As the new day rose over Konoha, Naruto rose with it. The sun had barely peered over the trees and into his window before Naruto sprung himself out of bed to begin preparing for today's events.

Confidence was seeping out of every pore as he zipped up the front of his favorite orange jacket. He closed the door of his apartment, forgetting to lock it, as he often did, and began his way toward The Hyuga residence.

Meanwhile, Hinata too had risen with the morning sun, though her morning was off to a much less cheery start. Hinata hadn't warned her father of Naruto's expected visit later that day. How could she? It was only planned as of midnight that morning. If she told her father now, he would become suspicious as to why she hadn't told him sooner, which means she risked him learning of Naruto's nightly visits to his daughter's bedroom. It was best to leave Naruto's visit unannounced.

Hinata began dressing herself in her formal robes, which were traditionally worn during the Hyuga clan's granting of suitor-ship ceremonies. Just then, Hinata's stomach dropped as she started to piece together the ramifications of what this all meant. To her father, it would appear as though Naruto was asking for Hinata's hand in marriage. — MARRIAGE!?

What had she done? She had just set Naruto up to ask her father for permission to MARRY her. They had only been dating a few weeks. This was absurd. How had she not realized this sooner. Hinata collapsed onto the floor of her bedroom, 'what have I done?' she thought, eyes wide with terror. 'My father is going to rip Naruto to shreds'…

Hinata hurried back onto her feet and lunged toward her door. She made a sharp turn down the hallway and B-lined straight for the entrance to the Hyuga residence. She was hoping to find Naruto and stop him before—

"Lord Hiashi, you have an unexpected visitor" a maid called out from the room up ahead. Hinata's feet stopped dead in their tracks. She was too late.

"I dare say, who shows up unannounced at this early hour? Hinata heard her father's deep voice grumble.

"It is I— uh, sir!" Naruto's spine stiffened. "Naruto Uzumaki. I have come to speak to you about your daughter, Hinata". Naruto bowed graciously waiting for a sign from Hiashi to proceed.

Hiashi raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Naruto continued. "I have come to prove myself worthy of her courtship."

"I see" Hiashi spoke coldly. "So… the nine-tailed Naruto Uzumaki has taken an interest in my eldest daughter."

Naruto winced slightly as Hiashi's sharp tone sliced through him, but he held firm. "Yes, uh, Lord Hyuga."

"And what… might I ask… makes you a worthy suitor?" Hiashi droned, as he cocked an eyebrow.

Hinata gulped sat hidden outside the doorway with her ear pressed against the wall.

Naruto knew this question was coming, but still stumbled over his words, "Well-uh.. as I'm sure you recall- sir, I have a pretty good track record of saving the village and the people of Konoha…"

Hiashi's eyes narrowed as he looked Naruto up and down. He thought to himself how prideful the boy seemed.

"…Ah yes, I do recall, and on several accounts, you nearly destroyed many of the village's buildings in the process… correct?"

Naruto gulped. Before he could recover, Hiashi spoke again.

"And certainly, you've managed to save the villagers from being harmed by the chaos you brought to their doorsteps…."

Naruto's stomach started to tingle. The heat from the demon inside of him was not taking kindly to Hiashi's lecturing.

"… but what I fail to see, Naruto, is how any of that proves to me that you are capable of protecting my daughter…" Hiashi stood up and turned his back to the boy, signaling that this conversation was over.

From behind the door, Hinata's heart was breaking. Tears began streaming down her face and she was about to get up and run to her room when she heard Naruto speak again.

"… Hinata is stronger than you think." Naruto hissed under his breath. He was still bowing respectfully to Hiashi, but his yellow hair was hiding a a furrowed brow.

"Come again?" Hiashi turned to look at the boy.

Hinata's heart jumped again as she positioned herself as close to the opening of the door without being seen.

"Hinata doesn't need my protection… she's one of the bravest shinobi I've ever seen."

Hiashi scoffed, which only managed to fuel Naruto's anger more.

"It's been one of my life's greatest honors to fight along side her. In battle and now in life… and if it ever came down to it… I'd trade my life for hers. Believe it!"

Hinata gasped at the sound of those words. The noise caught the attention of Naruto and her father as they turned to face the doorway.

Hinata stepped into view. Standing there in her full formal robes, her posture was upright, conveying more confidence than normal.

Hiashi observed his daughter's sudden change in demeanor. He also noticed her formal attire. "Hinata… you knew about this?"

"Y-yes father." Her voice shaking slightly. "Naruto and I are- are…" She was losing her footing.

Naruto rose to his feet and took his place next to her. "I am in love with your daughter, sir. It's as simple as that."

Hinata tried to hide her shocked expression at just hearing Naruto confess his love for her in front of her father.

Hiashi turned to face Hinata. "Daughter, is this really what you want? To bring shame upon this family?"

Now Hinata's belly was the one burning. "Shame!? The only shameful one here is you! Naruto is going to be a great Hokage some day, do you really want the esteemed Hyuga clan to go down as the one who cast him aside?"

Her father was taken aback by his daughter's passionate tone. He had never seen her react so strongly. He maintained his composure, closed his eyes, and took a deep inhale.

He opened his eyes again and met both of their gaze. "Let's hope I don't live to regret this…Naruto, I give you permission to marry my daughter."

"Alright!" Naruto cheered. "Wait- What do you mean m—"

Before he could finish, Hinata cut him off with a kiss and whispered "don't worry" under her breath.

Hiashi turned and walked away, a small smirk on the side of his face. Perhaps his eldest daughter had some fight in her after all.