"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," the leader said in a dark tone. "You tell your secret tonight demon, or the Hyuga boy will suffer."
Naruto gritted his teeth.
"I don't understand," he said scowling at them. "Why are you so desperate for them to know? What's the point?"
This time the Hyuga from the main branch speaks.
"Many in the main branch do not agree with Hiashi's assessment of you Uzumaki," he said in a monotone voice. Naruto raises his eyebrows. "We told Lady Hinata many times not to be associated with you, saying it's for the best of the clan, of course, she never listened." He said this looking at Hinata, who glares back. "The fact she gains confidence as a ninja thanks to you of all people is unsettling. If she were in the lower branch, she would have gravely suffered for her disobedience."
"I would have gladly taken that pain every day, instead of abandoning Naruto," Hinata declared glaring at the Hyuga fiercely.
"Are you crazy Hinata?" Naruto exclaimed turning to look at her. "I'm not worth that."
Hinata glared at him.
"You are worth more than you think Naruto," she said.
"However, the Hyuga boy is no stranger to being punished for interfering in discussions about you," the Hyuga interrupted. Naruto and Hinata gasped, looking at Neji, who glares at the speaker. "He was also punished for losing to you, after being ordered by the elders to defeat you or suffer the consequence."
Naruto falls down on his knees shocked.
"Neji, is this true?" Hinata asked in a tense voice. Neji responded by closing his eyes. "Did father know about this?"
"He would thankfully arrive on time to stop it from going too far," Neji admitted
"Neji I'm so…" Naruto begin to apologize.
"Don't apologize Naruto," Neji said sitting back on his knees. "You did nothing wrong."
"But because of me, you were…" Naruto started to protest but gets cut off again.
"It's true I was subjected to the seal for losing to you. But I never blamed you Naruto. I am grateful you defeated me that day. Otherwise, I would still be having a grudge against the clan." He gave him a small smile. "You opened my eyes Naruto."
Naruto narrows his eyes.
"Neji, what did he mean by interfering in discussions about me?" He asks in a small voice.
"After you defeated me, I begin to finally understand the importance of friendship and teamwork. I decided from then on that I won't stand for any abuse towards those I consider comrades and friends."
Naruto closes his eyes.
"You figured it out," Kurama stated.
"Yeah," Naruto said back in his mind. "And you were right, I don't like it at all."
"You understand now, demon?" Naruto scowls but doesn't turn to look at the ringleader. "These two have pledged their loyalty without knowing who you really are. They don't know why their clan will never accept you. Why the villagers were against you going to ninja academy. Or why the village will never acknowledge you as Hokage." Naruto lowered his head. "You argued that you are not worth the pain. These two have been suffering because of you. Don't you think you are selfish keeping your secret from them?" Naruto closes his eyes tightly squeezing his fists. "Well, are you going to tell them or force the boy to suffer? Which one?"
Hinata didn't know what to say to Naruto. She felt angry at the ninjas around them for putting Naruto in this situation. She wanted to tell him not to say anything, but the other part of her wanted him to say something to protect Neji.
"I don't know what to do," Naruto says to Kurama in his mindscape. "I never wanted it to be like this. I wasn't planning to tell them until after the trip with Pervy Sage."
"Kid, you can tell them," Kurama says to Naruto. "That Hyuga boy understands the burden of a seal, and that girl really cares about you. Telling them about me won't change that. You know that, right?"
Naruto sighs.
"I don't even know how to begin explaining to them."
"Just start with what you were taught in the academy," Kurama suggested. "I won't be offended by hearing anything you felt before befriending me today. I deserve it.
Naruto opened his eyes and sighed.
"Fine, I'll tell them," he said loud enough for all the other ninjas to hear.
"Naruto, if you are doing this because of me…" Neji started to say, but Naruto waved it off.
"You guys have done so much for me without knowing why I'm treated horribly. You both deserve to know the reason."
"Do it quickly then, demon," the leader replied. "We don't have all day. There are others who can't wait to make you pay for your sins."
"What does she mean by that Naruto?" Hinata questioned in a worried voice.
Naruto shakes his head.
"It's nothing to worry about," he murmured, then hugs his knees to his chest. "Remember we were told in the academy that the 4th Hokage killed the nine-tails thirteen years ago?" Hinata and Neji both nod their heads. "That was a lie. It's impossible to kill a tail beast since they are made of chakra. The only way to defeat it is by sealed into an object or a person."
"How did the 4th Hokage actually defeat the nine-tails?" Neji asked.
"He sealed it into an orphan that was born not long before it attacked the village," Naruto replied.
Hinata and Neji's eyes widened, realization on their faces. Naruto sits up and lifts his shirt showing his stomach. He produces chakra in his hand and moves it towards his stomach, making the seal on his belly visible for them to see. Hinata and Neji stare at it in awe. Naruto looks them in the eyes when he says the next sentence.
"The villagers don't see me as Naruto Uzumaki because I'm the container of the nine-tailed fox."
Author's Note: I edited the ending for Chapter 10 again on May 30, 2017. I figured some might not have noticed, so I started the chapter with what I edited.
Next chapter: Hinata and Neji react to Naruto's secret. Of course, they don't please the ninjas around them. The ringleader finally shares who she is and what she has against the nine-tails.