I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

Since Hinata had already told Naruto that they wouldn't be able to see each other until the start of the Chunin Exams, Wu consented when she asked if she could stay in the Senju Clan Compound. He knew Tsunade would say yes, but instead of immediately taking Hinata over to get her settled in, Wu waited until she had calmed down before suggesting, "We should train. I've actually been worried about-" Without waiting for Wu to finish, Hinata unzipped her inordinately baggy hoodie to reveal the upper half of a dark blue, near skin-tight 'wingsuit.' This was one of the reasons Naruto had asked her to cover, as, due to the innovations in her fighting style, Hinata wore clothing that allowed her to be as aerodynamic as possible. After discarding her hoodie like a butterfly shedding its cocoon, Hinata hesitated briefly, a faint red hue coloring her cheeks before she stripped out of her pants. It was nothing Wu hadn't seen before, but as it had been a long time, Hinata felt self-conscious about the condition of her body. Though he noted that Hinata's breasts and bottom had swelled quite a bit in a mere five months, Wu didn't comment on them. Instead, he gave an approving nod, divesting the dark-haired bluenette of her nervousness by noting, "It's clear you've been keeping up with your physical conditioning. Good job, Hinata." Exhibiting a smile she hadn't shown in a long time, Hinata's eyes narrowed slightly, her back straightening as she responded with an adorable, "Nn~!" Then, for the better part of seven hours, the two just trained together, the intensity of their training drastically exceeding what Hinata had displayed during their previous spars... ... .. . "Haaaa....haaaaa....haaaaa..." Despite completely exhausting herself, Hinata had a contented smile on her face as she stared listlessly up at the sky with her forearm resting on her forehead. She hadn't been able to go all out against Naruto because she was worried about damaging his self-esteem. She trained pretty hard in secret, but there was nothing quite as 'liberating' as giving it her all in a fight and still losing. Liberating the red-faced girl from her reverie, Wu remarked, "Not to put a damper on things, but how do you want to go about this? We could have delayed things almost indefinitely before, but now that I'm married, your Clan will want to move forward with the engagement as fast as possible. They may even ask us to forgo the wedding ceremony outright, citing that they wouldn't want to 'embarrass' Tsunade by making things too public..." Though Wu's reminder did put a slight damper on her spirits, Hinata didn't lose her smile. Her father had approached her shortly after Wu's marriage to Tsunade, informing her that it didn't annul their engagement. She had been mulling things over since that very revelation, so she only hesitated for a brief moment before pressing the tips of her index fingers together, a callback to the moment they had been engaged, answering, "I'm...not unwilling..." Realizing what she had done, Wu's eyes narrowed in amusement as he said, "You really have put some thought into this, haven't you? I've always known you were adorable, but damn..." Blushing up to her ears, Hinata attempted to conceal her embarrassment by rolling away from Wu. The former was sitting up, but she was still lying on the grass, so it seemed like the most sensible thing to do. At least until Wu remarked, "This is a view I can get used to..." As Hinata's custom-made wingsuit conformed to her body, Wu was given quite an eyeful. His remark was also calm, confident, and contained a hint of teasing, so Hinata didn't feel pressured. Whenever Naruto made similar remarks, he always had a greedy, desirous look and a hint of desperation in his tone... Turning back to steal a glance over her shoulder, Hinata found Wu staring 'at' her with a relaxed smile on his face. He may have been staring at her ass moments prior, but the moment she turned to face him, his gaze was fixed squarely on her face, his look attentive as if to imply he was waiting to hear what she had to say. Another stark contrast to Naruto, who never stopped talking about himself unless she appeared depressed or outright asked if she could speak... After waiting for several seconds, Wu's expression and tone softened as he pointed out, "You're thinking about him..." Instead of refuting the claim, Hinata nodded her head and replied, "Yes. But I'm primarily thinking about how 'different' the two of you are...I feel partially...well, more like fully responsible for Naruto-kun's behavior. I'm almost positive that the way I was acting before we started dating gave him certain...expectations. Once we graduated, and things didn't progress as 'quickly' as he was expecting...I think he became desperate..." Nodding his head, Wu replied, "That is definitely the case...however, while Naruto has a fairly compelling reason to be resentful toward the world, it was wrong for him to view you as an outlet to 'unload' his burdens. These next few weeks, months, and potentially even years are going to be rough for both of you. But don't worry. So long as he doesn't completely lose his shit and do something irredeemable, I'm fairly certain I can do something about it..." Blinking in surprise, Hinata sat up and asked, "Really? Can you truly help Naruto-kun...?" in a hopeful tone. Shrugging his shoulders, albeit only slightly, Wu replied, "I will try, but it ultimately depends on him. I noticed Naruto had 'matured' a bit after his mission to the Land of Waves. He doesn't lack empathy for other people, so if I can introduce him to someone that 'needs' him, I believe they could help each other..." As Wu spoke, the image of a young Kunoichi with remarkably red hair and slightly darker eyes