Chapter 7. Please enjoy. : )
Naruto couldn't say if he was going the right way, but he didn't think to ask where the river was before he left. Maybe it was the need to get out to there to think, maybe it was the creepy way Hiashi spoke and flip-flopped in his actions towards Naruto, maybe it was the half smile Hinata had thrown him.
Why would that make him run again?
He step over a fallen log and stopped to listen. No sound of running water, just the light peep of crickets and cicada's in the fading light. He sat on the log for a second, before crossing his fingers and summoning a few clones.
"What's up boss!" One threw out while the other two looked around in the dim forest.
"Aw," anther started "where's Hinata-chan, she didn't come?"
Naruto stared at his clones before shaking his head. "No, she stayed back at the house to start dinner. I've got to get fish. Which is why you guys are here. I need you to find a lake or a river and start fishing while I get in contact with Konoha. It isn't going to be fun, so you guys have the better part of the deal. Now, go!" At his word the clones ran off, eyes and ear open for the sound of water and animals.
Naruto stood for a moment as his clones disappeared into the steadily darkening woods, contemplating his next actions.
I said I wouldn't go back.
He lifted his right hand up to his face and placed it over his eyes. He let out a deep sigh and dropped his hand.
I didn't want to go back.
His eyebrows narrowed and his eyes slimmed.
This needs to be done, though.
A few quick hand signs and a flare of chakra later, Naruto was well on his way to Konoha.
"Hiraishin no Jutsu."
Sometimes, when Naruto used the flash, he felt like he was flying. He thought he was overlooking all the things he passed by. Sometimes, he felt like he was being dragged through water or mud. And sometimes, he didn't feel anything. Like he had blinked, and when his eyes opened he was suddenly somewhere else.
The current somewhere being on top of the 4th Hokage's head, found in the mountains that cradled Konoha's west city. High above the streets and homes, high above the people he protected.
At some point, if he wasn't in a rush and didn't want to be here as much as he did, he needed to look out over that view again, just to be reminded that truly beautiful things do exist. He looked over the edge of his father's carved head, and guessed the distance between himself and his target. Straight jump, right below him. He couldn't tell if he wanted her to be awake or asleep. Awake meant he wouldn't piss her off by waking her, but asleep meant slower reaction time.
She was probably awake.
With a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders, Naruto took a few steps back, before running and jumping from the cliff face.
At first, the warm wind brushing by Naruto's cheeks lulled him into a sense of security. It seemed strange; he had reappeared back in Konoha, and not a single Anbu had tried to take him. Maybe Grandma had told them to leave him alone. She was being smart then. He didn't want to assault people from his own village.
His eyes constantly surveyed his surroundings as he dropped towards the rooftop below him. He had done this so many times, it was like second nature. As he drew closer, he rotated his feet more steadily below him, his arms came out from his sides slightly, and his shoulders tensed.
The initial impact was fine, he felt his feet touchdown on the solid concrete and at first he thought he'd be able to get in without too much commotion. The resulting exchange of force though, threw his whole plan off kilter.
Debris flew from the rooftop, pieces of wood and concrete fell to the empty streets below. A cloud of dust and smaller particles flew up from the epicenter of the crash. After seemed eerily quiet, even to Naruto's still ringing ears. Until, that is, the very loud footsteps of someone running up the stairs, a crash on a landing somewhere, and the loud bang of a door being ripped off its hinges came to him.
He was then fearful that his impromptu plan was just a little too underdeveloped.
The distinct noise of the door behind him being kicked down came to his attention, and he turned just in time to see the green piece of wood fly towards his face.
"Naruto you idiot!"
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"Naruto, why don't you tell me what's going on, I need to know if this involves my shinobi, active or not." Naruto shot Tsunade what he thought was a look of 'nothin' doin' to his adoptive grandmother as he sat holding a small bag of ice to his forehead. She sat behind her desk, calmed down, with a cup of sake in her left hand. Her right massaged the small bridge of her nose before settling on the desk as well. He blue eyes stared into Naruto's, and he couldn't help but push a renegade smile.
"Ah, Baa-chan, just wait for Neji. He'll be here shortly."
