Chapter 10. Yeah! First off...I am soooo sooo sooo sorry I haven't updated in forever! I was really swamped with a ton of work and I lost my mojo there for a few weeks and everytime I wrote something it just didn't seem right. I instilled the help of a fellow author on the site and thankfully he agreed to help me. I was able to take his advice and roll with it. Sorry again. Please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto... seriously... do I have to go over this every chapter? I do not own Naruto, so don't sue me.

Kurenai smiled as she watched Hinata unload her things. The careful way she slid her fingers under the perfect piles of training clothes and gently set them in the drawers was a perfect example of her patience.

'Naruto's got himself a good one. I think she's just about the only person out there that loves his antics' She thought.

"Thank you sensei, for allowing me to stay with y-you." Hinata commented breaking the long silence that had been in the apartment for some time. Kurenai smiled in response.

"Really it was Naruto who convinced me. He cares a lot for you." Kurenai laughed before continuing. "He wanted you to stay here instead of seeing his place. Naruto said something about his apartment being a disastrous mess." She added.

Hinata giggled. "I've seen it. I-I've been over there for r-ramen." The pale-eyed girl explained.

"Well, make yourself at home. The couch isn't that comfortable, but it's the best I can do right now. Feel free to eat whatever you like from the kitchen." Kurenai said before going about watering her small garden at the window.

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Hinata walked along the crowds in the shopping district of the Leaf Village searching for a gift for Kurenai. She scanned the shop windows peacefully, her mind shutting out all thoughts that might hinder her joy.

Hmm... I should get her something for her garden. Kurenai has been so nice.

Suddenly she spotted someone in the crowd running, and coming straight at her. Her cousin ran at a high speed, urgency lining his unusually frantic expression. Neji halted just a foot away from her panting.

"What… did… you do?!" he asked between gasps. Hinata's mind was quickly stripped of all things peaceful, as it filled with thoughts of her clan. Neji stared at Hinata with an unfriendly gaze, expecting an answer.

"What are you t-talking about?" Hinata questioned shakily.

"You know exactly what I am talking about, Hinata! Why?!" Neji nearly screamed his words. Hinata looked at her cousin, his eyes pleading with her. He was angry, a mix of emotions encircling him as he breathed hard attempting to calm himself.

Hinata shook her head as she peered down at the ground, her head bowed. "I-I don't have t-to answer you." She whispered. A strain was noticeable in her voice; her words became lined with emotion as she spoke.

No... not this... not now.

"You… you left the clan! Why?! Why would you do something like that?! Do you know what you've done? I've tried to help you Hinata! I stood up for you in that council room and risked my honor to scold the elders… and… and now you go and do something like this. We could have fixed it!" Neji shouted. Pedestrians walking in the district stared at the two relatives, occasionally stopping to watch. The small flower shop window was about to become a scene for a yelling match.

Hinata's body shook as she continued to bow her head. Tears trickled down her face and landed on the pavement below. "N-No…we couldn't have just fixed it." She whispered.

"We could have-" Neji started but stopped when Hinata whipped her head up and glared at him.

"NO! Neji don't you understand?! The Hyuga clan is corrupt! They would have never let Naruto be with me… they called him… they called him a demon." She trailed into a whisper, her voice faltering with her tears. Neji flinched as he heard his cousin refer to their clan as "the Hyuga clan."

'She has… she has really left…' he thought.

"Why did you leave?" Neji asked softer now. Hinata's tears tore at him inside.

"Shikamaru…" she explained.

"Shikamaru?" Neji asked confused.

"He has a plan. A p-plan to get Naruto and me together, and to get me back into the c-clan." She explained.

Neji shook his head, closing his eyes. He then looked at his cousin, his expression grave. His mouth formed a straight line, his eyes stern. "Hinata… they are going to put the caged bird on you," he whispered softly, his voice in anguish. Hinata's eyes widened for a moment, but she relaxed and sighed.

"Don't worry brother." She responded. Neji's brows furrowed in confusion as he watched as Hinata turned from him and walked away.

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The blond ninja waited silently outside of the restaurant, smiling to himself as he twirled the small necklace on his finger. He stared at the tiny purple stone flower that settled at the end of a silver chain.

He heard a soft giggle that he recognized instantly. In a swift motion he shoved the necklace deep into a pocket of his ninja pants and looked up to see pale eyes gazing lovingly at him.

"Good evening Lady Hinata." He said jokingly as he bowed before her. Hinata gave him a warm smile and, as he stood up, leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek right in the center of his whisker marks. Naruto blushed and cleared his throat nervously.

"Let's go in," he offered taking his love's hand and gently tugging her along.

Inside the restaurant the two sat a table. After ordering and eating three courses of pork ramen, Naruto watched Hinata lean back in her chair and sigh contently.

"Thank you N-Naruto." She said, before leaning into his shoulder were he sat beside her. Hinata's thoughts played as she thought only of now. No thoughts of meeting Neji, problems of her clan, or the council meeting that was scheduled for later today crossed her mind.

Hinata felt Naruto shift, as he thrust his hand into a pocket riffling for something. As he fished, Hinata sat up looking at him with curiosity. "What are you looking for?" she asked.

"This…" Naruto answered finally pulling a hand from his pocket. He held up a silver chain with a purple flower carved from stone on the end. He grinned his fox like smile. "It matches your eyes," he stated softly. Hinata gasped as she peered at the tiny flower.

"I…I love it Naruto." She whispered. Naruto unhooked the chain and gently slid his hands behind her neck and moved her hair. He clasped he chain shut and pulled back to examine his work.

"Perfect." He said smiling.

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Hyuga elders fumed in anger at the former clan member before them. "We cannot just let you roam free outside of the clan with the Byakugan in your blood." An elder spat. Hiashi, who sat at the table beside the elder showed a momentary expression of panic. His eyes widened and he opened his mouth as if he was going to shout something, but thought better of it and shifted uneasily in his chair.

"Yes," another elder agreed. "We must use the correct measures. We should use the caged bird, just like on Neji of the branch clan." He added.

Just as Shikamaru thought... Hinata thought.

Hinata stood before the council flashing reassuring glances at her father.

Please remember father. Please remember what I told you...

She fiddled with the necklace on her neck, clutching it tightly.

Hiashi stood almost hesitantly, his hands on the table. "No… I won't allow it." He announced.

"There is no other choice Hiashi. The majority has decided. There is no way out." An elder explained looking nervously at the Hyuga.

"There is." Hiashi countered. "Law five-eighty of the Hyuga clan." He said smoothly.

"Five-eighty… you understand what this means Hiashi. Hinata will have to fight to the death for her freedom of choice." The elder explained. Hiashi nodded and sent another glance at Hinata.

'I hope this Shikamaru is right…' he thought.

Shikamaru's plan continues! Ok, so Hinata is living with Kurenai because she is no longer part of the Hyuga clan. Will everything play out as planned? What will happen in the fight?! Will something happen before the fight?! AHH! Ok, please please review with your thoughts. Thanks.