Hinata woke up that day, happy as usual lately ever since she and Naruto started to date a few days ago things had been better for her. Why wouldn't it after all, she had been dreaming of dating Naruto since she started to have these strong feelings for him. She loved hanging out with him normally when they had been friends, but now that they were a couple it was only better. She blushed at how he would hold her hand as they walked, or they would link their arms as well. Then of course there were the kisses, this made her blush even more.
They usually kissed in private, so he could pull down his mask and she was still a little embarrassed as well in public. At least she could still kiss him on the cheek in public, at any rate things were going well for her. Her pet rabbit was doing much better as well, he looked much healthier now and so she managed to take him outside. This was where she was now watching as Haku-kun was nibbling on some grass.
She heard some steps coming towards her and turned to see her father coming. She was a little worried since she had no idea what he might want.
"I see you're taking good care of your pet," He said to her looking at the rabbit.
Hinata nodded her head, "Y-yes. He needed some food and care and he's doing much better."
Hiashi nodded his head, "It's good that you have shown the ability to take responsibility."
There was a moment of silence and mainly it was because Hiashi was meaning to talk to his oldest daughter about something. Lately he had heard the rumours concerning his daughter, and he wanted to make sure how much was true. Although he wasn't looking forward to this, he knew it would happen sooner or later. He just wished his late wife was still alive, this was more of a mother/daughter talk but it needed to be done.
"Hinata, I've heard a few things lately. Mainly from others in the compound saying that they've seen you with the Naruto." He began and noticed her nervous look. "Normally this isn't a major deal as you two have been friends since childhood. But I believe that the things that had been witnessed were more than just forms of friendship."
Hinata knew that her father would find out sooner or later, if there were something to get around quickly in this village it would be scandal, rumour or gossip. Plus she and Naruto hadn't been very secretive.
"Hinata?" Hiashi said to her since she had gone quiet.
"Y-yes, uh...Well it's just that, N-Naruto-kun and me are, dating..."
Hiashi sighed knowing that his worse fear had come about. His eldest daughter had finally started to date. He had hoped that he would have a bit more time before that happened. He also knew the issues that the clan elders would raise. It was hard just for those in the branch family to seek someone outside of the clan, because in the end all children would have the seal placed on them to ensure their bloodline would stay in the clan. Another issue was that the main branch family usually had some type of arrangement with another member of the main branch.
It was a painstaking process because you had to ensure that first; the two weren't too closely related for obvious reasons. Another was that Hinata was the heir of the clan so her suitor would have to be someone important. For a main branch member to date outside the clan as far as he knew, was unheard of. But he and his wife had seen this coming. Hinata had been taken with Naruto for years even before her feelings had obviously grew with time.
"Hinata, I must ask you this. How serious are your feelings for the Hatake boy?"
Hinata was caught off guard by this question at first. "I-I...care about him, a lot father."
Hiashi knew it was more than that, his daughter had been infatuated with the boy for awhile after all. But there were a few concerns that he had to deal with before the clan elders heard of this.
"Daughter, you know how our clan has certain laws and rules? Well how serious are you about dating this boy because it won't be easy. The elders will most likely not take this well, so are you willing to fight for what you care about?"
Hinata hadn't thought about the elders, sure her father was head of the clan but the elders were also in place as a buffer. They were there to ensure that no one leader had too much power, but the drawback was that they had over time, become too set in their ways. They also held some power with certain members of the clan so it was a delicate power balance.
She was actually a bit afraid of elders, she had only seen then a few times when she was younger. But the few times she had met them left their mark on her. Then she thought about Naruto, he was the best thing that had happened in her life or at least one of them. She thought about how their relationship was now and she didn't want to lose it. Life without Naruto by her side seemed empty somehow.
She looked up at her father and he was a bit surprised by the look in her eyes. They still held that kindness that reminded him of his wife but there was something else growing in them. He stopped himself from smirking at the inner strength that seemed to be growing in her.
"Yes, I will fight for Naruto-kun." She told him without even a hint of a stutter.
"Very well then, but you should prepare for a fight with the elders about this Hinata," He told her. "Also when there is time I would like for you to bring Naruto over for dinner one night. I would also like to talk to him, in a more 'official' dinner that is."
Hinata's sudden courage ran out at that moment, she wasn't sure how Naruto would react to that. Sure he had been over before but this sounded more official then the times he came over when they were younger.
"A formal dinner?" Hinata asked and he nodded his head. Hinata nodded her head in understanding. She would have to tell Naruto this the first time she got to see him.
