Thank you again for all your reviews, I loved them! Even the slightly negative ones, but thats to be expected.
There was one review, left by an anonymous reviewer who called him/herself 'Woohaha' that concerned me and I would like to clear it up, he/she said: I dont like how you have naruto puss out when he killed 2 guys a lot of authors do that ..why cant you have narutos determination kick in here? i guess its for character growth but it seems strange theyre ninjas after all i hope naruto never becomes hokage.
My answer to this is simple, Naruto is a kid, he's only sixteen years old, and the only way I'd expect someone not to freak out from killing someone for the first time is either they are too young to understand or they are cold-blooded, like my OC characters, the sound nins and that Hidden Mist nin that Hinata fought. And I don't think anyone sees Naruto that way, besides he handled pretty well I think, he was back to his normal self overnight. And who would want a Hokage who is cold blooded? And sorry 'Woohaha', but I want Naruto to Hokage.
So if anyone else was wondering the same thing, there you go thats my answer.
Anyway, this chapter has less action and alot more fluff, plus there is alot of information here which I needed to put in so that I can jumpstart the next part of the story.
Also, on the bottom of my profile page I now am posting a "Daily Newsletter" Which I will attempt to update everyday, and it will give progress on my current chapter and give a very basic summary of the chapter as well.
Oh and one more thing, ENJOY!
Chapter 7: A Day Worth Dieing For.
Hinata opened her eyes, she was in heaven. She had to be, because she didn't feel any pain, matter of fact she felt great, she felt physically better than she had, well, ever. Plus there was a soft light that illuminated everything, and she seemed to be laying on something very soft, Hinata could only think that it was a cloud.
And oh yes, one more thing, Naruto-kun was kissing her. That proved that she had to be in heaven now, no way would such an impossibility happen in real life, and it definitely wasn't a dream, because everything felt so real. So she had definitely died and gone to heaven, it was nice, but it wasn't real. She suddenly felt a great sadness, she had died and left Naruto-kun, and now heaven was trying to make her feel better by having what looked like Naruto-kun kiss her as if he really did love her. Tears began to stream down her face as she wished she had told him sooner that she loved him.
Naruto saw Hinata-chan's eyes open and as tears began to stream down her face he jerked back, thinking he had done something terribly wrong. "Hinata-chan, are you okay?"
Hinata raised her hand in a shooing motion, "Go away, you're not real, I just want to be alone right now, thank you for trying to cheer me up though."
Naruto frowned, "What the hell do you not mean I'm real! I just ran from the stadium all the way to this hospital which some idiot decided to build two miles away from a place where people got seriously hurt, and I threaten a doctor to get to your room, and have Sakura-chan let me sneak in, even though she could get in big trouble, and…and I kiss you, because I'm worried sick and happy that your alive, and… and because I think I'm in love with you. And you tell me I'm not real?" Naruto took Hinata's hand in his own, and sat on the bad next to her, "I definitely feel real to me Hinata-chan, and that kiss you gave me when you said you loved me, that definitely felt real to."
Oh god. It wasn't heaven or even her best dream ever, because she realized all of a sudden that the light was thenoonday sun coming through the window next to her bed, and the soft thing she was on that she thought was a cloud was actually a very soft hospital bed. She was in a hospital room, and she was very awake and very much alive.
Hinata shrieked and grabbed her covers and dove under them curling in the fetal position trying to get away as fast as she could. She definitely wasn't going to fall for something that would never happen and then find out that it was all a lie. She was going to go to sleep and when she wok up, she would either be in heaven or somehow alive in a world where everything was normal. Naruto-kun did not love her, she knew that he never would, even though she dreamed about it. She wasn't about to be disappointed when she found out that this wasn't real.
Naruto jumped when Hinata-chan shrieked, and smiled slowly. This was probably a shock for her, she probably wasn't expecting to still be alive. Naruto now understood why Hinata-chan had told him that he wasn't real. He was going to have to deal with this with some finesse. Well he was in love with her, and she had told him she was in love with him, right? Oh well, might as well.
Naruto got under the covers with her so that their faces were only a couple inches away from each other. He couldn't help but smile broadly at Hinata's shocked face. Jeez, Jaraiya has really started to rub off on me.
Hinata froze. He had just gotten underneath the covers with her, she finally came to this conclusion after about a minute of staring into those sky blue eyes. She still wasn't ready to admit this was real though, it was still too surreal.
Naruto saw the doubt in her eyes still there. Looks like this is calling for drastic measures. Naruto reached out and placed his hand on her cheek, cradling it gently, "Are you still positive that I'm not real?" Hinata nodded, not taking her wide eyes from his face. Naruto smiled nervously and lowly moved forward the last few inches, he paused for a moment but Hinata didn't move away, and so he kissed her, just pressing his lips softly against her trembling ones.
