By noon the blonde-haired shinobi had returned to the Hyuuga compound. He paced in front of the gates nervously, trying to figure out how he was going to negotiate this…Hiashi Hyuuga was never a very easy man to talk to, forget asking to court his own daughter. But he had to, tradition commanded it and as Hokage, he had a reputation to upkeep. "Reputation, hah… the Fifth was a drunk. And guess what, the Sixth has a sentient demon sealed in his stomach! That'll go over great with Hiashi…"
Naruto remembered what he told Hinata earlier that morning. He said he would tell Hiashi straight up what had happened and what they wanted. Hw knew Hinata loved him now…besides, he was Hokage, what could Hiashi really do to him without risking his own neck?
Naruto pushed through the front gates with newfound courage. He strode right on up to the front door and braced himself for a withering glare from Hiashi. But fortunately for him, somebody else opened the door…
"Well, good morning Hokage Naruto-sama!"
"Ten-Ten! Oh thank god it's you…wait, what are you doing here?"
"Neji-kun wished to visit his cousin Hinata-sama…I'm assuming she's why you're here?"
"How did you…wait, she told Neji, didn't she?"
"Yep."
"Oh no…listen, I know your husband is very protective of his cousin, but tell him that I promise…"
"Naruto-sama, calm down. Neji-kun has no problem with you two. He's actually rather happy for you. He thinks you'll be able to Hinata-sama to act out a little more for herself. He also said she might also knock some good sense into your head…"
"What was that!"
"Uhhh…nothing…come on in Naruto-sama!"
Naruto cast her a dirty look but smirked and entered anyway. He had to admit he was impressed. He had never been inside the compound before, and it definitely was bigger on the inside. He followed Ten-Ten along the narrow, winding hallways until they found Neji looking out an open door, towards the training grounds. "Neji-kun, we have company."
Neji looked to the side and smiled warmly. "Hokage-sama, it is an honor to see you. Although I have to say…what on earth did you do to my cousin last night?"
"Uhh…what!"
"Take a look at your work, Naruto…"
He looked out onto the training grounds and couldn't keep his jaw from dropping. Hinata stood in the middle of the grounds, surrounded by no less than three dozen other ninja. They all wore similar outfits, Naruto assumed they were there to help Hinata train. They all began to lunge at her and Naruto shivered. He felt a tremendous spike in chakra…with Hinata at the center of it.
Hinata yelled out, "BYAKUGAN!" Her kekke genkai activated and she began fighting the oncoming horde. Her "Gentle Fist" technique had definitely improved… "Gentle…not anymore." Naruto thought amusedly. She delivered savage hits to her opponents with barely the slightest touch. He saw ninja keel over just because she grazed the tips of her fingers along a shoulder, or a leg.
Neji laughed and said, "That the third time she's done that this morning, We're starting to run out of training ninja, at this rate they'll all be in the hospital." Hinata took down the last target and slowly drew her fingers into the familiar hand sign, deactivating her Byakugan. She heaved a sigh of relief, only to jump slightly when she heard somebody clapping. She turned and blushed quite impressively, seeing Naruto giving her such praise.
"Hinata-chan, I've seen some really powerful fighting before…I'll tell you, you would've given Orochimaru a run for his money."
"I-it's w-was nothing…"
"Nothing! You just laid out more than 30 ninja in what…30 seconds? That's one opponent a second, that's almost faster than me."
"I j-just wanted to s-show that I…t-that I c-could be strong…l-like you always s-said I could…"
She blushed more impressively and had to fight to keep from pressing her fingers together like she did as a kid. Naruto went right on up to her and kissed her lightly. "And strong you are, believe it. I'm really proud of you Hinata-chan." She smiled, quite embarrassed and flattered. "Hinata-chan, I think it's time we tell you father about us."
Hinata looked apprehensive. "Naruto-kun…I-I dunno if I…" Naruto took her shoulders in his hands and said, "Listen, I know Hiashi scares you sometimes. He's been an absolute monster to you for your whole life. But now you know that you're not alone, I'll be right here with you." Hinata smiled weakly and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Naruto-kun…"
They turned to enter the compound, but paled when they saw who had taken Neji and Ten-Ten's place at the door. Hiashi glared out at them with utmost irritation. Hinata bit her lip and Naruto scratched his head nervously. Hiashi barked, "In this house Hinata, now." Naruto followed them in and bowed respectively to Hiashi, as much as he just wanted to sock the man in the nose.
"Hiashi-sama, it is an honor to meet you in person at last…"
"Skip the speech, Hokage-sama. I can plainly see what you want, and you're not getting it."
Hinata winced slightly and made to speak, before a withering glare from her father stopped her. Naruto noticed this and fought to keep a vein from bulging in his forehead. "Hiashi-sama, I am aware that your opinion of me is…less than perfect…but can we at least be reasonable…"
"Reasonable? The prankster, loud, Kyuubi boy is telling me to be reasonable."
"In all due respect, Hiashi-sama, you should address your superiors with a little more respect."
"I only give respect where it is deserved."
Hinata still felt nervous, but felt a tiny pang of some unknown emotion when Hiashi said that…
"My daughter has no business gallivanting with demonic-half humans such as yourself, Hokage-sama."
Naruto's voice became slightly more assertive. "Hinata-chan is perfectly aware of my…condition, Hiashi. And she will tell you that she does not care about that. She knows I am in control of it, not the other way around."
