Night of the Vulpine Moon

Chapter 2- "Animal I Have Become"

*Still October 22nd*

"So Naruto is the container of the nine tailed fox that nearly destroyed Konoha years ago?" Neji asked in shock as he watched Hinata nod her head and look down at the orange clad ninja who was enjoying his onigirl and feeding some to the yipping fox in his lap. "How long have you known Hinata-san?" Neji asked as he stared at Naruto, all the pieces fitting together as Hinata bit into the cinnamon roll in her hand before answering. "Since I was 12, I overheard some of the branch members talk about Naruto being the host of a demon and after the chunnin exams I put everything together and figured he was the host of the nine tailed fox." Neji looked at Hinata for she knew the secret before any of the other Konoha 11 and was okay with Naruto being the host and the power he displayed over the years.

"During the six days I would sneak over and fix him ramen, he told me about the Kyuubi and how he been acting distant lately and how he met his mother and father when the Kyuubi almost broke free and when he was trying to tame the fox." They looked down at Naruto and noticed that one of the tails had disappeared and he was down to 5 and look slightly less animalistic. 'I wonder how the others are taking the news' Neji thought as he watched and played with the baby foxes that was running all around the cave yipping and mewling in the comfy atmosphere.

"WHAT!" The Konoha 13 except for a few stood there in shock at hearing the news Tsunade had just told them. "Correct, Naruto is the vessel of the nine tailed fox, Kyuubi, that attacked Konoha 18 years ago and the 4th sealed it inside of him when he was just a few minutes old." (making Naruto 18yrs old) The group stood in disbelief as Tsunade glimpsed at Sakura, Sasuke, Sai, and Shikamaru who just stood there faces expressionless. 'I know Sai already knew, Sakura and Sasuke must have figured out after battling with and against Naruto, and Shikamaru either figured it out a long time ago or just too lazy to care. '"That explains all the looks and…" Ino suddenly looked down as she thought about all the times the loud blonde walked passed her parents store, looking around as if lost and grabbing his stomach as if he was in pain.

Ino was too young to understand at the time but she remembered the one time Naruto tried to go into a store across the street only to be literally kicked out, spat on, and called names as he ran away tears running down his face saying he only asked for some ramen. She flinched as she thought back to how se regarded him as nothing but a homeless blonde who couldn't take on the responsibilities of life and shunned him thinking he couldn't take of himself. "Who knew the biggest sacrifice he carried within him, the one to save the whole village and yet be ignored or hated for something he had no control of. Man, now I think about it I remember seeing the village give him evil looks and glares whenever he passed but I thought it was because of all the pranking." Kiba said scratching his large dog's ear as he thought about how Naruto never seemed to let it faze him. "My question is how is Neji taking it and how long has Hinata known about it since she was the one who told Tsunade-sama to tell us." Tenten said making everybody try and figure out the puzzle that was Hinata and just how she and Naruto had changed so much in one little week.

"Hinata-san, are you okay?" Neji asked as he sat down on his futon facing Hinata who was rubbing a now 3 tailed Naruto who was sleeping and purring at the same time. "I fine Neji, in fact, I haven't felt better in years" Hinata said as she scratched one of the fox kit behind its ear earning her mewl of happiness. Neji looked around the cave where several foxes, the ones that haven't left after the group went back to Konoha, were nestled next to Naruto and Hinata either playing with other or sleeping. "Hinata-sama, I just want to apologize for the prank we pulled, we didn't think he would starve himself in fact I didn't even know that they were going to drag it out for a week. I should have figured something was wrong when you started disappearing all day and didn't return until almost curfew with a happy smile on your face. I also noticed you're more…confident in yourself and around others." Neji watched as one of the fox yawned before making its way towards him and sat in his lap, staring up at him with big brown eyes. Neji couldn't help but smile at the fox kit as he cautiously scratched it behind its ear, receiving a yip of approval.

