" What is your plan for my incarceration?" asked Hiashi as the Third paced around the room. He had been brought by ANBU to a part of the prisons he was unaware of. The room was featureless save for a single door and several holes in the ceiling. He had been placed in a chair with chakra reinforced restraints so he could not move.

" Oh, that really depends on you. " the Third said as he puffed his pipe. " For betraying the village and almost causing the trouble you did, you are going to die."

Hiashi laughed long and deep.

" You would dare to execute the head of the Hyuuga? My clan…"

" The elders support my decision. You've blotted the clans honor. If the incident was not enough, the story of you beating your daughter has circulated widely. There's not a person in the village that doesn't know. Your daughter ignores it and has began wearing a rather attractive eye patch, or so I hear Naruto told her."

Sarutobi smiled as Hiashi gritted his teeth, imagining his daughter and the boy.

" What your option's are, Hiashi, are to be useful or not. Before you die, we could have medic's remove your eyes for safe keeping. The Hyuuga would likely be happy to have transplants available. Your bloodlines power doesn't weaken with just one, but it takes far more chakra and control. We would likely be able to heal your daughter."

" No." Hiashi replied, voice dripping with hatred.

" The Hyuuga are famous for their cold demeanors, which you take to a new level. Perhaps this will make your stay in hell more bearable."

Sarutobi walked to the door and opened, standing and looking at Hiashi.

" What?! Is that it!" Hiashi shouted. He was distracted by a slight buzzing. He looked up to the sound's source. From the holes in the ceiling, bugs he recognized as the Aburmae clans were pouring in.

" The Aburmae and Inuzuka clans allegiance to the village is different than all other clans. The Inuzuka have the trait of their dogs and prefer packs. As long as the village is large and prosperous, they will stay. The Aburmae stay for a similar reason, desiring the safety of the hive, but also the rare opportunity to feast. There is a difference between having your chakra drained by their bugs and having it all consumed. Your reserves are impressive and will feed them well."

The Third tried to drown out Hiashi's screams as he walked past the motionless Aburmae and nervous ANBU.

---

Naruto spun, but it was too late. Kiba landed the punch, knocking him off his feet.

" Good job, Kiba. That's eight wins for Kiba, two for Naruto." Asuma said, walking over and helping Naruto up.

" He's just so fast!" Naruto whined loudly. " How am I supposed to beat that without clones?"

" Naruto, the better your Taijutsu is, the better your clones will fight. Kiba's speed and strength are formidable, but don't worry. With practice you will be able to predict his moves. Now try it again."

Hinata watched from where she was resting, looking up from the medical jutsu scroll. It was the day after the group training and Kurenai, true to her word, had provided the scrolls. The jutsu were highly complex and Hinata knew it was going to be a while before she could manage more than small cuts and bruises.

Since they were going on a mission that afternoon, Asuma decided they would do combat training in the morning. Hinata had gone first, since her stamina was the worst in the group and she would need longer to rest. She had to keep her Byakugan active during fights at all time now, which put her and Kiba on roughly even levels as long as her chakra held out. Kiba's strength and speed was above chunnin level according to Asuma, but the Byakugan gave her the ability to predict his moves with ease. Naruto, on the other hand, was only of average speed and strength. Hinata and Kiba could beat him with ease as long as no shadow clones were involved.

" All right, that's enough. Its time for the mission."

The genin stood up eagerly and followed Asuma towards the Hokage's tower.

" So what kind of mission are we going to get?" asked Kiba. Akamaru yipped a bark that they had learned was a inquiry, eager as his human partner. Hinata had to stifle a giggle. Kiba was letting Akamaru ride in his coat, which she found incredibly cute, though the dog tried to look important and tough.

" Well, you're a genin team. You will, for now, be getting D rank missions. They will be more like chores around the village."

" What? But we're ninja! That's a waste of our abilities!" Naruto complained.

" Well, the village needs these things done and your going to do them without complaining." Asuma said with a sigh. Naruto folded his arms in a sign of discontent. Kiba and Akamaru looked similarly put off.

" My team is reporting, dad." Asuma said, opening the door to the Hokage's office.

" Good. Come in." said the Third.

As they entered Hinata saw the look pity from the Third and his aides. She blushed and looked down. She was starting to get uncomfortable with he sympathy people were showing towards her. The Third distracted himself by looking through the mission files.

" We have a few jobs that I think could interest you. The cat's gone missing again, which would be a good start, but you could also help the Yamanaka family repair one of their greenhouses."

