Most of the council looked a little shocked, watching a twelve year old jounin say he's engaged.
"Who are you marrying and when can I tell her congratulations?" Tori asked, the first to recover. Hiashi, much to my relief, took pity.
"He's marrying my eldest daughter, Hinata. Have you told her yet, Naruto?" he asked, turning to me.
"Did I mention I've been in Wave for the past two weeks? And that I just got back today? And then had to come here?" I asked, the questions somewhat rhetorical and somewhat sarcastic.
"So? I want to congratulate her!" Tori shouted. I winced before remembering that she didn't get to have her white wedding, her children's father acting as my spy. "Ooh, do you think she'll let me help plan her wedding?" she went on. After a while I began to tone her out.
"Hey, Tori? Where are Fugaku and Tera?" I asked, noticing the lack of twins. Tori nodded, her eyes lighting up.
"They're with Hinata! Let's go! You need to propose!" she shouted, dragging me by the wrist. I briefly wondered if all kunoichi suffered from dual personalities.
Hey, Hina-chan? Get ready for Tori; she's a little… excited, I warned. Hinata's emotions displayed confusion and I felt her digging around my mind, finding my most recent memories.
You're proposing now? We're twelve, she thought, trying to hide her happiness and excitement at my announcement. Wait, you talked to my father? When?
About two months ago. Right after we got team assignments. Anyway, watch out; Tori never had her white wedding. She wants to plan yours'. I'm pretty sure she's deciding what flowers to order,I decided, studying the Uchiha's face. Tori was nineteen, a mother of twins, and a chuunin instructor, but she couldn't keep the happiness off her features. Not for long.
"So who knows? Does Kakashi? Stupid question, Kakashi is part of the council… Does Sasuke know? What about Sakura? Am I allowed to tell Sasuke?" Her questions flew in and out of my ears, blurring until I couldn't recognize words, only general impressions.
"Slow down, Tori; guys can't think that fast," I said, closing my eyes as I walked through the street back to the noble district. We sped past the Uchiha compound and my own property, going directly to the Hyuuga compound. The man at the gate smiled, recognizing both of us and let us in.
We walked up the path towards the Main house. About to walk in the front door I stopped, hearing a shout behind us.
"Kaasan!" a voice shouted. Tori, in a well practiced movement, spun around and braced herself before she was tackled to the ground by two children.
"Why- did I have children?" she asked me, laughing breathlessly and pried Tera off of her mother, holding her up.
"I don't think you really planned them," I said, lifting Tera in my arms. Fugaku immediately shouted his complaints so I shifted Tera to one arm and held out my other to Itachi's son.
"Naruto-oniisan, I missed you," Tera exclaimed, hugging my arm tightly. I laughed easily.
"Tera-chan, Naruto is a big ninja. He's not going to be here to play with you all the time," Tori reminded her daughter. Tera looked up at her mother with wide obsidian eyes and Tori sighed, defeated once again by the infamously powerful puppy dog eyes. With Tera, it was almost as powerful as her father's Sharingan.
I had just put Fugaku and Tera down when I was tackled to the ground. Tori and her children laughed as they watched the breath get pushed from my lungs as Hina-chan sat up on my chest. Seeing her pale eyes smiling, blushing ever so slightly, I grinned.
"Hello to you too," I said, chuckling. "Are you comfortable because I'd rather not be like this when your father comes home," I pointed out. Hinata-chan jumped off my without another word, the blush increasing intensity.
"Um… Hello, Naruto-kun," she smiled shyly. I rolled my eyes.
"Do you want to go out for lunch? My treat," I offered. Tori's eyes laughed smugly as Hina-chan nodded. "Tori, don't you think you should take these two home?"
Tori almost growled at my dismissal but put on a cheerful face for her kids.
"Naruto's right; let's go home and get something to eat. Maybe we can play ninja," she suggested, distracting her children as Hina-chan and I slipped away. We had just reached the main gate when I ran into Hiashi.
"Oh, hello Hiashi-sama," I greeted. "I was just going to take Hina-chan out to lunch."
"All right," he said sounding a little suspicious. The man had warmed up to me after having me around so much, even more so after my promotion, but he still wasn't sure how to behave around me. "Don't be too long, Hinata. You're making good progress but you still have some training left," he said before nodding at his daughter and vanishing into the compound.
