Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the related characters, I just am borrowing them for my own delusions.
Chapter 19
"You're joking, right?"
Orochimaru looked at Naruto with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course he's joking Naruto-kun." Haku said. Kin and the others looked at the Sannin slash leader of Otogakure, their gazes telling him he better be joking.
"Its no joke…" Orochimaru began, but he leapt aside as Tsunade's fist took out the wall he'd been leaning against. "I told you never. My uncle and grandfather never wanted those laws, they were passed by stupid civilians looking for ways to marry into the clans."
"Hime, please…" Jiraiya began.
"Don't hime me you bastard. You know how I feel about that. Its one thing for Naruto to date several girls, but there will be only ONE FUCKING WIFE! And she sure as hell isn't going to be some slip of a girl he's never met other than in passing."
Haku, Kin, Temari and Tayuya were sharing looks and similar thoughts. Naruto was looking at Gaara who Naruto would swear was laughing behind his sand armor, while the sand kept the face impassive."
Orochimaru sighed. "I swore I would talk with Naruto, I did…"
"He's not doing it. Fuck your agenda Orochimaru." Tsunade said. Many thought Tayuya had a foul mouth, they were never around Tsunade when she was well and truly pissed off, those that were didn't remember likely due to the concussion from her finger flick of doom ™.
"Hime, I understand, and I wouldn't…" Orochimaru was saying, but Tsunade wasn't in the mood to be placated. "Damn right you won't. You march your pale skinny ass back there and tell the Hyuga's and the rest of those old bastards they can take the Hokage Monument and shove it…"
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"WHAT?"
The door slipped open and Sakon opened the door. "Sorry to interrupt, but there is a small group of Hyuga's at the door asking to see Naruto-sama and Lord Orochimaru."
Tsunade growled and her eyes locked on Orochimaru.
"Thank you Sakon. Put them in the waiting room and have tea prepared." Orochimaru said.
The door slid shut.
"Oh you are not fucking…"
"Tsunade." Orochimaru said, his voice even. "As I said, I am not forcing Naruto to do anything." His serpent like eyes rested on the blond.
"Force no, but put a guilt trip you would." Tsunade looked at her adopted son. "Naru-kun, don't do this out of duty. Your uncle is playing a game, and I for one don't like it."
Naruto looked straight ahead, his gaze not meeting any of the girls who all were looking at him as a hawk watches a mouse. "I know Uncle Orochi is playing a large scale game of living shogi. Its his vice, like yours is drinking and gambling and Ero-pop's is peeping on the women's baths."
Six growls filled the room and Naruto knew Shizune was with the others. Jiraiya's whimper told him he knew he was a dead man walking.
"However, while the game is in play, we should use every means. I'm not saying I'll agree to this marriage, but…"
"Naruto-kun no." Haku said first, her hand touching his forearm. Temari, Tayuya, and Kin all put hands on his arm or shoulder.
Orochimaru stood. "I will go and speak with the Hyuga's." he smiled at Tsunade who was on her feet.
"And you will tell them that Naruto isn't going to marry. First off he's too young, and secondly…" she looked at the four girls, "He's already got a prospective girlfriend."
Naruto looked at the four girls who were giving him the "LOOK" and he shuddered. "I'll come with you to disappoint the Hyuga's Uncle." He said and was out the door, Jiraiya's laugh chasing after him, which was soon cut off as Jiraiya made a new skylight in the room thanks to a Tsunade packed punch.
XX
"Thank you for meeting with us Lord Orochimaru." Hiashi Hyuga said once Orochimaru was seated across from him and his daughter. Naruto took a seat near his adopted uncle and his eyes on the pale eyed girl from the exam.
"I have spoken with my nephew…" Orochimaru began, but Hiashi held up a hand. "Please, before you deny me this chance to save my daughter, allow me to speak."
Orochimaru nodded. He had a feeling that the Hyuga was looking for more than he said in the council chambers.
"May I speak freely here Lord Orochimaru?" Hiashi asked.
"You may. Naruto has my confidence and if a person gets past the Sound Five, well I'm well away of the amount of damage that could take." The Snake Sannin said with a smirk.
Hiashi looked at his daughter. "I wouldn't force a marriage on my daughter either. I ask, I beg of you however to take her to Oto. The Hyuga Elders wish to mark her, even though she is eldest, they find her lacking due to her kindness to others."
Orochimaru scowled. "And you allow them to continue to have power?"
Hiashi sighed. "Much has changed since the Sannin were in Konoha. Clan councils have more power than clan heads, and the village council that once was only and advisory role to the Hokage now wield power that could upset his."
Orochimaru sighed. "Sarutobi-sensei mentioned this in our private talks." He said softly.
