Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Rivers of Hades

Chapter 11

Naruto exited the bathroom of the apartment he shared with Kakashi. The groceries had already been put away, and he had just finished his shower. "Time for food. Now then, do I eat here or at Ichiraku's? What am I saying, Ichiraku's, of course!"

Deciding to wait a little bit before going, Naruto grabbed his copy of his clan library scroll.

"Let's see... What to read, what to read... Hmm? The Uzumaki Clan and the Rivers of Hades."

Naruto unsealed the spot marked, revealing another scroll. He opened it, and began to read. It turned out that the scroll was an account on how the Uzumaki clan supposedly gained the River techniques, and the changes made to them in the time since.

Shortly after the founding of the shinobi nations, the Shinigami came for the soul of a dying infant of the Uzumaki clan. When he arrived, he reached for the soul, but it would not leave the body. The body was dying, but the infant was clinging to life through willpower alone. The Shinigami knew this sort of thing happened on occasion, but it happening in infants, especially ones not in a hospital, was very rare.

The Shinigami made himself visible to the members of the clan standing vigil around the infant. They reacted as one would expect. The Shinigami, in an almost unheard of act, offered his condolences at the situation. He told them that had a job to fulfill, but taking infants and children was never easy for him.

The clan head stepped forward, telling him that the child was dying from a birth defect that no medical treatment could stop, leaving him in constant pain. Their only solace came from the hope that the child would be spared further pain. The Shinigami told them there was no darkness on the soul, that there was no reason for him to suffer any more than he already had.

The Uzumaki present broke down in tears. The child's parents, trying to calm themselves enough to speak coherently, thanked the Shinigami for telling them.

This stunned him. Normally, humans begged him not to take a soul, offering promises and bribes. They didn't thank him for coming to take one.

The parents continued, offering what help they could possibly provide him, should he ever need it. Anyone observing this would have gaped. Mortal beings, offering to help a seemingly omnipotent being like the Shinigami?

The Shinigami had paused at that offer. While it was true that he did have virtually unlimited power, he was also bound by laws as well, preventing him from becoming directly involved in most mortal affairs outside of his normal duties. With human agents, he would have a loophole, should he ever need it.

With that in mind, the Shinigami made the Uzumaki clan an offer. The infant had to die, but if the clan would serve as his agents among the living should he ever have need of them, he would be willing to give the clan some small amount of compensation. Negotiations began, awkwardly at first due to the emotional state of those present, but eventually an agreement was made. The Uzumaki would help the Shinigami when he needed them to, and they would gain the ability to summon water from the Rivers and an ancient being. As soon as the deal was final, the infant's body finally gave out.

In the decades following the deal, many changes were made. The Uzumaki were good people, but they were still human, and occasionally misused the abilities they had been given, like using Phlegethon for heat in the winter. Why waste firewood if you know a jutsu that burns without fuel?

Fearing that the Shinigami would be upset, the clan elders decided to restrict the ability to use the Rivers. Seals were designed for each River, eliminating the need for the hand seals that had been used since they gained the ability. The seals were designed so that, in order to use a River, the user would have to either be in a life-threatening situation, or feel intense emotion. Positive or negative, it didn't matter, it was the strength of the emotion that counted. Also, the seals would become available in a specific order, to prevent someone who wasn't ready from using Lethe and Mnemosyne. The seals were then keyed to the basic standards of the shinobi ranks; genin, chuunin, and jounin. Upon meeting the base requirements for each rank, two more Rivers could be unlocked. Once the seals were finished, the use of the hand seals was forbidden.

Looking over the requirements for each level, Naruto noticed that, by these standards, he had been capable of using the second pair for the last week. He just hadn't been in a situation where he needed to use them. It was also noted on the scroll that, in order to better hold up their end of the bargain, the clan decided that they would gain knowledge in various subjects. They had reasoned that having a broader base of knowledge in things beyond shinobi life would allow them to better do the Shinigami's bidding, should their services ever be called upon.

