Un-Arranging an Arranged Marriage...
Here's the second part. This is also where all the good stuff happens. So I hope you enjoy this last part. Also, I'm thinking about an epilogue and wanna know what you think. Thanks!
Summary: Naruto Uzumaki finally became what he always wanted, The Hokage of Konoha. And Hinata Hyuuga, through blood, sweat and tears finally became head of the Hyuuga clan. But one problem arises, the only way she can stay head is if she goes through with an arranged marriage. Hinata, distressed, tells Naruto the news, and there's no way he's going to let one of his best friends go through with an arranged marriage they don't want! He just needs to find out how to stop it.
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
Lunch was exhausting. Hinata did as she was told. Smiled. Was polite. Well-mannered. But inside all she wanted to do was… well, leave.
"-And what a young Hokage!" Iwao was talking about Konoha, "You'd think the leader of a village should have at least hit puberty." He laughed to himself at his joke, while Hinata 'hummed' quietly. Not impressed.
He wasn't a large noble, which was surprising for Hinata. With riches, in many occasions came weight. And it wasn't surprising, considering rich people also didn't need much exercise. The Yuuichi weren't a shinobi clan – this was chosen quite skilfully by the Hyuuga elders. They didn't want a marriage that would simply cause disruption in the clan – and a husband to her that would try and take over their shinobi affairs. He was to be simply a spokesperson (because Hinata was a woman in no way could speak for herself), while the Hyuuga elders would remain in charge of all duties and arrangements.
But Iwao was rather thin, and looked as though he was not unused to exercise. He wasn't fit like a shinobi by any means, but he had obviously been rather strong in his younger years. Probably had a hobby of fencing, or swordsmanship. Hinata mused, which wouldn't be surprising since he was from the land of Iron.
He had a great mane of grey hair, long and reaching his back, and dark eyes. She wasn't sure if the grey was because of his age – premature greying – or it had always been that colour. He obviously wasn't quite that old yet, but in his 40s, he could still pass for her father.
"Hinata, were you listening?" An eye lowered down to hers, clearly unimpressed.
Hinata painted expression on her face. The perfect Hyuuga. "My apologies, Iwao-san. I was simply lost in thought. Could you repeat yourself?" Polite. Smile. Well-mannered.
Either way, she was getting out of this marriage.
In the meantime, best not to anger the elders.
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
He was going to tell her.
The timing was off. She had just been introduced to her fiancé. He hadn't even really figured out how to be a Hokage yet. And neither of them had any idea on how to stop her from getting married.
But he needed to tell her.
"Hinata!" He spotted her stepping out of the Hyuuga residence, and dutifully ignored the looks the Hyuuga guards gave him as he called out her name without honorific. It wasn't like they could say anything to him if they wanted to – he was the Hokage now, which met he was far higher up than them and couldn't be reprimanded by guards.
Hinata, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice or care about the lack of honorific, and turned to him, a gentle smile on her face.
She was dressed up, which normally would've made Naruto's heart melt. But instead, this meant that there must have been a meeting in the Hyuuga. And lately, that meant nothing but bad news for Naruto's heart.
Well, he huffed to himself. Not anymore.
He stalked over to the young Hyuuga, determination in his stance and a twinkle in his eye, and Hinata's face fell. She saw the beauty in him, the beauty that the village was only just starting to appreciate. And she wished she could admire it for a little bit longer – considering forever didn't seem to be an option anymore.
"Hinata, I-"
"-I'm leaving tomorrow."
"What?" Naruto's head shot up and they both blinked.
"I-" Hinata began to explain, but her first sentence finally seemed to process in Naruto's mind and his arms shot out to grab her by the shoulders.
"You can't get married yet!" He yelled, shaking her shoulders slightly, "I haven't fixed this! We haven't- You can't- I don't.." He fumbled over his words, looking more and more startled by the second. This wasn't okay! He wasn't ready to lose her yet! He hadn't even had enough time to try and win her over. To stop the wedding. This just couldn't be happening! Not yet.
Hinata sighed quietly, reaching a gentle hand and threading it through his fingers on her shoulders. "It's okay Naruto," She started slowly, looking up to him, "I-"
Her words muffled.
