"Naruto…. Naruto-kun…. Wake up Naruto," Hinata spoke over me as I felt her shake my arm.
"Shh, Hina-chan… It's too early… Go back to sleep," I mumbled groggily, not wanting to wake up but already conscious. I felt sun on my face and immediately threw my arm over my eyes, not wanting to be blinded. I yanked my arm away from Hinata-chan and she fell back, surprised by my sudden movement. I felt my body move on its own accord, rushing to Hinata-chan before she hit the tatami mat. "Are you okay, Hinata-chan? I'm sorry," I apologized before I felt her laugh in my arms.
"I'm fine, I always am," she assured me before glancing to the doorway, bringing my attention to a furious looking Hyuuga Hiashi. I gulped convulsively as Hinata-chan grinned evilly. "You aren't," she smirked lightly as she got to her feet gracefully before she stepped close to her father.
"Ah, Naruto. You're awake I see," Haishi choked out, trying to remain polite, if only to uphold his reputation.
"Hai, Hiashi-sama. Thank you for letting me stay the night. I appreciate it," I thanked the man, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. I could tell that I had done a poor job however; Hinata coughed to hide a smile and Hiashi's featureless eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"Consider it a favor I owed your father." Haishi spun on his heel and strode out the room, ending the conversation and leaving Hina-chan and I looking surprised at his remark. Hinata-chan turned to me with questions in her lavender eyes. I shrugged them off and glanced around the room.
The Hyuuga living room was a mess- evidence from our sleepover with Neji and Tenten. I looked to Neji, still asleep on the couch, and winced. The boy resembled the future Kazekage's brother, Kankuro; his face was mercilessly drawn on by none other than Tenten, the future weapons mistress of the Leaf. I glanced in the china cabinet and my mouth fell open in horror. There, in thick black marker, were the words 'Naruto looooovvesss Hina-chan' across my forehead. I struggled to make words, my young instincts kicking in as my body went on shutdown.
"Wha- When- But, I- Is it?" I found my sentences incoherent, even for a six year old, so I turned to Hinata-chan who grimaced obligingly.
"Sorry, Naruto-kun. I couldn't stop Tenten… I was only going to use lipstick, she felt like using permanent marker. At least you don't have it on your arms too, I couldn't stop Ten-chan with Neji-san." Hinata glanced back at her cousin, a quiet regret in her eyes. I walked closer to Neji, wanting to see the damage for myself. Writing traveled up and down his arms and face, the print surprisingly legible for a six year old's hand. There were many variation of the message, but it all boiled down that 'Neji looooovvesss Tenten-chan'. I winced sympathetically before turning to Hinata-chan.
"That's in marker, isn't it?"
"I'm afraid so. Ten-chan's lucky Neji didn't wake up yet, he's going to freak out…" Hinata drifted off as Tenten appeared staggering in the doorway.
"Hina-sama, why are up and Naruto-san up so early?" She whined. I glanced out of the window to watch the sun just starting to appear over Hokage Mountain. I felt the familiar moment of confusion staring at the monument, only seeing four instead of six.
"It isn't that early, Tenten. I live with an ANBU captain, this is nothing," I kept a yawn from my retort as Tenten glanced guiltily over at Neji.
"Oh- um, oops," the girl said, glancing at his skin.
"Oops is right," Hina-chan smirked. "Especially because Naruto-kun and I are going out for ramen now. Have fun explaining that to Neji-san," she held back an evil chuckle as she grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the door.
"Wait- Hina-chan! I'm not even dressed yet!" I shouted towards the Hyuuga heiress, my words falling on deaf ears.
"Too bad, I'd rather not be here when Neji-kun wakes up. He might not have been as bad now as he was during the Chuunin exams, but he had a very selective sense of humor," Hinata-chan glanced back at the quickly disappearing house with a worried light in her eyes. She's so cute when she's worried, I thought, smiling against my will. Instead of Hina-chan hitting me, something I expected, she smiled brightly in my direction. "Thank you."