Hinata was definitely more awake now than she was before, she slowly closed her eyes and allowed herself to be kissed, thinking that maybe, just maybe, this was real. Naruto pulled back and she opened her eyes to meet his, his cheeks were pink and he was smiling a little nervously. She suddenly felt the heat rise in her chest and abdomen and spread through her limbs, making her feel like she was blushing all over, she probably was.
Naruto tried his best to smile reassuringly, he didn't think it was working out though. "Do…do you still think I'm not real now?" Hinata nodded her head again, but this time very slowly. Naruto moved forward again, and this time was met halfway, making his eyes go wide with surprise for a moment. But then he smiled, and closed his eyes again, feeling Hinata-chan's lips against his.
What the hell was she doing! Of course she knew he was real after he pulled away from the first kiss. But she was tired, and somehow that heat in her body had taken over, maybe she had let it. And so she had pretty much asked him for another kiss. This time though she felt herself move forward and meet him halfway kissing him back. And time just ceased to exist for her.
It was several moments before they retreated from each other, just a little breathless.
Hinata looked into those beautiful eyes, thinking that they were as vast as the sky and could swallow her in an instant if she allowed herself to fall in, she realized she was about to before she stopped herself. "Th-this is real isn't it? I-I am alive, and…I'm not dreaming?"
Naruto grinned, "This is definitely not a dream and definitely real, and thank god that, yes, you are alive." Hinata hesitated for a moment "… And what I said to you when I was hurt, I-I meant it." Naruto smiled fully, "Good, because… I meant it to when I said that I think I'm in love with you."
Hinata could feel the tears coming up, but she didn't stop them, this wasn't heaven, this was heaven on earth!
Naruto began to panic, "Hinata-chan! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you…?" Hinata had begun to giggle, "I thought it was okay Naruto-kun, to cry when you were really happy." Naruto couldn't help but let his own tears well up as Hinata climbed into his arms and hugged him, rubbing her cheek against his and sighing, "I love you Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto hugged her back, letting his relief overflow through him, "…and I love you Hyuuga Hinata."
It was several minutes later before Hinata spoke up again, "Um, Naruto-kun?…" Naruto grunted, "Hmhm?" Hinata hesitated, going pink at the thoughts going through her head, "Uh, your under the covers with me Naruto-kun, what if someone came in?"
Naruto turned beet red seconds before sitting up and throwing the covers off of them, That's when he realized Hinata-chan was wearing one of those patient slip-ons, the ones that you didn't wear any under-wear underneath. Naruto stood up blushing uncontrollably and stammering an apology.
Hinata was confused for a moment until she saw herself uncovered. She squeaked and quickly pulled the blankets up to her chest. "I-its okay Naruto-kun, you can turn around now."
Naruto peeked over his shoulder before turning all the way around and breathing deeply, he thought he was in for a serious beating, the kind that Ero-sennin usually received. Naruto looked around for a chair, but Hinata hesitantly patted the mattress where he had been sitting before he dived under the covers with her, indicating he could sit there.
Naruto sat down, smiling and scratching the back of his head, "Um, sorry Hinata-chan, I didn't really think before I did that, I shouldn't of, you probably think I'm like Ero-sennin now." Hinata-chan however, simply reached out, cupped his face and pulled him to her, lips meeting. She pulled away and smiled at him.
Naruto closed his eyes and breathed deeply, he could definitely, definitely, get used to this sort of thing. "I…guess I'll take that as you're not angry at me." He said rather dreamily, all this still seemed slightly surreal him to. He wouldn't want it any other way.
Naruto opened his eyes and smiled, feeling the warmth spread through him as he watched Hinata-chan smile and blush a little. He hugged her, and they held each other there for a moment before he pulled away, he still kept his hands around hers though. "I've got tons to tell you after you decided to take your nap."
Hinata smiled and rolled her eyes at that. "I'm assuming you won?" Naruto nodded enthusiastically, and proceeded to tell her everything about his match with Pulse.
Kakashi stood on the roof of the hospital.
Good thing he had decided to follow Naruto when he decided to run off, for across from him was Duseto. Kakashi didn't think it was a coincidence.
He was tall, as tall as him, he wore the gray robed and purple belt common among all sound nins, and he wore a face mask that resembled a skull with sharp teeth and purple markings. "You can't have him Duseto, If you want him, you have to get through me first. And just to let it you know, it will over my dead and cold body."
Duseto smirked, "Very well, as you wish Copy Ninja." And with that he charged at Kakashi.
Kakashi met him halfway. They began to circle each other, giving and blocking blows so fast it would have seemed a blur to the normal onlooker. It was almost like a dance, a very deadly dance, where one misstep could spell defeat. Twisting and turning, dodging and blocking, using any convenient surface of the body in order to land a blow. Kakashi hadn't fought like this in a long time, it was exhilarating.
After several minutes though, Duseto apparently decided that it was time to get serious, he jumped back from one of Kakashi's kicks and landed about twenty feet away. Kakashi reached up and pulled up his forehead protector, exposing his sharingan. Duseto smirked again, "I already know the secret of the sharingan Kakashi, in order to avoid its power all I have to do is not look you in the eye. Simple enough for me since most jutsus don't require eye contact!"
