"We're home." Naruto said to Hinata as the gates of Konoha came into view. Ahead of them were Gai, Lee, and a tired Kakashi unwillingly riding Gai's back. Neji, Tente, and Sakura were still with Naruto and Hinata.

"Finally. I can't wait to get back and have complete privacy again." Hinata said with a teasing look at her lover.

"Don't forget we do have something to do first." Naruto reminded her.

Hinata nodded. "Yeah, we have to go report to Hokage-sama, then have fun."

Naruto blinked. "Actually, I was referring to your father, not Baa-chan. Damn, I forgot about her."

Hinata patted his back. "Don't worry that much about my father. If he doesn't like it, I'l just tell him where he can stick his opinions then."

Naruto didn't immediately get the implication, but the others sure did. 'What's overcome Hinata-sama?' Neji asked himself. 'She would never be so bold as to say something derogatory to Hiashi-sama. Just how much of an effect does Naruto have on her self-esteem?'

In Tsunade's office everyone gathered to give their report on the mission. The entire time the hokage listened in, but she kept glancing over at Hinata. Shizune had left the office at Tsunade's request, no one knowing where she went.

"By the time we got to Kazekage-sama, he had already been killed and the bijuu in him extracted." Kakashi told her. "It appeared that four members of the Akatsuki were there, but only two remained to fight back. Uchiha Itachi was likely in the area, but we only faced a doppelganger. The real one never made an appearance, but I'm certain he was nearby."

"That's not good." Tsunade remarked quietly.

"Hokage-sama, just who are these so-called Akatsuki?" Neji asked. He had asked Gai and Kakashi, but Gai was uninformed and Kakashi replied it was a secret that he was not at liberty to say too much on.

Tsunade put her hands together and rested her chin on top them. "The Akatsuki are a group of several S-ranked rogue shinobi from all over the Elemental Nations. Last I heard, there were nine in the group, although that cannot be said for certain. If you need an idea of the depth of their power, Orochimaru was once considered a member."

That made the Rookies pale. A group strong enough that Orochimaru was on par with them?

"Jiraiya has been keeping an eye on them for years to keep our village safe from them, but they are hard to track. So far he has only been able to confirm the identity of two members, Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame, formerly of Kiri." Tsunade continued. "We have also learned that the Akatsuki are seeking the bijuu, although we still have no idea to what purpose."

Tenten spoke up. "Hokage-sama, how many bijuu are there?"

"There are nine in the world, each one having a number of tails ranging from one to nine. The Kyuubi is just one of them. Suna was in possession of the weakest bijuu, the Ichibi, which had been sealed away inside the Kazekage the day he was born."

"So bijuu like the Kyuubi can be sealed away inside people?" Neji asked, as if trying to confirm something. Tsunade nodded. "So it's likely that the Kyuubi itself is sealed away inside a person as well."

"Before I answer that, tell me Hyuuga Neji, what exactly are you thinking?" Tsunade insisted.

"Only that something I heard not too long ago would suddenly make sense if what I suspect is true."

The hokage sighed and looked at Naruto as if silently asking him a question. He sighed and looked at Neji and his teammates. "Neji, Tenten, Bushybrows, the Kyuubi was sealed in me."

Gai's students showed little shock at his words. "I thought so, given what you said about you and the Kazekage being in the same situation." Neji replied calmly.

Naruto looked shocked. "You... you guys... just like that, you don't care?"

"Why would we?" Tenten asked. "I work with sealing one thing into another all the time. I'm the last person to think the worst about your situation."

Lee nodded. "And we've all worked around Tenten enough to know the basics of it as well even if we don't use it. Besides, our sensei's trust you and that's good enough for me to know you're no threat."

Naruto was stunned. Part of the reason he refused to tell them this on the trip back to Konoha was because he feared their reaction in a situation where he couldn't put space between him and them. If they rejected him, at least he could go to his apartment afterwards then continue the three day journey to Konoha in discomfort.

"Thanks guys." He said quietly. Hinata patted his back to make him feel better.

"So how did you manage to get away from Akatsuki Naruto?" Tsunade asked.

