Author's Notes: Wow. This one took quite some time to get out. I'm planning one more chapter after this… The school I work at is going on break within the next week, so hopefully I'll be able to finish the story by then. Until then, thanks for all the comments and input. It helps me to formulate better ideas every time.

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Hinata's footfalls through the long hall way of the Hyuuga manor seemed to reverberate with ominous tidings as she made her way from the main entrance to the secluded room where the Main House members typically conducted meetings of great import. The house was completely devoid of any servants, and even the Main House compound grounds were abandoned. The Hyuuga girl's shinobi training had kicked in from the moment she had returned home, and she remained on guard even as she composed her face into a mask of tranquil neutrality.

A constant target of derision and ridicule by the Council Elders and many in the Main House, Hinata survived her daily torment by creating a powerful mental barrier which had insulated her from all but the harshest criticism. Now that her skills and confidence had improved exponentially, Hinata maintained the mask simply to keep her disgust with the Council from hurting her father's attempts at political reform within the family.

Hinata took a deep breath in front of the shoji door leading into the council chambers, and confidently slid it aside, stepping into the dimly lit room. A single lantern illuminated a small dais at the center of the room, where she was expected to stand. Seated on raised platforms hidden in the shadows, the Council of Elders stared at her expectantly.

"Welcome home, Hinata-sama," Katsuro's voice greeted mildly, "Please take your place in the center so that we may begin conducting business." Hinata nodded nonchalantly, eschewing the traditional bow expected of all called before the Council, and strode over to the dais. Her actions set off a series of hushed conversations as the various members expressed their disapproval. Katsuro cleared his throat loudly and the whispering died down. Hinata stood silently at the dais, her expression neutral, but her eyes burned with defiance.

"Hinata-sama," Katsuro began politely, "You have always been something of a disappointment to this clan. Your weakness in character and your ineptitude as a shinobi were constant sources of embarrassment for the Hyuuga. We are Konoha's--"

"Oldest and most powerful clan," Hinata interrupted solemnly, "Yes, Katsuro-san, I'm familiar with our clan's illustrious past. I was raised with the knowledge of what a failure I represented to the Main House." Angry murmuring began to break out at her words. No one save the Head of the clan had ever dared to interrupt an Elder before, and that was only under extreme circumstances.

"Then you must also understand what a risk you represent to the Hyuuga if you were to leave our protection without the added insurance of the Cursed Seal," Kanaye spat contemptuously, "Even if that blonde demon somehow were to keep you safe, your children may bear the inheritance of our clan. You can't be so selfish as to place your desires over your clan." Hinata smiled pleasantly in the direction of Kanaye's voice. There was a sharp increase of hushed conversation as she considered her words.

"What would you like me to say, Kanaye-san? I have always done my best to do you proud."

"Hinata-sama," Katsuro began again, "After much discussion, the Council has decided it will not ask you to refrain from marrying Uzumaki Naruto. Nor will we demand that you place the Cursed Seal on any of your children." Hinata's eyes narrowed slightly, and despite her best efforts, a look of puzzlement flashed across her face. In the shadows, Katsuro's mouth turned up into a smirk.

"You must however, agree to stay within the Hyuuga clan. Your children shall be raised as Hyuuga, and your husband will swear allegiance to our family."

"I do not believe Naruto-kun will agree to that," Hinata replied with a sardonic smile, "Please forgive my lack of decorum, but I must inquire as to why we are still having this discussion. The clan Head has already decided my wedding will take place as planned."

"Yes," Kanaye agreed smugly, "So he has. However, a clan Head removed from his position may expect to see some, if not all of his edicts reversed."

"What are you talking about?" Hinata barked before she could control her rising anxiety. Katsuro chuckled softly, his laugh echoing through the chamber.

"Hiashi-sama has been judged incapable of continuing his duties as leader of this clan," Katsuro stated calmly, "We have seen fit to remove him, and rule in his place until a more suitable Head can be found." Another lantern flared to life, and Hinata let out an involuntary gasp. The pale, yellow light of the flame illuminated a small portion of stage set behind Hinata. Two figures lay slumped forward, their features unmistakable. Hiashi and Hanabi. Two masked shinobi wearing the robes of the Main House stood over them, their hands cocked to deliver a killing blow.

