CHAPTER 5: Acceptance
Outskirts of the Hidden Village of the Leaf… Uchiha Training Grounds…
A pair of shuriken was thrown in opposite directions, then followed by another pair, albeit much faster, of shuriken. The faster shurikens hit the earlier thrown pair of shurikens, deflecting each other. And the force and direction of deflection allowed all four shurikens to hit their respective dartboard-like targets despite those targets being on his blindside.
"…"
The Shinobi responsible for such display of shuriken mastery landed to the ground, revealing himself as Uchiha Sasuke, who was currently practicing his shuriken mastery. After all, it has been a while since he was able to visit this specific training ground. The last time he did so, was before the finals of the Chuunin Exams before Orochimaru and Suna attacked Konoha, the attack that claimed the 3rd Hokage's life.
And since his departure from Konoha, until the end of the 4th Shinobi World War, he couldn't return to this training grounds. And even after the war, due to his self-imposed mission of tracking Otsutsuki traces all the while atoning for his previous crimes, Sasuke never attempted to try using the grounds, let alone visit the by then deserted Uchiha Clan compound.
However, during Kakashi's reign as the current Hokage, he created an ordinance to periodically clean and maintain the Uchiha Clan Compound and the said clan's training grounds. While Kakashi didn't express explicitly why, Sasuke believed that the Hokage did so to honor the sacrifices of the Uchihas who sacrificed themselves for the sake Village, such as Shisui, Itachi, and Obito.
This training ground was very special for him, since he has a lot of memories between him and his family, most of those memories were with his elder brother Itachi.
He then made his way to the nearest tree, sat under it, relaxing while being enveloped by the comforting shades of its leaves. As he ate the packed lunch that Sakura made for her… he then began remembering how his previous short 'spar' with Naruto have unfolded.
'Passive Senjutsu usage without entering Sage Mode, the 4th Hokage's Hiraishin, Uzumaki Clan's Chakra Chains, and even that new Chakra Mode…' Sasuke muttered. 'To top that, his Shinobi fundamentals improved beyond my expectations.'
He remembered how Naruto can now able to match his Taijutsu and Bukijutsu expertise. He can now exchange shuriken throws and close-ranged physical attacks and weapon exchange properly against him.
"I believe this is now the right time for me seriously consider acquiring a new left arm." Sasuke decided, remembering how Naruto pleaded to Tsunade to make an arm for him like the one the blonde Shinobi had right now after the war. But that time, he, himself, declined. That missing arm is proof of his atonement for all his crimes. However, seeing how much Naruto had grown, and with the threat of other possible Otsutsukis lurking around, he must also start making a step forward and protect the current peace that this world currently had.
"…!"
Sasuke then slowly stood from where he was currently sitting after sensing someone watching over him. He then slowly walked away from the tree, entering the nearby small forest with his eyes and senses remaining vigilant. He just knew that was being lured towards the said direction.
He just needed to anticipate whatever ambush that might be waiting against him, strike back, and apprehend the culprit.
After walking for a few minutes , Sasuke then stopped his movement, then sighed. After all, most of the world knew him as the current sole person who possess the Rinnegan, dubbed as the 'Eyes of the Six Paths'. He was challenged by a Ketsuryugan user named Chino before, be it barely posed any challenge. Not that he was looking for a challenge at the moment. In fact, he believes that Naruto was the only person who can fight on par against him. That's why someone attempting to ambush or challenge him like this became more of an annoyance for him.
"…!"
A hooded person then appeared behind him, then aimed to attack with a weapon known as kusarigama. It is a scythe-like weapon with chains connected to the end of its hilt, and those chains have a huge chunk of iron steel that can be used as a blunt weapon.
Sasuke easily dodged the ambush attack from the scythe's blade. The attacker then proceeded to grab the chain part of kusarigama, then threw the iron chunk on its end on a tree branch, making the chain wrap halfway on the branch, changing the trajectory of the iron chunk, and now aimed towards Sasuke's head.