"I still don't understand what could be so important you made me send out Anbu to retrieve Neji at this hour. I'm sure he's sleeping, like I was before your loud-ass went and broke my roof." Naruto's hand rubbed the back of his head and he shot her a shy glance. With his eyes still downcast, Tsunade studied him. He looked relatively the same, maybe just a bit skinnier and only slightly dirtier. He looked haggard, something she knew came from being on the road too long and not under a roof often enough. Jiraiya carried it a lot, when no one was looking. Her thoughts saddened.
But, she did notice, something was different. Something was there that hadn't been there for a while. She couldn't quite name it, couldn't quite place it, but knew it. Maybe she'd find out when Neji got here.
In the mean time, she reached down, opening up a drawer. She slipped her hand inside and pulled out two more shallow sake cups. Placing them on the table, she downed the one in her hand and poured the three out. She slid one across the desk to Naruto, he stuck his hand out and grabbed it, swinging it back fast. He had to say, it burned sweetly down his throat. Man, it was nice.
He watched as she downed her cup and refilled it. He didn't hand his back to her, opting to hold it in his hand and rub it with his thumb. It was smooth porcelain, so soft to the touch, and deceivingly cold. His eyes drifted over the white cup, over his dirty fingers.
Man, do I need a bath…
Dirt was layered over his skin, he knew Tsunade noticed. He wasn't too concerned when she didn't say anything. He figured she understood. Green lined under his fingernails, and for the briefest second he was confused. Until he remembered his day. All day with plants, flowers and ferns and grasses and stains, just about everywhere. On his hands, his pants, his shirt. He thought of running to his old apartment, while he picked at the tattered and frayed ends of his top, and grabbing some clothes.
Why did he think he still had an apartment?
He looked back up to Tsunade to see her staring at him somewhat worriedly. Concern flitted across her forehead, and her hands were folded under her chin.
"Y'know, you almost look like a Hokage like that." Naruto quipped at her. He noticed the twitch of her eye just in time to doge the now empty sake bottle flying at his face. He sat back up, eyes wide and mouth hanging just slightly open, to stare at Tsunade.
She had the wickedest smirk on her face. Naruto pouted, squinting his eyes at her, and her hands dropped from beneath her chin and onto the table.
"You know, it may be easier if you just tell me what's going on. I haven't seen you so thoughtful and resigned in… well, ever." Naruto's expression changed, softened a little bit, before he looked back up.
"Naw, I've really gotta wait for Neji, y'know. You'll understand when he gets here."
"It would appear that it is not a necessity to wait for me any longer, Naruto-san." Neji stated, closing the door as silently as he had opened it, and stepping in to take a seat next to Naruto. "What brings you back to Konoha; I heard you had left for an… extended amount of time. No reason given." At this, he looked over at Tsunade, who shook her head and waved it off. "And," his impassive eyes darted back to Naruto, "you had better have a good reason for waking me up at this time Naruto-san. I have delegations tomorrow which require my unwavering attendance."
Naruto never was a fan for the way Neji spoke, as if everything he said had to be grammatically and politically correct. As if he had to be perfect. Maybe it was a Hyuga thing. Hinata didn't talk like that, neither did her father. Well, her father kinda did. He was also bipolar or something.
HINATA!
Naruto whipped around to face Neji, a serious look on his face.
"Hyuga."
Neji cocked an eyebrow, regarding the man before him.
"Yes, I am a Hyuga, get on with it."
"No, no, no," Naruto started shaking his head, "I found a Hyuga. Two. In Lightning. I don't know how they got there, I don't know why they are, but I found them."
Tsunade sat up, looking Naruto over quickly. "This is something you didn't think you needed to tell me before? Only two Hyuga? Where in Lightning, do they appear to be part of a group or clan, are they ninja?" She slowly poured herself another glass of sake and sipped it, pointing to the third for Neji. He shook his head at her before looking back at Naruto.
"Naruto, if they are not members of the Konoha Main Branch, they must be eliminated. Lightning cannot possess the Byakugan. That is the only thing that matters."
