Eishou Tenon

"My final cadence has not yet come. Until it does...I will live my life each day as a flower- broken and opened before the rain."

Eishou Tenon (天恩 えいしょう, Tenon Eishou) was a non-fighting civilian and nomad originally from her small clan village once located in the Land of Rice Fields. ('Profile subject to change as the series progresses.')

Background
Eishou is the only child born to Masayoshi and Kotone Tenon, and hails from a nomadic clan of people who were once the original inhabitants of the Land of Rice-Fields (later renamed Land of Sound) before Orochimaru took over and turned it into his experimental laboratory. The Tenon are a small group of people known for their reverence of nature and love of music. Harboring a traditional culture/manner of living, they are unique for combining musical proficiency with ninjutsu. Predominantly they are a peaceful and pacifist people who dressed a bit like aristocrats but lived humbly. Orochimaru's founding of the Sound Country, however, preluded by years of experimentation lead to the division of the clan despite then being very communal, stable, and close-knit for generations. The debate leading to this split involved Eishou's father, Masayoshi, and the clan leader Tamotsu over how to respond to Orochimaru's increasingly threatening presence to their land and livelihood. .Almost half the Tenon followed Masayoshi's lead and voluntarily exiled themselves from their native land. By doing so, they escaped the tyranny of Orochimaru's reign, while those who remained to protect their homeland were killed, used as experiments, or assimilated into his army of minions.

As such, Eishou grew up happily in a very supportive and loving community until the day the clan fissioned apart. She inherited her mother's poor health. But unlike the rest of her kin, Eishou was born with an unusual medical anomaly- her bones are hollow like a bird’s, making her acutely fragile, and susceptible to illness. Because of it, she wasn't often allowed to, or even able to play with other children as a sickly child. She was protected and sheltered by her parents. Her condition is hypothesized to he result of a slow genetic mutation that began generations ago in her bloodline which has manifested itself in the form of a pathology as she was born and developed. Eishou's sickness worsened for a time after the sudden departure. Without a home to call their own, the remnants have Eishou among the youngest in her clan, who was introduced into the nomadic lifestyle around the age of six. While wandering, her mother Kotone lead the initiative of taking the knowledge and skill they have of nature, and learning how to survive off the environment.

Sickness aside, Eishou was a happy, bright, and cheerful child in her youngest years. In contrast, her later years after the exile and lifestyle change were marked with trauma and grief. Eishou witnessed the destruction of the home and forests sacred to her clan. She also saw her kin die one after another over many years, including her father, then later her mother. As a result, Eishou became painfully quiet and a timid, cautious, and a very private person. She became mute for periods of time after experiencing so much change and trauma, then reserved about expressing herself or thoughts. Eishou struggled deeply over death and loss at an early age, but remains heavily influenced by her clan's spiritual beliefs, traditions, and customs and clings to them for guidance and hope. She took a special comfort in nature around her, calling the birds and flowers her "friends" in place of playmates, since nature was the only consistency in her clan's travels. Eventually, Eishou regained her ability to speak, but can only express herself through lyrical poetic form or metaphors related to music and nature. While she has a better understanding of nature than she does of people at times, she waits patiently and hopefully for the day when she can finally return home- or find a place to belong.

Personality
Eishou is a compassionate, docile, and gentle-hearted person. While she did go through an arduous time of grief and deep sadness, she has peaceful spirit, and retains a hopeful innocence. She is reserved and can be awfully bashful and shy in front of other people. She is peace-loving, and a deep thinker who will not speak without careful consideration. Eishou used to be more cheerful, open and brighter as a child, and engaged in normal conversation, but even as a more talkative child she would still became quiet and shy at times, especially around strangers. For as long as she can remember, she has always been sensitive  to people and nature, and perceptive, too. After the drastic change in her life, she became guarded, easily frightened, and prone to worry- traits that still follow her to some degree as she ages. Since then, she has learned to be an optimist, but a cautious one. Spirituality has cultivated a philosophical and wise dimension to her thoughts, rendering her mature and sophisticated for her age. Eishou often thinks of others first, to the point of being self-sacrificing, and has the memory of her clan as well as her hope for the future not too far from her mind.

Her unusual manner of speech makes her socially awkward at times and difficult to understand- sometimes labeled as off-putting. Despite this, she is extremely expressive with non-verbal gestures and can be readable in that manner. She is rather soft-spoken to preserve her singing voice. Any negative emotions from her are usually kept hidden inside herself. While she will continue to be polite, she may display her negative feelings passively (i.e. her tendency would be to ignore or avoid someone/something if she's upset, at the worst case). Eishou also proves to be rather frugal. Living as a nomad for many years on subsistence-based living has not allowed her any luxuries or many possessions. She isn't used to, and feels no need for gifts or fancy clothes, etc. Her mannerisms are quite refined, though, and she treats everyone she meets with polite etiquette and formalities. At times, because of her rearing, she is usually very obedient and can be called submissive to others. In general, she can be described as elegant and graceful. Due to her traditionalistic upbringing with strict clan rules on behavior and conduct (especially between males and females), and on part of Eishou's drastic lifestyle change where she was left at a young age without a mother or long-term mother-figure, Eishou is very innocent and rather clueless when it comes to love, especially physically intimate love.

Appearance
Eishou is unusually small, petite, and light-weight for her age- another side effect of her condition -and is far more fragile than she appears. She is at times mistaken as a child due to her short stature. She is very fae-like with her petiteness and daintiness in her muted beauty and fragility. On part of her illness, Eishou is easily injured and bruised, and is prone to sickness. Throughout her years, she always maintains the appearance of looking like she would easily float away on the slightest breeze.

The Tenon clan typically have fair skin, and a hair-eye combination ranging from dark hues to black and brown. Eishou shares these same traits. She has fair, porcelain skin, hip-length straight black hair, large amethyst purple eyes, and a button-nose and small mouth. Her bangs are parted in the middle and curved, but do not hide her ears. Her hair falls loose down her back and is well brushed but does not have any ornaments. Eishou typically wears simple, light-weight, flowing clothes that are loose but not baggy and certainly not skin-tight. She often goes without shoes or footwear (accept in winter when she pouts and trips a lot for having to wear them). Her clothes are always on the conservative and modest side, never showing too much skin (never anything above the elbows and especially knees). She does not wear any cosmetics but does what she can to take care of her skin and hair.

In Part II, Eishou wears a blue dress with a trail (longer in back) over a lavender blouse and black leggings. A long navy ribbon is tied just below the bust. When traveling, she carries an ivory-white shoulder bag tied shut with a purple chord. She uses it to store provisions. The only "fancy" item she owns is a damaged hair ornament of two glass lavender-tinted lilac flowers with dangling beads and tiny silver bells. It belonged to her mother and is the only keepsake she has.

Abilities
The Tenon combine their skillful musical talents with ninjutsu to manipulate chakra in their environment or target, and to cast powerful genjutsu. Typically, their weapon of choice is their primary musical instrument of mastery. Basic principles of the physics of sound apply to their jutsu. There is a greater capacity to affect those in a larger geographical area if a Tenon performs outdoors in open space. On the other hand, performing inside a room with four walls constrains the jutsu- but increases its potency as the sound waves have nowhere to expand. The clan specialties require meticulous control over chakra, self-control, and expert musical proficiency. They are amplified by advanced levels of ninjutsus. Also, just as a song is enriched with multiple parts and moving lines as in an orchestra, the Tenon have their greatest potential when they fight in unity together. In general, they use their secret jutsus to venerate nature, celebrate their traditions, cultivate the earth, and heal or protect their forests and each other rather than fight. However they are independent in that regard and are capable of defending themselves if need be. It is their preference to never harm people, even enemies, if it can be helped.

As with any jutsu, though, there are disadvantages to their specialties. First, the more powerful jutsus take time to construct, making it impractical for the heat of a battlefield. To compensate, Tenon shinobi focus on developing their taijutsu to the best of their ability. The clan specialty is also dependent on many other variables, such as the physical environment as already described. Weather/climate can be another factor (i.e. it isn't very practical or easy to put on music during a sandstorm.). Physical health is likewise important- no ninja can fight well when they're sick, and no musician can perform when they're ill either. The condition of the heart and mind is also crucial. If, for example a Tenon weaves a song with the intent of defending a comrade but has fear or doubt in his mind or heart, the jutsu will fail or be a weak one at best. The Tenon use precise chakra control to make up for these weaknesses as much as they can- such as surrounding their instrument with chakra to protect it from rain damage. Even in their fighting style, the Tenon are still a communal, united people and require the building of unshakable trust between fighting members, harmony between hearts, and a unity of will. Just like a choir or orchestra.

Eishou, however, is not a ninja. Due to her acute frailty, weak health, and gentle nature, Eishou was never formally trained as a shinobi. She was, however, taught the methods of her clan specialty for the sake of preserving the art which she has shown talent for. She learned the most from her parents. Then, from other clan members, and through observation and experimentation.

