It was now the day of the Konoha Matsuri and Naruto was flying though his house trying to get everything he needed.
" Kit you have everything." Kyuubi said seeing the whizzing boy pass him and Umi numerous times
" Iie, I'm still missing something." Naruto said
" What?" Kyuubi asked annoyed
" I know I put them here somewhere." Naruto said ignoring Kyuubi's questioned
" Umi do you know what he's looking for?" Kyuubi asked
" I think and if it's what I think he's looking for it's in the kitchen." Umi said
" KIT, TRY IN THE KITCHEN." Kyuubi shouted
Naruto whizzed passed the two heading towards the kitchen. He laughed in triumph at finding it. He came out carrying a bunch of lavenders.
" That's what you were looking for?" Kyuubi asked annoyed
" Awe, it's so romantic Kyuu." Umi said
" What about your hakama?" Kyuubi asked
" That's why I'm heading over there early. I'll put it on at Hinata's house." Naruto said
" Is that alright?" Umi questioned
" Yeah, I asked Hiashi if I could the other day." Naruto said and paused
" Kit?" Kyuubi asked
Naruto shook his head, " Nothing probably me thinking to much into things."
With that the three headed to leave.
" Naruto-kun what is on your mind?" Umi asked as they traveled
" I don't know it's just the way Hiashi acted the other day…. I think something's up." Naruto said
The two foxes looked at each other.
Soon they arrived at the Hyuuga Compound and Naruto walked in to be greeted by Hiashi and Neji following behind him.
" Naruto right on time." Hiashi said smiling and Naruto smiled back and waved at them, " Neji will show you to a room you can change in. He'll stay with you in case you need help."
" Arigatou." Naruto said as he and the foxes followed Neji into the house, " Neji."
" Hai, Naruto." Neji said still walking to the room
" Is everything alright here?" Naruto questioned
Neji stiffened a little and Naruto noticed this, " What make you think something's wrong?"
" I don't know call it kitsune instinct maybe." Naruto said rubbing the back of his head
They finally reached the room and the groups entered and Neji shut the door.
" Neji?" Naruto questioned
" I'm not allowed to say anything Naruto, but all will be made clear tonight. Just please show Hinata-sama a good time tonight." Neji pleased
Naruto looked at him upset he wouldn't tell him what's wrong, " Alright Neji, but I don't know how good a time she'll have with me see how the villagers feel about me."
" Oh don't worry we have that covered." Neji said smiling at him
Naruto raised an eyebrow at this, but nodded.
" Now lets get you in your hakama." Neji said
With that Naruto took out the hakama and proceeded to put it on he actually had very little trouble and only needed Neji to help him once.
" You did very good with this being your first time wearing a hakama Naruto." Neji said
" Yeah, well it does help that Hinata-chan showed me how to put this on before." Naruto said smiling
" She what?" Neji said shocked
Naruto checks blushed with embarrassment at what he had just said, especially to who he just said it to, " Um, yeah when we found the hakama she showed me how to put it on."
Neji smiled at how Hinata was acting recently, " Well let's head out she and Hanabi-sama should be finished soon."
With that the two boys and foxes exited the room and headed for the entranceway to wait for Hinata and Hanabi. Hiashi was already there and again was shocked at Naruto's appearance.
" Naruto I swear you're going to give a number of people heart attacks tonight." Hiashi said, which caused Naruto to cocked his head to the side, " You don't know how much you look like Arashi do you?" and Naruto shook his head, " Well lets just say if you were minus the whisker marks you'd be a younger version on him my boy."
" Arigatou Hiashi." Naruto said smiling happy about compliment
Finally the group heard the sound of fabric on wood and turned to see the two enter the entranceway. Hiashi was stunned at how Hinata looked, Hanabi on the other hand just looked annoyed at the outfit she was wearing.
" How come Nee-san gets the elaborate kimono?" Hanabi asked angrily
" I'd like to know where you got that kimono too Hinata." Hiashi said surprised
" Oh that'd be me." Naruto said which caused everyone turned to look at him, " I believe it was one of Okaasan's old kimonos and Hinata like it so I gave it to her."
