Chapter 8

A Husband to Be?

Naruto and Neji were sparring in Naruto's backyard. Neji had come over to talk with Naruto, and they had somehow started sparring through the back yard. Naruto had been cooped up in the village for almost two weeks now, without much of anything at all to do other than train, spar, and talk with people he knew. He had seen more of Hinata in the past week than anyone else. She'd always stop by during the day and they would either spar or get lunch or something of that nature. That, of course, didn't go unnoticed by Naruto's friends, and obviously, Hinata's somewhat estranged family. However, despite what people thought, the two were still merely friends.

Naruto parried and dodged a few quick jabs from Neji. "So, what did you want Neji?" Naruto asked, retaliating with a few kicks and jabs of his own.

"Have you spoken with Hinata today?" Neji asked speeding up his assault, Naruto parrying and blocking every strike.

"No, not today, now that you mention it. She'd have normally come by the house by now."

"She hasn't told you then."

"Told me what?" Naruto asked as he pressed Neji back.

"Hinata's going on a trip today to meet her husband to be."

"What?" Naruto asked, zoning out completely. He was struck clean in the chest by one of Neji's palm strikes, sending him into the air and crashing into the ground. Naruto just laid there, flat on his back, eyes wide open.

Neji walked over to Naruto and look down at him. "You all right?"

"Yeah... Why didn't she say anything?" Naruto and Hinata had been talking a lot over the past two weeks, but she had never even hinted at anything like this.

"I really don't know."

Before Naruto could say anything else, an ANBU appeared besides them. "Naruto Namikaze, the Hokage wishes to speak with you."

"Tell her I'll be there in a little while."

The ANBU did a small bow before vanishing from sight in a cloud of smoke.

"Well, I'd best be going, then. I'm sure you'll want to go and get whatever it is over with," Neji said, helping Naruto off the ground.

Naruto brushed himself off. "Yeah, I guess. It's not like I have anything better to do these days."

"Well, thanks to you, many have been able to get some time off, having come back the way you did. It's been a year since most of us have been able to spend more than twelve hours home at a time," Neji explained. "I should get going myself. Tenten hinted to me it would be nice to go out and eat for a change."

Naruto chuckled. "She's got you by the balls!"

Neji glared at Naruto. "Just wait, Naruto. You'll find that special someone, and you'll be at her whim as well."

Naruto laughed a bit more before quieting down. "Anyhow, I'd better not keep Baachan waiting." Naruto's sword appeared in his hand. He quickly secured it to his back and disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

Tsunade sat at her desk. Sakura, Ino, and Chouji were standing in front of her. They were waiting for Naruto so they could receive their mission.

"Why are we waiting for Naruto?" Sakura asked. "I mean, isn't he stuck in the village for now?"

Tsunade sighed in exasperation. She had wanted to keep him in the village longer as a form of punishment, but there was a mission he had to go on. "He is, but this mission request says that he must attend." She picked up several mission requests from a small pile on her desk. "These are all requests for Naruto. They're mainly from Daimyo that he's met in the past. They don't even have real missions for him, save this one from the Land of Snow, who wishes for him to be a bodyguard for a few months while she finishes filming her new movie."

"Are you serious?" Ino asked. "Why would they want Naruto that much..."

Tsunade smiled as she remembered what became of her life since she met Naruto. "Well, like me, I'm sure he's helped them in one way or another that changed quite a few things in their lives," she explained. "Not to mention, I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for him."

"So, whatcha need me for, mom?"

Everyone looked to see Naruto sitting on one of the windowsills, his sword on his back.

Tsunade smiled a little. She truly liked being called mom especially over what he normally used to call her. "You have a mission..."

"FINALLY!" Naruto yelled in triumph at finally being able to leave the village. Naruto jumped off the windowsill and started jumping around the room in excitement. "What's the mission? We going to save a princess?" Naruto asked excitedly.

"Calm down, Naruto," Sakura said, swatting him lightly on the back of the head.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "That hurt," he whined like a small child. "You're always so violent."