Song-based Ninjutsu:
After learning the fundamentals of chakra-sensing and chakra-control, Eishou was cultivated in the art of her clan's secrets. She is unique for applying their ninjutsu to her singing voice instead of a musical instrument. With her singing, Eishou composes an improvised song woven around the natural resonance given off by a target’s chakra that she senses. She calls this their “heartsong”. When she sings, Eishou can influence her target's chakra or "heartsong" negatively or positively through techniques of musical expression:  dynamic changes, phrasing, articulation, color and tone, intensity, energy, tempo, repetition, modulation, etc. Because of her pacifist nature, she tends to sing songs of healing and restoration, but has the capacity to gravely injure people with the same concept. To the target, her singing of their ‘heartsong’ feels oddly familiar and deeply personal (because she is singing a song reflective of themselves), like a song they once knew or heard somewhere before.

Her hollowed bones allow her to be very sensitive to the natural resonance and vibrations (which she calls songs) of chakra around her in nature and people. .So, she "hears" and "feels" music all around her, but this can become overwhelming if someone’s chakra is too powerful (as in the case of, say, Naruto Uzumaki in tailed-beast form), or if there are too many people (a densely crowded place). Also, for the same reason of her being a gentle pacifist, if a person has very negative vibes and hostile emotions, she'll become uneasy or frightened around them. She is a lover of music, but she does not enjoy all of the "songs" she hears. This sensitivity of hers allows her to be very perceptive of others.

Sensing Ability:
As mentioned, Eishou's condition makes her extremely delicate, but also acutely sensitive to vibration and chakra of the organic world. She displayed this natural talent in her youngest years, though it was confusing to her at first. It prompted her to make comments or ask numerous questions about why the flowers were 'crying' or over how her mother always 'felt' like "butterflies that are humming" who is different from her father who ‘sounds’ like “a night in the fall time when it is very quiet’. With fine-tuning, she developed discernment and learned quickly trace a vibration or chakra signature to its source. Eishou has become extremely perceptive of others because of this, as mentioned. In people, she "feels" their chakra most potently through physical touch- hence why she does not enjoy being touched without warning. If a persons' chakra is wild enough, she'll be able to sense it through the air and ground. But, while Eishou may be able to glimpse into the condition and personality of an individual through her sensitivity, she has no way of knowing how or why they came to be that way. It is possible for Eishou to develop inaccurate notions about an individual based on the 'song' she hears upon first meeting them.

Her sensing however is limited. She finds very it difficult, or impossible in most cases to sense vibrations through very dense (nonorganic) objects, like stone constructs, buildings, or even footwear. Because her life is greatly dependent on nature for her well-being, it is partially why she dislikes being trapped indoors, wearing shoes, or having to wear heavy, weighty clothing that would 'dampen' or 'mute' the vibrations she's so used to feeling. Conversely, it is possible for her to be physically injured if the vibrations she feels are too overwhelming and jarring. Like crystal glass rattling under blasting speakers, Eishou's hollowed bones do not have the sturdiness and density to withstand a significant chakra release or explosion without pain, fractures, and yes, even shattering.

Chakra Control:
Eishou’s body draws on the chakra of nature, which cycles through her and merges with her own chakra. It strengthens and heals her and behaves much like bone marrow- something she does not have due to her medical anomaly. She is able to store natural chakra in the hollows of her bones and thus, has an increased reservoir of chakra as long as she is regularly near nature. But, being away from nature and the outdoors for long periods of time depletes her reservoirs and makes her feel suffocated and weak. Her light-weight form, her intermixed flow of chakra in her bones, and her skill of manipulating chakra gives her the ability to slightly hover over the ground by focusing it on the soles of her feet. The same way the south poles of two magnets repel each other, Eishou’s focused chakra, and the chakra from the ground she's "hovering" over creates a similar repulsing affect. This ability keeps her feet from otherwise getting torn up or growing thick callouses when walking all the time. She can be very quick and agile when "floating", but she lacks the reflexes, endurance, and speed of a ninja, and cannot maintain this when she is weak, or if her chakra control is disrupted through injury or distraction. She can also only perform this over earth she can sense natural chakra from, and not in buildings or caves. She has a hard time hovering over Suna’s desert sands, ice, and snow, and finds water too unstable to even walk on. All in all, if Eishou did not have a riddling condition and was willing to be properly trained, she would make an excellent sensor-type shinobi.

Healing:
Eishou is not trained in medical ninjutsu. But with her clan technique, she can heal, though it is done indirectly by replenishing a person’s chakra supply or repairing its network. Her songs can also calm the body (lower blood pressure and heart-rate, or relax the mind). She knows basic first-aid skills, and is inherited her mother’s skills of medicinal herbs.

Knowledge:
Her clan heritage and her time as a nomad have given her many opportunities to learn a great deal. She is especially talented in music: singing, composing, improvising, and collaborating. Eishou learned about nature, music, poetry, writing, and gardening in her small village. She often practiced reading the signs of nature or weather patterns, recited books of poetry and proverbs, memorized and transcribed songs, practiced eloquent writing styles, and helped in simple tasks with gardening. Eishou remains knowledgeable in the history of people, villages, and nations from the poems, songs, and stories her clan has collected or composed that she's learned and memorize.. She earned more sophisticated tasks of gardening as a nomad. Herbology and botany were taught from her parents and kin on her travels- something especially easy for her to grasp due to her sensing abilities. Being a nomad has made her well-versed in geography and has trained her to be a preparer and very resourceful. She is adept at surviving on her own in the wild and has a strong sense of direction. Eishou knows many geographical regions rather intimately, including the kind of plants and animals that grow there due to her strong connection with nature, and her keen memories of relying on nature for comfort and company when she was small. She does not know much about the Suna dessert because its harsh climate was difficult for the Tenon to remain in. She is also not every familiar with regions that receive a lot of snow since the cold makes her deathly ill.

Part I
Life after Eishou, her parents, and volunteer exiles of their clan left their village was perilous- especially the first few years. Quickly, they had to develop the skills and techniques for survival in order to stay alive: relying on their kinship with nature and instinct, and selling their talents as musicians and composers as well as their bodies for hard labor to rope in money. The winters were particularly harsh. Eishou nearly lost her life several times. While their village was taken over by Orochimaru and destroyed, clansmen left behind who weren’t killed or used as experiments were forced to fight with their nomadic kin in an attempt to bring them back for Orochimaru’s control. Masayoshi, Eishou’s father died in a brave attempt to confront Orochimaru directly and liberate his kin. The nomad-turned Tenon also learned that traveling in the large group they were in made them susceptible to attacks from bandits, rogues, and criminals. Some villages were hospitable to their needs. But while it was better for them to stick together, not every village was so welcoming of such a large group. Other villages have accused the Tenon of trespassing, espionage, thievery, conning, etc. Eishou’s mother Kotone later died after her husband, trying to stop angry villagers from harming her and their group. So, Eishou's clan fragmented into smaller groups to appear less suspicious and vulnerable while wandering. They met every few months at designated places to keep in touch. Each time they did, their numbers grew smaller as they battled Orochimaru and his henchmen, criminals, angry villagers, and the harsh elements while waiting for a chance to someday return back to their roots.

Part II
By the time part two begins in the series, the surviving Tenon have dwindled to a dozen or so in number. By this time also, they’ve unintentionally caused enough scenes to draw the attention of the underground black-market. A bounty was placed on their heads for a hefty reward- one high enough to attract the attention of Akatsuki’s own bounty-hunters.

Hidan and Kakuzu Arc:
The events of some of Eishou’s storyline take place in the Hidan and Kakuzu ark. It falls just after Akatsuki captured Yukito Nii, host of the two-tailed beast and before the Fire Temple is attacked by Hidan and Kakuzu.

Eishou's Filler Arc:
While Naruto is with Kakashi for special training, Haruno Sakura and Sai are sent with Hyuuga Neji to investigate a disturbance near Konaha’s northern border.

There, Eishou, was found injured and unconscious after fleeing deliberately across the Fire Country’s borders to escape in the hopes of attracting attention of scouting shinobi for aid. She was taken back to the medical center for healing, treated by Sakura. Near where she was found, a significant area of charred forest was discovered where the remnants of the Tenon had fought and fallen against Akatsuki’s bounty hunters. Their bodies were taken but the charred remains of their instruments left behind. In the wreckage, Neji retrieved the only salvageable item- a badly damaged lilac-flower hair ornament belonging to Eishou’s late mother. Neji, however, was suspicious of Eishou due to her excessive silence. She behaved that way after waking up out of self-preservation, and out of a fear of causing trouble by bringing strangers into her problem. She meets a few of the young shinobi, including Sakura who tended to her, Sai, Ino, and Hinata, all of whom attempted to get her to talk. When their efforts fail, Neji threatens to turn her over to the interrogations unit. Under the pressure, Eishou finally does speak, but her cryptic words puzzle him. While treating her, Sakura discovers Eishou's unusual anomaly of hollowed bones.

