Chapter 6! Please enjoy and check out my A/N at the bottom of the page.
Naruto is owned by its creators of course as always.
A show of strength.
Lurching up from his solid state of sleep Naruto scanned his new living room with a death grip around his kunai that showed the white in his knuckles. Breathing heavily even after he found nothing in the quiet surroundings the blond slowly made his way to his feet. He knew he had heard something; it had been a long time since he had slept through a whole night since the war had conditioned him to be up at a moments notice. Widening his mouth for a healthy yawn Uzumaki frowned at being woken up so suddenly, on a day he had given his team the morning off to!
"Wake up Naruto!" Came a shout and bang from the front door that nearly shook the entire front of his newly acquired home.
The sound of the voice and the force behind it could only mean one not so evenly tempered kunoichi was waiting at his door. Dropping the sharp weapon back down to his rolled out bedding that he had used for the first night since he had not any furniture he considered not opening the door. Hell of a way to start the day after all. Finally deciding to cross the floor to the entry way he grumbled under his breath as he neared the door earning him a loud, "I heard that," from the other side. Something told him that he might have spent too much time with Sakura when he was younger.
"Its unlocked you know…" Naruto said as he slid it back while raising another hand to fight back one more yawn from the grogginess he was fending off, "What are you doing here so early Sakura-chan?"
Standing on his doorstep with the near noonday sun at their backs was an irritated Sakura and a sheepish looking Hinata with a bundle of something wrapped up in her arms against her everyday hoodie. At the sight of the second visitor he visibly brightened the perky energy the blond usually displayed flowing back into his form in such a fashion that would take a normal person several cups of tea in the morning.
"Hinata-chan!"
Expecting some sort of greeting back from the girl he did not get it, but instead he got a stern look from the pink haired ex-team mate giving him the evil eye with a raised brow that had in the past meant he was going to get hit. Taking just the slightest of steps back Naruto tried not to snap back at the look instead curbing his temper with a simple.
"Sakura what is it?"
Sakura shook her head in a very Sakura fashion and pressed a palm to his bare chest foecing him back into the house following her hand that left Naruto backpedalling nearly falling over the step up into the main house, "Honestly Naruto put something on, who answers the door like this around lunch time. You haven't changed at all."
Catching a loose board there in the floor that he would have to remember to check on later the blond sprawled out on his back with a loud sound and a wince, "Sakura-chan go easy…" frowning up to her he rubbed the back of his locks, "Good morning to you to…"
Pressing himself back up from the hardwood he noticed that Hinata had not moved from where she stood by the door eyes cast away from him fiercely blushing scarlet. Naruto had in the past on missions slept in full gear, but now that he was in moderate safety he had stripped down to only a pair of orange bed pants that looked like he had been in possession of for some time with how the bottoms of them were frayed.
"Naruto are you alright? I don't remember that looking like that the last time I saw you." Sakura said edging so that she blocked the view between Naruto and Hinata knowing how furiously the indigo haired maiden could react to even a grin flashed by Uzumaki, "Your seal I mean."
Fixing the tie on his pants with a quick move of fingers after he got up he noticed the motion of her hand toward her stomach where a series of black marks had always spiraled around his midsection. Sometimes during the night because of the bond the two of the entities shared recently the fox would raise closer to the surface egged on by the boy's dreams. So in the mornings the seal that was usually hidden unless he was pulling on the chakra of the demon fox had begun flaring up, but what he guessed she was asking about was the change in the seal.
"You heard about the fight with Madara?" Raising his brow just somewhat, but not stopping before he went on eyes down to his stomach where he traced the dark lines that covered his stomach.
Naruto was never going to be a very large fellow, but what he did pride himself on was the lean cut of his form, besides what people thought he lacked in raw strength he made up ten fold in real situations. The seal put there by his father had been one of the most powerful in creation because of what it was intended to do, seal the demon, yet still allow some room for him to grow and use a bit of its chakra. Motioning to the sides of the seal he pointed to the new four pronged notes.
"In order for the fox and I to partner up the way we needed to fight him I reduced the seal from its original number of points to four," Naruto said almost matter of factly though when his attention raised back up he was grinning almost nervously, "Its really alright, but it has mixed parts of our personality a bit that I have noticed. He loves ramen now and my senses have raised significantly."
The partnership he had form with the fox before the battle with Madara was not a well known fact in the village and he doubted that his friend even knew about it. When he had reported it back to the Lady Hokage after he gained enough strength to talk again she had told him to keep it under wraps until at least the war was officially over. Now that it was over though Naruto didn't see the harm in at least telling a few people about it. He did trust them after all to not look at him any differently.
A look of concern played across the medic nins face, but it appeared that she trusted Naruto to handle the fox because her look suddenly changed to one of annoyance, "Are you going to get dressed or not?"
