AN: Yea! Chapter nine! My longest yet! And I'm soooooooooooooooooooooo sorry about the long wait, but I'm back at school, which means 13 hours of classes a week, 15 hours of work a week, and 24 hours of rehearsal a week. I've barely had time to eat, let alone write. But, I have read all reveiws, because I'm a review junkie. And speaking of reveiws, OH MY GOD! Over 250?! You guys are fantastic!

Morcalivan7: Actually no. I've actually never seen The Bodyguard. I'm a girl, but I'm not really into chick-flicks.

KonohaKunoichiSada: Oh yeah, Naruto and Hinata are definetly meant for each other, which is why I'm going on a hormonal rampage thorugh Japan if Hinata gets her heart broken. That would be so unfair!

FlowerChild91: Your wish is my command. Eventually. He he.

darktank: You're sad the stories ending? What about me? I feel like I'm losing a child here!

Universal Fighter: Ah, don't worry about what you're brother thinks. I laugh while I'm reading fanfiction too, which just makes my roommate think I'm weird.

kemiztri: Everybody in this story has bad timing!

CHAPTER NINE

Naruto woke up suddenly, and was a little confused. It was still dark, and he usually slept all the way through the night. Then there was a loud banging at his door, Hinata sat up next to him, and Naruto realized what had woken him up.
"What is it?" Hinata mumbled, rubbing at her eyes.
"Someone's at the door. Can you see who it is?" Naruto asked with a yawn. Hinata nodded and activated her Byakugan. She looked toward the door, and her eyes went wide.
"It's Neji!" She scrambled out of bed, followed by Naruto.

"Sure, this time he knocks." Naruto muttered, rushing to the door.
"Naruto . . ." Hinata warned. Naruto threw her a grin as he yanked open the door. A grin that faded as soon as he saw Neji. The young Hyuuga 'genius' had a cut on his forehead that dripped blood down his face, was cradling his side with his right arm in a way that told Hinata that some ribs were broken, and his left arm hung almost sickeningly loose; it was dislocated.

"Neji nii-san! What happened?"
"Hinata, it's your father! The Grass nin's attacked again, and the drugged him and took him hostage when they found you gone! They want to exchange him for you, and the clan elders have agreed."
"What!?" Naruto burst out. He moved to block Neji, pushing Hinata back behind him. "They'll kill her!"

"Damn it Naruto, I know okay? I know!" Neji paled and swayed a little. "Why do you think I nearly got myself killed trying to get her father back form the Grass nins? And then almost killed myself trying to get here before the Hyuuga guards the Elders sent out find out where she is? It won't take them long to find her, not with the Byakugan." Neji slumped against the doorway, and would have fallen, but Naruto caught him and helped him to the couch.

"You two have got to get out of here." Neji insisted his face white and drenched with sweat. "Naruto, listen to me! The two of you have got to find a way to save Hiashi-san, but not at the risk of Hinata's life."
"I've got an idea." Naruto said. He turned to Hinata and grabbed her hand. "Hinata, do you trust me?"
"Of course Naruto." Hinata said instantly. Naruto squeezed her hand, then stepped back.

"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" He yelled, producing five shadow clones. "Hinata, one clone with take you the Hyuuga compound. I'm going to use the others to help me gather up the other Rookie Nine, and Team Gai." He grabbed Hinata's shoulders and squeezed. "Use your chakra sensing abilities right before you get to the gate. I'll leak a tiny bit of chakra so you know if I'm there. Trust me. I won't let you down. Okay?" He paused, then turned to Neji. "I'll send Tenten here to you. Are you going to be okay until she can get here?"

"I'll be fine." Neji said. Naruto noted that, now that he was sitting down, Neji looked better. He had gotten some of his color back, he was breathing better, and he wasn't sweating anymore.
"Okay." He decided. He nodded at one of his clones, which moved over to stand by Hinata. "Give me twenty minutes to get everyone together." Naruto motioned at his other four clones to follow him as he started towards the door. "Let's go."