Early the next morning, Tsudnade is alerted to Akatsuki presence close to the village. It is assumed that they’ve arrived in search of Naruto. Since he has the ability to slip past Konahagakure's protective sensing barrier unnoticed, Itachi single-handedly infiltrates into the village first while Kisame, Hidan, and Kakuzu provide distractions. Itachi appears in the medical center to kidnap Eishou in order to reap the full reward for the bounty placed on the Tenon. Sakura confronts him, astonished by his appearance but falls into a coma from one of his genjutsus. After extracting her, Itachi and the rest of the Akatsuki with him leave. Shizune finds Sakura after the genjutsu has worn off and begins treating her. After it’s discovered that Eishou’s been kidnapped, Neji finally understands the warning message in the meaning of her words she spoke earlier.

On their way to their hideout, Itachi collapses, having overused his sharingan. Since Kakuzu is only skilled at sowing on severed body parts, he and the others turn to Eishou, demanding to know if she has any skill in the healing arts. Eishou sings a song of healing to replenish Itachi’s chakra supply, and peaks their curiosity. At the hideout, Deidara discovers one of Shino’s tracking bugs on her sleeve, and he leaves with a few of the others to stop a tracking team secretly sent by Hokage Tsunade despite protests from the other village elders against the idea of getting involved with a stranger wanted by Akatsuki. While Itachi rests and keeps watch over Eishou, he pities her- a timid and frightened innocent girl -for being targeted just to be killed the way her clansmen were for the reward of a bounty. He is also reminded a bit of his younger brother Sasuke in her situation. Eishou on the other hand attempts to process her feelings of anxiety and fright, that she will soon be killed without any family to rely on or come to her aid. Outside, Neji, Hinata, Shino, Kiba, Sai, and Kakashi are forced to retreat when ambushed by Akatsuki during their rescue operation. In the process, Hinata was taken captive by Hidan after Kakuzu recognizes Neji for his Byakugan, and points out Hinata as the first-born and heir to the Hyuuga clan.

Naruto, by this time, has returned to Konaha with Yamato, taking a break from his training when he heard of the attack. They arrived after Kakashi received word first and arrived in time to oversee the team Neji and Hinata were on. Naruto learned of Sakura’s condition, and later joins Neji with Kiba after finding out that Hinata had been captured too.

At Akatsuki’s hideout in Amekagure, Hidan is chastised for his impromptu capturing of Hyuuga Hinata, having done so to use her as a sacrifice for one of his rituals. Kakuzu suggest ransoming Hinata for money from Konaha to fill the need for funds for their organization, in addition to collecting the bounty on Eishou’s clan. Pein considers the idea, but chooses to delay killing Eishou after hearing a report from Itachi about her unique abilities. He decides to keep both hostages in order to use Hinata as bait to lure the nine-tails out of hiding, and Eishou as a tool to help capture him.

While Pein and Konan rest before making any preparations to seal the recently captured two-tailed beast, Hidan and Deidara grow carried away with Hinata, upsetting her about Naruto’s doomed fate. Desperate, Eishou turns to Itachi and silently begs him to stop them. Itachi observes the depth of feelings Hinata has for Naruto, feeling pity for her also, but says that he's in no position to help Hinata other than just making sure Hidan and Deidara don’t get out of hand with their behavior. Sensing a vague pang of guilt from him, the same way as when he placed Sakura under a genjutsu, Eishou suspects that there is more to Itachi than just a cruel criminal’s guise. Risking her life, Eishou volunteers herself as a decoy, and trusts in the shred of goodness she sees in Itachi.

Eishou suddenly bursts into song, finding the will to sing offensively. With her voicel, and taking advantages of the confining walls of their prison cell, she jams up the chakra of everyone in the room, including Itachi and Hinata, effectively paralyzing them. Itachi's sharingan suddenly activates when she sings, amplifying her affect and giving Eishou more time to stage an escape. As soon as they are able, Kisame, Hidan, and Deidara chase after Eishou under Itachi’s orders while he remains behind and tends to an unconscious Hinata. He leaves her cell unlocked and sends out one of his crows to scout out the location of Naruto’s reformed rescue team.

Quickly, Eishou is stopped near the tailed-beast sealing chambers and is struck down for trying to escape. Itachi arrives to prevent them from injuring Eishou further and takes her back to her cell next to Hinata. Just before doing so, however, he uses his sharingan to stir the chakra of the two-tailed beast inside Yukito Nii, causing it to awaken. While Akatsuki are distracted by the rampaging tailed-beast, and Naruto’s arriving team, Itachi uses one of his close as an explosion to open up a wall on the side of the prison to give Naruto access to the two prisoners. To do so, he places Eishou in a temporary genjutsu to protect her from the resulting blast, then brings her out of it. He then leaves to join Pein and Konan who arrive to prevent the awakened niibi from going out of control in their base. At the same time, Naruto and his team have arrived, drawn by the chakra source from Eishou's singing and the niibi at the hideout. They are confronted once again by Hidan, Kakuzu, Kisame, Deidara, and also Tobi.

While the opponent teams fight, Neji and Naruto sneak in and find Hinata and Eishou. The floor level they're on becomes unstable, though, as the battles both outside and inside the base begin to damage their side of the building structure. Eishou looks on as Hinata is successfully retrieved, filled with relief for her safety. But, she is too frightened by the kyuubi's resonance within Naruto’s chakra signature for him to convince her forward. The ceiling collapses, separating her from the rest. Knowing that their time is running out, Neji instructs Naruto to take Hinata, saying that he'll catch up to them. Eishou gently urges Neji to leave also, and appears to be more worried about Hinata than anything else. Still a tad suspicious of her, Neji asks why she's so concerned about Hinata. Eishou gives another riddling response, in effect, explaining that it is because Hinata is his kin. And, that since Eishou- as one with no future -knows all too well the searing pain of losing one's own family member, she did not want Neji- who seems so full of a promising future -to endure that sort of pain. She tells Neji it is her happiness to at least try and prevent the sort of suffering she endured for much of her life, Neji is suddenly reminded of his father but is forced to leave and retreat with his comrades from their losing battle. Before leaving, Neji asks Eishou again for her name. This time, she gives it to him and is left with his promise to come back and rescue her. He, Naruto, and the others make a narrow escape and head back to Konaha.

Eishou later wakes in another cell after the niibi has been subdued, and Hinata’s absence has been discovered. She finds her wound bandaged, and that she's being guarded by a sleeping Itachi plagued with ill-gotten dreams. Despite her injuries Eishou makes her way over to him and touches his hand gently, sensing the depth of his pain. He wakes up, surprised to see her crying and asks why she’s shedding tears for him after everything he and Akatsuki has done to her. Eishou explains that she hears music all around her, and that of all the songs she hears, his is one of the saddest song she’s ever heard. Silently impressed by her perceptiveness to see past his facade, Itachi tells her not to cry. Secretly, he takes some comfort in her presence and simple understanding without any need on her part to ask any questions. Itachi decides to plan a way for her escape her imprisonment, not wanting her innocence to be lost and her life to turn out like Sasuke’s where she would be manipulated, used, and eventually killed. He also assures her that Hinata made it out safely with Uzumaki Naruto and his team.

While the rest of Akatsuki is sealing the niibi, Itachi stays behind to rest on part of his illness, and to keep an eye on Eishou. He notices Eishou looking rather weak and ill and takes her outside for fresh air. Itachi observes her mood lift and comes to understand that Eishou thrives on nature and is dependent on nature's chakra for survival. While out, Itachi grows weary after defeating a group of rogue bandits, not having healed entirely from his earlier uses of his sharingan. But, he also draws the attention of Uchiha Sasuke, also in the area. Eishou, terrified of the cold darkness she senses in Sasuke, hides Itachi from view in shrubbery and masks his chakra with a song. Sasuke overlooks Itachi despite feeling suspicious and soon leaves without taking any interest in Eishou. Eishou then utilizes her skills and treats Itachi with herbs and her songs until he wakes in the morning. When he wakes, Itachi self-assesses how quickly his health is declining. Astonished to learn from her that Sasuke had walked right past him, Eishou learns of Sasuke’s name and identity as Itachi’s younger brother- someone whom he cares for deeply but has done terrible things to. She curiously hears Itachi ambiguously mention about someone he believes can "bring Sasuke back". Later, on their way back to the base, Sasuke returns in search of Itachi, still convinced that he sensed his presence. Eishou is instructed to run ahead and hide while Itachi confronts his brother. Sasuke suffers a defeat and is told that soon they would fight to the death when Sasuke would be able to show him his strength, but that for now that time had not yet come.

Sasuke retreats and Itachi finds a worried Eishou waiting for him. Again, she tends to his wounds, but confirms her suspicions that there is nothing she personally can do for the strange sickness that plagues him. She also senses his spirit preparing itself for death and largely assumes it is because of his sickness or obligation to Sasuke. Itachi thanks her for what little she can do. She also begins to view Sasuke in a different light, seeing how tormented and regretful Itachi is over his brother in his ‘song’. Later while resting, Eishou wakes in a panic from nightmares of witnessing Hidan and Kakuzu massacre the kin she was traveling with. Itachi finds her in a lake after running off to breakdown and cry. It is her first time crying aloud over her own circumstance, and the first time she allowed herself to express grief over her most recent tragedy. Itachi comforts and promises her that he will return her her freedom where she'll be able to live peacefully and sing as much as she wants. But, that for now they both would have to return to the Akatsuki base before Pein and the others finish their sealing process and find them missing. He encourages her to be brave for a while longer, and to follow his orders.

