The Nightscape was all of what Naruto was expecting and more. It was a candle lit dinner in a ball room. There was only one table, set so that they had a unobstructed view of one another as the candles lit up each others faces in a slight glow. Light music that was pleasant but that didn't take away from the conversation drifted towards them from a classical group on the opposite end of the hall. Close enough to see if one wanted to without drawing away from the rest of the evening. The waiters had been polite, well spoken and quick about there business, even suggesting items when Naruto had looked at the menu blankly. The ceiling was a sight to see. It was of a night sky unobstructed by any clouds, the stars seemed to twinkle as the full moon bore light into the hall. If Naruto didn't know better he would have said it was the sky.

Hinata was very helpful, instructing him without saying anything. All he had to do was look towards her and she would instantly get his question and show him through example. Gama-Chan might never recover but Naruto knew this was a night he'd never forget. As dinner drew to a close they were led from the ballroom and brought onto what seemed to be a grassy hill inside the building. There was a blanket of silk laying at the peak for them. The sky was changing all around them, constantly changing into some of the most beautiful sights Naruto would ever see. Each moment was a completely different masterpiece all of its own. The conversation eventually died down between them and Naruto saw his chance.

"Hinata...I came a little unprepared to night, so please bare with me. You are the yin to my yang. The night to my day, the beauty to my beast. You are everything I ever dreamed of and then so much more that I didn't. If I had to die tomorrow, I would want to live the remaining time left with you. So Hinata, would you marry me?" He had expected many outcomes, including her fainting or her gushing with happiness, heck her even crashing into him in happiness. He wasn't expecting this.

Hinata's eyes narrowed and she tried to break a genjutsu. When that failed she looked at him confused. "What brought this on Naruto-Kun?"

Naruto backpedaled, and felt his heart take a heavy blow. "What?"

Hinata seemed to soften. "Why are you asking me Naruto, I know you. You may love me, but you would never have asked me to marry you so soon into our relationship without a outside source. What happened?"

Naruto hesitated, and then lied. "I just had a serious realization of how much I love you."

"Don't lie to me Naruto-Kun... never to me." Hinata was tearing up. Naruto went to hug her but she quickly got up and stepped away from him. "Why Naruto-Kun? Is it the same reason why you were late?"

Naruto thought about lying again, but saw the look on her face. "Your father summoned me today, he told me I had to marry you or he'd put you in the branch family."

"My father is very good at lying Naruto-Kun, but even if he was telling the truth, I wouldn't want you to marry me only to protect me."

Naruto lost his temper for a second."THAT'S NOT WHY HINATA! I MADE A PROMISE TODAY TO KEEP THE UZUMAKI NAME! When your father asked me to break my promise or lose you, the answer was simple. I'd break my promise a hundred times for you."

Hinata stiffened. "I would never let you break your word Naruto. Never. Don't you have any faith in me Naruto? Am I so easy to break?"

"No, that's not what I meant... Damn it Hinata your twisting my words."

"I won't let you break your promise."

"You know what, it's not up to you, the second I sign these papers it's done. I won't lose you Hinata." Naruto drew out his papers and quickly went to sign them.

"WAIT NARUTO-KUN DON'T!" Hinata was faster, she quickly hit a few pressure points causing Naruto to drop.

"DAMN IT HINATA STOP! I HAVE TO PROTECT YOU!"

"MY FATHER IS ONE OF THE LIARS IN KONOHA AND YOU BELIEVE HIM OVER ME?"

"I SAW THE PAPERS! I KNOW WHAT THEY ENTAIL!" Hinata looked over the papers before bursting into tears.

"YOUR WRONG NARUTO IF YOU WOULD JUST LISTEN TO ME! WHY DON'T YOU TRUST ME?"

"BECAUSE I'M RIGHT! NOW GIVE ME THE PAPERS HINATA!"

Hinata stilled. Her tears stopped and Naruto know he had seriously just screwed up.

"If you can't trust me, or have faith in me Naruto, than I will not marry you, and I won't let you force me." Hinata tore up the papers and strode quickly away. Naruto knew he needed to fix this. He struggled, and managed to start dragging himself against the ground. Slowly making his way out.


Naruto limped to the Hyuuga estate, determined to catch up to Hinata. He would show her that this was right, that he had to protect her. The guards looked at him strangely. "I have to talk to Hinata, or Hiashi, which ever is more likely to talk to me."

"I'm afraid that Hinata-sama is still recovering. Hiashi-sama might be interested, I will send a runner. Himan" A hyuuga child walked out and wrote down the message before running into the building.

"YOU!" The Hinata look alike darted out and tried to attack him. The guards continued to stand there and smirk as Naruto dodged strike after strike. "IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! NEE-CHAN IS HURT BECAUSE OF YOU!" Naruto was shocked and took a hit. He went back to dodging.

"SHE CHALLENGED FATHER TO BE CLAN HEAD! BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPIDITY! SHE'S ONLY LUCKY FATHER TOOK MERCY ON HER OR SHE MIGHT NOT BE STILL ALIVE!" Naruto dropped to his knees, the girl stared at him for merely a seconf before she took aim at his head.

"Hanabi, that's enough." The clan head himself had barked out that command, Hanabi stopped. She spat at Naruto before quickly walking back towards the house.

"My thanks to you Naruto. My daughter finally found some strength because of you. She even managed to land a few strikes on me. Granted our strengths were far from equal and I was going a little easy on her, but she was able to hit me. For that, I'll let you off with a warning. Approach my daughter again, and I will make sure you suffer."

Hiashi brought his head down to Naruto's ears. "A small genjutsu and slight of hand combined with a poker face that has fooled clan heads. If you had signed those papers, you would have become a slave of the Hyuuga clan in all but name. Hinata saved you, and she saved your dream. If she can put such strength of will into her efforts into the future, maybe she'll be worth something."

Naruto watched as Hiashi strode back into his estate. He was still so stunned, how could this have happened?


I posted this early cause dragon got close and I was desperate to find a reason to do so. Please remember this is NaruHina and set backs are just that. This is the last time I was enginneer events to go against Naruto. From now on he passes or fails on his own merits.

A little depressing but again necessary to the storyline. Naruto and Hinata will get past this, but it's another obstacle. I'd like to reiterate for all that this is not a harem and that NARUHINA FOREVER!

The next chapter has two paths, both end at the same place, but one brings in a story arc I wanted to include but couldn't and the other brings in Naruto's birthright. One brings only mysteries that will have to be answered, the other answers questions that probably shouldn't have been asked.

Which to take? I think I've made my choice as of this publishing. NJOTSH will return bringing with it a chapter of unusual length for me.