Author's Note: I do not own Naruto.
It had been a few hours since Hinata had left her new team at the Ramen stand. During that time, she had gone for a rather mindless walk around the village, just letting her feet do the walking while she thought about other things. During her walk she had come to the determination that she liked the current situation that she was in. She could definitely use Naruto's help in gaining more confidence in herself, and hopefully gaining the approval of her father. Despite the happiness at her realization, she could still feel a small part of her being overwhelmed with the thought of being a disappointment to Naruto. She tried her best to push these thoughts aside, but they just kept coming back to her every few minutes.
After what felt like an eternity of being wrapped in her own thoughts, she looked up only to realize that she was slowly making her way towards the Hyuga compound. It was at this moment that all of her fears and insecurities began to take complete hold of her heart. Gone were her positive thoughts of gaining her father and Naruto's approval. Gone was her confidence that she could be something more than she already was. Instead, pure and utter terror gripped at her insecure heart as she slowly made her way to her house. Not her home but her house. Long ago, after her mother's passing, she had quit seeing this place as her home, but instead she saw it as a place to provide shelter, sleep, and food. How she hoped for almost the last decade that one day she would be able to leave and once again find a home instead of just merely a place to stay.
After only a few more minutes she approached the compound and made her way towards her father's study. She knew that her father had nothing but contempt for her, but she still needed to inform him on her new team and the three-day test that she needed to attend.
When she got to her father's study, she hesitated a moment before taking a deep breath and softly knocking on the door. After several moments she heard her father's stoic and commanding voice telling her to enter. She gulped one more time doing her bast to swallow her fears before she slid the door open and entered.
"Father." She stated with a bow.
"Hinata, come sit down and tell me about your new team." He replied.
"Yes, f-father." She whispered as she got up from the bow and moved herself to kneel before her father.
After a moment of silence to gather her thoughts, she began. "F-father, I have b-been as-asigned to T-t-team 11 along with Shika-Shikamaru Nara."
Her father waited several moments in silence as he wanted to hear who else was on the team. When he realized that she would not be continuing he frowned and decided to prod her further. "And? Who is the third member of your team?"
"Th-there is n-no other me-member." She stuttered out. "Se-sensei says th-that w-we had an o-odd number o-of gr-graduates this year. Be-because of this w-we on-only have two me-members f-for the t-t-time being. H-he s-said that i-if there i-is a single member o-of another t-team that sh-shows the ability t-to p-pass wh-when the re-rest of th-that person's team fa-fails, then w-we may take hi-him as a th-third member."
Hiashi for his part remained calm and collective as he heard the reasoning behind the interesting situation before him. However, there was something that puzzled him about what she had said.
"You said your Sensei is a he? You mean to tell me that Kurenai-san is not your Sensei?" She nodded in response. This caused him more confusion. He had discussed the small chance of her passing with the Hokage and had pulled enough strings to practically guarantee that Kurenai would be his daughters Sensei. So, what had changed? "Then, who is your new Sensei?" He asked.
Hinata hesitated ever so slightly wondering how her father would take Naruto being her Sensei. Although she loved the boy, she was also very aware of the fact that most people did not care for him. He was an outcast, and definitely not someone that the daughter of the head of the most prestigious clan left in Konoha should be associating herself with. After a moment she stuttered out her answer. "N-N-N-Naruto U-U-U-Uzumaki is my S-S-Sensei."
The Hyuga was barely able to hide his surprise at the answer he was given. He knew that the Uzumaki kid had been taken out of the Academy and left on a training trip with two very prestigious and sought-after teachers. Shortly after that he was made a genin, then a chunin, and finally a jounin. But despite all of that he had no idea that the boy was now a Sensei for the very age group that had actively shunned him. What was more is that he knew his daughter had feelings for the boy. It became quite apparent after she had begun to fail even harder after he left. Every action that occurred after that moment screamed to the fact that the boy was very special to her. Half of him wondered if perhaps this was for the best. Maybe he could bring out more from her then anyone else, but the other half of himself quickly shot down the notion. For you see the other half of him knew that Hinata was in a very precarious situation. She was extremely close to losing her status as the Hyuga heir. If she had not happened to pass the exam, then the council would have voted to have her sealed and cast into the branch family. With her surprising pass they had decided to give her until the Chunin Exams in six months' time to see if there was any improvement. However, any wrong move could incur the wrath of the council. Being associated with the Kyubi container was definitely enough for the council to move forward with their plans of banishment.