Blinking having forgotten the reason she had forced him back into the house from before he shook his head and wandered back over to his bag that he had set down beside his bedroll that was tussled about from the nights rest. Sleep did not come easily to the ninja since the war, what with the memories of what had happened and what he had to do himself, every night had been its own battle since then.
"We will be waiting outside so hurry it up will you dobe," She said followed by the sound of the front door sliding closed behind her.
Better not leave them waiting he figured to himself shedding the orange bed pants to be replaced by his heavy combat pants. The pants he had actually spent some time working on himself. Just like any pair of pants they had the two normal pockets and since they were combat pants the usual cargo pockets around the bottom of each thigh, but he had added straps across each thigh to house his two seal scrolls he now carried everywhere with him. One was the frog contract that he had inherited from the pervy-sage and the other one was a scroll filled with all the sealing skills that he had training in while he was away. Having had plenty of time to pour through history books while he was with Gaara he had learned about his family name and had been pretty surprised to find there skill in seals. With some luck he had found a trader that had a helpful book on the clan history as well as the basics of their sealing techniques. Ever since that day he had practiced creating his own over time. Now he housed them there waiting to be too used if he ever needed them. Naruto wrapped the thick black belt he had gotten from Temari while he was in the sand, clasping the belt buckle made out of a dull colored metal so that it would not reflect light that had been made in the shape of the hidden leaf symbol. He had been very pleased to get it. Tugging on his normal issue combat shoes that he had added a bit of flare to with bright orange laces Naruto got back up from the floor hearing it creek under him before he made his way over to the door.
Tugging the door open as he lifted the weighty Jounin vest from the coat rack that stood in the entry way he stepped outside into the afternoon sun feeling it instantly start to warm the skin of his face even though he could feel a cold front in the wind, "Well then, not that I don't enjoy a visit Sakura, but I had only expected Hinata today."
They both turned while he slung the symbol of rank around his torso and worked to zip it up into place leaving it down just a bit from all the way up, exposing the top of his chest, but nothing more then any of the other Jounin did when he was growing up in the village. The sight of this though evidently got a rise out of the both of them to his prideful surprise with Hinata catching the sight, then the ground with her eyes and Sakura raising a hand pointing at him with an annoyance to try to cover up the just barest hint of red in her cheeks.
"I saw Hinata on the way here and after talking with her for a minute I knew you two would need my help." She said with firmness in her voice that even for her was a bit overboard as if she might be compensating for something.
Naruto just smiled remembering how he had asked the pink haired girl out many times in the past before the fight with pain and his awakening, but any such feelings now had been replaced with ones of a sisterly love. Those sorts of feelings were saved only for the shy Kunoichi nearly hiding beside her. Just looking at her made the feeling of pressure return to his lips from the night before, but now was not the time to be thinking of that.
Instead he just rolled his shoulder getting loosened up from sleeping on the floor enjoying the feel of the coarse fabric of the combat flak jacket against his bare skin, "If it's alright with you Hinata it's more then fine with me." He knew with her tentative nature she had the unfortunate happenings to be talked into things more often then not after all, but that just added to her considerate personality.
Stepping out from the side of Sakura and her shadow Hinata held out suddenly the bundle he had seen her with since he first noticed them on his porch, "I made this for you Naruto-kun."
The bundle was wrapped in a brown common paper that he was surprised to see the Hyuga using, but he didn't say anything about it. It was not every day Naruto got gifts. Taking the bundle from her near shaking hands, he cracked her a warm smile one that in time he hoped she would understand he saved just for her, and started to unwrap the paper.
"hmm what do we have here…," he said idly almost to tease he pale eyed hues that watched him.
"It's not much, but when you said you were going to be coming home it was starting to get cold so I thought…" Hinata let the words trail off her eyes watching his fingers tear apart the paper quickly.
Just Naruto taking the present from her had almost been to much, what if he did not like it she thought to herself. She had spent near every night since she got the letter telling her that he was to return in two weeks time on the scarf. Weaving each strand by hand, carefully feeding bits of her own chakra into its make up, and checking herself every few seconds as she went so that it would turn out perfect. Once she was finished with it though she had instantly started doubting herself. Everyone was sure to have something for the hero of the leaf when he returned and all she would have for him was a handmade scarf, a first attempt at that. It had taken considerable prodding from her sister Hanabi before she wrapped it up that morning before coming over to see him.
Naruto pulled back the last bit of wrapping to uncover a crimson dyed scarf curled up with care. Not knowing what to say right away to such a gift he balled up the paper and stuffed it into the pocket of his pants, both of the girls' eyes on him, while he unfurled the length of it in front of him. It was plain red, but for a small spiral of orange at one end almost like a signature. Kneading the fabric between his fingers Naruto could easily tell that this was not store bought, he had repaired enough of his hand me down clothes to know that this was home made.
