The Caged Bird Seal - 4

To attract less attention they ran out in pairs of two, as suggested by Haku. If there were less of them to be seen at once it was more likely they would go unnoticed.

Gaara headed up the front for defense, alongside Naruto who was still exhaustingly fast. Hinata kept her eyes open warily as she and Sakura followed. Once on the other side they ducked down by the wall, preparing to jump it again.

Just as Haku and Neji were about to make the mad dash to the gate, a voice sounded.

"Neji? Where have you been?"

Haku felt his heart drop into his stomach and he froze where he stood. An error on his part: he should have had Neji leave first. It made the most sense since it was their mission to rescue him after all.

The plan quickly went down the proverbial tubes.

"Father..." Neji said softly, standing protectively in front of his frightened companion.

From a distance, Hinata gasped and immediately ordered that they turn back. Even though it was a hopeless objective at the time, she ran back to her cousin, still determined to prevent the inevitable.

Hizashi and Hiashi stood in front of Neji, both wearing inquiring looks.

"Neji," Hizashi looked down at his son, "Who is this with you?"

He didn't sound angry, only confused. But still, Haku was terrified and had no idea how he would be able to think his way out of his current situation.

Neji recalled Sakura saying his name, and hesitantly answered, "Haku."

Hiashi looked down at Haku with piercing lunar eyes.

"How did you manage to enter Hyuga grounds, Haku?" He asked.

Before Haku could summon his courage to answer the head of the Hyuga Clan, four more children appeared out of nowhere to stand beside him and Neji.

Hiashi was bewildered to say the least.

"How did all of you children get in here?" Hizashi asked, seeing that the Uzumaki boy was among the group.

"We wanted to help Neji!" Naruto couldn't keep his mouth shut.

Hiashi only gave him a guarded look, wondering how the Kyuubi boy had come to know Neji.

"F-Father," Hinata spoke up, "These are my friends. The r-reason they are here is that we d-didn't want to let Neji-niisan receive the Caged Bird seal...and so we tried to..."

She didn't have to keep explaining for her father to know what was going on, "Hinata, you know better than to let anyone interfere with Hyuga tradition."

The girl looked down guiltily.

"Even if it's tradition or whatever, you can't just put that seal on him when he didn't do anything wrong!" Naruto protested, "Neji! He's nice I can tell! I won't let you put that seal on him!"

Hiashi felt his temper flare as the Uzumaki child showed such unwitting disrespect. Gaara and Sakura watched quietly as Hizashi looked down at Naruto with an appreciative look.

"Excuse me sir," Haku hoped being polite would soften Hiashi's mood, "But Neji-san and Hinata-chan are cousins; they're family members. So why would people who care about each other have such harsh traditions?"

Apparently, Haku had a brief understanding of how a normal family would function. Yet his knowledge did not reach to the complexity of clans and the balance of power that was involved in living in one.

Hinata couldn't believe their boldness, especially Naruto's. Even she was terrified of speaking to her father like that!

"You children have no concept of what you're doing," Hiashi gave each of them a bothered look, "Neji's fate has been decided."

"Hiashi-sama..."

Hiashi turned to his brother and noted the pained expression on his face. Neji stood by him, trembling terribly.

He winced inwardly, but swallowed the momentary guilt he felt on his nephew's behalf.

"Hiashi, these children speak with a wisdom that is beyond the capacity of our clan," Hizashi said slowly, his eyes resting on Neji, "The only thing I would ask of you, my brother, before my parting…is the freedom of my son."

Recent events made Hiashi understand his twin brother's meaning, but he still couldn't defer from generations of rites for the sake of one boy; it was something the clan elders demanded. Hiashi himself would prefer to halt the proceedings if it were possible.

"Father, p-please..." Hinata pleaded.

Hiashi finally turned his gaze to his daughter and was astounded. She looked to him with the tearful eyes of the Byakugan, hoping that in some way she could make him listen.

"Hinata," Hiashi's voice was low, "When did you accomplish this?"

"When we were looking for Neji-niisan," She squeaked, "I did it s-somehow..."