Sasuke then quickly blocked the iron chunk with his sword, but the chains of the kusarigama wrapped around his sword's blade. However, with a single hand seal, Sasuke emitted lightning chakra from his sword, channeled to the chains, thus directly electrocuting the hooded attacker, and destroying the hooded cloak that was concealing the attacker's appearance.
And much to the Rinnegan wielder's surprise, the appearance of the attacker caught him off-guard. The culprit looked like a kid around the same age as them during their Chuunin Exam. The kid's white hairstyle was pointing towards one specific direction. And much to his surprise, the white attire that the kid was wearing had the signature Uchiha Clan mark, and also, the kid had an active, three-tomoe'd Sharingan while glaring towards him.
"This kid…" Sasuke narrowed his eyes. However, before he can perform his next move, the kid used Shunshin, then disappeared in front of him.
He wanted to trace and follow the kid, he easily could if he wanted to, but the situation was screaming as a trap no matter what angle he looks at it. He might be quite powerful now, but he wasn't stupid enough to act like Naruto even in this kind of situation.
"A young kid with Sharingan, huh…" Sasuke said to himself. He was the last surviving member of the Uchiha Clan. He believed he was. And that will never change. Because the kid that he just met with the Sharingan eyes was clearly not an authentic Uchiha. So there's more to it than it seems. And if this little match fire will not be stopped as early as possible, it may create a wildfire before they even knew it.
"I need to tell Kakashi immediately." Sasuke then used Shunshin as he decided to report the incident directly to Kakashi.
-Scene Change-
Kazekage Tower, Hidden Village of the Sand.
On a private onsen bath for VIP female guests of the Kazekage, the former Queen of Rouran, Sara was dipping herself on the warm water of the said onsen that could fit around 4-5 people. She was sitting on the onsen's floor, her back lying on its walls, with her entire body dipped up to her shoulder within the warm water as steam continued to be emitted, further hiding her naked body. It was an open bath camouflaged by some sort of barrier to protect the guests from being peeked upon while relaxing.
Sara then looked towards the sky as she leaned her head to the side of the onsen as she tried to relax. Once again, she found herself having only the stars above to whom she could talk to.
"Naruto… we finally meet again, and despite the memory sealing jutsu done by Minato-san, he was still able to remember me…" She said, not talking specifically to anybody. "And Hinata-san… she seems to be a very beautiful and kind person." She said with a small, sad smile.
She then recollected herself. She was currently on a timeline where she should never exist, and the person that she fell in love with, the very reason why she's on this timeline to begin with, was already in love with someone else… and that someone was such a kind person whom she feels like she can also never hurt…
"Why…" was all that she could say as she folded her legs, bringing her knees close to her face. She wanted to cry, but she can't anymore. She doesn't want to. She should be happy for Naruto and give her best regards to Hinata…
Then what should she do after that?
She had nowhere to go. She can't even return to her people who have migrated to Suna since her existence and circumstances will only make things complicated. Aside from the fact that she might also get targeted again if some organizations with ill intentions decided to use her again and gain the power of the sealed Ranyaku, just like what happened with Mukade…
She's totally lost on what she should do…
"…" The tatami door of the onsen then opened, earning Sara's attention. She looked towards the person who was entering the onsen, expecting it to be Temari, but…
"Uhm… Hello… Sara-sama." Hinata greeted the former Queen, much to Sara's surprise. The Hyuuga was currently wrapped with nothing except by a towel, intending to take the onsen as well.
"Uh. Hinata-san." Sara replied with an awkward voice. After all, she just happened to hug the white-eyed girl's fiancé right in front of her just earlier.
"May I join you?" Hinata asked politely. "If it's not okay, I'll take my leave."
"Ah, no, please. In fact, I am almost done. You can have the onsen for yourself, Hinata-san." Sara immediately stood, and attempted to wrap a towel around her naked form so she can leave. However…
"Then I'll be leaving as well so we can talk outside once you're done dressing up." Hinata replied with a calm demeanor. She might be smiling, but Sara can see a hint of seriousness in her eyes.
