Father chapter 19

Chapter 19: Hyuga vs. Uzumaki; battle of pride and justice</b>

12 – 12 (14th year of Godaime’s rule)

It was five to eight in the morning. Naruto was impatiently leaning against the wall with folded arms, drumming his fingers. Hinata was sitting in a chair in a state she would start crying in a moment. When the hands of the clock made everyone clear it was eight the door opened and an annoyed looking Hiashi came in, being pushed by Neji. Naruto glanced over to them.

“Where’s Keiji?” the blonde asked. “He’s with Tenten, Naruto,” Neji answered as he closed the door. “What? You’re not even allowing him to go to school?” Naruto asked the Hyuga leader. “Like it is of any use,” Hiashi replied. Naruto let out a growl and made a Kage Bunshin which he sent to the academy. Tsunade then slammed her hands on her desk out of nowhere. “Hiashi, you do realise what you did can make you end up in jail!?” “In fact I did not do a thing except making him his eyes open and taking him to the Hyuga grounds.”
Naruto looked at the leader.

‘W-wait… he didn’t do a thing? What does THAT mean? Isn’t he the leader?’

“Hmm Naruto… if we could just talk with your son or see what happened than I can confirm some thought I have right now.”

‘Are you thinking the same as I am?’

“Depends…”

‘Well I always thought Hiashi was acting differently without Hyuga council members, I mean looking at him here right now. Next to that it was the Hyuga council that decided to banish Hinata-chan from the Hyuga clan, that’s what I heard.’

“Then we indeed are thinking the same.”

“I want to know what happened to Keiji and what your clan did to him,” Naruto demanded to know as he looked at the Hyuga leader. “That brat of yours has unworthy eyes, he has to be sealed or k-” “Don’t even DARE to finish that word!” Hinata snapped.
“Your fate will be the same,” Hiashi said to her with a stern look. “FATE?! It’s always fate with you guys! There is no such thing as FATE! At least Neji understands now!” Naruto shouted. Hiashi seemed to back away a little.

-----------------------------

Taka looked to the door once again. ‘Where’s Keiji-kun?’ “Taka, pay attention please.” “H-hai, gomenasai,” the boy muttered. A row above him Mikoto and Fugaku seemed to be distracted too.
Then the door opened. ‘Huh, Naruto-san?’ Taka thought as the familiar blonde was standing in the doorway. “Iruka, can I talk to you for a second.” “Can’t it wait?” “No, it’s about Keiji,” the blonde said. The teacher sighed as he walked over to the blonde. Naruto softly explained something and Iruka was in shock but nodded understanding. “Take care Naruto.” “Thanks.” And in a small poof of smoke the blond was gone. “Kage Bunshin huh…” Iruka whispered.

“Sensei, what was that about?” a girl asked. “Nothing to be concerned about, Keiji is just not coming to class for a while.” A worried expression covered Taka’s face.

-----------------------------

Naruto and Hinata were now standing right in front of the Hyuga clan leader. Naruto had raised his fist. Hinata was glaring at her father.

Hey dad look at me
Think back and talk to me
Did I grow up according to plan?
And do you think I'm wasting my time doing things I wanna do?
But it hurts when you disapprove all along

“As I said, that brat of yours will receive the seal for sure.” “If you even dare…” Naruto hissed in a low and dangerous tone. “What’s gotten into you father?! You’re getting worse with the day,” Hinata exclaimed.

And now I try hard to make it
I just want to make you proud
I'm never gonna be good enough for you
I can't pretend that
I'm alright
And you can't change me

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Hiashi merely said. “Your actions were changed at the moment Hachiro-san became part of the clan council ten years ago!” “And he showed me how much of a shame to the clan you are. Even more than I already thought!” Hiashi snarled. Hinata gritted her teeth as he watched her father who seemed more of a stranger to her now.

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

“Well I’m sorry for being the person you want me to be!” Hinata shouted in tears. “Yes indeed. You’re nothing like your younger sister, who is a true genius.” Even though the dark haired knows this was how her father thought over her, it still hurts.

I try not to think
About the pain I feel inside
Did you know you used to be my hero?
All the days you spent with me
Now seem so far away
And it feels like you don't care anymore

“Like that crying of yours, showing weakness like that proves you’re worth nothing.”

