((A.N. HIII I'm back with another story I wrote a while ago, lol, each chapter is at a diferent stage of Hinata's pregnancy, and although this chappy isn't that full of action I promise the later chappys will be. Please rate and review and I know Hinata seems out of character but I did that purposely to show how much she's progressed since she got together with and married Naruto.))

Hinata stood in front of the other Hyuga family members, "I'm sure you all know why you're gathered here." She said a tone of grief to her voice, "My father, head of this family, has passed away last night." Neji was sitting across the room from her; Hanabi was sitting straight and showing great authority through her posture, she was promised by Hinata that she could keep her status as a head family member even though she was a branch family member. "Being the eldest daughter of Hiashi Hyuga, upon his passing I become head of the head family."

She looked to Neji with a slight smile on her face. Neji raised an eyebrow at his cousin questioningly. Hinata cleared her throat, "I have decided that with my generation, the rules should be changed, to do such a task by myself is near impossible, so as my first act as head of the Hyuga clan, I am giving half of the leadership to Neji." Neji paused in shock.

The room fell into silence. Finally Hanabi stood up, "Are you insane sister?" she exclaimed in rage, "You're handing over power to a," she looked Neji up and down with a glare of disgust, "branch family member." Hinata glared at her sister, "Are you doubting my leadership?" she snapped.

Hanabi nodded, "I'm doubting your mental state! You're throwing away years of tradition!" Two other men stood up, "Yes Miss Hinata, you were chosen as the head of this clan. It's your birthright."

"Shouldn't we choose the head members of the family by skills and leadership qualities? No one here, not even myself, is more suited than Neji."

Neji stared at Hinata, she'd changed so much over the years after she became a Jounin, she'd married Naruto, and become almost as strong as Neji had, she'd earned the respect of the whole family, most Shinobi in Konoha and even her enemies were respectful of her.

Everyone had become pleased with her capability to take over the head of the family; even Hiashi was smiling about the idea. Neji had no idea Hinata was thinking of changing the rules and traditions of the family. He stared at her arguing her point confidently.

"But miss Hinata, if you must share the position maybe your sister would be a better choice."

"My sister is not qualified enough. In my eyes Neji is a better choice; I mean no disrespect Hanabi but Neji is the best choice in the family, I have researched this very thoroughly and I think a branch family member would be a better choice than a head family member."

Hanabi's fists were shaking at her sides, "I am the better choice to lead; I was the stronger sister when we were younger…"

"But you're not stronger now Hanabi, and you are incapable to lead. Am I the only one who's noticed the rage between the head house and branch house? I want to solve these problems, but in order to do so I need help of a strong branch family member. And during my independent research I have chosen Neji, I will not back down on this unless Neji doesn't accept the position."

Hanabi stormed out of the room and the two men who'd stood up sat back down. Hinata cleared her throat, "Neji, do you accept the position?" Neji stood, "I accept." He replied quietly.

Hinata was reading over records in her office when a knock on the door startled her, "Enter." She replied waving her hand. Neji stepped into the room and closed the door behind him, "Hinata… why did you…"

"Do I need to explain again?" she asked looking up from the scrolls in front of her, "I want to do what's best for the clan, the whole clan not just my house."

"The rest don't see it like that, Hanabi especially."

"Hanabi is a spoilt child she'll get over it." Neji paused he remembered when he'd said the same thing to Hinata during a fight they'd had in the Chunnin exams. He felt a pang of guilt when he saw how red her eyes had become from excessive reading.

He stepped up behind her desk, "Why are you looking over these?" he asked. Hinata didn't turn from the scroll she was reading, "They're the death reports of all the branch family member's Shinobi. It seems that these haven't been looked over properly, only signed."

Neji looked to a pile of scrolls dumped at the side of her desk, they reached over the height of the desk; "You have to read all of those?" He asked. Hinata smiled, "I've already read all of them, the ones left are in the cupboard." She gestured to the open cupboard behind her. Neji's eyes widened, it was almost jam packed full of scrolls. "You need a break."

"I need to get through these, I have a mission tomorrow and…"

"All the more reason to take a break, when did you last see your husband?" Hinata paused; a worried look crossed her face, "What?" asked Neji. Hinata took a deep breath, "Can I confide in you Neji?" she asked, "I know we're cousins, but since we became Jounin I've come to think of you as a brother." Neji nodded. He was aware of them becoming closer ever since they'd been put on the same team for a mission a few years ago. "What's wrong?"

"I'm… I'm carrying Naruto's child." She admitted quietly. Neji froze. "Does he know?"

"Not yet… he's just come back from a mission and I didn't want to worry him."

"When did you find out?"

"Two months ago…"

"What?" he exclaimed, "You didn't even try to contact him?" Hinata shrugged, "He was on Orochimaru's trail and I… it's more important for Naruto to find Sasuke again."

"Is it Hell? Do you know what would happen if Hanabi found out?" Hinata nodded slowly, "That's why I told you first."

"She's dead set on being your successor, she might try to… well you know."

"Kill my unborn child? That's why I haven't been eating in the household." Neji grasped Hinata's wrist, "We're telling Naruto now."

"Why?"

"Because you need his protection… and mine."

"But I can fight for myself."

"If you end up having a battle with Hanabi you'll damage the baby at the least." Hinata stopped and touched her stomach protectively, "I…"

"Exactly, now we're going to see your husband." Neji dragged her out of the doorway before she could protest further.

