The Original Meeting

The aftermath of the engagement between the two groups was devastating, and from it Naruto emerged fuming with rage.

"For him to catch me off guard like that; it is humiliating! I won't let it happen again!" Naruto shouted at the top of his lungs.

However, he soon realised that his anger was nothing compared to that of a certain other person as the ground itself started to shake uncontrollably by the second. Naruto looked over in the distance only to see Hinata stand up as well, her eyes changing into their Ascendant form.

"GrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Hinata's scream tore through the forest as the earth trembled like an earthquake of immense magnitude was about to ravage the place. The wildlife in the forest was going crazy with all sorts of birds and animals calling out in distress for their lives.

Naruto understood that Hinata's other personality would not take to such a hit and run tactic by anyone lightly, but at the same time he needed to stop her before she brought about untold destruction.

"Hinata please control yourself! I know you're angry and that your pride is hurt, because mine is too, but if you were to unleash all of your rage here it would destroy a large part of this forest and the life that lives within. We can't do that. We mustn't do that. So please, calm yourself!" He begged her while struggling to remain standing under such immense power. If matters got any further out of hand he himself would have to use his own powers to confront her.

However, luckily for him his voice of reason managed to reach the real Hinata who was on the verge of being taken over by her other more aggressive personality. The original Hinata understood Naruto's concerns and came back to her senses, trying her best to supress her other self.

"Please…no more. Naruto-kun is right…I mustn't lose control…or this place…would be destroyed." Hinata forcefully shut her eyes and using every ounce of willpower she could muster, she supressed her other self, returning her eyes back to normal and taking control once more. Hinata dropped to her knees and breathed heavily as the earthquake slowly came to a halt, returning peace to the forest once more.

Naruto rushed over to Hinata and held her shoulders for support. "Hinata, are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah…I'm fine." She replied with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry I almost lost control there. My other self does not take kindly to losing. Thank you for bringing me back to my senses."

"Oh no it's nothing. I'm just glad that you're okay." At this point Naruto looked around only to find something suspicious. "Is it just me or is there literally no aftermath left after those two attacked us? I'm sure when that Uzumaki punched me into the ground it created a large crater, and when that Hyuga used her fire style technique it burned the surrounding forest. Yet it looks like the place is the same as when we first got here as though no battles took place here at all."

Hinata looked around and to her surprise there was indeed not a single sign of any struggles taking place. "You're right. I'm sure there should have been some kind of leftover effects from such powerful attacks. Could it be that it was all a genjutsu?"

"Maybe, but I can sense a trail through the forest. Want to see where it leads?" Naruto asked Hinata and she nodded instantly. As such with their curiosities piqued the couple started to traverse deeper into the forest.

They jumped from tree to tree until eventually they arrived at another clearing, this one being much bigger. There was a truly massive tree that reached up into the skies above all other trees, providing shade to the entire clearing. Instantly a sense of dejavu hit both Naruto and Hinata simultaneously.

"Could it be?!" Hinata asked Naruto in shock.

"If I remember correctly there is only one way to find out." Naruto took her hand and together they walked up close to the gargantuan tree.

Sure enough the thing they were expecting to see was right in front of their face. Two small lines were curved right next to each other on the surface of the tree. They were a sign left there by their younger selves.

"I still remember this." Hinata said while touching the indents. "We carved these to compare our heights when we were kids."

"Yup, I remember it clearly as well now. Back then we decided we'd come back here to compare how big we got the next time we met." Naruto reminisced with a large grin on his face. "Well, we're here now. What do you say we fulfil the wish of our younger selves?"

Hinata nodded happily and stood in front of one of the marks as Naruto took out his kunai to draw a new line above Hinata's head. They repeated the process but this time Hinata drawing the line above Naruto. As such their new heights were recorded and unlike when they were younger, this time Naruto's line was a little bit higher than Hinata's.

"You've gotten taller than me." Hinata asked curiously while comparing the two sets of lines that were a decade apart in age.

"I guess ten years can bring quite a change to one's body." Naruto started to eye up Hinata and pointed to her chest. "I mean I might have gotten a bit taller but you've grown significantly in that particular area. Those things are outrageous. What do you have to feed on to get them so big, men's hopes and dreams?"

Hinata's eyes widened instantly and she quickly covered up her chest with both hands. "T-T-T-T-That's sexual harassment. Naruto-kun ecchi sketchy one touchy!"

Naruto was about to continue but at that moment they sensed something. "There's someone here!"

The couple got on guard and jumped a few steps back from the tree to be safe.

"Now now my friends…be not alarmed." An orange fox with an unusually long tail, one that was bigger in length than the rest of its body came out from behind the great tree.

"It's a talking fox!" Hinata said in shock.

"IT'S YOU!" Naruto exclaimed as soon as he saw the fox's face. "You're the fox that was spying on us in Uzushiogakure weren't you?"

"Spying may be…a bit misinformed. Just…watching." Fox replied, being as calm as cucumber. There was this air of sophistication and mystique around it that just could not quite be touched.