"Me, Hinata-chan, and Kakashi-sensei fought one of them trying to run off with Gaara's body. This guy was blond and had the Iwa symbol but it was scratched, and he made clay animals that exploded. We never caught his name. We managed to get Gaara back from him and he got away using a large explosion." Naruto answered.

Sakura spoke up next. "While they were handling him, I and Chiyo-sama of Suna remained to keep the other member occupied. It turned out to be Sasori of the Red Sand." Tsunade was shocked to hear that but said nothing. "With Chiyo-sama's help, we managed to find and hit his weak spot, although we were both exhausted afterwards. Before Sasori died, he gave us some information I wanted to tell you in person Tsunade-shishou."

Tsunade now looked professional. "Go on."

"Sasori said he had his own spy network, comprised of sleeper agents in place to help him keep an eye on the others who contain bijuu, and threats to Akatsuki, including Orochimaru. He had an arrangement to meet with his contact spying on Orochimaru on the Tendo Bridge outside Kusa ten days after we faced him, which should now be seven days away."

Tsunade silently and slowly stood up. "That is certainly suspicious. Why would he tell you to go there if he was the one that was expected? It sounds like a trap."

"It does sound suspicious." Kakashi replied. "But at the same time, we can't ignore this opportunity to learn more about Orochimaru's activities. We should send in a team to investigate."

Tsunade nodded. "That is true. I'll see what kind of team would be best suited for this mission. But for now, is there anything else I need to know about the mission to Suna?"

Naruto nodded. "Gaara was brought back to life by Chiyo-baa-san, who gave up her own life in the process."

Tsunade looked surprised. 'So Chiyo's gone? At least she died on her terms and helped us out.' She then sat back down. "That's good, and bad, to hear. But at least now Suna won't need a new Kazekage and relations between our villages can remain stable and beneficial."

A knock was at the door. "Tsunade-sama, Hiashi-sama is here as you requested." Shizune's voice could be heard saying from the other side.

Tsunade immediately noticed that Naruto and Hinata both looked nervous. "Okay everyone, you may go on your way. For now, I only need Hinata to remain."

The others looked ready to go, but Hinata hooked her arm around Naruto's. "Hokage-sama, what you want from me will make more sense if Naruto-kun remains with me."

"And I'd like to have a few questions about what I saw be answered." Kakashi added.

"Fine, you two can stay, but the rest leave until I send for you." The blonde hokage told them. Sakura along with Gai and his team left the room and right away Shizune and Hiashi came inside the office.

"Hinata, where have you been?" The Hyuuga head immediately asked, concern flooding his voice as he gripped her shoulders.

"Hold on Otou-san, you'll find out soon enough." She calmly told him.

Hiashi's eyes soon landed on the blonde jinchuuriki. "Did you do anything to her?"

Nervous, Naruto blurted the first thing that came to mind. "No I swear I didn't do anything inappropriate to Hinata-chan. We just became close that's all."

"Define 'close'!" Hiashi insisted.

Hinata stepped between her father and boyfriend, facing the former. "Otou-san, shut up." Every eye in the room except Hinata's, widened at that statement. "What goes on between me and Naruto-kun is absolutely none of your business, and I personally couldn't care less if you disagree. If you want answers, give me the opportunity to explain without interruptions."

Hiashi was speechless, never had Hinata spoken to him in such a tone. So when he did not say anything, Tsunade spoke up. "Hinata, you have a lot of explaining to do. Are you even aware of what you've done? You left the village without notice, got involved in a mission you knew nothing about, interfered in it which would greatly risk the outcome, and from what Kakashi here tells me you and Naruto multiple times acted unprofessional. I could have you removed from active duty permanently and under house arrest for no less than a year if I wanted to. But before I do, I want you to tell me just what in Kami-sama's name were you thinking?"

Hinata sighed. "I can explain, but the answer's not that simple Hokage-sama."

"We're not going anywhere until you do." Tsunade told her.

"Oh I know that. Okay, from the beginning, I must admit that in my report on my solo mission to Wave Country, the report I gave you was accurate, but I omitted something."

