Synopsis: Naruto spends time with Neji and Hinata for his birthday.

Naruto enjoyed what he was reading. He agreed with his dad; the main character was cool. Why couldn't Pervy Sage write more books like this?

"Ummm…Naruto…" The said boy looked up to see Hinata and Neji standing in front of him. He quickly sat up, rubbing his neck sheepishly.

"Sorry, were you guys waiting long?"

Hinata shook her head.

"We just got here."

Neji looked at the book in his hands curiously.

"What book is that?"

"This is the first book Pervy Sage published!"

"Pervy Sage?" Neji questioned.

"I'm talking about Master Jiraiya."

"One of the three Sannin?!" Neji exclaimed. "Why would call him such a disrespectful name?"

"Because he is a pervert," Naruto simply said. "You can ask Sakura if you don't believe me. He writes those perverted books Kakashi-sensei reads all the time."

"If that's true, then why were you just now reading one of his books?" Neji challenged.

"Well, this book is not perverted," Naruto said looking fondly at it. "My dad thought the main character of the book was cool and named me after him."

Hinata and Neji's eyes widen.

"Your dad?" Neji repeated.

"But Naruto, I thought you didn't know anything about your parents," Hinata said confused.

"Granny and Kakashi-sensei told Iruka-sensei and me this morning," Naruto explained. "It was overwhelming, you know? I knew they were going to tell me something important, but was not prepared for this."

"How do you feel Naruto?" Hinata asked sitting down in front of him. "Are you happy?"

"I am happy," Naruto replied with a sad smile. "But I also can't help feeling…"

"…not only happy, but also relieved, mad and sad." Neji finished for him. Naruto looked at him surprised.

"Yeah, how did you know…" He started to ask, but Neji cuts him off.

"Because that's how I felt when I learned the truth about my father's death." Naruto and Hinata's eyes widen. "Long story short, it turns out he wasn't forced to die, he made a choice on his own." He looked at Hinata with a sad smile."Uncle Hiashi was ready to surrender himself, even though it was against the Hyuga council's wishes." Hinata gasped. "However, my father made the decision to die protecting his older brother." He looked up at the sky to see a bird flying towards the sun. "He chose his destiny."

"Neji…" Hinata said in awe

"I'm glad to hear that," Naruto said with a smile. "So, I guess you are happy to hear your father was able to choose his destiny, relieved to hear he was not forced by the clan, mad for not knowing before, and sad because you wish he were still here."

"That summarizes it," Neji said. "May I take a guess, too?" Naruto nodded his head. "From what I know, I believe you are happy to learn about your parents, mad no one told you about them before, and sad that you never got to know them."

"You nailed those," Naruto said to Neji. "You're not going to try guessing why I feel relieved?"

"Well, I thought you should…" Neji started to say, but Hinata decided to interrupt him.

"You were relieved to learn your parents did not hate you," Naruto looked at her stunned. Hinata blushed, pushing her fingers together nervously. "Umm…am I wrong?"

"No, you're right," Naruto said quickly. "I was just surprised you figured it out."

Hinata lowered her gave.

"I have seen how the villagers treated and heard horrible things they say to you." She explained quietly. "So I thought there might have been times you wondered if your parents would have treated you the same, especially since knew nothing about them. However," she said smiling at him. "Whenever I wondered about your parents, I always thought they must have loved you. Otherwise, you wouldn't be such a kind and caring person."

"I didn't worry about that when I was little," Naruto confessed. "But when I learned and understood why the villagers hate me, that's when I started to wonder if my parents would see me as a monster too. It was the only reason I could come up with for why Gramps refused to tell me." He gave Hinata and Neji a smile. "I have no doubts now, secret or no secret, they would have acknowledged and accepted me. And you're right Hinata," he said to the girl placing his hand on his heart. "They did love me. It meant a lot to hear that, you know?" Hinata smiled and nodded her head in understanding.

"Naruto, why weren't you told about your parents before?" Neji asked curiously. "Why now?"

"My dad had enemies, so for my safety and village's, Gramps decided to make it an S-class secret," Naruto explained. "I wasn't even given my dad's last name, but my mother's maiden name."

