Chapter 7 The Plan

'thoughts'

'Kyuubi talking'

'another inner entity' – Not for a few chapters

'and yet one more entity' – Not for a few chapters

(Remember Last Time?)

"Um… Right, I'll get started now." Sakura did a few seals and pressed her fingers to his forehead causing him to scream out in pain for a few seconds before falling into unconsciousness. After explaining to Hinata that it is normal they talked for a bit.

"So, that weird powerful guy then... I really can't imagine traveling alone for so long… how do you suppose he was able to survive the execution then?"

"You will have to ask him when he wakes up. There are some things I don't know, but there are some things I do, but he needs to tell you." Explained Hinata.

"I suppose you're right Hinata. I really am happy for you two, but I still haven't figured out how you two can pick up again so quickly. I mean, look, you guys are acting like you've been dating for years now, being all touchy feely."

"I know what you mean Sakura. I've wondered that myself, but everything just feels so right. I feel so warm and happy when he touches me that I just can't resist it any longer. I've longed to touch him for so long, but it just hurt when I knew I never could because he was supposed to be dead. Right now, if he wanted me to, I'd let him take me completely."

"Hinata! You're horrible!"

"Sure I am." She says sarcastically "you should talk. I know you've been around Konoha a few times." She saw her expression fall into an unpleasant frown "Sorry Sakura."

"No, it's ok. I just keep forgetting. I wanted to love again, so I just tried to hurry into relationships, but I found out the hard way that not everyone wants a committed relationship. The idea of finding someone to love that held no other feelings for anyone before is an impossibility, except for maybe you and Naruto. I used to think everyone would marry the person they lost their virginity to, but I guess a fewer number of them exist than we know. Most of the guys are in it just for the chase and capture, and move on, just like Kiba does. Very few want to marry or would dare to put so much effort into it. Looking back, I wish I would have taken Naruto up on his offers because I know he will never betray the one he loves and I would gladly be with someone that cares… I guess I see now; he, Naruto, liked me but I paid no attention to him; therefore he would rather be with someone who cares than one who doesn't. I guess I was the reason he was able to look away and find what he really wanted in you, Hinata." Sakura looked back at the couch, after her speech, only to find two pairs of teared up eyes looking back at her.

"Sakura-chan," he said "you might be right that your actions drove me to find Hinata's feelings, but looking back myself, I really wouldn't want it any other way. I love her more than life itself once I was able to see beyond the shy girl she was into the caring and kind person she tried to hide. I just can't believe she could love me even after knowing of the bastard I hold."

'Ungrateful brat! Remind me to never save your sorry ass again!'

'Holy shit, Kyubi!? Where the hell have you been? I actually missed hearing your sorry ass.'

'Well if you weren't so weak, I wouldn't have needed to run away from your messed up head. You were nuts and it was driving me nuts!'

'Yeah, yeah. Maybe, if you didn't transport me to god knows where, I wouldn't have been driven insane' he just hears a grumble 'Ha that's right, I've got it all back now so just SHUT UP.'

The two kunoichis stared at the blonde shinobi wondering what caused his sudden stop and 'glassed over' look until he looked at them with the biggest grin they have seen since his departure.

"What's wrong with you guys, you look like I just died and walked back into town 8 years after my death," He joked.

"NARUTO! That's exactly what you did you idiot!" Sakura smacks him full on with her hardest punch sending him hard into the fireplace. "Oh shit, I used too much chakra; he could be seriously injured, or worse." Hinata just gasped in fear until they saw him moving.

"Sakura-chan," he wined "that really hurt you know. Now I'm going to need a shower again," wiping off soot from his arms, "do you know how hard it is to wash this much hair?" he smiled, walking back to the couch when he got tackled by the dark haired person previously sitting there. With tears in her eyes, she was showering him with kisses until he managed to push her back a bit.

"Hinata-chan what's wrong, you're crying, but also happy?"

"Oh Naruto-kun, you seemed so different when you came back, almost too serious, but I still loved you, but now my Naruto-kun has returned, the one who smiles though his problems. I love you so much Naruto-kun." She informed looking at him longingly.

"Hey, thanks it's great to be back, completely back. I never knew I lost some of my personality with my memories, but I feel a lot better now. Oh Hinata-chan, guess what… I love you too." Naruto stated playfully before he was surprised to see her passionate, wanting, pupil-less eyes "just beautiful" he whispered before Hinata took him into the deepest most exhilarating kiss of his life, not like he had many to go off of. They were brought out of their blissful state by someone coughing.

"Oops, I forgot you were there Sakura-chan…" he looks towards the pink haired kunoichi only to have his view partially blocked by something. "Um, Hinata-chan do you mind getting your beautiful rack out of my face for a bit, not that I don't like them, but they are very distracting to have a conversation over." Hinata turned dark crimson and nearly lost her self in embarrassment when Sakura piped in.

"Yeah Hinata, get your huge knockers to behave themselves while were talking." Hinata just stared in disbelief at the joking around 'no one has been this happy and carefree since he has been gone; he truly is the life of the village' Hinata thought before shrieking as she was picked up so easily and placed on her loves lap when he sat back on the couch. Mindlessly running his hand through her hair he turned much more serious.

