Chapter Fourteen – Return To The Leaf

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"That… is a big wall."

Kakashi smirked at Zabuza's deadpan comment as the outer wall of Konoha loomed into view.

"Yep, welcome to Konohagakure." Kakashi said. "The largest of the Hidden Villages, and the one with the craziest people."

"Yeah, right." Zabuza snorted. "As if any village could become that powerful with…"

"Let us show our FLAMES OF YOOOUUUUTTHHH!"

Zabuza's eyes widened as a green-clad figure dropped down from the top of the wall, followed by three genin. Naruto leapt from Kaze's back and almost tackled the smaller version of the green-clad man.

"Lee-senpai!"

"Naruto-nii-chan!"

"Gai-sensei!"

"Naruto-kun!"

"Lee-senpai! Gai-sensei!"

"Naruto-nii-chan!" "Naruto-kun!"

"Everyone, look away!" Anko yelled as Gai, Lee and Naruto hugged…

…as in the background, waves crashed against the rocky shore as the sun sank towards the horizon.

"ggaaaahhhhh…"

"Warned you." Anko said mercilessly.

"ggraaagaaawhaaaaa…?"

"The Unbreakable Sunset Genjitsu." Kakashi explained. "No-one understands it, and only Gai can perform it."

"Not true, my eternal rival!" Gai proclaimed. "Lee's control of his recently-unlocked chakra has advanced to the point that he can also create the Sunset Of Youth without aid!"

"Abrbrbrggrrraaabrbrbrgraaagu rgle…"

"Is there something wrong with him?" Gai asked, staring at the shaking Zabuza curiously.

"First time seeing the Sunset." Anko explained as Naruto exchanged bows with Neji and let Tenten give him a hug. "The first time it happens is always a shock. What are you doing here?"

"My cute students and myself are leaving to perform a border patrol and which will last for a fortnight." Gai replied. "It is good to see you, I was getting concerned that something unyouthful had happened to you. I know Momochi Zabuza from the Bingo Book, but who is this young lady?"

"I'm a boy." Haku muttered. "Why does everyone mistake me for a girl?"

"Te be fair, Haku," Sakura said, "You do look quite feminine, and your long hair doesn't help. You look more like a girl than Neji does."

"Hey!" Neji yelled. Haku gave him a long look.

"He does look quite feminine, yes. Neji-san, how do you stop people mistaking you for a girl?"

"Oh, it happens quite often." Tenten giggled, ignoring Neji's glare. "He got propositioned three times on our last c-rank mission."

"Tenten!"

"What? It's true."

Zabuza closed his eyes and shuddered, then fixed his gaze on Kakashi.

"You weren't kidding about the crazies, were you?"

"Nope?"

"What crazies?" Gai asked.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?"

"Arrrgh!" Gai screamed. "You know your Hip and Too Cool attitude really, really annoys me, Kakashi! If I were not leaving for a mission, I would challenge you to another youthful contest!"

Zabuza stared at him, mouth working but unable to actually say anything.

"Gai," Anko said. "We need to get moving, and you probably do as well. Good luck on your mission."

"Thank you!" Gai declaimed, giving her a thumbs up. "Come, my cute and youthful students, border patrol awaits!"

Zabuza watched them leave, then shook his head.

"Please tell me that he's the worst."

Anko laughed. "Gai's the resident taijitsu master and shouts about youth. Kakashi reads porn, I work for T&I where I really let my sadistic side out, Kurenai really dislikes perverts and casts genjitsu on people who act perverted around her… the more powerful we get, the stranger we get. Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Oh! Dolphin-kun!"

Anko leapt down and sprinted to where a man with a scar across his nose was just turning round. He caught her as she leapt at him and embraced her, kissing her in a way that made several of the shinobi nearby laugh, whistle or applaud.

"Who…? How?"

"My old Academy teacher, Iruka." Naruto said, shaking his head. "I still don't know how they got together, but several times I've got up in the morning to do my dawn exercises and found Iruka-sensei in the kitchen making coffee. Thank Kami for silencing seals is all I can say. Although he actually makes better coffee than Gai-sensei does."

Zabuza stared at him.

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The man behind the desk was not what Zabuza had expected.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the famed Professor, the God Of Shinobi, the Master Of Ninjitsu, the Third Hokage…

…was an old man.

Smoking a pipe.