"It was decided we would negotiate with you, Hinata-sama. Despite your failure as a Hyuuga, or perhaps because of it, we knew you would be more open to a dialogue than your father or sister."

Hinata tore her eyes from the crumpled forms of her family and turned to face the Elders, a pained expression on her face. Katsuro smiled.

"Hinata-sama," he began soothingly, "We offer you a chance to reclaim your inheritance. Hiashi-sama and your sister were too stubborn in their pride to be reasonable. You will make a more suitable Head of the clan because you are not blinded by the same arrogance that forced us to take such drastic steps."

"You would make me the leader of the Hyuuga clan?" Hinata asked bitterly, "The embarrassment of the Main House? The discarded offspring of Hyuuga Hiashi?"

"Hinata-sama," Kanaye's voice cracked like a whip, "The Council has no time for your outbursts of self-pity. The right choice is obvious to anyone with a brain capable of higher functions."

"Then," Hinata said softly, "My children would become heirs?"

"Yes," Katsuro murmured approvingly, "Under the proper tutelage by the Council, your firstborn would gain the right to succeed you. Come now, Hinata-sama. Perhaps in the past, bad decisions were made. We are offering you the chance to chart a new course for your destiny."

"What of Neji-niisan," Hinata inquired flatly, "He remains the strongest Hyuuga to date. Didn't you plan to accept him as Head of the clan?" Hushed whispers began to buzz within the chamber until Katsuro cleared his throat noisily.

"While Neji certainly possesses the strength of the Hyuuga clan, he does not have the appropriate humility to lead." Hinata's eyes twitched at the word 'humility.' Katsuro continued. "He is very much like your father and sister – too great of a liability to be left unsupervised. Do not worry about your cousin, Hinata-sama. He is of the Branch House. The Cursed Seal shall keep him in line. It has never failed us."

"No," Hinata whispered, "I don't suppose it has." She lay both hands on the podium in front of her and hung her head between her shoulders. Her dark gray robes spilled over and pooled in front of her. Sighing softly to herself, she raised her head up and brought her eyes to bear on the Council. Katsuro and Kanaye both stiffened with surprise. The expression she wore was not one of acquiescence or fear. It was one of unshakeable confidence. Her face bore no other emotion beyond certainty.

"For years," she stated loudly, "For years I wondered why I was born the person I am. I was the exact opposite of what the Hyuuga clan strove for in their leaders. I was a failure to my clan, a disappointment to my father, and an embarrassment to our House. I wondered why I was so inadequate. I wondered what was wrong with me." She stopped abruptly, and smiled at them. Without so much as a whisper of sound, she flashed behind the two Main House assassins standing over her sister and father. Her hands struck with incredible precision, and the two assassins toppled over, dead before they hit the ground.

Hinata raised her eyes to the Council, her Byakugan fully activated. She gave them a sneer of utter disdain.

"When Naruto-kun defeated my cousin during the Chuunin exams, he promised that as Hokage, he would change the Hyuuga clan for the better. I see now that the person 'destined' to change the Hyuuga was not Naruto-kun or my cousin…... It was me." Her eyes pulsed with chakra, and the Council members felt the probe of her gaze pierce the very core of their thoughts.

"If you touch them," she said, stepping in front of her father and sister, "I will kill you." She gave a giant tug on her robe, and it flew off, pooling on the ground in a flutter. Hinata stood clad in a dark blue, form fitting body suit. Over that, she wore a smaller, more compact Jounin vest. With a fierce smile, she pulled her forehead protector from one of the pouches, and draped it around her neck like a necklace. She slid into the Gentle Fist stance and waited. Kanaye snarled with outrage, while Katsuro sighed to himself.

"Will you not reconsider, Hinata-sama?" Katsuro implored, "It pains us to have to destroy an entire family, but for the survival of the Hyuuga clan, we will do what we must." Hinata's eyes narrowed, and tendrils of azure chakra began to dance around her.

"Very well," Katsuro said wearily, "Kill them all. Then dispose of the bodies." At his words, a legion of assassins leapt from the shadows and advanced upon Hinata. The Hyuuga Jounin smiled to herself. Most of them were mercenaries hired from another country. They would be unfamiliar with her Jyuuken technique. Confirming her suspicions, several of them executed the hand seals for Bunshin jutsu. With loud puffs of smoke, multiple decoys popped into existence and joined the attack. With her Byakugan, Hinata could easily determine the Genjutsu from the real thing.

