Chapter 16: A New Path
Naruto sat cross-legged on the wooden porch of the training grounds, wiping the sweat from his brow after another grueling day of sparring. The Hyuuga compound had become something like a second home to him these past few months, and it felt good knowing he was making real progress.
The sudden appearance of Jiraiya, however, made his stomach twist. The old toad sage's expression was unusually serious, and that was never a good sign.
"Hey, kid," Jiraiya called, his usual laid-back demeanor absent.
Naruto stood up, stretching his arms. "What's up, Ero-Sennin? You look kinda... off."
Jiraiya gave a sigh and sat down on the edge of the porch, patting the spot beside him. Naruto sat down without hesitation.
"There's something important I need to tell you." Jiraiya folded his hands, staring out at the evening sky. "I've talked with the Toads, and they've agreed it's time you came with me to train—away from the village, somewhere safe."
Naruto tilted his head in confusion. "Safe? What do you mean? What's wrong with training here?"
Jiraiya rubbed the back of his neck, choosing his words carefully. "You've got a lot of potential, Naruto, but... the way you're going, you're not ready for what's coming. You need more than what the village can give you right now. You need to focus on chakra control, on perfecting what I've taught you so far—and, well... let's just say the power you've got inside you isn't easy to control."
Naruto blinked, his heart sinking slightly. He knew Jiraiya was talking about *that* power—though he didn't dare name it aloud. "So... you're saying I have to leave the village?"
"Yeah," Jiraiya said with a sigh. "We'll train deep in the mountains with the Toads. No distractions, no interruptions. I promise it'll be worth it."
Naruto looked down at his hands. He had spent so much time working to improve, especially with the Hyuuga Clan. It felt strange to leave it all behind, even for a while. "How long are we talking?"
"About a year, maybe more," Jiraiya replied gently. "I know that sounds like a long time, but if you stick with it, you'll come back stronger than you ever imagined."
Naruto bit his lip but eventually nodded. "Alright... I guess I don't have a choice, huh?"
Jiraiya grinned, though there was a hint of sadness behind it. "That's the spirit, kid. We leave tomorrow morning. Make sure you say your goodbyes."
Later that evening, Naruto stood before the grand doors of the Hyuuga Clan's estate. He took a deep breath and knocked, his hand feeling unusually heavy. Moments later, a servant opened the door and silently gestured for Naruto to follow him down the polished hallways.
Eventually, Naruto found himself standing outside Hiashi's private study.
"Enter," came Hiashi's measured voice from within.
Naruto slid the door open, stepping inside with a small bow. Hiashi sat at a low table, scrolls arranged neatly in front of him. His pale lavender eyes regarded Naruto with a calm but expectant gaze.
"Lord Hiashi," Naruto began awkwardly. "Uh... I wanted to talk to you about something."
Hiashi set down the scroll in his hands, folding them neatly in his lap. "Speak."
Naruto fidgeted for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I... I'm leaving the village for a while. Jiraiya's taking me away to train—probably for a year or more."
Hiashi's expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. "I see."
Naruto continued, "I wanted to thank you, y'know... for letting me train with the Hyuuga Clan. I've learned a lot here. It means a lot to me."
Hiashi gave a slow nod, his gaze never leaving Naruto. "You have worked hard, Naruto. I recognize the effort you have put into your training, and you have earned the respect of many within the clan."
Naruto felt his chest swell with pride at the rare praise. "Thanks, Lord Hiashi."
"But," Hiashi added, his tone shifting ever so slightly, "you must understand that strength is not solely about power. It is about knowing when to fight—and when not to. I have observed you closely, and though you have grown, there are still lessons to learn. Do not forget the importance of control and discipline."
Naruto nodded earnestly. "I won't. I promise."
Hiashi's gaze softened just a fraction. "Good. I expect you will return even stronger—both as a shinobi and as a person."
Naruto grinned. "I will. You can count on it."
Hiashi gave a final nod. "Then go with confidence, Naruto. When you return, the Hyuuga will welcome you back."
Feeling lighter than he had all day, Naruto bowed deeply. "Thank you, Lord Hiashi."
With that, Naruto turned and left the study, his mind still buzzing with Hiashi's words. There were still others he needed to see before he left, but at least one conversation had gone smoothly. As he stepped back into the cool night air, he took a moment to breathe it all in—knowing that, for the next year, the village would feel a world away.
Naruto lay awake in his room at the Hyuuga compound, the familiar comfort of the space doing little to calm his racing thoughts. Tomorrow, he would leave for the Toads' realm. Jiraiya's words echoed in his mind, but more than that, there was Hanabi. He needed to tell her.
His resolve set, Naruto carefully climbed out of bed. He slipped into his sandals, tying them quietly, before cracking open his door and sneaking through the compound. Every creak in the wooden floor felt like a roar in the silent halls. Naruto winced and moved carefully, doing his best not to wake anyone up.
Unknown to him, Hiashi sat quietly in his study, sensing Naruto's movements through the Byakugan. He observed silently as Naruto tiptoed down the hall, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. His daughter's interactions with the boy had not gone unnoticed. For now, he would let them go, trusting Naruto to handle whatever was on his mind.
Naruto finally made it to Hanabi's room and tapped gently on the sliding door.
"Hanabi," he whispered. "You awake?"
After a moment, the door slid open, and a very groggy Hanabi stood there, her hair a little messy from sleep. She blinked in surprise when she saw Naruto, her face quickly shifting from sleepy to alert.
"Naruto-kun?" she asked, blinking in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"Wanna go for a walk?" he asked, a small, nervous smile playing on his lips.
Hanabi hesitated, but her heart skipped at the thought of another late-night walk with him. She had been secretly waiting for something like this since their first date. She tried to play it cool, keeping her expression neutral, though excitement bubbled underneath.