Duseto performed hand seals and screamed "Tornado Beast of Thunder Jutsu!" Kakashi's eyes widened at the number of hand seals Duseto used and how fast he did them, his sharingan was just able to keep up, at least he knew how to do it now. What looked like a small tornado ripped up from the roof they were standing on right in front of Duseto, it then proceeded to wrap itself around him and began to crackle with electricity, creating a swirling vortex of wind and lightning around its creator. The 'head' of the tornado thing rested on Duseto's shoulder so that the opening in the top faced Kakashi, almost like he was about to play a tuba or sousaphone.
Kakashi's eyes widened, Shit, he knew what was going to happen as a ball of electrical energy began to form in the 'mouth' of the tornado. Kakashi grabbed his wrist and quickly began to pump chakra into his hand, until it to began to crackle with energy, except this lightning was blue, and composed entirely of chakra, a whole lot of chakra. He hadn't done this but once, but circumstances seemed to call for it.
The ball of lightning suddenly fired at Kakashi. He was ready though "Raikiri!" Kakashi swung his chakra infused hand, colliding with that of the ball of lightning. He seemed to struggle for a moment against the impact of the thunder missile, but then completed his swing, splitting the ball of electricity in two and sending both pieces hurtling into the air, where the safely winked out of existence.
Duseto's eyes widened, "What the hell was that!" Kakashi glared at Naruto's potential killer, "That was the lightning edge, the Raikiri, also called the Chidori." Kakashi sighed, "I guess I should stop fooling around to." With that Kakashi closed his right eye so he was glaring at Duseto with just the sharingan.
Duseto laughed, "Ha! I already told you fool! I know how the sharingan works! You can't defeat me by using it!"
Kakashi smiled slowly, causing Duseto to falter in his laughter, "I've been training my sharingan for three years, ever since I fought Uchiha Itachi. What makes you think this is the same sharingan you've heard about?"
Duseto stopped laughing, "What the hell are you talking about Copy Ninja!" Kakashi just kept his sharingan focused on Duseto, "It means, you nimrod, that I don't need to copy you in order to defeat you, after I get rid of your jutsu, I'm going to force you to tell me where Sasuke is, and what Orochimaru has done with him."
Duseto started laughing again, "You can't hurt me Kakashi! As long as this vortex surrounds me you'll have to pierce it with your chidori! And I'll just keep you dancing with more thunder missiles! Ha!" Duseto suddenly stopped laughing as his jutsu faded around him. "Wha… What the fuck!"
Kakashi smiled dangerously, "I just stopped your chakra flow using my sharingan, or should I say my 'Mengekyou Sharingan'?" Duseto looked up to see Kakashi's sharingan had changed, it wasn't like the one that Uchiha brat had. Duseto just made a big mistake.
Duseto collapsed to his knees, clutching his stomach and breathing hard, Kakashi had just forced him to feel his innards torn out for seventy-two hours straight, even though in the real world no time had really passed at all. Kakashi was breathing a little heavily though,
he had used the mengekyou twice in one day, not a good idea, he mustn't show it though.
"Tell me all you know about Sasuke or else I'll do it again and again and again, until you tell me what I want to hear." Kakashi hoped he didn't hear the bluff, he really wasn't sure if he could do it again without causing himself to pass out.
Duseto however, curled in on himself and began to tell Kakashi everything he knew, form the fact that he wore women's underwear once, to all he knew about Sasuke and Orochimaru.
Naruto had just finished telling Hinata about the fight with Pulse. He left out the parts about him accessing the kyuubi chakra though.
"So I pretty much kicked his ass after everything that happened." Hinata smiled, that was like him to brag about a fight, the only ones he never did brag about were his ones with Gaara and Sasuke, he told her all about those when they were training. He was still holding her hands, and she was so happy, it would mean so much more now when they hugged and held hands.
Naruto's good humor faded though, "If it wasn't for the fact that you were hurt so bad… and that you told me that you loved me, I don't think I would've been able to beat him." It was true, he had to use a level five Rasengan while in the weakest stage of his kyuubi form. If it wasn't for the emotion he was feeling then, he wouldn't have been able to defeat Pulse.
Hinata smiled and blushed at his words, he was saying that it was because of her love that he won. She squeezed his hand to let him know she understood. He hugged her again, even now, knowing he loved her, she didn't think she would ever get used to him hugging her and holding her hand, it sent her heartbeat skipping along. And that wasn't even mentioning kissing, she was afraid she might lose control of her body if the kissing became anymore than just their lips touching.
Hinata sighed in his embrace, then remembered something, "Naruto-kun? Shouldn't you go talk to the Hokage? You should find out why no one's looking for Sasuke anymore."