Even Hizashi was amazed. He hadn't expected his brother's timid daughter to discover her blood limit so quickly.

Naruto also looked over to Hinata and got a closer look at her eyes. The way they seemed to intake light and their sheer depth unnerved him.

"Hey Sakura-chan," He whispered to the pink haired girl beside him, "I didn't know Hinata-chan could do that with her eyes!"

"I don't think that anyone knew she could, Naruto-kun." She replied quietly.

Hiashi examined his daughter's eyes for a long moment before saying, "I understand that you care for your cousin, Hinata. But you must realize that if I exempt him from receiving the Branch Family seal he will be eligible to become the next Head of the Hyuga clan. You will both be heirs, and thus, be forced to compete."

Hinata wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her lavender kimono, "I...I know, father..."

He frowned at her, "Do you understand, Hinata? You may be the heiress to our clan, but that title won't mean anything if your cousin is free to surpass you."

"I-I understand," Her voice was meek, "But it d-doesn't seem right to hold him b-back in such a horrible way..."

"It is tradition."

"It isn't fair!" Naruto spoke up again, "If you're so scared of everyone being stronger than you, then maybe you should put that seal on everybody!"

There was only silence.

Neji stood shaking by Hizashi, who braced his shoulder comfortingly.

No one had ever seen Hinata stand up to her father before. It even left Haku, Gaara, as well as Sakura stunned.

And Naruto didn't seem intent on backing down either, even if he displayed his opinion through his volume.

"Father," Hinata said steadily, "It's what I wish."

Naruto stood next to her and nodded vigorously.

Hizashi turned expectantly to his brother, having no idea what Hiashi would say next.

"I see..." Hiashi then sighed, "I will speak to the elders if that is your true decision, but you are young yet, and may come to regret your actions later, Hinata. Bear this in mind."

She shook her head, "I p-promise, I won't regret it."

Her father wore a contemplative expression, "Very well. I expect you to begin more rigorous training then, Hinata, since you have finally activated your blood limit."

"Yes F-Father..." She bowed her head respectfully in thanks, and watched with quivering lips as he returned to the Main House without another word.

She felt like crying she was so happy.

And yet, she was also frightened at what she had agreed to. Her father had made it very clear to her that her decision may radically affect her future, but she felt it was a necessary consequence.

Naruto's face once again exploded into a grin, "Woo hoo! We did it Hinata-chan! Neji won't be getting the Caged Bird seal!"

He began giving high-fives to all of his friends (nearly tearing Gaara's arm off), and even gave one to a rather startled Hizashi. He watched the small children hop around cheering. A tear welled at the corner of his eye, still unable to believe such a thing was possible. Could the kindness of children change the future of the Hyuga?

"Hinata-sama..." Neji was still trembling, completely overwhelmed of how she had stood up for him so selflessly.

A smile cracked on Hizashi's face as he watched his son hug the Hyuga heiress in deep gratitude. Never in his life had he expected such a blessing and he, just like Hinata, decided he would live with no regrets.

"There you are you little brats!" Jiraiya had suddenly appeared on the Hyuga grounds, and was absolutely fuming. After what he had overhead earlier, he figured that they may have snuck off to the Hyuga compound.

He had a black eye and a few unexplainable bite marks on his face and hands, suggesting he had been in a great struggle.

Naruto was actually pleased to see him, "Hey Ero-sennin!"

"Stop calling me that you little twerp!" The sennin hoisted Naruto up by the collar of his black shirt and prepared to strangle him. Hizashi gave him an incredulous look.

"Gama-sennin," He asked, "To what honor do we owe this visit?"

The Legendary Toad Sage was always a welcome guest around the Hyuga compound, even if his reasons for stopping by were unclear. He practically stormed right through the front gate, cussing and rambling about some loathsome children.

Jiraiya turned to Hizashi and then chuckled sheepishly, "Oh, uh, just looking for the kids. They keep running off..."

"Yeah right Ero-sennin! You keep ditching us!" Naruto laughed, not at all bothered that the man was ready to crush his windpipe so he wouldn't speak.