We walked to Ichiraku Ramen, our usual lunch date location. Spotting us, Teuchi smiled and put down a bowl of miso ramen for me and a bowl of pork ramen for Hinata-chan. I smiled at the man, saying hello.
"So, word on the street is that you two are-"
"Ixnay," I coughed loudly, smiling tensely. Teuchi took the hint and turned to his ramen.
"Naruto-kun, do you want to spar? I've been training the pack with Kiba," Hina-chan said, blowing on her ramen as I ignored the temperature. Hardly able to breathe, let alone speak, through the noodles, I nodded. Swallowing, I coughed.
"You're on," I accepted the challenge. She looked at me pointedly, sending her thoughts across the seal.
Mortal foxes only. I still haven't seen the fox council.
We'll do that soon.
"I'm being sent out on a solo mission soon. I might need a tracking team's help," I hinted. Hina-chan smiled, rolling her eyes.
"Who are you looking for?"
"Tsunade; I can't take that relationship around from Sakura," I explained, shrugging. Hina-chan smiled and looked at her ramen. I could tell from her thoughts that she was wondering how I'd propose this time around. I couldn't exactly recreate the first scene.
~Flashback~
Flames reflected on the water, the burning Akatsuki base fading from sight as it hid in the smoke. Turning to Hina-chan, I saw her breathing heavily, splattered with blood, and clearly exhausted. I'd never seen anything more beautiful.
"Marry me?" I said, still gazing at her. She looked at me, confusion then joy crossing her pale eyes. She nodded, her eyes watering. I wiped her tears as the base collapsed into the sea behind us.
~End Flashback~
That was completely spontaneous, I said, chuckling. Hina-chan closed her eyes, remembering our last wedding, the memory filling my own head as the connection strengthened.
It had been a small affair, being in the middle of a war, but nothing raises morale like a wedding. It was not a traditional wedding. I was not wearing the Hokage robes; Hina-chan was not wearing a white kimono. We both wore bloodstained jounin gear. Gaara had presided over the quick ceremony, just as I had for his and Matsuri's wedding weeks before.
There had been too much bloodshed for anyone to really cry but there were a long line of well-wishers and congratulators. Sakura was the only one to cry, remembering what she might have had with Sasuke.
Sitting now, eating ramen with Hina-chan, I smiled knowing that, this time, the wedding was going to be different if Tori had anything to do with it.
Our food paid for, Hina-chan and I ran to the Forest of Death, not racing but enjoying the speed and each other's company. Approaching my clearing, I paused, hearing someone there. I held a finger to my lips and signaled for Hinata to stay behind. She shook her head furiously and whipped out a kunai, twirling it dangerously. Sighing, defeated, I nodded and walked slowly closer to the clearing.
From my vantage point, I saw blue electricity envelope a certain raven haired boy's arm. I groaned, knowing I'd have to beat Kakashi up again. I ushered Hinata-chan forward and we walked into the clearing.
"Sasuke," I started pleasantly. My voice immediately darkened as I activated akuma no me. "Give me one reason I shouldn't Hiraishin to Kakashi and kill him where he stands?"
"Because he didn't teach it to me, I copied it," he said, turning around and showing me his own red eyes- two tomoe.
"When did you activate it?"
"I think I got it during that last spar in Wave. I came back to the bridge after you woke me up and could actually see all of you moving."
"Why didn't you tell me? I could've helped you strengthen it," I said, feeling a little hurt.
"Don't you remember that spar? You cracked my femur. I wasn't very happy at you," he scoffed. I nodded, conceding. Sasuke looked behind me, noticing Hina-chan. "Did you-"
"We were going to spar, but if you're here we can go somewhere else. It's a big forest," I said, my eyes moving back and forth. Sasuke's Sharingan picked up the movement and he nodded ever so slightly.
"No it's okay, this was always your clearing," he began, taking a step away.
"Yeah but this is the only clearing you know the way out of. I know a different spot, a few hundred yards east that'll work. Oh, if you hear explosions, don't freak out."