The enemy shinobi split up and came at her from several directions, flinging shuriken and kunai at her in an attempt to catch her off guard. With nearly effortless grace, the Leaf kunoichi dodged almost every projectile and deflected the remaining few with her own kunai. Spinning aside as an attacker came at her, she tapped his lower back when he passed by, destroying his lumbar nerves and causing his legs to give out. As the man struggled to get up, she backflipped over him, tapping his forehead and killing him instantly.

Hinata carved out a gruesome trail of corpses as she danced in and out of battle with her assailants, using well-placed blows to instantly kill or cripple them. The mecernaries' battle cries grew more and more desperate as their ranks continued to be thinned at an alarming rate. Off in the shadows Katsuro nodded at Kanaye, who sent a messenger out through another door. Hinata turned to face the Council, when the last mercenary had fallen to the ground. She hadn't even broken a sweat. Katsuro clapped slowly in the awful silence that hung in the chamber.

"Your talents have improved since the day you were banished from the Main House. Perhaps Hiashi-sama was being merciful in letting you take on such dangerous work. However, your meager ability will not help you in a fight against true Hyuuga warriors."

A phalanx of masked shinobi strode in through the main entrance. Their gray body suits marked them as elite members of the House Guard. Katsuro smiled tightly as they began to advance upon her.

"They are true members of the Main House, Hinata-sama. They have been prepared to carry out the will of this Council since the day your father took his place as Head. Every leader needs a check to balance his influence. You cannot win."

"I told you I would change the destiny of our clan," Hinata replied icily, "I don't go back on my word." The first masked shinobi assumed the Gentle Fist stance and charged at her. Deflecting his blows with strikes of her own, Hinata appeared to be evenly matched with the man until suddenly, she caught his open handed strike with both hands, and swung her right leg into his side. A chakra infused round house kick destroyed his internal organs, and the man collapsed with a gurgle, dead. With deliberate slowness, Hinata turned to face the Council.

"I don't go back on my word," she murmured, "It's not my ninja way." Kanaye howled with rage, and the remaining Hyuuga assassins charged with deliberate precision. Hinata continued to dance in and out of battle with her assailants, but the movement became slower as both sides were employing Jyuuken to fight. Two of the assassins grabbed her arms and a dozen others dashed in for the kill.

"Kaiten!" Chakra blasted from every pore in Hinata's body as she began the impenetrable spinning barrier that was the Hyuuga Bloodline Limit. Most of the assassins jumped out of the way, but the ones closest to her were bombarded with chakra and thrown in every direction. The Elders were forced to dodge aside as several bodies slammed into their seats, splintering wood.

More assassins poured into the room and Hinata was soon surrounded by a constant barrage of attacks. Though her attacks were thinning the ranks of her attackers, more continued to take their place, and their cumulative attacks began to wear down Hinata's defenses. Several landed glancing blows and the kunoichi began to cough up blood. She leapt out of the mass of tangled limbs, throwing kunai to distract her foes. She landed a dozen feet back, panting with exertion. She wiped the blood from her lips and resumed her stance. Kanaye chuckled scornfully in the ensuing quiet.

"Your struggles only kill more Hyuuga who need not have died if you had only been more reasonable Hinata-sama. Give in to the inevitable and spare us the trouble." Hinata didn't even bother to dignify the old man's words with a response. She eyed the advancing assassins and felt the first strings of doubt begin to tug at her heart. I count fifty altogether. That's more than I can handle alone. Despair began to set in, and her limbs suddenly felt more heavy, while her breathing became even more ragged.

With a snarl of defiance, she shook off the feeling of defeat. Go Hinata! Don't give up! Naruto's voice echoed throughout her mind, and suddenly the fatigue on her body seemed to lift. The doubt cleared from her eyes, and she smiled with anticipation. The approaching Hyuuga assassins took no note of her emotions and they lifted their kunais, preparing to finish her off. Four of them broke off from the main formation and charged her. Hinata caught the first attack with her kunai, spun around the second, grabbed the third and used the man as a shield against the forth. A hail of kunai flashed toward her as she tried to extricate herself from her dead human shield. There wasn't enough time. Hinata braced herself for the worse, channeling chakra into her pores to try and deflect as many as she could.

