I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ITS CHARACTERS, I OWN THIS STORY AND ANY CHARACTERS I CREATE.


Thanks for the reviews

Questions:

Guest

is naruto kagelevel?

is he stronger than sasuke?

A: Naruto is as strong as he was against Pain, so about as strong as a Kage, defo Stronger than Sasuke...for now

-Question end-


In case people are wondering, Naruto and the others are all 18-19 right now Team Gai are a year older than Naruto and his class because they graduated a year before them.


Chapter 11: Content Life
Art is an Explosion


_Flashback 2 years ago_

Sasuke and Sakura had been dating casually for about 3 months, while it was nothing serious it had still reached his father's ears. Uchiha are very traditional and relationships outside the clan are considered Taboo, when Itachi announced his engagement to Izumi Fugaku had been happy his elder son found a partner within the Uchiha bloodline. Mikoto had managed to talk Fugaku out of confronting Sasuke, however that all changed when the two teens were caught kissing...

Now Sasuke sat in front of his father whose expression was stone faced as always but he knew his father was angry "Itachi will be succeeding me as ahead of the Uchiha clan" was the first words from Fugaku's mouth.

Sasuke always expected this day to come, Itachi was destined to lead the Uchiha clan from the moment he was born; it was rare for the first born to be overlooked. Yet hearing the words still hurt...it felt like his father was saying "I'm done with you" or "You aren't needed", Sasuke looked at the floor not wanting to look his father in his eyes "Another thing, I have learned about your relationship with your teammate Sakura Haruno" Sasuke's eyes dart to meet his father gaze "I am sure you know the elders opinion on outsiders" he says and Sasuke nods "Such a relationship will be frowned upon" he says and Sasuke stands up.

"Who cares? I mean if Itachi is head of the clan then why should it matter who I choose to spend my days with? I won't meekly marry some girl just because she is an Uchiha" Sasuke declares with a challenging look and tone.

Fugaku didn't react in the least, standing in the same spot with his arms crossed and his eyes closed "You will resign as a member of team 7 and transfer to the Konoha police" he states and Sasukes eyes widen "Relationships between squad mates will have a negative effect on your training" he begins "While Itachi will be taking on the role of Uchiha Clan head...you will work to be my successor as Commander of Konoha Police Force"

Sasuke stood there in shock, his father had continued talking but everything went silent. His father was acknowledging him for the first time since he first proved his skill with the Uchiha's Fire Style, he wondered why Itachi wasn't taking over but his father neglected to mention.

"I will support this relationship of yours if you prove to me that it hasn't affected your skill" Fugaku begins "You must rise to the rank of Sergeant within a year or else I will forbid you from being with this girl"

Sasuke was Sergeant within 3 months of the deal being made

_END_

Itachi and Izumi had left to tuck Akane into bed, Kushina and Tsunade left in a drunken slur escorted off the premises, Kiba and Shino left feeling the night buzz was coming to an end...Jiraiya never came back after whatever Kushina and Tsunade did to him.

"Sasuke" Sakura leans in kissing his cheek "Me and the girls are going to Ino's, I'll see you tomorrow" she states and Sasuke gives a single nod

"Aa, try not to cause too much trouble" he smiles "Don't need the paperwork" his words cause her to giggle slightly; she is followed by Hinata and Ino.

"Sai you coming or staying?" Ino asks and her boyfriend sits on the opposite side of Naruto answering the question "Try not to say anything inappropriate" she warns glancing at Naruto with a nervous laugh.

"Bye...Naruto" Hinata gives a shy timid wave from her hip and Naruto smiles softly nodding, once the three girls where gone Naruto, Sasuke and Sai moved to a smaller table to make room.

"It was weird for your father to make a deal like that" Naruto comments sipping his drink, he never thought such minor details would cause such a response from the Police Commander.

"At first I thought so too, but now that I've thought about it I understand what my father was doing" Sasuke says looking into his drink "My dad never cared much for tradition but he wanted to make sure I was also honing my abilities and not neglecting my responsibilities as a Shinobi" he states "Plus he has great admiration for Sakura now, ever since she became Tsunade's student" he adds seeing Naruto's surprised face "All in all, I'm content with my life now...Sakura is happy and I'm making my father proud" he takes a drink.

"And are you happy? With Sakura?" Naruto asks and Sasuke smiles

"I am"

...

"Naruto, Ino told me you and Hinata have crushes on each other and are in a relationship" Sai's comment causes both Naruto and Sasuke to choke on their drink "Did I misinterpret?" he asks curiously

"Only a whole lot" Naruto wheezes out "Me and Hinata are...we are..." Naruto looks away unsure what to say "Something..." he says into the glass confusing Sai, "It's hard to tell what our relationship is, I've been gone for a long time...longer than I should have been"

"It seems like you're a just chicken shit and can't confess that you like her" Sai smiles and Sasuke could feel Naruto's patience bar snap.

