Author's note: I just want to keep writing this story. I am having so much fun and I am excited for what I have planned for it. For those people who are reading my other fic, Power to protect, don't worry, I will probably update it this Saturday, but the story I am in the mood to write is this one. Please, everyone, read, review, enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Naruto, just this plot line!
Tsunade checked Naruto out as she helped him prepare to meet with Hyuuga Hiashi and the rest of the Hyuuga clan elders, making sure the teen looked his absolute best. She had bought him a nice black kimono and hakama so he would meet the clan's standards of acceptable formal wear. She had also attempted to fix his spiky blonde hair so it didn't look like a blonde mess. That didn't work to well. His hair was still going where ever it wanted to.
"Baachan, I feel like an idiot. Do I really have to wear this stuff?" Naruto asked, looking at his reflection in a mirror.
"Yes, for the last time, gaki! You need to meet the Hyuuga clan's standards tonight, do you understand? Even with Neji vouching for you, they still might turn you down." Though the only ones with veto power are Hiashi and Haruka. From what Neji mentioned, both will be happy that Hinata has found a way out of this situation.
"Even though my mom and Hinata's mom were best friends? Neji said that might work in my favor."
You have no idea how much that will help you. "Many of the clan did know your mother," Tsunade replied. "I will reveal that you are Kushina's son when the time is right. Now, Naruto, when Hiashi and and possibly Haruka hear who your mother is, they will immediately know who your father is. Do not ask them. I cannot allow you to know who he is until your are sixteen." Maybe sooner depending on what Jiraiya says.
Naruto nodded in understanding, "Will that be a good thing or a bad thing? Was my dad on good terms with the Hyuuga?"
Tsunade gave him a smile. "Yes, Hiashi actually was a good friend of his. That's why he will know once I tell them you are the son of Uzumaki Kushina." She turned to the mirror and quickly put her hair up into a twisted bun and secured it with a jeweled clip, a Senju heirloom. Tsunade was wearing a light green kimono with white embroidered birds and a dark green obi. Kushina, Hitomi, help me out here. I know that the two of you would want this to happen. "We both look like we're ready, so come with me, Naruto."
He nodded and said, "Baachan, you look really good, like the Hokage, but without the hat."
"Thank you, Naruto. Remember, be polite, don't call me Baachan, and no cracks about my age in front of the Hyuugas."
"Understood, Hokage-sama."
The pair made their way to the Hyuuga clan compound, where they were met at the entrance by Neji, dressed in a formal white and gray kimono. "Hokage-sama, Uzumaki-san, welcome. Hiashi-sama, Hinata-sama, and the clan elders are waiting for you. Follow me, please."
"Neji, what is the mood of the clan elders?" Naruto whispered as they crossed the courtyard.
"They think the fact that someone wants to marry Hinata is a joke. We'll prove them wrong," Neji replied as he led them to the main council meeting room. "Since the Hokage is coming with you, they are also serving dinner. Just to warn you, ramen isn't on the menu."
"It's okay," Naruto told him. I'll survive and manage to eat it. Will you be eating with us?"
"Yes, because I am the one vouching for you. Don't make me or Hinata look like fools tonight."
"Understood. Besides, Hokage-sama has already threatened that is I screw this up, she murder me and hide my body."
Neji opened the door and announced, "The Godaime Hokage Senju Tsunade and Konoha Genin Uzumaki Naruto are here."
Tsunade smiled as she entered, "Thank you for seeing myself and my godson on such short notice. I am grateful to be here for a more joyous occasion than the last time I was here, for my beloved student Hyuuga Hitomi's funeral."
Neji elbowed Naruto discreetly. "And I am grateful for the chance to come here as well. It is not often that I am allowed to come visit the homes of people I consider to be close and dear friends of mine," Naruto said while giving a bow in Hiashi's direction. Tsunade had forced him to memorize the greeting before they came.
Hiashi stood and gave a short bow to his guests, "It is my honor to welcome my departed wife's teacher to my home, and a promising Genin as well, who has already proven helpful and a good friend to two members of my clan."
Haruka also stood and bowed, "Welcome. You refer to Uzumaki-san as your godson, Hokage-sama. We were unaware of his importance to you."
Tsunade gave a small smile, this one was tinged with pain, "The person named as his godmother was killed in the line of duty ten years ago, and since I knew his mother well, I accepted the duty in her place."