Later, Itachi claims to Pein that Eishou has been subdued and will be obedient to his will. Wanting to see Eishou's abilities for himself, she is asked to demonstrate her skill. With a hint of encouragement from Itachi and trusting in his word, she conjures up the courage to perform a powerful song, affecting Konan by significantly increasing her chakra flow, amplifying her abilities, and heightening her skills sets and senses (strength, speed, endurance, agility, etc.) Konan, stunned and feeling invigorated by her song, comments on Eishou's abilities to powerfully affect a person’s chakra, whether it be negatively as reported when she paralyzed Hidan and the others, or positively. She describes it as being as potent as a high-level genjutsu, starting with the first note, but that it has a definite effect on chakra that isn't based on illusion. Suspecting that Konaha shinobi will be trying to seek them out again anyway, Pein approves and agrees to send Eishou out with Itachi, Kisame, Kakuzu, and a restless Hidan upset over losing his would-be sacrifice out to test her on the field. He reserves Tobi and an envious Diedara to begin their search for the three-tailed beast.

Meanwhile Naruto and his team return to Konaha and spend a day recovering from their wounds. Hinata makes a full recovery, but Naruto is sad to find Sakura still injured. The following day he, Neji, and their team give a report to Tsunade. Jaraiya joins them and offers insight into the Tenon clan after hearing the name from Neji. He identifies the Tenon as a well-to-do clan of prolific poets and musicians, and reveals that they used to have their own small village at one point. He also reveals that he's met Eishou and her mother as nomads during his travels some years ago. While he doesn't know everything about their history, Jaraiya knows enough to suspect that Orochimaru was somehow responsible for dismantling their village and scattering their clan. Despite knowing them to be a kind and refined people, he had also seen wanted posters about the Tenon in various places. He deduces that the Tenon have been wrongly accused or seen as a nuisance to be get rid of. Fully convinced now that Eishou is not, in fact, an enemy, and remembering her last words to him, Neji renews his determination to rescue Eishou, no longer seeing her as just a burden or obligation but someone deserving of protection. And, someone he owes for Hinata's safe return.

At this point, Pein's order is issued. Itachi sends out his crows to deliberately draw the attention of Konaha forces as a means of warning them against Akatsuki's nearing presence. A short time later, while Naruto and his team are still having their conversation with Tsunade and Jaraiya, reports come in from watch-tower scouts outside of the city of an Akatsuki sighting. They also report a girl singing despite blocking their ears with chakra to protect against any sound-jutsu. Jaraiya suspect it's Eishou being kept alive and used to serve Akatsuki's agendas. Naruto and Neji along with others immediately leave. Attracted to a mysterious flock of crows, known to be Itachi's hallmark, they travel outside of Konaha until they come across Eishou and the Akatsuki perched on a cliff side overlooking a forest near the Fire Temple. Neji is quick to observe that blocking the ears with chakra fail against her song-jutsus because chakra acts as a catalyst for her song's effects. Shikamaru suggests Naruto and his team protect themselves by using whatever they have in their pockets to block their hearing. Naruto, however, comments on how sorrowful and sad Eishou's song sounds as she is forced to support the members of Akatsuki with her songs, and weaken Konaha forces by tampering with their chakra network she senses in the air and through nature. For Eishou, this is the first time she's never wanted to sing in her life. She does her best not to cause anyone any real harm with her songs, but is guilt-ridden for doing anything remotely negative to anyone. Naruto strongly feels in the rawness of her songs- that she's heartbroken over being forced to use her singing for something so twisted and is begging to be stopped. Neji affirms this by using his Byakugan to explain that Eishou is still being treated like a prisoner, with one ankle chained and embedded in the ground on the cliff she's standing on while guarded by Kisame and Itachi.

Danzo's own forces have arrived to defend Konaha from Akatsuki. Ignoring Naruto's remarks, they treat Eishou as one of the enemy and aim to kill her along with any Akaatsuki they can. Among them, Sai listens and trusts Naruto's instinct. The battle proves difficult though with  Akatsui's heightened abilities. Painful for her to watch, Eishou is unable to sing as she starts to cry. At its height, Eishou recollects herself to pray, briefly, then sings a new song and pushes herself to her limit by focusing her songs on the forest environment around her. She manipulates chakra in the nature around her to shield the fighters from each other's attacks. At this time Kisame battles against Kakashi and Sai providing areal support, leaving Itachi alone to 'guard' Eishou. In rash fashion, Naruto charges Itachi, and attempts a wind-release rasengan he has been training to perfect. While failing, he successfully, leaves an opening for Neji to reach Eishou. Itachi dissolves into crows and cryptically compliments Naruto on the strength of his willpower. Discretely, he tells Eishou to be free as his crows fly off.

Neji reaches Eishou in time to deflect a series of long-ranged attacks aimed for her with his revolving heavens technique. However, he is unable to find enough time to free her from chain, just as a wayward explosion fireball from one of Kakuzu'z masks demolishes the cliff side they and Naruto are on. Again, she urges him to leave, wishing that he wouldn't have to risk himself for her sake. Neji responds by saying it is his honor and duty as a shinobi to risk his life for her, and that he believes she too can have a full and promising future if she chooses to take her fate in her own hands. He protectively shields her with his body as they fall.

Akatsuki decide to retreat as more reinforcements from Konaha arrive, and since Eishou is presumed to have already outlived her usefulness. On their way back, Kisame remarks to Itachi that if he didn't know better, he would have thought that Itachi allowed the nine-tailes to slip past him a little too easily. Kakuzu and Hidan abandon their endeavors to reap the full bounty from the last Tenon for a far more efficient means of raising funds for their organization- by targeting Chiriku of the Fire Temple. At the base, Zetsu reports the events to Pein and also says that he's gathered some valuable intelligence information on Konaha's forces and Konaha's defense barrier by watching the battle. Rather than seeing the mission as a failure, Pein is satisfied with his gains and focuses on his objectives.

Naruto, Neji, and Eishou are discovered under rubble, bruised but safe. Neji carries an unconscious Eishou after breaking her chain and returns to Konaha with the rest. Sakura by now is awake and recovering, upset that she missed the whole ordeal but glad her patient is safe.. Eishou remains in hospital for several weeks to cure her injuries.

Returning to the Hidan and Kakuzu Arc:
For the remainder of this arc, Eishou is recovering from her wounds. She reconciles with Neji to where both of them see each other in a new light. Eishou pleads for forgiveness for harming any of the shinobi with her songs. Neji returns to Eishou the damaged lilac-flower hair ornament he found before all this began. This is also when Eishou comes to understand why she was so initially confused and frightened by Naruto's heartsong as she learns of him being the Jinchuuriki of the nine-tailed beast. Eishou learns to listen to Naruto's song, and not to confuse it with the chakra resonance of the beast inside of him. Seeing how much Naruto means to Sakura, Hinata, Neji, and many others, and after remembering his role in rescuing her from Akatsuki, she grows to have nothing but faith and respect for Naruto. Because of the mention of Sasuke Uchiha a few times by his old team mates, she wonders if this Naruto is the person Itachi was talking about whom he trusted would bring his brother back to Konaha.

Later, she is shocked and appalled to hear of Asuma's death by the hands of the same Akatsuki responsible for killing her clan, and grieves with Konaha despite not knowing him or his students very well.

Three-Tails Arc:
After her healing, she finds lodging at an inn just outside of the village where she can be around nature and away from crowds. She is allowed to stay there in exchange for doing chores and helping out with guests. In general, she is now on friendly terms with some of the main characters in Konaha (though there are still those who are suspicious of her, such as those in Danzou's faction). She becomes friends with Hinata, drawn by a mutual respect for each other, similar personality traits, and by the plight of secretly admiring someone from afar.

Itachi Pursuit Arc:
However Eishou remains uncomfortable with the idea of living in Konaha and is kind but hesitant about opening up without settling the matter of her kin, first (especially after hearing rumors that Orochimaru has been defeated). Feeling deeply loyal to her clan and poisoned with heartache, she expresses her wishes to go and find any chance-survivors. Understanding her sense of loyalty to her family, Neji offers to accompany her as a favor to thank her for helping Hinata escape Akatsuki despite being in the same situation.

The first stop in her travels with Neji, was to visit the site where they first met, and where her kin had fallen by Akatsuki's hands. She prays for forgiveness, then sings a sending-song- a song to help guide their spirits into the afterlife -as is tradition for her clan when a person dies. Using her chakra and connection to nature, she sings a song to help the forest in this area regrow slowly over time as well. Along the way of her journey, Neji and Eishou begin to develop a subtle but mutual interest in each other.

