Naruto's Decision
Naruto sat at Ichiraku's eating a bowl of ramen when Sakura walked up. To her surprise Naruto did not even seem to notice her. Tapping Naruto on the shoulder to get his attention she asked "Is something bothering you, Naruto?"
"Oh, sorry Sakura," responded Naruto, "I didn't notice you there."
"Well," asked Sakura, "Something has your attention, so what is it?"
"I can't tell you," answered Naruto, "I promised not to tell any one."
"Well maybe if you gave me just enough information that I can help," said Sakura, "but not enough to give it away."
"Well," responded Naruto, "I have a friend who has asked for my help and I want to help them. But doing so will have consequences for me that I'm not sure I about."
Who could that be? thought Sakura who do we know that would come secretly to Naruto for help?
"I suppose," said Sakura, "It depends upon how bad those consequences are and how important your friendship with this person is."
"It's not that the consequences are bad," answered Naruto, "In fact the main consequence has some definitely nice aspects to it. It's just that it will affect the rest of my life and it's hard to know what to do."
Wait a second, thought Sakura, I heard a rumor that Hinata's father has arranged a marriage for her to some jerk. So could she be the friend that needs help and could helping her require him to marry her himself? If so I need to encourage this.
"If that's all there is to it," said Sakura, "Then help h… your friend. I don't see a down side to it."
"Well," added Naruto, "I will have to do something that could end badly in the process."
"Well Naruto," said Sakura, "Then you just have to decide if your friend is worth the enduring hard part for. If the rest is not necessarily negative then embrace it. Your friendship with this person will definitely become closer for it."
Boy will it ever be, thought Naruto as Sakura walked away.
That night at home Naruto pondered what was before him. He was getting use to idea of marrying Hinata. In fact the more Naruto thought about it the more he liked the thought marrying Hinata. In fact he could not think of a down side to being married to her.
Let's see, thought Naruto, Hinata is a terrific cook, and quite pretty too boot. Because she loves me, I know Hinata will do all she van to make me happy, so there is no down side to marrying her.
It was then that he realized marrying Hinata was not the problem but the possibility of having to harm or even kill Takeo, Yes he was a jerk but that did not mean that he deserved to die. That aspect of it bothered him.
The next morning the possibility of having to harm or even kill Takeo still bothered him. He had a possible alternative so he went to see Tsunade.
"What can I do for you Naruto?" asked Tsunade.
"I have question about a private matter from yester day," answered Naruto.
Tsunade closed the door to her office, and then asked, "What is it?"
"Why do Hinata and I have to go through with this challenge?" asked Naruto, "If winning the challenge means Hinata and I get married, then why can't we just run away and get married? I'm not afraid, I just don't wan to needlessly harm or kill Takeo Usagi."
"Unfortunately because this is an arranged marriage Hinata's father could get you two banished from Konoha," said Tsunade.
"Oh," responded Naruto, "It would have been easier to decide if we could have done that."
"So it's not marrying Hinata that you have a problem with," said Tsunade, "But harming Takeo Usagi."
"When you first mentioned it, I was shocked," said Naruto, "Hinata's actually quite a prize, she's both a great cook and pretty as well. I don't know many girls like that for example Sakura's pretty but her cooking makes better weapons than food."
"Don't let Sakura hear that," said Tsunade, "You may not live to see the engagement party."
"I all most didn't make it when I told Sakura that," responded Naruto/
Tsunade laughed.
"I want protect Hinata," continued Naruto. "But Takeo is probably being forced into this marriage as much as Hinata is and I don't want to have to kill him for that."
"Sound's like you're falling in love with Hinata," responded Tsunade.
Naruto blushed at the thought.
"Well just remember," continued Tsunade, "Most likely you won't have to actually kill him. If Takeo does not really want to marry Hinata then the Right of Challenge gives him an easy out as well. He has the right to refuse the challenge and forfeit Hinata to you with out loss of honor so that only increases the odds that you will not have to fight him. Other than that you just have to decide if Hinata worth taking that risk for."
Naruto wandered around Konoha for a bit before he returned to his apartment. When he did he knew he had to make a choice.
"Is Hinata worth taking the risk of killing Takeo for?" said Naruto to himself.
"She's a great cook and quite pretty as well," continued Naruto, and I know she loves me and would do every thing to make me happy and well fed."
Naruto thought about Hinata for while and as he did he realized that there was something in him that had always made him some what protective of Hinata when she needed it. True she is a capable ninja and able to defend herself quite well but when he was around her he always felt the need to protect her.
"Hinata would be miserable married to Takeo." said Naruto to himself, "I can stop it and I have to stop it even if Takeo forces me to kill him to do it, because Hinata is worth it and more"
It was then that Naruto realized that he actually loved Hinata, it was often hidden deep down but he now knew he loved her and had to protect her from the misery of this arranged marriage.
"I can't believe that jerk will force me to kill him," said Naruto out loud to himself. I'll just have to make sure he has chance to quit, but if he gives me no other choice I'll have to do it."
It was about that time the messenger from Tsunade came to get him.
When Naruto, arrived at the Hokage's office, Hinata was already there with a look of anticipation.
"I'll do it!" said Naruto, "I just hope that jerk isn't dumb enough to force me to kill him."
Hinata turned red and smiled ear to ear.
"Hinata, you have my word that I'll be your champion, believe it," continued Naruto, "To show you I really mean it I have something for you."
Naruto leaned over and kissed Hinata, she stood there red and in shock for several minutes.
When Hinata finally snapped out of it Tsunade said, "Remember you two should try not to get together until the engagement party. If you accidentally run into each other act casual but you don't saying thing about the challenge."
"Well I'll be training until then," responded Naruto, "So as long as Hinata stays clear of the training field, there should be no problem."
"At the opening of the engagement party the bride to be gives a greeting to the guests," continued Tsunade, "However Hinata, instead of the expected greeting, you simply say 'I want to invoke the Right of Challenge.' After that you will be asked to name you champion at which point you name Naruto as you champion."
"I got it," responded Hinata.
"Naruto you will then be asked if you will accept being Hinata at which point you say 'yes.' Takeo Usagi will then be asked if he accepts the challenge if as expected he does not accept then the engagement party becomes yours and Hinata's wedding. If Takeo is actually dumb enough to accept the challenge then fight is taken to a convenient location probably the stadium."
"Well, I just hope I don't have to actually kill him," said Naruto, "I really don't want to do that."
"Well, I'd say he's smart enough to refuse the challenge," responded Tsunade.
At this point Hinata pulled out an envelop and bowed holding it out to Naruto.
"Take this Naruto," said Hinata blushing, "but don't open it until you get home."
"OK," responded Naruto, "I love you, Hinata."
Naruto then left the Hokage's office but it was about 15 minutes before Hinata was able to do so. She just softly said "Naruto loves me!"