I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Kakashi watched anxiously as the Hyuuga nurse examined Hinata with chakra filled hands. After several minutes of scanning the sleeping young woman thoroughly, paying special attention to her heart, she turned to Kakashi with a smile.

"She's fine my Lord, just exhausted." Haruna reassured him gently. Kakashi let out a sigh of relief, and the tension left his shoulders.

"I was really worried that she was going to have another heart attack." Kakashi said.

"She is a lot tougher than she looks my Lord. She's had to be." Haruna said solemnly. Their eyes met, and she searched his face as if to assure herself that he was as trustworthy as he seemed. Kakashi didn't look away, and his eyes held a serious light. Haruna nodded to him, bowing low.

"Just let her sleep, and try not to let her get so excited. What did you say happened again?" She asked him with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. A light blush showed above his face mask, and Kakashi looked away from the nurse, and he didn't answer her, just rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Well, like I said, she doesn't need to get excited again." Haruna said sternly, with a teasing light. Kakashi nodded at her, and she left the room struggling to hide the grin on her face.

Kakashi went back over to the bed and gazed down at his beautiful wife sleeping peacefully. He realized how much he wanted to hold her in his arms, and decided that he would do just that. He removed his sandals, jounin vest, weapons pouch, and then climbed onto the bed, carefully gathering her into his arms. She snuggled against him, and he settled back into the pillows with a deep feeling of contentment and happiness that he hadn't felt for a very long time. Kakashi drifted off to sleep as he thanked Kami for bringing Hinata into his life.

THE KITCHEN IN THE HATAKE MANSION:

"I think that our Lady is going to be a happy woman." Haruna told the group of Hyuuga that gathered in the kitchen. Several of the women let out giggling sighs, while the males just rolled their eyes at them.

"Well, I think that it is about time that she found someone to love and protect her. The fact that he is rich, handsome, and powerful doesn't hurt either. Can't you just imagine how beautiful their children are going to be?" Hanani, Hinata's old nursemaid said with satisfaction. The other women immediately nodded in agreement. The men drifted away when they realized that the conversation had turned to 'woman's talk'.

"We are very happy for Kakashi, he's been alone too long." Pakkun said, grunting in pleasure as Hitomi scratched behind his ear. The ladies of the newly formed Hatake-Hyuuga clan had originally been a bit unnerved by the speaking dog-nins, but quickly realized that not only were they well-trained, they were also an excellent source of information to learn about their new leader.

The pack was excited about the new developments happening to their master, and were willing to give the ladies plenty of details about Kakashi's character, likes, and dislikes. Especially when presented with big meaty bones. They had shared much more information than Kakashi had realized, and as a result, many in the newly formed clan had a new respect for the jounin. If the masked ninja had any idea exactly how much his pack had revealed, he would have ordered them to be silent. Their indiscretion served the new clan well, however, since many of the new members fears were laid to rest.

The ladies talked gossiped about babies, newlyweds, wedding nights, and how they were going to have to make doubly sure that their Lady didn't overexert herself. She was much loved by the branch members, and they were ecstatic that she was safe from her father's ill treatment. Over the years, their Lady had intervened on their behalf, reducing punishments, healing injuries, and quietly fighting for increased rights for the branch family members. She also insisted on being the one to nurse the newly sealed branch members, using her natural healing abilities to ease the pain from the sealing ceremony.

HYUUGA COMPOUND: COUNCIL ROOM

"Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can avoid being forced into sealing our members?" Haishi asked, disgust evident in his voice. Silence reigned in the council room as the members racked their brains, anaylizing the situation, attempted to find some way out of the situation that they were backed into by the Hokage and village council.

"Let's not all speak at once!" Haishi yelled as he smacked the table in front of him. All around him the council members flinched briefly before regaining their normally impassive facades.

"My Lord, it may be prudent at this point to give into the council's demands. As much as I am sure we all despise the idea of allowing the main branch members to be sealed, we can not afford to lose the favor of the council, especially now when we need their influence to bring the branch family back under our control." The eldest council member advised.

"I have no intention of allowing any member than betrayed our clan to live, let alone return to our clan. We will take this opportunity to purge the clan of the weakness that had corrupted it for the last several generations." Lord Hyuuga informed them harshly.

"What are you talking about, my Lord?" The elder asked in barely concealed apprehension.

"I contacted the Arashi clan, soon the problem will be dealt with." He informed them with malicious satisfaction. Several of the council members gasped, shocked by the lengths that their Lord was going to punish the wayward clan members. The Arashi clan was famous for the high caliber of assassins they trained. They were relentless, discreet, and expensive.

"Don't you think that calling them in is a bit excessive my Lord?" The elder inquired respectfully.

"The Hyuuga clan has been publicly humiliated. If we wish to keep our reputation as the strongest clan in the Five Nations, this disrespect must be dealt with swiftly and brutally." Haishi said with firm conviction. The council members glanced at each other, reluctantly nodding their agreement, although many of them had a bad feeling that the situation was quickly getting out of control.