With her keen knowledge of geography and resourcefulness from her years as a nomad, Eishou skillfully leads with Neji as her protector to various places where her kin might be. Since word has gotten out that Orochimaru has been defeated by Sasuke, Eishou heads back towards her homeland at last within the Land of Sound/Rice Paddies. While there, she is relieved to be reunited with an uncle and cousin from her clan: Minoru Tenon- a man who remained in the village and managed to survive Orochimaru's experiments and usage as a part of his army until his downfall, and Kouta Tenon, a boy in his late from the nomadic group. Both of them recognize Eishou- the former, as Masayoshi and Kotone's daughter when she lived in the village with her parents, and the latter as one of the Tenon he traveled with for a time during their frequent separations as nomads.

Neji introduces himself, and the Tenon take some time to catch each other up on the events they've experienced. Neji hears the details of her clan's history and is intrigued to find that the other two males do not speak in lyrical metaphors nearly as much as Eishou does. Eishou shares her deep desire to return home with them in the hope that others are waiting for there so their clan can and village can be re-established. However, Minoru and Kouta gently explain that the Land of Sound has become too unstable and dangerous to remain in. Without Orochimaru, his experiments and prisoners more or less are able to run free without organization and control. They explain also that the two are working together to search for any of their clan survivors and to help anyone who was once imprisoned. Later, when Eishou is resting after an emotional day, Minoru and Kouta privately tell Neji that their native homeland is now uninhabitable due to the damaging practices of Orochimaru's reign. The men confide in Neji the guilt and taintedness they feel over their own personal mistakes, wrong choices, and over being used to do harm rather than good- especially since it is their clan's heritage to be peace-loving and gentle. Their desire is to redeem themselves by staying there to help restore a sense of balance and peace in the region any way they can. Neji accepts, able to understand and relate to Kouta's experience in particular. Not wanting Eishou to be equally tainted and overburdened by anymore hardships, they entrust her to Neji, asking him for the peace of mind that at least one of their own is in a safe place, living happily and freely. The next morning, Minoru and Kouta encourage her to return to Konaha and live peacefully by not allowing herself to be caught up in guilt and regret of the past, or of what they’ve told her. Both assure her they'll both visit when they can, and commend her for honoring their clan culture and traditions for as much as she has. The three perform a song together, filled with their wishes and hopes before departing on their separate ways.

On their way back as it rains, Eishou senses two powerful chakra signatures and recognizes them as Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha. Neji observes a forest still smoldering from Itachi's Amaterasu wtih his Byakugan. Not allowing Eishou to go anywhere near the Uchiha hideout, she becomes aware of Itachi's death when his chakra resonance suddenly fades, and is no longer able to sense it. Quietly she begins to cry, and after recovering herself, Eishou sings a sending-song from where she is. Honoring Itachi in the only way she knows how, Eishou thanks him in her farewell-song for the mercy he has shown her and the life of sacrifice he has lived for his brother.

They return to Konaha without incident afterwards. Realizing that Neji wasn't quite willing to let her go, he reflects somberly over her hardships and finds himself inwardly pleased that she's chosen to live in Konaha for the time being.

Once more, Eishou is saddened on Konaha's behalf for the loss of Jaraiya.

Tsuchigumo Kinjutsu Arc:
Since their travel together, Neji and Eishou have grown closer after learning about each other. From time to time they see each other in very subtle or natural ways. After resolving the issue of her kin, Eishou is able to begin seeing herself with a new possible future in Konaha. Her admiration towards Neji grows even after learning about the way he used to be in his younger years. Both open up to each other and find friendship in the other. Eishou learns to be less private and closed-off, and more expressive and brave. She becomes more joyful- similar to the way she was in her youngest years -instead of fearful and timid. Neji is more relaxed and calmer around her, taking simple pleasures in her gentle and quiet personality. He finds her company relaxing compared to the loudness in his day when around his team and becomes fond and protective of her like he is to Hinata (but without obligation). They usually spend time together alone where Eishou especially is most comfortable. The two never go on any dates, though they do activities, hobbies, and attend special occasions together when it is natural and convenient. Neji is protective of Eishou and fond of her as he has come to be towards Hanabi and especially Hinata. In return, Eishou is sensitive to honoring his sense of pride. Because of her deepening relationship with Neji, Eishou is able to open up a little more to the other characters of Konaha. Eishou feels, however that Neji is the only one who has an authentic understanding of her, not only because he knows the most about her but also because he is able to grasp her unusual manner of speech. During this time of happiness, Eishou considers how she always feels at peace, happy, and safe inside when beside Neji. She wonders if maybe she's finally found what she's always been looking for- a place to belong. Their 'relationship' remains very platonic and subtle, though, and difficult to point out.

Invasion of Pein Arc:
Neji and Team Gai are away on mission when Konaha is attacked by Pein. Initially, Eishou is terrified to see Akatsuki again, and in shock to witness Konaha devastatingly torn apart in a similar fashion to how her home village was destroyed. But Eishou learns for herself what it is like to want to protect someone with her own life. She reflects on the way her parents and her kin have died for her on many occasions just so she, a sickly, frail non-fighter could survive- something she has always felt some measure of guilt over. Not wanting Konaha to suffer the same fate her clan endured, and feeling indebted to Konaha, Eishou finds the will within herself to do whatever she can to protect it.

Eishou is spotted by Konan in her search for Uzumaki Naruto. She is surprised to see her still alive but does not pursue her. Eishou uses her ability to help Moegi rescue a trapped boy from one of Pein's summons (referring to a filler anime episode), but finds herself too weak and damaged by heavy vibrations from the large-scale attacks on the village that are too overwhelming for her body to withstand. She is taken to the medical center where she finds it somewhat more bearable. Inside, she tries to recompose herself and wants to do what she can help calm some of the fretting patients with her songs. But the overwhelming numbers and some of the grizzly scenes, as well as her own injuries cause her to faint. Since she is with Sakura when Pein's Deva Path detonates his catastrophic Shinra Tensei technique, Eishou is shielded by Katsuyu with Sakura. Sakura leaves her with Katsuyu to be healed, and remains unconscious for the duration of the invasion and of Naruto's battle with Pein.

After waking from severe injuries, she is brought to tears over the condition of the village. At the same time, her respect and admiration for Hinata grows after hearing about her daring endeavors to save Naruto. Likewise, her respect grows for Naruto, observing how warmly the villagers cheer him on as their hero. Eishou is relieved to see Neji and to learn that the villagers are safe and alive.

Konaha History Arc:
Eishou later meets up with Moegi and receives her thanks for her help earlier. She meets her teammates and is impressed by Konahamaru's spirit, taking after Naruto. During this time, Neji is busy helping Konaha rebuild. But Eishou puts into practice the encouragement he gave her to be brave and more confident. Feeling inspired by the optimism of those around her, Eishou plays her part in helping Konaha recover even before she's completely done healing herself. She offers her skills; performing basic first aid, foraging and using resources from nature to provide medicine, food, and tools, teaching simple tasks for cooking and maintaining hygiene until houses with running water can be rebuilt, planting gardens, and singing often to calm the hearts of restless people. She stays in makeshift tents since the inn she was residing in was also destroyed.

On his time off, Neji visits with Eishou and keeps her accountable for taking care of her own health while complimenting her for her help. Eishou becomes awfully curious, hearing about the memories and history people have here with Konaha- so much so, that she tags along with Konahamaru, Udon, and Moegi in their task of interviewing available shinobi for their newspaper, including Neji. Eishou maintains her other tasks at the same time. To commemorate the spirit of the villagers, and the Fifth Hokage for surviving Pein's invasion, Eishou composes a new song for Konaha, featuring Naruto as their village hero. Upon being asked to do so, Eishou sings it and teaches the song to Konahamaruo and his team.

Five Kage Summit Arc:
Eishou becomes troubled and worried over the Konaha-eleven and Sai, after hearing the upsetting news about Sasuke Uchiha. She quietly watches them but does not approach anyone or ask anyone about the situation, feeling it is not her role to do so (or, that she'd be shoving her nose in business it doesn't belong). She tries to be very sensitive to them, especially Naruto and Sakura who seem to be most affected. Eishou maintains faith in Naruto and the Konaha 11, and holds out hope for Sasuke, remembering Itachi's mention of him.

At the end of the arc, she is dismayed and nervous to hear about the pending fourth great shinobi war.

Chikaru Arc,  Confining the Jinchuriki Arc, & Adventures at Sea Arc:
Eishou plays no direct role in any of these arcs. She continues with her own tasks of service to the best of her ability. Her expert knowledge of plants and geography is put to use on missions to collect ingredients for medicine-making. And her link with nature, as well as her chakra-manipulating abilities, allow her to help Konaha grow gardens at a faster rate through her songs. Her times with Neji are far and few in between, but cherished above everything else. Eishou dreads the day the war will begin. The morning of his departure, Neji leaves Eishou with a gift- a pouch of various flower seeds -to ease her worries. He suggests that they grow the seeds together when he returns. Eishou replies that she would happily wait a thousand years and more just to see him again. She watches him leave not long afterwards with the rest of the shinobi, alongside the younger genin and civilians, and sings a song of hope and protection.

