Chapter 1

It was nothing other than a fatal physical attraction. Naruto realized this months later after it had happened.

She was gorgeous. A special person, both to him and his late best friend.

He wasn't sure what his delusional intention had been as he had pinned her against a tree after returning her kiss. Her lips against his had created a sensualized feeling within him. A severe want and lust guided his behavior and action, and that influence had come from Kyubi who technically shared his body and insinuated it wasn't that big of a deal to give in.

But Naruto disagreed, and had taken a step back, away from her, as she had been unaware of his inner demon, literally.

An uncomfortable realization had set in of what he had just done. He had betrayed Hinata's trust and was unable to keep a simple promise to Neji.

He was supposed to protect it, not destroy them.

"I'm sorry Hinata," Naruto had said. The look in his eyes was a greater teller of what his apology meant. Panic quickly turned to dread, and he realized why he also felt so bad. And it never occurred to him that he would be the reason she would cry. But he had his reasons. Just as she felt for him, Naruto felt for another. He was sure Hinata had known this, yet she still pursued him-no, it was his fault. He shouldn't have led her for so long. But having Hinata in his life was kind of an escape from the pain and guilt that had consumed him after Neji's sacrifice. When he was around her, he was able to be okay with being alive because she was the reason he was there. When he would see her smile, he felt he knew what Neji had meant, thus he wanted to protect that. It was their promise.

Naruto got out of bed, his mind swirling with thoughts of what he had to do or work on to save their friendship. He would make it up to her.

Months had gone by since then, enough time for him to confidently get back into the groove of wanting to keep the promise. He decided today he would dive deep into Hyuga literature and learn more about her clan. If he helps her achieve one of her dreams, perhaps she may forgive him.

"Alright, let's do this!"

Sometimes Shikamaru got the feeling that his mother enjoyed performing clan duties, the administrating kind, a little too much.

"Are you sure you don't mind finishing the contract on my behalf?" Shikamaru asked. When he became Kakashi's assistance, his duties took up a lot of his time, thus his mother took it upon herself to keep busy in the clan by taking on some of his duties which once used to be performed by his late father.

"Shika, it's fine. You have a big role, you're helping in nurturing the next Hokage. Your father would've been so proud that you were chosen."

"See you later mom,"

"Mhm, no go!" She shoo him away from her office and went back to the paperwork before her. He closed the door behind him with a smile before taking off.

When he arrived at the Hokage tower, Shikamaru beelined to the office he shared with Naruto. His task at the time was to help Naruto study history and political subjects.

He found Naruto in his usual spot, sitting behind a desk. Shikamaru didn't take offense that his friend didn't look up from the book to greet him.

The cautious look in Naruto's eyes didn't suit him, as he squinted and glared at certain passages from the textbook. This piqued his interest since he couldn't fathom what subject would have Naruto so immersed in literature. Shikamaru settled behind his desk and continued to watch all kinds of emotions transition in Naruto's eyes.

Eventually, Naruto looked as though his life force was being sucked out of him.

Shaking his head, Shikamaru looked away and picked up a scroll from the stack that he had on the side of his desk. He stared off into the written document of importance, his eyes seeing beyond what's in front of him, to travel back to those intense couple of months in which the entire village was in despair. After long months of laborious missions, the village was brought back to an almost uncanny resemblance of what it once was. He remembered being approached by Kakashi soon afterward in regards to joining his team to help train Naruto in academics.

As the only heir, he was entrusted with leading and making all the decisions for his clan. But as a Shinobi, he had been asked to aid in the village's future. His mother, Yoshino saw how overwhelming making a decision was. She offered to help manage the clan while he focused his energy on helping Naruto.

Shikamaru smiled, being part of the team left him feeling proud, as though he had accomplished something his late father would approve of.

Finally acknowledging him, Naruto dropped the book over the desk and motioned him to come over.

"Oi, Shikamaru, come here and look at this."

The closer he got, the more Shikamaru theorized what was going through Naruto's mind. His friend had chosen to study the history of the Hyuga clan. How curious that was. After all, it was just a few months ago that anything concerning the Hyugas was almost a taboo subject when around Naruto.

"So you finally got around to it," Shikamaru said casually as he went around the desk and hovered.

"Am I reading this correctly?" Naruto moved to the side, giving Shikamaru access to the book. He waited and fidgeted, as Shikamaru seemed to take his time to read the passage. However, the shadow user did not understand why Naruto seemed to be so upset over the particular passage.

"Hmm, I'm sure your comprehension isn't an issue."