"No, wait, hold on, too many things." Naruto shook his hands out before him. "No, they aren't ninja, at least the youngest isn't. There's a father and a daughter. She's about my age, no shinobi training, the father does. But he's older, injured from something. There is no wife, it appears she died years ago. He ran from Konoha, he hasn't told me why, though he said he talk with me tonight. That's why I came here. Neji," Naruto looked over at him, "if I can convince them to come back, what would happen."
Neji thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Honestly, I have no idea. Best case scenario, the daughter is married to one of the Elder's grandchildren to ensure that she stays connected to the clan. Worst case, we kill them. They are from Lightning; we cannot trust a Hyuga from Lightning. They could be trained ninja, and you are too unobservant to see." Naruto narrowed his eyes at Neji, who conceded. "If you brought them back, I may be able to convince the Elders not to have them executed. But I would need the backing of the Hokage –"
"Which I could only give if I took them each alone and interviewed them, and I could not guarantee that the Council would want me to be kind." Tsunade cut in.
"– correct, and they would not have the option of being in the main family. Not even the daughter. They would be branded with the Caged Bird Seal and live with the Branch Family to serve and protect the Main Family until they died."
Naruto looked between Tsunade and Neji, before he sighed.
"Somehow, I don't think that's what they are looking for. The daughter doesn't even know of the discord between Leaf and Lightning. As far as I can tell, she doesn't know why her eyes are different. She doesn't appear to have any mastery of the Byakugan. And if I leave them there, like her father wants-"
"The result could be worse for them." Tsunade started again. "If Lightning finds them behind their borders, they have to right tot take the girl, and use her for breeding purposes. They don't have the Caged Bird Seal already, so they can't just lose their eyes once they die, the secret won't be protected. It'll be bad for parties, us and the family. The daughter is used to satiate the pleasures of those bastards in Lightning and they gain the use of the Byakugan, loyal to them because they would be behind Lightning borders." Tsunade had finished her cup of sake and began pouring herself another. "I would think it in the best interest of both Konoha and Hyuga to just bring them back into the family. But I can only step into clan matters so far, they have all right to use the Caged Bird Seal, it is well within their clan laws. They have full right to brand Branch Family members. Because this has never happened in Konoha before, Neji is correct in assuming that if they were to be allowed to stay, they would be branded."
"Aw man," Naruto began, "Tsunade, I just; I can't let anything happen to them, y'know? Well, I don't know the father real well, and I only just met the daughter this morning, but I can't let anything happen to them. To her. I don't know why, she's just the first person I've had more than a 5 minute conversation with since I left here. Well, really since I got drunk last night, but that was completely different. She doesn't deserve what could happen to her. And it's not fair that my options are breeding stock, painful seal, or death. And I can't just bring her somewhere else. If she isn't in Konoha, she's in danger, and this village is on the brink of war." He sat back and ran his dirtied hand over his eyes. This was all just too much. Why'd he have to get himself wrapped up in this shit? He couldn't just be normal and walk away from someone when then wake up hung-over in a field of flowers next to an incredibly good looking woman.
What wasn't normal about what he did?
Getting attached too fast. Taking this problem and making it his problem. He could have sent a note back to Tsunade, explaining things, and moved out. They would have been relocated to Konoha, and things would have gone whichever way. But he couldn't just leave things up to fate. He never believed in it.
You can control your own destiny…
And Hinata-chan is so nice, he can't just let her become the servant of the Main Branch, he definitely couldn't let her become Lightning's Hyuga baby-factory. Wouldn't be fair to her, or the kids. He couldn't let her die.
"Well, shit…" Naruto stood slowly, and began walking towards the door. "Listen, I'll send word in a few days, a week tops. You guys start seeing what you can do, talk to the Council, the Elders, the other clans. Everyone. I'll talk to them, try to convince them. If I can't they come back by force, you've got no choice. I told you, it's no secret anymore…" Naruto turned and shook his shaggy hair out a bit and looking at Tsunade and Neji sadly. "Anyways you'll hear from me…"
"Naruto." Neji stood and turned to look at him. "There is one way to keep the hands of the Hyuga council off of these two. They can only take them if they are still Hyuga." Naruto looked at Neji, confusion clearly written over his face.
"Huh?"
