The Uzumaki Brigade

Naruto stepped past Hinata, and pushed the district gate open with more force than was necessary. The result was a loud bang of wood crashing into cement. This garnered the attention of everyone the square. Gimmy, the only one still awake, gathered what remained of his strength, and made his body turn to look at the new arrival.

"N-*ugn*! Naruto, what a-are you d-…doing here?"

"Well I was walking Hinata home, but seeing this just got me fired up. I'm ready to pound in the heads of whoever did this to you. So who has the balls to assault my friends?…Well, are you COWARDS?"

The Hyuuga that stood over Gimmy walked over to Naruto. It was that Hyuuga with a strange accent, the one that talked about shee-las. Naruto should learn his name sonetime, calling him the Hyuuga with an accent was getting old fast.

"Oy, what right do you have to be in here, freak? Get out now, or I'll do to you what I did to him." He gestured over to Gimmy.

Naruto finally knew who to direct his anger at, and began to call on Ryu's chakra. Maybe he could get away with using Sexy no Jutsu in front of Hinata…Then again, that might make her feel insignificant about herself. No using that jutsu, just whatever he could get with his own abilities.

Naruto, I got an idea for you. Henge into Iruka when you get the chance and maybe you can make him drop his guard. Then GO IN FOR THE KILL! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

"…Sound reasoning! Except for the killing part."

Damn you're soft! Then head-butt him, it'll at least knock him out. Make's you job easier right?

Naruto liked the sound of that tactic. They'd never think Iruka would head-butt a Hyuuga. He'd simply create a bunshin and henge while the Hyuuga was distracted. With a plan now set, Naruto gathered all the chakra he would need. He was ready, and began the assault.

Naruto made about twenty shadow bunshins, and they rushed at the man. Suddenly, a cloud of smoke obscured the man's vision, and Iruka was standing among the orange brats. He shouted out and things got weird.

"What the hell are you doing Naruto? Have you gone mad?"

The clones stopped in their tracks and cringed. Iruka? walked over to the man, and began to bow, giving apologies. This was better in his opinion, but something felt out of place. Which was the REAL orange menace? Then a thoughts struck him. Before he could react though, his theory came true, and Iruka head-butted the man with enough force to send him flying back about ten feet. There was a 'poof', and the Chunin turned into Naruto.

"N-Naruto-kun!"

Naruto picked up Gimmy and Darry, then carried them over to the gate, beside Hinata. She hugged him tightly and stepped forward. Hinata knew what was about to happen, and she knew that Naruto would have been unable to do a thing.

Hanabi began to walk towards them, a look of evil plain as day on her face This was what she was waiting for. Now she could fight Hinata, and show her family that she had skill. Then after she mopped up the let-down, she'd obliterate that orange person for attacking Steve. No one hurt the man she would marry, and she'd make sure of that.

Naruto was about to get back in the fray when the little girl stepped forward. Naruto couldn't fight a woman, he had morals that made sure of that. If Hinata hadn't stepped forward, then Naruto would have surely been beaten to a pulp.

"Naruto, you took down Steve, but you can't fight Hanabi. This is where I prove myself to my family and how devoted I am to us. I made my choice earlier, and now I will live with it."

Naruto finally learned that guy's name. But he was more focused on the girl in front of him, who was now dropping into a fighting pose. That girl, Hanabi was it? She got into the same pose, and silence blanketed the area. The two girls stood there, waiting for the other to make a move. They both knew the same techniques, and everyone but Naruto knew that.

"Go Hinata! Show that girl who has the stuff!"

This enraged Hanabi, as his voice was loud and obnoxious. She charged at Hinata, and forced all her chakra into her hands. It wasn't much, but it was enough to bring even this girl down to her knees. Hanabi thrusted, and was batted aside without even making contact with Hinata. She twisted her palm around her body, and thrusted again at the girl she called family. Hinata grabbed her wrist before the blow connected, and palm trusted at Hanabi, who also grabbed the oncoming wrist before the attack landed. They jumped back and halted to gather their breath for a moment.

Then the two Hyuugas dashed at each other, thrusting and dodging in a way that was almost like a dance. The entire clan as well as Naruto looked on in awe. These two girls learned to activate their Byakugan already? This feat was only performed by the greatest of Hyuuga talents.

The dance flowed on for minutes, but it seemed like only seconds. What intense training had these girls gone through? It was a standoff between prodigy Hanabi and let-down Hinata. Finally, Hanabi slipped up and thrusted too early, twisting her ankle in the process. Hinata grabbed her wrist tightly, and refused o let go. Hanabi couldn't move, let alone retaliate, so she glared at the traitor girl. She looked into the eyes of her opponent, and fear gripped her, for the first time in her life.