"Thank you Hinata-chan this is great!" he worked as he spoke to wrap the section with the spiral about his neck in the space between his Jounin flak vest collar and his neck allowing a sizable section of it to fall back over his shoulder down to the mid portion of his back, "It even smells like you." He had said this just after tilting his head down into the fabric giving it just the mildest of sniffs sure that the girls in front of him had not even noticed.
He loved it! Her heart lit up at the news wanting to spin around and dance across the front of his home, but somehow she managed to root herself firmly into her shoes flushing profusely, eyes barely able to come up under her long bangs to see the smile on his face, "I am glad that you like it Naruto-kun."
Sakura knew just how hard it was for the future Hokage to get cold having many times on missions simply sat closer to him then a fire to get warm in the northern countries, but the look on his face showed that he didn't care about the warmth it brought to his skin. Naruto just cared about the love it shared with his heart. For all Sakura's teasing of the blond she was starting to be very happy that Hinata had turned the idiot around. Even if after all their time together she had not managed the feat.
"So, shall we go? Hinata and I were talking about a few places we could go that might have something to suit you Naruto." She said not commenting on what he had said about the smell of the scarf. Maybe the fox was rubbing off on him a bit; she didn't think he would have said something like that before.
Eyes tore away from one another suddenly remembering that they were not alone and Naruto reached his hand out to the Hyuga girl with a wide smile, "Come on we better get a move on before she starts getting all pushy. You won't like her when she gets that way," He said lowly hoping that just Hinata might have heard him.
The blue haired girl took his hand without hesitation and started off after him towards the village with Sakura leading the way, "I am sure she is not all that bad Naruto."
From out in front of them Sakura could feel a vein starting to rise on the side of her head at the voices behind her grumbling, "I heard that!"
Despite her obvious displeasure with their comments, Hinata quietly apologized, and they all broke out into varying degrees of laughter with Naruto's carrying further then the rest.
Hinata stood beside the counter of the store watching Sakura move about the shop with a speed that had her mind reeling. This was the third store they had been in and Naruto already had several bags of clothes, but the medic nin insisted that he still needed a few things and that besides Hinata had yet to pick something out for him, a fact that when Sakura had said it sent a red climbing her cheeks. She just hopped that Naruto was doing alright having been dragged from store after store. Hinata had thought it might have started to take a toll on him, but every time Sakura had suggested a new one he had just looked to her and after a small nod of Hinatas head he had lit up agreeing to one more.
If it was normal for Naruto to act this way around her now she had not expected it, but she admitted she didn't know very much about dating. Around her after the war settled down many of the girls in her class had started to date. The surprising one had been Ino nearly charging after Choji having said that she didn't know what to say, but it was just the way she felt. Shika had been corresponding with Temari, but as to how far that had gone she couldn't be sure. Even her brother had been seeing someone outside of the compound some nights though she had not raised enough courage to speak to him about it.
Sakura came back over to the counter where Hinata was standing with a few things that she threw out across the top of it sorting them out so that she might show her. Hinata glancing over a few of the things she was trying to show her found them all to be fine, but not exactly Naruto. None of the clothes had held the same flare of energy that he used to portray with the oranges, reds, and yellows of his older outfits.
"What do you think of these Hinata?" Sakura asked almost excitedly evidently having great fun making her old friend dress up again and again in get up after get up.
Pausing Hinata pointed to a white shirt that had a V cut to the collar of it along with some darker colored pants that looked alright, but she had to ask, "Sakura do you think that now that Naruto and I are…together…he is going to stop acting like himself?" There was a bit of disappointment to her voice, after all she didn't want to be the one to change the way he acted. She loved the way that he acted.
The pink haired girl had already pulled aside the two Hinata had picked though she was listening to the question when it was asked of her. Smiling she turned to lean back against the counter eyes shifting to the worried ones beside her noticing that Hinata was again playing with her fingers together back down near her waist, "Naruto is only acting this way because he has just as much experience with all this as you do Hinata. Just give him some time and it will even out. Besides I would think that you would like all the new attention that he is giving you?"
Hinata shifted in her sandals seeing the glance to her fingers quickly pressing them into the pockets of her hoodie so that she couldn't fall back on such a pathetic habit. She hated that she did it.
"It's not that, I just want Naruto to continue to be Naruto. When he is not himself it worries me you know that something is wrong," she curled her lips down just slightly at the thought of her tugging Naruto down from the highs that he was at these days adding quietly, "I do like the attention though…"
"It will be fine Hinata you worry too much and I am sure he worries just as much although he might not show it like you do. Watch him a bit closer to see and I am sure you will notice it. Naruto has a way of overdoing it to make sure he gets his point across sometimes," Sakura said in a comical tone remembering a few times where that very thing had gotten him in over his head. Shifting a few of the clothes around she glanced to the Hyuga girl out of the corner of her eye, "So…what's it like dating Naruto? Have you kissed or anything yet?"