"And you're a massive pervert," she said in retort.

Sakura was referring to a few days ago when she finally went to go talk to Naruto.

Flashback

Sakura was making her way to Naruto's home. She'd finally figured out what to say to him. Sakura was, for the first few days, a little angry with Naruto for faking his own death. Even now, she was still perturbed with Naruto. Sakura arrived at the front gate. 'Wow, I never knew this place was so big,' she thought. Sakura had passed by this gate many times before but she thought about how long the gate stretched for, or what was actually behind it.

The gate creaked as it opened. Sakura slipped past the gate and looked at the winding path cutting through the woods. She could hear Naruto, and what sounded like Konohamaru, arguing about something. She couldn't hear specifically what the two of them were going on about, but she could hear something about jutsu.

Sakura finally came to an opening to see Naruto and Konohamaru yelling at one another.

"My jutsu's better! You just won't admit it!" Konohamaru yelled.

"Yeah right! You still can't do it right! Your proportions are way off!" Naruto shot back.

"What are you two arguing about?" Sakura asked.

"Oh, hey, Sakura. I was wondering when you'd drop by," Naruto said, looking her up and down. 'Wow, only like a small B-cup or something like that...' he thought, glancing at her chest, and noticing how small it was compared to Hinata's.

"People had told me you'd grown up, but I didn't think it was that much," she commented, somewhat amazed by how tall he'd gotten.

"Yep! I'm no longer the shorty I was!" Naruto stated proudly. "Hey, Sakura, I think you would be the best judge for the jutsu me and Konohamaru were arguing over!" Naruto said, as if he was having a revelation. "Now we'll see whose is better," Naruto declared, transforming into his newest Sexy Jutsu.

Of course, Konohamaru knew better, and didn't do it.

Sakura just stood there. You could see the rage building in her eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you, Naruto!" she yelled, suddenly punching Naruto. In a poof of smoke Naruto changed back. Sakura ran over to him grabbing him by the coat and began to shake him violently. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! I come here to talk with you and apologize for back then! BUT NO! I find you playing pervert with Konohamaru like nothing happened! I can't believe you actually made me worry about you! I CAN'T BELIEVE I CRIED AT YOUR GRAVE!" She finished by punching him one last time and storming off.

Konohamaru crouched down, grabbed a stick, and poked Naruto in the face with it. "You okay?" he asked.

Naruto twitched a little, but that was about it.

End flashback

"What's our mission anyhow?" Ino asked.

"Your mission is A-ranked. You'll be escorting someone from the village to capital of the Land of Fire," Tsunade explained, handing Sakura the mission file. "This mission will take about a week at least, seeing as you'll be traveling by horse drawn carriage to your destination."

"Wait Lady Tsunade. It says here the Hyuga are paying for this mission," Sakura commented as she read over the file. "But don't they normally send their own people for something like this?"

"Normally yes. But the person that you'll be escorting isn't exactly on good terms with her own family, you see."

"Wait, you're talking about Hinata, aren't you?" Chouji asked, munching on some chips as he always seemed to do.

"Yes. This mission, as I said is an escort mission, and as I said, you're to escort her to the capital of the Land of Fire. Hiashi thought it best that I have people she knows escort her this time around instead of the main or branch families," Tsunade explained. "And it was also requested that Naruto attend by the Daimyo."

A knock on the door sounded.

"Ah, good, she's here," Tsunade said. "Come in!"

The door opened and Hinata walked into dressed in a simple yet elegant dark purple Kimono. Her long, indigo hair was in a single large braid thrown over her right shoulder. She also had a touch of makeup on her face, not that she really needed it.

"Wow," Naruto whispered, but it was still loud enough for everyone to hear. He was simply in awe over how she looked. Naruto didn't realize it, but he was staring at her, and everyone was looking at him. He just couldn't take his eyes off Hinata. She was drop dead gorgeous in that outfit with her hair done like that.