"Same to you," Sasuke said, nodding at his arm. I smiled sympathetic, remembering the damage learning Chidori had done to me. I stepped forward and applied a little medical ninjutsu to his wrist, strengthening the muscles and bone so they wouldn't get damaged easily. "Thanks," he said.
I was turning around when I saw a blue flash as Sasuke charged up his Chidori, rushing a tree. Just before he hit the tree, the electricity vanished. Sasuke jumped up onto the tree to avoid hitting it face first.
"Oi, Sasuke! Try to focus your chakra in your fingertips and knuckles; it makes the chakra easier to gather and stabilize," I suggested, forming a Chidori in my right hand, raising my hand so Sasuke could see. He studied my arm before nodding and turning back to his tree. He charged up his own arm and rushed the tree, the jutsu holding. With a crack, he pushed through the tree and it fell behind him. Hinata-chan nodded at the Uchiha, a small smile on her face.
"He's learning it quickly," she commented. I nodded and reached my hand out to her. She grabbed my hand tightly and we dashed into the trees, hand in hand.
This clearing was smaller than the other, only about twenty yards in diameter in a nearly perfect circle. The grass was dotted with small boulders and young trees, making the terrain more difficult for training. The ground was uneven and rocky, a good challenge for anyone who had come to spar.
I went through seals, summoning two mortal foxes to spar alongside me. Hinata-chan thought about who she should summon before flying through the seals and slamming her palm on the sparse grass.
A puff of smoke rose in front of each of us. I had summoned Koyuki and Domino. Domino was a large fox with pure black fur except for a circular patch of white over his left eye, inspiring his name. He nodded at me respectfully as Koyuki jumped to my shoulder.
"So what are we doing today?" she asked, her tail curling around my neck. I pointed at Hina-chan, now flanked by two foxes of her own. One was a smoke grey vixen with sky blue streaks running down her sides. The other was as dark as Domino; another vixen with piercing yellow eyes. Both glanced at Koyuki on my shoulder before resting their eyes on my whisker marks and bowing their heads simultaneously.
"Naruto-sama," each said quietly. I smiled.
"It's nice to meet you," I smiled, kneeling down to greet the foxes. The grey glanced at Hina-chan who nodded encouragingly before walking towards me. The black vixen stood glanced around herself before stepping towards me cautiously.
"My name is Yonaka," the black vixen announced. She glanced at the grey vixen at her side. "This is Haiiro."
"Yonaka-chan, I can introduce myself," she said nervously, reminding me of the old Hyuuga Hinata. "H-hello, Naruto-sama."
"Hello, Haiiro-chan, Yonaka-chan. Hinata-chan speaks highly of you two," I said, still smiling. The two vixens glanced at Hina-chan who simply shrugged.
"So what are we doing here?" Koyuki repeated, flicking her tail to get my attention. Hina-chan answered.
"I challenged Naruto-kun to a spar to show him how strong we are," she explained. Koyuki purred into my neck, analyzing the two vixens and my mate. Domino walked around Yonaka in a circle, studying her. I whistled and he stopped, watching me as I Shunshined to the other side of the clearing and waved to him. He jumped to join us and I began to lay down a strategy.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Hina-chan?" I called across the clearing. She scoffed as she and her summons shifted their weight, poised to attack. I nodded at her offensive pose and shifted into my warau akuma pose. Koyuki leaned back, ready to begin her ice assault. I pulled a scroll and tossed it to Domino, who opened the storage scroll. He glanced at the seals before picking his weapon of choice, a curved scimitar. He curled his tail around the hilt and took up a kunai in his mouth, nodding to me that he was ready.
Hinata looked impressed at Domino's control. She reached into her jacket, pulling out a scroll just as I had, handing it to Yonaka. Yonaka grinned as she unsealed metal claws that fit over her front paws perfectly. Even at this distance, I could see her flex her paw and grin at Domino, leaning forward as she prepared to pounce.
"Your count," I offered. She nodded.
"Three… Two-" She was interrupted by a flurry of movement, quickly approaching the clearing. Ignoring our current spar, I dashed in front of Hinata, Koyuki and Domino at my heels. I concentrated chakra to my fist and punched the ground, sending a jagged fault line towards the trees. The ninja saw the fissure and jumped to avoid it. I leapt towards him, a blur in the forest. Holding a kunai at his throat, I recognized the ninja.