"All funniness aside, Sakura, you said things that hurt me deeply before my so called execution, but I do know that you were just angry at loosing Sasuke, so don't worry, I forgive you." His declaration brought a wave of tears to Sakura's eyes.

"Naruto, I would hug you right now if you weren't playing around with your life-sized Hinata Doll," she snickered at her joke and continued, "But what are we going to do with you? You were a wanted criminal of Konoha."

"Thanks for ruining my happy homecoming Sakura-chan. I suppose I can just go and present my case to the Hokage and hope for some compassion," he threw out.

"Um, Naruto-kun, we don't have a Hokage."

"What!? Are you kidding Hinata-chan? How could that happen?"

"No, she isn't kidding. There were attempts in the first four years to replace the Hokage, but Jiraiya convinced the council to only accept a Hokage that could wear a cursed necklace for 6 months without dying. He said that previous Hokages have worn them without injury and a person who could only be worthy as a Hokage can overcome it. Hinata's father was the last person to try. Since his death, no one has tried again," explained the intelligent pink haired girl.

"I'm sorry Hinata-chan," Naruto expressed his concern for her loss.

"Thank you, but he wasn't really much of a father to me, so it wasn't that hard to get over it." She replied in a sullen voice

"So then, who accepts the missions for the village, and what does this cursed necklace look like?" Asked Naruto seriously interested.

"You seem a little bit more intelligent Naruto; you couldn't come up with thought out questions before?"

'Yeah, you idiot, maybe it could have been the part about getting hit on the head too much when you were young, cutting off some recollection parts of your brain that were fixed by pinky'

'What you dumb shit fox? Why didn't you heal me then?'

'Where's the fun in that hahahaha' voice fades back the recesses of his mind.

"Damn, I guess I was always more intelligent that I knew. You healed something that was damaged in my head that the bastard didn't heal just for fun" the females looked on in disgust at someone doing that to a person on purpose "Well enough of that, who acts for the village, and about that necklace…"

"Oh right, well Kakashi-sensei, Shizune-sensei, Anko-san, Ibiki-san, and Iruka-sensei have been taking on the tasks of the Hokage with Jiraiya-sama stopping in to help every so often." Sakura told him then continued. "The necklace is said to be a rare crystal, one of only two in existence, which could buy whole villages with its value. It is also said that it was first worn by the First Hokage and was given to his granddaughter, the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade. The rumor is that she gave it to her boyfriend and little brother, each dying shortly after. The funny thing is that I never saw Tsunade-sensei wearing the necklace." Hinata suddenly got a worried look on her face as she looked at her love after Sakura explained everything.

"Um, Naruto-kun, why are you looking like that? That is way you look like after you planned a complex prank." Naruto held his mischievous grin.

"You know me too well Hinata-chan, I'm going to become the next Hokage and get my necklace that Baa-chan lost to me in a bet." The two girls gasped at his news but realizing he was probably right, Tsunade's gambling problems were well known. Their shock subsided as a smile spread across each of their faces as the planning began to get a new Hokage.

"Ok to sum it up then, As far as the village is concerned, I never existed so they can't prove I was ever here aside from some members of the council where the biggest problems have already retired, or killed, where they have no authority, which is good. Now all I need is a prominent member of a powerful clan, which I have" Looks over to Hinata. "and the recognition of five or more Jonin level ninjas after showing my strength, which if everything goes the way it sounds that shouldn't be a problem, but where there maybe an issue, is with the fact that to do that, they can set up a test of skill usually by a terrible battle or tournament to see if you are really the best, which will probably involve battling Ero-Sennin, which will suck. So is that it then?"

"Yes." They both chimed, " the match will most likely be a gauntlet style match, but afterwards, you will then have to go through intense mental training for the job." Sakura added

"Great more testing and lectures, my one true weakness."

"You can do it Naruto-kun, I believe you can, and I'll help." Offered Hinata.

"You really are way too good for me Hinata-chan, with you helping me, I'm sure I'll be Hokage before too long." Naruto plants a small kiss on Hinata.

"Alright you two, I've had enough of you guys and it's really late so I'm leaving, later guys." Sakura left quickly and headed home, she had to run the hospital in the morning and needed her sleep.

"Well Hinata-chan, I guess it is late, and I think I need more sleep than anyone, so I'll be turning in." 'Damn, all that talking and I never told Sakura about kyubi, she must really wonder who 'the bastard' is' he thought.

"Alright, sleep well Naruto-kun." Hinata turned to leave but was stopped before exiting the cabin.

"Um, Hinata-chan, I… uh… was wondering if maybe you would um…stay with me? I've been alone for so long."

"Y-you want to l-like sleep with me?"

"Your stuttering is kind of cute, but yes, I want to sleep with you, but um… fully dressed. I'm not ready for um… that yet." This of course got her to blush as she giggled at what he was implying, but got an idea to turn the tables.

"That wasn't was I was thinking, but you know w-when your r-ready, um, I am" she said smiling playfully.

"Alright you tease, let's get some sleep. And to be safe, no kissing in bed, I don't want to get carried away… yet." He took her hand and led her into the bedroom. When he hit the sheets he was completely gone and was soon joined by Hinata as she snuggled close to him for the night without either managing the strength to say 'goodnight'.

…..Later