Did she know? Hinata turned so that she was facing the clothes now hands moving up from her pockets so that she could busy herself helping Sakura fold some of the clothes back to be set back on the racks. Naruto had a habit of bunching them up like a kid might after being with them in the dressing room. Blushing she gave Sakura a look much like she had her, just out of the corner of her eye behind a lock of her hair fallen before her face.
"Well, he is not like anyone else I am sure you know that. He cares about what he says to me when he says it and I can tell he takes care in coming up with it," Smiling warmly she pictured the night before, while they walked Naruto's eyes worked to the side as he tried to think of just what to say, "and he does not let me think anything less of myself. You know he says I stopped Pain just as much as he did?" The last part spoken with a hint of wonder in her voice, lavender hues rising to see the reaction on her friends face.
"But I,…why?" Sakura asked nearly dropping a shirt she had just finished folding at the mention of Pain.
"I haven't really told anyone this, but that day when I went in after him I thought I was going to die. So I told him," letting the words filter the meaning for Sakura noting the understanding in her eyes before Hinata went on, "I just wanted Naruto to know how I felt and even against someone like Pain I was not going to stand by doing nothing while I watched Naruto get taken apart like that."
"You told him that you loved him finally hu?" she said turning her head towards the dressing room where Naruto was just starting to come out dressed again as they had seen him coming out of his front door. Hurriedly she turned her attention back to Hinata leaning in close, "That certainly explains how he suddenly realized."
Hinata flushed and bravely leaned back in towards Sakura eyes up past her sholer to an approaching Naruto, "He kissed me last night to for the first time."
"Hey what are you two talking about?" Naruto questioned as he came up on them setting his hands around the both of their shoulders against the counter leaning in between their whispers playfully, "Should I be worried?"
Naruto had been dragged from place to place, but the look on Hinata's face had been all worth it. Every time he agreed to one place more her smile warmed at the chance, he didn't know if helping him brought her some happiness, but if she wanted to help him shop he could easily grant her that. That didn't mean he was enjoying himself. Half of the stuff they had picked out for him either had not fit or he felt looked to ridiculous on him. Only a few of the countless, or at least he guessed countless, clothes that Sakura more then Hinata had offered him had he picked out. It got to be so many that he had to return the gift he got earlier to Hinata for safe keeping. This last try was not different.
Pressing some clothes onto the counter he frowned shaking his head, "I donno if this place is for me…nothing seems to be working."
He saw Hinata's face just fall at the words and he instantly knew he had screwed up. Looking quickly to Sakura though, he had another handful of clothes thrust into his hands before he could get another word out.
"Here Naruto try these, just a few more I promise. Hinata picked these out herself." Sakura said with a positive nod and a sideways glance to his now girlfriend.
"Oh well I guess I could do a few more?" laughing Naruto slowly backed away towards the changing room suddenly catching a rack with his arm sending it toppling over clothes crashing every where. He was down almost instantly working to pick up the mess when, "Oh I am so sorry I …"
Hand meeting another he lifted his eyes to see Hinata looking back at him a soft smile playing at the corner of her lips," Go ahead Naruto-kun I will get this for you…I might have something else for you to try on to. Can I bring it to you in a minute?"
Naruto would have just melted right there if he had been one of the popsicles he used to share with Jariya. Of course she could bring one to him in a minute. Hell he would wait all day in that tiny box of a changing room if she wanted him to. Pulling his hand back he brushed his fingers across the back of hers smiling warmly as he got back up with the original bundle of clothes still wrapped under his right arm.
"Right, no, that's fine…I will just…be over there?" He said motioning over his shoulder moving backwards narrowly avoiding another rack.
"Naruto-kun watch where you're going!" Hinata said with a laugh. Something she didn't do often, but when she did he loved every bit of the sound.
Rounding quickly on his heel he darted into the tiny changing room and closed the door behind him locking it in turn. Leaning with his forehead against the mirror he could feel a familiar friend starting to rise up to greet him.
"Eveything alright little one? Your getting a little flustered around the blue haired girl," said the fox watching him through his own sky blue hues that stared back at him in the mirror, "You need to relax."
Sighing heavily Naruto pressed his hand against the glass of the mirror and started to work the clothes he had on off so that he could change, "It's not that easy and you know it."
Something within him didn't seem to agree because almost instantly the fox piped up again, "Oh I donno what is so confusing about it, if it was me I would have already chased her down, pressed her down under me, and-"
Naruto waved his hands in the space of the room after just getting on the dark formal slacks the girls had picked out for him eyeing the fox through the mirror where he was sure the animal was looking right back at him laughing, "I don't think about Hinata like that. Who do you think I am pervy-sage?"
Working on the v neck white shirt he glanced at himself in the mirror for a minute and frowned at what he saw there. It was just too dressed up for him. For a kid that was used to wearing jumpsuits and combat gear to suddenly go with expensive clothes like this was just not for him.
He could feel the fox appraising the look as much as Naruto had been to so he asked, "So?"