And now I try hard to make it
I just want to make you proud
I'm never gonna be good enough for you
I can't stand another fight
And nothing's alright

‘It’s not weak to show emotions.’ “That’s the way you look at things! Why don’t you try to understand me a little more instead of trying to make me someone I am not?!”
“You’re my daughter, you’re supposed to do what I say and when I say crying is a weakness it is a weakness.”

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

“Do you even know what you’re saying?!” Naruto snapped.
“I do, unlike you and that daughter of mine who has never been a great talker at all.”
Hinata turned her face away, wanting to hit her father with her best shot. “That’s because you scared me, kept on saying I was worth nothing. You do not understand a thing about me,” she said softly, turning back to look at him.

Nothing's gonna change the things that you said
Nothing's gonna make this right again
Please don't turn your back
I can't believe it's hard
Just to talk to you
But you don't understand

“And you never tried to! You let me be, treated me like trash!”
“That’s because you are that!”

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

“She is not trash!” Naruto shouted, “She’s worth more than you will ever be!”
“Ha, for a monster like you maybe.” “Naruto-kun is no monster, you are the monster father! You were the cruellest one ever since I became a Ge-nin!”

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

“I should have given you the seal that day,” Hiashi growled. Naruto raised a fist but Tsunade made him stop from charging at him when she opened her mouth and started talking.

“Alright enough of this, we won’t get anywhere this way,” Tsunade interjected, rubbing her temples. Naruto looked at her. “According to tradition you can challenge the clan leader, Naruto.” The blonde straightened and lowered his fist. “If you win, you can ask whatever you want from them and they have to follow your terms.”
Hiashi glared at the Hokage, apparently not liking the idea she brought that scheme up. Naruto looked down, he didn’t really like to fight the clan leader but if there wasn’t another option he would. “Alright in that case… Hiashi I challenge you for a fight from man to man.”
“Hold your horses, brat. If there will be a battle I want Hinata to prove herself.”
“Ain’t gonna happen!”
“Hiashi, traditions are traditions. If Naruto challenges you, you have to accept,” Tsunade barked, glaring at him.
“Fine, if fate is that way. It will take place on the 14th. Until that day, that little brat you two brought life to will stay at the Hyuga grounds.”

Naruto gritted his teeth. “Fine, but if you dare to harm him I will make you suffer double,” he growled, “And suffering is worse than getting killed.”

Hiashi turned around and left. Neji, who hadn’t said a word, left with him.

“Naruto, I can battle him myself,” Hinata hissed, rapidly turning her head to him.
“No way, I’m allowing that,” Naruto merely said. “He’s right, Hinata. You’re pregnant so you’re not allowed to battle, I’m sure you know that. SOP.” Hinata stared at her feet.
Naruto looked at her from the corners of his eyes and sighed. “If you hadn’t been pregnant I wouldn’t have stopped you from that, you know that very well, Hinata-chan,” he muttered.
“B-b-but…” she started as some tears welled up.
“Hinata, sit down, it’s alright. You showed us you’re a great kunoichi, so there’s no proof needed from your father for that,” Tsunade said as she gently pushed the woman in a chair.
“Besides, you already almost killed him last time,” Naruto whispered.

14 – 12 (14th year of Godaime’s rule)

The battle between Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuga Hiashi was known by the entire village. Girls found it romantic Naruto was fighting for his girlfriend…wife? …fiancée? …or whatever the young Hyuga woman was for him. But of course, this being THE FIGHT of the year, even better than the battle against Orochimaru or so people thought, a lot of bets were made.
Strangely enough Tsunade wasn’t one of those who bet. Jiraiya was confused by this, but when she explained, he understood. Tsunade was certain the blonde would win this fight, but if she would bet on that she would win and something bad would happen, after all everyone knew Tsunade’s bad luck. And when she was lucky, a very bad thing would happen.

The epic fight was held in the Chu-nin exam arena, because of the amount of villagers that wanted to see this battle; where now our favourite blonde hero was standing in the middle of the grass-and-naked-earth field. He was facing someone who was less-than-not popular among youngsters; the Hyuga clan leader “hard-ass” Hyuga Hiashi. The young people (especially the girls and ninja) wanted the blonde village hero to win, while most of the older ones wanted Hiashi to win to get rid of the monster once and for all.

