A gentle knock at her door awoke her from her nap. She wasted no time answering it, being shocked to see her husband being carried by Jiraiya, and Gai by Kakashi. The red eyed beauty was stunned at their various states, clearly the men had been in a fight but she had no clue as to who nor why. Her daughter decided to voice her thoughts for her.
"What happened, tou-chan?" little Mirai asked.
Asuma deflated a little. He cannot tell his little girl he just got his ass handed to him by a teenager, one that wasn't taking him and two other Elite Jounin seriously. He's supposed to be her big strong protector, not a training dummy. "Just a spar between friends, Mirai-chan." as he entered The four men followed Kurenai and Mirai as they walked through the foyer to the living room, equipped with a couch across from each other, divided by a wood table and two chairs on opposite ends. Once seated, Kurenai ushered Mirai to her room but came back swiftly.
"So, what did happen?" she asked.
"Have you spoken to Hinata?" Asuma questioned.
"No, not today, why?"
"That little Uchiha bastard informed Hiashi Naruto has a sharingan. Hiashi called off the engagement today but warned Tsunade-hime he would. Good thing as Naruto was going to kill the kid but we intervened." Jiraiya said. Kurenai was instantly dismayed by the news and worried that Hinata hadn't come to her, she normally did when she was distressed. Her discipline as a ninja allowed her to finishing hearing their recounting before rushing off.
"No, we intervened. You just watched." Asuma said, bitterly.
"Three experienced Jounin should have been able to manage a brat, even a brat I trained." Jiraiya said, not meaning a word of it. He's always mocked Asuma, he'd claim it was out of love and not him being a dick. He'd claim.
"Mah, mah, we didn't do too bad until the end there." Kakashi pointed out, trying to salvage some pride.
"True, Naruto-kun's flames of youth overwhelmed us."
"How? I know he's good but not beat all four of you good."
"He is when he taps into the kyuubi chakra. We all had fists buried in our guts before we could react, he was that fast." Asuma shared.
"Which he did when his man Juugo couldn't find Hinata. Apparently the chakra helps expand his sensory range and as soon as he found her he finished the fight." Jiraiya said.
"I need to go find her then, there's no telling what's happened. Do you guys know how long you've been out?"
"No clue." Asuma answered. Kurenai quickly put her sandals on and headed toward the door, she needed to see how her surrogate daughter was doing. As she went to exit the door she was stopped and surprised to see Tsunade-sama there.
"Tsunade-sama?" Kurenai asked, not managing to take the shock out of her voice.
"Hi, Kurenai. I assume you're going to find Hinata? Don't, she's fine and with Naruto. I'm sure she'll contact you tomorrow. Now, can I see the four idiots in there?"
"Hai." Kurenai answered and ushered Tsunade in. The four were surprised to see their leader there as well but she paid it no attention, instead busying herself by checking over them over to make sure Naruto hadn't done any permanent damage. Once she was done, assuring they were more or less fine she began to speak.
"I want to thank all of you for delaying Naruto. Fortunately nothing serious happened and Sasuke remains unharmed. With that being said, Jiraiya I need you to come with me."
Confused but knowing enough not to question her Jiraiya complied and the two remaining Sannin left Kurenai and Asuma's, making their way to the Hyuuga compound. The two were escorted in without a word, signifying they were expected. They made haste toward Hiashi's office and entered, Jiraiya being surprised Itachi was there as well.
"How long was I out?" Jiraiya wondered for things to be moving this fast.
"A couple of hours, Naruto didn't just punch you but placed a temporary knockout tag on each of you." Tsunade answered and Jiraiya just 'ahh'ed' in response.
"Welcome, Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama."
"Thanks, Hiashi but why are we here?" Jiraiya asked.
"I am curious about it myself, Itachi-san, called this meeting." He said as the two sannin took seats beside Itachi and across from Hiashi, his desk in between them. All in the room looked toward Itachi as he unsealed a bottle of alcohol and four glasses.
As he poured some liquor into each glass, Itachi spoke, "My father once told me he was saving this for a special occasion. Clearly that never occured but I feel it fitting it be opened today as I hope to reach a compromise."
"A compromise?" Hiashi questioned.
"Yes, I understand your position but I believe there is a way in which we can resolve the issues and not separate Naruto-kun and Hinata."
