Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto Franchise that belongs solely to Masashi Kishimoto; I do not own Heaven's lost Property, High School DxD or any other Anime I borrow themes from. The only thing I claim is my OC's and original Story Plot.


Author's Note (A/N): Hey guys I'm back at it again and this chapter is something else. The penultimate chapter to Naruto's and Hinata's growing relationship is here with the chapter having quite the appropriate title to summarize what this chapter will be about. This chapter is going to explore just how complex and serious Naruto's relationship is going to be with Hinata while diving into the complexities of high society life and the consequences and stipulations that come with it. Naruto learns a lot about not only himself but of Hinata and some other characters around him as a certain level of maturity is developed in Naruto as he makes some life changing decisions for his personal life.

The distribution of character development is distributed equally in this chapter as Hinata gets a slice of the pie in terms of the fact we see several layers to her character start to unfold in this chapter as we see her step up to the plate for the sole purpose of her bond with Naruto. Other characters in this chapter gets expanded upon such as Hiashi who gets quite a bit of screen time to shine.

The total chapter length in terms of words was approximately 22,000 which is almost like a record for me. There was a lot to cover in this chapter so forgive the long length of it, but it all worked out in the end for the best as I was able to wrap up all of the essential plot points that I wanted to cover. This chapter is going to be exciting guys so strap yourselves in for a lot of family drama.

Be on the look out for Valentine's Day. I have a special treat planned for that day!

So sit back, relax, and enjoy!


Chapter 82

Relationships

How did things come to this point? How did he find himself being accompanied by the very last person he wanted to be hanging out with right now? Life was cruel, and this family was extremely persistent Naruto concluded as he looked down to the hand that was clasped onto his own with a lovable sway of trust and happiness in it that was making it harder and harder for Naruto to be angry and annoyed at his current predicament. No… scratch that… he was still very much annoyed at his current fate.

Looking over to the younger person attached to his arm it turned out that it was none other than Naho Madoka, the daughter to Saitou Madoka the Fire Daimyō of the Land of Fire. It's been two days since he and his team returned from their impromptu escort mission with Shion. Naruto was allowed the rest of the week off to make up for the paid leave days that were overturned due to his mission. Now that he knew he wouldn't be bothered for real this time came as a comfort to Naruto who had plans. He spent the first day with his family after getting back from a long debriefing session with Tsunade and those relevant. The nature of the vision shared with them by Shion wasn't a topic to be ignored.

It was also during that meeting where he was greeted by the Fire Daimyō once more who informed him of the repercussions of the false Land of Earth invasion. It came as a great relief to Naruto to know that their country wouldn't be going to war with the Land of Earth and that everything was settled peacefully. It was a weight lifted off of his back.

Today was also supposed to be a big day as well. Tonight, Naruto was to attend his very first family dinner at the Hyūga Clan. The long-awaited time has finally come for Hinata to bring home the boy she was seeing since in the high society of the Clans and royal families of their world Naruto was considered to be a suitor and he was currently courting the heiress to the Hyūga Clan. It was a lot of pressure to be dropped onto his shoulders all at once, but Naruto was determined to make a good first impression and behave himself to the best of his abilities. He was actually using the early afternoon hours of the day to gather his thoughts and buy a small customary gift to bring to the dinner tonight.

It was during this early morning outing that he was blindsided by Naho who practically requested a date of her own with him. He technically couldn't refuse her since she was royalty and with the royal guards standing around him practically daring him to refuse with the stoic glares on their faces it ended up with Naruto not having any choice in the matter. It was officially out of his hands now.

"Where should we go first Naruto?" Naho chirped in excitement as she swung her hand back and forth in Naruto's who wanted to sigh but held it in for the sake of the girl's feelings. "I'd like to take you to the local Dango Shop. It's a favorite place that my older sister likes to go to all the time." Naruto suggested with a forced smile on his face. He had nothing against Naho personally. She was a sweet little girl by nature and he couldn't fault her for her persistence in trying to get to know him. Her father was encouraging her to get to know him after all so there wasn't much, he could do to dissuade her.

"Yay! Let's go then! I've never tasted dango before." Naho cheered with a pretty smile coming to her face as she allowed the older boy to escort her. It didn't take them long to make it to the restaurant with Naruto making small talk with the younger girl to be polite.

"You've never had Dango before?" Naruto had to admit that the thought of the young girl not having dumplings before was strange. It was such a common food in their world. "No, my father only has the staff serve very expensive full course meals. I don't typically have commoner food." Naho explained with a disappointed twinge in her voice. She's never once been to a small little family restaurant or a fast food joint before. Common places that everyday citizens go to and take for granted were places little Naho have never been to before. The fact that she referred to these everyday typical restaurants as commoner food spoke volumes to her upbringing.

'Ok… if nothing else at the very least I need to show her a good time with this treat. I can't believe the Fire Daimyō doesn't like small time convenient stores and restaurants. I guess he isn't all perfect.' Naruto mused to himself while guiding the younger girl into the restaurant. The royal guards stuck out like sore thumbs which was partially their intention as they stood at attention all around the building drawing attention from the many customers eating at the tables.

"Wow… this is delicious! What other kinds of food can be found here?" The little princess had metaphorical sparkles in her eyes as she almost in an unlady like fashion tore into her sweet dumplings with a pace that would make an Akimichi proud to be in the same room as her. As a princess from birth every action Naho took was very refined and eloquent in nature. Even if she ate at a ravenous pace it still somehow looked proper, it honestly reminded Naruto of Iris and her inhumanly perfect eating manners and etiquette.

"Well you can get the Gyoza which is another kind of dumpling that is more of an appetizer than anything else really and several main dishes. Here let me recommend something nice for you." Naruto offered with a small kind smile on his face as he treated the Princess of his country to a meal she would never forget. It may have seemed insignificant from Naruto's point of view but from Naho's… she was forming a deeper impression on the older boy who was treating her so nicely. It was the Naruto effect as Eva liked to eloquently put it.

It didn't take the two acquaintances long to leave the Dango shop with Naruto having one other destination in mind. He couldn't spend all day with Naho after all as he had to go home and prepare himself for tonight, but he wouldn't cut the impromptu outing with the younger girl short so soon. He wanted to finish what he was unwillingly dragged into.

"What is this place Naruto?" Naho asked while tightly holding on to Naruto's arm with her own. She was hiding her body slightly behind the older boy's body as the facility that they were standing in front of now was huge. Not to mention colorful and inviting. It brought out a familiar sensation in the young girl that she could compare to being in the capital city of the Land of Fire, but at the same time it felt unique and different in its own way.

"This Naho is called a Zoo. It's where wild animals are put on exhibit to be looked at. It also serves as a safe compound to protect both normal and rare animals as well. Come on, there's a lot of fun things to do." Naruto encouraged as he gently pulled the girl inside the large park that was called Tama Zoological Park. It was opened up nearly 25 years ago in the village to serve as a second alternative facility to the main one in the capital city that was called Ueno Zoo. It was the oldest Zoo is the entire country with the Tama Park opening up in the village to bring this culture to the Hidden Leaf as an extra tourist hotspot.

As far as Naho was concerned… this place was magical to her as she took in all of the sights of the different animals in their natural habitat that mesmerized the younger and more impressionable girl. She explained to Naruto that the closest she's ever gotten to seeing such an assortment of animals would be when the national circus would perform in the capital for the pleasure of the nobles and the family of the Fire Daimyō. This however, was far different as Naruto would lift the young girl up so that she could reach out with her own hands to pet the various animals that would approach them with the princess squealing in delight the entire time. This was an experience she's never had before, and it was all thanks to Naruto that she was having it.

Speaking of which, ever since they were spotted in public not to long ago Naho has taken notice of the not so blatant stares they were receiving from the villagers. Many of them were curious and shocked looks at actually seeing the Princess to the Land of Fire in their village walking around and not only that she was in the exclusive company of Naruto as well who was escorting her with their arms hooked together. That was enough for some gossip and rumors to spread around like wildfire. He only hoped Ino never got her ear in on this… if she did then it was game over for Naruto. The entire village would know long before it hit 3:00 in the afternoon and that time was soon approaching.

While many had this normal look of surprise on their faces, some had looks of indifference while others had veiled looks of skepticism and mistrust on their faces while the last percentage which was the smallest of them all had looks of anger, resentment, and hatred clouding their eyes that Naho could quite easily see. She was young, but she had a great intuition about her as she was very intelligent and intuitive with certain matters. Her observational skills were superb, and Naruto could freely make that compliment. She was able to recite the entire menu back at the Dango shop to him word for word after only seeing the menu once and with little time to memorize the information on it. The little princess had a very big brain inside of her head and Naruto found that to be a very welcoming addition to the young girl.

These last categories of looks were having a subtle yet profound effect on Naruto that Naho could notice as he was engaging with her less and less as time went on and thanks to her great observational skills and female intuition Naho could tell that the stares weren't the only things bothering the young unknown to her father of eight.

"Something's bothering you isn't it? Why are all of these people staring at you like this? Did you do something bad?" Naho probed while tugging on Naruto's shoulder in concern. She could tell that something was bothering the boy she was having a blast spending time with. The first response Naruto gave was to shrug off the younger girl's worries with a fake smile that didn't go over the princess's head. "You're not fine… please tell me?" Naho's doe brown eyes were very compelling Naruto would have to admit as he pulled the young girl off to the side away from the prying eyes of the general populous.

"I didn't do anything bad per say Naho… it's just that when people look at me, they associate me with the great loss of their families on the night the Nine Tails attacked our village. I just so happened to be the only child born that night." Naruto explained in a soft tone that caused a frown to form on the princess's face. "…But… but that doesn't make any sense. You're not the Nine Tailed Fox. Just because you were born that night doesn't make any sense." It felt wrong from Naho's point of view that people would ostracize and prosecute an individual just based off of candid association with a certain event. It didn't sit right with the kind young girl.

A small warmth sizzled in Naruto's heart as he watched the real and genuine emotions play off across Naho's face. She was just a child and wasn't trained as a ninja either, so she couldn't hide her facial expressions at all. Her emotions were an open book for a trained and professional ninja such as himself. The empathy and compassion that such a young child was showing was touching to Naruto who could tell that this information genuinely bothered the princess who felt offended by this revelation.

"You're a very kind young girl Naho. Thank you for showing me that kind of support. I'm sure your parents are proud of you." Naruto was honestly touched and very much impressed by Naho's empathetic tendencies and her sharp mind. She was only 9 years old and yet she was very mature and well aware of her surroundings.

A beautiful blush was the response Naruto expected to see from the princess who took his compliment graciously while covering her face in embarrassment. "Thank you, Naruto…" Naho said while trailing off in uncertainty. It looked like she had something more that she wanted to say to him. He could tell that the question she wanted to ask him was probably embarrassing. Gently encouraging her to come forward with her inner thoughts Naruto watched as Naho took a deep breath before speaking.

"Naruto… I know my father has been… difficult… with you these last few weeks since we first met. I don't know you very well but, do you at least like me? Do you want to be here with me right now?" Naho asked with an insecure tone of voice that honestly surprised Naruto once more. She was very bright and mature for her age. Most kids wouldn't be aware of other people's discomforts and inner emotions off of just one glance. She was truly something special.

Naruto's been down this road before, so he knew how he wanted to handle this situation. He would be gentle and kind with her. "Yes, difficult would be one way to describe your dad, but he's not all that bad. As far as you and I are concerned I do like you a lot but only as a friend. Naho you are too young to be really concerned about romance and stuff like that. Enjoy your childhood with making friends. It's something I never really had." Naruto said in a warm tone that caused a smile to form on the younger girl's face.

"You really must like Lady Hinata don't you Naruto?" Naho grinned at Naruto who graciously blushed in return. "I do… she's my childhood best friend and partner. No one has been on my side like she has. She's one of the best things that's ever happened to me." Naruto admitted to the younger girl who smiled at the honesty the older boy was displaying. "I'm happy for you and her… but I do have to say you are the best suitor that I've ever spent time with." Naho mumbled as she kicked her expensive shoes into the dirt. Frowning at the new expression on the princess's face Naruto reached over to grab her hand in an attempt to direct her attention towards him.

"Do you not have friends your age Naho? Do you interact with Suitors a whole lot?" It was a valid question that Naruto asked that would soon be answered. "Yeah, I don't have many friends my age… being the princess of our country comes with its drawbacks. The only children my age who wants to be my friends are the children of parents who want something from my dad. The rest are just potential suitors who want to join my family through me and not all of them are kids my age… a few of them over time have been older." Naho admitted to her friend who couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at the thought of older boys also being candidates for her. It felt wrong. "If I wasn't the daughter to the Fire Daimyō then it wouldn't be so bad. I would be allowed to wait until I was at least 16 until suitors would come for me. But that's not the case here." Naho explained in a downtrodden tone that earned her a hug from Naruto which she wasn't expecting in the slightest.