"Then why the heck did you run from us if you were only watching? Explain yourself." Naruto demanded, not quite yet convinced. "Who the heck are you anyway?"

"It was just not our time to meet back then, but it is now. So l shall introduce myself, as you so wish." The fox's tail which otherwise normally curled around in mid-air now stood straight, showing how long it truly was. "I am Nine, Emissary of the Sage. You may simply refer to me as Nine. It is but Nine's pleasure to finally make the two of your acquaintance."

"Nine…" Both Naruto and Hinata said the fox's name with a bit of apprehension.

"Why were you watching us back then? What exactly do you want from us?" Hinata asked politely. "And why exactly do you refer to yourself as an emissary of the Sage?"

Nine nodded in response. "Those are but good questions. Expected as well. So allow Nine to elaborate a little. By now the two of you must have heard the tale of the hero. The old legend told across the nations of a man who sacrificed his life to protect the ninja world from a great evil?"

"Yes well most children know about that tale from storybooks. And I'm sure most people probably also think of it as some children's story." Naruto stated as a matter-of-fact. "But within the Uzumaki clan that story of the hero, the original sage that protected the ninja world is one that is firmly believed to be true. He was thought to be of Uzumaki descent."

"As we've found out recently, I think that same person is known within the Hyuga as the traitor. He doesn't quite hold the same illustrious reputation within my clan, but regardless he is also thought to be of Hyuga descent." Hinata added.

"Yes…yeeees…you're already quite well informed. It makes Nine's job much…simpler." The fox replied with an unusual smile on its face. "Legends state that the original sage, a man known as such for both his great wisdom and power once fought and sacrificed his life in order to defeat a great evil that threatened the ninja world 1000 years ago. A long time has passed since then and the same evil has started to stir once again, focusing its gaze upon this world. However, even though the hero is no longer here, his descendants still remain. And that is where Nine's role comes into play. Nine has been searching…looking for the descendants from both of your clans. For the longest time…no luck. The Uzumaki and Hyuga at each other's throats. Fighting. Destroying each other throughout the ages. BUT, when all hope was about to be lost…Nine found the two of you. Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuga Hinata…the two descendants of the hero who have inherited all of his powers, united together. Nine's age old search has finally come to an end. The descendants have finally come together who can once again face the ancient evil that threatens this world. The two of you will write the very course of history itself. That is absolute."

Naruto and Hinata were dumbfounded by the knowledge that was suddenly given to them by this wise sounding fox. They didn't know what to make of it.

"So you're saying that the two of us are supposed to fight this ancient evil that threatens the world?" Naruto asked while scratching his head, to which the fox nodded. "That's some pretty esoteric information you dropped on us. But why the heck were you spying on us? Couldn't you have just come out and told this to us earlier in Uzushiogakure?"

"Nine wished to test your strength…to ensure that you are indeed worthy descendants. Nine has been tracking you since your original meeting in this forest, yeeees? The last bout between the two of you in Uzushiogakure was the final proof Nine needed to witness. Now there are no doubts. You are the ones."

"Wait a sec…does that mean you've been stalking us for the past ten years?" Naruto asked the fox with a look of disbelief.

"Stalking…not the correct word. Observing…from afar." The fox clarified.

"THAT'S CALLED STALKING YOU CREEPY OLD FOX!" Naruto's look of disbelief now turned into disgust. "Don't tell me you sneaked a peak at me while I was in the bath, you ero-kitsune!"

Both Nine and Hinata had a deadpanned look on their faces.

"N-Naruto-kun, is that really what you're worried about?" Hinata asked as a sweat drop appeared on her forehead.

"I've been saving myself for you, you know. I didn't let anyone ever look at me funny, let alone without my clothes on. Or so I thought. It seems my innocence has been taken away by this fox's perverted gaze. I'M SORRY!" Naruto shouted as he dropped to his knees in despair.

"Haaa…" Hinata was a little lost for words. "I don't mind…I guess?"

"ARE YOU CRAZY?! NINE HASN'T BEEN LOOKING AT YOU WHILE YOU WERE IN THE BATH! NINE DOESN'T CARE FOR SUCH HUMAN DESIRES!" The fox shouted back in its defence.

"Calm down man, I'm just kidding." Naruto replied as he took on a more serious expression. "I get your message, but in all seriousness given your somewhat shady behaviour, why exactly should we trust your story?"

A smile returned back to the fox's face. "That is simple. Without Nine the two of you probably would not be standing here together. It was because of Nine did the two of you meet and survive Kumogakure's assault in the first place."

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Naruto was now curious.

"It is better for you to see it as opposed to simply being told it. Therefore, allow Nine to take you back to the day of your original meeting and all shall become clear." The fox explained ad its tail started to glow before the light from it overwhelmed the couple's vision completely. When they regained their sight however, they were in a completely different part of the forest.

"What is going on?" Hinata asked while looking around. "How did we get here?"

"Nine is a master of manipulation and genjutsu. This is a vision from the past you're seeing because of Nine's powers." The fox explained before pointing its tail towards a young boy walking through the forest a little distance away from them. "For now, watch the past unfold."

