Chapter 7: everyone's reaction
Hotaru walked into the kitchen the next morning to find the shock of her life; her two favorite people in the world were kissing! She could tell one from the other. She didn't know what to do or say. She stood there shocked.
"Kiba." Natsuhi said. "Stop! I have to get Hotaru up!"
"Ok." Kiba groaned.
"Morning." Hotaru said looking from the red faces of her two guardians as she sat at the table.
"Hotaru, how would you feel if you had a momma and papa?" Natsuhi asked.
"All I want for Christmas is a family. I don't need a momma and papa when I have you two." She told them.
"What if we told you, we want to be your momma and papa?" Kiba asked.
Hotaru stared with her mouth open and eyes the size of dish plate. "You and Natsuhi be my mommy and daddy?"
"Yes." Natsuhi asked.
Hotaru's eyes watered as tears formed. "Really? No joke? You want to be my mommy and daddy?"
Kiba and Natsuhi nodded. Hotaru burst into tears. "Christmas came early! I finally have a family, a mommy and daddy!"
"Legally you are our daughter. We thought since we're getting married, you might as well get use to the idea." Kiba told her and ruffled her hair.
"I have a mommy and daddy!" she told Akamaru who yipped and licked her face.
Hotaru wasted no time and adapted to calling Natsuhi and Kiba and Mommy and Daddy. She said she had nearly five years to make up for. Natsuhi and Kiba smiled and just let her have her fun.
Realizing they would be late for the meeting, Natsuhi and Kiba rushed Hotaru to the Hokage towel where the meeting was held in a meeting room. When they got there, Natsuhi told her, "You can't go in with us. Be a good little girl and please don't wander."
Hotaru nodded. Natsuhi dropped a kiss on her forehead. "I will, Mama."
"Good girl. This is the safest place but don't wander from here. Stay with Akamaru at all times. I hate to leave you alone." Kiba told her before hugging her and kissing her on her forehead. "Go play with Tonton and Shizune. Don't go with strangers."
"Yes, papa." She replied. "I'll be fine. Come on Akamaru let's find Shizune."
Akamaru barked and followed next to her. "Keep an eye on her, Akamaru." He barked in reply.
They went into the meeting hand in hand (Kiba realized how nervous Natsuhi was. It was their first time they left her to be by herself). Everyone stared at their linked hands with various expressions varying from shock to smug.
"Wow…when did this happen?" Hitomi asked.
"Last night." Natsuhi said. The girls gathered around her and ordered details while the guys patted Kiba on the back and congratulate him.
When they were done, they all sat down (Kiba held Natsuhi's hand under the table but hey he figured every other couple around the table was doing the same) and began the discussion.
"What do we know so far?" Kiba asked shifting through documents.
"The Akatsuki are on the move." Lee said. Sakura wrote that on the board.
"Naruto and Hotaru are the things they are after no doubt." Ino said. Sakura wrote that up on the board.
"They're the last of the jinchuuriki."
"Kids are disappearing. There are rumors of a new hidden village."
"Ok, what don't we know?" Hikari asked.
"When they are going to strike," Neji said.
"Where they are going to strike," Sasuke said.
"Why now." Hitomi said.
"Motive." Shino said quietly.
"What he wants it for. I mean, if you think about it, Madara helped find this village. Why would he go after jinchuuriki? I mean, the Ayame are walking vats of chakra. He's bound to know that. It would much easier to go after us and there are more of us." Hitomi added.
Hikari and Shikamaru stared hard the board running the data through their mind. There was something that they were missing. Something very small but very important…what is –
"The Hokage summons all of us. Come on, it's suppose to be big." Kotetsu said.
They all got up and followed him. "What's going on?" Shikamaru asked.
"As you know relationships between lighting country and our country haven't been the best. We may have a treaty with them but we all know that doesn't mean anything." Kotetsu said. "Anyways, there has been rumors they were preparing for a full on war with us."
"War?" Hikari asked shocked.
"Yeah. I don't know the full detail. I suppose we'll hear about it at this meeting. Rumor is almost every one is there. She's been meeting with ninjas in waves." Kotetsu said.