She hated the fact that other noble men would have their sons always try and get in her good graces. It wasn't hard to guess why they would do so, but ever since she had turned five years old the children of other noblemen would send their children over for playdates which over time has transitioned over to more one on one situations that she's done everything she could to avoid. She would just happily prefer to spend her quality time with her older brother.

But this hug that she was getting from Naruto was not what she was expecting at all. It was warm and inviting. It felt like she was being hugged by both her brother and father. She felt loved in that moment… and just getting a taste of that hug was enough for Naho to want more. "I know it's bad to say… but I don't want to give up on you." Naho whispered into Naruto's chest with a blush on her face. It wasn't what she was expecting. "I know I shouldn't say this stuff either but don't give up on things you care for. But… for my peace of mind how about we just be friends. I think you could use a genuine one." It was an option that Naho would never pass up the chance on as she hugged the older boy tighter with small tears falling from her eyes.

Naruto was quickly become a lot of things to Naho… she's never interacted with such a polarizing individual before. Her father was heavily invested in Naruto's potential and future which was something she didn't see that often from her father and to hear of all of Naruto's exploits as a shinobi was incredibly interesting to learn about. He was unique and something she's never encountered before.

"I would like that a lot… thank you for taking me out today." Naruto felt Naho's grip on his shirt loosen a bit as she pulled back to let the older boy see her face. "No problem… now all I need to do now is figure out a place for my date with Hinata." Naruto mumbled absentmindedly as this has been the thought that's been plaguing his mind all day. Where was he going to take Hinata for their first date? It had to be something special for the both of them while at the same time not being overbearing and over the top.

While Naruto did indeed mumble this thought in a low voice, it wasn't enough to escape the hearing of Naho who was quick to point this out to him. He tried talking her down from it but Naho did have a suggestion that would unknowingly set Naruto down a very specific road for the future.

"How about you take her to see the new Princess Gale movie that's coming out Friday?" It went without saying that the look Naruto gave Naho was the only thing she needed to see to elaborate further. It was perfect. Naruto, Eva, Hinata, Chōji, Kiba, Ino, Sakura, Konohamaru and his friends, and even Anko all wanted to go see that movie. The promotion and publicity that it was getting these last few months was insane. It first got its big promotion during the one-month break of the Chūnin Exams with posters and flyers being handed out to the many tourist flocking to the village for the bi-annual event. Now it was set to premiere this Friday. With how hectic Naruto's life has been these last few months it didn't surprise him at all that he completely forgot about the movie all together.

"Naho… you're a genius."


Hidden Leaf Market Place – Hinata's POV

While Naruto was off on his impromptu play date with Naho, Hinata was busy running last minute errands for the day. She knew how important tonight was and she wanted everything to be spot on and perfect for the occasion. This was dealing with her future alongside her partner and best friend after all. Being in the market place was always a source of comfort for Hinata who allowed her mind to wander to a very recent conversation she had with Shoko while they were coming off of the end of their mission to escort Shion. They had made it to Otaru Town at the entrance to the Land of Waves and now the team was just sightseeing and window shopping with a casual aura about them.

"So… are you actually going to tell me what really happened the other night after you and Naruto came back all hot and sweaty or are you still going to stick to your same flimsy excuse?" Shoko teased to a blushing Hinata who was doing everything possible to distract herself with the sight of a fish vendor chopping up a raw salmon as a demonstration to the customers around. She honestly thought Shoko had forgotten about that incident… apparently not.

"Ms. Shoko I've already told you that we were training… nothing else happened." Hinata whined while purposefully turning away from Shoko who had an amused smile on her face that only continued to grow more once she traced Hinata's line of sight towards a young couple showing a health dosage of public display of affection with each other. Their lips were glued together by their youthful passion and taking one look at that scene caused Hinata to squeak in mortification. That was the last thing she wanted to see… all it did was remind her of what really happened in the forest between her and Naruto. It wasn't just a sparring session. The impromptu spar was a spur of the moment thing on their part that wasn't the total sum of everything the two best friends did.

That passionate and unexpected kiss that the two of them shared was something that they haven't been able to get off of their minds ever since it happened. They've never shared a kiss like that before ever since their first kiss and it was unlike anything they've ever shared before. They were young and inexperienced with their budding relationship… letting their hormones take over in that brief moment had scared Hinata and she knew it scared Naruto too. That was a little intense for the both of them.

A cheshire grin formed on Shoko's face as it instantly clicked in the woman's mind what Hinata's reaction meant. Shoko knew to trust in her intuition as she wrapped the younger girl up in a one armed embraced. "So… based on that reaction you just had I can only assume you and Naruto were getting pretty heavy with kissing huh?" Shoko didn't have to be a world class Kunoichi to know that she hit the nail right on it's head as it looked like Hinata's face was about to burn off with the intensity of her blush.

"We didn't mean too!" Hinata blurted out accidently as her guilty conscious and innocent demeanor was working against her at a time like this. Shoko felt like she hit the jackpot as she squealed in delight while pulling Hinata off to the side amidst the confused looks of Naruto and Shikamaru. "Ms. Shoko why do you have to tease me like this?" Hinata whined while doing everything she could to distance herself from the joyful woman who wasn't letting the young heiress out of her sight. "Well someone has too. Anko isn't here right now and if she was then you wouldn't have heard the end of it. I'm just filling in for her." It was as brutal as it was honest, and this statement didn't make Hinata feel any better who could at the very least agree that she would prefer Shoko's brand of humor and teasing over Anko's. That woman was over the top.

"You and Naruto are getting kind of frisky with each other honey… I know you're brand-new to all this, but you should take your time don't you think?" Shoko advised with a more gentler tone once they were out of earshot from the boys of their squad. This was a private girl talk now.

Hinata felt ashamed of herself as this was not the impression she wanted to make of the Legendary Titan. She was the closest thing Naruto had to a mother and as his girlfriend she should have a respectable reputation. This kind of impression wasn't something Hinata wanted to demonstrate… even if this was Shoko they were talking about. Hinata's had the privilege of knowing her for almost six years so far. Seeing the expression on the child's face was enough to move the mature woman into action.

"Hey; hey; hey! Chin up Hinata I didn't mean it like that. All I'm saying is that you're a young preteen who is just entering puberty. Your hormones must be going crazy right now and since you have feelings for your best friend and you're in a relationship with him it will become very tempting to explore and push the boundaries of what your relationship will allow. Take it from someone who made these mistakes in the past." Shoko advised with her arm pulling Hinata in closer to her side in comfort. She felt warm in Hinata's opinion and it felt nice to be treated like a daughter to such a wonderful woman who has supported her and cared for her for many years. Shoko felt like a mother in Hinata's humble opinion.

"We didn't do anything bad… but I was feeling jealous of Shion and it led to me lashing out not only against her, but it also made me act out towards Naruto later on in the night. We kissed… but it was a serious kiss. It was much different than any of the previous kisses we've had. It honestly scared the both of us." Hinata revealed with a small tremor of trepidation lingering in her voice as this was an all-new experience for her. She didn't have a mother of her own to talk to about these awkward but rewarding experiences in life. She was transitioning into a teenager and young adult. Not only that but she was also in love with none other than her best friend. The pressure and the weight of her feelings were overwhelming for a young and delicate girl like Hinata. To confide in a woman like Shoko that Hinata looked up to and respected meant a lot to the heiress.

"I know exploring and getting closer to each other can be pretty scary. But I have faith in the both of you that you'll behave yourselves. I just want you two to always know you can come to me if you need anything." The sentiment was well appreciated by Hinata who took a few minutes to just bask in the moment of being with such a supportive friend when a stray thought entered Hinata's mind. "Ms. Shoko… you said you made these mistakes in the past right… who was your first crush?" It was an errant thought that now that it had time to digest in Hinata's mind made her curious to know about Shoko's love life.

A healthy blush came to Shoko's face as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear in a traditional feminine sign of embarrassment. She wasn't expecting to have this area of the conversation brought up. It was personal. "I… uh… we'll you see I haven't told Naruto yet so please don't mention this to him." Shoko started out with this warning as Hinata turned to her role model in surprise. This had something to do with Naruto?

After getting Hinata's cooperation in the matter it didn't take Shoko long to reveal a shocking truth. "My very first crush was actually Kushina Uzumaki… Naruto's mother." To say that Hinata's jaw dropped would be an understatement. This was not what Hinata was expecting to hear in a million years. "Naruto's… mother was your first crush!?" A bemused and melancholic smile formed on Shoko's face as she reminisced about many old memories from her past. "Yes… I met her around the same age you met Naruto. She had just moved here to the village from Hōrai Island and the Hidden Whirlpool Village. It was an exchange program since she was fated to be the next Jinchūriki of the Nine Tailed Fox. Kushina was a Jinchūriki just like Naruto."

A bomb was practically dropped into Hinata's lap as she looked down the road to see Naruto and Shikamaru enamored by a professional chef on the side of the road entertaining the pedestrians with his amazing cooking skills. She was glad the blond-haired boy couldn't here this. He would be flabbergasted.

'Naruto's mother was the previous Jinchūriki to the Nine Tails… then what happened on the night of his birth to make him it's new vessel? Did something bad happen?' It was easy to read Hinata's facial expressions and thoughts, but Shoko wouldn't allow the young girl to wonder in her mind for long. "It was love at first sight for me… Kushina was a tomboy and very headstrong girl. She was tough on the outside and sweet on the inside. She took me under her wing not to long afterwards as I was an orphan with no parents and barely any friends to call my own. She never took pity on me… instead she taught me what it meant to stick up for myself and how to be strong. I owe a lot to her growing up and it was the first time I realized that I was different from the other girls in my class who would all loudly proclaim their feelings for boys. I had feelings for a girl… and it did nothing to make the isolation I felt any better." Shoko explained with a soft smile on her face that enamored Hinata at the life story being told to her. Never in a million years would she hear a story like this from anywhere else.

Shoko had ulterior motives for not addressing the side tangent Hinata's thoughts were going on. She took keen notice of the speculative expression on the girl's face. Hinata was a smart girl. Shoko knew she was onto a hunch, but instead of addressing the issue and confirming to her that she had probable cause to be suspicious it was best to keep the flow of the conversation moving. It would be inevitable that Hinata would eventually find out the truth. Shoko just didn't want it to be today.

"I kissed Kushina out of the blue one day which made things very tense and awkward between us for weeks afterwards. She was straight and on top of that she was developing feelings for our mutual best friend Minato Namikaze, the man who would go on to become the Fourth Hokage." Shoko revealed as Hinata put the pieces together in her mind very quickly right after. "He is Naruto's father…" A shake of Shoko's head was all the confirmation that Hinata needed as she sat back on the bench they were sitting on and let that information sink in. It was a lot… a whole lot to digest.

"Crazy huh?" It was asked in a sarcastic cadence that go a muted shake of Hinata's head in return. It was definitely a lot. "I have so many questions… but I think they are best if I save them for another time after you've had a chance to talk to Naruto about all of this." Hinata humbly submitted as it wouldn't be fair if she got to know this personal information before Naruto did. This was his birthright and precious information to learn. It would help bring him closer to his parents… speaking of which.

"That's very humble of you Hinata… I can respect that. I will tell Naruto about all of this soon. I'm just waiting for the right time is all. A lot has happened in these short few months. It's one giant revelation after another. I just want him to relax for once and with the two of you finally getting together it's managed to make him smile in earnest. I don't want to bog him down with anymore troubles just yet." Shoko admitted to the younger girl who could understand the reasoning the overprotective woman would have. She was only looking out for his best interest.

"Naruto is lucky to have a mother figure like you in his life." Hinata mumbled absentmindedly which was easy enough for Shoko to pick up on as she squeezed the lavender eyed girl to her side in gratitude. "That's very sweet of you to say Hinata but don't forget Naruto also has you and Eva in his life. You make him happy as well. Who knows before you know it you two might end up married pretty soon if the awkward conversation you had with the Fire Daimyō is anything to go by… oh… and you have my blessing by the way if that conversation does come up." Shoko teased with an absent-minded after thought tagged on at the end to which an embarrassed Hinata could only want to hide in her oversized coat. Naruto had gotten her a new one after her old one was torn and burned by the explosive tag Kabuto had thrown at them during their fight with him.

After a round of teasing from the older woman Hinata finally managed to get Shoko to focus on her once more as she asked a question that she's wanted answered ever since first hearing about this from Kisame of all people. "Ms. Shoko… you knew my mother Yume Hyūga right?" It was a question asked in a very insecure manner and one that the Legendary Titan could easily relate to… it was a question every orphan wanted answered. "Yes, she was a good friend of mine." Shoko knew what was coming next and she would have no problem helping the younger girl through this.

