Chapter 19: Acts of Heritage
It was finally the first day of the academy; Naruto had opted to continue wearing his extra-long sleeved blue shirt with his white flak jacket over it. While Hinata on the other hand wore her newly made lavender battle kimono with a flower petal design engraved into it, the sash was pure white with the red Hyuga symbol sewed into the right side of the sash, Hinata remembered the day when she asked her father if she could spend 30 thousand ryos. The man spat out the tea he was drinking and demanded why his daughter needed such a sum, after a brief explanation and some convincing from Hitomi much to Hiashi's fear. Hiashi begrudgingly allowed Hinata to buy it.
Asking her father was really just a pleasantry, if Hinata wanted to she could have just bought it first and dealt with her father and the consequences later, the reason was that Hinata never had the need to carry money well not in Konoha at least. Because of how well known the Hyuga clan was, Every store in Konoha recognizes the Byakugan and because Hinata's forehead was unmarked they just give her guards a receipt to take back to the Hyuga clan for payment. And if the payment was small enough she could just ask Ko or Tokuma to pay for her, and they would compensated later.
As they both stared up at the building with Hinata hugging Naruto's arm, Naruto thought about what Anko had said about the academy before…..
"Basically it's a piece of shit," those were the exact words Anko had said about it.
"Four years of your life will be wasted with the most boring lectures, and subpar ninja training."
Though Naruto thought Anko was bluffing and over exaggerating, looking around at the other kids that were going to be in his class, he was slowly starting to have second thoughts on why he didn't accept the offer to graduate early.
Seeing the slight displeasure in Naruto's eyes Hinata placed a hand on his chest and rubbed it softly and asked, "Is something wrong Naruto-kun."
Looking down he realized with Hinata it wouldn't be so bad, nuzzling the top of her head he replied. "No nothing just musing to myself."
Sighing outwardly he knew he had to deal with it for the next four years, so he just accepted it as it was. Naruto also remembered what Itachi telling him the academy would humble him and help him make new friends….. but this was coming from a guy who graduated from the academy in one year and pretty much lacked any form of social life. But he would never say that to the man he saw as his older brother.
He was broken out of his musings when a boy his age walked up to him and asked, "Hey are you a Inuzuka?" This boy had a large grey coat with black fur on the hood and sleeves what was distinguishable about him was the large red fang like markings on the side of his face. Behind him was a girl who was slightly younger than Anko wearing a chunin vest and had red fang markings on her face as well
"Huh?" Naruto wondered "why would he think I was an Inuzuka" he thought to himself.
Your face, you have red marks like mine so I'm just wondering if you're a Inuzuka." The boy said.
"Oh" Naruto said as he felt one of Hinata's fingers trace the red mark on his middle whisker she said with a giggle, "He's right Naruto-kun with these marks you do sort of look like an Inuzuka."
"Oh heh, no I'm not an Inuzuka my name is Uzumaki-Senju Naruto and this is Hyuga Hinata" He said as he motioned toward Hinata" and yours?" He said as he extended a hand out for the boy to shake.
"Kiba…. Kiba Inuzuka." He said as he took Naruto's hand shaking it.
Pointing toward the girl behind him he said "this is my sister Hana and this is Akamaru," he pointed with his thumb toward his hood where a dog jumped out onto his head and barked.
"Oh that's cute," Hinata said than she looked up at Naruto. "Maybe we should get a pet; I've always wanted a rabbit."
"Hmm maybe but we have to ask Hiashi-sama first." Naruto replied
Suddenly an arm wrapped around both Hinata and Naruto from behind, "Look at you two acting all like a married couple already. Oh check it out its Hana-chan here to see your brother off?"
Smiling Hana said, "That's correct Anko-chan, I have my suspects that these two were the two you always tell me about."
Anko just replied with one of her cheeky smiles.