...

"OK Sasuke who is this asshole?" he looks to the Uchiha with an annoyed tick on his temple, Sai simply laughed off the deadly aura emanating from Naruto.

"I should have left with Shino and Kiba" Sasuke sighs finishing his drink

_Hinata, Sakura and Ino_

"I wonder how long it will take before Sai say's something inappropriate and piss off Naruto" Sakura wonders as Hinata glances at Ino who laughs.

"Second sentence out of his mouth" she and the other girls laugh, "So Hinata...Naruto's grown up well hasn't her?" Ino grins slyly as Hinata blushes madly holding onto the collar of her Flak jacket "Still can't believe he almost got pressured into marriage...imagine that letter to Lady Kushina" she smirks.

"Dear mom and dad, I have been blackmailed into marriage by a village comprised of all women" Sakura begins mimicking Naruto's voice "Sorry to cut this letter of goodbye short but I must have lots of unprotected sex to give birth to the next generation of Nadeshiko Village Shinobi" she pauses

"Three days later in Nadeshiko Village" Ino says as the pink and blonde inhale "Look out its Konoha's Red Hot-Blooded Habanero! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" the two say simultaneously before bursting out laughing at the sight of Kushina kicking down building's in search of her little boy.

"Red Hot-Blooded Habanero huh?" The three girls stop but Sakura and Ino turn completely white at the familiar tone "...you two wouldn't be talking about me?" Kushina asks, though her voice was calm, her enraged face and the fact her hair had become sentient gave the two girls an idea how made she was.

"O-Oh...L-Lady Kushina!" Ino smiles nervously "We were just talking about how good it was catching up with Naruto!" Sakura says with the same nervous laugh.

"Uh huh" Kushina approaches them cracking her knuckles...

"We're sorry! We're sorry!" they panic but pointlessly trying to run away, -BONK- BONK-

...

"So Hinata, did you have a nice night" Kushina asks with a sweet smile as a small crowd gathered around the crater in the middle of the road.

"Yes...Naruto seemed more enthusiastic than, when he left" Hinata nods with a smile a dazed Ino and Sakura crawl from the crater "I'm happy he's home though" she adds.

Kushina hugs the girl suprising the Hyuga "I can't wait to call you daughter!" she mentally squeals before taking her leave

"W-What was that about?" Sakura and Ino wonder...


The Following Morning


Naruto woke up looking like a guy who walked through a forest lying on his face, while he had drank before he didn't expect to be feeling this bad "How did I get home" he wonders, seeing as it was early he simply put on some pants before walking into the kitchen to have some cereal.

"M-Morning...Naruto" his eyes widen when he hears Hinata's voice all out to him, "Coffee?" she asks and he nods slowly clearly confused.

"Good you're up" he hears his father call to him as he is suddenly dragged to the front door "Let's go for a walk" Minato says with a dangerous looking smile.

All eyes turn to the Hokage monument, written in white, blue and red paint across the Hokage faces "WE ARE TEAM 7!" "INO IS MY BAE" and "I ALMOST GOT MARRIED"...and just like that everything returned to Naruto from last night, drinking till the restaurant closed, buying paint...getting sick in a bush.

"Oh. My. God" he hears Kushina say looking around the side of the house "How did you get vomit up there?"Naruto was still racking his brain trying to remember getting home.

"Hinata found you and your fellow drunken comrades sitting in an alley whistling into empty bottles" Minato says as the Hyuga walks from the house "It was so late I told her she could sleep in the quest room" he explains her presence there.

"I don't remember doing any of this" he laughs a little "How did I get undressed?" he asks "Did someone..." he looks at his dad who smirks himself

"No you did that yourself...for about 20 minutes...it the bathroom" Minato says and Hinata blushes slightly "Get dressed and escort Hinata home...then round up Sai and Sasuke to clean up the Hokage Faces" he instructs and Naruto nods beginning to walk away "Get dressed first Naruto" Minato sighs as Naruto does a 180 back into the house.

Once they were alone Naruto and Hinata walk side by side "Thanks...for last night, and sorry for letting you see me in that state" he says and she shakes her head.

"Its fine, I'm glad you were able to unwind after such a long absence" she says and Naruto smiles "I was also glad to see you had an interesting journey" she adds and he can pick up by her tone what she was referring to.

"Yeah, it was nuts for a time" he states "I did miss you...all I missed everyone" he quickly corrects himself "Anything new happening with you?" he asks to change the subject. He notices a quick flash of sadness in her eyes before she smiles.

"Nothing really, I got promoted to Chunin and have had plenty of successful missions" she says and he pats her shoulders "Did your dad mention anything about being promoted to Jonin?"

