Kishimoto is the creator and owner of Naruto.

2 of 2 posted today.

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Chapter Nine

Heiress

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"Shizune?"

The woman in question paused, then looked round even as she pocketed the packet that she had been purchasing.

"Yes? How can I… Hiashi -sama?"

"It is good to see you again, Shizune-san." Hiashi greeted the surprised Kunoichi. "I must ask, how is my daughter?"

"She's doing fine." Shizune motioned for Hiashi to walk with her and the Clan-head nodded even as his fingers moved in ANBU sign-language, commanding the team with him to relax and send one observer to follow him. "She's recovering nicely. Tsunade's youngest son Ruto helps, the two of them often play until they get tired, then fall asleep in a pile of limbs. It's really cute."

Hiashi glanced down at Shizune. "Do you have pictures?"

Shizune almost stumbled, but managed not to fall. "Errrr… yes?"

"Then if you would be so kind, I would like some to take back with me to help reassure my wife."

"Of course." Shizune managed. "Will you be staying overnight?"

"It would be appreciated." Hiashi noted. "If you have enough space, I am sure that those who came with me would appreciate a chance to sleep underneath a roof."

"Of course." Shizune agreed. "We do have some spare rooms, or I believe that the local hotel has several rooms available. It also has an attached restaurant and an onsen heated by a set of metallic seal-tags that Jiraiya-sama donated in exchange for Konoha shinobi getting a discount."

"Useful." Hiashi noted, his fingers flickering in a message that Shizune failed to catch.

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"Haruko, where is Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked as she stepped into the hall. Behind the counter, Haruko finished handing over the small vial and sheaf of instructions to the grateful old man before answering.

"She's currently in the hospital wing dealing with a nasty case of bees."

"Allergy?" Shizune winced.

"Allergy." Haruko nodded, then she looked at Hiashi. "Interesting… are you related to Hinata-chan?"

"I am her father." Hiashi supplied.

"Yuki Haruko, be known to Hyuuga Hiashi. Hiashi, this is Haruko, a civilian medical trainee." Shizune guided Hiashi past the counter as she spoke. "Is Kashi looking after the young ones?"

"He's showing them the tree-house that Tazuna and his men finished building for them yesterday." Haruko smiled. "Haku was asking if they could sleep out there tonight."

"Hinata has never spent the night in a tree-house before." Hiashi mused. "Maybe I should have one built… assuming that she enjoys this one."

Shizune managed not to laugh, but a slight eyebrow-twitch from Hiashi indicated that he had caught her reaction. Blushing slightly, Shizune tapped on the door-frame to the sickbay.

"Come in!" Tsunade called and Shizune slid the door open to reveal Tsunade lifting her hands off a young boy who was trying to fend off his worried mother.

"Now, keep away from that beehive." Tsunade told the boy. "And if you or your friends accidentally hit it with a ball, don't try to get it back until after the bees have calmed down. Understand?"

"He does, my lady." The mother replied as the boy nodded with the bouncy motion that only children can achieve.

"Good." Tsunade stepped back with a triumphant smile. "See Haruko on your way out, it looks like I have a visitor."

"He looks like he's related that cute girl who's almost glued herself to your son."

Hiashi's eyebrows would have hit his hairline had he been any less self-controlled.

"He should do, he's her father." Tsunade ruffled the boy's head and patted the mother reassuringly on her shoulder before walking over to where Hiashi and Shizune were waiting.

"Hello, Hiashi. Your daughter's out the back. Do you want to see her?"

"That would be appreciated, Tsunade-sama."

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Hinata's squeal of joy echoed as she slid down the pole, Naruto catching her at the bottom. Laughing, both children scampered up the spiral stair winding round the trunk of the tree, vanishing into the tree-house, only to reappear once again with more cries of enjoyment. To one side, two older children watched, close enough that they could move to help if anything went wrong.

"Children!" Tsunade called, a gentle smile on her face and the quartet turned to face her. Before she could continue, Hinata dashed forwards.

"Tou-san!"

"Hello, Hinata." Hiashi dropped to one knee and pulled his daughter into a tight hug. "When I heard that you were safe with Tsunade-sama, it seemed as if color had returned to my world. I am so glad that you are alright."

For a long moment, no-one moved, then Hinata squirmed in her father's arms, pushing away enough to look up at him.

"You're… crying? Why are you sad?"

"I'm not." Hiashi smiled as he pulled her back into a hug, kissing the top of her head. "I'm not sad at all…"

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"This is quite a tree-house." Hiashi said solemnly as he stood on the stairs so that his head and shoulders rose through the trapdoor. The ring-shaped structure was supported on a trio of deeply-embedded pillars that had vines wrapped around them, vines which also partially sheltered the upper half of the staircase. To the right of where Hiashi was, a doorway led to the metal pole that the children had been enthusiastically sliding down earlier while on the other side of the large central tree-trunk, hidden from normal eyesight, were three double-bunks with mattresses and privacy curtains.

Hiashi reflected that the amount of work that must have gone into making the tree-house was quite incredible. He had not understood how the tap above the small sink was supplied with water until his byakugan had revealed that a water pipe was part of the edging of the staircase, feeding a tank located in part of the sloping roof, just next to the trap-door which gave access to the main portion of the tree.

The fact that there was no ladder to the trapdoor indicated to Hiashi that it was intended only for those who could use the tree-walking technique, a precaution he was fully in favor of.

To his surprise, there was even a small metal stove set in a stone-lined alcove close enough to the bunk beds to offer warmth, but far enough away that it was impossible for a child in even the closest bunk-bed to burn themselves by accident. Several thick curtains tied back by ropes indicated that the room could be sub-divided for privacy or warmth.