"Oh Anko-chan I didn't know you would come see us off today." Naruto turning his head slightly toward Anko's who had leaned it on his shoulder. Naruto was now a good 5 feet tall while Anko was about an inch taller than him, Hinata on the other hand was around 4 feet 5 inches around average for a girl who only ate and drank the most lavish of foods all her life. This was clearly shown if you compared Hinata's height to the other girls that were her age.
"Well I had to come see my man and his little friend," Anko said as she rubbed Hinata's hair slightly.
Hinata scowled at her slightly than said, "Maybe somebody is just jealous I get to spend all day with Naruto-kun and you don't."
Anko let out a hmph than said, "You just wait princess, when the time comes he will be spending all his time with me."
Before Hinata could retort, Naruto said. "Girls please, you know I care for both of you equally. So there's no need to fight and draw a crowd…. Especially not today. And look Anko we have to go now the teacher is signaling us to come inside, so we will see you after class today?"
Letting out a pout Anko licked his red whisker the whole length and then a soft kiss on his cheek and said, "Yeah, yeah I'll be in my usual spot after you guys are done. Want to come Hana-chan" Hana gave her a nod, giving the two one more tight hug she vanished with Hana in a shunshin.
Shaking his head slightly at Anko's antics Naruto asked, "You ready to go… princess." Saying the word princess with a grin.
"Oh you," Hinata said slapping his chest playfully. Pulling Naruto toward the entrance she stopped slightly and asked, "Inuzuka-san you coming?"
"Huh," Kiba said breaking out of the trance he was in. "Yeah I'm coming as he ran over next to Naruto." The trio then walked toward the crowd that was slowly entering the building.
Turning to Naruto Kiba asked, "Dude which one of them is your girlfriend, cause that other girl was hot."
Suddenly Hinata tensed while still snuggling into Naruto's arm. Naruto immediately placed a hand on Hinata's face and tilted her face up to meet his, leaning forward he whispered something into her ear which served to calm her down slightly.
"Well you see Kiba-san, they kind of are both my girlfriends." "What!" Kiba said with his eyes bulging out.
"Heh that's a story for another time, but just know that I care for both of them greatly as I'm sure feel the same for me, If not more." He said as Hinata looked up to him beaming.
After sitting through the class roll call, they were introduced to their teacher named Iruka Umino who was a chunin and had a scar across his nose then a basic explanation of the curriculum for the next four years. After that they were let out for break in the yard behind the school, Hinata and Naruto found a nice quiet picnic table near the back of the yard where they decided to eat their lunch.
Sitting down Hinata rolled up one of her sleeves to reveal multiple seals drawn on the inside of the sleeves, looking through them she gave a slight frown….. "they all look the same." Hinata thought to herself. Deciding to try her luck before Naruto got suspicious she jabbed a chakra laced finger into one of the seals, with a poof a brown book popped out of the seal and landed on the table in front of them.
Picking it up Naruto asked, "what's this?"
Quickly snatching it out of his hands Hinata said with a blush, "Oh it's my diary must have hit the wrong seal." Though normally Hinata would have no problem sharing her secrets with Naruto, but her diary was held some embarrassing desires and other stuff she had put in there, ranging from pictures she drew of Naruto to locks of his hair. They served to comfort her when Naruto left once every 3 months back to Mount Myoboku so don't judge.
Resealing the book back inside her sleeve she tried another one, and to her relief a bento box popped out this time. Opening the lid she said with an impressed face, "Wow these seals are really useful the food is still warm!"
"It also preserved how amazing this food looks Hinata-hime, you did a really good job on this."
"Thank you Naruto-kun, I try my best." Hinata said with a slight blush and smile. Getting a sudden thought she took her chopsticks and picked up a piece of chicken teriyaki, blowing on it light she moved it near Naruto's mouth and said, "Say Ahh Naruto-kun."
Returning Hinata's blush Naruto opened his mouth to allow Hinata to feed him, biting down on the chicken his mouth was assaulted by a barrage of delicious flavors and tastes.