"Are your parents' identities still an S-class secret?" Hinata asked.

"Yeah," Naruto replied giving her a confused look. "Why are you asking?"

Hinata pressed her finger together.

"Well, I was hoping you could tell us what you learned about your parents," she replied timidly.

Naruto crossed his arms and closed his eyes in thought.

"I can't tell you their names, but I can tell you what they were like." With that said, he proceeded to tell them what his parents were like. Of course, he was careful not to share anything that related to his secret or their identities.

"Kakashi-sensei was right," Hinata said. "Everything he shared about your father describes you too."

"You think so?" Naruto questioned with uncertainty in his voice.

"I agree," Neji said nodding his head. "You were able to push Hinata to be the best of her capability and gave me hope that anyone can change their destiny. Those abilities were no doubt inherited from your father."

"Wow, I guess Kakashi-sensei was right," Naruto said in awe. "I am awesome like my dad."

"They sound like they would have been wonderful parents," Hinata said.

"Yeah," Naruto said with a sad smile. "We would have been a great family."

"It's interesting you get your ramen addition from your mom," Neji commented. He looks at Hinata. "I wonder if you got yours from your mother too, Lady Hinata."

Hinata's face goes red.

"Neji!" She protested while Naruto stares at her shocked.

"You love eating ramen, too?"

Hinata presses her fingers together.

"Well…"

"She loves cinnamon rolls," Neji interrupts. "However, she can eat more than three bowls of Ichiraku's for one meal."

Naruto stares at Hinata awestruck.

"That's amazing Hinata!" He exclaimed.

"Um…thanks?" She replied unsurely.

Naruto's stomach rumbles.

"Oops, I forgot I didn't have lunch yet," Naruto said rubbing the back of his neck embarrassed. "Did you guys have it already? I only have instant ramen with me."

"Actually Naruto," Hinata said pulling out three boxes from her bag. "I prepared bento boxes for all of us." She handed one to each of them, along with chopsticks. "Happy Birthday, Naruto. Hope you like it."

"Aww, thanks, Hinata!" Naruto said taking the box, and gasps after opening it. "Wow! Everything in here looks amazing! Even the vegetables look tasty, and I usually don't like them!" He took a small bit. "Oh my goodness, they do taste good!" He looked at Hinata. "I was right! You are going to be great wife some day! Don't you agree, Neji?"

"Oh no," Neji said in his mind as Hinata's face turned red again.

"A great wife," Hinata repeats to herself, then falls backwards with a smile on her face.

"Ahh! Hinata!" Naruto shouts quickly putting his food down and catching her in his arms. "Neji, what did I say wrong?" The poor boy asked crying anime tears.

Neji shook his head.

"You didn't do anything wrong," he assured Naruto. "She was just very happy you said that."

Naruto looked down at Hinata with doubt in his eyes.

"Are you sure it's not because she feels uncomfortable being near me?" He asked uncertainty in his voice. "She never does this with anyone else."

"Naruto, it's not my place to tell you why, but Lady Hinata's," Neji said giving himself a mental note to talk about this with Hinata. It was now clear to him why the boy never noticed his cousin's crush on him. Naruto looks at him. " I assure you, it's opposite what you think, she respects you. Everything she told you yesterday was true. But I ask you; please don't pressure Lady Hinata, instead let her tell you when she's' ready."

Naruto looks back at Hinata's serene face. He was upset when Iruka said it was obvious this girl wanted to be his friend. If it's true, then how come, when they are now friends, did she still act strangely around him? It just didn't make sense!

"Okay," he finally replied softly. He wanted to know the truth. However, he knew it was best for Hinata to tell him on her own.

Hinata begins to stir on Naruto's lap.

"Where am I?" She asked in a daze.

"Hey, are you alright?" Hinata looked up to see Naruto's face. "You had me worried."

Hinata quickly scrambled off Naruto's lap.

"I'm sorry Naruto," she said bowing her head. "Please forgive me, if I made you feel uncomfortable."

"Hinata, you don't need to apologize," Naruto said holding up his hands. "Besides, I thought I made you uncomfortable." Hinata looks at him surprised. "That why you fainted right?"