" You are correct Naruto that was you Okaasan's old kimono. She wore it only for the Konoha Matsuri." Hiashi explained
" Well then it's a good thing I gave it to her then." Naruto said smiling and handing her the lavenders
" You look good in your Otousan's hakama, Naruto-kun." Hinata said smiling at the lavenders
Naruto laughed and rubbed the back of his head. Hinata turned around to place the flowers in a nearby vase.
" Can we get going?" Hanabi asked impatiently
" Hai." Hiashi said turning serious at his younger daughters words
With that the group left the house with Kyuubi riding on Naruto's shoulder and Umi on Hinata's.
As they continue to the festival Hinata could see Naruto starting to get nervous.
" Naruto-kun it's alright." Hinata said
Naruto nodded but still kept looking around, It's almost like someone will attack him. But then again if he's had to deal with this all his life maybe that's what they did to him if they caught him coming to a festival.
It was then Hinata heard the whispers
" Can you believe it?" one said
" Iie, how can that girl stand being near that bakemono?" Another said
Hinata looked at where the voices had come from and was shocked to see that the voices were from two ladies that were always nice to her. They smiled and waved to her, but she just looked at them angrily. The two looked at her shocked as she looked forwards again.
" Do you think she heard us?" one said
" Iie, I think she just saw us moving. After all she's not that good of a ninja from what I hear from the Hyuuga elders." The other lady said
Hinata started to grow angry at their words, " Just ignore it Hinata they always gossip like that." Naruto spoke to her
" But they…" Hinata said
" Hai, and it's nothing I haven't heard before. But after tonight they'll all be sorry for how they treated me all these years." Naruto said and Hinata nodded
Finally the group meets up with their others friends.
" I'll see you all later on tonight then." Hiashi says and walked away from them
" NARUTO! HINATA! NEJI! OVER HERE!" Sakura shouts
Naruto and Hinata wave to her as they all moved to where their friends are waiting. As they get closer the girl are amazed at Hinata's kimono.
" Ooooh, Hinata where did you get that?" Ino asked
" Oh, um…" Hinata starts now embarrassed
" It use to be Okaasan's and I gave it to her." Naruto said seeing her blush
" Oh it's beautiful Naruto-kun, your Okaasan was very gifted in making them." Sakura said
Naruto nodded he noticed Gaara and Kankurou in their normal outfits, but Temari had on an elegant kimono like the others girls.
" Hey Temari I didn't know you brought that with you." Naruto said smiling
" I didn't Shika's Okaasan let me borrow one of hers." Temari said smiling
" Mendokuse." Shikamaru said
" Then what about your brothers?" Naruto asked
" Oh! She said that she only had two hakamas in the house and those were Shika's and his Otousan's." Temari said
" You should have told us Gaara." Hinata said
Gaara looked over at her confused, " Why?"
" Because Naruto-kun has a ton. You two could have borrowed one of his." Hinata said
" I wouldn't want to inconvenience anyone." Gaara replied
" Inconvenience? Gaara that's what friends do they help each other out." Naruto said smiling, " By the way how's Shukaku doing?"
" Fine he's been very quiet since the incident. I think we've finally come to an understanding. Like the two of you have." Gaara said looking at the kit on his shoulder
Kyuubi seeing the boy looked at him glared back at him to see his eyes change to Shukaku's. Kyuubi nodded and Gaara nodded back. He then moved by Naruto's ear and whispered something. Naruto looked shocked for a moment and then smiled.
" Naruto?" Gaara questioned
" Nothing, he's just glad Shukaku decided to be good now and let you sleep." Naruto said
Everyone ws shocked at this, " How did you know?"
" Um, Oni conversations aren't hard to figure out." Naruto said shrugging
As the group continued to talk their senseis along with Tsunade and Jiraiya came upon the group all gathered together. A number of them looked shocked as they saw what Hinata was wearing.
" Jiraiya." Tsunade said
" I see it, but I can't believe she's wearing it and look at him." Jiraiya said pointing the person next to her
It was Naruto, but from the back all the adults thought that Arashi was back from the dead.
" Gaki?" Jiraiya questioned
Naruto turned around and smiled at them with his normal fox grin, " Obaa-chan, Ero-sennin, I thought you wouldn't be here till later."
" Maa, we can't miss out on seeing all these lovely konichi's in kimonos every once and a while, eh?" Kakashi asked smiling
" Kakashi stop being a sukebei." Kurenai said annoyed
Kakashi smiled at her words as he looked at her.
