Disclaimer: Naruto and all its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author's notes-
Chapter 133: The Proposal
"Now... calm down, Sir," Naruto said. The other man appeared ready to flip the table. "This is really inappropriate behavior for someone of your status."
"Don't talk to me about inappropriate behavior, you brat!" Hiashi shouted.
"What is this really about? You've been against me being close to your family before I showed any interest in Hinata. What's is your issue with me?" Naruto wondered if this man had some problems with his parents and was now projecting those emotions on him. Or maybe it was something else.
"You're too dangerous! Of course, I don't want you close to Hinata. She has enough worries already," Hiashi finally said.
"Dangerous?... I don't deny it. But can you be more specific?" He answered.
Hiashi managed to calm down a bit. "You know what you are..."
"Oh..." Naruto realized.
"Are you talking about the demon fox sealed inside me? Is that what you're worried about? Don't tell me you're like those civilians who believe I'm some sort of reincarnation of the demon."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Hiashi snapped. "I'm not an ignorant fool. But that doesn't make you any less dangerous to be around. You could lose control..."
"I have it under perfect control," Naruto said.
"You went berserk during the second test of the Chunin exam," Hiashi pointed out.
"I meant now..." Naruto added.
"And you expect me to trust your word on that?..." Hiashi raised an eyebrow. "There are also going to be people who will go after you because of that...I don't want my family involved in that."
'That already happened,' Naruto thought.
"The only reason I even considered talking to you in person is because my nephew Neji speaks very highly of you since your match. I thought that I could perhaps reason with you," Hiashi said.
"I can be reasonable. But you're the one making no sense," Naruto told him.
Hiashi glared at him. "How am I not making sense? I made myself very clear."
"Yes, and if Hinata were a normal civilian, it would make sense for you to want to keep her out of danger. But she's a ninja and the heir of this clan... and from what I understand, you don't consider her a very good heir because of her soft nature. So how is keeping her away from any danger going to change that?" Naruto asked.
It was only then that Hiashi understood what Naruto meant. By keeping Hinata as safe as possible, she would have no room to grow as a person, a ninja, and a future leader of the clan.
"I..." For the first time in a long time, he was at a loss for words. "I don't want to—"
The door slid open with a loud noise, as if the person outside was in a hurry.
"Father!" Hinata rushed in.
Following her were her sister Hanabi and her attendant.
"Lady Hinata, wait!" The assistant had tried to stop her, knowing this could only make her father angrier.
"Hinata?" Hiashi glanced at his daughter. "What are you doing here? I asked not to be interrupted." His eyes shifted to the attendant.
"I'm very sorry, Lord Hiashi. I tried to stop her..."
"Don't blame Asami. She did try to stop me," Hinata said as she walked to the table. "What are you doing with Naruto?" she asked with furrowed brows.
Hiashi was surprised to see his daughter acting in such a commanding manner instead of her usual shy self. "There were a few things I needed to discuss with him..."
"You weren't trying to kick him out of the house?" Hinata asked suspiciously.
"Yes, what are you waiting for? Show him his place!" Hanabi exclaimed.
Naruto turned to her. "Have you forgotten about our deal?. Is that how you should be talking to me?."
"That's..." Hanabi hesitated. She hadn't forgotten, which was precisely why she wanted him out.
"You agreed to speak to me with the utmost respect if I defeated your cousin. Which, if I recall, I did... So are you going to break your word?" Naruto asked.
"No... I didn't say that," Hanabi muttered.
"Then? Where's my formal greeting, Lady of the Hyuga clan?"
Hanabi's face turned as red as a tomato.
"Greetings, Mister Uzumaki. Welcome to the Hyuga household. Please feel at home." She gave him a polite bow.
Naruto nodded. "I will, thank you." He then turned to Hiashi.
"I believe we were about to reach an agreement," he told the Clan Lord.
Hiashi glared at him.
"I'm still not convinced that you would be a good influence on her." Or on his other daughter, for that matter. He'd been in the room for only a few minutes, and both his daughters were acting out of character.
"What if I told you I can turn Hinata into a confident and powerful clan leader?" Naruto knew the girl had immense potential, which was being wasted due to her lack of self-confidence.
"What?!" Hinata exclaimed.
"What are you saying?" Hiashi asked.
"Leave her with me for one month, and she'll be able to even compete with Neji," Naruto offered. He had some free time now that his team wasn't taking missions.
As long as it didn't affect his cultivation speed, he didn't mind spending some time with this girl. It could prove useful for his future.
"What do you mean, 'leave her with you'?!" Hiashi was about to flip the table, while Hinata was doing her best to stay conscious.
"I meant to train with her for a month, of course," Naruto said. "What did you think I meant?"
"Never mind that!" Hiashi huffed.
"What is a month going to accomplish?" He had tried for years to toughen her up, but the girl was too kind in nature. "And to compete with Neji...?"
"I'll do it!" Hinata said, excitement filling her voice.
Her father and the rest were shocked that she would agree so quickly to a rematch with Neji after what happened last time.
But the only thing in Hinata's head was that she could spend an entire month alone with Naruto.
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