Naruto looked to Sakura questioningly, "I mean I just don't get it, he just… it's like he's always one step ahead of us you know?" Naruto nodded. Sakura sighed flustered, "Have you seen Hinata since her father passed away?"

Naruto shook his head, "I've been writing the stupid paperwork." He looked sideways at Sakura. Sakura shrugged, "You were the one that wanted an arm wrestle to see who did the paperwork not me." Naruto looked down, "I forgot about your strength, I'm an idiot ok?"

"You're not an idiot, you're a smart idiot." Sakura pushed his head a little and laughed. Naruto smiled fondly. He looked ahead of them and saw a shadow standing in the distance, "Hey isn't that…"

"Lee!"

Sakura ran ahead of him towards the figure. She jumped into Lee's arms, "I missed you!" she squealed hugging him tightly. Naruto caught up with them and smiled at his good friend, "Hey." Said Lee, "Any luck in finding our youthful friend?" He was carrying Sakura bridal style. She was smiling contently with her arms wrapped around his neck.

"No luck, Orochimaru managed to run off and destroy a small village, if it wasn't for Sakura the people would have all died." Lee smiled at his girlfriend, "I'll buy you dinner?" he offered Sakura nodded, "Sure, are you coming Naruto?" Naruto shook his head, "I'd better go and see Hinata; I miss her." Lee let Sakura out of his arms and put his arm around her waist, "Well say hi for us and if you want to meet up later…"

"I know." Naruto waved as he turned and ran towards his and Hinata's home. As he got to the door he heard a cough behind him. He turned to see Neji dragging Hinata by the wrist towards him. "Hi Naruto." He said letting go of Hinata's wrist.

Naruto went to hug Hinata but she backed off. Naruto paused a little confused. "Hinata has something she wants to tell you," said Neji looking sternly to his cousin. He looked behind him, "I'll go and check up on those scrolls you were looking at and I'll go over your notes." He waved as he walked off.

Hinata opened the door and walked into the house before Naruto. "What's the matter?" asked Naruto following her through the door. Hinata paused with her back to him she turned slowly, "I…I…I'm," she took a deep steadying breath.

Naruto was beginning to get nervous; he hadn't seen Hinata this shy since they were genin. "Naruto… I'm pregnant." She said finally. Naruto paused in shock, "I'm sorry what did you say?"

"I'm p-pregnant." Naruto's face lit up so suddenly it startled Hinata, "Really?" He gasped her shoulders and hugged her tightly, "Hinata this is incredible news, we're going to have a child together."

Hinata smiled weakly, "Only, you've heard of my father's death right?" Naruto nodded. Hinata took a deep breath, "This has to remain a secret if Hanabi or any other bitter clan members were to find out they may try to… kill our child."

"Why would they be bitter?"

Hinata explained everything to him about Neji and the anger of the clan towards her. Naruto sat down and sighed, "Well, I'll look after you in any case." He said. Hinata smiled and walked towards their bedroom, "I have a mission tomorrow so…"

"No you don't!" Said Naruto standing up quickly, "A mission could harm the baby, nope, you're going to stay right here with me and we're going to look after you and the baby together." He said. Hinata paused and turned, "But I…"

"No buts now go to sleep we'll both go to Tsunade in the morning and explain that you can't do the mission."

Neji put the scroll to one side and thought to himself for a few minutes, as much as he tried to put his concentration into the task at hand he couldn't stop thinking that something bad was going to happen to Hinata.

He stood up from the desk and stepped out of the room. He paused when he heard Hanabi's voice drifting through one of the rooms close by.

"How could she do this to me?" she ranted, "Stupid sister, I should be head of this clan not her." Neji frowned. "And who does she pick to rule? An inferior branch family member whose father was executed for being weak!"

Neji's hand clenched into a fist at his side. "She'll pay for being such a soft touch. Father always favoured me anyway. I should have been born first and I should be the one acting as the head of the family." Neji turned and walked back to his own house, his head filled with thoughts of worry.

Tsunade smiled slightly, "So you have a mini brat on the way." She said looking to Naruto. Naruto smiled broadly, "Isn't it great?"

"Well obviously you can't do any missions for a while Hinata."

"We want to keep this a secret though Tsunade-sama." Explained Hinata, "If certain members of the Hyuga clan were to find out about our child things could become dangerous." Tsunade nodded, "I understand. I'll appoint Sakura as your midwife, she'll look after you and your baby; I'll make sure she keeps it a secret."

"Thanks." Said Naruto. Hinata smiled a little relieved. "But what am I supposed to do for seven months?" Tsunade shrugged, "Have a break?" Naruto put his arm around Hinata, "Don't worry I'll keep her from the missions." He said. "You better had, I'll put off your missions too if Hinata needs the protection." Naruto nodded.

Sakura pulled her hand from Hinata's stomach, the blue chakra disappeared, "You're baby is perfectly healthy so far, although it's developing extremely quickly." Hinata looked to Naruto worried. Sakura smiled and waved her hand dismissively, "It's probably something to do with the nine tails gene nothing to worry about; although it's developing quickly the baby is going through the stages fine. It'll probably take about a month off the pregnancy though."

"Wait, are you saying the nine tails is effecting my child?" asked Naruto. Sakura nodded, "I'll look into it but it's not often that a Jinchuriki had enough friends to fall in love and have a family. But I'll research it as thoroughly as I can."

((Yes I know this chappy was kinda boring but I needed to put it in to explain everything lol, so ya I hope you liked it anyway and please REVEIW!!! PLEASE!!!! coiugh cough I mean if you reveiw you get some imaginary money.))