appeared in his mind. He had investigated each of the Genin that would be participating in the exams, and one stood out like the sorest of thumbs. Not just due to her ridiculously red hair, but because of her monstrous Chakra reserves... Since he was already formulating his plans around 'accompanying' Hinata during the Chunin Exams, Wu felt no reservations about revealing, "There is a Kunoichi from Kuso participating in the exams that is almost certainly a member of the Uzumaki Clan. They concealed her surname, but even a blind person would be able to see how ludicrously red her hair is..." Shaking his head, Wu added, "Even if she isn't a member of the Uzumaki Clan, her circumstances would make just about anyone's blood boil. If we informed Naruto that she is a distant relative, he might 'literally' tear apart the people on her Team..." Though she was afraid to ask, Hinata did precisely that, asking, "What is her situation like...?" in a trepidatious tone. Demonstrating with his left arm, though not actually biting, Wu revealed, "Those fucking monsters use her as a backup Chakra reserve. They bite into her skin and literally suck the Chakra out of her along with her blood. Some of the bite marks on her body...forget it. Though I'm certain you can imagine, it's better that you don't hear the specifics..." As Wu's words just made her imagination run even wilder, a genuinely pained expression appeared on Hinata's face, complete with nascent tears in her eyes as she asked, "How could anyone be so cruel? Please tell me she's at least older than we are..." Shaking his head, Wu revealed, "According to her registration, she is from the same age group as us. When you consider that some of the scars on her body are 'very' old...let's just say, even if Naruto doesn't take action, I will. And no, I will not show mercy to those bastards..." Though she could only imagine how bad the girl's situation was, Hinata didn't attempt to deter Wu's 'justice.' She had never fully grown out of her innate gentleness, but she had long overcome her fears of hurting others. Some people, such as the bandits her Team had discovered keeping both women and children locked away in a cave, deserved to die... Seeing the 'resolution' in Hinata's eyes, Wu extended his hand to pat her head for the first time in months. His actions briefly surprised her, but she quickly regained a smile and admitted, "I missed this...not just the petting, but being able to spend time together..." Nodding his head, Wu gave a casual, "Same..." before getting marginally more sincere as he added, "My missions may take me out of the village in the future, but, once we're married, I swear to never make you feel alone or devalued when I'm around. I know you're aware of much I appreciate you, but I won't relent until you feel it in your soul, not just your body and mind..." Though she was reeling due to the rather drastic change in topic, Hinata's face became bright red in response to Wu's forceful yet incredibly moving statement. He exuded confidence from every pore of his being, and as far as she was aware, he had never once lied to her. Thus, even though she felt like her world had been flipped over multiple times in just a single day, Hinata managed a genuine, heartfelt smile as she wiped away a tear from her narrowed eyes and hummed a happy, "Nn~!" In response, Wu moved his hand from her head to the side of her face, his thumb tracing the bone of her cheek as he brought his face closer...a motion Hinata didn't hesitate to mirror... ... .. . After the previous incident with Tsunade, Wu practically dashed over to the Higurashi Tool Shop to inform Tenten of what had transpired. He felt a little guilty, as her entire reason for returning home was to focus her mind, but he also knew she would feel even greater exasperation if he didn't tell her immediately. Somewhat surprisingly, Tenten wasn't surprised by Wu's revelation. It was apparent to her, all of the girls, and even most of the guys in their circle of friends that the relationship between Naruto and Hinata was poisonous to them both. Wu had also informed her about his engagement to Hinata, so Tenten had already prepared herself for the 'inevitable' moment in which everything came to a head. The one thing Tenten 'was' surprised about was that Wu already had a 'rebound girl' lined up for Naruto. However, when she heard the specifics, she was actually a little angry at him for not helping the girl earlier. With Wu's relationship with Hiruzen and his status as the incumbent Lord of the Senju Clan, she was 'certain' he could have done something about the girl named Karin's situation. The Uzumaki Clan was, at one point in time, the most dependable ally of Konoha. There was a massive memorial for the Clan near the center of the village, so if Karin truly was a member of the defunct Uzumaki Clan and was being mistreated in such a way, there was no reason for Konoha 'not' to grant her asylum. Fortunately for Wu, he already had an excuse prepared, citing that there was no 'guarantee' the girl was from the Uzumaki Clan. If they attempted to grant her asylum and it turned out she was just an exceptionally gifted young Kunoichi, Konoha would be accused of poaching talent from allied or, at the very least, neutral nations. While it ultimately wouldn't matter if they offended a tiny village like Kusa, the Shinobi Nations were merely the 'underside' of society. The various Lands were ruled by the Daimyo, so it could cause a lot of problems for Konoha if the Fire Daimyo found himself under pressure from his fellow Lords. Simply put, while helping Karin was the right thing to do from a moral standpoint, it was a potentially massive mistake from a political one... Explained even simpler, politics sucked... ... .. . (A/N: Thoughts? Me brain empty.)