"So, Kakashi offered to let you two join our ranks." Hiruzen said with a gentle smile after Anko had finished her recitation of events. "Zabuza, you are well-known as being Jonin rank and one of the famed Seven Swordsmen, so I offer you the rank of probationary Jonin for six months. After that, if you haven't got into any real trouble, the rank will be full Jonin. And as for your…son?"

Zabuza shrugged. "Haku is as a son to me, but I never officially adopted him. And there are people out there who would kill me and him if I gave him the name Momochi."

Hiruzen looked thoughtful, then glanced over to Naruto.

"Yes, Naruto?"

"Jiji, can I adopt Haku as my cousin? Kagetora Haku… sounds good."

"If Haku agrees, then I see no reason why not." The Hokage said. "Although as your adopted cousin, he will not become the leader of the Kagetora clan while you are still alive, your claim has primacy."

"That's cool." Naruto said, and then his smile became an evil smirk. "And I think it's time to choose my regent to hold my Council seat until I come of age. Zabuza?"

Zabuza stared at him, then started to chuckle. Within a minute, he had slumped to the floor and was holding his sides as he howled with laughter. Once he'd recovered, he looked across.

"You realise what a fuss this will cause, right?"

Naruto shrugged. "The Council removed my lineage and inheritance. I can't think of anything better than having my uncle there to glare at them until I'm old enough to take over."

"Uncle?" Zabuza said slowly. "Sure, kid, as long as Haku agrees."

Haku nodded.

"A clan with not one but two Kekkai Genkais, strength and ice." Hiruzen grinned. "And having you on the council will make us a more valid choice for any nuke-nin from other countries who wish for a new start, thus giving us the chance to grow even stronger."

"And it'll covince the civilians to finally stop screwing with me and my clan." Naruto grinned. "They'll be too scared to try, since they'll be terrified about what I might come up with next."

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"For a bunker, this is a very nice home." Haku said as he walked down the spiral stairs after finishing unpacking the things in his room. "I am really impressed by the training areas and the storage facilities, you are building up quite a library."

"I agree." Zabuza said as he followed his adoptive son. "By the way, with us, all six of those rooms are now in use, so who else lives here?"

""Well," Naruto said as he carried the large pot of stew through and placed it on the table while Anko followed with a basket of bread rolls, "There's you two, me, of course, Anko-sensei, Kakashi-sensei and Gai-sensei."

Zabuza almost tripped at that. "Wait, that spandex-clad freak lives here?"

"He's fine once you get used to him." Anko replied quickly. "You just need to nod whenever he says anything about Youth, then try and get away before he does that Sunset Genjitsu."

"What's wrong with the sunset genjitsu?" Naruto asked as he re-emerged from the kitchen, bowls and cutlery in his hands.

"Naruto's seen it so many times that he's immune." Anko explained to the two shell-shocked ninja. "Heck, he's the one who helped Lee to learn it."

Both Zabuza and Haku stared at Naruto, who shrugged helplessly.

"It was an accident!"

Anko shook her head and helped herself to some of the steaming stew, grabbing a couple of rolls to keep it company. Zabuza and Haku followed her lead and Haku took a small taste.

"Wow! This is really good!"

"Thanks." Naruto said modestly as he filled his own bowl, "But it's nowhere near as good as Gai-sensei's cooking."

"Bushy-brow's cooking is better than this?" Zabuza asked disbelievingly, looking at Anko for confirmation. When she nodded, his non-existent brows rose in shock. "I think I can put up with him in that case."

"Gai-sensei often brings his team here for team-building meals." Naruto said with a smile. "Kakashi-sensei said that now his team has improved, he might do the same."

"That reminds me." Anko said. "Kurenai passed a message to me for you, the Hyuga clan wants to speak with you mid-afternoon. I'd suggest formal wear."

Naruto stared at her. "But Anko-sensei, I don't have any formal wear!"

"I ordered some for you before we went to Wave, a formal kimono made of the same material as your normal things, as well as some funeral clothes since… just in case."

"You never know when you might need them." Zabuza agreed. Naruto glared at them.

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Naruto paused and swallowed nervously at the sight of Hyuuga Hiashi stood motionless in the entrance to the Hyuuga grounds. Taking a deep breath, he resumed his walk.

'Don't panic so much, kit. If things go wrong, you can always summon your sword and cut your way out.'

'Thanks, Kyuubi-sama.' Naruto replied. 'I'm still nervous, though. What do you think they want?'

'I have no idea, kit, but I don't think it's anything bad. Just stay calm and composed, and don't break anything fragile. You know, doors, walls, mountains, that kind of stuff.'