"Thank you Neji nii-san and you're right I do feel more confident and it's all thanks to Naruto-kun here." Hinata said as she smothered the blonde's hair down as the orange chakra slowly made its way back into Naruto's body, now having only two tails and looking more like his old self. Neji looked between the two before staring at the cave entrance where the orange barrier was still in placed but noticed the darkening sky. Hearing movement, Neji turned to see Hinata unravel her and Naruto's futon before coaxing the sleeping blonde into his before she entered hers, the foxes surrounding them for warmth. Neji followed suit and got into his own futon before listening to the sounds of the night as he thought about that has happened, 'What is with that mysterious chakra that came from Naruto? It's far different than from his original or that time at the chunnin exams almost like their merging or something. Also how did Naruto change Hinata-sama in a week, over something she had been enduring her whole life with trying to please her father.' Neji sighed and bundled into his sleeping bag the little fox next to him as he slowly fell asleep, wondering what Tsunade had told the other groups about Naruto and what he was going to tell Hiashi when he found out.

"It's strange but hasn't anybody else noticed that Hinata seemed to change dramatically over the week, I mean I remember Neji asking me once if I had seen Hinata who kept disappearing. I guess we now know where she was disappearing off to." Kurenai said as she thought about the kunoichi she saw as a daughter and hoped that Naruto was treating her right but knew he was if the scene from earlier was any indication. "I wonder where she got the confidence boost from since she not only attacked Sakura but Sasuke as well, which is something I never saw coming." Asuma said standing next to Kurenai who was shaking her head in agreement as Kakashi looked at his two pupils who were frowning at being reminded how they were upped by the former shy kunoichi. "Hn, she was fighting dirty and she knows she can't beat me in a fair fight and she never will be able to" Sasuke said smugly as Sakura shook her head in agreement.

'I'm almost tempted to spar them together and see what happens but I bet all my money that Hinata would give Sasuke and Sakura a hard time…' Tsunade thought as she looked up at Kakashi who had a weird gleam in his eye as he looked down at Sasuke then at Tsunade a small smirk on his face as if he was thinking the same thing she was. "Tsunade-sama, if I may…can I ask you about that strange orange chakra because it is far different from both Naruto's and the Kyuubi's chakra. In fact I couldn't suppress the chakra in any way and the sealing tags didn't seem to have any effect at all." Yamato told Tsunade who grew wide eyed and looked at Jiraiya who nodded in agreement. "Oh my, this can't be good and I don't believe there is any research on this either. It seems I'm going to have to get some more advice from our alliances as to figure out what is happening with Naruto."

The group was silent as they noticed the Hokage pull out her sake and drank straight from the bottle as she looked at them, tiredness etched all over her face. "Um Tsunade-sama, can I ask you something?" Tenten said cautiously knowing that the Hokage had enough on her plate and hated to be the messenger she hit but knew no one else was going to speak up. "Yes, Tenten what is it?" the busty Hokage said taking another swig of her sake, ignoring Shizune's talk about manner and looked at the weapons master. "Do you want me to tell Hiashi-sama about Naruto, Hinata, and Neji or-" Tenten stopped talking as Tsunade bumped her head on her desk a low groan coming from her as she felt her day go from bad to worse. "I'll tell him tomorrow, in the meantime all of you are dismissed seeing as it is getting late" and just like that everybody left the groaning Hokage and her assistant while thinking about the trio that was currently shacked up in a cave in the woods.

*October 23rd*

Neji woke up to a warm sensation all over his body as blinked, trying to wipe the sleep from his eyes. As he yawned, sat up, and took in his surroundings he realized that he wasn't in his room and started to panic only to remember the events from yesterday. Neji turned and looked at his cousin and Naruto, who was now back to normal, before looking outside at the sunlight that shown through the orange barrier. Hearing movement, Neji looked back at the two, now awake, couple as they stretched and yawned rubbing the sleep out of their eyes. "Good morning, Naruto-kun, Neji nii-san" Hinata said as she ran a hand through her hair to untangle it while Naruto greeted her before staring at Neji who just stared back.

"Hey Neji, I hope you're not mad at me for sweeping Hinata-chan away like that yesterday" Naruto said scratching the back of his head in embarrassment as Hinata giggled a bit before getting out of her futon, aware of the foxes sleeping on top. Neji shook his head saying that he understood, seeing as they had broken down his door in anger and made it seem like someone was trying to break in and do who knew what. Relieved that Neji wasn't going to kill him, Naruto swiftly got out of his futon, trying not to wake up the foxes sleeping before slipping through the barrier and out of site to take care of business. Neji then followed suit and returned with Naruto to roll up their futons as the foxes were awake now sensing the cold sleeping bags and yipped at the group who chuckled and played with the baby foxes until they heard cries from outside.

