Chapter 34

All right guys, the person I PMed has made the decision and I hope they will not spoil the style of ending for you. They can remain anonymous if they want but I have no objection to them revealing themselves or asking me to. I am also glad to announce that now I have the bitchiest (In a good way) Beta around soooo…..ENJOY :)

PS: COOKIES to anyone who spotted the Bullet For My Valentine reference in the last chapter.

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As Hiashi's body hit the floor, Hinata let out a scream. The body had collided with Homura who flew into Koharu. The crater that was created by the force of the impact was deeper than when Lee dropped his weights. The rubble was making a makeshift grave and slowly collapsing on Hiashi. A needle could be heard dropping in the silence that issued, while everyone watched at the crater. The samurai stopped fighting the crowd, as did the ninja. There was no need, as the crowd had stopped struggling the moment they saw Hiashi go off the edge.

"Father!" Hinata screamed as she quickly ran over to the pile of rubble and started tearing at it, hopelessly trying to remove all the weight from her father's body. She was suddenly crying and the only thing that stopped her, was a firm hand on her shoulder and a single line from Shino.

"He was gone the second he hit the floor"

A few feet away, Naruto was lying on the floor and breathing heavily from exhaustion. Tsunade and Jiraiya stood over him, while Neji looked like a cat had taken his tongue.

"What's the matter Neji? Spit it out man, the nervous act doesn't look good on you" said Naruto with a small smile on his face

"Thank you, Naruto Kazama" said Neji as he turned on heel and walked over to Hinata. She was sobbing quietly on the floor, but in the complete silence that had occurred after the fight, even Naruto could hear it clearly.

"Naruto, you really are something else, but now you've really upset Hinata" said Tsunade gazing over at the pile of rubble with the young woman crying beside it.

"I guess" said Naruto glumly as he rose to his feet ungraciously. He staggered slowly over to Hinata and crouched down next to her,

"Hinata, I… I'm sorry," Naruto said pain evident in his voice. "He was going to kill me and… he left me no choice"

Hinata didn't even respond, she just shot up and clasped onto Naruto, almost causing him to fall over before returning the hug. She laid her head into the crack of his neck as he stroked her hair softly.

"Naruto…. I'm sorry that father did that" whimpered Hinata softly

"It wasn't your fault. " replied Naruto "Before he died, he did say something though. He said that 'Hinata shall become the heir to the Hyuuga clan and you may have one wish from the Hyuuga clan.'"

Hinata looked at him shocked as she considered what Naruto could do with that one wish.

"Sorry to break up your moment," Jiraiya's voice interrupted. "But there are more than a few witnesses" pointing to the large crowd.

Naruto decided against looking at them as he was concentrating on Hinata but even Hinata could not distract him from what he was hearing.

Applause.

The crowd of ninja were applauding his actions. As he heard this, all he could do was smile. He knew he had done well, Hinata had been banished by Hiashi and he didn't even look back. Now, Hinata was the heir. The hooting and cheering came to a crescendo as Naruto picked her up bridal style, causing her to blush immensely.

"Come on Hinata, I'll taking you home" said Naruto quietly.

As he walked past Tsunade he quietly muttered to her.

"Don't send anyone to the Hyuuga manor to fetch me, I'll come when we're ready." Hinata heard this and felt a nostalgic feeling coming over her as she blacked out.

"Old habits die hard." Naruto said, all the while smiling, as he walked away carrying the unconscious Hyuuga heir in his arms.

He approached the crowd almost cautiously as he carried Hinata. As the crowd was still cheering to Naruto, they quickly made a path for him to walk through.

After he had made his way through the crowd, he laid Hinata onto the soft earth beneath him and made some hand seals.

"Kuchiyose No Jutsu" called Naruto as a large tank of a fox appeared, its appearance similar to the Kyuubi except for its much smaller size. That and it didn't have the mad look of bloodlust either.

"Kyuudoni, I need you to get us a safe ride to the Hyuuga estate. I know that these people are cheering but some may not be"

"Of course, Youki-Dono" said the large fox as he knelt down so that Naruto could place Hinata on his back gently. After Naruto had climbed on as well, the fox set off at a trot towards the estate.

The Hyuuga who hadn't seen the fight were waiting outside the entrance to the estate with a meek expression on their faces. Naruto saw this as they approached and thought it was from the giant fox so he dispelled the summon with Hinata in his arms.

"Who is the master here?" asked Naruto looking at the large group before him.

"That would be Hiashi-Sama, Kitsune-San" said one of the female branch members

"And in case he can't?"

"Then it would be Hinata-Sama" said the same branch member

"Well then, she is your new leader. I recently disposed of the filth you call Hiashi so he will not be coming back." Said Naruto as he was greeted by some gasps "Don't do that, I am in love with Hinata-chan and would do anything to make her happy. She wasn't happy with him and the way he treated her, any person can tell you that. I am here to defend the people and those I hold precious to me"

"Very well, then may we know the name of the person who killed the Hyuuga's strongest leader in 500 years?" asked another of the branch members

"Naruto Kazama, remember it" said Naruto as he walked into the estate and headed to the main branches house.

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Several Hours later 12pm

Hinata started stirring and slowly opened her eyes while trying to recollect the events of earlier. Naruto had fended off the council, fought to the death with her father and she had fainted.