Shinobi World War Arc:
Eishou prays vigorously when the war begins, and often stands at the Konaha gates where she last saw Neji and the rest leave. She continues her previous tasks. Recognizing Hanabi, Eishou takes it upon herself to watch over her and offers comfort. She meets Kurenai (though not for the first time) and offers her help as well. While Eishou is not a mother, she joins the Allied Moms Force to defend the children and civilians from rogue shinobi attacks.

On the second day on the battlefield, Neji and his division are encountered by the resurrected bodies of Masayoshi Tenon (Eishou's father) and Tamotsu Tenon (the clan leader). Recognizing them for their unique abilities, Neji's proves his suspicions correct when he asks if they are from the Tenon clan. Masayoshi and Tamotsu regrettably find themselves as reanimated corpses. Surprised, they recognize Neji and Hinata for their Byakugan trait but ask how they know about their small clam with no bloodline trait like the esteemed Hyuuga clan. At that point, Neji is joined by Minoru and Kouta Tenon who identify the reanimated as the two most powerful men in their clan.

When Masayoshi and Tamotsu parted ways when they were alive, they left each other with hurt and regret from the debate that divided their village. While being controlled by Kabuto, the two recognize their own wrongdoings from that time, and display a more humble understanding of the other's perspective. They reconcile and compliment Minoru for enduring so much hardship as a prisoner of Orochimaru. Likewise, they praise Kouta for finally maturing out of the angry and rebellious spirit he held as a boy, and take responsibility for the anger Kouta felt by allowing the clan to fall apart. In turn, Minoru apologizes for his arrogance and disrespect against towards that rendered him a prisoner in the first place. And Kouta apologizes for his acts of disobedience that caused Masayoshi so much trouble. Kouta then reveals that Eishou, Masayoshi's daughter is alive and well which Neji confirms.

Neji, Minoru, and Kouta remain the only ones unaffected by Masayoshi and Tamotsu's catastrophic song-based attacks by plugging their ears with objects on hand instead of with chakra. Neji gathers information from Minoru and Kouta, communicating by lip-reading and visual gestures. He devises a strategy but has doubts due to the risky nature of it. Minoru and Kouta, however, go forward with it and willingly sacrifice themselves in order to put the spirits of their clan headsmen to rest and to prove them their worth. The two thank Neji for his help and tell him not to be upset with their passing, as they are able to die in peace. Tamotsu yells angrily at them for their sacrifice but is proud that they have managed to surpass their leaders in their own way. Before fading away, Masayoshi also thanks Neji for showing kindness to his daughter before fading away.

Once the reincarnated Tenon have dissolved away, their sound jutsu breaks, and Neji's division is freed from its grip. Hinata wakes and comments that the jutsu she felt just now reminded her of Eishou's singing ability when they both were abducted by Akatsuki but seemed far more powerful and deadlier. She is surprised to hear Neji explain who the reanimated attackers were. Neji remembers Eishou and his promise to her with a smile. He reflects on how she's grown from being frightened and silent to being more open and brave in her own unique way. He comments how Eishou has already found a place where she can belong, just as she and Masayoshi have wished for. Hinata agrees, calling Eishou a good friend.

Ten-Tails Revival Arc:

As Neji dies after taking a fatal blow from the Ten-Tailed beast in order to protect Naruto and Hinata, he muses that he finally understood his father's choice of sacrifice to protect his friends. Eishou is included in his thoughts of those he desires to protect as he passes away.

At the same time in Konaha, Eishou intuitively senses something terribly amiss in her spirit about Neji. She runs out to the village gates, the last place she saw Neji, and suddenly begins to cry uncontrollably without fully understanding why. Anxious and worried, she stays there, holding Neji's gift in her hands and prays fervently for Neji's safety.

Return of Madara Arc:
Eishou's anxiety heightens as she perceives the appearance of the red-eye moon to be a frighteningly evil omen. Though she does not know what events are taking place, the Tenon is very aware of the anomalous activity of nature's chakra, and the planet-wide influence of Madara's ultimate jutsu altering chakra levels around her (as well as her own). Terrified, she fearfully resists but succumbs to the genjutsu where she dreams of a world of peace and her fulfilled desire for belongiingness. In it, she is living in her home-village with her clan (alive and well) and wearing the dress of her clan's tradition. While singing for a garden of beautiful flowers grown from the sack of seeds Neji gave, her parents come to inform her that Neji has arrived. Smiling, he offers to help her water the flowers, and she blushingly accepts.

Post-War Era:
*Subject to change based on the progression of the series.

As everyone returns home after the war, Eishou is still as she was- standing at the gates, praying, and searching for Neji. Her health deteriorates quickly from illness for standing outside in the elements without food or rest. Eishou continues to wait for Neji even after everyone has returned, and unwilling to believe that Neji has died. She behaves like a person in shock, unable to respond to the real-world and having lost any perception of time. When her body gives out, she is brought to the medical center for healing which she sneaks out of later to go back to her waiting place. Her refusal to move or be moved, and her consequent delay in receiving medical attention led to the development of a reoccurring and non-curable lung infection that caused her to slowly loose lung capacity over time..

Eventually, Eishou is gently coaxed out of her trance and lured to Neji's fresh grave. Confronted with the reality of his death, she breaks down and weeps bitterly. It is only at this point when she is finally able realize and profess her love for Neji. Later, when she is composed enough, Naruto and Hinata tell her the details of Neji's death and try to encourage her.

From that point on, Eishou suffers a grueling and lengthy grieving process. She despairs over the many lives lost in the war, over the damage to nature because of the war, and over loosing Neji and is reminded of every reason why she hates violence, fighting, and warfare so much. Taking pity on her, and recognizing how much his nephew meant to her, Hiashi Hyuuga takes her in to the Hyuuga estate for lodging. During the time of her grieving, Eishou is chronically ill, spiritually depressed, and prone to sudden collapse and panic attacks. While acknowledging that grief is no stranger to her, considering the many frequent losses she's suffered in the past, Eishou considers the grief over Neji's death to be the most arduous and painful. She begins to regress from the positive changes she's made since meeting Neji, and becomes silent, and closed-off again. While never being overtly rude to anyone, Eishou often reacts despondently to others. Soon, it dawns on her that the pain and fear plaguing her is far more than just about losing the one she didn't know she loved. It becomes about facing her biggest fear of caring for someone, only to see them die for the -enth time. Of having to build and rebuild hope time and time again as the people of her kin fell apart and died one after another. But this time, because she gave her heart away to Neji without knowing it, the subsequent heartbreak was especially devastating, and soul-crushing in ways she's never experienced before. Eishou finds herself lacking any strength or ability to pick up the pieces and rebuild hope again on her own. For a time, she laments the point of even searching for hope anymore if it has been her pattern to have it crushed in her life. Some self-reflection reveals to her that her ability to move on when she was struggling with this same thing as a girl was because of the support she always had in some way from her clan, from nature, or from Neji. Now that all those were gone Eishou is daunted by the fact that the strength of cheer she needs to overcome her grief this time would have to come from herself. Without any family, support, or comfort, she feels utterly alone and powerless to do so.

Eishou begins to drift away, as Naruto and the others heal and readjust to a new life, focusing on Sasuke's successful return, and  as Hinata invests more of her time with Naruto and in becoming the next heir to her clan. It becomes painful for Eishou to see any couples expressing affection or walking together without being reminded of the fact that she never got a chance to realize her true feelings for Neji and express them. Likewise she becomes heart-sore, seeing everyone surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones. While everyone treats her with good intentions, they assume that her grief is solely over Neji's loss and know nothing about the inner turmoil she's wading through. As such, their comments and well-wishes for her to cheer up and not be sad anymore for Neji's sake only serve to deepen her pain. She also feels alienated, as Konaha is rebuilt and returned to normal, feeling out of place and no longer needed.

In her darkest moments, Eishou decides to sever her bonds with everyone she knows and leave Konaha so she will not have to feel the pain and suffering of losing a loved one ever again. Tired of kindly tolerating the advice and good intentions people gave her, she leaves quietly, but does not make it very far without being horrified over the condition of the lands from the battles of the war. She is devastated that she cannot even find her own escape because of it, and is mortified by the amount of death in the earth. Now grieving over the environment, she is quickly found and urged to return to Konaha. Skeptical though, Eishou questions their motive and integrity, suspecting that the reason for their concern is more self-serving than it is about being concerned for her. Eishou returns, however, not because she's been convinced, but because she refuses to accept pity, sympathy, shallow advice, and empty words. She equally refuses to disgrace Neji's sacrifice or lose her dignity by remaining in perpetual depression, or  falling to suicide. Eishou closes her heart off to others. Retaining what's left of her dignity, Eishou clings to the one thing she can do- honoring the dead in whatever way she can -and is determined to do it out of her own volition with the help of heaven.

