Authors Notes; Hey, This is my first attempt at a fanfic. This particular chapter is the prologue. I rushed through the beginning of it so I could get to the main story. I'm also making this up as I go, but I do have a overall plan in mind. Another thing I'd like to point out is that I'm improving. Even I can tell that I am, and I'm usually one of those "I'm not doing good enough" people. If your picky about grammar, then please read the first paragraph in my profile. And remember, this is only part 1 of the prologue.

(Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any related characters, locations, or concepts. I do own this particular story line... I think.)

Prologue

Part 1

Naruto ran towards the Hokage Tower in a valiant effort to try to get to his appointment on time. He was making excellent time, but it wasn't good enough. Earlier that morning, Sakura had showed up at his door at an hour that Naruto had long since labeled as forbidden. She had told him that he was to report to Tsunade for a important mission and warned him not to be late, then left without another word. Punctuality and loyalty were the only form of personality she showed ever since Sasuke died.

Itachi had attacked Naruto in a last ditch attempt to extract Kyuubi from Naruto, but before any blows could be dealt, Sasuke appeared and activated his curse-mark. Sasuke was no match for Itachi by himself, but when Naruto joined in the fight to help, Sasuke attacked him too. After much collateral damage was dealt to the surrounding landscape, Itachi incapacitated Sasuke and was about to kill him, when Naruto stuck a Rasengan between his shoulder-blades. This succeeded in both killing Itachi and pissing Sasuke off to the extreme. With his life purpose taken away from him, Sasuke poured his entire chakra reserves into a final attack. The attack killed him and pushed Naruto to the brink of death, but the Kyuubi pulled Naruto back from deaths grip.

Sakura never blamed Naruto for Sasuke's death, she blamed herself. She truly became a reflection of the Tsunade from the past, complete with the alcoholic tendencies. Sakura was a underage drunk, and Sasuke had been a psychopathic avenger. Naruto was the only one of the three to keep his sanity completely intact, and he was the one that contained the Great Fox Demon. Even with the demon sealed inside him, Naruto had gained a great amount of respect among Konaha. There was even a rumor that Naruto was next in line for Hokage, even at the ripe-old-age of seventeen.

That fact was not hard to believe when you factor in that the remaining Rookie Nine plus Gai's Team were all listed from A-S rank Nin's in Bingo-Books across the continent. Ten-Ten, Kiba, and Shino formed a jounin team and still performed the missions that their handed. Ino is Ibiki's new apprentice in the art of interrogation, and is involved in a serious relationship with Chouji who took on a genin team of his own. Shikamaru now helps Iruka with the academy classes and training to become a teacher himself. Rock Lee's a ANBU Captain, the odd thing is he has somehow kept his record clean by not killing a single person in any of his missions, even one successful assassination mission... ANBU Capitan's not killing?

Hinata formally renounced her claim as Heir to the Hyuga Clan, passing it on to Neji, and then her name as a Hyuga. Normally when a Hyuga leaves the Clan, they must have a Hyuga Clan Seal placed upon them. But over the years, Hinata had grown into a daughter figure in Tsunade's eye's, which meant that a law was immediately passed to forbid the cruel seal to be placed on anyone else, coincidentally, this law was passed just before Hinata's request form for renouncing her family name came to Tsunade's attention. Naruto doesn't know this, but Tsunade has been trying to push Naruto and Hinata together for the last two years. He still remains oblivious

Hinata now lives happily in a small apartment not to far from Naruto's. She makes a living by being a part-time assistant along with Shikamaru and attends missions with various teams among the Leaf. Sakura became Tsunade's personal assistant after Iruka tried to court Shizune, and succeeded. She was now the faithful left hand of the Hokage, while Naruto was the all-powerful right hand.

"Gotta hurry or the Hags gonna blow her top off." Naruto said out of habit while echoing his thoughts, while running from rooftop to rooftop.

"Well, maybe if you didn't spend all morning in that God-forsaken noodle shop, you wouldn't be in a such a rush, now would you?" barked Kyuubi asked from somewhere inside Naruto's consciousness.

