A/N: Don't own it, never will, etc.

Chap. 25

The dreaded day had finally come. It was time... time to tell their parents.

All three spent the morning with a feeling of imminent doom hanging over their heads. Maybe it was the meeting- scheduled three weeks in advance- with Lord Hyuga Hiashi, Neji, and Hanabi. Maybe it was Sakura telling her parents- her non-shinobi parents, who had never understood their daughter once she'd started attending the Academy- about her alternative lifestyle.

Naruto, who had no living parents to tell, was even more afraid than the women were. He may have practically raised himself, but there were some matters he was a devout traditionalist on. For instance, he believed firmly that he had to ask the father for each woman's hand. Of course, as he reassured them, he would be going forward with it anyway- but it was polite to ask. If the more traditional Hyuga family demanded a dowry for the Heiress' hand, he didn't know what he would do- but as he promised Hinata over breakfast, he would do something.

Sakura laughed at that, and said, "Coming from anyone else that would be ridiculous. But you? You never plan anything, and it all works out."

He turned a little red and picked at his food for a minute, muttering to himself, "I plan some things..."

Since Sakura's father worked, they would be meeting him during the evening- and the earliest they had been able to get all three of the necessary Hyuga at the same time had been at two in the afternoon.

Even accounting for Sakura and Naruto's team practices, and Hinata's still-ongoing training with her cousin, that gave them a total of over five hours- having all woken up long before dawn in a cold sweat when Naruto had a near-panic attack- to work themselves up even further.

Throughout training his team, who had now each advanced to the point where he could almost say they had truly 'mastered' the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, Naruto was constantly glancing around, fearful that some random Hyuga had been sent to 'silence him' after they had found out about his 'nefarious plot'.

Sakura was just as bad, so much so that at ten she gave up and ended their practice early and went to watch Naruto.

When the two reached home for lunch, Naruto's team in tow, Hinata was sitting in the kitchen on her favorite chair, her face as white as a sheet.

"Hinata... are you okay?" Naruto asked when he'd gone inside.

As the others followed in after him, she didn't react for a while, but eventually raised her eyes to meet Naruto's, "He... he knows. Neji. I told him... I let it slip that... we're... umm..."

Sakura had never in her entire life blacked out, but she hit the ground with a thud behind Naruto, and his knees gave out as well, though he retained consciousness.

When he recovered, the first thing he did was pick Sakura up, rescuing her from the near-panicked ministrations of Tenchi and Inoko, with Kamisori freaking out behind them, and sat her, half awake, on the chair beside Hinata.

"Umm... he knows... everything?"

Hinata nodded just a little bit, and Naruto started to shake.

"Knows what?" Kamisori asked, clueless.

Tenchi and Inoko shared a look about their teammate and the raven-hair blurted out, "About the double wedding, dummy. Naruto-sensei's marrying both Hinata-sama and Sakura-sensei."

Everyone present gasped, and Inoko paled herself. "Umm... sorry? I didn't know it was a … secret. I'm so sorry!"

She started to get teary, but Naruto forced out, "It's... okay. Everyone's going to know eventually anyway, right? It's just... a little sooner than we expected. But... how did you know?"

"Ino!" Sakura shouted, jumping to her feet, but the younger blond interrupted.

"No, it wasn't mom, I swear! I just... I... I figured it out!"

Sakura turned a furious, green-eyed glare to the young woman and said coldly, "Or you just want to spare your mother my eternal wrath!"

"N,o, really," she said, her eyes still teary, "I... it was... my eyes! They just... showed me your chakra when you... umm..." she fell silent, her face turning almost as red as Hinata's when she figured out what had given them away.

Sakura sat down in a huff, turning her head away from the three teenagers and folding her arms angrily.

Naruto, trying to break the attention, said nervously, "Heh... heh heh. I guess I need to start trying to... train your Sharingan, then, huh?"

No one laughed.

After a while, Kamisori shook his head and said, "Man, I don't know how you can handle it, sensei, I can barely keep one girl kind of happy."

Tenchi blushed a little, but elbowed her boyfriend hard. He winced, and then, like a dam bursting, the kitchen was filled with loud laughter.

* * *

"Will you keep it quiet, for now?" Hinata asked an hour later after they'd finally finished lunch.
The three teens all agreed, of course, but still Naruto threatened them with not teaching them a single other jutsu for the duration of their time with him if a word was said- even to each other.

Actually worried, now, the three swore up and down that they wouldn't breath a word to anyone- not even Ino.

