The Party

When Naruto got to the engagement party he found that he had forgotten his invitation. However Yumi was the one checking the invitations, Hinata had arranged this so as to leaving nothing to chance about Naruto getting in.

"Your invitation please?" asked Yumi.

"Well," replied Naruto, "I seem to have forgotten it.:

"Go on in," said Yumi with a wink, "I know you were invited. The bride's announcement will be in a few minutes."

Naruto was amused by the fact that she Yumi had referred to Hinata as the bride rather than bride to be.

The guard standing by Yumi to handle any one foolish enough to crash the engagement party said, "Why did you let him in without an invitation?"

"Because I know he was invited," answered Yumi, "Not only is his a personal friend of lady Hinata but I personally gave him his invitation. Besides do you really want to take on the guy who defeated pain?"

"Good point," responded the guard.

Every one at the party was wearing kimonos and Naruto did not have to wait long before encountering Sakura.

"So when's the big moment Naruto?" asked Sakura.

Naruto said nothing.

It was at this point that Hiashi Hyūga got up to welcome the guests.

"Thank you for coming," said Hiashi, "I am pleased to announce the engagement between my daughter Hinata and Takeo Usagi. Hinata will be out momentarily to greet you all."

Moments later Hinata come in wearing the kimono she was wearing in the picture she had given Naruto. He was fighting hard to avoid showing any interest in how nice she looked.

"I would like to," started Hinata pausing to get up her courage, "exercise the Right of Challenge."

For a moment you could have heard a pin drop as everyone in room except Naruto, Yumi, and Tsunade were in a state of shock. Yumi was in the back so Sakura did not see her but she took note of the total lack of any hint of surprise from Naruto and Tsunade.

"What the # #% is going on here?" demanded Hiashi.

"There is a little known and seldom used law that gives a girl being force into an arranged marriage to challenge the wedding," responded Tsunade, "As long as she has a guy who will be her champion for the combat. If her champion is victorious the girl and her champion are immediately married"

Hiashi looked at his family's lawyer as if he were about to ask an obvious question.

"It's true," said the lawyer. "It is still on the books even though it has not been used in 100 years."

"103," responded Tsunade, "My grandmother was the last girl to exercise the Right of Challenge before to night."

Mean while Sakura said to Naruto, "Ha, I knew you were involved with some scheme to get Hinata out of this wedding. Some how I 'm not surmised that sensei Tsunade is in on it too."

"What ever gave you the ideawe had anything to do with this?" asked Naruto.

"Easy," responded Sakura, "you were the only two I saw that where not surprised by Hinata announcement."

"Well Tsunade," said Hiashi, "Since you seem to be the expert here what's next."

"As Hokage," said Tsunade, "It's my job to officiate the challenge."

"Well," responded Hiashi, "Get on with it."

"Hinata," said Tsunade, "Are you prepared to name your champion and if he is victorious to immediately take him as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"Yes," responded Hinata with unusual boldness, "I am."

"Then name you champion," said Tsunade.

"I choose Naruto Uzumaki as my champion!" declared Hinata."

"That proves I was right," said Sakura.

"Ok, you were right," responded Naruto, "I can't talk now, I'm up next."

"Is Naruto Uzumaki?" asked Tsunade.

"You know I am," declared Naruto stepping forward.

"Have you been informed of the conditions of the challenge?" asked Tsunade.

"Yes," responded Naruto holding back the urge to reminded the Hokage that she had personally told him.

"Then do you Naruto Uzumaki agree to be Hinata Hyūga's champion," asked Tsunade, "and if you are victorious to immediately take her as you lawfully wedded wife?"

"I sure do," replied Naruto, "Believe it."

"Takeo Usagi, do you accept the challenge?" asked Tsunade, "Before answering you should know a few things about the nature the challenge. First all refusing the challenge means that the champion wins by default and this engagement party becomes Naruto's and Hinata's wedding. Second there is no shame or dishonor associated with refusing the challenge since you are simply saying that you don't think the girl is worth fighting for.

Finally the challenge is a fight to the death between the champion and the arranged groom in this case you and Naruto."

Takeo swallowed hard.

"The fight continues until one of you is dead or quits," finished Tsunade.

Takeo's father pulled him aside.

"You know how important this marriage is to our family," said Hiroki Usagi.

"I know father," responded Takeo, "Naruto's the jinchūriki of the 9 tail fox, he'll kill me easily. Hinata's good looking and all but not worth dieing over."

"Well," responded Hiroki, "If you refuse the challenge don't bother coming home. Besides despite all his power Naruto hates killing, you should be able to bluff him is the quitting to avoid killing you."

Takeo then turned to Tsunade and said "I accept."

"So where can we have the challenge?" asked Tsunade.

Hiashi answered, "We have a small fighting arena with seats used for family exhibitions on holidays it should do."

"Ok," responded Tsunade, "Let's go."

To be continued.