While Wu was explaining things to Tenten, Hinata was standing anxiously outside a large yet modest-looking Estate grounds. There were only three residences on the property, but the largest among them could easily rival the manor of the Third Hokage, a building staffed by around forty people. Knowing that Naruto lived alone in such a large residence, Hinata couldn't help feeling melancholic. However, while she had reverted to wearing her beige hoodie after separating from Wu, she had the front unzipped and a hint of resolution in her eyes as she buzzed to the intercom outside of the Estate. As he didn't feel like doing anything when Hinata wasn't around, Naruto had been lounging in the living room of the main residence, lazily playing video games. It had cost him a lot of money to have a console imported over from the Land of Snow, but it was worth it as he was the only person in his circle of friends that owned one. *bzzzzt* "Hmmm...?" Pressing pause on the controller, Naruto made his way over the tiny black and white monitor connected to the external intercom, turning it on to see who was outside. His expression lit up when he saw Hinata, but then, just as quickly, morphed into a frown when he saw what she was wearing. "I thought I told her to stop wearing that outfit..." Shaking his head, Naruto muttered, "Whatever. It's okay so long as she stays inside and I'm the only one who can see..." With such thoughts in mind, Naruto didn't bother to speak through the intercom. Instead, he made his way to the front entrance of the manor, a welcoming smile on his face as he opened the door and waved to Hinata, shouting, "I'm glad you came, Hinata-chan! Just jump over the gate and hurry inside." Contrasting Naruto's expectations, Hinata remained on the other side of the closed gate with a 'serious' expression as she said, "Naruto-kun...we need to talk..." Though he immediately felt that something was very, very wrong, Naruto made his way over, asking, "What's up, Hinata-chan? You don't have time to come inside? We can watch a movie together, or-" Without waiting for Naruto to finish, Hinata stated, "I'm breaking up with you, Naruto-kun..." "..." Believing he had misheard or that Hinata was joking, Naruto managed to keep his smile, albeit noticeably strained, as he replied, "That's a...pretty awful joke, Hinata-chan..." By maintaining eye contact, Hinata made it clear she wasn't joking as she added, "Our relationship isn't healthy, Naruto-kun. I've decided...I believe I'll be happier if I abide by my Clan's wishes and marry Wu-kun. The two of us have been engaged for a long time, and-" Before Hinata could finish, Naruto surprised her by abruptly turning away, head hanging and hands balled into fists as he softly growled, "Just go..." in a trembling voice tinged with rage and sadness. A terrifying aura began to exude from his body, causing dust and tiny pebbles around him to rise against the pull of gravity. However, as anguished as he felt, Naruto knew it would only make things much, much worse if he lashed out violently... Seeing Naruto's condition, Hinata couldn't help hanging her head slightly. She knew better than most how lonely Naruto truly was, so she couldn't help feeling as though she had wronged him. It's just...while she wanted him to be happy, she was tired of sacrificing her own to help him achieve it... Turning away from the first boy she had ever loved, Hinata's voice nearly cracked as she whispered, "Goodbye...Naruto-kun..." before walking away with tears building in the corners of her eyes. She didn't cry, but the pain of losing a loved one was still present, squeezing her heart like a vice and causing her to feel anguish from the very core of her being... As she got further and further away from Naruto's home, the pain Hinata was experiencing compounded. She knew there was no going back now, but just as she was about to break down and start crying in the middle of the road, a familiar warmth embraced her from behind, followed by a soft yet resonant voice whispering, "It's going to be okay..." Turning around, the tears in Hinata's eyes began to flow uninhibited, her bottom lip quivering as she whimpered, "Wu-kun...it hurts..." in a sobbing tone. Nodding his head in approval, Wu wrapped his arms around Hinata's suddenly frail-seeming body, holding her flush against his own as he softly asserted, "It's supposed to...that's how you know the love you shared was real. However, it's also evidence of how truly unhappy you were. To love someone so deeply but not feel it returned...it pains my heart just imagining what you had to endure..." Though Wu's words caused her heart to ache even further, Hinata also felt as though a painful weight was being removed from it. She couldn't think straight due to her chaotic emotions, but the warmth of the boy in front of her helped her remain