I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

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.)

As Wu had suspected, the Hyuga Clan did not want the matter of his and Hinata's marriage to be a public affair. Tsunade had dragged the name of the Senju through the mud over the years, nearly permitting its extinction, but it was still the most prestigious Shinobi Clan in the world. Members of the Nobility knew it as a household name, and, despite their decline, even civilians knew of Hashirama's exploits due to the many motion pictures he had inspired. Thus, while Hiashi would prefer to stage a grand ceremony for both his daughters, the marriage between Wu and Hinata followed the same procedure as the union between him and Tsunade. They simply had to sign a contract, and they were legally married. Before heading to the Senju Clan Compound to consummate their union, an even Hinata both dreaded and looked forward to, Wu helped both her and Hanabi pack up some of their clothes and personal effects. The latter had gotten drawn into the discussion and had 'enthusiastically' expressed her desire to visit and stay in the Senju Clan Compound. She had asked to be able to go over several times in the past, so she jumped at the chance to do so, understanding full well the connotation behind the arrangement. Since Tsunade, Hinata, Hiashi, and many within the Hyuga Clan supported Hanabi's stay in the Senju Clan Compound, Wu had no reason to deny the gutsy brat that referred to him as Onii-sama and, when especially excited, Onii-chan. The evolution of her Byakugan was even more apparent than Hinata's, so, while there was a drastic disparity in their strength, the result of Hanabi only training with him once a week, the young brunette showed tremendous potential for growth. When their preparations were completed, Wu escorted the two Hyuga heiresses through the streets of Konoha by hand. He had initially only let Hinata hold onto him, but Hanabi eventually 'forced' the matter by clinging to his right arm. Wu could have chastised her, but as Hiashi was also with them, seemingly intended to see his daughters off 'one last time,' he took a page out of the middle-aged Hyuga's book and remained silent. Seemingly forgetting he could see his daughters whenever he wanted, Hiashi accompanied them to the entrance of the Senju Clan Compound before each with a few private words. After that, he surprised both girls tremendously by giving them hugs, visible moisture building in his eyes as he told them to take care of each other and be happy. Then, with one final nod toward Wu, he slipped his hands into his long kimono sleeves, turned around, and walked away in silence. Needless to say, Hinata teared up quite a bit due to her father's words, actions, and departure. Hanabi also had a layer of moisture in her eyes, but she seemed more confused than anything. After all, the Hyuga Clan was one of the first to take root in Konoha. Even if they meandered along the way, it wouldn't even take twenty minutes to walk between the Senju and Hyuga Compounds. Thus, while she felt a little sentimental, she also felt that her father's and sister's reactions were a 'tad' overdramatic... ... .. . As his clones had already made preparations for the girls' arrival, Wu introduced Hinata and Hanabi to Tsunade and Shizune before showing them to their respective rooms. He also showed them the location of his room as, following their discussion about the possibility of others moving in, Tsunade promptly booted Wu from her room. She was looking forward to being able to rest properly, so Wu was assigned the nearly untouched chamber of the First Hokage, aka the Lord's Chamber. It was the single largest room in the Estate, excluding the various storehouses, and, most importantly, completely soundproof. Once the two girls were settled in, Wu was about to escort Hinata back to his room when Hanabi stopped them, her expression and tone calm and completely serious as she said, "Onii-sama, Hinata-nee-san, please allow me to watch your lovemaking." Though Hinata was already gobsmacked by her sister's request, Wu left her feeling at a complete loss for words as he replied, "Sure, I don't mind. You would end up peeking with your Byakugan anyways, so it's better to learn 'properly' than to make assumptions." Contrasting the gleeful expression that developed across Hanabi's face, Hinata was in a state of panic as she exclaimed, "Wu-kun! We...we can't allow Hanabi-chan to witness such a thing! It...it isn't proper...!" Shaking his head, Wu calmly stated, "As I just pointed out, she would end up watching anyway. The only difference is the proximity and the fact she would be risking blindness by observing from afar. You know how girls her age can be..." With Wu narrowing his eyes slightly, a number of embarrassing memories resurfaced in Hinata's mind. She had gotten roped into doing things she 'knew' she shouldn't have, which was exactly why she didn't want Hanabi to see what they were about to do. If things got out of hand, there was a good chance they would cross a line they shouldn't... Looking deep into the fretful Hyuga's eyes, Wu asked, "Do you trust me?" in a soft, reassuring tone. When she eventually nodded in affirmation, his smile softened as he asserted, "Then it'll be fine. If she crosses a line she shouldn't, we'll send her back to your family until she's ready to conduct herself properly...hear that, Hanabi?" Without any hesitation whatsoever, Hanabi replied, "I understand, Onii-sama. I promise I will only observe until you think I'm ready." Though he could tell Hanabi wasn't being completely honest, Wu gave a curt nod before turning his gaze to Hinata. She appeared understandably lost and confused, but as one of the people who had 'petitioned' for Wu to accept her sister, she also felt obligated to set a good example. She also knew it was impossible to prevent Hanabi from stealing a peak, so it only took a few minutes before she eventually relented. And thus, the most exciting yet embarrassing night of both Hinata's and Hanabi's lives began... ... .. . With Hinata 'indisposed' after their first, very long night together, Wu was silently observing the very red-faced Hanabi's training. The previous night had been very...eye-opening for her, so she found it difficult to focus with the culprit responsible