As they made it to the Cloud village, Shikamaru and Shinata thought that it was a bad idea. Both of them knew that if Naruto kept digging for answers that he would figure out that Shinata was his daughter and the truth would unfold itself to him. As they traveled to see the clan leader, the country side was one of the most beautiful parts of the country they had seen since visiting. Most of the time it was usually dark and eerie and storming, but this village it seemed nicer than the rest of the part of the country. Shinata had been here to this village but only through war time and it was called the Lover of Death village. This is where everything started with genocide and the execution of politicians and religious leaders; this gave Shinata a cold shudder on being in the village. As Naruto walked to his destination, he seen the house he visited with Jiraiya about two years ago.
"Naruto when did you visit here without me, I met to ask you that earlier because I was with you for the last three years" asked Hinata?
"Well you went to go visit the Konoha and Jiraiya ask me to go and help an old friend who was being attacked by a group of mercenaries in his village. He wanted me to help secure this part of the land for safety" as he looked at Hinata.
As they reached the clan compound he was greeted by Tovar and his youngest son Shou, Shinata could not believe it, Shou was the father of Hiroko who came and greeted her father as a friend. He was just a little older than her father maybe twenty-five and he was a muscular specimen of a man, he was around six foot three and about two hundred and fifteen pounds of muscle. He had a serious look and stared directly at Hinata and smiled, Shinata looked at him with a rage but had to calm herself, he wasn't evil yet she thought.
"Naruto Uzumaki what a surprise, so you came to visit an old friend have you" as he smiled at Naruto?
"I'm sorry I wished it was but I have a couple of questions that concern your clan, it seems some rogue ninjas are using the Kazanawa clan name and attacking me and Hinata for their own personal reason. They only keep saying for the pride of Kazanawa clan that I must die" as Naruto kept explaining.
"So a ninja from a foreign land now wants to accuse us of treachery? Just like the Konoha people believing that their always right and other countries are always plotting against them" as Shou now started to show extreme disrespect toward Naruto.
"Shou watch your mouth, Naruto came here and helped us before or did you forget? Naruto is a guest and will be treated with the up most respect now go check on my grandson and leave me to talk to Naruto" as he pointed to his son to leave.
As Naruto left with Tovar to talk in private, the rest of his comrades followed him to the clan leader's office. As Naruto told him about all that had happened and that each one were highly skilled, Naruto left out the part about them having the curse jutsu mark. As Tovar tried to convince them he had no idea who these men were and that it was someone using the name to get them involved in an unprovoked war to exterminate his clan. He explained that his brother is now the general of the Cloud military and they may be trying to use that against his clan. Naruto knew that he was an honest man and took his word for it. As he got up he insisted that they stay for dinner and leave in the morning. Shikamaru thought it would be better because if they left in the evening they would have to fight off bandits, wild animals and even that bee manipulator ninja that got away earlier. As Naruto teammates left he walked outside to talk more privately with his friend.
"So you're a grandfather? Congratulations may I ask the name" as Naruto smiled?
"Hiroko but he's been sick lately along with his mother, he's only four months old, and I pray that they get well soon.
Naruto flinched at that name, he wondered how can a newborn baby with the same name been circulating since he met those ninjas and Shinata. He figured he would asked to see his friends grandson if he refused he would sneak in to see this baby Hiroko.
"My son Shou has been traveling lately trying to get support for our village to stop more mercenaries from showing up. He actually defeated six of them and sent them back with their tails between their legs. The villagers seems to have more respect for the younger brother than the eldest, through tradition the eldest son is suppose to inherit clan leader but lately I think that may change. Sure he's a hot head but his skills are the best seen in a generations to come, I must take that into consideration for what's best for my clan" as he looked perplexed over the situation.
As Naruto and his companions sat at the table with the Kazanawa clan and talked about everything from new moves and to the new Kazekage from the Sand village. Naruto looked at Shinata; he noticed just how scared she truly was. It looked as though she was about to be executed as she looked around, Naruto motioned for her to meet him outside. As he left first out the door he waited for a few minutes until she showed. As she came he had asked Shinata to look around the compound with him at night and that he would inform Hinata and she would inform Shikamaru. Once they got the game plan together they sat back down at the table and continued their conversations.
