Natsu has always considered herself to have inherited her father's mind and shrewdness, while her brother had received their mother's willful and wild persona, something that had clashed with her. While she was an Uzumaki and did have certain principals instilled into her at birth, she happened to possess her own mind and will and the ability to think for herself and garner personal wishes and ambitions. Ambitions, which as she had found out, did not go hand in hand with what her family, as well as the closest to them wanted out of her and Menma, and this, had become a point of tension between her and the family. While Menma was always more than willing and able to follow the plans their parents and Jiraiya had laid out for them, Natsu was not like that instead of simply following them, preferred to question and as for their validity, something that she was not always able to get out of her parents.
Over time, this issue grew from a simple wish for understanding things to outright desire for her own life and ability to decide what to do with it, especially after she had learned how their parents had manipulated lives of the entire Village for their benefit, and worst of all, their abandoned brother, Naruto. She long since knew that to Minato and Kushina, Naruto was nothing more than a sacrifice that was needed to give them time to make Menma and Natsu into what they wanted them to be, and when the news of his "premature" death came, they were more irritated than saddened, while Menma did not have any feelings towards it whatsoever. Natsu, however, while she never met Naruto, felt saddened for what had happened to him, and did think that it was unjust that he was to die like that, being just a pawn in the game she was tired being a piece of.
Natsu's entire life was directed and controlled by her parents, and in their mind, as she understood it, she was nothing more than another pawn to gain even more power for their ridiculous dream of fulfilling a prophecy. For that purpose they've left Naruto, trained and filled their with brother heads with their ideas her entire life, and now… Now that Jiraiya and her father deemed that Menma alone would suffice as the so-called "Child of Destiny", they decided to use Natsu in a different way.
Having grown up at the Fire Daimyo Court and seen for what it really is, she could not stomach the idea of going there and being a concubine or a wife to one of Daimyo's sons, without any prospect of a future was something she couldn't stomach. Therefore, instead of becoming another "necessary sacrifice for the good of Konohagakure" she fled it, a village that had failed to become her home and people who were never able to become anything more than strangers were. The choice of where to flee came suddenly, after she had finally had a chance to see Naruto, revived and returned from death, only not as a pawn of Konoha, but as a Water Daimyo and someone who made them all quake with his mere appearance.
When he had appeared, Natsu put a façade of animosity and readiness to fight, but that was only to hide the fact that, the moment she saw him, he had shaken and shook her to the very core. Naruto was a representation of what a true ruler and a man who forged his own path was supposed to be, nothing like her own father and Fire Daimyo, who had left everything in the hands of others. He spoke and carried himself as a true mighty ruler would, showed strength and reason, even though he had every right to fight them. When he spoke, Natsu felt his power and might, and in that moment, in that very room, Naruto was the power, while her father could not even reach up to his shadow.
A single meeting was more than enough to convince Natsu, that if there is someone who can help her escape her fate, it was him, and so she decided to go to Land of Water in secret. The only thing she didn't account for was being discovered, and now being forced to reveal herself right now, and so she dispelled her transformation, revealing a girl who would soon be considered a woman. Long and flowing blonde hair reaching to her back, wild and lush, creating a mane like that of a lion, couple with violet eyes and a figure many in Konoha were envious of, with mature body. Full breasts, toned body, strong legs and wide hips, all covered in a brown jacket with black shirt underneath, brown shorts and high boots. She had inherited the mind of her father and a beauty of an Uzumaki, while also gaining an interest in knowledge and learning, strengthening both her mind and body, and now she was here, present before her once brother, who looked at her with a small smile.
"How did you recognize me?" Natsu asked of him, with Naruto responding.
"Your transformation was quite good, and you've chosen a good place to blend in with the scenery, so to speak. You have even gone an extra mile to hide your chakra from any possible sensors, something I have to commend you on doing." Naruto spoke with a respectable tone, while Natsu couldn't help but feel pleased at hearing that. "Under normal circumstances, you would've gone unnoticed even by the Shinobi of the Leaf or most of my guards, be their samurai or Shinobi. However, I am not most men, and there are very few things that can hide from me. Still, an excellent attempt at an infiltration, Natsu. You have certainly fared far better than your compatriots from Konoha, they were all too easy to spot."
"So you do know that there are spies and Shinobi from Konoha in the entourages." Natsu was surprised to hear him having figured it out already.
"Of course. I was expecting them to send at least a few of their own infiltrators in here to finally gain their own people in Kamakura and Land of Water, and what better opportunity than this one?" Naruto asked of her. "I would've been more surprised if they didn't do so, but enough about them. Let's talk about you, and what exactly are you doing in here, Natsu?"
"Maybe I am part of the infiltrators, sent in here to make a firsthand recon of the situation in Land of Water, and then to report back my findings, using my disguise as a way to sneak around undetected?" Natsu suggested, challenging Naruto to make his own conclusions, with him only chuckling at it. "I may have been trained by my parents, but as you have noticed, I am an able infiltrator myself."
"That you are, however just because you have the skills for it doesn't mean that Hokage or the Council would ever allow you to leave on such a mission, much less come here of all places." Naruto responded, before explaining what he thought. "You are one of two Jinchuriki of Nine-Tailed Beast, a symbol of power and might of Konoha, and a guarantee that the other Villages do not attack it. As such, it is of utmost importance that you remain somewhere where people can look after you, or rather, watch over you, and this is the last place to do so. Even if you were here on a mission, you would not be here alone and the escort would treat you a different manner from a simple serving girl, meaning that they do not know who you really are. My guess is that you have come here out of your own free will, without the blessing or permission of Hokage or even his and Konoha's knowledge, possibly having left a clone or two to simulate you still being there… Have you come here to defect from the Leaf?" Naruto asked suddenly, shocking Hinata and surprising both Akeno and Natsu.
"Naruto, why do you think she would do such a thing?" Hinata asked of him, unable to comprehend the very idea of it happening.