"How do you plan to do that?" Jiraiya questioned as he took the glass Itachi offered. Itachi then presented Hiashi and he with two copies of a document, one that almost caused Jiraiya to spit take. "You can't be serious."
"I can. I… I believed Sasuke would be able to redeem the Uchiha. I put too much weight on him and he faltered because of it. When I dream of how I'd like the future wielders of the Sharingan to carry themselves I couldn't ask for a better example than Naruto-kun. He is the future and this document shows how committed I am to that belief."
None of the other three adults in the room could believe what Itachi was proposing, that the Uchiha clan be subsumed into the Uzumaki Clan.
"That would put a good deal of resources in Naruto's control, beyond what he may have inherited from Minato-sama and Kushina-sama. Certainly enough influence to entertain an alliance with. One cemented with a marriage even?" Hiashi reasoned, quickly.
"Yes, and while not the Heiress per se, surely one responsible for holding such an alliance together wouldn't lose her sway within the clan, acting as a liaison between the two clans." Itachi responded. "And given your high status I think it only right the Uzumaki clan provide a gift to the Hyuuga, say a seal that would offer unmatched protection of your dojutsu?"
"If you two have this all figured out then why am I here, not that I mind the booze." Tsunade said.
"Naruto trusts you both to look after his interests and he likely is in no place to play political games."
"True. Matured he might have but I'm surprised he isn't banging on your gates yelling, "Change your mind or I'll beat your ass, Hiashi-teme. Dattebayo!" Jiraiya said, causing all in the office to laugh.
"We'll assume he has just enough Minato in him to even out the Kushina." Tsunade replied. "I do see your point, Itachi so we can look over this agreement and get those two back together before they do something drastic." Itachi could only internally sweatdrop as he'd seen Hinata engaged in drastic behavior but he thought it best to move on from that.
"You know, I could just go challenge your father to a fist fight and make him change his mind."
"The Hyuuga no longer have laws on our books that allow for that, Naruto-kun. Besides, I don't want you to fight my father, he's been changing for the better the last few years."
The two, after leaving Itachi to deal with Sasuke returned to their apartment and were currently sitting, Naruto on their couch and Hinata on his lap. They had remained silent for some time upon their return, drained from the emotions of the day and just wanted to enjoy each other's presence. Naruto sighed and Hinata turned to look at him in worry.
"We're about to have visitors." He said and soon heard a knock at the door. He wanted to just ignore them. He could guess Ino had relayed the information to Shikamaru, after she was informed by Sai. Because Ino is a Chatty Patty. But it wasn't in him to ignore his precious people, he really hated that about himself sometimes. He answered the door and was greeted by Team 9 and 10 and Sai.
"Hey, guys." Naruto greeted.
"Hi, Naruto. We heard about everything and thought we'd cheer you up. I brought a lot of food." Choji said as the party was ushered in. Hinata welcomed everyone as well. It was long before the table was set, Naruto opting for a large enough one to accommodate his frequent house guests and all shared a meal. It was a lighthearted evening, none bringing up the elephant in the room, which Naruto was thankful for. After clearing the table, Shikamaru challenged Naruto to a game of Shogi. Just as they were setting up the board, Hinata excused herself, saying she had to run an errand. Naruto hesitated for a moment but she assured him she was fine. He nodded and the two shared a quick kiss before she departed.
Naruto returned to Shikamaru, and he admitted he really wasn't that fond of the game. He'd gotten better but it was just slow. What he loved is that Shikamaru got so focused on the game he left himself open for some Sharingan enabled trolling. Cloaking his eyes in a subtle illusion Naruto activated his bloodline.
For Shikamaru, he enjoyed playing Naruto as much as it vexed him. The blond didn't think normally so it pushed the Nara to get creative. Naruto truly was unpredictable and had the annoying habit of randomly changing his tendencies for no apparent reason. It was "Youthfu-, troublesome" the Nara heir thought. 'Troublesome.' The two were getting deep into the game now, a winner would surely be decided soon.
"So, Shika, you ask Temari out yet?"
"Troublesome. No, Naruto, I haven't."
"You should. What's the delay?"
"I don't know, everytime I try I wuss out. It's frustrating." The Nara spoke, not realizing how open he was being.