Turning, the trio noticed several mother foxes calling for their young as they ran through the barrier, turned and gave one last yip to the group before bouncing off back to their den with their mother. "I never saw foxes act so calm and friendly around people before?" Neji stated as stretched a little only to get comfortable again forgetting for a moment about his responsibility in bringing Hinata back to Konoha and just enjoyed the feeling of being free and alive for once. "I think it has something to do with the Kyuubi and his chakra although now I think about it the fox has grown unusually quiet throughout this time. I'll be right back" Naruto said as he entered his mind where the fox lived to find…

Knock, knock. "Come in" Tsunade called out trying to bury herself in paperwork that had built up from yesterday all to avoid talking to a certain somebody yet. "Hokage-sama" Tsunade almost groaned as she heard her name called by the very person she was trying to avoid and looked up from the paper she was reading. "Yes Hiashi-sama, to what do I owe this early visit?" Tsunade said calmly, noticing the slight frown on Hiashi's face as he heard the tiredness in her voice. "I came to ask assistance in finding two members of my clan- Hyuuga Hinata and Hyuuga Neji, who went missing since yesterday and haven't been in contact with anybody." Tsunade sighed, wishing she could pour herself some sake but know she couldn't as she asked Hiashi to sit down, called for the teams and their sensei and began to explain what happened yesterday as far as she knew about what happened to the two missing nin and Naruto.

'Hey Kyuubi…what the heck is happening around here?' Naruto asked as he noticed the changes in the scenery around him as he wasn't in the sewer anymore. He was in some kind of cave that looked strangely like the one he was currently in with Hinata and Neji. "Morning Naruto, as you can see this is my den and I was just making some modifications to my home before you got here that's all." Kyuubi said turning his head to look at the gaping blonde before messing with the scrolls on his bookshelves. '…are you on something Kyuubi?' Naruto asked looking at the nine tailed fox that shook his head and moved over to a picture on the wall where he took it off showing a safe that was set in the wall. Ushering Naruto over the blonde, staying cautious, he approached the fox that was humming and lifted him up with one of his tails to show him the safe.

'Why are you showing me this?' Naruto asked trying to figure out if the Kyuubi was trying to stuff him in the safe or something but nearly slapped himself to see if he was dreaming after the Kyuubi's next words. "I'm showing you the hand signs to open my safe so you can have access to all my money" the fox said as he being to go through nine hand signs before a click was heard and the safe opened up to reveal more money than Naruto had ever seen in his life. Naruto felt his body be placed inside the large safe and turned to look at the smiling fox that took a small black box out and left to mess with something else. '…' Naruto was shocked speechless as he looked at the Kyuubi, the nine tailed fox demon, the strongest and most powerful demon to earn the title 'King of the Biju', smiling and humming as he looked around his "den".

'Are you on catnip or something?' Naruto asked hearing from Kiba how he was affected by catnip once before and that it was intoxicating for animals with strong sense of smell. Kyuubi chuckle saying no and that he was in a good mood because the vulpine moon was approaching and it was a special event for kitsune. "Every 1000 years the vulpine moon takes place on Halloween in which the moon goes through four colors to signify the four different strengths of the kitsune. It is also considered the night a kitsune receives a new tail." Then why are you so happy since you have your 9th tail or is it possible for you to get a 10th one?" Naruto asked as he looked around trying to figure out a way to get down when he saw the Kyuubi turn around a smile still etched on its face as he picked Naruto up and sat him down lightly on the floor before sitting down beside him with a book Naruto literally had to climb up on just to read what it was saying.