" Lets take them both. Naruto, Hinata, you two go for the repair while Kiba, Akamaru, and I catch the cat."

" Best mission ever!" Akamaru barked. Kiba nodded in agreement vigorously.

" Won't it be harder for you to finish without a full team?" The Third asked exasperatedly. He should have known his son would try something like this.

" Well, two people and a dog will be more than enough to catch a cat, and with Naruto's shadow clones, the Yamanaka will have a pretty large workforce. I don't think it will be a problem."

" Mm." replied the Third, handing them the mission documents.

Outside, the team split up.

" See you later sensei!" Naruto called as he ran off towards the Yamanaka's flower shop. Hinata bowed politely, but followed quickly.

" All right sensei! What's this cat look like?" Kiba asked, putting Akamaru down.

" It's a large white one with long hair and a red collar."

" Hey! That's number eighty two! Me and Akamaru treed it this morning! Come on, lets get it!"

Asuma sighed as Kiba and Akamaru raced off.

---

" Here it is!" said Naruto, pointing to the large, obvious sign on the Yamanaka Flower Shop. It had a closed sign on the door, so Hinata knocked. A moment later, a thin blonde woman that had to be Ino's mother answered.

" We were sent to help with your repairs." Hinata said politely. The woman stared at the eye patch for a moment, but looked away with a smile.

" Come on in. Ino and my husband are out back."

They followed the woman to the back of the house into a large garden.

" Hinata!" said Ino, waving as she saw them. She was standing by a glass structure with several large broken parts. It looked like someone had fallen through it several times.

" Hello, Ino." Hinata said as she walked up. A tall man that Hinata recognized as the head of the Yamanaka clan came out and greeted them. He put Hinata to work with Ino re-potting the plants that had nearly died when the greenhouse had been broken and had the Naruto Squad help him replace the glass. The potting was dirty work, but it was relatively easy.

" So Hinata," said Ino, making conversation. " How'd you manage to get a mission alone withy your boyfriend?" The stress on the last word was teasing.

" Naruto-kun…is not my boyfriend…" Hinata said, blushing and cursing her inability to tell him.

" Your kidding." Ino's face was plastered with shock. " But isn't that why…but that's the rumor going around the village…"

" Yes. " Hinata said. Ino seemed to be having trouble referring to Hiashi's assault. " I haven't worked up the courage to tell Naruto-kun."

" Your worried he will turn you down because he has that crush on Sakura, right?" Ino's guess was accurate, so Hinata nodded. " Well then, it looks like you need some help."

" What are you going to…"

" Don't worry. Sakura and I will help you break it to him. No offense, but he's kinda thick headed, so I think being blunt might be best."

" Cat!" Everyone's head snapped upward in surprise as Kiba and Akamaru came flying out of nowhere, sailing towards the garden. They then noticed a large white cat scampering across the top of the greenhouse.

" No!" cried Ino's father, but it was too late. Akamaru landed on the glass and bounded off, but Kiba fell though with a crash.

" Get it! Get it get it get it!" Kiba yelled to Akamaru, who was barking crazily. Before anyone could react Kiba leapt though the hole he had just made in the glass.

" Hey! Hey!" Asuma came running up, wheezing heavily. " Kiba…idiot…"

---

After Kiba and Akamaru had caught the cat and been caught, Asuma made him pay the Yamanaka family for the damages. The work on the greenhouse had gone quickly, and the evening was only beginning when they finished.

" Thanks for the help." Ino said as she showed Naruto and Hinata out. " Otherwise I would have had to stay home from training tomorrow as well."

" Thanks Ino!" Naruto said while smiling brightly. " Lets go get paid Hinata!"

" S-sure Naruto-kun." As Naruto and Hinata raced off, Hinata glance back at Ino, who winked. She wanted to know what the girl was planning.

At the Hokage's tower they were given their payment, which was a small amount of cash. It was only a little pocket money, but Naruto lit up brightly.

" Ramen time! Hey Hinata, you want to get some ramen?"

Hinata blushed deeply at the question. She knew he didn't mean more than for them to have dinner, but in front of the Third and his aids it was rather embarrassing.

" Y-yes, Naruto-kun, if that's all right with you."

" Of course! First bowls on me!"

---

Naruto was having a good day.

Sure, the mission was a let down. But Ino's family had been rather nice to him. It was refreshing to have complete strangers treat him well. It was also great to have enough money for several bowls of ramen. He wouldn't have to wiggle out of paying or wait for Iruka for once.

