Chapter 22 Bond between partners

The Moment of Truth was coming. Dorothea and Hinata would come at any moment. Ingrid was only in her undergarments; she wasn't in a hurry to get fully dressed.

"Damn, what a nice body! Honestly, it's hard to choose which one is my favorite."Naruto wanted to smack Kyubi.

"You damn perverted fox," Naruto said, annoyed.

"It's not my fault that your mates are hot and sexy definitely an improvement over that banshee huh"Naruto got annoyed comparing his girlfriends to Sakura.

"Don't compare any of my girlfriends to her, they're not insufferable screeching, rude, obnoxious or annoying."

His Fox companion chuckled to that.

"Looks like Hinata and Dorothea are here."

As soon as Kyubi spoke, Naruto heard a knock.

"Oh shit, I have to get dressed!" Ingrid said, embarrassed at how little clothing she was wearing.

Naruto open the door and then saw notice the way Dorothea and Hinata were looking at Ingrid.

"I can explain"Naruto was trying to come up with an excuse then he thought it was stupid of course there his girlfriends why does he need to come up with an excuse and they've all seen everything from each other anyway.

"It's not a problem I don't know why you're acting so shy are you sure you and Hinaa haven't switched personalities when I wasn't looking?"Dorothea joked.

"It's fine, Naruto-kun. I mean" she turned red. Naruto got the general idea of what Hinata was thinking.

"Oh my", Naruto said, remembering all the kinky things he and Hinata had done.

"Do not forget that it was Hinata who came up with all of the hottest and kinky stuff you were too cowardly to come up with them on your own, let's face it: Hinata is the braver when it comes to sexual experimentation, though that Dorothea lass isn't too far behind. I wonder what kind of kinky stuff they'll come up with together."

"Damn perverted fox" thought.

While he was talking to Kyuubi, Ingrid finished dressing up. One by one the girls sat on his bed: Ingrid to the left, Dorothea to the right and Hinata at the center.

"It's amazing how much has changed in the past few months, isn't it? We all met and fell in love. It's just so strange how we all met and fell in love in such a short amount of time; it almost feels too good to be true."

Naruto admitted it out loud.

"You got it right. I mean, with both of you, I feel like I have a second chance with Ingrid."

Dorothea looked at her former girlfriend straight in the eyes.

"That's if you want to", Dorothea said. Ingrid looked at her lovingly.

"My love for you hasn't changed, Dorothea. I've grown to love Naru-kun and Hina-chan very much. I can't choose between the three of you; it would break my heart to pieces if I was forced to choose."

Dorothea nodded in agreement.

"Then there's Hinaa, our beloved princess from a foreign land. I never thought we would both love the same woman."

Dorothea said as she kissed her on the right cheek. Ingrid kissed her on the left.

"I never thought I would love three people. It's amazing, really, and scary to think that I can't choose between the three of you. It would break me." Hinata looked at Dorothea and then at Ingrid and finally at Naruto.

Naruto was put on the spot; he knew this was going to come eventually. He went to Dorothea first.

"I know up until recently you didn't like me, but I'm glad you're giving me a chance. I hope someday, Dorothea Chan, I could be in your heart as well as you in mine." Then he looked at Ingrid.

"In the short amount of time that we have known each other, I've seen a beautiful and strong woman with strong convictions. You don't need to change who you are; you can be a beautiful woman and a knight. You don't have to choose one or the other; you can be both. My dear knight, I would like to protect your smile and your happiness from anyone who would try to take it away."

Then he looked at Hinata, the first person he had ever loved. He had no idea what to say; it was harder for her than for the others.

"You were the first person to ever believe in me when everyone else thought I was a pest and a demon. You cheered for me. When everyone else was looking at me with sneers and hateful glances, treating me like I didn't even exist, like I wasn't even human. If you weren't in my life, I don't know who I would be. I love you with all my heart and soul. My Hime." He kissed Hinata fiercely. He couldn't choose between any of them; he wanted to love them all equally.