Hinata's eyes, now with the Byakugan in them, had changed color to a shining, violent green. They looked like they could pierce Hanabi's very soul, and drain her of all her fighting spirit. Hanabi was unable to move, the glare paralyzed her. It was all Hanabi could do to keep herself from screaming out in pure, absolute fear.

This was all Hinata needed to finish the fight. She spun in a 180* circle aroud Hanabi, and forced an excessive amount of chakra into her hands. She smashed them into the little girl's neck, causing a total system shut down. Hanabi's heart stopped pumping blood to her body, and her lungs couldn't get any air. She realized that Hinata planned to make her suffer, and she forced her head to turn over to the girl.

Hinata walked back around Hanabi, a smirk on her face. She continued past Hanabi, and walked over to Naruto and the two intruders. She hugged the orange boy tightly, and Hanabi forced her body to move forward. Each second caused an immense amount of pain within every inch of her body. She felt like her entire being was on fire. Hanabi's vision began to cloud, and she turned towards Steve. He wasn't dead, she was glad to know that. But he would never know the truth of her love now.

Hanabi blacked out, and fell to the ground with a thump.

I…guess that this…is the end. My resolve wasn't enough…to beat her. Now…I must face…the inevitable. But I wonder, will I dream, or will utter blackness consume me? Will I ascend to the Heavens, and live with God? Will my soul be cast down into the very pits of Hell, trapped within an endless cycle of misery and torment? What will become of me?

Hanabi's face felt cold, and suddenly, she felt nothing. Hanabi had passed from this world. Naruto watched on, but seeing tis girl weaken with each second made his blue eyes shut tight. Needless death was the one thing he wanted to avoid. Hinata had done too much, but he couldn't say that to her.

Hinata walked over to him, and she hugged him tightly. He saw tears flow down her face. At least she still had a heart. Naruto held her, and comforted her, wishing he could forget this whole event. He broke the hug, and stepped back to investigate Gimmy's wounds. They weren't too bad, nothing a bit of rest wouldn't recover. Darry looked like absolute shit right now though. Hinata investigated her wounds, and gasped when she checked Darry's pulse. Her eyes watered, and she looked at Naruto. They held each other's gaze for a few seconds, then Naruto understood.

Darry was dead, and Gimmy had no idea. How was he going to break it to the boy? How would he take it? Naruto didn't want to find out, but he had no choice, as Gimmy picked that exact moment to wake up.

"Uh-uhn. N-Naruto? I-Is Darry okay? I-I can't see anything right now."

Naruto's eyes watered up, and in between sobs, he told Gimmy.

"She-she's d-d-dead G-Gimmy! I-I-I didn't move fast enough! It's all m-my fault! I'M SO SORRY!"

Naruto dashed off, to where he had no idea. He just wanted to escape this night. He ran, and he ran, for ten minutes straight. He crashed into many a people, and he eventually made it to where he felt he could escape. He stood atop the Hokage memorial, looking out over the town. Everything was so peaceful up here.

Naruto quieted the storm in his mind, and let his body fall. He feet left the ground, and the wind began to rush through his hair. His whole world was turned upside-down, and to Naruto, it was the end. He fell down from the memorial, thinking of all that happened recently. He recalled his fight with the giant mechas, the trip with Hinata into his mind. His graduation exam, his first kiss. All these events breezed through his head. Then it struck him. He and Gimmy talked about the Forbidden scroll, and the resurrection jutsu sealed inside of it.

Salvation! He could save Darry yet…had he not thrown himself off the memorial in a suicide attempt.

…This is the end huh? Why did I have to get a stupid host like you? Minato was a fool. But as they say, 'like father like son'.

"My only regret Ryu, is not doing all that I could have to prevent this."

Then open your eyes, and call my name.

Naruto's eyes snapped open, and he raised both of his arms, placing his legs together. Red charkra began to surround him, and he cried out the line.

"Release unto the world your might, and let your roar reign supreme! RYUJIMARU!"

The chakra began to take the shape of Ryu, except this time, he was MUCH larger. Instead of forming over his shoulder, he formed below him. He finished taking shape, and jumped directly up, catching Naruto with his back. Naruto landed in Ryu's soft, plush fur.

They landed back at the top on the memorial, and Ryu returned to chibi size. He 'poofed away, and like that, everything was back to normal. Naruto heard his name called, and turned to see Hinata running towards him, carrying Gimmy.

"Hinata, I know what I must do. I've had time to think about it, and now I must enact my plan."

She stopped running, and placed Gimmy on the ground. She walked over to Naruto, and hugged him so tightly, he thought he would be crushed into two halves. He placed his right arm around her, and his left on her head. He then rested his head on hers. He smelled lilac, and it soothed him.

"Naruto-kun, please don't ever leave me again."

"…Not even after the day I die. You are, my world, my soul, and my love."

They held each other closely, and Naruto explained what his next move would be, knowing that Hinata supported him entirely. Naruto, was going to steal the Forbidden Scroll, and bring Darry back to life…