Naruto said happily "Hinata this is amazing you will definitely make a great wife someday…"
"Make a great wife someday….."
"Make a great wife someday….."
"Make a great wife someday….."
"Make a great wife someday….."
Hinata's head spun as she heard those glorious words come from Naruto's mouth, she was in heaven, on cloud nine in paradise… you name it she was there.
Her mind conjuring fantasies of her being married to Naruto, they were in her room that was dimly lit with candles. She was wearing her traditional pink kimono with her hair elegantly done. They both sat on the edge of her bed with her hands in his, as he softly stroked the back of her hands with his thumbs he leaned in and whispered into her ear with a husky voice.
"Hinata Uzumaki-Senju….. my wife," just as he was about to move
his lips to hers. Hinata was broken out of her day dream by a squeal.
"Oh my god, you two are exactly like those romantic couples in those mangas I read." A blond girl with a purple dress said. She sat down across from them and said, "Names Ino….. Ino Yamanaka gossip queen of Konoha."
Hinata narrowed her eyes slightly at Ino for interrupting her day dream but said with a smile, "Hi my name is Hinata Hyuga and this is 'my' boyfriend Uzumaki-Senju Naruto. There's not much to gossip about over here so is there any specific reason you are here."
"Oh so you are Naruto-kun's girlfriend, his fan-girl won't like the sound of that." Ino said with a smirk.
"Fan-girls?" Naruto said
"Yeah all the girls are already taking sides either the Sasuke Fan club or the Naruto fan club, just wanted to warn you Hinata so you can be ready when one of those girls comes to steal your boyfriend." Ino said.
Seeing Hinata frown, Naruto chuckled slightly and said, "Do not fret Hina-hime it would take them a million years before they could even come close to being compared to you."
Bringing her hands up to her red cheeks Hinata said gleefully, "Oh Naruto-kun you spoil me rotten."
Smiling while bringing a piece of Sushi up to her mouth with his chopsticks he said, "And why shouldn't I…. my princess."
Ino just sighed when looking at them with glassy eyes; how she wished that somebody would spoil and compliment her like that.
The rest of the day passed with no other incident other than the occasional giggle Naruto would get from the other girls much to Hinata's displeasure, aside from that the only other notable event was when it was announced they would have a field day tomorrow to gauge where everybody stood in regards to their skills so Iruka told them to dress appropriately for tomorrow, directing most of that speech at the fan-girls who just wanted to look pretty. Naruto even swore he glanced at Hinata for a second, Naruto could see why but little did Iruka know Hinata wasn't wearing just any normal Kimono but her battle kimono that was designed to withstand warfare.
Later Afterschool
Hinata and Naruto were walking toward the dango shop to meet up with Anko, which was basically their designated meeting spot. After meeting up with her they headed back the Hyuga compound where they were supposed to do some taijutsu training.
Upon entering the Hyuga compound they were immediately assaulted by an overjoyed and crying 3 year old Hanabi, "nee-chan, Anko-chan, Naruto-kun you're back.
Naruto remembered this morning when Hanabi had basically fused herself onto Naruto's leg blubbering about how she didn't want him to leave. Only when Hiashi had come and told Hanabi to stop did she detach herself but that didn't stop her crying.
Bending over to give Hanabi a hug Naruto asked, "Yes we are Hanabi how was your day?"
"It was so boring without you three do you have to leave again tomorrow?" Hanabi asked with sad eyes.
"Yes Hanabi we have to go to school again tomorrow, but maybe Anko-chan can play with you if she has time?" Hinata said.
Hanabi looked up at Anko hopefully, she threw her hands up in a whatever fashion and said. "Sure If I don't have a mission tomorrow I'll stop by and 'play'. Finishing with a sinister tone when she said the word play.
In the middle of the training though they were interrupted by Hiashi, who asked them to come into his office for a talk. Entering the office Hitomi was there already she saw Anko and said, "Oh Anko-chan I didn't know you were here, but you might as well stay for this talk we are going to have with Naruto and Hinata."
