A Distant Shore
An InoHina Crossover Fanfiction
Chapter Two:
Les Poissons
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any other copyrighted material used or referenced to in this fanfic.
Summary: Hinata Hyuga, Japanese cousin to Arial, is next in line to the throne. Engaged to Merman, Naruto Uzumaki, Hinata feels her life couldn't get any better, but when word of her cousins' exploits reach the Kuroshio Sea, curiosity brings her to land where she realizes life could be better.
As the two Merpeople entered the Great Hall, trumpets sounded and fish hurried out of their way. In the middle of the room sat three thrones and in them were the leaders of two kingdoms. In the seat farthest to the right sat a Merman with a long white beard and atop his head was a crown made of blue coral, the rarest in all the seas. His large tanned hand was holding a blue trident across the armrests in a relaxed position and a smirk graced his lips as he gazed upon the newcomers.
In the middle seat was a slightly slimmer Merman with a short cropped chocolate brown beard and a mustache with two long tails that looked like the whiskers of a catfish as his daughters have told him over the years. On his head rested a crown of gray coral, only slightly more common than blue coral, and on his lips a frown. His trident was gray and only tall enough to reach underneath his chin when touching the ground. In the last chair sat a petite woman with short navy blue hair and flawless pale skin. Her dainty fingers were folded in her lap and a gentle smile displayed itself openly for the two. She wore no crown.
Naruto frowned and turned slightly toward his betrothed. "Look at their tails."
Hinata pulled her gaze from their faced and directed it to study their tails. The Merman with the blue crown, judging from the way his blue-green tail-fin was curling and uncurling quickly, was anxious. The Merman in the middle's gray-green tail was tapping against the stone floor, Impatience. The womans' gray-green tail jerked from left to right quickly almost unnoticeably. She was nervous and afraid? She lifted her gaze once more to the faces of the leaders.
What was causing this kind of reaction from them? Hinata looked towards Naruto with a worried look on her face. He shrugged, worried as well, but continued swimming. When the two were at the bottom of the stone steps, they both bowed at the waist to their superiors. All around the great hall fish bowed their heads and merpeople bent at the waist.
"Hinata, Naruto. I'm glad to see you are well. At ease." The man in the middle said with a deep baritone. The Merpeople and fish straightened, their tails flicking in excitement. "As you may know, Hinata, the eldest daughter of one MerCity is always betrothed to the eldest son of another."
Hinata nodded. "Hai, Otou-sama."
The man nodded sagely before continuing. "Even though your mother passed before she could birth a male heir, the title falls to you. So you have a choice that must be made before the end of this meeting. Do you understand?"
She nodded once more. "Hai, Otou-sama."
He sighed before motioning to the man on his left. "If you will Minato-sama…"
The man stroked his beard for a moment, studying the two youngsters. When he spoke his voice was old and weary sounding, "As you may know, my time is coming shortly. Should you deny my son, Hinata, I will be forced to go to Triton for a suitable wife. Negotiations could take months, months I do not have. The magic I used for the last war has taken its toll on my body and it is imperative that you make the correct decision. I have, at very most, three months left; we need a decision today."
Hinatas' hand hovered over her lips at this new revelation. What was she to do? Abandon her title or condem a city to ruin?
The woman on the far right sat forward and smiled. "Your sister could still take the title should you not want it, it is her duty as second born."
Hiashi glared at the woman till she slunk back into her seat. "Mahi-san is correct. However, you will be leaving your kingdom and may never return for many, many years. Is that what you want?"
Hinata looked to the floor, nibbling on her fingers as she thought. Is that what she wanted?
"Maa Maa, We have other news…" Minato interrupted.
Hiashi nodded and folded his hands under his chin. "Hai, Triton has sent a Sailfish with a message. Seeing as how Sailfish are the fastest, the message is deemed extremely important. After hearing it, we understand why. Ariel, Tritons' youngest, is with-child. She has two months before she is due to give birth…" His gaze scanned the room slowly, looking every last sea-dweller in the eye. "As everyone knows Mermaid pregnancies are extremely high risk for death. Without a Midwife, Ariel is doomed."
Gasps erupted across the room. A few Mermaid shed tears while the Mermen frowned deeply. Their race was becoming endangered, what was to become of them if more died?
Naruto looked to his father, "Our kingdom doesn't have a Midwife right now, Tsunade-sama left on a journey two weeks ago!"
Minato nodded. "Hai and Shizune-chan is ill. Sakura-san has not been nursed in the midwife arts. Hiashi-sama, do you have a midwife?"
Hiashi's frown deepened. "Hai…But she is to take the throne soon."
Everyone turned to Hinata who stood blushing and tapping her fingers together. "A-ano…"
"But she can't go up there! She's our only hope!" Mahi screeched.
"A-ano…."
"Hiashi-sama, I can't permit our future to leave the ocean at this time…"
"I never said I would let her go to—"
"Otou-sama…."
"What is going on, what are you old bat's bickering about?!" Naruto roared. Silence enveloped the hall.
Hiashi sighed. "Ariel has married a human man. The midwife would have to live there until she births the abomination."
Minato rubbed his beard thoughtfully again. "But to ignore Tritons message would lead to another war. We cannot have that…"
To go on land…To explore the unknown…That's all she ever wanted…Hinata swallowed her fear and swam forward. "Otou-sama, Mahi-san, Minato-sama. I-I have made my decision."
The three turned to look at her, surprise clearly written on their faces. "Go on, Hinata. Tell us your decision." Minato said.
"I will marry Naruto-kun…"
Both Naruto and Minato smiled while Mahi looked smug and Hiashi displayed sadness and anger.
"However, I will only do so after attending to Ariel's needs."
Hiashi seethed in anger, "You will not go there! I forbid you! You will be the heir instead, you have no choice!"
Hinata bit her lip before taking a deep breath. The water around her body warmed and vibrated as she called upon the magic sealed within her. "I formally renounce the title of heir from my soul. No longer shall I be called Hyuga. I fully give myself to the waters around me. Until I am wed I am its." As she spoke the water grew brighter around her as her tail glowed a majestic shade of violet, the color of her soul.
Gasps echoed for a second time around the halls.
"H-Hinata…" Naruto whispered eyes wide. It was an honor to see the color of a Hyuga's soul. They hid theirs from prying eyes for centuries and here, a woman normally too introverted to talk to her father normal, outright disobeyed him and their entire kingdom for the sake of others.
"I will help Minato-sama and I will help Ariel-san. You can't stop me now."