"It is said that the four colors of the moon represents the four strengths of kitsune in the world. The yellow moon represents foxes which have 1 to 8 tails and is seen as good luck by them to earn a new tail. The red moon represents when an 8 tailed fox finally receives its ninth tail and its fur changes to red and its powerful grows to nonmatching heights. The last two colors are the most symbolic for they represent the two most powerful foxes in existence. The black fox, also known as the vixen of darkness was as powerful and equal in strength as the white fox, or the vulpine of light. When a nine tailed fox reaches a total of 10,000 years he or she are able to receive the blessings of Inari, the deity of the kitsune also known as the "vulpine of light" and have their one true wish come truth as long as it doesn't deal with harming others. If any fox has shown good deed throughout his/her life then on the night of the vulpine moon, he/she will receive Inari's blessing in which his/her fur will turn silver and become a silver fox, one of the followers of Inari and be allowed in his pack. It has also been known that mated fox who have pure intentions in the world will become the next black and white fox of the human world and will have the power to bring forth the 9 original…

'Uh…Kyuubi, I hate to burst your joy but you don't fall under any of these categories so why are you so happy?' Naruto asked making sure the Kyuubi wouldn't squish him in the book as he saw the Kyuubi frown and shake his head. "Not me Naruto…but you. You see on the night of the vulpine moon I will die for my final wish isn't to get revenge on Konoha, your father, or Madara but for me to be reborn and try and change my life around. I let the thought of power go to my head but since I've been sealed inside you and you learned to deal with your dark side and control my chakra, I started seeing things in a different light." Naruto stood there shocked as what Kyuubi had told him registered in his mind before he wondered what would happen to him. 'Then what about me, how will this affect me or the seal on Halloween?' Naruto asked as he saw the fox demon use one of his long red-orange tails to place the box from the safe in front of him.

'What's this?' Naruto asked before he opened it and found a necklace similar to Hinata's on it was in the shape of a star but had the same chibi fox and Uzumaki swirl on it. "It's the other necklace that is the mate to Hinata's as you can see. Your necklace and Hinata's necklace are very special and will help you during the vulpine moon." Kyuubi explained as he grabbed the book and flipped through it to a different page. 'How will this help us during the moon and how do you have the other necklace if you trapped in here and it was lost with my mother?' Naruto asked but raised an eyebrow when he saw the Kyuubi's red eyes soften before he started explaining to Naruto about the secrets of the necklace, the vulpine moon, and what would happen once he died as he showed Naruto the book.

"So Naruto gave you this necklace that has been part of his clan on his mother's side as a gift to be his girlfriend?" Neji asked Hinata who nodded, smiling and looking down at the precious silver necklace hanging around her neck. It has been 20 minutes since Naruto went into his mind to talk to the Kyuubi and Hinata decided to talk to Neji and explain all the stuff Naruto had told her about his dad being the 4th and his mom being the previous holder of the nine tailed fox. "Yes, I accepted and nothing otou-san will say will change my mind for I love him and I know he loves me and not just for my cooking." Hinata said confidently as she looked at her cousin who nodded hoping to find someone who would love him as much as he would love them. "So, how is the relationship between you and Tenten Neji nii-san?" Hinata asked innocently before laughing at how red Neji's cheeks were and him sputtering, saying that Tenten was nothing but a friend.

"Sure she is" Hinata said under her breath before laughing again as Neji's cheeks went even redder saying that it was time to change the subject. Hinata stopped laughing when she heard a groan from Naruto who blinked and looked around before his eyes landed on them a small smile on his face. "Sorry, I was out of it for so long but it turns out the fox taught me some interesting things" Naruto said as he got up from his seat and touched the wall to the right of the cave where the painting was hanging in the Kyuubi's den. "Really like what Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked curiously as she watched Naruto go through nine hand signs stopping on one she didn't recognize before a soft click was heard in the cave. Hinata and Neji sat in shock as Naruto opened up a safe in the wall filled to the brim with money.

"How did you do that Naruto?" Neji asked as he saw the blonde take out some of the money and a black box before he opened it and nodded as if confirming something. Going over to Hinata he handed her the box and asked her if she accepted him if he were to change. Before Neji could ask what he meant, Hinata nodded and said that she would because she loved him and Naruto smiled before showing her the other necklace inside the box. "I thought the necklace was lost" Neji asked as Hinata picked it up and placed it around Naruto's neck saying that she would always accept him no matter what. Smiling, Naruto and Hinata shared a kiss as Neji awkwardly turned his back to them saying that now wasn't the time for this as he looked outside and frowned for he thought he heard something. Naruto and Hinata broke apart as they heard the same thing Neji heard, only louder, which was the cry of their names.