Neji shook his head. "If the daughter is no longer a Hyuga, then the Hyuga council has no leeway over her, and by direction, her father. It is a long shot, but it is very plausible that it could work."
Naruto still looked at Neji, confused, and shook his head. "But she is a Hyuga. I can't make her not a Hyuga, can I?"
"Tsunade-sama, could you please assist me, I am not sure I am capable of making him understand, nor do I think I can dumb it down any further." Neji turned his head to look at the Hokage, and she nodded at him.
"Well, I'll try." She stood and walked to the front of her desk. She sat on the edge and held out her hands in front of her. "Naruto, what's your last name?"
"Uzumaki-Namikaze, but you know that."
"No, no, I mean, what was your mother's last name?"
"Uzumaki."
"Right, and your fathers?"
"Namikaze, duh."
"Now, what was your mothers' last name before she gave birth to you?"
"Namikaze, of course, she married my dad…"
"So she wasn't Uzumaki anymore."
"No, she-"Naruto froze. His eyes widened and darted between Tsunade and Neji. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, you mean if I get her married, the Hyuga's can't touch her?" Tsunade nodded her head. "Ok, so we just find her a husband! It shouldn't be too hard, she's real pretty."
"Naruto, if you think you can find her a husband, then go ahead." Tsunade stated.
"It will not be that easy." Neji jumped in. "It would have to be someone from Konoha. The ties need to remain strong."
"Hey, Grandma, you could do that, right?" Naruto said a small smile on his face. "Y'know, find someone here that would be a good match? Find some non-ninja to make her a wife."
"No, Naruto, I don't know if I could find a good match, I don't know her. But I could find her a husband."
"That would not be substantial enough. It would need to be a shinobi, to make sure she doesn't stray out of Konoha's lines. The Council would demand that it be certain she is not a shinobi, and that if she were clever enough to sneak past our defenses, there must be someone who could remove the threat there."
"She's not a ninja though!" Naruto stated.
"I can allow what the Council would allow. If you paired her with a civilian, Tsunade-sama, the Council would have full rights to nullify the marriage. If she were to marry a ninja, only Tsunade would have jurisdiction over the marriage." Neji ran his hand over his face, lowering it slowly to the chair he stood next too.
"But we need to find a proper shinobi match. Currently, there are only 5 male shinobi in the village remotely close to her age; all others are a minimum of 5 years younger than her. Neji, you are a Hyuga and engaged. Lee is married already."
"Kiba hasn't been right since Shino died." Naruto stated. "And Sai, well any woman that marries Sai I feel bad for." Naruto was in contemplation. Hinata could marry Kiba, but he'd be a drunken mess. And if she married Sai, she'd need the patience of a goddess. She did well with him in the flower shop, but Naruto had emotions. Sai lacked just about everything involving social dos and don'ts.
"Then that leaves only one." Tsunade began, crossing her arms under her chest.
"Wha, who?" Naruto couldn't for the life of him think of anyone else. There was Konohamaru, but he was almost 6 years younger than her. And last he heard, he was more interested in his old gang-mate, Moegi.
Neji stared openly at Naruto, incredulous at the man's obliviousness. "Sometimes, Naruto-san, I don't believe you will ever change." Naruto looked at Neji, confused before Tsunade broke in.
"Naruto, you are both a ninja of Konoha and the only viable single male within the parameters that have been set up. It's either you or Sai, but one of you is marrying this Hyuga girl."
Naruto's face was impassive as he stared at Tsunade. Her words hung in the air, heavy between them. Neji stood, face unreadable again, sizing him up. Naruto glanced between the two of them for what seemed like the hundredth time that evening, before shaking his head.
"I don't think I can do that, Grandma. I mean, I just met her, she probably wouldn't like me, I mean, I'm nothin' –"
"Special?" She interjected. "Why not tell her some of your war stories? How you on more than one occasion single handedly save this village from complete and total annihilation? How you have given everything for the people in this village, even when they treated you with scorn and hatred? How you had gone from being the most hated person here, to being the very essence of the Will of Fire we teach in school? Naruto, even if she weren't to know of your ninja past, she would need to be as oblivious as you to not see the kind of person you are. Strong willed, funny, caring, protective, all these things and more up who you are. You've got a way of making people like you."