Anko's eyes widened, "Oh you're doing that talk with them! I'm going to enjoy this." Anko said ecstatically. She sat down on the pillow next to Naruto who had Hinata sitting next to him while hugging his arm.
Hitomi giggled slightly and said, "No Anko-chan not that talk… at least not yet. But the topics we will discuss today will affect both Hinata and even you."
Hiashi said in a serious tone, "Yes this has something to do with a friend Naruto has had all his life."
"WAIT A MINUITE, you just said it's not that talk." Anko screamed out.
Giggling Hitomi said, "I'm sorry Anko-chan my husband might have worded that in a way that may make it seem like we are taking about that friend he has, but in reality we are talking about something much bigger than that."
Though Anko nodded in approval on the outside, on the other hand she was salivating on the inside…. "Much bigger!" Anko licks her lips at Naruto who luckily didn't notice.
Hiashi narrowed his eyes slightly at the Anko who had one drip of saliva running down the side of her mouth, ignoring the fantasizing girl he asked, "Hinata Anko you both know that Naruto is considered a Senju correct?"
They both nod
"Well as you might know the Senju clan is almost extinct save for Tsunade of the Sannin and Naruto-kun, plus the fact that he is a male he has the rights to invoke a program called the Clan Restoration Act or CRA for short." Hitomi said while letting what she said seep in.
"What does that mean?" Hinata asked.
"Well basically it's a glorified harem," Hiashi said nonchalantly.
Anko's eyes bulged out and said, "Wait your telling me that Naruto-kun can legally have multiple wives!"
Hiashi nodded his head.
Hinata's didn't know what to think of this, though she accepted Anko also being Naruto's girlfriend. She wasn't sure about more girls…..
"What if one of them steals Naruto-kun away from me." She thought gloomily.
While squeezing Naruto's arms tighter, who would have noticed if he wasn't so lost in thought.
Anko gripped her pants overcome with emotion, tilting her head down toward her lap so nobody would see the tear that slipped out. Yes Anko would often say that she would have been the one to marry Naruto instead of Hinata, but deep down inside she knew that if Naruto had to choose 10 out of 10 times he would have choose Hinata. The only reason she acted that way was because she knew she couldn't beat Hinata who had money, beauty, compassion Hinata had it all. What did she have… nothing she was just used and broken goods that the bastard Orochimaru threw away.
But that didn't matter now, Naruto didn't have to choose she as well as Hinata could be with him and nobody would judge them. And….
And….. Suddenly Anko was ripped off her high horse when sherealized something; Naruto didn't have to invoke the CRA. If he wanted to he could choose just take Hinata as his wife, and she would be left alone.
But before Anko could drown herself further in despair and self-loathing she felt a hand on top of hers. Tracing the hand back to the source it was Naruto's who was look at her with concern, "Anko-chan are you alright?" he asked in a worried tone.
"Naruto-kun" Anko stuttered out.
Wiping the tears from her eyes she smiled at him and said, "just concerned if you want us to be your wives." More specifically she was asking for herself.
"Heh," Naruto said in a sad tone which made Anko worried a bit. "I would be lying if I didn't like the idea of one day marrying both of you.
"There it is again" Hinata thought suddenly cheered up, "Earlier he said I would make a great wife now Naruto-kun said he would like to marry me… well us but doesn't matter he still said he wanted to marry me." But Hinata couldn't just wander off into the land of day dreams like earlier.
"Why do you sound so sad then Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked.
With a slightly sad look he said, "Because I'm scared that if you two knew the truth about it me, I don't know if you two would still want to marry me let alone be friends with me. I'm sure you would both hate me if I told you what I am."
Hinata gasped and said, "NO Naruto-kun, regardless of what you are or who you are I would want to marry you. Not only have you saved both my mother's life and possibly my life, but you also inspire me to achieve great things…. I could never hate you Naruto-kun."