"Kiba! What the hell are you doing here?" I shouted, removing the kunai from his neck. I grabbed him by the hood, Akamaru barking in protest, and dragged him to the clearing. Hinata looked just as surprised to see him.
"Watch it," he growled, feeling his throat before glancing at the gathered foxes. "You summon foxes too?" he asked me. Hinata nodded as I began to speak.
"I'm the holder of the contract. I was the one that let Hinata-chan sign it," I said. Koyuki jumped to my shoulder and I smiled. "I don't know if your mother told me who I really am. Did she tell you yet, Kiba?"
"She told me," he said, shrugging. "Teuchi-san told me you were going to spar. I didn't think he was talking about the Forest of Death… What are you doing here?"
"We were about to spar," Hinata-chan said, pointing at the battle ready foxes. I coughed.
"I think Kiba was asking why we weren't sparring in one of the other training grounds. This forest is infamously dangerous," I clarified. Turning to Kiba, I narrowed my eyes slightly. "Why are you here, Kiba? I'm here because I don't want to trash any of the grounds other people use. Sasuke's here learning an extremely dangerous jutsu, one of Kakashi's original. Hinata-chan is here to be my sparring partner and so I can show her the jutsu I've designed for foxes."
"You made-"
"Yes I did. I've been the holder of the contract for over four years, don't ask how I got it. Some of them are similar to Inuzuka jutsu but they are all a little different or my originals. You're avoiding the question. Why are you here?"
If I didn't know Kiba, I would've sworn he blushed. He began to mumble incoherently and I rolled my eyes. I turned to Domino and dismissed him, Koyuki staying on my shoulder. Hina-chan dismissed both of her summons before turning back to me.
"I guess sparring is out," she said. Kiba looked ready to either protest or apologize but I shrugged.
"It's okay, I still have Haku and Zabuza at my house. Do you two want to meet them? You'll be seeing them a lot; both are officially Konoha shinobi courtesy of the village council."
"Sure," Hinata-chan smiled brightly. "You still owe me a tour, you didn't get to show me around the compound last time I came over."
Kiba agreed grudgingly. I walked over to Hina-chan, offering her my hand. Kiba brightened when she shook her head, wanting to race. I glanced over at Kiba, much slower than either of us.
"How about we race back to Sasuke? We can see if he's done with the Chidori yet," I offered. Hinata-chan and Kiba both nodded and we all got ready to run.
Hinata-chan threw the race, getting last place while I kept up with Kiba, pulling ahead in the last few yards. Finding Sasuke passed out, I checked his vitals.
"He's okay," I decided. "He's chakra is pretty low. I'll let him heal from this the normal way. If I use the getaway technique to much, it won't be as effective when we need it," I explained, lifting Sasuke onto my back. His head rolled onto my shoulder, his eyes closed. Kiba nodded and the three of us ran back to the gates.
Like always, I jumped over it. Hinata-chan walked over to the gap and slipped through quietly for Kiba's sake. Kiba followed the Hyuuga through the fence and ran to catch up as Hinata-chan and I jogged slowly towards the village.
I led the two through the noble district, stopping at my gate. I deactivated the seal on the gates and walked in, leaving them unlocked behind me. I walked straight to Namikaze Manor, Kiba's jaw dropping as his eyes took in all three stories, mentally counting the rooms and the size of the grounds surrounding the house. I strode to the porch, kicking my front door open.
Kiba and Hina-chan followed me as I went straight to the primary living room. Opening the door, I saw Haku and Zabuza sitting on the sofa playing cards over the coffee table. I walked to the smaller loveseat and put Sasuke down gently before turning back to the former missing-nin.
"Guess how amazing I am," I challenged. Haku's eyes lit up with hope. Zabuza scoffed, telling me to cut it out. "Fine, don't apologize to the guy who just cleared your status as missing-nin, got you Konoha citizenship, and the chance to become Leaf shinobi," I said, chuckling. Kiba snickered as Haku flew over to me, tackling me in a hug so forcefully I almost lost my balance and fell backwards. Zabuza stood and lazily gave me a guy hug- an action much more dignified than actually hugging, no matter what Hinata-chan and Haku said.
