Chapter Twenty-Five – A Clan Reborn
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"That is a big wall."
"Zabuza said the same thing when he first saw it." Naruto commented, glancing over to his cousin, who was riding on the back of one of the tigers.
"He was right." Honoka said. "That is a really big wall. And quite a large pair of gates, too."
"Yep." Naruto said. "Hey, Kotetsu, Izumo! Kagetora Naruto returning with new village member, Uzumaki Honoka. I'm taking her to see the old man now."
Both Kotetsu and Izumo jolted out of their seats, staring at the barefoot girl perched atop the Giant Tiger.
"U… Uzumaki?" Kotetsu managed. "You found another Uzumaki?"
"Yep." Naruto smirked. "And with most of the council bastards gone and replaced by ones who know not to meddle too badly, I see no problems in having the Uzumaki clan recognised again."
"Nice one." Izumo smirked. "Kotetsu and I always thought that you shouldn't have had your heritage stolen like that, now you can laugh at those who tried to destroy your clan."
"Not my clan anymore." Naruto corrected firmly. "I'm building my clan, Honoka is going to resurrect her clan under the protection of the Kagetora."
"I'll be staying with Naruto." Honoka smiled.
"Then welcome to Konoha." Kotetsu said. "We've been without a recognised Uzumaki for too long."
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Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, had seen many odd things in his life. He had fought against ninja with Kekkai Genkai that allowed them to reshape the battlefield, mow down hundreds of enemies in a single move or even predict the future. He had seen his pupils summon creatures larger than buildings and had witnessed the greatest jutsus of the age, the Rasengan and the Hiraishin.
He had even seen his favourite orphan effortlessly knocking down a wall and looking embarrassed.
None of that had prepared him for the sudden appearance of someone from a clan believed deceased.
"So, Uzumaki Honoka." He said slowly, looking at the damaged scrolls that she had provided as proof of her identity, scrolls she had handed over using the Chakra Chain technique that he had previously only seen Uzumaki Kushina using. "Your presence is both a great boon to Konoha, and something of a minor problem given that your clan was declared dead."
"After Naruto was disinherited by the now-fled council members." Honoka agreed.
"The now-replaced council and my three senior advisors, whose powers I have since curtailed quite dramatically. Unfortunately, the Daimyo still refuses to reverse his signing off on the decision, since it would imply that he made a mistake, and his pride won't let him admit that." Sarutobi gently corrected. "The Clan-heads will be happy to confirm your position in Konoha, but it will take a while to locate the Uzumaki funds and transfer them to your control. May I ask for your skill level?"
Honoka tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I guess I'm at least Chunin, I specialise in Fuuinjitsu, although since I'm an Uzumaki, that shouldn't be a surprise, and I'm a pretty decent at medical ninjitsu, although only for a few techniques."
Sarutobi nodded. "If you agree, I shall have your skills tested by one I trust, Hatake Kakashi, and he shall determine the rank you are offered next time he comes in to pick up supplies."
Honoka looked at Naruto, who nodded. "I know Kakashi, he was one of my teachers. He'll be fair."
"Then I accept, with gratitude." Honoka said with a smile. "Now, all I need is for somewhere to stay."
"You can stay with me." Naruto said. "I know Hinata'll be happy to meet you, and I think you'd get along with everyone else."
"Then again, I accept with gratitude." Honoka smiled.
"Excellent." Sarutobi said. "I'll get the paperwork started."
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"Naruto-kun!"
Honoka laughed as Hinata flew out of the door, catching Naruto in a flying glomp that sent him staggering back a few paces. As he recovered, she shifted her hands to his head and gave him a long, deep kiss before hugging him again.
"I missed you, Naruto-kun." She said and Naruto returned her hug.
"I missed you too, Hinata-hime." He half-whispered before bending slightly and scooping her up bridal-style into his arms, giving her another kiss as he did so. Hinata leaned her head against his shoulder, then tensed as she saw Honoka.
"Hinata-hime, this is Uzumaki Honoka, my cousin and soon-to-be head of the new Uzumaki clan. Honoka-chan, this is my fiancee Hyuuga Hinata, formerly heir of the Hyuuga clan. Hinata, who else is in?"
"Well," Hinata mused as Naruto carried her back inside, followed by a greatly-amused Honoka, "Haku is working at the hospital, Zabuza's off somewhere with his sparring partners and drinking buddies Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao, Kakashi's still off training Sasuke, Anko's over at Iruka's again and Gai is out helping Lee train. So it's just me, really."