Naruto stared at Tsunade in shock while Haruka replied, "Who was this person?"
"Her name was Norita Rin, a medic and Jonin of this village who was close to his mother, like a younger sister."
Haruka nodded in approval, "I remember the girl. She saved the lives of Hitomi and Hinata when Hitomi developed complications during childbirth. One of the Yondaime's students, a very talented medic, and quite an adept fighter, without a doubt. Will you take a seat so we can get started with dinner? Uzumaki-san, you will be seated next to my granddaughter. My grandson will be on your other side. Hokage-sama, you will be seated between my son and myself."
Naruto walked to his place and sat down next to Hinata. She's gorgeous! That was the only thought going through his head. Hinata was wearing a lilac-colored kimono with dark purple butterflies embroidered on it and a dark purple obi. There were small lavender flowers pinned in her hair and she was wearing makeup. Her face lit up with a smile when she saw him.
"Good evening, Naruto-kun," she whispered. Hesitantly, she pulled a silver chain out from under the neckline of her kimono and showed him what was on it, his mother's engagement ring, now hers. She took in his appearance. The black looked really good on him. "You look very nice this evening." I am so lying. You look hot!
"You look beautiful, Hinata-hime," Naruto replied, and quickly leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek, causing her to blush prettily. Hiashi smiled at the display while some of the other council members looked annoyed.
Dinner actually went really well. Naruto didn't mention anything stupid or compare the cooking to Ichiraku's. Tsunade kept the conversation going, telling stories about her adventures with the Sannin, training her own team, and of course, the bet she and Naruto made, which brought her back to the village to become the Godaime Hokage.
Once dinner was over and done with, one of the elders turned to Naruto. "You have a request to make of the Hyuuga family, Uzumaki Naruto?"
"Yes, I do. I humbly request permission to wed the eldest daughter of Hyuuga Hiashi and Hyuuga Hitomi, Hinata. To speak on behalf of my deceased parents is Senju Tsunade, Godaime Hokage."
"You are not Hyuuga, so is there a member of the Hyuuga clan willing to testify to your worthiness to marry one of our clan's daughters?" Haruka asked.
"I do," Neji said, "Naruto defeated me in combat during the Chunin Exams and has proved him to be loyal to this village and his friends many times over. I know that he will take care of and protect Hinata-sama. This I swear by both my eyes and my role as the hogosha of Hinata-sama."
"We acknowledge and accept the words spoken in behalf of Uzumaki Naruto, by Hyuuga Neji, son of Hizashi and Megumi," a random elder said.
"What do you say for Naruto, Tsunade-sama?" Hiashi asked. Hinata reached over and took Naruto's hand in hers. Naruto could tell be her tight, slightly shaky grip that she was very nervous.
"I know him and I knew his parents well. You couldn't find a more suitable and worthy husband for your daughter, Hiashi-sama. He has many of the same traits and attributes that made his mother such an amazing shinobi and friend. You knew her well."
Another elder spoke up, "Who is the boy's mother? All we know is that he is a orphan of unknown parentage."
Tsunade gave a small, sad smile. "His mother was the other beloved student I trained alongside Hitomi, Uzumaki Kushina."
Naruto and Hinata saw Hiashi's face go white with shock when he heard the name. Haruka and two other elders did the same thing. So, that's why Baachan warned me. Now I am really curious to know who my dad is, but my mom also had a great rep as a ninja. Maybe it's because they can't believe that I'm related to the famous ANBU Kitsune.
Hiashi's thoughts were very different. So the resemblance isn't a coincidence or a side effect of the seal. By Kami, Minato, you used your own son? Why didn't the Sandaime tell any of us? We could have helped him much more than we were able to with the civilians begging for his death in their stupid belief that Naruto was just another form of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. Time for me to make up in part for my negligence and pray that Hitomi will eventually forgive me, and that Kushina won't beat the living daylights out of me. "You are correct, Hokage-sama," Hiashi managed to speak once he had gotten over his shock. "Naruto does share many traits in common with Kushina. Remember, she was a friend of mine as well as Hitomi's. Your mother and your father would be proud of you, Naruto, and I have no problem entrusting you with my daughter."
"Hiashi-sama, have you forgotten what that boy is?" an elder demanded (one who didn't know who Kushina's husband was, poor idiot).