grounded. She felt as though even a soft breeze might sweep her away, so she clung to Wu's warm and muscular frame as if her life depended on it. In a way, it kind of did... ... .. . As the clone that he had sent to watch over the clone he had concealing itself in Hinata's hoodie dispersed, Wu wrapped up his conversation with Tenten so that the grieving bluenette wouldn't have to experience having her pillar of support abruptly vanishing in a cloud of smoke. Fortunately, Naruto's house was only a half-kilometer from Yakiniku Q, so Wu's clone was able to guide Hinata to a private booth before swapping out with his original with the excuse of needing to use the restroom. With some delicious food in her belly and a shoulder to cry on, Hinata's mood qualitatively improved. She was a little glutton when she wanted to be, so after imbibing nearly 10kgs of meat between them, Wu and Hinata made their way to the Hyuga Clan Compound, the latter adhering to the former's arm as he guided her toward their shared fate... ... .. . Suppressing his growing urge to smile, Hiashi remained stoic and stone-faced as he listened to Wu's barebones account of what had transpired and, most importantly, his and Hinata's decision to marry. When Hiashi had first discussed the possibility of Wu and Hinata being engaged, he hadn't been particularly enthused. It was witnessing how much both of his daughters flourished under Wu's 'care' that made him change his mind. The thing that mattered the most to him, despite what he told the Elders, was his daughters' happiness. So long as he could see their smiles, he could endure just about anything. With Wu's explanation eventually coming to an end, Hiashi responded with a slight bow, attesting, "Though the circumstances leading up to the decision are less than happy, this news is undoubtedly fortuitous for both the Senju and Hyuga Clans. I know my daughter will be in safe hands with someone like Senju-sama looking after her..." Nodding his head in affirmation, Wu said, "Just leave it to me." in a calm, confident tone of voice. Before he could lead the conversation toward the specifics of his and Hinata's wedding, however, Hiashi raised his head and added, "On the subject of my daughters' care..." Adopting an expression that made it very clear he wasn't joking, Hiashi revealed, "It is the sincere belief of myself and the Elders of the Clan that a merger between the Senju and Hyuga Clans with benefit both houses. To that effect...please consider accepting both of my daughters are your wives..." Though the cogs within his mind briefly ground to a halt, Wu's expression didn't vary in the slightest. He knew there was a high probability that the Hyuga Clan would try to pawn off both of the princesses onto him, but he had expected to be nominated as Hanabi's Jonin-sensei or something to that effect. It had never once occurred to him that a prideful Clan such as the Hyuga would even consider a merger...however, considering the Senju was virtually extinct, it was a reasonably intelligent decision on their part. They might have to abandon their name, but the payoff was securing their place as the most influential Clan in Konoha... While Wu was weighing the pros and cons within his mind, Hinata and Hiashi interpreted his response as stunned silence. As a result, the former felt compelled to say, "It's okay with me, Wu-kun...Hanabi-chan has had a crush on you for a long time. If it's okay with you...I would like you to give her the same chance at happiness. We can all be a family...together..." Blinking back to awareness, Wu surprised and relieved the two Hyuga by calmly replying, "Don't get me wrong. I'm not against the idea. However, Hanabi is still just a child, and I can't possibly make the decision to merge our houses without consulting Tsunade. There are a significant number of factors that need to be considered before such a merger..." Since Hinata didn't fully comprehend what was required for a Clan to function, it was Hiashi who nodded his head, affirming, "Senju-sama is correct. However, just knowing you approve of the merger is enough for now. The actual unification wouldn't occur until either Hinata or Hanabi has yielded a suitable heir. As both are still very young, we have ample time to work out the specifics of the arrangement." Returning a nod of his own, Wu replied, "You're right. For now, our main focus should be specifics related to my and Hinata's marriage. Hanabi is welcome to visit and even reside in the Senju Clan Compound, but any decisions regarding her future should wait until after she has graduated from the Academy." As Hanabi was only eight years old, Hiashi had no qualms about agreeing to Wu's decision to delay things. Hinata had been engaged to Wu at the same age, but so long as Hanabi was allowed to reside within the Senju Clan Compound, Hiashi was confident