Her eyes wide.
Her lips… soft.
And it was the prettiest thing Naruto had ever seen.
He hadn't even thought. Too overwhelmed by the whole situation. He just… reacted. And then he realised what he had done, his lips pressed firmly against her own and he almost fainted, blood rushing to his face. He was an idiot. Hinata was going to hate him.
He was going to regret this.
He started to step away, embarrassed and ashamed but it seemed that was the exact moment she seemed to process what was happening and her hands drifted up and gripped his slightly stubbled jaw – he hadn't shaved in almost 24 hours – and pressed his lips closer to her own.
He didn't regret it.
He grinned into the kiss, wide and satisfied. Wrapping his arms around her head and moving his lips against hers delicately. She was a vision. He knew that, even as his eyes drifted closed and one of his hands curled around her hair while the other gripped her waist.
He wasn't going to ever let go.
And then again neither was she.
He hands drifted from his stubble to the back of his head, twisting his neck so she had better access to his firm lips. They were salty, she tasted with a quiet giggle, tasting the ramen that he must have eaten for lunch. It was so strong and firm and so incredibly Naruto that she couldn't help the giggle that burst from her lips, causing him to back away from her questionably for a second, only to pull himself back in moments later at the look in her eyes and smile on her lips.
The remaining moments felt like forever and yet not long enough, before she pulled away, very certain that the Hyuuga guards were watching their interaction and her fiancé was in the Hyuuga guest house not too far away and if they were caught now there would be nothing but trouble for the both of them – and that was something neither of them could afford quite yet.
Naruto frowned slightly as she pulled away, before catching the glance of her eyes to the disapproving Hyuuga guards that were pretending to stare at the koi pond but he knew well enough that their attention was surely on him and the heiress.
He was drifted back to her as she smiled gently at him. "Are you gonna let me talk now?"
Naruto blinked slowly, confused. "What?"
"Naruto, I'll be back in a week." She traced her fingers across his jaw. "I'm simply seeing the Yuuichi residence. Meeting up with the elders and discussing diplomatic negotiations."
"You're not getting married yet?"
"I'm not getting married."
"We still have time?"
"We still have time." She repeated his words back to him, and he was comforted by the strength in her eyes.
They still had time.
He was going to kiss her again.
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
Naruto was restless.
He couldn't find a damn thing wrong with the marriage contract, short of killing the bastard – a factor that hadn't yet been eradicated from his mind. Yet.
He was tired and lonely and it has been four days since she left and here he was accomplishing nothing!
"Naruto, you need some rest." The voice of Konohamaru knocked the Hokage out of his thoughts. "You've been working too hard on all the Kage work, as well as this contract. You clearly haven't slept in days. Go home. Get some sleep. You'll work better in the morning."
Naruto didn't even have the energy to argue. He was tired and devastated. He used to always be able to do something. Anything! And now he was the freaking Hokage and if anything the title was holding him back! If he could just talk to the guy.
A spark.
"SHIKAMARU!" Naruto bolted up from his seat where he was almost comatose, shocking Konohamaru into instinctively creating a rasengan.
"Shikamaru's not here boss." Konohamary sighed, dismantling the rasengan and rubbing his forehead in pain. "I don't know what you-" He turned to glare at his boss, only to see an empty seat. "God dammit."
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
Shikamaru knew it was coming. He could hear the yelling from half way across the city. He gave himself ten more seconds of blissful cloud gazing before sitting up and waiting for the arrival of his knuckleheaded friend.
"He can annul the marriage."
The first sentence out of the Hokage's mouth didn't make any sense. Not that SHikamaru was surprised, it looked like Naruto hadn't slept a wink since he was told about the arranged marriage. "Naruto we've talked about that. They would get nothing out of annulling the contract. Not only would it be seen as an insult to the Hyuuga, but their stance and stature as a clan is about to be monumentally lifted. Especially considering how hard they fought for this position, there isn't a single chance they'd change their minds now."
Naruto shook his head rapidly. "But if I could just talk to them. I could change their minds!"
"There's nothing in the contract about a third-party getting involved. There's no doubt there are others trying to talk both the Hyuuga and the Yuuichi out of this marriage, other clans wanting to wed the heir. But I highly doubt they'd listen to you. Even if you are the Hokage."