A low chuckle rose to meet his words and the fox curled up again in the dark side of his mind, "You know damn well you have thought about Hinata like that before. There are plenty of thoughts back here wondering just what might be under that baggy hoodie of hers. Oh…and you look ridiculous by the way."
The feeling faded back into the background of his mind so he guessed that the fox was done with him at least for the moment leaving Naruto to tug off the shirt and toss it into the corner. Naruto didn't think about her that way did he? Turning his attention to the door he pictured Hinata moving about the store fretting over clothes just as much as Sakura, but he knew that was not really her style. She was probably standing off to the side somewhere while the pink haired girl worked through the racks. The more he thought about it though the more his minds eye started to wonder just to why she wore such baggy clothes all the time, even with the Jounin vest it didn't work to reveal any real curve to her form, at least how she wore the vest it didn't. Sakura had all, but flaunted her looks while they were growing up with her skirts, bright colors, and form fitting clothes. Hinata was hesitant to reveal a lot of things about herself, maybe this was one of them?
"Naruto-kun?" suddenly called a small voice from the other side of the door he was staring at almost on cue, "I have something for you to try if you want."
Over the top of the door came a couple of pieces of clothing that he could already tell she picked out herself, Sakura would not have picked out anything like this after what he had seen throughout the day. It was a pair of shorts and a shirt, the shorts when he tugged them on hung down just past his knees and were a bright orange made out of a comfortable fabric that he could tell were not really for anything else, but around the house. The shirt after he slid it over his head and looked at himself in the mirror was made out of a more common fabric that he was more than used to, white with black lettering across the front that said, " Team Uzumaki." Reading that across the front confused him, how did the store have something like that. Running his hand over the lettering he pressed open the door and called out for Hinata.
What he got though was tackled by an excited Izumi right to the floor of the store ambush style. Crumpling under her she sat astride him poking him in the chest, "Got you!"
Naruto rolled over as she got off coughing a bit the wind knocked out of him from the unexpected tackle and forced himself up to his feet, "Gah who…what?" Turning around he saw Hinata and Sakura standing there before him, but also there was a proud looking Izumi clad in a shirt that matched his own though much smaller. She was digging into a bag on the floor beside her quickly coming up with a shirt for each of the girls as well when Naruto spoke up again, "Izumi what are you doing here?"
She turned suddenly at her sensei's words still holding the shirt she was going to give to Sakura and flushed instantly, but kept her eyes up to his own mildly annoyed hues at being tackled out of no where, "Well this afternoon is the big announcement I wanted to make sure everyone got their shirts before the village meeting."
Naruto tugged a bit on the shirt he still wore and watched his young student rocking back and forth on her feet nearly beaming at him for a moment before lifting his eyes to Hinata that was standing behind her. Hinata held a shirt that the girl had offered her that was a prefect match as well, but for size of course giving him an apologetic smile.
"I did pick out the shorts Naruto." Hinata said looking at them like she might be trying to change the subject.
Sakura though was having nothing of it hand of hers coming out to rub Izumi's hair messing it up just enough to fire the younger girl into turning and looking at her quickly working to get it back into place, "I think its cute. We never got shirts for team seven. You should be proud your students care enough about their sensei to do something like this."
Naruto looked a bit beaten, not even Hinata had spoken up to defend his quick words to Izumi so he crouched down before the girl to get on her level smiling warmly, "Alright Izumi, its actually a great idea. You know though that I can't wear this to the announcement right?" He watched with a grin as his student gave a nod, "but you make sure to hand all the ones you have out." Tugging open the bag just slightly with his fingers he grinned, "Do you have an extra large?"
The girl looked a tad confused thinking she might have messed up his size, but without even having to look into the bag beside her she just nodded, "Yep, I have like five extra shirts. Kenta and Shuo already have there's."
Inwardly Naruto pictured his other two students wearing the TEAM UZUMAKI shirts and cracked an almost evil grin, oh that would be worth paying to see, but he had something even better in mind. Standing back up all the way he motioned to Sakura that was still standing behind Izumi saying, "Sakura here can help you hand them out to Kiba, Shino, Choji, and Shika." Pausing he drew the next part out as to get a rise out of the two older girls he was expecting, "Especially Shika."
Hinata and Sakura glanced at each other evidently picturing Naru in the shirt as well giving a large grin and a small smile respectively at the notion. Izumi not understanding the implication of course just tilted her head and looked to her sensei a tad confused, "Why him?"
Naruto just smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "The dude has a soft spot for girls with custom T-shirts," adding for effect, "Don't take no for an answer. He is kind of a hard nut to crack."
Izumi picked up the bag at her side and looked between the three of them once more, "Well if I am going to hand them all out before the event I got to hurry. I will be waving sensei!" She shouted back just as she wandered back out the door into the street.
This left Naruto to just tug at the part of the shirt with his name on it and give both the girls a, "What do you think?" kind of look.