" Ahh!" he said, setting down his fifth bowl. " I'll have a shrimp one next!"

The old man smiled and set to work. Hinata looked on at Naruto in awe. She was still on her first, which was a normal portion. Naruto was eating double sized portions at lighting speed. Hinata didn't think that a person other than a Akimachi could eat like that.

" Hey." said Kiba, walking up sourly. He took a seat by them.

" Hey Kiba! Did you get paid?" Naruto asked before slurping down a large mouthful.

" No. Me and Akamaru actually owe money. Glass is way more expensive than I thought it was."

Kiba and Akamaru's stomachs rumbled in tandem. They both looked down at the same time, both looking pitiful. This was too much for the old man, Naruto, and Hinata. They burst out laughing.

" You guys…ha ha…how do you two do that?" Naruto said, wiping a tear from his eyes and getting off of the ground. Hinata hid her smile behind her hands, but the telltale sounds of concealed laughing came from behind them.

" Do what?" Kiba spoke as Akamaru yipped, causing everyone to burst out again.

" I think you two might be spending too much time together, Kiba-kun." Hinata forced out between giggles.

" Anyways, Kiba." Naruto said, getting himself under control. " You want some ramen? I'll pay."

" I'll do it, Naruto-kun. I have more money left." Hinata said, handing the money to the old man. Naruto smiled at her thankfully, making her blush, before returning to his meal.

Later they said goodbye and everyone went their respective ways. Naruto got back to his apartment in record time. He entered, tossed off his jacket, and plopped down on the couch.

" Life is good." Naruto said to no one at all.

---

The Hyuuga family had been assembled in the manor meeting hall. It was rare for the entire family to do so, but the elders said they had something important to announce. Hinata and Hanabi took their seats by each other. Their fathers seat at the head of the elders was noticeably empty.

" Hyuuga Hiashi is dead, executed for his dissent." one elder stated. A muted hush went over the assembled. " We fully condoned it, and their shall be no further discussion or pursuit of the issue. "

Hinata didn't know why, but a cold feeling crept over her. It was not the feeling of loss, though it was similar. Much of her was glad her father was gone, but parts of her reminded her she was her father and deserved some mourning.

" Our clan's law states that the role as the clan leader now falls to Hinata. Hinata, please take your seat."

Hinata stood and walked to the seat. She could feel the eyes of the family on her. She met Neji's gaze and saw the hate in it was far more intense then she had ever seen.

" As the clan leader, the scroll of seals falls to your possession." The elder handed her a old looking scroll. She recognized it as her fathers. The jutsu that activated the branch family seals was on it. She opened it and read the technique. Everyone in the room waited with bated breath. There were many who had treated her with disdain, and the chance to strike back at them would be tempting. Thanks to the jutsu, she could now kill or torture any of them at will, making her stronger then them in a way.

The jutsu was not complex, but it would not have been useable had the scroll not explained it. Hinata activated her Byakugan and looked to a person in the front row, focusing on the seal. He tensed visually and everyone leaned away from him. Hinata saw the embedded chakra, and for the first time knew how to activate the strands. It would only require her to focus on the chakra with her Byakugan for a second. She deactivated her Byakugan and rolled the scroll up. The clansman sighed and relaxed in his seat.

" As you are underage, the clan elders will rule in your stead. However, at the age of eighteen, you will take over your duties as the clan leader."

After that the family was dismissed. Hinata went to her fathers study, which was now hers. The room had a seal on it that would activate the seal of any branch family member who entered, which made it private to Hinata. Since her father had done all his work with the council, there was very little clutter. She placed the scroll in its box and shut it. There was another chakra seal on the box to shut it, which she activated as well.

She inspected the room, which she had rarely been allowed into. There was a large library of the clan's training manuals, as well as four jutsu scrolls. The first detailed Jyuuken, the second the Divine Sixty-Four Strikes, and the third the creation of the branch family seal. The fourth, however, was the Heavenly Spin technique, which only the head of the Hyuuga clan was allowed to know.

Jyuuken was the basic technique of the family and the one clan jutsu she had mastered. At her age she should have been capable of the Divine Sixty-Four Strikes, but she found Taijutsu techniques hard to use. She didn't need or want to create another clan seal, so se ignored that scroll. However, the Heavenly Spin jutsu was her clans ultimate technique and, from what she read, more of a chakra attack than a physical attack. It required precise chakra control, which was the one part of her training she had excelled in. The technique made the medical jutsu look simple, however. She knew she had a lot of work before her before she could manage to use either. Looking over the room, which seemed to have the lingering essence of her father in it, she vowed to master the Heavenly Spin.

