Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Incredulous ❯ Counsel Overruled ( Chapter 2 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
Disclaimer: Naruto is owned and was created by a man called Kishimoto. I hereby disavow any need to profit, gain, or otherwise benefit from this piece of fan fiction other then for the sheer amusement of being bored.
Chapter Two
The assembled clans and representatives of the village gathered stiffly into the formal chambers that the Hokage of their village commanded as his own. The man sat in the formal robes, face in shadow as he silently watched the Uchiha couple take their seats beside the Hyuuga and in front of the Aburame. Hyuuga Hiashi and his daughter Hanabi had long since become an accustomed sight to the Copy Ninja as silence fell over the chamber as he stood. Beside him, his ANBU guard detail stiffened at the sudden motion he made as the eyes of many fell on to him. Rumors had been circulating in the village at the sudden summons to the Counsel chambers as Kakashi breathed out through his mask. Finally, with some deliberation over how much to reveal, he began to speak.
“Many of you are no doubt aware of the recent missive sent to us by his Lordship of Hi no Kuni. The contents of that missive were indeed grave as it detailed a rather upsetting form of orders. One of our greatest Shinobi has been ordered to marry by the daimyo to prove a blood alliance to Hi no Kuni and his Lordship. I will not go into the details here, however, a daughter from one of the clans has already been selected and informed of this. Both participants will be married in three days time. There will be no discussion about this matter until after I release the information to the public. Any Clan hereby affected by the Daimyo’s decree will be required to send a private courier to my office and the Daimyo’s court before the end of this month.”
“Hokage-sama, with all due respect, is it too much to ask who the affected couple is.” A representative of the merchant guild asked as Kakashi settled a single eyed glare on the man.
“I’m giving the couple a few days to get things into order for themselves before holding a private ceremony. This will not be a village wide affair. Am I understood Midori-san?”
“H… Hai.” The newly-named Midori whispered as the Hokage finally eye smiled at them.
“Good man. Now then, is there any dire news that we as a whole need to discuss?” Kakashi asked as he watched the sudden wary expressions of the counsel before Hyuuga Hiashi stood up.
“My eldest child remains enlisted in your personal guard, Hokage-sama. The Hyuuga have been patient in its demand for her return. When can we expect this to happen?” the man asked clearly.
“Ah. Hinata-san is currently away on a diplomatic mission to Sunagakure with an ANBU escort.” Kakashi drawled easily. “Come by my office and we’ll discuss everything there. I have a missive for you to sign anyway.”
A single dark brow shot up as the Hyuuga nodded in compliance. Passing his pink-haired wife a look, he gave her a subtle gesture in the Hokage’s direction as she shrugged helplessly. What ever their former sensei and leader was getting at was nothing to do with either of them. They would just have to wait out the time until everything was cleared up and the information released to the public. The remaining time spent in the session was divided up between general complaints that affected the village as a whole, to the coming Chuunin exams being held in Suna, and finally clan business that affected the number of required entrants into the academy itself. By the time the meeting was released everyone had nearly forgotten the unusual news of an upcoming marriage ordered by the Daimyo himself until Sasuke and Sakura arrived home to find a forlorn Uzumaki Naruto perched upon the high privacy wall.
“Hey guys.” He greeted them softly a wide smile greeting them in turn.
“How’d the meeting go?”
“It was fine. Naruto, what is wrong?” Sakura asked, a hand seeking her husband’s arm as the blond Shinobi looked away.
“Nothing much.” He answered. “Hey, what do you say we go and get ramen, just like the old days?”
“Dobe, you’re avoiding the question.” The Uchiha pointed out as he opened the door to the house. “Come in and tell us what happened.”
“Fine.” Naruto answered as he followed the married couple into their house as a whole. Sinking down onto one of the kitchen chairs, he waited as Sakura and Sasuke set about making themselves and him more comfortable. Several minutes into the tense silence later, he gave into the expectant looks. “I dunno if Kakashi-sensei told anyone yet about the Daimyo’s orders. Kakashi-sensei said a war wasn’t worth the cost of a single Shinobi but ordering my head wasn’t an option either. So, guess I’m getting married, nee?”
“What?” The surprise echoed softly as Sakura let out a breath of air and Sasuke sucked one in.
“Why you?” his best friend suddenly asked.
“Oh, that. No big deal really. His wife kind of developed a little crush is all.” he admitted with a sad laugh. “Fan girls.”
A green glare met his mocking as Sasuke smirked from behind his tea cup before setting the cup down with a click. “So, you’re the one who’s being most affected with this order. Do you know who the woman you’re going to marry will be?”
“A clan raised Kunoichi.” he answered roughly as he shook his head.
“Anyone else could be made into a target for this village or me. So, with a Clan backing behind her it gives us both a chance to survive the foolishness.”
“Wait, a jealous man wants you to get married so his wife will stop making ga-ga eyes at you?” Sakura asked bemused as she sat up straighter in her own seat. “That seems a bit extreme.”
