Hiashi was breathing heavily and held up a hand signaling for a halt. "Let us take a short break Hinata."
She nodded and deactivated her byakugan. "Hai, father."
"You know I am quite pleased with you Hinata, since achieving the rank of Chunin you have been working even harder. I suspect one day you will make a fine leader for this clan."
"Arigato tousan, I want to be a great clan head as you have been." She replied. "But I also want to become strong so that I can be a fitting wife for the Hokage."
This was not the first time she had spoken such thoughts. All the same he shook his head slightly. "The devotion you show for this boy speaks well of your loyalty Hinata, but poorly of your judgment."
"Naruto will be Hokage one day." She said it with the same certainty that she might have said the sun would rise tomorrow.
"Hinata," her father spoke patiently. "There is no possibility that boy will succeed in learning the hiraishin and even less chance he will be Hokage. The sooner you accept that the better."
"You don't know him father. I truly believe that he can do anything he sets his mind to."
Hiashi looked at his daughter in mild wonder. Just where had this stubbornness and determination come from? Had it developed due to recent events? Or had it always been there? Like a seed lying in the soil waiting for a chance to grow. His daughter had always been weak minded and easily intimidated. But when it came to the subject of that boy she refused to yield an inch. "Believe that if you wish daughter, it will alter nothing."
"Yes father."
"Very well, let us have tea." Hiashi looked over to the person waiting on them. "You may serve us now."
Neji stalked out with a tray holding a small kettle and two cups. As he poured them their tea he spoke in a quiet and barely restrained voice. "Forgive me Hiashi-sama, but is this truly a duty for one who is a Chunin?"
"Hinata requested you be given this duty." Hiashi replied simply. "The cadet branch serves the needs of the main branch."
Hinata smile as she sipped her tea. "Besides cousin, I think you look cute in your little pink kimono."
XXXXXXXXXX
Shizune and Naruto had long since gone off to bed. Jiraiya and Tsunade were sitting at one of the mega casino's brightly lit bars drinking sake and talking. Not too surprisingly the main topic of conversation was Naruto.
"He actually bet his future on learning the hiraishin?"
"The kid sure did."
Tsunade laughed and took a sip from her current bottle. "Well I knew the kid was an idiot, I wouldn't have guessed how much of one."
Jiraiya grinned. "He was still able to outsmart you though."
"He didn't outsmart me, the brat just got lucky."
"Well, you'd certainly be an expert on that subject."
"Do you know I actually offered to bet him the Shodai's necklace? He actually turned it down and asked me to make his girlfriend my apprentice instead."
"I'm not surprised, the boy's in love. You remember what that's like don't you?"
She set down her bottle and sat there quietly for a moment. "Being young and in love? Yes, I can remember." She took a long drink. "Tell me something you old fraud, why have you taken him on as an apprentice?"
"You know why," he answered softly. He looked about to make sure no one was sitting too close. "His father was like a son to me, I owed it to Minato."
"Bull shit," she said and tipped her empty bottle over. "That's been true since the day Minato died. If that were the reason you wouldn't have waited all this time."
Jiraiya frowned at her. "I ran away, something else you know about."
She grunted. "So what changed?"
"Let's just say I was reminded of just what I owed."
She grinned. "Well you haven't done a very good job have you? He's doomed to become a Hyuga servant on his sixteenth birthday."
"That was the kid's idea. Believe me; I tried talking him out of it. But it's the only way for him to be with his girl and he wouldn't change his mind. Anyway, I'm not so sure he'll lose his bet."
"You really think that little brat can learn the hiraishin?"
"Like I've already said, he can be surprising."
XXXXXXXXXX
The following day the four of them were finally headed back to Konoha.
"So baachan, is it true you can smash boulders with just your fist?"
Tsunade's left eye began to twitch. "Stop calling me that you annoying brat."
"Well, so is it true?" Naruto asked again.
Annoyed Tsunade focused some chakra into her fist and promptly smashed a tree. "That answer your question?"
"Pretty good for an old lady."
Tsunade came to an immediate halt.
"Oh no," Shizune said.
Jiraiya just sighed.
"Look you annoying brat, stop calling me that."
Naruto grinned. "But why grandma, it really seems to fit you. I mean don't you think it's kind of dishonest going around looking the way you do? I mean since you're really, really, really old."
Jiraiya could see Tsunade was starting to get really angry. "Kid, didn't the old man and I warn you about being too free with your thoughts? Anyway Tsunade's not that old, she's the same age as me."
Naruto looked at his teacher. "I know, it proves my point."
"Hey!" Jiraiya snapped.
Fortunately Naruto was spared having to face the anger of not one but two Sannin when a pair of ninja in black robes and sunglasses appeared on the rod just ahead of them.
"Greetings Lady Tsunade," one of them said. "Lord Taka sends his regards."
"Lord Taka and the Isle of exchange." Jiraiya muttered. "This should be interesting."
"Who is this Taka and what's this isle of exchange?" Naruto asked.
"Lord Taka rules the Isle of exchange, or the Isle of Torikae about twelve hundred miles off the coast. It's basically his own private little kingdom."
Tsunade smiled fondly. "It has some beautiful hotels and casinos."
Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah along with a whole lot of banks and his very own private police force of loyal ninja and a modern navy."
"So he's a casino owner and banker?" Naruto asked.
"In part." Jiraiya replied. "What he mostly is, is a middleman. He arranges for exchanges or sale of goods for a commission and in return guarantees security and privacy."
"He sounds like a criminal." Naruto commented.
"Oh he is." Jiraiya confirmed. "But he is also Lord over all he surveys and a very powerful businessman."
"Anyway," Tsunade finally said. "What does Lord Taka want?"
