Okay, sorry it took a little while than longer than usual

Okay, sorry it took a little while than longer than usual. Been busy. I want to update now because I know I won't have time this weekend. Prom is this Saturday and this Sunday I have senior pictures. So, let's see. I'm going blind again. Also, I'll be doing a little explaining hopefully. Oh, just for the record, I don't own Naruto. If I did, Naruto and Hinata would already be dating, as in childhood sweethearts.

Chapter 10

"Shinobu, calm down. It's only a needle." Shizune held the girl's quivering arm still. Kushina had admitted that her daughter had a huge fear of needles. Shizune had stopped by to get blood samples. Naruto had taken his stoically, as had Kushina. But Shinobu had gotten really upset. "There I'm done." The needle was quickly pulled out.

"When we will get the results? I would think that the Hokage would think that I would know my own son." Kushina led Shizune outside while Saya made Shinobu some calming tea.

"We don't doubt you. But the council will need solid proof that Naruto is the Fourth's heir. Otherwise there'll be a lot of problems. Tsunade-sama herself will be doing the test. One of us will deliver the results personally." Shizune walked out of the Uzamaki residence. Kushina walked back into the house. Saya was done with Shinobu and was probably off trying to find Naruto. She knew that this would take awhile to get used to, considering her heritage and past. And Naruto had a lot to take in as well. This was all new to him.

"Kushina-sama!! I can't find Naruto-sama anywhere. Do you know where he is?" Kushina laughed quietly as Saya approached. The previous night he had woken up to Saya trying to snuggle up next to him. It was taking awhile for her to understand that Naruto was not Minato.

"He's probably off trying to comfort Hinata. She's terrified of her father's decision today. Speaking of that, we need to go to the Hyuga house soon." Kushina walked off, leaving Saya pouting alone.

--

A young girl of the branch family opened the gate. She saw Hinata and beckoned them in. "Hiashi-sama is waiting. Please follow me." Kushina, Naruto, and Hinata were led to the inner rooms of Hiashi Hyuga.

"Leave us." Hiashi ordered. The young girl shut the door behind her as she left. "As for you three, please sit." The three sat down on the provided cushions. Hiashi Hyuga only watched the three of them intently. Most of his focus was on his daughter. He noticed how that, even though she was scared, she was determined to be strong. His eldest daughter had undergone a change during the time of her absence from the clan. He also noticed how she was holding Naruto's hand rather tightly. If it hurt, Naruto didn't show it. He was holding her hand just as tight.

"So, it appears Naruto is a member of all famlily, albeit distantly. Tsunade-sama performed the blood test herself. So I trust the results. Which means I have no choice but to say Naruto is a worthy spouse of my daughter. This is what I propose." Hinata gripped Naruto's hand tighter as her father spoke.

"Yes, father. I'm listening."

"Hinata, you are still welcome in the clan. But we need the next family head and their spouse to have use of the Byakugan, thus letting the family head after that to use it. So, if you are willing to hand down the position of heiress to your sister, I will approve and even encourage this relationship. It's clear that this young man is good for you. I only ask that if you do this, you be careful. I don't want to see you get hurt."

Hinata looked up in shock. But then she suddenly smiled. Hiashi Hyuga had never seen his eldest truly smile until now. "Yes, father. I will hand down the position of heiress to Hinabi. Hinabi would be better at it than I would be anyway."

"Hiashi-sama." Hiashi turned his attention to Naruto. "I promise you that I will never hurt Hinata. If she's ever hurt because of me, I'll take responsibility for it. But I'll never hurt her. I promise that to both of you."

"Oh, and Naruto, treat my daughter with respect. I want this relationship to develop at a slow pace. My daughter is not to be taken advantage of. Is that understood?" Naruto swore he would treat her with respect.

"On my honor. I never take back my word. It's my way of the ninja. Thank you for giving me a chance. I won't forget this."

Hiashi almost smiled to himself. "Feel free to train with us whenever you like. I hear you've become a powerful shinobi. The Hyuga Clan would like to help you develop that power wisely." Naruto nodded, a huge smile on his face. "Oh, and don't say anything about this to anyone else yet." Both nodded.

"Now scat you two. Go have an official first date, after Naruto officially asks Hinata out. Hiashi and I have to go to the council meeting now so go enjoy yourselves. Go on, get out of here." Kushina ushered the love-struck teenagers out of the room. When they were gone, Kushina sat back down. "Was that a wise move?"

"Yes, it's the best course of action. I don't like to put my own flesh and blood down but Hinabi would be a better head than Hinata. But knowing Hinabi, she'll probably give up half that power if possible to Hinata, making co-heads of the family. It's happened before. The family fared quite well."

"Come on, Hiashi, let's get this stupid meeting over with. The faster it goes the better."

"Yes, Kushina. Let's go." Hiashi escorted Kushina out of the room.