"Shoko… do you think you could tell me stories about my mother?"


Naruto's Apartment / (5:00 PM)

Hinata's reminiscing would come to an end as she gathered everything, she would need for the dinner tonight. Now all that was left was to return home and prepare. This was the same mindset Naruto had as he rushed back home to his apartment as well. He had his mind clear and focused on the task at hand. The hustle and bustle that he was in lent him solitude within his own mind as he thought back to the conversation that he had with Eva while getting himself prepared for the dinner. He had just told Eva about the suggestion of taking Hinata to see the new Princess Gale movie. Since she wasn't with him when Naho had blindsided him with her date it was now the perfect time to bring this subject up.

"I think that it's a great idea Naruto… do you have everything you need?" Eva buzzed as she flew around Naruto's head in an orbiting like fashion which was a comfort to Naruto who was feeling very nervous right now. "Yeah… I just hope tonight goes well. Hiashi is very intimidating… I only hope no one gets in our way during the dinner." Naruto mumbled as he prepared an early dinner for the rest of the family to enjoy. He wouldn't be home later to join them, so it was best to get the preparations out of the way now while he had the chance.

"I agree… I don't know how the elder Hyūga council will respond to us, but I hope they don't interfere to much. Lord Hiashi is only now just coming around to us being around Hinata. I don't know how the rest of the family will feel about us." Eva conversed in an amicable way as she handed over a plate for Naruto to fill with food. Her tiny wings fluttered about while she held large plates above her body. The atmosphere around the two was peaceful yet tense as they were both very nervous about their upcoming social event. This was all for their future with Hinata… she was the love of their life and best friend. She brought them out of their shell when they were kids and gave them a bond of friendship that they desperately needed.

They were mistrustful and emotionally stunted with how they interacted with people in society. She brought them up and helped make them the individuals they were today. They owed a lot to Hinata and they would always be grateful to the lavender eyed girl for her continued support and friendship. She meant more to them than she would ever know.

"We'll just have to be on our best behavior then. I only care about making a good impression on Hiashi and that's it. Hinata's his daughter so his opinion is the only one that I care about. I hope I'm not jinxing myself, but I can already tell things will never be simple for us." Naruto grumbled as he called in the rest of the inhabitants of the home to give them their food. He could only spend a few minutes with them but in that time, he explained to the children just how important this dinner was for him and the upcoming date with Hinata.

To say that the children were ecstatic would be an understatement. Particularly Iris and Chaos who have known Hinata since they were infants. She was the closest thing to a mother that they had with Shoko being the perfect grandmother to now all of the children in the house. Their family dynamic was a strange one and only worked for the rag tag Uzumaki family… but it felt natural to them and that was all that mattered.

It was now the moment of truth and with a final word of encouragement and round of teasing from Shoko and Anko respectfully Naruto with Eva in his hair left their home with the cheers of all eight of their children guiding them. In his hand Naruto had a small present meant to be a house warming gift to show his gratitude and respect for being allowed over at the Hyūga compound. It was a show of tradition and respect. He hoped this little gesture was well received and appreciated. Their one and only goal was to get along with Hiashi Hyūga and prove to him that he will never hurt Hinata. They are meant for each other.


Hidden Leaf Village / Hyūga Clan Compound District (6:00 PM)

'Nerves of steel… come on Naruto you've faced down Demon Lords and rampaging Jinchūriki. This should be nothing. Remember this is all for Hinata.' Naruto repeated in a mantra in his head as he stood right outside the gates of the grand Hyūga clan. They were the largest and most influential clan in the entire village and country with the downfall of the Uchiha Clan and the decline of the Senju. Most of the Senju died off back during the First and Second World Wars. They were always targeted because of their prestigious bloodline and fame throughout the world with the Uchiha facing much of the same scrutiny. They just managed to hold out much longer than their symbolic distant relatives.

Two Chūnin guards were standing at the main gate to the compound and once they caught a glimpse of him, they sized him up for what felt like a life time before standing to the side to let him in. 'Well that went ok so far… but now I'm being escorted by two more Chūnin.' Naruto noted as two more Hyūga branch members were soon upon him with the destination being the main greeting hall.

Naruto took this time to look over the clothes he had on. He didn't do it often, but he could dress up for special occasions. He just didn't prefer it since he more aligned his tastes with casual clothing. Dressing up to be fancy were things an orphan like him didn't really care for.

Naruto was wearing a dark orange kimono style shirt with a dark blue haori jacket over it in the traditional style of wear that most nobles and other well-off individuals dressed in. Around his waist was a red sash meant to hold his clothes together while dark blue hakama pants tied this ensemble together. He wanted to tug at the kimono that was form fitting right up against his neck. These clothes always felt different to him compared to the suits he would wear during his work hours at the casino. To be honest it was just a biased preference in clothing that Naruto prefers since from a very young age he has worn suits and other clothing of the sort.

The compound was massive, currently the largest in the village with a large main home situated on a higher hill compared to the rest of the estate that had over two dozen smaller scaled homes scattered throughout the compound. The main home had several facilities around it such as an exclusive training hall for the main branch family. A few other similar buildings of note were seen but Naruto couldn't be sure what they were for.

"Right this way Mr. Uzumaki. Lord Hiashi and the main branch are waiting for you beyond these doors." One of the escorting Chūnin spoke as Naruto stood before a large rice paper sliding door that would decide his fate. "You ready Naru…?" Eva whispered to her faithful partner who took one final deep breath. "Of course, Eva. We were born ready for this moment."

Confidence was a concept that wasn't for everybody… you had to strive for it with everything you have and that was the motto Naruto was willing to live by as he opened the door to the main eating hall and the muted conversations transpiring between the main branch family came to an abrupt and nerve jittering end.

The hall was a large one with cherry wood and traditional Japanese tatami mats and rice paper being the common theme and décor that brought the grand and elaborate feeling of the room together. It was beautiful… but it just screamed high society to Naruto. It was a little too much for Naruto's taste but at the same time from an objective standpoint Naruto could honestly say this design and décor resonated with him. If he could he would incorporate some of these designs into the apartment if possible.

The dining table was long and ornate with beautifully crafted designs lining the edges of the trim while tan colored tatami mats provided the flooring everyone was sitting on. Sitting at the head of the table was none other than Hiashi Hyūga himself with his typical stern facial expression not being out of place in the slightest from Naruto's point of view. He'd be more concerned if the man had any other kind of facial expression in place. Next to the leader of the Hyūga Clan on his left side of the table from the father's point of view was Hinata herself and Naruto's mouth nearly became unhinged at the beauty that sat at the table.

Hinata dressed for the occasion that much was obvious as her blond boyfriend took in her appearance with appreciative eyes. For her face Hinata added a touch of makeup that accentuated her eyes and enhanced her skin tone while two barely visible cosmetic induced blush marks lightly stained her cheeks which gave Naruto a comforting familiar feeling since he is used to his shy best friend always blushing ever since they first met. To top this off Hinata had a small white lily ornament stuck in her hair with a small clip.

For clothes Hinata had on a light lavender colored kimono with lion themed drawings displayed all across the garments in a field of lilies which just so happened to be one of Hinata's most favorite flowers. Next to Hinata was her younger sister Hanabi who had on a yellow and red kimono that internally made Naruto think of her as a firecracker which was what her name meant. The younger heiress looked adorable and if given the chance Naruto was sure to tease his favorite little sister figure about it.

The next up next to Hanabi was Neji himself who was allowed to be here on Hiashi's insistence despite the fact he was from the Branch Family. He had a neutral look on his face, but he did perk up once he saw Naruto. They haven't talked since their fateful battle at the Chūnin Exam's Finals but with them both wiping the slate clean and beginning a new friendship, Naruto was sure they would get along just fine. Now was the time to see it come to fruition. Going down the line after that were nine other main branch members who from what Naruto could sense with his sensory abilities were all experienced Jōnin level ninja with decently powerful reserves of chakra that he would expect from these main branch ninja.

On Hiashi's right hand side going down the table were also several individuals. The very first seat was left empty which could only mean that this was supposed to be his intended seat… that notion alone was as daunting as it was intimidating. The next occupant next to Naruto's future seat was an old man who looked strikingly similar to Hiashi, it was like looking at an aged-up version of the stoic father. He was a man of modest height with a dark tanned hue of skin and ash grey hair that fell to his lower back. For clothing he wore the traditional robes which consist of a loose-fitting light tan kimono that is held closed with a simple sash under a brown, waist length haori. Like all members of the Hyūga Clan he had the featureless white eyes of the Byakugan but unlike most of the younger individuals around the table his entire eye socket was white. Naruto couldn't tell where his sclera ended and where his supposed iris and pupil began.

He knew that the Byakugan was white and hard to distinguish in the eye with Hinata and certain others… particularly females… having a slight variation with a hint of lavender in them to distinguish them from their male counterparts, but this was extreme. Hinata was an outlier in her clan with her Byakugan being extremely visible and lavender colored more so than any other female of the clan but for this elderly man before him Naruto couldn't see his eyes at all. He couldn't tell if he was staring at him or not. Was this a phenomenon that naturally happened as you got older? It was a theory that Naruto was inclined to believe in as he looked towards Hiashi's eyes and noted that the distinct presence of his Byakugan was starting to show signs of fading around the edges given his middle age.

This old man was Hayate Hyūga. He was Hiashi's father and the grandfather of Hinata, Hanabi, and Neji. He was the previous Clan Head of the Hyūga Clan before Hiashi with his very own father retiring from the position shortly into the reign of the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju and the outbreak of the First Shinobi World War. Hayate would hold this position for quite a while before handing it down to his son who had to then deal with the gruesome and bloody Third Shinobi World War and the subsequent tragic troubles of his wife and twin younger brother dying on him one after another in the years following the war. It was a tough burden for the stoic father to bare and one Hayate has supported him on with his more rigid and callous advice and guidance over the years.

Hayate was similar to his son in temperament and disposition but where Hiashi has started to lighten up and branch off into his own personality in these last few months his father was of the opposite degree. You see, Hayate was also a conservative and traditionalist who adhered to the numerous strict and inflexible laws and traditions of the clan as he learned them from his own father who grew up during the Warring States Era where it was every clan for themselves. It was a dog eat dog world back then and those traditions were drilled into Hayate's head ever since he could walk who then in turn did everything, he possibly could to pass these traditions off to his son's Hiashi and Hizashi. As the only surviving son Hiashi to his credit took to these teaching for many years with those decisions culminating in the neglect and emotional stunting of Hinata and her growth as a child. In recent years seeing the progress and potential held within his own daughter that Naruto managed to bring out with his friendship and the added assistance of Shoko and Anko has caused a change in the strict father over time.

Next to Hayate was his faithful companion and wife Hirata Hyūga who has been married to him ever since the First Shinobi World War. She was an elderly woman well into her late sixties just like her husband and the late Third Hokage who she was friends with for a long time. Her hair was just as grey as her husband with it being fashioned into a large bun on top of her head with twin senbon sticking through them. She might be a retired kunoichi but once a ninja always a ninja and even in her old age with arthritis being her mortal enemy, she could still use those senbon just as good if not better than even the likes of ninja like Haku and Shizune. With age came experience and hard-earned skill. It was a fact of life in the world of shinobi. You didn't get to live this long unless you absorbed and expanded upon those tenants. She was wearing a simple yet fancy dark blue kimono that suited her tastes well.

Her Byakugan which had the faintest hint of lavender in it was just as white and featureless as her husband which alluded to Naruto's theory that the physical appearance of the Byakugan fades over time with the advancement of age. He knows that these two elders can still use their ocular Jutsu just fine as it was the Kekkei Genkai of their clan. It's actual powers didn't fade. It just became harder to see it's actual physical features after a certain amount of time. With this working theory in his mind Naruto would be saddened to see Hinata's beautiful eyes fade in her old age. He would freely admit that her eyes were one of the most distinctive features on her that he liked to gaze at. He could look at her eyes all day if he wanted to.

'Wait… that implies that I want to spend the rest of my life with Hinata… well… it's… it's…not that I don't want to…' Naruto stuttered horribly in his own mind as he caught his last mental thought before it could slip away. He loved Hinata's eyes and loved even more to gaze at them. If they were going to naturally fade with time, then he would eventually lose that favorite pastime of his. His thought process also alluded to the fact that he and Hinata would still be close by the time they would reach such an age which could only mean that he would want them to still be together by that time considering they're a couple now.

'My thoughts betray me…' Naruto concluded in his mind as he did everything possible to keep the internal debate going on in his head from leaking onto his face. The last thing he wanted right now was to make a fool of himself. The Hyūga were masters at reading body language and the inner thoughts of others based off of those body cues.