Wrapping a hand around Naruto's shoulder Anko said, "Yeah you know I have a pretty shady an gloomy background too, but I was still given a chance by the Hyugas and you so come on spill it what's this dark secret you have."
Sighing Naruto slowly began his story, "As you might have learned 8 years ago the Yondaime Hokage fought the Kyubi who attack Konoha, We were all taught that he was able to kill the Kyubi at the cost of his own life…." Naruto heard an hmph from inside his mind ignoring it he continued.
But that's not true, it was a cover up story that the Sandaime made up to ensure the village did not go into widespread panic and revolt.
Taking a deep breath Naruto steadied himself for what he was going to say next, "The truth is that nobody can kill a tailed beast not even the Yondaime. Especially not the Kyubi who is known as the strongest of them all, so the Yondaime did the only possible thing. He sealed the Kyubi inside a newborn baby who could adjust and adapt to the unsurpassed powers that was the Kyubi's…. that baby was me."
Lifting up his shirt he channeled chakra into his stomach to reveal the complex seal has father had given his life to inscribe onto his stomach.
Naruto looked around at their expressions, Hiashi was impassive as ever, Hitomi was awkwardly playing with the hem of her robes they both knew this prior to Naruto telling them, Anko was staring at him with a contemplative look and Hinata had her hands over her mouth silently sobbing.
"Is that why they hate you Naruto-kun? Is that why they give you those nasty glares and try to attack you?" Hinata sobbed out.
Naruto nodded, suddenly Hinata did what Naruto would have never expected she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. Sobbing into his chest she said, "It must be so hard to hold thisburden, to have to go out every day and have to deal with those who hate you and despise you because of something you had no control of."
Returning her hug Naruto asked, "You don't hate me for housing the Kyubi?"
Tilting her head up from his chest to stare at him directly eye to eye she said, "No like I said I could never hate you, you mean even more to me now because you are a hero. Ever since the day you were born you were a hero, you protect me and everybody by keeping the Kyubi jailed inside your body and not letting the people's hatred get to you. Had it been any lesser person they would have let the Kyubi out just to get revenge on those who wronged them."
"Thank you for understanding Hinata-hime." Naruto said while returning Hinata's hug. Suddenly another pair of arms wrapped around the two tilting his head up Naruto saw it was Anko with a huge grin.
"You know we aren't much different, we are both hated for something someone else forced upon us. And we both carry a mark that makes people hate us." She said.
Watching the emotional scene between the 3 kids bought a smile to Hitomi's face, but before she could savor the moment any longer Hiashi said, "Naruto-san since they are so understanding of you, I recommend you should tell them your last secret regarding your heritage."
Naruto nodded then let the two girls go sitting back into their pillows, Hinata-hime Anko-chan do you remember when we learned about the Yondaime from Hiashi-sama?" When they were growing up the 3 often took a more detailed lesson on the history of Konoha from Hiashi when he had time away from his duties.
The two nodded.
"Well the Yondaime was often praised for many things like being the strongest and fastest but above all things he had a firm belief in justice, so when it came time to seal the Kyubi inside a baby he didn't just choose any baby he chose his new born son." Anko and Hinata gasped at this, "The Yondaime would have never asked somebody to do something he wouldn't do, so even though he knew how harsh the life of a Jinchuuriki was. He was willing to sacrifice his family's life for the sake of Konoha."
Hinata was the first to speak after a moment of awkward silence, "Wow Naruto-kun those villages look at your with disgust and hatred because they think you are the Kyubi, but that would change the instant they knew the truth about you. Why don't you tell the entire village?"
Naruto shook his head and said, "No Hinata-hime we can't, my father had many enemies that would go to great lengths to take revenge for what he has done. In order to protect me my true identity must be kept secret at least for now."
Hinata just nodded while Anko let out a satisfied sigh and said, "Hmm Konoha' prince and hero…. I really know how to choose them."