--

All of the influential families and heads of the clans gathered togethor. Tsunade sat at the head of the council. "Alright, this meeting is officially in session. The Fourth Hokage's will and heir have been found. I did the blood tests myself. It's of no doubt that this woman, Kushina Uzamaki, if she'd please stand," Kushina stood, waved, and then sat back down, "is the Fourth's widow. Marital records have confirmed this. Also, the Fourth and this woman, the daughter of the Mizukage of the Whirlpool village, which is also confirmed destroyed, had two children together. They are twins, Naruto and Shinobu. I ask the council to acknowledge this." Almost everyone agreed with the motion. Hiashi Hyuga stood.

"I'd like everyone to know that my eldest Hinata has passed down the position of heir to her younger sister Hinabi. The whole clan agrees with this." Everyone started to whisper. Tsunade called the meeting to order.

"I still have questions for Kushina Uzamaki. She's agreed to answer them." Everyone fell silent. "Explain kyujutsu."

Kushina began speaking. "Kyujutsu is a special type of jutsu made especially for fighting demons. It's also possible with kyujutsu to seal demons into human containers, making them jinchuriki. That's how Minato sealed the nine-tailed fox into Naruto on the day of his birth when it attacked. It doesn't use regular handsigns. I recently only saw them for the first time when I met Awai Masumune."

"You mentioned in your report that you two know each other. How is this? We've all seen the report you gave to the Hokage." This came from the head of Aburame Clan.

"Awai used to live in my home village before it was destroyed. Before the nine-tailed fox came here, it first destroyed my village. Minato barely got me out of there alive. My stomach was huge because my twins were about to be born anytime now. I couldn't fight because of my pregnancy. Awai was a sweet and innocent child with a big heart. She, like many of the young ones, called me Auntie Kushina. Until recently I thought her dead. We encountered recently when Naruto and Hinata were gone and she went after them."

Hiashi once again spoke up. "We've heard about Satsukiyami. They're strong enough to beat even strong shinobi's senseless. We have a problem on our hands. What will this council do about them? I open up the discussion now."

"Fortify the defenses and get some serious training in. Increase the patrols and security discreetly. The others villages can't know about this and we don't want to send our own citizens into a panic." A random somebody called. Kushina thought it was an ANBU member.

"That's all well and good. But what if they infiltrate our village? We have to tighten up security both inside and outside of Konoha, not just outside." The Nara family head spoke up. "The villagers may yet be of use. We can ask them to report anyone suspicious."

"I'll send my daughter to you later. She infiltrated their base. So she can tell you what they look like and their strengths and weaknesses. I suggest you post one or two ANBU in disguise at all the entrances and exits of this village. Keep close eye on the village as well. They'll want to silence anyone who reports them. Minato frequently had clashed with them. He had some safeguards in his house for the village against this day." Everyone fell silent at Kushina's word's. "However, most of them center around his children. He secretly made an alliance with some intelligent animals who had been heavily hurt by them. I'll ask them to come here, with the council's permission."

"Who says these outsiders come to help us? I support the motion."

"I say only a small number of them. Anymore might alert the other shinobi nations. Also, we still have our pride." This time it was Might Guy who spoke.

The air was filled with motions of agreeing. Tsunade called for order. "Who says we do this?" Over three-fourth's of the people agreed. Just for the sake of formality, she finished the motion. "And against?" Only a few supported this. "The motion to bring in outside help passed. Just how many will you get to come?"

"Why, all of them, which is to say only the six of them. The Bear Clan is nearly decimated thanks to Satsukiyami. One of them is already here in human form. The person who works for my son, Saya, is one of them. Minato saved her life so she wanted to serve him and his family in thanks. I'll contact them tonight via Saya. Now if you'd excuse me, my part here is done. These things aren't good for your mental health."

--

"Come on Hinata! First stop Icharaku's! Then we'll go wherever you want." Hinata nodded breathlessly as Naruto ran along. He was dragging her along with one hand. They were both relieved and happy that they were allowed by both of their families to date. Hinata was secretly glad to not be heir anymore. She never was one for authority. As they ran down the street, many people stared. But neither of them cared about what they thought.

After eating their ramen, which Naruto treated them to, he turned to ask Hinata where she wanted to go. But he barely got the first word out of his mouth. Standing nearby with smug expressions were none other Shinku Tebanasu and Horyuu Hanone.

--

DUN! DUN! DUN! Satsukiyami doesn't like being left out. So they came to see me about feeling left out. It's been a couple of chapters since they appeared.

Shinku: Yeah, involve us more will you?

Horyuu: Yeah, I mean, who wouldn't want to see Shinku-sama?

Jasaiya: Watch it. I might just kill you off. What would you think of that?

Naruto and Hinata in unison: Jasaiya would like to ask for some reviews. Also, she just started to beta read for someone so please be patient! --bows--

Jasaiya: Yeah, he likes to put like 10,000+ words in his chapters. In just one chapter. Anyway, enjoy! I'll update again when I can. Oh, and note this: Mizukage is the hokage of whirlpool village. When I think whirlpool, I see water. And mizu in japanese is water.