"Anyway," I began, sitting next to Hinata-chan on the couch opposite Zabuza and Haku, leaving Kiba in the armchair. "You guys are invited to live in the Namikaze compound for as long as you want. You don't need to if you do want to- I'm sure you could find an apartment somewhere- but my door's always open to you guys," I offered. Haku smiled, a little more controlled now, and nodded excitedly. Zabuza pretended to think about it until Haku punched him in the ribs. Gasping for air, he agreed.
"Hello, Zabuza-san, Haku-chan," Hinata-chan said, holding out her hand. "I've heard so much about you two from Naruto-kun," she smiled, blushing slightly. Zabuza looked at her up and down before accepting her handshake.
"You must be Hyuuga Hinata," he said, noting her pale eyes. He leaned back comfortably while Hina-chan introduced herself to Haku. "Who are you?" he asked, looking at Kiba. I answered for him.
"This is Inuzuka Kiba. He is one of Hinata-chan's teammates. He helped her get her pack together while I was away from Konoha," I explained. Zabuza nodded once as Haku offered Kiba her hand with a friendly smile.
"So you guys are going to be Konoha nin? Do you know what rank?" Hinata asked, looking at me. I shrugged.
"They'll probably start Zabuza as a jounin and Haku as a high genin or low chuunin. Do you have a preference, Haku?"
"I think I'd rather start as genin," she said, thinking. I made a mental note to talk to Hiruzen while I turned to Kiba.
"I'm going to need your help Kiba," I said. He stared at me, confusion in his eyes.
"With what?" he asked suspiciously. I chuckled at his distrust in me.
"It's nothing bad, I swear. I've been meaning to throw a party but never really got around to it between training and the mission to Wave. I want you to tell everyone from our Academy class and their jounin sensei. We have a few things to celebrate properly," I said, smiling at Hinata-chan, something that did not go unnoticed by Kiba.
"Like what?"
"First, my promotion to jounin. We never had a party for that. Second, Team Seven's first C-rank mission, even though it did turn A-rank. Third, welcoming Haku and Zabuza into Konoha. Fourth, I really feel like throwing a party," I said, chuckling at the end. Kiba looked assuaged and nodded, accepting the task. "Thanks, I owe you one."
"Nah, I like partying," Kiba shook his head, not realizing what he was turning down. "Besides, if you invite people, no cute girls will show up." I raised an eyebrow.
"Did I mention the pool out back?" I asked, waving for them to follow me as I walked towards the back door. I opened the door nonchalantly, revealing the back yard. The back porch was small, just enough space for a table and a few chairs before the stairs connected it to the patio. The patio was red brick dotted with blue green slate slabs. There were a few tables lined against one side of the patio, leaving open space in the center. Opposite the porch, a huge pool was laid in the ground, a built in Jacuzzi making its home in one corner of the pool. I watched, grinning, as Kiba's jaw hit the ground and his eyes widened in surprise. Hinata-chan didn't freak out, she skipped forward, Koyuki jumping off of my shoulder after her.
My mate touched the water with one hand, testing the temperature before taking off her shoes and putting her feet in the water. Kiba recovered as I stood next to him, both of us watching Hinata-chan get into a water war with my favorite mortal fox.
"What was that about no girls showing up?" I said, lightly smacking Kiba's shoulder. He didn't move, only watched Hina-chan as she laughed, almost pushed into the water by Koyuki. Koyuki grinned and shook her fur, spraying Hinata-chan.
"Okay," Kiba eventually coughed. "I was wrong. You need to have a party. When are you thinking?"
"Tonight or tomorrow night. Everyone's in Konoha for the next few days," I smiled, turning away from Hinata-chan and stepping just inside the house. I grabbed two towel from one of the closets and brought both down to the patio, draping them over a chair for Hinata-chan and Koyuki when they were finished.
"Thanks, Naruto-kun," my mate laughed over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of me as she tried to defend herself from Koyuki.
"No problem. We're going back to the living room," I called back, grabbing Kiba and pushing him through the door, ignoring his protests. "Come on, Kiba, don't make me hurt you," I growled teasingly. Kiba scoffed but let me push him back to Zabuza and Haku. I heard Zabuza shout and I sighed, knowing what to expect when we entered the room. Kiba's head shot up at the sound.