"Naruto, wait!" Hinata ran after him and grabbed his arm. When he turned to face her, she threw her arms around his neck. "Be safe." She whispered, pressing her face into his shoulder and inhaling his scent. "Please Naruto. Just be safe."
"I will." Naruto hugged her back. "We'll get through this, I promise."
"I believe you." Hinata pulled back and stared up at him. "Just be safe, okay?"

"Okay." Naruto promised. Hinata went up on tip-toe and kissed his jaw. She was aiming for his cheek, but couldn't quite reach. Naruto chuckled and kissed her cheek in return. "Be careful Hinata. I'm not going to lose you now." Then he and the four clones left. Hinata gently tended Neji's head wound, and made him comfortable before she and the remaining clone also left.

NARUTO&HINATA&NARUTO&HINATA&NARUTO&HINATA&NARUTO&HINATA&NARUTO&HINATA&NARUTO&HINATA&NARUTO&HINATA

Hinata and the Naruto clone took fifteen minutes to get it to the Hyuuga compound. Hinata could have easily made it in less than five minutes, but she needed to give Naruto all the time she could, so that he could get everyone together, and work out a plan. As she neared the compound, she thought she saw a flash of orange out of the corner of her eye, but couldn't be sure and when she turned, nothing was there.

She carefully spread out her chakra, and sighed in relief when she caught a flash of Naruto's chakra. It was brief, like a brush of fingertips, and then it was gone. But that tiny contact made her smile, and slowed her pounding heartbeat. He was here, he had come, with the remaining Rookie Nine and Lee, to help her and back her up. She could be brave and strong for him. Tonight, she would act like a Hyuuga, for him.

The Naruto clone grinned and gave her a thumbs up when she stood up straight, her head held high and Byakugan activated. With her Hyuuga blood limit, opening the heavy main gate was no problem; it had been designed that way. The clone flanked her like a formal bodyguard, one hand resting on the handle of a kunai knife. Hinata's eyes narrowed when she realized that there was a standoff happening there in the main courtyard. The Grass nins, masked but still recognizable, were on the far right. Her father lay in front of them, unconscious.

Hinata's Byakugan quickly discovered that he had been poisoned, the source a tiny dart in his neck. It had probably been administered while he slept because his pajamas were undisturbed. The entire Hyuuga family, except for the youngest children, was on the far left. The Clan Elders, her fathers advisors and her and Hanabi's early teachers, stood in front. Hanabi, as heiress, stood with them. Her face was white, but she stood firm. Hinata and the clone stopped in between them.

"I'm here." Hinata announced. She glared at the Elders, her Byakugan blazing. "But I refuse to be a bargaining chip, as if I'm worthless to this clan." She whirled toward the Grass nins, already gathering her chakra in her hands. "I'm here to fight! I'm not running, and I won't let you hurt my family!" Hinata rushed the Grass nins. There were five of them, inside and probably four outside on guard. Grass nins always worked in teams of three, or multiple teams of three. Just before she reached them, there were four thumps just behind them, inside the compound. With her Byakugan, Hinata saw what it was before the Grass nins.

Kiba, Lee, Sakura and Choji had all jumped over the wall, with the dead bodies of four Grass nins. They each held the bodies underneath them, so that the dead weight absorbed the impact of the landing. The Grass nins had all spun around, expecting an attack from behind. Their information had stated that Hinata wasn't a threat, so they turned their backs on her. And that was a mistake.

Hinata had spent years focusing on making her chakra thinner, stronger, and more flexible, until her chakra was wire thin, razor sharp and extremely loose and flexible, and Hinata could wield it like an invisible whip. She brought her right hand up and flicked her wrist from left to right. All five of the Grass nins grunted as they were knocked off their feet by something that tore through the skin on their backs like a razor sharp kunai knife. All of them were now bleeding heavily, but Hinata knew that wouldn't keep them down.

"And that's why you should never turn your back on a 'misfit'!" Naruto jumped down from the top of the fence, and his clone disappeared. "They just might surprise you. And you won't like it, I promise you." He motioned at the four bodies. "They underestimated us, which was a mistake."