"Is it… really okay?" Sara asked. "I thought you might not want to talk with me."
"I wanted to talk to you, Sara-sama."
"Please, just Sara, Hinata-san."
"Yes. But also please call me Hinata, Sara…"
"…" Sara nodded. Hinata might looked like a calm person, but she can feel that Hinata was also a very strong, determined person.
The two girls then dipped themselves on the onsen, their towels folded neatly on the side of the onsen near them. They were sitting together at arm's reach. Hinata has her head lying on the side of the onsen, looking up to the sky, while Sara had her knees folded in front of her face, as if trying to hide her face from the girl beside her.
"I'm sorry." Sara was the first to break the silence. "I know that Naruto already has you, but I still ended up hugging him in front of you, Hinata."
"Well... I do feel jealous because of what you did," Hinata replied, but without any hint of anger, surprising the former queen. "However, it can't be helped right? You fell in love with the same person I fell in love with, after all."
"You're too kind… Hinata." Sara replied. "What if I did that simply because I want to stir some trouble in your relationship?"
"You won't do that." Hinata said with a kind smile.
"How can you say that? You already knew that I have feelings for him as well, right?"
"That's exactly the reason. You won't do that. You won't do something that Naruto would not like." Hinata replied to her with an earnest tone and expression.
"Because you already knew that he will always choose you over me," Sara said, visible hints of jealousy and sadness filled in her voice.
"No… I didn't mean it like that, sorry." Hinata said as she looked down.
The two then stayed quiet for a while. Then…
"Hinata. If it's okay, can you please… tell me some of your stories about Naruto…" Sara said with a serious expression towards Hinata…
Hinata responded with a smile…
-Scene Change-
Naruto was currently standing on the highest veranda near the rooftop of the Kazekage Tower, thinking about Sara's current circumstances. He's still wondering why Sara did something dangerous like that. Good thing nothing wrong happened to her…
No… everything was wrong.
Sara was currently on a timeline where she shouldn't exist. She can no longer return to her original timeline, as the current history already told that the last Queen of Rouran disappeared during the sealing procedures of the Ryumyaku according to Gaara.
He is the reason why she's here. So he's the only one she can believe in on this timeline right now…
His 16-year-old self didn't realize it that much, but his current self, after unlocking those sealed memories from the past, allowed him to realize how much amazing of a girl and a queen Sara was. Despite learning that she was being manipulated as a puppet princess by Mukade for his own bidding, she was able to gather herself and decided to save her people. She even discarded her royal attire back then for her to be able to move better, guiding her people to a safer location as he fought against Mukade.
She reminded him of his past self… of how he was a castaway orphan being hated by the village, but despite knowing that, he kept moving forward, allowing him to stand where he is today.
"Queen Sara is indeed a wonderful person," Naruto muttered to himself, smiling while looking at the seemingly unreachable horizon. "That's why I can't leave her behind like this. She's here because of me. But…"
He can now clearly remember the forgotten feelings of his past self who fought to save and protect Sara against Mukade during that mission. He felt connected to her. As the girl tried to change herself, from a girl who can't trust anybody to a Queen who will do her best for the sake of her people, her determined expression back then, the way she looked towards him back then, all of it was engraved within him since back then.
During the time when Queen Sara came to understand what she needs to do to become the Queen, up to the point where they were about to say goodbye to each other, his past self didn't notice that he had already begun developing some form of admiration for her. And that admiration allowed him to keep standing up and continue fighting despite the beating he received from Mukade. He won't allow his determination to waver no matter what because he can't let Sara, who's doing her best in that situation back then, got hurt because of his own weakness.
That's why when they were about to part ways after Mukade's defeat and their memories needed to be erased by Minato, he felt a strange feeling that he rarely felt before… the pain of losing someone he truly admires. The fact that he felt such feelings during their supposed separation despite being together for such a short time back then, spoke a lot of how much he somewhat meant to her. That's why… when he met her once again earlier, his memories about her might have been sealed, but those feelings were something that can never be sealed by whatever memory-altering jutsu that was used during that time.