"You know what the council wants with…the boy." Hiashi said, his eyes landing on Naruto who gave a lopsided grin. "They can try."
"Like your father…" Hiashi muttered.
Orochimaru laughed. "Minato was a character." He looked at the girl who was looking at his adopted nephew and he chuckled.
"What will you have me do Hiashi? I won't force a marriage…and Tsunade would kill any who tried."
Hiashi nodded at this. "I would ask for…"
"Pardon." Naruto said. "What of Gaara?"
Orochimaru looked at the blond and Hiashi frowned at the interruption. "What do you mean?" the Hyuga head asked.
"My teammate, and best friend Gaara is the son of the current Kazekage. He is also a Oto Genin. If you want a mock hand fasting, what better security than that of a current kage?" Naruto sighed. "Besides, I have enough trouble with four girls, if I were to even pretend to do this, I'd be killed by one of them before Kaa-san could even lift a finger."
Orochimaru had to admit his nephew was right. The four girls that surround him would kill. He looked at the Hyuga Heiress who looked down. "Hm. What you say is correct, and with Gaara she would not only have the protection of Oto, but of Suna as well."
Hiashi nodded.
"And when you clean your clan up, she can do as she pleases." Orochimaru continued.
Naruto stood. "I'll go and speak with Gaara…" he paused and looked at Hinata. "Lady Hyuga, would you like to meet him?"
She twitched and fiddled her fingers together and after a look to her father she nodded.
The two adults watched them retreat.
"You've done a wonderful job in raising him." Hiashi said.
"That task was Tsunade's. I'm just the dotting uncle who taught him cool jutsu's and how to make poisons." Orochimaru said.
"You've all raised him. I bet he hasn't shown a tenth of his skills." Hiashi said.
"You are right. Of course its an argument between us which of us he's going to replace as a Sannin when the time comes."
"Retiring?" Hiashi asked with a grin.
"Well I am the leader of Oto. Jiraiya wants to work on his books and Tsunade…" he shook his head.
"Naruto and Anko we've raised to succeed us." He finally said. "We've taught them both all we know, and we've tried to teach them right and wrong."
Hiashi was quiet as he thought. "I always wonder how things would have turned out if Naruto had been raised in Konoha."
Orochimaru snorted. "He'd either be a cold emotionless weapon, an idiot, or dead."
"You really don't see Konoha doing well for him do you?"
"Hiashi, since the day he was born and the Kyuubi sealed in him, he had numerous assassination attempts, one of which was his fathers own pupil. His return here for the Exams has been nothing but looks of hatred."
Hiashi bowed his head. He remembered Minato, and from what he could see, his son, raised by the Sannin would surpass him in every way, including in ways of the heart.
XX
Naruto had to laugh at the look on his friends face when he'd locked him and Hinata in the same room and told them to get to know one another after he explained the plan.
"Your in a good mood Naruto-kun." Haku said appearing our of an ice mirror.
"I am Haku-chan. Just introduced Gaara to his future bride and locked the door with a time delay seal."
Haku looked back at the room. "Isn't that your room as well Naruto-kun?" the ice mistress asked.
"Oh…yeah." He scratched the back of his head and looked back sheepishly.
Haku chuckled. "Come with me." She said and created an ice mirror and pulled him in just as Kin and Tayuya came around the corner.
"THAT BITCH!"
XX
"Haku-chan?" Naruto said as they appeared atop the Hokage monument. His question was cut short as Haku leaned in and kissed him.
Time stopped for Naruto as the girl in his arms pressed in closer, her kiss short circuiting his mind and kick started his libido.
XX
(Elsewhere)
"Report." Natas ordered as he looked at the examination room.
"The Uchiha's chakra has been drained, and we've already removed his eyes milord." A scientist reported.
"Good. News from Konoha?" Natas asked.
"They are in an uproar. They are trying to force Orochimaru of Oto to turn over the Kyuubi brat."
Natas snorted. "The Sannin will let Konoha burn before they hand over Naruto." Natas muttered and stopped. "Get me Kano. I have a job for him."
"As you command Lord Natas."
The skull masked Natas stood looking at the tank where Sasuke Uchiha floated in chemicals with numerous tubes running into him.
"Don't worry Sasuke. You'll be returned to Konoha…just different than when you left." He looked at the two tanks of chemicals. "Chemical X…wonder that will do to you?"
He nodded to the doctor as he turned to meet with his warriors. "Much to do, and only a month to do it in."
His chuckle made the various technicians shudder at his passing.
AN: Naruto pulls a swerve, and Natas shows some of his plans.
PS: Sorry about the delay. Got dragged away by stupid cousins for a family reunion I didn't want to go to. No laptop or notebooks so I'm rushing out what I have to make up for it.