Naruto blinked slowly. "Could I-"
"You can't declare war on another country simply because they've been contracted to marry the girl you love. It's not illegal."
"It should be! Can't I even-"
"You can't declare arranged-marriages illegal either. Besides, this one has already been declared, so if you were to do something so stupid, this contract would still remain in effect."
"Okay, then I'll talk to them! They can still back out of the contract right? I'll convince them to let her go."
Shimamaru nodded, "They can back out up until the day of the marriage. As can the Hyuuga." He still was skeptical about Naruto's crazy idea, but knowing the Hokage like he did, the probability of him succeeding on his determination alone was considerable. He had an ability, that Uzumaki. One he barely even realised himself.
"Then I need to go!" And as swiftly as he came – albeit much quieter – Naruto disappeared.
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
Konohamaru wasn't surprised when his boss reappeared less than an hour later in his 'Hokage-mode', all serious and demanding. "I need a team."
And immediately, his assistant was intrigued. "For what?"
"I'm going to bring Hinata back. I'd go alone, but I don't think it's acceptable for the Hokage to travel by himself."
"Alright. Who do you want?" Konohamaru grinned. It had been a while since he had seen his boss this compassionate about something.
"Bring me Sasuke. He's been too lazy lately. The two of us can handle it."
"Can I come?"
When Naruto looked up Konohamaru's eyes were wide, begging, lips in a pout.
"Konohamaru you're eighteen, not eight. That won't work on me any… alright stop it you can come." Naruto rolled his eyes. "Get ahold of Shikamaru and Kakashi – they're taking over from me while I'm gone. Send them in so I can let them know. This will be considered a diplomatic mission. Of importance. No one will know more than that except Shikamaru, Kakashi, and the three of us going on the mission."
"Worried they'll judge you and you'll have to get removed as Hokage?"
"Shut it. And then get ready. We leave tomorrow morning. Dawn."
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
"Don't you think you're cutting it a bit close with your girlfriend? I mean, she's getting married."
"Shut up Sasuke." Naruto growled as his best friend appeared next to him first thing the next morning. He couldn't sleep, so Naruto had been packed and waiting at the village entrance for the past hour.
"I mean, when did you figure it out? You've loved her for years. But no, of course. You're too oblivious and you had to wait until she was engaged to somebody else to realise." Sasuke chuckled, dodging an angry fist from his Hokage. "How jealous did you get when you found out? I can imagine that would've been entertaining."
The next punch hit him square in the jaw, sending him stepping back from the power behind it. "I said shut up Sasuke!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes, stretching his jaw. "Alright, alright. Calm down, Dobe."
"Can we leave now?" Konohomaru must've appeared during their altercation, the younger man hopping from foot to foot in excitement. "It's been a while since I've been on a mission. Being your assistant sure is boring, Boss!"
"Do you want me to fire you?"
"No, Sir!"
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
The land of Iron was a cool, mountainous region, home to a number of wealthy clans, but wasn't large enough or prominent enough to contain a shinobi empire. Most money was created through blacksmithery, and particularly talented individuals created chakra weapons that created a lot of the wealth of the country. The legendary seven swords were created here, along with many other lesser-known weapons. The other source of wealth was through their avid mining industry, and jewels, which were sometimes incorporated into their weapons for particularly wealthy buyers.
It would be fair to say that the nation was more than surprised to see a man that looked an awful lot like the Hokage of Konoha walking through their small towns, but for the most part ignored him and his two friends as travellers – there were many that visited their fair and wealthy country. Mostly in need of weaponry or knowledge.
"There's no colour here." Konohamaru complained as they walked through the land of Iron, kicking a small rock out of the way.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "What did you expect? This is the land of Iron."
Naruto ignored his two companions, and sped toward the nearest human being, "Excuse me? Hi, I'm looking for the Yuuichi residence. Do you know where I can find it?"
Before the man even finished talking, Naruto was off in the direction he pointed. Sasuke and Kohonamaru sighed, following the blonde at a much more regular pace. The idiot had made them run the whole way here, and still wasn't letting up on the pace.