" So Hinata where did you get such a lovely kimono?" Gai asked smiling
Hinata blushed at his question, " Ano sa…"
" I gave it to her." Naruto said smiling at the adults
" But that was you Okaasan's wasn't it?" Kurenai asked
Naruto nodded, " But it's just hanging their and it looks much better on Hinata-chan. Don't you think?"
Hinata blushed even more at his words. The women all looked at the two seeing how much they cared for each other. As the group walked together not many people bothered Naruto and a number mostly ninjas were shocked at the outfit the boy was wearing. Seeing as many remembered the last time they had seen it worn. Some of the villagers seeing this were outraged at him defiling the Yondaime even more by wearing something that looked like his. As the Matsuri continued on the teens had moved over to the area where couples were dancing together. At the time Sakura and Sasuke along with Neji and Tenten were out on the dance floor. The others all sat around a large table talking to each other. As Choji finally gained the courage to ask Ino to the dance floor and Temari practically dragging Shikamaru out the only female left at the table was Hinata. She sat there quietly enjoying the music, conversation and people around her, but she really wished to be out on the floor dancing with Naruto. As if he read her thoughts Naruto stood up and walked over to her. She looked up at him questioningly and he extended his hand for her to take. She smiled at him and he returned it as he grabbed his hand and he helped her out of her seat and lead her to the dance floor.
" Can he dance?" Kiba asked
The rest of the guys left shrugged not knowing the answer to that.
" If not we'll have a good laugh." Kankurou said getting hit upside the head by Gaara's sand
He glared at his brother who looked at him annoyed by his words.
" You're worse than Nee-chan." Kankurou mumbled
Gaara smirked at his remark.
As Naruto and Hinata reached their other friends a slow dance started and the two started dancing together. The smiled as they looked at each other.
" Naruto-kun." Hinata said
" Hum." Naruto hummed
" When did you?" Hinata asked
He smiled at her, " Learn to dance?" Hinata nodded and he laughed, " Everyone must think I'm a bumbling goofball don't they?"
Hinata shook her head, " Iie, that's not what I…"
" I know Hinata-chan." Naruto said smiling at her, " Actually I learned a long time ago. Before I left Konoha."
" Really?" Hinata said surprised
" Yeah, one of Obaa-chan's orders." Naruto said letting out a laugh
By the stage where the band was Tsunade was standing and sneezed.
" Someone must be talking about you." Jiraiya said smiling and looked out onto the dance floor
Tsunade followed his gazed and saw Hinata and Naruto, " I wonder who?" Tsunade asked, Jiraiya chuckled at her words, " Told you that was a good decision."
" You had that all planned didn't you?" Jiraiya asked
Tsunade looked at him innocently and he snorted.
Back on the dance floor Hinata had her head upon Naruto's chest smiling and moving slowly with the music.
" I think I could stay like this forever." Hinata said
" We could." Naruto chest reverberated his words
She looked up at him surprised, but he just smiled down at her embarrassed, " I mean if you want."
Hinata looked up at him shocked, " Uzumaki Naruto, what are you asking me?" Hinata questioned
Naruto smiled at her, " What am I asking you."
" Naruto-kun stop joking around and be serious for once." Hinata said frowning a bit
Naruto glanced back at her to see her face. He moved his head now so he could see her completely.
" Now ask me again and please don't be so vague. That's normally not how you are." Hinata said
Naruto chuckled at this, " Then the straight forwards approach?", Hinata giggled and nodded, " Then Hinata-chan would you like to be my girlfriend."
Hinata giggled again and nodded, jumping up and embracing his neck in a hug. She moved her head by his ear, so only he could hear.
" I'd like nothing more than just that Naruto-kun." She said
Naruto moved her back and looked at her surprised, " Really?"
" You don't know how long I've waited for you to ask me that." Hinata said
Naruto used one hand to scratch the back of him head, " You know how long it takes me to get stuff like that Hinata-chan."