"Oh no, Hiashi-sama is coming" Neji said paling a bit as he activated his byakugan and watched his uncle come closer with Tsunade, Jiraiya, Iruka, Anko, the team sensei, and several ANBU hot behind his trail. "Joy" Hinata said as she watched Naruto picked up the now empty box which he placed it in the safe, pulled out a much smaller box which he slid into his pocket, and closed the safe before waving a chakra covered hand over it hiding it again. Naruto and Hinata joined Neji at the border of the orange shield as they watched the large group jump down in front of them, Hiashi byakugan activated in anger. "Hinata you come out of their now and away from that monster" Hiashi ordered as Tsunade tried to calm him down saying that the name calling wasn't necessary. Everybody except Hiashi was surprised when Hinata nodded and walked through the barrier with Neji and Naruto right behind her.

"Yes otou-san but I must correct you when you told me to stay away from that monster for there is no monster in there with me. There was only Naruto-kun and Neji nii-san and neither one of them is a monster, so you are mistaken." Hinata said calmly not once looking away from her father as everybody else gaped at the bravery of Hinata standing up to her father whose face took on a new shade of red as he glared at his daughter. "You are in no position to talk back to me Hinata for you have disobeyed my orders to stay away from him, broken curfew, and disobeyed the orders of the Hokage when she told you to go back to Konoha." Three pair of stomachs suddenly growled loudly as Naruto laughed saying that they didn't eat anything this morning and that they should go get breakfast-his treat. Hinata smiled looking at Naruto and said that was a good idea before walking around her father, much to the shock of everybody, as she and Naruto jumped into the trees and looked down at the group.

"Are you coming Neji nii-san, I know you're hungry too" Hinata asked as she saw Neji look between his uncle and Hinata a somewhat scared look on his face as he tried to figure out what to do. His mind however was made up for him as Naruto and Hinata jumped back down from the tree, grabbed Neji around his waist, and jumped back into the trees, and off towards Konoha at speeds not normal for them, even with fueling chakra to their feet. Neji could feel his uncle's eyes glaring at him as he turned to look at Hinata and Naruto who were smiling and talking about what to get for breakfast. 'Something has changed between the two and I bet Naruto knows what since he didn't have time to answer us about how the conversation with the Kyuubi went.' After Neji told them that he could jump, Naruto and Hinata let him go and continued to jump through the trees Neji right beside them as he looked for his uncle and the others to follow them but was surprised when they didn't.

"Tsunade-sama must be talking to him about what happened yesterday" Neji muttered as they made their way to the gates of Konoha where they greeted Izumo and Kotestu before heading off to the nearest restaurant for breakfast. Back in the clearing, Hiashi was indeed stopped by Tsunade who was trying to talk the Hyuuga leader out of disowning Hinata and banning Neji saying that all of this was her fault instead of the Neji and Hinata. Tsunade and the rest of the team leaders than began to explain how their simple prank led to the three in the cave. "That still doesn't excuse her for disobeying my orders" Hiashi said angrily as he glared in the direction that the trio had taken before jumping out of site. "I know Hiashi but you didn't see what had happened for somehow Hinata is able to tame Naruto after he went into his six tails state" Jiraiya added as Anko raised an eyebrow and began to question Kakashi about what happened when the Kyuubi's chakra broke through.

"We believe that the Kyuubi is in fact merging with Naruto and this might cause problems in the near future" Yamato told the group as everybody began to mutter asking what they should do about Naruto. Just then Tsunade spoke up by informing the others of special guest that were on their way. "So far we have no research on the condition of the Kyuubi merging with Naruto but I have received a letter stating that the Kazekage Gaara of the hidden sand village asked for permission to visit Konoha for he has knowledge as to what is happening. I have informed them that it was acceptable and that he and his siblings will be here in three days." Kakashi frowned as he looked at Tsunade his one eyes fixed on her face as he asked her about the people coming. "Isn't it a bit odd to have Gaara come to Konoha at the exact same time the Kyuubi is merging with Naruto?" The group said a brow as they asked Kakashi to clarify as he sighed put his book away and told them his thought about the former demon vessel coming to Konoha when the Kyuubi is not acting right.