"Naruto, I told you not to…" Neji started to say; upset Naruto did not heed his advice to wait patiently for Hinata to be ready.

"You do not make me uncomfortable!" Hinata exclaimed leaning towards Naruto, who was startled by how close her face was to his. "I was just suddenly feeling overwhelmed, that's all!"

"Okay, if you say so," Naruto said blushing, turning his head away. "Um, how about we finish eating, so we can finally train?"

Hinata suddenly realized the proximity, also turns her head away, saying "that's a good idea."

Neji watched in amusement as they both finish their food silently, still blushing.

"Those two are good for each other," he thought to himself as he finished up his food.

Naruto stands up, hitting his fist into his hand.

"Alright, it's time to train!" He then crosses his fingers. "I want to be able to spar with both you guys. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" A clone appears next to him.

"Only one shadow clone?" Neji questioned. "I thought you would use two shadow clones and observe.

"Kakashi-sensei just told me that once my shadow clone is dispelled, I receive its memories," Naruto explained. "This ability can also help me train faster."

"That's incredible, Naruto," Hinata praised.

"Neji, I fought with you in the Chunnin exams, but I never sparred with Hinata before." Hinata looked at Naruto surprised. "So I was thinking, you can fight with my clone, while I spar with Hinata."

"Sounds good to me," Neji said gesturing to the clone to follow him.

"Naruto, shouldn't you spar with Neji instead?" Hinata asked once Neji, and the clone jumped away from a safe distance.

Naruto shook his head getting into a fighting stance.

"Hinata, I want to fight you." The said girl's eyes widen. "Don't think I'm going to go easy on you because you are a girl!"

Hinata closed her eyes in content, then got into a fighting stance.

"I would respect you less if you did Naruto!" She declared activating her Bakugan.

"Let's go!" Naruto yelled running towards her.

"Right!" Hinata said charging towards him.

"Haaaaa!"

A couple of hours later…

Naruto, Hinata, and Neji were lying on the ground breathing heavily. The sun has started to set.

"You guys are amazing," Naruto said complimenting them.

"You are too, Naruto," Hinata said back.

"You have improved a lot from a match," Neji commented. "I'm impressed your clone was able to last through the whole fight."

"Are you kidding?" Naruto said incredulously. "You're the one who improved a lot! My clone could barely keep up with you!" He turns his head to look at Hinata. "But I have to warn you Neji, you better not slack. Otherwise, Hinata here will be much stronger than you."

"Naruto!" Hinata protested blushing. "I'm not that good!"

"No, Lady Hinata, he's right," Neji said firmly. "You also have improved a lot since we last fought."

"Neji," Hinata said in awe.

"Lady Hinata, it's my fault and the clan's fault that your confidence is low," Neji said with regret in his voice. "I promise, I will do everything I can to help you achieve your dreams to be kind as your mother and strong as your father. Also, help change the clan."

Hinata's eyes widen at hearing her cousin recited her dream.

"I will help too," Naruto said. "Although you already got the the kind part down." Neji smirked while Hinata blushed. "Seriously, I had fun training with both of you guys. I wouldn't mind do it every day."

Neji nods his head in agreement.

"Neji, Naruto, thank you," Hinata said appreciatively.

Naruto stood up and stretched.

"We should get going to your house before it gets dark," he stated. Hinata and Neji nod their heads and also stood up. "Umm…" Naruto started to say rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"What is it Naruto?" Hinata asked.

"So is they anything I need to do? Is there a certain way I need to act? Do I need to go home and change? What should I wear?"

Hinata and Neji smile at him amused.

"Just be yourself Naruto," Neji said. "That's all Uncle Hiashi is expecting from you."

"Are you sure?" Naruto asked unsurely.

Hinata grabs her bag off the ground and gives Naruto an assuring smile.

"It's your birthday Naruto. You're supposed to enjoy it."

Naruto smiled.

"Okay, you're both right. I was just excited and nervous. I have never been invited to a family dinner before, so I don't know what to expect."

"That's understandable," Neji said. "I think you'll enjoy this one."

"Okay then," Naruto said grabbing his bag. "Let's get going!" He stated in an excited tone, leading them in the direction back to the village.