It was ten minutes before Sakura came back, chest heaving, and said, "Damn it, Naruto... they got away! And now I need to take a shower before we- oh crap. We're really... umm..."

The relaxed ambiance was gone at once.

"Umm... me too," Naruto said, standing quickly, followed by Hinata, who only squeaked something unintelligible before fleeing into the last bathroom.

* * *

The guards at the Hyuga Estate didn't hesitate to allow them entry, instead they saluted Hinata as she passed. She gave them what, to her, was an imperious bow, but still looked like a caring nod to both Sakura and Noruto.

An elderly woman led them to a little-used room in an almost-empty wing of the large house, and with each step, Hinata's nervousness grew. No. I can't pass out. I have to be there for... for them. I won't faint! Not this time! Even if it is Father! Even if he disavows me forever!

Such was their fear that all three walked right past the room, even though the old woman had stopped long before they reached it.

"Ahem. It's in here, Hinata-sama," the old woman said quietly, and when they'd turned, gave a little rap on the door before gliding sedately back down the hall.

"Enter," said the unmistakable voice of Naruto's worst fear.

As promised, the only people present were Hiashi, Neji, and Hanabi. The three of them were spaced evenly around an ancient, priceless tea set, which had tiny curls of steam rising from the spout.

"Ah, Hinata-chan, Uzumaki-san, Haruno-san," Hiashi said, his expression flat, "Please, sit."

When the three had sat, Hinata in the middle flanked by Sakura and Naruto, it wasn't a moment too soon for the young heiress. Her knees had collapsed at the end, unable to bear her any longer.

Sakura was sitting across from Hanabi, Naruto from Neji, whose pale eyes seemed to bore straight through him, leaving a bloody trail of agony as it went.
"You requested a meeting with the three of us, Hinata?" Hiashi's voice was, like his expression, neutral, but he didn't fool Naruto.

Shit, he's going to kill me! Kill all of us!

"Umm... yes, Father.. I... I..."

Hanabi looked over at her sister, at last taking her eyes off of Sakura's, "Sister, it isn't like you to stutter any more. I thought Naruto taught you better. Just say it."

"I... we... I..." she began, but suddenly the words fled her mind.

In the end, it was Naruto who rescued her. Who always rescues me when I need him.

"Lord Hiashi, Neji-sama, Hanabi-chan... I, I mean we- we want to... ask for permissiontomarryyourdaughterHinata." The last came out so fast that Hanabi didn't catch it, but the eyes of both males narrowed at once.
"You... what?" Hiashi asked slowly, and Naruto's hands started to shake worse than before.

"I... we, we, want to... umm... marry your daughter?" The last word came out as barely more than a squeak, and it sounded so much like Hinata than Neji's composure broke, and he laughed out loud.

A quick glare from his uncle silenced him at once, though, and his face went right back to it's half-scowl, though one corner of his mouth continued to twitch.

"You- both of you, I presume- want to ask my permission to marry my daughter?"

He hadn't yelled, hadn't raised his voice at all, but even Sakura, so far the most in control, started to panic as well.

Hinata started to sway, her lips as pale as her skin, when Hiashi spoke again, his voice now totally level, as it had been when they first entered the room. "Can I expect that you- all three of you- have given this a great deal of thought, and are all in total agreement? You agree to spend your entire lives together? The Hyuga clan does not tolerate divorce very well."

Three sets of eyes activated their Byakugan at once, mid-way through Hiashi's question. But all three of the Hyuga steadfastly refused to give any sign as to what they saw.

"Y... yes, F..f.. Father," Hinata stammered out, "We... we love each other. All three of us."

Hanabi gave the slightest twitch of a smirk, but said nothing.

"And you have, I also presume, plans to continue, even without our blessing?"

Naruto nodded, but said quickly, "Yes, Lord Hiashi. But I- we- thought it best that we ask anyway. I can't speak for Sakura, but-"

"Yes, you can, Naruto," the kunoichi said softly, and he glanced at her before resuming.

"We are in love with your daughter. With Hinata. Either of us would go to the ends of the earth for her. I have... I have proven my devotion, time and again. And so has Sakura."

Hanabi sniggered, and Hiashi's eye twitched.

"What we have is... special. I know it's not normal, I know everyone will probably say we're.... I don't know, breaking laws or something, but to us... it's right. We wouldn't change anything."

The two women at his side nodded, both firmly, and Hiashi released his Byakugan, followed closely by Neji and Hanabi.

"Very well. You may go wait in the garden, we need to discuss the matter. I will send someone for you when we are through."

Hinata bowed, putting her head on the floor, and said, "Thank you for listening, Father. Please decide fairly."

