Disclaimer – Kishimoto owns Naruto and the characters therein.
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Memories Of Others
Chapter 12
Progress Of A New Genin
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Hiashi tilted his head slightly as he listened to Kurenai's report. Inuzuka Tsume and Aburame Shiki flanked him, both as intent on listening as he was.
"So, if I understand what you have said," He interjected as Kurenai finished her report, "By training with Uzumaki Naruto, my daughter's capabilities have increased considerably."
Kurenai nodded. "Hinata had a problem with holding back too much in her spars until Naruto came up with a way to motivate her."
"And that way was?" Hiashi prompted. "I only ask because, in the last month, my daughter has started to win the sparring matches that she has against her sister. Her adaptation of our fighting art to include strikes launched through kicks has been a very unpleasant surprise for those of us who have gone up against her as well."
"She's working on launching strikes from her knees and elbows as well." Kurenai shrugged. "Naruto's idea, his fighting style is very unpredictable, even more so now that it's been rebuilt and honed by Maito Gai."
"And the motivation he used?" Hiashi enquired.
"…kisses." Kurenai mumbled.
Hiashi raised an eyebrow as Tsume snorted with laughter.
"On the cheek, I hope."
Kurenai nodded and Hiashi relaxed slightly. "Then I have no problem with this."
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Shikaku frowned as Sarutobi Asuma finished the monthly feedback.
"So, you have them spar weekly against Uzumaki-san." He stated. "I had wondered why Shikamaru had decided that not doing physical training was far more troublesome than actually doing it."
"My little princess came home the first time in a jacket she borrowed from Choji." Inoichi reminisced. "Her actual clothing that day was little more than rags tied together, something that she blamed Naruto for. Since then, she's been reading that trap-book by Uchiha Madara almost religiously in her spare time… when she isn't training, that is."
"Choji's started doing more exercise as well." Chouza agreed. "He's building up quite a respectable amount of muscle, he can pick me up now. I think we owe Op-force our thanks for getting our kids interested in actually training."
The other two fathers chuckled in agreement.
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Kakashi took a sip of tea, somehow drinking it through his mask.
"So, yes." He said. "Your daughter has improved greatly from her Academy days."
"That's good to hear." Haruno Mebuki smiled. "She's been eating more healthily, too."
"Probably the training." Kakashi mused. "After she collapsed for the fourth time, I had a long discussion with her about how limiting her food intake would lead to me releasing her from the team."
"Rather harsh." Kizashi frowned. "But it worked, that's the main thing."
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"Naruto-kohai."
"Kosuke-sempai!" Naruto grinned as he spun to face the older genin. "I trust your missions went well?"
"They did." Kosuke replied, returning the bow Naruto had given him. "I've finally heard about your new nickname… op-force."
"Kage Bunshin." Naruto explained with a shrug. "I kinda trade opponents that others can go all-out against for training in things I'm weak at."
"Sensible." Kosuke said. "So, can I see how far you've come? Perhaps a quick spar, followed by a meal. Of course, you'll have to go easy on me, I'm an old man."
"Hah, old like a Bonsai." Naruto shot back. "The older you get, the tougher you get, just like Jiji."
Kosuke smiled as he led the way to the sparring ground that he had reserved before setting out to find his young apprentice.
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Hiashi paused at the sight in front of him. The entirety of training ground fourteen was a mass of rusty-orange-clad genin, most of whom were practicing various portions of Katas or doing chakra-control exercises.
Near the middle, however, several dozen clones were in a whirling combat with none other than the Eternal Genin who was using a wok as a shield on one arm while he wielded a tanto in the other hand, the blade seeming to blur and dance as he moved through the attackers with the ease of decades of experience.
Hiashi simply stood to one side, his eyes taking in the scene before him, noting the custom style that Naruto was training in. Several of the moves looked oddly familiar and Hiashi realized that, body differences aside, they were almost identical to a few of the moves that Hinata had begun incorporating into her own fighting style.
"Hyuuga-sama."
Hiashi glanced to his side where yet another Naruto stood.
"Good afternoon, Uzumaki-san." Hiashi replied. "Are you the original?"