"Now that, that is out of the way I also came here to tell you that your sensei is here to see you. Apparently she had something to ask you and your team." Hiashi said as he turned to leave.
He saw the red eyes jonin and nodded to her as she went to Hinata. He was pleased to see that the woman had done a good job with his daughter so far. One of the reasons he felt that Hinata would better serve becoming a ninja of the village was because so far she had been unsuited for the Hyuga style of training. She just didn't have it in her at that age to take the training so he felt being a ninja, Hinata could be of better service and prove herself more.
He mentally sighed though as now he had even bigger issues to deal with than how the elders viewed his daughter. Now he had to deal with boys and for a father that was nothing any father looked forward to. He was a bit envious that his search brother had a son, with Neji his search brother wouldn't have to worry about this kind of thing.
-Ramen Bar-
Team 7 was once more at Naruto's favourite place for lunch this day; the team took turns on where to go for lunches and today had been Naruto's turn to pick. He had just finished his fifth bowl putting it down, he always enjoyed the ramen here it was the best in the world in his opinion. Then he noticed that Sakura and Sasuke had been looking at him.
"What? Do I have something on my mask?" Naruto asked.
"I give up," Sakura stated putting her bowl away. "I know I've seen your face but I still don't see how you keep managing to eat without taking it off."
"I gave up on that awhile ago," Sasuke said. "I'm just wondering how the hell he keeps eating so much."
"I'd stick my tongue out at you but I'm more mature than that," Naruto stated to Sasuke.
"You'd have to take your mask off to do that, and you and mature don't belong in the same sentence."
"Hey! I am too mature!" Naruto shouted at the boy.
Sasuke gave him a levelled look, "This from the boy that painted the Hokage monument."
"Uh..." Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Well I haven't done any pranks for awhile."
"Anyway, why do you think Kakashi-sensei is late today?" Sakura asked changing the subject. "Plus why has he been a bit too happy lately as well, Naruto?"
"He's been busy lately with his new girlfriend," Naruto said quietly to himself. It wasn't that he didn't mind although the fact that he caught them making out on the couch when he walked in. He really didn't want to see his father getting busy and although Anko was the girlfriend it was hard seeing her in a sexual way.
Well mostly hard, given how she dressed but he tried not to think about it, this was the woman that had babysat him, took him to the park when his dad was too busy, was there for his birthdays. She was family to him and although it made them happy it was still a little weird at times for him.
"What was that?" Sakura who was next to him had thought she caught what he had said. "What's this about a girlfriend?"
Naruto groaned, the Hatake family was a bit of a private family so it was the reason why he didn't go around blurting out things like that normally.
"His dad is dating that insane purple haired woman," Sasuke said.
"Anko-sensei!?" Sakura asked. She was the only one that called Anko that, given the woman taught her in the use of the tonfas after all. Plus she had seen that the woman was a special jonin for a reason. She was odd but Sakura lately had started to admire the woman a bit. There were few female ninja that a girl could look up to and to Sakura, Anko was one of them.
"Sasuke, I told you that in confidence!" Naruto yelled at his friend.
He just sat there and shrugged, "Not like people wouldn't have found out sooner or later you know."
Naruto hated it when Sasuke made a valid point, he wanted to argue it but sooner or later people would notice.
"So I guess that means both you and your dad are off the market then, isn't it Naruto?" Ayame giggled as she gave him his next bowl. She had seen Naruto and Hinata in here yesterday and it was easy to see that the two friends were even more than friends. When her father had asked Naruto about it, the boy had proudly said he was glad to be dating Hinata.
"What does she mean by that?" Sakura asked Naruto with narrowed eyes.
"Oops," Naruto had forgotten to mention it to Sakura that he was dating Hinata. He had just been enjoying himself so much lately that it honestly slipped his mind.
"Oops?" the search pink haired girls mimicked dangerously.
"I was going to tell you, honest!" Naruto said holding up his hands in defence.
"What were you going to tell me?" Sakura asked him.
"He's dating Hinata finally," Sasuke said getting annoyed with all of this. Naruto should have just told her and ended it there.
"What!? When did this start?" She demanded from Naruto.
"Uh...a few days," the boy said nervously.
Sakura glared at him, sure she had given up the chase, but as a friend she still felt like she should have known. Naruto attempted to apologize but she just crossed her arms and ignored him, she would make him work for her forgiveness. Although she was silently happy for Naruto and Hinata, but still he should have at least told her. At least she had some juicy gossip for Ino to share the next she saw her.
