Author's Note: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter V

A Hyūga's Heart

It had been a few weeks after war was officially declared on the Axis Alliance. Naruto, Neji, Shilarmaru, Rock Lee, and Falcon were busy finalizing war preparations and mobilizing the army. The Axis Alliance was also preparing for war and figuring out how to get past the seal that prevented them from invading Taloga.

A little unknown fact was Naruto watching Hinata more than usual. Not only that but he was deeply contemplating marrying her. Not for her money or status, he already that. But Hinata just loved Naruto for who he is. He quickly realized that she always loved him. And he was beginning to realize that he was loved probably as long as he knew her. Hinata was like the other half to Naruto. The exact polar opposite to Naruto in terms of timidity. But she was his equal in terms of determination.

Speaking of Hinata, she was sitting in her new room enjoying some knitting. She loved to knit just as much as she loved to cook, clean, and press flowers. It was just something she always did.

She was so focused in her work that she failed to notice the young, blonde emperor watch her. His eyes watched her tirelessly move and watch the yarn as she looped it together to make what ever she was making.

His intrusion didn't go unnoticed. Kō had seen Naruto and was about to attack until he realized that it was the emperor and he was merely watching something or someone.

"You seem to do a nice job with knitting Hinata." Hinata, startled, jumped up and stared at the person who spoke. It was Naruto of course. She stumbled so hard that she toppled most of her things. Fortunately for her, nothing fragile. Unfortunately, she looked clumsy and embarrassing.

However, Naruto just laughed a hearty laugh. Like he was enjoying Hinata flustered. He couldn't help it really. Hinata was so cute when she was flustered. He walked over to the Hyūga woman and helped her on her feet. "I-I'm sorry." Hinata said in a quiet voice. "Don't be hime. I'm the one who should be sorry for making you lose your balance." Naruto said as he continued to chuckle heartedly. Hinata saw that Naruto wasn't being mean, just amused. Her own small smile appeared and she quickly hugged the Emperor.

This was unexpected for Naruto. Though he had to admit, she was very comfortable being hugged and her small body seemed to match his. It was like two halves became whole. "Hinata, would you like to walk with me to the market?" He asked.

Hinata nodded her head and took her place beside Naruto as they began their walk. It was peaceful in the market. Children ran and played while their parents talked with vendors and friends. Not at all like what it was when Naruto first arrived to Taloga. Back then, children hid behind their parents and were alert for any sign of the dreaded guards back then. The tyrant of Taloga, as he was often called, was ruthless and even known for taking children and making them into playthings and slaves. But with Naruto's victory over the Tyrant, peace and hope was beginning to come over the city. And it did.

A group of boys playing with a ball accidentally kicked it towards Hinata's direction. The ball actually did hit Hinata's shin. The boys, upon seeing the Emperor was beside the woman, instantly became frightened and bowed as an apology. Hinata merely giggled and retrieved the ball before handing it back to them. "It's ok, it looks like you have a lot of fun with this ball. I'm not angry." The boys graciously received the ball and continued playing.

Naruto stood there and watched Hinata's reaction to the situation. 'Yes, she would make a fine empress' he thought to himself. Hinata blushed a little bit when she realized that Naruto was staring at her or through her.

Finally the emperor seemed to snap out of his trance and flashed his ever iconic, foxy grin. "Come on Hinata, I'll take you home." He said as he reached out his hand. Hinata graciously took it and walked alongside her love.

In a distant field, Falcon was having a hard time getting a bunch of Hyūga, who wanted to join the Eagle Brigade, to understand tactics that were common in the Empire. "Wrong, now the second man need to stand a shoulder behind the lead. This is to make a wedge shape that will help in the thick of battle. When your opponent is a mere mob, the wedge is a great offensive strategy." Falcon explained as the Hyūga tried in vain to make something that resembled a wedge that Falcon stated. "We have been going over this drill more than the other formation you taught us. What difference does it make?" A Hyūga asked as he almost threw his spear to the ground.

"First of all, don't question my judgment about what you should and shouldn't learn. Second, don't throw your spear to the ground. And third, you haven't mastered the understanding behind it." Falcon said as he almost lost his cool. "But why do we need to learn this wedge formation?" Another Hyūga asked. "Because the wedge formation is more mobile than the turtle formation. The turtle formation is used for defense, while the wedge is more of an offensive formation." Falcon calmly explained.

The Hyūga still didn't get it by the end of the day and Falcon was about to lose it. He walked back to where Hiro, his faithful servant and someone he liked, was sitting. "They are aggravating you Falcon-San?" "Yes Hiro, they seem so stubborn about their own way of fighting, they don't try something new." Falcon said as he sat down near her. Hiro smiled slightly before handing Falcon some much needed tea.

Falcon took it with gratitude and sipped his beverage. "Pride does make it harder for people to learn doesn't it Falcon-San?" Hiro asked. Falcon snapped his finger and faced Hiro. "Hiro, if it weren't for my oath never to marry, I'd marry you on the spot! You're a genius!" Falcon said as he placed the tea cup down and briskly walked away towards his office.

