Disclaimer: I claim no ownership to Naruto
Chapter 6 – Academy – final years
Two years from graduation, in the instructor's lounge. "Yes lord Hiashi, how may I help the head of the Hyuga clan?" Iruka asked.
"I would like you to take Naruto under your wing and keep him safe, because of being the head of the clan can only help him so much. I know that the Kyubi killed your mother and father "looking sad. "He is not the Kyubi, he is very good boy, misguided, but good. I hope you will come to see this. But please do not show him too much favoritism. Let him become who he will become. I would like you to help him along as a favor, but I hope you will eventually do it out of your own concern for a student. Also I have the permission of the Hokage to talk to you about him being the container of the Nine-tails. "
Iruka nodded, "I have seen him suffering. I will do what I can. But I will not necessarily go easy on him."
Hiashi nods "I understand. As a second favor I would also like you to keep an eye on my daughter Hinata. We hope she will have what it takes to become my heir. I am afraid she will be too much like her mother, and too soft."
Iruka eyed him, "how so?"
Hiashi just says "you will see."
"Well they are only a couple years out from graduating from the academy. I will devote some of my time to meet them both and see what I can do to help." Iruka responded with a smile.
Later that night Itachi is standing over the dead bodies of his aunt and uncle confronting Sasuke. "Foolish little brother. You will live because you are too weak. If you want to kill me hate me, despise me. For only when you possess these eyes only then will you be able to kill me." With that comment Itachi left the hidden leaf village.
A year later Naruto is practicing shuriken throwing. His aim is deteriorating due to extreme fatigue. Hinata is watching him intently, from behind a tree. Naruto collapses and Hinata has a look of deep concern on her face, but does not move from her place immediately. 'Please get up Naruto' Hinata thinking to herself. After ten minutes of him not moving she runs to his side, he is breathing heavily and sweating profusely. She cradles his head in her lap 'I hope he is ok.'
Hiashi appears behind his daughter "Are you concerned for him?" A look of fear appears on her face.
"Y-yes, father, I am. He pushed himself too far. I am scared for him. I am sorry if I broke any of the rules the council set up."
Hiashi looks down upon the boy and inwardly smiles. "Then we shall get him some help. And the rules were for Uzumaki-san not you." He picked him up and then they headed off to the hospital.
They arrive at the hospital. Hiashi brings Naruto to the admitting area. "Name of patient, and condition?" the nurse asked.
"Naruto Uzumaki, extreme fatigue and minor cuts." Several of the nurses gasped at the name, one just smiled.
The smiling nurse took Naruto from Hiashi's arms exclaiming "back again are we young man? What so ever are we going to do with you?" She carried him to a waiting gurney.
Hinata watched with deep concern, she then looked up at her father's reassuring smile. "He is in good hands now. Let's go home." She smiled and nodded agreement.
Later that evening at the Hyuga compound in the council chamber an argument is going on. "No we will not have that demon in our mists anymore" yelled a council member.
"He is not a demon and he is the savior of this village, I am only asking that he be allowed to come back and live here to protect him for harm. He after all is keeping the demon at bay." Hiashi exclaimed.
"What next you would have him marry your first born? She is as of yet not a worthy heir as it is."
Hiashi fuming, "you would speak to the main branch so? I should kill you where you stand." His anger is hitting the boiling point. "Hinata's future is for me her father to determine at this point and for her to determine as she get older. Back to Naruto, he is regularly beaten, stabbed, burned and he is ridiculed by ones such as yourselves. He is working hard and is improving. He defended and protected my heir on several occasions. You would have him die out there where he is attacked on regular basis. He doesn't even understand why they try to kill him. And the law forbids us from telling him why he is so hated. You old prunes."
"His death would be a benefit to the village and we would be rid of the demon once and for all."
"Bigots all of you, you are not worthy to be a member of the council. You sound more like an Uchiha not a Hyuga. Would you have me marry off my oldest to the Uchiha's?" Hiashi sighed.
"We are looking out for the good of the clan not one individual. Most of us bear the child no ill will, but fear of what he might become is what we fear. We have seen the prankster side of him. As for a possible union of the Uchiha's and the Hyuga, would that be so bad?" An elderly Hyuga explains.
"Then we should continue to show him the benefits of human kindness not the evils of hate and ungratefulness. I am done here if you say no." Hiashi looks around the chamber only to find a couple of people who appear to care the rest either have looks of disgust or cannot look him in the eyes. He turns and leaves saying "I can tell what the decision is just by the looks on your faces. Good night."
The next morning at the Hokage's office Sarutobi is listening to Hiashi's report on how it went with the Hyuga clan council. "I tell you they would not listen to reason. The boy needs a family, a home and needs guidance."
"I understand where you stand. I can do little for him myself other then visit him and try to make his life easier. Kakashi is working with him and the Inuzuka are also working with him." Sarutobi smoothing his beard, "We enrolled him in the academy as planned. Now he can approach other children, and maybe find some more friends. I know the Nara, Akamichi, and Inazuka families let their children play with him. He seems to be doing fine. His pranks are at an all time high, especially since the Keiko incident."
Hiashi's eyes appeared happy "I will also help out with money if need be. I have already got someone who is doing what you say as we speak but he does it out of concern from his heart. Also I intend to try to honor my promise to Minato, if Hinata will have him, she will be betrothed to Naruto. But we cannot let anyone know."
"I understand, and agree. That is good you are giving her a choice in the matter."
"Oh I am not giving her a choice, she has already made it." Hiashi smiling, "she is always following him and trying to get his attention but has not succeeded. We will give it time, they are only children anyways. And anyways he has saved her life. How can he forget that? How can I forget it? And when he approaches her he is always nice and kind to her. Also I am afraid I am going to have to shun her to help improve her abilities, I do not wish it but the clan wants her to become the heir she is supposed to be. "
"I understand, as I said I will do what I can for Naruto as I also care for him as I do all the people of this village. I wish you luck in your dealings with your clan and your daughter's development."
"I hope after this hardship she will like her present of being betrothed to Naruto. I will let her know on her fifteenth birthday that she is betrothed." He had a sly smile on his face. I will let her know that she will either have to find someone before her eighteenth birthday or I will have to honor my agreement. On her eighteenth I will inform her that it is Naruto, but she will have to get him to agree to it. Also I understand that he will inherit the Namikaze estate when he turns eighteen. Am I correct?"
Sarutobi had a sly smile on his face. "Yes that is true and it is a 'for Hokage's eyes only' document. How do you know about this?"
Hiashi chuckled. "Well Minato and I talked as our wives. Not sure how they will run the Hyuga affairs but when I retire I will try to make the problems as minimal as possible."
Later the next day just inside the Hyuga dojo Hiashi talks to Kurenai sounding very harsh "do what you will with her, she is not a worthy successor. She is even less than her sister who is five years her junior. Take her, and do what you must." 'I am sorry my daughter, this is what must be done. I hope in time you will understand.'
Kurenai was not looking happy "as you wish Lord Hyuga. I will do what I can." Exiting the dojo she sees Hinata looking very sad. 'What a jerk, I will do what I can for you, Lady Hinata.'