"Okay." Naruto said, putting her down and giving her a quick kiss. "Honoka, I'll introduce you to Haku, Zabuza, Kakashi, Gai and Anko when I can. In the meantime… oh no. I forgot!"
"Forgot what?" Hinata asked as Naruto slapped himself on the forehead.
"We don't have a spare bedroom! We've got the barracks, but if Honoka's staying with us…"
"We do have a spare bedroom." Hinata smirked, pulling Naruto up the stairs and motioning for Honoka to follow.
"We do? How?"
"Simple." Hinata said as they reached the top of the stairs. "Honoka can have this room."
"But that's mine." Naruto half-protested and Hinata shook her head.
"No it isn't. See, it's empty."
Honoka managed not to giggle at Naruto's confused expression, then Hinata pulled him away from the vacated room. "Your things are in here. You remember the plan?"
Naruto stared into the apartment, seeing the photo of him and Anko just beside Hinata's team photo on the sideboard, as well as his books on the bookshelves and other items arranged round the room.
"I thought we were going to wait…"
Hinata silenced him with a kiss and winked at the giggling Honoka. "Naruto, just this once, let me do the thinking and accept it. Your cousin needs a place to stay and now she has one, so stop complaining and say 'yes dear'."
"Yes, tenshi-hime." Naruto said with a smile and Hinata hugged him again.
"So, once you've unpacked, let's go out. I'd quite like to get to know your newfound cousin."
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"Teuchi! Ayame! One of everything and keep them coming! "
"Naruto-kun!" Ayame smiled. "How did your trip go?"
"I found new jutsu, some treasure and best of all, a cousin!" Naruto smiled. "Ayame-chan, this is Uzumaki Honoka. Honoka-chan, meet Ichiraku Ayame and her father, Teuchi."
"It's an honour to meet you." Honoka smiled and Ayame grinned.
"Well, since you're our favourite customer's cousin, your first bowl is on the house, for all three of you. Hinata, shrimp?"
"Yes please." Hinata said and Ayame turned to Honoka, who was looking at the menu.
"One beef ramen please."
"Beef, shrimp and normal Naruto order, got it!" Teuchi called from the kitchen and Hinata giggled.
"You come here often?" Honoka asked and Naruto nodded.
"At least three times a week, Ichiraku's Ramen is the best! Between Ichiraku's and Gai-sensei, I get to eat the best food in the whole world!"
Naruto broke off as Ayame slid a large metal bowl of steaming ramen in front of him, then slightly smaller bowls in front of Hinata and Honoka.
"Itadakimasu!" Naruto said eagerly, scooping up the metal chopsticks. Hinata eagerly followed suit while Honoka inhaled the aroma before picking up her chopsticks and trying it.
"This is good!" She said after taking a bite, then she gave a shocked glance as Naruto put aside the empty bowl and accepted a second one. "That was fast!"
"It's Ichiraku's ramen." Naruto stated as if it explained everything, then almost dived into the bowl while Hinata giggled.
"You get used to it." She explained. "Naruto has quite an appetite. Eat up, it's best while still hot."
"Hey, Naruto, who's your friend?"
Naruto looked round and smiled. "Hello Kiba, Shino. This is my cousin, Uzumaki Honoka. Honoka-chan, meet Hinata's team-mates, Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba and his ninken, Akamaru."
"Wow, Naruto." Kiba said. "Why didn't you tell me you had such a babe for a cousin? Ouch!"
Shino lowered the hand he had slapped Kiba's head with.
"Welcome to Konoha. I assume that you are staying at Tiger Forest?"
"I'm staying with my cousin." Honoka said and Shino nodded.
"That converted bunker and the surrounding area are known to all as Tiger Forest." He said. "It is good that you have a secure place to stay at. Hinata-san, Kurenai-sensei asked me to inform you that we have group training tomorrow at ten. I hope to see you around, Honoka-san. Kiba, come!"
Honoka watched them depart, smiling slightly as Kiba's litany of complaints interspersed with praise for her looks drifted back. Hinata shook her head.
"Sorry, Kiba chases any female of approximately his age." She apologised. "I think Shino's taken a liking to you, though. I've never seen him so… open before."
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"… and so I accepted the offer and became a Jonin." Zabuza said, waving his (fortunately empty) bowl of sake for emphasis. "Naruto adopted Haku as his cousin, yours too, now I think about it, and I became his uncle and got a temporary seat on the ninja council, I'm holding it until Naruto comes of age and he takes over. And with all the tigers to wrestle whenever I get bored and Gaki to train, as well as Uchiha Sasuke and Higurashi Tenten, I can honestly say I've never been happier in my life."