Earlier when he finally remembered her, the first thing he yelled at her was the problem that it might cause between the timelines. But those were just mere excuses. Because of his lost memories from back then and the feelings together with it felt like he was relieved. Relieved because he was able to finally remember her and see her again. He might have encouraged her to become a proper Queen for her people back then, but the feelings he had right now after remembering and seeing her felt like, he doesn't care about it anymore. He was just happy and pleased that he was able to see her again…
"But my feelings for Hinata are sincere and true as well." Naruto said to himself. "It's not like I already have the same feelings for Sara just like how I love Hinata right now. But those memories of my past self kept nagging me that Sara… is also a very important person for me…"
Naruto sighed. He currently had a problem that most guys of his age will kill for. And he was totally oblivious of it.
"Hinata… and Sara…" Naruto scratched his head with both his hands. "Damn it…!"
-Scene Change-
Hinata and Sara were now out of the bath and were now in Sara's room. Hinata continued telling Sara some stories about Naruto, on how she saved her multiple times in separate situations during missions… in how his words became his strength during difficult battles she had fought against… on how his nindo changed her from being a meek girl into who she was today.
Sara intently listened to her stories about him. She can see how in-love the Hyuga girl was for him. She felt the pain, but at the same time, she can't help but feel glad for Naruto having such a wonderful woman by his side right now…
After a few more minutes, the two then went quiet, both looking down towards the floor. Right now, there were no words to say. Until Hinata asked Sara…
"Please tell me, Sara…" Hinata said, her expression neutral, towards the red-haired former Queen. "Do you… love Naruto-kun?"
"Yes. I do love him. I am here right now because of him." Sara didn't avert her gaze. "However... this love will never bore anything… because he already had you, Hinata. So I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me."
Hinata then grabbed both of her hands with both of hers.
"I know this might be impolite to ask you. But I must." Hinata asked once again, this time, in a more determined tone. "Are you alright being Naruto-kun's… second wife?"
"Eh?!" Sara muttered in surprise. It was then that she felt that Hinata's hands were trembling. She immediately realized that it took a lot of courage for Hinata to ask such a question towards her.
"Let me tell you straight, Sara." Hinata continued. "I love Naruto-kun. I want to spend my life together with him. That is my life-long dream. I love him so much that it pains me just by asking that question to you."
"Then… why are you asking me such an absurd question?"
"Recently, the Daimyos declared a law that allows male Shinobi to have multiple wives. They did so due to the excuse of the descending population of the world in connection to the continued wars that happened in the past. And due to Shinobi being mostly men, and those men were killed in action during the consecutive war and conflicts, it created a big gap between men and women population and will affect the growth of the succeeding generation. That's why according to the law, to circumvent the said ratio, a male Shinobi can marry up to 8 wives, depending on his status and achievements."
"…!" Sara is at loss for words due to the sudden revelation. It was then that she saw a lone tear rolling down Hinata's cheeks.
"I believe you already knew that Naruto-kun was now regarded as the Hero of the Shinobi World. And due to that, many Nobles and Daimyos even from other Nations will target Naruto-kun for a political or arranged marriage. And I don't like that. But I won't be able to do anything about it if such a thing happens!"
"Then… what can we do?" Sara asked, feeling the same concern as Hinata for the blonde Shinobi.
"The only way for Naruto-kun not to be married against his will, was that he must marry 8 women before the Daimyos begin to use him for forced or political marriages. However, if it's possible, it is preferable that those women whom he must marry beforehand will love him as who knew he is, not what he currently is."
"That's why… I am asking you… Queen Sara of Rouran… will you… help me to protect Naruto… as his 2nd wife…?" Hinata said, but this time, the Hyuuga had another lone tear escaping from her eye as she continued to shiver while grabbing both of Sara's hands.