"I think it's kind of cute." Hinata said with surprising honesty in her voice already holding her own up over her hoodie to see if it would fit alright.
"If that girl manages to get Shika to wear one to the village meeting it will be the best thing since Naruto painted the Hokage monument." Sakura said with some scheme to her voice, "I better follow after and help her find them. See you guys after?"
The two of them just nodded and said their goodbyes watching the pink haired kunoichi follow his student out into the busy afternoon traffic.
Left alone Naruto met Hinata's eyes and said in a tone that showed the prankster was not yet dead within him, "If Shika shows up in this shirt. It might just be the second best day of my life for two reasons instead of one."
The sound of people gathering outside of the building could be felt through the door Naruto was standing next to. He had gone home after the day of shopping to get ready for the event knowing that he would be expected to show up in his Ambassador robes. When Naruto had said this Hinata had suddenly paled saying that he would need his hat. He had tried to tell her that he would be fine without it, but she insisted and he could say nothing for it. They had split up telling one another that they would meet atop the Hokage office where the meeting was to take place. Naruto was minutes away from walking out across the top of the building and hearing the words that he would be the next Hokage, but there was one small problem, Hinata had yet to return.
Beside him Tsunade had tried to force him out the door already once, but at the explanation Naruto had given her she had just given a small smile. It seemed the rumor about the two being something closer than friends now was true after all. She always knew the boy would wake up and notice the girl for what she was one day. The Lady Hokage had always known the girl loved Naruto, but for all his positives he had just the largest blind spot for Hinata. At least it seemed the Hyuga had gotten over her feinting fits when she was around the boy or they probably wouldn't have gotten anywhere at all. Tsunade could not think of a better match for the boy she in many cases these days looked to like a son herself. Hinata would work to ground Naruto while at the same time supporting him to be just what he always wanted to be. Naruto might not be aware of this, but while he was away Hinata had been on several A rank missions hunting down missing nin for other nations that defected during the war, so she was far from just a pretty face these days. That said the rambunctious blond would be good to bring her a bit more out of her own shell.
"Are we sure that she is coming Naruto?" said Tsunade to tease the nervous Naruto that stood with one hand on the door that led up to the roof where they would make the announcement looking down on the village.
His attention had been on something else though so at the sound of her voice Naruto shot his eyes up lingering with hers for a slight second until they drifted to the entryway to her office, "Hinata will be here. She just had to pick something up for me." Naruto smiled faintly speaking in a nervous tone though, "She wouldn't miss this."
Reaching up to the collar of his Jounin vest that he wore under the robes Naruto adjusted the scarf that wrapped around his neck falling down his back that hung like it was meant to be there. She couldn't miss this, he thought to himself.
Just when he was about to offer the Hokage to go look for her himself though the doors to her office opened and the two Jounin that were guarding there for the day lead in a hesitant Hinata followed by a stone faced Hiashi. Hinata was dressed just as he saw her earlier in the day with the usual hoodie, but it was unzipped showing a white T-shirt under it, but the only letters he could make out were "M U" respectively. Naruto would have smiled at that if it was not for the formally dressed down to the nines Hyuga that was standing behind her just a few feet away.
Sensing that someone would need to speak first and he got the feeling it would need to be him Naruto stepped forward towards the two new guests and held out his right hand from the pocket of his robes to Hiashi with and even voice, "Good afternoon Lord Hiashi. I was not aware that you were going to be escorting Hinata to the tower."
Hinata's eyes had a look of worry in them that had instantly put Naruto on guard, but he hoped that the outstretched hand could serve of a kind of olive branch between the two men.
Hiashi without looking down at the offering kept his eyes across to the kyubi, "Hinata informed me that you asked her to stand with you at the introduction."
Naruto gritted his teeth holding back a snarl at his ignored offering, but he just kept it where it was a silent challenge and even broke a small smile towards the two Hyuga, "I did Lord Hiashi. Hinata has something of mine that she said I would need for today."
As he said this Hinata seemed to get the hint having had her hands behind her back since they came into the room like she didn't want the Hokage to see just what she was holding. From behind her back she pulled the Ambassador hat and held it out to Naruto with a faint blush in her cheeks knowing that everyone's eyes in the room were on her.
Grumbling Tsunade eyed the boy like she wanted to rough him up a bit at the sight of the hat, but only shook her head. That boy just couldn't remember anything could he? Wait, she paused taking an appraisal of the blush on the girls face under the eyes of her father and the rest. Naruto had given it to her as a gift? She had to smile secretly at that. Naruto was a hopeless romantic hu, who would have known?
As Hiashi watched the boy take back his seemingly important hat he cleared his throat pulling the attention back to himself as he spoke, "I have spoken to my daughter since our family dinner together on you many times Naruto and I have come to a final conclusion," to this the Hyuga girl dropped her eyes to the floor her shoes rubbing somewhat against the hardwood before he finished in a very formal tone, "Uzumaki Naruto, you have my blessing."