"Report omissions is a serious offense Hinata, but this better not be changing the subject." The Hokage told the Hyuuga heiress.

"I'm not. Here's what I omitted. On my way back to Konoha, a terrible storm came and I was forced to take shelter in a cave. Inside that cave was a gigantic sapphire, and inside that sapphire was a trapped demon."

"You encountered a demon?" Both Hiashi and Tsunade asked together.

Hinata nodded. "Yes, I did. The demon was incapable of doing anything except talk to me. She introduced herself as Lilith, a succubus, and was there because Uchiha Madara had trapped her there roughly one hundred years ago. In our conversation she gave me an offer, and I accepted."

"You ACCEPTED?" Hiashi all but shouted. "What the hell were you thinking?"

Hinata gave him a flat look. "Lilith offered me something I greatly wanted, something I'd do anything for. She promised to give me the courage and confidence I needed to be with Naruto-kun and have him return my affections. And Lilith did not disappoint. Thanks to her, he and I, are now a couple." When she finished, she and Naruto intertwined their arms, creating a united front to her father.

Hiashi's eyes darted between the two teenagers, having a hard time processing this information. "And how exactly did that come to be?"

"Before I answer that Otou-san, I want you to tell me if you plan on interfering. Rest assured I am going to be with Naruto-kun whether you or the elders like it or not, and I will kick the ass of anyone who tries to stop me."

Hiashi tried to regain his composure, as if to challenge his daughter's determination in her claim. To his surprise, and pride, he saw even greater determination than he ever saw in Neji's eyes. Looking at his daughter, he couldn't help but feel that if he did challenge her, she would indeed kick his ass until it bled. Fortunately for him, he didn't intend on challenging her.

"For now, I will do nothing, but I do want to hear the rest of your explanation to your reckless behavior." Hiashi proclaimed.

Hinata nodded and returned her gaze to Tsunade. "Lilith and I came to an agreement. She would give me what I needed, and I would give her what she needed. What Lilith needed... was to be let out of the sapphire and have me be a host for her spirit. So for all basic purposes, I am a volunteer jinchuuriki."

Everyone was momentarily speechless. "Could you repeat that?" Tsunade managed to ask.

"Lilith's body was destroyed. She asked that I be a host to her chakra and spirit until she regains enough strength to regain one of her own, and promised that as long as I hosted her, I'd become brave enough to pursue a relationship with Naruto-kun. And so far, I have yet to regret accepting the offer."

Tsunade stood up and slammed her palms on her desk. "Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea what kind of risk you're taking? How can you be sure the demon can't take control of you or already hasn't? And why would you help this demon regain it's freedom? Didn't you think that maybe it was better left trapped?"

Hinata nodded. "Of course I thought about all that. But to me the gain was worth the risk, and I have a way of keeping Lilith under control."

"I still hate that, you know." The succubus commented.

Tsunade looked curious yet skeptical. "And how exactly do you keep this demon under control?"

Hinata reached into her pocket and pulled out a few sapphire fragments. "These came from the jewel that Lilith was trapped inside. I gave you a few before, but I kept a few for myself. I suspected they still had power over Lilith, so as long as I have them on me, I don't think she can do anything unless I permit it."

"That could work, but what about if those happen to be taken off your person?" Tsunade asked.

The Hyuuga heiress pulled a sapphire shard out from behind the metal plate on her hitai-ate. "I got a spare. I'm still trying to figure out a way to cover the event I'm completely naked, but so far I've managed to keep at least my hitai-ate on at all times."

Naruto could attest to that. Even when they made love Hinata always wore her hitai-ate. When they had to wash up, she still wore it or asked Naruto to scrub part of her while she held a sapphire fragment in her hands.

"So in a way, these pieces of sapphire are the equivalent to a seal?" Kakashi asked.

Hinata nodded. "Yes, they work just like the seal on Naruto-kun except I have to make an effort on my own end to keep in contact with them. Keeping them in my pockets appears to be good enough, but they have the most effect if in direct contact with my skin."

