Disclaimer – I do not own anything in the Naruto manga or anime series.
A/N – I'm very sorry for the late update and I won't give any excuses for it to waste your time. Enjoy the chapter and thx for reading!
- - - - - - - - - - - -Chapter 10 – Engagement of the village or engagement for the village?
Sakura sighed as she made breakfast. She woke up late to find out that there was no hot water or electricity. Then she was late to shower and get dressed and only to be reminded that she couldn't use anything electrical.
She had to mark some paperwork Iruka had given her the previous day in the academy since he was going on a mission that day. She didn't have the heart to refuse the sweet man.
So Sakura and Ino were going to be stuck with screaming and mischievous children for a whole day without the helpful pillar that was Iruka.
Sakura cursed her fate for giving her the worst day possible. She looked out the window while absent mindedly stirring her soup. The day was beautiful. Spring had started two weeks ago and nothing could go wrong with the weather. If only my day was as bright as the sun, she thought with a weary sigh.
Tsunade sighed as she looked at the loads of documents in front of her. Her headache was killing her. Maybe I shouldn't have drunk so much sake, Tsunade stared at the documents, nah.
Her musings were cut short when a knock sounded. She called out a loud 'enter' and the door opened to reveal Shizune with her arms full of breakfast for her and more documents. Tsunade groaned when she saw the papers, getting a frown from the younger woman which she ignored.
"Tsunade-sama, team 7 will be here shortly. Team disbandment ended yesterday but Sakura has work with the academy still." Shizune said while cleaning out the table when Tsunade ate her breakfast.
Tsunade nodded at the dark-haired woman. "Her work won't end for two days. After that she will have to work with Ino to protect the Daimyo's daughter."
Shizune looked worriedly at the older blond woman. She knew that having so many important people at the village at this time was taking a toll on her. "Hokage-sama, what should we do about the protection of the village? We can't even dispatch ANBU for Fumihiko-sama."
"I know shizune. But there's nothing that I can actually change. It's not like we have shinobi dropping from the sky," she sighed, " Also I have complete faith in Naruto in his ability to protect his precious people, and Fumihiko-sama is values more than his life for him".
But jiraiya's information is really unsettling, actually I don't believe the crap he spewed out, he was probably drunk out of his mind. There was no way Naruto could have crossed the bridge, no one survives after crossing the great borders, Tsunade tried to convince herself, but even to her it didn't hold much conviction.
Shizune looked doubtful before stopping herself from further commenting by the glare from her mentor. She sighed and resumed cleaning the table. Both of them were broken from their own worlds when a second knock came from the door. It opened to show Riku and Sakura, both of them greeting the two women already in the room who greeted back.
"Tsunade-sama, I guess I won't go in this mission. I came to give my report on the academy work." Sakura said while handing Tsunade a file.
"I'm sure it won't hinder you when you're going on a mission Sakura. You will have Konohamaru helping you from tomorrow. And since Iruka will also be there you will only be needed in the morning at the academy, the same will go for Ino." Tsunade replied while looking through the file.
Sakura was in cloud nine. They were saved! I can't wait to tell Ino about this. "So after the morning shift I will do normal jounin routine shishou? (Master)"
Tsunade nodded but before she could reply another series of knocks sounded. Tsunade sighed before calling a 'enter'. The door opened to reveal a certain Uchiha. Sakura brightened up when she got one look at the raven haired man who ignored her completely.
The Uchiha nodded at the Hokage who nodded back. "What mission will we be taking today hokage-sama?"
The blond woman looked at him for a second before returning her eyes to the documents she had been looking at. "I will brief the whole team together and I don't want to repeat." Then she looked at the pink haired woman staring at the silent Uchiha. "Sakura you're dismissed."
Sakura jerked as if waking from a dream before she gave a short nod to the Hokage and with a final glance at the Uchiha she left the room.
Tsunade looked at the silent man before shifting her attention to the other member of Team Kakashi. "Riku, you will be remaining as a member of team 7 since most of the time someone will be doing a separate mission. But Naruto will be reinstated. You have no objection I hope."