"Because a girl, who is clever enough to make it all the way here, without being detected by anyone, including sensors, wouldn't have come here simply for a talk." Naruto responded, with Natsu again being amazed at how easily he read her. "She is not like her mother or brother, where they tried to speak to me when I appeared, she listened, and listened with such intent that I rarely see. In fact, she listened and analyzed what I said better than all of Konoha's Council, from the way I saw it in their eyes. And now, she is here."
"I could be here to try and kill you, since you could obviously be plotting against Konoha. Better to be rid of you sooner rather than later." At that one, Naruto actually laughed aloud. "Do you think me incapable of doing so?"
"Quite the opposite, I think you would have the better chance than anyone in that group behind that door, but I doubt you would've been so bold as to attempt it, at least not without a solid plan of escape. Besides, we both know what would happen if I were to be killed today at the hand of the Leaf Village's Jinchuriki." Naruto could clearly see that Natsu understood what he meant. "With all of that out of the way, it leaves only defection, so I have to ask, what is your reason for being here?"
"My lord, I believe I can provide you the answer, if you will hear me." Akeno spoke with soft tone and a knowing smile, with Naruto turning and giving her the permission with a nod. "In the time Namikaze family were present at the court and served Fire Daimyo, Natsu has become an object of fascination and want of Fire Daimyo's third son, a fact widely known by all in the court, including Daimyo and her parents. Before I left the capital, I heard that Fire Daimyo and Lord Hokage have finalized their decision to have Natsu become the wife of said son, while her parents would solve her "fox problem" before the wedding."
"And so, instead of being married to one of Fire Daimyo's sons and living a life that thousands of girls dream of, you have fled Konoha, throwing away your life, duty, family and everything related to it…" Naruto turned to Natsu, seeing that Akeno was right on the money. "Quite self-centered of a daughter of Fourth Hokage, so much so that I am actually impressed."
"They can marry those thousands that dream about it, but I know what my life would be if I were to be married off to that pig, and I would sooner slit my throat than be forced to lay next to him, or even touch him." Natsu said with a clear poison in her tone. "And as for Konoha, it was never my home, and its people have failed to become my own. As for my family… They have made it clear, that I am only a means to an end for them now."
"Hm, so you have become unneeded for them as a Jinchuriki, and instead they have found a new purpose for you, and you've decided to resist and rebel against it." Naruto concluded. "And so you have come here to me, probably the last person who normally would have helped you, under standard circumstances."
"Yet you are not a normal person, not like those in Fire Capital and Konoha. I noticed and sensed when you first appeared, and after you made your case, I figured that, at the very least, you would understand me." Natsu said, before recalling what she had learned about his life. "Although… It was arrogant of me to assume that our situations are the same, as well as the circumstances."
"That is true, and I do understand your situation. Clearly, you are not like most Konoha and even your family, you coming here and the way you made your conclusions is the evidence of that." Naruto said to her. "However, I am certain that it goes without saying, that your mere presence here puts the agreement I have tried to achieve with Konoha and Fire Country in jeopardy, and that soon, if not already, your absence has been discovered. And once it is discovered, your father and the Council will think that either the Akatsuki have gotten a hold of you, or, which in current circumstances more plausible, they will think that I have kidnapped you. Possibly for the personal reasons, or to gain a Tailed Beast, since it is known that Kirigakure doesn't have one."
"Maybe, but had you wanted to, you would've gotten a hold of one of such Beasts years ago on your own." Natsu noted, with Naruto not denying it.
"True, but that is beside the point. So, Natsu, tell me, why should I not just send you back to your village, in order to preserve this pact?" Naruto asked of her.
"Because first of all, this pact you are making will not last, and you know it better than anyone. Just because you have made the first move, does not mean that you actually want it to last longer than you need it." Natsu told Naruto. "However, I can see that you won't just let me stay if I ask you, so I can give you something that you do not have: information. I know about my father's plans and what he, Jiraiya, Council and even Fire Daimyo are planning. In fact, both Hinata and Akeno here were sent to seduce you and to bear your children, and after they were born, the shinobi in their entourages, with the support of the Anbu, would assassinate you and all of your other wives and possible children. After that, Fire Daimyo would assume full control of this country through the children as puppets." After hearing that, Hinata widened her eyes in shock, for she did not know that this was why she really was here, while Akeno simply dropped her smile.
"What you have just described to be is what I have already deduced, Natsu. This was one of the more plausible things that Konoha and Fire Daimyo would attempt to do, and I have already been prepared for such an occasion." Naruto revealed it to them, surprising Hinata again by this revelation. "And while I am certain you have other things to share with me, I am still debating whether the value of what you have will outweigh the risks I am taking by entertaining you here."
"I can tell you the reason why father and mother have made you into a sacrifice for Konoha, Naruto." Natsu decided to play this card. "Maybe you do not care about getting revenge at this point, but as I am certain you know, information can be a very powerful asset, and this information will reveal you the mindset of your opponents."
"Tempting, and while that does sound promising, I can't help but wonder, for what purpose would I keep you?" Naruto suddenly asked of her. "While Kirigakure does not have a Jinchuriki, I can't have assume the role, since it would jeopardize my plans, and having you here is also out of the question… Speaking of, what is that you yourself really want, Natsu?"
"Me? You are asking me what I want, even though you've already guessed it all?" Natsu asked of him.
"I guessed why you came here, but I suspect that it is only a means to an end, isn't it?" Naruto asked of her, shocking and surprising Natsu, with her deciding to say what he wanted to hear.