"So Naruto, what did the Kyuubi tell you while were talking to it?" Neji asked as they sat down in the restaurant and waited for their breakfast to be prepared. "Well…I can't tell you in public because I don't want to cause a scene but after we get through eating let's head back to the cave and I can show you much of what happened." Naruto told Neji as their food came and they dug in into their meal. After they ate, they left the restaurant in time to see the Tsunade and the rest approaching them with frowns on their faces. "Hey baa-" Naruto started to say before Tsunade pointed to the Academy and said angrily, "All three of you in my office…now" before she walked off with Hiashi, Iruka, and Jirayia in tow. Seeing as they had no choice they followed the blonde Hokage to her office where she sat down and asked Naruto what was happening with him.

"Nothing baa-chan, I'm okay, the Kyuubi is okay, and-" Tsunade hit her fist on the desk making it shake as she glared at the smirking blonde. "I'm serious Naruto, what happened yesterday, why is your chakra orange, and how is it involved with the Kyuubi?" The room was quiet after Tsunade's outburst as everybody stared at Naruto, waiting for him to answer as he sighed and looked up at Tsunade. "Well after Neji knocked down my door I grabbed Hinata-chan and ran to a cave I used to hide in from the villagers, when the rest of them found me. I thought they were the town people coming to attack me again so I started to fuel the Kyuubi's chakra to shield Hinata-chan." Tsunade grew quiet as she sighed, saying that she was sorry for yelling and asked him about the orange chakra. "It seems that the fox's chakra is merging with mine because the Vulpine Moon is arriving soon on Halloween and that is when the fox's power is at its strongest but don't worry he can't break free for the seal still holds him inside." Naruto said quickly when he noticed Jiraiya's and Tsunade's scared expressions when he mentioned the fox power growing stronger.

"Then how were you able to stay sane and look yourself after you reached four tails?" Jiraiya asked staring at Naruto through slit eyelids as Naruto said that as the fox's power grew stronger so did his control but that it make have something to do with Hinata being nice to him over the week. "She was the only one who came to check on me after I locked myself up in my house" Naruto said staring at the two Sennin who managed to look down as to avoid his eyesight for they were the reasons for locking himself up. "So because Hinata went to check on you, she is the only one who is able to keep you tame when you use the Kyuubi's chakra?" Iruka asked softly looking at the kunoichi in question who stared at her father wondering what he would say to the answer. "Yea because whenever I'm around her I want to be by her side and protect her like when everybody almost attacked her earlier yesterday."

Tsunade told Naruto and Hinata to wait outside as she talked with Neji alone saying she had a few more questions. As soon as they left, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Iruka, and Hiashi begin to batter poor Neji with dozens of questions about what happened after they had left in which Neji answered truthfully, well almost all. "So you're telling us that the only thing that happened was a whole bunch of foxes entered the cave with the food and futons, Naruto explained to you about Kyuubi, all three of you went to sleep in separate futons, then woke up the next morning where the foxes left and you sat there until we arrived?" Jiraiya asked nonbelief shown on his face as he stared at the Hyuuga prodigy who nodded and said that was all that happened, hoping his uncle didn't that he was lying. After a couple of minutes, Tsunade sighed, dismissed Neji, and told them him to keep an eye on Naruto and Hinata.

Nodding, Neji left the room to join up with Naruto and Hinata who left the Academy as Tsunade had a talk with Hiashi about letting Naruto stay around Hinata more often which he agreed as long as Neji was around to keep an eye on them. Neji, Naruto, and Hinata walked around the town before heading to Naruto's apartment where he told them that he would explain what the Kyuubi had told him. Once inside, Naruto was surprised to find his door fixed, his apartment cleaned, and the fridge and cupboards stocked with food, mostly ramen. "I guess this is their way of apologizing" Naruto muttered as he closed the cupboards before placing silence tags all over the room to promote privacy. "Okay you two get ready for what I'm about to tell you because it will shock you to the core" and with that Naruto began to tell them all Kyuubi had said to him about what would happen during the vulpine moon.