“It doesn’t really matter in the long run Sakura. The Daimyo apparently holds a lot more sway over people’s personal lives than we’d like to think. Kakashi-sensei is already working on the arrangements, so it‘s just a matter of time until something comes up.”
Sasuke grunted as he closed his eyes. “He’s already found someone then. He mentioned a private ceremony to be held in three days time in his office when we were counsel this afternoon.”
“Already? I won’t even get a month then.” His expression fell as he turned his face away from his teammates as he felt the reality of his situation suddenly become real. “Damn, this is really going to happen, isn’t it?”
-
-
-
“You’re what?!” The exclamation was nearly shouted as Kiba sent a frantic look at his teammate Shino. “Tell me I wasn’t the only one who heard that.”
“You weren’t the only one to hear that, Kiba.” Shino answered as he turned his dark glasses in the direction of their female teammate. “Three days is all Hokage-sama gave you? That seems a bit excessive in the light of a man‘s life being in danger.”
Before she could answer, Kiba ground out a sound of disagreement. “It’s wrong to force someone into an unwanted marriage. Especially when that someone is Hinata or Naruto.”
“Kiba-san, just because your own clan is run a certain way does not mean that their way is the only right way. My own Clan is based upon arrangements similar to this and Hinata-san’s own Clan is not foreign to such matches either.” Shino answered the outraged male. “Do you require any aid from us, Hinata-san?”
A shake of the girl’s head was his only answer. “My clan possesses traditional robes for arranged matches.” She explained as she blinked her eyes before standing. “I should hurry back to the tower. Just because Hokage-sama likes to run late doesn’t mean I should.”
“Alright, Hinata-chan. Let us know if you need anything.” Kiba said.
“I will.” With a flicker of her fingers, the Hyuuga girl was gone leaving only a leaf floating in her wake. Neither man moved as they listened to a bird chirp in the distance before Kiba dropped to the ground with a groan.
“Man, this sucks.”
“Understandably so. Hinata-san has been in love with Naruto-san for quite some time. Despite the fact her greatest desire is coming true, the manner in which it is happening would no doubt be a nightmare.” the bug user reasoned. “Hinata-san is a romantic woman with ideals about what a marriage should be about. Naruto-san just doesn’t know what would be expected of him and the examples he’s had most influenced his life aren’t that great at it.”
“Huh.” Kiba answered. “So, you’re saying that Naruto and Hinata might not come out the better for it.”
“Exactly. This is why emotions should be uninvolved in any political arrangement.”
“You are weird, bug boy.” Kiba laughed. Sobering, he looked up at the sky as a flock of ducks passed them overhead. “Only time will be able to tell what’s going to happen with their future. I hope for Hinata’s sake, Naruto realizes just what kind of girl she really is.”
“Mmmm.”
Chapter Two
The assembled clans and representatives of the village gathered stiffly into the formal chambers that the Hokage of their village commanded as his own. The man sat in the formal robes, face in shadow as he silently watched the Uchiha couple take their seats beside the Hyuuga and in front of the Aburame. Hyuuga Hiashi and his daughter Hanabi had long since become an accustomed sight to the Copy Ninja as silence fell over the chamber as he stood. Beside him, his ANBU guard detail stiffened at the sudden motion he made as the eyes of many fell on to him. Rumors had been circulating in the village at the sudden summons to the Counsel chambers as Kakashi breathed out through his mask. Finally, with some deliberation over how much to reveal, he began to speak.
“Many of you are no doubt aware of the recent missive sent to us by his Lordship of Hi no Kuni. The contents of that missive were indeed grave as it detailed a rather upsetting form of orders. One of our greatest Shinobi has been ordered to marry by the daimyo to prove a blood alliance to Hi no Kuni and his Lordship. I will not go into the details here, however, a daughter from one of the clans has already been selected and informed of this. Both participants will be married in three days time. There will be no discussion about this matter until after I release the information to the public. Any Clan hereby affected by the Daimyo’s decree will be required to send a private courier to my office and the Daimyo’s court before the end of this month.”
“Hokage-sama, with all due respect, is it too much to ask who the affected couple is.” A representative of the merchant guild asked as Kakashi settled a single eyed glare on the man.
“I’m giving the couple a few days to get things into order for themselves before holding a private ceremony. This will not be a village wide affair. Am I understood Midori-san?”
“H… Hai.” The newly-named Midori whispered as the Hokage finally eye smiled at them.
“Good man. Now then, is there any dire news that we as a whole need to discuss?” Kakashi asked as he watched the sudden wary expressions of the counsel before Hyuuga Hiashi stood up.
“My eldest child remains enlisted in your personal guard, Hokage-sama. The Hyuuga have been patient in its demand for her return. When can we expect this to happen?” the man asked clearly.
“Ah. Hinata-san is currently away on a diplomatic mission to Sunagakure with an ANBU escort.” Kakashi drawled easily. “Come by my office and we’ll discuss everything there. I have a missive for you to sign anyway.”