"It's not like she's going anywhere!" Konohamaru yelled after him, to no success.
It didn't take Naruto long to find the Yuuichi residence. To no surprise, it looked like a wealthy-clan address – Big. And wealthy. Naruto grumbled about all the unnecessary illustrations of wealth. Random statue-like waterfall out the front. Hinata would hate it here.
Not like that'd matter, Naruto thought to himself, Yuuichi would be coming to Konoha.
And that thought just made him depressed, so he shook his thoughts from his head, raised his chin, and stepped toward the entrance.
"Hi. Excuse me, sir. I'm looking for Iwao Yuuichi. He should be here with one Hinata Hyuuga. There's an urgent matter I must discuss with him."
The guard looked at him, his brow knitted in annoyance. "Do you think you're funny? Go away, Jackass."
Naruto stepped back, temper flaring, "What the hell's you're problem? I'm just looking to talk to Iwao. I'm not here to cause problems. I swear!"
"Is this a prank?"
Now the guard was looking confused.
And so was Naruto.
"What are you talking about?"
"Iwao's dead."
Naruto jumped back, confused. "What? Then what do you need Hinata for? Is she returning to the village?" Relief washed through him.
"Something doesn't make sense." Naruto looked over to see Sasuke standing behind him. Looking just as interested in this conversation as he was. "When did Iwao die?"
"About a year and a half ago." The guard was no longer angry by this conversation, now feeling almost just as confused as the Konoha nin.
There was several moments of dead silence as the Konoha ninja processed this new information. "He died?!" Naruto yelled, anger burning at his core. A solid hand clamping onto his shoulder calmed him down gently. "Then who created the contract? Who was in my villiage just over a week ago?!"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, but Iwao is dead, and there haven't been any more by his name since then." The guard looked a little bit disconcerted with the way this conversation was going. "I'm sorry, if that's not what you wanted to hear."
"Then where the hell is Hinata?!" Naruto was no longer talking to the guard. He spun on his feet and grabbed Sasuke by the collar, growling at his face.
Sasuke knew he was more angry at himself than anything, but that didn't mean the Hokage grabbing him by the collar didn't piss him off. Grumbling, Sasuke removed Naruto's hands and thanked the guard. "We better find her then." He knew that's what the Hokage wanted to hear, and turned to walk away.
Konohamaru, meanwhile, was standing by with his jaw dropped open, astounded by the whole conversation. What does he mean Iwao's dead? That doesn't…. He glanced at his boss. "Naruto…"
Naruto looked down at him.
"I'll find her. Whatever it takes."
Konohamaru looked at him, "But how? She could be anywhere!"
Naruto grinned, and his fingers deftly formed a hand-sign.
"Kage bushin no jutsu."
Sasuke stood next to the horde of Naruto, all of which were silent, but radiating an anger he hadn't seen in a very long time. "She couldn't be far from here. Hinata's not stupid. She'd have known if they were taking her in a different direction to Iron village. So we just need to find where that is."
Naruto nodded. "Everyone's got that picture of him from his file. So all we need to do is ask."
And with that, the horde disappeared.
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
Konohamaru stepped through the small village, picture of Iwao grasped tightly in his fingers. He had to find the girl for his boss – who was already losing his mind.
He himself couldn't quite grasp how these events had changed so quickly. From a mission to bring back the Hyuuga, to her being missing – it was a lot to get his head around.
"Excuse me!" He called out to a young woman standing at a vendor. "Is there any chance you've seen this man?"
The lady was young, pretty. She looked at him warily for the moment – noticing his konoha headband, but smiled daintily at him before glancing at the picture. Konohamaru grinned, he was very lucky, even though he was 16 he still looked fairly young, which meant people were much more likely to do as he asked without suspicion.
But when the lady shook her head and said she hadn't seen him, Konohamaru wasn't sure who else he could turn to. This was the tenth person he'd asked in just as many minutes, and so far he had nothing to go on.
The boss was going to be devastated if he couldn't find her.
Hell, Konoha would be rioting with the loss of their new Hyuuga head.
Blinking back into reality, Konohamaru turned as a new male walked by him through the village. "Hey, sir!" Konohamaru grabbed for his attention. "Have you seen this man at all?"