After her hurt and bitterness has worn off, Eishou becomes private with her grieving and no longer allows herself to be seen crying in public or in front of others. Hinata and the others interpret this as her finally beginning to improve and return back to normal. Eishou contemplates over how to honor Neji's will and legacy. Soon she begins to open up a little again through Hanabi who visits her with injured birds like she did with Neji for her to heal. Seeing Hanabi in her own grief softens her heart, and tending to birds with her calms her spirit. While staying virtually silent, Eishou finds work for pay by tending to local gardens and farms. She finds the chores helpful also in distracting her from her sorrows. Months later, when she's saved enough money from working despite frequent illness, Eishou still finds herself without a clear answer to her question of what she can do to honor Neji. So, she hires two shinobi from the Hokage's office as escorts and goes on something of a pilgrimage to find that answer, and to attempt to reconcile to her spirit her renewed fear of death and loss.

More emotionally stable and clear-minded than the first time around, Eishou leaves with escorts hired to protect her from any rogue ninja or bandits. Eishou still finds the conditions of the forests and plains she grew up with heartbreakingly deplorable, and suffers in her spirit for the damage the war has done to the sacred earth. She begins to retrace her steps and visits each and every one of the grave sites of her fallen kin that she knows of. At each one, she takes her time to pray and wants to sing but is too emotionally and physically weak to do so properly. At the deforested area where her traveling kin were hunted down by Hidan and Kakuzu, Eishou finds new leaves sprouting from the ground- the beginnings of a new forest created from the effects of her song when she paid homage to the fallen with Neji. Later, Eishou is distraught to find her father's grave upturned and his instrument missing. After rebuilding the grave site and markers, Eishou remembers Hinata telling her about Neji's encounter with people from her clan who were reincarnated and realizes that the state of her father's grave was Kabuto's doing. Since there is no longer a body or musical instrument to be buried in the ground, Eishou buries the damaged hair ornament that once belonged to her mother (returned to her by Neji after er rescue from Akatsuki), in the hopes that despite the reanimation curse, her father and mother will be rejoined together in the afterlife once more. However, the ordeal becomes deeply saddening and emotionally taxing for her, and she falls ill. She is forced to spend a few days at a small village to recover. While there she reflects on how much more difficult and painful this journey is for her than she had anticipated.

Pressing onward, she travels to her native homeland, a place she wasn't able to go before in her travels with Neji after regaining her health. Eishou sees for herself the extent of the damage done to the land and relives both positive and negative memories of her youngest years there. She identifies many grave markers new to her as well. At the point of being overwhelmed again with grief, Eishou suddenly experiences a spiritual encounter with her kin, including her mother and father, Minoru, and Kouta. Comforted by their presence, Eishou receives some much-needed encouragement and is reminded of the importance of love, community, and harmony upheld by her clan’s ways. She is told by those who have died to protect her that they willingly did so- not to bring her sadness, but so that she could live and pass on that gift of love to others. Eishou reflects on Neji's sacrifice and sees that his dying wish is very much the same. As she does, she begins to sense his spirit too, and his freedom and peace. So, she comes to realize that the best way to honor the dead is not by remaining in sadness or locked in the past, but by focusing on the present and looking to the future- Not by remembering them with  sorrow or by performing traditional rituals out of guilt, but by caring for, protecting, and loving those around her with the same depth and spirit of sacrifice as has been shown to her out of love. This revelation lifts the long-standing guilt Eishou's been carrying all her years of feeling responsible for so much death on part of her being so physically frail, soft-hearted, and always needing to be protected. It also allows her to begin to relinquish the pain, fear, and unrest of the past brought back by Neji's loss- something she thought she had overcome when she was younger but had only suppressed. Finally, after finding the freedom of letting go of the suffering in her past, Eishou is now able to look again towards the future with a new purpose.

On her way back to Konaha, Eishou feels lighter and more at peace than she's ever felt since the war began. But, she is still troubled and puzzles over how it is she can love others. She makes one last stop at the Fire Temple to pray and meditate on her dilemma for strength and guidance. While there, she notices a number of displaced families and orphaned children taking temporary lodging in the fire temple until they find or are able to return home. She spends an extra day helping the whelmed and over-worked ninja monks tend to them before returning to Konaha.

Eishou's Death:
With peace and strength beginning to grow again in her heart, Eishou is able to visit Neji's grave for the first time since first seeing it, and is finally able to sing him a sending-song. But, the condition of the Fire Temple never does leave her mind, though, as her heart continues to soften. After giving it deep thought, Eishou returns to the temple. While many of the families have now gone, there are still children left behind without a place to return to. Her heart goes out to them, seeing herself in them as lost, uprooted, lonely, and scared orphans. Seeing a great need for helpers, Eishou recognizes that this is the answer she's been searching for. Not wanting any of the children to suffer the same way she has, Eishou volunteers to live in the Fire Temple with the shinobi monks and take over the task of tending to the children. She affirms this as the place where she truly belongs because this is the place where love is desperately needed.

As such, Eishou transitions from the Hyuuga house and into her own quarters at the Fire Temple where she is visited by Hanabi and a few others from time to time. There, Eishou is able to fill a much-needed role at the temple and pours all of her efforts into using her skills to take care of the orphaned children- which she does happily. This is also where Eishou finally decides to plant the seeds Neji gave her on the temple grounds, praying that Neji will help her in spirit to grow them together just as he promised. The garden becomes an important part of creating a sanctuary and environment of stability and peace for the children- as well as a way of teaching them skills of work and harmony. She becomes something of a mother or big-sister figure to the children, and a great help to the monks. Despite still missing Neji on a daily basis, tending to the orphans helps Eishou by taking the focus off herself and allowing her to fulfill her new purpose of sharing her love and caring for others. She begins to heal over time and thrive. Eishou works cooperatively with the other monks and the apprentice Sora (filler character from the 12 Guardian Ninja Arc) who has recently returned to the fire temple. The children help her to open up once more to people, including Naruto and the others, and she returns to her peaceful self. Confidence and joy soon follow as she is determined to live out the positive traits Neji brought out in her regardless of losing him, and determined to live each day loving to the best of her ability without fear or regret. She lives sacrificially for the children who are influenced by her in various ways. Throughout this time, Eishou maintains a relationship with the others in Konaha, but is especially close with Hanabi who still visits when she can.

Having observed Eishou's re-blossoming after her season of severe depression, Hiashi Hyuuga approaches her, approving of her inner strength and positive change, and for choosing to remember his nephew in the way she is doing now. He tells her that although she is not a ninja, or a native/citizen of Konaha, Eishou, too has now inherited the Will of Fire- just as Neji had -for taking on and passing down the will to love, protect, and endure to the orphaned children of the war. Hiashi mentions how pleased Neji must be by her strength of character, and sees why his nephew chose to acknowledge her. Both humbled and honored by his words, Eishou is brought to tears and shows her respect by bowing deeply to express her thanks.

However, Eishou's health has never quite been the same ever since the war. Eishou's health comes and goes but steadily worsens over time. She slowly loses lung capacity (the ability to take in oxygen) due to the reoccurring lung infection which has ruined her already weak immune system, and limits her ability to sing and especially performing her song-based jutsu. On the night of a cold, harsh winter a couple years after the end of the Great Shinobi War, Eishou dies peacefully surrounded by Sora and the children she cared for, attempting to comfort them by singing one last song.

Her last thoughts as she dies are of a hopeful future for the children, satisfied that she gave them her very all. She smiles, happy to finally rest in peace and anticipates being reunited with the lost loved ones who've gone before her. Neji remains at the forefront of her mind.

Legacy:
The children, impacted by Eishou's gentle and loving presence, grow up as part of the next generation of the will-of-fire inheritors. The orphan children came to be very protective of Eishou, thriving off of her nurturing and (usually) listening to her teachings about nature, meditation, music, and chakra. Eishou also takes it upon herself to transcribe from memory onto paper the hundreds of songs she and her clan have crafted since they were destroyed with the village and loss of her people. Ranging from private dedications to traditional tunes to commissioned works about the history and events of other clans and nations, she recreates as many as she can from her recollection and uses them to teach the children as well. They gain an appreciation for life and nature from her, and learn chakra control, or other simple tasks such as basic first aid, cooking, and foraging from her combined efforts with Sora. While some of the children leave the temple to enter Konaha's ninja academy, others stay to continue their education with Eishou (until her passing) and the monks. While Sora was initially inconvenienced and frustrated over the children's presence (unsure of how to react to them, or sometimes bickering with some of the older, craftier ones), he comes to adapt the same kind of compassion and care Eishou displayed by observing her consistent behavior with them. After her death, they each in their own way keep her in their memory as a sister or mother-figure, friend, and teacher. Sora takes up her role and assumes responsibility of the children. Some of the children grow to become well-rounded Konaha shinobi, others become the next generation of monks or fire temple guardian-ninja. Still others become healers and teachers, living a civilian life until they grow to have families of their own.

Eishou's library of songs have remained, and her garden still grows as a testament to her devotion, will, and heart, and is fondly tended to by those residing in the fire temple.

Uzumaki Naruto:
Eishou does not meet Naruto until after he returns temporarily from his wind-element training with Kakashi and Yamato. When she first meets him, she is confused from the fact that she sensed two “heartsongs” inside of him: one belonging to himself, and a darker one belonging to the Kyuubi- something she’s never experienced before. Baffled, and not knowing Naruto to be a Jinchuuriki, Naruto bewildered her and made Eishou uneasy. When she learns from Sakura, Neji, Hinata, and a few others of the outstanding inspiration and character Naruto is, and about his story as the host of the nine-tailed beast, Eishou opens up to, and fully respects him.

