Back at the compound the elder that had accompanied Hanabi to the hospital had returned. He was so excited about what he had seen he forgot that he had promised Hanabi that he would teach her a new jutsu once they got her healed. As they entered he started walking towards the elders meeting room. Hanabi though saw this and stopped him.
" Elder?" Hanabi questioned
The elder looked back at her surpriused, " Hanabi-sama what is it?"
" I though we were going to practice more and you said you'd teach me a new Hyuuga Jutsu." Hanabi said
" Oh! Gomen Hanabi-sama I just remembered something and I need to tell the other elders before I forget again. Why don't you go out and meditate in the gardens." The elder said
Hanabi just looked at him upset.
He walked over to her smiling, " Tell you what, because I can't teach you today. I'll teach you extra hard tomorrow. You need to get rest for what I'll teach you tomorrow, so go meditaite."
Hanabi smiled at him and nodded running off to the gardens to start her meditation.
" That girl is so nieve she'd never become the head without our help." The elder said as he truned to go meet with the other elders
As the elder entered the others looked up to see who barge into their room like that. When they saw it was one of thir own and he was smiling they grew curious.
" Tell us dear Damasu what makes you so happy?" one elder asked
" My brothers I have wonderful news!" Damasu said
" Oh and what would that be?" another elder asked
" When I was taking Hanabi-sama to the hospital I saw Hinata coming out." Damasu said
" Oh? And what was wrong with Hiashi's oldest?" another elder asked
" She has been hurt." Damasu said smiling widely
The other elders now smiled at the news too, " How?"
" The nurses said that the Oni Gaki brought her into the hospital and she was burned on her hands and arms. He was heard telling the Hokage-sama it was his fault and they rushed her off to be treated." Damasu told what he had found out
The head elder ran his hand down his beard, " Really."
" You have a plan Sanji?" one elder asked him
He smiled, " Hai, I think I do. Damasu go summon Hiashi to us at once." Sanji said
Damasu bowed to him and exited the room closing the door behind him.
" So Sanji are you going to tell us what you are going to do or are you going to keep us all in the dark?" one elder asked
" If I tell you, you won't be able to keep it to yourselves once Hiashi gets in here." Sanji spoke his eyes closed smiling
" Spoiled sport." Another elder said
Sanji smiled at the words, Hai, this will work perfectly. We can get rid of the weakling once and for all because of this.
Minutes passed and finally the elders heard footsteps coming down the hallway.
" Damasu-sama I still don't understand why the elders are having a meeting so late in the day?" Hiashi voice questioned
" All I was told was to go retrieve you Hiashi-sama." Damasu said covering his smile but then saw Neji looked at him, " The Branch House member doesn't need to come to this meeting."
" Hai, he does since he is my guard." Hiashi spoke
" One so young to be your guard Hiashi-sama? Surely you could have picked someone better?" Damasu asked glaring at the boy
" Well since you took my first guard away from me his son has replaced him." Hiashi said venom dripping from his voice
Damasu paled at his word, So this is his boy.
" Still he was beaten so easily by the Oni…" Damasu started but both people glared at him
" Don't even think about finishing that sentence or you'll be dead before you open that door." Neji warned him
Damasu looked at him angrily, " You dare threaten an elder?"
" He only speaks what I was about to say Damasu." Hiashi spoke up
" Still…" Damasu said looking at Neji, " …you better be careful boy you're still only a Branch Member."
" Hai and only one person that can invoke his cured seal is my Musume." Hiashi said
Damasu frowned at this knowing Hiashi was right and that the girl would never use the seal on him. As he reached the doors he flung them opened as they entered and shut them once Hiashi and Neji were inside.
" Hiashi-sama glad you could join us." Sanji said
" Hai, I really would like to know what's going on though. You're meetings are normally in the morning not this late in the evening." Hiashi spoke observing all the elders
He noticed all the unemotional faces, but their eyes gave them away to him. He glanced over at Neji, who too seemed to have noticed their look.
" Well the reason for us meeting so late in the day is that some new news had just come to our attention." Sanji said
" Oh and what news is that?" Hiashi asked not liking where this was going
" Well we found out Hinata has been recently hurt." Sanji said trying to sound upset
Neji looked at Hiashi shocked he hadn't told him this, but Hiashi remained steadfast like always.
" So the Branch Member didn't know?" Damasu spoke grinning
Neji looked at him, " Iie, I just arrived back from a mission and was suppose to be gone for a week, but we were able to complete it in a day."