And that was it. The three stood as one and filed out of the meeting chamber, Hinata leading the way back to the outdoor garden in the center of the large home.

Once again, nervous anxiety had settled in by the time they'd sat on two benches facing each other.

"What do you think he...?"
Naruto's unfinished question filled the air for a long time, but neither woman could answer it. In the end, together as they were, each was left to their own thoughts.

Kami, I'm so damned scared. This is worse than Orochimaru. Worse than Gaara, worse than... every ninja I've ever fought, all at once.

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. Less than fifteen minutes later, Neji was standing stoically at the same entrance to the garden they had used, waiting for them to rise.
"Hiashi-sama is ready for you to return."

They wouldn't have made the trip back- any of them- if they hadn't been holding onto each other's hands like lifelines. When they were again sitting before the trio of Hinata's family, Hiashi began the tea ceremony.
No word was spoken as he completed the timeless ritual, but for the three, the steps taken by the drinker- calming as they were- did nothing to help them.

"Uzumaki-san," Hiashi said when the ritual was complete at last, "you have means to provide for both of them?"

Naruto blushed a little and replied, "I... sort of? I mean, we're all ninja, and-"

"That won't do," Neji interrupted, his voice a little severe, "Hinata-sama is the Hyuga heiress. She cannot be risked in missions unless it is absolutely necessary after she is married. She must produce main-branch heirs, and so must be protected. We cannot let the line die out."

Naruto gulped, but kept his eyes locked on Hiashi, "I... I will do more missions, then. I will make it work."

While he had spoken, all three Byakugan had been activated again, and now were left active.

"Very well. You have a place for the three of you to live?"

Naruto nodded again, this time a little relieved, "Yeah- I mean, yes, sir. I already own a house, and it's large enough for all of us. And... uh... heirs."

Hiashi couldn't control his own mouth twitching upwards at Naruto's uncomfortable turn of phrase.

"I see. And you have sufficient finances for... two weddings?"

Sakura answered this one, "Yes, sir. We... all of us pooled our mission income for them, keeping only a little for... other things. With my work at the hospital, we are able to provide for ourselves just fine, and the weddings will be taken care of."

"I see. Then, I have a final question. What proof do you have that you, Uzumaki Naruto, are of acceptable blood to marry into the noble Hyuga clan?"

Hinata, for the first time, answered one of her father's questions without hesitation or nervousness. "Father, he will not be taking the Hyuga name."

All three sets of activated Byakugan went wide. "He... what?"

Hinata shook her head firmly and said, "He will not. I don't care if you make Hanabi the heir- I will not force Naruto to take our name when his own is even more distinguished."

Hiashi leaned back in surprise, and Neji and Hanabi looked over at him, confused.

"So, you know then? About your father and mother?"
Naruto nodded solemnly, and Hiashi started to chuckle.

"Very well then. You've taken care of the wedding, you own property already, you don't need money, don't want our name... is there anything the Hyuga family can do to help you have a happy life together?"

"W... what?"

Sakura wasn't sure which of them- maybe her- had said it. It could have been all three.

But she was certain that, for the first time in living memory, Hiashi was truly laughing.

When the three Hyuga had calmed themselves a little, Hinata said, "But I... I thought you... were going to say no! That I'd disgraced the family, or something!"

Neji was the most able to answer, so, glancing at his uncle for permission, replied, "We thought about it. We really did... but... the three of us came to the conclusion that we'd rather you were happy than enforce some silly tradition."

"However," Hiashi said after another moment of near-silence, "I do have one request. For the benefit of the Clan, we would be happy to have Namikaze blood introduced. But if any- or all- of the children Hinata bears have the Byakugan, we would ask that they take the Hyuga name."

Hinata, shooting a quick look at Naruto, said, "Um... that's perfect. Thank you, Father, Neji-kun, Hanabi-chan.... I..."

When she wiped the tears from her eyes, the passage of her hands revealed the widest smile her father could remember ever seeing on his eldest child.

Some time later, after a few more details had been worked out, Hiashi said, "Naruto, I'd like a word alone, if no one objects."

A twinge of anxiety filled him, but he nodded anyway and rose to his feet alongside the older man. Hiashi led him back out to the garden and, using his Byakugan to make sure no one was nearby, said softly, "Forgive me for speaking of... personal issues, but I have to know. Have you... been with my daughter?"

Naruto, blushing again, said just as quietly but almost ferociously, "No! I wouldn't... I mean... Hinata didn't want to until..."

