NijuSen

He looked out over the world; everything was perfect. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping and the wind tickled his nose. It was turning out to be another very great day. He watched the country laid out before him, continuing on in life, not even knowing they were being watched. It was amusing; seeing the young children happily playing in the streets, recognizing a few of their parents from their visit to the local shrine. This was what he enjoyed the most, seeing people exceedingly happy. He grinned wide and drifted further along until he heard the faint sound of whimpering coming from outside the village.

"Tears in Konoha… There shouldn't be any tears here." He took off in search of the source of the sound.

Miles outside of the village, there was a small woman, in her late twenties, sitting on a log at the bank of a small, swift river. Her eyes sparkled like a pearl lying just beneath the ocean's surface. Those beautiful orbs were flooded with the tears falling from her flawless porcelain like skin, splashing down onto the green grass below. She wore a pale yellow sundress rippling in the breeze, a look that was truly astonishing on her petite body. Her light whimpering led into a sorrowful wail while she buried her face into her hands, her long dark hair spilling over the edges of her dainty fingers.

She briefly looked up when she heard rustling leaves and quiet yipping heading in her direction. Through her water blurred vision, she watched two stark white fox kits chasing each other in circles, heading towards the river. Her sobbing stopped while she watched the playful animals rolling in the grass. She was beginning to forget the reason for her tears when a group of ten large white full grown foxes passed in front of her, causing her to freeze up at the unusual sight. They were much bigger than a normal fox; making her wonder if it was her imagination or something from another world. They slowly walked to the river, paying no attention to the crying woman, and started lapping at the water. It was a rare sight to see one white fox, but twelve were unbelievable.

Thud… Thud… Thud…

She started to shiver at the sudden shaking of the ground, wondering just how much stranger her day dream was going to become. The earth shook violently with each rhythmic sound, reaching closer and closer with each step. She was still looking towards the river, too afraid to look behind her for the sound of footsteps for fear that shed pass out from fear.

Thud… Thud… Thud…

A shadow was soon cast over the young woman and she nearly did pass out when she saw a giant red paw pass over her head, slamming onto the river bank. She was so frightened that she couldn't even think anymore after seeing the huge red fur covered body blocking out the sun above her. The massive fox leaned over the river and lapped at the water with its huge tongue.

"Hey, were you crying?" The girl shrieked as she turned and saw a blonde man looking at her with a smile while sitting on the same log. She looked into his blue eyes and immediately blushed at how close he was and scooted further down the log. "What were you crying about?" he inquired.

"Who… Who are you?" She asked, unsure of how he was able to approach without her sensing it.

"Umm…" He started with a nervous laugh. "How about Naruto, yeah, Naruto is a good name."

"Are you kidding?" She laughed with a brilliant smile. "You're named after a fish paste?"

"I… I am not!" He shouted, looking away from her with a fake pout on his face. "They were named after me." The pale eyed woman laughed so hard that she fell off the log, giggling all the way to the ground.

"Well, at least you're not crying anymore." Naruto smiled at the giggling ball on the ground and held out his hand for her. "What's your name?" She looked up at him, still giggling, and grabbed his hand, allowing him to pull her back up to the log.

"It's Hinata, Hyuuga Hinata." Her laughing calmed down and was soon replaced by a faint blush on her cheeks from him holding her hand longer than necessary. She was seated on the log again, although now sitting quite a bit closer than previously. She shyly looked over to the blonde and couldn't help but smile after seeing his expression while watching the 2 white kits played in the field.

"Um…" Hinata broke the silence, gaining the attention of the blonde. "The foxes?"

"Oh, they're my friends. Kurama, say hi to the beautiful lady." She would have blushed at the compliment had it not been for the huge red fox's face closing in on the tiny woman. She could feel her hair flowing toward the powerful inhalation as the large fox sniffed her.

"That's enough Kurama." Naruto ordered. The large fox turned back and playfully curled up next to the river while the white foxes were scattered around the large clearing, foraging in the bushes.

"Do you like foxes?" He asked, seeing her watchful gaze.

"They're cute." She replied while intently watching the little ones. He held out his hand over Hinata's lap and made a clicking noise, causing the two kits to run up and jump onto her. They started licking at her face while she giggled. "Stop, get them to stop." She begged while being licked mercilessly.

"Alright, that's enough… I'm starting to get jealous of you guys." The little kits yipped and took off playing again.

"Feeling better Hinata?"

"Actually I'm doing great now that you're here." She was completely embarrassed and bright red. She couldn't believe what she had just said; no one had ever made her feel like that. She was purposefully looking away from him when she felt a hand brush across her back.

"Care to share what had you upset?" Her smile faded as she was reminded of her sadness, but this guy, which she barely even knew, made her feel comfortable enough to spill her guts to him. She turned to him and gave the tiniest of nods.

"My family has been after me to hurry up and get married. I'm approaching thirty very soon and they want grandchildren, but I just can't put up with all the guys in my village. The few guys I have even a shred of an interest in, end up being losers, creepy or both. Since I haven't been able to marry on my own; my father decided to force me into marriage with his own choice."