Naruto pulled away, his head hanging, "I know why they aren't searching for him anymore Hinata-chan, he's probably already the snake-bastard's vassal. But that doesn't mean they should of given up though." Naruto sighed, "I do want to talk to her Hinata-chan, but I don't want to leave your side yet…" Naruto found himself embraced by Hinata-chan, "That's probably the sweetest thing you said to me today, except that you love me of course, but I'll be okay, I promise, I'll wait for you to come back."
Naruto hesitated for a moment until Hinata pushed him playfully "Go! You big blonde goof!" Hinata giggled at her own words and turned a little pink. Naruto couldn't help himself, he leaned over and kissed her, then ran out the door yelling over his shoulder that he'd be back soon. Hinata had stopped laughing, and instead lied down sighing and hoping this dream never ended.
Kakashi's eyes went wide at what Duseto had told him. "If what you say is true, I can't let you go and tell Orochimaru that we know now."
Duseto had other plans though, He made sure he didn't look into Kakashi's eye, "I don't think so." Duseto slammed his hand into the ground, summoning forth that vortex of wind and thunder that surrounded him.
Kakashi held up his arms to block the spray of sand and dirt that had gathered on the roof, through slit eyes Kakashi could see Duseto create a hole in the ceiling and watched as a limp and unconscious figure rose through the hole into Duseto's arms. Kakashi recognized the face mask and the gauntlets, it was Zeek, the genin sound nin that Hinata had defeated.
Using the vortex as some sort of springboard, Duseto launched himself into the air, shooting a thunder missile over his shoulder at Kakashi, forcing him to use the Raikiri again. After the dust settled and the vortex disappeared, Duseto and Zeek were nowhere to be found. Shit! He had to tell the Hokage right away about this, she would decide whether to tell Naruto. Kakashi jumped off the roof of the hospital and made his way to Tsunade-sama's office as fast as he could.
Naruto barged into the office to find Kakashi-sensei and Obaa-chan conversing with intense whispers. They both stopped and looked at him as he entered. Naruto didn't bother announcing himself, he just walked past Tsunade and Kakashi and sat in the one of the chairs facing her desk, "You have some explaining to do."
Tsunade sighed, she didn't have to ask, she already knew what Naruto wanted to talk about, she had heard what Pulse had said to him about Sasuke. She turned to Kakashi, "Thank You Kakashi, you're dismissed." Kakashi bowed quickly and left the office just as quickly, not wanting to get caught in the oncoming storm.
Tsunade walked slowly around Naruto and sat in her chair. "I know what you want to talk to me about Naruto, and I know that every reason I give you is not going to be enough to tell how sorry I am that I wasn't able to save him, I know that to you, none my reasons are good enough, and I know that in your opinion we should still be searching for Sasuke, even if he was Orochimaru's vassal." Tsunade braced herself, "You can yell at me now if you wish."
Naruto breathed in deeply and Tsunade squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the screaming to begin. "You're right." Tsunade's eyes popped open so fast they hurt, "Come again?" Naruto sighed, "I think I can already figure out most of your reasons why you aren't looking for Sasuke, especially since he probably already is Orochimaru's vassal, and it's pointless to waste needed ninja effort in a futile search. I can also guess why you didn't tell me right away, because of the chuunin exam, I would've been angry and distracted. You were also right in assuming that I think you should be looking for him still, even if he is no longer the Sasuke I know."
Tsunade couldn't believe it, Naruto had just said all of that in a calm and measured voice as if he had been thinking about it for ages. "You've been talking to Hinata, haven't you?" Naruto shrugged, yeah, while I was visiting her in the hospital I ranted and raved about how angry I was, when I calmed down, she was able to get me to think about it at a different angle." Naruto turned pink for some reason and was staring off into space with a small smile on is lips. Tsunade smiled to herself, that girl really was something, she was probably the only one that could get Naruto to see things with a little more reason than normal. She was confused by Naruto's lack of focus for a moment until she realized what it was. "She told you didn't she?"
Naruto looked up surprised by Tsunade's intuition, but nodded slowly anyway. "Yeah, she told me she loved me when Zeek had hurt her pretty bad, she told me because she was about to die and because dieing was scarier than talking to me, she was able to finally get enough courage to tell me. After she did, it was like… I don't know, everything was foggy and mixed up when I thought about her and my feelings for her, and now everything is clear and makes a whole lot more sense."
Tsunade nodded, then sighed dramatically, "Ahhh, young love, how I envy thee." Naruto frowned, "You know, your lucky I'm not that mad at you, yet. So don't push it." Tsunade couldn't help smiling though, "I wish the both of you the best of luck." You're going to need it.
Naruto nodded then and stood up to go, "I just wanted to let you know how I felt about it and all, and that, I understand and I forgive you, it wasn't your fault that he's gone." He turned and headed towards the door.
Tsunade couldn't help it, "Naruto, get back here and sit down. I have something to tell you." Naruto slowly went back to his seat, frowning and wondering what was going on.
Tsunade sighed, he deserves to know, "Sasuke isn't Orochimaru's vassal yet, we still have three years."