"For?" In response, Hinata shook her kimono ever so slightly, the yellow and gray ink flashing in the muted sunlight. "Oh, yeah… I forgot about that," again, I added mentally. I thought back to the countless times that tattoo seal had come in handy; during each and every battle, Hina-chan and I were able to read each other's thoughts and emotions, allowing us to work in harmony much smoother than the enemy had expected. Until she had become pregnant, Hinata-chan and I had driven away droves of enemy ninja and even samurai, just by our seamless attacks.
"You always forgot about it when it wasn't the first thing on your mind." Hinata-chan smiled as she shifted her hand, now holding mine instead of dragging me by the wrist.
"I was a busy man," I defended half-heartedly. It wasn't that I had pushed Hinata-chan away from my mind, there were simply too many people- villagers and ninjas alike- who found themselves in my care. It was during those minutes that I had grown a solid respect from my predecessors, the former Hokage who had fought in the Great Shinobi Wars, as I found myself in the largest war since the time of the Sage of Six Paths.
"I know , Naruto-kun. I know that you had your hands full. I'm proud of you, of how long we managed to keep Konoha together."
"Too bad it wouldn't stay together," I responded sadly. Hina-chan looked up into my eyes and pulled me into a tight hug.
"It'll be different this time, Naru-kun. I promise." I love you, Naruto-kun, I heard my Hinata-chan's voice over our empathic link. I smiled before responding in kind, adding my own bit as I took note of my surroundings.
I love you too, Hina-chan. Always and everywhere… Did you feel the ANBU in that tree? About six yards, two o'clock?
Yeah, he's been there for a while… How much do you think he heard? Hinata's worried thoughts drifted their way to my mind, which I accepted and deliberated.
It's hard to say… We'll know if were taken to the Sandaime, I guess. I mean, we should probably tell him at some point… It'd be weird if we were stronger than everyone else in the Rookie 9
Not necessarily. I'm a Hyuuga, we're trained to be prodigies. Even last time, when Father hated me, I was still trained to the fullest. After all, it wouldn't do to have a weak Main House Hyuuga. With you, you live with the famous Sharingan Kakashi. I'm sure that Sarutobi-sama wouldn't think too much of it, Hinata-chan reasoned.
Still, we've just been talking about a different time period. I think that might catch the old man's eye, if not Danzo's.
Forget Danzo, the ANBU is still there. We have to act like we don't see him.
"Oh, Hinata-chan! I just remembered! Kakashi told me to say hello to Hiashi-sama when I saw him. Could you tell him?"
"S-sure thing, Naruto-kun," Hina-chan struggled to stammer in an attempt to bring back the former Hyuuga heiress.
"Thanks, Hinata! Are you hungry? Kakashi took me to this great place last week. They had the best food I've eaten in my life!" I tried to be the idiot I acted like back in my childhood. Hinata-chan coughed daintily to hide a smirk.
"O-okay N-Naruto-kun," Hinata-chan tried to giggle innocently before doing a handless technique I knew well. Jiko hozen no Jutsu! She thought, her eyes rolling back into her head as she hit the ground in a faint.
The Jiko Hozen technique was one that I myself had created. Before I had been made Hokage, I needed to find Sasuke-teme; I had made a promise to Sakura-san that I intended to keep. I hoped, perhaps foolishly, that Sasuke-teme would come back to Konoha after he satisfied his bloodlust, killing Hebi-teme's remaining henchmen. Needless to say, that idea proved false. However, with a little help from Shikamaru, I found a way to infiltrate Sasuke's main base, still hidden in Rice Country; as a dead body. I used the Jiko Hozen, adding more chakra so that it suited my needs, and fell into a deep sleep, seemingly dead with no signs of a heartbeat or breathing. I was slipped through security in a body bag; Sasuke, being the arrogant bastard that he was, needed proof of my death. Unfortunately, I woke up a moment too soon. I had to fight my way of the teme's main base, starting in the center, four levels below ground.
Either way, for better or worse, the Jiko Hozen was created. I watched as Hinata used my own technique to throw off the ANBU, still hiding. I smirked lightly and threw my young mate over my shoulder and turned on my heel, heading back to the Hyuuga compound.