Naruto and the fox had struck up a deal a little over a year ago. Naruto gets free rule over the fox's chakra up until 6 tails, in return, the fox gets access to Naruto's thoughts, feeling, and senses. This gives the fox a sense of freedom it will never achieve. Another perk is that now Naruto has a 9500 year old demon fox living inside his head. This can be seen as both a advantage or a disadvantage. The advantage is that the fox always likes to point out the obvious, this is helpful because Naruto usually tends to miss the obvious. The disadvantage is that now Naruto has a 9500 year old fox inside his head and it likes to use sarcasm...A lot.

(AN: Sorry guys, I'm really lazy and can't (don't wanna put forth the effort) think of a good reason for the Kyuubi to talk. Don't judge me, you guy's did it too! And if you haven't written a story yet, don't complain. It's hard. To all of those who have thought of a good reason, I've most likely read your story and don't wanna take your idea. Good Job!!!)

"Well, I never know when I'm going to die, so I have to treat every meal like it's my last." he said with a happy smile that was a little to creepy to follow the dark sentence he just said and though at the same time.

"If your gonna eat unsurmountable amounts of food right before an appointment, then don't complain to me when you run late!"

"What do you mean by that? You use way to many big words when you talk, it's not very fun when I'm the only one that can hear you and still not understand you." asked a confused Naruto.

"It means very big, idiot. And if you don't stop speaking out loud, their going to commit you to an insane asylum." insisted Kyuubi as Naruto entered the Hokage tower.

"Heh-Heh, Sorry." chuckled Naruto in his mind.

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Tsunade was having a very bad day. She was down to a forth of a bottle of sake, she was starting to suspect Sakura was becoming suicidal, her best assassin, Anko, was pregnant and retiring from being a shinobi, the Hyuga's won't stop insisting the Hyuga-Clan Seal be placed upon Hinata, Naruto was late for his meeting, and there's a definite increase in Orochimaru's activity. Plus, the stack of paperwork was building and it was nearing her birthday. Thankfully Shizune was on her honeymoon and didn't tell anyone about her getting another year older.

Tsunade looked across her office at the shy girl staring back at her. "So Hinata," she asked "I've been meaning to check-up on you. How've you been over last couple days?"

"I've been fine," she said cheerfully. She'd nearly grown out of her stuttering and nervous fidgeting, she was also gaining confidence now that she was away from her clan. "I painted the new apartment you found for me and now I'm working on..."

BAM

"Sorry Obaa-chan," yelled Naruto as he busted through the door. "I tried to get here but..."

"Shut-up Naruto and sit down, were in a hurry." Tsunade shouted as Naruto took his seat next to Hinata. "Now, I've gotten a report from Lee's ANBU team. They've found one of Orochimaru's testing labs but were unable to gain entry." she said while holding up a folder. "The problem is that I've lost the page with the exact coordinates to the lab. I'm going to send you two in to find it, and possibly, info on other labs Orochimaru might have established."

"Wh-who i-is the oth-other member o-of the team?" stuttered Hinata. She has NEARLY gotten over the stuttering and nervous fidgeting. The exception's Naruto.

"That's what I was getting at, I've noticed that both you and Naruto have very different fighting styles than most of your peer's. I'm using this mission as a test run to find out how 'compatible' you two are together." she said with a stealthy wink to Hinata. This made Hinata blush.

"Compatible?" asked Naruto.

"Yes, since Hinata's attacks are mainly defensive and Naruto's are mainly offensive," she said while switching her glance between the two "both of you threw each of your previous teams horribly off balance."

"What?!" yelled a outraged Naruto "Team Seven was one of the best genin teams ever formed! We each ended up being the apprentice of a Sannin!"

"The only reason you and your pack did so well, is because you always had me to fall back on." added Kyuubi.

"Shut-up fur-ball, we were good and you know it!" retorted Naruto

"Actually," stated Tsunade "statistics show that Team Seven was one of the worst genin teams ever formed. Aside from D-rank, Team Seven only completed one mission before breaking up.(filler episodes and movies don't count)" Tsunade said with a deviant smile. She knew that would piss him off to the brink.