Tsunade cleared her throat grabbing everyone's attention. "First of all, Naruto wipe the drool from your mouth. It's embarrassing." Naruto wiped his face, and found that he was, in fact, drooling over Hinata. "Secondly, the five of you will leave in ten minutes. You'll have to be at the capital within two days, and with the way you're traveling, it will take about that long."

"What do you mean, the way we're traveling?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, I know what you're thinking. It only takes about five hours normally to get there, but Hinata will be traveling by a horse-drawn carriage, which as you can imagine, is really slow."

"I don't understand why we have to travel that way..."

"Naruto, in the world of high profile individuals, one doesn't do things the way they normally would. For instance, Hinata has to wear a Kimono and have her hair done up just like that until this whole ordeal is over and she's on her way back to the village. And one is expected to follow the traditions, meaning arriving in a certain manner, and dressing in one as well. Now, Naruto, I know you don't have a single bit of formal attire, expect for maybe that coat that looks like your father's, so I had Jiraiya pick up something for you."

"But I like the way I dress..." Naruto muttered.

"You'll wear it to the banquet and like it. Understood?"

"Hai..." Naruto replied rather dressed.

Tsunade smiled. "Good. Now the four of you pack quickly. Hinata and I will be waiting for you at the front gate.

The four shinobi quickly left the room to pack.

"Now, you see, Naruto loved the way you were dressed. He even drooled a bit," Tsunade commented with a small chuckle shortly after she knew the four were out of hearing range.

A small head popped out from behind the desk. "You marry Niichan!" Kushina shouted cutely, pointing at Hinata.

Hinata blushed as images of what that might be like flashed in her mind.

Tsunade put a hand on her daughters head. "Now now, Kushina, don't be so loud." Tsunade got off her chair and walked over to Hinata. "Don't worry. I'm sure he'll do something sooner or later. Preferably sooner than later, considering your time frame."

Hinata smiled sadly. "Every time it seems like we're getting a little closer, he distances himself from me and everyone else. He does it in small ways, but I can tell. He normally changes the topic of the conversation, or he'll stop our sparring and say he's hungry and walk off."

Tsunade sighed sadly. "That could be any number of things with him, Hinata. For one, we don't know what he's been through in the past few years. Not to mention, he's hated by quite a few people. I'm sure he didn't make any friends with Kumo either. Then there's the Akatsuki. They want the tailed beasts for Kami knows what reason, and because of those kinds of things, I'm sure he's got it in his head that he can't get close to anyone without fear of losing them. Minato was the same way around Kushina and his friends for a while during the war. The people out to get you always go for the ones closest, that's all there is to it. Now don't worry to much about it. Everything will work out as it should." Tsunade gave Hinata a quick hug. "Now, let's get you all settled in the carriage." Tsunade and Hinata left the room with Kushina right behind them.

It wasn't long after Hinata was settled in the carriage that the others began to arrive back with their packs. The last one to arrive was Naruto. Neji had followed Naruto to see his cousin off. Both Neji and Naruto currently stood out of ear shot as Neji explained a few things to Naruto.

"Naruto. I want you to stay close to Hinata when you get to the capital," Neji explained.

"Who exactly is she going there to meet?" Naruto knew why they were going, he was just not sure who Hinata was going to see.

"The son of the Daimyo of the Land of Tea. Normally, she would only marry into a family of ninja, as to not produce inferior children." Neji sounded like he really hated what was going on with Hinata. "However, the Daimyo's family married into ninja a few generations ago, and if they were ever trained, they would actually make excellent ninja. At least, that's what the elders say." Neji sighed. "Anyhow, I don't trust the Daimyo's son. He's crude, and very disrespectful towards Hinata. Don't let her leave the range of your ears."

"Why is she even going through with it if he's that bad?"

"Because he's the only one who's around her age."

"Come on, Naruto! We gotta go!" Sakura stormed over, grabbed him by the ear, and dragged him off.

"Ow! That really hurts, Sakura!" Naruto whined.

