Notice: so, for those of you that read also read Naruto of the Sand, this is old news. Anyways, due to how infrequently i've been putting out chapters on my stories, i've decided to just focus on Naruto of the Sand for the time being since it seems to be the most popular of my stories, and since i actually already know where it's going to end (unless i end up doing a sequel later). To those of you who have been so kind and patient these last couple of months, i'm sorry that i'm putting the story on a general hiatus again and assure you that i'm probably more annoyed by it than you are. To tell the truth, i'm actually behind on even my favorite stories on . :(

Anyways, here's a little something to tide you over for now. Naruto and Hinata get their team, and slight twist on their relationship... :D Also, despite the hiatus, it is likely that sometime in the next month i'll still be putting in a new chapter since, writing this, i skipped ahead for a few minutes and already wrote a good part of the next chapter.

Well, i now pronounce the generic disclaimer jutsu. read and review, and especially, enjoy!


Hiashi shook his head.

"Naruto, I expect more from than to fall for such a simple trap. Surely you didn't really expect this to be true?" Naruto hung his head in shame. There were several there who felt sorry for him. Hinata was standing a few feet to his side, Iruka behind him, with his hands on Naruto's shoulders to support him. The hokage was also looking at him in pity.

"Hiashi-sama, please, don't be so hard on Naruto. Mizuki's been my friend for years and I had no clue what was going on! Surely you can't expect Naruto-" Hiashi cut him off.

"Naruto cannot afford to be tricked in such a manner," he said, "not if he expects to become Hinata's official Hyuuga Clan guardian." There were several gasps, though Hiashi continued speaking as though he hadn't said anything out of the ordinary. "The Heiress's guardian must be able to see beneath all deceptions and have the strength to put his life on the line to protect her. While Naruto has at least proven that he is capable of the latter, if he does not prove capable of the first, then the Hyuuga council will vote down the proposal and Neji will remain her official guardian." He stared hard at Naruto. "I know how you think of your brother, but I say that this: Neji does not have Hinata's best interests at heart. Will you allow yourself to be tricked like this again? Can you honestly look me in the eye and promise me on your life that such a thing as this will never happen again, Naruto?"

Naruto clenched his fists tightly. Could he? He knew he was far from the smartest person out there, and he wanted to trust people… he could put that aside to protect Hinata? He looked to his side at the pale eye'd beauty. He felt that warm feeling that he got whenever he was with her, the tingling in his toes from her smile. He looked up in determination at his uncle.

"Hiashi-sama, no one will ever trick me again; Hinata-sama will always be safe, and I will always be by her side, guardian or not!" Hiashi smiled.

"Very good, Naruto," he said, shocking the other two adults present by raising his hand and ruffling Naruto's hair. "That is just what I'd expect from you, and I know you will keep this promise." He turned to face the now slack jawed Hokage.

"Hokage-sama, if it is not already so, the Hyuuga clan officially requests that Naruto and Hinata be put on the same team in the interest of her safety being assured by her guardian shinobi, Uzumaki Naruto." Sarutobi slowly closed her mouth, getting himself to recover from the shock.

"Hiashi, I do not object, but did you not just say that the Hyuuga council had yet to decide on the matter? If we put them on the same team for this reason now, it could cause problems and even get the whole matter dissolved." It was even more of a surprise when Naruto was the one who spoke up.

"Actually, I think they already did vote," Naruto said, drawing the eyes of the rooms occupants, especially Hinata's wide eyed stare. "You see, I overheard him this morning with someone else about it. It was already voted on, and he knew I knew that. This was my first test on allowing myself to be tricked and," he added, huge smirk on his face, "I passed! Now nothing is keeping me from protecting my Hinata-chan, ever! Believe it!" Hiashi smiled at his pronouncement, the Hokage and Iruka chuckling a little nervously. Hinata, on the other hand, jumped Naruto, hugging him tightly.

"Th, thank-you, Naruto-kun! I'm so happy you want to st, stay with me." Naruto patted her back, trying to keep the blush on his face.

"I promised I would," he said, smiling gently, "and I never go back on my word." He, he actually cares about me, Hinata was thinking. He really does. Despite herself, she held him tighter, pushing away all the thoughts of propriety, and the fact that her father was right there with her. She didn't care; Naruto was always going to be with her, and one day, maybe, he would feel for her as she felt for him, instead of just being a protector. Meanwhile, the adults spoke over the genin.

"Well, i guess we can accommodate this request then." Sarutobi looked down at the papers he had in front of him. He had already been assigning the teams, and in truth, he had planned on having them on separate teams. He had thought that a Hyuuga, Aberame and Inuzuka team would make a good mix for tracking and stealth, but perhaps he was over doing it there. After all, between the two of them, Inuzuka Kiba and Aberame Shino could cover most of the same things a Hyuuga could… in essence, anyways. Yes, that would be the easier team to move one of the two from.