Riku looked at the Hokage before shaking his head as a negative. Tsunade nodded and was about to say something else when she was interrupted by another knock on her door. She cursed before shouting for the person to enter.
Naruto entered the room with Kakashi, shocking everyone there because Kakashi was actually on time. Sasuke looked at the blond man before giving a return nod to him and Kakashi.
"Well since all of you are here I will start explaining then. Shizune, sake!" the Hokage ordered as the last two members needed for the meeting settled down.
"I don't know I you already know or not but the Daimyo's daughter is coming to Konoha." Tsunade held up a hand to stop the interruptions from Riku.
"She won't be here for that long. She's visiting her fiancé and will leave when they get married as I think. But we don't know for sure. Hinata and Sakura will be her bodyguards and since her fiancé is a competent ninja he will look after her when he's with her."
Riku looked confused as he processed the information. The daimyo's daughter? She's marrying a ninja? Then who is he?
"Demo, Hokage-sama Sakura has work in the academy." Riku voiced one of his questions.
"I know that." Tsunade looked irritated. "Her work will be cut in half from tomorrow. Until then Hinata will be looking after the Daimyo's daughter."
Kakashi looked up from his Icha Icha paradise book. "Don't you think it'll be wise to put someone else instead of Sakura if she will be only doing bodyguard duty half the time? Also who's the fiancé?"
Tsunade grimaced as she looked at the book in the copy-nin's hand before scowling at him and answering.
"Daimyo's daughter, Fumihiko Aiko-sama will be always looked after by her fiancé. He's one of our top ninja so she will be secure. But I will post Tenten along with Hinata and Ino then. I hope it will suffice." She shot a look at Naruto who nodded back.
Sasuke watched the interaction with narrowed eyes. He didn't like where this was going. "You still didn't say who the fiancé is Hokage-sama." he drawled out as he watched Naruto from the corner of his eyes. He didn't miss the slight stiffening of the blond. He also saw the look Tsunade shot the blond male.
"I think I will let fiancé let himself to be revealed." She said with a glare at the raven haired male who ignored it making the blond woman huff.
"It's ok Tsunade. I think they should know." A monotone voice said from Riku's left making him shiver at the absolute lack of emotion of the tone.
Kakashi, Sasuke and Shizune looked at him while Tsunade sighed and nodded. "It's your choice Naruto." Her amber eyes were full of warmth but Naruto didn't feel it, he couldn't feel anymore.
Naruto looked at the Uchiha, the man he would've given his life for a long time ago but now was distant memory.
"I am engaged to Fumihiko Aiko and we're getting married in twenty days. All of you are invited." He didn't look at the reactions he received at the announcement. So he didn't see kakashi's eyes widen and his book fall. He didn't see the grief in Sasuke's eyes or the jealousy raging in Riku or the shock in Sakura.
"Hokage-sama, she will be arriving in half an hour if she didn't have any trouble along the way."
Tsunade nodded at him. "I sent Team 9 as escorts. I think they'll be able to handle anything. I think that's all." She gave brief glances at the others in room. "Dismissed."
Shiba Riku was angry. Angry was an understatement. He was bloody furious!
How can that dobe get engaged to the daimyo's daughter! He was and still is a dead-last according to that dog-boy! How in the world did it happen?
He stopped short when he heard his name being screamed. He looked up to see Kiba and Hinata with Shikamaru. He smiled and waved in return before jogging up to join them.
"Ohayo minna (Everyone). Shopping so early?" He nodded towards the bags in Hinata's arms and Shikamaru's arms too.
"Mendokuse (Troublesome) okaa-san (Mother) wanted some more things to make her soba. I was handy since Otou-san (Father) was still sleeping." Shikamaru grumbled out making Hinata giggle.
"We're out shopping because Akamaru ate all the breakfast before we could." Kiba said sending an apologetic look at Hinata and a glare in Akamaru's direction.
Riku laughed but stopped suddenly when he saw a blond head appear few feet away from them. Kiba followed his gaze when Riku started frowning unconsciously.