"I… I want to decide my own life, and who I want to be, instead of being someone's pawn or a means to an end for someone. All my life, I've been told that I was special and that my fate and life were already determined, and that if I were to listen to Jiraiya, father and mother, I would fulfill it. At first, it confused me and I tried to learn more about it, but I didn't get any answers, instead only training, pain and failure at being unable to gain control over the Nine Tails." Natsu began talking. "When I had gotten older and I learned about the prophecy that my father and mother are so obsessed over, as well as about you and their plans… I realized, that I am not living a life I wanted. I was existing only as an instrument of their design, and all I had learned, was taught and trained- all of it was so that I would do my part in their plan. I grew sick and tired of being a pawn in the hands of parents, who think me too willful and rebellious for my own good, and who believe that what they are doing is best for all, without considering what I want. I didn't want to be a weapon of Konoha, nor it's pawn or Jinchuriki, and now… Now I don't want to be sold like a cow for someone who only cares about my looks and doesn't understand or cares to understand me. To him, I would be just a pretty toy to play with, before forgetting about it, worse than it was with my parents. So I ran away, while also with the power of the Nine Tails inside of me, to you, because… Because I was hoping you would understand and help me…" Once Natsu had finished with her tale, tears started to well up in her eyes, while Naruto considered what to do, before speaking up.
"Raikou, Asagi, Mei, Rea." He called for his wives, and they appeared from their hiding spots in the throne room, revealing that they have heard and seen all that had transpired. "What do you think about it all?"
"From the political standpoint, it would be best to send her back to the Leaf Village, preferably in such a way that it would not cause anyone to think that we had any hand in her absence." Raikou said, with Asagi agreeing, before she took a closer look at Natsu, and spoke again with softer voice. "However, there is more than just politics involved, from the looks of things. The decision is ultimately yours, Naruto. We will abide by it." Raikou assured him, with Naruto letting out a sigh, coming to a decision.
"Yes, you are right Raikou. Natsu Namikaze's presence in the Land of Water is a problem, hence why Natsu Namikaze should disappear, wouldn't you agree?" Naruto asked of her, confusing Natsu and his new concubines quite a bit. "Rea, will it be possible for you to hide her within the Clan without Konoha learning about her?"
"It will be possible, and from what I have observed, she will have an easy time integrating into it." Rea assured her, shocking Natsu when she heard it. "All that is needed is to give her a new name, in place of her old one."
"W-wait, you are actually g-going to accept me here? What about the threat to the agreement and your plans, a-and what about the Nine Tails?" She immediately asked of Naruto, with Mei speaking up.
"While Nine Tails is a valuable price for any village, we of the Kirigakure already have means that would counter Tailed Beasts, and with our current situation as stable as it is right now, we have no need of them. Even if the war would break out, we would have more than enough forces to fight it effectively and win." Mei assured her with a smile. "And as for the risk to the agreement, leave up to us to deal with it."
"Y-you are actually…" Natsu's tears began to fall from her eyes, with Naruto smiling to her.
"You can relax now, I have made my decision, and when I make it, I stand by it. Now then, you will need a new identity, if you are going to be living here in Kamakura, and since you will be in the Uzumaki Clan, it would stand to reason for you to use that name, since we still have clansmen who arrive." Naruto told her, with Natsu understanding him. "Now then, what name do you wish to have as your own?"
"A name? I… I don't even know which one to pick." She admitted honestly.
"Perhaps it would be best to let Naruto do it for you. He is the Head of Uzumaki Clan, and such things are in his domain of decision." Rea said with a smile, with Naruto pondering about it for a second, before speaking up.
"I have decided on the name. Your name shall be Akari, Akari Uzumaki. What do you think of it?" He asked of her, with her accepting it with a smile.
"Y-yes, thank you, Naruto." Now Akari Uzumaki thanked Naruto, bowing before him. "Wh-what is it that you wish of me, Naruto, now that I am…"
"Nothing that you may think I would need or want from someone like you. For now, your job is to settle in your new life and get accustomed to it. Rea will assist and support you during your acclimatization, so do not be afraid to ask her for help, and be open to the Clan and people to it." Naruto stated to her. "As for the information you have about Konoha and it's plans, we will talk about it later. Once you have settled in, then you may decide what you wish to do."
"W-what do you mean by that?" Akira was surprised to hear him say those words.
"Exactly what it sounds like. It is now your life, and it is you who should decide how to live it. I shall not force or demand you to do anything, if I do have need of you, I will first ask you to assist me, not enforce my will." Naruto stated, before turning to Akeno and Hinata. "The same goes to both of you. You may have been sent here with the expectations of being used by your respective homelands, and me but you have my word that you shall not have to fear for your safety or honor. While you are here, you will be treated by me and everyone else as honored guests and my friends, and you may enjoy all the benefits of it." Hinata and Akeno bowed their heads to it.
"It is most gracious of you, milord, but what about your right upon us?" Akeno asked of him with a suggestive smile. "As our Lord and Daimyo, you do possess the right to make use of me and Lady Hinata in an intimate manner, or a carnal one, should your heart desire it. Shall we be expected to fulfill such wishes, milord?" The flirty tone of Akeno clearly showed that she was more than a little for him to use such rights upon her, while Hinata immediately blushed crimson red and averted her gaze from Naruto.
"Like I have stated, I will not force you to do anything that you do not wish." Naruto reiterated his earlier statement, with Akeno's gaze gaining a mischievous glint in it.
"And what if we were not opposed, but rather open and welcome for you to make use of it?" Akeno asked of him, licking her lips a little bit, showing clearly just how open she was with the idea.
"You have quite a way of showing your willingness, Lady Akeno." Naruto noted with a smile, while she giggled at his words. "We have only just met, yet you already say such things to me. Are you really so dedicated to the purpose your uncle set up to, or is this something else?"
"Personally, I couldn't care less about what my uncle wishes for. And while we may have just met, I did make sure to hear and learn as much as I could about you, and after seeing you act and decide things today, as well as display your mind…" Akeno took a small pause, as she felt her cheeks set ablaze a little with the blush. "I fear that you have now conquered me, in mind and now my body wishes for you to claim it as your price, my lord."
