking a brow, the usual twitch of mischief that could always be found in the corner of her mouth was gone, all thoughts of delinquency that the Inuzukas were known for gone the moment her eyes landed on the aged forehead protector and the village icon engraved in its metal plate. "...Good to see you too, Ten-chan."

"I'm sorry, but don't have time for small talk, Tsume-san," Tenten apologized, bowing her head in the proper manner to convey the sentiment, "I just want an answer."

"To what?"

The simpleness of her inquiry was so calm and contained at first that it was nearly enough to unnerve the kunoichi's own resolve. But if there was one thing Tenten knew, it was that Inuzuka Tsume was never this restricted in her actions unless for a purpose. And that meant that she was hiding something. But attempting to force or pry the answers out from her would get them nowhere.

Resting a palm on the countertop, Tenten gave a flairing gesture to the old hitai ate. "To what this means."

In a flicker of movement, the elder kunoichi glanced over to where the other had indicated, but soon disregarded it as if the object held no importance. Instead, she gave a soft sigh and leaned forward in her seat, callosed fingers reaching out to smooth through Kuromaru's fur as if to calm herself. As if to stall the discussion a moment longer than necessary. But Tenten knew better. The delay was more for her benefit than Tsume's. Because even with her usual levels of control, Tenten's carefully kept emotions were bleeding through the thick barriers she had set up years before.

Finally, after another instance of silence, the deeper tones of Inuzuka's voice easily filled in the empty space between them. "...It's your father's forehead protector. It means nothing."

Only a split second passed before the words registered in Tenten's mind. And then the muscles in her jaw were clenching, straining to keep the calm demeanor she fought to maintain. Tsume should have known better. The issue would not be brushed off that easily. "You and I both know that it's not. He took better care of it than that." And even as she spoke, the kunoichi picked up the forehead protector from where it had landed on the counter and gently shoved the object into the other's line of view, making the trip across the kitchen in a few quick and motivated strides to where she sat. "Besides, the three slashes are missing."

Another sigh passed the elder shinobi's lips as her hands came up to take the hitai ate from Tenten's grip. "You know too much for your own good."

With a smirk, the younger kunoichi slit into a seat just on the other side of the table. "Keeps me alive."

Tsume scoffed at that, almost seeming to welcome the snark and sarcasm in light of the extreme seriousness that had settled in the room. And why not? A bit of humor would probably be needed if they were really going to discuss this matter through. "Where did you find it?"

"On the battlefield where Sakura and Chiyo-sama fought Sasori... near one of the puppets," Tenten replied, "What does it mean?"

"What makes you think it has to mean anything?"

"Because the look on your face when you first saw it. Says that you know more than you're telling me."

Another scoff of amusement. "Tch. You're just like your mother, annoying to the end."

Here, Tenten flashed the elder kunoichi a cheeky grin. "So you keep telling me."

The grin turned into a fond smile as Tsume gave a light chuckle, the wolfish quirk of her lips that the Inuzuka clan was known for shining through like a beacon. There were so few smiles and laugher these days, she had almost begun to forget what it sounded like. It was a good sound. There needed to be more of it in the village.

"Tsume-san," Tenten called softly after the moment had passed, leaning in so that the other could hear the soft plead of her voice, "Please, tell me what this means."

And much like many of the other times since Shirou's death, the head of the Inuzuka clan regarded her with a questioning look. As if there was judging much more than a simple matter of filling in the blanks or answering Tenten's curious inquiries. Those moments had always unnerved her. Because it gave the kunoichi the feeling that there was so much more than what was on the surface. Like a whole entire world of secrets were wrapped around the answers Tsume tried so hard to avoid.

Glancing at the forehead protector in her hands, Tsume took a moment to trace a thumb over the village emblem before placing it on the tabletop. And then she turned all her attention to Tenten, her voice low and almost strained as she finally gave a reply. "It means... that, given his age and skills as a puppetmaster, this Sasori character was probably part of the last raid that... that finally destroyed Uzu."

"But... that means... Suna..." Tenten started to say, the end of the sentence trailing off into nothingness as she struggled to fully understand the implications.

"There had been conflict between our villages for years -- nearly two decades -- up until that Exam. Now you know why."

"I... I don't believe..." she trailed off again.

"But keep in mind: That was a long time ago," Tsume was quick to add, "It has no reflection on who they are now, got it, kid?"

"I never knew..."

"Tenten," Tsume called firmly, in an attempt to bring the younger woman out from her daze.

The kunoichi's head shot up, instantly locking eyes with the elder woman. And that was all that was necessary to slowly pull Tenten away from the weight of the revelation. Back into the reality of the situation. "...Right." With a shake of her head to clear her thoughts, Tenten reminded herself of the alliance between Konoha and Suna. The people of Sand back then and those who resided there now were two different entities. "I know -- I mean... I just spent an entire mission trying to save their leader, and... Sasori's grandmother gave up her life to revive Gaara."

But that was not the reason why she seemed so flustered.

Sighing, Tenten traced a slender finger over the outter edge of her lips and glanced across the table at the old and tattered Uzu hitai ate. And in a moment of courage -- of defeated curiosity -- she reached over and took the object into her hand. "It just makes me wonder."

"Wonder what?" Tsume asked, seeming to regard her with a mixture of worry and questioning concern.

"...What else don't I know about my parents?"