Man it feels good to be back I was so pumped about your reviews I stayed up and pumped out another short chapter
Legacy Arc
Chapter 38: Surprise Proposal
Once past the shock of the proposal and after waking the surprised Hyuga Princess up Tsunade pulls Naruto, Hinata and Hiashi into the Hokage office to explain why he did what he did.
Hiashi lowered his head in shame. "The Elders of my clan we're outraged with her and wanted to place a devilish seal upon her. Once Uzumaki-san's heritage was revealed I saw no better opportunity as a future clan head he can provide protection to anyone he deems worthy to join his clan."
Hearing this again enraged Naruto and saddened Hinata. Tsunade sighs "Though it's very unorthodox I do understand...Hiashi-san, Naruto I would ask you both to wait outside while I discuss the matter with Hinata alone."
After both men stepped out, she sighed, activating a silence seal and turned to the Hyuga Heiress "So Hinata what do you think of being forced into marriage? If I have this right you've only been dating for close to two month correct?"
Hinata nodded blushing "Hai Hokage-sama...I...I love Naruto-kun with all of my heart and w...would like nothing m...more than to help him re...build his...clan!" her blush grows bigger at this statement and its implications causing her to stutter to return
Tsunade smiled thankful to the girl she then proposed a deal.
Outside of the office
After the elder Hyuga and Kyuubi container stepped outside they quickly turned and faced each other. Hiashi held a somber yet stoic look meanwhile Naruto's face was stuck in an enraged glare. His eyes keeping their blue hue while their more animalistic features appeared.
"So why now...all of a sudden you care about your daughter so you try to force her into a life changing postion?" the boys arms were crossed
Hiashi sighed "Im trying to save her, I...understand that you may have difficult feelings toward me Uzumaki-san but please…" the proud Hyuga bowed to the newly made chunin "...accept my humblest of apologies for the way I have treated you."
Naruto growled softly "I don't care about the way you've treated me…" Hiashi stood back up as he watched the chunin get closer "...from what I've gathered in the time since even before Hina-chan joined Squad 7...you've never shown your daughter...your own flesh and blood the respect and love she deserves. What kinda piece of shit father does that?"
Hiashi remained silent and resolved to listen to what the 4ths legacy had to say.
Tears slowly building up in his eyes "Do you have any idea what I would have done to just have a father growing up...let alone one who believed in me" Naruto's voiced cracked his emotions regarding the recent revelations
"...Im glad I was able to meet so many people in my life who loved and believed in me..." he thought about Hiruzen, Teuchi and Ayame, the Yoto's, Kakashi, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Shizune, Sasuke, his friends and his loving girlfriend "...and that's what I did...what I am going to continue to do for Hinata-chan. Im going to keep protecting her, cherish her and keep believing in her strength and I'll be damned if anybody from your clan will lay a hand on her" his eyes shifting from blue to red getting his point across
Hiashi was shocked at the raw emotion he saw coming from the boy. He was about to let him know how much he respected him for standing by his daughter and helping to make her a better kunoichi until the door swung open.
"Naruto please come back in, we need to speak with you" Tsunade asked, clearly seeing the tension between the two shinobi. She watched as his features reverted to normal and he sighed
As Naruto entered he looked at Hinata who was sporting a huge blush. "Is everything alright Hina-chan?"
She nodded as tears threatend to fall from her pale eyes. "I...I heard everything y...you said to my father"
"I meant every word of it!" he said giving her a big foxy grin to put her at ease
Tsunade cleared her throat "Naruto please have a seat and listen to what I have to say. Soon you will become head of the Uzumaki clan and as the head of the clan you can choose to provide safe haven to those who you deem worthy to join your clan. If you choose to accept the political marriage contract from Hiashi-san not only will you be saving her life but you will strengthen the bonds between two leaf clans...in due time. So what do you say?
Naruto turns to Hinata holding both her hands looking deep into her eyes. "Hinata...I care about you so much. You've been right beside cheering me on, giving me the strength to keep fighting and loving me."
Tears began to fall from the Hyuga princesses face until Naruto smiled placing a gentle hand upon her face wiping away her tears. "You know I'll do any and everything I can to protect you so...I choose to accept the contract but...it is your choice if you want to marry me...I will never force you to do anything you dont want to...I..."
Naruto is silenced as Hinata boldly leaned in to kiss him as she pulled back. She held a big smile and blush on her face. "Oh Naruto-kun y...yes o...of course I'll marry you"
Tsunade smiled she had her reservations about all of this but she could tell and know Naruto meant every word he said "Then it's settled…" she had Hiashi brought back in and she explained the details "Hinata is to move into the new house being built for Naruto. Per the village's laws they are to be engaged until they both turn 16. This will give them enough time to truly get to know each other and fall in love." Tsunade smiled 'Though it's mostly for Naruto to have time to truly express his feelings'
Outside a good distance away a certain white haired shinobi was watching the scenes taking place through his telescope while taking notes.