"No...And after last night it may be awhile before I do" he laughs and Hinata smiles, she was glad Naruto no longer seemed bitter towards his dad. They reach the door to the Hyuga Compound, Hinata's eyes widen when she see's Neji her cousin and her father Hiashi standing outside waiting for her.

"Hinata where were you last night? And who is the boy?" Hiashi asks and Naruto steps forward to meeting mans gaze.

"My name is Naruto Namikaze Lord Hiashi" Naruto bows respectfully thus missing the Hyuga leaders surprised look "I recently returned home from a long mission and made a fool of myself by getting drunk, your daughter helped get me home so my father let her sleep in the guest room since it was so late" he explains and the man seems to nod.

"Thank you for bringing her home Lord Naruto" Hiashi bows slightly, Naruto thanks Hinata one more time before saying his goodbyes "I didn't know you were on such friendly terms with the son of the Yondaime" her father says and Hinata fails to respond "You're training has waited long enough, Neji also is a Shinobi of this village so remember to be respectful to his time as well" he says before leaving

"Shall we get started...Lady Hinata" Neji's cold tone calls out as they head towards the training field


The Hokage Mountain


Sasuke, Sai and Naruto where hanging from ropes cleaning the Graffiti off of Konoha's monument, "I didn't even do any of this" Sasuke growls angrily, while he did need to return to the Restaurant to pick up his Flak Jacket, his wallet and...His shoes however he did not vandalise the Hokage Mountain but Sai and Naruto were convincing in their lie to tie him into helping. "What kind of paint did you use?" he asks pressing the wet cloth harder against the rock.

"Uh...I dunno...Gloss I think" Naruto shrugs, using his water based Chakra to loosen the paint before scrubbing the paint away...much to the annoyance of Sasuke, it took a lot of concentration to use his Chakra in such a way it so it wouldn't damage the rock. "I've been meaning to ask...why Hinata is in pain all the time?" he asks and the two exchange a look.

"We've only heard rumours, apparently Neji has been training her" Sasuke begins "Neji was on a mission away from the village before you left so you never met him, but he and Hinata are second cousins from their fathers, although Neji is a branch member" he states "Anyway I don't know if Lord Hiashi is aware or not but Neji is aggressive towards her during their training time...and Hinata is badly bruised as a result of it, Sakura has been treating her wounds in private...which is why I think her father is unaware"

"Why keep it a secret?" Naruto asks and Sasuke shrugs, he had ideas but nothing that wasn't obvious already.

"I've heard Hinata has been overlooked as the next leader of their clan in favour of her younger sister Hanabi who is a prodigy" Sai says suprising them both "I overheard two Hyuga who were patrolling the borders that Lord Hiashi has been disappointed with Hinata's progression and feels Hanabi would make a successful heir over her older sister" he states and Naruto cuts himself free and jumps a great distance after using the mountain as an aid to assist in his jump

"Oi Naruto!" Sasuke yells to no avail...

Naruto ran from roof top to roof top, he had heard Hiashi comment on her training "I better hurry!"


The Hyuga Compound


Her breathing was heavy; Neji knew how to hurt her without doing serious damage. He blamed her for the death of his father, she was useless and end up getting captured and as a result his father died to prevent war.

"Come on Lady Hinata" Neji said he took up the gentle fist style of offence and prepared to lunge at her, she raised her arms weakly to defend herself. He smirked as he jumped in for the kill, she managed to block two but the third palm hit her shoulder causing intense pain, he landed a hit to her thigh causing her to fall to a knee. Before his final attack hit her head which would have done lasting damage his wrist was caught in the grip of Naruto.

"A little aggressive for training...don't you think?" he asks as Neji glances at him coldly, "How did you get in without permission?" Naruto smirks at the brunette's question "The guys out front are napping right now"

"He floored two Hyuga in the blink of an eye without making a noise?" Neji thinks as he tries to pull his wrist free, but fails as Naruto's grip tightens.

"I don't tolerate bullies" was all the warning Neji got before he was yanked forward into Naruto's waiting elbow, before the blond planted a low kick into Neji's stomach which sent him into the far away wall "Hinata, why are you pushing yourself so hard?" he asks

"B-Because...you're so strong" was all she could muster as her father arrived seeing the carnage

"Lord Naruto what is the meaning!" he pauses seeing the cold look in Naruto's eyes that sent a shiver down his spine, he saw the welts and bruises on Hinata's arms and sighed looking at Neji. "Hinata the decision has already been made, Hanabi will succeed me as Hyuga Clan leader" he says and she looks down saddened.

Naruto was about to aggressively give the older man a piece of his mind but Hinata held his wrist as she stood up using him for support "I'm not doing this for you...or the clan, I'm doing this for me...I want to be strong for the people I care about, not to appease you and the elders...I don't want to lead a clan like ours, I want to start a family of my own...full of love and support" she glares at him "Something I've never gotten here" where her last words before succumbing to the pain and blacking out.