The clock caught Naruto's eye. "Crap! I've been sitting here reading for an hour and a half! If I want Ichiraku's, I need to leave now!"

Moving at a speed only available when running late, Naruto resealed the scroll, put it back in his room, and blasted out the door.

--

"Gotta move, gotta move, gotta -OOPH!"

Naruto had collided with someone, knocking them both over. Picking himself up, he looked at who he had run into.

"Hinata-chan?"

"N-Naruto-kun!"

"Hey there. What are doing here?"

"Kurenai-sensei cut our training short today. I-I stayed behind and trained by myself. I finished, and was heading home when I ran into you. I'm so sorry!"

"Don't worry about it. Tell you what, why don't we eat at Ichiraku's? My treat?"

"Naruto-kun," Hinata blushed lightly, "Are... are you asking me out on a d-date?"

Now Naruto was blushing too, scratching the back of his head. "I guess... I guess I am asking you out. What do you say?"

"I-I'd l-love to"

"Great! Let's go!"

With that, Naruto took off, heading towards Ichiraku's. Hinata stood there, shocked. Naruto had asked her out of his own free will, and she had accepted! Afterwards, she was going to need to find a room where she could celebrate properly.

She was embarrassed to admit it, even to herself, but like the members of Sasuke's fan club, she had a victory dance planned for just such an occasion, being asked out by the object of affection. Her status as the heiress, as well as her personality, prevented her from doing it where there was even the slightest chance of someone else seeing. She was deciding on possible locations when she heard Naruto's voice.

"Hey, Hinata-chan, are you coming or not?"

--

When the two arrived at Ichiraku's, Naruto hopped up onto a stool. Hinata calmly took one next to him. Ayame walked up to the counter, a big smile on her face.

"Naruto-kun, it's been three days! We were getting worried! And who is this?"

"Ayame-nee, this is Hinata-chan. Hinata-chan, this is Ayame. She and her dad own this place. I've been coming here for as long as I can remember."

"It's a p-pleasure to meet you, Ayame-san."

"Likewise. Now, what can I get you two?"

--

After the ramen had been served, light conversation broke out. Teuchi had come out from the back and was introduced to Hinata. Ayame took the chance to ask a question that had been on her mind for a while.

"So, Naruto, how's your training coming along? Must be something else, if it's keeping you from coming here."

"It's really cool! The only thing I'm really missing out on is what it's like being on a team."

Teuchi sighed. "Naruto, she was asking what it's like being the Hokage's apprentice. No offense, but for a ninja, you aren't very good at picking up on what isn't being said."

Naruto blinked. "Hey! I'm working on it! Being the Hokage's apprentice is really tough. A lot of people keep telling me they're expecting great things from me, even if they're just sucking up to my sensei. Still, I'm not complaining."

"You aren't? That's a lot of pressure to deal with."

"Until a couple years ago, I could count on one hand the number of people in this village who honestly expected me to ever amount to anything. Yeah, I'll complain about being called an idiot, or any number of things, but I don't ever see myself complaining about someone expecting me to be better."

"That could change, Naruto. Everything can change. Now, what's this I've been hearing about you getting a kenjutsu teacher?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah! Tomorrow, I start kenjutsu lessons with Momochi Zabuza."

"We know abut his reputation, and that he came back with you two after that C-Rank mission a while ago, but what's so special that has other shinobi talking about it? Some of them were fairly annoyed at the news."

"When I first started training with sensei, a lot of shinobi started making offers to train me in different areas. For the most part, they just wanted to suck up to sensei, and we turned down their offers. Some made the offer just because they really wanted to help. Maito Gai was the only one whose offer we seriously considered accepting, because I needed a taijutsu teacher who could spar with me. If sensei ever sparred with me, he'd be bed-ridden for a week. We didn't want to take advantage of him, so we made an agreement. So the reason other shinobi are talking about it is probably because it's rare for me to ever get steady training from someone other than sensei or Gai-sensei."

