Chapter 38: The Trial of Naruto Uzumaki
Four days after they had returned from the Hidden Sound, Naruto had been called to stand before a Tribunal, although he had not been told why. Also, instead of one of the smaller meeting rooms in Ninja Ops, he was instead summoned to the enclosed stadium, where the Chunin semi-finals had been held, just over three years prior.
Naruto stepped forward, looking around at those surrounding him. In the center, in front of him, sat Gaara and Tsunade. On the Genin's right were the Konoha elders, Homura, Koharu, and Danzo. And on his left a slightly longer table held Kakashi, Jiraiya, Gai, and Temari. Behind him a huge crowd observed. The Leaf Shinobi currently in the village, the Sand Ninja who had participated in the Sound invasion, and many of the Konoha civilians, all watched with anticipation. He saw Hinata's sorrowful face, and Hanabi's smug look, with Hiashi sandwiched between them, impassive. Sakura caught his eye, and she too looked worried. He recognized Ino clutching Chouji's hand tightly. He also saw mousy Karin from the general store, the old merchant whets-his-name, the waitress from the Golden Shoe, and the entire staff of Ichiraku Ramen.
"Naruto Uzumaki," Tsunade announced harshly, "You have been called before this Ninja Tribunal to answer for your actions during the Liberation of the Hidden Sound Village. Namely, that you disobeyed an order from your squad leader, a higher-ranking Shinobi. More over, you did so in the middle of a battle."
"We need to hear your side of the story, Naruto," Kakashi urged.
"There ain't much to say," the teen answered, "Gaara was seriously hurt by Kabuto. He ordered us to go back, so he could fight Kabuto alone. I told Sakura and Hinata to take Gaara back to the medics, that I would fight Kabuto. When they tried to protest, I left, sealing the door behind me. With no choice, they took Gaara back, and I went after Kabuto. Simple."
"What we need to know, is why you disobeyed your squad leader's order," Koharu prompted, "The Kazekage testified he does not remember what happened after his injury. And your other teammates seem to think that the Kazekage might have been unconscious when he gave that order, or somehow otherwise mentally incapacitated…."
"I don't know about that," Naruto interrupted, shaking his head.
"So they are lying, to cover for you," Danzo asserted quickly, a hungry gleam in his single, dark eye.
"I didn't say that," Uzumaki protested, "Look, I'm not Gaara, I don't know what he was thinking at the time, or what he remembers now. And I don't have Sakura's medical training, or Hinata's Kekkei Genkai. And to top it off, I know a guy who can fight while asleep. So, if those two say Gaara was out of it, they are probably right; especially if he doesn't know what happened. But at the time, I didn't think that was the case."
"Then why did you take matters into your own hands?" Temari asked.
"Just because I didn't know he was giving out orders while unconscious, doesn't mean I didn't think he was wrong," he told them.
"Gaara has developed a really strong desire to protect his friends and allies, and he also has a little bit of a death wish. And he really wanted revenge against Kabuto. I thought that all that baggage might be clouding his judgment, ya know? After all, the whole reason he picked me was for my experience fighting Kabuto, and I was still healthy. He seemed to be putting his own desires above the good of the mission."
"Besides that, Gaara is one of the five Kage, and I'm just some Genin. If I died, some people would be sad, some might be happy or relieved, but life would go on. If Gaara had died, it would have thrown his village into turmoil; probably both our villages, and the Land of Air too."
"Then let me ask you this," Homura presented, "Sakura and Hinata were able to evacuate Gaara without any entanglements. If you knew that when you took charge, would you make the same choice? Or would you have had one of them come with you?"
Naruto considered that for a second, and then said, "No. They might have made it out safe, but they had a couple of close scrapes. If Hinata hadn't been there, Sakura would have probably run into that patrol or one of the fights. And Hinata doesn't have Sakura's strength or medical training, so she might not have gotten Gaara out as quickly or in as good of shape."
"Look," Naruto snapped slightly, even though he knew it was a mistake, "I'm not going to say I made a wrong move. I'm not happy I was forced to disobey orders, but I still think I made the right choice. Everyone here would be happier if we knew for sure that Kabuto was dead, but at the very least I was able to maim him, and drive him out. And every member of my team survived. So if you're gonna bust me back to the academy, or even decommission me, just do it."
