Naruto's marriage is a heavily popular topic now. Every beast tamer knows about it, and if every beast tamer knows about it, everyone else and their mothers know too.

The opposition he encountered within his own clan is only whispers now. Hinata's presence has been nothing short of perfect in the compound and his father's sad discourse has quelled every other worry people have. It does help that Naruto has a firm grasp of his own clan and most people inside answer to him and him only.

His only worry now is having his ceremony without trouble. Security has been harsher ever since Hinata came, then even harsher since the whole Neji fiasco and now, just days away from her actually becoming his wife, Naruto knows ants would have to present papers to enter this place.

As it should be.

The Inuzuka's have been working closely with the Aburame's, and the reports keep coming to him every day. Nothing here, nothing there. His father does his best to reassure him, but Naruto can't help it. Big ceremonies are particularly worrisome for him. Too many eyes and too much to gain from having him get out of control.

The amount of meditation Naruto has had to do is out the charts. It would already be bad if Hinata had only been his bride, but the fact is, he likes her, and thinking about how he has put her in more danger than ever is enough to make him angry at life.

And anger and a beast tamer should not be friends.

Naruto can't help but remember his father, who lost his wife soon after having him. And they were in love in love with each other.

The pain... even thinking about it throws Naruto out of it.

Hinata is walking through the gardens with Ino right besides her. Hinata nods along as Ino points to some flowers and gives a spiel only the daughter of a florist could handle.

Naruto has a smile in place before he knows it. His pace quicken ever so slightly and he hopes Hinata catches sight of him soon.

And then he hears the sound of Kiba's dog running at full speed towards them.
Naruto spreads his own technique out of habit and is running before Kiba can scream, "Intruders!"

Hinata raises her head, Ino puts herself in front of Hinata with a kunai in hand and readies herself for impact. Kiba leaves Akamaru behind as his dog pounds into one of the servant-looking strangers and bites into their neck. Kiba runs towards the other intruder, who's running directly towards Ino while bringing his hands to the front and making seals with his hands to call forth a technique.

Naruto is too far to do anything from his distance, but in a second he appears in front of Hinata. Hinata startles, but Naruto brings Ino behind him and grabs the oncoming attacker from the neck. The man, surprised, clutches Naruto's arm in an attempt to free himself, but Naruto looks undisturbed and presses into the man's neck. Kiba turns around immediately and rushes back, losing himself on the roofs.

Naruto feels the man losing strenght by the second and after letting him fall unconscious at his feet he keeps his foot over him for good measure.

"Where's Sakura?"

Ino has Hinata grabbed by the arm and is looking around with sharp eyes, "In a meeting with Lady Mito on the outer compound."

"Stay with me then."

"Yes, my lord."

Naruto spreads his technique and starts walking to the walls. "Stay close to the building, Ino. Kiba's coming back now."

Hinata remains silent as she follows Ino. Chakra is not something you see unless you have a technique like the Hyuuga's, an yet, with the naked eye, Hinata could see sparks of red chakra glowing out of Naruto.

It is both mystifying and terrifying. And Hinata can't look away.

The next intruder jumps to the wall and then to the ground. Focused on Hinata he doesn't realize Naruto lies waiting in the shadows of the wall behind him.

Naruto throws a kunai towards the man and just as the weapon is about to hit, Naruto reappears and stabs the man in the neck.

Blood spews out and Naruto grabs the man's head before he can register the attack and slices the kunai along his neck. His kimono's sleeve is soaked in blood and hangs heavy as he moves the kunai absent-mindedly in his hand. A twirl, a circle, a twirl.

He feels the rumbling before anything and he can feel his chakra spiking.

Naruto coats his arm with the red chakra from the beast inside him and waits a second as the rumbling gets closer to him. When the enemy is under him, Naruto smashes his fist into the ground, sending debris everywhere and finding a surprised ninja there.

"Found ya."

The man is dead in a second, buried in the ground and with a gaping hole in his chest.

Naruto has no time to calm himself down before two new enemies jump from the wall.

"You really don't know when to stop, huh?"

The ninja disperse in an attempt to lure Naruto away and leave the other free to attack.

Naruto sends his kunai towards one and teleports immediately, as his bicep crashes with the enemy's neck. The other man is caught by a red claw flowing directly from Naruto's extended arm. In unison, Naruto crushes his hand and his arm and both men fall lifeless to the ground.

Kiba reappears a second later atop Akamaru and stops a little farther away from Naruto, careful, "We handled the others," his eyes still scan the area, even though neither his nose nor Akamaru's catch any suspicious smells, "Shino got held back with cleaning, just wanted to come here to let you know."

Naruto is still surrounded by his red chakra.

"My lord?"

"Heard you, just give me a second."

"You need me to call for Lord Minato?"

"Nah, I'm fine. Thanks for the report, go handle the rest."

Kiba leaves but not before throwing a knowing glance to Ino. Hinata tries to walk towards Naruto, but Ino grabs her. "My lady-"

"It's all right, Ino," Naruto assures. "Everything's under control."

Ino lets go of Lady Hinata with a reluctance that Naruto notices. Hinata hurries and walks until she is in front of Naruto. "Are you all r-right?"

Naruto chuckles and finds himself relaxing, "I am. Are you all right?"

"Nothing h-happened to me."

"Good."

Hinata stares at him, mesmerized by the red dancing around him. "Is it...?"

"The beast's chakra, yes."

"Can I?"

Naruto takes a step back. "No," and immediately after watching Hinata's disappointment, "it's dangerous."

Hinata looks full of questions and Ino is now closer to them. Naruto should wait till they are bound by law to share his secrets. But he has already skipped that part already so what's one more?

"It's corrosive to the skin," Hinata glances to the body next to him and sees the burnt marks left on the body, she looks at Naruto immediately after. "I'm fine, don't worry."

Naruto uses the beast's chakra an expands his technique as far as he can. There doesn't seem to be any more disturbances, so he lets the red disappear from his body. He cups Hinata's cheek and kisses her lips. "Seems like I'll have to go and get this sorted out. Stay with Ino, all right?"

"Yes, my lord."

Naruto instructs Ino and leaves the place full of questions and with an unconscious attacker he hands over to the first Aburame he sees.

Kiba is sitting inside Naruto's office, with his hand behind Akamaru's ear.

"Done with everything?"

"Yes, my lord. It was a small unit, 10 of them."

"How did they get in?" The question of the day.

"A servant from the compound used a summoning scroll."

"A servant?"

"2 years working and counting."

Naruto lets himself fall into his seat, "My grandma and my dad?"

"Both are all right, none of them were attacked."

So they were playing the long game and only attacked Hinata. "I want a sweep of every nook and cranny in here, also a background check of everyone who works in the clan."

"Consider it done."

"Should I add a personal guard to Hinata?"

Kiba cocks his head, "They will probably not attempt anything new till after you're married and probably we'll be fine until she's pregnant."

Naruto lets his head fall back. Oh, right. Right. Because she will be pregnant at some point. With his child. And then some people will try to...

"My lord?"

Naruto closes his eyes and puts all of his mind into controlling the rage boiling inside of him. "Got it."

"We have to tell Lord Minato."

"Yeah, I will."

"I mean it."

Naruto scoffs, "I will, Kiba."

Kiba looks worried and Naruto can't blame him. Even he's getting nervous. The beast's chakra has been making him more volatile as of late and that only means his seal has been wearing off.

He needs to reinforce it.

Again.

After so little.

Naruto sighs and crosses his arms. He misses Hinata.