"I see." He stated after several minutes of thought. "Thank you for informing me. Was there anything else that you wished to discuss?"
She nodded slowly still surprised at the fact that her father had not been upset with the news. "Y-yes, actually. S-Sensei says th-that for our t-test we w-will be e-embarking on a thr-three-day tr-training trip outside th-the vi-village. W-we l-leave the d-day after to-tomorrow at 8:00 i-in the morning."
"Alright. If that is all you may go." He responded.
She bowed and quickly left the study.
'Hmm… very interesting decision you have made Hokage-Sama.' Hiashi thought to himself. 'However, despite what my daughter may think everything I do is for her safety. I have to get her moved to another team away from Uzumaki-San in order to assure her safety. I guess in the morning I will head to the Hokage Tower to plead my case.'
Bright and early the next morning Hiashi Hyuga found himself standing before the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"What is it you would like to discuss this morning Hiashi?" Hiruzen asked.
"It is about my daughter and her new Sensei, Hokage-Sama. I would like to petition you to have her moved to another team away from Uzumaki-San." The Third Hokage frowned as Hiahsi finished his statement.
"I see. And why, pray tell, would you like to occur?" He asked with a hint of danger in his old voice.
"I won't beat around the bush or lie to you, Hokage-Sama." He replied with a sigh. "The reason is because of what the boy holds. I am not a fool and I know that the Fourth Hokage would never have sealed the Nine-Tailed Fox into the boy if he was not certain that the seal would hold. I do not fear or despise the boy, but I do fear what he holds. However, I digress from my real reason why. You see my daughter is in a very precarious situation within our clan. She does not fit into the Hyuga mold, as it were. Plus, she frankly does not have the right demeanor to be a leader. The Hyuga council wishes to seal her and cast her to the branch family. I can only do so much to stop it right now. Since she managed to pass the exam despite nobody believing she would, I was able to convince the council to give her until the Chunin Exams to see if she can improve herself. However, if they feel as though there is a good reason to no longer allow her the six-month period then they can easily send her to the branch family now. I know that they will use this new sensei of hers to strip her of her title and seal her. I can't allow it to happen."
After a moment the old Hokage spoke up. "I see. I can understand everything you are saying, however, I have a few things that may change your opinion entirely."
The Third then turned his attention elsewhere to call for a member of his personal ANBU. He wrote a few things down on a piece of paper and asked him to deliver the message immediately. Hiashi wanted to know what was going on, but he knew better than to put his nose in whatever affairs the Hokage had going on.
"Now Hiashi, please have a seat. I want to discuss a few things with you while we wait the arrival of someone." Hiruzen stated as he motioned to the chair before him. "The first thing I would like to inform you of will come in the form of a question. Do you know how your daughter managed to pass? We both know that she has the skill and ability to be a fine graduate, but it was her self-image that held her back. So, how did she manage to bring herself to pass?"
"I am uncertain as to the answer Hokage-Sama." He replied in a slightly questioning tone.
"It is because of Naruto Uzumaki." He replied as he watched confusion etch over the Hyuga head's face. "You see he ran into Hinata shortly before the test and she took the opportunity to apologize to him about the event that sent him away from the Academy several years ago. After that she asked him to be her friend, and sometime during the conversation she confided in him how scared she was. He got her to calm down and gain enough confidence for her to pass. As a matter of fact, he promised her that if she did pass, he would help her to the best of his abilities to make her a strong and worthy Leaf ninja. After he informed me of this, he, Kurenai, and I decided that it would be best for her to be taken under his wing. So, earlier you wrong when you said nobody believed she could pass. One person did, and that was Naruto Uzumaki."
Hiashi nodded in understanding. He was quite thrilled with this new revelation. Perhaps with Naruto's help he could stop Hinata from being sealed. However, those thoughts were quickly beaten down as he realized the council would still not allow it.
"As much as I am relieved by this new revelation, it still does not stop the fact that the council will not agree to it." Hiashi replied in a somber tone. He really wanted to find a way to give his precious daughter a chance at being all that he knew she could.
"I understand Hiashi. That is why I have sent for Naruto and hopefully with him we can work through this." Just as the Old Man finished speaking the door burst open and in stepped none other than Naruto Uzumaki.