"Kaiten!" A deep voice roared, and another whirling blue shield of chakra manifested itself. The barrier interposed itself between Hinata and the approaching kunai. Hinata flattened herself against the ground and felt the wave of energy blast over her. When it was over, she picked herself up and strained to see through the dust cloud that been raised by the newcomer's jutsu. The Elders too struggled to figure out what had happened. When the dust finally settled, they hissed with outrage.

"Are you alright, Hinata-sama?"

"Neji-niisan…."

Neji tore his glare from the assassins to spare his cousin a rueful grin.

"It looks I arrived here just in time. I leave you alone for one minute and you end up nearly being killed. I'm beginning to understand it's not the Main House that's weak. Just you." Hinata's initial shock wore off, and she stuck her tongue out at her cousin.

"Thanks Neji-niisan. You can forget me coming to help Ten Ten cook tonight."

Neji's amused smile crumbled into horror. "Let's not be too hasty Hinata-sama," he began nervously, "You've seen what Ten Ten prepares without your help…"

"Neji!" Kanaye growled, "You impudent fool! The Branch House has no place in this matter. Leave immediately or pay the consequences." Katsuro cleared his throat again.

"Neji-kun," he began softly, "You may have more to gain from this if you stay out of it. I would advise you let the Council do its job."

Neji gave them a smirk he once reserved only for Hinata in his younger days. The expression conveyed deepest loathing and haughty contempt for those arrayed before him. His eyes burned with an inner fire that was reflected in the chakra which coursed through him.

"You already took my father from me," he spat as he took up a position next to Hinata, "Now you plan on destroying what little family remains. Forgive my 'impudence' but I see little to gain from your success." He assumed the same Gentle Fist stance as Hinata and exchanged a nod with her. Kanaye barked an order at the assassins, who began another charge.

"Now, Hinata-sama," Neji murmured intently, "Just as we practiced."

"Understood," Hinata replied tersely. She assumed a new stance that was the exact mirror image of the one her cousin had just taken. Chakra pulsed to her eyes, and her Byakugan's intensity increased. Neji nodded his approval and re-activated his Byakugan as well. Swiftly, they exchanged hand seals, Neji using his left hand, Hinata using her right. Their vision became linked, and their battlefield awareness merged into one.

"Divine Fist Taijutsu!" Neji cried out.

"Infinite Strikes!" Hinata finished. As one, the two swept forward and began to hammer away at their opponents. With deadly grace, they twirled and struck, using their tandem Byakugans to cover each other and create openings for attack. Tenketsu after tenketsu was blasted, and nearly a dozen assassins fell to the ground, lifeless. Still more came to take their place and still more were mortally wounded as the unstoppable force of Hyuuga Taijutsu blew through their ranks. Neji's yell of encouragement turned into an agonized scream and he abruptly collapsed to the ground. Clawing at his forehead protector, the Jounin thrashed on the ground. Hinata cried out with alarm and stopped her assault to stand guard over him. The assassins paused in their attack as Katsuro stood up, his right hand raised in a familiar seal.

"Genius though you may be, Neji-kun, the Cursed Seal levels the playing field considerably. Wouldn't you agree?" Neji bit out an anguished curse and ripped off his forehead protector. Glowing with unholy green energy, the emblem of the seal was visible over his brow.

"You boasted of your newfound belief that destiny could be influenced by your personal choices," Kanaye mocked from his seat, "The truth is no matter what your choices, you have and always will be a tool to be used by the Main House."

"The Council had hoped you were ready to become a responsible member of the clan," Katsuro commented with soft menace, "It appears we were mistaken. Your father, despite his hatred of the Main House, knew his place and did his duty. Your duty will be to die as a reminder to the Branch House where their place is." With a final flourish, the Elder closed his fist, sending a signal to the seal to destroy Neji's brain. Hinata's cousin closed his eyes and awaited the brief explosion of torturous pain that would end with his death.