things would develop in a direction suitable for both their Clans. As Hinata had pointed out, Hanabi looked up to Wu quite a bit. If the initial engagement had fallen through, Hiashi had no doubt his youngest daughter would have willfully volunteered herself as a replacement... ... .. . Upon realizing that he probably shouldn't blindside her completely, Wu sent over a few of his clones to the Senju Clan Compound to explain the situation and petition Tsunade's support. To say she wasn't particularly enthused by the revelation would be an understatement. She didn't mind the marriage and potential engagement, but the thought of merging the Senju and Hyuga Clans gave her a tremendous migraine. Though she knew they were in desperate need of staff and people to maintain the Senju Clan Compound, Tsunade had never considered the notion of merging with another Clan to revitalize her own. Such mergers weren't uncommon, but, more often than not, the politically superior Clan had people in place to ensure a smooth transition. The current Senju Clan only had Shizune as a retainer. All of the most critical positions within the Clan were currently vacant, so unless they could miraculously fill them in the next 4-6 years, it was only 'natural' that the Hyuga fill such positions. In other words, the Senju Clan would effectively become the Hyuga Clan, albeit with a different name. Fortunately for Tsunade, Wu already had plans to fill the positions she was currently fretting over. He had no intention of allowing the Hyuga Clan to 'infest' his Clan and subsume it from the inside. He had no issues with the merger itself, but they were mistaken if they believed they would have any authority to make decisions in the future. In fact, the moment they came under his influence, Wu intended to make some rather drastic changes to the archaic, borderline backasswards Clan... ... .. . (A/N: It's Saturday, my dudes.)

With the girls taking more than an hour in the bath, Wu had enough time to kick back and relax as he waited for them to arrive. When they did, he immediately noticed the awkwardness exuding from them, compelling him to ask, "Did someone take a shit in the bath?" Though she was wearing a loose green yukata, Tsunade leaped across the room in an attempt to drop kick Wu as she shouted, "The only little shit here is you...!" Since Tsunade knew to hold back indoors, Wu allowed her feet to impact his face, taking advantage of her stunned reaction to grab her waist and guide her onto his lap as he teased, "Save that energy for the bedroom..." in a soft yet resonant tone. Feeling something large and firm pressing against her butt, a remarkable shade of red colors Tsunade's cheeks as her entire body tensed. Despite her attempts to 'pacify' him, Wu rarely let her get more than a day of rest before 'forcing' her body to submit to him. He never used actual force, of course, but he had a way with words, and his careful ministrations made it exceptionally difficult to refuse him... With Wu holding her waist and the trio of girls staring at her with 'awed' expressions on their faces, Tsunade cleared her throat before doing her best to appear unflustered as she remained seated and said, "We had a discussion about the 'benefits' of eating your meals. With how perceptive you are, I'm sure you've noticed it isn't simply providing nutrients..." Nodding his head in affirmation, Wu revealed, "Yeah, obviously." before asking, "What's the issue...?" Furrowing her brows, Tsunade retorted, "You aren't an idiot, Wu. Limiting the effects aging has on the body isn't bad, per se, but you should have explained in detail the effects before feeding people meals saturated with Natural Energy. If-" Interrupting Tsunade's lecture, Wu stated, "I did explain it. The first time I cooked for everyone, I told them it would rejuvenate their skin, make their hair glossier, prevent them from getting sick, and help them to retain their beauty for as long as they consumed them regularly. Just ask them..." Hearing Wu's response, looks of realization appeared on the faces of Ino and Sakura. They vaguely recalled Wu making those very claims when he offered to cook them meat skewers. They were just so accustomed to him bragging and teasing them that it never clicked he was being serious. The only person Wu had expressly told was Tenten, but that was because she had only started consuming his meals recently. Shifting her gaze to the duo, a very judgemental expression appeared on Tsunade's face as she asked, "Is this true...?" As the more responsible of the two, Sakura adopted a wry smile as she replied, "I...vaguely remember something similar being said. It was just so long ago, and none of us took it seriously..." Though she maintained her judgemental look, Tsunade could empathize with what Sakura was trying to say. If someone had informed her two or