The largest Grass nin stumbled to his feet and sneered at Naruto as he drew a kunai knife. "Stupid genin! You're out of your league!"
"You weren't listening." Naruto scolded, shaking his head. He rushed the man, blocked the kunai knife with one hand, then shoved his hand against the man's stomach. "Don't ever underestimate me." He snarled. "Rasengan!" The blue orb of explosive chakra formed in Naruto's hand and he pressed it into the man's body. The man screamed, and Naruto jumped back, leaving the Rasengan inside the ninja.

There was a muffled explosion, and the man dropped like a puppet with its strings cut. With her Byakugan, Hinata could see why. The Rasengan had exploded inside of him, shredding his internal organs and killing him instantly.
"Hey!" One of the Grass nins started towards Naruto, then froze, a shocked look on his face.
"Hey man, you're just too troublesome." Shikamaru said, dropping down from the fence, where he had been standing in the shadows. "Naruto interrupted a perfectly good game of Shogi to drag me here, so let's finish this. Kage Nui!"

The Grass nin collapsed as Shikamaru's shadow stabbed him through the heart. Hinata smiled when she heard Shikamaru snort. "Well, that wasn't worth the trouble."
"You're impossible Shikamaru!" Naruto complained, grinning up at the young strategist, who shook his head and rolled his eyes, yet grinned back. Hinata knew that despite the almost daily bickering the two engaged in, they were good friends.

The three remaining Grass nins were nervous now, shifting their weight from foot to foot, unsure where to look or what to guard against. Hinata could see thought their masks, and a very Naruto-like smirk appeared on her face when she realized something: they were afraid. One of them suddenly jerked with a gasp, then turned on his comrades, burying a kunai knife in the back of one's neck, severing the spinal cord and killing the ninja instantly, before he could scream. Hinata could now see Ino on Shikamaru's back; completely limp as she used her Mind Body Switch Jutsu. She released her prisoner, who stumbled back, raised her head and smiled at Hinata, who returned the smile. She noticed that Ino made no move to get off of Shikamaru's back, and he made no indication that he wanted her to.

The last two ninjas were terrified. This was supposed to be a simple kidnapping. Their information had stated that the Hyuuga clan considered Hinata a lost cause, and that she wasn't especially close to anyone in the village. But their spies had missed something: even through they were now down to eight, the Rookie Nine was still the Rookie Nine, and Hinata was one of theirs. If you messed with one, you risked calling down the wrath of the remaining members. Plus, Lee had been Neji's teammate and rival for so long, he considered Hinata a friend, and he never allowed anyone to go after his friends without getting involved. There were only two Grass nins left, and they seemed to be frozen in shock, especially when Naruto smirked and began to form another Rasengan.

Shino stepped forward, out of the shadows, to stand on the other side of Hinata. Now, he and Naruto were flanking Hinata like some sort of honor guard.
"This is crazy!" One of the nins burst out. Hinata couldn't see his face clearly even with her Byakugan, but he sounded very young. And very scared.
"Like Naruto said, underestimating us is a mistake." Shino said in his quiet, unassuming voice. "And you won't live to regret it." Shino's chakra-eating bugs began to gather at his feet, then swarmed over the ninja that had remained silent. He barely had time to scream as they covered his body and sucked his chakra dry.

"What was that?!" The last nin started to jump forward, but stopped when Hinata swung her head towards him, stopping him in his tracks with a Hyuuga glare. Naruto smirked and started to pour more chakra into his Rasengan, making it glow bright and spin faster.
"Naruto, no." Hinata touched the blonde's arm. "He's mine."
"Of course Hinata." Naruto closed his hand over the Rasengan, reabsorbing the charka. He crossed his arms over his chest. Oh, this was going to be interesting . . .

Hinata flicked out her charka whip and wrapped it around the last nin, pinning his arms to his sides, and combined it with her Gentle Fist style to cut off his chakra with the whip. He cried out as the chakra cut deeply into him when Hinata pulled it tight. Keeping it taunt, Hinata ran in and kicked the boy's knees, cutting off his chakra to his legs and dropping him to his knees.
"Who's the traitor who let you in?" Hinata demanded, yanking off his mask. He heart twisted when she finally saw how young he really was. For Kami's sake, he couldn't have been older than eleven, Hanabi's age.