" Your team must be very good to finish a mission that quickly." Sanji said surprised at the boy's statement
" Arigatou Sanji-sama." Neji said bowing
Sanji smiled at this, " You have taught him well Hiashi."
" I would hope so." Hiashi said knowing Neji knew how to act in front of the elders
" So on to why I called you here." Sanji said, " As I said we recently found out Hinata was injured, burned actually on her hands and arms."
" Hai, I know of this Hokage-sama sent her assistant to come fetch me when Naruto brought her into the hospital." Hiashi said
" Why didn't you come and tell us once you came back?" one elder questioned
" Because Tsunade-sama informed me that the burns weren't bad and would be healed within a week." Hiashi said
" They're that bad huh?" Sanji said stroking his beard again
" Iie, they are not as bad as what one of us could do to someone if we were in a battle for our lives." Hiashi spoke getting annoyed at this
"Hiashi, how was she burned?" Damasu asked
Hiashi looked at him and stopped trying to compose himself, " Naruto was trying chakra control and his chakra got out of hand and ended up burning Hinata."
" So the bakemono did this to her." One elder said
" Naruto is not a bakemono!" Neji said angrily
Hiashi though raised an arm up to stop him, " Forgive him he thinks highly of Naruto. May I ask you point to all of this?"
Sanji looked at him and smirked, " We believe she should not be near this…Naruto anymore. He's already hurt her what if he does more?"
" It was an accident nothing worse that something she would have gotten here in her younger years." Hiashi said controlling his anger raging within him
"True, but this was not done here, but out of the compound and caused by this Naruto." Sanji said
" The bakemono needs to be killed." On elder said
Neji growled at his words, but remained in place.
" Currently she cannot come home. She is training in preparation for the fight with Hanabi and I thought it best for her to be away from the compound so she could concentrate better." Hiashi said
" That was a good idea Hiashi, but sending her to stay with this Naruto. I'm not so sure that was a good idea." Sanji said
" I trust the boy completely, just as I trusted Arashi." Hiashi said
Neji looked at Hiashi surprised he spoke of the Yondaime with such familiarity.
" Your friendship with the Yondaime was just, but to help this Naruto. I don't know if this is wise." Sanji said
" You don't believe in the seal Arashi created?" Hiashi asked
" Iie, we all know the seal he used was powerful just that the thing he used it on is probably more powerful that the seal can handle." Sanji spoke
" I believe you're wrong and she will stay at Naruto's house until the day of the fight." Hiashi spoke not allowing them to intimidate him
" Very well she can stay there, but we still don't agree with her being with him." Sanji said
" What do you mean?" Hiashi asked trying to sound surprised
" We all know how she's feels for that boy ever since she was little." Damasu said
" And your point is?" Hiashi spoke
" He's not even of a clan or has a Kekkei Genkai. We will not allow them to be together." Sanji spoke
" But that's not right! He's the Yon..." Neji said upset but was stopped by Hiashi's eyes
Neji questioned his look and thought back, They don't know about Naruto. They never go to the Matsuri's, so they wouldn't know about the announcement.
Though on the outside Hiashi was calm inside he was about to kill every one of the elders for what they were trying to do, " So what do you propose?"
" She will be married off to strengthen bonds." Sanji said
" I don't think that is right. Even when you tried it with Hizashi and I we still refused." Hiashi said
" Oh so you don't like our proposal?" Sanji said
" Not if it take her away from her home." Hiashi said seething inside
" How about a little bet of sorts?" Sanji said as a number of the elders started to talk to each other over this
" I never knew you to be the betting type Sanji-sama." Hiashi said raising an eyebrow
" Iie, I'm not but I think this one will be…amusing." Sanji said smiling
" So what is you bet?" Neji asked through his teeth trying to contain his rage at what the elders were doing
" If Hinata-chan wins she can do whatever she likes. She will he head after all and can change as much as she wants and see whomever she likes." Sanji said
" And if she loses?" Hiashi asked calmly
" She will have the cursed seal placed upon her and be married off to a clan in Kiri that has been trying to make a alliance with us." Sanji said
Hiashi growled inwardly at their underhanded means, " If I agree to this and she wins what will happen to Hanabi?"
" That will be for Hinata-chan to decide she will after all be the new head and chose what to do." Sanji said, " That is IF she wins."