"My, my, what a bold girl… I think we'll get along quite well." Mei said with a suggestive smile, with Raikou simply smiling at that, while Asagi let out a sigh, with Rea chuckling to it.
"I see that coyness is not something that you are afflicted with." Naruto noted with a small chuckle.
"If you wish, I can always play coy and bashful, milord. I am simply far more open minded to such things and decisive, especially when it is something that I desire and want." Akeno stated with clear passion in her eyes.
"I can see that. We shall discuss this at a later date, Lady Akeno. I think it is time to inform the envoy, that his gift has been accepted." Naruto stated to them, before turning to Hinata, and at that moment, his jovial mood soured and disappeared, as he looked at her. "Hinata, what is wrong? You look…" And at that moment, he saw blood trailing down from her nostrils and eyes.
"Na… ruto…" Was all that she had managed to utter, before she was unable to remain standing and fell down, with only Naruto quickly intervening and catching her, gently laying her down on the floor.
"Guards, lock down the palace and let none get out!" Naruto instantly commanded with a booming powerful voice, before he turned to Hinata. "Hinata, what is wrong?! What is this…" Naruto's eyes immediately shifted from their normal look to Sharingan, and when he saw what had happened to her, it shook him to the core.
With his enhanced vision, he was able to see the chakra in her body fade and disappear, as the life in her body was extinguished and gone, and the cause of it all were several hidden seals, placed upon her head and hidden by the hair, and over hear heart. Naruto, having been trained by Madara Uchiha and Amaterasu, was not just familiar with Sealing Arts, but was their master, and it took him only a second to discern what they were. Suicide seals, specially designed to kill a person upon their activation via a concentrated burst of chakra at a specific point, and in this case those points were the heart and brain.
There was not a chance for Hinata to have survived both of those going off at the same time, and Naruto could clearly see that those were not made by her hand, or were used by her. He thought he had Konoha and it's people figured out, but he underestimated the malice, pride and arrogance of the Hyuga Clan, for the formula used in those seals were distinctly similar to those that they utilized in their Caged Bird Seal. They just could not allow themselves to let Hinata go and be happy, especially with someone like him, and so instead of suffering a wound upon their pride, they instead decided to be rid of her, preferably in such a way that it would hurt him.
And they had achieved their goal, for Hinata Hyuga, the first person to ever believe in Naruto, treat him as a human being and show him affection and love, to make him an example for herself… Passed away in his own arms, minutes after he had promised her that she would live a life that she dreamed of. A single tear fell from Naruto's face when realization had set in, but sadness and grief gave way to fury and anger that welled in his heart, and this time, there was no quelling it.
The Hyuga Clan, or rather it's Main Family Branch, had just signed their death warrants, and Naruto wasn't going to wait around to collect upon them.
Meanwhile. Konoha. Hyuga Clan Estate.
The Elders and the Clan Head, as well as Hanabi Hyuga and most of Main Family members, were present on the discussion that regarded their now former Heiress and member of the main branch family, Hinata. Though Hanabi was now Heiress and was supposed to feel indifferent and even glad towards her older sister's demise, in truth, she was barely containing herself from crying and running away, after learning what these people, including her father had done to her. To sit here and listen to them disparage on Hinata like this, as well as openly stating how it was better for her to have died rather than being happy… It showed to Hanabi the true extent of Hyuga Clan's rot and depravity that took hold of the main family.
Contrary to the beliefs of her father, Elders and others, Hanabi never harbored any bad thoughts or feelings towards Hinata, instead adoring and cherishing her like any normal younger sibling would. She did not care if her sister was supposedly weaker than she was in terms of abilities or talent with Byakugan, because instead Hinata had a gentle and kind heart that was complete opposite of what their father possessed. It was Hinata who had raised Hanabi to be who she was, treated her not as a princess, but as a person and who was always able to make Hanabi be herself, instead of what her father wanted them to be. Even when they were separated due to Hinata becoming Shinobi and Hiashi de-facto disowning her, they remained strongly connected and as close as they could be.
It was thanks to Hanabi that Hinata had managed to get over her grief and depression, following the death of Naruto Uzumaki and his unjust posthumous treatment by the Leaf, with Hanabi too being saddened by the fact that Sasuke Uchiha killed him. Like her sister, over the time he had become a Shinobi she grew to admire and respect him, for his willingness to put himself on the line for his friends and never giving up, and Hanabi had to admit to herself that she had developed a small crush on him. To find out that he was killed by his own teammate, then to see his name mixed with mud, and then to top it all off with the fact that his parents and family were all actually alive and well all this time… Hanabi could not believe just how cruel fate was towards him, and grew to despise the leadership of the Leaf for what had been allowed to happen.
It would take Hinata years to recover from her loss, as with Hanabi always there to help her, and to heal herself from the loss of a person she admired and even aspired to be. Yet, the day when he had returned and showed himself to the Council, along with Hinata and Hanabi, who was also present at that event, was one that was etched into her memory. She, along with her sister, couldn't get their eyes away from him, and while his own were directed to Hinata and not to her, Hanabi was more than happy to see him, and to witness him reignited Hinata's soul with but a single look. And when it was announced that Hinata would actually go to Kamakura to him, to be with him as his official concubine, Hanabi couldn't help but be happy for Hinata, seeing as her dream was coming true, while a suppressing a small pang of envy and jealousy in her heart. Finally, after all she had to suffer, Hinata could be happy with the man she loved and who would undoubtedly care and love her back.
Now… Now it was revealed to her that this was not to be, and that her Clan had just potentially started a war between Fire Country and Naruto, and they were sitting here, celebrating what they saw as their major victory over a great enemy.
"Finally, the main branch has been purified of any remaining weakness, and that worthless mongrel shall learn what happens when he tries to take something that belongs to the Hyuga." Hyuga Hasashi, grandfather of Hinata and Hanabi and father to Hiashi, spoke with pride and smile. "By now, the procession should have reached Kamakura and met with Naruto, and that means that Hinata's time is done."