That young boy was none other than Naruto, but a nine year old version of himself. He looked lost and was wandering around without any sense direction.

"This place is like a maze. I think I'm just going around in circles at this point. It seems I really have managed to get myself lost in this forest." The young Naruto sighed. "Oh well, I just have to wait for dad to realise I've gone missing from the village. I'm sure once he notices he'll find me with his sage mode. I guess I should just sit down here and wait for him to get me."

As Naruto was about to take a seat he heard the rustling of bushes nearby. He thought he saw some kind of shape there for a second before it disappeared. With his curiosity piqued, he walked through the bushes to check out the source of the noise. However there was nothing on the other side. But this time he saw the rustling of some more bushes a little distance away, so he chased after the source, once again missing it by a bit. Just as before though some more bushes rustled in the distance and before he knew it, the young Naruto without thinking or wanting to give up started to go deeper and deeper into the forest to find whatever it is that was eluding him. He did so until eventually he reached a large clearing somewhere deep in the forest, a place that was shrouded in the shade of a great tree. To his shock though he saw a little girl about the same age as him sitting down near the tree with her head held low. Now he was truly intrigued. What could another person let alone a young girl be doing so deep within the forest? To find out he stepped out into the open and walked near her. It was at this point did he realise that the girl was crying and also managed to get her attention. She looked up at him and their gazes met for the very first time.

This was a moment in time where time itself seemed to come to a standstill. She hadn't even spoken a word but Naruto's heart was pounding like crazy. Her eyes looked so different, their pale white hue giving her an alien-like appearance. But to him she looked almost like an alien princess. Words could not quite describe the fluttery feeling that he was feeling inside.

"W-What are you d-doing here? And w-why are you crying?" He barely managed to stutter out amidst the crazy palpitations of his poor young heart.

The girl still wept but managed to regain some control over herself after seeing the presence of another person, enough at least to explain her situation. "I was travelling with my clan when we were attacked by a large group of shinobi. Those people, it seems they wanted to capture me for some reason. So my clan mates started to fight them to protect me and told me to escape. I didn't know what to do, so I ran as far as I could. But now I'm worried about my clan. And I'm lost. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm scared."

Naruto felt awful seeing the girl go back to crying. "H-Hey, please don't cry. I'm sure your clan mates will be okay. You have to believe in them. That's what it means to be part of a clan. Trust me, I know. I'm from a pretty big clan myself. And as one big family, we never give up on each other!"

Naruto's bold and spirited statement gave the girl hope. She was a bit mesmerised by his confidence, something she sorely lacked.

"Also, if it makes you feel any better, I'm lost too. I started exploring the forest and ended up wandering too far in. Now I don't know how to get out. But there's no point in panicking because that's not going to get us anywhere. So I guess I'll keep you company until our families come to get us." Naruto suggested with one of his signature grins.

"W-W-What if those bad guys attack us? I wouldn't want you to be involved." The girl was still worried about their current circumstance.

"Don't worry about it. If it comes to that then I'll protect you. It's a promise. And I never go back on my word, because that is my way of the ninja." Naruto announced with utmost tenacity, something that made him who he was.

Even though Naruto was just a child, he somehow looked more reliable than anyone she had ever met. He was someone she could put her trust upon. Thus the young girl nodded in response.

Naruto smiled in response. "You know what they say right, when life gives you melons you gotta slice em up and eat em."

"I think the actual saying goes something like when life gives you lemons, make lemonade." The girl corrected him, but for the very first time since they met she spoke with a heartfelt smile, one that would become permanently etched within Naruto's memories.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto. You can just call me Naruto." He suggested politely.

The girl was deep in thought for a second before she finally seemed to make up her mind. "Naruto…kun. It is a beautiful name. I should introduce myself as well. I'm Hi-"

"Hime." Naruto completed her introduction for her. "If it's okay that is what I want to call you, because to me you look just like a princess."

The young girl blushed a dark shade of red after hearing his compliment. No one had ever addressed her as a princess. But she nodded happily at his request nonetheless.

Thus Naruto and Hinata met each other for the very first time. Little did they know however that the rest of their lives would become entangled together due to this very meeting.

I've been waiting to introduce Nine for quite a while. More about him in the upcoming chapters. I hope you guys grow to like him :)

This chapter was filled with a few references, especially Nine. Hope someone caught on to it, but if not maybe over time it'll happen.

larryjc: In regards to Boruto and Himawari from last chapter, they're the same ones that have appeared before. It's just that this time around Boruto and Himawari have gotten a bit older. The reason I'm doing this is because each time they appear they'll get be a bit older until eventually the main story spanning their whole life will be told. Hopefully at that point everything will fall into place.

DarkManta: Wow I was seriously thinking about Shokugeki no Soma when I was writing last chapter, especially the part where Naruto was having a foodgasm. I think I found out people could have foodgasms from that manga lol.

Well, that's it for now. Since I'm on sweet sweet holidays right now I'll try to bring the next update soon. Hope everyone is also having a great relaxing time with family and friends. As always, let me know your thoughts and take care until next time.