Naruto managed not to laugh at Kyuubi's joke as he covered the remaining distance to the entrance where, remembering the lessons Anko had drilled into him, he bowed.

"Good evening, Hyuuga Hiashi-sama. Thank you for inviting me."

"Greetings, Kagetora Naruto-san. Thank you for responding to my request. Please, come with me."

'Don't ask what he wants, kit.' Kyuubi warned before Naruto could open his mouth. 'He will tell you when he is ready, and not a moment before.'

'Thanks again, Kyuubi-sama.'

Naruto followed Hiashi to a private room where, to his surprise, Hinata was waiting. As they entered, she rose to her feet and bowed deeply to him. Feeling even more nervous than before, Naruto bowed back.

"Please, be seated."

Naruto sat down as neatly (and carefully) as he could, feeling incredibly clumsy compared to how Hiashi and Hinata seemed to simply sink smoothly into a sitting position. Hiashi held out his hand and Hinata pulled a scroll out of her sleeve and handed it to him.

"Before we begin, I feel I must apologise for failing you, Naruto-san." Hiashi said, causing Naruto to blink in surprise. "I was not amongst those who chose to remove your true lineage from you, nor was I one of those who stole the inheritance you were due, yet in both cases I failed to see justice done. Despite what the Council may decree, know that I do indeed see you as the true son of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, and I will be there to support you should you choose to reclaim your birthright."

"I… I thank you, but… why?" Naruto asked, totally confused. "I don't understand."

Hiashi sighed. "The answer is complicated, but I will try to explain. My wife and your mother were close friends, we were two of the very few who were actually aware that your parents had married. My wife and your mother were such close friends that when they realised that Kushina was going to bear a son and Hitomi a daughter, they made an arrangement to try and bring our clans closer. This document is that arrangement."

Hiashi handed the scroll over and Naruto slowly unrolled it.

'Kyuubi-sama, do you understand any of this?'

'Hmmm, look down a little bit more… I see. I think this is a marriage contract between you and that girl in the corner.'

"A marriage contract between me and Hinata?" Naruto exclaimed aloud, his eyes wide.

"Only if the two of you agree." Hiashi said placidly. "I had almost forgotten the existence of this scroll since I did not know you were the son of my old friend until your lineage was revealed and Hinata found this scroll, which is not so much a marriage contract as a marriage option. What that means is that should you both agree, you will be married, if not, then the Clan Council will regain control over whom Hinata is to be married to."

Naruto looked across at the blushing girl.

"Hinata… you found this scroll?"

"Y…yes, Naruto-k… san."

Naruto's next question died on his lips as Hinata's eyes met his. After a moment, he spoke.

"Hinata, before you say anything else, there is something you should know."

"I… if it's th… the Kyuubi, I al… already know."

Naruto stared at her in shock.

"You know? And you still…?"

"You are not the Kyuubi, Naruto-kun." Hinata said quietly but firmly. "You hold it, but you are not it, and only an idiot would think otherwise. I know you for yourself, and love you for it."

For several seconds, a deep silence held the room, then Hinata suddeny blushed and fainted.

"Hinata-hime!"

Before Hinata could hit the ground, Naruto had managed to catch her, then he froze.

"Hiashi-sama, I…"

Naruto winced as he looked round, then his eyes widened as he saw the slight smile on Hiashi's face.

"I am glad to see that you care for her a great deal, Naruto-san." Hiashi said quietly. "Now, we need to discuss certain… arrangements."

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"So," Anko chirped from her position on the settee, curled up in Iruka's lap as he frowned over the shogi board between him and Haku. "How did it go?"

Naruto blinked a few times, then managed to pull himself out of his daze.

"It went… amazing!" he grinned, causing both Haku and Iruka to look up from their private war. "Anko, I'm going to marry Hinata! She wants me and she's really, really nice… and Hiashi approves! He even apologised for not managing to stop the council being so damned stupid!"

Anko's eyebrows rose in shock, then a wide grin plastered itself onto her face.

"The old stick actually apologised for something? Wow, he must really, really mean it. And you and Hinata are engaged?"

Naruto nodded, then he froze. "Oh Kami, she said she wanted to move here, but all the bedrooms are taken…"

"You still have spare barracks." Anko noted and Naruto shook his head.

"No! That won't work, I can't just dump her in the barracks, she needs her own room!"

"I have an idea." Iruka said, interrupting Naruto before he could work himself into a panic. "Since you want what is best for Hinata, how about…"