"Ok, with that settled, what is the extent of the demon's effect on you?" Tsunade asked.

Hinata briefly glanced at her father and sighed before returning her gaze to the Hokage. "In no particular order, Lilith is able to converse with me regularly but she can't control my thoughts. I have access to her abilities and can even gain the physical traits of a succubus when I want, particularly when I'm in a fight. The only catch is... I have to feed her regularly. Every time Naruto-kun and I were, as Kakashi-sensei put it, being unprofessional he was helping me feed her. If I don't, I starve with her. So to be fair, we weren't being unprofessional, we were ensuring I was in good health."

"And how do you feed her?" Hiashi asked.

Hinata really didn't want to tell him of all people that. "How do you think you feed a succubus?"

Hiashi could guess, but he really hoped he was wrong. He ended up glaring at Naruto, emitting a good amount of KI. Naruto was no stranger to receiving KI, but knowing this was Hinata's father made it more effective than normal for him. He started shivering in fear and sweating bullets.

Hinata saw this and glared at her father. "Otou-san, stop that." She saw him return his attention to her. "There's no easy way to admit this, but... Lilith gets energy from sexual activities. So yes, I have had sex with Naruto-kun. I do it to show him my love and to keep myself alive, and I'm not ashamed of it."

Hiashi lost his stern composure in favor of a sort of 'I did not just hear that' kind of look. His eyes were wide and his mouth was open a small amount, his fists unclenched and his arms hanging limp at his sides. He looked like he was trying to say something but he sounded like he forgot how to form even the simplest words.

Tsunade sighed, mostly to hide any attempt to laugh at the always stoic Hiashi's ineptitude, but also because she could predict the calamity to come involving the Hyuugas. 'This is not going to go well for those two. I only hope that they can handle this without a scandal rising and being blown out of proportion.'

Hinata snapped her fingers a few times in an effort to return her father to reality. The third time appeared to be the one that worked. "Wha... what did you just say?"

"Do I really have to repeat it?" Hinata asked. "As a host to a succubus, I need sex to stay alive and active. So Naruto-kun has been keeping me alive for the past week by making love to me." She then turned to Tsunade. "That is why I left the village Hokage-sama. There was no way I would have survived long enough to wait for him to return here from Konoha, so like Lilith told me, I had to either go after him or find some other boy in the village to sleep with. No punishment you can give me will ever be worse than forcing me to be with anyone other than Naruto-kun. I did what I must, what I know is right. And I absolutely refuse to apologize for it. Punish me if you must, but if you do, you're basically saying I'm supposed to whore myself out."

"Why would you have to whore yourself out?" Tsunade asked.

"Hinata, it may be best if you let me speak directly." Lilith told her host.

Hinata sighed. "Hokage-sama, the demon in me would like to answer your question herself. Would you mind if I let her speak for a while?"

The others in the room were surprised. Even Naruto hadn't talked to Lilith directly. Initially, they worried what this could mean for Hinata, but Tsunade thought it over. 'If she can allow that, this will give me an idea on what this demon is like and what should be done about it.' "Very well, Hinata, if you'd like, let this demon speak on her own behalf. But only if she promises to give control back to you when I say so."

"No sweat." Lilith commented.

Hinata nodded. "She agrees." She then closed her eyes and her body momentarily went rigid then relaxed. She opened her eyes, which were now a faded dark purple as opposed to the normal pale lavender Hinata had. She held up her hand and flexed her fingers as if testing something, and smiled.

"Ah, it worked." She said, her voice sounding normal yet less innocent. "Hello Hokage-sama, I am Lilith, Queen of the Succubi." Her gaze turned towards Naruto, and her smile grew perverse. "Hey there stud. Wanna have a threesome when I get out of Hinata's body?"

"What?" Naruto asked in disbelief.

"Lilith, if you would please focus." Tsunade said impatiently.

"Sorry Hokage-sama. I'm several millenia old, but most of the time I have the hormones of a teenager. And being in a teenager's body doesn't make it any easier on me." Lilith-Hinata said shrugging.