"No, Boss is over there, doing physical training to increase his physical abilities." The clone said, waving one hand towards the furthest corner of the training field.
"But he will get your memories once you dispel and you know all that he does." Hiashi stated.
"Pretty much, yes." The clone replied, thoughtfully.
"Then I shall speak with you as if you are the original. Walk with me." Hiashi commanded as he turned and moved away from the field.
The duo walked in silence for several moments before Hiashi spoke.
"My daughter is very attached to you, Naruto-san. As a father, I must take an interest in this. What are your intentions towards Hinata?"
"Whatever she wants them to be." The clone replied almost at once. "Boss owes Hinata big-time. She shared her memories with us while she was helping Boss, which is why we know that she actually likes us, although we still don't really get why. We… we admire her. We would never do anything to hurt her. And if anyone tries to hurt her, they will regret it."
Despite his self-control, Hiashi's eyebrows rose slightly at the sheer amount of determination and protectiveness in Naruto's voice.
Emotions that he could respect.
"I see." He said after a long pause. "That attitude is… commendable."
"…that means good, right?" The clone asked and Hiashi hid a sigh.
"Yes, Naruto-san, it does."
"Ah, good." The clone sighed in relief. "We hadn't come across that word before."
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"Iwashi." Hiruzen said with a slight smile. "Have you succeeded?"
"Uzumaki has the strangest way of learning that I've ever come across." Iwashi said by way of reply as he sat in the seat that Hiruzen indicated. "It does have limits, though. He's probably got enough chakra to duplicate one, maybe two of you, but any more than that, he'll need to start opening Gates."
"Really? I'll have to think about that." Hiruzen mused. "And has he learned the technique?"
"He has learned how we do it." Iwashi said. "He does it in conjunction with two clones, as long as one of the three is flesh-and-blood, all three perform great. If all three are clones… it still works, but the clones dispel before they can stabilize. I handed him the original scroll as you commanded, but I don't know if he'll learn to do it solo. I can't, and I've been trying for years. His method though… we're working on replicating it ourselves."
"Until he does learn the solo method, it won't be useful in combat for him." Hiruzen mused. "Nevertheless, you've done a good job. You and the others will be paid a B-rank for this."
Iwashi stood and bowed. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."
"Dismissed."
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Naruto dismissed his two clones and looked round at the dusty room.
"Oh, wow." He breathed as he saw the open racks filled with Kunai resting on wooden pegs. "Awesome!"
A picture on the mantelpiece caught his attention and he walked over to it, reaching out with a trembling hand to trace the faces of the two people in it.
"Mum… Dad…" He breathed as he picked up the picture, then he turned it over.
"Minato and Kushina with their beloved son, Naruto…" He read before turning the picture back. "But where am…"
Naruto stopped as his eyes caught the bulge that Kushina was cradling.
"…this was taken while she was pregnant with me…" He realized. "I… I have to show this to Hinata-chan… wait…"
Naruto looked around and his gaze settled on a wooden box underneath the weapons racks on the wall beside the kunai.
"I wonder…" He mused, his gaze moving between the box and the kunai. "I wonder… Maybe I should talk to Jiji first… then Hinata-chan…"
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"Please pardon the interruption, but Uzumaki Naruto seeks an audience with Hinata-sama."
Hiashi exchanged a glance with the eldest of his two daughters, then back at the Branch Member standing by the door.
"Show him in."
The Branch member bowed and seemed to vanish.
"This way, Uzumaki-san."
Naruto paused in the door and glanced at the three Hyuuga. "Ah, I didn't mean to interrupt. If this is a bad time…?"
"Not at all, Uzumaki-san." Hiashi said. "You are always welcome here. I do not believe that you know my youngest daughter, Hanabi. Hanabi, this is Uzumaki Naruto, also known as Op Force Uzumaki."
"Ah, you heard that name, huh?" Naruto coughed in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, I'm kinda getting quite a few missions 'cause of that."
"Be seated." Hiashi said, motioning to the space next to Hinata. "You wished to speak to us?"
Naruto gave Hanabi a look and Hiashi nodded.