"Yes, although it is unfortunate we wouldn't be able to see the look on that mutt's face when he sees his prize fall dead before his very eyes, after thinking that he has gotten what he wanted." One of the main family members said with a sinister chuckle. "And like any worthless dogs, he shall bark and roar all he wants, but in the end, he is nothing but a toothless dog with no fangs to bite."
"How can you be so certain that he shan't retaliate against Konoha for this, and that he won't cancel out the agreement he has made with the Fire Daimyo and Hokage?" Hanabi decided to ask what she saw as the most obvious question, as even in her hidden rage and grief, she could understand what will happen when Naruto finds out all about it. "If rumors are correct about his military prowess and the amount of forces and powers he can command, then we may well be facing a new Great Shinobi War."
"There shan't be any war between Konoha and Naruto, Hanabi, because that blistering idiot will not dare to break an agreement he has put so much effort into establishing. Besides, he may indeed bark loud, but he is indeed a toothless dog, and who can't even maintain his own power in Land of Water." Hasashi stated without a care for consequences. "I have it on good authority that all that Naruto can do is only seek for allies and friends in this hour of desperation of his, and he won't dare to turn the Leaf away from him, even after what we have done."
"And besides, even if he decides to come here complaining, we have all of Konoha ready to stand up for us, with Minato Namikaze more than willing and able to put an end to his unruly offspring." Another Elder spoke, with Hanabi seriously doubting it. "And even without Konoha, he wouldn't dare to insult or attack the Hyuga Clan with his meagre and weak forces, or personally for that matter. With our martial prowess and power of Byakugan, we will easily end anyone who would dare to do us harm…" And at that moment, all of the people in the room heard some loud commotion going on outside.
"What is going on out there? I told the nurses to keep the children in their rooms today, so as to not disturb…" Hiashi wasn't able to finish his sentence, as at that moment, two guards from Branch Family flew through the closed doors of the hall, breaking them apart.
From the opened gap stepped Naruto Uzumaki in person, dressed not in his fine blue royal clothes, but instead a black and red lacquered armor with white coat over it all, with his trusted sword in his left hand. Stopping naught to say a thing, he strode into the hall, caring not a bit for the surprised looks on their faces, nor to even explain himself, as he moved slowly to the center of the room, before reaching it and then having Hasashi speak up.
"Wh-what… What is the meaning of all this?!" Hasashi cried out, as he and other Hyuga rose up, activating their Byakugan. "How dare you barge in here like some thug and…" Before Hasashi could finish the sentence, Naruto's right hand reached for his blade and then unsheathed it, taking Hasashi's head in one smooth motion.
Before it could even detatch from the neck and body and fall down, Naruto went on to give the same treatment to every single Elder and Main Family member present, hacking them down in a single move, decapitating them with such ease, that it made him look like he was playing with infants. Hanabi was smart enough to have moved to the far end of the room and not turn against him, instead being subjected to him slaughtering the entire leadership of her Clan and making it look like as if he wasn't even breaking a sweat. He moved with speed and force that Hanabi couldn't even believe was possible, while Hyuga seemed to have frozen in place and were unable to do anything against this force of nature. In a mere minute, without uttering a single sound or word, Naruto Uzumaki had eradicated nearly all of the Main Branch Family Hyuga clan, leaving only Hanabi and Hiashi alive.
Once he was done decapitating the last member before Hiashi, Naruto turned to him, swinging his sword to clean it of the blood it had gathered, before moving to the supposed Head of the Hyuga Clan. Hiashi, led by primal fear and desire to save his life, stepped backwards and reached the wall behind him, before Naruto reached him and pointed his sword at Hiashi, the tip touching his neck and already cutting it, drawing a little blood. It was only then that Naruto finally spoke up.
"I have only question: did she mean nothing to you, your own daughter?" Naruto asked of him in an ice cold tone, his eyes looking directly into Hiashi's.
"Sh-she was a weak and feeble child, wh-who was unworthy of her p-privileges and…" Hiashi spoke with fear and stutter, yet unable to lie for some reason, with Naruto having heard enough and thrusting his sword into Hiashi's throat.
After he withdrew his blade from it, Hiashi's body fell down onto the floor, staining it with the great amount of blood that kept flowing out of the open wound. Caring naught for the dead, Naruto's gaze finally turned to Hanabi, who was all but ready to resign herself to whatever fate awaited her. However, instead of taking her life as well, Naruto simply wiped his blade and finally sheathed it, before speaking to Hanabi.
"You are Hanabi, Hinata's younger sister, are you not?" Naruto asked of her with his tone changing to a neutral one.
"Y-yes." Hanabi answered, after composing and collecting herself. "I am. W-we weren't officially introduced, b-but I've seen y-you many times before, b-before your death and…"
"I know, I've noticed you paying me attention back then, as did your sister." Naruto answered to her, interrupting her panic induced rambling before it began. "Did you know what your father and the Elders have done to Hinata?" He asked of her the question, with Hanabi, finally calm enough to speak normally, answered.
"Yes… T-they had her k-killed, right when she was to meet you." She said with tears in her eyes. "I learned about it o-only now… H-had I known that they would… I would have stopped them, but…"
"I believe you, Hanabi." Naruto simply stated to her, surprising Hanabi with his response. "Only a blind fool would be unable to see how deeply you loved Hinata. If it were in my power, I would have done everything to save or bring her back from death…" Naruto stated with a sad sigh, with Hanabi's eyes seeing his strong expression change to one of deep regret and sadness, seeing how he too was hurt with what had occurred.
"I know, a-and thank you, for… For inspiring her, and making her feel alive again." Hanabi said, before she surveyed the room. "And for avenging her. I fear… I would not be able to do it on my own, even if I had tried."