"Okay, that makes sense, but I was under the impression Hokage-sama was an experienced weapons user. Why, then, is he having you study under someone else?"

"He is a weapon user, but he specializes in fighting with a staff, mainly Enma, the Ape Lord, in his transformed state. He's good with swords too, but he told me that Zabuza would be teaching me."

"Hmm... I wonder why that is."

"I-I'm not sure, but my guess is that it's part of s-something about ap-appearances."

Naruto turned to look at Hinata. "Why do you say that, Hinata-chan?"

Hinata took some calming breaths. She wanted to stutter as little as possible.

"Zabuza-san has a reputation for being dangerous. P-part of his agreement to live here was that he would be able to teach ken-jutsu. The p-problem is, if everyone is afraid of him, no one will ask for training. That's probably why you're going to learn from him. If H-Hokage-sama isn't willing to trust his student to be safe learning from Zabuza-san, w-who will?"

"That's very true," Teuchi spoke up, "a leader needs to be able to trust those he leads, but those that are led must also be able to trust their leader to make decisions that will benefit them all. Hokage-sama has taken a very big gamble in making Zabuza-san and Haku-san Konoha shinobi. He needs to show that he was right in doing so. Haku-san, from what I've heard, has already proven he was worth it, simply by his performance as an Academy instructor, not to mention his Kekkai Genkai. Zabuza, however, has not been given the chance..."

"... Which is why I'm learning from him," Naruto finished, "to give him the chance to prove he's worth whatever may happen when Kiri finds out, or any of Zabuza's enemies. But we're still just guessing. We don't know for sure."

"Well now, my daughter and the Hokage's student, eating together. This is... unexpected."

The new voice caused the four to look around for the source. Hyuuga Hiashi was standing next to one of Ichiraku's walls, an eyebrow raised. Hinata started tensing up.

"I was aware that the two of you were in the same class at the Academy, and that you participated in a C-Rank mission together. I wasn't, however, aware that the relationship between you was anything more than that of comrades."

Naruto was sure that had this been any other parent, they would either be smirking, or would pull their child away. Hiashi, or any Hyuuga save Hinata, however, was pretty much unreadable. Naruto decided his best bet was to explain himself quickly, and mind his manners. He had seen pictures of what a Hyuuga who was proficient with Jyuuken could do to someone, and Hiashi was certainly more than proficient.

"Hyuuga-sama, let me explain. I was heading here to eat, when I ran into your daughter, who had just finished training by herself. I asked her to join me, and she agreed. If my offer disrupted any plans, I apologize."

"Your apology is unnecessary. I wasn't expecting to see my daughter until later. Hinata, you will be sparring against your sister tonight."

Hinata gulped. "Hai, tou-san."

"Wait a second. You want her to spar against her sister?"

"Yes, I do. Do you have a problem with that, Uzumaki-san?"

"Well, if you want her to spar her sister, I know it's none of my business. I just don't see why."

"It is necessary. Hinata has never beaten her sister, Hanabi, nor her cousin, Neji, whom I am aware you occasionally spar against when you train with his sensei."

"Okay, but you still haven't explained why Hinata needs to spar with her own sister. Unless both are extremely cold-hearted, you're never going to see their full abilities."

Hiashi's eyebrow raised again. "So you feel that Hinata holds herself back because she doesn't want to harm her sister? Why do you say that?"

"I'll admit that my knowledge of how things work in a shinobi clan like yours, let alone a family, is pretty much non-existent. What I do understand is that while siblings will fight, most of it will be verbally, with a little roughhousing. Making them face each other accomplishes nothing except causing bad blood between them, and Hinata just doesn't seem like the type of person who would want to do that."

"Tell me, how sure of this are you?"

"I'm very sure."

"Very well. Hinata will not spar her sister this time. Instead, she will spar you."

Naruto blinked. "Me?"