"Yes, I remember, and Hinata and Neji know as well. Jinchuriki are not evil, even if the demons they imprison are. Kushina taught me that. There were legends in her home village of a Jinchuriki who helped out the founders of Uzugakure and assisted them in forging their prized weapons, the Uzu katanas. It is no surprise to me that she offered her newborn child to help stop the beast, since she knew a Jinchuriki could be a force for good."
"Thank you, Hiashi-sama," Naruto replied, "Not many people in this village can tell the difference between a demon and his jailer. It is nice to know that the all-seeing eyes of the Hyuuga clan are different."
Nice one, gaki, complimenting them while at the same time saying that they can't live up to their reputation if they willfully ignore what you really are. I wonder if it was Hinata or Neji who suggested that line to you? My money is on Neji, Tsunade thought. "So, will you accept my godson as an acceptable husband for your eldest Hinata?"
"I do," Hiashi said.
"I stand in place of the deceased Hitomi and I gladly accept in her place," Haruka said.
"I accept Naruto-kun's proposal," Hinata said, and surprising everyone there, leaned forward and gave Naruto a firm kiss on the lips.
"Now what will we tell Yamada-sama?" one elder whispered to the one sitting next to him, Hyuuga Norio, "We promised him the young Hyuuga girl for a bride. Who would have expected this?"
Unfortunately for them, Hiashi overheard them. Then you are in hot water, from both him and me when I find out what you mean, the clan head though. He looked at his daughter and her fiance proudly. "The conditions have been met. Are you aware of all of them, Naruto-san, Hokage-sama?"
"Yes, Hiashi-sama," Naruto replied, "That this must be a true marriage, we need to be fully husband and wife, not just in name, and Hinata-hime must be carrying my child by her sixteenth birthday. Is there any chance we could move that back to her seventeenth or eighteenth? It is just that sixteen is rather young to become parents."
"No, we will not budge on any of the conditions," Hyuuga Norio said. "When will the wedding take place?"
"Jiraiya-sama will be taking both Naruto and Hinata on a training trip when we return to Konoha. He is expected to return in about a month. Let's give the two a chance to adjust to married life before we turn them over to the super pervert I call teammate and friend," Tsunade suggested.
"How about in one week's time, here at the clan compound?" Haruka asked.
"They will even be able to spend their wedding night here, but we will need to make sure they complete the act," another elder insisted.
Neji had to keep from laughing at the new shade of red that both Naruto and Hinata invented. Hinata then managed to find her voice, "Will any of our friends be permitted to attend?"
"Only if they can keep their mouths shut," Tsunade said. "I want to keep this quiet, It is very likely that of people hear about this, they will make the jump and connect you two to a famous pair on ninja with the names Uzumaki and Hyuuga. Who do you suggest?" Not to mention, I don't want it widely known that I allowed to thirteen-year-olds to get married.
"Aburame Shino is a teammate of mine and very good at keeping secrets," Hinata said, "I consider him to be like another brother to me. He is away with his father right now, training in more of his clan techniques, but he should return the day after tomorrow."
"Nara Shikamaru knows when not to speak and he is also a friend of mine," Naruto suggested, "Shimoto Tenten also knows of our engagement, it would be good to invite her as well."
"That does sound acceptable. Aburame Shino, Nara Shikamaru, and Shimoto Tenten are excellent shinobi with good reputations. Are you sure that you don't want to invite your teammate, Haruno Sakura?" Hiashi asked.
"No, not only will she be out of town at the time, she is also a bit of a gossip queen and we want this kept quiet for now," Naruto replied.
"Okay, we will only invite the friends you have suggested and their parents," Hiashi stated. "Your marriage will be formally announced on Hinata's sixteenth birthday. We can just say that Kushina and Hitomi made their husbands sign a betrothal contract between the to before Naruto's birth, which explains the young marriage."
"Good idea," Tsunade replied, and then glanced at Hiashi with narrowed eyes. Anyone who knew Kushina and Hitomi would believe that. The two were such good friends it makes sense that they would want their children to end up together. Wait, is there an actual contract already? I can so see the possibility. It also explains who Hiashi so quickly came up with the idea.
"I believe we have reached an agreement," Haruka announced, much to the shock and dismay of various clan elders. "The wedding of Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Hinata will take place one week from today."
A/N, take two: All the details have been work out, and now Hiashi knows there is something up with some of the elders, but Hinata is safe from their scheming hands! There is a wedding coming up, and I wonder how Jiraiya will react when he finds out he isn't just taking one teenager?