Naruto gaped, "What! Then why the hell aren't you looking for him!" Tsunade stood up and started yelling back "Because I just heard about it you little brat! Kakashi just got the information out of the sound nin jounin! Now sit the hell down before I make you!"
Naruto sat down as if a lead weight were in his butt. "W-why isn't Sasuke Orochimaru's vassal yet?"
Tsunade sat down, "Apparently the sound nin was very forthcoming, Orochimaru was out on a diplomatic mission, probably to gain the alliance of another country when he was attacked by Itachi and his Akutsuki partner. Orochimaru either doesn't know why, or just isn't saying anything to his minions, but he barely made it back alive, it was only a week before he would've made the body transfer into Sasuke. But Sasuke was nowhere to be found, apparently my old teammate is having a hard time controlling your old teammate. Anyway, Orochimaru had to transfer into a different body, which means…"
Naruto jumped up with a big smile on his face "Three more years to find Sasuke and that snake-bastard so I can kick his ass!" Naruto started jumping up and down whooping at the top of his lungs.
Tsunade sighed though, "You're not going after him though, Naruto." Naruto stopped jumping, "What?" Tsunade rubbed her temples, this was going to be bad. "I said your not going after him, and before you start screaming at me I'm going to tell you why. First, Itachi and the rest of the Akutsuki are after you we don't know why, second, we now know that Orochimaru is after you as well, which we do know why. You can not go running off on missions that will bring you into enemy territory and risk you ending up like Sasuke, or worse, dead. You need to be protected at all costs, so that you can survive long enough to find Sasuke, and how did you put it? Kick that snake-bastards ass, right?"
Naruto reluctantly swallowed what he was about to say, or yell actually. Obaa-chan had a point, a very good point. Damnit! He loved Hinata-chan, he knew that now, but did she have to put the idea of looking at things from different angles into his head? Naruto sighed and sat back down in his chair, slumping a little and hanging his head, he was beat he knew it, there were other ninja who were better at searching, and if they needed him when they found out where Sasuke is, they could always send for him and Sakura-chan.
Tsunade raised her eyebrows, shocked at Naruto's silence and surrender, what the hell had Hinata done to him to calm him down so much? Tsunade reached across the desk and grabbed his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze and letting him know that she understood. "I know you want to go after him, but before finding Sasuke, your first priority should be making sure your still around to help find him, so I'm sending you away for awhile Naruto."
Naruto looked up, "Away? How far? And how long is a little while?" He may not be able to look for Sasuke, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
Tsunade leaned back, "I'm sending you to a place that only Jaraiya and I know about. We call it the 'tree house' kind of as a code name for it. It's a place of refuge for me and Jaraiya while we were traveling all over the place, either together or on our own. He's going to bring you there, and I'm going to be sending a retinue of guards in order to help protect you. Just because Jaraiya and I are the only ones who know about it doesn't mean no one will find you, and with the people looking for you Naruto, you need the added protection, I don't care how much stronger you've gotten. And how long? As long as it takes to handle this Akutsuki situation. Once that's resolved you can help with finding that snake-bastard." Tsunade waited patiently, allowing that to sink in.
Naruto thought about it for several minutes before looking up, "Who are my bodyguards?" Tsunade sat back up and pulled a file from under her desk, everyone here is someone you already know. Naruto raised his eyebrows in interest. "Tsunade started to list them off, Hyuuga Neji, Rock Lee and Tenten, they're all jounin now, and Neji is one of the best Byakugan masters we have, Lee is second in Taijutsu only to Gai and Tenten has become quite the weapons master. There is also Sakura as well, she's almost as good at healing and fighting as I am, after all I taught her, it would be good to have some extra muscle and a medic on hand. Those are your guards, not too many but not too little, we want you to be protected well, but we don't want to attract any attention. They've all been notified and are ready to leave within the week, Jaraiya will be there for the trip to the tree-house and act as your guide, he'll also be my messenger, dropping in every once in awhile to check on things."
Naruto nodded, but looked up "I agree with the choices, plus they're all my friends, but I want Hinata-chan on that list too." Tsunade gave a mild surprised look, "Why, may I ask?" Naruto spoke with absolute certainty and determination, "Because she can use the Byakugan too, plus I taught her the jyuuken arrow, and if I'm in a fight I wouldn't want anyone else by my side more than I'd want her to be, and I promised her that I would never leave her side and she promised me the same, and we intend to keep our promises no matter what, and… and I love her." Naruto was standing now and bracing himself for an argument.
Tsunade nodded, "Alright, she can go." Naruto gaped, mouth hanging wide open. "But on one condition Naruto, you have to ask her first and bring her here so she can tell me that she agreed, just to be safe."
Naruto smiled, "Okay. I know she'll agree." Naruto paused though, "But her father, I know he won't agree, you've got to talk to him, he won't listen to me, he hates me, I don't know what I've done to him, but I know part of its because of the kyuubi sealed inside of me, and if he finds out how I feel about Hinata-chan he'll never let her go."