Tsunade looked at her counterparts. Each of the other shinobi nodded, except for Danzo. Her gaze settled on him, and his single eye glared back. Finally, he waved his hand in annoyed agreement. She stood, shifting her stare back to the Genin.
"Naruto there seems to be a slight misunderstanding here," she said sternly, "This trial is to judge you, but not to punish you. We all know that things change in the heat of battle. A ninja must be adaptable. A good shinobi follows orders, but a great one needs to know when the orders must be stretched or even disobeyed. It takes wisdom to see what is right, what is needed. And it also takes a special kind of courage to act on that insight. Up until know, there has been some doubt as to whether you had that kind of good sense. But your actions, and your defense of them, have convinced us of your growth."
Her face shifted subtly, from lecturing, to proud.
"Therefore, it is my great honor, in the name of this Tribunal and the Village Hidden in the Leaves, to grant you the rank of Chunin, with all the privileges and responsibilities there unto pertaining."
She smiled warmly at him, "Congratulations, Naruto."
Almost as one, the gallery surged to their feet, shouting. Naruto just stood there, dumbfounded, as his friends swarmed around him. Kiba shouted in his ear, and Choji hit him on the back so hard he nearly fell. The Tribunal also stood, the members of the Jonin Council moving to join the rest of the well-wishers. The two Kage and two of the Elders remained by their seats, but Danzo stalked out of the stadium. But still Uzumaki did not react. The Hokage's words were echoing in his head.
'Wisdom to see, courage to act,' he considered the words. Realizing he was surrounded, he started to look around the crowd. Someone shook his hand, and someone else hugged him, but he did not notice who. There was only one face that he wanted to see.
And then she was there. Her eyes were still wet with tears of fear, but her smile was as radiantly joyful as he had ever seen.
"Congratulations, Naruto," she said, her soft, kind voice full of approval. She blushed, as his right hand reached up, and gently touched her cheek. He cupped her face, marveling at the feel of her soft skin.
"Naruto?" the girl sounded confused, but he was not confused any more. His left hand moved, wrapping around her body. He placed his fingers into the wonderfully familiar small of her back, and pulled her gently towards him. His right hand guided her lips to his. And in that instant, she was all he knew.
He felt her put her arms around him, pulling them together, pressing her lithe body to him, crushing her breasts against his chest. He could smell her skin and hair, and marveled at the gentle plumpness of her lips against his. He moved his hand slightly up her back, and she shuddered in pleasure. He shifted his face, changing the angle of his attack, so not an inch of her lovely mouth went unattended.
Finally, either twenty seconds or one hundred years later, the need to breathe overtook them and they broke apart.
"I love you too, Hinata," Naruto said earnestly, passionately; looking deep into her eyes. Hinata Hyuga, however, could not speak. She wasn't sure she would still be standing, had she not been holding him. Then suddenly, they both became aware.
The tone of the cheers had changed. The shouts of congratulations were covered by wolf-whistles and catcalls. The Elders and the Hokage put on airs of annoyance at the display, but it was an obvious act. No, in the whole of the gallery there where only three faces that were not pleased, amused, or both. Hiashi Hyuga's emotions were still carefully controlled, but there was a strain to his neutral mask. Hanabi Hyuga glared at her sister and Naruto, not bothering to hide her feelings of rage and betrayal.
But Sakura Haruno could not look at her teammate. The medical Kunoichi had turned away; and was looking down at the stone floor, tears running slowly down her face. Her moist eyes spoke of sadness, and disappointment. After a moment, she began to carefully push her way through the crowd. Only one person noticed her leave.
When they realized they had kissed in front of most of the Leaf Village, and a substantial part of the Sand Village, both shinobi turned beet red. Hinata almost lost her balance, despite their embrace.
"Let's get outta here," Naruto suggested.
"OK."
Naruto took a smoke bomb from his belt, and dashed it on the floor next to them. When the obscuring cloud cleared, they were gone. The cheering gave way to laughter, and the assembled friends and allies of Naruto settled down.