A second passed… then another… then another. With a start of surprise, Neji opened his eyes. Katsuro and the Elders stared down at him with utter confusion. The Cursed Seal had been passed down for generations as the fail-safe insurance to keep all Branch House members subordinate to the Main House. Its lethality was inescapable. Not even the immortal Uzumaki Naruto would have been able to withstand its effects. Yet Neji sat there before them completely unharmed.

"No," a soft voice interjected into the deadly silence that filled the room. Neji and the Elders turned to the source of the voice. Heretofore completely unnoticed by everyone, Hinata stood next to her prone cousin, her palms held together as if in prayer. Scintillating trails of blue and green chakra chased up and down her arms. She trembled with exertion, but her eyes held unwavering determination.

"Hinata-sama!" Neji gasped with surprise. The small Hyuuga girl spared her cousin a wan smile.

"What's the matter Neji-niisan? I leave you alone for one second and you almost give up. I'm beginning to think you don't really believe destiny can be changed… I thought you were stronger than that."

"Hinata!" Kanaye bellowed with fury, "What have you done!"

"Something I was meant to since the day I was born," Hinata replied confidently, "I made it point to learn all I could about the Cursed Seal ever since I was seven."

"That's merely because you were terrified of what Neji would do to you after that business with Hizashi," Kanaye commented with a snort. Neji felt guilt begin to gnaw at his heart. Fear of the Cursed Seal was the main reason he hadn't abused his younger cousin more openly during their younger years together. Hinata smiled condescendingly.

"Truly, your words reflect the spirit of one who has forgotten the meaning of family. I didn't learn about the Cursed Seal to use against Neji-niisan. I learned about it so I could find a way to destroy it!" She helped her older cousin up and moved in front of him to address the Elders.

"Neji-niisan lost his father, and I lost my only uncle because of this divide in our family. I will not allow it to continue." Hinata grinned fiercely, "My friends have taught me things this venerable and stagnant Council couldn't begin to comprehend."

"Brave words from a trembling little girl cast out of her own house," Katsuro snarled, his calm demeanor swept away by his fear of what Hinata had developed, "The Council will see you and everyone of your friends dead before it allows this abomination of a jutsu you've developed to see the light of day."

"Well then," a loud and cocky voice declared from the rafters of the chamber, "I suppose today is the day you'll have a chance to make good on your threats!" A large explosion of smoke appeared directly in front of Hinata and Neji, causing them to cover their eyes. A coughing figure appeared within the noxious cloud of orange and black.

"Too many… smoke… bombs," the figure gasped out in between coughs. When the smoke had finally cleared, an imposing, albeit, irritated shinobi stood between Hinata and the assassins.

"Damn that Konohamaru! That's the last time I take advice from him on how to make a flashy entrance."

"Naruto-kun…"

"Naruto."

"Kyuubi," Kanaye snarled softly, his declaration was echoed by many in the Council.

"That's correct!" the tall blonde declared proudly, "Uzumaki Naruto has arrived at last! Konoha's elite Jounin – pupil of the Legendary Frog Hermit, Rescuer of the 5th Hokage, Destroyer of Akatsuki, and--"

"Dead Last throughout his years at the Ninja Academy," Hinata put in wryly.

"Yes!" Naruto flashed her a thumbs up, "Dead Last throughout his… wait, what was that last one?"

"It doesn't matter," she replied, giving him a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek, "What took you so long anyway?"

"Naruto," Neji murmured hurriedly, "You need to take Hinata-sama and leave now. We are outnumbered and overpowered. I will hold them off for as long as I--" He was interrupted by Hinata, who slapped him hard across the face. Stunned, the taller Hyuuga looked down at her.

"Neji-niisan," she growled angrily, "I did not spend the better part of my life developing a jutsu to free you only to have you killed right before my eyes. I promised to change the Hyuuga for you. I don't go back on my word." Neji nodded slowly, admiration spilling across his tense face. Naruto beamed with pride, his cerulean eyes lit up with mirth.

"If you choose to interfere, this Council is happy to oblige you with death," Katsuro said irritably, "Kill them all." The assassins moved forward again only to be stopped in their tracks by an invisible force.

"So much talking and posturing," Shikamaru commented with disgust, "If you had spent half as much time trying to kill your quarry rather than arguing with it, you might have gotten the job done before reinforcements arrived. Several of the assassins drew kunai and stabbed themselves in the throat. A group in the back were flattened by powerful, chakra enhanced blows.