"I told you to stop calling me that you punk!" Jiraiya roughly dropped Naruto back to the ground and he landed on his butt.

"Jiraiya-sama, are you alright?" Haku was bothered by his bruised and bloodied face, "What happened to you?"

"You two and that red headed imp cause me far too much grief." The sennin growled, glaring daggers at Gaara.

Gaara smirked back at him. He, like Naruto, had less respect for the perverted old man.

"Father, who is this man?" Neji asked curiously.

"This is the Great Toad Sage, Jiraiya. He was the sensei of the Fourth Hokage." Hizashi answered.

At the mention of his noble title, Jiraiya once again inflated, but then recognized the man next to him, "Oh, Hizashi-san! I hope you're well."

"Very well indeed, Gama-sennin." Hizashi nodded, smiling.

Any day his only son was spared of the Caged Bird seal was a very good day.

A dark look came over Jiraiya's face for a moment and he asked in a low voice, "So...when are you scheduled to go to Cloud?"

Hizashi's expression saddened a bit, "You've heard?"

"Yeah, sorry about that," Jiraiya apologized on bringing up such a personal subject, "I was talking with Hokage-sama yesterday..."

"It's alright," Hizashi assured him, "I have less than two weeks."

Jiraiya nodded, he held a great respect for the branch family member after what he had been told. Hopefully, his son hadn't been informed about his father's not-too-distant fate.

Clearly Neji had no idea. He and the other children only watched the exchange between the two men, puzzled.

"Right..." Jiraiya cleared his throat loudly, "Well, these three here can be a real pain," He gestured to Naruto, Haku, and Gaara, "But they're good kids for the most part."

Hizashi nodded, "...I know."

Neji had stepped up to them, "Thank you, all of you. I don't think you can ever know how much you've helped me."

Naruto grinned at him, glad they had succeeded, "It was no problem! You can count on us!"

Hinata smiled as well and then remembered they hadn't been introduced, "Oh, Neji-niisan, you haven't r-really met them all have you?"

He had caught some of their names...

"This is Naruto-kun, Haku-kun, and Gaara-kun," Hinata then turned to her last companion, "And Sakura-chan."

Neji bowed his head, "It is good to meet you all."

"Likewise, Neji-san." Haku was equally friendly. Gaara was quiet but appeared to be glad as well.

Naruto was surprised when he felt a pair of arms embrace him in a warm hug. Hinata's face was beet red but she was very grateful for everything he had done.

"Naruto-kun, thank you f-for helping us..."

He hugged her back, 'Wow! It is good to have friends!'

"Anytime, Hinata-chan!" He then looked over to his other companions, "Now I am starving! I can really go for some ramen!"

Haku turned a pale shade of green.

"Time to get going you three," Jiraiya interrupted, "We need to talk..."

Naruto frowned, "No way Ero-sennin! I want to stay with Hinata-chan today, like I promised. Don't you have any 'research' to do?"

"I'll be dead the next time I try thanks to you!" Jiraiya scowled, "I swear, Konoha isn't a good place for research...so let's get going."

They ignored him.

Neji found Jiraiya's annoyed face quite amusing, as did his father.

"Haku, Gaara, grab the blonde squirt and let's go." Jiraiya tried his luck with the other two.

"We're going to stay here, Jiraiya-sama. Maybe later." Haku's politeness was beginning to irk him.

Time for a different approach.

"Fine, stay if you like..." Jiraiya smirked, "If you want to miss out on a new ninja skill..."

All three of them lined up in front of him.

"When do we start?" Gaara asked.

The offer had even attracted Hinata, Neji and Sakura's attention.

"As soon as we leave." The sennin sighed.

They were easy to please.

"Um, Jiraiya-sama?" Sakura spoke up, "Can Hinata-chan and I come too?

"Why not?" He then smirked to Naruto, "Popular with the girls already squirt? I must be rubbing off on you!"

The Kyuubi container gagged, "Buh! No way Ero-sennin! I'm not like you!"

"Father, can I go with them?" Neji asked.

Hizashi had no problem with it, "Yes. Make sure you bring back Hinata-sama in the evening for her training."

His son nodded, "I will!"