"It says something about an arranged marriage between cousins…" Pausing, he looked over at Shikamaru as his eyes widened. "Was Neji supposed to marry Hinata?"

"I doubt it." Shikamaru reminded him that Neji used to be a branch member, but his words were not enough to ease Naruto's thoughts.

Getting off his chair, Naruto began to pace about the room. He bit his thumbnail as he wrecked his brain for answers. He was trying to figure out why Hinata had confessed to him a couple of months ago.

If she can't choose whom she marries...then why...? It didn't make any sense in his head.

"There seems to be a way out, but those greedy Hyuga lawmakers made sure to make it troublesome." Shikamaru flipped the pages to a particular section. It stated that the only outsider worthy enough of an heiress was a Kage.

Naruto made a face as he read this over Shikamaru's shoulder.

"Those fucking bastards." Sighing, Naruto leaned against his desk, glancing over at Shikamaru. "Hinata-chan most likely knew this, but kept it from me on purpose." He wondered if Hinata had no choice but to believe in him, so she can escape her fate.

Shikamaru regarded Naruto's statement for a moment before commenting, "I don't know her very well."

He gave Naruto a slight pat on the shoulder as he moved away from his friend. But the young man in front of him seemed angry.

"Damn it...what exactly am I supposed to do to protect her from this?"

"Naruto, isn't it a little too early for this emotional crap?"

"You don't get it at all! She should've told me!" Knowing Hinata, Naruto believed she probably didn't want to burden him with the truth.

"And what difference would that have made?"

"I probably would've married her if it meant saving her from this," He motioned to the word in the book that he couldn't bring himself to say out loud.

Shikamaru didn't know her personally, but he had enough sense to know that's probably not what Hinata Hyuga would've wanted. His friend was an idiot, and he didn't know what to do about that sometimes

Shikamaru was already halfway out the door when he called over his shoulder.

"I'm heading out to get coffee. Do you want some?"

"Naw, I'm okay."

Leaving his friend, and future Hokage, to his thoughts, Shikamaru hung out by the coffee maker located inside the Hokage's office. He took a sip of coffee, his clouded mind becoming clear just by the smell of it.

Peace and quiet.

When he returned inside the room, the blond looked completely defeated.

"Can I really change the Hyuga clan?" He groaned, his body slumped forward over the table.

"There's no use in making the Hyugas an enemy before you even become Hokage. I suggest you keep your radical point of view to yourself, Naruto."

"But why do they do it? Do you know?"

"Whatever their reasons," He sipped his coffee as he leaned back into his chair. "I find a system like that will collapse sooner or later, even if you don't do anything about it."

"Maybe I should wait until the system weakens, and then do something."

"Sounds like treason to me."

"Ugh, you're no fun."

"It's part of my job Naruto, I can't have you starting internal clan wars or revolutions."

"If the dobe wants to change something so badly, I say let him."

Shikamaru didn't react to the newcomer and continued on as if he didn't exist.

The Uchiha was the least pleasant part of this new era of peace. Although his best friend loved to forget what he was put through, Shikamaru never will.

"Oi, Sasuke! I'm trying to study here!"

"Where the hell is Kakashi?" When Sasuke saw that the Hokage's office was empty, he did not bother waiting. Instead, he went to the one person who was likely to know.

"He went to visit the Hyuga clan. He mentioned something about clan stuff-I don't know, I wasn't paying attention." Naruto replied.

Sasuke rolled his eyes at Naruto's choice of words when debriefing.

"How useful." He dropped his mission report in front of Naruto. "Make sure he gets this."

When the last Uchiha left the room, Naruto turned to Shikamaru and raised a brow.

"Shikamaru, when are you going to come around? Sasuke's here to stay, you know."

Shikamaru continued to sip his coffee while reading the important document in his hand. He didn't see the point in reacting to Naruto's words.

"Ne, why is Kakashi-sensei visiting the Hyuga clan?"

"He'll let us know eventually," Shikamaru replied while his eyes remained glued to a piece of paper.

"Do you think he's performing a wellness check on Hinata?"

"Wellness check?" Shikamaru glanced up and raised a brow.

Naruto explained how no one has seen Hinata Hyuga in the last nine or ten months. Rumor has it that she succumbed to depression. Then again, you can't trust the rumors that come from people who had no personal connection with her.

"Naruto, just go visit her if it bothers you that much,"

"I can't. She hates me."

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Updated: 9-24-2021

Added more dialogue. 12-5-2021