"It's about time," Tsunade commented to Gaara and Jiraiya. The Kazekage nodded, with a tiny smile; while the Toad Sage smirked knowingly.
"Oh man," Shikamaru waved his hand in mock annoyance. Somehow, in the crush and flow of the crowd, he had ended up standing next to Temari.
"This is too much. I need some air," he commented, then looked towards her with one eye closed. Catching his obvious invitation, she nodded.
"It is getting crowded. I think I'll join you."
The pair exited the stadium. Shikamaru slumped up against a tree, not quite looking at her. Temari started to ask him a question, but he began venting first.
"You know, I'd count Naruto as one of my best friends, after Choji and Kiba. Not that that was always the case," he admitted to the Sand Kunoichi, "But sometimes, I kinda hate the guy. He keeps pushing me to do things I didn't plan on doing. Sometimes literally."
She looked at him with uncertainty, and he suddenly started to glare at her.
"You are arrogant, pushy, aggressive, and violent. You're a ninja, and worse a ninja from another village," he told her directly, "And you are way too intelligent and beautiful for my own good."
Temari started to prepare a sharp retort at his rant, but it died with his final statement.
"I had a plan," he sighed, "I was going to wait until I was at least twenty to make Chunin, if then. So I could avoid leadership, or really dangerous missions. Then I would find a girl; a nice, quiet girl, pretty but not too pretty. And definitely not a ninja."
"Instead, I was a Chunin before I was a teenager, the first in my class. I keep getting put in charge, and sent on these tough jobs. And now I'm falling for this woman who is the exact opposite of everything I thought I wanted."
She sniffed, sure this was some sort of game. But he looked back at her, dropping his cool persona.
"I like you, Temari. Capital L 'like'. Don't care that your brother is the scariest person I've ever met 'like'."
She smiled at that. Then she realized what he said, and that he was being honest. Her humorous smile changed to a coy smile. She pinned him against the tree, and leaned in close.
"I like you too," she told him back, "Don't care that you're lazy, slightly misogynistic, and too smart for my own good 'like'."
Then she kissed him on the cheek. She drew back blushing, and asked, "So what now?"
"For starters, we could hang out at the party. Maybe dance if they have any decent music," he suggested.
"OK," she agreed. After an instant of thought, she countered, "Wait, what party?"
"That knucklehead gets the first battle-field promotion this village has handed out in like forty years, and you think there isn't going to be a party? If I'm right, and I usually am, " he said immodestly, "old man Jiraiya probably started planning something as soon as the Hokage told him about this. If not I'd guess the others will whip up something."
"Then we need to go back in," she ordered, grabbing his hand. He smiled, but also thought, 'I'm going to make you pay for this, Naruto.'
The finally official couple sat on the stone head of Minato Namikaze, watching the yellow and orange of the setting sun play off the wispy clouds. Their legs touched, almost entwining, and each clung to the other's hand. Naruto's left hand reached up to Hinata's chin, lifting her face for their fourth kiss, and she responded enthusiastically. When they broke apart again, Hinata sighed sadly.
"What I'm a bad kisser?" Naruto asked with concern.
"Oh no," she answered quickly, tightening her grip as if afraid he would leave, "This was definitely worth the wait."
He relaxed, and she told him, "I was just thinking we should probably go back. Everyone else will want to see you, and it's not fair to keep you to myself. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone is still there, waiting for you."
"Too bad," Naruto smirked, "Those guys should understand that I want to spend time with my new girlfriend."
"Gu… gu… girlfriend?" the word hit Hinata like a Rockslide Jutsu. She was kissing Naruto. She was Naruto's girlfriend. She and Naruto might…
Hinata's eyes glazed over and she started to collapse backwards onto the carved cliff. Naruto caught her with a look of dismay.
"Come on, Hinata," he pleaded, "I thought we were past the whole fainting thing… Is this going to happen every time we make out?"
"Make out…" she mumbled, turning red despite her unconscious state. Naruto set her down gently, then ran a finger tenderly down her cheek. His dismayed look turned to one of fond devotion.
"We'll just have to keep working on it," he said affectionately, "Because you're right, it was worth the wait."
The End, A Growing Affection, Book 1
Beginning Sept '08, A Growing Affection, Book 2