'Smooth Hinata, real smooth'

"Hey Hinata-Chan, are you ok?" came a voice in her left ear. She turned her head and found Naruto beside her. She looked around quickly and saw that she was in her old bedroom in the Hyuuga compound.

'It's been nearly 8 years but he didn't forget where my bedroom was'

"I'm fine Naruto-kun, but what's going to happen now? The council and elders are dead so the village has no guidance." Said Hinata

"Don't worry, I know a few people who deserve that spot on the council more than those stuck up bastards do. I think you deserve a place in it for a start as the new head of the Hyuuga clan" said Naruto grinning like his old 17-year-old self.

Hinata got even wider eyes than normal until she realised the truth in his words, Hiashi was dead and he didn't declare anyone else a clan leader. She was the Hyuuga clan head.

"Yo!" came a voice that Naruto honestly hadn't heard in ages

"Kakashi-Sensei!" called Naruto at the jounin in the window frame. Hinata just blushed at the intruder.

"Tsunade-Sama has called a meeting and your presence is a mandatory thing" said Kakashi in a 'matter of fact' tone

"Damn it, I told her I'd come when I'm ready" said Naruto going into full on pout mode

"Naruto, just move….." muttered the copy ninja

"And Hinata?" asked Naruto

"I guess…. Just MOVE IT!" yelled an irritated Kakashi

Naruto gave Hinata a peck on the lips, picked her up and jumped out the window with Kakashi, heading towards the Hokage Tower.

The reaction was mixed as they entered the Hokage's office to find the majority of the village's Chuunin and Jounin. The people who he could recognise there were Sasuke, Shikamaru, Neji, Ino, Lee, Tenten, Shino, Asuma, Gai, Kurenai, Jiraiya, several ANBU which he assumed were his squad members and of course Baa-chan herself.

The silent types stayed silent, Lee started screaming about 'THE POWER OF YOUTH', Ino and Tenten started chattering about weapon skills and his messed up psyche (guess who said what :P). Shikamaru was the most mature though, he started clapping. The rest of the crowd soon caught the applause and it soon turned into a roar that could be carried for miles.

Naruto grinned sheepishly at this until the clapping stopped. It was then that Tsunade chose her moment to speak.

"If everyone could please pay attention, I have possibly the biggest news in several generations now." Announced Tsunade "As you all know, the Konoha Council was wiped out earlier by one Naruto Kazama. As such, we have to appoint a new council to help run the village. I propose that we reinstate Hayate Gekko, Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara and Chouza Akimichi back into the council. Also, it is my idea to instate Hinata Hyuuga as a representative of the Hyuuga clan and Sasuke Uchiha as the representative of the Uchiha clan. Those are the ninja that I believe will be best on the council but we still have 2 spots available in the council."

"Umm…..Tsunade, I believe I can recommend those 2 people for the spots." Piped up Naruto

"And those would be?"

"Jiraiya the Gama Sennin for one," this was met with a few snickers and mutters of 'Ero-Sennin more like' "As he is getting too old to do missions, he can still fight if necessary though and the council has a lot of free time so he can continue his 'research'. Secondly, I recommend Damagi from my ANBU squad. He may be young but his power is amazing and his chakra reserves are HUGE. I honestly couldn't match them without Fuzzy's help. That's my two cents" said Naruto in a sagely tone

"All for the two new councillors?" asked Tsunade

A large group of people raised their hands.

"All opposed?"

Not many raised their hands.

"Please welcome your two new councillors, Jiraiya and Damagi." Finalized Tsunade "Now I have just one last thing to say"

'Time to see if he passes the final test'

"Naruto Kazama come up to the front please" called Tsunade in the ominously large room

Naruto heard this and approached the front very cautiously.

'What is she planning? Have I done anything to annoy her recently?'

Naruto got to the front and stood facing Tsunade tensely.

"About face"

Naruto turned around to face the crowd with Tsunade behind him.

"Naruto, please recite your personal Nindo"

Naruto's eyes opened at this as did most of the crowd's, it was almost unheard of for ninja to make their own Nindo as opposed to the traditional 'Live to serve, Die to conquer'.

"I will not quit, I will not run, and I will not go back on my promise to myself! That is my Nindo!"

"And what is your promise to yourself?"

"I will protect all of my precious people"

'Time for the make or break question'

"And just who are your precious people?"

A silence came over the crowd as they waited for the answer to the question.

"All the people in Konohagakure"

This brought a small tear to eyes of most people as they remember how badly he had been treated when he was younger. Beatings on the street for just existing, being put on a diet of spit and ramen through rejection until he joined the ninja academy. Even then it didn't stop until he had matured enough to be able to stop them attacking him.

"Naruto, as you know, I am getting old and it is time for the younger generation to pick up the torch. There is no-one quite like you, you have suffered on every front imaginable and then sum but you never lost your spirit. You truly carry the will of fire.Take care of the village, Rokudaime Hokage"

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A/N: Sorry for the later than usual update, I was planning on putting a lemon in but decided against it due to lack of inspiration. Things have been hectic with coursework and stuff so updates from now until the end will be irregular at best. I hope you all enjoy my story and keep reading till the end.