"I don't know." He whispered, his shoulders slumping. "It was always one of the older ones who handled that." Tears began to flow down his face and drip down to mix with all the blood Hinata's chakra whip was drawing. "I swear I don't know. Please, stop, it hurts . . ." The boy was begging, but Hinata knew she couldn't let him live and send him home. It would be seen as a sign of weakness and the attacks would never stop. The Byakugan was too important and powerful. But she regretted that this child's life would be used to send a message. She couldn't do anything about that; but she could make sure that the last face he saw wasn't a cold Hyuuga mask, but her real self. It was the least she could do.

Allowing her mask to slip away, revealing her warm and caring personality, Hinata released her hold on the chakra whip, leaving it still wrapped around him. She cradled the boy's face in her hands, wiping away his tears.
"Shh, it's all right. What's your name honey?"
"Katashin." He whispered, gazing up at her.
"It's okay Katashin-kun." She smiled down at him, a big sister smile, not a victory smile. She lifted one hand and touched his forehead.

"Close your eyes Katashin-kun." She whispered. He obeyed. Her fingers touched his long eyelashes that lay on his cheeks. "It'll be okay Katashin-kun. I promise." She kissed his forehead. And then, with tears in her eyes, she quickly snapped his small, graceful neck, ending his life quickly and painlessly. His body tumbled to the ground, his tears still wet on his cheeks and glittering on his lashes. Hinata stepped back from the body, but didn't return to Naruto or Shino.

"Shino, can your bugs help my father?" She asked, purposely keeping her back to everyone.
"Of course." Shino bowed his head at her back, and knelt by her father. Naruto stepped up to her and took her hand.
"Naruto . . ." She turned her head to look at him. He kept his face serious as he reached up to cup her cheek, catching an escaping tear with his thumb.

"Hinata, are you okay?"
"I think so." She whispered back. She moved toward him, and he enfolded her in his arms, not caring what the Hyuuga clan thought. Hinata needed him, so he would be strong enough for the both of them. Hinata gripped his jacket in her hands and hid her face in his chest, her forehead resting in the hollow at the base of his neck.
"I am so proud of you." He whispered, wrapping himself around her. He even wrapped his chakra around her like a huge blanket that warmed her heart and body.

"Thank you Naruto."
"Of course." Naruto ran his fingers through her hair. Hinata pulled back from him and looked up at him. She framed his face with her hands, her fingers resting on his whiskers. He met her gaze, and suddenly, she knew it was now or never.
"Naruto?"

"Yeah? Hinata, what is it?"
"I love you. I have for a long time, since we were at the academy. And these last few days have just intensified it."
"Oh Hinata." Naruto was grinning like an idiot, but he couldn't stop. He buried one hand in her hair, cupping the back of her head. His other hand cupped the back of her neck. Then he rested his forehead on hers. "I love you too. Not as long as you obviously, but you have been one of my precious people for a long time. I'm not sure when it happened, but it's happened. I'm in love with you too Hinata."

Shino suddenly materialized next to Hinata, which cause Naruto to jump slightly and growl at him. Damn it, couldn't he and Hinata get five seconds to themselves? Obviously, Hinata was thinking the same thing, because she sighed in frustration as she turned to Shino.
"What is it Shino-kun?"
"I have good news Hinata-chan. I've cleared the poison from your father's body. He'll be a little weak tomorrow, but he'll make a full recovery."

"Thank you Shino-kun." Hinata said, letting go of Naruto so she could reach out and grip Shino's hand.
"There's more." Shino said, giving his sweet teammate a very rare smile. "It's a blood poison. Whoever makes the poison has to activate it with their own blood. My bugs said also said that the blood in the poison tastes similar to your fathers." Shino watched Hinata's eyes go wide in understanding, then stone cold with rage, and felt a swell of pride for his teammate. She might have been considered weak by her clan, but she was smart, smarter than they gave her credit for, and very dedicated to her training as a medic-nin. A training that called for a vast knowledge of poisons, something Shino had helped her with.

