A/N: I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you. Lavender Love is my masterwork, and you all make me happy to write for you all. 103 favorites as of this chapter. Thank you! 40000 hits as well. Its almost as popular as Love Among Shinobi. This has been by far my favorite story to write. Please, keep the faves and reviews coming. Lavender Love is just reaching its mid point. I have a lot more story to tell you all. So please, keep on reviewing, faving, alerting and if you like my story, don't forget to add me to your Favorite Author's list! Now, on with the chapter!
Chapter Twenty-Six : Mother
Word of the birth of the Hyuga Twins was circulating around the village for a long time even after they were born. Now in the middle of August, Naruto, Hinata, Lyn and Syaoran were now home in the Uzumaki household. Hinata hadn't told the elders about the children yet. However, there seemed to be whispering amongst the village and the other clans. No doubt word had got to the Hyuga Elders that Lyndis was the first born. Hinata's body had returned to normal following the discharge of the used placenta, and she looked great as ever. The babies were healthy and they were happy.
It was on August 17th that it happened. A knock came at the door of the Uzumaki residence. It was around noon that the visitor arrived. Naruto, Hinata and their children were sitting in the living room. Naruto stood to open the door. In the doorway were Neji, Sakura and Tenten. Each of them had a different expression on their face. Sakura looked happy, but Neji and Tenten looked discouraged and upset respectively. Naruto stepped back to let them in and they took a sea opposite Naruto and Hinata. Sakura looked at the sleeping babies. They looked so happy in their play pen. Syaoran opened his eyes and he rolled onto his back to look up at Sakura. His blue eyes shone with a hint of energy. His elder sister was still asleep. Sakura then looked at Naruto.
"You guys are a happy family now. The whole village is buzzing about the news. Its been almost a month now. Have you guys thought of having the children blessed?"
Hinata nodded and she smiled.
"We're actually doing it tomorrow. We're having a party and everything."
Sakura nodded and she knelt down to pick up Syaoran from his play pen. At this point, Lyndis began to rouse from her sleep. She opened her lavender eyes and she looked up at her mother. Hinata stooped to pick up her child and she held the little girl in her arms. Neji then spoke up as Naruto took Lyndis from her mother.
"Hinata, we have a problem. The elders are still calling for Syaoran to be sealed. He's a Hyuga by blood and by name. Even if he can't use Byakugan, he's a Hyuga. What do you plan on doing?"
Hinata had moved into the kitchen to make tea for them. She came out of the kitchen with a smile on her face.
"I already decided what we're going to do. I'm going to join the houses. And Syaoran can use Byakugan. We've already had Sakura do a genetics test on him. He has the ability to use it, it's just different than mine or yours or Hanabi's. The Kyuubi's power infused with our children's own chakra, channeling it into a powerful energy."
When she finished speaking, she smiled at Neji, whose jaw was on the floor.
"You're going to join the houses? Are you mad? Do you have any clue how that would make you look as a leader and as a Hyuga? The elders will never allow it!"
Naruto was snickering.
"It was my idea. Hinata and I have done our research. The clan used to be joined at its creation. It was because of the first Hyuga leader that it was split. He feared that the weaker of the Hyuga would corrupt the clan, so he created the sealing Jutsu and he sealed his younger brother. That was the birth of the branch family. Hinata and I think it's in the best interest of the clan. The elders will have to kill me before they even lay a finger on our children."
Neji sipped at his tea and he fought to regain his composure. When he had, he spoke again.
"If they elders decline, we'll have a civil war. You seem confident that this will work. You obviously know something we don't. So out with it."
Hinata then pulled out an envelope that was in Hiashi's handwriting. She then opened it and began to read.
"To my fellow clansmen: In the event that something happens to me, I wish for the main and branch houses to be joined into a unified clan. The next leader will have to be of my blood, and she will implement my wishes. Your leader and friend, Hiashi Hyuga."
Neji chuckled and he laughed.
"Leave it to Hiashi to find a way to live from beyond the grave. So… How does it feel being parents?"