A single dark brow shot up as the Hyuuga nodded in compliance. Passing his pink-haired wife a look, he gave her a subtle gesture in the Hokage’s direction as she shrugged helplessly. What ever their former sensei and leader was getting at was nothing to do with either of them. They would just have to wait out the time until everything was cleared up and the information released to the public. The remaining time spent in the session was divided up between general complaints that affected the village as a whole, to the coming Chuunin exams being held in Suna, and finally clan business that affected the number of required entrants into the academy itself. By the time the meeting was released everyone had nearly forgotten the unusual news of an upcoming marriage ordered by the Daimyo himself until Sasuke and Sakura arrived home to find a forlorn Uzumaki Naruto perched upon the high privacy wall.
“Hey guys.” He greeted them softly a wide smile greeting them in turn.
“How’d the meeting go?”
“It was fine. Naruto, what is wrong?” Sakura asked, a hand seeking her husband’s arm as the blond Shinobi looked away.
“Nothing much.” He answered. “Hey, what do you say we go and get ramen, just like the old days?”
“Dobe, you’re avoiding the question.” The Uchiha pointed out as he opened the door to the house. “Come in and tell us what happened.”
“Fine.” Naruto answered as he followed the married couple into their house as a whole. Sinking down onto one of the kitchen chairs, he waited as Sakura and Sasuke set about making themselves and him more comfortable. Several minutes into the tense silence later, he gave into the expectant looks. “I dunno if Kakashi-sensei told anyone yet about the Daimyo’s orders. Kakashi-sensei said a war wasn’t worth the cost of a single Shinobi but ordering my head wasn’t an option either. So, guess I’m getting married, nee?”
“What?” The surprise echoed softly as Sakura let out a breath of air and Sasuke sucked one in.
“Why you?” his best friend suddenly asked.
“Oh, that. No big deal really. His wife kind of developed a little crush is all.” he admitted with a sad laugh. “Fan girls.”
A green glare met his mocking as Sasuke smirked from behind his tea cup before setting the cup down with a click. “So, you’re the one who’s being most affected with this order. Do you know who the woman you’re going to marry will be?”
“A clan raised Kunoichi.” he answered roughly as he shook his head.
“Anyone else could be made into a target for this village or me. So, with a Clan backing behind her it gives us both a chance to survive the foolishness.”
“Wait, a jealous man wants you to get married so his wife will stop making ga-ga eyes at you?” Sakura asked bemused as she sat up straighter in her own seat. “That seems a bit extreme.”
“It doesn’t really matter in the long run Sakura. The Daimyo apparently holds a lot more sway over people’s personal lives than we’d like to think. Kakashi-sensei is already working on the arrangements, so it‘s just a matter of time until something comes up.”
Sasuke grunted as he closed his eyes. “He’s already found someone then. He mentioned a private ceremony to be held in three days time in his office when we were counsel this afternoon.”
“Already? I won’t even get a month then.” His expression fell as he turned his face away from his teammates as he felt the reality of his situation suddenly become real. “Damn, this is really going to happen, isn’t it?”
-
-
-
“You’re what?!” The exclamation was nearly shouted as Kiba sent a frantic look at his teammate Shino. “Tell me I wasn’t the only one who heard that.”
“You weren’t the only one to hear that, Kiba.” Shino answered as he turned his dark glasses in the direction of their female teammate. “Three days is all Hokage-sama gave you? That seems a bit excessive in the light of a man‘s life being in danger.”
Before she could answer, Kiba ground out a sound of disagreement. “It’s wrong to force someone into an unwanted marriage. Especially when that someone is Hinata or Naruto.”
“Kiba-san, just because your own clan is run a certain way does not mean that their way is the only right way. My own Clan is based upon arrangements similar to this and Hinata-san’s own Clan is not foreign to such matches either.” Shino answered the outraged male. “Do you require any aid from us, Hinata-san?”
A shake of the girl’s head was his only answer. “My clan possesses traditional robes for arranged matches.” She explained as she blinked her eyes before standing. “I should hurry back to the tower. Just because Hokage-sama likes to run late doesn’t mean I should.”
“Alright, Hinata-chan. Let us know if you need anything.” Kiba said.
“I will.” With a flicker of her fingers, the Hyuuga girl was gone leaving only a leaf floating in her wake. Neither man moved as they listened to a bird chirp in the distance before Kiba dropped to the ground with a groan.
“Man, this sucks.”
“Understandably so. Hinata-san has been in love with Naruto-san for quite some time. Despite the fact her greatest desire is coming true, the manner in which it is happening would no doubt be a nightmare.” the bug user reasoned. “Hinata-san is a romantic woman with ideals about what a marriage should be about. Naruto-san just doesn’t know what would be expected of him and the examples he’s had most influenced his life aren’t that great at it.”
“Huh.” Kiba answered. “So, you’re saying that Naruto and Hinata might not come out the better for it.”
“Exactly. This is why emotions should be uninvolved in any political arrangement.”
“You are weird, bug boy.” Kiba laughed. Sobering, he looked up at the sky as a flock of ducks passed them overhead. “Only time will be able to tell what’s going to happen with their future. I hope for Hinata’s sake, Naruto realizes just what kind of girl she really is.”
“Mmmm.”