He was silent for a moment. "Well, we only got one mission done..." but he stopped. "If it was anyone else, they would've been killed." he said quietly.

"I heard about that. Anyway," started Tsunade again "I decided to place you on a two-man cell. Even though your fighting styles are completely different, they complement each other unbelievably well. Since your both ranked at least A-class, that should make up for the third person."

"That's fine with me, how 'bout you Hinata?" asked Naruto as he looked at Hinata.

"I d-don't min-mind." she stuttered out, still blushing from Tsunade's earlier comment's.

"Good then, it's settled. Naruto," said Tsunade as she held out a envelope. "I need to talk to Hinata for a second, will you take this out to Rock Lee and tell him 'thanks' for me?" she normally wouldn't have asked, but she needed him to leave with as little complaining as possible.

"Fine, when do you want us to leave?" he asked.

"Meet at the eastern gate in one hour, you leave as soon as possible." she said as he left. She then turned to Hinata with a big smile. "Well, what'cha think?"

"Thank you Hokage-sam..." she started but was interrupted by Tsunade hitting her forehead with a paper clip.

"Hinata, talk to me like I'm a friend, Okay?" asked Tsunade in a caring voice.

Hinata smiled then slowly walked over to Tsunade and gave her a gentle hug. Then whispered "Thank you, but what did you need to talk about?"

Tsunade pulled out of the hug and motioned for Hinata to sit back down "Hinata, I've been planning on putting you two on a team for a while, but I now have the perfect reason."

"What?"

"I put you together and on a relatively easy mission because I want you tell tell him how you feel as soon as the mission's deemed complete."

"Wh-Why?" asked Hinata with a darkening red face.

"Because, while you two are gone, I'm naming Naruto my official successor in becoming Hokage." Tsunade smiled at Hinata waiting for her to grasp the concept. "Of course he'll only be my successor. He won't become Hokage until I either die or retire, which hopefully won't be for some time."

Hinata couldn't have been prouder of Naruto than at this point. He had finally realized his dream. "But, why must I tell him now?" she was very worried that he might reject her.

"Naruto is very easily won over." Tsunade stated almost like she was reading the shy girls mind. "He's been alone all his life, and is very open to the concept of a relationship of any kind. If you tell him, he won't turn you down."

"But why now?" said Hinata, not understanding.

"I want you to tell him now because your the only one who feels this way toward him." Hinata was a very bright girl, but Tsunade was starting to get aggravated at her. "Sarutobi-sensei was single when he was announced to be the Third Hokage. The announcement was made at noon. By three o'clock, Sarutobi-sensei had been offered thirty-seven arranged-marriage offers."

Hinata gasped "If Naruto-kun get announced Hokage and doesn't know about my feelings, then every woman in the village will be after him and he'll get married to someone who doesn't love him."

Tsunade just looked out the window upon Konaha. "I guess you've finally grasped what I'm saying. If you don't tell him now, he'll end up getting married off to some rich, spoiled, bitch."

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Naruto was running to his apartment after he delivered the letter to Lee. "Finally, I get to show everyone how strong I'm getting." Thought Naruto as he reached his apartment building.

"Puhff, you say that every time you go out on one of these pointless missions. Then you get disappointed when all you find are helpless humans holding up their wimpy weapons in protest of you killing them. If you really want a challenge, you should go after the Snake Human with your bare-hands." suggested the demon. Kyuubi thought it would be a nice change of pace, especially since the Uchiha Brat died. Naruto hasn't had a decent challenge since.

"Hmm, as fun as that would be, I think I'll pass." thought Naruto. He wasn't as deluded as he used to be, and finally recognized just how powerful the Sannin really were.

"As much as it pains me to say it, I think that would be the wisest choice." it said in an all-knowing voice.

"Wow, is the Great Demon King saying that I'm right?" he responded in a sarcastic tone as he threw some boxers into his travel bag.