"Stop your whining and get on!" she said, throwing Naruto by the ear onto the top of the carriage. Sakura stepped inside the carriage and they were off.

Chouji was up at the front, driving, while Ino and Sakura were inside with Hinata, and Naruto laid on the top. The carriage itself was nowhere near as fast as their normal travel speed.

...

A few hours passed without any issue, and they weren't even halfway to the Capital.

"Why do we have to travel this way?" Ino asked. "I mean, it's nice and all, but damn, is it slow! I mean, we could almost be there by now." Ino was of course, upset because it was far slower than her normal mode of travel. That, and the fact that she wanted to wear the kimono she had brought along with her.

"We all know you just want to try on that new kimono you just bought, Ino," Sakura replied.

"Shut up, forehead," Ino pouted.

Hinata laughed, which was what she needed right now. She was thankful that her friends were coming with her this time around. At least she could talk to them and not feel completely alone.

"So, you and Ino, huh?" Naruto asked.

Naruto and Chouji were sitting at the front of the carriage, steering and watching for anyone who would attack them.

"Yep," Chouji replied.

"How exactly did that happen? I mean, it's not like she couldn't get any guy she wanted with the way she looks." Naruto wasn't saying Chouji was ugly or anything. It was just that before he left, the two weren't exactly that friendly, not that he would have noticed back then. He was, and still is, pretty ignorant about some things.

Chouji chuckled. "Yeah, she's awesome. A bit bossy, but that's just Ino for you." Chouji thought about how it started. "Well, if anything, I have to thank you for it happening."

"Wha? I don't really understand how I'm to thank for that." Naruto was thoroughly confused by what Chouji said to him.

"Well, let's see. The day we came back without you, Ino was pretty depressed, and she came by to see me once I was awake. And after that, she just kept coming to see me, spending a great deal of time with me. Don't ask me what exactly was going through her mind during that time. I never could figure it out. About a month after the fact, I asked her out. To my and Shikamaru's surprise, she accepted. Since then, we've been together."

"And all that happened just because everyone thought I was dead?"

"Pretty much. A lot of things changed when that happened, Naruto. Kakashi even found someone. That's something in and of itself, so I hear." Chouji looked up at the sky. He could see the sun was barely starting to set. "So, what about you and Hinata? I mean, you two have been spending a lot of time together."

"You and everyone else think something's going on." Naruto sighed. "Nothing's going on between us. We spar, we have lunch together, but that's it."

"That's too bad. You two seem great together," Chouji commented, pulling the reins to the left, turning the horses a bit. "We should be nearing the town we'll stay at for the night.

Naruto looked down. It's not that he didn't like Hinata at all, it's just that he didn't want her to get hurt because of him. That was his biggest concern.

"Hey, Naruto, where's your sword?" Chouji finally noticed he hadn't seen Naruto's sword in quite a while.

Naruto held up his hand and opened it, showing his palm. He forced some chakra into his hand, revealing a seal on it. "I don't carry it on my back when I don't really need it. I have it sealed away in this storage seal on the palm of my hand."

"That's convenient."

"Yeah, it really is."

Hinata, Sakura, and Ino were just chatting inside the carriage.

"So, Hinata, what about you and Naruto, huh?" Ino asked, really excited to hear something juicy.

Hinata blushed a little and looked to the slide slightly. "Nothing," she replied.

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, nothing? You two have been spending the past two weeks with one another. I don't think there's been a time when I haven't seen you two walking around with one another."

"That's what I mean by nothing. I mean, there have been times when something was about to happen, but then Naruto just...I don't know. Nothing happens, and it goes back to what it was before." Hinata sounded a little upset over it.

"I don't get it," Sakura commented.

Ino sighed. "Well I don't know about you but if I had two of the five great villages, a secret organization made up of S class ninja, and an untold number of other enemies, I would probably be a bit hesitant to allow anyone close to me as well." Ino explained. Ino had a great deal of training when it came to the realms of psychology, seeing as she was part of the Yamanaka clan, who dealt with the mind. Her father had taught her a great deal, especially on being able to tell the reason why people acted the way they did. Ino got up and sat down next to Hinata. "Don't worry, Hinata. He'll come around soon enough. If he doesn't, we'll have Sakura here beat him up."