Next to Hirata was a young Hyūga male around 20 years old named Kō Hyūga who was the head of his own family unit in the main branch and once the guardian and caretaker of Hinata when she was very young. He had short brown hair that was spiky at the bottom and the traditional look and facial features that all Hyūga had with the Byakugan strongly visible in him due to his age and as a person feature to him he had a very broad and defined nose and strong yet handsome face. He was wearing the tradition black satin kimono of the Hyūga Clan.

Next to him was Tokuma Hyūga who was 25 years old and a Special Jōnin of the village being a highly skilled tracker while training his powerful Byakugan in his specialty. He was also in charge of his own family unit and he was a member of the main branch having a closer blood tie to the main family itself which consisted of Hiashi's bloodline. He was also a member of Shikamaru's patrol squad which was Patrol Squad 11. He was also wearing the traditional black satin kimono of the Hyūga Clan.

Down the line from Tokuma were seven other seats which all housed men and women of the main branch with families of their own. All in all, there were twelve seats on each side of the table with one on one end. One end held Hiashi while the other was empty.

'Well this isn't intimidating at all…' Naruto sweat dropped while using sarcasm to alleviate the stress and bundle of nerves tying a knot inside of his stomach. There were too many people around the table for him to feel comfortable with this arrangement. It was already going to be bad enough if it had just been Hiashi and his extended family; he wasn't expecting the entire freaking main branch to be attending the dinner. The pressure was definitely on now.

"Greetings young Uzumaki, please come and take a seat." Hiashi greeted as he traced Naruto with his perceptive eye. He along with everyone else in the room watched Naruto take deliberate steps over to his chosen seat with hawk like eyes. It was truly intimidating in contrast to the sarcastic humor swirling around in his mind as a security shield. 'Why do they all have to look at me? Also, don't stare to hard at Hinata even if I really want to right now…' Naruto reminded himself as he took another glance at Hinata and had to fight the urge to not stare at the beautiful girl before him.

The last thing he needed to do would be to be caught blatantly and uncontrollably staring at his girlfriend in front of her entire family of very reserved and strict individuals. That's the quickest way to be skinned alive. Taking his seat at the table Naruto took a peek at Hinata while brandishing his charming smile at her that got one in return along with the cosmetic blush marks on her cheeks actually becoming pronounced.

"Good evening Lord Hiashi. Thank you for having me." Naruto said in a very polite manner while patting himself on the back for the delivery. The etiquette lessons that Hinata and Shoko drilled into him as a child were coming in handy right now especially if the knowing glint in Hinata's playfully veiled eyes were any indication. "The pleasure is all mine young Uzumaki…" Hiashi returned with a small nod of his head. It's been a while since he last spoke to the young Shī-ō, but he could tell the boy could be polite when needed.

"I brought a small gift for your family as a token of my appreciation for being here, please accept this…" All of this formal and proper etiquette wasn't Naruto's style in the slightest but he could be polite when the situation demanded it. He's had years to perfect his craft while in the service to the mafia and the casino. He's dealt with customers for nearly six years so far. He was an expert at navigating conversations and matching the tone and atmospheres generated by them. He didn't like it… and he didn't prefer to act that way unless he had to… but he could become this perfect gentleman when needed.

In Naruto's hand was a small bonsai tree that he's maintained by himself over the years. The apartment was filled with these small potted plants that he's taken care of ever since first moving in to the broken down and abandoned building nearly eight years ago. This little plant was from his personal collection and he thought it would make the perfect housewarming gift for a first visit.

Raising an eyebrow at the thoughtfulness of the young boy before him Hiashi reached over to accept the gift with a noticeably lower dip of his head while examining the potted plant with a scrutiny only a high-class member of society could impose. The plant was passed down the table after leaving Hiashi's hand with his father Hayate giving a short but gruff grunt of approval before passing it along to his wife who was far more expressive and outgoing. Her approval felt better to Naruto who felt like he was going to have a heart attack when Hayate took the plant. Once the plant was seen by everyone at the table Hiashi snapped his finger and another Hyūga dressed in a maid's outfit walked forward from the corner of the room where she was waiting to take the plant to its new resting place.

This young woman was a beauty in her own right who was named Natsu Hyūga. She is a Chūnin level ninja of the Branch Family and the personal caretaker of Hanabi Hyūga who personally selected her because of her kindness and general soft nature as a person. She has short dark green hair that ends right below her chin with the typical light lavender colored Byakugan of the female Hyūga's. She was a very slim woman with a shapely figure and moderately sized bust with more noticeable hips underneath her clothes. She was young, if Naruto had to estimate a number, he would say between 20 and 25 years old. For clothing she had on a dark purple full-length kimono with a white frilly maid apron on over it that had several pouches ready for her use. Her headband was tied around her head signifying that she was an active duty ninja when not upholding her clan duties. In fact, she just got back from a tour of patrol duty early in the day in preparation for the family meeting that was put together.

Dinner was already being placed in front of the seated members of the family and to say that it was an elaborate spread would be an understatement. If Naruto didn't work in the casino for half his life, he wouldn't even be capable of identifying some of the expensive and exquisite pieces of food on the plate in front of him. This wasn't the typical dinner he had in his own household. Not only was it more homemade and imaginative based on recipes he's seen over the years, but it was also more humble and simplistic. This presentation of food to put it bluntly… 'This is clearly rich people food.' Naruto didn't mean it to sound derogatory or insensitive but half of what was on his plate has never touched the plates in his home for as long as he could remember. This was way out of his league and the food bows on display at the center of the table meant for you to reach over and pick out extra servings only added to this overwhelming experience.

"Hey Hinata… you look amazing tonight." Naruto wanted to greet Hinata since the very beginning and now that he could, he got the satisfaction of seeing the lovable blush come to his girlfriend's face as a small smile worked its way onto the indigo haired girl's face. "Thank you, Naruto… you cleaned up really well too." It wasn't often that Hinata could catch her partner in formal attire. It wasn't his style and Hinata knew just how much he hated it. He was a rowdy and laid-back boy by nature.

"Hi big bro… it's been a while." Hanabi was next as her soft voice carried itself to Naruto's ears. It was a truth that couldn't be denied. It has been a while since he last saw Hanabi. The most memorable moment to come to mind was back during the finals of the Chūnin Exams right before the invasion. That was quite a while ago considering all that has happened since then. He should arrange a large family outing for the children so that Iris and Chaos can hang out with their best friend again and his new children can interact with peers their age. They all needed it in order to broaden their social development.

It also felt nice to hear Hanabi call him big brother. She viewed him as such ever since she was a toddler when they first met since she's always associated him with her own older sister. The bond that he shared with Hanabi was precious and he cared for the little firecracker a whole lot. Other than Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon, the only other person who truly viewed him as an older sibling was Angelica who was constantly bedridden. Rico and to a certain extent Claes also viewed him as an elder sibling but Rico fluctuated often in how she viewed him due to the heavy infatuation she has with him and much could be the same with Claes who like many females in his life also had an infatuation with him. He would find it quite comical if it wasn't happening to him every five seconds… he swore, Lady Sōkyoku was probably messing with his fate much more than he originally thought and, in this case, it was probably for her own amusement.

"Hey little firecracker… have you been keeping up with your training?" The younger daughter of Hiashi Hyūga was progressing well with her Gentle Fist lessons. As it stood now, she could present a decent challenge against Iris in their friendly spars. The little princess's advanced Taijutsu skills have always presented an insurmountable challenge for Hanabi to overcome as the more subtler aspects of the Gentle Fist didn't affect the little phoenix since she was neither human nor did she possess a chakra circulatory system to be vulnerable against the styles damage dealing properties.

It wasn't much but the younger sibling was in a better place than Hinata was at her age. A wide beaming smile came to life on Hanabi's face as she grinned at her older brother who deep down knew the girl was making leaps and bounds in her training. She had a dedication and passion that most kids her age didn't share. It makes her special… at least in Naruto's eyes.

After having a small discussion on her progress Naruto transitioned over to Neji who in the past would have had an aneurysm at the fact he was sitting at the table of the main branch of the family as an invited guest. These two boys hated each other in the past and it was all due to their different ideologies and Neji's obsessive belief in fate. If only he knew the truth… if only he knew what Naruto knew now. Naruto could already feel the nasty nauseous pit of guilt and anxiety building up in his stomach at the mere thought of that notion and knowing that he was able to bury that hatchet with Lady Sōkyoku was enough to get Naruto's head back in the game.

It wasn't good to dwell on the past and it would destroy the foundation that Naruto and Neji were building their new friendship on if he went ahead and revealed that forbidden truth about higher beings and destiny. Some secrets and knowledge were meant to either stay a secret or exclusive. It wasn't for the prying ears of everyone to know.

"It's been a while Naruto… I must say you continue to surprise me at every turn when I hear of your accomplishments." A small neutral if not happy smile was curving upwards on Neji's lips as he broke the ice between the former rivals. Their hostilities and animosities were in the grave where it belonged and seeing the older boy extending an olive branch towards him on his own was a moment that warmed Naruto's heart. Enemies could be turned into friends… who would have thought… oh the irony… if only Naruto knew what his future would bring with such a polarizing yet innocent and naïve thought.

"I try… but I have to say it's nice to see you doing better than before. Maybe we can hang out sometime and have a spar? We can measure where we both are now." Naruto suggested with an equally friendly aura surrounding him as he felt none of the animosity that he used to hold for Neji with them right now. It was truly all in the past and he would do everything in his power to ensure it stayed that way.

"I would like that a lot… I've been training and practicing with my team ever since the finals. But even still it would seem like you've pulled ahead of me during this time. You along with Hinata were promoted to Chūnin following the return of Lady Tsunade. That would make you along with Shikamaru the only individuals from your year and ours to be promoted in all this time." Neji conversed with a thoughtful look on his face as he was immensely shocked on the day Hinata came home and announced she was promoted. For all the years he talked down to her about her fate and her inferiority compared to him it really came back to slap him in the face with humility.

She got promoted before him and not only that but the experience and skills that she's demonstrated ever since going off to rescue Naruto on Hōrai Island has blown away any expectations either he or the other members of the clan had for her. She was growing incredibly powerful for her age and to hear of her exploits during the mission to retrieve Tsunade has changed the opinions of some of the main branch family members in regard to her aptitude of being the heiress.

A nervous laugh was the response Naruto gave to Neji's statement as he didn't want all of the spotlight placed on him for such an acknowledgement. He himself had no idea he was going to be promoted, much less Hinata. Shikamaru he could understand given his high intelligence and the usefulness that he would serve to the village later on down the road.

"So… you were promoted to Chūnin young man?" Hayate probed as his hazzled and aged voice interjected itself into the conversation without warning prompting Naruto to twitch a bit in surprise. For half a second there he almost forgot who he was sitting next to as he got immersed into the conversation he was having with his peers. Turning to the elder in question Naruto nodded his head in the positive along with a verbal confirmation. Naruto was slightly nervous being around the intimidating man as he fiddled with the necklace given to him by Tsunade. It's emerald green color reminded him of Iris's eyes whenever Sōkyoku's influence was upon her. For the longest time up until the point he accepted his feelings for Hinata looking at Iris's beautiful eyes was Naruto's most favorite pastime.

Of course, from a biased stand point that has changed as he likes Hinata's eyes more but from a more romantic standpoint… but it didn't diminish his love for his daughter's key striking features. 'I must have a thing for eyes… huh? Who would have known?' Naruto pondered to himself as he came upon the random epiphany that he liked girl's eyes. Hinata's eyes were very distinctive along with Iris's. Chaos's eyes were very prominent as well as they were very large and lazily slanted off to the side that spoke volumes to the little girl's insanity. Aria had very pretty sea green eyes that was very unique and uncommon in the entire village. Shoko's eyes were a similar shade of striking purple just like Chaos's and Naruto had a secret preference to looking at her eyes since it was always filled with so much warmth and affection for him. The rest of the girl's in Naruto's life all had very pretty eyes including Eva's which was like looking into the mirror for Naruto since they shared the exact same eye shape and coloration that matched to a tee.

While essentially random in nature this tangent was Naruto's minds way of staving off the anxiety that he was feeling. Being surrounded by this many people who were all securitizing him due to his relationship with Hinata was nerve wracking. His mind was bouncing all over the place as it wanted to be anywhere but here at this table.

"Yes father… young Uzumaki here was promoted on an account of several outstanding accomplishments in his career so far." Hiashi interjected with his deep voice that internally surprised Naruto as he wasn't expecting Hinata's father to come to his aide. "Oh… and what might these accomplishments be?" Hayate inquired as he has stayed out of the politics and up to date information regarding those outside of the clan. He was getting old and unless it directly affected the village or his clan, he didn't care one bit.