Hiashi breathed a sigh of relief, then said again, his voice still quiet but no longer whispered, "I appreciate your restraint, then. And I also wanted to thank you for coming to me properly. But mostly I want to thank you for your candor. It's not often someone will see me as a father, not 'Lord Hyuga'."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head and muttered, "It's nothing."

Hiashi smiled and turned to walk, Naruto trailing slightly behind him, "So... we have discussed your home, finances, personal feelings, and the necessary matters of children... so I am almost done with you. But there are two more things that bear mentioning. The first is something I am simply going to tell you, the other is a question similar to those we've already discussed. This question, though, is just for you."

Naruto gulped, nodded, and kept walking until Hiashi stopped and faced him.

"First, I want you to know that, before or after your wedding, you and Sakura are welcome here. The family will be informed. Treat us as your own family, if you desire."

Naruto's jaw dropped, and he didn't close it until Hiashi smiled. "Hyuga-sama, I... I don't know what to say."

Hiashi started walking again, forcing Naruto to take a few rapid steps to keep up. "Don't say anything, then. If you are marrying into the family, you are family. It's quite a simple concept, really."

Did he... did he just make a joke? After a huge practical joke like that?

Naruto laughed weakly, but didn't say anything, too stunned for words.

"The last matter... wait, no, there are two. My apologies. Regardless... you have rings? For both women?"

Naruto nodded, blushing again, but said nothing.
"Very well... once again, you keep me from assisting you. I was going to offer my own and my late wife's, but... I suppose one day, Hanabi will need them."

Naruto stopped cold this time, and Hiashi turned to see his jaw slack and eyes wide. "Lord Hyuga... I... I am honored. I'm sorry I already..."
Hiashi waved his apology off and motioned for Naruto to continue walking, "It doesn't matter. My only regret is that I haven't been able to contribute much. But I'm sure I'll find something. As for the last matter... I'm sure this is something you've given a lot of thought to already. But since I have not... what assurance can you give me that my daughter, and Sakura too, will never bear the wrath of the Kyuubi?"

Naruto stopped again, but started walking again almost at once. "I just checked his cage. He's... gone. The seal has fallen from the door."

Hiashi stopped walking, and Naruto hastily explained how he could go inside his own mind and see the prison that had been created for the Nine-Tailed Beast. "So... yeah, the seal's on the ground and the Fox is gone. It's... Granny Tsunade- sorry, Hokage-same- said that his chakra was about fully absorbed, and since that's all he's made of..."

Hiashi nodded, smiling again, "Good. And of course, neither woman would ever bear your wrath, correct?"

Naruto gave a little, nervous laugh, and answered, "I'm more worried about me bearing theirs. One of them mad at me is bad enough, but... both?"

Hiashi and Naruto shared a shudder, chills running up and down each spine.

* * *

As the trio meandered down the streets from the Hyuga compound to the small house in a residential district where the Haruno family lived, Sakura's demeanor changed slowly from the joy they all shared to a dismal gloom that had Naruto sweating buckets.

"Come on, Sakura-chan," Hinata said in what she hoped was a cheery voice, "We convinced my father. How hard could your parents be?"

Sakura didn't answer, and Hinata didn't try again.

The young woman had let her parents know that they 'needed to talk', but hadn't given any clue as to the subject.

When the three arrived, they were greeted at the door by a woman that could only be Sakura's mother. She was, like her daughter, tall and slender. Her long, flowing hair- much like Sakura's had been in her youth, though even longer- was the color of a pink rose. The facial features were almost identical, only the woman's eyes were a dark, rich chocolate brown.

Naruto's first thought on meeting her was, Sakura's going to be a gorgeous mother... and a beautiful grandmother.

The older woman played the perfect, gracious host for all three of them for over an hour until Sakura's father finally got home. She had shown the pictures- but no baby pictures, to Sakura's relief- of her daughter growing up, and when her father had walked through the door, she had been laughing over the story of why Sakura had decided to become a ninja. It was, in her words, 'to rescue all the poor, homeless kitties and puppies' in Konoha.
Sakura was blushing, her two fiancees were both laughing, and even her reserved mother was giggling when he came in.
"What's going on?" the older man asked after he'd shut the door.

"Oh, good evening dear," his wife replied, "You remember- Sakura and her friends said they needed to talk to us. Dinner will be ready in an hour."

He nodded and walked from the room, barely sparing a wave for the three, "Good to see you, Sakura. I'll be back in a bit."

He walked, his tread heavy and slow, up the stairs and down the upper hallway. They heard a door shut, and shuffling of feet, before Ms. Haruno resumed speaking. "He's been working very hard lately... I hardly get to see him, any more."