It was kind of funny how the people in the country looked so much like the country itself. Was there any colour at all in this place? The young man was no older than 25 with hair so dark grey it was almost black. He was thin, but not unnaturally so – but it wasn't like Konohamaru could see any fresh produce being grown out here. Must all be imported, poor guy, Konohamaru sighed. His eyes where a blue so shaded it was almost grey and his clothing didn't seem to do much better. His hair was cropped at his neck, kind of like Sakura's, and that thought alone made Konohamaru want to chuckle. It would've been brilliant if this guy's hair was pink.
The young man smiled at the leaf nin before taking a decent look at the picture. "Sorry, I haven't seen him."
Konohamaru sighed. "That's okay." He wouldn't give up. She couldn't be too far. Maybe he should be asking people on the outskirts of the village – because she obviously wasn't taken to the Yuuichi residence, them being seen here impersonating one of them would've been noticed. If only-
"Although…"
Konohamaru spun back around to the male, eyes wide with hope. "I'm sorry, what was that?" he asked.
The man smiled, "I just thought I might have seen-"
Two fingers hit the back of his neck in quick succession, and charka flew into his throat. Konohamaru didn't have enough time to react before the chakra sent blackness into his vision and his senses and he hit the miscoloured ground of Iron country.
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
Bleary eyes opened slowly. Where am I? What happened? A hand came up from the thick dirt ground to rub against a forehead, in an attempt to clear the mind.
Where was she?
An attempt to activate her byakygan turned into an astounding migrane, causing Hinata to groan and lie against the cool dirt floor, taking moments to catch her breath.
Manipulating chakra was out of the question, so Hinata simply opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. It was a crudely made area. Tents and bedrolls filled the area. While that wouldn't be seen as odd, except for the fact that each tent had the foundation of something that had been there for a long while.
How long had these people been living here?
Rolling onto her knees, Hinata looked at the bars surrounding her.
This was even more out of place.
The only thing that was not crudely made was the cage surrounding her, thick bars of chakra-restraining steel only inches apart from one another so she couldn't slip through. It didn't make much sense, but she needed to figure out why she was here.
Where was Iwao? Had he done this? Hinata's eyes narrowed. She only had the facts of what she could see, and while that wasn't much, one thing was for certain. These people had been waiting in these woods for a very long time, and they didn't have much in terms of luxury, or even food. But they build or bought this high end cage that may have been waiting here for years. And now she was inside it.
Her capture had been a long time coming.
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
Sasuke stood atop one of the many iron roofs of this dreary countryside, watching with interest as his ally got knocked out by a grey-haired ninja and his much larger companion in the street. Konohamaru lay on the ground, unconscious but by no means dead, and the men simply walked by as if nothing were array.
Sasuke sighed. He could have stopped the duo from attacking the idiot, but then he wouldn't have gotten the information he needed. Or found the perpetrators that were causing the Hokage so much strife.
Subtly, Sasuke followed the duo via the rooftops, silently. He was going to find out where they came from, and where they were hiding the Hyuuga. Deftly placing his hands together, Sasuke created a single shadow clone, silently ordering it to go alert the real Naruto and send him this way.
It seems the Hyuuga wasn't very far away after all.
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
Hinata picked up on him first. Which was confusing, but she kept that information in the back of her head for future reference. She didn't know how long she'd been unconscious, but it must have been a few days if Sasuke had travelled here – unless he had been following her this whole time.
She actually wouldn't put that past Naruto.
But she ignored the thoughts, and diverted her eyes from the tops of the trees where she sensed Sasuke's chakra. She had to focus on what she knew for sure – ideas that were becoming more and more cemented as she watched Iwao step out of one of the tents, no longer garbed in the wealthy Yuuichi clan attire but ninja pants and a vest.
"Who are you?" She asked, sitting in the middle of her prison.
Iwao looked up, eyes meet hers. Hard. Angry. "You don't recognise me, do ya sweet cheeks?" Gone was the posh wealthy accent and here was one only belonging to a rebel. She shouldn't have been surprised, but she was. He was a good actor.
Hinata shook her head. "If I have angered you in some way, tell me, and we can sort it all out." Hinata brought up her diplomatic upbringing. Making him angry now won't solve her problems.