"That means the poison was made by a Hyuuga." She said. Shino nodded.
"And recently." He added.
"Hey, that's right. Blood poisons decay quickly, don't they? You can't store them, right?" Naruto asked. He didn't have the same knowledge of poisons that Shino and Hinata did, but he was far from stupid, so he knew a little. Hinata nodded.
"Right. They are only effective for a day. It had to be the traitor."
"Exactly. Blood poisons must use the blood of the person who makes them. They don't work otherwise."

Hinata swayed suddenly, and Naruto stepped close and let her lean against him to hide it from the Hyuuga's.
"Hinata, are you okay?"
"I'm just really tired." She smiled up at him. "I'm okay now."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"Okay then." Naruto gave her a quick hug, and then let her stand on her own in front of her clan.

"Shino-kun, can your bugs identify the person the blood came from?"
"Sure they can. All they need is a sample."
"Like a pricked finger?"
"That'll work. It doesn't have to be a large sample."

"All right." Hinata took a deep breath, then walked over to stand in front of her clan. Shino and Naruto flanked her like bodyguards, and Lee and the rest of the Rookie Nine moved to stand behind them, supporting her.
"All of you will offer Shino-kun's bugs a blood sample." Hinata's voice was soft, yet strong and carried easily across the courtyard. "A single pricked fingertip will suffice."

"Why should we?" A branch member asked defiantly.
"Because there is a traitor among you. Guards were purposely moved away from my room, which is why I was secretly moved out of the house, and why the Hokage-sama assigned Naruto-kun as my bodyguard. Then, tonight, my teammate Shino-kun discovered that father, your clan head, was poisoned with a blood poison. A blood poison that was activated using the blood of a Hyuuga." Hinata's voice held an edge sharper than the sharpest kunai knife.

"You can't order us to do anything!"
"Yes I can. I am the Hyuuga heiress. You are bound by oath to obey me." She could have mentioned the curse seal, but Naruto noticed that she refused to go that way.
"You are not the heiress! You were too weak! Hanabi-sama is our heiress!"

"Wrong." Hinata's voice snapped like one of her chakra whips. "Hanabi-chan is not of age. She is only eleven, and is to young to act as heiress while our father is incapacitated. I am her elder sister and so I am the temporary ruler of the Hyuuga clan by default. You don't have to like it. But you will obey me."
"You have no support." The man persisted. He looked a bit like Hiashi, Naruto noticed, but colder and more arrogant, if that was possible.

"I support her." Naruto said, with just a hint of a growl in his voice. He also formed a small Rasengan briefly, threateningly, before reabsorbing it.
"As do I." Shino spoke next.
"And so do I." Lee spoke up. One by one, the rest of the Rookie Nine also voiced their support of Hinata. Hinata wanted to turn and smile at them, but knew she couldn't. Then she heard a voice that made her eyes go wide.
"We support Hinata-sama also." Neji said as Tenten helped him limp into the courtyard. He was pale, and his injured arm was strapped to his chest.

"You know that I'm loyal to Hiashi-sama, and that I was injured trying to rescue him. But with him incapacitated, I support Hinata-sama as the temporary clan leader."
"So do I." Tenten added. "And I have my weapons to back her up also." She glared at the Hyuuga's as she helped her boyfriend limp to stand by Naruto. Some of the less composed Hyuuga's paled. Tenten's weapons were widely, and justifiably, feared.

Hanabi stepped forward and stood in front of Naruto, facing the rest of the clan.
"I support Hinata onee-san." Hanabi announced.
"Atagirl Hanabi-chan." Naruto said, patting her on the shoulder. She smiled shyly at him over her shoulder, which made Naruto chuckle. It seemed like the Hyuuga sisters were more alike then they wanted to admit.