"Hanabi, perhaps you should go to the dojo and start practicing your katas." Hiashi suggested and Hanabi rose to her feet, pouting slightly.
"Yes, father."
Naruto watched her leave, closing the door after her and then a brief pulse of chakra from Hiashi caused lines of fuinjutsu to momentarily pulse into visibility.
"We are secure." Hiashi stated. "You may say whatever you wish."
"This… is kinda hard…" Naruto admitted. "Hinata, I know you've seen how many of the civilians don't like me. Well, it all goes back to these two."
Naruto pulled a picture out of his Haori and Hinata accepted it.
"This is the Yondaime!"
"And his wife, Uzumaki Kushina." Hiashi added.
"You knew about that?" Naruto asked in shock. "Um, look at the back."
Hinata turned it over. "Minato and Kushina with their beloved son… Naruto… Your father…?"
"Was the Yondaime." Naruto confirmed. "And my mother was the second Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi."
Hinata looked at Naruto. "The second?"
"Senju Mito, born Uzumaki Mito, was the first." Naruto explained. "She passed the burden to my mother…"
… … … …
"…and so they sacrificed themselves to seal the Kyuubi into me, making me the third Jinchuuriki." Naruto finished. "However, word got out about my burden and since civilians generally don't understand sealing, they decided that I was the Kyuubi."
"Then they're stupid!" Hinata exclaimed before glancing at her father and seeming to shrink. "Ummm…"
"I agree with you, Hinata." Hiashi said calmly. "I assume you had the Hokage's permission to tell us this?"
"I'm allowed to tell whoever I think can be trusted." Naruto replied with a shrug. "Hinata deserves to know this now, 'cause when my parentage finally comes out, there'll be a lot of people trying to kill me as being the heir of the Yellow Flash. Others'll be angry that the demon-child could actually be related to the greatest hero of a generation… in other words, things'll get noisy and dangerous."
"I'll be there for you." Hinata whispered, kissing Naruto on his cheek, then she froze as she remembered her father's presence.
"Actually, this situation could help me resolve a problem I have with the Hyuuga elders." Hiashi mused. "Hinata, how would you like to be engaged to the son of a Kage?"
As Naruto stared blankly at Hiashi, Hinata let out a squeal of joy and wrapped her arms around Naruto.
"Son of a Kage?"
"You, you lovely baka!" Hinata whispered in his ear. "Yes! It would mean Hanabi-chan wouldn't be at risk of receiving the Caged Bird Seal!"
"And neither would you, my daughter." Hiashi agreed. "Of course, the actual marriage would not be able to take place until either you are both chunin or of a rational age… say, sixteen."
Naruto looked at Hinata's smile and nodded.
"As long as Hinata-chan's happy with it, then so am I."
"Excellent." Hiashi stated, then he rose to his feet, glancing at where Hinata was hugging Naruto, neither of them paying any attention to anything other than the other."Yes, I can foresee that this will save me a great deal of aggravation from the Elders."
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Naruto half-shouted as he extricated himself from Hinata's grasp. "I have a couple of things for you. Here's the first."
Hinata took the silver-chain necklace with the engraved tag on it, the embossed Uzumaki spiral glinting in the light. "What's this?"
"My father gave it to my mother to wear when they got engaged." Naruto said and Hinata handed it back to him and turned round.
"Can you put it on for me, Naruto-kun?"
Hiashi hid a smirk as Naruto gently placed the necklace around Hinata's neck and fastened the catch.
"There you go, Hinata-chan."
Hinata looked down at the tag resting on her chest, then spun round and glomped Naruto, toppling them both to the ground.
"You know, just because I approve the engagement, it does not mean that you can try to get a room to yourselves yet." Hiashi snarked and both teens leapt to their feet, blushing furiously.
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Authors afternote: The technique Naruto learned is a combination technique vs;;rf yjr jotsodjom.
Needless to say, it's not the version used by the original user, ms,olsxr ,omsyp.
The end of each line is keyboard-encoded for spoiler reasons.
The house itself is shown on my DeviantArt page in the Memories of Others sub-folder.