"Shikamaru!" Ino yelled as she and Choji worked in tandem against their foes, "What a horrible thing to say! Well it doesn't matter, because reinforcements are here!"

"It's troublesome to say the least," Shikamaru replied, "But it has never been our way to leave behind precious friends."

"Not gonna happen as long as the most powerful team in Konoha is around," Choji agreed with an enthusiastic shout.

"Ino,"

"Shika,"

"Cho!"

A large explosion of splintered wood and dust announced a huge hole in the wall next to Shikamaru. A tall, muscular Jounin in green spandex emerged.

"The beautiful ecstasy of marital bliss awaits Naruto-kun and Hinata-san," Rock Lee shouted with a thumbs-up for the gathered shinobi, "It is unforgivable for anyone to stand in their way. You have Konoha's Proud Azure Beast to answer to for your crimes." His eyes burned with righteous fury as he pointed towards the Council.

"Dammit Lee! The door was just three more steps. Would it kill you to enter a room like a normal person? What if the Hyuugas send us the bill for repair?" Ten Ten entered through the doorway, dusting off flecks of paint and wood. She gave Neji a proud smile and took up her position next to Lee.

"Idiots," Kanaye said in a wavering voice, "You should not have come here. Intruding upon clan grounds is punishable by death. Not even your Hokage's authority extends within these walls."

"Really?" a deep voice inquired dispassionately, "Perhaps you would like to take that discussion up with the 5th in person." Shino and Kiba walked through the entrance. Directly behind them Tsunade and Jiraiya strode in. A vanguard of ANBU with Kurenai, Asuma, Gai and Kakashi accompanied them. The Elders were looking decidedly uncomfortable.

"Tsunade-sama!" Katsuro bristled, "What is the meaning of this? You know very well that the Hokage has no authority over clan matters. How we choose to deal with our members is not for you to judge."

"You are absolutely correct Katsuro-sama," Tsunade replied nonchalantly. Her brown eyes lit up with a look of pure malicious delight. Pointing at Hinata and Naruto, she grinned, "However, a Hokage is perfectly within her limits to intercede when the actions of one clan begins to infringe upon the rights of another."

"What clan does Hyuuga Hinata belong to, if not the Hyuuga clan!" One of the Elders shouted with fury. He was answered by a hearty laugh on the part of the Hokage.

"Why, I would think that obvious by now," she declared through her chuckles, "Hinata is now a part of Konoha's newest and most unpredictable clan."

"The Uzumaki Clan," Naruto finished with deep satisfaction, "You assholes tried to kill my wife. Picking a fight with the Uzumaki Clan means going to war with me."

"What are you talking about!" Katsuro bellowed, "The wedding ceremony isn't scheduled until tomorrow."

"The ceremony," Jiraiya put in smugly, "Is tomorrow. The wedding was last night."

"Consummated and everything!" Naruto shouted brightly. Ino and Ten Ten groaned while Choji and Lee let out a cheer. Hinata sighed softly, but no blush formed on her cheek. Shaking her head, she regarded her husband with a mixture of exasperation and affection. Tsunade cleared her throat and pointed at the remaining Hyuuga assassins.

"You will stand down immediately," she said in a voice that brooked no defiance, "And turn yourselves over to the ANBU, or the entire might of this village will be brought to bear upon you." Katsuro nodded at the Main House warriors, who dropped their fighting stances and were escorted out of the chamber. Shizune and Sakura worked to revive Hanabi and Hiashi after Sakura declared they had been drugged. Kanaye glared at the gathered shinobi suspiciously.

"Even so, how could you have responded so quickly? I find it coincidental all of your strongest shinobi just happened to be in Konoha on this specific day." Jiraiya coughed softly and was about to say something when a tall Hyuuga dressed in the gray robes of a Main House member pressed to the front of the crowd.

"They knew of this day the moment you began planning it, Kanaye-sama."

"Ryota!" Katsuro snarled, "How could you betray us like this?"