The branch member finally backed down, and the other followed. Hinata even pricked hers and Hanabi's fingers first for Shino's bugs, who informed Shino that neither sibling had made the poison. Then Naruto took a kunai knife and went from Hyuuga to Hyuuga, pricking their fingers, with Shino's bug following behind him. He reached the branch member who had challenged Hinata, and Naruto pulled his lips back in a silent snarl, showing off his long, fang-like canines.

The man's eyes widened in fear, then narrowed in disgust.
"Filthy demon." The man hissed. Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Oh please. A little originality would be nice. Just give me your hand so we can get this over with. Come on, come on." He urged impatiently when the man stalled. "I've got better things to do today than stain a perfectly good kunai knife with your blue blood." 'Like spend some time alone with Hinata.' He thought. The Hyuuga scowled, yet held out his hand and let Naruto draw a small amount of blood from his finger for the bugs. Naruto moved on.

When he reached the clan elders, Naruto simply ignored the looks of distaste. Naruto had only done about half of them when Shino stepped up to him.
"Which one?" Naruto asked.
"That one." Shino indicated a tall, muscular man who looked vaguely like Neji. Naruto remembered seeing him in town once. He'd been talking to Hinata, who'd mentioned that he was the head of the Hyuuga family guards. Hinata, who had followed Shino, blinking in surprise and looked devastated. Naruto wanted to step forward and hug her. He wanted to comfort her, sweep her off her feet, and carry her away. But he couldn't. He had to let her stand by herself in front of her clan, or they would never respect her.

"Sanotabi-san, are Shino-kun's bugs right? Are you the traitor?" Hinata felt the betrayal more acutely now. When she was younger, Sanotabi had been friendly and kind, showing her how to hold and throw a shuriken and kunai knife with much more patience and encouragement than her father. Sanotabi look like he was going to deny it, but one look at Hinata and her friends made him realize he couldn't get away with it now.

"Yes Hinata-san." He whispered.
"But, why?" Hinata felt tears filling her eyes, but refused to let them fall.
"For the good of the clan." Sanotabi said. Then he refused to say anymore.

"Idiot!" Naruto surged forward and shoved Sanotabi. Surprised and shocked, Sanotabi fell to the ground, with Naruto standing over him, snarling.
"Hinata is a member of the clan you moron! Betraying one member of the clan can not be excused with 'for the good of the clan'!"
"Naruto, it's all right." Hinata said quietly from behind him, resting a hand on his arm.
"Hinata . . ." Naruto half turned toward her.

"Really Naruto." Hinata said firmly. Naruto nodded and stepped back to flank Hinata. His face murderous, Neji started forward, shaking off Tenten's anxious hands.
"Neji nii-san, no." Hinata ordered. Neji stopped, and allowed Tenten to pull him back, his face still furious.
"That miserable piece of . . ." He still muttered.
"Shh. You need to calm down, your ribs . . ."
"Tenten . . . baby, I'm fine."
"Humor me Neji."

"Hinata-sama, he will pay for his betrayal." One of the Clan Elders said his face blank with rage. He motioned for two guards to step forward. "He will be executed . . ."
"No!" Hinata snapped. "All of us are ninjas of Konoha Village first and members of the Hyuuga Clan second. And as ninja's of Konoha Village, we must obey the laws of our village and the orders of our Hokage. Sanotabi-san has confessed his crime, so he will be taken into custody. But his punishment will be decided by the Godaime, just like any other guilty criminal."

"As you wish Hinata-sama." The Elder said with a small bow of respect. The guards escorted Sanotabi back into the house, followed by the rest of the clan, except Hanabi, who stayed by her sister. Two Hyuuga medics even picked up her father and carried him into the house. Hinata was relieved to see that he was moving slightly now, and regaining some color even though he was still asleep.

As soon as the clan members, except for Neji and Hanabi, were in the house, Naruto walked up behind Hinata and wrapped his arms around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder, his cheek pressed against hers. She sighed and let her head rest against his, his blonde stubble rubbing against her cheek and making her smile.

"Hey cutie." He whispered, squeezing her. She chuckled and closed her eyes as she snuggled back against his chest.
"Hey." She whispered back, almost sagging against him when he nuzzled her cheek.
"You alright?" He asked.
"I'm tired." She turned in his arms and snuggled against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I'm so tired Naruto."