Sakura frowned, and said, "But I see him leaving the shop almost every day either on my way from practice or to the hospital."

"I don't know what to tell you, dear, but your father comes home late and exhausted almost every night, now. He's been working hard on some big project, but he's sworn to secrecy, so..."

Sakura shrugged, and reached out a hand to take the last photo album from her mother, who snatched it away at the last second, grinning again, "Oh ho, no, no! We haven't finished yet."

It wasn't much longer before the man came back down the stairs, this time clothed in jeans and a t-shirt that read 'Eat it' with a drawing of a slice of pie. "So what's up?" he asked, dropping into the last place in the living room, next to his wife. He spread his arms wide in either direction, his eyes moving back and forth between the three younger people.

"Umm... mom, dad... I have something important to tell you," Sakura began, her voice very quiet, "and I don't know how you'll react. I know you don't really understand the whole 'shinobi' thing, but... it's not really anything to do with that. So... I guess what I'm trying to say is, please keep an open mind. Okay?"

Ms. Haruno smiled benignly and replied, "Of course, dear. You can tell us anything, you know that. Even if we don't understand, we'll still listen. Right, dear?" she finished, looking over at her husband, who grunted.

"Well..." Sakura started again, growing more nervous as time passed, "I... I'm getting married."
She held up her ring, and her mother's hand flew to cover her wide-opened mouth.

Her father grunted loudly this time, his own eyes boring into Naruto's.
To his credit, the blond ninja showed no sign of fear or backing down this time. In fact, his jaw was clenched, and his mouth was set in a determined line.

"So... you finally got a man, huh?" Mr. Haruno said at last, not looking at his daughter, "Looks kind of scrawny... but I'm sure he knows plenty of ninja tricks. If he makes you happy, 's good enough for me."

Hinata and Naruto both breathed sighs of relief, but Sakura knew that what she'd just said was the easy part. Her mother, for one, had been trying to get her to marry for years now.

"Umm... there's... something else."

"Yes, dear?" her mother prodded after Sakura had fallen silent for over a minute.

"I... I'm not marrying just Naruto. I'm marrying... Hinata. Too, I mean. Both of them."

Her mother's eyebrows nearly touched as her brow furrowed, trying to understand, "I'm sorry... do you know more than one Hinata? I could have sworn this lovely young woman here was named Hinata. But you're marrying..."

Sakura nodded, her grip on Hinata's hand tightening.

"Oh my."

Her hand dropped back to join the other in her lap, but her mouth and eyes didn't close.

At last, her father stood slowly and grumbled, "I'll handle this."

He turned to Sakura first, and growled, his face stern, "This farce has gone on long enough. We let you go to that crazy Academy because you cried for days when we said no. We didn't say anything when you came back from that mission to the Land of Waves all cut up and scarred. Or even when we found out you could level our house in a tantrum if you wanted to. But I've had enough. You need to retire from being a ninja, get a normal, real job, and find yourself a husband, get married, and have lots of kids. And that's final, young lady."

Naruto proved he knew Sakura better than her own father did when he shifted to the far end of the couch, pulling Hinata with him when he spotted a familiar vein twitching in Sakura's forhead.

She stood slowly, hands clenched, and also growled out her reply, "I won't. I won't give up Naruto or Hinata. I won't give up being a ninja. And I won't settle down to your life!"

Each word had gotten louder and louder, until she was literally screaming at her father.

He swelled up, taking a huge breath, and let it all out at once. His eyes narrowed again and he said, his voice low and menacing, "Don't take that tone with me, young lady. I am still your father, and you will listen to what I tell you. Or you can just get out of my house."

Ms. Haruno gasped, but Sakura didn't react at all. At last, she said, "Is that how it's going to be? Because I don't agree with your narrow-minded, self-centered, egotistical view of the way the world is supposed to work, I get to move out? I don't know if you've noticed, dad, but I moved out seven years ago! But I don't expect you to know that, since you haven't paid any attention to me in over ten years! So fine, be an asshole if you want! But we're going ahead with it anyway! If... if.." her voice broke, and she trembled as she forced out the last words, "If you or mom want to come to the wedding, that's fine. But I won't force you to. You don't have to like it. But it's my life. And I'm living it the way I choose to."

Sakura then gathered what dignity she had and walked slowly to the door. She waited with her hand on the knob for Hinata and Naruto to stand up, and when they had, said quietly, "Good night, father, mother. Mom, it was great to see you again. Dad... I miss the way I remember you from when I was a little girl."

Then she pulled open the door, and they left.