"Alright," she nodded, grabbing a shawl to wrap around her shoulders as she followed Naruto out of the compound.
Neither noticed Hiashi watching from his room, his Byakugan tracing their path as they slipped out into the night. He trusted Naruto, but he also felt the need to keep a watchful eye on his daughter.
Naruto led Hanabi through the quiet streets of Konoha, the village a different world at night. The lanterns lit a soft glow across the empty streets, giving the village an almost magical feel. Hanabi, used to the strict routines of the Hyuuga compound, rarely got the chance to walk through the village like this. She glanced at Naruto, wondering why he had brought her out so late but savoring every second of this new experience.
As they walked, Naruto pointed out his favorite spots — the ramen stand, training grounds, even some shops he liked to visit. Hanabi listened intently, intrigued by the parts of the village she had never experienced.
Eventually, they reached the Hokage monument. The moonlight reflected off the carved stone faces, casting long shadows over the village. Naruto climbed up onto the top of one of the stone heads, offering a hand to help Hanabi up. Together, they sat in silence for a moment, gazing over the quiet, moonlit village.
"I like spending time with you," Naruto suddenly admitted, breaking the silence. He glanced at Hanabi, his usual confident grin replaced by something softer.
Hanabi's heart skipped. She wanted to respond, but her mind raced to find the right words. Before she could speak, Naruto continued.
"I gotta tell you something, though," Naruto said, his tone growing more serious. "I... I'm leaving tomorrow."
Hanabi blinked, turning to face him. "Leaving? For how long?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head, trying to find the best way to explain. "Jiraiya-sensei says I need to go train. With the toads. I don't know how long I'll be gone… but it'll be at least a year."
A year. The weight of those words hit Hanabi hard, but she kept her face calm, though her heart sank a little. "A year… that's a long time."
"Yeah…" Naruto nodded. "But I'll come back stronger. I promise."
Hanabi glanced at Naruto, and for a moment, the vulnerability in his eyes showed her how much this meant to him. She reached over, placing a hand gently on his.
"You better," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "I'll hold you to that promise."
Naruto smiled, feeling a little more at ease. The two of them sat there for a while longer, neither saying much but enjoying the calm of the night and the closeness they shared. It wasn't until the moon began to dip lower in the sky that they finally decided to head back to the Hyuuga compound, both of them knowing this would be their last moment like this for a long time.
Hiashi, still watching from afar, saw them return quietly, satisfied with what he had seen.
The morning sun peeked through the trees, casting a warm glow over the Hyuuga compound as Naruto made his way to meet Jiraiya. His heart raced with anticipation and nerves. He couldn't shake the feeling that today would change everything.
As he stepped into the courtyard, he noticed Hiashi and Hanabi waiting for him. Hanabi wore her cute yellow battle kimono again, the vibrant color contrasting beautifully against the greenery of the compound. She caught his gaze, and a warm smile spread across her face.
"Good morning, Naruto-kun," Hanabi greeted him, her voice soft yet full of energy. Hiashi stood a few steps back, observing the scene with a stoic expression, his presence a quiet reminder of their family's expectations.
"Morning!" Naruto replied, trying to keep his voice steady. Jiraiya approached him, a grin on his face.
"Ready to go, Naruto? We've got a long journey ahead!" Jiraiya said, his enthusiasm palpable.
Before they could leave, Naruto felt an urge to express what had been weighing on his heart. He turned to Hanabi, a rush of determination coursing through him. "Hey, Hanabi," he began, the words tumbling out before he could overthink them. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course," she replied, her curiosity piqued.
Naruto took a deep breath, glancing at Jiraiya and Hiashi for a moment before focusing back on Hanabi. "I know we've been spending time together, and I really like it. I was wondering… would you do me the honor of officially dating me? Like, be my girlfriend, without all that arranged marriage stuff hanging over our heads?"
Hanabi's eyes widened in surprise, her heart racing at his words. She felt a mix of excitement and disbelief, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "You really mean it?"
"Yeah, I do!" Naruto insisted, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I want this to be our choice, you know? Not something forced on us."
Hanabi took a moment, her mind racing as she considered the weight of his proposal. Finally, a smile broke through her initial shock. "Yes! I'd love that, Naruto-kun."
A surge of happiness washed over Naruto, and without thinking, he stepped closer to her, a mix of joy and relief filling his chest. The world around them faded for a moment as he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. The kiss was soft yet electrifying, a promise of what was to come.
As they pulled away, Hanabi's cheeks were a deep crimson, and Naruto couldn't help but grin widely. "I'll be back before you know it!" he said, feeling buoyant with excitement.
"Be careful," she replied, her voice slightly breathless, her gaze still locked on his.
Jiraiya cleared his throat, breaking the moment as he gestured to the horizon. "Come on, Naruto! We've got to get going before the day slips away!"
"Right!" Naruto said, reluctantly stepping back. He turned to Hiashi, who nodded with a slight smile, clearly approving of the moment.
"Make sure to take care of yourself, Naruto," Hiashi said, his voice calm yet firm. "And keep your promises."
"Always, Hiashi-san!" Naruto assured him, feeling a newfound sense of purpose.
With one last glance at Hanabi, who was watching him with a mix of admiration and affection, Naruto stepped back beside Jiraiya. Together, they began the familiar hand signs for the reverse summon.
"Ready?" Jiraiya asked, glancing at Naruto.
"Ready!" Naruto shouted, determination shining in his eyes.
In an instant, the world around them shimmered, and they vanished in a burst of smoke, leaving behind the warm sunlight of the Hyuuga compound. Hanabi stood watching, her heart full, knowing that this was just the beginning of something special.