"Oh Hinata." Naruto bent his head over her and pressed his lips against her hair. "Do you want to come back home with me?"
"I should stay here tonight." Hinata said. Shino-kun said that father will still be weak until tomorrow. The clan might need me. Last time I checked, Hanabi was still eleven."
"I understand." He removed one arm from around her waist to touch her chin with his fingers and lifted her face up. "You were so strong and brave today Hinata. I was so proud of you." He beamed at her, and Hinata saw the truth in his eyes and melted. He was proud of her, of her strength and courage.

"Oh Naruto." Hinata smiled up at him and raised both of her hands to his face. "You made me strong and brave. You had faith in me, and that faith gave me strength and courage. Thank you."
"You're welcome Hinata." Naruto moved his hand from her chin to her hair. Hinata smiled when she felt his fingers slid into her hair and she cuddled against his chest, closing her eyes and sighing. Naruto ran his fingers through her hair as she cuddled against him. He loved the way her hair felt: like blue-black silk sliding through his fingers.

Finally Hinata forced herself to pull back, and Naruto forced himself to let her go, then snatched her hand just before she got out of reach.
"Sweet dreams Hinata." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night Naruto. I'll be waiting for you." Hinata stepped forward and kissed Naruto's cheek. Then she slowly walked backwards, keeping her hand in his for as long as she could. And when their fingers slipped apart, she still kept her eyes locked on his; pale lavender on blue. She gave him one last smile and disappeared into the house.

"Damn it Naruto! Make it harder for the rest of us why don't you!" Kiba complained, throwing an arm around Naruto's shoulders.
"Huh?"
"Once you and Hinata start doing that romantic shit in public, none of the girls will accept anything less from any of us."
"Kiba-kun's right Naruto nii-chan." Sakura came up and playfully pushed Kiba away from Naruto. "He's a dork, but he's right."
"Aww, Sakura-chan, why so cruel?" He stepped closer, and Naruto's arm shot out, blocking Kiba's advance.

"Whoa there Kiba. Hands to yourself."
"You're no fun."
"I'm assuming you like your arms where they are Sakura-chan will break them off."
"Ouch." Kiba paled, then looked around and brightened. "Oh, look! Ino and Shikamaru are fighting again!" Then his face fell. "Ah, damn it! Shikamaru apologized. Damn it."

"Kiba, you need to stop this. It's bad for your health to be a pervert around kunichi. Why don't you go romance a nice village girl?" Naruto said, laughing. He couldn't help it; Kiba was entertaining if nothing else.
"It's no fun without the danger or injury." Kiba informed him. Behind Kiba, Shino put his head in his hands with a groan of the truly victimized.

Naruto laughed and shook his head. Then he turned and smiled at Hanabi, who was standing with Neji. They were the only Hyuuga's left in the courtyard. Naruto crossed to the young heiress and smiled down at her.
"Hey there Hanabi-chan." He pulled her into a rough playfully hug and mussed his hair. "Thanks for standing up for Hinata. I know it meant a lot to her."
"No, thank you Naruto-san." Hanabi said.

"Hmm?" Naruto kept his hands on her shoulders as he stepped back to see Hanabi's face. "For what?"
"For loving Hinata one-chan. She loves you so, and she needs you."
"I love her Hanabi-chan. Never doubt that." He grinned and squeezed her shoulders. "It's late. You should go to bed." He turned her toward the house and gave her a tiny shove. "Go." And Hanabi went.

"She approves of you." Neji said.
"What about you?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I don't disapprove." Neji said grudgingly. Without another word, he turned and let Tenten help him into the house.

Naruto just smiled and shook his head. It was the best he was going to get out of the stoic ninja and he knew it. He turned to face the rest of the group.
"All right guys." He announced. "Let's get out of here."

AN2: All right guys, here you are. The second to last chapter. And as a bonus, I have the very last chapter, the epilouge, all written. It just needs to be typed up, and it'll be posted. It's really short, but I think it's a cute ending, so don't give me any greif about the length, okay?