"This sounds serious." Tenten murmured.
They entered to find a haggard Hokage sat behind the table. She looked serious and older.
She started. "As you know our relationship with Lighting Country has never what we would call good. It was at best testy. I want you to know, there is a very good chance we're going to war with them before next year is out. Our latest ANBU reports tell me that they seem to be preparing for something and it looks very much like war efforts. Addition to that, Earth Country has declared war on the Wind country."
"WHAT?!"
"I thought they always were friendly with each other. What happen?" Shikamaru asked.
"The Death of the feudal lord." Shikamaru answered.
Everyone turned to her. Lady Tsunade nodded, "That's right. They are going war because a new Feudal Lord has come into power and he wants to unite everyone under one banner. The first country he wants to take over is the Land of Birds. The Land of Birds provide a lot of important imports for the people of the Land of Wind; they called on the support."
"The Land of Birds doesn't have its own Shinobi village which means they are at a serious disadvantage, so they call on their closest ally." Hikari said.
"Not to mention the Land of Wind's feudal lord's son is married to the ruler of the Land of Birds." Shikamaru said.
"Exactly." The fifth nodded.
"So what does that have to do with the lighting country and us?" Chouji asked.
"Well the Land of Lighting is the Land of Earth's closest ally and we are the Wind's closest ally." Natsuhi said.
"So four out of the five great shinobi states are going to war…what is the Water Country's position on this?" Kiba asked.
"They're an island and has decided on being neutral." The fifth told them. "On the other hand, Grass and Rain country has decided to ally themselves with Earth since they do so much trading with them. Only Waterfall has allied themselves with Wind."
"Oh wow," Sakura said.
"Grass and Rain lands border ours!" Lee said clenching his hands.
"That is dangerous for us." Ino said.
"If we go to war, we'll be attacked from three sides! It would be suicidal to send our comrades into the battle!" Neji said.
"Yes. I am glad you have caught on the magnitude of this situation, so we don't need any of these other distraction if we do go to war, like worrying about the Akatsuki." The fifth said. "I want them taken out, down to the root. Get rid of it. Both of Madara wants is here in Konoha. You guys have until we go to war to get rid of them. Destroy them."
"Hai!"
"Good. Because if we are going to war, we are going to focus on war." The fifth said. "You fifteen are among some of the best shinobis that has come out of Konoha. Yet you fifteen have surpassed us older generations by far in so many ways. I would hate to lose any one of you. As of now, focus on getting rid of the Akatsuki."
"Hai!" with that they went back into the room in silence. They all knew it was a whole ballgame. War. They sat down.
"I can't believe peace is ending." Sakura said shocked.
"I never thought we would be going to war. I mean, it's one thing to know shinobis are weapons of war, but it is another thing all together to be weapons of war." Tenten said.
"None of us thought we would go to war because war wasn't something we could wrap our brains around. It wasn't something we thought we would face in our lifetime." Naruto said. "But that's not our mission. We have to destroy the Akatsuki."
Grimly they all got to work. They all knew how important this was. They realized they need more information.
"We need more information. Shino, Kiba, Hinata, you three since our genin days were group together because your unique tracking abilities so you should go up towards Lighting country and investigate those rumors about the missing kids." Hikari said.
"Neji, Tenten, Lee, you three will go in another direction, towards the River country to that cave with that weird devil statue." Shikamaru told them. "See if you could understand it."
"Tenten can't go." Neji said right after.
"What?" Tenten rebuked.
"You just went into labor, Tenten. You have to stay on maternity leave or it could harm your body irreparably." Sakura told her. Tenten sighed an oh.
"Ok, right, I forgot. Hitomi you will in Tenten's place." Shikamaru said.
"Ok next, we need some one to go around looking for rumors. Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura will go to our neighboring countries gather a few rumors." Hikari said. "Also while you're there, check the situation."
"I can't go." Sakura said.
"Why not?" Naruto asked.
"Because I just found out, in nine months there will be two additions to the Uchiha clan." She snapped.