Right next to the blonde was Hinata who was giving her father a death glare. “Where’s Keiji?” she asked in a dangerous tone. Hiashi didn’t reply. Naruto was holding back his anger, but it subdued when he saw his son with Neji both set foot on the field. Keiji let go of his uncle’s hand and ran to his mother. Hinata kneeled down and hugged the crying boy. When standing up she took the boy with her, she had no choice, he had clung to her, though that wasn’t a surprise and Hinata didn’t mind.
“If you win this battle, Uzumaki, you can make whatever term you have and as many as you want. The Hyuga clan will do as you say.”
‘That’s quite interesting…’ “Alright, I’ll be fine with that.” “But if I win, your son will receive the caged bird seal as well as Hinata.”
‘That will kill Hinata-chan, but I don’t have a choice. Besides, it’s not like I’m going to lose.’

“Don’t be overconfident, son.”

‘I’m not fighting for myself here, but to make a rotten clan get better, my son and…f-future wife…’

“He-he, alright. I’ll help you in any way I can,” Minato laughed a little.

‘Thanks dad.’

Naruto nodded as reply. He then turned to Hinata and Keiji. “You two should go to the others.” “Be careful, Naruto-kun.” “What are you going to do, daddy?” Keiji asked. Naruto didn’t answer and Hinata carried the boy away from the battle field.
“Mommy, what’s going on?”
“A challenge against the Hyuga clan, Keiji-kun. If your father wins, and I’m sure he will, he can change to Hyuga clan into a better clan.”
The little boy looked at his father further ahead. ‘Daddy will win; j-just like that fox said… dad cannot lose because that fox protects him he said…’

(FLASHBACK)

“But I don’t want to sleep. I want to go home,” Keiji muttered as Tenten placed him in bed once again that evening.
“You will see them in a couple of days again, Keiji-kun. Now go to sleep.” She left him alone again and eventually the boy fell asleep. However it wasn’t a peaceful world he entered. In his dreams he was chased by the Hyuga clan council members.
“Go away!” Keiji cried. Suddenly a red nine tailed fox appeared and with one roar all the Hyuga’s were gone. Keiji looked at the fox and fell on his knees; afraid of what the fox might do.
“Keiji-kun, do not fear me. I was sent by your father,” it said as it sat down looking at the boy.
“D-daddy? Daddy s-sent you?” the young blonde muttered in fear.
“Yes, Keiji. He has a message for you. Be strong, kid, I know you are; that’s what he said.” The fox walked over to the boy who started to cry. “Hey, don’t cry. Now tell me, what exactly happened after your grandfather kidnapped you?” With one tail it gently stroke over the kid’s cheeks to rub the tears away.
“Who are you? How do you know my father?” Keiji asked looking at the fox.
“You can call me Yoko, and I have known your father ever since he was born and I’m always with him.”
Yoko lay down, wagging his tails a little as Keiji stared at him. “Why are you with daddy all the time? And how come I cannot see you then?”
Yoko grinned a little. “You sure are a curious one. You cannot see me because out there I’m merely a spirit. Only your father is able to see me.”
“Oh… that’s kinda cool.”
Yoko laughed as he picked the kid up with his tail and placed him on his back. “As for being with him all the time, I protect your father and he won’t lose while I’m with him.”
“Really?” Keiji asked, enjoying the ride. “Yes, but to come back on my question, what happened?” Keiji pinched in the nine tailed fox its fur as he told the scary things that had happened to him. Again he cried but received patting on his head from one of the nine tails.
At the end of the ride Yoko got the boy with his tail again and placed him on his own feet. “It will be alright. Your father will do something about it, kid. But until he can you need to be strong,” Yoko ordered as he turned around.
“I-I’ll try my very best,” Keiji mumbled.
“That’s all I’m expecting you to do, farewell Keiji-kun.”
“A-arigato Yoko-san…arigato,” Keiji whispered at the end.

(END FLASHBACK)

Naruto had a hard time not to start already. After he had managed to send Kyubi’s spirit to his sleeping son and then found out what exactly had happened he could only be mad, no enraged and maybe even that wasn’t the right word. (It would have been irate by the way.)
“Combatants ready?” Genma asked. Naruto merely nodded once. Hiashi got a smirk on his face and said, “Hai.”
“Okay, then… begin!” Genma jumped back to the side of the stadium to make sure he wouldn’t be involved in the battle. However the two in the middle merely seem to stare at each other.
But when Naruto was suddenly gone Hiashi tried to find him by looking around yet didn’t find the blonde in time. He hit the Hyuga full in his face, sending him flying through the air and hitting the side of the stadium. The man stood up and walked back towards the blonde while rubbing some blood from the side of his chin.

