Chapter 1: A Proposal of Duty*
Naruto stretched his arms as he made his way down the familiar streets of the Leaf Village, his stomach growling with hunger. The dust had barely settled from the chaos of the Chūnin Exams and the invasion that had almost destroyed the village, but things were finally getting back to normal—or as normal as things ever got around Naruto Uzumaki.
"I need some ramen! That fight with Gaara took everything out of me!" he groaned, rubbing his belly. His mind wandered back to the battles—facing off against Neji, going toe-to-toe with Gaara. The village was safe, and for once, Naruto was feeling proud of himself. But, as usual, he was ready to eat and relax.
Just as he was about to make his turn toward Ichiraku Ramen, a stern voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Naruto Uzumaki."
Naruto blinked and turned, only to see Hiashi Hyuuga—the big boss of the Hyuuga Clan—standing there. His arms were folded, his pale eyes giving Naruto a look that was somewhere between annoyed and… thoughtful? Naruto scratched his head, completely forgetting the guy's name for a second.
"Oh, uh, hey there... Hyuuga-ji-san! What's up? Something wrong?" Naruto said casually, not even trying to hide his lack of formality. He had heard enough big-shot names in his life to not bother with all the fancy titles.
Hiashi raised an eyebrow at the complete lack of decorum, but his expression remained calm.
"Naruto, I require a word with you. Come with me to the Hyuuga estate. It's a matter of importance."
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. *Hyuuga-ji-san wants to talk to me?*
"Wait, what? You sure you got the right guy? I mean, what did I do? If this is about the whole Neji thing, I already—"
"This isn't about Neji," Hiashi cut him off, his tone as cool as ever. "Just follow me. There is much to discuss."
Naruto let out a sigh, glancing longingly in the direction of Ichiraku. "Man… all I wanted was some ramen. Fine, whatever, lead the way, ji-san."
Hiashi didn't bother correcting him, but Naruto could feel the awkward tension radiating off the clan leader as they walked.
--
The Hyuuga estate was as big and fancy as Naruto remembered. He had only been there once or twice, but the place always gave off a stuffy vibe. As they entered, Naruto couldn't help but notice the way the Hyuuga clan members glanced at him. Some curious, some confused, some definitely looking like they thought he didn't belong there at all.
They entered a large, quiet room. Hiashi sat down on a tatami mat and motioned for Naruto to do the same. Naruto plopped down in his usual careless manner, stretching his legs out and leaning back, completely unaware of the traditional postures around him.
"So, what's the big deal, Hyuuga-ji-san?" Naruto asked, tilting his head. "You're not gonna start talking about that 'fate' stuff like Neji, are ya? 'Cause I already told him that's a load of—"
"This is not about Neji's fate," Hiashi interrupted again, his patience surprisingly intact. "This is about the future of the Hyuuga Clan."
Naruto blinked, clearly confused. "The future? Of your clan? Why the heck are you talkin' to me about that? I'm not even a Hyuuga. I barely even know half of you guys." He scratched his head, trying to piece together why he was sitting here instead of eating ramen.
Hiashi took a deep breath, steadying himself. "It is because of what you represent, Naruto. Your strength, your defiance of fate, and your ability to change those around you. You have earned the respect of many through your actions in the Chūnin Exams, not just by fighting Gaara, but by facing Neji and challenging the very beliefs that have long held sway over the Hyuuga Clan."
Naruto squinted, his brow furrowing. "Uh, okay? So… what's that got to do with me?"
Hiashi leaned forward slightly, his pale eyes focused on Naruto's face. "I have made a decision for the future of the Hyuuga Clan. A decision that involves you directly, Naruto."
Naruto's stomach gave a loud growl at that exact moment, and he rubbed his belly. "Can this decision involve some food, too? I'm starving."
Ignoring the outburst, Hiashi continued, "I propose that you, Naruto Uzumaki, be engaged to my younger daughter, Hanabi."
Naruto froze. "Wait… what? Hanabi? Who the heck—oh, wait, you mean Hinata's little sister? She's, like… my buddy Konohamaru's age, right?"
Hiashi's eyebrow twitched, but he nodded. "Yes. She is of a suitable age for an engagement to be arranged. She is young, but she is a skilled shinobi and represents the strength of the future Hyuuga Clan. The engagement will solidify a bond between you and the clan, symbolizing unity and strength."
Naruto stared blankly. "But she's a kid, Hyuuga-ji-san! Like, she's barely taller than Konohamaru! Are you serious? I don't even know her! I mean, I barely even talk to Hinata! And now you're talking about… marriage?"
Hiashi's calm mask cracked just a bit. "Naruto, this isn't about your personal feelings. It's about the future. The strength of the Hyuuga Clan and the strength of the village will both be ensured through this union. You have already proven your worth. Your strength, your will, and your ability to inspire those around you are qualities that will benefit the clan."
Naruto scratched his head, utterly baffled. "So… let me get this straight. You want me to marry Hinata's little sister, even though I barely know her, and you think it'll somehow make the village stronger? Man, this is weird. Like, super weird. What do I even say to that?"
Hiashi stood up slowly, his patience clearly thinning. "You don't have to give me an answer right away. Think on it, Naruto. But know this—your role in the future of this village is important, and so is your bond with the Hyuuga Clan."
Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Hiashi had already turned to leave, his back straight as ever. Naruto watched him go, completely at a loss for words.
"Engaged to Hanabi…?" he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "She's, like… ten!"
As the evening sky outside darkened, Naruto sat there, scratching his head in confusion. "Man, I just wanted some ramen…"
--
To be continued...