The Alliance

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. As I said, I'm hopeful this story will be updated about once every 1-2 weeks. It could be a bit faster or a bit slower though and I appreciate all of you for sticking with me through this one.

Chapter 9

A few days later, Suki smiles as she nibbles at her ramen. She was starving after having skipped breakfast in favor of even more wedding planning. That and well, it was nice to eat with Hideki.

"I didn't realize you liked ramen." He returns her smile.

Their wedding would take place soon, but the smile was comforting to say the least. There was something so innocent about it that at times it was hard to remember they weren't still in the Academy, but then he'd kiss her and innocence would become a forgotten notion extremely quickly.

"I don't mind it." She shakes her head. "I'm just not as obsessed with it as Naruto is."

That and there were definitely benefits to eating at the Ramen Shop. The owner was nice and the food was prepared quickly. Something that the Leaf's ninjas certainly appreciated after a hard day of training or coming back from a rigorous mission.

"Pft. She's just not awesome enough to appreciate Ramen the way I do." Naruto laughs as he darts inside.

Some things would never change and Naruto's diet was one of them. Suki couldn't help, but roll her eyes at the thought.

"It's fine once in awhile, but Ramen does not constitute its own food group." Suki places her foot against Hideki's leg underneath the table. "Right, Hideki?"

Perhaps it was fighting dirty, but Suki wasn't above doing so. If only to make Naruto stop babbling about the noodles.

Hideki blushes and nods quickly. "I do like it, but I w-wouldn't eat it everyday. There are lots of good foods out there, Naruto."

"Well of course, you'd agree with her now." Naruto nudges Hideki playfully. "You two are engaged and everything. How'd that happen anyway?"

That was actually a good question. Still, she wasn't about to let the hyperactive ninja embarrass Hideki even more than he already was.

Hideki smiles shyly as he judges Suki's leg with his own under the table. "It's a long story, but they do say opposites attract."

Both the gesture and her fiancé's words were shocking to say the least. Hideki sounded as if they had a normal courtship and he was indulging in a public display of affection.

Of course, their legs were under the table. Naruto couldn't actually see them playing footsie, but it was the principle of the thing.

"Well yeah." Naruto grins at them. "I guess that's true and people don't get more opposite than you two."

The blond was right about that, but still Suki frowns in response. Their match was hardly a conventional one outside of politics, but it was still unsettling to be reminded of it. "Well, you know what they say…it's always the quiet ones."

Naruto tilts his head at that as Suki takes a bite of her Ramen. "I never understood that expression."

"Well, there is a reason why my Clan is so large." Hideki smiles as his foot trails up Suki's thigh.

Suki chokes at on her Ramen at the implication and blushes deeply. "D-Definitely."

Naruto shakes his head. "I guess Suki's nervous about the wedding. She's acting kinda weird today." He pauses for a moment before laughing. "Well, weirder than usual. Makes sense though. I mean a lot of people freak out before their wedding. Did you guys really invite Bushy Brow and Bushy Brow Sensei?"

Suki blinks. Now that was a mouthful.

"You're right. I think she's just nervous, but we did invite Lee and Gai." Hideki smiles as if he hadn't just been throwing out innuendoes like a Genin would toss kunais at target practice.

"Great! That's going to be awesome." Naruto grins at Hideki. "Can I be your Best Man?"


A few hours later, Hideki smiles as he watches Suki dodge his latest attack. Naruto was right about something. People did get 'freak out' when they were about to get married and what better way to blow off some steam than some light training?

Oh and if he happened to get to see his wife's lovely legs displayed thoroughly while she attempted to kick him in those training shorts of hers, well all the better.

"I can't believe you agreed to let him be the Best Man." Suki raises an eyebrow at him while sending another powerful kick at Hideki. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?"

It was a close call, but Hideki was able to avoid it. Having nearly 360 degree vision could be quite the asset in situations like this. "I've always admired Naruto for his Ninja Way and you two are teammates. So it seemed like a good idea. Why who are you going to have be your Maid of Honor?"

Suki's freezes at that. "It almost makes sense when you put it that way, but I can't believe I forgot to pick a Maid of Honor!"

Hideki watches her in concern and well, more than a trace of amusement. Suki Uchiha did have a temper as most Uchihas did, but it was rare to witness her panicking.

Her eyes were astonishingly expressive to say the least and the way she was flaring was captivating.