"Shouldn't we hurry up?"
"Nah, that was just Haku teaching Zabuza some manners or something like that," I shrugged, opening the door. As I expected, Haku stood over Zabuza, senbon in hand and a foot on his chest, keeping him down. "Okay, Haku; don't kill him. What did he do this time?"
"What makes you think I did anything?" Zabuza shouted, indignant. I raised my eyebrow and he scoffed. "She started it."
"And she ended it," Kiba chuckled nervously noticing the senbon in Haku's hand.
"Didn't I make some house rules before I left you two here?" I asked tiredly. Haku smirked, her hand not falling.
"Yes. You said no jutsu, swordfights, or training inside or around the house. You never said anything about senbon," she said, narrowing her eyes at the Demon of the Bloody Mist.
"Okay, new rule," I announced. "No senbon, ice senbon, or poison inside or around my house. Better?" I asked, not sure who I was talking to. Haku sighed before taking her foot off of the man, pocketing her senbon. "Thank you."
Just as I finished telling Haku why she shouldn't try to kill Zabuza, Hinata-chan walked in, her clothes soaked and her face bright red. Koyuki was walking next to her, her fur still damp.
"We kinda fell in…" Hina-chan said sheepishly, making me laugh. Kiba glared at me, probably for making him miss that. I almost glared at myself.
"That's okay, I think some of my mom's old stuff will fit you," I said, still laughing. Hina-chan smiled shyly and I grabbed her wrist, leading her into my bedroom closet. I hadn't yet gotten around to cleaning it out yet so most of the clothes were just sealed into scrolls so I could fit my stuff inside. I looked through the scrolls, finding one of my mother's clothing that I recognized. "I'm pretty sure something in there will fit. We'll leave so you can change," I said, once again pulling Kiba away.
We were sitting on the couches, just talking, when Hina-chan came back. Her old outfit gone, she now wore a deep red kimono with white sakura petals embroidered close to the hem. Her dark hair was tied into a ponytail, still wet. I smiled and nodded, catching Kiba's attention. He took one look at her and fell back with a nosebleed. It was only then I noticed that the kimono was not exactly up to her neck like most Hyuuga robes. I laughed in the Inuzuka's expense before smiling at Hina-chan.
"You look beautiful," I said, trying to keep my twelve year old vocal chords from cracking. Hina-chan blushed slightly and smiled, walking over to me. She glanced at Kiba.
"Kiba," she sighed tiredly. "He just doesn't know when to quit. I already told him to back off."
"Hina-chan, guys are idiots. They either are oblivious or don't care what the girl thinks. Kiba falls into the second category," I hinted, glancing at the genin. I groaned- he was getting blood on the white couch he had fallen onto. "If that stains, I'm going to hurt him."
"It's not his fault he's a stupid, perverted, stubborn, … What were we talking about?" Hina-chan asked, chuckling as she moved the Inuzuka so he wasn't bleeding on my furniture. I sighed.
"How am I going to explain your clothes when I take you to your father?" I asked, knowing how Hiashi would respond, even if we were engaged to be engaged.
"The truth? We didn't do anything wrong," she shrugged.
"Yes, I left you with a fox beside a pool. Hiashi will believe that," I said, rolling my eyes. Hinata-chan shrugged.
"Take Koyuki with you. Konoha needs to get used to foxes again; a mortal fox is the best way to start," she reasoned. I thought about it and nodded, looking at the fox.
"You're doing all the talking. I was inside with Kiba," I reminded her. She pouted but nodded, paying me back by jumping onto my shoulder, still wet. "Very mature. Okay, let's get you and Kiba home," I said, picking up the unconscious ninja as Hinata-chan said goodbye to Zabuza and hugged Haku.
"I'll see you later," she promised. Haku smiled; Zabuza grumbled a reply, standing and heading towards the kitchen. Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I opened the front door for Hina-chan and she smiled as she stepped through the doorway. I closed the door behind me, the latch clicking almost inaudibly as the door shut.