Tsunade sighed, and struggled with herself for a bit. He was sixteen, he should know. "Naruto, sit down again please." Naruto sat down automatically, probably because Tsunade had just said please nicely. Tsunade breathed in deeply, prepping herself for what might come, "Ever since you left three years ago, I've spent a lot of my time in the basement of this building, looking through all the archives and files. I was looking for some information on something that I thought would be important to you, sadly everything I found, though informative, only fills one folder." Tsunade pulled out a folder from a locked drawer in her desk and handed it to Naruto, there was a large red spiral on the front of the manila folder.
Naruto looked up "What is this?" Tsunade looked seriously into his eyes for a moment before giving her answer, "You're sixteen now Naruto, I've decided that you're old enough to know about your clan and family."
Naruto froze, staring wide eyed at Tsunade. "I thought I didn't have a family." Tsunade nodded, "You don't have a family, they're all dead." Naruto hung his head, "Then why should I want to know about them?"
Tsunade got up, walked around her desk and sat in the chair next to Naruto. She opened the folder onto his lap, on the front page was a picture of someone Naruto had seen before, "That's… the fourth Hokage!" Tsunade nodded slowly "That's your older brother Naruto."
Naruto whipped his face towards Tsunade, obvious confusion and even a little bit of fear at what he was about to learn showing on his face. Tsunade smiled reassuringly and began to tell Naruto about his family.
"You are the last of the Uzumaki clan Naruto, just as Sasuke is the last Uchiha. The Uzumakis were one of the three most powerful clans in Konoha, next in power to the Hyuugas and the Uchihas. You're living in the old clan house that belonged to your family. And as you can see your family crest was the red spiral. Your brother was a prodigy, and came up with the body flicker technique, which is said only an Uzumaki could perform, its why he was known as the Yellow Flash, blonde hair and able to appear anywhere, anytime. I never knew your brother's name, and I didn't find any files on it, when I met him he was already Hokage and everyone called him Yondaime. Anyway, the day the Kyuubi attacked, it was literally unstoppable. Your brother came up with the plan to stop it though, he would make a sacrifice in order to seal the beast inside a child who, as he grew older would eventually merge with the kyuubi chakra. There were only two problems, he needed a child, and the kyuubi was so powerful that the required sacrifice had to be huge in proportion."
Tsunade paused for a moment to allow that to sink in before continuing. "Your entire clan Naruto was in a state of decline at the time, there were no Uzumaki children for some reason, your brother was the youngest Uzumaki. Until you were born of course, apparently they thought you were a miracle and a chance at bringing back the clan to its original prosperity. It was only a day later that the kyuubi attacked, and your entire clan, Naruto, it says here, all one hundred and twenty three of them, including your brother sacrificed themselves in order to created the seal on your stomach and bind the kyuubi into it. They believed that because you were young, you were the only chance for the Uzumaki clan to survive, and because of the sacrifice, you would be looked upon as a hero. It didn't turn out that way, most of the adults grew to hate the Uzumaki name, they believed such a sacrifice should have destroyed the kyuubi, not seal it so it might escape in one way or another. And so they hated you, believing you would allow the kyuubi to escape, or when you fully merged with its chakra you would become the kyuubi itself. Because of the decree the third Hokage set down, none of the children knew about you, or even heard of the Uzumaki clan, the Sandaime had a feeling that this was how the populace would react. I know its not rational how they acted Naruto, but that's the way people are, your brother was known as a hero among the children, but the adults secretly loathed him, because they believed he had cursed them, not helped them."
It took many long minutes for Naruto to absorb that, "I guess that's why Hiashi hates me so much, not only am I the vassal for the kyuubi, but because I'm an Uzumaki and the fourth's younger brother." He said the part of being the younger brother of the fourth with a bit of wonder in his voice, almost like what he was saying wasn't real.
Tsunade grinned a little, "Actually Naruto." Naruto looked up with a questioning look, "Hiashi hates the Uzumakis for an entirely different reason, or at least before the kyuubi incident, remember when I told you your clan was one of the three most powerful?" Naruto nodded, "Well, duh, Hyuugas and the Uchihas didn't get along very well because they were competing for power, what makes you think the Hyuugas and Uzumakis got along while the clan existed?"
Naruto nodded his head in agreement, that would make sense, but then he frowned "But the Uchihas and the Hyuugas were rivals because of their blood limits, why would my clan be considered a threat…?"
Naruto noticed the smile and glint in Obaa-chan's eye, "WHOA! Hold on just one second! You are NOT saying that I…"
Tsunade nodded her head enthusiastically, "Ooooh yes I am, you Naruto have an advanced bloodline limit. And a very powerful one at that, because the records mention that even though all three clans were competing against each other, the Uzumakis seemed to be on top more often then not."
Naruto just sat there, stunned and numb, he couldn't believe it, not only did he have a clan and family, but his brother was the fourth Hokage and he had a blood limit.
Naruto suddenly became very dizzy and fell out of his chair. Tsunade got down and put a steadying hand on him, she waited a minute before asking, "You okay?" Naruto nodded, "Just thought I was going to throw up for a moment, I'm better now though, thanks."