Upon seeing such emotion, Sara can't help but feel connected to the girl in front of her. She first viewed her as a beautiful, kind, yet determined woman who fell in love with Naruto because of who he actually was. While her point of view of her right now didn't change much, now more than ever, she can feel how much Hinata really loves Naruto for her to ask such a difficult question…
She realized that Hinata simply doesn't want Naruto to end up marrying another woman.. more so into a woman who will only use him due to his power and fame. While Hinata wanted Naruto all by herself and to spend time as a proper husband and wife as how it used to in the foreseeable future, she doesn't have any other choice but to accept a law that could break Naruto apart. And she had kept all those feelings within herself so as to not make Naruto worry about it…
That's why instead of the worst, Hinata decided to accept the alternative… to allow Naruto to marry another girl, a girl who loves Naruto as a person, not as a renowned hero. That was the reason why Hinata was crying in front of her right now. Because Hinata knew that Sara also loves Naruto, but it will depend if Sara will accept Naruto having another wife other than her.
The two of them understood each other. They both love him so much, and both don't want another woman who will only use Naruto for whatever reason. So this time…
"Understood… Hinata." Sara smiled towards the Hyuga girl. "If you'll allow me, and if Naruto will accept me, please let me be his 2nd wife."
"Sara…" Hinata muttered as she wiped away her tears.
"Let us protect him together, as his partners in life," Sara said as she gently hugged Hinata.
The Hyuga returned the hug, accepting the other former Queen as someone whom she will share Naruto's love with. It was still painful accepting another woman for Naruto other than her, but the pain was not much anymore, as she knew now that this person also shared the same feelings as her. And she also believed that like her, Sara might have also felt the same pain of needing to share their beloved person. It's a mutual situation between them. That's why they can understand each other right now…
The two of them let go of each other, then smiled.
"Let me tell Naruto-kun about this." Hinata said. "I'm sure he won't mind, because it is you, Sara."
"…" Sara shook her head. "Please let me. I want to tell Naruto my own feelings. I want to let him decide for the both of us." She said with a resolute expression.
"Sara…" Hinata looked towards the former Queen's determined eyes. She then smiled, as if a part of her burden was being lifted off…
-Scene Change-
Naruto remained on the veranda near the top of the Kazekage Tower, still at a loss for what he should do for Sara. He stayed like that for a while, as if hoping that the mild wind could blow away the anxiety that he currently had for his current situation…
He was glad that Gaara and Kankuro weren't with him right now. In fact, he understood that they chose to leave him alone for now.
"What should I do…? I love Hinata, I love her so much. But I can't just leave Sara alone, because I will be betraying these feelings from the unlocked memories of the past me during the time I met her."
As continued to mumble in circles…
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata called him from behind to get his attention.
The Hyuga Princess then entered the veranda, and much to Naruto's surprise, walking behind her was Sara, who have a serious expression on her face. Those were the very same expression she had when he entrusted his Konoha Chakra Blade to her and also when she discarded her royal robe back then before the final fight against Mukade proceed.
"Hinata… Sara…" Naruto felt like his heart skipped a beat. He would rather face a thousand Madara clones right now than deal with the current situation.
"Naruto-kun. Sara wanted to say something…" Hinata said with a small smile.
"…" Naruto then looked towards Sara, unsure of what she was about to say to him.
Hinata and Sara looked towards each other, then exchanged a nod, the gesture surprising the blonde knucklehead.
Sara then walked towards Naruto and stood right in front of him.
"Naruto." Sara said, her eyes purple eyes looking directly at his azure ones, her gaze unwavering. "The last time we're able to talk properly with just the two of us, was when I told you that I want to know what's really happening in my city during Mukade's reign, right?"
"Yeah… that time you act like a bratty litt…" Naruto
"Would you shut up for a moment?! The first thing you did to me after we met again was yell at me. So let me do the talking for now or I won't be able to tell you properly what I need to say!" Sara rebutted before Naruto could even finish his statement.