"Just because you love Ingrid doesn't mean your feelings for her will be the same as Hinata. It may change in time where the love will become something else. or be on the same level your bond with them will not be the same." Kyubi advised him not to overthink it.

"What you say means a lot to Naruto-kun", Hinata replied.

"I hope one day I could be worthy Naru Kun"Ingrid said trying to control her hurtful look on her face Naruto could feel that she feels like a third wheel now he would fix that she isn't a third wheel.

"One day I hope you become someone I can love, Naru Chan. I don't think I can ever measure up to Hinaa. I don't think any of us can." Naruto can't help it feel like she was feeling like a third wheel.

Hinata wrapped her arms around both Ingrid and Dorothea."You are not third Wheels. I love both of you, Naruto Kun does too."

Hinata said to try relieving the tension.

"There's something you need to know", Dorothea said. Hinata and Ingrid looked at her, knowing what she was going to say.

"I'm transferring to the Golden Deer"

Dorothea was expecting pushback, but she didn't get any.

"Why?" Hinata asked her.

"Aren't you happy in the Black Eagles?" asked Ingrid.

"Of course I'm happy that my friends are over there. It's just" she was looking for support, wondering if she was going to reveal what happened with the Sharingan.

Her Uchiha clan heritage made her more endangered as more people knew about her Sharingan. It was not his secret to tell; it was hers, and Naruto had to trust her judgment.

"I awake a power it terrifies me, and the person who can train me how to use it is the professor of the golden Deer." Dorothea replied.

"What are you talking about?" asked Ingrid.

Dorothea closed her eyes and when they opened the red eyes that were the Sharingan appeared Hinata was shocked. Ingrid was confused she had never seen the Sharingan before.

"Are you a?"

Hinata couldn't finish because of her shock.

She looked at Naruto as if asking if he if he knew.

"Sorry Hinata Chan. I cannot tell this secret, only she can. It's not my secret to tell."

"The Uchiha clan was wiped out with the exception of Sasuke San. How can you have a Sharingan?"Hinata asked, surprised.

"I don't know"Dorothea answered

"It would make things simpler if I explained it", Naruto heard Kyubi say.

"There's something else that needs to be discussed," Dorothea said, knowing now that Naruto's time had come to reveal his secret.

Naruto braced himself; this was the moment of truth.

He removed his shirt and gave the okay for Kyuubi to come out, Dorothea wasn't shocked due to see it before Hinata and Ingrid were surprised when an orange chakra formed on the floor. It took a minute before it was done forming, and it was a little fox that was sitting on the ground, staring at them like a dog.

"Who is that?"asked Ingrid.

"He's so cute."remark Hinata.

Ingrid picked him up he had an almost amused expression.

"Careful he's kind of a pervert"Dorothea warned

"Wait what?"Hinata asked stuttering.

"It's much better to see you in person than through my hostess's eyes." He said, smiling.

"Wait, did you see us?" Ingrid was flushed and angry at the fox. Hinata was too, along with Dorothea.

"Fucking pervert", Ingrid said irritated

"Hold on, hold up. I wouldn't intrude on precious moments between my host and his mates I have my limits."He said defensively, not wanting Ingrid to throw him across the room.

"I think you should put him down so he can talk, and I have another question: Who is he Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked curiously.

"Well, it's a long story. Dorothea Chan knows some of it, but not all. The perverted fox said it would take a long time to explain, and he didn't want to explain it multiple times. That's why he's explaining it now since all of you are here."

Naruto explained.

Kyubi explained the same thing Ingrid and Hinata as he did a Dorothea about why he was treated as he was by the village Hinata was fuming with rage. Ingrid wanted to break something.

"I can't believe those people!"Ingrid was on the verge of breaking something in the room because of how angry she was.

"You were a child, you had nothing to do with what happened to your village's Hokage death, what kind of sick" Ingrid tried to hold herself back. But the one that was the most angry was Hinata because she actually saw the cruelty firsthand.