Suddenly a masked ninja appeared in front of them, stopping them in their tracks. Naruto's eyes widened when he noticed it was a fox mask. He turns his head to see other fox mask ninjas appear around them. Hinata and Neji glanced around bewildered,

"This isn't good, kid," Kurama said in his mind. "They have you surrounded, with no way of escaping."

"I know," Naruto said back in his mind. "But why are they doing this now? Usually, they would wait for nightfall."

"I have an idea why, but you are not going to like it."

"They're Chunnin and Jonin from the Village," Neji observed, interrupting Naruto from his conversation with Kurama. "But why are they wearing those masks?"

"What do they want?" Hinata asked in a worried tone.

Naruto gulped before answering in a resigned tone, taking off his backpack, letting it drop to the ground.

"They want me."

Hinata and Neji's eyes widened and looked back at the ninjas around them.

"Naruto," Neji said in a suspicious tone. "Is this what you asked not to interfere in?"

"You both gave me your word," Naruto responded crossing his fingers. "You both need to get out of here. I'll hold them off with my shadow clones."

"But Naruto..." Hinata started to protest but was cut off my cold female voice, causing Naruto to freeze.

"If you really think you can fight against Chunnin and Jonin, you're out of your mind."All three Genin turned their heads towards the voice. They see a ninja with blue hair tied in a ponytail walking towards them, with another ninja following her. They were both also wearing fox masks. She stops in front of Naruto. "Besides, we want the Hyugas here tonight."

Naruto takes out his kunai and holds it in front him. Neji and Hinata do the same.

"What do you want from Hinata and Neji?" He asked glaring at the unknown ninja, who was clearly the leader. "How does it have to do with anything with what you want from me?"

The leader smirks.

"It's simple Uzumaki, I think your so-called friends have the right to know your secret." Naruto eyes widened in shock and fear. "If you don't..." the leader nodded toward the ninja next to her. Suddenly, Neji is clasping his hands over his forehead, screaming in pain.

"Neji!" Hinata screams kneeling down next to him.

"What's happening?" Naruto asked Hinata.

"It's the Caged Bird Seal," Hinata explained glaring at the ninja who was doing the tiger seal. "That other ninja must be a Hyuga from the main branch."

Naruto eyes widen, then scowls at the leader and Hyuga.

"Stop it!" He shouted. "Leave him alone! It's me you want! He has nothing to do with this!"

The leader nods to the Hyuga, who deactivates the seal. Neji kneels on the ground breathing heavily.

"That's just a warning demon," the leader said in a dark tone. "You tell your secret tonight, or the boy will suffer."

Author's Note:

I published this chapter May 8th. I have no idea why it's still saying I updated the story April 23. My guess is for Chapter 9.

For those who have noticed, I have been changing the ending for Chapter 10 several times. Please bear with me, because it has been difficult to transition to Chapter 11. I was initially planning for the ring leader to be a male. But, suddenly I decided it would be easier if it's a female (since I am one).That will make it easier for me to write dialogue, in particular for an OC character.

Sorry I didn't write a fighting scene between Naruto and Hinata. I wasn't sure to write and wanted to get this chapter over with. If there is anyone interested in helping me write one, PM me! I'll give you credit! Of course, add it to the chapter!

I know Naruto didn't learn until Shippuden about the ability to receive memories from his clones, but I thought it was silly he didn't notice that, especially after his three year trip with Jiraiya.

Finally, I can write the chapter that covers the plot! I love reading stories where Naruto is given no choice but to tell his secret to his friends. The inspiration for this story came mostly from the fanfics Tears of Hope, Guardian, and The Uzumaki Tales: Return of the Whirlpool. I have wanted a story for some reason where Naruto had no choice but to tell his secret because Neji was threatened with the caged bird seal. I know, pretty cruel, huh?

I want the next chapter to be superb, so don't expect a quick update! I am so excited to write this chapter. I already have the outline ready. Hopefully, I don't have to make too many changes.

Next chapter: Naruto has no choice but to tell the Hinata and Neji is secret. Otherwise, Neji will suffer from the caged bird seal.