"Yes, you. You were sure that Hinata is holding herself back when she spars someone she is related to. You are not related to her, so by your logic, she will not hold back against you. Or are you unsure of my daughter's ability to prove you right?"

Naruto winced when he realized how deep a hole he had dug for himself. Either he would spar Hinata, and risk hurting her physically, or decline, and hurt her emotionally by saying he didn't have faith in her. "Alright, I'll spar Hinata. Where and when?"

"The dojo at the Hyuuga compound, in an hour. Hinata knows the way." With that, Hiashi took his leave.

"N-Naruto-kun, why did you do that? You didn't have to accept!"

"Hinata-chan, I'm sorry I got you into this mess. I opened my mouth without thinking, and I need to deal with the consequences."

"B-but I couldn't hurt you!"

"Hinata-chan, you're supposed to push yourself in a spar, physically and mentally. If you hold back, no one improves. Besides, as long as you don't try to deal a deathblow, I'll be fine."

"I'll try."

"No Hinata-chan, don't try, do."

--

An hour later, the two were facing each other in the Hyuuga dojo. Hiashi and Hanabi were the only other people watching. Hiashi spoke.

"Are you both ready?" Getting nods from both, he began the match.

Naruto was instantly on the defensive. Apparently, Hinata had taken his advice a little further than he had expected her to. From his infrequent spars with Neji, he knew that blocking would do little good against the Jyuuken, as even fleeting contact caused intense pain. He was better off dodging the strikes altogether. Of course, evading Hinata was no easy task. What she lacked in physical strength, she made up for in speed and agility.

Naruto took any opening he could, short of openings at the chest or groin. He didn't want to risk accidentally groping Hinata, especially in front of her father, a man who could do all sorts of really nasty and painful things to him. Seeing his best chance to end the spar, he performed a leg sweep on her, sending her to the ground. Unfortunately, he didn't react in time to save himself from Hinata's own leg sweep. One he was down, she was on top of him, a knee on his chest and a palm strike aimed at his head, a sure deathblow if she used even a little chakra. They were both still, until Hiashi spoke.

"I believe I have seen enough. Hinata, Uzumaki-san, would you both please sit down?" When both were seated, he continued. "Uzumaki-san, I must concede that your argument appears to have some merit to it. I have never seen Hinata perform so well, though it is too much of a jump in ability to be attributed solely to her not wanting to harm family.

"You said that making family members fight each other seemed cold-hearted. You are right, but I will explain why it is done this way, as it is a lesson you will need, should you achieve your stated goal, and make Hokage. Some day, one of my daughters will take over for me as clan head. Normally, as the oldest, Hinata would gain the position by default. At present, however, she has yet to meet what is expected of a potential clan head. Therefore, I must keep my options open, and consider Hanabi as a possible candidate as well."

"What is expected of the clan head? It can't be based entirely off the fighting ability."

"You're right. Though the clan head is expected to be exceptional with the Jyuuken, it is more important that the clan head has a strong will. Any leader, be it a clan head, a Kage, or a daimyo, will have to make decisions that go against what they believe in, in order to serve the greater good. At this point in your life, could you do that?"

Hiashi let them think about that momentarily, then continued.

"Another drawback to being a leader is that you will eventually make unpopular decisions, even if they are for the greater good. It is a fact of human nature that you can't please everyone. Yet, a leader must stand by his decisions. This is where Hinata falters the most. She wants to make everyone happy, and cares too much about how others see her."

"Isn't it a good thing that she cares how people see her?"

"In moderation, yes. After a certain point, however, you begin to care more about how you are perceived and less about performing the job properly. Leadership is not meant to be a popularity contest. This is why I have her spar her sister. If she is to lead the clan, she absolutely must have the ability to do what must be done, and live with the consequences."

"That does make sense, but isn't there another way? One that doesn't cause a rivalry between sisters?"

"I wish there was a better way. Unfortunately, the only alternatives I can think of are even worse than this. Hypothetical situations are not as effective because they are just that, hypothetical. They aren't real, so much of the potential impact is lost."