We walked side by side and hand in hand as we walked the now familiar path back to society, leaving the silence behind as I closed the outer gate, entering the busy street.
We dropped Kiba off, neglecting the exact details of why he was unconscious. Tsume glared at me when I mentioned the party but allowed Kiba to come. Getting the door nearly slammed in my face, I turned away from the house, meeting Hinata-chan in the front lawn. I didn't say a word about Tsume's behavior, not wanting Hinata-chan to turn around and beat up the Inuzuka clan head.
Passing the Hyuuga gate, the woman at guard looked at Hina-chan's kimono, the vibrant color looking out of place in the pale color scheme of the Hyuuga compound. Ignoring the occasional stares, we made our way to the main house, Koyuki on my shoulder. I was about to knock on the door when Hinata-chan stepped in front of me, opening the door and ushering me inside. I spotted Hiashi walking down the hallway towards us and I signaled Hinata. She nodded and started talking.
"That's good; Father says my training is almost done," she began, alerting me to the topic we were supposed to be continuing. I glanced down the hall again.
"Hiashi-sama, there you are," I smiled, bowing my head. "I'm sorry we took so long, we ran into one of Hinata-chan's teammates who wanted to hang out with us so we all went back to my house," I said, smiling sheepishly. Hiashi narrowed his eyes at Hina-chan's dress, ready to comment before Hinata-chan cut in.
"Naruto-kun is having a party to celebrate his promotion and Team Seven's first C-rank mission. Can I go?" she asked, her pale eyes wide and begging. Hiashi must have been stubborn about her clothing, not even her expression- one that Kyuubi referred to as her vixen eyes- could distract him.
"What happened to your clothes?" He asked. I could tell he was trying not to narrow his eyes at me. Hinata-chan's face reddened.
"I fell in the pool," she said sheepishly. Hiashi's eyebrows raised in disbelief and Koyuki elaborated.
"I apologize, Hiashi-sama. It was my fault that your daughter fell into the pool," she said clearly. Hiashi, despite his status as clan head of the elite Hyuuga clan, jumped at the talking fox.
"It wasn't your fault, Koyuki-chan," Hina-chan protested. "You fell in too."
"But you can't shake yourself dry," Koyuki pointed out before turning to Hiashi. "It was my fault, please do blame Naruto-sama or Hinata-sama. Naruto was a gentlemen, lending Hinata-sama his mother's kimono while her clothes dry."
Hiashi looked at his daughter, who nodded, before turning to me and sighing. He shook his head tiredly and looked at me.
"Hinata, go to your room. Naruto, follow me. And bring that fox," he added as an afterthought. Koyuki fumed silently at being referred to as 'that fox'. Hinata-chan bowed her head, her thoughts laughing with mine. I nodded and Hiashi led the way to a small library. He sat in a chair and folded his hands in his lap, motioning for me to take the chair opposite him. "Naruto. I trust I'm correct in thinking that you wish my daughter no harm, but you must act with her reputation in mind. Personally, she can behave as she wants when she bears your name. Until that happy event, you must remember that each and every thing she does reflects on the Hyuuga name. She is the eldest child of the Main house, she must act as such. I can't have her coming home wearing someone else's clothing, no matter how honorably it was received. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly, sir. I did not lend her my mother's kimono to damage her reputation. Under the circumstances, I thought it best to return her to you before it got dark, especially since you had mentioned training her further," I said, trying not to be disrespectful to my future father in law.
"You seem to be rather interested in her training; may I ask why?" he asked. I shrugged my shoulders, smiling minutely.
"I'm not going to lie: I am not well liked in this world. If those I am close to are strong, they are better suited to defend themselves against those who want to harm me through them. If your daughter is able to protect herself, I'm sure that both you and I will sleep better at night. Also, our wedding will not be until she is a chuunin, as we agreed. If Hinata-chan grows stronger, that happy event, as you put it, will be sooner rather than later."
My words seemed to be chosen well; Hiashi smiled slightly and stood from his chair. I leapt to my feet and walked, half a step behind him, towards the front door. Nodding at me, he said his goodbyes, vanishing into the house before I could return the courtesy.
Not sure what to do, I began to walk back to my house, the Hyuuga compound and its residents disappearing behind me.