Hinata started laughing.

…

Ino, Hinata, and Sakura were sitting in a hot spring that was reserved along with some rooms at a rather fancy Inn on the way to the capital.

"I take back everything I said about the trip going slowly!" Ino declared relaxing in the warm soothing water. Ino was most definitely enjoying the hot spring.

"Yeah. It's so nice to be able to relax. I haven't been able to in a while," Sakura commented, sinking under the water before coming back up a few seconds later.

"I just want to go back home already," Hinata spoke, leaning back against the stone side of the hot spring.

Ino and Sakura looked at one another. They knew Hinata didn't want to do this at all. but she didn't exactly have a choice in the matter. It's not that Hinata had to marry this guy now, it's just that traditionally, you met several time with your husband to be.

"Well, don't worry Hinata. I'm sure Naruto will come around soon," Ino said, trying to cheer Hinata up, not that what she said would have that effect. "I hope," she whispered.

"I wonder if Naruto-kun is doing alright," Hinata mumbled. None of them had heard from either Chouji or Naruto in the hour since they got to the hot spring.

"Yeah, he looked pretty depressed when we arrived, here didn't he?" Ino asked. The blonde woman stood up, wrapping a towel around her body. She walked over to the divider that divided the two hot springs the group was using. "Chouji-kun!" she called.

"What's up, Ino-chan?" he replied.

"Is Naruto over there with you?"

"No. He said he'd be in shortly but that was an hour or so ago. He's probably still in the room standing on the balcony where I left him."

"I'm going to head inside now," Hinata commented, standing up, wrapping the towel around herself, and walking into the building.

"You think we should go after her?" Sakura asked.

"No. I think we should just leave her be for now," Ino replied.

Sakura looked down at her chest. "You know, it's really not fair how Hinata got such nice breasts." The rosette was complaining because hers were only a large A cup size.

"Tell me about it," Ino agreed, pushing her breasts together. She only had large B cup breasts. "Naruto is one lucky guy if he ever gets the hint."

….

Hinata had just put on a robe over herself. She was headed towards Naruto's room. She looked rather nervous. Quickly walking through the hallway, she found herself in front of Naruto's room. She was about to knock, but heard voices and just stood closely to the door to listen.

"Why didn't you tell me you met my father, old man? You'd think that was something I should have been told, don't you think?"

"Perhaps. Let me ask you this. Would it have made a difference with anything you've done so far?" came another voice Hinata had only heard once in the past.

"Probably not. Why then?"

"I've been searching for a real apprentice for a very long time, Naruto. I've trained many from all the countries but all of them gave into their darker impulses after I taught them a few things. The second Tsuchikage and Mizukage, for instance. Both were vastly different before I trained them, but the power I gave them was too much for them, and they strayed from what I was trying to teach them. I've taught many before them but few since them."

"Yeah, well, why didn't you just train one of the Hokage then?"

"I taught the First Hokage, but as I did, I could see even he would fall eventually like all the others. All those wondrous techniques spread throughout the world weren't just made up out of nowhere, you know."

"Then why my dad?"

Hinata crept closer to the door in order to hear better.

"Ah, your father. He was quite the interesting individual. He was trying to create a jutsu based on seals to teleport himself to his enemy or to a certain place instantly. I watched him as he tried to make such a jutsu. When he couldn't figure out how to complete it, I took a chance. I helped him finish his jutsu, and sat back and watched how he used it. In the end, he didn't abuse the power, so I met him once again. Although, in the end, he turned me down."

"Why?"