"I am impressed." Hiashi continued as his daughter passed Senju Kimimaro a few pieces of scrap-wood to put in the stove even as Yuki Haku filled a small kettle to brew some tea. "I may have to see about hiring this man Tazuna about constructing something similar in our compound. I believe that the children would appreciate it."

Hinata's face lit up with joy. "Really?"

"Really." Hiashi nodded. "And should Kimimaro and Haku both be willing to be here to keep watch over you, I see no reason for you not to spend the night here."

Hinata squeaked with joy.

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Stepping off the staircase, Hiashi looked at Tsunade, who was speaking quietly with her eldest adopted son. The pale-haired boy nodded as she spoke, causing his ponytail to catch the gentle wind briefly, then he sprinted up to the mansion.

"Anything I should know about?"

"I sent him to get food for the other children." Tsunade gave a slight shrug. "I am sure that we have a lot to talk about, so rather than having the children underfoot and complaining that we're being boring…"

"Understood."

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Hinata gave a happy little yawn as she snuggled under the covers of her bed. Opening one eye slightly, she looked across to the bunks on the other side of the tree-house, especially the one in which her newfound friend Ruto was asleep, sprawled out in a way that made her giggle.

Part of her wondered what he looked like without the mask that he wore, just like his brothers. While the oldest one could eat in a way that made it seem that the food was passing straight through his mask (which was funny to watch), Kimimaro and Ruto both had to pull down their masks enough to reveal their mouths, although Kimimaro was good enough that she only caught partial glimpses.

Closing her eyes, Hinata pulled the covers up slightly further and soon her breathing showed that she was asleep.

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"How is she doing?" Tsunade asked and Hiashi blinked.

"Pardon me?"

"You just used your byakugan." Tsunade pointed out. "It was fast, the veins around your eyes barely started to swell before reverting to normal. Someone who doesn't know about the byakugan or doesn't pay attention would have missed it. So, how is she doing?"

"She has fallen asleep." Hiashi admitted.

"You've just got her back." Tsunade agreed. "I'm actually surprised that you're not out there keeping watch… Hiashi, why did you look guilty just then?"

"…I sent a message to the squad who came with me. They are trading watches over the tree-house throughout the night."

"I may as well tell Kashi to get some sleep, then." Tsunade noted. "Tomorrow, will you be carrying her, or shall I?"

Hiashi blinked. "Pardon?"

"I need to check in with Sensei, but I can't afford to be away for too long." Tsunade explained. "That means that we'll need to use tree-jumping and unless your daughter is far more advanced than I suspected…"

"Your point is taken." Hiashi acknowledged. "I had considered hiring a carriage or…"

"That would make her into a target." Tsunade pointed out ruthlessly. "Speed is our ally in this. Speed and secrecy."

"You are correct." Hiashi admitted. "I seem to be losing my ability to plan. If you will excuse me, I hear the call of the bed that you have provided for me."

Tsunade smirked.

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"Breakfast!" Haruko called as she ascended the stairs into the tree-house, a tray heaped high with food in her hands. As she approached the trapdoor, it was lifted out of the way to reveal her son smiling at her.

"Good morning, kaa-san." He greeted her as he finished securing the trapdoor to ensure that it wouldn't fall closed. "Kimimaro saw you coming, so we set up the table."

Haruko nodded as she stepped into the tree-house. As her son had said, the table was folded out from the inner wall, resting on a triangular stand at its far end.

"Good morning Haruko-san!" Naruto and Hinata chorused before giggling and Haruko felt her smile soften as she looked at the cute duo sitting ready to eat.

"Good morning Ruto-kun, Hinata-chan." She replied as she let Kimimaro lift the tray from her hands. "Once you've had breakfast, you'll need to wash up."

Naruto nodded, then he sighed. "'nata's leaving, isn't she?"

"Yes." Haruko nodded. "However, Hiashi-sama has promised that he will allow her to visit. I know it's sad, but you should make the most of your time together."

Hinata nodded as she accepted the plate of food from Haku, then accepted the glass of chilled, diluted fruit juice to wash it down with.

"Tsunade and Shizune will make sure you get home safely." Haruko continued, causing Hinata's eyes to light up. "They have some overdue business in Konoha which needs to be dealt with, so they decided it would be better… and you would be safer… with them along too."

"Kaa-san's awesome!" Naruto boasted. "She can punch straight through a mountain! She's taught nii-san how to punch boulders to pieces!"

Hinata's gaze shifted to Kimimaro, who shook his head even as he opened he bottle of milk that he had taken from the tray.

"Not me. Kashi-nii."

Hinata looked round for the eldest of the Senju Siblings, only to fail to see him.

"He had to head out early." Haruko explained as the children began eating. "He and Tsunade had to head out to check that the village was prepared for Tsunade's absence."

Hinata nodded as the explanation was given, then reapplied herself to her food.

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Hiashi watched as his daughter (who was still wearing clothes borrowed from her newest friend) gave Ruto a long hug, a hug which was returned.

As she slowly (and unwillingly) separated from the masked blond boy, Hiashi reflected that her actions over the last day or so would have caused several of the Clan Elders to collapse from frothing indignation.

Maybe he could get more of the younger members of his clan to act like that in order to clear out the deadwood.

Shaking off the thought, Hiashi waited for his daughter to take Tsunade's hand. As the Iryonin escorted her to him, he glanced across at Itachi, who was waiting with the other four members of the escort squad.

"We are ready, Hiashi-sama." Itachi reported and Hiashi gave a nod of satisfaction.

"Then it is time for us to bring my daughter home."