" That I do." Hinata said smiling
" HEY! Now that was a …" Naruto said back to her but was interrupted
At that instant Hinata's lips had met Naruto's ending his words. Naruto could hear a whistle let out from the table where they had left the guys and he figure it was from either Kiba or Kankurou. At the stand Tsunade was smiling widely, while Jiraiya now had his notebook out taking notes feverishly. Unfortunately, Tsunade noticed this and struck him upside the head rendering him unconscious as she took the notebook out of his hand and threw it on top of one of the nearby torches. The couples out on the floor that were friends with the two stopped their dancing instantly to gawk at the two's boldness. Neji chucked at the two. Finally Hinata released Naruto, who was in a state of shock at the time.
" DAAAAMN!" Kankurou was heard saying
" I TOLD YOU! YOU HAVE ONE HELL OF A VIXEN, KIT!" a voice shouted over the group
Naruto glared back at the table to see Kyuubi smiling widely at him.
" Baka fur-ball." Naruto said smiling down at Hinata, " Now where did that come from?"
" Too many years of waiting for you." Hinata said smiling acting innocent
" Well this allow me to ask your forgiveness for denying you that for so long." Naruto said bowing to her and Hinata giggled again at his words
" You're forgive, but I'd like to have another one later." Hinata said
" Your wish is my command." Naruto said to her and again she giggled
The song finally stopped and everyone started to gather around the stage for the Hokage to speak. It was common custom that the Hokage would always speak before the end of the Matsuri. As she started to walk up though she was pulled aside by Hiashi. He whispered something to her and she looked at him questioningly, but nodded and proceeded up on stage. As she reached the top everyone hushed to hear her speak. The groups of friends had all gathered near Naruto and Hinata as they noticed a number of people sending glares over towards Naruto. Gaara had come and stood directly behind him incase he need to help his friend.
" I like to thank everyone for coming out on such a fine night. We had a wonderful turn out again this year for the Matsuri, but before you all head home and since I have all the villager here I need to make a couple of announcements of things that have happened in recent month and new news I have found out. First off I'd like to announce the death of the missing Konoha-nin Orochimaru, but the hands of our own Uchiha Sasuke." Tsunade said
The crowed all cheered at the new that the banished Sannin was finally dead.
" Which means we have no Sannin now, so for starters I'd like to announce that to replace Orochimaru I'm giving his former apprentice and reinstated Konoha-nin Uchiha Sasuke the title of Hebi Sannin." Tsunade said
Everyone looked at Sasuke shocked and saw he himself was shocked at this news too.
" Way to go Aniki." Naruto said happily patting him on the back
" And since we're having a new Hebi Sannin step up, Jiraiya and myself have also decided to step down as Sannin since we're getting too old to continue holding the title. Especially when are apprentices are much more powerful than we are even now. So I give my title of Namekushi Sannin to Haruno Sakura." Tsunade said
Jiraiya who had finally woke up now stood beside Tsunade, " And I give my title of Gama Sannin to Uzumaki Naruto."
That's when the crowd erupted into shouts.
" YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS? GIVING THE SANNIN TITLE TO HIM!" one person shouted
" THIS WILL PUT THE WHOLE VILLAGE IN DANGER IF HE'S THAT POWERFUL." Another shouted
Tsunade and Jiraiya watched at the villager's reactions, but also at Naruto. Whose head was now hung at them not accepting this. Hinata looked at him upset that they thought his of him.
" Otouto." Sasuke whispered seeing the villager and his reaction
"URUSAIIIII!" Tsunade shouted at them angrily
The crowd instantly became deafly quiet, " Now on to my next announcement, is to end Sarutobi's law."
" Finally we can kill that bakemono." One man said eyeing Naruto
It was then a kunai came flying towards Naruto's head only to be blocked by a wall of sand. The man that threw the kunai was then being carried to the stage by a large amount of sand.
" Until I'm finished I don't want anyone to do anything. You all are going to regret what you've done to that boy once his story is revealed." Tsunade said
" WE DOUBT THAT." A number shouted
" We know who his parent were." Tsunade said
" LIKE WE CARE!" another one shouted
Jiraiya by then had lost all his patients and started to shout back at them, " WELL YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING GROUP SHOULD! HIS OTOUSAN WAS THE VERY SAME MAN THAT SEALED KYUUBI INSIDE OF HIM!"
The villagers all gasped at this news.