Hiashi wasn't one to pass up on this opportunity so he listed off all of Naruto's accomplishments mimicking and reciting the information Tsunade spoke of in her speech during their promotion ceremony. Those around the table including Neji and Hanabi were floored by the accolades Naruto was credited with. It was absurd to even contemplate some of the accomplishments he could tally under his belt. Beating Mizuki on the night of his graduation isn't monumental in the grand scheme of things but it all went up hill from their with the mission to the Land of Waves were he for a brief amount of time held his own against Zabuza and defeated Haku in one on one combat. Surviving his confrontation with two highly skilled shinobi is no small feat since he was then ambushed by Jūra who is a Great Demon that is on the level of a Kage. To survive such a confrontation while forcing him into retreat albeit with the added assistance of the Nine Tails Chakra is nothing short of praiseworthy.

The many missions his team participated in since then including the investigation mission in Firebend Town that uncovered the nest of Tengu Demons was also something not to be overlooked. Surviving an encounter with Orochimaru and having the bravery to fight him head on was something that most of the members around the table commended Naruto on as their respect for him went up several points for certain individuals. His victory against Kiba in the preliminaries and the subsequent dangers he face during the one-month break in which he was attacked by two Angeloids was a topic that Hiashi purposefully skimmed over as most people didn't even know Angeloids and other higher beings existed.

The topic of Naruto's triumph over Neji was a subject of great discussion for those around the table for obvious reasons as it wasn't every day that a Hyūga lost a battle against a shinobi… even Ninjutsu specialists like Naruto who had an entire library and arsenal of Ninjutsu ready for front line assault. Add on Neji's prestigious talents in the Gentle Fist Art and you set up a scenario in which it was hard for many of the family members to accept the fact that Neji lost. It should have been a textbook win for the young boy.

"I find the whole notion preposterous that Neji would lose a match like that. The Gentle Fist Art is dominant against any force… his lost is compounded by the fact he is from the branch family, but that gave him no excuse to lose to an outsider." Hayate grumbled with his graveled tone that caused Neji to flinch in disappointment and anger. He didn't want his failures thrown back in his face like that. He already got more than an ear full, from Hayate and the other members of the main branch following the end of the invasion. They all bore witness to Neji's defeat at the hands of Naruto and many had opinions they wanted to share with Neji who felt like he was drowning back then from their scorn.

A frown marred Naruto's face real quick following this unexpected comment from Hayate as he looked over to Neji to see that while he was trying his best to hide away the pain such a statement was causing him it was inevitably futile. His feelings were hurt, and it was never a good feeling to have your past failures or shortcomings thrown back in your face in such an insensitive manner. Hinata was a prime example of such a notion as her childhood was spent with her locked away in her insecurities because she received no positive reinforcement and encouragement that all children need.

"Excuse me sir, but with all due respect… Neji didn't lose to me because he was from the Side Branch Family or because his Taijutsu was bad. He lost because of his short sightedness and lack of vision. His arrogance and obsession with fate and the nature of the Hyūga Clan clouded his judgement and heart. Neji is an excellent shinobi and he had me on the ropes a few times during the match." Now it was Naruto's turn to interject on the conversation and his sudden involvement brought the attention of everyone at the table onto him who was facing Hayate with a defensive and protective look in his eye. He couldn't in good conscience allow Hayate to bad mouth his own grandson in such a demeaning way when that happened in the past. It was inappropriate and uncalled for.

As to be expected Neji himself had the most surprised look of all as he locked eyes with Naruto who was turned to his grandfather with a defiant and defensive look in his eye. Neji's never had someone stand up for him before. He's always been alone and without support.

"Excuse me…? You dare take such a tone with your host boy?" Hayate coldly rumbled as he turned in his seat to face Naruto who was right next to him. It was truly an unfavorable position to be in as Naruto had no buffer to distance himself with from the retired shinobi who was glaring a hole through his skull with his blank eyes. The eyes of the other family members including Hiashi's were on Naruto as well, but his code of honor and ninja way would never allow him to back down from a challenge. Especially when it was in defense of someone else.

"I have too, especially if it was for a friend." It was a response Hinata would expect nothing less of coming out of Naruto's mouth as Hayate would soon come to learn. "This so-called friend of yours has dishonored the Hyūga Clan with his shameful display at the finals. He lost to you of all people and he somehow learned many of the main branches forbidden techniques. It is an utter mess." Hayate countered with a stern voice as he panned his gaze over to Neji who shrunk back ever so slightly at his grandfather's gaze. He didn't back down often to most people, but his grandfather was always the one-person Neji could never face with a head held high… the old man's expectations and stiff disposition made it next to impossible.

Such an argument wouldn't sit well with Naruto as hard work and determination was what allowed Neji to master the techniques of the clan despite all odds. The 64 Palms technique was just stacking two 32 Palm attacks on top of each other. Yes, you need to increase your speed performing this technique and your stamina has to be far greater than its weaker version needs you to be, but it is entirely possible to evolve your technique through persistent training. Accuracy and precision were other tenants that needed to be adhered to but in hindsight all Hyūga were trained in that field and it was only through training that those attributes increased.

It's unreasonable to ridicule Neji for logically advancing in his training despite his age and the social status he had in the family. Now learning the Rotation technique was extremely impressive. It wasn't just a step up from the traditional techniques of the clan. The hardships Neji would have had to put himself through in order to learn such a technique must have been harsh. He should be commended not condemned for his efforts.

"Neji lost to a superior opponent. There is no shame in that. My desire to beat Neji originally came from my anger and hatred of him but midway through that fight my strength gained a new source to fuel me. I wanted to save Neji from himself and the self-destructive nature of his mindset. My desire to save him was stronger than his belief in fate and the ideology of the Hyūga Clan." Naruto defended with an equally stern tone as he would not back down from this. It wasn't fair or right for Neji to be ridiculed for something out of his control.

"Is that right… an outsider has no business critiquing the ethics of the Hyūga Clan. Our traditions have stood for longer than the village system has been in place. Discrepancies like the performance Neji put on should not happen." Hayate was an equally stubborn man steeped in tradition and he wouldn't be a person easily swayed as Naruto was coming to find out, but their argument was brought to a halt by Hiashi himself who raised his voice to interrupt the bickering parties at the dinner table.

"Enough!" With one-word silence was brought to the table as Naruto slowly turned to look at Hiashi who wore an especially stern expression on his face while looking at him. Out of the corner of his eye Naruto saw Hinata looking at him with an expression of concern and fear. She didn't want this dinner to fall apart because of a disagreement, even if she was on his side.

"Young Uzumaki… I appreciate your passion and your code of honor in defending my nephew, but I will not have any arguments around my table. You are a guest in my home. Is that clear?" Hiashi ordered in a voice that has been in the ear of Hinata's ear all of her life. Hiashi's voice commanded respect and Naruto knew that he was being disrespectful with his actions. Guilt bubbled up within his heart as he was already off to a bad start. He did not want to ruin this social event for Hinata and jeopardize the chance at them continuing their relationship. His original goal was to get on Hiashi's good side… this endeavor has already hit a bump in the road.

"I'm truly sorry Lord Hiashi. I did not mean to disrespect your father. But I cannot sit by and watch while any friend of mine is disrespected, no matter the situation." Naruto humbly apologized as he knew he overstepped his boundaries. He was a guest in the home of the Hyūga Clan. It was very rare that they invited outsiders into their home unless they were other clan leaders or members of the higher brass of the village. A young rookie Chūnin like him never gets the chance to be invited to such a gathering. This was their home… their rules.

"Hmm… I understand your position young Uzumaki. I've heard and seen for myself many times your passion in such situations. It's been noted." Hiashi pointed out as he turned his attention to his father with an equally stern glare on his face. "Father… please refrain from such antagonistic remarks. Let this gathering be peaceful." It wasn't often that Hiashi played mediator in his own home and especially with his father in the mix. These scenes were usually allowed to play out in the past without interference from anyone, but now on a very rare occasion Hiashi has stepped in.

Unknown to Naruto, Hiashi was trying to make amends to bridge the gap for him and his daughter. While Hiashi would love nothing more than to make Naruto disappear for trying to court his daughter; the more sensible and rational side of the Hyūga leader knew that his daughter truly loved the young boy. All of the progress she's made over the years in terms of her personality, confidence, skills, and power would go straight down the drain if he banned her from seeing Naruto. All of her progress came from her friendship with him. The progress that he was also making with Hinata in terms of their relationship as father and daughter would also be in jeopardy if he ended their relationship.

Now he was in the only position of supporting Naruto. He wanted Hinata to be happy and he also wanted Naruto to be happy as he remembered Minato and Kushina. They were his friends back in the day with Minato being his former teammate while they were Genin to Jiraiya. Kushina and Yume used to talk all the time about how their children would be best friends or even possibly marry.

It was always the mothers intention of having Naruto and Hinata meet after their birth. 'Never underestimate a mother's intuition. I guess they were both right.' Hiashi grumbled in his mind as his wife and Kushina were 100% right. Naruto and Hinata did meet after birth and now they were falling in love. He couldn't take that away from them, it would disrespect the memory of his deceased wife and close friend while also damaging his mending relationship with his daughter.

Naruto was a lynch pin for Hiashi and he couldn't afford to turn him away. Other than his more casual and unrefined personality in Hiashi's stiff opinion, Naruto was a very good boy. He was an excellent shinobi with unlimited potential due to who his parents were and within recent months he was definitely living up to his parents legacy. He had strong morals and an unyielding drive. However, the most memorable accolade that Naruto has accomplished was his ability to bring out the best in both his daughters. Hinata is a completely different person now and was turning out to be just like her mother which Hiashi was secretly happy about while Hanabi has been coming into her own instead of acting like the typical Hyūga. Neji himself has even been affected by Naruto. He's changed for the better and that allowed Hiashi to remember his dear twin brother fondly now that his soul could rest in peace with Neji finding closure.

To simply put, Hiashi was investing a lot into Naruto when it concerns his family. He wanted him and Hinata to get along and the only way to do that would be to support his endeavors. "… and can this gathering be peaceful with this boy bringing a demon to the table with us?" Hayate commented in an equally stern tone as his Byakugan was on in an instant while his closer hand was already in mid strike towards Naruto's hair who felt his body become vitalized by Eva's Yōki flooding his chakra circulatory system in the blink of an eye. This was an eventuality that the young Fairy was keeping in the back of her mind ever since they got to the compound. She's been stockpiling a store of Yōki for a moments notice. If Hinata could see both Yōki and her with her Byakugan at such a young age, then it stood to reason that since Hiashi could also detect Eva, then other older experienced Hyūga could do the same.

It would seem like Eva's intuition was right on the mark as Naruto now had the speed necessary to catch Hayate's hand out of the air while applying a thick layer of ice to his appendage which would for a moment prevent the man from either reaching Eva or blasting him with a discharge of chakra from his fingers.

"Grandfather!" Hinata cried out as she watched Eva fly out of Naruto's hair in retaliation to being outed. Hinata was already standing with chakra humming beneath the surface of her fingers while Hiashi himself fully turned to give his own father his full attention. "Sit down child and do not raise your voice at me! Judging by your reaction I can already assume you knew of this situation." Hayate barked at Hinata who flinched back in fear but despite that fact she didn't sit down either.

Naruto himself stood from his seat when Hayate pulsed his chakra through his fingertips breaking apart the ice around his hand in a threatening manner. 'I called it… I jinxed myself earlier today. Of course, there would have to be some kind of problem today.' Naruto grumbled in his mind as he exhaled a frigid cold breathe filled with miniscule amounts of Yōki. He was on the very cusps of turning into a demon as the entire rooms temperature plummeted with the amount of Yōki Eva dumped into Naruto's body. 'I can feel a slight amount of delay within my body. My energy isn't as responsive as it should be. It's not often that this happens but it's because I'm so far away from the girls that their energy isn't in sync with mine.' Naruto noted as he had to rely on Eva jump starting his chakra to vitalize his body.

The Hyūga Clan Compound and the Clan District was on the far opposite side of the village compared to what used to be the slums district that Naruto's apartment resides in. This sizable distance was at the very edge of what would be considered the safe zone for Naruto and his daughters as their host. At this distance it was where the synchronization between the three of them would begin to weaken the further away they got from each other. This situation hardly ever comes up because Naruto is always with his children.

"The village Jinchūriki is being possessed by a demon?"

"Is that a Winter Fairy?"

"I've never seen one before?"