"You better not do anything to my daughter or so help me-" Hiashi started, but stopped when Lilith-Hinata called forth her claws and held them to his throat.

"You'll what? Seriously Hyuuga Hiashi, what will you do? You can't hurt me without hurting your daughter, and I agree with her in that you shouldn't hurt her chosen mate. Naruto impresses me and I'm quite fond of the demon in him as well." She then turned to smile at Naruto. "Kyuubi-kun? If you can hear me in there, I hope it's been good for you too."

"Umm... I don't talk to the fox that much so I can't say for sure what he's got to say about that." Naruto replied.

"That's okay." Lilith-Hinata replied, taking her claws off Hiashi's neck. "Now, where were we Hokage-sama?"

"Well, for starters, what exactly does this bond you have with Hinata do to her?" Tsunade asked.

"It's pretty much exactly what Hinata already told you. While I'm here, she has access to all my succubus abilities and is less intimidated by others. The price she has to pay is having sex regularly to stay healthy and build up strength. Once she's built up enough, I'll be able to rebuild a body for myself and move myself into it, allowing Hinata to no longer need sex to survive. Once I'm free, I'll go home to be with my kin. I mean no threat to anyone, you have my word."

"And what do you mean by your abilities?" Tsunade inquired.

"One such ability is taking on succubi feature, like these claws." Lilith-Hinata said, showing off a set of black inch-long claws on her fingers. "These would certainly make her juuken much deadlier. I could show you other features, but I doubt Hinata would appreciate me taking her clothes off here and in front of her father." The others, especially Hiashi, blushed at this. "But she can take on a set of wings and a tail too. No we can't fly, we ride the air currents and manipulate the wind to direct us and get us off the ground, but we succubi are gliders, not true fliers."

'That must be how she caught up to us so quickly.' Kakashi thought.

"The other abilities she has are succubi genjutsu, succubi ninjutsu, the Aiyokugan, and dream-weaving." Lilith-Hinata continued, withdrawing her claws. "Our genjutsu is like any other, except when we use it on men we don't need hand signs to cast it. Our ninjutsu is much like your own except it's not element based and takes on a sex theme. The Aiyokugan is a doujutsu that does not remove the free will of a man but does basically turn them into putty in our hands." She turned to Hiashi. "No, it does not interfere with the Byakugan." She then turned to Naruto. "And no, she has not used it on you Naruto." Then she turned to Tsunade. "And dream-weaving allows us to control people's dreams. Quite useful in the right circumstances."

"Can you give us a demonstration of any of these?" Tsunade asked.

"I could, but I'd rather wait. Doing so may tire Hinata out, so why not wait until the end of this meeting so afterwards Naruto and Hinata can go do their thing?"

Hiashi frowned. "You'll do no such thing."

Lilith-Hinata shook her head. "Hiashi, do you care for your daughter?"

Hiashi briefly blanched at this question. "Of course I do."

"Then do not interfere in this matter. Like it or not, your daughter needs sex as much as she needs food to live. If you try to force her to be celibate, you will basically starve her to death. And there's absolutely no way in hell that Hinata will sleep with someone you deem appropriate for her. I mean, she actually left the village to be with Naruto and only Naruto. If you care about her, let her be with her One True Mate."

Hiashi looked less upset but still not completely accepting of this situation. Mostly because as a father, he didn't like the idea of his daughter having sex outside wedlock and also being required to allow it. How could this situation be handled best? Would Hinata and Naruto have to live at the same place? Were they using protection? How long would this last? And would they remain lovers once it was over? Granted, that last question likely answered itself, but it still pressed on Hiashi's mind.

Despite what the others suspected, Hiashi actually wasn't thinking as a clan head right now. Sure, in the back of his mind he knew the clan would not like this even if they were told a version of this that excluded the involvement of the succubus. The Hyuuga often believed that what was said about one of them directly affected the entire clan, a sort of 'A chain is only as strong as its weakest link' mentality. The idea that the heiress would be living with someone of questionable reputation such as Naruto would be about as popular with the elders as sodomy.

"Is there truly no other alternative?" Hiashi asked.