"Maybe you should set up some kind of challenge if you fail to do so the next time you meet."
"That's not a bad idea, Naruto. I'll run around the village ten times…. Kai!" Shikamaru flared his chakra while looking mortified when he heard what he was saying. Lee started to cry manly tears of burning youth and everyone else laughed. "You're a real bastard, Uzumaki. You don't even use them to cheat just to annoy me!"
"Mah, mah, Shika. I'm trying to make a love connection and you're taking to long. Gaara is getting bored, he has this whole scary brother routine he's dying to use."
"You think telling me the Kazekage is looking to scare me is going to make me act faster?"
"Yes. If you ask her out he's only going to scare you. You keep dragging your feet and he's going to hurt you."
"I agree with him, Shika, just ask the girl out already." Ino chimed in.
"It's time." Choji agreed.
"Fine, I'll do it. It'll be most youthf-, damnit Naruto!" Shikamaru shouted, causing everyone to laugh. Naruto felt three more chakra signatures nearing the door so he headed to greet them.
"Hi, Baa, ugh!" Naruto was interrupted and everyone on alert when he flew back from the door into the wall across from it. "Owe. What the shit, Baa-chan?" Naruto yelled, only to find himself in a bone crushing hug.
"You stupid, stupid, stupid boy!" She said, repeating it as her hug became tighter and tighter. Naruto looked to Jiraiya and Itachi for help but neither said anything, the eldest Uchiha looking decidedly drunk but he couldn't worry about that as he was more concerned about his insides becoming paste.
"Baa-chan, can't breathe."
"Too bad!"
"A little help, Kyofu?" He wheezed out.
"You only call me that when you want something."
"Yes. To live!"
"I think we should leave them alone, don't you?" Shikamaru said with the smuggest drawl he'd ever heard. The party vacated, even Sai and Naruto could only look at him with a sense of betrayal. Oh, he'd kill an asshole for him but he want stop an old woman from squeezing him to death. Bastards, all of them.
"Tsunade-sama, I do think you should release Naruto-kun or he won't be in a state to hear what we have to say, 'ttebayo." Itachi finished and Naruto wished he had the Mangekyou to burn the thieving Uchiha. You can't just take his verbal tic.
"Fine." She said as she release her death grip but grabbed him by the color of his shirt. "When things like that happen you're supposed to come to me, Naruto. Not fight four of my Jounin or attempt to off a fellow shinobi. What were you thinking?"
"That I spared him twice. Stayed out of his way. Made no demands as an Uchiha but it wasn't enough. He just couldn't leave me alone. So, he tries to screw with my and Hinata's future just because he can. He got nothing out of it. I will only be provoked so much before I act."
Tsunade released him and sighed. "I understand Naruto, we all do but you are a leader and many of the younger shinobi look up to you. You could have undid all your hard work."
"I'm not saying I considered every angle when I left Hiashi but if you won't fight those that harm your family you aren't worth looking up to and before I'm a Konoha shinobi I'm a man. Sasuke may not have broke any Konoha or Fire Country laws but what he did goes deeper than some document."
"Naruto, this isn't the Warring Clans era, you can't just claim vendetta and do whatever. That just contributes to the Cycle of Hatred."
"I know, Jiraiya. But I've turned the other cheek. At a certain point, when words fail, when patience runs out you have to act."
"Right, well we aren't going to settle this and given your history I think we can chalk this up to a tipping point. We have something else to discuss, Naruto. Is Hinata here?" Tsunade spoke, wanting to get to the reason they came.
"No, she stepped out."
"That's fine, you can fill her in when she returns. Itachi and Hiashi may have come to an arrangement so you can still marry Hinata." Jiraiya said.
"That sounds ominous."
"Well… it depends on your perspective." his godfather stated.
It took no time for Hinata to find the target of her interest, the one person missing from the impromptu get=together. That signaled something may be wrong. And Hinata had an idea what that might be. She arrived at the familiar training ground and heard the rhythmic thuds of wood on wood as Sakura was training with her tonfa. Hinata approached but didn't say anything, knowing Sakura was aware of her presence. The pinkette continued to abuse the training posts before she took a break, breathing deeply.
"I… I thought I'd changed. That I wasn't selfish like I used to be. And yet when Ino said your engagement was broken I was happy. Only for an instant but I was delighted I might finally get a chance."