Murmurs and very loud whispers were circulating the table now as the other main branch family members were all up in arms with this now hostile environment placed before them. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. The Jinchūriki to the Nine Tailed Fox was being possessed by a demon. The amount of power at his fingertips could cause untold amounts of destruction if he was trained properly which evidently, he was considering the fact he made Chūnin at the age of 12. He was credited with being the one to stop the One Tailed Shukaku when no one else was around either so the members around the table were rightfully concerned about just how much power Naruto currently wielded and could potentially wield in the future. It was a daunting notion to even contemplate that filled some of the more stiff and older members of the council with dread.

"HEY! I'm not this village's Jinchūriki! My name is Naruto Uzumaki! Remember that!" Naruto barked out with a deadly glare on his face breaking the cacophony of rash and panicked comments being thrown around the table. He didn't want a panic breaking out and neither did Hiashi who was about to do the same thing before Naruto beat him to the punch.

'A Jinchūriki? What is that?' Neji questioned to himself as he watched the defensive and offended facial expression smear itself on Naruto's face. He never liked to be referred to as the village's Jinchūriki. He wasn't a weapon nor the property of anyone. He was his own person, and no one owned him. His status as the host to the Nine Tailed Fox never got him any favors growing up, all it did was bring him misery and pain. It was the cause of all of his suffering.

"That is enough! Do not mention that word around this table again or do you all forget that the late Third Hokage's law is still in effect?" Hiashi spoke in a raised voice as he leveled a glare at everyone around the table and room who were now looking at Naruto with suspicion in their eyes. This reminder got the other leaders to calm down as Hiashi pressed on.

"Father. Hinata has known about this Winter Fairy since the very day she met Naruto. They are best friends and very close. She is not a harm to anyone." The leader of the Hyūga explained as he waved his hand towards Hinata as a signal for her to sit back down. He needed to restore order to this dinner as it was quickly getting out of hand.

"My name is Evangeline Chiho – Ali Dapplefrost and I'm the coolest Seasonal Fairy around! None of you better forget it!" Eva boasted as it wasn't every day, she got to brag about herself or her species. As a demon her name was a mouthful as many demons and yōkai could attest to. "Eva is my other half. She's been with me practically from the very beginning. She's a part of me and my partner. Do not attack her!" Naruto explained as he glared down at Hayate who was examining him with his Byakugan.

"Your chakra signature is a match to this little Fairy. Your energy sources overlap so much that they are virtually identical. You've merged with her almost completely. I also detect very potent amounts of divine grace within you. It's impossible for the human body to hold Chakra, Yōki, and Grace in it all at the same time, especially given the fact you already have a second source of chakra given your status. How is this possible?" Hayate demanded as he could just barely tell the difference between Naruto's chakra and Eva's Yōki. It was nearly impossible to tell when one ended and the other began, especially since their bodies have learned to produce the other's native energy source over time.

"That is no one's business but my own. Eva isn't a threat and that's all anyone needs to know. She's a part of me and that explanation will have to do." Naruto curtly stated as he wasn't going to entertain these strangers with the information that his twin daughters were holy beings. That would raise all sorts of questions he wasn't going to answer.

"Such insolence… and you think I wouldn't notice that Hinata's own chakra core mimics yours to a dangerous degree. She also has Yōki in her system on top of the grace inside of her that I suspect came from Hiashi's wife. How is it that she is even alive while containing three different energy sources, two of which are volatile to each other?" It was a valid question and one that Hinata's had a theory and suspicion about and one glance towards Naruto and she immediately had her answer. 'Lady Sōkyoku.' Naruto thought to himself as Hinata caught the message. It was Iris's meddling with her body months back during the preliminaries that started all of these changes to her body.

Hayate wasn't blind. He caught the silent conversation between his granddaughter and Naruto and he saw the knowing look in their eyes. They knew the real reason and explanation for the strange phenomenon happening between their two bodies. The human body would explode if it tried to contain such volatile and esoteric energy sources. On their own they are already extremely powerful for the human body to contain, but when you add in both of them on top of the chakra inside of a person and it was a perfect recipe for death.

"You two know the real reason, don't you? It's in your eyes." Hayate noted as Hinata averted her eyes away from Naruto and towards her father who was giving her a pointed look. He knew that there was something strange with Iris and Chaos. He knew they weren't human but even with his powerful Byakugan he couldn't make heads or tails of what those two girls were. He knew that Hinata must know or at the very least have a strong inclination of the truth but when he's questioned her on it in the past she's always politely refused to answer.

"You know don't you Hinata?" Hiashi once again asked his daughter who bowed her head in submission to her father. "Yes, I do father… but it's not my truth to tell. It's a closely guarded family secret of Naruto's and I will never betray his trust." A long and pregnant pause filled the room as Hiashi stared down at his daughter who had her head bowed towards him. 'I'm so very proud of you Hinata. Your mother would be too.' Hiashi thought to himself while keeping his innermost thoughts to himself and off his face.

"We could order you to reveal this information girl. If this turns out to be a danger to the clan then a silly little promise between children will be a trivial inconvenience." Hayate threatened with a base in his voice that caused a shiver to run up Hinata's spine. She's heard that tone of voice from her grandfather many times before and it usually preceded a punishment on her or others who have not met his standards.

Naruto himself was seconds away from retaliating with his own retort but once more Hiashi was playing mediator as he put his foot down hopefully for the last time. "That will be unnecessary. I trust in Hinata's judgment and respect her loyalty and decision-making skills. I've personally evaluated this situation and I've determined that there is no threat to our clan. From this point forward, no one is to question my daughters or young Uzumaki on this matter further and I do not want to hear anything more on his special status within this compound. Am I clear?" Hiashi commanded with a thunder of authority in his voice that cause a profound silence to overcome the entire eating hall. No one said a word for a brief moment before one by one everyone agreed to the wishes of their leader.

"Father I have made my decree. Do you abide by this?" Hiashi demanded with a stern glare towards his father who stared down his son with an intensity that unnerved Naruto and Eva who were outsiders. It was a long staring contest between father and son which caused a noticeable air of tension to permeate throughout the room. "Hnn…" A simple grunt was Hayate's only response as the tension in the room was alleviated ever so slightly with the elder now backing off. It wasn't much but it would have to do. 'For now, that is…' Hayate privately thought to himself.

It wouldn't be for another ten minutes of silence in the eating hall before Hiashi felt enough time had passed for the tension in the room to dissipate. He would be having a more direct conversation with his father at a later time about this incident. But for now, he had more pressing issues he wanted to address. Such as the real reason why Naruto was invited over. Now was the time for him to be a good father and make the life of his daughter's first boyfriend a living hell.

"Now young Uzumaki let us get down to the business at hand. You are currently courting my oldest daughter Hinata. What are your intentions with her?" Hiashi was a straightforward man and now Naruto felt like he wanted to die. This was not the question he wanted to be asked… but now it was here.

"Lord Hiashi… is this why we were all gathered? This boy is courting your daughter?" Kō asked in surprise as none of the members of the main branch were actually told what the special occasion was going to be for this dinner. They were only told to gather tonight for a special guess. Naruto Uzumaki was the special guess?

Murmurs broke out around the table as the other members of the family discussed this new development. "Yes, that is correct. Young Uzumaki here has known Hinata since they were six years old. He is her closest companion and confidant. With his reputation as a shinobi and the friendship that they have built he is the perfect suitor for Hinata." Hiashi advocated to those at the table who couldn't keep the surprised looks off their faces even if they tried. It was unprecedented for the clan to allow such a thing.

He had no clan, no background, and he was the village pariah because his status as the Jinchūriki to the Nine Tailed Fox was known to the older generation. It would reflect badly on the Hyūga Clan to associate further with Naruto. Surely the clan leader knew this right?

"Lord Hiashi it was to my understanding that we would be looking for potential suitors for both your daughters when they come of age from the Taketori Clan. We have previous dealings with them and we are currently trying to build a strong political relationship with them?" Kō insisted with a curious if not slightly guarded look towards Hiashi as he panned his gaze over to Naruto who caught this look. 'Oh, here we go… first this elder and now this guy.' Naruto sighed in his mind as he knew this was going to happen. He was destined to have opposition in his life.

"You would be correct in that assumption Kō, but things have changed. Young Uzumaki's influence on both my children have been to my satisfaction. He has done excellent work in bringing out the best in my daughters and he has even changed Neji's perspective for the better. I personally advocate for him, despite some of his qualities." Hiashi defended with his tone dipping lower towards the end of his statement. The father in him didn't want a boy anywhere near his daughter if he could help it. It was bad enough that he would have to bite the kunai in a few years when suitors would eventually come for them, but he was hoping to hold off on that for as long as he could. Luckily Naruto's very presence solved that problem entirely. Now he only had to worry about Hanabi when that time comes…

'Taketori Clan… who are they and more importantly Hinata had suitors already lined up? Why did she not tell me?' The look on Naruto's face said it all and the apologetic look Hinata was sending him conveyed an entire conversation between the two best friends that took them all of three seconds to have. 'I'm sorry that I never mentioned this Naruto…' Hinata's eyes were filled with guilt and the look of alarm, jealousy, and insecurity in Naruto's eyes hurt the indigo haired girl immensely. 'I should have said something.' It wasn't a comfortable subject that she liked to think about and bringing it up with her best friend wasn't something she wanted to do.

'It's ok…' This was communicated with a reluctant sigh on Naruto's part as it would have to be a conversation best saved for their own private time. He was feeling insecure about this new development, but he was willing to let it slide for the time being. Now wasn't the time to dwell on it, it would ruin the atmosphere of the dinner and create unnecessary tension between the two friends.

"Lord Hiashi, I do not mean to interrupt but this young man has no clan, no background, his social standing is below ours. I do not mean to impose but he could not possible be a good candidate for your daughter." Kō petitioned with a look of disbelief on his face as Hinata's future and the reputation of the Hyūga Clan was his only concern. He didn't have a very high opinion on Naruto.

Naruto wanted to defend himself on this account as even if Kō used pretty words and political talk to navigate himself around the statement he just made, the bottom like is he was calling Naruto an orphan and a blight on the Hyūga Clan if he were to associate himself with them any further. However, much like with the entirety of the dinner Hiashi once more stepped in to squash any more opposition against Naruto.

"Do not speak of things you do not fully understand Kō. Young Uzumaki here is the Shī-ō of the Land of Whirlpools and the Uzumaki Clan which makes him royalty. Do not forget your history Kō. It was the Uzumaki Clan who helped Lord Hashirama facilitate the creation of the Hidden Leaf Village. They were his main sponsors and supporters and it is their crest that is worn on the back of every shinobi in the village. Our village's insignia on our headbands comes from the original signature spiral insignia of the Uzumaki. They are a royal clan and their bloodline goes back just as long as ours making them one of the original clans of our world. Do not speak out in ignorance or hate. I have made every decision carefully with the interest of our clan in mind." Hiashi stated as he completely shut down Kō's argument and any other potential argument of that kind.

However, this statement brought up several more questions. "This young man is the Shī-ō of the Land of Whirlpools?" Hayate quaked as he turned to examine Naruto once again. Shocked wouldn't even begin to describe the feeling sweeping across the room as this thought was shared by everyone else. "Yes I am. I am the sovereign ruler of the Land of Whirlpools and Hōrai Island. Do you have a problem with that?" Naruto threatened as he reached deep within himself to pull on the grandiose divine reserves of power from Miya and the Cauldron of Resonance which filled the room with its overbearing power. The entire building shook as an ethereal white aura overtook Naruto's body. This was a final warning from him. He didn't want anyone else questioning his integrity or legitimacy.

It was only present for a moment before Naruto bottled the power back up, but it was more than enough of a demonstration to get the others around the table to look at him differently now. 'Naruto… just who are you? I feel as if I've only just scratched the surface on who you are?' Neji wondered to himself as he stared into Naruto's eyes which were turning back blue from the powerful silver whitish tint, they just had a moment ago.

"Now young Uzumaki, back to my original inquiry…" Hiashi returned now that there were no further interruptions. He now put every contested opposition to rest and now he wanted to get his inquiry back on track. Thinking back to a moment ago he did manage to catch the brief muted conversation between Naruto and his daughter. The fact that they could communicate just simply with their eyes already at such a young age was just further proof that Hiashi could substantiate. They had a bond that was truly special. If Naruto made Hinata happy then Hiashi was willing to give him a try… but that didn't mean he wasn't going to give Naruto a hard time and put the fear of god in him. Hinata was still his young preteen daughter and Naruto was a boy that not only did she like, but they've gone and become romantically involved. If Naruto wasn't the special kid that he was then Hiashi would have made him "disappear" a long time ago.

'Well it's time to bite the kunai on this. I just have to be myself and hope for the best.' Naruto concluded to himself as he turned to Hiashi with the most serious and genuine expression on his face. Now was the time to make his case. "Lord Hiashi… the only intention I have between me and Hinata is to be in her life. She is my best friend in the whole world and I wouldn't be neither the person or shinobi I am today without her. She's special in every way and their will never be another girl in the world that is quite like her." Naruto began as he could see the eyes of everyone at the table zeroing in on him.

