Chapter 42

Naruto is granted leave

Naruto worked on Hinata's garden every day for a week and a half. It was like a new kind of training learning how to keep the plants alive, watering them, feeding the soil. He felt like he learned a lot but just hoped he would remember it all. When Hinata didn't come back at the end of the week Naruto grew more and more impatient, and more angry at himself for the role he played. He finally resolved to go and get her and that he needed to speak to her to set the record straight. If she still didn't want to see him after that he didn't know what he would do. He'd rather leave the village than have her give up her friends and family in her own, and he would consider leaving if she wanted him to.

He came to her house in the morning as he had done the rest of the week and decided he would tell Lord Hiashi that he was leaving to go get her back. He wasn't sure what her father would think about this plan, but so far he was pretty supportive and friendly. He kept up his tradition of making breakfast every morning although Naruto figured he probably filled Hinata's spot temporarily. When they were in the garden they barely spoke but the silence was nice and the garden felt peaceful.

As he sat down to breakfast he decided he would bring it up. Lord Hiashi slid some eggs onto a plate and passed the plate over to Naruto. "Thanks," he said.

Hanabi came in and plopped herself down at the table as her father set a plate down in front of her too.

"How's it going Hanabi," Naruto asked. Although Hinata and her sister looked a lot alike their personalities were quite different. She normally was a lot more direct than Hinata, and also quick to tell people what she thought about almost anything.

"I have testing at the academy tomorrow," she returned.

"I'm sure you're a good ninja, why to do seem so glum over it?" he asked her.

"I keep practicing this one juitsu and I can't get it right!" she yelled.

"We can practice today, don't worry, we have plenty of time," Lord Hiashi answered.

Naruto noticed that Hinata seemed to get her calm side from her father, he could relate to how Hanabi felt. "If it makes you feel any better I failed the ninja exams plenty of times," he offered.

Hanabi looked up at him with wide eyes, after a moment they started to well with tears. "But I don't want to fail!" she started to cry.

"Hanabi, crying about it isn't going to make any difference, is it?" Naruto asked her.

"no, I guess not," she answered.

Lord Hiashi wanted to intervene but he was also curious to see where Naruto was going with this.

"If you want to pass so badly you need to do the work, not sit around crying about how you don't measure up. And if you don't pass the exams, all I'm saying is that it's not the end of the world. You only really fail when you stop trying." Naruto finished.

Hanabi dried her eyes and finished eating her breakfast.

When they were done Naruto got up to do the dishes. "Hey, I wanted to let you know that I won't be able to come tomorrow," he eyed Lord Hiashi as he spoke.

"Oh?" He answered

"Yeah," Naruto paused "I'm going to go get her back. I've waited and thought about it, and I'm not going to waste anymore time. I'm going to tell Kakashi when I'm done here." He motioned down at the dishes.

"Well Naruto, your job as a shinobi is to take orders from the Hokage, not the other way around. I know he is your sensi, but you might at least treat him respectfully by asking." Lord Hiashi pointed out.

"I tried that the night she left, he said no. He can't really stop me." Naruto shrugged.

"That isn't the point, you will have more influence as a leader if you gain what you want with a mutual give and take, but not by asserting yourself when you don't get your way, do you see the difference?" he asked.

"I guess so, but what if I try that and he still doesn't let up," Naruto asked with uncertainty.

"Kakashi isn't that kind of man, if you try to appeal to him he will hear you out. You will be a leader in this village someday Naruto, you have an amazing power that brings people together. You didn't do that by spurning them, but by listening and reasoning with their perspective. Give your sensi a chance." He finished.

"You have a point there," Naruto said. "Thanks Lord Hiashi, hopefully I'll see you in about 4 days" he said as he got up to go see Kakashi.

"Good luck!" Hanabi offered as he headed out the door.