They stared. Suddenly the girls gushed and the guys congratulated Sasuke who look smug as all thoughts of war and other grim things were forgotten in light of hopes that only children could bring out.
"Ok…I will go then." Hikari said.
"And my team will go around the Land of Fire to gather up more information." Shikamaru said.
"Whether or not you find any information, we'll all meet back here a week before Christmas. So that gives us five weeks to gather information. Natsuhi you stay and watch over Hotaru and keep an eye on the situation." Hikari said.
"As for our two mothers, rest and don't do anything stupid because your husbands will not be happy." Shikamaru added.
"Ok, let's get this started." Hikari said.
"Hai!" they all left the room to prepare. Kiba and Natsuhi went to find their daughter who was playing with Tonton and Akamaru in the yard.
"Hotaru!" Kiba called. The little girl snapped her head to see Kiba and Natsuhi standing there waiting for her. She got up and ran to them.
Kiba scooped her up and over his shoulders. "Hey squirt."
"Hey, Papa!" she squealed back hugging his head. "Can we go home? I'm really hungry."
"I see you've learned your papa's bad traits!" Natsuhi scolded mockingly.
"it's not that mama, I'm just really hungry!"
She laughed, "All right. Let's go home and have lunch."
After they ate, they gathered in the living where they sat enjoying each other's company.
"Hotaru, early tomorrow morning, I'm going on a mission." Kiba told the little girl that was cuddling with him.
"How long will you be gone, Papa?"
"Five weeks." He held up his hand.
"That long? I'm going to miss you a lot!" Hotaru told him. "So will mama."
"Hotaru, I've got an idea. Come with me." Kiba said.
"We'll see you in a little while!" Kiba told Natsuhi and rushed Hotaru out the door.
"Where?" she asked but shook her head in amusement. She spent the time cleaning and grooming Akamaru was lapping away the attention.
Meanwhile, Hotaru asked, "Where are we going papa?"
"To get a very special gift for your mamma." Kiba told his young daughter who giggle.
They went into a jeweler. "Hotaru which of these do you think is pretty?" he asked pointing the rings.
"Mama isn't the type for gaudy or flashy. I think mama would like this one. It's plain but pretty in an elegant way. Like mama." Hotaru pointed a simple silver band with a small pearl set in between two amethysts. On either side, the silver found a heart.
"Excuse how much does this one cost?" Kiba asked.
They paid for it and the two stay out until it was almost dinner time. Natsuhi had dinner ready for them when they enter the house.
"So where did Papa take you?" Natsuhi asked.
"We wondered around Konoha and did a little window shopping." Hotaru launched into the story about all the shops in Konoha.
After they ate, Kiba tucked the little girl in bed. He stayed with her until she fell asleep. He walked out to see that Natsuhi washed the dishes already and was nowhere to be seen.
He walked into their room and found Natsuhi in her short nightdress standing by the window looking out with a grim expression on her face. She looked so beautiful by the moonlight. He snuck up and wrapped his arms around her from behind. Huskily he whispered, "What are you doing standing here looking delectable? You know you can tempt even the angels to commit sins."
She giggled as she turned her head to whisper until his ear, "The only one I want to tempt is already here." she kiss his cheek where his red fang was. "I'm going to miss you so much, Kiba."
"Sweets, I could die happy right now. I finally found the girl for me and she likes me back." Kiba told her and kiss her hard until she lost all her senses. She was too busy trying to catch her breath when he let her, to notice that he had slip something on her ring finger. She still didn't notice until he looked down at her and asked, "Wait for me?"
"You dolt! You know I would wait for you. What kind of a question is that, Ki-" she caught sight of the silver on her hand. Her breath was lost.
Kiba smiled down at her and knelt down on one knee. "You know, even though we both know that we're it for each other but all the same I would like make it official so you don't get hounded by anyone but me. Will you have me?"
Natsuhi couldn't find her voice as she mutely nodded. He jumped up and caught her in a sweet kiss that left her tingling. "Is that a yes?" Kiba whispered into her ear.