Hiro was so shocked that she forgot to even blush at this compliment. This however, turned into a squeal of delight as she realized she was just one step closer to winning the man she wanted for so long.

As Falcon sat down, he heard the door open to reveal Naruto and Hinata. "Ah, Your Highness, forgive me for not being so proper." "Falcon, you're equal to me in terms of authority over the military. I don't need any formality from you." Naruto said. "So what exactly are you doing here?" Naruto asked as Falcon resumed his paperwork. "Getting finished with the preparations and mobilization. I'm also creating a new battalion." Falcon said as he signed the form. "What battalion are you making?" Naruto asked as he looked over the form. "The 31st Konoha Raiders battalion. They will serve in elite status and fight in Konoha tactics since it's harder for them to understand our own." Falcon said. "I am sure that the Konoha nin are more than capable of learning our tactics, you taught me, Neji, Lee, and Shikamaru in tactics used here." Naruto said. "Even that took me weeks for you to learn and understand, we have days before we invade." Falcon said as he reviewed a report given to him.

Hinata watched the interaction between the commander and chief and the emperor. They seemed more bound by brotherhood and loyalty than anyone else she had ever met.

Naruto though couldn't help but rib Falcon a little. "I saw Hiro not too long ago. She was estatic about something and I guess it was something you said to her?" Naruto asked in a teasing way. Falcon visibly flinched at the mention of what he said to Hiro. "I guess it was a mere compliment that I gave her about her intelligence." Falcon said as his cheeks slightly tinged with red.

"Oh so that what it was? It must have been one hell of a compliment to have her so jovial." Naruto teased further. Falcon said nothing but sent a clear warning via body posture to not continue. "You know you should probably marry her Falcon. It would do you some good to have a companion like her. She's been crazy about you ever since you saved her back in the war." Naruto said as he grew suddenly serious. "I still stand by my oath not to get married until I sacrifice myself to save one person from harm. I can't marry anyone or break my oath. If I break my oath, I will surely die within a day of the wedding. I must fulfill my oath first." Falcon said as he signed another form and began another.

"How do things look for us and this war? We have to attack sooner rather than later." Naruto asked as he looked over the desk. "We have 20,000,000 men, 40,000 Kiros, same number of horses, and 16,000 canons. The odds are stacked for us, but we must only take 10,000,000 men with us." Falcon said as he signed another form and continued the task at hand. "So you expect victory?" Naruto asked. Falcon nodded. "I will lead the army into battle, there's not much they can do against me anyways." "Take Hiro with you." Falcon momentarily hesitated before speaking again. "I don't think that's a good idea." "I say take her with you anyways. She'll not give us any rest with her worrying about you everyday until you come back. Believe me, I know full well when you left to lead the army against the rebellion at Trotan. She was a nervous wreck every single day." Naruto said. "Fine, I'll take Hiro with me. And you gotta watch that Hyūga there too." Naruto looked puzzled at why Falcon said this. "Why?" "Because you know the way to a Hyūga's heart better than the Hyūga themselves." Falcon said before standing up. "It's time for rest, I have to leave first thing in the morning tomorrow." Falcon said and Naruto nodded.

As Naruto and Hinata walked back to the Hyūga Compound, Naruto contemplated on what Falcon told him. 'I hate to admit this, but he's right.' Naruto thought before he felt someone tug on his shirt. He turned to face the Hyūga princess at his side she was looking up at him with such a gentleness that made Naruto want to scoop her up and kiss her for all his worth. Well, want isn't the right word, because he did scoop her up and kiss her for all his worth.

Hinata was fine for one second, and the next she was in a mental shock. She felt nice, warm, soft lips plant against hers. The contact only took a few seconds before she went from shock to pure joy. She was receiving what she wanted most at last. She had achieved her love.

That night, Hinata didn't go back to the Compound. She went straight back to the palace with Naruto. There she would spend the night with him in his bed and not getting any sort of intimacy. Hiashi grew concerned until Falcon informed him that Hinata was with Naruto and Naruto was most likely going to accept the offer. Hiashi nodded before trying to ask Falcon how exactly he knew about the offer but discovered that Falcon had disappeared.

In a small living quarters of the palace, Hiro was doing some much needed writing, when she heard a knock at her door. She quickly got up and opened the door to reveal Falcon himself had knocked. "Hiro, make sure you pack your bags for tomorrow. His majesty is making me take you with me to this war. Be warned Hiro, this won't be pretty." Falcon said as he walked away.

Hiro stood there for a second before she closed the door and flew through her clothes and other items. At last, she was going to go with Falcon to war. Something she hadn't done ever. Even with the Talogan War. She was so excited, she could hardly sleep that night. But when she did, she dreamt of Falcon and the battles she would finally whiteness.