Hokage's Office
Kakashi couldn't contain his eagerness as he addressed the Hokage. "Hokage-sama, may we request a D-rank mission to get started?" he inquired.
The Hokage nodded, revealing a hint of a smile. "Certainly, Kakashi. We have a simple task for your team. The wife of the current Fire Daimyo has lost her beloved cat, and we'd like your team to retrieve it."
The mere mention of their first mission filled the entire team with excitement. This was their chance to prove themselves. Before leaving, the Hokage had a private word with Hinata.
"Hinata, there's something I'd like to discuss with you," the Hokage began. Uncertain, Hinata inquired, "What is it, Hokage-sama?"
"Well, now that you're a kunoichi, you are no longer required to live in the orphanage. In fact, I'll be more than happy to sponsor your very own apartment," the Hokage offered.
Hinata's heart soared with joy. Finally, she could leave the bleak orphanage behind. It was a bit intimidating to think of living on her own, but the freedom was worth it. "I would like that very much," she gratefully accepted.
As the team regrouped and ventured into what they assumed would be a straightforward D-rank mission, they couldn't have been more wrong. What they had anticipated as a simple task turned into a grueling hour of battling a particularly agile and feisty feline. All they had to show for their efforts were claw marks all over them and a D-rank mission under their belt.
Kakashi and Shizune sensei, however, weren't oblivious to the team's potential. Naruto voiced his dissatisfaction. "Kakashi and Shizune-sensei, can't we try a C-rank mission instead? We're definitely above a D-rank!"
Kakashi's grin widened as he contemplated their request. "It's a deal, but with one condition. You must complete 50 C-rank missions by the end of the week."
The team exchanged incredulous glances. "That's retrieving eight cats a day!" Mika exclaimed.
"It's going to be exhausting," she added.
The two Jonin simply shrugged. "Well, I guess the C-rank missions are off the table. I almost thought that 50 would be too light a challenge for you all," Kakashi said, shaking his head.
The team might have been daunted by the task, but they were determined to prove themselves and earn their shot at C-rank missions. "Deal!" they declared in unison.
Over the course of the week, the team displayed unwavering determination. Each day, they met or exceeded the quota of eight or nine missions. By the end of the week, they had completed the arduous challenge. Exhausted and battered, they gathered at Training Ground Seven, where Kakashi and Shizune had instructed them to meet.
This time, their sensei were the ones who were late, as they arrived utterly drained. Kakashi addressed the team, "Next week, we will undertake our first C-rank mission outside the village. But for now, rest."
Those words were music to the team's ears. They eagerly dispersed, heading home to enjoy the best sleep they'd ever had.
The following day, Naruto awoke at noon, savoring every precious moment of sleep. Sasuke and Mika were already out, indulging in dango, leaving him with the question of what to do with his day. He decided to visit Hinata.
"Hey, Mom, I'm going to see Hinata," Naruto informed her.
His mother replied, "Your mom is at the hospital, but as for Hinata, she's cute and has a lovely figure you sure she's just a friend."
Ignoring the old pervert's comments, Naruto left the house and made his way to the orphanage, expecting to find Hinata there. He approached a staff member and inquired, "Excuse me, I'm looking for Hinata."
"Oh, she's no longer here. She moved out," came the reply.
Confused, Naruto sought answers from the next available source. "Hey, old man, do you know where Hinata is? I can't find her."
The Hokage, who overheard his request, responded, "Ah, yes. She must have forgotten to mention it due to exhaustion. She moved into her own place. I'll give you the address."
Naruto soon found himself at the apartment door he'd been given. He knocked, finding the apartment quite pleasant, especially for a single occupant. However, when no one answered, Naruto's worry grew. He used his sensory abilities but found no one inside. Instead, he sensed traces of multiple chakras, as though a battle had taken place.
Concerned for his friend, he followed the chakra trails, which eventually led him to the Hyuga compound. It was then that he overheard a troubling conversation.
"Ko, we can't let Hizashi find out about her. It was strictly the elders' orders. If he discovers our actions with his niece, he won't approve, especially if we intend to obtain the Tenseigan, as referred to in the stone tablet."
Naruto's heart raced. Hinata had an uncle? but what was this Tenseigan they were talking about? He knew one thing for sure: if they had harmed Hinata, he would make them pay.
As he approached the building where the conversation was taking place, everything suddenly went dark. He could hear Hinata's faint cries, and it seemed he was now trapped in the same room with her.
"Naruto," she whispered.
He began to stir and managed to sit up. "I wanted to hang out with you today, but I didn't expect it to lead to this," Naruto said, attempting a joke in the dire situation.
Hinata's voice trembled as she explained, "They took me when I least expected it, with no one around 3 against 1. I couldn't fight back."
Naruto moved closer, holding her in a comforting embrace. He knew she was shaken, and perhaps the warmth of his presence would offer solace. They stayed like that for a while, finding strength in each other's company.
However, they had no idea that the clan members would return that night, their intentions ominous. They took Hinata away without uttering a word, leaving Naruto chained to a wall, a chakra-blocking seal preventing him from intervening.
"IF YOU HURT HER ILL KILL YOU!" The raging boy yelled
Fueled by desperation, Naruto began working on a counter-seal. He bit his lip and used his own blood to draw the necessary symbols. But he lacked the chakra to activate it. The only other source of chakra he had was the Kyuubi's.
Naruto recalled Jiraiya's simple explanation about their connection. Mediation! That was it. If he could focus and ask for just enough chakra, he could break free. Closing his eyes, he entered the mental realm he shared with the Kyuubi. It was a room with muddy water and a massive fence separating him from the other side. A colossal, shadowy figure emerged on the other side – the Kyuubi.
