Two Weeks Later
Naruto sat happily pushing up sand into a growing mound. He made small cooing sounds at it while patting it down. Before long a shadow fell over the sand mound, and he looked up to see who was causing it. A small girl with midnight tresses about her face stood nervously looking down at him, nervously biting on her index finger. After a moment of silence, he cocked his head to the side, and she blurted out.
"Are you making a sand castle?" As soon as the words left her mouth she lit up like a red tomato, and Naruto could only laugh as he nodded. Then, he tilted his head to the side, and spoke.
"Would you like to help me make it?" When she nodded, his face split into a wide Cheshire cat grin. She returned his smile and settled down next to him. Their small hands beginning to push up the sand together. After a moment, Naruto glanced at her and spoke rather solemnly.
"I'm Naruto." She sent him a small timid glance in return but spoke nonetheless.
"My name is Hinata." He smiled in return and patted the sand down to make it stronger.
"I haven't ever had someone to play with before." Naruto crooned happily as they began to add a new level onto the castle. After a moment more Hinata quietly spoke again.
"I haven't played with anyone before either." The blond looked at her, her hands stilled and her face downcast. Scrunching up his face, Naruto reached over and grabber her hand bringing it back to the sand castle.
"Well, then Hinata-chan, we should be eah other's friends! And then we'll get to play with each other!" He left his hand on top of hers until she shot him a small hesitant smile. Then he began to happily push sand around, and she followed his example. They managed to flatten the mound and shape a door and were starting to get to work on the second floor, when a huge towering shadow overtook them both, and a cold hard voice called out.
"Hinata-sama." A tall man dressed in white and cream stared down at them and Hinata began to shake. A dark frown overtook Naruto.
"Hey, Hinata you o-"
"Hinata-sama. What are you doing here? You know-"
"I'm so s-" Hinata started but was quickly cut off.
"Don't be sorry to this jerk Hinata. He sucks." Naruto spoke petulantly crossing his arms and glaring at the man. The man returned his glare and imperiously stretched out his hand.
"Come Hinata-sama. It's time to go home." The small girl seemed trapped between the young blond boy who stared pitifully at her pleading with his eyes for her not to go, and the older man who coldly stood waiting.
"Look, Hinata you don't have to go with that jerk. Just stay and pla-" Naruto did not get any further as the older man stomped the sand castle and kicked the boy away.
"Enough, HInata-sama we are-" A hand clamped down on the man's face and slammed his head into the ground with a resounding crash.
"Shut the hell up you piece of filthy garbage!" A seething red head towered over the fallen form of the Hyuga. The man on the floor groaned and Hikaru kicked him out of the sand box.
"You, ah, will regret this… Uzu… maki…." He gasped from the ground but was completely ignored by the red ehad who simply approached the blond on the ground.
"Hey there Ru-kun." He gently mumbled at the little boy, who opened up his eyes and sent his uncle a grateful glance before sending his glance over to the girl at Hikaru's side.
"Hey, Hinata-chan. Are you Ok?" H and winced as he sat up. Hikaru felt a smile spreading across his as the little girl fussed over his nephew. Naruto laughed quietly as Hinata was helping him up to his feet, her hands gently running over his frame as if to make sure that he was unbroken.
"I'm fine, Hina-chan! Stop worrying! I was more scared for you than for anything else!" Hikaru sighed as he realized that he had just bashed a Hyuga into the ground. He could already feel the headache coming on.
"Hokage-sama! I really must protest! This is a most outrageous offence! He attacked the guard I handpicked to watch over my daughter! This ruffian is a disgrace on the entire village!" Hiashi growled and thrust a disgusted gesture at an uncaring Hikaru who sat boredly in his seat. The Third leaned back into his chair and took on a thoughtful look. Then he moved his glance over to the Uzumaki.
"Well, Hikaru-san. What do you have to say for yourself?" Hikaru blinked and then rolled his eyes.