He sauntered up to the cage, steps fierce and angry. "You're asking if I'm angry?" He yelled, pointing a harsh finger at her, "What? You think I have no right to be angry! I'm finishing my brother's mission, because he died because of you!" He was yelling by the end, spitting his last words out in such anger Hinata had to wipe the excess off of her face.
Hinata blinked, "I'm not sure what you're referring to.."
"You LIAR!" He yelled, gripping the bars in his hands as if he was about to fight to get her inside. Hinata blacked up. "You're nothing but a spoilt little bitch! You deserve-"
"Calm down, Kanou," a cold voice perpetrated the area, causing Hinata's eyebrows to rise. She had though this Kanou guy was the one in charge, judging by his anger, but that voice just illustrated control and leadership. No doubt this guy was in charge. And thus, in walked a slim man with dark-grey hair and ferocious eyes. Directed at her.
He looked even angrier than Kanou. A little more composed.
Hinata looked to him for answers. "I'm not sure why I'm here."
She was still to delirious to move fast enough, so the kunai sliced past her shoulder, causing her to wince and fall back into the cage. And the new guy walked up to her, steady, and angry. "You caused my fathers death. I should open that door and let my uncle kill you right now." He mused, watching the blood drip down her shoulder. "But I won't. Yet."
Hinata could sense Sasuke shuffling slightly on the branch he was seated on. What was he waiting fo-
"What do we have here?"
Naruto.
The blonde was suddenly standing in the middle of the area, looking around, eyes dark and dangerous. She watched him quickly take not of both Kanou and his nephew, quick to find the both of them to be the leaders, and the rest of the group who were shuffling uncomfortably at his presence. Hinata could almost hear a sigh coming from the trees, before Sasuke appeared by the Hokage's side, lazily spinning a kunai around his fingers.
Kanou looked shaken by this new presence, but the new kid rolled his eyes. Unworried. "What do you want Uzumaki?" he asked, turning his back to where he was standing in front of Hinata. He was cocky.
"I was just wondering," Naruto mused, eyes darker than coal, "what you could possibly want with one of my ninja."
"She simply owes me a favour. Nothing to do with you, so if you could go on your way, that would be appreciated."
Sasuke snorted.
Naruto laughed. A dark, humourless chuckle that sent the hairs on edge of most of the people in the vicinity. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere. So you better start talking."
Hinata watched as Kanou backed up until he was against the bars. He was fearful of Naruto, and Hinata was not going to hesitate to use it for her advantage. Reaching her arms through the bars, she pulled the older man into a head lock, one arm around his throat, the other at his temple holding him still. "I'd have to agree with the Hokage," Hinata's soft voice reached the man, who was now struggling to free himself. It wasn't going to happen. "Start talking."
Kanou looked to his nephew for help, "Tai." The leader had a name.
The younger man sighed and walked around cage like a tiger watching his prey. Hinata's eyes followed him closely, but she didn't let up on Kanou's neck. Naruto watched him just as closely. "You can tell them, Kanou. What we're doing is well founded and of none of the business of the Hokage. She," he hissed toward the Hyuuga, "deserves this."
Kanou swallowed under Hinatas forearm, before taking a breath and darkening his expression. "A little over fifteen years ago, this main branch Hyuuga was kidnapped by someone very close to me. He died in that scuffle, killed by her father. My brother did not want this! He was only completing a mission that was given to him by the Raikage! He did not deserve to die." His words were dark and cold, and Hinata could feel the anger directed at her. "And when news came back to the village of what had happened, do you know what the Raikage did?! He renounced the mission as if it were my brother's idea! He said he was working alone. And then?! He banished our clan. Like we were trash."
"We're just looking for a bit of vengeance."
Hinata gasped as the voice came from inside her prison, and turned her head in time to catch Tai grabbing her around the throat and pushing a kunai into one of her kidneys. Hinata groaned. He wasn't pulling punches. This was no threat, she thought as the kunai slid deeper into her body. They were quite serious.
Naruto stood, frozen, as Hinata had no choice but to drop Kanou and Tai laughed. "I want her eyes. Because I'm going to finish what my father started."