"Hiashi-sama…Naruto-kun h-has a p-point…"
"I will discuss this with you later, Hinata. Right now I wish that the Grand Hokage be escorted off the compound. Naruto interjected, "Not until you agree to allow me to court Hinata-chan. Until then, I am not moving from this spot." Hiashi glared at him in anger, "You dare defy my will, in my own house! You may be Hokage, boy, but you are still just an amateur compared to your elders!"
"Compared to my elders? Or compared to you? You shouldn't be so cocky about your skills, Hyuuga. You never know when somebody will come who will defeat you…"
"As if you could, Kyuubi brat."
"HOW DARE HE INSULT ME! LET ME OUT NARUTO, I'LL RIP HIS BIG EMPTY HEAD OFF!" The Kyuubi roared inside Naruto's head, but he didn't let Hiashi see it.
Hinata felt that pang again…what was that emotion? It was almost like…
"My daughter has neither the skill nor the good judgment to allow herself to be courted without my approval, and I certainly do not approve of you!"
"NOW HE'S TRASHING YOUR GIRL! RIP HIM TO SHREDS NARUTO!"
"Hiashi-sama…stop y-yelling at Naruto-kun…"
"SILENCE! You will not disrespect your own father in this house, young lady."
"Stop it…"
"Hinata, I'm warning you, one more disrespect to me and you will suffer…"
"Stop it father…"
"Did you not hear me, you weak little girl! I said…"
"SHUT UP, FATHER!"
Hiashi and Naruto both looked at Hinata, stunned at her sudden outburst. "Hinata, you ungrateful little…" Hinata shouted again, "STOP BEING SUCH A HEARTLESS MONSTER! NARUTO-KUN IS NO BRAT, HE IS A POWERFUL AND NOBLE SHINOBI, MORE SO THAN YOU WILL EVER BE!"
Naruto looked at her in mingled awe and shock. Hinata never, ever yelled at anyone, especially not her father.
"Hinata Hyuuga, you will pay for this insult if it's the last thing I…"
"OH IS THAT SO, FATHER? I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I COULD CLOSE EVERY CHAKRA POINT IN YOUR SYSTEM IN UNDER TEN SECONDS, MAYBE I SHOULD TAKE OUT YOUR COLD HEART WITH THEM!"
Hiashi sputtered to respond, but Hinata beat him to it. Naruto gawked at her in awe, trying not to laugh out loud. Her voice suddenly dropped and became dangerously low, she walked towards her father and backed him steadily outside into the training field.
"I have endured your insults, bore the weight of your mockery and neglect, suffered through your regimen as the heiress of this house…and no matter what I do, no matter how much stronger I become, it's never good enough for you…"
"H-hinata, why are you…"
"Mad? Because I can take your insults just fine and know I'm better than what you say I am. I am somebody now, thanks to Naruto-kun. But you never, ever, insult Naruto-kun in front of me…"
"The boy deserves no better, he…"
"HE IS NO MERE BOY!"
The emotion was back, and Hinata knew what it was…loathing. Pure, fiery, unadulterated loathing. "Father, I am no mere child anymore, and neither is Naruto-kun. He is the most powerful shinobi in this village and I have grown much since my academy days, despite how you seem to ignore it. I am heiress to this clan, and therefore I have the power to accept a proper suitor's offer for my hand, if I should ever find myself to truly care for him."
Hiashi had gone very pale. Her daughter seemed to become a whole different person. Shy, nervous little Hinata was gone…and commanding, powerful, scary Hinata has taken her place. Naruto grinned widely, raising an eyebrow in surprise when she activated her Byakugan, her right hand beginning to glow with chakra.
"I love Naruto-kun father. AND YOU WILL NOT STAND IN OUR WAY, SO COMMANDS THE NEW HEAD OF THE HYUUGA CLAN!"
Hiashi roared and lunged at her, but she moved quicker. She delivered a savage Jyuken to Hiashi's stomach, stopping him in mid-air and causing him to crumple to the floor in shock. Naruto ran out when Hinata deactivated her Byakugan, staring at her father in utmost loathing. "I have proven my strength greater than that of my father…I am now the head of this clan…and as my first act as such…I am hereby stepping down as the leader of the Hyuuga family."
Neji and Ten-Ten gawked at her from inside. Naruto stared at her in disbelief, but soon relaxed into a smile. Hinata turned and beckoned her cousin and his wife from the house. She slowly untied Neji's headband, and placed the palm of her hand to the curse seal on his forehead. The spot flashed with blue chakra, and when she removed her hand, the curse seal had vanished. "Neji-kun…I hereby appoint you as head to the Hyuuga house. You and Ten-Ten will be the lords of this family from now on."
Naruto smiled broadly and knelt down next to Hiashi, "So, Hiashi…care to reconsider your choice? Oh wait, that's right… I don't need your permission, I'm Hokage, just like you said." Hiashi groaned in pain and embarrassment as He took Hinata's arm and together they left the compound.
Hinata froze after passing the front gate, the full realization of her actions finally catching up to her. She turned pale as a sheet…
"Hinata-chan, are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Hinata's face then blushed the deepest red imaginable. She began to sway dangerously…
"Oh no…not again!"
Naruto caught her in his arms as she passed out. He chuckled and said, "Poor girl…must be exhausted…I think it's time we get you back home Hinata-chan." And he raced off to his apartment, with Hinata unconscious in his arms.