She looked up into his eyes and nodded, "Yes to the next life."
"Good because I don't plan to share you with anyone."
She giggled as he brought her down on to their bed.
Early next morning, Hotaru and Natsuhi walked with Kiba to see him off. Kiba hugged Hotaru and dropped a kiss her forehead. "Be a good little girl while I'm gone and train hard."
"Ok, Papa. Stay safe." She hugged him back tightly before she bounced off to Akamaru.
Kiba hugged Natsuhi and gave her a hard kiss. "I better come home to you in one piece." He told her.
"I will if you will." Natsuhi said slightly daze (which he smirked). "Stay safe my love."
He nodded before jumping on Akamaru and they bounced off after their teammate.
Hotaru held Natsuhi hand and waved with the other even though they couldn't see him. "Papa will be fine, Mama."
Natsuhi nodded and they walked through Konoha. "Do you want to visit Tenten?"
"We can?"
"Yes, while we're there, you could see her new baby."
"Ok!"
Tenten ever the same kunoichi as before welcomed them into the Hyuuga compound. Her hair was still into her trademark two buns. "I'm so glad the two of you are here. Come on, Satoru is awake!"
Hotaru quickly discover Satoru a small bundle with a turf of black hair and piercing white eyes. He was a happy baby that often squealed with joy when Hotaru poke him and laughed when she played with him.
She sat there playing with the little baby while her mother chatted with Tenten, showing her the ring. They both went into a squealing fit.
Half way through, Sakura showed up and another squealing fit occurred when she saw the ring.
"I can't believe you and Kiba finally got together." Sakura said. "Even Sasuke wasn't that quick to propose."
"Of course he wasn't, he was too busy beating himself up." Tenten said. "I still can believe you just took him back. I would have hurt him a little bit."
"I was angry for a while and he knew this but I don't like being angry all the time."
"I suppose that would be the case. You always were soft on him." Natsuhi said. "So do you know the gender of your twins?"
"One is a girl and the other is a boy. I didn't tell Sasuke because I want him to sweat thinking it was two little girls." Sakura said mischievously. "He said he doesn't know what to do with two little girls."
They laughed. "At least it's only one."
"How happy was Neji with Satoru?" Natsuhi asked.
"Neji is pleased but a boy wasn't what he wanted." Tenten told them. "He loves that little boy but he has his heart on a girl."
"Why? I would think he wants a boy." Sakura commented.
"I know but he said he wants a little girl just like his wife to annoy Hiashi. He said a boisterous little girl would turn this place upside down for the better. He is set on a daughter so he could spoil her." Tenten said.
"I gather Hiashi wasn't happy with that?" Natsuhi asked.
"Ever since Hinata married Naruto and Hanabi married her fellow classmate Senta, Hiashi has been battling the elders to make Neji his heir since only males can inherit." Tenten told them.
"But for a while Hinata was the heiress. What do you only males inherit?" Natsuhi asked.
"Well when girls marry, they leave their clan and joins their husband's clan. So only male can inherit because of that. Hiashi has no male heirs so he is battling the elders to make Neji his heir. I mean he already changed the family ways since he saw he couldn't subject his descendants to anymore hurt and suffering. He went and replaced half of the elders on the council. Now that Neji produce a son, Hiashi has made him the heir." Tenten explains.
"Neji put his foot down about subjecting any children we have through that cage bird seal. Other wise he wouldn't accept being the next head of the clan. Besides from Neji, they know there is no one stronger." Tenten continues.
"That puts Hiashi in a pickle because the council can't agree with the branch thing. It led to the biggest battle on the Hyuuga family. Neji is determined to change the Hyuuga ways. The village is only about seventy years old, he said it is not long enough to set traditions like that." Tenten explains.
"It's a Hyuuga war and Neji no doubt have the support of a lot people." Sakura said. "I mean there so many of us who want the Hyuuga way to change. He has the fifth, Kakashi the name heir, and Naruto behind him. Sasuke stands behind him. It's the seven other clans against them. Neji is going to win."
"No doub–"
BOOM!!