"Riku, what happened?" Kiba asked quietly, not wanting Hinata who was looking at a clothes shop, to hear.
Riku turned his head to look at the Inuzuka heir. "Do you know who he's engaged to?" He sighed when Kiba shook his head. He looked back at the Namikaze who was walking in their direction. He caught a pair of azure eyes and held them in spite of the blankness they had.
"He's getting married to Fumihiko Aiko." Azure eyes looked away and Riku looked at a pair of soft brown ones belonging to Kiba. "Fumihiko Aiko is the daimyo's daughter." He snapped his head around when he heard a gasp and a clatter.
Hinata stood behind him. Hey large light lavender eyes were wide and horrified. Her arms were slack and unmoving. The shopping bags she held before were near her feet, spilling everything in them.
She moved suddenly, startling Riku. She grabbed hold of his shirt, bringing his face close to hers. He could smell her shampoo, a soft tantalizing smell of roses.
"What did you just say? Tell me it's not true! IT's not true!" she voice was soft at first but reached in volume as she cried out the last part, desperation and grief evident in her posture and voice.
Hinata clutched her head and fell to the ground, crying. Kiba was standing behind her, a shocked look on his face.
"What do you mean Riku? How can that dobe be engaged to someone like that?" Kiba hissed.
Hinata's breath hitched at the 'dobe' but she didn't say anything. Riku bent down and helped her to gather her shopping bags and out everything in.
When she got up there were still quiet tears on her face and she wiped them off silently. Kiba didn't say anything about her outburst and let her walk away with Akamaru.
Riku sighed as he watched Hinata walk towards the Hyuuga compound. She was supposed to stay in the Inuzuka compound I think.
He looked back at Kiba. The brunette was silent but Riku could see the hurt and rage in his eyes. He inwardly sighed.
"Namikaze said it this morning when Tsunade-sama summoned us to brief us on the current status of the team. He's back in it so we're functioning as a normal team with him in it instead of Sakura-chan. Tsunade-sama confirmed it. She's coming here in a bit. They're getting married, Inuzuka. I have to go. We're supposed to welcome her as his team members. You should go find Hinata-chan."
With that he turned and left but when he turned back to see if he could still he see the blonde head. But he couldn't and he had a feeling that Namikaze Naruto had left before he said anything.
Naruto stood at the gates. He was wearing a black waist length yukata with black hakama and pants. He was waiting for Aiko. The wind blew softly around him, ruffling his long blond tresses and loose clothes. He sighed softly.
I didn't want them to know. I don't even want to do this. But I have to. Aiko doesn't even know what she's getting into. His azure eyes narrowed. She doesn't know that I know either. Do you Aiko.
"Naruto, didn't you get her anything?" a soft voice reprimanded from his side. He looked to see the same warm amber eyes looking at him. He cocked his head to the side.
"Should I?"
Tsunade sighed at the complete hopelessness he showed. But it brought a smile to know he was the same naïve boy. My little otouto (Little brother).
"Daijoubu desu. I think she'll be used to your ways by now, ne Naruto?" Tsunade laid her hand against his tan arm. She hid her hurt when he pulled away. But before he could reply there were more chakra signatures around them.
"Hokage-sama." Kakashi nodded to the blond woman who nodded back.
"Thank you Kami-sama that Sasuke and Riku didn't learn their sensei's tardiness." Tsunade said nodding to the other two men. Riku scoffed while Kakashi feigned a hurt look. None of them were sure what it was because of his mask. Tsunade eyed all the gathered villagers and shinobi.
"They're here Tsunade." Naruto's quiet voice broke through before one of them could. All of them turned to see team 9 walking alongside a carriage. They waited till the carriage approached the gate.
All the gathered people waited with baited breath as the carriage was opened by a guard of the daimyo. All of them were shocked into silence when a figure stepped out of it.
"Hizashiburi desu ne Naruto-kun.(Long time no see)"
A/N- Hoped you enjoyed it. I'll try to update as soon as possible.