"Uh…" The blonde intelligently replied. But within him, he felt relieved. Because this… this is the Sara that he knew. The strong-willed Queen who did her best to save her people. So he just sighed, then looked back directly at her.
"I know it was too late, but I just want to thank you for everything you did for me back then," Sara said as she also looked directly into his eyes. "Thank you for saving me when I almost fell to my death. Thank you for approaching and talking to me after the time I learned that I am only being used by Anrokuzan… I mean, Mukade. Thank you… for making me realize what a Queen should be, and what a Queen should be doing for her people…"
"…Thank you… for giving me the determination and strength that I need so I could do what I need to do. Thank you for saving and protecting me… numerous times… despite being beaten badly during your fight against those powerful mechanical puppets. Thank you… for continuously standing up no matter how much you were battered… Thank you… for everything you did to me back then…"
"Well…. I'm just doing my jo…"
"…" A single light glare from the former Queen shut Naruto's mouth again.
"However…" Sara then grabbed Naruto's cloak with both her hands, pulling Naruto closer to her face…
"How dare you… how dare you make me feel like this!?"
"How dare you made me fall in love with you despite our differences!?"
"How dare you made me realize that I cannot spend my life alone if you won't be by my side?!"
"Sara…" Naruto, despite trying not to, blushed hard after hearing those words.
"That's why… I need you to take responsibility!" Sara was now yelling this time. Her facial expression was now overflowing with emotions. "Propose to me, right here, right now!"
"Eh?!" Naruto and Hinata replied with dumbfounded expressions due to the sudden unexpected words that Sara had just said.
"I have already told you my honest feelings, right? So please, Naruto…" Sara said, while her determined expression didn't change, she wasn't able to stop a lone tear from running down her face.
"I… uh… I'm glad, that you feel that way about me. Honestly, I am completely clueless regarding something like this…" Naruto replied… "But…" Naruto then looked towards Hinata, as if afraid of what his fiancée was thinking about the sudden turn of events.
"Naruto-kun. Please don't mind me for now. I also need to hear… your response…" Hinata simply said to him.
"…" The three then fell silent. Sara let go of Naruto's collar, as she looked down to the ground, hiding her eyes with her bangs.
"Aaaaagghhh!" Naruto suddenly rubbed his head with both his hands in a continuous, comical fashion. "What should I do?! I care for Sara! She is a very important person to me! Before I knew Hinata's feelings for me, those unlocked memories from before were telling me that Sara has a place within me! But I already have Hinata! How can you two girls talk like there is nothing wrong with it?!"
"Fine. If that's what you want, then so be it!" Naruto said with resolve. "I have feelings for Sara! She was one of those few people who made me feel like this during that time! I also felt the pain of never seeing her again after defeating Mukade. And I am so happy and relieved that I was able to see her again."
"But! I also love Hinata. She's one of those people who always believed in me. She's been there for me since our childhood days! She loved me even though I did nothing back to her. She continued to believe in me despite almost breaking down on multiple occasions! She's the pillar of my strength even before I even knew it!"
"I love Hinata, yet I also have feelings for Sara! I'm one of those stupid bastards who happen to fall in love with two different girls! And I am totally torn about it!" Naruto yelled. "While I love Hinata more than anything, I also feel like Sara is a very special person to me! So, tell me! What should I do?! I can't just discard these feelings I have and move on like these have nothing to do with me!." Naruto then stopped while looking towards the two girls, with light panting after yelling.
"…" A moment of silence… with Naruto trying to calm himself while Hinata and Sara observed the frantic guy in front of them.
"I'm glad…" Sara looked towards Naruto, then smiled lovingly towards the guy. "My feelings… got through to you."
Hinata then walked to Sara's side, with the two girls smiling towards each other.
"What... are you…?!" Naruto asked, completely clueless about what the two beautiful girls in front of him were thinking.
"The Daimyo's law, Naruto-kun." Hinata said, smile still painted on her face.