"I have no words to describe my anger, my hatred , my disgust you had no say on Kyubi Sama being sealed inside of you had no say and the fact they're treated you as the demon incarnate? I have no words I could properly describe how much I hate those people I don't know who's the real monster Kyubi Sama or the people of the village."

Hinata was saying it with a controlled rage. she continued on with her ranting.

"It all makes sense now as to why those good-for-nothing elders in my clan tried their best to keep me away from you, to prevent me from being your friend and helping you through those tough times. Hinata was so angry that Naruto knew she was holding back; she wanted to say more.

In order not to derail the conversation further, Ingrid asked Kyubi the question that was on her and Hinata's mind.

"I'm sorry Lord Kyubi but there's got to be more surely you could have told all this to us individually you would not require all of us here if you wanted to only repeat it once."Ingrid asked him

"As respectful as I would expect from a knight of Faerghus to answer your question yes there is a lot more. I would like to tell the reason why is because I don't want to repeat it. It revolves around the day Naruto Uzumaki was born and to Naruto's parents are and Madara Uchiha."Finally Naruto thought he would learn who his parents are his mother his father he had always wanted to know.

" Wait, Naruto Kun doesn't know who his parents are?" all three girls asked, confused. They know he never grew up without a mother or a father but not knowing who they are.

"Of course I would expect that of the village not even to tell the boy who is on father was or his mother luckily for him I made a promise before their deaths." Kyubi was resisting not voicing his disgust.

"First though I have to explain who Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju as it is connected in a way to the history here"this confused everyone including Dorothea.

"About 100 years ago, the Land of Fire, along with the Five Nations, was established. However, before that, there was a State of endless War, known as the War States Era. Unlike this Continent, which has only a handful of wars in the thousand years that the Empire has existed unlike, where Naruto and Hinata are from, War has been a constant thing there. There have been three Great Ninja Wars since the Founding of the Five Nations, but before they existed, wars were between Clans, which the equivalent here would be Tribes."

She had never heard of this history at least to this extent.

"There were many rivals clans but none of them compared to the four most powerful the Uchiha, Hyuga, Senju and Uzumaki there was no clans that even came close to their powers. The Uchiha and the Hyuga for almost a thousand years there was no other rivals to contend with them but in the past 200 years the Hyuga clan spent more time in their castles rather than on the battlefield which caused the clan to become stagnant."

This history was something Dorothea was not even exposed to. What shocked her more was that the Hyuga used to be far stronger than they are today. How could such a strong clan have stagnated?

"It makes sense. I suppose my clan has stagnated. It would also explain why the worthless elders expect others to fight and die for them, why the branch house tends to be more talented than those in the main branch."

Hinata held back from ranting about her clan.

"You're not wrong if you were around though when your clan was at its prime they were a force to be reckoned with scary. The Byakugan was a sight of death. One Hyuga was able to take out hundreds if not thousands of enemies at once with the combination of Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu. They were not the rivals of the Uchiha clan for no reason; however, the Hyuga clan was better at Taijutsu than the Uchiha clan. The Uchiha clan was better in genjutsu. Every time the two clans showed up on a battlefield prior to the Hyuga clan's stagnation, lesser clans fled with their lives, it was like Titans battling landscapes were shattered."

Dorothea couldn't believe it it almost felt like something straight out of a story it couldn't be real but the way he was telling it it was as if he was there for those battles.

"But what changed?"Naruto asked him.

"A coward and an opportunist name Natsu Hyuga he was the son of The prodigy Tatsu Hyuga one of the greatest and most gifted Hyuga's to have ever lived he was a natural but of course his son did not have his talent it was through his leadership that curse mark the bird cage seal was introduced to the clan. He was scared of his more talented younger sister who unlike him was gentle in nature she was kind and loving towards everyone she didn't like to fight but would when push came to shove to protect her loved ones."

Sounded like Hinata Dorothea thought.

"She was named Hinata your namesake"

Hinata was shocked a gifted Hyuga that was a lot like her she did not like where the story was going.