"No, I'm saying that even though your strong for a human, your still not strong enough to take on that Snake. I'm also telling you to save your strength, and that something big is about to happen."

"Big? How big?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but the time-line's been fluctuating at a unnerving rate."

"Wait, what do you mean by fluctuating? You mean that someone's traveling through time? I thought that was impossible."

"Not quite traveling, It's more like certain things are being taken out of the time-line. They dwell in purgatory for a while, and then they just reappear."

"Do you think it's Orochimaru, with one of his immortality schemes?" asked the blond after he checked his bag for anything he might have missed.

"Can't say just yet, just keep me safe and I'll be happy."

"I'll keep you safe if you keep me and my team safe." negotiated Naruto.

"Fine." was it's only response.

After he had packed up everything he thought he'd need for the upcoming trip, he locked up his little home and proceeded to the Eastern Gate.

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Hinata and Naruto ran at full-speed from treetop-to-treetop, as they headed to their mission objective. They had left Konaha eight hours ago and were almost there, when they decided to stop and make camp.

They both sat down next to the fire, staring off in different directions. After several minutes of awkward silence, Naruto decided to break the ice "So," started Naruto, after they both ate the skewered rabbit they had cooked "tell me how you've been over the last couple of months."

"F-fine," she sputtered out while poking her fingers together "I t-talked to Neji se-several day's ago. H-he's really h-happy being the Cl-clan heir." She really didn't like to talk about herself.

"Oh," said Naruto while snapping his fingers as he remembered "Neji's the new heir. I forgot."

"Y-yes, the El-Elders believe he'll b-be very p-powerful in the fu-future."

"Wait," Naruto had another spurt of knowledge "I thought you were the heir. Wasn't it your dream to run the Clan?"

"No," she said firmly, but still gently, suddenly lost in thought "my d-dream is to be noticed by so-someone. S-soon I will know if th-that dream's achievable or n-not."

"Of course it's achievable!" he stated firmly "Believe me, I know it's hard. I know what it's like to scream and scream, but even if they look at you...they never see you." he said with a crestfallen look. "But you can't give up. You've got friends that support you, and your really nice, and pretty, and smart, and..."

But thats all Hinata heard. "He thinks I'm pretty!" she thought "There's still a chance."

Oblivious to the intense blush covering Hinata's face, he continued his speech "...so if you ever need any help, I'll travel to the seventh level of Hell and back to make sure your dream's come true."

"Th-thank you, Naruto-kun." she whispered through her blush. "B-but I wouldn't w-want you t-to have to go that f-far." she was flattered that he would even claim to go that far.

"Nonsense, I know I always say my dream is to become Hokage, but my real dreams more like an ambition or a desire. I want to help and protect those precious to me, regardless of the sacrifice." he said with pride "Being Hokage's just the position best suited for that ambition. Plus, I get to be HOKAGE!" he threw his hands in the air for emphasis. "Who wouldn't want to be that?"

Hinata giggled "I'm s-sure you w-will get i-it soon." she encouraged, knowing full well he would.

"So, how 'bout you? When do you think you'll get this person to notice you?" Naruto asked still completely clueless.

"As s-soon as I f-find enough c-courage." she said while looking down at her feet.

"How will you know when you have enough courage?" he asked in a sage-like voice.

"I... I don't kn-know." Hinata's mind and heart was running faster than she thought possible. Should she tell him now or later? It wasn't until she heard what he said next that forced her to make up her mind.

Naruto looked at Hinata with a calculating gaze "Well, you'll never know until you try. Jiji once told me 'The best measure of courage is the fear that is overcome' (it was really Norman F. Dixon). You'll just keep telling yourself that your not good enough until it's to late." While he was in teacher mode, he had closed his eye's in concentration, and didn't notice Hinata slowly stand up and close the distance between them. "You should just go for it, and---"

Naruto's mind froze as he felt a pair of soft lips encased his own. His eyes opened quickly to be met with the sight of Hinata's closed eyes, nearly touching his. In the brief three seconds the surprise kiss lasted, every memory of Hinata fell into place; the blushing, fainting, the nervous fidgeting, the encouraging words. Everything led to one conclusion. Hinata was in love with Naruto.