First, however, she took out the medical jutsu scrolls and set to work on them.

---

" I'm home!" Akamaru barked as he bounded though the dog door, Kiba squeezing in behind him.

" Good timing. It's time for dinner." replied Kiba's mother. " So, how did you day go?"

" You won't believe the mission we got! We got paid to chase down cat number eighty two!"

" Really?" asked a younger Inuzuka. " I want to be a ninja now so I can do that."

" How much did you make?" inquired Kiba's mother.

" Actually…we owe money. I fell though the Yamanaka's greenhouse again."

Akamaru and Kiba sat and pouted as their families laughed at them.

Another week of training went by and Asuma had to swear, he had never seen students work as hard as his.

Kiba and Akamaru sparred constantly against scores of Naruto's, the former perfecting the Human Beast Clone while the later improved his shadow clones. Having acquired average chakra control, Naruto could now manage almost three hundred clones. He could also control the chakra's backlash much better now.

Hinata sparred occasionally, but she spent most of her time practicing her jutsu. Asuma was not surprised when, giving his genin a test, Hinata turned out to be a Ninjutsu type. Years of valuable time had been wasted by her father focusing her on the clans famous Taijutsu techniques. While she was quite capable and could progress further, her power could increase more easily though Ninjutsu.

As they had guessed, she had shown natural affinity for healing jutsu. After only a few days she was capable of using the Mystical Palm to heal small injuries. The progression past that would take years of practice, but Asuma would not have been surprised if she did it faster.

Seeing how Hinata had mastered a new technique, the boys set to working even hard, not wanting to be outdone. Kiba attempted the Piercing Fang, though it was obvious it would be a while before it would be combat ready. Naruto, with characteristic single mindedness, went on improving his clones. They had also completed three more missions, working as a group now. Kiba had paid his debt off with the others help, though Naruto had told Kiba he had to buy him ramen a few times before they were even.

The day of the group training had come again, and everyone headed to the training grounds.

" I hope I don't have to fight that Rock Lee jerk again." Naruto grumbled.

" He didn't seem that bad to me. Friendly, but weird." Kiba replied, perplexed. Asuma had gone ahead and Hinata was buried in a jutsu scroll, so they only could talk to each other.

" I think it's the Kyuubi. " Naruto said with a pout.

" Oh. Well, if that's it, he's a ass. I'll try and get a few hits in to soften him up." Akamaru woofed.

" Thank?" said Naruto, scratching the back of his head.

" Hey! Your late!" called Asuma as they walked into the training ground. The other teams were there already, though Kakashi was absent.

" Sorry, sorry." Naruto said, waving. Rock Lee's signature smile turned downwards, prompting Ten-Ten to look at him oddly.

" Yosh! Now that everyone is here, begin testing your youthfulness!"

Though they didn't want to obey Guy, they all set to the warm up sparing. Kiba was against Lee first.

" Yosh! Here I come!" Lee cried, rushing Kiba. Akamaru bounded off to flank while Kiba completed the Four Leg's jutsu, taking off towards Lee. They all met with a crash, and much wailing upon each other began.

" Don't worry, Hinata." said Ino as Hinata blocked a punch. " Sakura and I have good idea." Hinata gulped as she knocked another strike away, hoping she could get though the plan with some dignity left.

WHAP! Sasuke knocked Naruto head over heels again. Naruto leapt to his feet and charged back in. That was one thing he liked about Sasuke. He didn't trash talk during the fight, though he gloated heavily afterwards.

After several changes the jounin stopped them.

" Now, unlike last week, there is a more defined objective than beating each other senseless this week." Kurenai said as she paced in front of them. Guy, Asuma, and Kakashi (who had just showed up) seemed less interested then they had last time.

" Ninja often are sent to capture messages, and just as often to deliver them. Today you will practice finding opposing groups who possess documents for you capture while protecting your own." She tossed a scroll to each team. " Your goal is to keep this safe and capture at least one other scroll. Those who fail get to accompany Guy on his evening exercise routine. Lee, if your team fails, you DON'T get to accompany him on the exercises."

Lee paled visibly.

" Your teachers will take you to the part of the woods that you will begin in. This test will go until five o' clock."

Naruto looked up. It was nearly midday. He smiled broadly. This was going to be a piece of cake.

" Oh, and lest I forget. Kakashi spent half the morning setting up traps. Be careful."

The genin gulped as they looked to the Copy Ninja, who looked rather proud of himself.