The ninja who had originally spoken produced a contract. "Lord Taka respectfully wishes to remind you of the markers you took out the last time you were on the Isle. Your markers are worth over a million ryu."
Jiraiya turned to glare at his former teammate. "You owe another million ryu? You owed eight million?"
Tsunade looked uncomfortable. "These things just sort of happen."
Jiraiya shook hid head. "The Fire Lord has agreed to take on the debts Tsunade has incurred. I am sure he would be willing to pay this debt off as well." Jiraiya was surprised when the man shook his head.
"Lord Taka is aware of the Daimyo's buying up the debts. My Lord has no interest in applying to the Daimyo for payment."
"Oh really?" Tsunade's tone was friendly but the smile she produced looked malevolent. "And what exactly is Lord Taka interested in?"
"He insists on receiving the Shodai's necklace in compensation of your debt. We were sent out to make certain the necklace was not given to the Fire Lord instead."
"No one is getting this necklace." Tsunade informed them. "Not the Daimyo and not Lord Taka."
"That is unfortunate," the man said and nodded to the other.
The ninja ran through some hand signs. There was a flash of light.
XXXXXXXXXX
Jiraiya, Tsunade, Shizune, and even Tonton were frozen in place. Caught by a genjutsu that seemed to make time stop.
The first ninja nodded pleased and walked over to the motionless Tsunade to relieve her of her necklace.
"Lord Taka will be very happy about this."
"Do we still kill everyone?" The second ninja asked.
"Those are Lord Taka's orders."
"But won't the Hokage and the Fire Lord be angry that we killed the last two Sannin?" He thought nothing of killing a pair of ordinary ninja.
The first ninja shrugged. "That's only if they figure out who was responsible. By the time the bodies are found there won't be any evidence connecting us. And with all the enemies these two have made no one will suspect our lord."
He was just about to remove the necklace when he heard a growl.
XXXXXXXXXX
One moment Naruto was standing in a road with the others, the next he was alone and knee deep in a sewer.
"What the hell?" He looked about wondering what had happened. He noticed he was in front of some huge cage with a single seal placed on it.
From the darkness behind the cage he heard a foul laugh.
So, after all this time, I finally meet my jailer. How very disappointing. A cruel and taunting voice spoke from somewhere within the cage.
"Who… who's there?" Naruto took a couple steps back and pulled out a kunai.
In answer two massive orange eyes opened and a smile made of long rows of sharp teeth appeared before him.
Take a wild guess.
Naruto gulped. "You're the Kyuubi."
I am. And you are the miserable child who holds me imprisoned. Know this child, I am the immortal and invincible Kyuubi, and I will not remain a prisoner indefinitely.
"I don't get it; you're stuck in my belly. How can we be talking like this? Where is this place?"
This is your mind; the setting is of your own making. The fox chuckled a bit. In your case your mind really is a sewer.
"Well why am I here now?"
You were caught in a genjutsu and are about to be murdered. I cannot allow that, if you die I die.
Naruto smiled and relaxed a bit. "Oh yeah? Well in that case how about you give me some of your chakra? We can call it compensation for all the misery I've had to endure because of you."
I will give you some of my chakra, and free you from the genjutsu. From behind the bars red chakra suddenly flowed out and surrounded him. We will talk again.
XXXXXXXXXX
Naruto was back on the road. Jiraiya, Shizune, and Tsunade were all frozen in place. The two black robed ninja were standing near baachan. Looking at them he let out a growl and began casting a jutsu. "Kage Bushin no Jutsu." There was a huge puff of smoke and fifty very angry Narutos appeared.
XXXXXXXXXX
When Tsunade snapped out of it she was very surprised to see the two enemy ninja tied up to a tree and looking as though they'd been beaten to a pulp.
"What the hell?" She noticed that Jiraiya and Shizune also seemed to be disoriented.
"Well it's about time," an annoyed Naruto spoke up. "You three have been standing there frozen for an hour." He looked at his teacher. "Ero-sennin, I want you to teach me how to break a genjutsu. If I'd known that maybe I wouldn't have had to waste a whole hour just standing around."
"Brat, just what the hell happened here?" Tsunade demanded.
Naruto explained, leaving out the little detail of having met the Kyuubi.
Hearing it Tsunade clutched at her necklace to make sure it really was still there. She found it hard to believe that she'd almost been killed. But with the proof tied up to a tree she couldn't really deny it. She shook her head and smiled. "All right, I have to admit, you're pretty interesting brat."
"Thanks baachan."
XXXXXXXXXX
A few days later at the Hyuga estates.
For the second time Naruto arrived at the Hyuga estates with one of the Sannin in tow. Hiashi had greeted Tsunade with a deep bow and with all possible honor. Hinata had also bowed and was staring up awestruck at the legendary kunoichi.
"Let me make certain I understand this Lady Tsunade. You wish to take my daughter Hinata on as an apprentice due to a bet you made with Naruto?" Hiashi asked slowly.
Feeling a bit embarrassed Tsunade nonetheless nodded. "That's right," she smiled down at Hinata. "I offered him the Shodai's necklace; lucky for me he values your happiness more than he does a piece of jewelry worth millions."
Hinata shifted her attention from Tsunade to Naruto. "Did you really Naruto-kun?"
Feeling self conscious he smiled and rubbed the back of her head. "Well I did say that I would get you a really good birthday present." Seeing her smile made his heart beat faster.
She went over to him and glomped on with all of her might. "Arigato Naruto-kun! You really are the best boyfriend ever!"
Seeing his daughter behaving so right in front of him Hiashi was very surprised, as well as uncomfortable. But so long as Tsunade did not seemed upset he would keep his peace. "You honor both my daughter and my clan by this generous offer. Hinata will of course accept."
Tsunade nodded and smiled at the two youngsters. You really are interesting brat.