Neji and Hinata were shock after Naruto had told them everything about what will happen at midnight marking the Halloween day. "So, the Kyuubi has the ability to be granted one wish and he chooses to be reborn which in the end lets him escape his seal. Then all his possessions will go to you which happened to be in the cave we were just in that just so happens to be the Kyuubi's den. Then as soon as he dies all his powers will go to you and Hinata because you chose her as your "mate" and if she has accepted, right?" Neji asked trying to wrap his mind around all the information as Naruto nodded looking at Hinata who blushed, saying that it was a "dream come true". "Hiashi-sama isn't going to like this when he finds out" Neji muttered as he looked at the two lovebirds who were discussing about the Kyuubi before they heard his comment. "You mean IF he finds out because you wouldn't tell otou-san about this, would you Neji nii-san?" Hinata asked sweetly making Neji shiver a little as he heard the underline threat in her words.

"No I'm not going to tell him (mostly because I don't want to be the messenger who gets killed) but it's going to be hard to keep this from him once Halloween comes which is only 8 days away" Neji said looking at a calendar hanging on Naruto's wall. "So we try and keep it a secret from him until the week is up then by the time he learns it will be too late for we will be married and he won't be able to do anything about it." Neji and Hinata looked at Naruto when he said the "m" word before they watched wide eyed as Naruto got down on one knew and pulled out a small box that he swiped from the safe earlier. "That is if Hinata will have me and become Hinata Uzumaki" Naruto said showing her the two rings inside the small black velvet box as he looked into her eyes. Without a second thought, Hinata said yes and kissed Naruto squarely on the lips making Neji turn as not to be the witness of them making out.

After 5 minutes, Neji risked turning around and found that they stopped kissing and that Naruto had slipped the silver ring with the design of a silver fox curled around a large red diamond that looked as it had fire sealed inside it. Hinata then placed the silver fox band around Naruto's finger before he let out a yip of joy before his face scrunched up in surprise making Hinata laugh and Neji smile a little. "That's nice and everything but I think you better hide the ring or Hiashi-sama will turn into a fox coat once he sees the ring" Neji said before the rings on their fingers glowed and disappeared the only thing to mark they were there was a black ring around their fingers. "The Kyuubi told me that these rings were passed down in his family for generations and that since he never found a mate he thought I should have them. They have a special illusion cast on it so that it can be hidden from other people's view as to not draw suspicion. Oh yea, wait Neji I got something for you too but it still at the cave." Naruto said frowning a bit as he thought about all the things he didn't get to explore at the cave.

"Don't worry about it Naruto, since I'm supposed to be watching you two we will go there at some point this week but not today as it seems that would look suspicious." Neji said as he got up from his seat, moved over to the door and told them that they had to go report in for missions. Agreeing, Naruto pulled the box away in his dresser, took Hinata's hand, and followed Neji out of his house and towards the mission room where they knew they would be faced with a lot of question…he was right. As soon as the trio entered the room, everybody went quiet as they stared at Neji, then at Naruto and Hinata, then at their hands that were joined together as the three other kunoichi swooped down at them like vultures asking a lot of questions.

Thankfully Naruto and Hinata was saved by Tsunade who came in and said that Naruto, Hinata, and Neji were given a special mission to meet Gaara and his siblings at the border of fire and wind nation and to personally escort him here. "Cool, I haven't seen Gaara since the war" Naruto said excitedly as he ran out the room with Hinata as Neji sighed, took the mission's report from Tsunade and said that he would keep an eye on him before he too disappeared. "Why do I have the feeling they are hiding something from me?" Tsunade muttered out loud as she dismissed the teams except for Kakashi, Yamato, and Gai who she ordered to watch the group at a distance to make sure nothing bad happened to Naruto or Gaara. They agreed and sped off to get their supplies and tailed the three ninja while she ordered Asuma, Kurenai, and Anko to go back and check out the cave, saying that there was more than it appeared in the cave thinking there was some hidden panels as Naruto had brought them breakfast but didn't have any money before. "Something tells me this is going to be a long week."