Haruno Sakura:
Sakura is one of the first shinobi from Konaha Eishou encounters at her introduction in Part II of the series. She tended to Eishou’s injuries. Though Eishou was wary and unsettled after experiencing something difficult at the time, she took comfort in Sakura’s caring nature and was astonished when Sakura went so far as to defend her from Akatsuki. Sakura is someone she appreciates and respects, though her angry, violent outbursts tend to intimidate and startle her.

Sai:

=== Sai was on Sakura’s team when Eishou was first encountered. They both puzzle each other- Sai for his social awkwardness, and Eishou for her lyrical manner of speech. Neither is ever really sure of how to behave in front of the other, but are polite towards each other and try to understand the other. Both share a deep love of fresh tofu. ===

Uchiha Sasuke:
=== Eishou encountered Sasuke briefly when she was a prisoner of Akatsuki. Terrified by the darkness and coldness of his chakra, Eishou learned to see past his evil through the way Naruto, Sakura, and Itachi speak so fondly of him. Save for their first encounter, she has no other significant meetings with Sasuke until after the fourth great shinobi war when Sasuke (presumably) returns to Konaha in his right state of mind. However, she holds out hope for him by believing in the willpower of those who seek to bring him back home safely. She is happy for him when he does, remembering how important he was to Itachi. ===

Uchiha Itachi:
She first knew Uchiha Itachi as her kidnapper, and the one in charge of overseeing  her as Akatsuki’s prisoner. While scared and cautious, Eishou was deeply perplexed and moved by his foreboding sense of suffering and sacrifice. To Itachi, Eishou is something of a reminder of his brother Sasuke. She becomes the one person to see so quickly past his mask of cold evilness, and through to his heart without Itachi having to behave like a monster to her. In secret, Itachi resolves to covertly help Eishou escape the Akatsuki to spare her the sort of pain he caused his clan and his brother, and to preserve her innocence. From Itachi, Eishou learns that not everything is as black-and-white as they might seem, and that there is such a thing as the “unsung hero” no one knows about. Meeting him also helped her to be more open-minded about Uzumaki Naruto as well. Later on when Itachi faces Sasuke, Eishou senses his death and sings him a sending-song as is tradition in her clan for those who have passed away to honor him for his sacrifice and spirit.

Hyuuga Neji:

=== Neji was the designated captain of the team he was on with Haruno Sakura and Sai, when first meeting Eishou. Initially suspicious of her excessive silence, Neji viewed Eishou as an obligation, a duty and part of his mission he had to complete. While trying to learn more about her, Neji became one of the only people to grasp the cryptic messages in her manner of speech so quickly. After a series of events where he learned her story, and after seeing her selfless nature in action, he softened up towards her and became open and accepting of her. Eishou admired Neji at first meet for his skill and demure, but was a tad intimidated by his sternness. When he begins to show interest in her, she slowly learns to open up. The two develop something of a mutual interest in each other and grow closer over time. From Neji, Eishou learns to express herself verbally a little more, and become more confident, brave, and trusting. She is especially touched to hear about his story and respects him for his positive change. The two relate to each other through the quietness of the others’ company, and their individual bird-related metaphors. Neji comes to find her presence refreshingly calm and soothing, and is able to smile and relax a little more around her. He has since apologized for being suspicious of her and cherishes her for her innocence and sophisticated wisdom. They are both very courteous, well-mannered, and formal towards one another ('lady' and 'gentlemen'-like). Neither display their sentiments publicly but are more open in private time spent alone together. It takes a very sharp and suspicious eye for anyone around them to see their growth. Before leaving for the Fourth Shinobi War, Neji gives her a sack of seeds and promises to grow a garden with her when he returns. Though it is the last time she ever sees him, it was their subtle way of revealing deeper feelings for each other. Eishou grieves arduously over his loss and is only able to realize that she loved him after learning of his death. She remembers him daily and is inspired by him to retain the positive change he has made in her life. She regrets not verbally confessing her love, but seeks to honor his will and noble sacrifice. Eishou   looks forward to meeting him again someday in the afterlife. ===

Hyuuga Hinata:
Eishou was naturally drawn towards Hinata due to her similar character traits of gentleness and shyness, and can be called her "best friend" figure. Eishou admires Hinata, though, for being braver and stronger than she is. They relate to each other for secretly admiring someone from afar. After the war though, as Hinata continues to focus her attention more on Naruto and on becoming the next Heir of the Hyuuga clan, the two drift away somewhat for a time but remain close friends.<

Hyuuga Hanabi:

=== She knows Hanabi as Hinata’s little sister and Neji’s little cousin. They knew each other as acquaintances up until the fourth shinobi war. During the war, Eishou stays with the civilians and younger children in Konaha and offers Hinabi support by being by her side while they wait for everyone to come home. After the war and after Neji's loss,  Together, they nurse injured birds back to health while Hanabi helps her grow her garden with the seeds Neji gave her. Eishou takes on Hanabi as a beloved responsibility, and a young-sister figure. ===

Sora:
(Filler character from the Twelve-Guardian Ninja Arc)

Sora's appearance in the filler series was one of cold indifference, arrogance, and spite towards those he dislikes yet respect to his superiors. By the end of the filler series,  he finds many things in common with Naruto and leaves to travel the world. Some time after the end of the 4th Great Shinobi War, it is assumed that he returns back to the Fire Temple from his travels as a guardian-ninja monk apprentice. It is also assumed that by this time due to the change Naruto made in him, Sora is a a calmer character without so many trust issues he had at the beginning of his introduction. Eishou meets him when she goes to live at the Fire Temple. He, like the other monks, are thankful for her help- but isn't entirely sure how to behave around her due to her presence, her personality, and frailty. He feels awkward with her at first and somewhat guarded/uncertain of himself but quickly becomes respectful, appreciative,and protective of her as he sees her gentle nature and sincerity and especially after learning about how she came to live at the temple inthe first place.

Eishou has learned her lesson from her encounter with Naruto. So Although Sora has the same anomaly of a dark, hostile chakra resonance inside of him apart from his own, she does not allow herself to judge Sora after first meeting him despite the pseudo-tailed beast inside of him. She focuses instead on listening to his true 'heartsong' and is nothing but kind and gentle towards him (though it is counter-intuitive for her at times). He becomes someone she can depend on especially when it comes to the safety of the orphan children she comes to tend to. Although sometimes returning to his petulant ways and ending up being tended to by Eishou in the same way as the children, Sora is grows to appreciate and open up to her as time passes. Her lifestory and her efforts to rise above her suffering challenges him to do the same and inspires him to be more tolerant with the children at the fire temple, even taking up the task of tutoring them in the ways of meditation and ninjutsu. Along with Naruto's help, Eishou's loss at the time of her death becomes another shifting point in his life to help Sora mature,be more responsible and peace-filled, and in finding his own vision and direction.

Trivia
--Eishou's name means aria/Singing", and Tenon  means "blessing of heaven"/"blessing of nature".

--Both Eishou and Neji use metaphors referring to themselves as birds. While Neji expresses his entrapment by fate as feeling like a caged bird, Eishou refers to herself as a bird perpetually in flight that cannot land as a means to describe her sense of longing for a home or place to belong as a nomad.

--Her favorite foods are fresh fruits and vegetable, or fresh tofu. While her least favorite foods are anything fried/greasy or preserved. She is, more or less, vegetarian but might eat fish from time to time depending on how it is prepared.

--Her hobbies include gardening, singing, reciting poetry, and watching nature scenery.

--Eishou is extremely sensitive to touch/feel and does not enjoy being touched without warning or permission.

--She adores small sparrows and birds.

--Some of her fears include fire, blood (in larger amounts), and to some extent, heights.

--The inspiration for Eisho's primary outfit is based off of the Korean traditional gown called Hanbok.

--Eishou never grows taller than 4'8" - 4'9". if she did, her bones would be too stretched-thing to support her body and she'd loose mobility.

--Her favorite word is "Hope"

--Eishou has a vocal range of nearly three octaves. (A3-G6)

--Eishou dislikes electronic sounds and vibrations, including things like music playing off of speakers. She also dislikes performing or being forced to perform for others- karaoke music is not her thing either due to her philosophy of music and sensitivity to sounds.

--Her one wish is to find a place where she can finally belong.

Quotes:
"But who? Who would welcome the chaff of the wind into their bountiful gardens? I...am a bird that cannot land."

(To Shino's bug) "From where do you come? And to where will you go?"

(To Itachi) "Never have I heard a more sorrowful, a more burdensome melody than the sighs of this black swan clothed in crow's skin..."

"Water and stone, bamboo and pine. The moon over the western hill, and sun of the eastern skies- Besides these companions, what more should I ask?"

(To Neji) "As surely as the sun rises and sets each day…so will my faith in you never fail~"

(To Neji) "You are my sky of unending dreams~ And the song this fervent heart sings~"

References:
-Coming soon-ing Soon-