"I know what you must think of me Naruto, however I chose Hanabi because I am aware Hinata's heart already belongs else ware" the elder Hyuga says suprising Naruto "Look out for her..." he adds as Naruto hoists her onto his back to carry her to the hospital.

"You don't need to ask" Naruto states heading out of the compound missing Hiashi genuine smile...

"Naruto...I know you will give her the love she deserves, and hopefully it will counter all the loneliness I have forced on her" he thinks looking at Neji.

After an hour Neji wakes up and see's Hiashi sitting beside him "Neji...It's time we talked about your father and how he...really died" he says pulling out a sealed scroll

_Sasuke and Sakura_

Sasuke sat on a bench reading a strategy guide, Sakura slumped beside him with a giddy look on her face "I had an incredible experience today" she smiles and he turns the page on his book.

"What happened?" he asks casually, he assumed it had something to do with the hospital since she was volunteering there again.

"I helped in the birth of twins!" she says and he looks at her "I was only a stand in when Izumi gave birth and only really stood at the side an observed" she explains, Tsunade brought her in to show her how Medical Ninjutsu was used in the birthing process, so she never took in the emotion of the moment until she held Akane the following day. "The mother to be was struggling with the second baby, and her husband was an emotion filled wreck and no help at all, everything looked tense" she pauses looking up. Sasuke had put his book down and listened intently to his girlfriend tell her story "Then all pain vanished when the little boy began crying in my arms... the baby was strong and healthy, I could tell just by looking at him" she smiles as Sasuke wraps his arm around her shoulder

"You did well" he says and she rests her head on his chest "So, what were there names?" he asks curiously.

"The girl was Hiro, and the boy was Sora" she smiles happily "I could tell Hiro was going to be this quiet book worm while Sora would be the cool mysterious type with a bunch of fan girls, like you used to have" she comments

"Used to have? You mean I don't anymore? Wow this relationship keeps getting better" his little joke earned him a giggle and a jab (Or a normal mans punch) "Want to go get something to eat to celebrate your first delivery?" he asks and her eyes sparkle

"You mean like a... date?"

"Yeah a date"

_A little while after the Hyuga Compound_

Hinata awoke to find herself being piggybacked by Naruto, she didn't say anything but the subtle squeeze from her hand's gave her away "I was wondering when you'd wake up" he says with a soft tone.

"I made a fool of myself" she says burying her face into his back "How will I look my father in the eyes?" she asks and Naruto ponders what words would best help her but decided to just be honest.

"You spoke from your heart" he says simply "I figured you were the type to silently obey your parent regardless of your own feelings on the matter" he states looking up "Neji was angry at your father, his actions were deplorable but I can't imagine how he feels...he felt like a slave to a clan that let his father die in place of someone more important, and now he had no way to get closure because as a branch clan member, he is expected to simply fall in line" he sighs "Hopefully you and he can bounce back from this...you are family after all" he says and she nods.

"You've changed" she says and he looks confused "You used to walk around like a brat who walked around with a chip on his shoulder...but now you give off this calming aura, and your smiling most of the time" she says and he grins a little.

"Yeah, a long time ago while me and my dad where training I got hurt...badly, leading up to the injury I thought my dad was showing me how to become strong like him...then after the accident I felt like he was teaching me weak stuff to keep me from getting stronger than him, I was a kid and I got hurt, then I got better but as a kid I couldn't understand my parents feelings and just thought they were doing it to annoy me or hold me back" he laughs a little thinking back to those days. "Show's how strong my parents are, putting up with a little shit like me and not a single gray hair in sight" he jokes.

"Maybe they dye their hair?" she smiles and he, caught completely off guard he begins laughing hysterically startling villagers around them.

"Awesome" was all Naruto said as they walked towards the hospital "You know Hinata..." he blushes a little as he feels her tilt her head a little "I also...want to start a family...full of love and support" he mumbles slightly but she blushes burying her head into his back.

"I-It would be nice"

_The Following Morning at the Hokage Office_

"This is a strange request Hiashi" Minato says looking at the Hyuga leader "Why do you want to do this?" he asks

"Hinata won't improve anymore" Hiashi says "I want what's best for her and...I believe this is it" he adds.

Before Minato can respond Shizune bursts in startling them both... "Shizune I'm in a meeting with" he pauses seeing the crest of Suna on the scroll she was holding.

"The Kazekage has been kidnapped!"


The End


Hope you liked this chapter, in the next the trip to Suna begins. Who will be on this team? What did Hiashi ask Minato to improve? Will Naruto Sasuke and Sai be allowed to go drinking together again?


Till Next Time


~DoTheBartMan