Already there was a blush on Hinata's face as her eyes reflected the emotions that she was feeling in this moment. Naruto heartfelt and passionate words always had an effect on Hinata for the simple fact that he always told the truth. He was crazy about her and despite their shared insecurities and bouts of shyness at times the two friends never had an issue with communicating to each other their feelings or what they thought of each other. Now was one of those times where Naruto was putting it all on the line for the both of them again and words wouldn't be enough to describe just how much that meant to her.

"Is that so… you do realize that because of our clan laws and traditions if for any reason you two should break up you will not be given a second chance with her right? You are courting my daughter which means you must be absolutely sure this is what you want as the final goal of this is my daughter's hand in marriage. Courting is different than casual dating that the average citizen or shinobi can enjoy. The preservation and conservation of the society of clans is something that we take very serious in the Hyūga Clan. We are one of the oldest clans in the shinobi world and our traditions are followed to the letter." Hiashi explained in a very grave and serious tone. This was important for Naruto as he had to answer it truthfully.

Courting was different than casual dating. Courting was the process of getting to know a woman with the full intention of marrying them. It was the end goal that both individuals in the relationship are aware of and it was an undertaking that high society clans employ to keep their clans going. If you didn't have the intention of marrying the intended clan member then this wasn't an option, you should be looking for. The clans and wealthy high society echelons took this process very seriously, a lot was often on the line for theses unions if they ended up being a success.

"I understand sir… but that will never happen. I will never give up on Hinata and she will never give up on me. We will be in each other's lives no matter what and nothing can change that." Naruto refuted instantly as it wasn't even a thought, he was willing to entertain. Hinata was his partner and best friend… of course they would always be together, and he would always hold her to that high esteem and view her as such above all other titles. He would have to be put six feet under before he broke off his relationship and friendship with Hinata.

A look of real contemplation was on Hiashi's face right now as he looked directly into Naruto's eyes who wasn't flinching back an inch. He was dead serious and meant every word he spoke. Hinata was his best friend. He would fight for her and their relationship if needed. "You do understand that because you are now her prime suitor that means the end result is for you to marry my daughter correct?" Hiashi had to make sure Naruto completely understood where he was coming from.

As a suitor if you messed up and broke off the relationship you were having with the clansmen then you forfeited all further rights to ever reestablishing a new relationship with that individual. It was a harsh ultimatum and one that those in this higher standard of society understood all to well. The preservation of the clan and its traditions was of the utmost priority. There were no do overs or second tries in these serious relationship matters.

"I would marry her right here and right now if I could… but the fact is sir I'm not yet mature enough to handle marriage, even if it's with Hinata who I get along great with. We've even been compared to a married couple on a few separate occasions, but this is the real deal and while I could casually say that I would marry her right now, as her partner and as a shinobi I want to make sure that I am strong enough to protect Hinata from anything that might hurt her. Which is why I only need a few short years to become that kind of person who could marry her. If you give me a chance, I will do more that just say it… I will prove it to you believe it!"

'This boy is turning out to be just as you envisioned him to be Yume; and just as you wanted him to be Kushina. Yume… you foresaw that Naruto was destined for greatness and that he and our daughter would be at the center of it all. All those long hours you spent meditating while pregnant allowed you to focus your powers on our child. You could see her fate and that was to end up with this young man here. If this is your will and her fate, then I will support it with all of my strength. I've been a terrible father to our children ever since you and Hizashi died. It is time I make amends for my actions.' Hiashi repented within his mind as he's spent the last several years in a deep depression and it's caused him to neglect and mistreat his children. If this was the path that must be taken to make amends and bring about a better future for his family then he would do it with all of his strength and without hesitation.

A look of visible pride could be seen on Hiashi's face while Hinata had tears welling up in her lavender colored eyes. This was exactly the kind of response Hiashi wanted to hear and the response Hinata expected out of her dear friend who always went above and beyond for her for as long as she could remember. In that instance Hinata could feel her love for Naruto skyrocket to a new level she didn't think she was ready for… but it was here now, and she didn't find herself opposed to the idea of getting used to it.

"Very well Naruto… I acknowledge you now as my daughter's suitor. I support you in your endeavors and I wish you luck in courting her. All I ask as her father is that you treat my daughter well and ensure her happiness is your main priority. You have done well here today." Hiashi congratulated as he used Naruto's given name for the very first time with a warmth to it that touched Naruto immensely. He gained Hiashi's approval and recognition. He now had Hinata's father's blessing in dating her and being together with her. If that meant he had to one day marry her or forfeit his relationship with her than so be it. He would gladly marry his best friend. He loved her and that was all that mattered.


Hyūga Clan Compound / Main Gate

"Well dinner went well… I think." Naruto winced with a nervous laugh emanating from his voice as he and Hinata could be seen outside of the Hyūga main house. They were walking down to the main gate now that the dinner was over. No more words were spoken between Naruto and Hayate as he didn't want to antagonize the elder any further and cause a scene. He did manage to pull Neji off to the side later on during the night and explain to him most of what happened. He came clean about being the Jinchūriki host to the Nine Tailed Fox which came as a great shock to the older boy, but he managed to come to terms with this bombshell dropped on him.

Given Neji's background and ideology he was able to more easily except Naruto's situation and circumstances which came as a great weight being lifted off of his shoulders. Neji's acceptance of him was greatly appreciated by Naruto which became a mutual bridge that both boys bonded over as Naruto formally introduced Neji to Eva who hit it off very well with the more stoic and uptight boy. He's had his suspicions over the months and years about Eva's existence and to finally meet her on peaceful terms was great. The time he confronted Hinata while she was hospitalized was not a great first impression that he could have given Eva who attacked him and threatened him in defense of Hinata who couldn't defend herself. Now that they were on mutual terms it was nice to leave all of the animosity in the past. It was water under the bridge now.

"I think it went just as we both would have expect it to go Naruto…" Hinata giggled with a sarcastic and humorous tone as her arm was linked with Naruto's who was guiding her down to the gate. "I guess so… I'm sorry for the confrontation earlier at the table. I shouldn't have disrespected your family." Naruto apologized in a lower tone of voice that reflected what he was feeling in his heart right now. Guilt. Guilt was eating away at his mind right now and he wasn't the only one.

"It's okay Naruto. You only did what you always do and that's to do what you feel is right. My grandfather isn't the easiest person to get along with and this is how he's always been. He antagonized you first and this is how he's always been with us growing up." Hinata explained in an exasperated tone of voice that mimicked the feeling in her heart, her grandfather was very difficult and judgmental. He was very old school and sure of his position in life. It made dealing with him very difficult over the years.

"You could say that again… I don't know if me and your gramps are going to get along Hinata. But I'll try for your sake." It was a promise if she's ever heard one before and she instinctively knew that Naruto always kept his promises. "I'm sorry for not telling you about the Taketori Clan. I didn't know how to broach the subject with you… I just wanted to forget about it and enjoy myself in your company." Hinata admitted with remorse and guilt seeping out of her voice that caused a bolt of pain to shoot through Naruto's heart. He didn't want her feeling this way.

"Hey… it's okay Hinata. Don't feel bad. We can get through this easily. Just tell me when you found out?" It was the only question Naruto wanted answered and it was one his longtime friend could easily answer. "It was while I was in the hospital. My father stopped by to tell me that my very first suitor from the Taketori Clan was concerned about my health. He wanted to stop by, but my father stopped it. He's been blocking a lot of these suitors ever since. I'm sorry I've kept this from you all this time. That was almost three months ago. We've never kept anything from each other that long." Hinata sobbed as tears were beginning to well up in her eyes. Guilt was a terrible thing that could eat away at a person's heart and Hinata was no different. She was a kind and gentle soul and to keep this from her closest friend hurt more than anything else. The whole subject itself made her extremely uncomfortable which was why she didn't know how she could talk to Naruto about it.

In an instant Hinata found herself within Naruto's embrace as she leaned her head against his shoulder while his free hand gently patted her on the back of her head. The last thing Naruto wanted to see was Hinata crying. He already forgave her in his heart. Now he just had to say it with his words. "It's ok… you have nothing to apologize for and if it helps, I forgive you. I can't imagine the stress it must have been causing you. But I'm glad it's out in the open now." Naruto comforted as Hinata hiccupped in distress. The two friends have never kept secrets from each other for more than the longest being two weeks. Three months was a long time and the guilt that it was causing finally boiled over in the heiress who couldn't look her friend in the eye.

"Look at me Hinata. Everything is ok now." Naruto whispered in a tender tone which seemed to do the trick as lavender colored eyes were now looking into his own and being this close to his girlfriend was exhilarating for the blond haired Uzumaki. "So pretty." Naruto subconsciously mumbled while looking into Hinata's eyes causing Hinata to turn a bright red in response. "Are you jealous or angry?" It was a question that was still plaguing Hinata's mind despite Naruto's reassurance and it was one that deep down bothered him as well.

"Yes… I don't like the fact that other people are supposed to be coming after you. I already hate the fact that Kiba has a crush on you and it hasn't gone away, despite the loss he took to me at the exams. He's been quiet for a while now, but his feelings haven't gone away. It's been bugging me, so I have to ask. Are any of these suitors way older than us?" Thinking back to the conversation he had with Naho early that morning was causing some anxiety and fear within Naruto's heart and he wanted it addressed so that he could move on.

An uncomfortable look came to Hinata's face and that was all the answer Naruto needed as he let out an unsteady breath that contained his anger and resentment. "I don't want them anywhere near you at all! I'm the only one you need!" An angered and deadly look was in Naruto's eyes now and instead of flinching back or becoming afraid Hinata smiled in return to the jealousy that was burning in Naruto's eyes. "Exactly… I'm right where I want to be." Hinata sweetly cooed as she landed a quick unexpected peck down onto Naruto's lips before he could even think which banished the possessive and jealous anger and thoughts plaguing his mind.

She couldn't exactly be sure what this meant for herself but Hinata felt a tiny tingle worm its way up her spine at the possessive nature Naruto just took with her. This very hormonal and instinctual feeling was something Hinata wasn't sure about. It scared her yet excited her all at the same time. Puberty and feelings were far too complex and confusing for the young girl to understand.

"Uhh…"

Naruto was left a stuttering mess as Hinata took the reigns of their conversation now. A question was on the back of her mind that she wanted answered in return. "What made you think to ask me about the age of the suitors?" Now it was Naruto's turn to pause in thought as he refocused on the task at hand. "Naho told me this morning when I was with her. She told me that she had suitors that were way older than her." Naruto didn't realize it in the moment he said it that he practically put his foot in his mouth as the facial expression of Hinata changed right before his eyes faster than he could use his Accel Turn.

"What were you doing with Naho this morning? I didn't even know she was around?" The pitch in Hinata's tone took on a life of its own that Naruto's never quite heard before and now he was fearing for his life as Eva jumped out of his hair and away from him in response to this. She knew what was coming and wanted no part of it.

"Oh… I… I was hanging out with her after she asked me to. I took her to the Dango shop and the Zoo. We talked for a bit and I asked her that question." Naruto was sweating now as an adorable scowl planted itself on Hinata's face. It was perhaps the cutest thing Naruto's ever seen in his entire life but right now since it was directed at him, he felt this subconscious male instinct that put the fear of god in him. He was in trouble.

"Naruto… you just practically described a date. You went on a date with a girl nearly four years younger than us before we've even been on our first special one?" Hinata deadpanned as her voice hit rock bottom causing Naruto to fear for his life. "Yes." It was the meekest response Naruto's ever given his partner before and the scowl that was on her face reached its zenith. "Are you jealous or angry?" It was the same phrase Hinata asked earlier and having it thrown back in her face by a sheepish and fearful Naruto was enough to comically throw Hinata off the edge.

"Does this answer the question Naruto!?" Hinata growled out cutely as she jabbed her finger forward that was ablaze with chakra towards Naruto who comically squealed like a little girl as he dodged and contorted his body out of the way of his girlfriends strikes. Naruto's limbs were like jelly as he twisted himself into odd angles to avoid the impending doom assaulting him but in the end it would all be for naught as he ended up on the ground with several of his Tenketsu shut down.

"So, this is your jealous side… it's scary." Naruto mumbled pitifully from the ground while Hinata stood above him with her hands on her hips and a cute pout in place. "It's supposed to be. I never would have thought this possible, but I fell in love with a bad boy. You cheated on me Naruto." This statement was punctuated by terribly acted fake sobs from Hinata who turned away from Naruto in anguish. "Hinata! Wait! I'm sorry!" Naruto wailed as he magically got to his feet and embraced the ever so slightly shorted girl from behind with a huge hug. His tone was lighthearted and playful as he felt Hinata's giggles before he heard them as the heiress finally broke from her charade and returned the embrace being given to her.