"Maybe. But this is small recompense, when compared to who they have taken away from life." Naruto commented, as he looked with disgust at the lying bodies. "Revenge of such kind is a remedy that doesn't heal, only numbs the pain for a time, before leaving a sensation of emptiness and void, while blinding the mind and soul. Such a thing is rarely worth bothering to achieve, and now that they are dead, I can see that I was right in that regard."
"Then this is a…" Hanabi realized that this was not something he had done with any serious planning ahead.
"It was a moment when my mind was silenced by my rage, and now it has passed." Naruto let out a sigh, before turning towards the exit. "I've left those members of Hyuga who were on my way here alive. Will you be able to get what is left of your Clan under control?"
"I-I will be." Hanabi told him, with Naruto nodding to her and moving to leave. "Naruto." She called out to him, making him stop in his tracks and turn to him.
"I don't know if Hinata had been able to tell you before… Before they took her way, but all this time… She always loved you, Naruto, n-no matter what had happened." Hanabi said to him with sadness in her eyes, with her seeing a glint of grief in his eyes.
"I know. And I'm sorry I will not able to return her feelings now." Naruto responded. "Thank you, Hanabi. Farewell." And with this, Water Daimyo disappeared from the room.
Minutes later the Hyuga Estate would be swarming with Shinobi and Anbu, with Hokage and much of his council arriving as well to learn of what had happened. When they witnessed the massacre that had taken place and demanded to know the identity of the culprit, Hanabi Hyuga, who by then had full regained her senses, stated to them that this was an internal matter of the Hyuga Clan, and that the Leaf had no business getting involved in it. The tone and manner in which she had addressed them was not one of a princess or a figurehead like Hiashi, but one that belonged to a real leader and Head of Hyuga Clan, while Hokage and Council demanded explanations from her. Hanabi only stated that what had transpired was a matter that needed to be solved in the Clan for generations now, and she was glad it was done, and as for who had done, all she said that it was someone she considered to be closer to her than her own father was.
It would only be two days later when the news about the incident in Kamakura Palace reached the Council, and that would finally put all of the pieces in the place. Still, despite what had transpired, Naruto Uzumaki would still hold true to his word and the pact would be signed, despite the attempts by the Hyuga Clan to jeopardize it all. And at the same time, Hanabi would full assume the leadership role of Hyuga Clan, with her first edict and act being the abolishment of the branch family system and complete freedom of the Hyuga from the Caged Bird Seal. With nearly all of the Main Family dead, there were none who would dare to oppose her decision, and finally, after centuries of division and strife, the Hyuga Clan was reunited into one family, with Hanabi as it's leader. Her next ambition and decision would prove to be even more ambitious and daring than the one she made before, for it would shake the very foundation of the Land of Fire and Konoha in the weeks to come…
Two weeks later. Land of Wind. Hidden Sand Village.
Not for the first time Temari of the Sand was silently cursing in her head the situation that her family and village have found themselves in right now. While she was away on a mission to the Rivers Capital as an envy of Gaara, the Hidden Sand came under the attack of the Akatsuki, with Gaara responding and fighting one of the personally, doing all in his power to prevent him from harming the Village. While initially everything seemed to be going smoothly and Gaara was winning, the tables had soon turned and he was disabled and captured by the Akatsuki. In addition, if that was not bad enough, Kankuro, without waiting for any reinforcements or support, headed out after the Akatsuki himself and was only discovered in the morning, beaten, wounded and poisoned, with his puppets in ruins.
Temari herself arrived about the same time in the Village, and found its leadership in a state of indecisiveness and unable to come up with the solid enough plan on what to do. Quickly taking charge of things, Temari assumed the temporary leadership role as she was one of the higher ranking Jonins in the Village, as well as being the elder sister of Gaara. She immediately sent out squads to search and pursuit Gaara, while also making sure to keep their borders secure, given that Iwagakure's Shinobi in recent years have become a bit too restless for their liking. As for Kankuro, he was immediately sent to the hospital to be treated, and while the poison that was infecting him was not known to even their Elder Siblings, Temari was lucky to have brought along with her from her travels none other than Tsunade Senju herself.
The former Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village was on her way back from an old shrine of Senju Clan, to pay respects to her ancestors, when she ran into Temari in Rivers Capital. Offering her to visit the Sand Village as a gesture of friendship between them, for unlike with the rest of the Leaf, Temari and her siblings had good relations with Tsunade, the Slug Princess agreed. Perhaps it was some kind of a divine intervention that had taken place back then, but right now Temari didn't care and was simply happy to have Tsunade healing Kankuro. She was surprised at how quickly the former Fifth Hokage was able to take charge of the situation in the hospital, deduce the properties of the poison's effect and then get on to getting it out of Kankuro, proving to all who saw her that she was indeed the best healer in the entire world.
In the meantime, Temari was stuck dealing with the Council, after she had learned that they had acted behind her back in a way she really hated.
"Who gave you the right to request immediate assistance from the Leaf Village? I have made it absolutely clear that we should not get them involved in this matter." Temari was practically fuming at the fact that her direct order was ignored.
"You may have given us such an order, Temari, but you are not our Kazekage, and your personal feelings are clearly clouding your judgement in this very moment. We all know that out of all the Villages, it is the Leaf who are the most available to help us at the moment, and they have the most amount of information in regards to the Akatsuki. Furthermore, they have already replied and informed us, that they already have a team headed our way to help bolster our ranks against the Akatsuki, who had left prior to the attack." One of the Councilors, who was a pro-Leaf supporter, stated. "To turn down their assistance right now would be at the very least a foolish move, especially considering how Lord Kazekage has been making ventures to restore our relations with them. This occasion could serve as a means to finally stabilize our relations."
"Maybe so, but why didn't they relay to us the information about the Akatsuki coming here, if they knew about it beforehand? That would have gone a long way to establishing those relations you are so worried about." Temari noted with a glare. "And while we may be again on speaking terms, Kazekage has made it abundantly clear that we are not yet allies, and that to trust the Leaf and allow them to participate in our matters more than they already do would be foolish."