"To be my apprentice is to eventually take my place and to live forever. One must be willing to watch everyone they know pass away, their wife, children, everyone. Your father couldn't do that. So I waited. When I found out he had a son before he died, I watched you. I wanted to see how you would turn out. Even in the harsh environment that you grew up in, you turned out exactly like him. You could have killed the two tailed container, but you didn't. Then a few days later, you could have completely destroyed Kumo's forces, but you didn't."

"I see."

"I should be going. That girl you saved the other day is standing outside the door, listening."

"I know."

Hinata's body stiffened. She hadn't used her eyes to avoid detection. It seemed they both knew she was there the entire time.

"You can come in, Hinata."

Hinata opened the door when Naruto asked her to enter. She walked in and saw Naruto looking over the balcony. The other person in the room wasn't there anymore. Naruto didn't have his shirt on right now. The light from the full moon showed that his body was riddled with scars. The young Hyuga just stood there for a moment looking at Naruto.

"Who was he?" Hinata asked.

"My master," he replied. "If he really wants you to know who he is, he'll pop up one of these days and tell you. He's weird like that." Naruto turned around and faced Hinata.

Hinata gasped softly. There were even more scars on his chest than his back. One of them took up the whole right side of his chest. "What happened?"

Naruto looked down at his chest. He smiled and scratched his head. "I completely forgot I didn't have a shirt on."

"Naruto..." Hinata said his name again, wanting him to answer the question and not change the subject.

Naruto sighed, getting the hint she didn't want him to try and change the subject. "Most of these scars are from when I had my master turn off the Kyuubi's and I decided to make some really dangerous techniques. It basically cut me to bits, so to speak."

"Do they hurt?" she asked, gently touching one of the larger ones.

"Sometimes."

"Is this why you were always so adamant about keeping your shirt on, even even after hours of sparring?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

"Yeah, one of the reasons."

Hinata decided to stop beating around the bush. "Why do you keep pushing me away?" She wanted to know directly from Naruto.

Naruto wrapped his arms around her petite frame. "Because I don't want to lose you..." he whispered, pulling her close.

Hinata felt safe in his arms. She'd never felt safe in someone's arms in a very long time. "You'll lose me if I get married to someone else."

"Hinata, I don't want to love someone, only to lose them." Naruto was referring to what the sage had said. "I don't think I can..."

Hinata looked up and silenced him with a kiss. The two just stood there, their lips locked for a time. The two broke apart, and Hinata laid her head against his chiseled and scarred chest. "Ever since I saw you again, I've been trying to tell you how I feel. I spent every day I could with you, and every time I tried to say something, the words wouldn't come out."

Naruto brought a hand up to Hinata's face and made her look up at him. "While we were in that cave, you were kind to me. More so than anyone has ever been. During that short amount of time, I fell in love with you. But you've heard what was said a little while ago, and I know Tsunade has her own theories on the matter."

"I know, but that won't stop me from trying..."

"Hinata, you're beautiful. You could have anyone you want. Why me?" He was truly curious as to why Hinata really liked him. He himself couldn't really understand it.

"Because you're so strong and kind. You help everyone you can without hesitation. You're also the most honest, decent, and compassionate person I've ever known." Hinata kissed him lightly on the lips. "And I don't want anyone else, Naruto-kun. The only reason I chose that man was because I had no other options. Regardless, I still have to go to the capital and meet with him again. No matter how much I hate him."

Naruto looked away from her. "Do you really want to be with someone like me, Hinata?"

Hinata brought her hands up to his face and made him look at her. "I do," she whispered, kissing him.

The two stood there, kissing one another. Their kisses were filled with passion, wanting, need, and a slight hint of fear of being hurt. They broke their kiss slowly and stood there, holding one another.

Naruto smiled at her. "You know, you looked amazing in that kimono."

Hinata blushed and smiled. "I know. You were kinda drooling."

Naruto chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I was. How are we going to deal with the stuff at the capital?"

"We still have to go, but once we get back to the village, I can send a letter, or if something happens while we're there, we'll deal with it."

"What about your clan?"

"The elders won't like it one bit. They never did like your father much, and you weren't ever on the top of their list, either."