"So, the pitiful boy finally decides to visit me. Let me guess, like all the rest, the only reason you're here is for power?" Kyuubi sneered.
Naruto nodded, his voice low. "I am. I need your chakra, just a sliver."
The Kyuubi was surprised by Naruto's response. "Huh. So you love her?"
Naruto's eyes widened at the kyuubi's intuition as he admitted, "I do."
The Kyuubi seemed to ponder this revelation. "You know, kit, love starts wars and death. Is that what you want?"
"I want peace. But if they take that away, they leave me no choice but to resort to other means," Naruto explained, his determination unwavering.
Kyuubi reluctantly agreed, "This will be my last favor for you, evil humans."
Naruto was overwhelmed with gratitude. "What is your name?" he asked.
The Kyuubi appeared taken aback. "What do you mean? I'm the almighty Kyuubi!"
Naruto pressed on, "Everyone has a name."
Finally, the Kyuubi relented, "My name is Kurama."
"Thank you, Kurama," Naruto expressed his gratitude.
A surge of red chakra enveloped the chains, causing them to melt away. Naruto didn't need the seal; he was now free. With newfound determination, he burst out of his prison and rushed towards Hinata's chakra signature.
Upon entering the room, all he could focus on was Hinata, strapped up with tears rolling down her cheeks. Anger surged through him, and he felt the Kyuubi's chakra surging, turning him feral, red chakra engulfing his body. Naruto couldn't remember what happened next, only a blind rage.
When he finally regained consciousness, the room was soaked in blood. Hinata was there, crying over him. "Did...did I do this?" Naruto muttered.
Hinata, barely able to speak through her sobs, replied, "Yes."
Naruto's eyes widened with horror. He believed himself to be a monster. Still sobbing, Hinata declared, "No, you're not a monster! You saved me!"
She leaned in and kissed him, and with that, he fainted once more.
When Naruto woke up, he found himself surrounded by his friends and family: Sasuke, Mika, Hinata, and his parents. "He's awake!" Mika announced.
Naruto groggily acknowledged their presence. "Where's Hinata?"
"I'm right here, Naruto," Hinata's voice assured him. Naruto turned to see her, a loving smile on her face. He couldn't help but smile back.
Hinata explained, "I was here all night, and I told them everything about how you saved me. I'm so proud of you."
His father added, "I hate to tell you this, but tomorrow you'll need to attend a council meeting with Hinata to discuss what happened."
Naruto groaned at the thought, but at that moment, he was just grateful that Hinata was safe. "I'm happy she's safe too,"
A voice from an unexpected source echoed in his mind, his eyes widened, "It kurama we are telepathically linked now, Naruto."
Surprised, Naruto asked, "So you can hear me right now?"
"Yes, I can," the voice replied.
Overwhelmed with relief and gratitude, Naruto whispered, "Thank you, Kurama."
With that, Naruto drifted back to sleep, feeling at peace, knowing that Hinata was safe.
When Naruto awoke, he found Hinata still by his side, though they were now alone in the room. With a soft, hesitant voice, he broached the topic that had been on his mind since their kiss.
"Hey, Hinata, we kissed, right?" he asked, his gaze searching her eyes for reassurance.
Hinata straightened up, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Yes, Naruto-kun. If it was inappropriate or if it made you uncomfortable, you can just forget about it—"
Naruto gently interrupted her, "No, Hinata. I enjoyed it, and I'm feeling better now. How about we go shopping to spruce up your new house? At least, before the council meeting."
Hinata nodded enthusiastically, a blissful smile gracing her face.
After a day of rest and shopping with Hinata, the time for the council meeting had arrived. Naruto and Hinata entered the meeting room, where the elders and other council members were already gathered.
The Hokage cleared his throat, bringing everyone's attention to the matter at hand. "Hello, council members. Today's discussion revolves around the incident that occurred two nights ago. Hinata here was abducted by the Hyuga clan for reasons yet unknown."
Naruto couldn't help but notice that Hinata didn't mention the Tenseigan. He wondered about her reasons for withholding that information. Perhaps she had her reservations or was protecting herself.
"Naruto then came to her rescue, utilizing the Kyuubi's chakra," the Hokage continued, "and unfortunately, he had to engage in combat, resulting in the unfortunate demise of those involved, including the clan's elders."
Gasps of shock and disbelief rippled through the council members. A few voices in the room began to murmur, "He's a monster."
However, to the surprise of many, Hizashi Hyuga, the clan head, intervened and silenced the dissenting voices. "The boy is not a monster. If anything, he's a hero. Those clan elders were not good people, and he did my clan a favor. From what I've heard, Hinata here is my niece, and Naruto saved her."
Hinata's eyes widened at the revelation. She had family, and that was an unexpected twist in her life.
Hizashi continued, "From now on, you will be welcomed at any time by the Hyuga."
With the clan head's words, the atmosphere in the room began to shift. The council members appeared to reconsider their initial judgment.
As the meeting concluded, the Hokage called an end to the discussion, and the council members dispersed.
Once they were outside the meeting room, Naruto turned to Hinata. "Hinata, you didn't tell them about the Tenseigan?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Hinata hesitated for a moment before responding, "No, Naruto. Before I took you to the hospital, I searched for the tablet they mentioned. It stated that Hyugas with the blood of Otsutsuki descendants could potentially achieve a Tenseigan—a more advanced form of the Byakugan. I come from the Kaguya clan, and we have Otsutsuki ancestors. But I didn't want to tell anyone, because revealing it might put me in danger or, worse, I may not even be able to unlock it."
Naruto nodded in understanding. "I see," he said, his tone filled with affirmation.
Their bond had grown stronger through these trials, and as they walked side by side, they knew that they would continue facing the challenges that lay ahead together.
But in another unknown place a waited a shadowy figure "She shall be my queen"