Tsunade stood up and sat back down at her desk, and waited for Naruto to stand back up and sit down, "The Hyuugas are born with the ability to use the Byakugan, and the Uchihas were usually able to use the Sharingan when they hit puberty. Your clan however had to wait until they were adults, the youngest on record to get full use of your blood limit was your brother at age sixteen."
Naruto's head was reeling from all the information he just received, he struggled to clear his mind "Wh-what is my blood limit?" Tsunade shrugged, "Doesn't say, other than it's a doujutsu, an eye blood limit like the Sharingan and Byakugan. Apparently doujutsus are extremely rare and powerful. And Konoha is unique due to the fact that we used to have three clans that had advanced bloodlines that involved their eyes. It does say that your bloodline limit was called the Zenseigan, and apparently your brother said you had to have use of the Zenseigan in order to use the body flicker jutsu, there were some other jutsus unique to your blood limit, just like all advanced bloodlines have, but it didn't say." Tsunade, pulled out a three-prongedkunai with a strange seal carved into the handle and handed it to Naruto. "Here, this is what your brother used to perform the body flicker jutsu, maybe someday you can figure out how he did it."
Tsunade then helped Naruto up and shooed him out of the room, "There, you have your folder and the only remaining shuriken that your brother used. I hope your happy, remember to bring Hinata here, and don't worry I'll talk to Hiashi, he'll have to do as I say, I am the Hokage after all. Now go, I think someone is waiting for you in the hospital."
Naruto turned around and hugged Obaa-chan, sniffing back his tears, "Thank you, thank you so much… I don't know how to thank you for all of this…" Tsunade held him so she could look into his eyes, "Forgiving me about Sasuke and about not telling you all of this sooner should be enough I think." Naruto smiled, tears leaving trails down his cheeks and hugged Tsunade, "Forgiven." And then he turned around and ran, Hinata was waiting for him after all, and he had so much to tell her, then he stopped down one hallway. He couldn't tell her about his family sacrificing themselves, then he would have to tell her about the kyuubi inside of him, he would just tell her that they all died battling the kyuubi he could tell her that who his brother was at least. It was close enough to the truth, but it hurt lying like that, still he didn't want Hinata to hate him. He didn't think he could bear her hating him. He quickly perked up again though, Wait until Hinata-chan finds out I have blood limit like hers! The Zenseigan ,this is so cool! I wonder what it does?
Hinata opened her eyes to find her father entering her room. "Father! I did it! The judges voted that Naruto and I were eligible to become chuunin! I was able to do it!"
Hiashi though merely looked at her, that's when she noticed that he was clenching his jaw so hard his entire face was turning pale. "Able to do what exactly?" he said menacingly. Hinata's eyes widened, why was father angry? Didn't she do what he always wanted of her? "F-father?"
"You have dishonored me again!" Hinata was shocked "W-what?" Hiashi continued as if he didn't hear, "You have dishonored me! How do expect me to congratulate you when you enter the exam without the family crest and become a chuunin without the family crest, and you expect me to honor you? What did you expect, you wanted me to restore your position as heir? You have lost all hopes of that!"
Hinata couldn't understand what was going on, tears began to crawl down her cheeks, "B-but father! Y-you said I could take part of the ch-chuunin exam!"
Hiashi glared, Hinata could literally hear him grinding his teeth "You should not have agreed, you would have gained some respect from me if you had declined and stayed home and practiced your jyuuken! You dishonored me! Not only did you not wear the family crest, you lost! Again! No self respecting Hyuuga would allow themselves to be beaten so badly! And worse, you use an unknown technique to defeat your opponent! Where did you learn how to do that! Jyuuken was not meant to be thrown around like some toy!"
Hinata was sobbing now, miserable with herself for failing… again. "N-Na-Naruto-kun t-taught me it."
Hiashi's eyes widened in outrage, and very slowly he asked "You allowed yourself to be not only partnered with that lowlife, but you let yourself be taught by a piece of trash! And worse you use that Uzumaki's trash technique! Allowing him to pervert the jyuuken! How can you call yourself a Hyuuga when you allow yourself to be surrounded by scum like that Uzumaki-Trash!"
Hinata exploded, "He-is-not-TRASH! He is the most wonderful, kind, sensitive and strongest person I know! And I love him!"
Hiashi was speechless with anger, "Starting the day you get out of this hospital, you will not leave the household for any reason, you will train your jyuuken everyday, and starting today you are forbidden, FORBIDDEN to go anywhere near that Uzumaki brat! No exceptions!" With that Hyuuga Hiashi stormed out of the room and slammed the door.
Outside the room, he grabbed the nearest doctor, "Huh?"
"I am the head of the Hyuuga clan, you will guard this door from any man who happens to have blonde hair and blue eyes and calls himself Uzumaki Naruto." The doctor was panicking "B-b-b-b-but…" Hiashi tightened his grip, "You will do as I say or else. Understood?" The doctor numbly nodded his head. Seeing that Hiashi turned and stalked out of the hospital.