"Good. I never wanted to be liked by them anyhow."

"So you want to have it out with the Hyuga elders?" Hinata asked, somewhat in disbelief.

"Sure, why not? They've made you miserable for years, so why not make them a little miserable for a short period of time?"

She smiled again. "Thank you."

"Now you should get going. It's late, and you should get some sleep. Not to mention I really don't want the others to know until we get back to the village, if it can be helped."

Hinata understood why Naruto wanted to wait until they got back home. She kissed him one last time and almost skipped out of the room in her robe.

"Kami, she was hot in that bathrobe." Naruto was actually really tempted to take Hinata right there and then while she was in the room just now. Not that Hinata would have minded that in the least.

….

The night came and went and for everyone. Hinata didn't tell anyone what happened between her and Naruto, and same could be said for Naruto. The two acted exactly as they always had.

"So, how long till we're there?" Ino asked, sticking her head out the window of the carriage. The fact was, it was already sun down. They had been traveling all day.

"We should be almost there, Ino-chan. We've been hitting towns pretty frequently," Chouji replied.

"Chouji, I really don't want to travel this way back. It's so damn slow," Naruto whined.

Chouji chuckled. "I thought you would have learned patience by now."

"Oh, I have, but this goes way beyond the level I could ever achieve," Naruto replied.

"So, Hinata, nothing happened last night at all?" Sakura asked. She and Ino had been asking repeatedly, and of course, she kept telling them nothing happened.

"For the hundredth time, nothing happened. I talked to him and then I left, that was it." Hinata actually looked annoyed by their constant prying.

"Oh, come on, Hinata! We won't tell anyone. We just want to know if Naruto's sampled the goods!" Ino said excitedly, getting right in Hinata's face.

"Ino, even if something happened, I wouldn't tell you. Seeing as you're considered the Gossip Queen of Konoha, the information would be flying around the village in less than a day." Hinata was a little proud of herself for that little dig at Ino, which was true. Ino was a gossip queen. If it didn't pertain to a mission, she couldn't keep her mouth shut.

Just as Ino was about to say something in her defense, Chouji interrupted.

"We just entered the capital. We'll be at the capital building in few minutes."

And just as Chouji had said, in a few minutes, they were at the capital building. Naruto and Chouji both hopped off the carriage in order to open the door. Chouji assisted Ino and Sakura when leaving while Naruto assisted Hinata. The five of them walked up the steps. When they stepped inside, they saw a man with short black hair and green eyes, who was shorter than Naruto, and had a rather muscular build.

"Ah, Hinata, it's been six months since we last met," the man said, arms open as he attempted to hug Hinata. Naruto appeared right in front of the man.

"Sorry, but I don't know you, and that means you're not getting near Hinata," Naruto said, looking at the man.

"Why are you getting in the way of me and fiance?" the man almost yelled. He seemed to have quite a short temper.

"It's alright, Naruto-kun. He is my fiance. His names Shin. He's the son of the Tea Daimyo."

A/N So, whatcha think?

I hoped you all liked this chapter as I liked it far better then the last one which was nothing more then a chapter to wined down what had happened before that. I hope you will take the time to review :)

Anyone else think of captain planet when they read chapter 553? Cause I sure as hell did. Not sure why he didn't try using that on the Third Raikage in chapter 555 but whatever. Not much else to say about the manga it hasn't really interested me much lately. Lots of really really short battles. That just gets boring after a while. A nice long drawn out fight thrown into the mix would be awesome. Not to mention Naruto meeting up with Hinata or something like that. Sadly at this rate it's never going to happen.

I was really hoping for some awesome fights from this war but that doesn't look like it's going to happen with any of the people Kabuto brought back to life. Which is what I was actually looking forward to when he brought them all back to life.

Thanks to Kyubi123 who helped me get over my little bit of writers block.

As a last note I redid my Naruto/bleach crossover. Chapter one being the prologue is up and the second chapter is already part done. Please try not to really judge the story till at least the second chapter.