"The coward placed the curse mark on his sister in order to hold back her potential, so there could be no possible rebellion in the clan; it was a way to control the stronger fighters. As a result, the fighters got weaker. Despite what they believe, the birdcage seal actually holds back the potential of anyone who has it. It doesn't protect the Byakugan like they think it does. The fools are using a seal that was made by a fool who had no idea how seals work. It was a miracle he didn't kill his sister when he used it. That short-sighted fool is the reason why the clan has been on a decline. Had not been for him, the clan could have been the strongest on the continent today. But of course, short-sighted fools are what rule the clan now, and it all started with Natsu."

The Kyuubi did not seem to be happy when talking about Natsu Hinata can understand why he was cruel and vindictive, one of the most hated leaders in the history of the clan. He was the one who introduced the barbaric seal. She clenched her fist in anger. His legacy lives on centuries later.

"What happened to my namesake? I never knew she existed." Hinata asked him.

"She fell in love with a commoner woman, but because she had the birdcage seal, she couldn't be with the woman she loved she loved. It was a very sad fate, but I have to admit it's a lot better than being a slave to her clan. Instead, she chose to sacrifice her life to protect the one she loved, rather than be a servant to the clan."

He waited for a response Ingrid after not saying anything said her what she thought.

"That's awful! How could anyone do that to their own family?" She looked at Hinata and looked away, ashamed that this was her clan's legacy. It was something she had always hated, but things could have turned out differently. Neji would still hate her if it hadn't been for Naruto.

Even in the modern era Natsu's legacy is still alive and well.

"After the death of his sister, the clan that was once one of the most feared on the continent became nothing more than a footnote. Arrogant and stuck-up, they thought going into battle was beneath them and only had their servants do it for them with the Curse Mark on them. Of course, the fools didn't even realize they were limiting the potential of their own clan all because of some petty jealousy of one of their leaders. The Uchihas gradually stopped paying attention to the Hyuga clan and saw them as a clan of cowards rather than warriors worthy of respect."

Hinata couldn't blame the Uchihas. She feels ashamed of her own clan. The more she learns about their history, the more shame she feels about what they currently are. She sees the current clan as an abomination. They say they believe in honor and family on one hand but do the opposite on the other. The clan doesn't care about honor; it's a clan of stagnation and hypocrisy.

She feels more justified choosing Edelgard's class the more time passes by and hearing about her clans history. Reinforces this view her clan has stagnated that has been obvious to anyone that's actually been in the clan.

"The Uchiha's 200 years before the Founding of Konoha, had a new rival arrive: one that was more worthy, and thanks to the power vacuum left by the Hyuga Clan's stagnation, another clan, which had been weak throughout most of its existence, started to become really strong by heavily innovating, taking advantage of their chakra reserves and their natural-born abilities. They made innovations that influenced even the modern day; most of you in Konoha probably learned them to some degree or another."

Hinata couldn't help but find this interesting she was listening intently.

"Because of their new rivals the Uchiha forced to innovate, making new jutsu more techniques and even awakened powerful variants of their Sharingan. The Hyuga clan used to push the uchihas to constantly innovate and improve but when they stagnated the uchihas did as well it is because of the rise of the Senju that the Uchihas had to adapt or would fall behind and become irrelevant like the Hyuga clan Kyubi.There would be a power struggle that would go back and forth until 82 years ago where you would have three players that would change everything."

Hinata was wondering why he was stopping?

"Kyubi, why are you hesitating?"asked Dorothea

The fox looked at both Dorothea and Hinata.

"Ones that would change everything would be Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha and the most powerful Hyuga that has ever existed Kanna Hyuga" that was not a name Hinata thought she would ever hear her name was shunned amongst the clan considered a heretic.

"This one will interest you Hinata Kanna is your ancestor"Hinata's eyes widened what?

"That's preposterous"Hinata said in disbelief what she had heard was she was the powerful Hyuga that ever existed she was considered the Byakugan Queen but she was from the branch house and not from the main branch she cannot be her descendant she never had any children.

"That's absurd, she never had children," Hinata said, and the fox continued in disbelief.