Neji looked at his uncle hoping he wouldn't agree to this.
" Then I agree." Hiashi said
" Hiashi-sama!" Neji said shocked
" Good, very good. Then I can't wait to see how the two fair the day of the fight." Sanji said
" If that's all you need me for I'll bid you good day my nephew and I were heading to dinner." Hiashi said
" Hai that is all." Sanji said waving them out
Hiashi bows to the elder and turns to leave Neji glares at the group but mimicked his uncle and follows him down the hallway. Instead of going to the dinning room they head to Hiashi's study.
As they are heading to the study Neji can't contain what he's feeling anymore.
" Hiashi-sama how could you agree to that?" Neji asked him shocked
" Wait." Hiashi said, as they still hadn't reached his study
Neji seeing the look in his uncle's eyes and listened as they finally enter the study Hiashi closes the doors and puts up a jutsu.
" Hiashi-sama?" Neji asked seeing him performing a jutsu
" THE NERVE OF THAT MAN PUTTING MY MUSUMES LIVES ON THE LINE JUST SO THEY CAN STAY IN POWER LONGER!" Hiashi shouted slamming his palm down on his desk his rage now being able to be release
Neji stood there shocked never hearing his uncle raise his voice before. Hiashi started to pace back and forth in his study.
" How can I fix this? There has to be a way." Hiashi said starting to talk to himself
" Hiashi-sama?" Neji questioned unsure of how he'd react to him
Hiashi stopped pacing and looked at Neji curiously, " Hai?"
" What did you do?" Neji asked and Hiashi looked at him confused, " The jutsu?"
" Oh that's to prevent anyone from hearing what's going on in here. Your Otousan, Arashi and I created it so no one would be able to figure out what we were doing." Hiashi said smiling
" Yondaime-sama? Otousan?" Neji asked confused
Hiashi smiled at him and chuckled, " Neji my boy you have no idea how much Naruto is like Arashi. We he was young he was the top prankster in all of Konoha, though I believe his Musuko had taken his title now."
" Nani?" Neji said shocked by this information
" Hai, and Hizashi and I would help him sometimes with the complex stuff." Hiashi said smiling and looking out the window
" Otousan?" Neji said again shocked by this
Hiashi stood for some time by the window looking outside and smiled seeing Hanabi meditating at his favorite spot. His smile faded though as he turned abruptly towards Neji.
" Neji I need you to do something for me." Hiashi said and Neji nodded, " Go find Hinata and tell her what's happened."
" But the elders will know." Neji said worried over this
Hiashi shook his head, " You saw how they treated you. Even if you're my nephew your still a Branch Member and are dismissed by them."
"So you want me to go?" Neji asked
" Hai, go and tell her and Naruto everything. They need to be on guard more than ever I don't know what Sanji and the others are going to plan." Hiashi said, " Do you have any missions?"
" Iie, since we came back early. Hokage-sama gave us the rest of the time off." Neji said
" Good then gather what you need and stay at Naruto's. I'm sure he'd be fine with it. Now go!" Hiashi said
Neji bowed to Hiashi and left the room headed to his and grabbing his bag since it still had what he needed for the mission that was cut short.
As he left the compound a number of the elders including Sanji saw him leave.
" Sanji-sama is it wise to let him go?" one elder asked
Sanji smiled and chuckled, " He's a Hyuuga of the Branch House what harm could he cause to our plan?"
Naruto and Hinata were in the kitchen fixing dinner when they heard a knock on the front door.
" Was someone coming over Naruto-kun?" Hinata questioned
Naruto looked at her shocked, " Not that I know of."
" Do you feel it's someone hostile?" Hinata asked knowing that Naruto could tell now if a person was friendly or not by their chakra that their bodies produced
" Iie, it's a familiar charka, but one with worry present." Naruto said confused
" I guess it's alright then." Hinata said
Again the knock happened, " IT'S OPENED!" Naruto shouted
They heard the door open and the person come in.
" Where in the kitchen." Naruto said to the visitor
The two heard movement and were shocked at who they saw.
" Neji-nii-san!" Hinata said surprised, " I thought you'd be gone for a week?"
" The mission was very easy for my team. We got back late this evening." Neji said placing the bag down beside of him
" Have you eaten yet?" Hinata asked
He shook his head, " Well then don't stand their grab a seat we were about to eat." Naruto said to him smiling
He grabbed a chair and pulled it up to the table.