As the night fell quickly, Naruto told Hinata to pair with Shikamaru for tonight because he needed to ask Shinata some questions and he would have a better time getting them if it was just the two of them. Hinata reluctantly agreed to Naruto's term. As they prepared Naruto and Hinata met Shinata and Shikamaru outside they told them to find Shou's wife and child. Shikamaru shook his head, telling Naruto if they got caught it would look like an assassination attempt on the clan leader's family. Naruto told them it was just a reconnaissance mission only and no weapons were to be carried. Shikamaru looked at Naruto and thought he was finally using his head. As Hinata left with Shikamaru she watched Naruto leave with her look alike and put her head down feeling sad that he chose Shinata to be his partner instead of her. As both teams searched high and low, Naruto was about to give up when he felt a familiar chakra that was coming from a barn of all places. As he walked to the barn he stood there and concentrated all of his chakra to find it, as he pinpointed it he walked over and lifted a hidden door under the floor. As they walked down they could tell that the barn was just a hideout for what was truly going on. It was an undercover medical lab use for experiments. As Shinata and Naruto looked at the beds they saw Shou's family laying down in a coma like state. Naruto noticed that the wife and baby curse jutsu was visible over half their bodies.
"Look Shinata his wife and child have the curse marks, I don't know if a baby could survive such a jutsu? It's lethal to everyone only a small percentage can survive it, the rest die from it" as Naruto rubbed Shou's wife head.
"Why did he do this to his family? He gave them both the dark mark; if he knew a small percentage survives why take that chance? As she looked at the documents she covered her mouth. The jutsu was given to her before she was pregnant and so was Shou's dark mark. They are trying to make a super strong ninja, both of their dark marks was passed down to their child.
Shinata finally unraveled the mystery that evaded her village for years; no one would have figured it out in centuries. It was a gene experiment to gain more power for their clan. As they looked at the family lying comatose, Shinata felt sympathy for the child.
Shinata started to think of the similarities between her clan and the Kazanawa clan, her father explained that when he was younger that her mother laid injured and he grabbed her and the Kyuubi healed her. He told Shinata that the Kyuubi poured his chakra into her and changed certain things in her body. He said that Hinata chakra grew more and her speed increased, at first they thought she just trained hard and her stamina and speed increased. But when she had the twins, he noticed how much chakra they had; it was already considered their chakra exceeded that of a jonin. He looked shamed when he told her and begged her to use the power to protect not to harm. She knew that both Shou and Naruto had children blessed with great fighting potential due to their altered genes but her father never forced it on their children through dark jutsu willingly. Shou made sure that his children inherited it with his choice. She started to think why did her mother and father kept having children? Then she remembered what her father said.
"I wanted children so bad, I wanted to give them complete happiness and I wanted that with my wife. She had a heart that could make me feel weak and strong at the same time, I wanted a part of me that would love life and people and not filled with the regrets and anger I had in my life. My children could be cooks, maids or heaven forbids a politician I would be the proudest and most humble father to see his children happy"
As Shinata smiled she realized that Naruto was nothing like Shou at all. As they headed to outside of the barn Naruto heard a familiar voice calling to him.
"Naruto, how did you become informed of my experiments? Someone here has been talking and you're with that bitch of woman you betrayed your master for. I really am going to enjoy killing you Naruto-kun.
"I defeated that snake bastard, you're just a stepping stone to get to him but today I'm giving you a reprieve now get out of here before I really get pissed off" as Naruto stared at him dangerously.
"Fool look around, your surrounded. I knew once I seen you it would be bloodshed so I took the liberty of telling Shou to kill you" as he looked at Naruto.
As Naruto knew that he had to run but first he had to find Hinata and Shikamaru to escape. As Naruto looked around weaponless, they saw Tovar running out yelling what's going on. He told his clan that they should not harm Naruto and that Kabuto was only suppose to be here to save his daughter in law and grandson.
"You old fool, so wrapped up in emotions you failed to realize that your power as clan leader is gone, your clan doesn't follow you any longer they follow someone stronger to lead them to a better future" as Kabuto smiled at him.
"I lead this clan and I want you gone, my clansmen let Naruto and his friends go, he once helped us so repay the favor and let them leave in peace" as he pleaded with his relatives and friends.
As he was talking Shou came and pierced his own father through the heart and smiled at him, he kicked his father off his sword and spat on him.
"You old fool you depended on outsiders for help instead of making our clan stronger you're not fit to lead this clan" as he wiped off the blade on his father shoulder.
"And I suppose you are? The eldest always lead the clan so I guess you can go to hell because you won't succeed as planned" as Tovar smiled at his younger son.
"He's dead I killed him just a few minutes ago so guess what, I'm the new clan leader, always have been. Tell your eldest son in hell it wasn't anything personal he was just in the way" as he approached his father and crushed his head with his foot with a violent stomp.
Naruto and Shinata looked in horror; Shou looked at Naruto and waved a finger to say no, no, no I'm not done yet.
Naruto focused his energy in his hand hoping he could take out Shou for killing his own father and brother. Kabuto jumped down and looked at Shinata.