"But… ain't that unfair for the both of you?!" Naruto rebutted. "Both of you are amazing women… so…"
"Stop." Hinata immediately said, halting Naruto's sentence. "I love you, Naruto-kun. It also happened that Sara also loves you. It is painful for me to share you with another woman. But with due to how things were turning out due to that law, it will only be a matter of time before it happens. So if such thing will inevitable, I'd rather share you with another woman who will value you the same way that I love you. And Queen Sara…"
"But…"
"Please, Naruto…" Sara spoke this time. "You're the only one who I want to spend my life with. If being your 2nd wife was the best option than the alternative of totally losing you, I'd always choose you over that alternative…"
Naruto looked directly at the two girls in front of him. Never in his life had he felt so lucky, yet so conflicted at the same time.
"Are you two sure that you're okay with it?" Naruto asked seriously.
Sara replied with a light nod, Hinata said with her usual smile. Both the girls have the same trace of blush on their faces.
"Well… if it's okay, and the two of you seemed to get along… why don't we… give it a try…?" Naruto said while looking away, also with a light blush on his face while lightly scratching his lower right cheek with his right index finger. "After all, despite already having Hinata, I don't know if I can take it if Sara would be taken by some other man… so…"
Sara then blushed hard after hearing those words. She intended to tackle Naruto into a hug due to what she just heard, but she restrained herself from doing so, as if still waiting for something to happen…
"Now what…? You... you can't flatter me with such words!" Sara, blushing like a teen Hinata would, tried to act like her usual Queen persona, but completely failing miserably.
"What now?!" Naruto, his voice now complaining.
"Propose to me!"
"You're still going on with that?!"
"Uhm…" Hinata had a visible sweat-drop after seeing how the two conversed.
"Fine!" Naruto sighed. Then looked seriously towards Sara. "Queen Sara of Rouran… Will you uh… accept being my fiancée... and marry me… as my 2nd wife?"
"You… idiot…!" This time, after a sincere smile, Sara tackled Naruto into a hug... a tight, loving hug. Hinata smiled at the two. While it still pained her to see how her fiancée, once again, was hugging another woman, she can't help but smile. However…
"…" Sara suddenly pulled Hinata towards her and Naruto's hug. Sara also hugged Hinata, with the Hyuga reacting with a surprised expression.
"Thank you… Hinata… for allowing me to be Naruto's 2nd wife." Sara muttered in a low voice during their hug, but enough for Naruto and Hinata to hear. "I love you… Naruto…"
Those heartfelt words made Hinata let her guard down, as she also returned the gesture, hugging both Naruto and Sara as well…
"Uhmmm… I'm still the first wife… so…" Hinata said while stuttering.
"Yeah. You'll always be, Hinata." Naruto replied with a grin. "Sara… I may not have the same feelings I have with Hinata for you yet… but that doesn't mean that… I don't like you. In fact, I feel like I also love you, Sara… so please give me time… so I can adjust myself and return those feelings to you… as my 2nd wife."
"I know," Sara replied as she tightened the hug. "And I'll also do my best so you can also love me the same way you love Hinata. And Hinata, I promise that you will never regret allowing me to become Naruto's 2nd wife. I swear, as a former Queen of Rouran."
"Hai…" Hinata lightly leaned this time to Sara during the hug, now fully accepting the former Queen as Naruto's 2nd wife…
-Scene Change-
Somewhere in Sunagakure…
A certain small creature was currently watching Naruto, Hinata, and Sara from a considerable distance as the three were having such a conversation. While the creature couldn't understand what the three were walking about due to the distance, the creature's grotesque-looking mouth smirked maliciously towards Naruto.
"So there you are… Uzumaki Naruto… the current Jinchuuriki of all the Tailed Beasts..." The creature spoke in interest… The creature's singular eye then glowed, revealing itself as a Sharingan. The creature then created a space-time jutsu, then allowed itself to be sucked within the ripple created by the said jutsu…