At this point, Hinata clutched her head and began making noises indicating she was in pain. Her father was at her side immediately, Naruto on her other side, with Hanabi staring at her, unsure of what was happening.

"Hinata, what's wrong?! Speak to me!"

Hinata couldn't speak through the pain, and was beginning to tear up. Hiashi activated his Byakugan to see what was happening, but he could find nothing out of the ordinary, other than an increased flow of chakra around her eyes. Eventually, the pain receded, and she could speak, albeit in short gasps.

"It-It hurts sometimes... for me to use the Byakugan. Usually, the longer I ha-have it activated, the worse the pain."

Hiashi quirked an eyebrow. "That would suggest that you were running low on chakra. However, when I looked at you just now, you had not yet used up half of your reserves. This is most unusual. Hmm... Hinata, Hanabi, the two of you may go. Hinata, I want you to go directly to bed. I would speak with Uzumaki-san in private before he leaves."

The two left, and Hiashi motioned for Naruto to come with him, out a different door.

"That was rather terrifying, but on to what I had intended to speak to you about. Do you understand now why I make them spar each other?"

"Yeah, but I still don't like it."

"For that matter, neither do I. Like you, I also don't believe family should fight physically. This clan is almost irreparably divided by it. Now then, to continue the discussion we were having before the... excitement, do you feel you are ready for the responsibilities of being Hokage?"

"Sensei has been teaching me how to perform the duties of the office, but we haven't even begun talking about the mental part of the job. He said that it would wait until I was more experienced."

"More experienced? How so?"

"He told me that even though I've been a shinobi for about four months now and I've been doing missions that are technically chuunin level almost daily, I haven't killed anyone yet."

"That makes sense. As Hokage, you will be sending shinobi on missions, missions they may not return from. In order to properly understand the importance of it, this particular lesson in military leadership is often saved until after the potential leader has taken a life. The families of those that die may resent you for sending their loved ones. Do you feel you will be strong enough to withstand that?"

"I've been despised by most of this village my entire life. I don't see how this will be any different."

"Oh, it will. I'm guessing that you are now aware of why you have been treated that way. The main difference is that what happened the day you were born was done to you and you were ignorant of what had been done until very recently, I would imagine."

"Yeah," Naruto nodded, "I found out the day I graduated from the Academy."

"Well, as Hokage, you would be making a conscious decision to send people on the mission. You will see the anger, the resentment, and you will know why it is there. The guilt will be what separates what you have endured from what you will endure."

"So you think I'll make it? That I'll become Hokage some day?"

"Perhaps. You have stated that it is your goal. You are also being trained personally by the Hokage, moving you to the top of a very short list of potential successors. It would be foolish to ignore something like that."

The two had arrived at the front door.

"Well then, thank you for the lessons, Hyuuga-sama."

"You are very welcome. One more thing." Hiashi leaned in close. "If you ever make my daughter cry, and I find out, there is no place you can hide that I won't find you. Have a nice day."

Naruto turned three shades of white and swallowed loudly. He then walked out the door. Hiashi smirked.

'Ah, the joys of being the father of a teenage daughter. I've waited a long time to act the over-protective father. I enjoyed it.'

-- -

AN: Like many other fans, I'm getting rather, shall we say, perturbed, at the way things have been going in canon for a while now. It pisses me off that, in order to stand a chance against the Sharingan, it seems that you either need a bloodline of your own, or an ability it can't copy. I swear, Kishimoto designed the Sharingan the same way little kids pick what superpowers they have when they're playing. 'I can fly, I'm bulletproof, and I have super-strength, all at the same time!' Of course, he also did something similar with the Rinnegan.

Yet another chapter I'm not particularly impressed with.

With regards to Hiashi, I'm still not sure what he's really going to be like as a father.

As for Hinata's mysterious pain, that is part of a longer story arc.

-- -

Next time: A Long Overdue Talk