"Which, in the opinion of me and several of the members of this council, is a decision that was made unwisely and in the current circumstances, has no valid power behind itself." The same Councilor responded, nearly making Temari take out of her fan and blasting him out of here. "And besides, it is clear that Lord Kazekage has made such a decision only because of one thing, and that is…"
"And that is because he was smart enough to realize that to blindly trust Konoha, or in your case, play their advocate as you do now, is an error we cannot afford to let happen." A different Councilor spoke up, one who was firmly in Gaara's camp. "You have acted without the consent of either Lady Temari or the Council's knowledge, since not all of us were present when you've made that decision. I hope you realize just what that means for you, when Lord Kazekage returns."
"More like if he returns." The Councilor replied.
"Careful with your words, Councilor. You are already threading on thin ice as it is, and one more wrong word and nobody will be willing to save you." Temari threatened him. "And as for assistance, since it is clear that this Council, or at least part of it, are unable to effectively cooperated with the leadership of this Village, I have taken liberty and called in assistance from our more trustworthy and notable ally, Kirigakure."
"Pft, it would take at least five days for them to reach our Village, and even if they do send help, do you honestly think that they will dispatch someone who will actually be able to help us?" The councilor asked in an almost mocking manner, before the door into the chambers opened. "What is this? Don't you know that we are having an important discussion and we are not to…"
"Having discussions while your Kazekage is missing, instead of doing everything you can to find him, or at the very least, secure the Village from any potential attack?" Naruto Uzumaki, dressed in his armor and with his weapon on him, stepped inside, while accompanied by three of his bodyguards, shocking everyone inside, including Temari. "I see that the Council here and Konoha have quite a few things in common."
"L-Lord Uzumaki?! Wh-what are you doing here?" One of the younger Jonins rose up in shock and addressed him.
"Providing assistance, as was requested by your current de-facto Kazekage, while Gaara is captured." Naruto responded, before turning to Temari. "No offence, Temari, I'd rather not waste time, so fill me in on what had happened."
"R-right, follow me, I'll tell you everything on the way to hospital wing." Temari got over her shock and moved to Naruto, prepared to leave the chambers, when Konoha supporting Councilor rose up in protest.
"This… This is outrageous! You do not seriously expect Sunagakure to accept assistance from a Daimyo of another country. This... this is not how things are supposed to be!" The was practically wreaking his brain, trying to come up with the excuses, with Naruto not sparing him a glance, before he, Temari and his guards left the chambers.
"What interesting chap… Such a shame I don't have any of his kind at my court and council." Naruto sarcastically noted with a chuckle, with Temari chuckling to it.
"He has been in Konoha's pocket since the day we signed the peace treaty after the invasion, we've known about it for a long time." Temari said, before letting out a sigh. "Thank you, Naruto, for coming. When I had sent that request, I will admit that I didn't expect you personally to respond and so fast at that."
"Then it seems fate is on your side today, Temari, because normally I wouldn't have found out about your request so soon. I was Kirigakure, inspecting the Shinobi forces and their readiness for combat, when your letter arrived. Once it was deciphered and I was informed of their contents, I didn't waste time and grabbed only my most immediate guards and teleported here." Naruto explained to her. "Gaara is a very good friend and is dear to me, and I am not in the habit of letting such friends like him get hurt."
"I know, and had it been you, Gaara would personally see to it that you were rescued." Temari assured him, with Naruto nodding to him. "Anyway, this is what we know so far…" And with this she went on to explain what she knew at the moment, with Naruto listening intently to her.
"Hm, those clay bombs you have mentioned… Kai, wasn't there some rogue Iwa Shinobi who specialized in that? He was reported to have made several appearances during the civil war, if my memory serves me right." Naruto asked of the sole female guard that was accompanying him.
"Yes, Deidara of the Hidden Rock Village. He was a prominent member of Iwa's Saboteur Corps, or the Explosion Corps, as it is also know, being a specialist in utilizing special clay for explosive, which he could manipulate and make it take many different physical properties." Kai Uzumaki, a Ninjutsu specialist from Uzumaki Clan, a red haired woman with dark brown eyes, dressed in light armor of black color, responded. "He was considered a prodigy and a genius when it came to demolitions and explosives, but was also somewhat unhinged and obsessed with what he called his "art", namely the explosives. In the end, he went on to bomb his own Village just as a show of his mastery and art, and since then he became a rogue Shinobi. The bombs that you've just described are something that only he could possibly make."
"He was the one who had attacked and defeated Gaara… Does he also have a proficiency with poisons, by any chance?" Temari asked of her, with Kai shaking her head.
"No, he is solely dedicated to his own explosives, so poisons would out of his reach." Kai responded.
"Then then one who had fought Kankuro was Deidara's partner and the one who had slaughtered the unit we placed on the wall, while also placing traps in there as well." Temari noted. "When he was found, he didn't have many injuries, but it was clear that he was poisoned, and our experts couldn't identify the poison."
"That is unusual. I was under the impression that Suna had the best experts when it came to poisons and antidotes." Naruto noted, with Temari nodding to him. "If you couldn't identify the poison, how are you dealing with it?"
"I was fortunate to have met former Lady Hokage herself, Tsunade, and she decided to come to Suna with me, after I've invited her. When we arrived, Kankuro was just brought in, and she took full charge of the situation and went on to treat him almost immediately. I can't thank her enough for this…" Temari said with a sigh, with Naruto looking a bit surprised at her. "You haven't talked to Tsunade since you came back?"
"No, though I have been trying to track her down when I had the opportunity and resources to spare, but it proved to be a wasted effort, since she all but disappeared from the face of the earth, it seemed." Naruto admitted. "All I knew is that she had left Konoha almost immediately after my death, but after that nothing. I think even Jiraiya's spies lost her."
