Chapter 7: Pillar in the Dark

A voice echoed into the small hut from the silhouette in the doorway, it dripped with anger and authority
"Uzumaki Naruto. If you think you can continue like this. Fight me" Hinata recoiled at the hissingly familiar voice but Naruto simply rose to his feet and turned to the doorway, with a crack of his knuckles he began to speak with ardour

"I promised Hinata that I would protect her, that I would save her... I won't go back on my word, that's my ninja way" A devilish smirk flickered into life across Naruto's mouth that made Hinata Blush even in such dire circumstances. The figure in the doorway simply nods before retreating back slowly into the clearing and Naruto promptly joined the stranger in the open.

The new arrival was dressed in plain robes of off white and wore a hood to match, long black hair creped out from the darkness of the hood. On his back was a large backpack, his hip a nin-tool pouch. He promptly slipped the Bag onto the floor before taking two steps forwards into the Gentle fist stance.

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"I Demand that you direct more resources to tracking down this violent criminal!" Hitashi's voice echoed out with rage inside the confines of the Hokages' office. Tsunade was looking out of the window during most of his repetitive tirade but at this statement her calm demeanour cracked, she turned on the spot and stared into Hitashi's Eyes

"How dare you Demand anything? Your actions stand no Higher than vigilantly at present! The only ones convinced of Naruto's guilt are you and the rest of your clan. I will dispense the village's resources to benefit the village, Not You! Now get out!"

Hitashi was quite obviously offended by the turn of events and seemed to boil just beneath the surface with anger and wrath, at the apex of his rage it dissipated from him but his voice bit like a snake.

"Very well. I shall return to the actions of my clan, Hokage"

And with that he turned and left slamming the door with such force that several books toppled out of the bookcase nearby. Tsunade returned to her position overlooking the village via the window, with a sigh she turned back to the room where a timid Shizune stood clutching books she had gathered off the floor.

"Any luck finding a loophole?"

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Naruto stood staring into the shadowed hood of his combatant with determination. Both watching closely for the first one to move, watching every slide of the wrist, every shift of the eye, every held breath. Hinata stood back by the hut watching in fear at the duel about to take place.

At some unseen mark Naruto twisted on the spot and launched three kunai towards the hooded Hyuuga who slapped two of them away and caught the third in mid air before discarding it, Naruto took this chance to charge and close the gap between them. A few feet away he leapt into the air with a powerful roar and hurled his fist at the opponent. The Hyuuga simply sidestepped and forced Naruto aside by the elbow, Naruto recovered by twisting into a spin so as to regain his footing before swinging for him again. The hood slipped slightly as its wearer stepped back and out of Naruto's reach.

Naruto redoubled his efforts sending strike after strike at his foe who easily blocked and slapped each attack aside, Naruto attempted to spin and hook a kick past the Hyuuga's defences but was easily dodged and stuck by two palms in his exposed back. Naruto stumbled forwards while Hinata winced knowing the force behind such a strike. Naruto turned to face his foe before slapping his hands together to summon 14 shadow clones who charged into the fray. The clones where quickly dispatched 2 at a time till only one Naruto stood standing. The hooded Ninja began to charge when he turned to look at the two clones charging at him from behind, one holding the Rasengan.

The Rasengan's supporter disappeared leaving the wielder to make the strike alone, as it drew close to Impact a palm twisted round and struck the clone down leaving the Rasengan to dissipate with them.

"Your pathetic Naruto, I didn't even need my Byakugahn" the smirking Hyuuga lowered his hood revealing the familiar face of Neji. He began to walk towards the original Naruto as he continued "If you think you can protect anyone with skill like that you are doomed to fail"

Naruto looked into Neji's eyes without hate but with a level of humour about himself "The fights not over Neji" Neji looked confused for a second, a second was all he had. A second pair of clones leapt from the trees and struck Neji in the back with a new Rasengan hurling him across the clearing.

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Tsunade sat behind her desk with a two pieces of paper in front of her, one was a demand from the village council (mostly Hyuuga or at least supports of) stating that she had two weeks to resolve the 'crisis' involving Naruto and his 'abduction' of Hinata, the other was the only loophole available.

She looked up to Shizune who had just placed the papers on her desk. "You understand what this means? We have two weeks to find them convince them of our plan and make it happen all the while making sure that the Hyuuga clan and the council don't find out."

If Shizune replied Tsunade didn't hear it, she was too deep in her own contemplations of how to construct this plan. If it worked then Hinata wouldn't be a Hyuuga anymore and as such free from the mark, she would be free to live as she wants to. Naruto will be free of charges and it could all go fine from there but what if she failed, Hinata would be marked, the council would almost certainly demand the death of Naruto Uzumaki and the Kyuubi he contains. 'don't say no Naruto, please'

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Neji awoke inside the small hut, all his misconceptions of a rundown hovel that Naruto would be providing instantly dissipated, he looked around its warm interior and humble designs and realised how blissful this little hideaway was, even he had longed for a place like this in the past, a place so calm and peaceful. It took Neji a while to realise he was bound quite tightly with rope. Naruto stood before him and Hinata was standing by the counter looking worried as usual.

"So I guess you can't go rat on us now can you Neji?" Naruto's voice was cheerful and almost mocking, Neji looked at him with mild irritation before answering "I never intended to 'rat you out'. Do you think I took on those three other Hyuuga family members so I could get you myself?" Naruto seemed taken aback slightly but tried to recover by asking "If that's true why did you fight me?" Neji answered as if it were as obvious as the sun in the sky "To make sure you were strong enough for what is to come, The Hyuuga family is only going to get more aggressive in their attempts"

Naruto was left floundering for words so Neji simply continued "I brought some supplies for you two and some clothes for Hinata, when I leave here I'll try and direct them away from here as long as I can but I suggest you come up with a plan" Naruto looked at Neji Sceptically "How do we know we can trust you?" Neji looked past him to Hinata "Because she doesn't deserve the fate put upon her"

After a while Naruto caved to trust him and untied the ropes. Neji stood up and walked out into the clearing, picked up the bag and handed it over to Hinata. "there's a change of clothes in there, your nightwear and a few other things. It won't last you long so I suggest you try and either resolve this problem or leave the area, either way you can't stay out here much longer" and with that Neji Turned and walked away into the forest disappearing in the shadows of the canopy.