This thought scared the shit out of Naruto. He wasn't supposed to be loved. He was the human container of the infamous Kyuubi no Kitsune. Hated by many, and cherished by few. Hinata didn't know any of this. With this single kiss, she had put herself in more danger than she could possibly imagine. Even though Akatski was ruined, Pien was still alive, and he still hungered for revenge. He could be watching right now, use Hinata against him, against the village. He wouldn't put Hinata in danger.

Slowly, Naruto pushed Hinata away only to find more resistance and dead weight than necessary. Hinata then slumped onto his shoulder, she'd fainted.

"Thanking the God's!" thought Naruto as he picked up Hinata and carried her over to where her sleeping bag sat. After he layed her down, he jumped into a nearby tree to keep lookout for the night. He didn't bother waking her up for her shift either, he knew he wouldn't get any sleep anyways.

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Around three o'clock in the morning, Naruto had the bright idea of asking the Kyuubi what he should do. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and began to meditate. He had discovered that through meditation, he could travel to his inner world and confront the King of Demon. He had yet to find a reason for anyone to want to do this, until now.

When he opened his eye's, he found himself standing in a dark hallway with no source of lighting, yet he could still see perfectly. Naruto hated this part of talking to the demon face-to-face, he had to find him. Utilizing the saying 'All roads lead to Rome' -even though Rome never existed in this realm- he began to walk through the depressing halls of his inner psyche.

The odd thing about this plane of existence, is that no matter which way you walk, you get to the intended destination. One could start walking with no sense of a destination, and after several moments, they would find the place they didn't know they were trying to reach until after they reached it.

So after Naruto walked around the third corner, he found himself looking at the recurring memory of the hour before the Chunin Exam Finals. "What? I wanted to talk to Kyuubi!" he screamed at his subconscious.

"I-I think your a p-proud failure." Memory Hinata whispered quietly.

As soon as she said that, the world shifted to the Exam Preliminaries. He relived the time when Hinata gave him the healing salve after his fight with Kiba. Then he was reliving the moment that he swore under a blood-oath to avenge Hinata, after she lost to Neji. From there he found himself sitting on a couch celebrating Lee's Inauguration to Jounin Party. Hinata had accidentally grabbed Ino's cup of sake, thinking it was water, and ended up passing out onto Naruto's shoulder.

Though Hinata doesn't remember it, she had whispered many things while on that couch, but like many things that were reveled that night, they were all dismissed as un-creditable, due to everyone's drunken-ness. Back then, none of the things she whispered made sense to him, until now.

"I guess she really does love me." he thought "but for how long?"

As if to answer him question, which is probably what it did, his subconscious started showing him different memories of the past; in the academy, she was staring at him as he ogled Sakura, after he failed the genin exam, he could see her face in the crowd, just as dejected as he was. His subconscious showed a memory of him training when in his second academy year. During his training, he would get the feeling he was being watched, but he never would get any negative 'vibes' from the onlooker so he just continued his training.

"I guess I really am an idiot." he thought sadly.

Just then, his visions switched to a very brief memory of Sakura punching Naruto in the head while yelling 'IDIOT'. It didn't play it once, but in a continuous loop.

'IDIOT'

'IDIOT'

'IDIOT'

'IDIOT'

"Okay, I get! I'm an idiot and need to tell Hinata something!" he yelled into space.

His subconscious then switched to a vision of Kakashi. He wore his annoying little smile behind his annoying little mask and said "Very good." in that annoying little tone that Naruto hated, oh so much.

"AAAAGGGHHGHHH!!!!" yelled Naruto as he found himself walking though the depressing hallways once again.

As he walked, he entered a large room. In this large room, there stood about thirty large iron bars. Behind these iron bars was the grinning face of the Kyuubi. "So," it started "you finally got a taste of just how annoying you can be."

"SHUT UP!" was all he yelled, as he continued walking to the next hallway.

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