When he said this the usually reserved Hyuga leaded took his own hand and accepted the offering of Naruto's with a tone that betrayed the mask he wore all the while. Naruto was a little to shocked to wrap his hand around the one offered, but quickly recovered and shook firmly a silent promise between the two. Naruto would look after his daughter.
"Thank you Sir that means a great deal to us," Naruto stole a look at Hinata who was staring in shock up to her father, hands for once limp at her sides showing just how much it had affected her, "Although if you would I have a request."
Hiashi raised one of his logical brows to the question poised by the boy only giving a slight nod in response showing that he would entertain the question.
Naruto sensing his chance asked in his most diplomatic tone, "Lord Hiashi I am going to be overjoyed to have your Daughter and the current Hokage to stand beside me on one of the greatest days of my life, but if would consider standing with us as well it would mean a great personal favor to myself and would I know be a great show of support to the village."
Tsunade nearly choked on a bit of tea she was sipping while she listened to the two of them go back and forth like they were sitting across the table at a war peace treaty, drawing only a concerned look from Hinata that the Lady Hokage quickly waved off. This was too good.
"You wish for me to stand with you as well, to show the support of the Hyuga clan for the newest Hokage." The Leader spoke mechanically while he worked it over in his mind. He looked over the boy then gave the Hokage a question of a look though his expression did not change earning him a shrug and a grin from her. Attentions back to the boy the Hyuga saying evenly, "Why?"
"To have the strongest, most respected clan stand beside the newest Hokage would show an unquestionable message for the future," Naruto offered like he might have considered the whole thing before even though he had never known the man would come.
Hiashi at the tugging feel on his sleeve looked down to his daughter that stood beside him listening intently to the future clan leader, "Please father, if not for me do it for the clan. This will also show Naruto's favor to our clan…it will show our own strength as well."
Naruto just beamed at the words. He could kiss her! Not right now though, that would not be a good idea, he didn't want to get cut down right before his own village meeting.
The older Hyuga raised his head once more giving Naruto a cold pale stare, but he spoke in the affirmative, "The Hyuga clan will stand with the Uzumaki," Using his family name showing his support not only for Naruto, but also the clan he had supposedly rebirthed.
At this Naruto nodded in thanks, the Hokage coming up off her own desk to clasp a hand onto his shoulder with a tender smile, "So Naruto are you ready for this?"
He broke a wide Uzumaki grin and turned the handle on the door, "You have no idea."
The blond burst from the doorway on the roof and quickly covered the space from the stairs leaving the three to catch up behind him. Approaching the rail he leapt up and landed in a crouch the heavy white and red cloaks falling down around his form as he got his first sight of it. The whole of the village stretched out before him as far as the eye could see, one day he would stand here and consider great things for the village, but for now this was the final step for the final path on his journey to claim his dream. Usually the hidden leaf was alive with people moving here and there going about there business and lives, but this afternoon was not a normal afternoon. Today the village was gathered at the foot of the tower cheering at the sight of him. All of them gathered together to finally acknowledge the foolish blond and Naruto could feel it.
Naru..Naruto…NARUTO!
The cheers were palpable so much so that when he stood up from his couch extending the whole of his form while standing on the railing that he could feel the chakra of everyone below him, normally something he could only do with the help of sage mode. His sky blue eyes quickly scanned the faces there in the crowed having a hard time picking out people that he knew at first so instead he just focused on people dressed in white. After a quick glance he found them. Near the middle of the pack all balled together clad in their TEAM UZUMAKI shirts Izumi probably had to force onto them. His friends had all come; even Shika was standing off to the side of them adorned in the white T-shirt unable to hold back the smallest of grins. For him that was nearly as loud as the screaming Ino off to his side jumping waving a sign with the help of a large handed Choji. Naruto leaned back and fell of the railing letting himself come to a rest standing just behind it sensing the other three had caught up to him letting him have his little moment. Haven fallen back his gaze was averted to a nearby balcony where a past teacher of his lived. The silver haired Jounin rested against his own railing smiling behind his mask with a very proud Iruka standing beside him, that Naruto was surprised to find had a TEAM shirt of his own.
Naruto suddenly felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and for just a moment he thought that he caught the sent of heavy smoke with a hint writers ink. Tossing his head in the direction of the touch he found Tsunade smiling back at him with love. It had not been him, but at the same time Naruto know that the old sage was with him.
It was then that he felt the sense of stability flow through him in the fashion of the blue haired girl taking his hand to step forward before the village at his side, staring in awe just as much as he was it seemed at everyone that turned out for his Hokage announcement.
Hiashi took a place on the far side of Hinata and spoke lowly to the pair of them while his own pale eyes traced the crowd, "Perhaps now the elders will see the wisdom in your choice as they did with my love Hinata."