Now, team 7, that was Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto… Well, truth be told, Sakura might not work as hard if she was on the Uchiha's team, and Sasuke needed to be with Kakashi so that he could help him once his sharingan activated, so it looked like Sakura would be changing places with Hinata. Kunoichi for Kunoichi… and he felt that Shino and Kiba would be good for getting her stamina up.

"Alright, it's done," he announced. "The official change will be made tomorrow, but Naruto and Hinata will be on the same team." Naruto yelled out and jumped up and down in excitement and victory, causing all in the room to laugh…or chuckle, in the case of the Hyuuga's. Can't destroy one's reputation for being stoic completely you know!

.

.

.

So, a few days later the three of them, Naruto, Hinata and Sasuke were waiting for their new sensei. It had been an hour and all the other senseis had already come and gone (though Sasuke was still trying to massage away the headache he'd gotten when his fan girls had cried about never seeing him again). Naruto and Hinata were talking just fine, but every attempt to include Sasuke in the conversation failed. Sasuke would either grunt or tell them to stop bothering him. They almost got in a fight over that one as it been directed to Hinata and, well, Naruto didn't take well to Hinata being spoken to rudely, but she'd grabbed his shoulder and held him back, stopping him from attacking. Instead, Naruto began to think up consequences for their late arriving sensei. He spied the well used eraser and Hinata saw the glint appear in his eye.

"Naruto-kun, what are you doing?"

"Hey, that's what he gets for being late," Naruto as he wedged the eraser between the door and the door frame such that it would fall on the next person to open it…hopefully their new sensei.

"Ano…are you sure you should do that?"

"Pft; like a high rank Jounin is going to fall for something as simple as that…" Naruto actually got wide eyed as he heard Sasuke speak up, yelling and pointing at him.

"Oh, oh! He speaks!"

"Grk!" Sasuke almost face faulted, but caught himself in time to reduce his visual reaction to a small jerk forward and a mere glare. Inside, however, he was seething that the blond dobe and self proclaimed protector of the Hyuuga girl was making fun of him so…and it didn't help that Hinata was trying to stifle her giggles. They all paused, however, as they heard someone approach the door and a hand appeared, opening the door. A moment later…

"Hahaha! You fell for it!"

"Go, goman, sensei, but you are late…"

He actually fell for that? Is this guy actually a Jounin?

The man that had been hit by the eraser was fairly tall. He was lithe, but the way he carried himself hinted at great physical strength and grace, despite having just been hit by the eraser. His uniform was, well, uniform. There was nothing out of the ordinary about him to distinguish him from his fellow shinobi until you got to his head.

The first thing they noticed about him was that his hair was standing straight up and it was a very light grey, almost white. Right below that, his headband was lowered so that it covered his left eye completely. Lastly, he had a mask on that covered most of the rest of his face so that all you could see was his left eye which, at this moment, was closed, as though in annoyance.

"Hmmm, how do I put this? My first impression…I hate you," he said drawing a sweat drop from naruto and Sasuke while Hinata was worried. "Anyways, let's go up to the roof. It's less stuffy up there and there's a great view besides…" So the three genin followed the man that was apparently their sensei up to the roof of the academy. They sat down a set of outdoor steps that lead to the balcony area that Kakashi lead them to. Sasuke took the highest step while Naruto and Hinata sat next to each other a step below him and their sensei leaned against the railing.

"alright then," he said, "let's start off with some introductions.

"Um..what would you li, like to know," asked Hinata.

"Well, your likes and dislikes," he said. "Your dreams for the future, your hobbies. Things like that."

"Well hey, why don't you go first sensei!" That was Naruto, of course.

"Oh, me," he asked, feigning surprise. "Well, my name is Hatake Kakashi. I don't feel like telling you my likes and dislikes. Dream for the future…hmm….and well, I have lots of hobbies."

"That's stupid," Naruto muttered, "all we learned was his name."

"Well, then how about we hear from you next, as you seem to enjoy talking?" Naruto immediately perked.

"Alright, my name is Uzumaki Naruto. I live with the Hyuuga clan and I'm Hinata-sama's official clan gaurdain," he said. "I like Hinata and Hanabi-sama's, and my brother Neji-san, and I really like cup ramen, but I like Ichiraku ramen even more! I hate the three minutes it waiting it takes for ramen to cook, though, and anyone who disrespects Hinata-sama." Kakashi noticed a blush coming from the Hyuuga girl as Naruto talked about her.

"My dream," Naruto continued, pausing for a moment. "my dream is to become Hokage, and once I do, I'm going to fix the things that are wrong in the Hyuuga clan, and my other dream is to make sure that Hinata…chan is always happy and to protect her till the day I die!" That got Kakashi's eye to widen a little bit. "Oh yeah! And my hobbies! Those are training with Hinata and Hiashi-sama and making Hinata-chan smile!" Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. Well, he is shooting for the stars…quite the interesting kid you've become Naruto. He shifted his gaze slightly, looking at Hinata expectantly.