"Oh, I don't think so." Hinata looked up, confused as Sasuke was the one who spoke. Her surprise widened when she only saw the Uchiha standing in front of her, Naruto nowhere to be seen.
"Looks like you're on your own, sugar." Tai spoke into her ear, a laugh in his voice.
"Actually, she's not." Naruto's voice came from behind her. And then, she was free. She would have dropped, if it weren't for a pair of arms curling around her and keeping her upright.
She wasn't even sure what happened – but she was suddenly in Naruto's arms and there was no where she'd rather be. "Naruto," She whispered, reaching a hand up to grip his arm that had curled around her frame.
"Hey," He smiled down at her, pulling her away from the unconscious Tai and out of the cage. Hinata looked around, and saw that Sasuke had quickly disposed of Kanou who was in handcuffs. "Let's go home."
"Not quite."
A flash of anger, and a flash of pain flew through Hinata's already malnourished form, and she flew back into one of the crudely formed tents.
"Grab her!" a horde of people from the forest and inside the tents appeared, grabbing for Hinata while she was recovering from the hit. Her eyes were blurry, with the pain, but she recognised that voice.
Tai was standing a few steps behind the body that was knocked out inside the cage. "We need her to survive." He wasn't talking to the Konoha nin anymore, he was talking to the people living in this poor excuse for a community. "We can't live like this anymore! We deserve better. And with her eyes. With her, we can go back to Kumogakure and thrive like we once did! We deserve this!"
The people rallied.
Naruto looked between Tai and the other Tai, confused. "I knocked you out." He said to the one who was standing. "I sensed you lose consciousness."
Tai grinned. "Why do you think we became such a wealthy clan in Kumo? We won't be beaten so easily." He moved.
Naruto prepared himself for battle. "Sasuke, if you don't get Hinata out of here in the next two minutes I'll kill you myself!" He yelled, running at their leader. "I'll take this guy."
"Twins."
"What?" Naruto yelled as he blocked a punch aimed for his jaw, dropping down to sweep his legs out from under him.
Sasuke already had Hinata in his hands, the horde unconscious at his feet. It had literally taken him seconds to plow through them, and pick up the tied Hyuuga. Disappointing, even. "That one you knocked unconscious," Sasuke stated, walking away from the battle, "is a twin to this guy. This clan isn't strong, he was trying to psyche you out."
Naruto blinked. The not-Tai blinked. Konohamaru, that had just entered the area after his time on the floor of the land of Iron – blinked.
Naruto grinned.
"Even if you were strong," He clenched his fists, "You've got nothing on me."
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
It didn't take very long to reach Konoha again – even with a pack of clan members following closely behind. Konohamaru was quick to ask what the Hokage was going to do with all these people, and Naruto without a hesitation talked about inviting them to stay in the village.
"That's what you want, right?" He said, smiling at Tai and Dai – painful names, Sasuke thought when the second twin finally gave up hope and introduced himself.
The twins were gobsmacked. "Uh, we tried to kidnap and sell your…" Tai looked between Naruto and Hinata, not quite sure what to call the two of them. Obviously she wasn't his girlfriend, since she was placed in an arranged marriage, but there was something clearly between the two.
Naruto laughed. "Hinata would've kicked your butt and invited you back to Konoha anyway!" He smiled, patting the girl on her back. "It just would've taken a little bit longer."
The girl looked up to him, smiling.
"You make a brilliant Hokage, Naruto-sama."
He looked down at her, surprised. "What makes you say that?"
Hinata shrugged, an all-knowing look in her eyes. "We're just very lucky to have you."
~ (((UN-ARRANGING AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE.)) ~
Thoughts?
I hope you're not too disappointed of the lack of romance in their reunion! While Naruto is naturally a really physical person, I would see Hinata as reserved, and reckon they would prefer their affection to be behind closed doors.
Besides, at this point Naruto's really nervous about their one shared kiss and Hinata's just happy that her arranged marriage un-arranged itself (yay for evil-doers!). But this could be a nice roundabout ending to this fic.
But;
I can keep going. Because not all the loose ends are tied up in this fic, so I could write another part. Sort of like an epilogue, but it'll probably be just as long as these last few chapters.
Let me know what you think.