Natsuhi statement was interrupted a huge explosion. The three kunoichi asked, "What was that?" Tenten said as she tried to sooth the screaming Satoru.
"Mama?" Hotaru asked as she hid behind her.
Natsuhi formed hand signs and her eyes glowed red as she looked the distance. She saw ninjas standing dressed in straw hats and black cloak with red clouds. She gasped. "The west wall! The Akatsuki are attacking!" she turned a full circle as she long along the wall. "There are Akatsuki around us! They are attacking from several places! Our comrades are going into battle."
"Sakura, Tenten! Get the civilians out of here! Get all the genins to help with the evacuation! Natsuhi said. Tenten strapped Satoru (who had quieted down when he felt he was with his mother) and nodded.
"Sakura, take Hotaru to the safest place you can find. I'm going." Natsuhi kissed her little daughter's head as she draped a necklace over her head. "I better find you with all your limbs intact ok? This is an Ayame pendant, it will protect you. Activate it you're your Ket Tan if you are in trouble. Love you."
"Love you Mama." She called as Natsuhi jumped into the air. Sakura grabbed her and leaped the opposite direction.
"Lady Tsunade!" Sakura called as she entered the Hokage's room. "Tenten and the genins are beginning the evacuation. The Akatsuki are here."
"Good." Lady Tsunade said looking out the window. "I never thought Madara would actually have the guts to attack us, just as we have everything else going on."
"I think he is just using it to his advantage. With most of our jounins on the borders, he could slipped pass and attack Konoha itself."
"We're in for a hard battle. The will of fire has never burn brighter." She said. "Where's Hotaru? No doubt they are after her."
"Right here." Sakura said pushing the girl forward. "I'm going to help out on the front. As a medic it's my duty."
"Go, leave her with us." Shizune said.
"Hai!" Sakura jumped out the window and headed to the gates.
"Hotaru, hide under my desk." The fifth said. "don't make a sound."
"Hai." She crawled under the desk.
"Shizune. What's the situation on the front?"
"There's combat on the eastern wall, western wall, and main gate." She replied.
"Do we have any way to contact them?" The fifth asked referring to the Konoha fifteen.
"We don't but Kakashi has sent his hounds after them. No doubt Natsuhi is contacting Hitomi and Hikari through their Ket Tan. If I remember correctly, when they became genins they signed a pact in blood that allows them to contact one another with their Ket Tan no matter how far away they are." Shizune said.
"Good."
"This will weaken our resources if we are preparing for war." Shizune said. Hotaru gasp silently as she held Tonton closer.
"No, we just have to revert to the times of war ways. Most of the older generation remembered what it was like. It won't be hard to convert this village into a war state." the fifth said. "You forget most of the older generations were made jounins because they were able to survive war. I grew up in the war times. Most of us grew up, live, fought, and gave our lives in the wars. I always knew that peace wouldn't last for that long. It was only a matter of time that we would go to war again."
"I had hope peace would last. But I guess there are always nutcases in power." Shizune said. She looked outside to see a huge wing unicorn rearing up for war along with several other summon creatures. "Natsuhi has summoned Hoshi."
"It looks Natsuhi has gotten serious."
"Yes. It would seem so."
Tenten entered and said. "Evacuation is a success."
"Ever the kunoichi. Fighting with your new born strapped to you." The fifth commended the bun hair girl.
"Thank you. Natsuhi sends words that the Konoha fifteen has been turning around. They weren't so far from Konoha. Shikamaru and Hikari realized that leaving the village was the wrong thing and started to head back."
"Good."
"Hitomi's team is back." Shizune said as she saw an orange griffin in the distance. "Hikari's team is back as well." she added when she saw a large gold phoenix and a dragon. "Naruto has summon Gamabunta and Sasuke has summoned Manda."
"They're back." The fifth said.
"Yes. Kiba has summoned his giant dog. I never thought a dog could be so big."
"What are your orders?" Tenten asked.
"Go protect the evacuated villagers and you're in charge of the all the genins not in battle." She said.
"Hai!"