"If that makes you a bad person then I'm even worse than you." Hinata started, "When I heard you couldn't be near Naruto-kun after Team 7 broke up I was overjoyed that I might finally be able to get his attention."
"The difference is that was my fault."
"It wouldn't have mattered. I was so jealous of you, that you were away from him and had seemingly damaged your relationship was enough for me. It doesn't make you a bad person, Sakura, just human."
"Maybe not but I feel like one. And what's worse, is I know he doesn't feel that way about me anymore but there are times-"
"Times?"
"I think I'm fooling myself but there are times I think he looks at me like he used to, back when I was 'Sakura-chan'. But I think it's just wishful thinking."
"Hmm, maybe we should continue this at your apartment. I think that'd be best." Hinata said before turning around, not wanting for Sakura to reply. The pink haired kunoichi just followed the Hyuuga Heiress, the confidence in her reply operating like a spell.
After the trio left, Naruto had a lot to think about. He drew a bath and activated the sensory deprivation seals in the bathroom. He developed them for both Karin and himself to give themselves a bit of respite from their abilities. It helped him think, being able to let go of all around him, barely being able to tell where he ended and the warm, soothing water began.
The deal, as such, was likely the best of all their options. As much as Hinata didn't want to give up her title, for a variety of reasons, he he didn't want her to; the facts are it was hard to predict how the genetics of two similar dojutsu people would react and given their children may have either one and not activate it until later in life, it was just a clusterfuck. One might argue that having the bloodline limit be so central to the operation of your clan is wrong minded but that wasn't a hill Naruto was going to die on. Hopefully she'd accept the removal of the seal and the high status within the clan. Not ideal but not nothing.
He'd have to start behaving as a clanhead and in no way wanted that. He also didn't want to be in anyway approaching familial with Sasuke. Naruto suspected part of the Uzumaki/Uchiha merger was a gambit by which Naruto wouldn't seek to act against Sasuke by making the runt his responsibility. They'd be family in a sense and Naruto reasoned Itachi thought it'd add a layer of protection, outside of whatever the eldest Uchiha did to get Sasuke to sign off on said merger and granting the Uzumaki as primary clan, while the two Uchiha would be a branch.
It was an unnecessary move. If Naruto still had designs of Sasuke, he'd have done it already but if this makes Itachi feel better Naruto could allow that. The man doesn't need anything else to feel guilty about.
Naruto briefly went over some ideas on removing and replacing the Cage Bird Seal. JIraiya and he had figured a lot of it out but because the seal was compressed and simply activating it wouldn't fix that, there were some details they lacked. Now, that could change and the Hyuuga could potentially become family again. Naruto looked forward to that. As he was getting lost in his thoughts about the sealing array he felt a body enter the tub with him and smiled, his lady wanted to play.
He felt her creep slowly up to him, her hands lightly touching his abs. It felt different but due to the seals he assumed that was why. Until he wrapped his arms around her as they kissed. While not unpleasing, this was decided not the body of his favorite Hyuuga. Curves were different, lips tasted different. And the nice soft buffer of her chest was different. Naruto immediately activated his sharingan, grabbed the intruder and hopped out of the tub toward the living room. Someone that could bypass his seals were a serious threat and may have already attempted to poison him.
He ignored the squawk of protest as he darted out of the bathroom, his familiarity with its make up helping him avoid any obstacles. As he emerged out of the bathroom he saw Hinata sitting on the couch, looking amused. He then realized he hadn't actually looked to see whom he had in his grasp. With his Sharingan activated he was memorizing every detail of the woman in his arms, the familiar green eyes and pink hair informing and confusing him all at once.
"Sakura-chan?" He said, calling her something he hadn't in years, causing her to beam and Hinata to giggle. He was so confused and receiving all this in perfect detail did nothing to aid in that. "Hinata, what's going on?"
"Well, Naruto-kun, I finally found my girlfriend." She said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Naruto could say only one thing in response.
"'ttebayo?"
So, this has been requested and I've considered doing it early in my writing. It's not a harem, just three adults in a polyamorous lifestyle. And Hinata is Bisexual but it will be explained. If you don't like the development, sorry but this is the direction I'm taking this. I hope those of you still reading this will continue to do so and enjoy. But if not, I get it.