" Where are Umi and Kyuubi?" Neji questioned looking around
" Oh! They go out hunting for their food." Naruto said grabbing some takuyaki and putting it on his plate.
Neji nodded at his answer. All was quiet while the three ate dinner, but what he needed to tell Hinata was upsetting him as he continued to eat in silence.
" How are you arms Hinata-sama?" Neji asked
At this time Naruto stopped eating and got up and left. Hinata sighed at this.
" I shouldn't of asked." Neji said looking where Naruto had exited
" Iie, it's just he's taking this hard like he always does." Hinata said, " Just wait."
Hinata got up and walked out of the room and found Naruto sitting on the side of his bed. She grabbed him by the arm.
" Come on." Hinata said annoyed at him and dragged him back downstairs, " Onegai Naruto-kun, stay here."
Naruto sighed and nodded but didn't go back to eating.
"Back to your question Neji-nii-san, my arm is doing better. Tsunade-sama said I'll have to relax for a week, but I should be good as new by then. It was already healing when we arrived and Tsunade-sama found it odd, but said nothing else was wrong." Hinata said
Naruto looked up at her surprised by this information.
" You left before she could say anything." Hinata told Naruto, who nodded
As Neji and Hinata finished eating Naruto grabbed their plates and placed them in the sink. Hinata took what was left of Naruto's plate and went to store it for him to eat later. They then moved outside to watch the sun set and the fireflies come out.
" So Neji, what brings you out here this late?" Naruto asked
Neji frowned at this, " Hiashi-sama sent me."
" Otousan? Is everything alright?" Hinata asked worried
Neji shook his head, " Iie, that's why I was sent and I'm to stay here until you're better next week."
" Nani? It's that bad!" Naruto said shocked
Neji nodded, " I'm under Hiashi-sama's orders to do this, Naruto."
" Neji-nii-san, what's going on?" Hinata questioned
" They found out." Neji said
" Who are they and what did they find out?" Naruto asked confused
" About what happened earlier today, about Hinata-sama's injuries." Neji explained further
" Chikusyou, how?" Naruto questioned upset over this
" Elder Damasu." Hinata said annoyed
Neji nodded, " Who?" Naruto questioned lost at this point
Hinata looked at Naruto, " This was after you left. As I was leaving one of the Hyuuga Elders came in with Hanabi, who was injured, he saw my arms and hand wrapped up. I didn't say anything to him, just nodded and walked past them." Hinata said
" Good Hinata-chan don't stoop to their level." Naruto said happily
" As I left with Umi, she looked back and saw him smiling. She got angry he was happy over my injury and then I think he almost wet himself." Hinata said giggling
" Why?" Neji asked
" Umi let out some of her kitsune powers." Hinata said
Naruto started to snicker at this.
" What's so funny she's just a Sanbi Kitsune?" Neji questioned
" Neji-san.." a voice came from the forest
Out of it stepped two kitsunes the size of a wolf, both had three tails.
She bigger than the last time I saw her in that form and who's the yellow Sanbi Kitsune with her? Neji questioned himself
" What have you been up to now Kyuubi?" Naruto asked
" Oh just playing with the local wildlife." Kyuubi said smiling
" What did you kill this time?" Naruto asked annoyed
" Oh we just ran into those annoying Oki Tora again and had to kill one." Umi spoke
" Yeah it was a really good meal too." Kyuubi said licking his muzzle
" You two! How many has that been this month? Those Tora protect the Forest of Death. Stop killing them. Tsunade-sama is going to get on Naruto-kun because they keep on disappearing." Hinata said upset at this
" They started it though!" Kyuubi wined
" Alright! I don't care who started it don't kill any more of them. Alright!" Naruto said
Umi and Kyuubi nodded, " So this is what you mean by let out some of her kitsune powers?" Neji asked
Naruto nodded, " Hai, they use those chibi forms so not to freak any of the villagers out. Umi can go to three tails and is large than this normally. Kyuu, well you can figure out what Kyuubi can be like."
Neji eyes widened and nodded.
" So then what happened?" Umi asked
" Damasu must have come back to the compound and told the others elders. They held an unannounced meeting and ordered Hiashi-sama there. Since I had just come back he asked me to come with him too." Neji said
" So what happened?" Naruto asked not liking where this was going
Neji looked at Naruto, " Naruto I please ask you to remember I'm just here telling you what happened and I am in no way a part to what they decided. Actually, I'm highly against it." Neji said
Naruto looked at him confused and Hinata worried because of what he had just said.