"Betray you?" The Hyuuga clansman asked in return, "I was about to ask you the same question. I have served the Council for all my years with dedication even when I felt your decisions were questionable. Your plot to murder Hiashi-sama and his family was unforgivable, Katsuro-sama. I would rather betray the law of our clan than watch it pervert everything we hold dear. You stand alone, Elders. Tsunade-sama has authorized me to form a provisional body to take your place until Hiashi-sama has recovered."

Kanaye and several others let out roars of challenge, activated their Byakugans, and quickly incapacitated their ANBU guards. Several Elders charged Naruto, while Kanaye focused his attention on Hinata.

"Kill the Kyuubi brat," Kanaye ordered, "I'll dispose of the girl."

Tsunade's eyes flashed, but before she could move, Naruto waved her down.

"No," he said firmly, "This is between my clan and theirs. Please do this for me… Hokage-sama." Tsunade snorted irritably, but ordered the other shinobi to stand down. Kurenai bit back her protest when she saw Hinata push Neji away and run to intercept the enraged elder.

"Hinata-sama!" Neji yelled with concern. He would have ran to help her, but the effects of the Cursed Seal had left him drained and disoriented. He could only cling to Ten Ten and watch as his younger cousin closed the distance with Kanaye.

"You disgusting piece of refuse," one of the Elders snarled at Naruto, "We'll finish what the 4th began."

"I've heard that promise before," Naruto replied with a taunting laugh. Before he could say anything else, the Elders struck with surprising ferocity, given their age.

"Hakke! Roku Ju Yon Sho!" Five voices bellowed simultaneously. Their blows rained down on the blonde Jounin repeatedly, and slammed him against the wall at the far end of the room, causing the ancient wood to splinter and crack as chakra infused blows continued to hammer into Naruto's tenketsus. All five Elders paused before cocking back for a final blow.

"It ends here," one of them whispered. Naruto coughed up some blood and suddenly grinned at them.

"You're damn right it does." He abruptly disappeared in a cloud of smoke. In his place was a kunai with a rapidly burning scroll attached to it.

"Boom," the real Naruto commented from the ceiling. The ensuing explosion threw the Elders in all directions, slamming them into tables, chairs or other bodies. Kanaye growled at the failure of his colleagues and turned a maddened grin on Hinata.

"Your demon husband might have been too much for them to handle, but a little bitch like you will be no problem for me." With animal fierceness, he launched into his own tenketsu strike on Hinata. The Hyuuga girl took each blow full-force, yet gave no indication of being affected by it. She allowed the Elder to continue pounding away at her until he fell to his knees, panting with exhaustion.

"How?" he gasped with frustration.

"Some trees stand firm and straight," Hinata replied softly, "Their rigid forms are a testament to their strength. However, in the face of strong winds, their unyielding nature causes them to snap and break. The bamboo is far more pliant, and will bend with the wind, often surviving storms that break others." She looked down at the defeated old man and sighed wistfully.

"I never had the unyielding strength to be a Hyuuga. My strength is in my flexibility." She shrugged. "It's a talent few in this clan would ever respect, and because of it, I was never able to become as strong as my father." She grinned as Naruto walked behind her and placed his arms around her waist. "I'm not as strong as my father," she continued softly, "I'm stronger than him…I'm an Uzumaki." Kanaye snarled something under his breath, but wasn't able to finish, as a group of ANBU picked him up and escorted him out of the ruined chambers.

"Hinata," a pained voice called out. Hinata turned and ran towards the stage where Shizune had Hiashi propped up. Sakura rested Hanabi's head in her lap as she drew out the last of the toxin from her blood stream. Hinata knelt before her father, who regarded her with admiration.

"You have done well, daughter," he said softly, "Perhaps I was wrong to remove you as heir."

"Father…" Hinata murmured, her eyes downcast.

"At any rate, we have much to discuss… After the ceremony. I would like it if my son-in-law could join us at that time. For now, I want you to join your husband and friends. Don't worry about us - Shizune-san and Sakura-san are the best medical ninjas in all of Konoha." Hinata bowed once to her father and went over to her younger sister.

"Hana-chan," she said gently, placing her hand on the girl's forehead. The younger Hyuuga's eyes fluttered open and she smiled at her older sister.

"Neesan," she whispered, "I knew you would save us... Even if your taste in men is terrible..."