three years prior that there was a mystical peach that could revitalize her body or that she would be marrying someone less than a quarter her age, she would have buried them with a punch. Shaking her head, Tsunade said, "Forget it. Since Wu gave you a proper warning, the two of you are singularly responsible for the conditions of your bodies. Just keep in mind what we discussed before agreeing to join us for dinners in the future. Now, as for you..." Shifting her attention to Wu, Tsunade narrowed her eyes as she asked, "How long are you going to keep playing around? Don't make me punch you..." Releasing his hold on Tsunade's waist, Wu offered a wry smile as he retorted, "Can you really blame me? You know how I feel about you..." Rolling her eyes, Tsunade rose from Wu's lap but not before 'pressing' against him with her bottom. She was used to being coveted, but, as the person she had permitted access to her body, she couldn't help feeling a little gratified whenever Wu expressed his 'sincerity.' Feeling wanted was rarely a bad thing... ... .. . After sending clones to escort Tenten, Ino, and Sakura to their homes, Wu enjoyed another exciting night with Tsunade. He rarely slept anymore, but so long as he didn't overtax his body or mind, he didn't actually need to. In the past, he used the time allotted for rest to organize his thoughts, plan, or to welcome the dawn sooner. Now he had a much better way to spend his evenings, there was no way he was wasting his time sleeping... A stark contrast to Wu, Tsunade 'desperately' needed her rest after the constant wringers he put her through. As a result, Wu had the privilege of admiring her sleeping figure, her beautiful contours illuminated by the low light of the room, and her complexion remaining ruddy even several hours after she had fallen asleep. As it was nearing the time for him to begin his morning routine, Wu softly muttered, "Beautiful..." knowing full well the seasoned Kunoich would stir in response to his voice. Her ear and body visibly twitched, but instead of rising or responding, she pretended to be asleep, maintaining the charade even as Wu picked matted hairs from her face and placed a kiss atop the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead... Recalling the first time he had met Tsunade, a thoughtful glimmer flashed across Wu's eyes. He had never once forgotten the 'dream' he had in the past, so the presence of her 'Yin Seal,' something he had been ignorant of, immediately drew his notice. Since then, he had experienced three similar dreams. One showed him standing in the ruins of Konoha, otherwise alone if he excluded the countless bodies that littered the ground. Another had him sharing a bed with Kaia, his head and back propped up on a massive wolf as he cradled three children with the characteristic markings of the Inuzuka Clan. As for the last... Assuming his dreams were some kind of premonitions of the future, Wu's desire to 'conquer' the world came about as a result of his final dream. In it, he sat atop a throne reminiscent of the ones employed by the various Daimyo, hundreds of people wearing the same uniform bowing to him with their foreheads pressed to the ground. Flanking him were several women he recognized, a few he didn't, and three he had encountered 'during' his travels. Tsunade hadn't been among the group, but Wu was pretty sure he now had her firmly within his grasp... Though he didn't know the context of the vision, Wu had never forgotten the feeling of being 'worshipped' by others. More importantly, everyone in his dream, especially the women flanking him, exuded power far beyond anything he had encountered thus far. Thus, even though he had no idea if his current path aligned with the vision, Wu wasn't going to rest until he made it a reality. He 'would' establish his Huaguo Sect...no matter who or what stood in his way... ... .. . With five days remaining until the commencement of the Chunin Exams, Wu canceled the joint training and advised everyone to use the remaining time to rest properly. He had never experienced it personally, but he knew it was possible to 'overwork' your body, reducing or even undermining the effects of training. Thus, with the exception of Tenten, everyone else was barred entry into the Senju Clan Compound so Wu could finalize his plans for the exam. Unfortunately, while Tenten was allowed to come and go as she pleased, she also decided to take the five days off to focus her mind and prepare some tools at home. As a result, Wu suddenly found himself with nothing to do, sans Tsunade. However, as she made him 'behave' during the day, Wu had no choice but to spend the waking hours refining his skills with a different, marginally more versatile staff... With three days passing without incident, Wu nearly believed he might get in a full week of training without