"But… but I'm not any of those things anymore. I'm not the same Naruto. Not after the things we've seen, right Neji?" The Hyuga clan head had to agree, nodding his head in compliance. "See? We just aren't the same, and I don't think I'd do well married. I mean, I'd probably have to come back to Konoha for good, which I don't want to do. And I'd be on active duty again. I'd be out on missions, and I don't know about you, but if I made this girl fall for me, and then put her through the stress of missions, she'd probably grow to hate me."
"That's the funny thing about love, Naruto. If she did indeed fall for you, she would be worried sick about you. But she'd never, ever hate you. Because you aren't trying to hurt her, or yourself. You are protecting her, and your people. And if you came back to Konoha, I can guarantee you that you would not have the same active duties as the other ninja." Naruto stared at Tsunade, again confused. She just sighed and waved it off. "Listen, you've been here for a few hours now. I'm sure that the two Hyuga you stumbled upon are incredibly concerned about you not being back yet."
"Well, probably, but I think the clones I made are back at the home helping Hinata-chan with dinner."
"Hinata-chan?" Neji asked.
"Yeah, that's her name."
"What's her father's name?"
"Y'know, I don't know. I don't think I asked him…and if he told me, I completely forget." Naruto rubbed the back of his head shyly, a smile on his face. "Oops!"
Neji waved it off, but something sounded familiar, something sounded off about this whole story.
Who is Hinata Hyuga, and why didn't I hear about missing Hyuga's?
Naruto looked at Neji, who suddenly seemed pensive. He shrugged it off as one of those Hyuga things, and looked back towards Tsunade. She was standing there, staring at Naruto.
"You know what you have to do right?"
"Naw, I mean I do, just don't wanna."
"Well, you've got no choice. No matter what, they need to come back to Konoha. If you don't marry her, that's fine. We'll find someone suitable. Sai may be a good placement, if she can deal with you, she can probably deal with anyone."
"Then I get them back to Konoha, understood. I'm off after that again."
Tsunade nodded at him. "If you think you need more time away, I'll give it to you."
"Yeah, yeah." Naruto waved at her. "Well, I'll be going. It takes too long to get back to Lightning these days." He opened the door behind him and made to move out. He froze just outside the door, and looked back at Tsunade. "I'll send word every week to let you know his fast I can have them here."
She nodded at him, and he left, closing the door silently behind him. She stared at that door for minutes that ticked by like hours. It didn't seem he'd come back. And honestly, she was unsure of what he would do from here. Either way, she was going to have two new Hyuga to place in Konoha, without starting a riot in the Hyuga household.
"What do you think, Tsunade-sama?" Neji stated suddenly, rocking Tsunade from her thoughts.
She looked at his profile, stoic faced, and shook her head. "No idea, but Naruto never was one people could predict."
"Agreed. Sadly, I must return to my home. Rest is in much due order, and I need to investigate into the apparent run away of at least one Hyuga and his daughter. Maybe more. The record will likely not be easy to find. I bid you good evening, Lady Tsunade."
"Yeah, good night Neji. Let me know what you find." Neji nodded and bowed slightly to the Hokage before moving out in a similar fashion to Naruto. Before long, Tsunade was left alone in her office, a stack of papers behind her on the desk. She looked over and noticed the two still full sake cups. She threw the first one back, following it very quickly with the second. She placed the empty cup back on her desk and looked back at the silent door that faced her. The future seemed very unclear, and she did not have the Third Hokage's ability to watch things from afar. No magical looking glass for her. Just word of mouth, if the kid ever actually wrote her. She stood from her place in front of her desk and grabbed the two glasses and bottle from the top. She opened a drawer, and began putting them away, looking at the pale, shallow glasses in her hand.
The little brat.
He took her third cup.
On the other side of Konoha, Neji got the distinct feeling of one pissed off Hokage as he entered the main gates of the Hyuga Compound. He thought it best to leave it be until morning.
Hi! Another chapter, longer than the other ones. I'm already working on the next, so hopefully I can push that one out soon. Thank you all for being so patient with me . I know it's not fun waiting for updates.
:D