Back in the office both of them agreed to the deal and it is written up and signed. As they exit the room Hinata asked Naruto if she can speak to her father alone and the two take a walk. Naruto knowing she can take care of herself smiled watching as they walked away he was so proud of how far she's come. He had so much on his mind he needed to go to the one place he could think so he teleported there.
With Hinata
Hiashi and Hinata walked from the Hokage's office to the closest unused training ground in relative silence until Hiashi spoke up.
"That boy..Uzumaki-san is something else isn't he?"
"Yes...yes he is" Hinata remained stoic thinking about everything that had transpired
"I…I am glad you both accepted the contract proposal" Hiashi responded until he noticed his daughter had stopped walking he turned back to face her
"Hai tou-san, I accepted the proposal not out of fear of the elder council but because of my love for Naruto-kun. You've trained me in clan etiquette all of my life and I will use that to help him rebuild his clan."
Hiashi knelt down in front of her "My daughter, I did what I did to protect you...I do not deserve it but I beg of your forgiveness for how I treated and raised you. There is no excuse I cannot blame the death of your uncle or your mother who you are so much like, so kind, caring and strong. When you were younger I trained you...pushed you to become the successor of the Hyūga clan. However, in my stubbornness I found your lack of confidence not befitting of a Hyuga. I once called you no better than your younger sister and wrote you off, how truly foolish of me I was so very wrong."
Hinata watched the tears flow down his face, she saw the regret and shame in his eyes. Her demeanor until now was just as stoic as her father once held but seeing the strong, prideful Hyuga Clan head breaking down like this caused her features to soften.
"Hinata since you became a genin and joined the squad with Naruto I have seen your strength, your drive, your passion shine and as your father if you forgive me or not I could not be more proud of you"
Nothing else was said as Hinata simply embraced her father wrapping her arms around his neck sobbing. "Tou-san...I forgive you"
With Naruto
Naruto sat upon the top of the Yondaime's...his father's stone head. He wondered in a way if the reason he always liked coming up here and felt so at peace was because of the connection to the Yondaime.
'NARUTO…' Kurama spoke softly
"It's okay Kurama-sensei…it's all just a lot to take in" he took a deep breath
'I'M SORRY THAT I DIDN'T REVEAL THE TRUTH TO YOU SOONER'
"I guess at the time it didn't really matter...but now that I know it brings up so many questions"
In the distance Kakashi and Jiraiya watched, giving Naruto some space. Naruto stood up and sighed "Oi! I know you guys are there come on out"
As they approached the toad sage spoke "Hey kid how ya holding…" Jiraiya started before he was cut off with a gut check from Naruto
"You bastard, you were my godfather the whole time…" he then rounded on Kakashi who caught his punch "...and you 'watching' out for me both of you knew the truth this whole time and didn't tell me why!" tears falling down his face as he stopped punching latching on to his sensei finally letting the emotional weight crack his dam
Kakashi sighed patting his student on the had "Naruto-kun I'm sorry but I had a mission to fulfill and I had full confidence that you would live up to Sandaime Hokage's wishes"
"I'm sorry too kid...but I had a job as the spy master of Konoha. I trusted Kakashi to take care of you…" Jiraiya started "...once I learned the Yoto's adopted you I knew you were in good hands but I'm here now"
Naruto wiped his eyes and smiled a wide foxy grin. He was happy to have another father figure in his life even if he was a perv and he now saw Kakashi as an older brother type figure "Fine...I forgive you both but next time we train Im kicking both your asses"
Both senior shinobi smiled "We'll see, come on gaki I'll tell you some stories about Minato-kun while we head to one of his safe houses" They spend the rest of the day chatting about his parents as Jiraiya and Kakashi take Naruto to all of Minato's safehouses to gather scrolls, equipment and pictures of his family. Naruto took a look at a picture of Minato and a pregnant Kushina, he smiled seeing which features he got from both.
"Your mother was a passionate woman. Full of life, a quick fiery temper and loved ramen I think more than Minato-sensei" Kakashi "You're alot like her but you have you have your fathers confidence and strength I want you to know that I have always been proud of you Naruto-kun"
The boy smiled and after gathering up the items and placing them in several sealing scrolls, he returns to his old apartment and stores them there until his house is built. While inside he turns and looks at Zabuza's zanbato that adorned the wall. 'I'll continue to follow my nindo...I'll never give up and never go back on my word now more than ever'
Thanks for the reviews next chapter might be longer than this one but im just easing myself back into it - Shado