"On come on Sakura-chan, how many times will I have to say sorry?" Naruto whined.
"Do I want to know what you did now?" Kakashi asked as he came into the ramen shop. He heard the last of that and from the look of Sakura, Naruto was in trouble for doing something.
"He forgot to mention that he was dating Hinata," Sasuke replay and ignored the dirty look from Naruto.
"Well that explains it," Kakashi said as though that was it.
"Are you really dating Anko-sensei?" Sakura asked their jonin sensei.
"Yep," Kakashi said not saying anything else. He could see the young girl wanted more than that, but that was all she was getting. What he and Anko did, well that was just between the two of them. Although it had been only a few days, things were working out nice. He had never really been in a real relationship before.
Then again, neither had Anko, it was new territory for the both of them really. So they were slowly making their way through it all, learning as they went. Well the physical side of things weren't so bad at least, that they had discovered that the other could be very passionate. Hell she brought out a fire in him at times he never knew he had. There was just something about the taste of her lips, it was a mixture of sweet and a hint of iron. Then of course her smooth skin and the way she smelled too.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
"Huh?" Kakashi was pulled from his thoughts at Sakura yelling his name.
"Dad you've been sitting there for a few minutes now, mind telling us why you asked us to meet up today?" Naruto asked.
"Ah yes, I nearly forgot," He smiled at them as he pulled out several sheets of paper. "These are the forms you all need to fill out for the chunin exams."
"You're letting us go into the chunin exams!?" Naruto exclaimed as he snatched up his forms eagerly. His father had taught him how you advance in rank in the ninja world and the chunin exams where the first major step.
Kakashi nodded, "I think you've all proven that your all capable. But know this, all of you have to agree to this because it is a team effort. If one of you have any doubts at all then you speak up now."
"Done!" Naruto said slamming his completed form onto the table.
Kakashi blinked a few times and then sighed, he should have known Naruto would just jump right in. So he picked it up and put it away and looked at the others. Sakura seemed a little nervous but she seemed to be filling her form out, Sasuke didn't hesitate at all as he filled his out. When they were all done he gathered up the forms, a little bit proud that they all seemed to stick together, they would need that for the up and coming trails.
"Well then, it will be in a few days so rest up. You'll all need it and a piece of advice, look out for each other. Teamwork is what will get you all through this and never forget that."
"Sure thing dad," Naruto grinned up at him.
"Well then, I suggest you all go and get prepared," Kakashi stood up and left his team to talk amongst themselves. He could already hear the excited talking among them and he hoped they all would pass. There was another reason for wanting them to take the exam, sure he felt their teamwork was good enough, plus their skills were above normal genin. But he felt that great things were expected of his team, when he first made his pitch for why he wanted the top three students, he had to live up to it.
Sure the Wave Mission was a good step but now, they really had to prove that Team 7 could be everything he had claimed it could be. A bit of him was worried, mainly the part of him that was a father. Fatherhood had changed him a bit, he didn't deny it, but now he found himself worrying a bit more over the kids. He sighed as he made his way to the Hokage tower, he just hoped things would be okay. People died in these exams but he had to have faith in them.
Back at the ramen bar something hit Sakura, "Hey wait a minute. Who won?"
Naruto watched as Sasuke gave her a sheet of paper as she looked through it. Naruto couldn't believe that Sakura was in on it too. He really didn't like that people had been making bets behind his back and so he quickly snatched it away.
"Hey!" Sakura shouted out.
Naruto scanned the list and he couldn't believe it, everyone from class was on it. Even Konohamaru and Hanabi were on this and Ayame and her father. He casts both of the ramen stand workers a small glare, they both suddenly found some work to do and turned their backs to the boy. There was Asuma, even Kurenai on it. Even Anko and his own father was on this list, the biggest shock was the Hokage himself.
"What the hell!? Did the entire village know about this!?" Naruto demanded.
"Calm down," Sasuke told him. "It's not that big a deal."
"Yeah," Sakura said. "We were just hoping you two would get together anyway. So, who won?"
Naruto looked at the dates, "Shikamaru apparently, hey wait! Sakura-chan, you had a date a few years from now! So did Ino and Anko, what the hell!?"
"Well, with how you were totally oblivious and her too shy..." Sakura trailed off. She also had made the bet back when she thought she might want to try a date with him as well. Now she and Sasuke had to listen to Naruto rant on about how he thought his friends had no faith in him. It would be a very long lunch hour.