interruption. Instead, in the early morning of the fourth day, he sensed a familiar Chakra tarrying outside the front entrance to the 200-acre Compound before eventually making their way inside. By the time they had reached his location, Wu was pretending to be on a break, a teasing smile on his face as he mused, "I was starting to think you were going to turn away without coming to say hi..." Adopting a notably melancholic smile, the person that had intruded upon Wu's training, Hinata, replied, "I know you dislike it when people interrupt your training. I just didn't know when else we could talk..." Instead of responding with words, Wu gave a curt nod before slapping the space next to him. He was currently seated on one of the many trees that had been uprooted during his training, so there was plenty of space for the diminutive Hyuga to make herself comfortable. Since Naruto wasn't present, Hinata only hesitated for a moment before sitting next to Wu, her head and shoulders immediately slumping as she revealed, "I...I'm starting to reevaluate my relationship with Naruto-kun..." Though he suspected she had been 'reevaluating' things for quite some time, Wu feigned surprise as he asked, "Is it your father? Or perhaps your Clans as a whole...?" Instead of responding immediately, Hinata paused to consider her words before answering, "I...can't deny that has something to do with it. Naruto-kun and my father have never gotten along. Tou-sama thinks Naruto-kun is a bad influence on me, and the changes in mine and Hanabi's eyes are of great concern to the Elders. Everyone...everyone keeps pushing me to act on our engagement..." As a Clan whose entire prestige revolved around their eyes, the changes in Hinata's and Hanabi's Byakugan were of paramount importance to the future of the Hyuga Clan. Ancient records made mention of a Dojutsu that preceded the Byakugan, significantly exceeding it in power, so the Elders were hopeful that Hinata, Hanabi, or both would attain the ancient power not seen in a thousand years. They believed Wu was the 'key' to rousing this power, so there was a significant amount of pressure on both Hiashi and Hinata to 'make things work.' Though he knew it wasn't what Hinata was trying to get at, Wu made a 'popping' gesture with his right hand, replying, "Then allow me to make things easier for you. After this, I'll head straight over to Jiji and annul the engagement on my end. I'd like to see them 'force' the matter after that..." Exhibiting a bit of panic, Hinata shook her head and waved her hands from side to side as she stuttered, "T-That isn't why I came here! I...what I really came here to do was...was..." Demonstrating none of the confidence Wu had helped her to build in the past, Hinata attempted to hang her head in shame. At that exact moment, Wu cradled her left cheek with his hand, gently caressing it as he forced her to look up at him, saying, "Tell me what you want, Hinata..." in a deep, penetrating tone. With tears building in the corners of her eyes, Hinata honestly admitted, "I don't know...I just know I'm not happy right now and that you...you've always been there for me...for 'us' when we needed you. I'm scared, Wu-kun...but I think...I believe I can do anything so long as you're there to support me..." Though her body was trembling madly by the time she finished speaking, Hinata managed to confess everything she had been bottling up inside of herself for the past five months. There was still a lot more she wanted to say, but she had gotten all the important parts across. The rest was just a series of complaints about Naruto's possessiveness and growing 'need' to control her... Expressing his honest thoughts on the matter, Wu smiled and said, "You picked a hell of a time to bring this up...two days before the Chunin Exams are scheduled to take place? Let me guess...you intend to stoke Naruto's rage and then defeat him to gain some form of closure...?" Instead of answering Wu's question, Hinata turned away from the hand he was using to caress her cheek. The truth of the matter was that she still loved Naruto...she just hated the person he had become... Interrupting Hinata's thoughts, Wu whispered, "Look at me, Hinata..." in a soft, nearly inaudible tone. When she eventually complied, the look on his face was incomparably serious as he asserted, "You're an amazing girl...I would be honored to have you as my wife..." If she had been teary-eyed before, Hinata became a veritable faucet when she heard Wu's response. She had wept many times over the past few weeks, but this was the first time since her mother had died that she truly, unabashedly sobbed her eyes out. She couldn't even describe the pain she was feeling, but the pervading warmth enveloping her told her everything was going to be okay... ... .. . (A/N: Me have no words...only sadge...)

Chapter 59: Rebound