"We're so cheesy. We need to work on our teasing and acting more." Hinata giggled as she nuzzled her face into Naruto's cheek causing him to involuntarily laugh not only at her statement but at the fact that the lily she had in her hair as an accessory was tickling his nose.

"We still on for Friday night? I have the perfect place for our date planned out." Naruto noted as Hinata shook her head yes. "Is this perfect place Ichiraku Ramen?" It was an innocent question on the surface to ask but Hinata received the straightest poker face from Naruto he's ever given her before. It looked like he swallowed a sour lemon and was trying not to react to it. It was honestly hilarious in Hinata's opinion who busted out laughing in hysteria. "I promise there's an actual place I'm going to take you. There's more to the date than just Ichiraku." Naruto advocated as he was reeling from the fact Hinata saw right through him in a heartbeat. Maybe they knew each other a little too well.

"Their better be more to this date mister." Hinata teased as she gave Naruto an eskimo kiss by rubbing her nose together with his. She was feeling especially playful tonight. "Yes ma'am!"

With their round of playful batter behind them Naruto found himself at the gate to the Hyūga clan with Hinata stopping at the threshold to the premises with a beautiful smile on her face. "Get home safely Naruto. I love you." It was perhaps the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to him as Naruto found tears welling up in his eyes for a change. "I will, enjoy the rest of your night Hinata. I love you too." Naruto softly states as he moved forward without warning and stole a more forceful and passionate kiss from Hinata that nearly took her off her feet. She didn't even have time to get into it as Naruto pulled back with an alluring wink being thrown her way. "Don't forget me!" Eva chirped as she planted her exiting kiss onto Hinata's lips before the girl could even think once more as the duo waved goodbye to their girlfriend who returned the gesture until the gates were closed.

'He's the one… I hope you are happy Yume.' Hiashi thought to himself from the top of the hill of the main house building. He saw the whole exchange between his daughter and her boyfriend. He could even hear what they said to each other as well due to being able to channel chakra to his ears and he couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth enter his heart at seeing the sheer amount of happiness coming from his daughter. She was truly happy and that was all that mattered.


Naruto's Apartment (11:00 PM)

Returning home was an uneventful event for Naruto as he reached his apartment in record time with a very liberal use of his Accel Turn due to how happy he was. He was on cloud nine after the night he had despite the slight bumps in the road that happened along the way so the last person he expected to see tonight leaving his doorstep was Sasuke. The boy was dressed in casual clothing and it looked like he was heading home now.

"Sasuke…? What are you doing here?" Naruto was rightfully confused as Sasuke didn't always show up at his house on his own, most of the time it was on Naruto's insistence that the young Uchiha would find his way to his house; but now it looked like he wanted something. "I dropped by earlier to ask you something. You weren't here, and Ms. Shoko insisted on me staying over for dinner. But now that you are here…?" Sasuke explained as he trailed off once he took in Naruto's appearance.

"Oh… this… I… uh… I just came back from having dinner with Hinata's family. It was interesting to say the least." Naruto fumbled as he tugged at the kimono he had on. He still felt weird in these formal clothing. It wasn't really his style. "Suitors…?" It was a blank statement that Sasuke made yet if filled in the blank perfectly as Naruto just shook his head yes for the sake of his sanity. Sasuke was from one of the royal clans of the village while it was still standing. It would make sense that he would understand Naruto's plight given the fact he's either experienced it himself or knew people that did.

"What was it that you were looking for me for?" Naruto casually asked while leaning against the guard rail of his staircase. He was very interested in what his teammate wanted to ask. He was in a pretty dark place recently with his encounter with Itachi and the jealousy he was showing towards him because of his promotion and superiority in power was very concerning for Naruto. He wanted to be there for Sasuke. They also haven't had the chance to hang out or spar recently either with how busy Naruto's been with his Chūnin responsibilities and missions. Team 7 was really on hiatus right now for quite some time. Ever since the Chūnin Exams finished all three members of the squad went their separate ways. Naruto got promoted, Sasuke has been interning under Kakashi when the powerful Jōnin wasn't on his own separate missions and Sakura was interning under Kurenai upon Tsunade's orders to help round out her shinobi skills in Genjutsu and tracking. With Hinata being in the same boat as him with a promotion the hole she left behind on her team was easily filled by the pink haired girl.

"Sakura asked me out yet again on a date and this time for some reason I said yes." The crickets in the night time ambiance could be heard as Naruto blinked in shock once, twice, and then an extra third time for good measure. "Excuse me…?" Naruto stuttered out shell shocked as a scowl came to Sasuke's face immediately. "You heard me! Don't make me repeat myself!" Sasuke barked in discomfort as he was looking everywhere but at Naruto. This was the last question he wanted to ask anyone, but for better or for worst Naruto was his only real friend and he trusted him above all others.

"What made you change your mind? Is this what you really want?" It was a valid question and one Sasuke didn't have a full answer to which he explained to Naruto who took this all in with an open and unbiased mind. "I say go for it. Take her on a date. It doesn't have to be super serious and it will give you the chance for a change of pace in your life. I'm worried about you Sasuke. Ever since we encountered your brother you haven't been the same. Maybe this date is just what you need to help heal your heart." Naruto genuinely suggested as once again a thoughtful and grateful expression came to Sasuke's face at Naruto's generosity and kindness. He honestly wanted to be a good friend to him.

"Ok… I'll give it a try. Thank you." Sasuke said curtly as he got up from the steps and began making his way home with Naruto calling out to him in the background. "Good luck Sasuke! I'm rooting for you!" Naruto cheered in a friendly wave of compassion as Sasuke grunted back in response. "You too."

"Well that was unexpected…" Eva deadpanned once the last Uchiha was gone. "Yeah… you could say that again." Naruto mumbled as he walked up the steps to his apartment and entered it only to be blindsided by his entire family waiting at the door for him. They could hear his voice from his conversation with Sasuke outside of the apartment door. They knew he was home.

"Spill the beans brat! We want to hear all the juicy gossip!" Anko grinned cheekily. It was late… and it appeared as if Naruto wouldn't be getting any actual sleep tonight. 'Oh, here we go.' Naruto grumbled in his mind. Why him?


To be continued...


Author's Note (A/N): Hey guys how was that? This turned out to be quite the chapter I must say. Naruto and Hinata's characters evolve from beginning to end with a complexity being brought out of them that has been building up for years now.

The chapter starts off with Naho blindsiding Naruto with an impromptu date that he is initially not to keen on. Her mere presence made Naruto uncomfortable but Naruto soon found himself engaging with the younger girl whose bright and intuitive personality won him over. He takes her to a Dango shop and the Zoo where they bond and get to really know each other better. It is here in which Naho deduces that Naruto is under a lot of stress to which he reluctantly admits his veiled connection to the Nine Tailed Fox. Naho's compassion and empathy shocks Naruto who warms up to the younger girl fully afterwards with her alluding to the fact that she doesn't have many friends and the typical person she interacts with are suitors. When Naho reveals the nature of her childhood and life and the fact that there are even older individuals pursuing her Naruto becomes protective of her by extending his hand of true friendship to her that she takes. In return for this Naho reminds Naruto of the idea of taking Hinata to the movies for their first date.

From Hinata's point of view she reminisces about a conversation she shared with Shoko at the end of last chapter in Otaru Town. Shoko manages to squeeze out of Hinata the truth of what happened between them when they went into the forest alone. Hinata cracks and admits the truth to a surprised Shoko who digests the heightened level the young couple is taking their relationship. In return Shoko offers Hinata some motherly advice on handling her feelings which eventually comes about with Shoko's first crush being revealed. It is Kushina, Naruto's mother which leaves Hinata rightfully shell shocked. Shoko delves into a portion of her childhood and backstory with Kushina while also confirming to Hinata who Naruto's father is. Hinata makes the mature decision to refrain from learning anything else about Naruto's past as it is his birthright to know. Instead she asks Shoko to tell her stories about her mother to which the Legendary Titan is all too eager to help in.

From that point on Naruto shows up at the Hyūga Clan Compound for his scheduled family dinner that has been alluded to many times throughout the story with Hiashi first proposing this idea back when Hinata was in the hospital. That was Chapter 49 (Enter Jiraiya the Toad Sage). We are introduced to an assortment of characters such as Hinata's grandfather who I name Hayate and his wife Hirata who is a made up character. I gave them both names that start with the letter "H" to keep with the naming scheme of the main family. I also create some lore behind the coloration and the genetic behavior of the Byakugan and it's appearance over the course of a Hyūga's life span. Hayate turns out to be a stiff and stubborn stickler for the rules who is very irritable and bullheaded. He and Naruto quickly come to blows after he insults Neji's loss to Naruto back during the Chūnin Exams. Naruto defends Neji's honor and in doing so earns Hayate's scorn who reveals the fact he knows of Evangeline's presence in the room with them. Things spiral out of control from their until Hiashi of all people restores order by revealing the fact that Naruto is the new and current Shī-ō of the Land of Whirlpools which makes him royalty. Everyone's opposition is finally brought to an end as Hiashi interrogates Naruto and asks him what his intentions are with Hinata. The serious nature of courting a high society daughter is brought to light and the position it puts Naruto in who doesn't back down from this daunting notion. He expresses his loyalty and love towards Hinata for Hiashi who finally approves of Naruto being with his daughter.

Throughout this entire segment we get an inside look to Hiashi's inner most thoughts and driving motivations for his change of heart and his supportive nature of Naruto. Yume and Kushina were close friends back when they were alive and it was always their intention to have Naruto and Hinata meet and become friends in the future. Hiashi alludes to the fact that Yume had the power to read the fate of an individual with her powers as she read the fate of Hinata while she was pregnant with her and it led her to determining that Naruto and Hinata would not only be together in the future but that their very lives and fate itself were intertwined along with the far off future. His deceased wife's will and his remorse for his treatment of his daughters' is Hiashi's driving force and catalyst for his drastic change in personality and goals.

After the dinner is finally over Naruto and Hinata have a private moment to let their feelings out. Naruto apologizes for his rash and disrespectful nature at the dinner while Hinata apologizes for not mentioning the Taketori Clan and the suitors that they are sending to her. The Taketori Clan are a real clan in the Anime/Manga that gets mentioned by Hiashi and Hanabi right after Pain's invasion of the village where they return to see the aftermath of his attack since they were outside of the village on a business trip meeting with the Taketori Clan who live in another village somewhere in the Land of Fire or beyond. Introducing them into the story now was my way of tying a correlation and parallel together between Hinata's situation and Naho's situation which Hinata soon finds out about. After confirming to Naruto that the suitor in question from the Taketori Clan is an older individual Hinata reacts to the very possessive and jealous nature Naruto takes with her. Her hormones are a confusing subject for her. In retrospect Hinata finds out that Naruto went on an impromptu date with Naho earlier that morning which angers Hinata who shows off her jealous side in a very cute yet deadly way. Naruto gets his first taste of Hinata's jealous side as she alludes to the fact she fell in love with a bad boy. This ultimately proves to all be a big charade by the couple who joke around with each other. Naruto confirms the fact that they are going on a date to which Hinata clearly sees through Naruto's intentions as she calls him out on taking her to Ichiraku Ramen. Hinata playfully teases Naruto about this fact before they part ways with a tender yet powerful kiss.

The final scene ends up being a surprise with Sasuke himself expressing his turmoil over the fact he accepted a date with Sakura much to his own confusion. Naruto is expressively shocked at this fact to which Sasuke quickly shuts him down. Taking things more seriously Naruto offers Sasuke some genuine advice to take Sakura on a date as it might actually help him with the emotional distress he's been under since encountering Itachi. Sasuke responds to this positively as he once again sees Naruto's honest and genuine intentions of being his friend. The two friends part on friendly terms as the chapter comes to a close out with Naruto being bombarded by his entire family for the story of how his dinner went.

This was a very important and meaty chapter meant to make Naruto and Hinata's relationship more robust along with the other characters around them who all share a common connection and theme to the title of this chapter. Things will continue to escalate from here as Naruto prepares to take Hinata on their very first legitimate romantic date. This is the signifier to their relationship becoming legitimized. The next chapter directly segways into the second to last major arc of the current story which is one I've been foreshadowing to for a long time. (Part 2: From Demon to Ninja) is on the tail end of its run and it will be coming to a close before we know it.


Next Chapter: Chapter 83 (The First Date) (Look out for Valentine's Day everyone. Chapter 83 will be out then as a special on the nose joke and treat to all of the readers out their.)


That's the end of Chapter 82 I sincerely hoped you enjoyed it.

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Published: 2/12/2019