"Well, while we were our way here, she told me that she had decided to get away from Konoha and Shinobi in general, so she went to ancestral lands of Senju Clan and stayed there for the past three years, having very little contact with the outside world. From my understanding, the region she was staying is quite some ways away from the civilization and only sparse villages populated it. It's pretty hard for any kind of news or information to make its way there." Temari told Naruto, who nodded to her. "She did say that she heard rumors that there was a new Daimyo in Land of Water and that he was supposedly an Uzumaki, but aside from that she didn't hear much else."
"Well, I'm already imagining her surprise when she finds out what I have been up to." Naruto said with a small smile, before they've reached the hospital room. "This is it?"
"Yes. Let's go." Temari said, and opened the door into the room, where Tsunade was already largely done with the operation. "How is he, Tsunade?" Temari asked of her, with Naruto stepping inside with her, observing Tsunade wipe off the sweat off her brows.
"We were lucky to have arrived when we did, since the poison didn't spread far in his organism, and I've already purged it out of him. A few days rest and he should be as good as new, and with the poison I have here I'll make us the antidote to counter it." Tsunade responded to Temari, before noticing a smiling Naruto looking at her, confusing her. "What's with the stupid grin, samurai, and who are you for that matter?"
"Don't tell me that while I was gone you've started going a bit blank in the mind, Tsunade." Naruto chuckled, with Tsunade furrowing her brow at his words. "Well, how about I'll refresh your memory a bit…" Naruto stepped closer to her, and then flicked her forehead with his finger, forcing Tsunade to yelp out of pain and grab the hit spot.
"Agh, what the hell do you are doing?! Damn, that one hurt!" Tsunade said as rubbed the sore spot, before turning with a furious expression towards him. "How is that supposed to refresh my memory? Maybe if I punch you in the same spot I'll remember you better." Tsunade said with an irate tone, to which Naruto simply chuckled.
"Thanks, but my forehead is still sore from the last time you've hit it, grandma." Naruto responded in his signature manner, with Tsunade's eyes widening, as she recognized the speech pattern and tone. "You can call it a return of the favor. And by the way, do you still have that neckless you lost to me? If so, I'd like it back, since it is mine, given that you lost that bet with Rasengan."
"That bet… No, i-it can't be… N-Naruto?" Tsunade asked tentatively, with Naruto smiling to her. "It can't be you, I-I've personally checked your body, y-you were dead, a-and then… How is this possible… No, this has to be some kind of a trick, b-by Orochimaru or…" Tsunade tried to find an explanation to it, with Temari deciding to step in.
"Lady Tsunade, believe me, it was a shock for me and my brothers too, but this is Naruto, the real and the only one." Temari confirmed it to Tsunade. "We don't know how, but he did come back from death and he has been our most trusted ally and friend ever since we learned he was alive. I'm sorry I did not mention or tell you about it, I had thought that you already knew and didn't feel the need to bring up the matter."
"Alright, if you are real Naruto, then answer this: what was your life's goal?" Tsunade asked of him, with Naruto blinking at her with surprise. "And I don't mean being Hokage. What really Naruto had always wanted?"
"To be acknowledged by people and to finally be respected by them." Naruto answered, with Tsunade finally accepting that it was him. "And mission is accomplished now."
"Naruto…" Tsunade couldn't keep her tears away, and walked to him and embraced him. "It really is you… B-but how…"
"Yeah, it is me, grandma." Naruto assured her, hugging her back, before they broke it up a minute later, with Naruto telling Tsunade "I promise I will explain everything to you, down the last detail, but right now Gaara needs our help. Is Kankuro in any condition to talk?"
"Ugh, finally you've remembered me." Kankuro said with weakness in his voice, drawing attention to himself. "And here I was starting to get comfortable, watching this family drama and all that." Kankuro jokingly stated.
"And that's coming from a man who borrows his sister's makeup." Naruto joked back. "How are you feeling, Kankuro."
"Feeling like shit, but I'm alive and that's already something." Kankuro responded. "I'm guessing you are here because Temari called you. I have gotten a bit over my head in this one, but I did manage to snatch a piece of cloth from one of them with one of my puppets. If you have any trackers with you or summons with good sense of smell, you'll be able to catch up to them soon enough."
"One of my guards has a summon who can do the trick. Good work, Kankuro. We'll have Gaara back in no time." Naruto assured him.
"Yeah, and one more thing… The guy I was fighting and partner of that bomber, it was once one of our own Shinobi, Sasori of the Red Sand. You've seen my puppets and how I use them, well he is the one who made them, and he is the very best Puppet Master of our Village, not to mention one of it's best poison specialists." Kankuro told him. "When I was fighting him, it appeared as if I was fighting a puppet, so I'm guessing that he himself is inside the puppet, controlling it from the safety of that shell. I'm telling you, Naruto- he is really dangerous, so don't go underestimating him."
"Well, good thing that I'm even more dangerous than he is." Naruto responded with a carefree smile. "Get some rest, Kankuro. Kai, get that piece of cloth he was talking about and have your eagles track the Akatsuki down." Naruto commanded her, with the Uzumaki shinobi immediately bowing her head, before leaving to do just that.
"That could take some time. What you are going to do in the meantime?" Tsunade asked of him, with Naruto turning towards her.
"Up for a drink?" He asked of her without a pause.
Sorry for this one too be short and a cliffhanger of sorts, but I've been feeling a bit under the weather because of the changing weather affecting my blood pressure, hence why it took me longer to get it posted. I think I'll take three instead of two days to rest up before getting back into writing, so expected next chapter in the early days of next week.
Anyway, that aside, I'll keep this one brief and hope that you like this chapter, and will comment, review, make a suggestion or ask a question about it. Also, Natsu, now Akari's looks are based off of Yang Xiao Long's from RWBY, and as for Hanabi, here she is not five years younger than Hinata, but three.
Next time: Long overdue reunion; Battle of the Eyes; A promise to a false God…
See ya!