" First they said they didn't approve of you consorting with the bakemono." Neji said
Naruto snorted, " Not the first time I've heard it not the last."
" But there's more." Neji said, " They made a bet."
" A what?" Naruto asked, " Surely Hiashi didn't."
Neji just nodded, " But why?" Hinata asked upset
" Let me tell you what happened." Neji said
He then recounted the whole meeting to the two, by the end Naruto was seething mad and Neji was starting to move closer to his cousin for protection. Naruto looked at Neji and closed his eyes.
" I'll be back, hold on." Naruto said as he got up
" Where's he going?' Neji asked worried
" Stay here." Hinata said knowing what he was going to do
Naruto moved to the far end of the field and screamed letting all his chakra burst out of him and ripped though the landscape. The wind blew violently towards the group sitting and Neji started to tremble over the power Naruto was producing. Suddenly in Naruto's hand a purplish orb was created the wind surrounded the orb. Naruto took it turned and threw it towards the trees that he was now facing. The orb cut through the trees like they were butter and what didn't get cut got blown away. Neji just sat there shocked at the power Naruto was creating then as suddenly as he started it ended. Naruto took a long breath out closing his eyes and smiled. He proceeded to walk back to the others.
" Ok now continue." Naruto said sitting back down beside Hinata
" What…WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Neji asked shocked
Naruto opened one eye to look at him, " If those elders think they're going to hurt Hinata-chan they'll have to go through me first and believe me if they attack her no one will be left standing."
" If those trees are any indication then I would agree." Neji said looking at the two-mile long destruction and Wind Rasengan made
" Neji-nii-san that's wasn't even half of his power." Hinata said casually
Neji's eyes grew wide and looked between Hinata and Naruto, both of whom were smiling at him. He shook his head.
" I'm still ordered to stay here." Neji said
Naruto shrugged, " I don't have a problem with that. Heck we could invite Tenten tomorrow and she could stay here too if you want."
Neji blushed at this and Naruto smiled, while Hinata giggled at her cousin's actions.
" Alright Neji-nii-san seeing as Naruto-kun's calm down now what was the bet?" Hinata asked
" On the outcome of the fight." Neji said
" Figures." Kyuubi said annoyed
" And what will happen?" Hinata asked hoping it wasn't what she thought it was
" If you win you become head and can change whatever you want." Neji said giving her the good news first
" Which first will be to take those pompous pricks out of office." Naruto growled
" Naruto-kun stay calm." Hinata said placing her hand on his and turned back to Neji, " If I lose, what will happen?"
" You will have the cursed seal placed on you…" Neji spoke
" Like hell she will. We're going to stop that damn seal being put on the Branch Members and I'm going to figure out a way to remove the one on you guys." Naruto said Neji smiled at his words seeing that he was still going to keep that promise he made to him 3 years ago
" There's more isn't there?' Hinata asked
Neji nodded his smile turning to a frown, " You will be married off to a clan in Kiri to strengthen an alliance the elders wish to make."
Naruto eyes flashed red as his charka started to manifest itself, " No one is taking Hinata-chan out of Konoha or Away. From. Me!"
Hinata squeezed his hand, which calmed him down. She looked at him and smiled.
" Iie, they're not because once I'm healed you're going to start sparing with me again. Like we did before." Hinata said
Naruto looked at her worried," Demo…"
" Not only that Hinata-chan we will start your training too." Umi spoke up
" Her training? What training?" Neji asked shocked
Umi turned to look at Neji, " I will be teaching Hinata-chan the art of Mizu Kitsunes, since she that is her element."
" And while she working on those I have my own projects that Kyuubi will be helping me with." Naruto said smiling with Kyuubi
" What are you going to do?" Neji asked seeing the spark in his eyes
Naruto looked at him a fox smile on his face, " Wouldn't you like to know."
" Neji-nii-san don't even try to get it out of him. I've come to understand that when he's like that you won't find out till he's done with whatever he's going to do." Hinata said
Naruto looked at her and snickered. Hinata just shook her head.
Damasu – Trick/ deceive
Oni – Demon
Sanji – Disaster/ tragedy
Arigatou – Thank You
Matsuri – Festival
Musuko – Son
Onegai – Please
Chikusyou – Damn it
Sanbi – 3 tails
Oki Tora – Giant Tiger
Kiri – Mist
Demo - But