Lilith-Hinata shook her head. "'Fraid not Hiashi. You only have three options. Kill Hinata, turn her into someone's whore, or let her be with Naruto as she pleases. Like it or not, there is no other choice here. And I think you know full well what Hinata's going to do, so why don't you ask yourself what's best for her rather than what's best for your clan's reputation?"

"I am asking myself that. The problem is I don't know how to keep others from interfering."

"Then don't." Lilith-Hinata replied, confusing her host's father. "If people are going to talk no matter what you do, then make sure talking is the only thing they can do. I mean, you're the clan head for fuck sakes, act like one and keep your men in line. If they don't like Hinata having a life outside their Hyuuga image, then tell them to fuck off. It's her life not theirs. So what if people talk and say bad things about the Hyuuga? Do you honestly think nobody already does that?"

Hiashi looked confused. "What do you mean?"

Lilith-Hinata sighed in exasperation. "Think about it smart guy, your clan seals its own, has privacy-invading eyes, rarely interacts with others except on missions, and when seen often act like they've judging everyone they see. I know you and your clan try to keep up a noble image and maybe you do, but in all seriousness, don't you think it's likely that people also already say a few bad things about you when you're not there? I mean, you've got to be pretty conceited to believe people can only praise you even behind your backs."

Hiashi looked like he was genuinely unaware that the public in Konoha would say such things about his clan. Sure, he knew the Hyuuga weren't perfect, but he didn't think they were disrespected by the village they worked to protect. No one would knowingly disrespect those that kept them safe. But then again, that didn't stop people from disrespecting Naruto who kept them safe from Kyuubi, so maybe this succubus had a point.

"So what do you recommend then?" The Hyuuga head asked, testing the sex demon's response.

"I recommend letting Hinata and Naruto handling their problems themselves their own way and only get involved if they ask you or you somehow get dragged into it."

Tsunade tapped her fingers together for a few moments, trying to figure out a proper solution, but she did see the wisdom in Lilith's statement "Hiashi, do you have any arguments to that?" She asked

Hiashi's eyes darted from Tsunade, to Lilith-Hinata, and then to Naruto. He then sighed and lowered his head, knowing that there was no other way out of this, "I submit to the proposal, for now. I will allow what is best for my daughter. Just try not to be shameless about it in public. I don't want her seen as a tramp after all."

"I understand. I would hate for people to think of any of my daughters in an insulting way too." Lilith-Hinata replied.

Tsunade returned her attention back to Lilith-Hinata, who was smiling rather smugly. "Very well Lilith, we will allow you to go thru with your plan to build up enough chakra to create a body for yourself. However understand that you will be watched, constantly and we are doing this for Hinata's sake and not yours."

Lilith-Hinata smiled "Go ahead, I like it when people watch." Suddenly the purple pupils faded and were replaced with the lavender-tinted white eyes of Hinata.

The Hyuuga heiress blinked a few times, trying to readjust to being in control again before she spoke. "It's me, Hinata now. So, does that clear things up with everyone?" She asked.

Tsunade nodded "For now, you and Naruto are excused. I have others matter regarding this situation that I wish to discuss in private with the others."

Both Hinata and Naruto bowed to the Lady Hokage and they walked out of the office, hand in hand.

When the door shut, Hiashi groaned. "Kami, what did I do to deserve this?"

Meanwhile outside the doors, Hinata kissed Naruto deeply on the lips, and when they parted she whispered into his ear. "Let's go back to your place, and I will make you some of my special ramen."

Ino was in the shower, rubbing soap over her enhanced body courtesy of her brief encounter with Lilith. She was happy and relaxed, and had to admit she enjoyed caressing her still tingling skin right then.

'Oh wow, last night was... wow! Everything I read about it before did NOT do it justice.' She told herself with a bright smile that would not leave her. As she reached for the shampoo, her eyes darted towards the door. 'I wonder if he's still asleep. Maybe I ought to wake him up... and then exhaust him all over again.'

She lightly laughed, her loins aching for more, while in the bedroom, there was some stirring under the sheets.