"Well, who is your best friend?" Still, Hideki had a duty to help his wife through this sort of thing.

He might not be able to see her wedding kimono yet, but the Hyuga Heir could ensure that Suki had a Maid of Honor. It was probably the least he could do really.

"I wouldn't say I have a best friend. At least not one who isn't already related to me." Suki appears to be in deep thought as she considers the question. "I mostly hang out with Sakura, Ino, and Tenten outside of my Clan though."

Hideki nods. "Well, then you should have one of them do it."

On the surface, that looked like the logical answer. Choosing someone from outside the Hyuga and Uchiha Clan would make the wedding look less like a dynasty.

Of course, this was Suki and nothing was ever simple with his wonderful footsie partner.

"You're right, but I can't choose Sakura or Ino." She shakes her head while stuffing some of her kunais into her pouch.

That didn't make any sense to Hideki. His fiancée had just listed who she was closest to and yet, here she was already disqualifying people from the position. "Why not?"

Suki smirks at him as she saunters over to Hideki and wraps her arms around his neck. "They'll turn it into a competition. They're best friends, but they're also rivals. So it will have to be Tenten."

Hideki wasn't entirely sure why she had wrapped her arms around his neck, but he wasn't about to complain. Soft and warm. That's how she always felt when the woman wasn't trying to hit him during training.

"Tenten is a good choice." He smiles at Suki. "So did you want to practice kissing for the wedding?"

She smirks and brushes her lips against his. "I'm lucky that I have such a perceptive ninja for a fiancé."

"And I'm lucky to have a fiancée who doesn't mind a little training before the wedding." He chuckles as he returns the kiss happily.


On the other side of the village, Itachi watches the preparations as he tries not to laugh. This wedding was certainly going to be grand.

How could it not when an 'Uchiha Princess and Hyuga Prince' were about to get married, Itachi wonders to himself? Both Clans had every reason to go all out and apparently, nothing less than exquisite would be acceptable.

"How long do you think they're going to be at it?" Neji raises an eyebrow as he stands by Itachi.

That was a good question. "I'd say probably until the wedding is actually over. Hideki and Suki should count their blessings they aren't here right now." Itachi could imagine the two of them squirming under their respective families' attention.

Hideki was such a shy one and Suki well, it was apparent that Itachi's little sister had long ago reached her limit. Not that he could entirely blame her. The girl had been teased without mercy ever since the engagement was formalized.

"You're most likely right." Neji smiles at Itachi. "Well, if nothing else, it does make for good endurance training."

"NEJI, ITACHI, COME HELP US WITH THESE TABLES!" A Hyuga woman calls out.

Itachi wasn't entirely sure what her name was. Though he knew she wasn't a Branch Member.

With any luck though, such distinctions would soon become meaningless. Perhaps Hideki and Suki would be able to accomplish something that previous generations had not. The ending of the Branch System within the Hyuga Clan.

"We're coming." Neji sighs as he and Itachi make their way over to the tables.

There had to be dozens of them. Which was just as well, considering how large both of the Clans were, it was a necessity.

"We may wish to consider using Summons to bring the food up the mountain." Otherwise that was going to require quite a bit of coordination to pull off. "Garuda seems like a wise choice."

"Indeed." Neji nods as he moves some more tables to the center of the mountain. "How did Suki and Hideki get out of these preparations anyway?"

Itachi chuckles at the underlying question that Neji didn't voice. Why had they gotten stuck with this task and not their beloved relatives? That's what the Hyuga prodigy really wanted to ask, but was too polite to do so.

"I believe that Suki pointed out it would be best for her and Hideki to spend the remaining days before their wedding on the courtship process" Itachi smiles fondly. "A brilliant move on her part and one that her fiancé was only too happy to go along with."

The reasons were obvious. Hideki didn't want to get roped into even more planning anymore than the next sane ninja would. Not only that, but it would provide the couple with something they both desperately need. More bonding time.

"I suppose that is wise." Neji sighs as he glares at the table. "Though I will be quite happy when this is all over. Our Clans can't agree on much of anything except that this marriage is necessary to keep the peace."

"True enough, but can you really say that you didn't see this coming? Your Clan is like ice and ours is like fire." Itachi chuckles at Neji's distraught expression. "It's only natural that there would be some friction, but never fear I'm certain that Suki and Hideki will be happily wed before the month is out."