"Can you name One Hyuga that can do the lion fist? You are her descendant only the Byakugan princess can do such a thing I'm amazed they have not caught on that you are her descendant you are the true heir to your clan the queen of the Hyuga"

This was a lot for her to take in. A queen? It was ridiculous."That's ridiculous. There's no way I'm..." She felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Naruto. "I believe it. You're strong, Hinata Chan. Far stronger than those fools in your clan say you are. I believe what he's saying is true." She did not want to believe it. It was too good to be true.

"What I'm saying is true, but just because you are her descendant doesn't automatically mean you will be stronger than any Hyuga that has ever lived. Just like Sasuke won't be the strongest Uchiha. Nobody can be as strong as Madara anymore. Then there was Kana or Hashirama, beings of such power that only exist once in a millennium. Especially three at the same time! They could have destroyed the entire planet if they wished. But we're getting sidetracked"

He resume the story

"With much reluctance the three parties put their differences aside, not wanting to wage Wars against each other, not desiring to send children to their deaths, they decided a different approach. They United the clans in the land of Fire and founded what would later be known as Konoha. It would take too long to explain the rest and it's not really that important for this discussion, the rest you can listen to in your history classes."

He was skipping ahead Hinata wanted to learn more about her ancestor but figured she'd have to find out herself.

"Now I'm going to tell you what the kit wants to know like I promised though I will not be able to tell the full story because I never knew either one of your parents, Naruto. Your father was Minato Namikaze, the fourth Hokage. I don't know that much about him. You will have to ask Kakashi your Sensei or Jiraiya about that."

Hinata had no idea what Naruto was thinking; she wondered how he was taking it.

Naruto couldn't believe it. Kakashi and Jiraiya knew the whole time who his father was. It should have been obvious when he thought about it, the dirty looks from the village made him even angrier.

"THOSE FUCKERS KNEW I WAS HIS SON YET THEY STILL TREATED ME LIKE I WAS SOME SORT OF DEMON."seeing Naruto's eyes turn orange in a fit of rage she knew it she would have to choose her words carefully Dorothea placed her hand on his shoulder Ingrid did the same they were all were standing up Hinata was very close to him their faces touching each other.

"Those people why do I want to be Hokage?"he said in a quieter tone after a minute Naruto distance himself from them taking a deep breath.

The fox continued.

"That village has no idea how lucky it is that you didn't use my power to turn it to a nothing but a crater but I digress. Though this is something I was requested specifically by your mother should anything happen that requires me to be sealed inside of you."Naruto looked at him wondering when he was talking about.

"What do you mean?"asked Ingrid who has not spoken much in the entire exchange.

"The day Naruto was born, there was a wolf masked man I don't know what he looks like or who he is, your parents were trying to protect you from this man. You received an injury that would have killed any other baby had it not been for the quick thinking of your father and your mother."

Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing. His own parents sealed the fox inside of him. He would be angry under different circumstances, but they didn't save him. Had it not been for Kyuubi, he would be dead. Then he looked at his partners. He would have never met them, and they would have never met him.

He can't be angry at his parents they sacrifice their lives for him but the villagers he cannot think of himself for giving them by dishonoring his parents' memory by spitting on it.

"That is all I can tell you the rest you're going to have to ask Kakashi and Jiraiya because I did not know your parents on a personal level. Your mother wasn't open with me like you. I told you all I could kit"Kyubi finished.

"There's one thing I'd like to know about my mother: what's her name?"Naruto asked Kyubi.

"Your mother's name was Kushina Uzumaki, other than your blonde hair, you're almost a spitting image of her; you're a lot more like your mother than anything else." Kyuubi said to Naruto.

"I wish I had known her"

Naruto said with sadness in his voice.

"You should ask Jiraiya and Kakashi when you get the chance. They may not give you everything you want to know about your mother, but they should give you something. This is my advice, and I would give it to you." Kyubi advised.

"Thank you for telling us. I feel like we understand Naru Kun better now."

Ingrid looked at Hinata.

"Thank you, but you gotta have a name other than 'Kyubi' that can't possibly be your real name."