"Just tell him no if it makes you so upset." He offered like it was a simple decision.

"I… I can't… It's…"

"Well, sucks to be you." Hinata gasped in astonishment and looked hurt at his reply to her story.

"You're just as mean as the others." She stood up and ran away with tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Wait." Naruto called out to her retreating form. He chased after her and caught her in a tight hug. She whimpered in his strong arms, struggling to get free. "I didn't mean it like that." He assured her. Her struggling stopped and turned around to search his gaze for a lie.

"How did you mean it then?" She sniffled.

"I'm kind of known as a trickster, so it was a joke to lighten the heavy mood. " She looked in his blue eyes and just had to smile. He grinned back at her and gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks, replacing them with blushing skin.

"You're still beautiful when you cry, but I like it better when you don't." She nodded while holding back her tears, then buried her face into his chest while returning the hug. When she opened her eyes, she was standing on the riverbank with her arms wrapped around herself. There no sign of the foxes, and no sign of Naruto. Her eyes started to water again when she saw the field, devoid of any life.

"I wish you were real and not a dream." She whispered into the wind before reluctantly making her way home

3 months later

It was another perfect day, the sun was bright and there were no clouds in the air. A large group was gathered in an equally massive courtyard. The place was decorated without a single respect for costs and looked magnificent.

"Do I really have to do this father?" Hinata asked. Her hair was pulled up with delicate spiral curls hanging down, brushing the tops of her shoulders. She was wearing a beautiful white multilayer kimono and was refusing to go out to the crowd.

"We've gone over this many times before Hinata; don't disgrace our family any more than you have already." She looked down and had a tear creep up and had to try and blink it away to avoid being scolded about messing up her expensive makeup.

"I understand…" Her father, Hiashi, smiled at her and pushed her out the door into the courtyard where the music started up.

"I wish you were real Naruto…" She sniffled to herself while walking down the aisle. "If you were, I'd wish for it to be you." She continued down the aisle and arrived at the front where her soon to be husband was standing with a perverted grin on his face. Oh how she hated that look. She saw it numerous times while walking through the village; each one eying her like a piece of meat. A single tear rolled down her cheek when she finally let the realization hit her, she was going to be married to that guy and have all sorts of things done to her afterwards.

"Didn't I say I liked it better when you didn't cry?" said a voice as a hand appeared to wipe away the single tear. Hinata gasped and turned to see that wonderful blonde man standing next to her with a bright grin. The moment she grabbed him in a loving embrace, her betrothed was angered along with her family.

"What is the meaning of this!? Demanded Hiashi while approaching the intruder with a glimmer of malice in his eyes.

"I have decided to grant Hinata's wish. I'm taking her away from here." He told the crowd with conviction. Hinata held to his side with a happy smile and refused to let go, even if it was another dream.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Hiashi demanded.

"Me? I'm Uzumaki Naruto." He put his arm around the small woman and headed out of the courtyard.

"You can't take her." Hiashi ordered while stamping the floor for emphasis. "What right do you have to take my daughter?" The blonde turned to Hiashi with his own frightening glare.

"When you couldn't conceive, you promised to bring your child happiness if only you could just have one… The wish I granted is now hers to fulfill since you proved to not hold up your end… Hinata, if you go with me, there is one stipulation… you can't come back." Hinata looked at her father, then back at Naruto. It would be difficult to leave her family behind but it was better than the alternative.

"I'm sorry father, I'm going with Naruto." She pushed Naruto around her father who had yet to come to terms with her defiance and that forgotten request he made years ago at a small shrine outside of the village. Before reaching the end of the courtyard, she turned back and looked at the beautiful decorations. "It is a shame all this is wasted…"

"Not entirely…" Naruto leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, reveling in the softness of her flesh. He pulled back and could only smile at her blushing face "It really was your wedding…"

The bright sky overhead opened up, pouring rain onto the courtyard, eliciting shouts from the audience. The couple turned back towards the exit and saw two rows of white foxes sitting perfectly on opposite sides of the path. When they stepped outside, Kurama was lying on the ground, waiting for them to climb on top.

"The foxes and Kitsune no yomeiri… Is Naruto really your name?" Hinata asked when she sat on the giant red fox's head, suddenly aware of just who this person could have been.

"It was once." He replied with a happy grin while sitting next to her. Kurama stood and took off running, surprising Hinata with the acceleration.

"It wasn't always? Come on, I'd like to know who I'm spending the rest of my life with." Naruto put his arm around her shoulders and held her tightly.

"There's no need to rush Hinata, you won't be dying this time." He laughed when he saw her questioning look. "I have the power to bring one person to live with me for eternity. I've waited 20,000 years for you to be reborn so I could do just that."

"Who are you?"

"I believe you guys now call me… Inari Ōkami." He laughed at her astonished face before kissing her once more, happy that he could find love after becoming one with the Kyuubi many millennia ago.