"I heard that!" Naruto's voice rang out from across the hall. Hinata giggled with her sister. She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her sister's ear.

"You know me," she replied, "I'd adopt all the strays if I could."

"Heard that too!" Ino and Shikamaru pulled Naruto out of the room before he could say anything else. Hanabi nodded to her sister once, then closed her eyes and fell asleep again. Smiling at Sakura, Hinata bowed and stood up to rejoin her husband who was currently swapping stories with Lee and Neji. She accepted the approving nods of her former Jounin instructors, exchanged pleasantries with Tsunade, and swatted away Jiraiaya's wandering hand. She came to an abrupt stop when she saw Ryota holding someone tightly in his arms. Quietly, she made her over to them and was surprised to see Izanami resting her cheek against his shoulder. Ryota's eyes widened briefly with anxiety at her approach, but he quickly rearranged his features into one of pleasant apathy.

"Hinata-sama," he said by way of greeting. Izanami practically flew out of his embrace and almost tripped over herself as she knelt down. Hinata couldn't help but smile before returning Ryota's bow and kneeling down so that she was at eye level with her father's most trusted retainer.

"Izanami-san," she spoke insistently, "Please do not bow your head to me. I am no longer a member of the Main House… and you are no longer a member of the Branch House." The tall woman kept her head ducked low, eliciting an exasperated sigh from Hinata. "I have no time for melodrama today, Izanami-san. If you wish to express how remorseful you are for having failed my father, I ask that you save it for him. Today should be filled with joy, not regret." Ryota nodded approvingly, and helped Hinata pull the taller woman to her feet. Casually, he draped his arm over her shoulder, despite her murmured protests.

"If I'm to understand you correctly, Hinata-sama, we will be reorganizing the clan structure today?" Ryota asked with a smile. Hinata simply nodded, her demeanor commanding more strength than any had ever seen before.

"Look at you," Neji commented with a grin as he walked over to join them, "Acting like being a clan Head is the most natural thing in the world. What would your subordinates think if they found out how many times you used Bunshin jutsu to get out of clan meetings."

"Oh, Neji-niisan," Hinata said without turning to face him, "No need to be jealous. Once I've finished using my jutsu on you and several others, the position is all yours."

"You mean…" Neji began with some trepidation.

"What, are you stupid?" Naruto chimed in, surprising the gathered Hyuuga, "No more Branch House or Main House. Just Hyuuga. I thought you were a genius, Neji!"

"Whe-when did you get here?" Izanami blurted out, breaking her silence for the first time. Naruto grinned at the woman.

"Didn't you hear the introductions? I'm Uzumaki Naruto, Konoha's elite Jounin, pupil of the Legendary Frog Hermit, Res--" He was cut off as Hinata's hand snaked out and cupped itself over his mouth.

"Yes dear. Uzumaki Naruto. I'm pretty sure they remember by now."

"I'm Hinata's husband," he declared after pulling Hinata's hand away from his mouth, "Pleased to meet all of you. I hope you'll join us for the official ceremonies tomorrow. C'mon honey, we need to go take a look at the property Granny Tsunade reserved for us."

"Naruto-kun! Hold on--" Hinata turned to apologize to her fellow Hyuuga, but they all shooed her away, grins plastered on their faces.

"Go on for now, Hinata-sama," Neji said, "I'll hold down the fort until you get back. But you better promise to come back… remember Ten Ten is cooking tonight!"

"What was that?" Ten Ten's angry voice yelled out from the knot of Jounin clustered not far from where Neji was standing. The Hyuuga Jounin winced, and turned to placate his teammate. Naruto and Hinata bid a quick goodbye to their fellow shinobi and raced out of the Hyuuga manor. They stopped under a grove of bamboo that was growing in the back of the compound.

"So, Mrs. Uzumaki," Naruto murmured to his wife, "What would you like to do today?" Hinata leaned her face into his chest and wrapped her arms around him, relishing the safety she felt when he returned her embrace.

"I think I would like to see our new house," she said with a soft giggle.

"I'll even show you our new bed!" Naruto declared mischievously, "You know, so we can consummate our marriage again in case somebody doesn't believe us."

"Naruto-kun!"

"Yeah, that's what you kept saying last night."

"Naruto-kun!"

"Geez, Hinata. Don't start without me."