Naruto ran all the way to Hinata's room only to be stopped by a doctor, "Sorry, on Lord Hyuuga Hiashi's command, no one is allowed to enter unless they're a… doctor?" Naruto recognized the little man, it was the same medic he had threatened at the stadium and had tried to stop him at the front desk not to long ago.
Naruto narrowed his eyes dangerously and began to methodically crack his knuckles, "You were saying…?" He growled the words only inches from the doctor's face.
The doctor was shaking and beginning to sweat, why did he have to get involved with the temperamental ninjas? "S-s-s-s-s-sure, what Hiashi-sama doesn't know w-won't hurt him, right?" Naruto smiled menacingly "Right."
The doctor scrambled as fast as he could out of the way, at least he would be able to check on his patient now, that sound shinobi, Zeek was his name.
Naruto could hear crying inside, damn that Hiashi! Naruto opened the door and walked to Hinata's bed. She had her face in her hands and was shaking with her loud sobbing.
Naruto touched her hand, "Hinata-chan?" Hinata flinched at his touch, but when she heard his voice she threw herself at him without looking, crying into his shoulder. Naruto wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.
It was about and hour before Hinata had calmed down enough to tell him what happened. "You're not going to listen to him are you!" Hinata hung her head and hid her face, not knowing what her answer was. Naruto frowned determinedly "Look Hinata-chan…" and he proceeded to tell Hinata everything about Sasuke and the fact that he was going away, including who his bodyguards were and that he wanted her with.
Hinata began to shake her head "B-but father, he will never…" Naruto frowned and gently cupped Hinata's face, facing her towards him so she couldn't look away. "Look, Hinata-chan, this isn't about what your father wants, or about pleasing him, from what I gather, I don't think you could please him no matter how hard you try, one failure seems to be enough for him to condemn anyone for eternity. This isn't about him, this is about you and what you want Hinata-chan, Obaa-chan already said that if you agree she'll make it an order that you go, Hiashi can't refuse that. That is… if you want to go?"
Hinata nodded vigorously, "Of course I want to go Naruto-kun! I don't want to leave your side ever! But father, he… he will never forgive me." Naruto frowned with frustration, but he didn't let it take over.
As calmly as he could he looked into those beautiful lavender eyes, willing her to understand, "Sometimes… sometimes Hinata-chan, you have to stop worrying what other people think, and think about what you want, and then do it. I made a promise to you, and I'm not breaking it… ever."
It took Hinata a moment to realize what he was saying "Naruto-kun! You can't stay! I love you, but I can't be by your side if you die!" Naruto nodded solemnly, "That's true, but I'd rather die by your side than die knowing you weren't there with me."
Hinata was speechless and so she began to cry, how did he do that, make her so happy and yet so sad at the same time? Gods she loved him so much.
Naruto could still see some doubt though, fine, if reasoning won't work then I'll have to get drastic, I am NOT leaving her behind. Naruto pulled Hinata-chan's face toward him and kissed her, this time though, instead of just the light brushing of lips he pushed gently so that he was kissing her bottom lip and their lips were fully pressed against each other.
Hinata could feel herself melting, she went limp in his arms so that he was the only thing holding her up. The heat was incredible, she had slid a hand behind her head, and it was taking all her control not to grab his hair and pull him into an even deeper kiss.
Naruto pulled away after a very, very long moment, leaving Hinata-chan blinking rapidly and gasping. Naruto raised an eyebrow in question, "Soooo?" Hinata nodded her head very slowly, and smiled, letting all those thoughts of her father come back to her like they did the day Naruto-kun had asked her to partake in the chuunin exam.
Hinata suddenly became dizzy and fell into Naruto-kun's arms, any more kisses like that she would have done anything he asked of her. She hugged him feeling his arms tighten around her, and sighed. She would be leaving with Naruto-kun in a week and she wouldn't have to worry about clan life or her father's anger, it would just be her, Naruto-kun, Neji-niisan and friends, and they could be gone for a year! Or even more! It was a fantasy come true!
Naruto pulled away "Hey Hinata-chan! I got loads to tell you!" and so Naruto described in detail about his brother and his clan.
Hinata listened to every word, amazed at the things he was telling her, but deep down inside part of her couldn't but muse over the fact that today… today was definitely worth almost dieing for.
Alright, I hope you enjoyed some of the things I added, and if not... Too Bad! Muwahahahaha! Cough-Cough
Anyway, "I want one thing this Christmas Santa" Santa smiled "What is it Gadalla? What do you want?" Gadalla shouted happily "REVIEWS! REVIEWS! REVEEEIIIIIWS!" Santa fainted... and then, he died...
Uhh, Anyway! Next Chapter: We get to see the tree-house! Well first we travel there! Then! Only then do we get to see the tree-house!... and some other things...hee hee.
There I did some editing, hope it was enough.