for upending her worldview so close by. Before the previous night, she couldn't imagine that any woman, much less her kind, gentle, and beloved Onee-sama, could behave in such a...bestial manner. It was a shocking sight to behold, but, even now, her heart couldn't stop racing... Interrupting Hanabi's thoughts, Wu flicked a tiny rock at the side of her head. She had her Byakugan activated, but she hadn't even reacted to the pebble until it hit her, prompting Wu to remark, "If I had known you were going to use coming here as an excuse to slack off, I would have forced you to stay home." Rubbing the side of her head, Hanabi had an indignant expression as she complained, "You know that isn't the reason I'm distracted, Onii-chan...is what you did to Hinata-nee-san 'really' how normal couples make love...?" Adopting a cheeky smile, Wu replied, "Only those who are passionately in love. If you don't believe me, feel free to sneak a peek when I'm together with Tsunade. She's even more 'honest' with herself than Hinata..." Though her cheeks became notably ruddier, Hanabi managed to regain her characteristically 'neutral' expression as she asked, "That's something I've been meaning to ask...just how did you and Lady Tsunade come to marry, Onii-sama? Isn't she like...super old?" Since it was an excellent opportunity, Wu decided to explain some of the 'facts' about him that Hanabi had yet to be apprised. She was initially part of the youth group Hiruzen had asked him to train prior to their enrollment into the Academy. As a result, the only things she knew about him, other than the fact he was strong and handsome, were the details she had been able to scrape together from her father and weasel out of her sister. Interrupting Wu partway through his explanation, specifically around the part he was discussing his relationship with Tsunade and the benefits of consuming his food, Hanabi nervously inquired, "Wait a minute...does that mean I'm going to be stuck like this for the rest of my life? I ate the food you cooked for breakfast..." As Hanabi was seated next to him, Wu ruffled her hair and teased, "As cute as you are right this instant, I prefer my women with a bit of meat and muscle on their bones. I will be infusing a small amount of Natural Energy into your meals, but nowhere near as much as I used to. I kind of got my ass reamed when the others discovered I had effectively slowed their aging to a crawl. Now, I infuse just enough to ensure the food tastes good and to keep everyone healthy..." Exhaling a sigh of relief, Hanabi gave her non-existent chest a few pats as she muttered, "That's good...I'm already lagging behind some of the other girls, so I wouldn't know what to do if I remained the shortest girl in class. A lot of the girls my age can be really annoying..." Retracing his hand from Hanabi's head, Wu supplied, "Look on the bright side...after last night, you can unilaterally claim to be the most mature and 'experienced' girl in your class. That, combined with your power, gives you an absolute advantage against most other girls your age..." Regaining her earlier blush, Hanabi instinctually closed her legs as if she adjusted her sitting position. Just the mere mention of what happened the previous night was enough to make her feel...odd. A fluttery feeling filled her chest and abdomen, and she found it increasingly difficult to sit still... Poking the side of the girl's head, Wu asked, "You're a little pervert, aren't you?" With an indignant look, Hanabi glowered as she firmly asserted, "I am 'not' a pervert...!" despite being perfectly aware the opposite was true. After all, most people in possession of the Byakugan were some form of pervert. You didn't gain the ability to see through buildings and clothes and 'not' take advantage of it. There was a reason the Elders of the Clan had permitted several bathhouses to be built near the Compound... Leaving the little girl at a loss for words, Wu calmly affirmed, "There's nothing wrong with being a pervert, Hanabi. So long as you don't force your perversion onto an unwilling party, it's one of the spices that make life worth living. I speak from personal experience. You see, I used to be a fairly 'reserved' person when I was around your age. After an incident with a particular platinum-haired flower seller, I experienced a...spiritual awakening of sorts. Since then, my life has become progressively more colorful due to a healthy curiosity toward the opposite sex. If I remained the boy I once was, I certainly wouldn't be able to get your sister to call my name like she did the previous night..." Covering her tomato-red face, Hanabi groaned, "Do you 'have' to keep bringing that up? You're going to make me turn weird, Onii-chan..." Since Hanabi's Byakugan was currently active, Wu shrugged his shoulders and answered, "I don't have to, but does it truly matter? You're the type of girl that will ask to witness her sister losing her virginity. And don't think I don't notice you 'glaring' at specific parts of my body when you think I'm distracted and not paying attention. You're a pervert, Hanabi, through and through. Just accept it..." Though she felt increasingly more indignant the more Wu spoke, the thing that annoyed Hanabi the most was that she couldn't honestly disavow the things he had said. She had awakened her Byakugan at a very young age, so it was impossible for her not to be at least a 'little' curious... Plopping his hand down atop the girl's head, Wu's tone carried a hint of laughter as he teased, "Don't worry...even if you become an irredeemable pervert, neither Hinata nor I will disown you. Just cool your jets until you come of age. After that, you can be as perverted as you want. We'll gladly accompany you." "Onii-chan..." Though her face was so red it appeared steam might rise from it at any moment, Hanabi looked up at Wu as if he were her lifeline. She genuinely didn't believe she was as perverted as he suggested, but she also didn't mind becoming so if it meant they could spend more time together. If she was fated to become a 'beast' anyways, why pretend to be something she wasn't...? ... .. . (A/N: Man...it kind of makes you wonder what Wu did to Hinata, doesn't it? *runs away*)

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.)

Chapter 60: I, Your Father, Shall Merge the Heavens and the Earth