Dorothea pointed out.

"Considering my host has made an effort to earn my trust, I think I could tell you all my name, but you're not to tell anybody else except those I feel like have the right to know my name."

They all nodded. Ingrid wondered what was the name of this fox spirit.

"My name is Kurama, you are the first humans I've given that name, in many years have. Please don't disappoint me." he said to Naruto and his three partners.

"I would never think of doing such a thing, Kurama-sama"

Hinata bowed as a measure of respect.

"I'm tired. I could really use some sleep,"

Hinata said as she struggled to keep her eyes open.

"It would be a good idea for us to sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, apparently we're going to be introduced to new instructors from Konoha," Ingrid said to Naruto and Dorothea.

"I don't feel like moving," said Hinata, who leaned against Naruto.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, my Hime."

Naruto said to her, gently lifting her up and putting her on his bed. But then he realized the three of them were in the room.

"Well, we could make it work." Naruto remarked.

"Four people on a bed; aren't we forgetting that the perverted fox is watching us right now?"

Dorothea was annoyed at the cute but perverted fox's presence.

"Whatever, I have to go to sleep anyway." Kurama said as he went back inside Naruto's chakra seal."

Hinata leaned against Naruto's chest, already asleep in his arms.

No, they will try it another day. She held Dorothea's hand. "See you tomorrow", Ingrid said to Naruto.

"Good night Ingrid Chan and Dorothea Chan"Naruto said as they both left Naruto's room.

They walked in silence; they had not seen each other for almost a month. Maybe they should settle things between them first before they fully commit to Naruto and Hinata. Happened before with their relationship is not something they could just put off.

"Would it be all right if I stayed in your room tonight?" Ingrid asked Dorothea

."Of course " They both went into her room when the door was shut and locked. Dorothea wrapped her hands around Ingrid's waist, Ingrid doing the same. Their faces were inches apart.

"To think they would give us a second chance to be together, they're quite something, aren't they?"

Ingrid asked Dorothea.

"Yes, they are. Naru-chan, Hinaa! They're amazing people, but you're my first love, Ingrid. You'll always be the first, nothing will change that."

Ingrid responded.

"I know that's why I'm happy to have you, Hinaa, and Naru Kun."

Dorothea kissed her and pushed her against the wall as they continued with their passion. She didn't even bother resisting Dorothea's advances as she removed her clothing.

"We have a class tomorrow." Ingrid moaned as she kissed her neck.

" Hinaa and Naru Chan has had a chance to have fun with you now it's my turn, my beloved knight."

She didn't resist nor did she desire; she allowed Dorothea to remove what was left of her clothing until she had nothing.

"Do you have any idea how wet I am right now?"Dorothea asked her.

"No stop teasing me."she giggled.

"No matter how hard you try, you haven't changed. You're still as adorable as ever." Dorothea said with a perverted smile.

Dorothea laid her head on Ingrid's chest. It felt relieving no longer having to hold back."it's strange isn't it Naruto's her boyfriend and Hinata's girlfriend? It's amazing how fast things have changed in the past four months. And we have another chance I almost feel like we're in a dream"Dorothea said."we're not at least where I hope we're not well at least you won't have to deal with Sakura when you go to the golden deer."Dorothea never interacted with her once and she hopes she never had to.

"lets not talk about her, let's get some sleep, my dear Ingrid tomorrow will be a long day."

Dorothea yawned.

"Yeah let's do that but there's one thing I want to say to you before we go to sleep I love you Dorothea."Ingrid said to her

"I love you too my dear Ingrid."reply back.

Dorothea thought about it before she drifted off to sleep with two wives and a husband. She thought it wouldn't be such a bad thing, smiling at the thought of having three life partners she fell asleep dreaming of the future.

Not much was done with this chapter in terms of revision; it was mostly grammar and rewriting some sentences to avoid plot holes in later chapters. I will not be revising "Months of Calm" until after the current arc is done in terms of its writing. Eventually, I will speak about splitting that chapter into five, but until I get into the process of revising it, the chapter stays as it is for now.