Hinata gripped Naruto's hand just a bit tighter at her father's words wondering just what he had meant by that, but there was not time to let her mind linger on it. This was Naruto's day and she was not about to distract him from it. One look up at the blonde beside her with his hand tucked behind his head rubbing just above the crimson scarf sent a warm feeling coursing through her form. She loved him. There could be no doubt about that. He would go to the ends of the earth for her and she would of course do the same.
The Lady Hokage stepped forward and raised her hands causing the crowd around the tower to instantly fall silent almost as if she had some direct command over them. Setting those hands on the railing she leaned over and looked down at the people speaking in her projected voice, "People of Konoha!" pausing to get a cheer from the crowd that made the Hokage smile broadly, "We are here to congratulate one of our sons. Uzumaki Naruto on something our village holds dear. Uzumaki is to become Hokage when I step down in three years time."
Naruto steadied himself feeling a flush to his face and a light feeling that if he had to guess might have been what Hinata had gone through most of her life just at the sight of him. Granny was being to kind to him. The crowd below roared to life at the end of her words, but when she raised her hand they once again silenced waiting for her to speak up.
"Not for his service as an Ambassador for the leaf, not for his service in the fourth great war, and most of all….NOT…for his sole role in the saving of our village from Pain!" She shouted down at the crowd below, but was met by silence and murmured confusion. Somewhere behind her Naruto had just shot a glance to Hinata about the last bit of her words that had the Kunoichi turning a shade darker, "Naruto is this day set on the final path to Hokage for one reason and one reason only," She turned back giving a wink to the boy just as she roared a final time to crowd, "Because of his unyielding love for the village and people of Konoha of which no one can contest!"
This did shake the blond a bit, to much Granny. He watched her step back from the railing and give him a pat to the shoulder, it was time for him to say something. Feeling suddenly like he wanted to run he lifted his right foot to take the step, but a familiar sandal came down over his shoe pining it to the rooftop.
"We will do it together Naruto-kun." Hinata said eyes out focused on the crowd as his were.
Nodding just enough for only her to notice he stepped up to the railing with Hinata right at his side to the roaring cheer and love of the people below. He tried to raise his free hand in much the same way that Tsunade had and to his shock the crowd fell to silence. Behind him a smiling old woman gave a chuckle when she saw him mimic the action.
Clearing his throat Naruto took the railing for support and for a long moment in time nothing happened. The only sound was a call of a bird high above come out for the show. Finally though Naruto opened his mouth and when he did it had the strength of two channeled with the grip his right hand held, "People of Konoha, Thank you for all coming out today. It means more to me then you can ever know. I know that some of you may still think that I am a foolish choice for such a position," hesitating he only went on at a tightening sudden grip, "Know that I am going to work every day to prove you wrong, but after that is accomplished I will be waiting to welcome you to my side of things."
He widened his gaze to take in the whole of the crowd not just his small group of friends that had gathered in the center feeling a moisture start to fall from his eyes that went completely ignored as he went on, "My father once told the leadership of this village that I would one day to grow to be the hero of the leaf. I will never call myself by that title, but I strive to match it. Believe in me and I will believe in you."
The crowd started to raise their voices to a dull roar, but at the sight of a final raised hand he smiled widely in that Uzumaki way, "So we stand the two of us," Naruto said surprising Hinata by holding up their intertwined fingers for the crowd to see just over the railing, "Before you, flanked by legends of the village begging of you to take these words to heart. Work hard, love the leaf, and should it come to it we will die protecting you. That is the word of Uzumaki Naruto!"
The crowd one final time shot to life roaring so loudly that the building they stood on shook on its foundations with the agreement of the people. Naruto just cheered with them despite himself. The other three looking at him oddly for just a moment until the gawkers were reduced to two a softer Hyuga voice rose above the rest to join him in the pleasure of the moment.
Behind them an ANBU officer caught the bird of prey that had been circling, the hawk digging its talons into the thick cloak the nin wore its mission completed. With an able free hand the ninja retrieved the small scroll attached to the hawk's ankle for a quick scan. If it was possible for an ANBU to quake in his boots now was the time, Uchiha Sasuke called for the Hokage in waiting's aid and it was urgent.
Chapter 6 done. Challenge accomplished. If you are a follower of the story you know that this took a bit longer then usual, but know that I didn't at all forget about you guys. Just wanted to take some more time from now on to step my game up on writing and editing to bring you guys a better read. This chapter is the longest yet so I hope that does not bother you guys just had a lot I wanted to get across. With the ending there you can see that things are going to finally start to heat up. I am determined to not make this a total fluff peace, besides who says they cant grow closer in the field?
As always thank you for the comments I got some more in depth ones from the last chapter that led to me taking a bit of pause with this one. So please keep them coming it helps. Though perhaps less technical about my writing style and more about the story. This is 100% for fun.
And of course for myself and evidently "Rose Tiger" I will "Keep going," happily mind you.