"What's this, a look alike? From far back I thought you were that freak lover but it's another Hyuuga who fell in love with this jinchūriki. Shou have your clan killed them and we can concentrate on bigger and better things" as Kabuto turned his back.
"I should have known it was you who made that curse mark, Orochimaru would never share his finding with anyone. I swore that when you escaped from the Konoha I was going to kill you for all the fucking things you ever done. I seen that you were a true monster not me, you went as far to experiment on a pregnant woman is just low, Shinata I want you to run I will kill Kabuto here, get to safety and don't look back" as Naruto kept looking at Kabuto.
"Get your facts straight, she chose to be my subject for her husband and clan. That's something the Konoha isn't willing to do to make their clan and village stronger" as Kabuto turned around.
Before Naruto could move Shinata charged Kabuto so fast she cut his face with a kunai, she turned and kicked him to the side of the head and grabbed him by his throat and slammed him down and pulled out her machete to decapitate him. Kabuto caught her wrist and looked at her; he quickly flipped her over his head and attacked her with a series of kicks and punches that was countered by Shinata. Naruto quickly formed a Rasengan to kill Kabuto. He was suddenly stopped by the clan members who saw what he was planning. As they approached Naruto they stopped, Shikamaru had them in his shadow manipulation. He told Naruto and Shinata to prepare to run, as he made all of the Kazanawa clan extend their arms and make a fist and twisted hard as he could to make them strike each other he quickly release the jutsu so he would not feel the effect of the blows. As each one staggered from the blow, all four ran from the clan as fast as possible. Kabuto just stared at the fleeing ninjas, Shou ordered his followers to capture them and return them to him. As they all kept running Naruto knew that they needed a big head start to get away as he stopped, Shinata looked at him.
"Come on we need to get away you can't defeat them all, let's go Naruto screamed Shinata!
"Trust me go with Hinata I'll be fine, as they said I will one day be the Hokage of the future don't take my skills as nothing less" as he stared at Shinata.
As they approached, Shinata stayed next to Naruto and watched what he was about to do.
"Shadow Clone Overkill" as Naruto performed the jutsu perfectly. Shinata looked at over a thousand clones as they rushed their enemies, the Kazanawa clan clashed with the clones. Naruto just smiled.
"Shadow Clone Explosion!" as the clones exploded the Kazanawa clan fell from the explosion, as they moaned in agony none could get up to pursue the targets. As Naruto looked exhausted from making that many and causing the explosion, he looked as though he could barely moved yet started to run and told Shinata to follow. As they continued to run they finally were able to catch up to their team. As Hinata seen Naruto she rushed into his arms, and then she started to hit him in his chest.
"Why did you do this to me? I told you we would always be by each other side and you made me leave you, I thought you were right behind me" as she cried into his arms hoping that once he would treat her as a real ninja instead a damsel in distress.
"I'm sorry, it will never happen again" as Naruto walked over to Shikamaru.
As he talked to Shikamaru he told him of Kabuto's experiments and that Shou murdered his brother and father. He told Shikamaru that they must inform the Konoha about his crimes against nature. Shikamaru told Naruto spying on the Cloud village would be an act of war; they had entered only as a guest. The Cloud can claim that we breached their security for the Konoha plot to start a war and then we could be in a political shit storm. The only thing they could do is tell the Hokage and start setting up security protocol just in case they attack. Naruto told them it's just the work of two men and that they should kill them and worry about the consequences later. Shikamaru wanted to agree but he had to think of the village first and later about the other things that might happen.
As Naruto looked around he could feel something not right, Naruto ducked just in time. Kabuto and Shou had caught up with them and were ready for a battle.
"Leave it to you Naruto-kun to take out an entire clan; you're still ingenious and unpredictable as they come. I told Shou that when it comes down to it you are the best of the best. He doesn't believe me so I think he wants to prove me wrong. Kill him Shou and I'll kill the women and that Nara clansmen" as he charged the three.
Shinata and Hinata told Shikamaru to help Naruto. As Shou and Naruto squared off, Shou knew that Naruto was exhausted after that explosion. He charged Naruto so fast that Naruto hardly had time to block, Naruto tried to punch him but his arms were moving in slow motion because he nearly drained himself earlier. Naruto could feel every blow now and Shou seemed to get stronger by the second. Naruto released two clones for distraction but Shou hit each one with a dagger with accuracy. Shou grabbed Naruto by the neck.
"You defeated Orochimaru and made a name for yourself helping Jiraiya? You are weak and pathetic, I'm not even trying and you're dead by the hands of a true demon" as he continued to hold Naruto up with one arm.