" I don't see why we're here, I said I was sorry and I even paid for his hospital trip so, that should be it." Hikaru leaned back in his chair as Hiashi ground his teeth.
"No it is not it, Uzumaki. This isn't Kiri or Iwa, this is Konoha. There are laws and procedures, and there are social codes. You don't get to go around thrashing people around because you want to." At this Hikaru's eyes hardened.
"Oh, so because I kicked the crap out of your little henchman you've got your panties in a twist, huh?" Hikaru slid out of his chair and straightened up dangerously.
"So how would you feel, Hyuga-san I I beat your daughter?" He spoke it softly, but the other man straightened and glared back in response. HIkaru chuckled darkly.
"So, I pose the question. Why in the hell would I allow someone to walk away after striking my charge, my blood, who may as well be my own child? Would you Hiash-san?" After not receiving an answer Hikaru chuckled once more and made his way to his chair again.
"Maybe, Hyuga-san you should just be happy I left him alive, because I was sorely tempted to end his pathetic existence." He sat in his chair.
"So I might as well just clear the air. I will not stand for anyone-" HE stopped and turned his icy gaze on every ninja in the Shinobi council.
"to lay even a finger on my nephew. Anyone who does, might as well have declared war on myself and my wife, and we will do everything in our power to ruin them and whoever else may have possibly been involved." He growled it out settling his eyes on Hiashi, who at least turned his head to glare in a different direction. After a moment, the Hokage spoke.
"While, Hikaru has a point, no one Clan or otherwise" He stopped to fix a dark gaze on everyone around the room.
"has the right to strike a child, Hikaru this is not Kiri. You are not to go about attacking those you deem fit to be attacked. There are laws and there are protocols. You take up a complaint against the Hyuga with the Police Force or with this Council. Am I understood?" He waited until HIkaru nodded.
"Now, all of the Council needs to understand, that while the Uzumaki are few in numbers, there are still legally recognized as a Clan. And thereby are afforded similar privileges under the law." At this several of the shinobi shifted but none spoke. Until Danzo stood.
"Hokage-sama. I feel the need to bring something to the attention of this council." Sarutobi nodded but studied the man carefully.
"As you all know, the Uzumaki boy is special case. I do not think that it would be wise for the boy to be raised by foreigners. But I understand that nothing can be done there, but the boy must be trained by Konoha Loyalists. These are important years that we must capitalize on in order to form a weapon to protect our village." After his small speech all eyes turned to the Hokage, who remained impassive until a loud voice cut through once more.
"Shut the hell up Danzo, you dirty old man." Hikaru said it quietly, as though he was tired of the whole affair.
"No one really cares about what you have to say. Least of all me. Naruto is my blood. My clan. Until the day comes when you rip the young children and heirs to the Uchiha, Hyuga, Sarutobi, and other clans to mold them into what you want them to be." HIkaru said with a laugh and then placed his own cold stare on the other man.
"To be honest, Danzo, you are the last person I want close to my Naruto. If I ever find you, or members of your little band close to my wife, Naruto, or my compound, please expect blood to be spilt." He stopped as if in thought and then added.
"But other clan's are more than welcome to visit. We will be most receptive at the Uzumaki compound." Danzo glared at the red head who seemed to pointedly ignore the man, and the Hokage had to hide his own amusement.
"I am sorry Danzo. Unless you would like to get the rest of the Clans to relinquish their own set of privileges, I am afraid that I cannot just take away the right to train one's own clan members according to tradition, as far as those traditions do not threaten the safety of the village." He ended by sending Hikaru a meaningful glance, trying to not look at the Uchiha Clan.
"Then, that settles it. Naruto will be trained by his family then." A low voice drawled from the side, and Shukaku leaned back in his chair. Upon realizing who had spoken, many of the clan leaders relaxed visibly and the whole atmosphere lifted. Danzo looked furious but sat down his teeth gritted. The Hokage almost smiled.
"Alright, if there are no more objections, then we will adjourn."