" You're lying to us." One spoke not believing this
" Iie, we have Sarutobi's Journal, along with Jiraiya and the elders being there at Naruto's birth. Uzumaki Naruto is the last of the Kazama Clan and the Yondiame's Musuko. You've been mistreating a boy his whole life that was the Musuko of our villages greatest heroes." Tsunade said
" It still doesn't matter he's still a bakemono." Another villager said
" Not if he's gone." Jiraiya said smiling
" GONE! HOW CAN KYUUBI BE GONE?" a number shouted at different times
" Easy Naruto absorbed his power and Kyuubi's gone." Tsunade spoke
" How did that happen?" another villagers asked
" Like you'd care?" Tsunade said annoyed at their interest now
" They might not, but we do." This time a ninja spoke
" Very well then. I believe though I should first explain why Kyuubi attacked us." Tsunade said
" Like that matter?" someone said
" Hai, it does because he was tricked by the very missing-nin's death I just announced." Tsunade said glaring at the person
Again another gasp went though the crowed. Tsunade then proceeded to tell the story about Kyuubi finding his mate and kits killed the ones responsible having Konoha hitaiate on. What happened and Kyuubi's imprisonment.
" But you said he was gone?" a voice spoke up
" Hai, after the battle against Akatsuki, Uzumaki Naruto was kidnapped by Orochimaru. The same ninja's that went to battle Akatsuki went to search for Naruto and found him, but they were too late Orochimaru had messed with the seal, which resulted in the two sort of combining into one." Tsunade explained
" I don't understand." Another voices spoke
" He used an ancient Kenjutsu from Konoha that was created when we were first established. It was so bad that the man who created it had his memory erased so he could never us it on anyone, but we still wrote it down. As luck may have it, the people Orochimaru sent to get his jutsu wrote it down wrong and combined it with another jutsu. When he used it on Naruto it had unusual side effect because of his tenant, which within the last couple of week have finally been fixed." Tsunade said
" But Kyuubi?" someone asked
" Alright, ALRIGHT! Because of the results from the jutsu Kyuubi ended up merging with Naruto and is gone. Giving Naruto all his power including chakra." Tsunade said
There was a long silence as the group digested this.
" NANI?" a number of people shouted
" Let's put it this way. Kyuubi's gone and all his power his now under Naruto's control. He has not turned into Kyuubi because of this he's just an extremely powerful teen now. As are most of his friends." Jiraiya said smiling
Many-nodded understanding this and some looked the boys was with confused looks on their faces. But most completely understood what they had been told and felt bad for how they had treated the boy up till them.
" Naruto is a Kazama and has been living in Arashi's house for many weeks now. What he's wearing tonight is only more proof that his Otousan was Arashi." Tsunade explained
" This is completely true." Homura said walking up next to Tsunade along with Koharu, " The reason we didn't say anything is that Naruto's life would be in too much danger if someone from the village said something and one of Arashi's enemies came after him."
" So why tell us now?" someone asked
" Because the truth needed to be told if he was to ever be treated right and also the boy is strong enough now to fend for himself if needed." Koharu said
The villagers all nodded at this. Soon the group left leaving Tsunade up on the stage by herself again.
" One last thing before we all head home for the night Hyuuga Hiashi has an announcement to make." Tsunade spoke as she moved so Hiashi could come on stage
As Hiashi walked on stage he bowed to Tsunade and moved to the front of the stage.
" Fellow villagers, I'm very sorry for ruining your Matsuri, but the elders had asked me to make an announcement." Hiashi said
Hinata was confused at to what her father was doing. Naruto though looked over at Neji, who nodded to him. Naruto nodded back paying very close attention to what was about to be said.
" The have been asked to announce that the Hyuuga family will be having a fight in 2 months to decided the rightful heir to the household between my two Musume Hyuuga Hinata and Hyuuga Hanabi." Hiashi said
Hinata gasped at this. Numerous murmurs from the crowd started as Hiashi started to walk off the stage before he completely stepped off though a voice rang though the crowd.
" NANI? LIKE HELL, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE HINATA'S RIGHTFUL TITLE AWAY FROM HER." Naruto shouted
Hiashi stepping off the staged smiled; Hai, she in good hands and everything will be all right.
So that's the end of the story. I'm currently working on the sequel and for now it'll probably be call Strength of an Heir. It might be a while before it's out. I'm getting ready to start a new job and might not have a lot of time to work on it as often as I did this story. Also I don't like releasing a story until I'm almost completed with it. So please be patient and it'll be out soon.