Staring at each other again Naruto raised his right fist and showed it to the Hyuga clan leader. The man recognized it; he had seen him doing that before when fighting Neji years ago.

------------------------

Neji’s eyes widened when he saw the movement the blonde was making. “That’s….”
Hinata looked confused at her cousin. “You understand what Naruto-kun is doing, Neji-nii-san?”
“Yes… it goes back to when I hurt you really bad in the pre-rounds of the finals of the Chu-nin exams.” Hinata looked confused. “Naruto got really upset because of that and put your blood on his hand. After that he did the same he’s doing now towards Hiashi.”
Hinata’s eyes widened in surprise as a blush crept across her face. ‘He… he r-really did that?’

------------------------

“I won’t hold back, even though you’re Hinata-chan’s father.”
“Then come and get me, give me your best shot.”
Naruto smirked, “When this is over you would wish you had never said that. TAJU KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!”

‘Dad I cannot put you in a Bunshin, Keiji-kun is watching.’

“I understand.”

Hundreds of kunai flew through the air towards the Hyuga who used Kaiten. As result the kunai fell down leaving Hiashi unhurt. The bunshin disappeared after that.
The man then rushed over to the blonde and started trying to close his tenketsu, yet Naruto was flexible enough to avoid the hits. Hiashi though saw an opening when Naruto threw a quick glance to the back to see how much further that way he could go.
“Hakke Hyakunijūhachi Shō!” Naruto had a hard time, however he knew about this and when the last blow came he managed to keep standing and just grinned at Hiashi.
“You do know I can open the tenketsu by force, you even saw it.”
“I won’t give you the time for that, it takes time to open them!” Hiashi said as he got a kunai and aimed for the blonde’s heart.

“NARUTO! USE JUKENHO!”

‘What? But…’

“I know you don’t like that, but it’s the only option.”

‘Okay!’

A sensation came to the Hyuga clan leader the moment he threw the kunai, it made him shiver. Naruto moved to the side avoiding the kunai just in time as his hand seemed to glow with some red chakra.
“Let me give that one back but double as painful!” With a couple of quick movements with his hand the Hyuga clan leader fell down grabbing his chest on the place where his heart is. “How did you…?” “Find the pressure points? I’ve been through that attack more than once, even I can memorize something. And when you attacked me you proofed the spots.” Hiashi let out a growl as he came back to his feet, but grunted in pain.
“But is not the normal feeling – urgh – you should get.”
“I said I would make it double as painful, what I used is something only I have.”
“Don’t tell me…” Hiashi asked shocked. Naruto smirked and than attacked again; this time with a kick. Hiashi grabbed his foot, but Naruto jumped up, turned and used his other to kick the man’s head. Hiashi let go and had a difficulty to remain standing. “I still don’t understand.”
“What? It’s very simple. Everyone can use Jukenho, if you know the pressure points. After that it’s just releasing the chakra at the right time.” Hiashi looked shocked now that his own attack seemed to be used against him.
“On top of that chakra I sent in your body is still under my control. Do you want me to crush your heart? It’s already given you a painful time since you still seem to hold your chest there.” Naruto pushed it a little by making Kyubi’s chakra attacking Hiashi’s heart.
The man fell on his hands and knees. “St-stop it,” he grunted in pain.
“Why would I? You deserve the pain.”
“I know, j-just m-make this stop, please,” Hiashi seemed to beg as he buried one of his hands in the dirt.
“I want to hear you beg. I want to hear you say you’re sorry about the things you did.” Hiashi however didn’t open his mouth. Naruto increased the pain which made the Hyuga fall down completely now. “This pain is not even getting close to the pain you caused to Hinata-chan. She’s stronger than you think, old fool, but she’s not like you.”
The Hyuga clan leader tried to search for his elder daughter in the crowd and soon found her with her blonde haired father-look-alike son. ‘Hinata…’ She was looking worried, was biting her lip and was covering Keiji’s eyes so he wouldn’t see. ‘You really wanted to kill me back then… yet now you seem worried that I would die. Were did it go wrong… I don’t even know anymore. Was it really when Hachiro became part of the clan council? Will it be too late for saying I’m… sorr-y…’

Naruto watched the man on the ground, he wasn’t moving anymore… no longer struggling, just lay there. It looked like he was….

Dead.