"I, I'm Hyuuga Hinata. I, like pressing flowers, cinnamon rolls, and my family, including Na, Naruto-k, kun." Hmmmm… if she stays this shy it might cause problems…especially if that stutter is for the reason I think it is… He glanced at Naruto as she continued. "I dislike…pride, I think, that has no purpose, and hate. My dream," and here she blushed noticeably as she herself shot a glance at Naruto, "m, my dream is, is to become a strong clan head; kind like my mother," she said, a small tear in her eye, "and strong like my father. My hobbies are also training with Naruto and being with my sister, pressing flowers together with her a, among other things." Yeah, I'm going to have to do something about that shyness or it's going to slow her down and distract Naruto.

"Alright, finally, you," he said, pointing at Sasuke who had remained uninteresting the whole time, simply brooding and waiting his turn.

"My name, is Uchiha Sasuke. I don't have any likes or hobbies, but I have tons of things I dislike. And…I wouldn't say I have a dream. It's more of an… ambition. " He looked up. "My ambition is to revive my clan and to kill… a certain man…" Naruto and Hinata gave him surprised looks while Kakashi narrowed his visible eye. I thought so…

Man, who woke him up on the wrong side of the bed?

I, I hope he's okay. That's so strange…

"Okay then, that's enough of that," Kakashi said, voice a little more energetic than before. "We'll be starting out duties tomorrow." All three genin perked up, to varying degrees, of course. This ranged from Sasuke's eyebrow being raised to Naruto's yelling. Hinata just sat up straighter, and smiled at Naruto's antics.

"Alright! We're finally going to be shinobi stuff! What are our first duties going to be sensei?"

"Well, first off will be something with just the four of us…"

"Yeah, yeah? What is it?"

"Survival training," Kakashi said simply.

"Eh?"

"But, but didn't we do that at the academy?"

"…"

"Oh, this will be very different training," Kakashi said, "especially as I will be your opponent."

"Well, what kind of training is it then? AND WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING AT US SENSEI!"

"Oh well, it's just that you're going to go nuts when I tell you the point of this training."

"What? Cut the crap sensei, what's going on?" Naruto was now glaring at Kakashi, getting a little edgy. He could feel Hinata's worry increasing as Kakashi delayed telling them.

"Well you see, of the 27 academy students who graduated, only 9 will be chosen as genin and the rest will be sent back to the academy; the survival training we're doing tomorrow is a super difficult test with a failure rate of 66%!" Naruto's eye's widened like saucers as Sasuke's eye's narrowed, barely betraying his own worry. Hinata, however, was now looking at the ground with downcast eyes. There, there's no way…

"heheheh…told you," the man said as Naruto began to sputter about how stupid that was since they'd already worked so hard to graduate from the academy. "The academy was just to see who had a chance to become genin," he explained to Naruto outburst. "But anyway, meet tomorrow at the training field and you will be graded. You'll want to bring all your shinobi tools. Oh," he said, as if in after though. "And I wouldn't eat breakfast tomorrow or else you'll throw up." He gave them what would have seemed like a kind smile (with his eye, of course) under other circumstances, but just now it only looked mocking. He walked up to them, pulling some papers out from under his vest. "The details can be read on these papers I have for you. Don't be late." With that he walked off, followed by Sasuke who read the sheet of paper as he headed home.

Naruto glanced over at Hinata who was trembling slightly. He looked over his own paper, thinking on his sensei's words. I, I can't fail tomorrow. If I do, then I'm failing in my goals, and in my duty to protect Hinata-chan…

I, I don't know if I can do this…I know father will wants me too, but I know he doesn't really think I'm very strong. I can see it in his eyes… he thinks I should be stronger… She was so absorbed by her own thoughts that she almost jumped in shock when she realized that Naruto was putting his arm around her.

"Hey, don't worry Hinata-chan! We'll beat this test together, I promise!" Hinata smiled, relaxing a little bit even as she fought the blush that wanted to rise in her cheeks at Naruto's gesture.

"Of course; after all, you-"

"Always keep my word! That's right, believe it!" Hinata's smile remained, encouraged by her friends confidence. Yes, Naruto always kept his word. She did believe it, and she would make sure she passed right along with him!


So, how was it? Do you like Naruto's new position in the Hyuuga clan? Also, if you want a little explanation, well, there's no way, at this point, that the Hyuuga's would want to betroth Hinata to an orphan jinchuuriki; however, knowing the power that lies inside one and seeing his devotion, making him a body guard seems like a perfectly natural idea. What better way to ensure that their heiress is always safe?

And how are you liking the personalities of the characters here? Seem okay, or do you disagree slightly/alot and if so, why? Just looking around for opinions and seeing what i could do better. I want to make sure that when i get back to being able to write all the time that i don't write crappy stories, you know?

Anyways, that's it for now. I DO hope you review, but in any case, take care till next time!