Suddenly Shou was stopped by Shikamaru, he easily let down Naruto and Shikamaru started the shadow strangulation on Shou. Shou looked over and started to smile on being caught, he started to change his appearance as the curse mark took over he started to overpower Shikamaru's shadow strangulation. Shikamaru never felt so much strength in his life; it was literally tearing his muscles apart. Hinata saw that Naruto was getting weaker by the minute, Shinata saw this too and told her to go and she would handle Kabuto. Hinata formed her own jutsu dubbed the Hyuuga Talon to attack Shou, she told Shikamaru to release the jutsu. She quickly scratch him four times, Naruto seen Shou moved so quick and grabbed Hinata by the throat. Shou started to bleed out the nose, her jutsu started to take effect on him, he became wobbly but he did not faint, he started to brush off the effects but just a little.
"Stupid little shit; you think that a mere scratches can hurt me? Goodbye give my regards to my family when you go to hell" as he smirked an began squeezing her neck.
In a flash, Shou screamed in pain, his wrist was barely connected to his arm and Hinata was gone, his dark jutsu started to heal his wound; never in his entire life he never felt so much pain. As he turned around he saw Naruto standing looking at him with deep red eyes and four tails, he began to feel the Kyuubi's power resonating from Naruto and hatred and blood lust. Hinata looked at Naruto and Naruto smiled at her, you and Shikamaru go and help Shinata, I'll take care of him make sure our team is safe. Naruto made a shadow clone out of pure Kyuubi energy; the clone looked like Naruto but had one tail and began to speak to Shou.
"You tried to take our mate, you must die but first you must suffer for your arrogance for thinking we are something less than all-powerful. Feel our wrath, our love for our mate, die you piece of shit for trying to kill our mate" as the Kyuubi clone howled with extreme rage.
Naruto and Kyuubi clone attacked with precise teamwork and accuracy, Shou never been hit so hard in his life. Naruto and the Kyuubi clone hit Shou with everything and yet he was still standing. He saw that Naruto and the clone charging, he quickly made a hand sign and a large explosion of fire surrounded him striking everything within twenty feet from him. Shinata, Shikamaru Kabuto and Hinata were barely able to dodge his fire jutsu. Kabuto knew that now this was a bad idea to go after Naruto and that a fight of this magnitude would definitely kill him. As Shou looked through the smoke a red chakra like spear flew straight into his shoulder from the Kyuubi clone, as he scream in pain Naruto came with a Rasengan to finish him off. Kabuto threw an exploding kunai at Naruto to stop the attack and then Kabuto formed his jutsu that cut like a scalpel to release the chakra spear the Kyuubi sent through Shou's shoulder. Kabuto placed Shou on his back and jumped a safe distance from his enemies. Kabuto quickly reach in his pouch and removed a scroll, he bit his finger to make himself bleed and swiped it across the scroll and made a hand sign and he and Shou disappeared.
Naruto seen that they fled disperse the Kyuubi clone, as he was barely able to stand Shikamaru grabbed him and place him on his back and carried a pass out Naruto to safety. As they got far away from their enemies to a safe spot, Hinata held him in her arms as he awoke to her. Shinata looked at her parents they had a love she wish that she could have, but she had to ask Naruto a question and hope he would not get offended.
"Naruto the Kyuubi it was angry saying that Shou hurt his mate, why did he say that" as Shinata waited for a reasonable answer that would not freak her out?
"Years ago the Kyuubi and I shared hatred, we were one mind and one body accomplishing one goal, the destruction of the Leaf village, me for being tormented as a child and him for being imprisoned. I trained and learned everything to be a perfect weapon with his help. Then the time came to destroy the Leaf, was ready finally to make my drems come true and then I met Hinata and could not go through with it. My feeling for love for her was greater than my hate and the Kyuubi combined, since we once shared the same feelings as well he eventually started to love Hinata as well. He never saw it coming and never felt love before, it was like seeing for the first time life had to offer. But don't get me wrong he still hates everyone and everything he just has a soft spot for Hinata because his emotions are united to mines. So when he seen Hinata in danger he reacted by giving me his strength to stop Shou from killing her. That was the first time he actually talked like that with strong emotions for Hinata, I was shocked as well. He asked me to make sure that Hinata is safe and to go back and kick the shit out of Shou and Kabuto" as Naruto started to laugh.
Shinata smiled and to began laughing too, Hinata smiled and joined along with them. Shikamaru looked at the three of them and could actually see a bond between them. Now Shikamaru was positive for sure that fate for some reason intervened and placed Shinata in the past with her parents for a reason and Shikamaru wish he knew what it was as he continued to stare at the three.