Naruto laughed and so did Hinata.
"It's great. Tiring, but great. These kids fight us to sleep. We have to alternate to feed them at night. Hinata and I are rather tired. But all in all, it's a wonderful feeling."
Tenten smiled and she looked at Sakura holding Syaoran.
"He looks just like you Naruto. He has your eyes and even your nose. He's a beautiful baby."
Sakura then passed the child to Tenten and Tenten rocked the baby gently in her arms. Syaoran closed his eyes and he fell back asleep. Hinata then laid her children back to sleep in their playpen and then she grew serious.
"Has there been any news on Akatsuki or Sasuke?"
Neji finished his tea and he nodded.
"There is actually. Word is Sasuke is targeting Danzo. Danzo was in on the Uchiha Massacre. However, he has sworn revenge on the entire village. That means us too. We all have to work together to face him. That's why Tenten and I are getting more intense training from Tsunade and Gai-Sensei. We all have to be strong. Sasuke knows all about the twelve of us. We studied together in the Academy, and we even took the Chuunin exam together. He knows us, so we'll be his main threat. Naruto, you and Hinata are strong, but we all have to work together."
Naruto nodded.
"Together we can overcome anything. Neji, I know Sasuke knows us, but I have some tricks up my sleeve that even Hinata doesn't know about yet. And Hinata has grown strong enough to match me. I'm not worried about us. It's those two I'm worried about. Lyndis and Syaoran are my children. They hold the power of the Kyuubi too. Akatsuki may or may not be able to defeat me to use for their plan, but they can certainly use my babies. And I won't let that happen. I'll die before I let anything happen to Lyndis or Syaoran. Speaking of which, just what the hell is Akatsuki collecting the Bijuu for anyway?"
A silence filled the room. None of them had the answer. No one knew what they were planning. One thing was certain though. The threat of invasion was real. Hinata then asked a question.
"What do we know about the members of Akatsuki anyway?"
Naruto then looked at her and he shrugged.
"I don't know anything. I only met Itachi and Kisame. But we know nothing about the rest of them. Intel would be nice, but we lost Jiraiya and he knew all about them."
Neji sighed and he stood up.
"We can't just sit here twiddling our thumbs. Someone out there knows all about them. So we have to find out ourselves."
Naruto nodded, followed by Hinata, Tenten and then Sakura.
Just then, Kotetsu knocked on the door.
"Naruto! We just received word that we found Kushina!"
Naruto was at the door and he opened it.
"My mother?!"
Kotetsu nodded and he handed Naruto an envelope and then left.
"I didn't know my mother was still alive. Hinata, we have to go and see her, right now."
Hinata nodded and she looked at her friends.
"Sorry about this. We need to go. We'll see you all at the blessing party tomorrow. We're having it here. Could you let the others know?"
Tenten nodded and she handed the babies to their parents. Naruto took Lyndis and Hinata held Syaoran in her arms. After their friends had left, Naruto locked the front door. He left a note for Hanabi on the door and a key under the mat.
"Where is she Naruto?"
Hinata asked her husband and Naruto ripped open the envelope and he read it before answering.
"She's in a mountain cabin halfway to the Sound Village. It'll take us a while to get there."
Hinata nodded and she nuzzled her husband. Naruto was sweating profusely. To meet his mother after all these years, it was a shock. The cabin was more than a half- day away. Naruto then spotted Hanabi on the way out. The young girl rushed to her sister and her brother.
"Where are you going?"
Naruto quickly explained the situation and Hanabi grinned.
"I'll come with you. Konohamaru can come too right?"
Ever since her father's funeral, Hanabi and Konohamaru had become inseparable. Naruto nodded and the six of them made their way to the village gate. Naruto was silent and deep in thought. He could still hardly believe that Kushina was still alive. However, he felt he had to go and meet his mother. And that resolution was what propelled him to push forward, to the Sound Village, to his mother, to his past, to his destiny.
TO BE CONTINUED…