-Later-
It was later in the day and the team had gone their separate ways, Sasuke said he needed to get some new equipment for the exams, and Sakura went to find Ino. Already Naruto could hear Ino yelling at him for keeping such big news secret. He sighed to himself, it wasn't like he wanted to keep it secret, he had honestly just forgot to tell them. At any rate, he was already on his way to meet up with Hinata, hence the smile on his face.
Despite what happened at lunch, he was now in a much better mood. After all he was on his way to see his girlfriend.
He couldn't help but notice how cute she was recently, he loved the way she blushed as it made her even cuter, plus her skin was always so soft. He kicked himself for not noticing her before now, all that time wasted. Well he was going to make up for it. He had been planning on some major dates to make up for it. He had been looking for any festivals in nearby villages that he could take her too, plus a real fancy restaurant. There was that small movie theatre but the new Princess Gale movie wouldn't be here for a few months. He really wanted to take her to that movie, as he loved those movies and he knew Hinata liked them too.
At any rate he was hoping she didn't have any training today, or would be on missions. But when he got to the tree in the park they always used to play under when they were younger, he stopped to just look at her. She really was cute and the kindest person he could remember. Just looking at her you could see it, almost like she radiated purity. After a moment he walked over to her and when she saw him, he could see her smile.
It wasn't the usual kind he noticed, but lately she got this smile that she only showed to him. He liked that smile the most.
"N-Naruto-kun, how was today?" She asked as he sat down with her.
"Pretty good, although Sakura-chan was made I forgot to tell her that I was dating you," He chuckled.
"Naruto-kun, you didn't tell her?"
"Well it's not like you told your team," then he noticed her look. "Oh...you did tell them then."
"Of course," She said. "I would never keep this kind of thing from them. Plus Kiba-kun, kept asking why I was so happy and so I told them. They were very happy for me, so why didn't you tell your team?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Well my dad already knew, I told Sasuke but I just forgot. I mean I was enjoying things so much and well, it just slipped my mind. Hey wait a minute-did Kiba or Shino exchange money or mutter anything about a bet?"
Hinata blinked in surprised after they had congratulated her, something had happened. Kiba had asked Shino, who was closest and the bug user took out a small note book. He cast a look and said something about Shikamaru. Even Kurenai seemed to have sighed at that for some reason.
"How did you know?" Hinata asked confused.
"I hate our friends sometimes," Naruto muttered. Then he explained the entire bet, Hinata's face went totally red from embarrassment.
Hinata couldn't believe it, her friends, her teammates and even her sensei and little sister had been on it. She thought only her little sister had known, but everyone knew and made bets. She felt totally mortified. She groaned and hid her face in her hands she must have looked like a fool for so long. Then she felt an arm around her as Naruto pulled her close.
"Hey I know," Naruto said softly to her. "I'm already planning my revenge, you want to help me?"
Hinata wasn't sure at first, she knew that pranks could be funny at times. But she never had the nerve to try and pull any.
"Oh come one, think of it as a couple's night out?" Naruto grinned at her.
Hinata twiddled with her fingers at first, spending more time with Naruto would be fun. Plus she didn't like how all those people had bet on her and Naruto like that. So she eventually nodded her head, Naruto smiled knowing she wouldn't let him down.
"Um...Naruto-Kun?" Hinata remembered something else she had to tell him. "There is something that we'll have to do, but it will have to wait for a month or so."
"Oh?"
Hinata nodded, "My team just entered the chunin exams so-"
"Wait, Team 8 joined up too? That's great!" Naruto shouted. "My team will be there also, this is going to be great!"
"N-Naruto-kun," she said trying to get his attention.
"Opps, sorry. You were saying?"
"My father found out we were dating today," She looked down at her hands. She didn't see Naruto pale suddenly.
Although he was good friends with the Hyuga clan, the little run in with Neji had him nervous enough as it was. Now he had to deal with her father as well. He liked her dad, don't get him wrong, but the guy could be a little intimidating at times. He knew that her father would find out eventually, just not so soon. The sudden image of dodging the gentle fist style from her father came into his mind.
"M-My father wants you to come to a formal dinner when we get the time," Hinata said and then heard a thump. She quickly turned to see a slumped over Naruto, "Naruto-kun!"
She shook him, trying to get him up but he was out like a light. It would take her a couple of minutes to wake up and when he did, his good mood was suddenly changed to a sense of impending search doom for the near future.
Next up Chapter 46: May the Exams Begin