"That's good to hear." Honoka said, taking a sip from her cup of fruit juice. "I hope I come to like this place as much as you do."
"One warning, though." Zabuza said, leaning forwards. "If you hear Gai and Lee shouting each other's names, look away before they hug. Same for Gai and Naruto, or Lee and Naruto. Trust me on this one. I didn't when I first arrived, and it took me most of the day to recover."
Honoka's eyebrows rose. "It was that bad?"
"I've never seen anything like it before, and I never want to again." Zabuza shivered as he let Naruto refill his sake dish. "Just take my word for it, don't be tempted to look for yourself."
"It's not that bad." Naruto protested and Zabuza snorted.
"You're immune, I still don't know how." He riposted, then he paused as Hinata walked by him.
"Gomen, I didn't want to interrupt, but it's getting late and I need my snuggly."
Zabuza's snort of laughter caused him to cover himself in sake as Hinata pulled Naruto towards the staircase.
"Snuggly?" Honoka asked, watching the vanishing couple.
"Snuggly." Zabuza confirmed, wiping his face. "She started calling him that during the second stage of the Chunin exam. It's because she likes to snuggle up to him in bed."
Honoka stared at him and he shook his head.
"No, don't get any bad thoughts about it. I know they're engaged and all, but as far as I can tell, they're both still virgins. They kiss and cuddle, but they've both decided that they'll wait until they get married before going any further."
"I had wondered." Honoka admitted, glancing at the staircase again. "Naruto mentioned that he still has another stage to go in the exams, what does it consist of?"
"Duels." Zabuza stated. "One-on-one fights until one participant gives up or cannot continue. Naruto's up against Hyuuga Neji in the first round, then probably that taijitsu specialist and his brother-in-all-but-blood Rock Lee in the second. Third will be either Sasuke the Sharingan user or Gaara the Jinchuuriki and finally… I'd guess Hinata. Here, I have a spare copy of the fight plan.
Honoka looked at it.
"What can you tell me about the other contestants?"
"Planning on doing some betting, heh? So am I. Let's start with Hyuuga Neji. He uses the Hyuuga taijitsu style Jyuuken almost exclusively, which is both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness…"
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Hinata clapped her hands in joy as Naruto stood before her, having managed to succesfully perform one of the jutsu from the reclaimed Gokatora scrolls. Running up to him, she hugged him, then started to stroke his ears.
"So soft…" she whispered as the ears twitched underneath her gentle ministrations and Naruto almost melted against her. Movement caught her eye and she reached down with her free hand, catching Naruto's twitching tail and stroking it as well.
"Hinata…" Naruto moaned, "That feels… so… good…"
"You may want to stop if we are to learn this ourselves." Haku said, causing Hinata to leap away from Naruto and blush. "So this is Secret Technique Tiger Enhancement. Tiger ears, tail, some fur and enhanced reflexes, yes?"
"I think so, yes." Naruto said, checking himself over. "That's what the scroll said, anyway."
Hinata nodded and turned to Kyouka, who nodded slowly and presented her paw. Hinata used a kunai to prick it, drawing blood, then cut her own hand and let Kyouka's blood drip into the cut. As it did so, she started the handseal sequence that would infuse Kyouka's blood into her own and create a true bond between them. For a moment, both she and Kyouka seemed to glow, then the glow faded and Hinata looked at her hand, seeing the silver-coloured scar that showed that the bond had formed.
"Okay, now here's the technique, run through it a few times and try it out."
Hinata nodded as she read the scroll while Haku went through the bonding ritual with his own partner, Stalks Across The Icy Lake or Hyou. One cloud of smoke later, Naruto stared at an incredibly cute catgirl version of Hinata who was standing there, ears and tail twitching.
"Wow." Hinata said, looking round. "My senses are better… and my Byrakugan is sharper! This is amazing!"
"KAAWAAAIIII!"
Hinata spun round just in time to be glomped to the floor by Anko.
"Oh Kami, you're just so cute like this!" Anko exclaimed, pulling the shocked girl into a tight hug as Naruto almost collapsed with laughter. "Look at those ears, that tail… that cute little look of confusion… If I didn't live in the same bunker as you, I'd be taking you home with me!"
Naruto fell over, clutching at his ribs as he howled at Hinata's situation.